Tag: #Sewcialites2

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 “Dapper” to 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 “Dapper” is 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

 

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Almost to the End…

Hello stitchers… Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! I hope you’re in a “sewcial” mood this holiday because it’s time once again for another Sewcialites 2 block release! This week we’re featuring Block #20 – “Fascinate“ by my friend Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life. You’ve probably heard of Sherri and her blog sometime along the way in your quilting journey but if not, I definitely recommend that you check out her work. She is part of a mother-daughter quilting design team based in southern Nevada along with her daughter Chelsi Stratton. Fitting, considering Sherri has always found inspiration in her rich family heritage, passed down through generations of women who loved sewing and creating. Keeping the familial tradition alive, her life-long stitching career led her to start her highly successful quilting blog, A Quilting Life in 2008, and eventually to publishing her designs in magazines and books as well. On top of all of that, she’s also a talented Moda sister who has designed over 16 fabric lines under the Sherri & Chelsi name since 2015. Busy lady!

Sherri describes her favorite designs as typically involving scrappy squares or star blocks of some sort. “Fascinate“ is an intricate mix of four-patches, half-square triangles, and squares that creates an advanced skill level look within a beginner level block.

To make things easier for you while working on “Fascinate,” Sherri recommends used strip piecing for the four patch units instead of cutting small squares. This makes the block not only easier to piece, but also more accurate (especially when working with very small pieces). Color wise, if you follow the pattern as it’s written, be sure to pay attention to the direction of the darks and of your half-square triangles. Speaking of half-square triangles, as always I highly recommend using triangle paper where you can when doing this block to make sure your half-square triangles are accurately sized. If you need to stock up, you can get my custom Primitive Gatherings Triangle Paper by clicking HERE! 

If you’ve been following along you know that for my blocks I’m using my Garden Gatherings fabric line, leaving out the five tans. For this block I chose to go with dark navy for the outer half-square triangles, and green, yellow and pinks for the four patch units. 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. It’s looking pretty sharp, if I do say so myself!I keep saying that one of the things I love most about this quilt-along is that you can do it on your time, however your schedule allows. In fact, please don’t let the fact that we’re closer to the end of this QAL than we are to the beginning scare you off. 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.

It seems like only yesterday that we were starting this QAL so it feels a bit on the unbelievable side that we’re getting ready to wrap it up in just four short weeks – truly just in time for spring. The timing really couldn’t be better if you ask me. I think it’s a pretty quilt, who’s cheerful palette fits the bill for spring and summer décor nicely – I have several thoughts on how I might display mine…

Well gang, that’s about all I have for you today. I’ll admit I’m ready to relax after starting out the week dealing with a nasty kidney stone that my doctor reports was about the size of a pea (no pun intended – ha ha). It didn’t help matters that there was a ton of activity going on here at PG that I really didn’t want to miss out on. Sometimes though, it can’t be about what our brains want because our bodies simply object – and this was just one of those cases. 🙁 If you’ve ever had a kidney stone before you know they are no joke. The pain is some of the worst I’ve ever felt! I tried to power through but even I need a break sometimes. Needless to say, I’m super grateful to finally be feeling better after all that, and looking forward to resting up as much as I can over the weekend with my sweetheart.

Before I head out I want to say Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all my friends and supporters out there. It’s been a great year so far and I have you to thank for much of it! Today in honor of the holiday and to say thanks for all your great comments here on the blog, I thought it would be a great day for double prizes… So let’s do it! Congratulations to Mary Lou D., Sylvia M.,Catherine D., and Alice V., it’s your lucky day! Please 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)!

Alright everyone, that’s a wrap! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that you’re able to spend some time doing whatever it is that makes you happy. Maybe that’s getting outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Or maybe you enjoy going for a drive to see the sights, shopping til you drop, or staying INside to stitch while you watch the replays of all my past STITCH with Lisa Bongean episodes all weekend… Whatever it is, enjoy yourself, be safe, and I will see you next week! ~Lisa

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Bring On the Weekend!

Boy, what a week! Frankly, I’m happy that it’s over and the weekend is here. If it wasn’t crazy weather and dangerous roads throwing a wrench in our gears, it was medical emergencies, transportation issues, and a whole slew of other inconveniences that we could have done without. Special thanks to those of you prayer warriors who took the time to say a prayer for little Emery, my goddaughter’s son who was rushed to the hospital earlier in the week with fluid on his brain. If you haven’t heard the latest, I’m happy to report that the doctors were able to remove his drains and he continues to improve. So thank you, thank you, thank you! See! Prayers WORK!

