The Weekend is Here!

Hi again, and welcome to another Primitive Gatherings Friday evening Sewcialites session! This week our block comes to us from Jane Davidson of Quilt Jane Quilt Shop based out of  Australia. Jane has been in the quilting game for many years and considers herself to be a modern quilter today. She often leans towards a contemporary or modern style of design, but will occasionally stir the pot by using a traditional pattern paired with reproduction fabrics. Jane also describes herself as having no fear of using color. Sticking her her motto, “if is it not challenging then it is not worth doing,” she will jump at the opportunity to add vibrance and challenge to her quilts using a mixture of prints, solids, and textures.

Though her block designs can be known for being on the challenging side, Jane also loves a simple yet versatile block. Block #21 – “Dapper is what she describes as a humble 9-patch snowball. Rated as a beginner quilt on the Fat Quarter Shop QAL Block Skill Level Scale, the potential for Dapperto become more complicated is definitely there – all depending on which fabrics you choose and where you decide to put them. Its simplicity makes this quilt a good choice for a variety of fabric options, including solids, prints, stripes, dots, and especially fabrics that lend to fussy cutting. The level of complexity all depends on what the results you want and how much time you have to put in.

As you can see Dapperis made up of four basic squares and four half-square triangles on the outside, and another basic square in the center. In other words, challenge level wise, this block could be as about as simple as it gets if you decide to make it that way. If you like the idea of simple, as always I suggest using my custom designed PG Triangle Paper where you can in this block – and otherwise – to make things easier for yourself. Remember, if your triangle paper stash is running low you can always stock up on the PG website by clicking the button below.

As you most likely already know, for my blocks I’m using my Garden Gatherings fabric line, leaving out the five tans. For this block I chose to go with a dark pink floral print on a mid-tone pink background, paired with a larger red floral print on orange, and a navy ditsy print on mustard. For the background I used a selection from the Garden Gathering Shirtings Collection, #49176 15 – a cream fabric with an adorable tiny mustard/orange floral print. Take a look!

I had fun doing this block because it was super easy and fast to do since I already had my fabrics picked out. I have several pieces of Garden Gatherings left over from other projects in all shapes and sizes just waiting to be used, so it didn’t take me long to find some that worked. A few minutes of basic sewing later and voilà – done! I appreciate quick projects like this because nothing feels better than accomplishing a goal, ticking the box, and being able to say, “ok – what’s next?” Finishing one project goal inspires me to finish another, even if it’s just a block out of a larger project. Small accomplishments are still accomplishments!

Late to the game for Sewcialites 2? Don’t worry. Even though we’re near the end it’s not too late to start this Quilt-Along. Many of the blocks are fairly simple to make and can be done in an afternoon, so catching up is a snap once you find the time. You can always grab patterns for previously posted blocks on the Sewcialites 2 Landing Page by clicking the button below. You can also visit the Sewcialites 2 Block Archive on my blog which is listed in the main menu of links at the top of the page.

Newly released blocks are posted on Kim’s blog The Jolly Jabber, along with a video tutorial on her YouTube Livestream the same day. Each designer will also post their own block to either their blog or their website on that day as well. I will also be posting each block release here on MY blog every Friday for your convenience. Fabric requirements and all block patterns are on the  Sewcialites 2 Landing Page, which you can access by clicking the link below. If you’d like to get automatic updates on Sewcialites 2 you can subscribe to the blog by signing up in the Email subscription box by visiting the Landing Page, or by subscribing to the YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

Ahh Friday. I love this time of evening at the end of each week to kind of sit and reflect. My drive home will be nice since it’s finally still light out after 5:00 p.m. I bet the sunset will be beautiful. Before I head home I do want to say thank you to everyone who dropped a comment regarding the wool and quilt subscription boxes last week. I read every single one of your comments and testimonials and they were wonderful! I am humbled by your kind words. As I said before, there are no better reviews that by word of mouth and you definitely proved me right. In fact, it was really hard to narrow down prize winners for the week to be honest. I wanted to give out a prize to every single one of you! If the shipping cost of doing that didn’t kill me the girls in the shipping department definitely would so… unfortunately, I can’t do that!

