Tag: #StitchWithLisaBongean

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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The Pokémon Quilt is Here!

Hey everyone! I hope you are having a fabulous day despite it being Monday. Amy and I made it home safe to WI from the 2022 Sauder Village Quilt Show in OH, just in time to enjoy a little bit of spring sunshine over the weekend. I really enjoy going to quilting events because not only do I usually get to teach (which I love to do), we also get the opportunity to meet and talk with a ton of new people and fellow stitchers from all over the country! Though attending big shows is definitely a lot of fun, it’s always nice to get back home after a long trip.

Today is another beautiful, but windy day as a warm front is pushing its way through the state. I hear it’s supposed to be 90 by mid-week but I won’t be around to see it since I’m headed out to NV with Nick to visit Val in Las Vegas. We’ll be out there for a week or so as Val and I wrap up the final details on our much anticipated “Meet Me in the Garden Stitch-Along,” which is a quilt Val designed based on my new Garden Gatherings fabric line. This online tutorial with Val and I will start sometime in June/July, 2022. Keep an eye on my blog for the actual date, which will depend on the arrival of Garden Gatherings to our warehouse. We will also be making a post about what you’ll need (patterns, rulers, etc) for the Stitch-A-Long in the near future. If you’d like more information on participating in “Meet Me in the Garden,“ hit the link below!

If you’re already planning to join us for the “Meet Me in the Garden Stitch-Along” you can pre-order Garden Gatherings fabric now to put yourself ahead of the game. I highly recommend pre-ordering if you have your heart set on making this gorgeous quilt because there is a good chance we may already be sold out of the fabrics you will need for “Meet Me in the Garden” by the by the time the Stitch-A-Long event starts. So in other words, if you’re able to pre-order now, please do to avoid running into potential availability issues!

With me being gone all last week, Jess and the girls stepped up and handled, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ on Thursday for me. Jess started out by talking a little bit more about my “O’ Say Can You Sew” Quilt-Along. For those of you who have been following along we are currently on Clue #2, which is available for FREE download by clicking the link below now through June 6th, 2022. Clues are FREE for one month after they are posted. When the next clue is posted, prior clues can be found by visiting the “O’ Say Can You Sew Clue Archive“ by clicking HERE. Once Clues are no longer free, they are $5.00 per download.

I have been getting a lot of questions on how many blocks you will actually need for Clue #2 so let me try to help clarify. Pretend that what is in the picture below are the pieces of ONE COMPLETE block that will be sewn together. ONE COMPLETE block is made up of 4 hourglass units that look the same. You need to make 31 COMPLETE blocks for this Clue, which means you are going to need 124 total hourglass units (31 x’s 4 = 124). Hopefully that makes sense! If you’re still having trouble, feel free to call the shop at 920-722-7233 for additional help.

Are you doing your quilt completely scrappy or are you sticking with the red, white, and blue theme I’m going with for mine? There are so many possible outcomes for this quilt, which is part of what makes it so much fun and a real scrap buster! If you’re running out of scraps and need of more fabric as we move along through this Quilt-Along, don’t worry! We still have red, white, blue, and cream/tan bundles available that are perfect for this project. You can find those along with past clues for purchase on our website!

Next up I want to thank all of you who have already mailed in your Hogs for Heroes Flag blocks already – you are amazing! To date we already have about 100 of these Flag blocks in the studio which means we still need about 500 more. If you missed my original call-out for the blocks, let me explain the details. I came up with this idea to add to our efforts in helping Hogs for Heroes. I’m calling it my “secret mission!” My goal is to produce and collect as many Flag blocks as possible by June 15th, 2022, which will then be used collectively to create a future project that will generate even more funds for Hogs for Heroes – a non-profit organization dedicated to healing the mental and physical wounds suffered by Wisconsin Veterans during the course of active duty. Obviously, I can’t do this alone so I’m asking for your help to reach my goal!

If you would like to participate by making and donating blocks to this mystery mission, please send your finished piece(s) to us no later than June 15th, 2022. We’re super excited to get started on this, so if you can get your blocks to us earlier (June 1st, 2022 would be ideal) that would be even better! All of us here at Primitive Gatherings will be helping to combine your creativity together into their final form. You can find a printable PDF of the instructions and pattern for the Hogs for Heroes flag blocks by clicking the link below!

