It’s that time of year again when we celebrate another anniversary.  Wow, how time flies. Blink.  Quiltology is turning 4 years old! 

To celebrate we’re having our annual anniversary sale—

10% off all half yard cuts online and in the shop!

Additional in shop only discounts—stop in and save even more—

20% off all one yard cuts or more!

Sale starts March 10 and runs through March 31^st… 

Fat Quarter Fridays continue...all fats just $2.50!

This is a special newsstand only issue.  I’ve ordered copies which will be available in the shop next week.   

Can’t wait?  Order online directly from F&P.

There’s a little drafting involved in duplicating this pattern—but it’s relatively easy and a great way to learn how to design your own patchwork top. 

We’re offering a class in April,  so we can help you create your own patchwork pattern based on the sizes of your shirts.  Call the shop to register.   

cu soon,

ccc



A little background here—Westminster Fibers teamed up with Liberty Art Fabrics to reproduce classic prints from the Liberty archives.   Kaffe added his magic to the deal by resizing the scale and colorizing each of the patterns.  The result is a grouping of 30 new Kaffe fabrics—primarily paisley with a hint of herringbones to provide some stylized textural relief. 

Fabric aficionados know the iconic Liberty of London (now Liberty Art Fabrics) brand.  Everybody else will soon join the design lovers club when Liberty prints get a big boost of mainstream exposure from Target.  (The Liberty home dec collection is expected to hit stores by mid-March!)

The Liberty store in London is a retail icon that was started by Arthur Lazenby in 1875 as an oriental import emporium.  Over the years the store collaborated with many influential artists and couture houses to create their own unique and eclectic brand.  Their products range from clothing to home furnishings, jewelry and scarves.  Oscar Wilde once described the store as “the chosen resort for the artistic shopper.”  (You get the picture.)

Fabric design still prevails, as does their fabric department which they call the Haberdashery. (How very British.)  This is a store within a store where they sell their classic prints, yarn, ribbons, buttons and rick-rack.  (Anybody up for a road trip?)

In the meantime I’m noodling around with ideas for using Kaffe’s new paisley prints.  There’s something about paisley that calls for a regal treatment.  The kidney shaped swirling design is reminiscent of a teardrop infused with color.  Its origin harkens back to Persia and India where they still weave golden threads through the prints and use them for formal occasions like weddings and funerals.

The name itself comes from Paisley Scotland which was once the hub of the weaving industry.  There they produced the classic paisley shawls popular in the late 1800s.  (Sounds like a side trip to me!) 

Oh reality intervenes—too far, too expensive, not enough frequent flyer miles.    

See you soon,

ccc

Start your new Liberty collection now with our fat quarter bundle—30 fat quarters—one of each of the 10 new prints 3 color ways.  ON SALE in the shop and online.

A group of local quilters and fiber artists is starting up a new guild that will meet on the third Thursday of each month.  Here are the details...

The first meeting is February 18^th @ 6:30p. 

The group has reserved space at the Lincoln Park Branch of the Chicago located 2 blocks west of the Fullerton EL stop at 1150 W Fullerton. 

This month’s program features Jan Aaron, a Chicago-based quilter—

“Expanding Your Fiber Art Horizons.” 

An idea exchange for structuring the guild will follow Jan’s presentation.

Need more info?  Contact QLoopChicago@gmail.com.

Did I mention that I also had really bad fabrics?  Yah, some of those nasty old polyester calicos from the 80s!  I was a mess.  But that teacher was Marianne Fons—yes, that Marianne from Fons & Porter—and she set me straight in a very diplomatic nurturing way (which of course is Marianne’s style.)  For this I am extremely grateful.  

Recently Marianne sent me a copy of a new DVD that she and her daughter Mary just released—Learn to Quilt with Marianne Fons and Mary Fons.  I watched it last night (seam ripper in hand—nothing like multitasking!) I just want to say to all you beginners—go buy this now!  

Classes are good because they give you the hands on instruction you need while learning new techniques—but reference guides and DVDs are also valuable because they reinforce the things we sometimes forget from class.  In this new video Marianne and Mary demonstrate it all from rotary cutting, to piecing (triangles no less!), setting your blocks in different designs, machine quilting and yes—finishing up with binding and quilt labels.  And they provide a nice little booklet with step-by-step photos as a quick reference guide as a bonus.  This is a good thing.   

Happy sewing everybody!

ccc

PS--we've still got two spaces left in our February class!

Here's the link to the little baby urban amish we donated to Craft Hope--http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39238058

It’s been a week since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti—one week in hell for people already struggling to survive.  We’ve seen the pictures.  We’ve heard their cries for help. Some of us have already donated money to relief efforts—but there’s more we can do. 

Craft Hope is an online community of crafters who donate their time and talents to making things that they then share with those less fortunate.  