I did managed to narrow it down to just a few so please help me in saying congratulations to Sharlene A., Sharon S., and Pat W. – thank you for your comments! Please remember to check your email for a message from Heidi (Note: I do not post last names or email addresses for your privacy, so if you think you’re one of the lucky winners this week please be sure to check your email. You can also contact Heidi at heidin@primitivegatherings.us if you have not already received a prize confirmation letter from her. If you think you are a winner but have not received a prize confirmation email, be sure to check your spam folder – it’s not often but our emails will sometimes end up there)!

I wish you all a safe and happy weekend! For anyone in the area please drive safe over night and tomorrow as we get another 4″ of sloppy snow and then hit 50º by Sunday afternoon. Hopefully we’ll see some sun? It doesn’t look promising. 🙁 Oh well, you know what that means… Looks like I’ll be staying inside to stitch! I mean… What else can I do? See you all on Monday! ~Lisa

 

Get 20% OFF Store-Wide Today!

Hey everybody! It’s Thursday again, so you know what that means – Stitch with Lisa Bongean goes LIVE at 1PM on YouTube! If you’ve been following my blog or Facebook page this week, you know that Primitive Gatherings has officially reached 20,000 followers on my, Stitch with Lisa Bongean Facebook page! Thanks again to all of you for helping us to meet such an awesome milestone. Seems like just yesterday we were in a tiny little shop with only a few employees back in Menasha. I’m still a bit in disbelief that I get to live my dreams through the growing success of Primitive Gatherings every day. I could not have done it without my family, friends, staff…and of course all of you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As a way to show my gratitude, I have a big surprise for everyone! TODAY ONLY I am giving you 20% OFF ALL PURCHASES from the shop, website or via phone order (offer excludes pre-orders, thread kits and sewing machines) through midnight today, Thursday February 10th, 2022!!! In other words, if you’ve been contemplating a new project or just need to stock up on supplies, today is the day to do it. Don’t wait, at a 20% discount, you really can’t go wrong! To get your 20% discount, simply enter the code 20K1DAY at checkout.

As I mentioned yesterday, I will also be giving away prizes to 20 lucky viewers during my YouTube LIVE, Stitch with Lisa Bongean today at 1PM CST! Names will be drawn from those of you who leave comments, and will be announced live on air as we pick them! Take a look at some of the goodies selected from the shop as prizes…

Jess did a wonderful job with her prize selections, don’t you think? She chose a variety of items I think any stitcher would appreciate winning. She included Jelly Rolls, Charm Packs, Layer Cakes, a wool ironing mat, PG coffee tumblers, Magic Pins, Valdani threads, a couple of Fat Quarter Towers, ceramic thread bowls, a PG tote bag, PG patches, some of my all-time favorite books….and more! We actually had to move some things around in the studio just to make room for it all. LOL! I really hope you get in on the fun and are lucky enough to win something!

Just a quick note on my favorite patient at Anchor Point… I know you all have been wondering about Nick’s progress and I’m happy to say everything is going smoothly. He is going to physical therapy twice a week as prescribed. Surprisingly, he reports PT is the best part of all of this (in my experience physical therapy was always more like PT = pain and torture!). They exercise and stretch his shoulder out, which he says feels amazing since it’s usually confined to his sling – even while he sleeps! It’s one of the only things that provides him any relief, otherwise he’s pretty uncomfortable overall. Sleeping is still one of his biggest challenges considering he can’t take the sling off, so he’s only able to manage a few hours at a time. It should be about three more weeks with this sling on. After that, we’re not sure what he’ll type he’ll get. Either way he’s looking forward to being rid of the big, bulky one and into something a little less cumbersome.

That’s all for today everyone. Don’t forget to join me at 1PM today for your chance to win during, Stitch with Lisa Bongean! Remember, all you have to do to enter for a chance to win a prize is leave us a comment during the show. If you can’t tune-in during the LIVE broadcast, don’t worry! I will also be giving prizes to 20 people who make a purchase from Primitive Gatherings either at the shop, through the website, or over the phone! Those winners will be notified by email. Don’t throw your luck away, join us for, Stitch with Lisa Bongean at 1PM CST by hitting the link below!

