Quilt Market: Riley Blake

Riley Blake had quite possibly the most formidable booth at Quilt Market. It's my pleasure to share some of the many projects featured. Orchard by Jill Finley of Jillily Studio comes to shops in April 2023.

This vibrant wall of quilts included (left to right): Majorelle II by Raija Salomaa of Quilters' Treasure Chest; Dino-Roar by Laura Piland of Slice of Pi Quilts; unknown but I'd wager a Quiltworx pattern; Joujou, Colors of the Wind II and Magic Potion by Jaija Salomaa.

Lost at Sea by Natalia Juan Abello was made up into the You, Me and the Sea Panel Quilt by RBD Designers.

These beauties from left to right are Color Falls by Daniela Stout of Cozy Quilt Designs, Chocolate Covered Cherries by Heidi Pridemore of The Whimsical Workshop, and Daybreak by Daniela Stout.

Jillily Studios patterns including the Knitted Row-Along, Trellis, and A Walk in the Park were made up using the Fable collection by Jill Finley.

White As Snow is a holiday collection by J. Wecker Frisch. On the right is a quilt from the Wintery Project Booklet.

This sunny corner of the booth showed off the Summer Solstice Quilt by Bradley and Judel Niemeyer of Quiltworx, and Party Pop and Exploding Heart by Laura Piland of Slice of Pi Quilts.

Vintage Christmas II by Erica Made is very cute made up in Twas.

If you're into flying insects, you'll love Harmony & Fortune by Heidi Pridemore of The Whimsical Workshop and Flutterfly by Laura Piland of Slice of Pi Quilts.

I'll be back soon with more fun from Quilt Market.

Scrappiness is Happiness: Weeks 1-3

It's Week 3 of the 32 week Scrappiness is Happiness Quilt Along hosted by Fat Quarter Shop using Lori Holt's book. The free finishing pattern provides fabric allotments and the setting instructions. Check out #ScrappinessIsHappinessQAL on Instagram to see everyone's blocks.

Today I'll be sharing the blocks I've created so far. I'm using an assortment of Alison Glass fabrics. Kimberly of FQS is sewing with Prairie by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs, including the Prairie Fat Quarter Bundle, Teal Fiddle for background and borders, Coral Homespun for binding, and Coral Dress Heirloom for backing.

Week 1 was Buzzy Bee. I organized my pieces with Alphabitties and tiny clothespins from the dollar store.

For the Buzz Bee block, check page 14 of Scrappiness is Happiness and viewLori's video below.

Week 2 featured the Large and Small Calico Mushroom Blocks on page 20. Here are my cut pieces.

Week 3 brought forth the Chex Mix block. Not in a mood to cut and reassemble 25 1.5" squares, I constructed the block using strip sets. I cut five 1.5" by 5"+ rectangles of each color (A&B). I made ABABA and BABAB strip sets. Those were crosscut at 1.5". I took the 2 strips of one set and 3 strips of the other, alternated them, and sewed the checkerboard pattern together. 

Fat Quarter Shop is offering prizes at the conclusion of the QAL so remember to follow @fatquartershop and @beelori1on Instagram and tag your blocks with #ScrappinessIsHappinessQAL. Add the button to your social media if you are joining in the fun.

Right-click the image to download and share on social media so everyone knows you’ll be sewing along!

FYI November 2022

Ever wanted to be a fabric brand ambassador? Benartex has their application open.

 Sew It Yourself Blog has tons of free project patterns. As an added bonus, they host monthly giveaways. Here's how to enter: 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

We’re challenging YOU to #siysewityourself for a chance to WIN a mystery fabric bundle from one of our Jaftex brands.
⁠
Here’s how it works 👇:⁠
⭐1. Make ANY of the projects listed on SIYSewItYourself.com or the SIYblog.
⭐2. Share a photo of your completed project to your Instagram feed tagging @siysewityourself and #siysewityourself.⁠
⭐3. We will randomly select the winner and DM you as well as announce in the next SIY email.⁠
⭐4. Multiple projects count for multiple entries. ⁠
⁠
We can’t wait to see what you can #SIY! ⁠
(Eligible countries: US and Canada)

Art Gallery Fabrics Quilterpreneurs are offering free block patterns. Check out the post on the AGF blog.

