Free eQuilter Pattern – Ocean Wonders

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Luana

Dazzling Tropical Fish and Sea Turtles shimmer with bejeweled colors while swimming through a mysterious dark sea in this week’s exclusive eQuilter Free Quilt Pattern, accented with opulent Gold Metallic. The vibrant sea-life seems to glow as they glide through a midnight ocean.

To make this 51″ x 62″ quilt design, you will start with a 24″ x 44″ central panel, then add rainbow bubbles, a border stripe, and Kona Solid Black to set off the colors. Whether this is a Lap Quilt, a Nap Quilt, or a Wall Hanging….you’ll be dreaming of a moonlit snorkel fantasy with this beautiful underwater scene.

…from the ‘Hooked On Fish’ collection by Ann Lauer of Grizzly Gulch Gallery for Benartex.

Don’t miss the ‘National Parks‘ and ‘Rescued and Loved at Home‘ 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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A Wild Heart

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Luana

As you may know, I try to have close working relationships with the non-profit organizations in our eQuilter charity program. Today I had lunch with the founder of Engineers Without Borders, and a retired administrator for Doctors Without Borders. We have lunch every couple months and because they both have worked around the world in refugee camps and other humanitarian projects, I just like to be a fly on the wall and listen to their stories.

Today we were talking about the Afghan refugees that are slowly making their way to our country. Bernard is raising money to purchase slightly-used computers to give to the young people in these families. He will provide basic computer training to help them integrate into their new homeland. I spoke about donating fabric and sewing supplies to the women in these families. Many communities around the country are preparing to welcome these families, who have gone through so much trauma before making the journey here. Perhaps some of you will also become involved in projects like this over the next year, in your own communities.

I am still digesting my experience with the Brown Bears in Katmai National Park in Alaska recently. I can really relate to the mother grizzly bears who will take on a much larger male bear to ferociously protect her cubs. It makes me think of what these Afghan mothers have gone through to protect their children through such a difficult transition. When we meet and help mothers and fathers who have lost everything just to save their precious children, it makes any of our own troubles seem so insignificant.

Due to popular request I am going to host ONE MORE POLAR BEAR TRIP in Oct 2022.

I managed to reserve spots for us during Peak Season which means these spots will sell out fast. Payment plans are available! Deadline for guaranteed registration in my travel group is Thurs Nov 18.

Follow this link for the itinerary, pricing and contact info for our travel coordinator Aly.
Plus you get a packet of POLAR BEAR FABRIC as part of the deal!

The photo above is another one of those incredible moments of sharing eye contact and peering into the heart and soul of a wild creature. I shared about an hour of time alone with this bear, who gazed up at me periodically, sending shivers down my spine. In a good way.

…sharing your love of fabric,
Luana and Paul

Quilt/Travel Calendar:
Nov 13 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Visions Art Museum – for Season Pass Holders.
Nov 15 & 16 – Handweavers Guild Boulder – Zoom Lectures.
Nov 18 – Deadline for guaranteed seat on Polar Bear Trip.
Dec 4 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Quilt Canada
Jan 12 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit
Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM

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Free eQuilter Pattern – National Parks

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Luana

So many of you were able to go out and visit our glorious National Parks this Summer, and now you are back home dreaming of your days in the forest and mountains and lakes. Perhaps you have a bucket list of more National Parks to visit, and this week’s Free Quilt Pattern will help you to keep track of that list!

To make this 63″ x 80″ quilt design, you will start with the amazing 54″ x 72″ digital-printed panel. (With 62 National Park posters.) This quick and easy quilt design uses 3 colors of Stonehenge textures to create the border. The central panel can be treated like a ‘cheater panel’ – i.e. you can stitch around the park posters as you would stitch around blocks on a cheater quilt panel.

This is a great gift idea for a friend or family member who has a bad case of wanderlust in what are hopefully the waning days of pandemic travel restrictions. Whoever sleeps under this quilt will also be dreaming of sleeping under the stars in the precious wild lands of our National Parks system.

…from the ‘National Parks’ collection, by the Anderson Design Group for Riley Blake Designs.

Don’t miss the ‘Rescued and Loved at Home‘ and ‘Rainbow Dragon‘ 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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Daylight Savings Ends Tonight

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Luana

Daylight Savings Ends Tonight

Fall is coming late this year, but Daylight Savings Time is ending this weekend anyway. For most of us in the USA, tonight we “Fall Back” and turn our clocks back an hour. You can get an extra hour of sleep, or you can start waking up an hour ‘earlier’ (but not really) as a result. During the pandemic I have gotten in the habit of staying up late to get my work done after everyone is asleep, but I am going to try to get up earlier with the time change.

We have yet to see our first measurable snowfall, and the trees have not dropped all their leaves yet, so Fall is running a couple weeks late here in Colorado this year. Or you might say….Summer is lasting a little longer. We broke a high temp record today with 80 degrees!

