Category: The Gathering

2023 Red, White, & Green Quilt Show Details

Hey stitchers, welcome back from the weekend! After hiding inside from yet another three day long winter storm, I was about to come on and report that it’s finally done snowing here in eastern WI… BUT looking out the window just now I realized that I can’t say that quite yet, as we still have a few stubborn flurries floating around out there. The good news is that the brunt of the storm is past, so road crews should have things pretty much cleaned up by the end of the day. All in all, I think we got about 10″ between Friday evening and now – an impressive dump that I would have preferred to have seen much earlier in the season. As usual, Mother Nature can’t seem to decide what she wants so we’ll just have to go with the flow since there’s obviously no sense in arguing with that woman. I’m trying to look on the bright side of the situation… Being stuck inside is never bad when you’re a quilter. It’s easy to embrace being “forced” into my sewing room to wait out the storm. There’s no better time to get things done!

Hey, speaking of decisiveness (or lack there of), have you decided on which quilt to enter into the 2023 Primitive Gatherings Red, White, & Green Quilt Show? I know many of you are excited to start planning and working on your entry for our second annual holiday quilt show at The Gathering, so I wanted to take some time today to explain the rules and requirements this year, especially since we’ve made a few important changes to the way we did things during our last show.

This time around we decided to kick it up a notch and go with an extra color in the mix by adding green. Though you typically think Christmas when you hear red, white, and green, this color combination actually has no connection with Christmas at all when it comes to where it originated in quilting. Historically, the red and green quilt phenomenon began in the mid 1800’s – a time when dyes were mostly made from plants, causing them to be unreliable. Some plant dyes were better than others, including reds and greens which made them more popular choices. Red and green quilts were usually made for a special person or occasion and usually synonymous with appliqué. Reason being is because this type of quilting required sophisticated sewing skills in order to apply appliqué and a huge time commitment. Designs included many red and green floral elements on white backgrounds, often featuring fancy patterns like wreaths, leaves, and stems. Receiving one was a huge honor.

Do you have any red, white, and green quilts in your collection? If not, now’s the perfect time to change that! Whether you want to go with a full size quilt or a mini, you really can’t go wrong. There are so many beautiful patterns out there that could be used for this show, I feel like the possibilities are truly endless! Here are the category options…

CATEGORIES: Commercial Design – 30″ and above, Original Design – 30″ and above, Mini Quilt – 30″ and below. It doesn’t matter if your quilt is appliqué, pieced, or a combo. Anything goes as long as it’s red, green, and white, or close shades of those two colors (cream and dark reds are acceptable for example, turquoise, purple, and blue is not – if you are unsure if a color is acceptable please feel free to call the shop to double check. Quilts that do not fulfill color requirements will not be admitted into the show). Prints, solids, and wool can all be used as well. The sky is the limit as long as the quilt is done in reds, whites, and greens!

WHAT DOES THE REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDE? The $35.00 registration fee covers entry into the 2023 Primitive Gatherings Red, White, & Green Quilt Show, one complimentary 2023 Red, White, and Green Quilt Show sticker, one Joyful Gatherings 5″ Charm Pack (your sticker and charm pack will be mailed to you along with your quilt when it is returned after the show), return shipping and handling of your quilt after the show is complete, and show operation overall (one quilt entry per person please!).

WHAT CAN YOU WIN? Cash and prizes of course!!! Exact prizes are still pending at this time. I’m working hard to get some sponsorship from the big companies I work with, like Moda, Bernina, Juki, Martingale, Riley Blake, Free Spirit, and Checker to name a few. I’m doing my best to get the best prizes that I can for this event! Don’t worry – it’ll be worth it. Just ask the prize winner’s from last year’s show!

WHAT ARE THE RULES? Now for all the fun stuff…

  • The show is open to all who have a confirmed Red, White, & Green Quilt Show registration.
  • ENTRANCE FEE = $35.00 – Fee includes your entry into the show, one exclusive show sticker, one Joyful Gatherings 5” Charm Pack, return shipping and handling of your quilt, and overall show operation. NOTE: Your sticker and 5” Charm Pack will be shipped to you at the end of the show along with your quilt.
  • Only one quilt entry allowed per person.
  • Completed submission including photos and signed documents must be received at Primitive Gatherings by October 31st, 2023.
  • It is the responsibility of the entrant to insure and ship their quilt to Primitive Gatherings by October 31st,
  • 2023 using the provided mailing label. Please do not ship your quilt sooner than October 1st, 2023 – we do not have the storage space before then.
  • Primitive Gatherings will be responsible for shipping your quilt entry back to you. Insurance on the package will be determined by the size of the quilt, up to $500. If you would like to add additional insurance on your quilt, you are responsible for any additional shipping or insurance costs.
  • A clear photograph of your quilt is required to enter for identification and display purposes. Please include it in the package with your quilt. Entry into the show automatically grants permission for any and all images of the quilts and/or all parts of the artist’s statement regarding the quilt to be used by Primitive Gatherings in any and all media productions for this exhibit. *Photo can be on regular copy paper.
  • The quilt artist retains all copyrights to the quilt and will be credited for any usage of its likeness by Primitive Gatherings. No compensation will be granted to the entrant/copyright holder for the use of the quilt, or images of the quilt in any promotional materials.
  • Quilts will be hung and displayed at The Gathering from November 16th through December 22nd, 2023. They will also be displayed online via our social media platforms after the show is complete.
  • Quilts will be returned after January 15th, 2024. This will allow time for the mail system to settle down after the holidays. It also gives us time to disassemble the show and mail your quilt back to you in a timely manner.