Once you’re ready to submit your donated pieces, please package and send your blocks to:

I know we’re going to hit our goal but we have a ways to go! Feel like making two, or three? Even better! I will take all the help I can get – anything for our veterans! If you would like to know more about Hogs for Heroes follow the link for more information!

And now… Let’s talk about something that many of you have been very anxiously waiting for – the famous Pokèmon quilt! If you have kids in your life, this quilt is simply a must have. For decades, people all over the world have been enchanted by the unique and colorful characters of this popular game. Imagine how cool it would be to have such an awesome tribute proudly displayed on a bed or as a wall-hanging in the playroom – easily making any child the coolest kid on the block!

My grandson Jace and I love to look at this quilt together while he tells me about each character and which ones are his favorites. With over 100 bright, bold colors popping against a mid-gray background, this quilt really gives you a lot to think about! You can choose between a Bella or flannel backing when ordering. For mine, I chose a flannel backing to make it nice and soft for cuddling up with – perfect for Saturday morning cartoons (remember, you will receive a 20% discount on the backing if you purchase it at the same time as the kit)! Finished, this quilt is a nice size, measuring 72″ x 84″.

I know you have just the kid in mind for this super cool quilt, so what are you waiting for? Jess has put together kits for this fun project, but unfortunately supplies are limited. As of today we still have a few left, but they’re definitely going fast. Don’t risk missing out, order while you can! Feeling like you want to do this project but like you might need a little guidance? You’re in luck! My video tutorial starring myself and my official Pokèmon consultant Jace released today and can be found on my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ YouTube channel – click below to watch!

Last but not least I wanted to share one more tidbit of great news – “Starlight Gatherings“ pre-cuts are finally IN stock and ready to go to their new homes! If you haven’t already seen it you are really in for a real treat with this new line. Many of you know I live out in the country, which means that it gets pretty dark at night. The lack of city lights means much brighter stars and a dark, wide-open sky. The view of the night sky is absolutely amazing at my place, which is why it was the total inspiration behind these designs. Both the book and pre-cuts are available to purchase now in the shop or on the Primitive Gatherings website. You can also watch me go through each quilt featured in the book piece by piece, by watching the trunk show replay on “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” by clicking HERE.

Well, folks I’m off for now. I am determined to not let this trip turn into all work and no play so I’m putting my computer away for the rest of the day! Don’t worry, I’ll be checking in periodically here on my blog throughout the week… and I may or may not pop in with Val during, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ on Thursday at 1PM CST, so I hope you’ll be tuning in for that. Don’t forget to like and comment on both my blog and YouTube channel. I love to hand out prizes and you could be next just for telling me what you think! Do you have any special kids in your life that will be getting a Pokèmon quilt hot off the press? What other character themes would you like to see in upcoming projects? Let me know! I’m always curious about what you’d like to see more of. I will see you all soon but until then, do your best to stitch every day! It always makes everything better. ~Lisa

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O’ Say Can You Sew – Clue #2!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to the O’ Say Can You Sew Quilt-Along! I hope you have your 31 9-patches done from Clue #1 because it’s already time to move on to Clue #2! For this clue, you’ll need two red 4 1/2″ squares that are the same fabric, and two cream 4 1/2″ squares that are different. You will be cutting all of them on the diagonal twice to produce 16 triangles, which you will be piecing and sewing back together in a later step. Easy enough, right? Good thing, since you’re going to need 31 sets in total which, if you haven’t already figured it out, will eventually be paired with the 31 9-patches from Clue #1!

There are a couple of options of how you can go about doing this clue. If you like super scrappy all the way around, no worries! Whatever you decide to do for fabric placement will work great. If you like a little bit of control however, you can designate one of your cream backgrounds to be consistent throughout your fabric placement. The resulting quilt will still be scrappy, but there will be an element of control within each block.