Thankfully the craziness we faced this week wasn’t all bad. There were a few other positive things that happened in the midst of all the chaos to be grateful for, including attending my grandson Jace’s school spring concert. He even had a solo speaking part. Talk about a proud Mimi moment!

It’s such a huge blessing to be a regular part of these boy’s lives, they bring me so much joy it’s ridiculous. Definitely one of my favorite things about life so far, hands down! But as much as I love watching them grow up… I wish it didn’t go by so darn fast. Slow down boys – just a little!

Another reason I was so ready for Friday this week is because this afternoon we kicked off our “Friday Night Lights” over night retreat with a bang as guests started arriving late afternoon. We’ve been mingling and getting to know each other as everyone gets settled in before dinner. I have to admit, I’m pretty excited about this particular dinner because it includes a WI style Bloody Mary bar, and after a week like this one – a Bloody sounds pretty darn good right about now. I’m not a huge drinker and usually have mine sans vodka, but tonight I may need to make a little exception… If you don’t know what I mean by WI style Bloody Mary, let’s just say we tend to get a little crazy with our Bloody’s by bringing a whole new meaning to the word “garnish.” As in…we like to garnish ours with enough to make a meal out of it. Here’s are some examples of what I mean… Basically we believe you can have whatever you want in your Bloody. Yeah – like I said… Wow right!? These aren’t our photos, just examples of how we’ll be doing ours in just a few minutes here (photo credits go to Anduzzi’s in Green Bay (left), WI and the Nitty Gritty in Madison, WI). The pictures are featured in a really great article on onlyinyourstate.com about where you can find some of the best Bloody Marys in WI. You can check it out to see more examples by clicking HERE! 

After dinner we’ll be having a pajama party including pajama bingo complete with prizes. Then tomorrow we stitch, shop, and stitch some more! It’s going to be great and I can’t wait to get at it… That being said I better get back over there, but before I sign off for the night we need to talk about the latest Sewcialites 2 block release. This week we’ve reached Block #18 – “Spellbound“ by Robin Pickens, another of my super talented fellow Moda sisters. In years past, Robin worked as a graphic designer in a corporate setting, but quickly discovered that despite the prestige and rewards of the job, the stress and long days were not fulfilling. This inspired her to pursue art that was more personal and artistic. She eventually found joy through illustration, textile, and surface design. Her current works are known for beautiful color, happiness, and positive inspiration, and range from greeting cards and calendars to tabletop collections, rugs, and home décor. She is also a talented fellow fabric designer for Moda!

Robin’s block “Spellbound” is a charming and unique block that is fun to do. It’s made up of an hour glass unit in the center, and 16 squares – 12 squares around the center piece and the remaining four the outer corners. In other words – a quarter triangle block that is surrounded by little patchwork squares and then framed by another outer row with squares on the ends.

“Spellbound” is classified as “intermediate” skill level by Fat Quarter Shop and is fairly easy to do. The block pattern is based on four fabrics that you will be placing however you think it looks best – scrappy or planned. Starching will help control small pieces and help them to keep their shape as you sew and press. If hour glass blocks intimidate you, don’t fret. Kimberly Jolly of Fat Quarter Shop has an excellent tutorial posted where she explains her go-to hot tips and tricks for making perfect hour glass units, which you can find by visiting the  Sewcialites 2 Landing Page. For the full pattern and instructions for “Spellbound“ simply click the button above!

If you’ve been following along you know that for my blocks I’ve been using my Garden Gatherings fabric line, leaving out the five tans. 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 really love how this block turned out. Let me know in the comments what you think of it so far!

Every week I emphasize on one of the things I love most about this quilt-along, which is that you can do it on your time, however your schedule allows. Plus, many of the blocks are fairly simple to make and can be done in an afternoon so catching up is easy. 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.

Alright gang, that’s all I’ve got for you today! Time for me to skidattle over to the retreat house and let the Bloody Mary bar commence! I hope you have a great weekend and an even better week next week. I for one plan to come back refreshed and ready to go! I’m looking forward to putting this week in the past and moving forward with a fresh start. See you then! Until then, take care and remember – Stitch every day! Talk soon… ~Lisa

lisabongean23 Comments

We Made It!

