Creative Nudge – Long Ago…Far Away….

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Luana

With the new season of Game of Thrones in full swing, there’s a renewed interest in Castles and Dragons. We’ve had many years of these themes in pop culture – from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings – to Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon. Fans of Dungeons and Dragons carry on with their weekly D&D game nights (as seen on The Big Bang), and little kids have a renewed fascination with the Disneyland Castle.

While in Nantes in France a couple weeks ago, I took a day to visit the historic Chateau, (Palace) built in the 13th Century. Inside was a museum with the history of Nantes, including its years at the center of the African slave trade. Nantes was the first slave port in France, providing more than 42% of the departures of slave ships between 1707 and 1793. Slave ships traveled from Nantes to the American Colonies. I had no idea…so wandering through the centuries of history in the Chateau eventually brought me to this straightforward presentation of a dark chapter.

Anne of Brittany was born in 1477 at this chateau, and was the only woman to be crowned Queen of France twice. She was reputed to be one of Europe’s richest women and was one of Brittany’s most famous heroines.

Castles and Dragons represent the Fantasy Genre which is attractive to many of us because it represents a way to escape the chaos of modern life. Game of Thrones…I don’t know…seems to mirror the chaos of modern life. However we are also drawn to the wisdom and power of Gandalf and Galadriel and Dumbledore. Even the tales of King Arthur and Merlin continue to thrive in new versions of these ancient legends. Stories of the Hero’s Quest, or the Heroine’s Quest, can speak to our desires to overcome slim odds in fighting our own demons and dragons, or the chaos outside our doors.

Hmm, maybe those historic fiction nerds are not so nerdy after all…?

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

*The collage above features a photo taken of the Nantes Chateau, with fabrics in stock now at eQuilter.com


****************
Luana’s Travel Calendar:
May 16-19 – Quilt Market
May 24-25 – Dairy Barn – Quilt National Opening – Athens OH
June 11-15 – Quilt Canada Ottawa – (lecture Fri 6/14)
July 18-22 – Sacred Threads & Not Fade Away (VA & DC)

eQuilter Classroom:
June 1 – Charity Sewing Group – RSVP
June 27-30 – Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli – Altar Quilts & Embellished Garments Workshops
July 11-14, 2019 – Cindy Lohbeck – Shibori, Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops
Oct 8-10 – Jacqueline de Jonge – eQuilter Classroom

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Film, Travel, Trends | Comments Off on Creative Nudge – Long Ago…Far Away….

Free eQuilter Pattern – Jesus Loves the Little Children

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Luana

This week’s Free Quilt Pattern is based on the beloved hymn and nursery rhyme
(Jesus Loves the Little Children)
that has been taught for many generations in Sunday School.

The charming central panel has a sweet childhood past-time…featuring a swing hung from a tree, with squirrels, butterflies, flowers, birds and a big Rainbow overhead.

Add in the collection’s coordinates (Rainbow Handprints and a Rainbow Soft Stripe) to make this delightful 51″ x 58″ quilt, perfect for a Nap Quilt, Sunday School Wall hanging, or Playmat.

… featuring the ‘Jesus Loves The Little Children’ collection by Cindy Sepp for Quilting Treasures.

Don’t miss the popular ‘On the Go Zoo‘ and ‘Eskimo Arctic Snow‘ quilt patterns!

Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Free Quilt Patterns, Quilt Pattern, Quilts | Comments Off on Free eQuilter Pattern – Jesus Loves the Little Children

Happy Mothers Day

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Luana

Thank you for sharing our fabric service with your fellow Fabriholics!

We are getting so excited about Jane and Cindy coming to teach in our classroom this June and July! I will be in the classroom too, and we’ll have some summer fun together in our beautiful new building. Check out their workshops here, and we thank Cindy for making this special video sneak peek for one of her fabric dyeing classes!

As the years go by and more of our mothers and grandmothers are in our memories, but not at our tables, Mothers Day has bittersweet memories of those mothers, matriarchs, and mentors who have shaped our lives and given us treasured traditions.

