Flower Bucket by Genevieve Gail for Windham Fabrics

There is so much life and feeling of freedom in Genevieve Gail's debut line for Windham Fabrics! It's called Flower Bucket, and the color palette of pink, green and yellow transitions easily from season to season for a year-round experience. The flowers and butterflies are youthful, but overly so to the point of being kiddish. We've got bundles, yardage, and Jolly Packs! And be sure to add your Flower Bucket project to Genevieve's Flickr group when you're done!

Hey Y'all!

I'm so excited to be here at the Jolly Jabber to tell you about my debut line "Flower Bucket" for Windham Fabrics! This really has been a dream come true and I've found the fabric community to be one of the greatest groups of people on the planet!

I created "Flower Bucket" by drawing all of the shapes by hand and scanning them into my computer. I then used a combination of Photoshop and Illustrator to work on the color combos, repeats, and scale. This line is mixture of small to medium size whimsical prints that come in pink, yellow, and green colorways. Although there is no turquoise in the line (one of my fave colors right now!) I have found that turquoise works great as an accent color mixed with this collection. If you want to go for a more Fall look then brown accents work really great too!

My goal with this first line was to create something fun and playful that could be used on a variety of projects. I've already dug into my personal yardage to start sprucing up my house and wardrobe! Here is a tutorial I put together for the Bird's Nest Boxes shown here and also a free quilt pattern from Windham. I just created a Flickr group for Flower Bucket projects so I would love to see what you guys come up as well!



Happy Sewing and Crafting,
Genevieve
www.genevievegail.blogspot.com
www.genevievegail.etsy.com

Winners & Pumpkins

Hello! Today is a wish fulfillment day. We get to announce the winners of the Anka's Treasures "On the Run" book today! Here are the 10 lucky folks...click on the name if you think it might be you, and if it is, e-mail jocelyn (at) fatquartershop (dot) com for your copy!

1) Jen in Massuchusetts
2) Linda L. in Texas
3) Sara in Alabama
4) Mikaiya in Virginia
5) Jenny in Indiana
6) Hope in Canberra
7) RustyBird
8) Teresa C. in New Hampshire
9) Adventures with CAB
10) Call Me Crazy

And we've gotten requests for new Jolly photos...

Autumn is totally Emma's season.

And after a zillion squirmy photos...

...finally got one with (almost) everyone looking at the camera!
So Happy Halloween from Emma, Kevin, Kimberly, Will & Peyton!

New Patterns by Artful Offerings

**This giveaway is now closed!! Thanks for playing :)**

Karina (and Audie too) Hittle, the Artful Offerings team, is back with a fresh new set of patterns to share! Cute totes & table runners, made with the best of Moda and Lecien fabric. And, we're giving away a prize pack of these newest patterns, so be sure and comment to win!

We're honored to be asked to guest blog again on the Jolly Jabber! The Fat Quarter Shop continues to be one of our favorite sites to visit.

For this post, my husband Audie and I thought it would be fun to share with all of you our experience on what it’s like to attend International Quilt Markets, which are held twice a year. In addition, we are hoping to give you a "feel" for the energy and excitement associated with being introduced to new products and receiving FREE products! So fasten your seat belts and let's have some fun!

When we began attending Market several years ago, I didn’t realize the designers that I’ve admired for years would be there, in-person, and very, very accessible! I’m not quite sure what I was expecting…but I can tell you, it wasn’t that! It was unbelievable to me that we could talk with the industry's top designers, such as Anne Sutton, Brenda Riddle, Barb & Alma, and so many others that have all been featured in best-selling publications, worldwide media and right here on The Jolly Jabber! I was completely overwhelmed as, booth after booth, we discovered "industry icons" to our left and right. And to those of you who know me, you know I immediately sent my oh-so timid husband Audie (NOT!) over to talk with the designers/companies/wholesalers and introduce Artful Offerings until I could muster up the courage to meet them myself. Did I mention that Audie’s middle name is "Networking"?! He LOVES networking!

In addition to meeting the individual designers, we get a first-hand look at companies that fill their booths with "hot-off-the-press" books, patterns, fabrics, notions, industry materials and every piece of sewing and quilting equipment you can think of! The company reps are so friendly and they can’t wait to tell you all about their products with live demonstrations and handouts. There is always something new at Market and it can be overwhelming, but for us, Market has become even more special as it affords us the great opportunity to get together and catch up with the dear friends we have made over the years.

