Lisa Bongean Blog

Happy Valentine’s Day….

 

My hope for you this Valentine’s Day… is LOVE…whatever form that it may come in…

I like to celebrate LOVE all month…not just one day…with my fisherman, with my grandbabies, with my staff…my girlfriends….my sewing group, on and on.

As promised on my LIVE yesterday… I have written that recipe for the cookies…Here it is…Dipped Cherry Cookies   just click the link and you may print it or download it to your files.  I had some leftover white chocolate from Christmas so it was the perfect recipe, not too many ingredients and I just had to add/ change a few things…after you have made as many cookies as I have you just know what to do…

I had an eager helper….and this recipe does did not disappoint!  Miss Evie only gave it a 5, but I think that had more to do with that “loose” tooth!  See video…

If you did not catch our LIVE yesterday you can watch it HERE.  I had some lovely helpers and we had a fun as usual and we thank everyone who was live with us as well…Please subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel as long as you are there!

Also, this is a reminder to place your order if you would like our FREE pattern and our special sweet treat for a $25 order that is/was placed yesterday or today…sorry the treats are not the cookies shown above…. a bummer…I know.

Our FREE pattern is a re-do of AN old one of mine….here is one block stitched.  Do not let those words intimidate you…we have a video for that as well.  Lisa Bongean/Be Mine We are offering two versions….grey/red and red/pink/cream both quilts will be awesome…I can’t wait to have mine done for next V-day!

I had a beautiful day today…we were invited to Disney on Ice in a  box suite.  Thank You Brandon!   The boys all loved it! We all loved the firebreathing dragon the best!

Also I thought I would share a little of the decorating at Ancor Point!  In less than an hour I can have a whole new color scheme up and ready for all to enjoy!  I hope you get some ideas for your own quilt decorating!Lisa Bongean's HomeThere is a lot of napping that goes on here…Lisa Bongean's HomeBucky…the best dog ever.Lisa Bongean's HomeLittle antique crib quiltsLisa Bongean's Home Lisa Bongean's HomeBig antique quilts on our three arm quilt hangers.Lisa Bongean's HomeI love this quilt…simple and easy…true lover’s knot?  I’m guessing here.Lisa Bongean's Homestar quilts are alway a favorite.Lisa Bongean's HomeOur 101Itty bitty stitch along will start in April!  Be ready…book, stand…wools…all can be ordred HERE

itty bitty celebrationsall for now….just know that all of us at Primitive Gatherings love YOU, our customer…and we will do everything we can to take care of you.  LISA


Click this Icon to visit Primitive Gatherings!

primitive gatherings logo featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean

All for now…Lisa

Lisa Bongean/American Quilters SAL

Hogs for Heros…American Quilter’s Stitch Along/Prep

HOGS FOR HEROES checking in here…and we are stunned, and honored, by this beautiful effort to support our healing mission! We only just learned of Lisa’s generous plan and can hardly believe quilters across the nation will unite to sew their hearts out to benefit veterans’ healing. Thank you!

A little bit about us, because knowing who benefits from your labors is important to your heart. Hogs For Heroes is a small, WI nonprofit created by four family members, none of whom served. We do this volunteer work simply out of gratitude for those who served and sacrificed much on our behalf, and from a desire to provide struggling, at-risk Veterans with a healing alternative: wind therapy, as we Bikers affectionately call it. We raise funds to buy Harley-Davidson motorcycles for Veteran riders who, injured in the course of active duty, find themselves hurting–mentally, physically, emotionally–and unable to have a Bike in their life. We help them heal by gifting them a Harley that allows them to regain peace on the road, control in their life, clarity, pride, and joy…and equally important, support from the rider community and Veteran brotherhoods.

We know motorcycling isn’t everyone’s cup of tea… but if it’s your blood its roots run deep and make up an identity, culture, and community for its riders–all things similar to the military, and deeply missed as Veterans separate from service. It is estimated that 22 Veterans a day commit suicide; another compelling reason to offer alternative therapy with a “tool” that is well established in the military community and will support them for years to come. We direct 100% of every donation straight toward the next Bike and Veteran pairing. And because we do this work voluntarily on the side of jobs, family, and life…we thought we would be successful if we could raise funds to gift one Harley a year. Instead, in just a little over 4 years of gifting bikes, we wrapped up our 2020 season by returning SIXTEEN injured Veteran riders back to the road they love on beautiful Harleys. Each Recipient will tell you that our gift has truly changed their life and, in several cases, literally saved their lives. And while our gift is only given to one individual, its positive ripple effect impacts the lives of their spouses, families, friends, employers, and community as they find new outlets, opportunities, and support systems.

