June E-Chatter

It's the first day of summer today, but you could fool me, it feels more like Fall.  We've been getting some crazy storms here in West Central MN.  The crops are happy for the rain, but we want to be at the lake.  Of course it was beautiful during "What's New" weekend so we didn't get a lot of people stopping in...we understand.  Also, the Minnesota Quilt Show in Rochester was last weekend.  If you went, tell us how it was.

We didn't have a ton of new things to show for What's New because we too have been enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.  Here's What's New in the shop:

Books & Patterns

Big One-Star Quilts by Magic
Love Lone Star quilts? There are enough starry blocks, settings, and bonus patterns in this book to keep crafters quilting till the stars grow cold in the heavens. And these Lone Stars are so easy, because all fourteen of them are made from squares and rectangles, and each one comes with two quilting diagrams for hand or machine sewing. Twenty-eight quilt designs plus fourteen bonus wall hangings mean quilters everywhere will be seeing stars!


Rotary Cutting Revolution
Build your blocks the Make-It-Simpler-Way: stack; cut; and sew perfect blocks. Revolutionary cutting technique saves time without wasting fabric. Over 300 photographs guide you every step of the way with unique sewing and construction tips.


Crafty Carriers
These crafty carriers have handles, outside divided pleated pockets on front and back, and a single outside pocket on each side. The outside carrier is made from three different fabrics and the inside carrier is made from a fourth fabric choice. There is a firm heavy-weight interfacing between the outer and inner layers.


Festive Kitchen Trio
These adorable coordinating aprons and pot holders offer three sizes for Misses and Girls and one size for an 18" (45 cm) doll. The aprons are made using three fabric choices and are reversible. The aprons have patch pockets on one side, a pleated ruffle at the outer edge, and neck and waist ties. The waist ties wrap around the waist and tie in the front. The round pot holders have a pleated ruffle at the outer edge and a loop for hanging.


Crafty Cottage

Hours of imaginative play are vital in nurturing important life skills in the very young, and treasured memories of playing house can be made with this charming cottage which cleverly rests over a card table. The pattern includes a convenient storage box that not only holds the cottage when not in use, but when in use, it acts as a support for the peaked ruffled roof. The cottage has a door, windows with shutters, real curtains and even a mailbox. Embellish to your heart’s content with fabric, ribbon, felt, embroidery, and appliqués.


Sleep Pants, Shorts & Top
Pull-on pants and shorts have pockets in side seams and cuffs. Waist has elastic in casing, drawstring, and header forming ruffle. Casing, drawstring, and cuffs are from contrast fabric. Pull-over tank top has a scoop neckline, and armholes and neckline are finished with narrow hems.

Kits

We used Runnermania by Gathering Friends to create three different table runners/toppers.  Buy one book and create 13 different projects.


Optical Illusion and Cinnamon Sticks are pieced in a square and then cut down to their shapes.


Optical Illusions uses an interesting binding technique that creates an easy layered binding.


Making Ends Meet uses our popular Peacock Fabric.

Spanish Tiles was created using the Living Large 2 book. This summer quilt would be great as a wall hanging in a three season porch or as a picnic blanket on a warm summer day.  The finished quilt looks intricate but is simple to put together.

Fabric

Barcelona by Alexander Henry

Larkspur Meadow by Alexander Henry

We mentioned that a free bag pattern would be available on the blog this week, but it will not be available until next week.  Stay tuned because we may be having a contest along with the bag pattern.