DESIGN RULES:

  • Commercial patterns will be accepted as long as you give credit to the designer by including their name and the name of the pattern you used.
  • If any part of your quilt was from another quilter’s design, or was inspired by another quilter’s design, please include the designer’s name, the name of the pattern, and what part you sampled from the piece.
  • If you have paid the entrance fee and fail to submit your quilt for the show, you therefore forfeit your rights to the sticker and 5” Charm Pack included in the fee. Unused show fees will be donated to charity.

SIZING AND CONSTRUCTION:

  • Each entry must have a 4” finished sleeve on the top back of the quilt, securely stitched on both the bottom and top edges.
  • Each entry must also include a permanent identification label attached to the bottom, left-hand corner with entrant’s name, the name of the quilt, and the entrant’s address and email address.
  • Quilts of all sizes are eligible for this show.
  • Primitive Gatherings reserves the right to disqualify entries if they do not meet the show criteria including but not limited to size, specific category, or color of fabrics used.
  • Please remember to complete our, “Red, White, & Green Quilt Show Entry Checklist” before sending in your quilt (included in the information packet you receive at registration)!

Whew! I think that about covers it! I know that was a lot of information but I have been getting a lot of requests to elaborate on the details of the show and I wanted to make sure everyone is on the same page! If you have questions or are still contemplating all the reasons to participate in the Red, White, & Green Quilt Show, please feel free to call the shop at 920-722-7233 and we’ll be happy to help you get it sorted out!

Ready to get registered for the 2023 Primitive Gatherings Red, White, & Green Quilt Show? All you have to do is click the pretty little button below! Once the Red, White, & Green Quilt Show icon comes up on our website, simply hit “add to cart” and then head to checkout (unless you’re still shopping, of course).  Once your $35.00 registration fee is processed you will receive your registration packet in the “downloads” area of your PG account when it is available. PLEASE NOTE: Because of the way our system works we have to process each registration order by hand before it downloads, which means it will not available immediately. That being said, if you register after hours you won’t receive confirmation and your packet in your downloads area until we are back in the store to push it through. I’m sorry for the pain – I blame it on the pesky website situation!!!

For more on the Red, White, & Green Quilt Show, plus any shop news, announcements, and if we’re lucky enough… a sit down talk with none other than Sue Spargo, who has been gracing us with her presence over at The Gathering since last week, tune into STITCH with Lisa Bongean this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. by hitting the STITCH button below!. For those of you who don’t know, Sue is an extremely talented fiber artist known for quilting, layering, and embroidering. She uses market wools saturated in bright colors along with multi-medium layering and embroidery to create textural depth and dimension that is truly unique. Sue also offers a variety of quality notions, tools, fabrics, speciality wools, a vast collection of embroidery threads, technique and pattern books, and kits at her online shop, suespargo.com. Check it out by clicking HERE! I’ll warn you now… You’re going to want everything you see! See you Thursday! ~Lisa

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Spring Has Spru… Nevermind.

Hey everyone! Lisa here, coming to you from my cozy spot at The Gathering on yet another snowy day here in WI. Just as soon as we got used to temps in the 40’s, we’re now in the middle of receiving an additional 6″- 8″ of the white stuff. The storm made its debut last evening, making the commute home an interesting (and fun?) journey for anyone traveling more than a couple of miles. It came in fast and hard with whiteout conditions at times, and hasn’t really stopped since. Needless to say, it’s caused a bit of grumbling around here but personally, I’m happy to see it – fresh, clean, and ready to ski on… I’ve been super busy over the last couple weeks and my ski time has suffered because of it. I welcome the chance to get out there at least one more time before it’s over for good. Not to mention, it’s nice to see it fluffy and white again after unseasonably warm temps turned it all to a sloppy mess last week – my least favorite part about all four of our seasons combined. No thanks!

We’ve had a busy week here at Primitive Gatherings and The Gathering, and I couldn’t be happier about it. The famous and wonderful Sue Spargo has been here since Sunday, gracing us with her presence for not one, but TWO weeks of glorious retreat. If you don’t recall seeing this one advertised that’s because we never got much of a chance! Sue is so popular that as soon as people heard that she was coming to The Gathering, word of mouth did its magic and both sessions were full before we even had time to put it out there – and I can’t say I’m surprised either! Sue is an extremely talented fiber artist known for quilting, layering, and embroidering. She uses market wools saturated in bright colors along with multi-medium layering and embroidery to create textural depth and dimension that is truly unique. Sue also offers a variety of quality notions, tools, fabrics, speciality wools, a vast collection of embroidery threads, technique and pattern books, and kits at her online shop, suespargo.com. Check it out by clicking HERE! I’ll warn you now… This site may be hazardous to your pocket book!