This latest Market was extra special as it was the first time I had the opportunity to design a quilt to be featured by a major fabric company. I was asked by Lecien Fabrics to design a quilt for their booth featuring fabrics from their Fall 2009 line, Mrs. March’s Collection. I chose to do a colorful table topper, very flexible in that by adding additional blocks one can easily turn it into a lap or bed quilt of any size. An additional treat was creating marketing handouts! This included making the samples, photographing them, pattern-smithing, design and layout…We had soooo much fun!

One of the benefits of attending Quilt Market is that they are able to peruse the booths and receive free samples and gifts from the vendors. As part of the Quilt Market experience of collecting "hot-off-the-press" goodies, we are happy to share this "freebie experience" with all of you! Please enjoy this FREE pattern download of Mrs. March’s Hot Cross Buns Quilted Table Topper.

Now I’m very excited to introduce all of you to our 5 newest patterns that were featured in the Moda United Notions and Lecien booths this past Market. The following 4 patterns use the stop-me-in-my-tracks-gorgeous Rouenneries by French General for Moda Fabrics:

1. The "To Market, To Market" pattern is a reusable shopping tote that includes 2 sizes and features 2 design possibilities, a cross stitched "Market" patch or a covered buttons version. This design mixes beautiful jelly roll strips with a sturdy light-weight linen lining to make a truly usable tote for all your shopping needs. Here's the freebie! Our directions for a beautiful fabric alternative, using Celebration, can be downloaded for FREE.

2. The "C’est Chic Bags" are chic & easy to make! The pattern includes two bag sizes with 3 band style options…a classic design just blooming with possibilities. The band design options include Simply Plain Linen, Leaves & Berries Stitchery, or an optional "Tattered Blossom"…and guess what? The blossom is made using 1 jelly roll strip and 1 button. Here's the freebie! Our Tattered Blossom directions can be downloaded for FREE.

3. The "Relay Runners" pattern includes 3 quick and stylish runners and begs the question "Which one will YOU finish first?" These runners offer 3 great ways to use pre-cut fabrics, Charms, Jelly Rolls and Layer Cakes! While the runners can be finished with traditional bindings, I hope you try my designer binding, which is featured on the short ends of each runner. The designer binding sandwiches a trim such as rick rack, lace or a ruffle in the binding for a fun, easy and beautiful finishing touch. The detailed directions for my designer binding are included!

4. The "Patchwork Passion" pattern is…Oooooh la la! If you are passionate about patchwork, you will LOVE this sweet duo! Easy patch construction & quilting makes this timeless style a great Mommy & Me project!

5. Our fifth and final pattern uses the classic, clean and fresh-look of Authentic! The "Handle This!" pattern is 1 great tote with 3 easy handle styles. All handle styles are included in the pattern, and believe us, you CAN "handle" all this fun and style! I just love the newsprint, numbers, polka dots and stripes. This fabric executes the designs brilliantly using one of my favorite color palettes of lime green, black, white, beige with hints of gray!

In summary, Quilt Market is an unparalleled experience when it comes to awareness, inspiration and networking. Preparation for this Market was extra fun for me for two reasons: 1. It took me back to my stitchery roots and 2. We were able to spread our digital designer wings! We are already working on designs for Spring Market 2010. We intend to introduce a greater variety of home dec designs and personal accessories with stitchery embellishments.

Audie and I hope that you have gained a new perspective and enjoyed our take on attending Quilt Markets. We hope you like our patterns as much as we enjoy designing them.

Please check out the FREE patterns page on our website at www.Artful-Offerings.com for some additional designs. Our website also keeps up to date with our newest offerings and details of the complete Artful Offerings’ pattern portfolio. Please feel free to contact us through any of the website email links or directly at ArtfulOfferings@aol.com with questions, comments, or suggestions. Thanks so much for the opportunity to connect with you via the Jolly Jabber blog. Please stay in touch…

Kind Regards,
Karina (and Audie too!) of Artful Offerings
Artful Offerings

Celebration by Brenda Riddle for Lecien Fabrics

A long time ago, Brenda Riddle wrote for us about the wonders of Lecien Fabrics.

