Tag: #Stitch

It Could Feel like Christmas Morning Once a Month!

Hey all, welcome back for part two of the Primitive Gatherings Subscription Box discussion! In my last post I talked about what a great opportunity our Subscription Wool Boxes are, and how if you’re still hemmin’ and hawing over whether or not to join, to go for it already! Thanks to those of you who left comments about how much you love yours. There’s no better advertising than real-life testimonials, so I really appreciate that! If you still need convincing, I invite you to go back and read some of those comments. Happy stitchers don’t lie!

I realize that working with wool and wool appliqué isn’t for everyone, so if you’re one of those people who just can’t get into it, don’t worry! Our Primitive Gatherings Quilt Subscription Boxes are another great option that might just be the ticket to happiness being delivered to your door once a month. The Primitive Gatherings Quilt Box Subscription consists of themed boxes that re-create some of my antique quilts into similar smaller versions or mini quilts. They include small hand-piecing or EPP, quick and easy cross-stitch projects, a bit of hand appliqué and embroidery, pin cushions, pouches, totes, pillows, and an on-going block project that will grow into a larger quilt over time. Check out a few recent past boxes that have already shipped out…

Boxes also include projects by guest designers along with a variety of fabric types to bring you a wide range of fun and creative opportunities. My main focus in these boxes is smaller quilts, but I also want to stretch the possibilities to include other patchwork and sewing projects in the future.

These quilt boxes really are a great deal when you think about how much you’re saving in the long run, especially considering they are made up of all new projects that have not been previously released. Curious yet? Like the Subscription Wool Box, Quilt Box Subscription Boxes are released and conveniently delivered to your door every other month, alternating with the Wool Box months. Details are as follows:

  • Projects are 30% OFF retail value!
  • The Subscription Quilt Box will ship 6 times a year, every other month starting in February.
  • The price of each box will be $45.00 including shipping.
  • Boxes are billed automatically on the 15th of each month.
  • Boxes ship at the end of the month after all billing is cleared.
  • You may join anytime as long as the subscription is not full to capacity. Subscriptions will continue until you email us and request to cancel.
  • PLEASE NOTE: when canceling your subscription, you will still receive the next box in the line up. After that box your subscription will be canceled.
  • Signing up is easy! All you have to do is click the link below…

If you’re still having doubts, like I mentioned above all you have to do is ask someone who’s taken the plunge before and they’ll certainly tell you! In fact, just like you did for the wool box, if you’re a Quilt Box subscriber already please drop me a note on why you would recommend it. Let your fellow stitchers know what they’re missing out on – there might even be a prize in it for you!

If you have any questions on either the Quilt or  Wool Subscription Box please feel free to ask! You can leave it in the comments here on the blog or email the shop at store@primitivegatherings.us. You can also tune in to STITCH with Lisa Bongean at 1:00 p.m. CST on YouTube for another jam-packed hour of fun and discussion. I’ll be talking more about these fabulous boxes in person, plus covering any PG news or announcements. Gloria will be joining me with exciting news to share from The Gathering and Vickie will be showing off some of our favorite spring projects from the shop. If we’re lucky, maybe even Luke will stop by to fill us in on what’s happening down in Bernina Land. You’ll have to tune in to find out… Click the STITCH button below to watch!

Well friends, the sun is finally peeking out after a damp and dreary day, just in time for it to start setting. I’m going to go try and enjoy the last of it… Maybe get my bike out? Perhaps go for a walk? We’ll see. It’s amazing how a 10 minute ride down the highway can suck the motivation to exercise right out of a person. LOL – wish me luck! Have a great evening everyone. I’ll see you at 1:00 tomorrow! ~Lisa

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The Best Things in Life Say, “Primitive Gatherings” on the Package!

What’s up stitchers!? How was your weekend? I was happy to catch up on a little rest and recuperation time as I recovered from a very rude, and uninvited guest who showed up in the form of a kidney stone last week. The pain was definitely intense enough to throw a wrench in my gears so I’m thrilled to back in the swing of things so soon – and just in time for the first day of spring! Seeing the sun coming through my window so bright and early this morning was like a special treat after so many months of consecutive dreary days. I hate to say it but after a while you get used to it, so when the sun finally starts to warm things up again it’s almost a bit of a shock. It’s truly amazing how 45º can suddenly become shorts and t-shirt weather after dealing with much colder temps and flat light all winter long.

Despite strict nagging to rest from both my husband and my ever so loving staff, I did manage to get a little work done from my easy chair over the weekend… like catching up on answering messages and comments posted to my blog, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for instance (I LOVE reading comments but it definitely takes some time!). In reading all those comments, one thing I’ve noticed is that many of you are still on the fence about joining the fantastic monthly subscription wool box that we offer – otherwise known as the Primitive Gatherings Wool Box Subscription Box – so I thought I might take a second to help bump you off in the right direction by reminding you of what a fabulous opportunity it is.