In response to last week’s earthquake, they’ve launched a Craft Hope for Haiti shop on Etsy, where they’re bringing crafters and buyers together under one (virtual) tent.  Items are being donated by crafters from around the world—with ALL of the proceeds going directly to Doctors Without Borders.

I’ve donated a baby urban amish quilt I made.  They tell me it should post in the next 24 to 48 hours.  I’ll update the link as soon as I can.  In the meantime, there’s lots of other really great stuff posted to the site.  Log on and shop for the cause.

If you have something you want to donate, do it fast.  Donations closed tonight 1/20/2010!

ccc

...the front of the quilt...

Quiltologist Paul Davis has executed another feat of fabric engineering genius! 

This two sided t-shirt quilt was made for his niece—a freshman at Vanderbilt—thus the giant V emblazoned on the back.  The picture doesn’t do it justice.  While the rest of us would have appliquéd the V, Paul challenged himself to piece the V into the backing.  That’s right folks—we’re talking curved AND INSET piecing in the shape of the logo.   Very few quilters are brave enough to try this let alone pull it off.

 ...the back...

Of course this quilt has generated lots of buzz with students in the dorm asking where they can get something like this.  And the answer is simple—they can’t.  This quilt is one of a kind—a true labor of love—and a treasure to last a lifetime.

What’s next Paul?

Want to build your stash and save a few bucks?  Stop by the shop on Fridays when regularly priced FQs are only $2.50 each—and holiday FQs are only $2 each! 

The weekly sale starts this week on Dec 4th at noon and runs all day until closing @ 7p. 

I’ve got to apologize for being a little negligent when it comes to postings on this blog.  The flu nailed me last month and I’m still working at getting my energy back.  It’s a good thing that I had some binding projects to do because there’s nothing more nurturing then sitting back with a nice cup of tea and a big warm quilt in my lap.  The slow methodical stitching helps me to get centered and feel like my old self again. 

The winter class schedule is posted with dates and times for January, February and March classes.  We’ll be focusing on what we do best—and that’s patchwork my friends!  Classes will be offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

The new project quilt samples are done too.  All I need to do is take pictures to share with all of you.  We’ll be introducing three new patterns and kits in the coming weeks—including the long coming Lincoln Park Patchwork (with the hohoho holiday throw), City Blocks and Love Beads. 

And since our original Urban Amish quilt was made from now retired Amy Butler fabrics, I decided to put a new one together featuring prints from Amy’s LOVE collection along with some of the new Art Gallery GIRLY GIRL.  We’ve kitted this one up in two sizes—a 48” x 60” throw and a 60” x 90” twin.  Kits are available in the shop and online.

See you soon…ccc

The event is hosted by three North Shore fiber arts groups—the Illinois Quilters Guild, North Suburban NeedleArts Guild and the Weavers Guild—and showcases a variety of handcrafted items from original quilts and woven wall hangings to clothing, knitwear and dolls.

This year’s show will also feature two our of Quiltology quilts—including “Cooler by the Lake” pictured left.  (note—yes, I’m writing the pattern for this one and should have it printed up in a week!)

The FAoF show, sales boutique and demonstrations are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the Regenstein Center.

A lecture by Debbie Wada of Kasuri Dyeworks titled, “Japanese Textiles” will be held at 1pm on Friday.

A silent auction of unique, hand-made pieces will be held from 10am to 3pm daily and the show’s annual raffle quilt winner will be drawn at 4p on Sunday.

Admission to the Garden and to all Fine Art of Fiber events is free. Parking is $20.  Additional information and directions are posted to fineartoffiber.org.

How do I wash my quilt? 

First, let me say there is a world of difference between vintage heirloom quilts and the quilts we’re making today.  If you have an old quilt that your great grandmother hand-pieced and hand-quilted—please ignore these instructions.  Cleaning that quilt will depend largely on the type of fabrics used and the condition of the piece.  If it’s fragile, you might want to consult a local dry cleaner or experienced quilter—someone who can evaluate it and give you specific guidance.

But for those of us who make quilts to be used—basic machine washing is the way to go.  What you need to know is that heat is the enemy of fabric.  Nothing fades and shrinks cotton fabrics faster than hot water and hot dyers!  So I use a gentle detergent or quilt soap in cold to warm water in the machine.  Then I toss the quilt into the dryer on a delicate cycle and dry the quilt about half way.  After that I pull it out and hang it to air dry the rest of the way. 

I’ve gifted quilts to people who washed them to death—and yes they have faded—but in the end I know that they’ve been well loved and used.  And no, I don’t mind if the cats sleep on them.  There’s nothing in this world that my little Miss Molly loves more than a nice warm quilt to curl up in.  And since she’s a member of the household too, she’s welcome to it!

My niece Tara just completed her Urban Amish throw and reports that Nancho is quite pleased with the result too!

cheers,