If you decide to take the more controlled route for Clue #2, you can actually get ahead of the game on Clue #3 as well! Simply cut four 3 1/2″ squares of the cream fabric you chose to be the controlled element within each block, and that will give you a bit of a head start on Clue #3. I know you must be wondering about Clue #3 already but that’s all I’m going to give you for now… You can consider that little tidbit your sneak-peek! Alright, time to get started! For a printable PDF and full instructions for Clue #2, hit the button below! Clue #2 is available as a FREE download now through June 6th. After that, it will be available to purchase on our website for $5.00.

Late to the game but still want to join the fun? No problem! Links to all clues can be found in the O’ Say Can You Sew Clue Archive. New clues are posted on the first Monday of every month. Remember, once the current month’s clue is posted, the prior clue is no longer free but can be purchased for a small fee of $5.00. To see the archive, follow link below! For more visual learners I will also be posting a video tutorial of each clue on my “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ YouTube channel every month, so be sure to check that out as well!

Speaking of “Stitch with Lisa Bongean,“ we will be back this week LIVE on YouTube this Thursday at 1:00PM CST. Shop Talk with Shelley will also be back tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9:00AM as well. Set your reminders now so you don’t miss out! And of course as always, keep those comments coming for a chance to win a cool prize! Tell me how your mystery quilt is coming along. Are you on track and ready for Clue #2, or are you still deciding on whether or not to participate? Let me know! I love to hear about your progress. Happy stitching everyone. See you tomorrow! ~Lisa

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Moda All-Stars for the Win!

Hey friends! Have you ever heard of the Moda All-Star quilt book series? It’s an awesome collection of books put together by a team of 50 of Moda’s top designers with a charitable donation as the common goal of each publication. Royalties from every book sold in the series are donated to charities like The Alzheimer’s Association, Feeding American, and Special Olympics to name a few. What a great way to enjoy what we stitchers love most, all while giving back at the same time!

I just so happened to be thumbing through the latest All-Stars release, Snuggle Up when it occurred to me that I have been in every issue of the Moda All-Stars series since they first came out in 2015 – that’s 15 of them! I can’t tell you how proud that makes me feel, knowing that my hard work and dedication to my craft is also helping people who are facing adversity in their lives every day. I’m truly honored to be part of such an awesome cause. So far, Moda All-Stars has made charitable donations to 15 worthy causes that total more than $95,000. Just wow!

Of course we couldn’t have achieved such great things without all of you. Thanks to your continued support by purchasing the Moda All-Star series books, we have been able to accomplish something great! Every purchase of an All-Star series book factors into a charitable donation to a worthy cause. If you would like to learn more about past recipients of these generous donations, click the link below to watch a short video from Martingale Publishing!

Whether you’re a fan of scrappy quilts, pillows and cushions, minis, or simply love pre-cut friendly projects, All-Stars has the book for you! Not to mention, they are beautiful! Perfect bound with thick, glossy pages and beautiful photography, these books will last! They make the perfect addition to your sewing room library – or, if you’re feeling especially generous, they’re also an easy solution for a gift ideas. In fact, my blog manager Heidi plans to give her mother a copy of, Lucky Charm Quilts for Mother’s Day because she recently professed she’s always wanted to make a patchwork quilt, but never had the chance. What a thoughtful idea! I think it’s about time she grabs the bull by the horns, don’t you? No excuses now!

The end of the week is fast approaching. It would be nice if the weather would cooperate for once so we can all get some time outdoors this weekend. If not well, I know just the thing to do to pass the time… STITCH of course! How are your O’ Say Can You Sew Mystery Quilt-Along blocks coming along? Hopefully you’re finished or at least getting there, because Clue 2 releases Monday! Not familiar with this Quilt-Along? Hit the link below to read the blog post where I explain it all!

