We have secured another shipment of this wildly popular ‘Quilting Santa’ digital-printed panel, so we wanted to offer this Free Quilt Pattern before they sell out again!
To make this 51″ x 62″ eQuilter exclusive quilt design, you will start with the gorgeously detailed 36″ x 44″ panel. Santa is focused on needle and thread, with a library in the background lit by a glowing golden lamp. Lace curtains frame a window with a cold snowy night outside, and a basket full of sewing supplies tumbles open in the foreground. You can almost hear Santa humming a Christmas carol as he stitches away.
There are so many fun details to look at in this image, we just know it will bring lots of smiles for whoever is the lucky recipient. Maybe you?
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this wonderful quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
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.
QuiltCon winners have been announced, many people attended the event, and things are wrapping up Sunday. I know that all of you who attended got super-charged with creative juices!
For many years I went to both QuiltCon and the quilt festival in Mexico City every February. During those years I had several visits to Frida Kahlo’s Blue House and studio. If you live in Portland Oregon, there is a Frida Kahlo exhibit that has just opened this weekend at the art museum. If you live in the Portland area, I urge you to check it out for an end-of-winter lift!
The good news is, there are lots of fantastic quilt exhibits happening in museums around the country now. My curated exhibit “For the Love of Gaia” is at the New England Quilt Museum through April 9. I have a quilt in the “Better World” exhibit at the Visions Art Museum in San Diego now. The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum currently has the Mens Quilt Show on exhibit. (eQuilter is contributing to an upgrade for their lighting system in their smaller gallery this month.)
I have tentative plans to travel to several quilt shows this year, but I am waiting to see if things settle down with Covid. We can only hope that we are developing resistance to the next variant that comes along. Here in Colorado they say 90% of us have resistance to Omicron now, with a combination of the vaccinated and those who were exposed and survived. We’ve had over 12k lost in Colorado from the pandemic, as of today. So instead of waiting for things to return to some kind of normal, we have to find a way to live our lives and stay safe.
Here in Boulder, it has been almost 2 months since our fire, and we are just getting started with the recovery process. Because over 1000 homes were destroyed, every couple days we hear about someone else in our circle, who has a friend or family member affected. Yesterday I spoke to a neighbor whose son lost his home (his wife is 8 months pregnant, and they have 3 little kids) and his employee who lost his home. (A recent CU graduate, and his 2 CU grad roommates) There were 3 musicians in the Boulder Philharmonic who lost homes. And the list goes on. Right now our comfort quilt project has no end date, just like the recovery process has no end in sight yet.
Our humble thanks to those of you who have dropped off comfort quilts, or who are working on quilts to donate to the families who have lost their homes in our tragic #Marshall Fire. You can find more info here if you wish to participate.
Quilt/Travel Calendar: Jan 28 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit Feb 16-19 – QuiltCon – Phoenix Arizona Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM Closing Reception October 2022 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Manitoba Canada
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Today is “Do a Grouch a Favor Day” – kind of like the Sesame Street version of “Practice Random Acts of Kindness” I guess. As a kid I had a secret fascination with Oscar the Grouch, maybe because he said out loud the things we never dared to say. (And…he was GREEN!) Somewhere in my library I have a copy of “The Portable Curmudgeon” which I found very entertaining in my 20s, probably for the same reason. So if you have the same wry appreciation for some gruff curmudgeon in your circle of friends, well, today’s the day. Maybe you have some half-eaten Valentine treats you can share.
When you start traveling again, and you are inevitably lured into a tourist gift shop, you will see that one of the hottest gift items are printed Tea Towels that have been embellished with hand-embroidery. I myself succumbed to this temptation when I was in Anchorage a few months ago. The part of me that always says “I could make that myself!” was not loud enough that day. But when I brought it home, I realized that we have all the components needed to make these lovely DIY embroidered towels. So here’s an idea for Mothers Day gifts – check out our Irish Linen Tea Towels – our collection of embroidery threads – and the big needles we carry for these threads. Dip into that volcano of pent-up creative energy and you too can whip out a Springtime hand-embroidery project that will hang proudly in somebody’s kitchen. (Maybe yours?)
I am sure you know that everybody started sewing during the pandemic….first facemasks, but then all kinds of other things that could be sewn at home. Most of you have one or two (or more?) sewing machines already, but there is a whole new wave of sewing newbies who either bought an entry-level machine, or pulled Grandma’s old machine out of the back of the closet, and realized it needed a little tuneup at the Sewing Machine Hospital.
As a result, quilt shops and sewing machine shops around the world still have a backlog of sewing machines waiting to be repaired. I suppose the labor shortage has contributed to this ubiquitous backlog as well. This week one of my 2 favorite machines (Bernina 790) had to go to the back of the repair line, and I’ll have to wait 4 weeks to get her back. I am very fastidious about cleaning and oiling every time I sit down to sew, but I was overdue for what should have been an annual deep cleaning and tuneup. Because…you know…the pandemic.
A long time ago I found out the hard way why we need to have more than one machine, because if you are on a deadline, and you only have one machine, that machine will inevitably blow up when you come down to the wire. In my case, I already had 2 machines, I was on the deadline for the Bernina Fashion Show, and lightning hit the building. Even though I had surge protectors, the lightning blew the brains of both machines.
So now I have more than 2 machines, and I always disconnect the power cord from the machine when it is not in use. Those fancy computerized machines are delicate creatures when it comes to power surges, and we don’t want to take any chances. Fortunately the metal guts of my machine are built like a tank so as long as I protect the circuitry, the machine keeps plowing through my deadline like a team of Clydesdales.
…sharing your love of fabric, Luana and Paul
* The central panel in the collage above, is an Irish Blessing printed on one of our Irish Linen Tea Towels.
