Monday's With Marcus ~ Color Edition

Every Monday since February 14th, all of the Marcus Fabrics designers have been featuring small projects using the color RED, and talking about our favorite colors.  I hope you have been following along.  

You may remember my From the Heart Valentine quilt which featured red and pink for the Valentine holiday.

Today is my turn to talk about a favorite color.....black.  I think black has a very special effect with other colors.  We all know about wearing black, be it wearing an all black outfit, or pairing black with other colors.  The effect can be stunning.  

Have you notice that in the past few years, your grocery store's produce department changed to black shelving?  Oh, how it makes the colors of the produce really pop!  I've also see the conversion to black in the deli and meat sections, too.  Those changes didn't happen by accident....they know how much better food looks against a black background.  

In the world of home decor, adding a little black in a room has been advised by professionals for decades.  Depending on the quilt, adding black can truly make a big difference!  If you're familiar with my quilt designs, you know I have been a longtime believer in adding black to quilts.  I don't see it as a dark and dreary color.  Quite the opposite!  I feel it's a foundation that supports and makes the other colors shine brighter, just like the produce department.  To me, black is classic and traditional, and I feel very comfortable using it in my home, my quilts and my wardrobe.

For me, juxtaposition to black is the color orange or cheddar.  Love it in Halloween and fall quilts, but I have a hard time using it when replicating vintage quilts.  I've designed two cheddar fabric lines, and have really learned to love creating fabric in cheddar, but can't bring myself to make an all cheddar quilt I would display in my home.  I always say that if I was living in 1880, I wouldn't have liked it then either.  But....cheddar has a way of growing on you.  The more I create with it, the more I'm liking it.

As you see in the photos above, I've made my From the Heart quilt  in black and cheddar for Halloween.  

If you're like me and love Halloween, you can order a kit for this quilt while supplies last.  Click here to order the kit.

For a limited time, you can download the From the Heart pattern FREE here.

Click here to visit all of the Marcus Fabrics Designers to see the projects specially designed for The Colors of Marcus event!  

IN THE STUDIO......I'm working on a new Teeny Tiny Quilt Club project which I hope to debut in April.  Something really different and fun.  Old Blue Calicos is being delivered to your LQS right now.  More about that in my next post.  I have completed three future fabric lines and am working on more...all with new quilts to go with it.  And, more sew-alongs coming, too.  

You can always get news and see more up to the minute photos on Instagram and Facebook, so please follow me on social media.

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well....

 

From the Heart ~ Part Three AND Pre-Order Old Blue Calicos!

 

It's easy street from here now what all of our Old Maid's Puzzle blocks are complete.  Time to assemble the quilt.  Sew the center together diagonally, then add the border.  Done!  I am presently hand quilting a valentine project for my daughter.  It's ok that it wasn't complete by the 14th.  She will display it for part of this month, and have it next year and forevermore.  

I sincerely hope you have enjoyed making the From the Heart quilt.  We can look forward to more Quilt Archaeology quilts to 'dig up' and replicate later this year.

Guess what's coming in March?  Oohhh....my new blue collection.  I love me some blue fabrics!

I had loads of fun designing quilts with this collection.  What's not to love about a blue and light quilt, right?  

Charleston Landing by Pam Buda ~ Heartspun Quilts

The first quilt is called Charleston Landing.  (The image above is an EQ image as the quilt is in production right now.) It features all of the prints in the Old Blue Calico collection.  The Bird of Paradise block is what I chose for this quilt and I love the two secondary designs that appear between the blocks!  

The Bird of Paradise block is made of Four Patches and a unit often called Peaky & Spike.  The Peaky and Spike unit would make experienced quilters worry because of the sharp points.....but no longer!

Deb Tucker created her V Block ruler so that you can easily piece them and trim to perfection.  Oh, I am all over that!

  

Take a look at how the Peaky and Spike unit looks.  You can see along the edge of the ruler how the unit will be trimmed.  Easy, peasy!

In the photo above, you will see the floral border fabric on top.  The soft blue floral is the setting fabric, and the stack of folded fabrics are the sashing, cornerpost and inside border prints. 

You can pre-order the Charleston Landing quilt kit with optional backing right now.  Read all the quilt details and place order here.  The pattern is FREE with your pre-order!

Nines in the Middle by Pam Buda~Heartspun Quilts

Oh, how I love a Log Cabin quilt!  I wanted something just a little different so I placed a Nine Patch in the center of the cabin block.  This quilt uses all of the prints in the Old Blue Calicos collection, and is surrounded by a very pretty light floral print, then trimmed with Flying Geese units.  (The image above is an EQ image as the quilt is in production right now.)

The photo above shows the pretty floral background fabric.  The stack of blues and medium print are the fabrics used in the Nine Patch blocks. Scroll up to see the entire fabric collection or click here.

Here's one of the Log Cabin blocks I made so you can see it up close.  Darn my camera...the light prints look very yellow in this picture.  Their true color shows in the photo above.  I wanted you to see the Nine Patch and three rounds of Log Cabin strips to get a better idea.  Hope this helps.

You can pre-order the Nines in the Middle quilt kit with optional backing right now.  Read all the quilt details and place your order here.  The pattern is FREE with your pre-order!

You can also pre-order a Fat Quarter Bundle of Old Blue Calicos and get it as soon as the fabric arrives!  Place your order here.  

Please place your pre-orders by Sunday, February 27th.  Kits will not be available later.

As always, please know how much I appreciate each and every order.  Without you, I couldn't keep my little business going.  Thank you, thank you!!  I know you have many choices in quilting goodies and I am grateful for your orders!

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well......

