Tag Archives: 2021

2021, Uncategorized

Classes Announced for Houston Quilt Festival

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Great instructors and classes just announced

The Houston Quilt Festival is a great event. Besides buying tons of fabric, patterns, and tools, the Festival offers over 350 classes from renowned instructors.  This is your chance to get close-up and personal instruction from some of the best of the best.Houston Quilt Festival

The wizards at quilts.com announced the lineup of instructors and their classes at the Houston Quilt Festival. You cannot register for these classes quite yet but you can start figuring out which instructors and classes you want to be. Some classes are full-day events and some are two-hour meetings.  

Registration will open up in July 2021. So mark your calendars now. While making your plans a reminder that they have a preview night for their quilt display on October 27, 2021. So if you will be there early why not plan on seeing the quilts without as much of a crowd?

Faculty at the Houston Quilt Festival

How about if we do some name dropping?  Among the instructors is Teresa Coates (you probably know her from Shannon Fabrics and the Cuddle fabric), Laura Heine, Paula Nadelstern, and Ricky Tims.  Can’t overlook Arizona’s Cindy Lohbeck and her fabric dyeing classes that we have discussed before.Hand Dyed Fabric

The Festival starts on October 28th and concludes on Halloweens, October 31, 2021.  It is held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, Texas. Some of these classes start early on October 25 and 25.  After all how else do you squeeze in more than 350 classes?

quilts.com

Houston Quilt Festival Housing Info

Since the event is in downtown Houston, Texas there are plenty of hotels within walking distance to the George R. Brown Convention center. Two have walkways that adjoin the convention center and more are within a few blocks away. Best to make hotel plans now as some already are booked full. Don’t forget two airports service Houston so you should have plenty of options to fly into the Houston area.

Will we see you there at the Houston Quilt Festival?

 

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2021, Uncategorized

Tula Pink Curiouser and Curiouser

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Well, Tula Pink hit pay dirt again with a beautiful collection of prints based on Lewis Carroll’s tale of Alice in Wonderland. Twenty-five fabrics capture the whimsical spirit of Lewis Carroll’s beloved story. As the folks at Free Spirit Fabrics say –

” When the weight of the world is too much I turn to needle and thread. This collection focuses on some of the most memorable themes and characters from the story. Our two main characters for the collection are Alice, of course, and the Red Queen. Alice sits in a sweet wreath of daisies with her cat Dinah on her shoulder. In the background are the white rabbits poised to lead Alice down the rabbit hole. Both portrait prints are designed to easily cut down to 8 1/2 inch squares without cutting into the next portrait. There is a lot to discover in this collection and everything has meaning from the original story. Alice falls down the rabbit hole surrounded by curious objects in “Down the Rabbit Hole”.

When Alice first gets to the bottom of the Rabbit Hole she grows so tall that she can’t fit through the door to Wonderland and she begins to cry. As she shrinks, her tears flood out the little door taking her and many Wonderland residents with the current in a print called “Sea of Tears”. The “Cheshire” cat looms in the night sky watching over Wonderland. Painted, spotted roses still dripping with wet paint sit on a background of oversize spots just hoping to blend in and escape the Queen’s notice.

 A wide stripe of vines grow out of the selvage scooping up a Mad Hatter’s tea party. There is so much more to discover. Curiouser and Curiouser features a total of 25 detailed prints in full, vibrant color, plus two, 108 inch backing fabrics. The collection is designed to be loud and exuberant while working seamlessly with True Colors!”

Yep loud and exuberant is a good definition for anything from Tula Pink. Besides her fabric, Tula Pink also partners with Aurifil for a curated thread collection to match up with her line. The thread collection consists of 20 small spools of 50 weight thread in the perfect shades to compliment her fabrics.

But besides her fabric, the folks at Free Spirit offer some gorgeous FREE patterns for these fabrics, all with an Alice in Wonderland motif. So let’s check out their offerings.

Checkmate with Tula Pink Fabric

The center of each square features a Queen or Alice in various shades. The pattern requires fussy cutting and piecing, and the square is finished at 86 inches for this Checkmate Quilt.Checkmate

Cheshire Cats Diva

This is the perfect quilt pattern for the cat lover. The colors selected by Tula Pink make this pop. The quilt finishes at 74 inches by 86 inches. The Cheshire Cats Diva Quilt is similar to the next one.Cheshire Cats Diva

Cheshire Cats Flake

If you are really into cats, how about two quilts from Tula Pink’s collection? Same size as the Cheshire Cats Diva quilt but just slightly different. The Cheshire Cats Flake Quilt would look great in any décor.Cheshire Cats Flake