This weekend was the first time Sophie and I have gone to the Mothers Day Tea (at a local Victorian mansion owned by the Historic Society) without my mother. Mom is recovering from a recent hospital stay, and has moved from assisted living to a nursing home. So we will spend Mothers Day visiting her there, and remembering those traditions.

Last summer Sophie and I went on a music tour in Sweden, and we realized that many of our family traditions that came down through my grandmother, were actually Swedish traditions! (Sophie was named after my Swedish great-grandmother who immigrated to the US.)

My 2 grandmothers and my great aunt were responsible for my interest in sewing, embroidery and painting, as a young girl. Being artistic and musical was a given in our family, and I was raised to think of myself as an artist and musician. Now that all 3 of our kids have pursued some kind of job or career related to music, I have to smile, knowing all the music and creativity that came down from all the grandparents. Paul’s father played trumpet, and his mother was a painter. When he was a kid, his mom and sister would throw him in the back of the car and they would all go fabric shopping. So when Paul and I met, and later when we dreamed up this business, we spoke the same language.

The gift of creative expression that we pass on to others – whether it is our students, our children or grandchildren, is a gift that keeps on giving. We may never know how far our gift extends into the future branches of our family tree, but our creative presence will always be woven into the history of the family story.

From our family to yours, and from all of our eQuilter staff, we wish you a beautiful Mothers Day full of the creative gifts of the heart.

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Classes, Creativity | Comments Off on Happy Mothers Day

Free eQuilter Pattern – Mothers and Daughters

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Luana

Mothers Day is a special time to celebrate the bonds between Mother and Daughter, or Grandmother and Granddaughter…but in reality every day is Mothers Day for many of us!

This week’s exclusive eQuilter Free Quilt Pattern celebrates the bonds of Motherhood, Sisters, and Families. A First Nation indigenous Mama plays, quilts, and tenderly cares for her daughters in this heartwarming collection.

Best of all, this generous 72″ x 78″ bed-quilt will keep someone warm with your stitches of love, throughout the year, not just on Mothers Day.

… featuring the ‘Mothers & Daughters’ collection by Barbara Lavallee, author of “Mama Do You Love Me?”, for Northcott Fabrics.

Don’t miss the popular ‘Bunnies by the Bay Little Star‘ and ‘Eskimo Arctic Snow‘ quilt patterns!

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Free Quilt Patterns, Quilt Pattern, Quilts | Comments Off on Free eQuilter Pattern – Mothers and Daughters

Creative Nudge – Mother in the Wild

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Luana

There is nothing fiercer than a mother defending her young. When we humans discover this trait, we call ourselves the Mother Grizzly Bear. Don’t mess with Mama Bear!

The report that came out from the UN this week, about 1 million species at risk for extinction, got me thinking about all those wild mothers who try so desperately to defend their young.

Mother and cub fabric prints are some of our most enduring popular motifs…I suppose because many of us can relate to these images. The bond between a mother and calf, cub or chick in the wild is tender and unbreakable. If the offspring are threatened by danger or hunger, there is nothing that can stop the mother from protecting and feeding her young. The instinct is too powerful to resist.

On Mothers Day we celebrate our mothers who have nurtured, fed, taught, protected and encouraged us. Many of us are quilters because our mothers or grandmothers took us under their wing to teach us how to quilt and sew, and in the process they stitched a tight bond between us.

When you finalize your eQuilter order and check out, you have several choices for charities that support mothers and children…whether they are mothers in the wild, or mothers seeking to protect their human children.

There’s always a Mothers Day Gift Certificate for those of you who are looking for last minute gift ideas. We wish you and the matriarchs in your family, a very Happy Mothers Day this week!