From the Heart ~ Part Two

 The week has flown by and we're all one week closer to spring....and that's a very good thing!  I stare at a sea of white as we're still snow covered here in Chicagoland.  Typical for February, but my seasonal radar is longing for the change to spring.  It won't be long now!

By now, you have all  of your Cat's Cradle blocks complete, so our next step is to make the Firefly  units.  

Follow along in the pattern directions to piece a Half Square Triangle to a square.

Sew (2) units together to make the block.

With the units for the Old Maid's Puzzle block complete, we can begin assembly of the Old Maid block.

Sew a Cat's Cradle block and a Firefly block together.  

Sew (2) units together to make the Old Maid's Puzzle block.  Make a total of (6) blocks.

You're all done for this week.....unless....you want to sew ahead to have your quilt top done before Valentine's Day on Monday.  Your choice.  I leave my Valentine decor up though the month of February, and I like working on future V-Day projects all month, too, so I don't mind if everything isn't complete by the 14th.  Enjoy the process and the project!

Have you seen the Spring 2022 issue of Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine? 

Stars over Union Hill by Pam Buda~Heartspun Quilts.com

My Stars over Union Hill quilt is included along with other great projects in this issue!  There's a whole lotta stitching goodies in this magazine, so be sure to head to your LQS or newsstand to buy a copy.   

Oh...and guess what??

All of my Marcus Fabrics designing sisters and I have been planning something new and fun for you, all beginning Valentine's Day, February 14th!!  Oh, do we have some gorgeous projects in store.  I can't wait to share it all with you.  

So, be sure to visit my blog on Monday for all of the details.  Better yet, subscribe to my blog and you won't ever miss a thing!  My blog posts will be delivered right to your email inbox.  Scroll down to find the "Subscribe" box on the right sidebar.  It's that easy!

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well......

From the Heart ~ Part One

 Welcome, friends, to another Quilt Archaeology sew-along!  It's February and time to begin sewing our Valentine quilt.  Follow along in your From the Heart pattern.  You can download it here.

Make all of your Half Square Triangles and trim them to the size stated in the pattern.  String piecing them makes quick work of this task.  

Next, carefully piece two light print triangles to a Half Square Triangle as shown.  

Our next task is to add the large red triangle to our pieced unit.  Hhmmm...keeping those triangle points together as you sew them can be a problem.

Here's my fix for that problem....I use Seam Align glue to glue those points together!  In the photo, you can see the syringe applicator in the right corner dropping the tiniest dollop of glue on the fabric by the tip of the point.  Just a tiny drop is all you need, then finger press the fabric points together.

Seam Align glue has many uses, but I think it can't be beat when used to glue triangle points together.  Those points always want to separate just as you're about to sew them, which is sooooo frustrating!  The glue is inexpensive, lasts a long time, can be ironed, disappears when you wash the quilt, and if you had to 'rip' the seam, you can gently pull the fabrics apart.  Find Seam Align glue at your local quilt shop or on my website here.

Finish all of your Cat's Cradle units.  We're well on our way!!  

Martingale has just released a new compilation book, all filled with nothing but scrap quilts!  Yay!  Who doesn't love a scrap quilt?  It's titled Big Book of Favorite Scrap Quilts.

I'm honored to be a part of this awesome book, and my quilt, Emma's Sewing Basket, is included.

If you love scrap quilts, you'll love this book!  Treat yourself to a copy.  The Big Book of Favorite Scrap Quilts is coming at your LQS this month.  

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Take care and be well......





 

Quilt Archaeology ~ From the Heart ~ REVEALED!

 

From the Heart is the name of my new Quilt Archaeology sew-along project.  Perfect for a Valentine display or gift for your favorite Valentine!  

This is the antique we are replicating.  I thought it was so sweet and the perfect Valentine quilt.  Our replica is not as large as the original quilt mainly because I couldn't afford to give FREE kits for a quilt this large.  I think the smaller size is just a lovely.

These are the fabrics with which I made my quilt and that will be in your FREE kit.  I loved the classic bubble gum pink fabric with the little red leaves, and chose a classic red floral print and a soft neutral.  I hope you love it as much as I do!  From the Heart quilt measures 14 x 20 inches.

As with every Quilt Archaeology event, I offer a FREE KIT for this exact quilt with a qualifying order.....and, you can sew along with me in the weeks to come.  So, settle somewhere comfy while I tell you all the details.  

Starting right now, and through Sunday, January 23rd,  place an order totaling $45 or more (not including shipping) on my website for anything you'd like, and you will automatically receive a From the Heart kit with your order!!  Nothing to add to your cart.  I'll take care of it all on my end.  

My From the Heart pattern is a FREE digital download.  Whether you're making the quilt with the FREE kit, or would like to make the quilt using your own fabrics, be sure to download the pattern before Monday, January 23rd.   Click here to download the From the Heart pattern.

The From the Heart Sew-along begins Friday, February 4th right here on my blog.  Be sure to sew-along with me.  We will motivate one another to get this little cutie pieced.  I highly recommend preparing your fabric yardage (before cutting anything!) with spray starch or sizing.  This helps immensely with every step, from cutting to piecing.

Let me show you all of the new quilting goodies you can choose from at Heartspun Quilts!

Cheddar & Coal yardage and Fat Quarter Bundles are now available.

There are so many new color-bank bundles to choose from, as well as a ton of patterns, books and notions....and yardage from nineteen different fabric collections.  There's a lot to choose from, so CLICK HERE to go shopping!  

Thank you all for your continued support of my little company.  I just don't know where I would be without you!  The free pattern and free quilt kit is my Thank You gift for your support.  I know you have a lot of choices when shopping for quilting goodies, and I appreciate you more than you know!  

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well....

Please note:  Pre-orders for the Pinks of the Past fat quarter bundles,  and the Love & Hope quilt kit are not included in the FREE kit offer.