You have until the 14th to join the Passport to Quilting Holiday Edition. It's free, so hurry and get all the fantastic patterns.

UNM Continuing Education is hosting the first annual Arts & Crafts Festival November 19. I'm teaching a free-motion class, so register if you're an ABQ local.

That else should quilters know about?

Quilt Market: Halloween

Quilt Market, the annual trade show industry professionals have been missing since 2020, had a cauldron-full of Halloween patterns and prints. Bear in mind, these products are a preview of fabrics and patterns that will be coming to local quilt shops and online stores in 2023.

This cheery sampler is Spooky Lane by Beverly McCullough of Flamingo Toes in her upcoming fabric line for Riley Blake, Haunted Adventure.

Spellbound by Sweetfire Road for Moda comes to quilts shops in May.

Witch's Night Out by It's Sew Emma is adorable on account of the patchwork pumpkins, cat on a broom and striped bat. The book can be purchased on Amazon or at Fat Quarter Shop.

Ghoulish Tidings by Jennie Jo Lamb of Lamb Farm Designs casts a whimsical charm on quilters.

Hocus Pocus is a darling pattern by Corinne Sovey.

Queen of We'en by J. Wecker Frisch of Great Joy Studio for Riley Blake Fabrics has a funky, vintage vibe.

Kitty Loves Candy by Lori Woods for Poppie Cotton is so vibrant and amusing. How can you not adore the unexpected combination of farm and Halloween?

Spooky Selfie Quilt Kit by Melissa Mortenson of Polka Dot Chair for Riley Blake Designs has such entertaining details.

Is there anything cuter than a glow in the dark border print on a little girl dress? This one features Haunted House by Lewis & Irene.

What's your favorite spooky collection?

Holiday Spirit

I'm starting to see signs of holiday spirit replacing the spooky decor around town. I'm trading in pumpkin spice and apple cider for gingerbread and peppermint. Along the theme of merriment, I found some adorable things that I may just gift myself. My favorites are below. Click the pic to link to the item.

What's on your holiday wish list? Have you found any irritable items? Share in the comments so I don't miss out.

Scrappiness is Happiness: Week 1

The Scrappiness is Happiness Quilt Along has begun, and I'll be quilting along with Lori Holt and the Fat Quarter Shop for the next 32 weeks. 

This week's block is Buzzy Bee. I'm using my collection of Alison Glass fabrics, and even finagled some thematic fussy cutting.

To keep myself sorted, I'm labeling the cut pieces with Alphabitties and tiny clothespins from the dollar store.

If you want to spare yourself some serious FOMO (fear of missing out), I recommend you join along. 

We'll be doing a block each week, from Scrappiness is Happiness by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet Co. so you'll need to secure a copy to get your instructions. 

Also, download the finishing pattern for fabric allotments and the setting instructions. If you want to use the same Lori Holt fabrics as Kimberly or Fat Quarter Shop, you will need:

• Lori Holt’s Scrappy Happy Starter Fat Quarter Bundle
• Lori Holt’s Scrappy Backgrounds Fat Quarter Bundle
• Lori Holt 20″ x 108″ Sew-in Interfacing by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet
  • This is optional and only needed for one of the blocks.

Kimberly will be sewing with Prairie by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs, including the Prairie Fat Quarter Bundle, Teal Fiddle for background and borders, Coral Homespun for binding, and Coral Dress Heirloom for backing.

For the Buzz Bee block, check page 14 of Scrappiness is Happiness and view the following video.

For extra fun, Fat Quarter Shop is offering prizes. Follow @fatquartershop and @beelori1on Instagram and tag your blocks with #ScrappinessIsHappinessQAL. Add the button to your social media.

Right-click the image to download and share on social media so everyone knows you’ll be sewing along!

Let me know in the comments if you'll be joining along.