Free Pattern – Lovely Pansies

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Luana

What could be more fun, on a Winter afternoon, than piecing blocks with beautiful Spring flowers? Our traditional quilters will love making this pieced Pansy Star quilt, from this week’s Free Quilt Pattern.

The large Star blocks are set on point with a lacy White-on-White Butterfly background print, that really makes the multicolor flowers ‘pop’ out. This 53″ x 53″ square quilt design makes a lovely lap quilt, wallhanging, or table cover for Teatime.

… from the ‘Lovely Pansies’ collection by Elizabeth’s Studio.

And don’t miss the wonderful ‘Moroccan Mosaic‘ and ‘Healing Waters‘ 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.

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Returning from China

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Luana

It’s our last night in China, and we celebrated by going to hear the Old Jazz Band at the Peace Hotel on the Bund in Shanghai. For our last 48 hours in China, we took a nighttime cruise along Pudong and the Bund, visited a Childrens Art Palace, the French Concession, the China Art Palace (Museum), Yu Gardens, Confucian Temple, and had a beautiful meal at a contemporary vegetarian restaurant.

Sophie’s visit to her orphanage a few days ago was … emotional. We spent the day visiting the children who live in the new orphanage building, visited the old orphanage site, and the place where she was found at two days old. Then we bought a new washing machine for the orphanage, plus some toys for the kids.

Sophie held and played with several of the babies and toddlers, all with special needs (health issues) and her interactions with those kids touched her very deeply. There was one small very sweet boy who we found laying in a crib, who could not walk. She picked him up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then he showered her with kisses and called her ‘sister’. She met a nanny who had cared for her, the lady who chose her Chinese name, and the doctor who examined her when she was found and brought to the orphanage at 2 days old.

They called her by her Chinese name – QinXin – which is now her middle name. They treated her like a celebrity, a prodigal daughter, and everyone cried when we had to say goodbye. It was really quite a profound experience. The director was grinning the whole day, and made us promise to keep in touch. It was very hard to say goodbye at the end of the day.

I will write more about this on my blog.

We get home late Sunday night, and I’ll be back in the office some time Monday. Thanks for joining us on this two-week journey to Sophie’s roots. In a few weeks I’ll be flying to Tokyo to photograph the quilt festival there. It is my honor and pleasure to be able to share these experiences with you. Thank you for your support of our business and our charity program, which includes donations to Altrusa to help orphans in China with health issues.

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

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Free Quilt Pattern – Majestic Fox

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Luana

This week’s exclusive free quilt pattern features Northcott’s finely detailed, Majestic Fox in winter panel. This spectacular animal’s red coat stands out beautifully against the surrounding winter snow.

Coordinating Naturescapes winter meadow fabrics along with Stonehenge bronze and espresso brown textures make up the borders and corner ‘paw print’ accents.

Nature lovers will adore this generous 70″ x 55″ quilt which can be a youth Bed Quilt, a Double-Snuggle Lap Quilt, or a cabin Wall-Hanging. Make your ‘Sly Fox’ quilt for anyone who enjoy wildlife, the wilderness and protecting nature.

… from the ‘Naturescapes’ collection by Abraham Hunter for Northcott Fabrics.

And don’t miss the wonderful ‘Northern Lights Shimmer‘ and ‘Moroccan Mosaic‘ 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.

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New Year from China

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Luana

Happy New Year from China!

Sophie and I are heading into the last part of this 2 week trip, after experiencing the iconic mountains of Guilin over the last couple days. Today we fly to Hefei in the Anhui province, to visit her orphanage in Anqing. She has made very close friendships with the other adoptees who have been on this trip, but now we are all splitting up to visit the original orphanages.

Here in China we are nearing the end of the Year of the Dog, and on February 4th on Chinese New Year it will be the Year of the Pig. However for Sophie and I, it will be the year of the PANDA! Our stop in Chengdu at the Panda Center was definitely a highlight. I could have spent several days there, just photographing the Pandas, especially the babies. Here are a couple photos from our day at Chengdu. The cub is about 3-4 months old. The cubs are busy busy busy … wobbly and clumsy but absolutely adorable … and then they just plop down and fall asleep. The team at the center are focused on reproduction, in an effort to save the species, but the real problem is human encroachment on habitat.

I met with the China representative of our newest charity recipient – the Wild Foundation – while in Beijing. They helped to found the International Wildlife Congress, whose goal is to preserve 50% of the land in the world for wildlife and habitat. Now is the time to work on preserving these wilderness lands, while they are still viable. We can’t recreate wilderness, once it is encroached upon by human activity.

You will see that I have been posting on my travel blog as time allows. I will probably have to post photos once I get back due to internet restrictions here. Don’t worry, I am taking notes and will tell you all about it when I get back. If you have questions feel free to send them to Customer Service, and I’ll make sure your questions are answered in my blog.

Saturday we will have a Day Tour in Shanghai, and then will be flying home Sunday. Sophie is proud of her Chinese heritage, but also very happy to be an American citizen. This trip has really opened her eyes, which is a good thing for any US teenager. The trip to the orphanage is going to be quite emotional. We appreciate that the China government pays for adoptees to return to experience their home country.