A snippet from her past post about Lecien Fabrics:

"Why Lecien? Well, those who know me well know that I love a vintage look and with many of the Lecien fabrics, from the Durham lines to Mrs. March’s Antiques, working with these lines creates a quilt that has that very special look, as if it has been a treasured heirloom for years."

So now why do I begin with that foreword? Because, well lookee here, nearly a year and a half later, she is designing fabric for them! Now if you follow her blog, this is a resounding "DUH" statement :)

We're so happy to feature our good friend Brenda on the blog once again today, spotlighting her debut line Celebration! We have all the yardage in stock, as well as in 3 gorgeous colorway fat quarter bundles!

The elegant, yet casual look of an English country cottage was the inspiration for ‘Celebration’. The colors have a softer edge to them – just like the colors do on a sunny country day . . . with the light streaming through the window.

From the soft beiges, pinks & robin's egg blues, to the warmth in the yellows & soft reds, the colors in ‘Celebration’ provide so many opportunities & seemingly countless combinations for the perfect look & feel for those very special quilts, needlework, or home furnishings projects.

I am so pleased to be working with Lecien, & am so happy with their impeccable attention to detail & their commitment to excellence in their production of the finest quilt & hobby textiles & products.

Brenda Riddle
Acorn Quilt & Gift Company

One Pack Doll Quilt Challenge

Did you see Vickie Eapen's project on Moda Bake Shop the other day? Awesome step-by-step photos on English paper piecing!!

She is hosting a challenge to go with the project...make your own Doll Quilt (all the fabric you need is one Charm Pack and one Fat Quarter) and add your finished quilt photo to her gallery! Easy easy. And one submission will win two Jelly Rolls of their choice from Fat Quarter Shop...for use in future Moda Bake Shop projects of course. ;)

Anyway, go show Vickie some love for her abundant and creative MBS work and get started on your own doll quilt!!

On the Run by Anka's Treasures

**This giveaway is now closed!! Thanks for playing :)**
We've got so much love for Heather Peterson. Her quilt designs are always full of fresh, bright hues and surprising, creative shapes. Her new fabric line, Wildflowers, is due out later this month, and while we count down the days in anticipation for that, she's given us another Anka's Treasure to pass the time...and it's fantastic.

It's called On the Run, and it's a collection of 12 table runner patterns using (and all of Fat Quarter Shop sang together) precuts! Layer cakes, jelly rolls, honeybuns, charm squares, and fat quarters -- they're all here. Great for the Rouenneries charm pack you bought just because you had to have some! (P.S. these photos are borrowed from her blog!)

Filled with her gorgeous photographs, straightforward diagrams and instructions, and clear templates (no weird 156% enlargements, yay!) it's definitely a treasure.

In honor of this fantabulous book, she's generously given us 10 (yes, TEN) copies to give away to you all! With the help of all those precuts, these runners would make wonderfully fast and quick holiday gifts!

Just comment on this post to enter, and don't forget to hop on over to her blog to show her some love. Now that their long Minnesota winter has set in, I'm sure it'd help brighten the day. And how cute is that knitted sweater??

Thanks for the giveaway, Heather! And good luck to all y'all!

Sampler Box WINNERS

Hey all!

Whew...still trying to catch up on work over here at Fat Quarter Shop. We loved reading all of your comments throughout Market...they were tremendously helpful. And now, it's finally time to announce these Sampler Box winners from the Sample Spree giveaway! If you missed last Friday's post, the Sampler Box is Moda's newest doodad, twelve 2.5" x 2.5" sampler packs of their lines for next spring, available for you to in November. Genius!

Anyhoo, as tempting as it is to keep them, we did promise to give them as prizes to y'all. (Sigh.)

If you think you might be a winner, click on the name and make sure that it is your profile!

And the winners are...

Lilly
Jen
Meg

And our winners from the Twitterverse are...

Lulizzylu
and Quiltma!

Congrats to you all...e-mail me at jocelyn (at) fatquartershop (dot) com to claim your prize!

Happy weekend and see y'all next week :)

Oh yeah, can't end this photo-less. Here you go, one of Debbie & Cheryl. (Don't kill me guys!) I call it, "Blondes gone brunette."

Fall Quilt Market: That's a Wrap...and Moda love

I saw all those comments wanting more Moda pics! Don't worry, we didn't forget. I simply had most of them in raw format, which took longer to process than the rest of the photos...trust me, there are even more pics than what's in the gallery right now!!