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

****************
Luana’s Travel Calendar:
May 16-19 – Quilt Market
May 24-25 – Dairy Barn – Quilt National Opening – Athens OH
June 11-15 – Quilt Canada Ottawa – (lecture Fri 6/14)
July 18-22 – Sacred Threads & Not Fade Away (VA & DC)

eQuilter Classroom:
June 27-30 – Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli – Altar Quilts & Embellished Garments Workshops
July 11-14, 2019 – Cindy Lohbeck – Shibori, Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops
Oct 8-10 – Jacqueline de Jonge – eQuilter Classroom

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Animals, Charity | Comments Off on Creative Nudge – Mother in the Wild

Free eQuilter Pattern – Doggie Adventures

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Luana

Every picture tells a story, and this Free Quilt Pattern features a collection of Doggie Vignettes that will invite your Inner Storyteller to come out and play. Woof!

These Pooches with Personality are highlighted in 7″ x 7″ blocks, which you will cut from 24″ panels. Add in the collection coordinates (Pawprints, Stripes, and Puppy Character Studies in a cool Retro Turquoise…) and you’ve got a major conversation-starter with your fellow Canine-Loving Friends.

We can see this 54″ x 54″ quilt design as a wallhanging, a lap quilt, or a fun crib quilt for your dog’s toddler companion. Smiles and Puppy Kisses for everyone!

… featuring from the ‘Doggie Drama’ collection by Tracy Lizotte for Elizabeth’s Studio.

Don’t miss the popular ‘Great Horned Owl‘ and ‘Jungle Giraffes‘ quilt patterns!

Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Free Quilt Patterns, Pets, Quilt Pattern, Quilts | Comments Off on Free eQuilter Pattern – Doggie Adventures

Cross Pollination

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Luana

It is gratifying to see the amount of cross-pollination going on between the major quilt festivals and exhibits around the world, and I hope that I have contributed a tiny bit to that mutual inspiration. I have been very lucky to be able to combine my love of travel, photography, and my passion for quilting, into a vehicle for sharing the brilliance of international quilt artists.

The organizers of the Tokyo Quilt Festival have asked me to pass on their invitation to quilters outside of Japan:

The Tokyo Quilt Festival happens each year at the Tokyo Dome (Baseball Stadium) in late January. Over 200,000 people attend this show over one week. In the past it has been 99% Japanese quilts, but this year they are extending a big welcome to outside quilters to submit their quilts to be considered for the 2020 exhibition.

The guidelines will be posted shortly, and the deadline for entry will be in September. I will be sure to give you the link as soon as it is available in English, but in the meantime I invite you to study the photos I have taken at the Tokyo Quilt Festival over the last several years, on my photo album page. The Japanese quilters also want to be inspired by YOUR quilt art!

You will see my photos from the Pour l’Amour du Fil quilt festival in Nantes France are up now too.

This show is put on by QuiltMania publishers – we carry 2 of their magazines – “QuiltMania” and “Simply Moderne” which are 2 of my favorites! As you will see if you click through, we DO carry back issues because usually when our customers discover these magazines, they want to grab the available back issues as well! The publisher Carol Veillon has become a great friend, because she travels to all the same shows that I do. It was wonderful to be able to finally experience this Nantes show in person. (We have been a sponsor of this show for several years – this year eQuilter sponsored the QuiltCon / Modern Quilt exhibit there.)

My Lilacs, Crab Apples and Grape Hyacinths were all in bloom when I returned home from Paris this week, so I am enjoying Springtime in Colorado! Hope you are also enjoying your Spring (or Southern Hemisphere Fall) weather also.

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Art, Japan, Quilts, Travel | Comments Off on Cross Pollination

Free eQuilter Pattern – Fabulous Flamingos

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Luana

Step up to this gorgeous palette of juicy tropical colors, featuring a pair of Pink Flamingos, in this week’s exclusive eQuilter Free Quilt Pattern. You’ll love the painterly brushstrokes in this central artwork, from the finely detailed pink feathers, to the jewel tone Birds of Paradise.

This 60″ x 72″ quilt design starts with a digital-printed central panel, then adding a rainbow of seashell coordinate prints. The rainbow ombre, and sandy beach prints make this quilt design really sparkle with fine details. We’ve finished the border with a Sapphire Blue watercolor hand-dye from Hoffman.