Well stitchers, we can’t have Friday without a Sewcialites 2 block release, so let’s get to it. This week we celebrate Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Company with her block contribution, “Invigorate.“ Joanna has had an interest in the creative arts all her life. She and her sister grew up working in the family business until adulthood when she eventually moved on to start her own business, Fig Tree & Co. Highly inspired by color, her designs for fabric and quilting always start with the color palette, which is typically inspired by everyday things like fabric swatches, her flower garden, antique quilts, and flea market finds.

“Invigorate” is a traditional Weathervane block, which just so happens to be one of Joanna’s favorite block types of all time. She describes it as, “the perfect blend of interesting and simple.” This block showcases fabric of any style nicely, which makes it a great opportunity to finally do something with that perfect collection you’ve been hoarding away for just the right project. Despite its simplicity, “Invigorate“ is still considered intermediate on the Fat Quarter Shop’s skill level scale (unless you are working on the three inch version – then it is considered advanced). It consists of one background, one fabric for the outer pieces, one fabric for the inner pieces, and another fabric for the middle square (in other words, one background and three fabrics total). Units include half-square triangles, corner squares, rectangles with corner squares, and a solid square.

For my blocks I’m sticking with my Garden Gatherings fabric line, leaving out the five tans. For this block I chose to go with yellow, green, and orange. 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. I love how it turned out!

You can find the full pattern and instructions to get started on “Invigorate“ by clicking the button above. You can also visit Joanna’s blog “Fresh Figs“ by clicking HERE. She not only gives her two cents on the block, but also offers two alternative option ideas for what to do with it, including a pin cushion, table topper, and runner. All three are super cute and FREE!

Well everyone, it’s getting to be about that time – prize time I mean! As always, thanks a ton to everyone who continues to comment on my blog and LIVE shows. I have so much fun reading through them, and do any chance I get. It’s one of the ways I get to hear about what’s going on in everyone else’s life and what you’re thinking about. It’s also a great way to let me know what you’d like to see more of. Spring is right around the corner and I’m going to start talking about spring projects more and more, so leaving a comment is a perfect way to tell me what your favorites are. Plus, you might even win a prize for it – just like Lora C., Dolores R., and “Grammy” H. did for commenting last week… Congratulations to the three of you! 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)!

Alright friends, time to get back to my stitching before my teacher notices me not giving her my undivided attention. Just a quick reminder before I go that if you’d like to send a card or gift to wish Shelley well during her fight to beat Leukemia you can do so by sending it to: Shelley – C/O Heidi Niesl at Primitive Gatherings – 8567 South Loop Rd – Larsen, WI 54947. Special thanks to those of you who already have sent things. You have no idea how much she – and I – appreciate you! Positivity really does go a long way and she can use as much as she can get right now, so from the bottom of my heart – thank you.

I hope you all have a great weekend and manage to stay out of trouble. …I will do my best. No promises though. You never can tell what kind of shenanigans you’ll find happening at a quilting retreat, and I’m not about to put a governor on the engine of Lisa Bongean. Just gonna let it run – that’s how you get things done! Take care and I will see you all soon! ~Lisa

 

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Sewcialites 2 – Block #15 “Brighten”

Not sure how it happened so fast but here we are again on yet another glorious Friday evening, just about ready to start the weekend. The sun was shining all day, the birds were singing, and the temps were pleasant, hanging out right around 30º with even warmer air in the forecast for tomorrow. As usual, I’m celebrating the arrival of the end of the week with the latest Sewcialites 2 block release. This week block #15, “Brighten“ by Minki Kim of Riley Blake Designs is taking its turn as the center of Sewcialites attention. Minki is a formally trained artist originally from Korea who specialized in making intricate creations out of simple materials. She was not always into the fiber arts, but once she discovered she could “draw” with her sewing machine the rest was history. Minki finds inspiration for her work in her children and their creative play, and has a natural ability to make common, everyday objects aesthetically pleasing. She is best known for her beautifully detailed “thread drawings” – or sewing illustrations – which combine machine stitching, embroidery, and appliqué. She also has written several books and is an accomplished fabric designer for Riley Blake Designs.

Minki’s block “Brighten” is considered to be a very straightforward design that is made up of simple squares and rectangles. This beginner block is not only fun and easy to do, but it will also  highlight your fabric selections beautifully. Though the requirements to complete “Brighten“ are fairly simple, make sure to read all the instructions from start to finish before beginning any project so you know what to expect. Whether you’re new to quilting or consider yourself an expert, this is a good habit to get into to prevent a boo-boo that could have easily been avoided.

I also recommend using a design board like Bitty Boards by Lori Holt to lay your units out before sewing them together to ensure that your fabric is placed in the proper direction. This is especially important to help keep things organized if you are using stripes or other directional prints. If you don’t have one of these boards, I highly recommend. They come in several styles and colors to suit your needs. Check them out!

Laying your entire block out before sewing it together is super helpful in avoiding unnecessary mistakes ahead of time that nobody has time for. It also gives you the opportunity to play around with different layout options until you figure out what you like best without making anything permanent. Remember – we want to work smarter, not harder… The seam ripper is certainly your friend, but not having to use it at all is better.