Alright, I’m off! Have a great weekend everyone, and try to stay out of trouble! LOL I’ll see you all again on Monday when my O’ Say Can You Sew Mystery Clue #2 is hot off the virtual press! You’ll be able to find a link to the printable pattern PDF, along with all the information you need to complete the blocks right here on my blog! If you had fun making the last clue come to life, you’re going to love this block just as much! In the mean time always have fun and do your best to stitch every day… It’s good for you! ~Lisa

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Hogs for Heroes Online Auction Fundraiser Details

I am so excited to be able to say, “it’s that time of year again!” as we get ready to kick off our 2022 Hogs for Heroes fundraising event. I’m sure most of you know that we are partnered with the organization, Hogs for Heroes as a fun way to give back to our WI veterans. I am so proud of the fact that currently, we have raised over $32,000 between private donations and our 2021 “American Quilter’s Stitch Along” fundraiser event! I want to say thank you to everyone who contributed so far, we could never have done it without you!

The amount we’ve already raised in honor of Hogs for Heroes is truly amazing. Your generous donations and hard work makes me feel inspired to do even more, which is why I’m so ready to get this year’s event rolling! For 2022 we’re going to try something a little different. We had a lot of success back in January when we did our LIVE online Holiday Décor clearance sale auction, so I decided to try something similar for Hogs for Heroes. We have several awesome items we will be auctioning off online, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Hogs for Heroes. Sounds fun, right? Let me tell you how it works.

Starting today at 2PM CST, April 21st, 2022 through May 1st, 2022 we will be auctioning off an item or two per day on my “Stitch Lisa Bongean” YouTube channel to help raise funds for Hogs for Heroes. Auction items will be posted as a video on “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” for 24 hours. Bidding opens once the item is posted. After 24 hours bidding will close and the highest bidder wins the item. Once the official winner is determined, we will alert them via YouTube chat feed under that particular item. Winners then need to contact the store to provide shipping and payment information (shipping fees will be applied). Once payment is received, we will ship out the item to the winner. We will be doing a complete wrap up tentatively May 19th, 2022 when we will present the check to Hogs for Heroes. Pretty simple!

HOW TO BID:

Bidding will be 100% online by commenting on YouTube. Each auction item will have a correlating video posted on my “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” YouTube channel. New items will post daily. You must place your bid in the comment section for the item you would like to win. Once bidding is closed after 24 hours, the highest bidder wins the item. Please keep in mind that bids posted anywhere else will not be considered!!!

Since today marks the first official day of this exciting event, I am going to start the bidding off with two special quilts that I personally designed for this great cause. As much as I love and will miss these quilts, I’m more than willing to let them go if it means contributing more to Hogs for Heroes. I am honored to do it! Because I’m hoping for a generous donation resulting from these precious works of art, I’m starting the bidding off at $100 for each. I am also making an exception to the rules and keeping bidding for these two quilts open for the entire auction week (bidding on all other items ends 24 hours after they are posted)! Bidding will end on these items at 8AM on May 2nd, 2022. That’s right! I want to drive those bids as high as we can get them, so I’m taking the week to make it happen!

The first quilt up for grabs is an awesome patriotic themed piece, “American Quilter’s Quilt.” I used a seeing star grunge with a hand-sewn striped binding, and a red star print for the backing. Finished size is 67″ x 72″ making it a nice size to display on a rustic table or porch swing. Of course, it’s complete with a sleeve on the back for easy hanging if you want to go that route – and I also promise to add a label to the back before I send it out! I really hope this quilt brings in a chunk, so I’m starting bidding off at $100 on this one. Now it’s up to all of you to see how high we can get the bidding to go! C’mon everyone – let’s show em’ what we’ve got!

The second quilt I have for you today is one you might remember from last year as being a Block of the Month. “Hexies for Heroes” is an EPP quilt, which is all done tediously by hand and then machine quilted. This is a big quilt with a finished size of 88″ x 88″ which makes it perfect as a bed spread or as hanging décor. I want to give a shout out to a couple of  our great customers and friends, Lori T. and Terry S. for generously donating their time and skill to make this quilt for our auction. A ton of work went into making this intricate piece, so I’m starting bids at $100 on this one as well. Please be generous! It’s the least we can do. A pattern for this quilt will be available at the beginning of May if you would like to make one for yourself.