Hey everyone, great news! After three crazy days of non-stop ice and snow we finally made it through to bright and sunny skies, just in time for the weekend! I apologize that we had to cancel my LIVE show yesterday but with the delayed start to the day, hazardous travel, and the schools all being shut down, it was just too much chaos to get organized safely by air time. No worries though, we’ve rescheduled it for this coming Monday, February 27th, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. CST, so be sure to set a reminder so it doesn’t slip your mind! Rather than just skipping this week’s show all together I decided to do two shows next week because I have some quilts up for sale that I feel deserve their own episode. If that’s something you’re interested in, be sure to tune in during the LIVE broadcast because once I show them live, the phone lines will be open and they always go quick! In other words, you may miss out if you watch it after the fact. As always, you can tune in by hitting the STITCH  button at the end of the post.

Well everyone, since it’s Friday I guess that means it’s time for another fun block release from Sewcialites 2. This week we’re showing off Block #17, “Simplicity“ by Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique If you haven’t heard of Lella Boutique, it is a blog and pattern company Vanessa started from home after quitting her job to go on maternity leave. Having learned to quilt as a young girl, Vanessa has turned her natural ability and love for creativity into a career she loves that includes a variety of stunning fabric lines designed for Moda, and two best-selling quilting books. Often inspired by her childhood experiences, her patterns are known for their vibrant and playful style. As far as this block goes Vanessa admits that she’s, “a sucker for simplicity in general but I’ve come to realize that I [especially] appreciate it during a sew-along when life gets busy.” True story!

“Simplicity” is clearly the perfect name for this block since despite its intermediate rating on the skill level scale, it is fairly simple to make. It’s made up of six basic squares on the outside edges and three hour glass (or quarter-square triangle) units with one rotated for the center row – so nothing major. As far as color placement goes, “Simplicity” was designed with darker units on the outside and lighter units on the inside, but that obviously doesn’t mean you have to do yours that way. There are several color placement schemes that would work out great so really… Do whatever floats your boat!

If hour glass blocks intimidate you, don’t fret. Kimberly Jolly of Fat Quarter Shop has an excellent tutorial posted for this block where she explains her go-to hot tips and tricks for making perfect hour glass units, which you can find by clicking the  Sewcialites 2 Landing Page link below!

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 four-color scheme using yellow, green, pink, and a bit of navy blue. 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. What do you think of how it’s looking so far? Tell me whether or not you like my color choices in the comments! I’d also love to hear about what fabrics you’ve chosen for this QAL. Let me know!

Every week I emphasize on one of the things I love most about this quilt-along, which is that you can do it on your time, however your schedule allows. Plus, many of the blocks are fairly simple to make and can be done in an afternoon so catching up is easy. 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.

Now that you have a nice little weekend project on deck, let’s get on with it! Even though this week had kind of a weird work schedule and actually seemed shorter for some reason, it’s safe to say that I’m ready to hang it up for a couple days so I can hit the “reset” button on my brain… Before I go however, it just wouldn’t be Friday without throwing a few prizes out into the world. So with that being said, let me shout out a huge thank you and congratulations to Kim P. and Charlene M! You are my prize winners this time around for your blog comments last week! 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)!

As always, if you’d like to be entered in my weekly blog comment prize drawing, it’s easy to do! Simply leave me a comment in the blog comment section and you’re in (please remember that if you’re using a “handle” or screen name that is different than your real name, please leave your first name and last initial in your comment so we can include you). Let me know what you’re working on, what you plan to work on in the future, what you’ve already accomplished, projects you’d like to see more of – or whatever you want to share with me! I always love hearing about what’s going on in your life. Haven’t won yet even though you always leave a comment? Don’t give up! You just never know when it’ll be your turn for a prize. Have a great weekend and I will see you next week. Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and don’t forget to tune into STITCH with Lisa Bongean at 1:00 p.m. CST this Monday by clicking the STITCH button below. Be there or be square! ~Lisa