“Brighten” is yet another block in the series that makes for a great scrap buster, but would also look pleasing with a bit of control. As you know, for my blocks I’ve decided to use my Garden Gatherings fabric line, leaving out the five tans. For the background I’m using a selection from the Garden Gathering Shirtings Collection, #49176 15 – a cream fabric with an adorable tiny mustard/orange floral print. Like what you see? Click the button below to grab some for yourself!I’ve been getting lots of comments and messages from people saying they haven’t started this QAL yet but they’re still thinking about it. First off, I want to say thanks for so many great comments! I love reading them and hearing about all the cool projects everyone is working on. Keep it up! You might even win a prize for it. Secondly, I say go for it! You really don’t need to worry about being behind on this one. One of the best parts of this quilt-along is that you can do it on your time, however your schedule allows – you can join us at any time! Plus, most the blocks are fairly easy to make and can be done in an afternoon. You can always find previously posted blocks on the Sewcialites 2 Landing Page. 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.

If Sewcialites 2 doesn’t trip your trigger, that’s ok too. I have plenty to keep you busy if you need something to do! You can always check out my latest pattern releases by clicking HERE, or if you’d like to watch me explain them on my LIVE show, click HERE! I hope you have a restful weekend and that you have a chance to get outside for some fresh air. It seems nice out now, but something tells me Old Man Winter isn’t quite done yet. In other words, enjoy it while it lasts! I’ll take the 30’s and 40’s this time of year with a smile on my face because as anyone from WI will tell you, temperatures in February can go either way. Some years it’s 30º above, some year’s it’s 20º below (ba-zero)! I wouldn’t bet money on either, because you just never know.

Time to wrap up this wonderful week by giving away a couple of prizes to Stephanie R. and Jennifer N. Check your email ladies! We put together a little something nice for each of you as a way to say thanks for your comments on the blog last week! Your comments are important to us and I honestly do love reading them. Plus, it’s just about the easiest way to enter yourself in a drawing for a great prize (remember that if you’re using a “handle” or screen name that is different than your actual name, please leave your first name and last initial in your comment so we can include you. 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)! Have a great night everyone. I’ll see you next week! ~Lisa

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Avoid Winter Blues with RETREAT and New Patterns!

Good evening stitchers! It was a beautiful day out there, but it sure has been cold so far this week. This time of year it’s not uncommon for a sunny, bluebird day to be a sign that it’s also colder than a witch’s… er… kneecap (yeah, that’s the part I was thinking of) outside. The good news is that by next early week we should be back in the lower 30s for a while, which is about the best we can ask for at the beginning of February in WI. Hey, that reminds me! Don’t forget, tomorrow is Groundhog Day. A day where, thanks to Pennsylvania Dutch superstition, human beings with advanced science and technology rely on a sleepy groundhog to prematurely emerge from its winter burrow to predict the weather for the next month and a half. Kind of silly yes, but I’m beginning to think that this may not be a bad method of forecasting the weather considering the track record of some of the meteorologists out there these days. LOL!

Over the years I’ve come to realize that no matter which way it goes for the groundhog tomorrow morning, we will most likely be seeing at least six more weeks of winter – if not more – before we can officially start calling it spring (unless you go by the calendar, then it’s March 20th this year). Winters here are always long but some years it seems to go on forever… Like four years ago when we got two plus feet of snow halfway through April – woo hoo! As much as I love my winter sports, by March enough is enough. To break up these cold and dreary days I thought it would be a great idea to host an event designed to brighten your spirits while we gather together and sew/stitch. That’s why the gals at The Gathering and I created the “Winter Escape” open sew event happening Friday, February 17th and Saturday, February 18th, 2023 at The Gathering!Bring whatever projects you’re working on (or any you’d like to start) to this over night, open sew session where the plan is to hang out, laugh, eat, sew, eat, stitch, SHOP, eat… and laugh some more! Enjoy excellent lighting with multiple cutting tables, steam stations, and large spacious sewing tables equipped with power strips. On top of that, there will be door prizes, delicious food prepared by Erica and crew, shopping, and an exclusive embroidery project designed just for us by my colleague and friend, Gloria Parsons. Bring a friend or come alone and make new ones! We would love to have you. If this sounds like something you need in your life, don’t wait! Spots are limited. Give Gloria a call at 920.778.8031 to register. It’s going to be great!

Well everyone, it’s time to hang it up for another day. I’ll be back tomorrow LIVE on YouTube at 1:00 p.m. CST. I’ll be talking about pattern releases for a few of my ongoing projects like the O’ Say Can You Sew QAL, the Revel Quilt, Dragonfly Dreams, Pumpkin Carving Contest and Garden Stars to name a few. PG Encyclopedia Jess will be on deck answering questions, Heidi is on Prize-Patrol (get those comments in!!!), and of course our fearless camera woman Kali will be at the wheel. Hope to see you there! You can tune in by clicking the STITCH button below. Have a great night everyone! ~Lisa

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12 Days of Christmas – Days 12 through 1 – Revisited!

