Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hey there Quilty Friends, 

 How was everyone's holiday? I had a blast visiting my family in Minnesota but very thankful to back in the sunny state of Florida. The holiday season isn't over yet though, it's time to celebrate the New Year! For those of you that have been following along with the AGF Quilt Block Collection we have introduced 21 new blocks this year and we are super excited to bring you more fun block tutorials in 2018. Today I would like to share the Top 10 Must Make Blocks of 2017.  Below you will find all the details on how you can make some of these blocks to add to your quilt block resume. 

(From top to bottom, left to right)

Join in on the quilt block fun and sew up a block from the AGF Quilt Block Collection! Make your block with AGF Fabrics and post your creation on Instagram with the hashtag #AGFQuiltBlockCollection to be entered to win a  fat quarter bundle of AGF's Latest New Collection! Two winners are chosen every month! Don't forget to tell all your quilty friends! 

Top 10 Must Make Blocks

1. Squares and Diamond Block made with Dollhouse Fabrics
2. SeeSaw Block made with Floralia Fusion
3. Endless Squares Block made with Esoterra Fabrics 
4. Shooting Star Block made with Indie Folk Fabrics
5. Maltese Star Block made with Wild Bloom Fabrics
6. Single Irish Chain Block made with Lambkin Fabrics
7. Morning Star Block made with Spices Fusion
8. Prairie Home Block made with Blush Fabrics
9. Crossed Canoes Block made with Le Vintage Chic Fabrics
10. Granny Square Block made with Soulful Fabric

Watch video below to find your next quilting project! 

Happy Sewing,

Meli

Hello Quilty Friends, 

Can you believe it's almost 2018! My mom always used to tell me time goes by fast when your having fun, which is absolutely right! This year has been such a blast sewing with so many great new fabric collections and creating fun free sewing patterns for all of you who follow AGF! Thank you for all your wonderful comments throughout the year! We can't wait to share more of our passion for fabric and sewing in 2018! To end the year off right I want to share the Squares and Diamonds Block  featuring Dollhouse Fabrics. 

Follow along with the video below to make the Squares and Diamonds Block. Make sure to share your quilt block creations with AGF fabric collections on Instagram using the #AGFQuiltBlockCollection to be entered to win our monthly bundle giveaway. 

Enjoy, 

Meli 

Hello fabulous makers,

I hope you’re staying cozy this winter and that you’re doing a lot of sewing! Do you ever get those moments where you drift off into a daydream while you’re sewing? This always happens to me even when sewing isn’t involved. During these moments I tend to get thoughts about my days as a kid when I played pretend with dolls. Those were blissful days…

I’m sure you’ll feel the same way when you see Amy Sinibaldi’s new collection Dollhouse fabrics. From the time you start sewing with this collection, a wave of childhood memories will come to life. This range of fabrics is about an imaginary world of pattern and design where play, simplicity, and romanticism are the very essence. Although, you may think this collection is only for children, I beg to differ!  The color palette is filled with soft grays and rosy pinks combined with delicate floral and graphic elements that create a timeless and feminine look for makers of all ages.

The tiny designs in each print are great for quilts, garments, and accessories. Just look at these ruffled pencil bags, aren’t they adorable!

So, are you ready to enter Amy’s sweet world of Dollhouse? Is that a yes? Well, flip through the lookbook to see all the cute things you can make with this collection.

Plus, there’s a free quilt pattern that’s calling your name! Download the “Upstairs, Downstair” pattern.

If you’re curious about what blenders coordinate with this collection, here’s a cheat sheet with some of our picks.

Last but not least, make sure to enter the giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a bundle of Dollhouse by filling the form below.

Giveaway ends January 2^_nd, 2018. Good Luck! I hope you’re excited to have a playdate with your sewing machine and Dollhouse fabrics.

Talk to you soon!

-Stephanie

*****GIVEAWAY CLOSED****

Congrats, Joyce Spaulding! You've won the Dollhouse giveaway! Please check your email. 

Hi Sewing Friends, 

It's that time of year where we start thinking about the year that has past and what we have accomplished. Reflecting on the year that has past I have had many great accomplishments! One thing that always ends up on my New Year's Resolution list is to sew more and to become better at my craft because we all know,  "practice makes perfect"!   This year I focused on project completion because if you are a perfectionist like me most often times you end up with a million unfinished projects. No matter if you have been sewing since you where 5 or if you just started 3 months ago sewing is a craft that allows you to consistently keep growing and learn something something new. 

I love finding new tips and tricks to help me better perfect my sewing projects so they come out looking more professional and polished yet still having the handmade feel we all love as makers. 

How many of you go to the store and think, that dress or pillow is cute, I can totally make that but then never do. Well it's time to add this to your New Year's Resolution list! Less buying more sewing! To help get you started I put together a video with some tips to help improve your sewing projects in 2018. 

How many of you press your fabrics before cutting, or press as you go? Sometimes taking the time to press here and there as you are sewing a project can make a world of difference in your final project. Ultimately your projects will come our without puckers, your seams will match, and your fabric won't look wavy and distorted.  

Who knows the difference between ironing and pressing? Watch the video below for helpful tips to use in your next sewing project. 

Happy Sewing,

Meli 

Happy Holidays Sewing Friends, 

 I don't know about you but all the holiday traffic and cool weather makes me want to be home behind my sewing machine with a gigantic cup of hot chocolate! This month we gathered up our favorite winter fabric  to create a bundle full of holiday charm. This months mini made with the Winter Wonderland ColorFun bundle has us wishing for snow. 