P.S. – As many of you know, our dear shop manager Shelley is currently battling Leukemia which she was recently diagnosed with out of the blue. We are doing everything we can to keep her spirits up with special deliveries of homemade meals, care packages, phone calls, text messages, jokes in bad taste, etc. That being said, I feel like during times like these you can’t ever have too much positivity so if you’d like to join me and my Primitive Gatherings crew in wishing her well, please feel free to send any cards or well wishes our way and we will be sure she gets them. You can send them in care of Heidi Niesl to Primitive Gatherings – 8567 South Loop Rd, Larsen, WI 54947. She would like to express to everyone that she is doing as well as she can and plans to kick this cancer in the pants. I’ve always enjoyed teasing her for not reading my blog so I think we might even be able to do this as a surprise. If she IS reading this… well shucks. Send them anyway!!! We love you Shelley, and thank you to everyone in advance!!! <3

lisabongean33 Comments

Sewcialites 2 – #16 “Christmas Star” – PLUS FREE Pattern with Purchase Alert!

Hey everyone, welcome back! I hope you’re having a great day. I’ve been working on getting things squared away as I prepare to head up north with Nick for a little bit of together time this weekend. It’s a gorgeous bluebird day here and I can’t wait to take advantage of the nice weather. We have some fun activities planned and I’m definitely anxious to get going but as usual, there are a few important things we need to talk about before I can go off the radar for a couple of days.

First thing’s first – let’s talk Sewcialites 2. It’s Friday so that means it’s time for the next block release! If you can believe it we’re already to Block #16, “Christmas Star“ by one of my favorite Moda sisters, Corey Yoder. If you have ever used any of Corey’s vibrant, eye-catching patterns or fabrics you’ve already had a taste of her fun, cheerful creations, and contemporary style. Not only is Corey an accomplished fellow fabric designer for Moda, she is also a regular contributor to quilt magazines and the author of her own book, “Playful Petals.” Another beautiful Jill of many trades who I am proud to call my Moda sister!

I’ll warn you now, Corey’s block “Christmas Star“ is one of the most difficult blocks in this series. It has four colors and a lot of pieces including half-square triangles, flying geese, flying geese with corner squares, and square in a square. That being said, I highly recommend using triangle paper when doing this block to make sure your half-square triangles are accurately sized. If you need to stock up, you can get my custom Primitive Gatherings Triangle Paper by clicking HERE! To get the full pattern instructions for “Christmas Star” click the button below!

This block has intricate and beautiful piecing with lots of opportunity to show off your favorite fabrics. As far as color and fabric placement goes, you could do four different colors, two different colors and two different shades, or maybe all one color in four different shades. If you choose to use stripes or directional prints be sure to pay attention to which way they are going so they are consistent with one another and make visual sense. Whichever route you choose be sure to go slow and take it a step at a time. It will be worth it!

How are your blocks coming along? If you’ve been following along you know that for my blocks I’m using my Garden Gatherings fabric line, leaving out the five tans. For this block I chose to go with the four-color route using red, orange, yellow, and green. 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!

One of the things I love about this quilt-along is that you can do it on your time, however your schedule allows. Plus, many of the blocks are fairly simple to make and can be done in an afternoon so catching up is easy. 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.

The next thing I want to mention before heading out is a little thank you perk we have in place for our customers this weekend. Now through Sunday, February 19th, 2023 you will receive a FREE pattern download for my “Winter Gnomes Pillow” when you make a purchase online or in the shop!

Aren’t they cute? Even though we’re ready for spring, winter’s not giving up quite yet so I thought it would be fun to celebrate it with these adorable gnomes. This wool on flannel project is the perfect way to cure the winter blues. Sporting a snowflake, skis, and a delicious Peppermint Patty, these frosty Gnomes know how to party! Finished, “Winter Gnomes Pillow“ measures 18″ x 24″.

Alright stitchers, it’s time for me to give away some prizes and then hit the road for Vay-cay land. As always, thank you so much to those of you who leave comments for me here on my blog. They mean a lot to me and my staff, and help us stay on top of things in the forever changing algorithm of social media. In other words – thank you! This week prizes are going out to Carol E. and Audrey M. – Congratulations! 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)!

Well friends, I’m off! As I mentioned earlier, Nick and I are heading up to the Northwoods of WI to spend some time with friends and family playing in the snow. I’ll do my best to get some pictures but no promises… What I will do is catch you all next week! Until then have fun and have a great weekend. See you 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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