Wow…is anyone else feeling a bit in disbelief? How is it possible that Christmas 2021 is already a thing of the past? I don’t know if it’s because it fell on a Saturday this year or what, but the fact that it’s already over just doesn’t seem right. A lot of us put a tremendous amount of planning into this one particular holiday, meticulously decorating and preparing for weeks – or even months ahead of time. I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to let the Christmas season go this year. I had such a good time getting into the spirit by showing you all my favorite things of 2021, I thought what a better way to tap back into the warm and fuzzy than to take a look back at my 12 Days of Christmas one more time! So grab a hot coco and your favorite lap quilt, here we go again!

DAY 12 – Little Gatherings

If you recall, we started the 12 Days of My Favorite Things off with talking all about Little Gatherings, which is my brand new book from Martingale Publishing (due to come out early 2022). We got the GREAT news that the book actually arrived early a couple of weeks ago, so that means I’m able to get them signed and out to you ASAP (Pre-orders only – Must be ordered as the only item in your cart! Our anticipated shipping date at this time is January, 2022)!

If you love mini quilts, this book is definitely for you! Little Gatherings is a compilation of 13 little quilts all together in one place. It doesn’t matter if you’re an avid little quilt lover or if you’re just getting started, Little Gatherings has something for you! Remember, if you purchase Little Gatherings now through January 2nd, 2022 you’ll not only receive an autographed copy of the book, but also a FREE small variety pack of Primitive Gatherings Triangle Paper! If you need additional triangle paper, the Day 12 special also includes 20% off ALL Primitive Gatherings Triangle Paper, now through January 2nd, 2022! It’s a great time to stock up!

CLICK HERE to Get Your Autographed Copy of Little Gatherings and Primitive Gatherings Triangle Paper!

DAY 11 – Garden Gatherings

On Day 11 we celebrated another beautiful Moda fabric line along with a new Quilt Along coming in 2022! I’m extra excited because I think this fabric line is really going to be fun! It’s two collections in one – Garden Gatherings & Garden Gatherings Shirtings! This glorious line includes lots of unique colors and colorful shirtings (backgrounds) to play with, and is scheduled to release in April/May, 2022.

You still have time to pre-order your Garden Gatherings fabrics, pre-cuts and quilt kits at a sale price of 20% off, now through January 2nd, 2022! You can also take 25% off your backings if you order by January 2nd, 2022 as well. Simply click the photo below for easy ordering (please remember each pre-order needs to be ordered separately as an individual order – it should be the only item in your cart)!

Don’t Forget About This Awesome New Quilt Along!

Meet Me in the Garden QAL –  Finished size 104″x 104″ is starting in June/July 2022. The event features an amazing quilt designed by my longtime friend Val Krueger. It’s going to be simply awesome!

To make this quilt, you will need the FQ Bundles of each Garden Gatherings and Garden Gatherings Shirtings, along with a Layer Cake of the shirtings, so make sure to secure those ahead of time. You can do that by clicking the link below! We will post pattern & ruler details later in 2022.

CLICK HERE to Secure Your Garden Gatherings Pre-Cuts NOW!

Val will be doing video instructions for each block, so you will have all month to get them ready for the next set. Sets release each month. The last month (of 6 months total) will be focusing on finishing. If you’re new to quilting, don’t worry! This quilt is perfect for the beginner or advanced quilter.

DAY 10 – Wool Essentials

Beautiful, hand-dyed wool is one of my favorite things to work with when quilting, so for Day 10 of My Favorite Things, we lumped a whole bunch of what I consider to be, “Wool Essentials.”

All of the Day 10 items are truly my favorites for wool appliqué. I simply can’t work without them! The needles for wool appliqué are a must. Do not try to just use what you have… You will struggle! Also, Tweezers are really awesome for picking up those little wool pieces and removing the paper from the back.

Don’t forget marking pens! By far the best marking pen for wool is the white liquid chalk pen. You simply mark lightly onto the wool and let it dry. Markings will stay on for the duration of your stitching, it does not brush off. If you need to remove it, you can just steam it away! 

Our Primitive Gatherings Scissors are so beautiful and functional that I’m to the point where I feel like I can’t cut without them. I truly do not like using any other scissors! They are light weight, super sharp and I cut everything with them. Yes… even paper fusible web because they never dull. I also use the little rotary cutters (18m & 28mm) to quickly cut out my fusible web before it is adhered to the wool. I also love my stem cutting rulers. The rulers perfectly cut 3/16″ strips of wool/fusible for exact 1/4″ stems and vines for all your wool projects!

Fusible web is your friend when doing wool appliqué! It holds the shapes to your background (or to each other) and gives the wool nice crisp edges for stitching. I recommend using HeatnBond Feather Lite for all appliqués, and then using Lite Steam-a-Seam2 for all your stems and vines. I do not use the SAS2 Lite for my appliqués because it is too sticky to stitch through. This can be an issue if you are getting your work machine quilted because it tends to cause a lot of skipped stitches.