Pawn to Queen

Get ready for your eyes to go batty on this pattern. The black diamonds make the quilt pop, don’t you think? The finished size is 60.5 inches by 70 inches and the designer felt this requires intermediate skills for the Pawn to Queen Quilt Pawn to Queen

Queen of Hearts

Look closely to see the queen and hearts in this 70-inch square. Another intermediate skill level quilt but the Queen of Hearts Quilt will likely steal yours.Queen of Hearts

The Hatter

Of all the quilt patterns this one utilizes the overall motif the least. Look closely and you will see a character here and there but the focus is on the beautiful fabrics and the colors used by Tula Pink. The Hatter Quilt is memorizing.Hatter Quilt

Suit Yourself

This pattern has the suits from a deck of cards as the focal point. Any card player would love the Suit Yourself Quilt that finishes up at 62 inches square.Suit Yourself

 

The fabric shipped already to the local quilt shops that pre-ordered it and any new orders should show up locally in June. So get out there and start Tula Pinking. So which quilt is your favorite?

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Benartex Virtual Fabric Show

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Benartex held a “Virtual Fabric Show” to present their upcoming lineup of fabrics from a variety of designers. What a smashing set of collections from some innovative designers. Colors were abundant and so were some clever designs and motifs. Although they had plenty to look at during this daylong event we choose to highlight just a few of our favorites.

Until the Houston Quilt Market arrives this fall, we will be relegated to more of these virtual events. But at least the designers and fabric manufacturers can deliver some fresh new looks during this “new normal”. Let’s check out our favorites from Benartex.

Amanda Murphy and Benartex

Amanda Murphy added two collections to the fall mix. Her Frolic collection featured “vibrant floral and geometric prints in the designer’s signature style. The array of scales, motifs, and colors gives you endless design possibilities.”

Clamshells have been in vogue since 2019 and her Stepping Stones help provide her interpretation of this classic look. The frolic lineup should show up in your local fabric store by late Fall 2021FRC_SteppingStones_plum3

Amanda also presented her latest, Cotton Shot Pearl. Take some of the best colorings that she has offered in the past and add on a shimmer of pearl on top for a new look. Sparkle and glam galore will rule this collection with a very rich but subtle look. This set of fabrics should be in the quilting stores by July 2021. We can’t wait to see it in person!Cotton-Shot-by-Amanada-Murphy

Cheryl Haynes and Benartex

Hailing from Prairie Grove Peddler, Cheryl Haynes also offered two new collections for the fall. A Wooly Garden “is filled with the sweetest little bunnies dressed up in bows, bird houses, flowered wreaths, and polka dots – all with the snuggly look of wool.” Those bunnies and other designs will be at the stores by September 2021.Wooly-Garden-by-Cheryl-Haynes

We have always been fans of houndstooth and Haynes’ version of Blushed Houndstooth shows us why. It can serve multiple purposes in your quilts and love the variety of pastels and earth tones she selected. It too will be available in September 2021 so keep your eyes open.Houndstooth-by-Cheryl-Haynes

Andi Metz and Benartex

The Fun in the Sun collection from Andi Metz will remove the gloom and gray skies in any location and perk you right up. “These upbeat and colorful fabrics featuring bold and bright sunglasses, fun flip flops, and tropical flowers will transport you straight to flamingo beach!” Since they will be available in December 2021 it will be perfect timing to get something done for springtime. They will certainly inspire the avid quilter to reach out and craft a gorgeous colorful quilt.Fun-in-the-Sun-3-by-Andi-Metz

Karla Gerard and Benartex

Wow. Normally we would stop at three wonderful designers but had to include Karla’s latest collection. “Folkscapes” offers a vivid collection combining her love of folk art and primitives in one stylish look. You will be inspired when you see this lineup at your stores in October 2021.Folkscapes-by-Karla-Gerard

So there you have it four designers and six great collections from Benartex. Which is your favorite?

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Illustrations courtesy of Benartex

 

 

 

 

2021, Uncategorized

Pillowcase for all

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Pillowcase is an easy sewing project for all. Easy to make, fun to personalize, and helps to let your brain think about something besides the big quilting project that has been occupying your time.Car-pillowcase

Pillowcase style

The nice thing about pillowcases is they are generally one size fits all and can be easily customized. You can pick two pieces of fabric for some style and even put them in a binding strip. Have a little one with a fascination for all things unicorn? I bet you can find some unicorns in your stash or at the local fabric store. If you wish, you could monogram their initials on an edge or maybe embroider a favorite character from a book or movie to make it special.

Or maybe even add a favorite quote or saying for their very own pillowcase?