Remember, to bid on these quilts you need to post your bid offers in the comment section on my “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” YouTube channel. BIDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED ANYWHERE ELSE. BIDS POSTED TO THE BLOG OR FACEBOOK PAGE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. To see current auction items and to place your bids each day, visit “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” by clicking the link below! I am really proud of the great job we did last year raising money for Hogs for Heroes, but I KNOW we can outdo ourselves in 2022. The ball is rolling everyone, now it’s up to all of you!

Make sure you don’t miss out on your opportunity to bid on new items by visiting me at “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” every day to see what’s new and to place your bids! And just a heads up, I came up with another great idea to raise funds for Hogs for Heroes that I will be talking more about in a separate post later today, so keep an eye out for that! We are working on the details but I’ll have more information up for you soon! Until then, happy bidding everyone!

 

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Easter is Here!

Can you believe Easter is this Sunday? Even though we’ve been talking about it and I knew it was coming up fast, it still somehow took me totally by surprise. Where does the time go? The last time we talked about Easter was back in March when it still felt like I had plenty of time to think about it. If I recall correctly, I was still in FL with my grandson Jace, enjoying Disney and the beach. Sunny blue skies and warm weather seem a world away at this point, especially after a nasty hail storm Tuesday and more snow in the forecast for tomorrow. As Nick and I walked out to retrieve the retreat house patio furniture from the garden Tuesday night, I reminded myself of how much I enjoy the variety and adventure of having four seasons – and that this too shall pass. In the meantime, the ugly weather is giving me the on-going perfect excuse to stay inside and stitch!

I couldn’t let this meaningful holiday pass us by without celebrating with you all somehow, so Jess and I came up with a fun little Easter game that we’re calling, Primitive Gatherings “EGG-Stravaganza!” Let me explain how it works! Now through April 17th, 2022 (April 16th for retail store purchases – we are closed Easter Sunday), with a $40.00 or more purchase (before tax and shipping) eligible customers customers can “Pick an Egg” from our lucky egg prize bin! Inside each egg is one of a variety of prizes that are sure to be a welcomed addition to your Easter basket this year. Prize possibilities include but are not limited to: a discount on your purchase that day, wool or fabric charms, Primitive Gatherings gift certificates, and more! There is a chance for 2 lucky winners (one from the Shop and one from Online) to receive 50% off their purchase!!!! Check out the official details below…

What are your plans for Easter Sunday? Will you be going out for brunch or cooking a big dinner at home? I love cooking for my family and have made many wonderful Easter dinners over the years. I do like to switch it up every once in a while though, so this year we decided to let someone else do all the work. Nick and I have a favorite spot that we love to go for country-style chicken dinner called Van Able’s. In fact, I want to give a little shout out to them for having what I consider hands-down, the best broasted chicken dinner in Wisconsin – and that’s saying a lot! This nostalgic supper club is known for miles around for their extensive menu and excellent service – not to mention they make my most favorite creamed green beans on the planet, “Bernice’s Beans”… Oof! I can’t wait. Just set the whole bowl in front of me… I should probably start fasting now to make room for it all!

Despite a busy holiday weekend coming up, I hope you find time to get some stitching in. I know I’ll be sneaking away to my sewing room any chance I get! If you’re looking for something fun to watch while you work, tune in today for my latest trunk show on “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ at 1PM CST! I’ll be taking a detailed look at each quilt in my brand new “Garden Gatherings“ collection, as well as revisiting some pattern designs from one of my previous but similar lines, “Flower Garden Gatherings.” If you’re hunting for a spring project to tackle or just love these fabrics, make sure to watch for some fun and fresh ideas by clicking the link below!Want a chance to win a prize? Leave me a comment below! Tell me what your favorite Easter treats are. What are your plans for the big day? We love to give away prizes to show our loyal fans and customers how much we appreciate them. I’d like to say congratulations to Kelly C. and Leann B. – you are our lucky blog prize winners this week! As always, I don’t want to post last names or email addresses for your privacy, so if you think you’re one of these lucky winners please check your email! You can also contact Heidi at heidin@primitivegatherings.us if you have not already received an email from her. She will use your email address to confirm that you are in fact the winner (in the case that there is someone with the same initials, she will determine the correct person with matching email credentials)! If you’re not a winner this week, please keep trying. You could be next! Take care everyone. ~Lisa

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