As usual we will be discussing any shop news and announcements, upcoming retreats, and an exciting t-shirt quilt project we’ll be doing a tutorial on in the future. Make sure to leave me a comment – today especially – for a chance to win a prize! It’s your comments, likes and shares that have helped us to accomplish our social media goals this far. Let’s keep it up! After all, every new milestone is another reason to celebrate and we can’t have too many of those! Take care. ~Lisa

Sit & Sew Much Fun!

As many of you know, most weeks on Tuesday, The Gathering hosts what we like to call, Sit & Stitch. It’s not a retreat, but more of a gathering – or, “get together” as one guest called it – where all types, ages, and ability levels of sewing enthusiasts can come together and stitch. It’s a great opportunity to socialize in a judgment-free zone, where participants are encouraged to share ideas and advice. Of course, there’s also plenty of good food, great conversation, camaraderie, and laughter to go around too!

I really look forward to these little get-togethers. It’s a nice change from all the hustle and bustle of the regular work week! The casual and easy-going atmosphere not only allows me to relax a little, but I can also take more time to talk one-on-one with people about anything they might need help on with their projects, or just about life in general!Sit & Stitch sessions are also a great time to tackle those problem-child projects that you just can’t seem to figure out. Do you have a skill set that you’d like to improve on? It’s also a great time to practice techniques or skills that you’re not the best at. There’s always someone close by who can help or give advice and perspective – myself included!If you’re feeling confident in your abilities but need some inspiration and good company, come to Sit & Stitch! Bring your stitching projects of any kind and take advantage of our huge, beautifully lit activity space. You can bring your own machine or rent one from us. Either way there’s plenty of room for everyone to spread out and get comfortable at one of the many large sewing tables – complete with power stations! Take it from me, a lot of times I’d rather work on projects at The Gathering rather than my studio at home!

One of my favorite things about Sit & Stitch sessions is the variety of projects that come through the door. I see both full-size and lap quilts, table mats, pillows, cross-stitch, pincushions, and wall-hangings… just to name a few. Each person brings something different to the table – literally! I swear I find new inspiration every single time. I love it!

It’s easy to feel like everything has already been done in the creative world, don’t you think? It’s really cool to be able to see new ideas and trends come to life first hand. It’s also neat to see different techniques being used – new and old. Check out this awesome EPP (English Paper Piecing) quilt project one of our stitchers Joann is working on…She told me she prefers the EPP technique because sitting at her machine for long hours really hurts her back and hands. Take a look at all that delicate work (this quilt is so gorgeous… I feel like we might just be seeing it in a future summer Block of the Week….hint, hint – nudge, nudge…)!!! It’s crazy to think that she hasn’t been quilting all her life like some of her friends and family. She said, “I wasn’t into it at first like the others, it took me a while. But one day we went to a new quilting store in town called SEW WHAT. I walked in there and was just in awe. I was so intrigued by what I saw that I immediately needed to know more. The lady told me to come back that next Saturday for a class and I did. The rest is history.”

This was Joann’s second time attending Sit & Stitch. She says she and her quilting friends used to meet at each other’s homes, but just like everything else COVID has changed that. It’s much harder these days to find a place where everyone can meet up and socialize with enough space, so she really appreciates our Sit & Stitch gatherings. “My biggest joy in quilting is seeing others enjoy quilting right alongside me. We need to encourage one another! I used to think I didn’t know anything about it but 23 years later I realize I know more than I ever did! I’m thrilled to be able to share what I know with others, and these get-togethers make that possible again.”

Joann and her friends love the idea so much, she recently decided to take advantage of our book five, get one free package because they know they’ll be back every week for a while. She says, “Why not? You don’t have to clean your house to get ready for guests, you don’t have to cook or find a place to send your husband for the day. It’s great!” I think Joann’s got a point. LOL!