If you’re not familiar with how the Subscription Wool Box works, don’t worry. It’s super easy to sign up! Boxes are released and conveniently delivered to your door every other month. They focus primarily on wool and stitchery projects and contain as close as we can get to $100 worth of wool-based goodies. These coveted boxes are made up of all new projects that have not been previously released, including at least one major project kit and pattern, a pattern for an ongoing project, novelties, and more! Our Wool Boxes consist mostly of Primitive Gatherings products and patterns, but we may also have guest designers and products as well in future boxes. Still need more convincing? Just take a look at a couple of examples of what boxes have looked like in the recent past…

Triggered yet? Even I am and I’ve already made all the projects – LOL! If you love working with wool even a fraction of how much I do, I’m not sure how you can stand to look at these photos knowing that you’re not at the party when you could be. In other words… You’re missing out! Ready to sign up? Here are the details!

  • Projects are 40% OFF retail value!
  • PG Wool Boxes will be charged the 15th of the month and will be shipped after the billing cycle.
  • The price of each box will be $72 which includes shipping (international orders are required by customs to have protective shipping materials and will be charged at $83 per box including the cost of shipping).
  • Boxes will ship every other month starting in January. Subscriptions will continue until you email us and request to cancel.
  • PLEASE NOTE: when canceling your subscription, you will still receive the next box in the line up. After that box your subscription will be canceled.
  • Ready to sign up? It’s easy! All you have to do is click the link below to get started…

If wool isn’t your thing, no worries. There is also the Primitive Gatherings Quilt Box Subscriptinon to consider that I will be talking more about in my next blog post! To give you an idea of what they’re like, PG Quilt Boxes are themed boxes that re-create some of my antique quilts into similar smaller versions or mini quilts. Sound like something you could get into? Check back here on the blog this Wednesday for more information.

If you have questions about the wool box, feel free to leave me a comment and I will answer them as soon as I can! You can also email us at store@primitivegatherings.us or ask me LIVE in the comments during  STITCH with Lisa Bongean this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CST. As I mentioned earlier, today is the official first day of the spring season on the calendar so to celebrate we’ll be talking about… all things spring, of course! We’ll be talking about a few Easter-themed items along with some of our favorite everyday projects to get your brain going in the right direction for the warmer months. We’ll also cover any shop announcements and upcoming events as usual. Set your reminder now so you don’t miss out! You can tune in by clicking the link below. Until next time, take care and remember to stitch every day! See you soon! ~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

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Having Trouble with Your FREE Winter Gnomes Download? Get it Here!

Hey everyone! How was your weekend? Nick and I had a great time up north playing in the snow while visiting my brother Brad and sister in-law Tina (who also happens to be one of our stellar wool dyers here at PG) at their family cottage in the WI Northwoods. We had a blast spending our days outdoors, cooking out on the dock, and playing all sorts of games you don’t normally see done on ice. I tried my hand at golf, target shooting, and bowling to name a few. And despite the extra slick ice after a little bit of melting earlier in the week, thanks to the skier in me I managed to stay on my feet. Check out that perfect ice… what a glare!

We remained lucky with the weather and had a gorgeous couple of days with unseasonably warm temps to keep us comfy. We ate, we drank, we played, and we were certainly a whole lot of merry… It was a great time! Needless to say it’s always nice to spend some quality time with friends and family away from the office. It’s so important to get away from work when you have the chance, and at this point in my life I’m going to take those opportunities when they present themselves because…well… I can! And hey – any reason to wear my “fun” Sorrel boots rather than my “work” Sorrel boots is time well spent in my book.

Of course I couldn’t let the weekend go by being all fun and games. My workaholic brain is not usually content taking a break from the grind (even for a minute) so naturally I was up at the crack of dawn each day I was there, making progress stitching on March Wool Box projects long before anyone else was awake. The early hours of the morning are definitely one of my favorite – and most productive – times of the day to say the least. The company is good, and really… who can beat this view?

Just like weekends, vacations never quite seem to last long enough and this one was no different. This morning proved itself to be a Monday pretty much right off the bat when it was brought to my attention that there was a little…er… “issue” with the “Winter Gnomes“ pattern that was offered as a free gift with purchase over the weekend. Thanks to a whole lot of computer jargon that I’m not going to bother trying to explain, there was a bit of a glitch in how that pattern was distributed. In other words – you may have properly received the pattern PDF in your account downloads and… you may not have. I’m very sorry for the inconvenience if this happens to include you! If it does, don’t panic! I have an easy solution. You can simply download and print the PDF pattern for by clicking the button below!

If you are still having problems getting your free download squared away, feel free to call the shop during our normal business hours (Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sat 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., and Sun 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. central standard time) and they will be happy to help you.

Alright stitchers, short and sweet today but I will be back again later in the week here on the blog and LIVE on YouTube this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CST (if you missed last week’s show you can catch the replay by clicking the STITCH button below)! Take care and I will see you there! ~Lisa

lisabongean34 Comments