Market Preview: Ann Lauer & Eleanor Burns

Quilt Market starts Saturday, November 3rd, and we have so many new collections to share with shop owners at this industry-only show! We'll be showing you photos of the booth after the show, but we thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peek of what's coming. 

Cat-I-Tude 2: Purr Fect Together by Ann Lauer
(It's National Cat Day...hug yours today!)
If you loved Ann's Cat-I-Tude collection, you'll be thrilled to know that she has a sequel! These cats come with friends--pairs of sleek, porcelain-painted felines appear both on the panel and in coordinates. The line also includes larger cats that can be fussy-cut for a quilt block center, pillow, or tote bag. Ann has added in new coordinates and colors, including a cool black and white paisley, a paisley stripe, and two versions of a square tonal blender. 

If you're attending Market, don't miss Ann's School House on November 2nd from 4:55 - 5:25.
Click here to see the entire Cat-I-Tude 2 collection.



Eleanor Burns: Forty Years with the Log Cabin

We'll also be celebrating Eleanor Burns--can you believe her Log Cabin pattern came out 40 years ago? She'll be sharing at a special Schoolhouse commemorating that anniversary on November 2nd from 5:30-6. 

Come back for more sneak peeks this week!

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Homestead Interview with Eleanor Burns

This week we've been showing you the beautiful prints of Eleanor Burns' new collection, Homestead. We're finishing off the week with a conversation with Eleanor, talking about her fabrics. (Take a peek at the free quilt pattern at the end of this post as well!)

What inspired your new Homestead collection?

I have a very good friend named Sally Murray; she is an avid antique quilt collector. I have to say Sally is also a collector of every single line of fabric that I have designed; she has stockpiled yards and yards.  Honestly, if I can't remember the name of a line or print, I just call Sally.  Anyway, she has a beautiful quilt top from the 1880s with conversation prints and other beautiful fabrics.  I just fell in love with the conversation prints, and we decided that we haven’t seen a collection that featured conversation prints. It was at that moment I decided my next line would be a documentary collection.  We pulled other fabrics from the quilt top and used them as inspiration for this line.   

Can you tell us about the two different colorways, Colonial and Country? 

My sister Patty is an artist by education; she has been by my side through each collection that I have designed.  I told her I wanted to work with red and teal.  Patty thought about it and actually came up with the idea of making the line in two colorways.  In Homestead Country, we paired teal, turquoise, purple and green. In Homestead Colonial, we paired red, green, cream, and to give the collection a unique pop we included some orange.  I enjoy both lines very much. Both can be used separately or paired together, for a very scrappy look. I actually prefer them together.

Can you talk about a favorite print or two or three in the collection?

The conversation print of the Horse-drawn Carriage is my ultimate favorite. I just adore the little dog running around the carriage. Second, I love the Rosettes.  I have always been a fan of fussy cutting, and these prints are perfect!  My third favorite is the lace. I have not seen a print like this before, and I have been making quilts a very long time.

How does the fact that you’re a quilter influence the fabric design and color palette?

I am a very traditional quilter, and I enjoy bringing new life to antique patterns. I believe the fabric you choose should complement the pattern and give a nod to the time period.  As a quilter, I know that color combinations are one of the most important aspects of a quilt.  That said I think about the colors and scales in fabrics that I would use in backgrounds and borders.  They are just as important as the focus fabrics.  This collection has very traditional prints in very bold rich colors, the perfect combination for exciting quilts.

What do you like best about this collection?

I love the bold rich colors and variety of scale. There are actually 42 different prints between both colorways.  I love having a variety of fabric choices. 

What projects do you have planned to make with this fabric?

2018 marks the 40^th Anniversary of my first book “Make a Quilt in a Day Log Cabin Pattern.” I will be updating this classic book, and Homestead will be significantly used in new samples.  The fabric will also appear in other books and patterns, throughout the year; including a very special commemorative book. 

Thank you, Eleanor!

On our website, you'll also find a free quilt design using the Homestead fabrics, "Home is Where the Heart Is." The quilt is shown in both colorways. The downloadable pdf of the pattern will be available soon. 

Click here to see the Homestead Country collection.

Click here to see the Homestead Wide collection. 

Click here to see the Homestead Colonial collection.

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Homestead Country by Eleanor Burns

Yesterday we showed you the Colonial version of Eleanor Burns' new Homestead collection; today is the more contemporary Country colorway:

Love these purples and aquas together! 

But wait...there's more! The full Homestead collection also includes Homestead Wide: big, romantic florals perfect for single piece quilt backing! 

Click here to see the Homestead Country collection.

Click here to see the Homestead Wide collection. 

Click here to see the Homestead Colonial collection.

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Homestead Colonial by Eleanor Burns

Eleanor Burns' new collection, Homestead, is packed full of vintage-style motifs--florals, stripes, geometrics, and even a horse and buggy print!