Thank you for your support of our family business and our charity program. We are nearing $1.6 million raised for organizations who help orphans, those living in extreme poverty or needing disaster relief, and also organizations helping to protect the ocean, the environment and the wildlife who live there. We all share this beautiful planet and the more I see of this Earth, the more I feel committed to making this world a better place for all…with your help. Thank you for sharing our business with your quilter friends!

Wishing you a New Year full of peace and health, creativity and love.

Sincerely,
Luana and Paul

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Free eQuilter Pattern – Bear & Friends See Colors

Posted on January 1, 2019 by equilter
Bear & Friends See Colors Free Pattern
One of our specialties here at eQuilter is a large selection of Baby and Kid Panels, and
this fun FREE quilt pattern is a great use of our ‘Bear Sees Colors’ panel with happy, friendly creatures. Blocks show Bear and Friends identifying Red, Blue, Yellow and Green for your little one.

Star point blocks are constructed from bear paw prints on bright blue, yellow and green, along with multicolored Letters and Numbers, while the outside border features a coordinating Bear and Friends print, and is sure to brighten baby or child’s room.

This 52″ x 66″ quilt will bring a smile to children and their parents and will be a hit as a wall-hanging or little one’s bed quilt. Make one for the New Year!

… from the ‘Adventures of Bear and Friends’ collection by Jane Chapman for Elizabeth’s Studio.

And don’t miss the wonderful ‘Northern Lights Shimmer‘ and ‘Moroccan Mosaic‘ 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.

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China Travels

Posted on December 30, 2018 by equilter
Hello from Xian in China, the home of the Terracotta Warriors. Sophie and I are halfway through her Heritage Tour in China, and she is loving (almost) every minute of this trip. Today we walked and biked the top of the 14th Century City Wall here, after taking a bullet train from Chengdu.

I was offline for several days but tonight I am going to update my travel blog so you can see what we’ve been up to. As you may know, Sophie was abandoned at 2 days old, and we adopted her at 8 months old. Many of the girls on the trip don’t even know their actual birthday or exact age, so we feel fortunate to know her actual birth-date.

Some of the places we’ve visited, are tourist sites I’ve been to a few times before. Chengdu (Panda Park) and Guilin are new for me, so I am having some moments of discovery also. For Sophie, seeing the Forbidden City and Great Wall for the first time, was a joy to behold. The Chinese government pays for adoptees to tour their home country, and in fact we were able to visit the new Matching Room where orphans are matched with families.

Having lived and worked as a designer in Hong Kong, I am very familiar with the textiles and art of China, but it has been fun rediscovering these things through Sophie’s eyes. For many of the families, this is the first time they’ve been back to China since the adoption, and only the 2nd time they have been here.

I am sending you special New Years greetings from China, and I thank you again for supporting our family-owned business, and our charity program. Much of the money we have raised has gone to help orphans and children living in poverty, through our partnerships with Mission of Love and Engineers Without Borders. I also met with the Chinese representative of our newest charity recipient – the Wild Foundation – while in Beijing. I try to have close relationships with those who receive eQuilter donations, so you and I know that the 2% of sales raised for charities, is being spent in the best way possible.

My wish for you and for the Earth in 2019, is that we live in a world where humans live in peace and respect for each other, for the environment, and for the creatures that share the planet with us. Thank you for supporting our business, and our efforts to make the world a better place. Together we CAN make a difference. Happy New Year!

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

*****
Check out our 180 videos from international quilt festivals, PBS TV, artist and curator interviews on our eQuilter Video Page. Subscribe and catch the latest videos on our eQuilter YouTube Channel.

********

eQuilter Classroom & Travel Calendar:
Dec 23 – Jan 6 – China Heritage Trip – Sophie & Luana
Jan 12 – eQuilter Charity Sewing Day – Please RSVP
Jan 24-29 – Luana @ Tokyo Quilt Festival
Feb 14-16 – ‘Love Your Mother‘ exhibit at Mexico Quilt Festival in Mexico City
Feb 20-23 – QuiltCon – Nashville TN
Feb 24 – Lynn Koolish for CQC – in eQuilter Classroom
Mar 28-30 – ‘Love Your Mother‘ exhibit at Spring Quilt Festival in Chicago

July 11-14, 2019 – Cindy Lohbeck – Shibori, Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops @ eQuilter
4 Classes $50 each – $80-$100 Materials Fee

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Free Quilt Pattern – Moroccan Mosaic

Posted on December 28, 2018 by equilter
This week’s exclusive eQuilter Free Quilt Pattern features the shimmering crystalline kaleidoscopes by Paula Nadelstern, set into a 82″ x 82″ bed quilt size that will make any bedroom sparkle.

Start with 4 panels (in 3 color combinations) of Paula’s ‘More is More’ fabrics, fussy cut into three sizes of kaleidoscope medallions. Add jewel-like Diamond blocks from coordinating ‘Rabbit Hole’ allover print, then wrap it up in a delicious Blue Filigree for the border, and you’ve got a new bed quilt that will give you the most amazing starry dreams!