If you want to join us for a Sit & Stitch we would love to have you! Just call Jenny at The Gathering to sign up. The phone number at The Gathering is 920-778-8031. You can also email thegathering@primitivegatherings.us. Sessions run from 9AM until 4PM. Registration fee is $25 per person for the day and includes a salad bar and homemade soup lunch prepared by Chef Erica. Mark your calendar for the dates below…

If your schedule doesn’t allow you to attend during the day, don’t worry! I recently decided that if I’m going to hang out at The Gathering stitching all day, why not hang out there stitching all night too!? We recently had our first, Late Night Sit & Stitch.These sessions run from 5PM until 10PM and include dinner prepared by Chef Erica. Registration fee is also $25 per person. Heck, if you have the time you should probably sign up for both!

Alright, I better get back to work everyone. I have a lot to do as I prepare for my YouTube LIVE broadcast, Stitch with Lisa Bongean tomorrow at 1PM. I’ll be discussing more Valentine’s Day and Red & White quilt ideas, along with any new announcements and some other fun things as usual. Hit the link below to join me! See you then! ~Lisa

Here’s to New Beginnings in 2022!

Wishing you all the best for 2022! Between the construction and opening of the new retail shop and retreat house, last year sure was a whirlwind blur! I can’t thank you enough for shopping, sharing and stitching along with us both in person, and on our social media platforms. We have big plans for 2022, and hope we can continue to be a part of your life through the art of stitching!

I wanted to start off this year on a positive note so I picked out this great quilt from my archives to share with you all. It was designed a long, long time ago – 2004 to be exact – and today you can get a FREE printable PDF by clicking the link below!I figured since all the Christmas decorations are down, now it’s time for blue and white in honor of the Winter season (Ok… Maybe Nick still has yet to take the tree down – that’s his job every year). “Streak of Lightning” is a beautiful blue and white quilt that can be done as a full-size quilt (70″ x 82″) or as a lap quilt (40″ x 58″).

“Streak of Lightning”  was originally designed by the Lincoln’s Ladies Club. The club specializes in recreating and designing quilts based on earlier time periods, using reproduction fabrics. The group was founded by Carole Charles and myself back at the Menasha, WI location of Primitive Gatherings, long before we built our new facility in Larsen, WI.

CLICK HERE for PG 1 of Your FREE “Streak of Lightning” Printable PDF Instructions!

CLICK HERE for PG 2 of Your FREE “Streak of Lightning” Printable PDF Instructions

Take a look at how I’ve displayed this beautiful work of art in my own house for January! I just love this black setting for the Blue & Cream HSTs – or it actually could be a really dark blue – but ours is black…

I especially love how these colors tie right into my Anchor Point decor. Even though it’s the middle of Winter, blue and white together feels light at airy to me. Fresh and crisp like a cold Winter’s day!

If you’re looking for a smaller project, don’t worry! This quilt can be done at full size or as a darling lap quilt. Either way, I hope you enjoy it! New beginnings and a new project for 2022!

CLICK HERE for PG 1 of Your FREE “Streak of Lightning” Printable PDF Instructions!

CLICK HERE for PG 2 of Your FREE “Streak of Lightning” Printable PDF Instructions

Don’t forget to tune into my YouTube channel, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” for more tips, tricks and great content! And remember to always make time to…

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12 Days of Christmas – Day 3

I’m sure most of you know that we are partnered with the organization, “Hogs for Heroes” as a fun way to give back to our WI veterans. We’re proud to say that currently, we have raised over $33,000 between private donations and our 2021 “American Quilter’s Stitch Along” event! I want to say thank you to everyone who contributed so far, we could never have done it without you!

CLICK HERE to Learn More About Hogs for Heroes!

The amount we’ve already raised is truly amazing. Your generous donations and hard work makes me feel inspired to do even more! Some of my favorite things are definitely graphic tees so I thought, why not create one specifically for a Hogs for Heroes fundraiser! My team and I came up with an awesome design that I think you’re really going to love. On the front it features the Hogs for Heroes logo. On the back it shows one of my favorite quilt blocks from the, “American Quilter’s Stitch Along” series, along with the words, “I Stitched for a Hero.” Our Primitive Gatherings logo is also proudly displayed on the sleeve. The t-shirt itself is Biker Black…LOL… I had to do it!