Thank you for reading through our nutshell-version to learn about our unique work. And thank you, for participating in this amazing project to support our veterans’ healing needs.

Like what you heard? Be sure to LIKE US on Facebook to stay on top of our activity and announcements! You can learn more about our work and the Veterans we have supported at http://www.hogsforheroeswi.org. And, if you’re so inclined, you can donate there too, but I know Lisa is raising funds as well with this stitch along and you may want to contribute to the Quilters effort.

🙂 Peace to all…. and best wishes as you each make these beautiful quilts!  Audra Thompson

If this doesn’t touch you?  I don’t know what does, It has even more impact seeing it in person. May 2019 I watched Rob Thede receive his bike…and with tears streaming down my face that is when I decided I was going to “try” and do this for another vet.  Believing you can is 90% of completing a goal.  It is now time to make that happen.  With this American Quilters Stitch Along WE are going to accomplish it. I hope you’re along for this ride...because I need y’all to do it!  I’m counting on us Quilter’s to make this happen!  Audra left the above info as a comment on my blog but I wanted you all to read it.  She sent this to me after I called her and explained what I wished to do.  We have set up a separate bank account for our funds raised, you will be able to directly donate to it.  I will let you know when that time comes.  But while you are waiting you can start getting ready…

American Quilters SAL/Lisa Bongean

         Here is a PDF of the following info…You may want to print it and start a binder for this project!                                                                                  Click HERE to print SAL Prep

                                                                       

★    Hey Everyone…                                                                                                              

    I am so excited you are going to Stitch-Along with us on this wonderful pattern. This quilt is so much fun and everyone will want it! You now have to decide if you are only going to make one, or more than one! Hopefully, we will be starting on time, but if our fabric is delayed we will have to push it back and start when it is possible!                                       

  I do have an underlying reason for this SAL and that is to raise money for Hogs for Heroes.    

    I hope all of you can help me do this, and we can help change lives for our military veterans. I will be posting more information about this on my blog.                                     

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS I THINK WILL BE HELPFUL WHEN MAKING THIS QUILT                                        

   The American Gatherings Fat Quarter fabric bundle. -Each FQ tower of American Gatherings bought at Primitive Gatherings is an automatic $10 donation for Hogs for Heros.                                                  

★    4 or 6 yards of fabric, for sashing, borders, and bindings. I made one quilt with blue and the other one with cream…I will be making several more with the blocks I will be making while doing the tutorials each week. I have two sizes here just in case you want to make your quilt bigger or add matching pillowcases. The four yards is enough to complete the quilt.                                                                                                                              

★    Starch – I strongly suggest you starch your fabrics prior to cutting them. I will be posting a video on How to Starch your fabrics.  Buy Heavy Duty Faultless starch in blue or purple cans, not gold.  You will need about 2 for this project.

★    ThreadsMy suggestions for threads are any of these three, Aurifil 2309 (cream) 2620            (light/med grey) and 2785 (navy). I personally do not like stitching dark fabrics with light thread…I used the navy for stitching the blue borders on the quilt blocks.                           

★    Small rulers like, 3×7, 6×6, 5×15 Itty Bitty Eights rulers. All of these rulers will be so helpful for cutting these blocks.                                                                                        

★    12½” x 12½’ Creative Grid rulers. This ruler is so helpful in squaring up your finished quilt blocks.                                                                                                                            ★

★    Simple Folded Corner ruler. This tool is awesome…especially if you like perfect blocks.         

★   Optional, but recommended…Single Hole throat plate on your machine. If you have an oblong hole on your machine where the needle goes up and down, you may want to put on a single hole throat plate. These are standard on machines that only stitch straight, but can be purchased for your machine if you do not have one. This prevents the little pieces of fabric from being sucked down into the oblong hole which is standard on machines         

 

I may share other ideas, tips, and thoughts along the way. I will be posting the block each week on here on my Blog along with weekly giveaways, auctions and other fun…do not miss out!            

 Here are all the places to join in-these are links and when clicked will take you there to sign up.

lisabongean.com-you are here…but are you signed up?               

If you are on a computer it is on the right-hand sidebar…if you are on a phone/tablet you will have to scroll to the bottom of this post to sign up…

You-tube channel- Stich with Lisa Bongean

Stitch with Lisa’s Facebook Group.                       