… from the ‘More Is More’ collection by Paula Nadelstern for Benartex.

And don’t miss the wonderful ‘Northern Lights Shimmer‘ and ‘Sparkling Medallions‘ 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.
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Asian Travels

Posted on December 26, 2018 by Luana

As many of you know, our daughter Sophie and I have embarked on a momentous trip – a Heritage Tour to China. We are taking a tour all around China to many famous sites and cities, then we will go to the town where she was found on the steps of a city building, when she was 2 days old.

The collage above features some of our favorite Asian themed fabrics, from Feline Fisherman and Panda Mothers & Babies to Koi Petal Pond and Elemental Dragons, with our exquisitely detailed Great Wall digitally printed panel at center.

We’ll be posting updates from our journey throughout the week, so stay tuned!

From our family to yours –
Wishing you a beautiful holiday season full of joy, laughter and love.

Sincerely,
Luana and Paul

****************

eQuilter Classroom & Travel Calendar:
Dec 23 – Jan 6 – China Heritage Trip – Sophie & Luana
Jan 12 – eQuilter Charity Sewing Day – Please RSVP
Jan 24-29 – Luana @ Tokyo Quilt Festival
Feb 14-16 – ‘Love Your Mother’ exhibit at Mexico Quilt Festival in Mexico City
Feb 20-23 – QuiltCon – Nashville TN
Mar 28-30 – ‘Love Your Mother’ exhibit at Spring Quilt Festival in Chicago

July 11-14, 2019 – Cindy Lohbeck – Shibori, Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops @ eQuilter
4 Classes $50 each – $80-$100 Materials FeeShare Post:
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Free Pattern – Labrador-able Puppies

Posted on December 26, 2018 by Luana

Dog lovers know that puppies can bring a wealth of joy to the world.
This week’s Free eQuilter Pattern features lovable Labrador puppies exploring their world in playful frames and vignettes.

Fussy-cut puppy frames are joined with detailed leaves and wood plank coordinating fabrics, and then bordered by delightful puppy scenes.

This 76″ x 62″ quilt is sure to bring a smile to the dog lovers in your family, and perhaps even a wag from your precious pets! These Labrador puppies are truly adorable.

… from the ‘Labrador-able’ collection by JQ Licensing for Quilting Treasures.

And don’t miss the wonderful ‘Northern Lights Shimmer‘ and ‘Healing Waters‘ 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:
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Merry Christmas to All

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Luana

I am sending this out to you as Sophie and I are finishing packing up our bags for a 2 week trip to China. She is finally going on her Heritage Tour and this means she will tour several cities in China, seeing the Great Wall and Forbidden City, etc…and at the end we will visit her orphanage and hopefully the spot where she was abandoned…and found…at 2 days old.

If we are able to get online in China, I will be posting to my Travel Blog on www.luanarubin.com so you can follow along. (Feel free to share this link.)

Lots of travel and classes to announce:

We are so thrilled to have Cindy Lohbeck joining us for FOUR one-day dyeing workshops in July of 2019. I met Cindy at a taping of Quilting Arts TV and I was so impressed with her technique (and her teaching style – she is a lot of FUN) that I immediately asked if she’d consider coming to teach in our new classroom. She said yes! So please click through to see the 4 classes we agreed to offer. Please note the eQuilter class fee is $50 per day but the materials fee ($80 to $100 per class) will be payable directly to Cindy.

We are also looking forward to a fantastic creative class with Lynn Koolish on Feb 24 – brought to Colorado by CQC – we are happy to be hosting a CQC workshop once again. Last month they brought in Victoria Findlay-Wolfe and we enjoyed hosting her class in the classroom.

Please note the dates that have been added below. The ‘Love Your Mother‘ exhibit will be traveling to the Mexico City Quilt Festival and then to the Spring Quilt Festival in Rosemont/Chicago. I hope to see you there!

Our tour starts Dec 24 in China, so we’ll be sending our Christmas wishes to you from Asia. Hope you are having a fantastic fun weekend getting ready for the upcoming holidays. We’ll be leaving for the airport at 5 am tomorrow morning.

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul

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eQuilter Classroom & Travel Calendar:
Dec 23 – Jan 6 – China Heritage Trip – Sophie & Luana
Jan 12 – eQuilter Charity Sewing Day – Please RSVP
Jan 24-29 – Luana @ Tokyo Quilt Festival
Feb 14-16 – ‘Love Your Mother’ exhibit at Mexico Quilt Festival in Mexico City
Feb 20-23 – QuiltCon – Nashville TN
Feb 24 – Lynn Koolish for CQC – in eQuilter Classroom
Mar 28-30 – ‘Love Your Mother’ exhibit at Spring Quilt Festival in Chicago

July 11-14, 2019 – Cindy Lohbeck – Shibori, Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops @ eQuilter
4 Classes $50 each – $80-$100 Materials FeeShare Post:
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