If you’re not into t-shirts, no worries! We also have Hogs for Heroes patches available that combine both the Hogs for Heroes and Primitive Gatherings logos together. These patches make a stylish addition to pretty much anything you can think of. You could even sew it to the back of your quilt as a label! I love that idea.

Now here’s the best part! T-shirts are only $25.00, plus $5.00 for shipping (all proceeds go to benefit Hogs for Heroes). Creative Imprint is our local go-to shop that prints all of our custom t-shirts and bags. I’m so proud to say that they are very generously donating their time to produce and ship these items as a way of contributing to this great cause! All I can say is, WOW! We can’t thank them enough for their kind gesture. Please keep Creative Imprint in mind for any of your future custom apparel needs! Not only are they generous, but they also do a beautiful job! If you would like to order a t-shirt, please follow the link below. Please keep in mind that since they are coming from an off-site location, they are not available through the Primitive Gatherings website. 

Hogs for Heroes patches are currently already on-site here at Primitive Gatherings. If you would like to order patches, please follow the link below (please note that the link for ordering t-shirts is different than the link for ordering patches)!

If you would like to donate to help Hogs for Heroes in another way, please consider one of our other options:

CLICK HERE to DONATE to Hogs for Heroes!

As always, be sure to leave me a comment for a chance to win a prize! What’s your favorite – the t-shirt or the patch? If you plan to order a patch, how do you think you’ll use it? Let us know! We love to know what you think. Don’t forget to watch, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” on YouTube for more great content. See you soon with more of my favorite things!

CLICK HERE to watch “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” on YouTube!

 

 

 

12 Days of Christmas – Day 4

I can’t believe there’s only four more days until Christmas! Time really does fly, especially with so much to do! I feel like right about now would be a good time to treat yourself with something just for YOU! I’m excited to announce that we are now offering an awesome new Primitive Gatherings Subscription Quilt Box!!!

Here are the Details…

Our Subscription Quilt Box will ship 6 times a year, every other month starting in February. We want to open our boxes up to a wide range of fabrics, designers, on-going projects, notions and gadgets – sure to bring much joy and lots of inspiration!

Quilt Box ideas are as follows: Themed boxes that re-create some of my antique quilts in smaller versions or mini quilts, small hand-piecing or EPP, small and easy cross-stitch, quilts with a little hand appliqué or embroidery, pin cushions, pouches, totes, pillows, plus an on-going block project that will grow into a larger quilt. Our main focus will be smaller quilts, but I also want to stretch the possibilities to include other patchwork/sewing projects.

We are excited to feature guest designers who will be working with all kinds of fabrics to bring you a wide range fun opportunities! We love to hangout with quilt designers and give them another platform to show their work. After all, this is really about us! We all share the same love… Fabric and creating!!!

With a budget of only $60 we have limitations, but we know we can deliver fun boxes at a 30% off price point of $40! We have added $5 to each box for shipping (sorry about that, but you all know if you have had anything shipped lately, it’s a shared cost). You will be able to join at anytime as long as the subscription is not full to capacity! Cancellations also can be at anytime, but you must take the next box, as we plan for these months ahead.

Our boxes are charged every billing month on the 15th. This will be easy and automatically charged – so no need to make a payment every box! They will ship at the end of the month after all billing is cleared. This will help to give us a bit of a shipping cushion.  

We are planing lots of fun for our set of six Quilt Boxes this year. We all love fun mail and I can’t think of a better way to start off 2022! Our Subscription Wool Boxes have been a big hit and we have had many requests to add a “Quilt Box” option…so we  jumped right in and got it going! 

Are you currently a member of our Wool Box subscription?  What would you like to see in future subscription wool or quilt boxes? Let me know in the comments and you could win a Quilt Box Subscription! See you again tomorrow everyone!

CLICK HERE for the Stitch with Lisa Bongean YouTube Channel!