I encourage you to stitch along each week, share your blocks on my Stitch with Lisa’s           Facebook Group, and tag your blocks with #americanquilterssal on Instagram or other social platforms. I know lots of shops will also be hosting this as a Stitch-Along…I am hoping we can get some posts and comments from them as well as showing them all stitching together!                                                                                                           

★   ABBREVIATIONS: I like to use the following abbreviations in the pattern to help from repeating over and over.                                                                                                 

          SFC = Single Folded Corner                                                                                     

         SQ/SQ = Square in a Square                                                                                    

         FG = Flying Geese

         HST = Half Square Triangle                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

★ I will show a couple of different ways to make/stitch the blocks each week. However, you may have a preferred way and you are more than welcome to use your favorite method.           

★Cutting for Blocks: 

In the first week, I will give you the cutting for all the red and cream stripes. You can choose to cut one block each week OR stack and cut ALL of your blocks (20) for the whole quilt the first week.         

 When stacking your fabrics, pay attention to the direction of the stripes. You may want them to run the short way on some prints and/or the long way. This is certainly up to you. (But keep this in mind when you are stacking and cutting your strips.) These strips are also cut longer and will be trimmed down later. I find this much easier with this many strips involved.                                                                                                                        

 ★ Use a scant ¼” seam allowance and test it to make sure you are not too big or too small.                                                                      

 I just found out our FQ bundles will be delayed….there are so many on the order they need a little more time!.   This gives us a little extra time to gather our things and get ready….so no worries, we will start with the first block when the fabric is on it’s way to us from Dallas.   It’s a time of adaptability.  I will redo the 20 bock schedule so we have all the blocks by Memorial Day! Lisa     

Print this for the cover of your binder…there is a PDF  link button below.             

Lisa Bongean/American Quilters SAL           PDF Cover for American Quilters SAL                                                                                 

That is all for now…I hope you are as excited as I am to get this project started!     

I’ll be in touch….Lisa

 

Long Arm Quilting now at Primitive Gatherings…

We all need to get our quilts quilted.  Then they can be loved like this one is.  How happy does this little guy look, snuggled in his MiMi’s quilt…

I am super proud of all of my sons and when they want to be a part of you business and then find their niche, it’ a feeling of contentment,  and that all will be “ok”.

I can not  personally tell you why you should send Primitive Gatherings your quilts to be long- arm quilted, but if you take 10 minutes watch to watch this video, you will understand why I did not want to tell you.

Luke, Jake & Tyler (Jake’s childhood friend) let you know about themselves and about their quilting.

Click on this video below…

Most of you know these guys, they have worked the quilt show circuit for years, they’ve attended quilt markets, they’ve worked in the shop.  Hopefully, now they can help you get your quilt tops quilted!  They also will be selling long-arms and teaching classes on how to use them…They know all about them…They can set them up and take them down and make them do amazing stitching!this is another reason why I can’t wait to be in our new building…here’s some progress…Can you figure out what is what?   LB

 

 

 

 

Light Bulb Ornaments by Primitive Gatherings

Christmas in July…at Primitive Gatherings

Do you want to do a better job at being ready for Christmas?

Let’s face it when you give a hand made gift, the person who receives it…remembers it, cherishes it and maybe you think they might not like them, but I think as people evolve they do love those gifts made with love are way better than the gift card to the department store.  Are you someone who has given a hand made gift and have been let down when you don’t get the reaction you thought you were going to get?  I think this also hinders hand made gift giving…but remember…it’s a gift…give it freely and let it go after that…if they love it great!! if they don’t…that’s ok too…you gave it from your heart and someday it may mean a little more to them than it did at the time you gifted it…

With this in mind it is July and Christmas in July is a big topic, so let’s get going on the planning and working on what we want to give this Christmas…Do we want to make hand stitched ornaments to all?  Do we want to make Christmas quilt for the Grandbabies? What is it we want to give this year?

I hope Primitive Gatherings can give you some great ideas…some things will be on Sale, some will not, to stay in business we can’t always have everything on sale…We try to give you good decent prices ALL the time, instead of inflating and then being deceived by always having a sale…we have to re-train ourselves that because that may work for some companies…it does not work for small business aka…Mom and Pop shops…

This is a small recap of some of the wooly things I talked about in my LIVE facebook video in our group STITCH with Lisa Bongean on 7/14/2020 Here is the video..if the link does not work you need to join our group in which we would LOVE to have you…

Christmas in July Specials  Click the red button below to take you to the page where the book and all the kits can be found…if you do not want a book, a lot of the items are available in pattern form as well but our Book is on special for $22.50 in July for 20 projects- not just one….Also, if you place an order for 100$ or more you get a choice of one of these amazing books…Flannel Gatherings, Nine-Patch Gatherings and A Quilter’s Journal…you may put which one you want in the comment section on your order form, don’t forget!