Today I went to the Dia de los Muertos festival at the Denver Botanical Gardens. We got really lucky with a parking spot, and then walked into the event building just as the contestants were arriving for the costume contest. Oh what fun! We sat in the front row and took photos. Some of the costumes were breathtaking. I’ll share them on my photo page later tonight.

Just in case you missed the Wednesday newsletter…
I am doing ONE MORE POLAR BEAR TRIP next year and the deadline to grab a guaranteed spot in my group is Thursday, November 18. Details on this page.

If you are a season pass holder for the Visions Art Museum lecture series, please be sure to put my presentation (next Saturday) on your calendar. I’ll be reviewing about 200 quilt images from online and in-person quilt festivals, from the last year. This will be a virtual presentation so you can join from anywhere in the world. If you have a season pass, you can watch the recorded lectures anytime.

…sharing your love of fabric,
Luana and Paul

Quilt/Travel Calendar:

Nov 13 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Visions Art Museum – Season Pass Holders – 3 pm MST.
Nov 15 & 16 – Handweavers Guild Boulder – Zoom Lectures.
Dec 4 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Quilt Canada
Jan 12 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit
Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM

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Free eQuilter Pattern – Keep on Truckin’

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Luana

Everyone knows that big rig truck drivers have a language and a culture all their own, and these days due to supply chain issues and the pandemic, women are joining the ranks of truck drivers like never before. Whether you drive a Wiggle Wagon, or are just watching out for the Kojak with a Kodak, a quilt like this will keep you warm in the Semi-Tractor, hang it up when you are back home and 10-7.

To make this 52″ x 54″ quilt design, you will start with the 24″ x 44″ horizontal central panel, then cut up a second block panel with 8 different Truck Cabs. Piece the border with the Silver and Black diamond plate grid texture, finish with the ‘Flames’ binding, and you’ve got a great conversation piece for the Driver in your life!

…from the ‘Keep On Truckin” collection by Jeff Wack and A. Alvarez for Quilting Treasures.

Don’t miss the ‘Rescued and Loved at Home‘ and ‘Rainbow Dragon‘ 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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Polar Bear Trip Announcement

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Luana

In case you have not seen my last few e-newsletter updates, there’s a lot of BEAR energy in my life lately. I was in Katmai National Park in Alaska a month ago, photographing Brown Bears. Then last week I found out that I am one of 15 artists chosen (including Barbara Beasley) to paint/embellish a big fiberglass bear sculpture for a public art exhibit opening at our Boulder Chautauqua in early December.

Continuing with my current bear theme….
Due to popular request I am going to host ONE MORE POLAR BEAR TRIP in Oct 2022.

I managed to reserve spots for us during Peak Season which means these spots will sell out fast. Payment plans are available! Deadline for guaranteed registration in my travel group is in two weeks – Thurs Nov 18. (unless they sell out before then)

Follow this link for the itinerary, pricing and contact info for our travel coordinator Aly.
Plus you get a packet of POLAR BEAR FABRIC as part of the deal!

I think this will be my 5th trip to Churchill. You can see many photos from past trips here. The image above shows the reference photo I took on one of the trips, that inspired my “Polar Bear Eclipsed” quilt which is still traveling with the Endangered Species exhibit.

Throughout my lifetime I have had several close encounters with bears, starting when I was 11 years old at a music camp in the mountains. When you have an experience of locking eyes with a majestic animal like a Polar Bear or a Brown Bear (Coastal Grizzly) it is something you never forget. I hope to share that with some of you a year from now.

During stressful times over the last year and a half, I have a meditation that is very calming and centering. It is a memory from one of these Polar Bear trips. It is being on an endless silent expanse of icy white, sitting with a mother bear who had sat down behind our big vehicle. I was the only one left on the outside deck, and the mama bear and I had extended eye contact that I could feel deep in the core of my being. That moment will be with me until my last breath.

We have heavily restocked our Flannel Blender categories, and have added a Flannel 108″ Backing category, so check out some snuggly soft and luscious flannels for quilts and backings on your winter projects!

…sharing your love of fabric,
Luana and Paul

Quilt/Travel Calendar:
Nov 13 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Visions Art Museum – for Season Pass Holders.
Nov 15 & 16 – Handweavers Guild Boulder – Zoom Lectures.
Dec 4 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Quilt Canada
Jan 12 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit
Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM

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Free eQuilter Pattern – Hummingbird Heaven

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Luana

As the world is waking up to the value of our precious pollinators, we see that your interest in fabrics with Bees, Butterflies and Hummingbirds is also increasing. Hummingbirds are the tiny shimmering jewel-like birds who flit from flower to flower, pollinating blossoms and filling the air with their trademark high-pitched buzz.