It’s still a great time to stock up! I would for sure buy a bolt (35yds) of the Feather Lite at this time because we are offering 25% off the whole bolt! Take 20% off all other wool essentials through January 2nd, 2022!

You can see me explain all the items we have on special now through January 2nd, 2022  by checking out my “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” video on YouTube for Day 10 by clicking the link below!

For wool appliqué I am most proud of my two books, Wool, Needle & Thread 1 and 2. They are the perfect go-to books for anyone looking to get into wool appliqué and embroidery! In Wool, Needle & Thread, I share my tried-and-true techniques from start to finish with lots of colorful, step-by-step photos to look at along the way. I even include a few projects so you can give your new skills a try!

Wool, Needle & Thread 2 challenges your new stitchery skills even further, with 15 patterns brimming with possibilities ranging from table mats and pincushions, to pillows and wall hangings.

CLICK HERE to Order Your Copies of Wool, Needle & Thread 1 and 2 – On SALE Now!

DAY 9 – Home Decor

Decorating my house is defiantly one of my most favorite things – especially around the holidays. I love making my home festive and welcoming… even more so when I know I will be hosting guests! For that reason, Day 9 of the 12 Days of My Favorite Things went to celebrating holiday home decor! If you’ve been tuning in, I’m sure you remember this fun fact about me – I only like to offer things for sale that I also want in my own house. In other words, everything we offered in our Home Decor Department this Christmas season was something I wanted for myself… or already have in my own home!

Another fun fact is I LOVE to stock up on holiday decor at the END of the season when everything is on SALE! If you’re anything like me, get excited because we still have a few holiday Home Decor items left after our first-ever, “Live Flash Sale” on Day 9. We weren’t sure if a live sale like that would be fun – or if anyone would even show up – but it turned out to be a real blast! If you missed out on the flash sale, or are just on the hunt for some great deals, remember that now through January 2nd, 2022 Home Decor items are STILL 20% off!

One of my go-to must-haves for entertaining any time of year is my personalized potluck pans. They make serving guests and keeping food warm a snap, and the stylish personalization is always a conversation starter. In addition to home decor, now through January 2nd, 2022 take 20% Off all potluck and deviled egg pans as well! 

DAY 8 – Fabric Essentials

On Day 8, I dedicated some time to my most favorite things for working with fabric! We covered a collection of more of what I consider, “must-haves” in my studio.

I started by talking about my three sizes of wool pressing mats. We use them at The Gathering and pretty much everyone who tries them ends up buying one to take home… if they don’t already have one that is! Our mats are sized differently than others out there, and not to mention much, much cheeper. We made them in three sizes that I think make the most sense. Our large mat is made to go on “big board” type ironing boards. They are 20″x 58″ and fit very nicely. I know some people have cut them down to custom fit their ironing surface, so there are many options with the big ones. These wool mats offer even distribution of steam, and releases it back up into the fabric instead of down into your wooden ironing/ big board or table. These mats are nice and thick, and make the most beautiful covers for your “big board” ironing station. They come in 20″×58″, 20″×20″ and 12″x12″. The smaller ones are especially nice if you do not have a big space or you have to travel with it!  

I also mentioned the starch I prefer to use. Unfortunately, I still don’t sell it at this time but you can look for it in the big box grocery stores. Price wise it’s a few dollars a can depending on where you live. If you don’t have time to shop around for it, you can also find it on Amazon!

CLICK HERE for Faultless Heavy Finish Spray Starch

Pressing sticks are also a crucial item in my fabric essentials arsenal (I know I call it a pressing stick but it is really called a Strip Stick)! I know most of you have seen me use them in our American Quilter’s SAL while working on the Hogs for Heroes quilt. If you haven’t, check out our videos on our YouTube Channel! At 20% off it’s a perfect time to pick up a few of these handy tools. They make pressing simple and fun! The larger sizes are perfect for pressing sashing and borders open with ease, and the smaller ones are super convenient for traveling (to Primitive Gatherings quilting retreats, of course)! Sizes available include 8″, 18″, 22″ and 45″. They also make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas, or anytime –  so don’t forget to pick a couple up for a quilter friend or two!

Let’s not forget  Magic Pins!!! I can’t believe how much I am In LOVE with these pins! I have so many other types of really nice pins around me yet, I always avoid them and go straight for these (Magic Pins come in all sizes and thicknesses so please pay attention to those details when ordering). Don’t get me wrong, they are all good. You just don’t want a thick pin while pinning your blocks. Thicker pins do work fine for pinning borders, however! Remember that now through January 2nd, 2022 all my favorite fabric essentials are 20% off (not including the Rowenta Steam Station)!

Then last item on my Day 7 list is the coveted Rowenta Steam Station. Simply put, no other iron measures up! I LOVE it and so does everyone else who is using it at The Gathering.

As you all know, the Rowenta Steam Station is very popular which is making them really hard to get right now, even for us. If you’re lucky, you can snag one off Amazon if they are still in stock. If not, keep checking back as inventory is constantly changing. Here is the link to find it there…

CLICK HERE to Get Your Rowenta Steam Station on Amazon

If you missed my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” YouTube presentation all about Fabric Essentials on Day 8, hit the link below to watch now!