Click to View CHRISTMAS GATHERINGS BOOK OFFERINGSChristmas Gatherings Book by Primitive Gatherings

Peace on earth…a nice mat for your table…for primitive or any decor this mat is a stunner on a nicely decorated table.  See more info HEREPeace On Earth Sheep…wool ornament…

I love this little wool sheep who is all decorated for the Christmas celebration…this is a nice ornament to make as a gift for your favorite woolie friend…Click HERE for more details.sheep ornament Perfect little tree skirt…or see my up coming post on making a full sized one for your next holiday tree….For more info click HERE

Angel Tree Skirt
Everyone needs a Christmas Journal to keep track of what gifts they bought who…what you made for that special Christmas dinner and who visited each year during the holidays….Has pocket for pictures, pencil and recipes…For more information click HERE.Christmas Journal by Primitive Gatherings

The reason for the season….another great idea for ornaments…sheperd and his sheep and the manger…perfect gifts and easy stitching…Click HERE for more details.oh holy night ornaments

Poinsettia table mat…You’ll have this stunning mat stitched in no time…the middle poinsettia is big easy stitching and then the 16 tongues will be done before you know it…Click HERE for more details.
Poinsettia table matJoy stocking…..updated wool stocking in todays more contemporary look….who wouldn’t love this stocking!  This stocking looks way more complicated then it really is…anyone can make this!!!  Click HERE for more info.Joy Stocking Light bulb ornies anyone…how cute? These are just irresistable..you’ll want to stitch many of these one for everyone…your hair dresser, the mailman…the ups guy/gal, your neighbors and your family…also would make nice addition as a tag on a gift…light up someones Christmas with these ornies!  Click HERE for more info.
light bulb ornies by primitive gatherings Chrismas in July

This Christmas picture will decorate the walls…a great quote from Hugh Downs…the famous broadcaster from an earlier time…this quote lines the salvage on each of the fabrics in Christmas Gatherings….Click HERE to for more details.Old Fashioned Christmas
Now how cute is this guy?  He is on two simple table mat/tree skirts…now these both stitch up pretty fast and then add a candle and it make the perfect center piece….or add you little tree and it adds just a simple touch to the little tree!  Click HERE for more details.
Holiday Table Mat Christmas in JulyYou can never have enough ornaments….these simple, simple stacked wool squares are fun and the whole family can make one, even Dad!!!! Click HERE to order lots of different colors

Stacked wool tree ornament
Stacked Tree Ornaments by Primitive Gatherings

Look for more Christmas in July coming soon…

STITCH Everyday!

Lisa

Moda Block Heads 3 Quilt Along- Block 26

Uneven 9 Patch Quilt Block a tutorial featured as part of the Block Heads quilting series by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean

Here is another great Quilt Block FOR OUR Moda Block Heads 3 QUILT ALONG PROJECT:  

Zig-Zags by Janet Claire

MBH3-26
Moda Block Heads 3 block 26 pieced by Lisa Bongean, using Moda Urban Farmhouse Gatherings and a Bella Solid.

            I guess I also have an alternative to the directions…I made 1/2″ HSTs for my block.   I used the layout for the 8″ block.  All you need to do for this 4″ finished block to look like the 8″ block is 16 HSTs of each unit.  Here the easiest way to do it… You will need:

2 -5″ squares of all 4 fabrics A-D.

4 –1/2″ HSTS papers. This link brings you to ALL the Triangle Papers…you will need the 1/2″ Finished for Charm Squares for this block if you want the same as shown here. There is also a Variety pack for the Charms with all four sizes included…

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The light is my A, the grey with the black print is my B, the geometric grey/ black is my C and D is my dark grey.

Make all the HST according to the directions on the HST papers. You will have 2 extra from this…the sheets make 18 HSTs each.

Set one is A/B, set two is A/C, set three is B/D and set four is C/D, just like the pattern reads.

IMG_4518

Start stitching the rows together…It is really pretty easy.  Also you if you look close it is very easy to be one thread off and it looks like a lot more…I do not sweat this…let it go…it is almost impossible to get them all perfect making them this small.

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My sister gave me this little weight the last time we were out shopping…it is perfect for flattening my stitched pieces.IMG_9440IMG_8173 5

IMG_1300 4

It came out exactly 4 1/2″.  I know it looks bigger here but it is because it is not lying flat, it is raised up more toward the camera…makes an illusion, like when you catch a fish and hold it out closer to the camera, it looks much bigger…same thing here…ask me how I know the fish thing???