The Let it Snow mini was inspired by the view of snow covered homes while walking through the streets as the snow magically begins to fall. I am dying to see what this mini would look like made into a full size quilt.

View the instructions below to make the Let it Snow Mini. 

Finished Approx. Size 15” x 15“  

Fabrics Used: 

Fabric A-NTF-67902-Mystical Woods Lunar
Fabric B-PST-75504-Foreshadowing Spell
Fabric C-BLI-75610- Evergreens Frozen
Fabric D-BLI-75609- Winterberries Snow
Fabric E-LTO-9235-Snow Crystals Ash
Fabric F-BLI-75607- Glacier Path Aqua
Fabric G -HRT-95303-Pinetre Fog
Fabric H-PE-410- Ash
Binding-BLI-75307
Backing-BLI-75610

Cutting Directions: 

Fabric A-

One (1) 4 1/2" square 

One (1) 1 1/2 " x 8" strip

One (1) 2 "x 30" strip

Fabric B-

Two (2) 3/4" x 4 1/2" strips

Two (2) 3/4" x 5 1/2" strips

One (1) 2 1/2" x 8" strip

Fabric C-

One (1) 3 1/2" x 9 1/2" strip

Fabric D-

One (1) 2" x 9" strip

Fabric E-

Four (4)1 1/2" square 

One (1) 2 1/2" x 30" strip

Fabric F-

Two (2) 2 1/2" squares

 Fabric G-

Four (4) 3 1/2" squares 

Fabric H-

Two (2) 1 1/2" x 9"

Two (2) 2" x 8" strips

Two (2) 2 1/4" x 9"  strips

Two (2) 2 1/2" x 8" strips

Four (4) 2" x 4" strips

 Four (4) 2" x 5 1/2" strips

Eight (8) 1 1/2" squares 

Four (4) 2 1/2" squares

Backing- 18" x 18"

Batting- 18" x 18" 

Binding- 1 1/2" x 70"   

Block Instructions

Step 1: Creating the Center Block

Take a 4 1/2" square from Fabric A and sew a 3 /4" x 4 1/2" strip from Fabric B to the top and bottom. Press seams to one side and sew a 3/4" x 5 1/2" strip from Fabric B to the sides. 

Step 2: Strip Pieced Blocks

Sew your strips together into the following sets. 

Set 1: 2 1/2" x 8 strip from Fabric H>1 1/2" x 8" strip from Fabric A >2 1/2" x 8" strip from Fabric H

Set 2: 2 1/4" x 9" strip from Fabric H > 2" x 9" strip from Fabric D > 2 1/4" x 9" strip from Fabric H 

Set 3: 2" x  8" strip from Fabric H >  2 1/2" x 8" strip from Fabric B > 2" x  8" strip from Fabric H

Set 4: 1 1/2" x 9" strip from Fabric H > 3 1/2" x 9" strip from Fabric C > 1 1/2" x 9" strip from Fabric H

Once you have your strip sets sewn, sub cut your strips in the following manner. 

Set 1 - 1 1/2" strips

Set 2- 2" strips

Set 3- 1 1/2" strips 

Set 4- 2" strips 

You will need four of each set. 

Sew your sets together as follows: 

Set 1 > Set 2> Set 3> Set 4

Create four blocks using your strip sets. 

Step 3: Creating the Corner Blocks

 Sew two 1 1/2' square from Fabric H to the top and side of a 1 1/2" square from Fabric E. Trim your piece on the diagonal leaving 1/4" seam allowance. 

Take your 2 1/2" squares from Fabric H and F and cut in half on the diagonal to form triangles. Sew two H triangles to each side of a F triangle. Repeat this process with your remaining triangles. 

Sew a 2 1/2" x 30" strip from Fabric E to a 2" x 30" strip from Fabric A. Press to one side and take a 4 1/2" square ruler and place it on the diagonal cutting out four strip pieced triangles. 

Lining up the midpoint of all three pieces sew together to form a block. Trim block to a 4" square. 

Sew a 2" x 4" strip from Fabric H to the side of your piece and a 2" x 5 1/2" to the bottom. 

Finish off your block by drawing a diagonal line on the wrong side of a 3 1/2" square from Fabric G. Place right sides together to the corner of your block. Stitch on the line you drew and trim piece to 1/4" seam allowance.  

Sew your blocks up following the blocks design and your Let it Snow Mini is complete!  I used a winter white thread and added some 1/4" diagonal line quilting to finish off my mini. 

Follow along with my mini madness below: 

SunSet Rays Mini

Nature Lover Mini

 Wood Trails Mini

Rustic Crossroads Mini

We would love to see your mini creations so please  make sure to share your mini's using the hashtag #AGFColorfunMini. 

Let it Snow, 

Meli 

Hey fab makers!

How’s this hectic holiday season going for you? We’re only a few days away from Christmas! I’m almost done with all my gift wrapping and just couldn’t resist making some AGF inspired gift tags to add the finishing touches to my gifts. Over the years, it’s been a holiday tradition here at AGF to share cute holidays gift tags for you to make your gifts extra pretty!

Whether you made something special for your family members or bought something they’ve been wishing for, these gift tags will make your presents stand out among all the “conventional” holiday gift tags. But the best thing about them is that they’re FREE! Click the download link below to print 6 custom gift tags inspired by prints designed by Amy Sinibaldi, Pat Bravo, Maureen Cracknell, Bari J. and Bonnie Christine.

Download Gift Tags

So, what do you think? I hope you have tons of fun adding these tags to your gifts. Let me know in the comments what gifts you have made for your loved ones and what are some of your favorite holiday traditions.

Happy Holidays!

Stephanie