The fabric line comes in two different colorways, which we'll be sharing over the next two days. 

First, the Colonial colorway: deep reds, greens, and creams. Delicious!

Let's take a closer look at a few of the prints:

Horse and buggy--we love the little detail of the dog as well!

Rich florals perfect for fussy cutting.

Florals mixed with diamond shapes for a dimensional effect.

Another example of florals and geometrics playing together.

We saved the best for last: an intricate floral stripe that brings in motifs from several prints in the collection.

Click here to see the entire Homestead Colonial collection.

Click here to see the Homestead Country collection.

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Forever Love by Eleanor Burns

Eleanor Burns does it again with her Forever Love collection! You get three for one here--Forever Love is divided into three mini collections which you can mix and match. Floral bouquets, small buds, packed florals, a floral stripe, leaves...this collection has it all. The fresh and cheery color palette works year-round--plan your next project using Forever Love!

Flora:

Forget Me Not:

Morning Glory:

And of course there's a free pattern! French Villa uses prints from both Flora and Forget Me Not, capped with the beautiful floral stripe.

Click here to download the pattern.

Enjoy! 

We'd also like to take this opportunity to send a shout out to Eleanor, who broke her leg recently. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Click here to see the entire Forever Love Flora collection.
Click here to see the entire Forever Love Forget Me Not collection.
Click here to see the entire Forever Love Morning Glory collection.
Click here to find the French Villa quilt pattern. 

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Pirouette Bonus Quilt Pattern

If you were inspired by the Romance Coordinates by Eleanor Burns the other day, and you're looking for a new quilting challenge for 2016, take a peek at "Pirouette." 

Designed by Melanie Greseth and Joanie Holton of Tailormade by Design, this lap-sized quilt features a star block and an orange peel block combination, stitched using Eleanor Burns' Christine collection. Soft pinks and aquas and delicate florals give this gorgeous design a romantically vintage feel. 

"Pirouette" is a Bonus Quilt Pattern in Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, which means you can download it from their website.

"Pirouette" designed by Melanie Greseth and Joanie Holton;
pieced by Joanie Holton; quilted by Naomi Polzin;
featured in Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting November/December 2015

Photos: Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting

Click here to download the free quilt pattern from Fons & Porter.
Click here to purchase the kit.
Click here to see the entire Christine collection, and here to see the alternate colorway in the Zoey collection.
Click here to find Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine.

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Soft and Sweet

If you love to work with soft and sweet romantic fabric collections, add the Romance Coordinates by Eleanor Burns to your shopping list! These pretty bouquets, stripes and pin dots will make a beautiful project on their own or round out the romantic florals you already have. Designed to enlarge the original Romance line, you can combine these fresh coordinates with large floral favorites for a grouping of fabrics that goes on and on. Fall in love and start sewing!

Click here to see the entire Romance Coordinates collection.

Click here to see the original post on the Romance collection.

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Happy Birthday, Eleanor!

We'd like to send a huge "Happy Birthday" shout-out to Eleanor Burns! This iconic quilter turns 70 today. 

Happy Birthday Eleanor!

Thank you for all you've done for the quilting world! Best wishes for a happy and healthy year--and many more quilts!

We invite you to leave a birthday greeting for Eleanor in the comments section below and/or on our Facebook page. We'll collect them and pass them along. 

To celebrate, we're giving away three bundles from Eleanor's Christine collection. For a chance to win, email us at socialmedia23 (at) gmail.com with the name of your favorite Eleanor Burns fabric collection in the subject line. Giveaway ends Monday, July 7th at 11:59 pm EST. We will randomly draw three winners' names.

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Holiday Gift Blog Hop: Day 5

Christmas countdown: 17 days!

Are you ready?

We've been sharing tutorials for last-minute homemade gift ideas. Skip the stores (well, except your local quilt shop!) and spend time at your sewing machine instead. 

Today Lisa from Stubbornly Crafty is here with the sweetest bow banner tutorial. (With the right fabrics and enough time, this could even be great garland for your Christmas tree!) Lisa used the soft and feminine prints from Eleanor Burns' Zoey collection to make a string of bows that could accessorize a wall or window in a little girl's room, serve as decorations for a birthday party, or hang on a headboard (picture it with a matching quilt and pillow shams!). Check out Lisa's tutorial and and at the end you'll see how you can enter to win a fat quarter bundle of the Zoey prints.




Hi all! I'm Lisa from Stubbornly Crafty here to share my quick and easy last-minute Christmas gift idea. We'll be making this cute bow banner.
For supplies you'll need:

• fabric
• needle and thread
• twine
• sewing machine
• serger or pinking sheers

Let's get started. I am using fabrics from the Zoey line. They have a shabby chic feel to them that I just love.