Here is the back, showing the seams pressed open.

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I do not know why I could not make the 1″ HSTs…I guess it’s just the way I am…

I hope you try the 4″ block with the 1/2″ HSTs…I can’t wait to see them!  Send me a pic…on social media…there could be a reward!

Pattern Link for Block 26

COMING UP THIS WEEK at Primitive Gatherings!

Look for our newest video on Stitching Words!

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Did any of you get a sticker in your order from Primitive Gatherings?

PrimGath st

STITCH with Lisa Bongean,

Is our newest Facebook group where we post lots of info, you can ask for help, Live videos from our Primitive Gatherings Shops and my Home…join us if you are not already a member, we would love to have you! 

This summer with all orders or in shop purchases we are giving away FREE block kits!  IMG_6081

 

Happy Block Head Wednesday!…

Here is the list of ALL the participating Moda designers for you to visit this week if you have not already done so for their version of Moda Block Heads 3- Block 26!
 

Click this Icon to visit Primitive Gatherings!

primitive gatherings logo featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean

Redword Gatherings quilt giveaway featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean

55 & life to go… another great Quilt Giveaway from Redwork Gatherings.

 

I love re-creating quilts…but when you start re-creating your own? 

Redword Gatherings quilt giveaway featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean
55 & Life to go…

55 & Life to Go…this 55”x 55” quilt is a re-creation of one of the first quilts I designed as a Moda fabric designer. I know 10 years doesn’t make an antique…but I couldn’t help myself….I wanted to see this design in red & white…

Now… I may have been jumping the gun just a bit…when I made the 45 & Life to Go quilt, I was going to be 45 years old…kind of a middle of life age…but what I thought was 10 years is not quite so I won’t looking at 55 for at least another year…by the time this fabric comes out…oh, well I think that happens when you make it this far…can’t remember everything…45 was made is two sizes..55″ and 110″  so if anyone wants a king size that is the pattern they need to get…just in case you are thinking that you want this on your bed!  I named this quilt because it has 45 star blocks in it…kind of like candles on a cake…but way better!

So…now almost 10 years later, ok not 10, but close enough …I have recreated this quilt in red & white…but I also have to admit..I did not actually stitch this quilt…Dawn Cornell, my friend pieced this for me…I cannot do them all…I know I want to, but it is just not possible…So I have some wonderful stitchers who can make some money making quilts for Primitive Gatherings…I did put the binding on!  I’ll talk more about the quilting in my quilting post of Redwork Quilts!..

Redword Gatherings quilt giveaway featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean
55 & Life to go…

These little stars are only 5″.  But strip piecing makes the centers possible in a snap!

Redword Gatherings quilt giveaway featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean
55 & Life to go…close-up
Redword Gatherings quilt giveaway featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean
55 & Life to Go…even closer
Redword Gatherings quilt giveaway featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean
55 & Life to go…

We have kits and patterns available for this quilt!  It would make a great quilt for a ladder, it’s small enough to be a wall hanging and hang on the wall…or even folded up and hung just about anywhere!

Click HERE to buy a kit 55 & Life to go!

Click HERE to see more of Redwork Gatherings.

All Redwork Gatherings orders will receive a sticker pack!REDWORK GATHERINGS Quilt featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa BongeanI posted earlier about these three quilts if you missed it… make sure you go to their posts and comment to win kits and patterns.

REDWORK GATHERINGS Quilt featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean
Long, Long Way From Home

Here is the post for Long Long Way from home give-aways

REDWORK GATHERINGS Quilt featured by top US quilting blogger, Lisa Bongean
I Think I’m in Love

Click here if you want to read about I think I’m in Love and enter the Give-Away!

If you want to win a kit for Take it Easy and I will also give away 6 patterns…please leave me a comment for what you do when you need a break..it is your stitching?, a walk, call someone…what do you do?  Read what I do below…Winner will be picked at the end of the Redwork Event!

Take it easy is the easiest quilt of them all here…for a chance to win a kit and or patterns click HERE if you did not already comment on this post.

55 & Life to go with Salesman fabrics

If you wish to win this kit and one of the 6 patterns I will be giving away…leave me a comment and tell me what you have learned during this time of pandemic…nothing political please…but we have time to think and I been thinking a lot…I want to know if we all think alike or are we all different?

I am trying to catch up after Jace spent the day and overnight!!!  So I need to get one more post in about the Redwork Quilt…coming soon…