Hang this on the wall and mix up a Pina Colada…
and you’ll be on your own tropical vacation in no time!

… featuring the ‘Fabulous Flamingos’ collection by Ro Gregg of Paintbrush Studio for Fabri-Quilt.

Don’t miss the popular ‘Great Horned Owl‘ and ‘Jungle Giraffes‘ quilt patterns!

Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Animals, Free Quilt Patterns, Quilt Pattern, Quilts | Comments Off on Free eQuilter Pattern – Fabulous Flamingos

Creative Nudge – Pilgrimage to an Icon

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Luana

As you may know, I am finishing up my trip to France, with 2 days in Paris to see Notre Dame. Today I went to visit her…or at least I tried. They have it blocked off and you can’t get too close. I went with a friend who lives part time in Paris. Her husband was sitting in the garden on the shady side of Notre Dame when it caught fire. He was evacuated to the street across the river, and after the spire collapsed he went home, thinking that she was lost. You probably saw all the coverage of the people who stood on the bank, praying and singing, hoping for a miracle.

In this photo you can see where the flames came out of the smaller Rose window. The scaffolding is being taken apart now, and there are big cranes on either side. There is a huge white plastic tarp spread over where the roof used to be. The scaffolding was built over the peaked roof for renovations before the fire – and now there is an empty triangle shape under the scaffolding where the roof used to be.

The people here are still in shock, but they are so grateful for the firemen who saved the building and the artwork, which is now safe in the Louvre. Today the tour groups were clustered all around the perimeter that has been set up, so we all gazed upon Notre Dame together…silently taking in the damage.

Here in Paris, I met with 2 old friends, and 2 new friends. We talked about Modern Quilters, aging traditional guilds, the price of fabric, and color preferences in different European countries. We shared our stories about our love for Notre Dame, and the 850 years of history she represents. And I must admit we toasted our love of Paris with glasses of French wine. There might have been a chocolate souffle somewhere in there too…I think this was my 5th visit to Paris since 1987. As they say…Paris is always a good idea.

Many thanks to Carol Veillon for hosting me in Nantes at the Pour l’Amour du Fil event. My week in France is coming to a close, but it was an inspiring trip and I am coming home with lots of stories and French fabric inspiration!

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

****************
Luana’s Travel Calendar:
May 16-19 – Quilt Market
May 24-25 – Dairy Barn – Quilt National Opening – Athens OH
June 11-15 – Quilt Canada Ottawa – (lecture Fri 6/14)
July 18-22 – Sacred Threads & Not Fade Away (VA & DC)

eQuilter Classroom:
June 27-30 – Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli – Altar Quilts & Embellished Garments Workshops
July 11-14, 2019 – Cindy Lohbeck – Shibori, Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops
Oct 8-10 – Jacqueline de Jonge – eQuilter Classroom

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Museum, Travel | Comments Off on Creative Nudge – Pilgrimage to an Icon

Free eQuilter Pattern – On the Go Zoo

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Luana

This bright and fun Free Quilt Pattern is just perfect for that little one who’s ‘on the go’ in your family…I bet you know just the child who would enjoy these happy zoo animals in their favorite vehicles.

Make this 50″ x 50″ quilt as a Crib Quilt, or for the most fantastic Play Mat!

Start with the traveling animal frames from the main panel, then mix in these fun dot and stripe coordinates, and finish it off with the allover zoo animal print for the border. We know this will bring a big smile to the lucky kid who receives this animal travel-themed quilt.

… featuring the ‘On the Go’ collection by Nicole in den Bosch for Elizabeth’s Studio.

Don’t miss the popular ‘Great Horned Owl‘ and ‘Jungle Giraffes‘ quilt patterns!

Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

Share Post:
Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedin
Posted in Free Quilt Patterns, Quilt Pattern, Quilts | Comments Off on Free eQuilter Pattern – On the Go Zoo