After ironing your fabric, cut out rectangles 8.5"x11" for your bow. When finished, each bow measures 5 inches long by 3.5 inches wide. To figure out how many bows you'll need, measure where you'd like to display your banner. This particular banner I've made is 12 bows long.


Take one of your rectangles and fold it in half long ways with right sides together. Sew down the long side using a 1/4" seam allowance.


Turn right side out.


With the seam down the center, fold your bow in half with the short sides together and sew together using a 1/4" seam allowance.


After sewing, use pinking sheers or a serger to prevent fraying. Turn your fabric so the seam is on the inside in the middle back.


Pinch your bow in the middle.


Wrap your twine around the center of the bow (I wrapped it around five times) and tie in a knot in the back.


Using a needle and thread, sew a few small stitches to attach the bows together.


Once you have all your bows sewn together, hang it up and admire.

Thanks Lisa!
Head over to Lisa's blog to find out how you can win a fat quarter bundle of the Zoey fabric collection.

Check out our other quick and easy holiday gift tutorials!
Day 1: Baby blocks using Safari Playground

Day 2: Travel sewing kit using Made with Love

Day 3: Berry basket of coasters using Origins

Day 4: Mitered napkin set using Boy Meets Girl 
Day 6: Handy golf bag using On the Green

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Eleanor Burns presents Zoey (and) Christine!

If you've spent any time quilting at all, chances are you're familiar with Eleanor Burns of Quilt in a Day fame. She's often called the first lady of quilting, and for good reason--she's been a prolific teacher and designer for more than 35 years! We are excited to share Zoey and Christine, her follow-up line(s) to Ellie Ann, here with you today on the blog,  Eleanor's story of how these fabrics came to be, and some eye-candy: quilts Eleanor made using these prints.

Zoey:

Christine:

How did the Zoey and Christine collections get their names?

My son Orion named the entire collection after his younger daughter, Zoey Christine. Benartex decided to split the line into two because it was so big, so the purples and yellows became Zoey and the pinks and teals became Christine. When I think about the line, I think about Zoey. She's so full of life and color and she loves purple. It's a perfect line for her. My last line was named Ellie Ann, after my oldest granddaughter, who is named after me (Eleanor Ann). I think it's cool that we're naming collections after family members.

Zoey Christine

Tell us about the color palettes in Zoey and Christine.

The Ellie Ann collection featured my favorite colors—old-fashioned, soft, romantic pinks, blues, and greens. Zoey and Christine are bright, younger-looking colors. My granddaughter Zoey loves purple, and when I took her into the fabric store, she ran her fingers over the purples and said, ''pretty!" It was really fun to make the colors more happy and bright. Even just the name Zoey sounds more modern than Ellie Ann. I recently did a program on Craftsy using Zoey and Christine, and the video came out so bright, and beautiful.

How did the collection come together?

It's not how "I" do the lines, but how "we" do the lines. My sister Patty is an art major. She always gets in on it and starts with the colors. Orion moves the designs along while I'm out in the world teaching. Nearly all of my lines start with a beautiful painting with multiple colors in it. We start with a large-scale print, and then we think about different scales. We always have a stripe and a dot.

How does being a quilter help in designing fabrics?

If we don't have a variety of scales in the fabric patterns, it's too hard to make a quilt. The values have to be the light, medium and dark as well. It's gotten easier and easier to build a line, especially with Esther's help in the art department at Benartex.

Tell us about the overall patchwork print.

It's great for backings. I totally love it on the backs of my quilts. Then you have a flip quilt—you have the pieced design on the front and you can flip it over and you have a beautiful patchwork that coordinates—a second quilt on the back.

And you used Zoey and Christine to make the All Star quilt in your new book?

Yes. I called my book All Star Quilts. In the early 80s I thought about doing a feathered star but the author of the book I opened said they were hard to make, so I slammed it shut and said I'd do it when I grew up. Now I'm grown up and I decided to do it. I made two with Zoey and Christine. They're both beautiful. The book features all-star quilters Marianne Fons, Alex Anderson, Nancy Zieman, and Mark Lipinski and several different star blocks, including the center feathered star. I decided to call it a mystery quilt, bringing in one celebrity each month as I shared blocks. The audience didn't see the finished quilt until month 4, and I promised my students that if they finished their quilts in time for photography, I'd include theirs in the book. That was incentive--I had 36 students finish their quilts!

Here are some more of Eleanor's quilts made using Zoey Christine:

"Geese in the Garden"
Find it here.

"Hole in the Wall"
Find it here.

"Double Wedding Ring"
Find it here.

Click here to see the Zoey collection.

Click here to see the Christine collection.

Click here to visit Eleanor's Quilt in a Day site and find out more about her new All Star Quilts book.

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