DAY 7 – Machine Quilting

On Day 7 our focus was on Machine Quilting. As I’m sure you would all agree, one of the most exciting parts of making a quilt is when it’s finally ready to be quilted. Picking out the final details is so exciting – it’s obviously one of my favorite things! Do you have unfinished quilt tops to be quilted? Great news! We offer Long Arm Quilting services here at Primitive Gatherings! Even better, now through January 2nd, 2022 we’re giving you a great opportunity to receive $25 off (minimum of $100 purchase) our Long Arm Quilting services! Email us at Bernina@primitivegatherings.us and let us know that you’d like to get on the schedule for Long Arm Services. Please leave us your name and contact information so we can connect with you regarding when you can send or bring your quilt in for the service!

DAY 6 – Primitive Gatherings Day

Day 6 of the Primitive Gatherings 12 Days of Christmas was spent celebrating…well…us! We are super excited to finally have released our newest Primitive Gatherings Apparel – All 20% off Now Through January 2nd, 2022!!! With a variety of colors and design options available, our stylish PG garb will quickly turn you into the the coolest quilter on your block!

More good news… We now have sweatshirts available as well! We also have several new sweatshirt and t-shirt designs to choose from with an assortment of unique color options available. Sweatshirt colors include Rust, Mustard, Dusty Rose and Light Pink (which despite the name, in my opinion it’s more of a peach color). T-shirt colors include Antique White, Blue, and Army Green as shown below. Not pictured but also available for t-shirts are Black and Grey.

These fresh new designs are still in production but you can pre-order now through January 2nd, 2022 to be one of the first to receive them when they arrive. With the exception of hats, all pre-order apparel items must be ordered separately from regular-order and other types of pre-order items. It is OK to order multiple pre-order shirts and/or sweatshirts at once, but these pre-order apparel items should be the only thing in your cart aside from hats. In other words, do not put Garden Gatherings pre-orders in with your pre-order sweatshirt for example. Pre-orders must be made separately. Anticipated shipping date at this time for new apparel items is March, 2022.

If hats are more your style, no worries! We offer two types of Primitive Gatherings hats that are sure to fit your lifestyle, no matter the season!

CLICK HERE for 20% OFF Primitive Gatherings Apparel!

DAY 5 – Fabric Pre-Cut Day

Day 5 of Primitive Gatherings 12 Days of Christmas was all about pre-cuts! Pre-cuts are offered in several sizes, 2 1/2″, 5″ 10″, Jelly rolls 2 1/2″ x 44″, Honey Buns 1 1/2″x 44″, Fat Eighths and Fat Quarter Bundles. They contain the whole range of colors and prints included in a fabric line. Pre-cuts are typically designed to work together and can go directly into a project. They’re some of my most favorite things! Easy and fun to use, pre-cuts reduce (or even eliminate) the amount of cutting required to being a project. It’s like having a little jump start!

I really love our flannel pre-cuts, especially this time of year! I hope that by now you have had a chance to work with my MODA flannels. They are amazing to say the least!!! This year we used them for project pouches, Christmas stockings, ornaments, pillow backgrounds, both pieced and wool appliqué, and quilts. The possibilities really are endless when working with flannel!

All fabric pre-cuts are still 20% OFF now through January 2nd, 2022! There’s no better time to stock up for your current or future projects!

CLICK HERE for 20% OFF Pre-Cuts!

DAY 4 – Subscription Quilt Box Day

On Day 4 we honored the idea of doing something for YOU in the midst of all the holiday chaos. We were especially excited to announce that we are now offering an awesome new Primitive Gatherings Subscription Quilt Box for 2022!!!

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.

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.  

CLICK HERE to Get Our NEW Subscription Quilt Box!

DAY 3 – HOGS for HEROES Day

Day 3 was an extra special one here at Primitive Gatherings. I’m sure most of you know that we are partnered with the organization, “Hogs for Heroes” as our way to give back to 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.

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!

DAY 2 – Red & White Quilt Challenge

One of my favorite themes in quilting is Red and White – a classic combination of colors that quilt-makers have gravitated to for generations – myself included!

I thought a great way to celebrate Red and White quilts would be to have challenge based around them. On Day 2 of my 12 Days of Christmas, I was thrilled to announce some great news! The Primitive Gatherings, “2022 Red & White Quilt Challenge” has officially started!

HOW IT WORKS:

We have four categories. It doesn’t matter if you have appliqué, pieced or a combo. Anything goes as long as it’s red and white, or shades of those two colors (cream is acceptable for example). Prints, solids, and wool can all be used as well. The possibilities are endless as long as they are done in red & and white!

What does the registration fee include? The registration fee includes a complimentary “Red & White 2022” sticker (shown below), a free red fat quarter, a free white fat quarter, and entry into the 2022 Primitive Christmas Red & White Quilt Show. Note: you are not required to use your free fat quarters in your show entry.

What will you win? Cash and Prizes, of course!!! Hopefully I can also get some sponsorship from the big companies I work with! Like Moda, Bernina, Juki, Martingale, Riley Blake, Free Spirit, and Checker to name a few. My ultimate wish is for your quilts to fill up The Gathering from November through December, 2022! If you would like to register for this awesome challenge, simply click the link below!