Quilt/Travel Calendar: Feb 16-19 – QuiltCon – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor Through Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM Closing Reception August 4-6 – Long Beach Quilt Festival October 18-24 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Manitoba Canada
In a few days QuiltCon will be opening in-person in Phoenix Arizona, and eQuilter is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of this event. I have on my desk a single preview copy of the QuiltCon magazine, which will be released to the public this week also. You will notice we have a full page ad on the back cover again this year. You will find the magazine featured here in a few days.
eQuilter has been a supporter and sponsor of QuiltCon from the very first year, and every year brings new creativity, new technical wizardry, and new astonishing talent to the Modern Quilt movement. I can’t wait to see what comes out of this year’s show. The Award Ceremony is at 7 pm MST this Wednesday, so watch for those announcements of the big winners!
In a normal year I would be at the show, but I just made the difficult decision to stay home one more time. I am still keeping my family, my elderly mother, and my staff safe…and I had a bit of a scare 10 days ago with an exposure. (I am testing negative.) So for those of you who go, please do me a favor and take photos of the eQuilter sponsor signs, and tag me and/or eQuilter. I will have to see the show through your eyes.
Our humble thanks to those of you who have dropped off comfort quilts, or who are working on quilts to donate to the families who have lost their homes in our tragic #Marshall Fire. You can find more info here if you wish to participate.
Gallop away to the whimsical fantasy world of Laurel Burch, in this week’s exclusive eQuilter Free Quilt Pattern, with rich Southwest earthtones and Gold Metallic accents. This special quilt is for all you Horse Lovers….you know who you are!
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this wonderful quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
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.
Inuit beading and felted quilts, Arctic & Polar Bear murals, Sled Dogs, Arctic Foxes & Snowshoe Rabbits…and Polar Bear encounters from the back deck of a Polar Rover. Lots of hot cocoa and maybe a little Baileys in your mug. A moonlight dinner out on the Tundra. That’s what you get when you travel with me, one last time, to the Polar Bear capital of the world.
This is your last reminder for the Polar Bear Tour Oct 19-25, 2022. We have *almost* filled up the bus with quilters, and we have a few more spots left if you’d like to travel with me during PEAK SEASON. This is a SMALL GROUP of only 16 people so I’d love to fill up the Polar Rover with quilters and fiber folks so we can tell fat quarter jokes and everybody will get the punchline.
They gave me the chance to fill up the whole bus with Fiber/Textile peeps, but they also gave me a deadline of Feb 15. At that point they will open the remaining few seats up to other travelers.
So if you’ve been putting off sending a deposit and registration, please take a look again and make a decision by Feb 15. Our special eQuilter NatHab agent Aly says the other trips are filling up now, so this opportunity will be gone soon whether you want to travel with me or on other dates.
Either way when you call Aly to register, be sure to mention you are signing up via eQuilter so you will receive a special packet of Polar Bear fabrics before the trip!
This will be my 5th trip to Churchill. Must be something special there, huh? *wink*
…sharing your love of fabric, Luana and Paul
Quilt/Travel Calendar: Feb 16-19 – QuiltCon – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor Jan 28 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM Closing Reception October 2022 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Manitoba Canada
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To make this 68″ x 75″ quilt design, you will start with the large 36″ x 44″ panel with the Celtic Knot/Braid frame. The Celtic Dragon Stripe makes a fantastic engineered border, splicing in Solid Kona Black and the Ironwork Shield coordinate for visual contrast.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this wonderful quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
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.
I just want to do one more push for the Polar Bear Tour Oct 19-25, 2022. We have *almost* filled up the bus with quilters, and we have a few more spots left if you’d like to travel with me during Peak Season. This is a SMALL GROUP of only 16 people so I’d love to fill up the Polar Rover with quilters and fiber folks so we can tell fat quarter jokes and everybody will get the punchline.
They gave me the chance to fill up the whole bus with Fiber/Textile peeps, but they also gave me a deadline of Feb 15. At that point they will open the remaining few seats up to other travelers.
So if you’ve been putting off sending a deposit and registration, please take a look again and make a decision by Feb 15. Our special eQuilter NatHab agent Aly says the other trips are filling up now, so this opportunity will be gone soon whether you want to travel with me or on other dates.
Our humble thanks to those of you who have dropped off comfort quilts, or who are working on quilts to donate to the families who have lost their homes in our tragic #Marshall Fire. You can find more info here if you wish to participate.
…sharing your love of fabric, Luana and Paul
Quilt/Travel Calendar: Jan 28 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit Feb 16-19 – QuiltCon – Phoenix Arizona Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM Closing Reception October 2022 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Manitoba Canada
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This week we are featuring the artwork of Kelly Rae Roberts in our Free Quilt Pattern. Kelly Rae is passionate about creating art as a healing practice, and as a form of deep level nourishment and self-care. She spent her early career as a clinical medical social worker, but then she was drawn to the healing power of art.
To make this 52″ x 58″ quilt design, you will start by cutting apart the vignette blocks in her 24″ x 48″ panel. Then add the coordinating stripe and 4 other prints from her collection, to make this lighthearted quilt. This would make a beautiful and comforting Lap/Nap quilt, or hang on the wall for an uplifting creative message.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this wonderful quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
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.
To make this gorgeous 55″ x 62″ quilt design, you will start with the 36″ x 44″ digital-printed central panel. Then add the Venetian Masks, 4 Solids in the classic Mardi Gras colors, and the matching overall Diamond print.
If you’d like some visual inspiration for a future Mardi Gras or Venice Carnival celebration you can follow these links above to Luana’s photo albums.
You know what they say…. What happens on the float, stays on the float.
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.