But now I get to show a little Moda love...Kim refers to this as "the circle of Moda". Although, really, it's not much of a circle. More like a squat rectangle. :) There's Kim, Kevin and Debbie in the corner there, starting off the appointment.

They did a beachy boardwalk theme this year, complete with dimensional sand and surfboards! Which way to go?? That's Frolic by Sandy Gervais right there, and we'll be kitting those two sweet quilts!

Lynne Hagmeier and her husband Robert at the Kansas Troubles Quilters booth. Butterfly Garden is what's all around, and wait til you see what we do with it :D They used an antique door as their table top, which I thought was the neatest thing ever. I actually exclaimed, mid-sentence, "IT'S A DOOR!" Quick one, I am.

Polly and Laurie's booth was stupendous, Bar none. Har har. Bar Harbor is their next line, get it? Anyone? *chirp chirp...* They're having a fun giveaway over there, btw...

Here's the beautiful and intelligent Edyta Sitar holding a quilt made from half-square triangles from every Moda line for Spring '09. Isn't it neat?? Her hubby won Quilt Bingo at the Moda party and was super entertaining...

The sweet Deb Strain and her mother Linda at the Saltbox Illustrations booth. I love talking to her! She's going to be in blogland soon!

Heyyyy booth buddies!

The Moda quilt for A Breath of Avignon, by American Jane. So great!

Here's the Plume quilt, designed by Tula Pink. The pattern is Le Petite Salon, ain't it crazy cool??

Here's Botany, by the new mom-daughter designer duo Lauren + Jessi Jung, whom you may remember from the 3rdday Market post. They're off to a great start with Moda! Too bad we have to wait til March for the line!

And Hunky Dory by Chez Moi, with the quilt designed by Julie Herman aka Jaybird Quilts.

And here are the much-anticipated Rural Jardin quilts, the next line from French General.

And the Blackbird Designs booth featuring Old Primrose Inn and Garden Party...ooh and ahhhh. These pumpkins were my FAVORITE. THING.

Here's a corner of Fig Tree Quilts booth all done up in Whimsy. I could spend aaaaall daaaay in here. But they'd probably kick me out after a while.

See how pretty? How light and luscious? This is Lila Tueller's booth, showing off Eden.

Jan Patek is one spunky lady, so fun to talk to! This her fantastic booth covered in Looking Back. And here she is signing her new book in the United Notions booth.

Sweetwater is back as well with their second Moda line, Make Life...
We were early enough to score some of their "Make Life" necklaces! Unfortunately no "Make Life Sweet", but that's alright!

And got to spend some time getting to know this lady, Angela Yosten, the Moda Home Mom, in the Fabric Matcher/Moda Bake Shop booth. I'm going to copy your Martinique skirt, Angela ;)

Okay, head down, back to work. I'll have some Sampler Box winners to announce next time!!

Fall Market 09: Out of the Woods....

...but man, do we have some work to do! Very tired, so (hopefully) we're all resting up tonight at home so we can go full speed bright and early (HOPEFULLY) tomorrow :)

Thanks so sticking with us...here is just a PEEP of what we saw today...click on the photos to go the photo gallery! We're still adding. And thanks for all the tweets and retweets! We love reading them.

Got to meet fellow tweep (Twitter peep) aka Stitch Studios' Cyndi Walker...love her designs!

Caught Mary with her netbook on last night's Jolly Jabber post, totally busted LOL!

Saw the Art Journal (by Bari J), Flutter, and Simply Baby display at Windham. They all felt pretty dreamy!

Spent some time at the Michael Miller booth, which won a booth award! Yay for trailers, toadstools and gnomes!

Admired Paula Prass' many Woodland Delight goodies...check the gallery (click on any photo to get there) for more booth pics!

Met Pillow & Maxfield....they are SO about beautiful embellishments!

Other winners were Minick & Simpson for single booth...PS they're having a giveaway over there too!

Whimsicals got 2nd prize for single booth...

Izzy & Ivy got 1st for Best New Exhibitor!

Also ordered some more Lecien & Benartex holiday lines. Excellent!

And so impressed with Pat Bravo's creations at Art Gallery! She and her husband Walter were a pleasure to chat with. Many more Art Gallery booth photos in our Flickr gallery.

Another wonderful Market...counting down the days until the next one in Minneapolis!