This week’s exclusive eQuilter Free Quilt Pattern is a celebration of these little hummers, and the colorful flowers from which they sip. Here in Colorado we are always thrilled to catch a glimpse when we hear their humming during the migration season.

To make this 57″ x 62″ quilt design, you will start with the 36″ x 44″ central garden panel. Cut up a block panel to make the corners, then use the coordinating stripe to make the border. This is a cheerful project for the Winter months, while we wait for the summer sun to return to our gardens.

…from the ‘Hummingbird Heaven’ collection by Elizabeth Isles for Studio E Fabrics.

Don’t miss the ‘Rescued and Loved at Home‘ and ‘Rainbow Dragon‘ 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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Bear in the House

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Luana

While all of you have been busy at Quilt Festival in Houston, or raking leaves, or finishing Halloween costumes….I have been busy prepping for construction.

As I have mentioned before, after our 2000 sq ft classroom sat empty for 18 months, and one of our tenants begged for another 1000 sq ft, I decided to divide the space in half so we can put that space to good use right away. So I’ve spent the last week downsizing and packing and basically doing a studio tetris to get everything out of the way of the construction.

In the middle of all that, I found out that I’ve been chosen (along with Barbara Beasley) as one of 15 artists to paint/decorate a fiberglass bear sculpture for a public art project to display at the Chautauqua Winterfest. The 15 artisan bears will be displayed December 10th through May 2022, and then will be auctioned off for a fundraiser. I am super excited (and delightfully surprised) but the deadline is Dec 3 and I am finishing another quilt project now too, so I might be painting the bear in the garage until I can get back into my studio space. Why does everything happen at the same time?

The bear is resting on my couch now for the weekend. You can see photos on our eQuilter Facebook page and my personal FB page. I will take photos of the process and share when I am finished – when I am allowed by the organizers of the event. Hope you all have a happy safe Halloween!

We have heavily restocked our Flannel Blender categories so check out some snuggly soft and luscious flannels for quilts and backings on your winter projects!

…sharing your love of fabric,
Luana and Paul

Quilt/Travel Calendar:

Nov 13 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Visions Art Museum – for Season Pass Holders.
Nov 15 & 16 – Handweavers Guild Boulder – Zoom Lectures.
Dec 4 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Quilt Canada
Jan 12 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit
Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM

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Free eQuilter Pattern – Joyful Countryside

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Luana

What is it about Chickens that captures a quilter’s imagination? Is it the colorful plumage? The memories of being awakened at sunrise by the crowing of a rooster? The sweet murmur of a mother hen trilling and purring to her chicks? The egg-laying song of “Buk, buk, buk, ba-GAWK!”?

Perhaps the joy of gathering warm eggs from a nest? One thing is for certain – we have so many customers who just love Rooster, Hen and Chick themed fabrics….so this week’s Free Quilt Pattern is for you!

To make this 54″ x 67″ quilt design, you will cut up a block panel, fussy cut Chicken vignettes from a scenic stripe, and set them in 4 colors of Hoffman Hand-Dyes. Finish up with a border of the same scenic stripe, and you have a cheerful quilt that will bring fowl wisecracks and happy chicken chatter in your kitchen or dining room for years to come.

…from the ‘Joyful Countryside’ collection by Oleg Gavrilov for Elizabeth’s Studio.

Don’t miss the ‘Rescued and Loved at Home‘ and ‘Rainbow Dragon‘ 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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Seasonal Splendor

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Luana

This week is the glorious climax of our Fall color season here in Boulder, so I am trying to take photos to capture the brilliant foliage before it is gone. Everyone here is talking about what a fantastic year it has been for the Autumn colors. It is some serendipitous combination of warmth and low humidity that has kept the color show going on for several weeks now. It is so inspiring!

I am also inspired by the artwork of David Galchutt & Sue Penn this week. David is a new licensed artist for Quilting Treasures, and Sue Penn has been developing as a textile designer for Free Spirit for several years. It seems appropriate to feature them together this week, to celebrate the final days of our seasonal splendor. It is snowing in the high country here, and in a day or two we’ll have blue skies over our Rocky Mountain snowy peaks…another creative inspi ration.

To all of you frantically sewing last-minute Halloween costumes – good luck and don’t forget to oil and clean your machines! Do yourself a favor – try a fresh needle in your machine every once in awhile!

…sharing your love of fabric,
Luana and Paul

Quilt Calendar:

Nov 13 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Visions Art Museum – for Season Pass Holders.
Nov 15 & 16 – Handweavers Guild Boulder – Zoom Lectures.
Dec 4 – Zoom lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” – Quilt Canada
Jan 12 – Apr 9, 2022 – New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) “For the Love of Gaia” exhibit
Sat, April 9 – “International Quilt Trends” lecture – NEQM

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