Are you excited yet? If you are joining this challenge and need to add to your fabric or wool supply, we have just the stuff! Jess has put together a few selections with Red and White quilts specifically in mind. Clink the link below to secure yours now! As of today we don’t have a deadline for entry, however we would really like to see entries made by June/July so we can get an idea of how many we will be displaying.

CLICK HERE for Red and White Fabric and Wool Suggestions!

Now that you have a new and exciting project to get started on, why not come and stitch with us at The Gathering? I would absolutely love to see what you’re working on – and of course, answer any questions you might have on your project or techniques! I’ll even throw you some extra incentive… Book your stay NOW through January 15th, 2022 and receive an additional $50.00 on your swag bag gift certificate (*offer valid for non-event stays only)!!!

DAY 1 – Sewing Machine Day!

…and just like that we’re back to Day 1 all over again! On this day we gave our attention to one of the most important aspects of what we do – sewing machines! 

I started off by talking about Bernina. As much as I love my Juki, if I had to pick a machine that encompasses everything we need, I would have to go with a Bernina. Smooth and effortless, these efficient machines come with a wide range of world-class features designed to help you be creative, all while saving time. I really have come to appreciate these beautiful machines, and I’m proud to say we are a brand new Bernina dealership here at Primitive gatherings! To celebrate, now through January 2nd, 2022, if you purchase a Bernina Machine from Primitive Gatherings, we will throw in FREE *lifetime machine inspections, cleanings, and oil changes (*up to 4 times per year)!

Please come in, email bernina@primitivegatherings.us or call us at 920-841-1066 to set up an appointment. Come experience our full line of what Bernina has to offer! I am excited to say that I am going to be getting another new Bernina for myself after seeing how wonderful these new machines have become! I will be sure to show you my new set up on future videos as soon as I can.

Most of you know that my most preferred machine is the Juki TL2010. Iv’e used the TL2010 machine for what feels like forever – it’s definitely what I consider my, “work-horse”. Without this awesome machine I would not be half the quilter I am today. Here’s why!  

Juki is by no means new to the market. They are well known in the garment industry and are mostly industrial machines. Juki made their debut in the quilting world with a semi-industrial machine for designed just for quilters. I think I’ve had a Juki for about 10 years now. I also own two Berninas – The 1260 and 1530, and a couple of Featherweights (I only admit this to you so that you know what I’m basing my opinions on). Not only that, I teach all across the country and have stitched on many different kinds of machines.

I bought the Juki with the intention to use it as a second machine, specifically for machine quilting my little quilts. Having it also meant I didn’t have to change the walking foot from my regular foot on my Bernina – which is a huge time saver. They come with a few different feet, including two free motion feet and a walking foot. I like using the regular foot to stitch up against a bumper so I can get a scant quarter inch.

I especially love that Juki machines are all metal including the bobbins and feet. The TL2010 features a larger 9″ opening between the body and the arm, so machine quilting is easier to handle. It also has an extension table, which is especially nice for retreats. I usually have mine embedded in my table.

This machine ONLY stitches straight. Now, this might be an issue for some, but my only intention for this machine was machine quilting. The fact that it only stitches straight is actually a plus…nice tension at all times and a single hole throat plate. It holds large cones as well as regular thread. It also has an automatic thread cutter, automatic needle threader, knee lift, and stitches 1500 stitches per minute (or something like that). In other words, it is FAST!!! 

It has some really great advanced features, such as an industrial sub-tension system, variable speed control slider, and bright white LED lighting. It’s definitely built for precision sewing. With a large work area of up to 23 inches (with auxiliary table attached), the TL-2010 can handle large quilt, sewing or home decor project with ease. It also allows you to trim top and bobbin threads using the exclusive foot controlled trimming system. Just rock your heel back on the foot control, and the thread is quickly and precisely cut. The machine is equipped with an automatic thread button that simultaneously trims the needle and bobbin threads at the sewing end by lightly pressing the push-button. It also keeps the thread from quivering when sewing at high speeds and provides accurate fine tuned thread tension. Pretty cool! For a full list of factory specs please visit juki.com!

Because the Juki is one of my VERY most favorite things, we’re offering it as our Day 1 – FINAL day of my 12 Days of Favorite things special. Now through January 2nd you can get a Juki TL2010 for yourself for only $999.00!  Click link below to get yours now!

Want even better news? In the true spirit of Christmas, it’s time to GIVE AWAY another Juki! Buy purchasing your Juki between now and January 2nd, 2022 you’ll earn yourself a chance to WIN your Juki for FREE! You read that right, one lucky customer will have their Juki paid for by us as a way to say thank you for the purchase. 

Whew! I almost forgot how much we’ve covered over the last couple weeks. If you have questions on any of this please feel free to leave me a comment! I love to hear what you think! Thanks again for tagging along as I explored the 12 Days of my most favorite things here at Primitive Gatherings! 

Oh and before I forget, tune-in to my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” on YouTube at 11:30 today! Click the link below to watch! See you there!

 

 

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