If you don’t watch out others will start asking for THEIR pillowcase.Paw Patrol Pillowcase

Pillowcase for Children’s Hospitals

If you don’t think others would want your pillowcase, there is a nationwide foundation Ryan’s Cases for Smiles that works with local children’s hospitals to bring some cheer to little ones facing long stays in a boring, sterile hospital. If you go this route, be sure and note they have specific requirements to ensure they can be used by your local hospitals.

Pillowcase Tutorials

Now that your heading to make a pillowcase let’s talk tutorials.

Of course, Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Company has a great tutorial. It must be good since it has over 2.7 million views. She makes it from a sewed tube which is quite ingenious. It may sound difficult but once you do one you won’t quit. We highly recommend it! Shannon Fabrics just released a tutorial and video on how to make one with their super soft Cuddle fabric.Star Wars Pillowcase

So grab some fabric and get sewing!

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2021, Uncategorized

Virtual Quilt Market

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Like many other events, the Spring Quilt Market has transitioned to the Virtual Quilt Market this year. From the producers at Quilts.com who are world-famous for their Houston shows, the Quilt Market Houston, and the Quilt Festival Houston, the Virtual Quilt Market is a must attend event for those in the fabric trade.ed63a33b-7c26-4501-bdfd-00c2d5ac5443

Virtual Quilt Market Details

Here is what you can see after registering for the Virtual Quilt Market. Some selections are extra fees beyond the registration but well worth it.blade-saver-thread-cutter

  • 90 Exhibitor booths
  • Over 80 Schoolhouse demonstrations of products and techniques
  • 18 Take and Teach Classes
  • 8 business Seminars
  • 6 Legal Seminars
  • Sneak Peek section of new products
  • Plus “Today’s Quilting Trends 2021” will be offeredMiller

Of course, the Virtual Quilt Market is limited to the “trade only” but this is a prime way to learn about new offerings and products.

After all who wouldn’t want to see the latest Kimberbell, Michael Miller, and Moda fabrics? We can’t wait to see all the new offerings.gray

Virtual Quilt Market Registration

The Virtual Quilt Market is available from March 23-25, 2021. 

You can register here. Don’t wait, do it NOW!

Subscribe to this blog and learn about the offerings at the Virtual Quilt Market this week and beyond.

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Images courtesy of Virtual Quilt Market.

2021, Uncategorized

Colors to “Dye” For

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The Houston Market/Festival is a huge quilter’s paradise held annually in the fall. The Quilt Market is a show for “trade only” qualified buyers, with over 1000 vendors showing quilt shops what the newest merchandise, lines, and fabrics will look like. Then it magically transforms into the Quilt Festival where retailers set up booths covering the George R. Brown Convention Center for four days of sales. It is the largest annual quilt show in the United States. But an oft-overlooked part of the event is the chance to attend some of the 550+ classes offered each year during the shows.

Cindy Lohbeck – Hand Dyeing Fabric

That’s where we ran into Scottsdale, Arizona resident Cindy Lohbeck who was teaching one of the six classes she taught during the show. She gave a day-long, hands-on class “Rad Ombre” where students could hand dye her custom cotton fabric in a variety of hues and styles. In the hallway outside the classroom hung rows of colorful fabric.Hand Dyed Fabric

Lohbeck explained that her process uses a compact and tidy process that avoids constant dipping and bending. At last year’s show, she was using PVC pipe to serve as her drip rig but now has converted to a thinner “tent pole-like” structure. She has been involved in dyeing fabric for over 13 years.Hand Dyed Fabric

Hand Dyeing Classes

Normally (pre-Covid-19), Lohbeck would travel the country offering classes at select shops. She typically offered sixty classes a year. Now she is offering an on-line class exclusively through her website, www.handsonhanddyes.com. That is also the name of her company’s Facebook page – Handsonhanddyes. She also sells kits that include not only the tools for dyeing the fabrics but also clear instructions. Plus her website offers replacement dye sets for repeat customers. She is also now cautiously resuming in-person classes.Hand Dyed Fabric

Lohbeck noted that she “teaches what she knows” and that if people see the demonstration they will buy her kits. She typically offers an on-line class once a month now and felt that this way she “could seize the opportunity that this crisis offered”. The class gives each student a chance to “glance” over her shoulder and see exactly what she is doing. Plus she is available after the class for personal advice and follow-ups.Hand Dyed Fabric

Presently both Houston shows are still scheduled for this year (October 24-31, 2021) and classes will be announced later this year. Check out http://www.quilts.com for more details about the Houston shows.Hand Dyed Fabric