Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hello Makers, 

Are you always in search for cute prints for the little's in your life? I know for me I am always on the look out for fabrics that they can grow into and not be to over the top childish! That way they can use it when they are older. AGF's new Capsule Collection called Stargazer is definitely that kind of collection. The outer space nursery theme has been trending for some time and I love how it can cater to both girls and boys. Surround your little ones with a room full of shimmering stars, happy moons, and cute animals dressed up as  astronauts!   To view the full collection click here! The collection comes with two awesome panel prints, one in quilting cotton and other other in our super comfy knit! 

Grab some of your favorite prints from Stargazer fabrics and join me below to whip up the "Star Bright" Block! 

In this tutorial we learn to make flying geese using the 8 at a time method and make flying geese using the no waste method. Have fun watching  the video below and leave me a comment if you enjoy the tutorial! 

Finished Block Size: 12" 

I mentioned in the video I wanted to make a baby quilt for my nephew so I came up with a another block in a different color way to create the quilt below! What a burst of flying geese! I really love the movement in this quilt! Do you think he is going to love it? :) 

Happy Sewing, 

Meli 

Did you know the color blue is considered a beneficial color for the body and produces a calming effect? I totally understand what they mean after seeing a bundle like this one from the “Color Master Box” in Midnight Ocean Edition. It makes me want to sit there and just pet the bundle until it speaks to me 😂. I am sure everyone needs a moment of silence when they see something beautiful, just how we would stare at the stars on a dark night. Especially now transitioning into the month of September, the nights are cooler and we can stare at all the beauty! This month, what better to choose this “Color Master Box” and this mood board that represent this transition. From white flowers that glimmer from the moonlight, starry nights, and the bold assortment of prints that compliment the deep blue color.

Let’s get these sewing machines running and start creating for the next month! With this unique tones of dark blue, take your fabric projects to the next level! All you need is one box to make a project that's perfect for the month, and you can get it in two sizes: Fat Quarters or Half yards.

Here are some projects from the lookbooks that you can make with the “Color Master Box”!

Hobo Bag #1: An everyday bag featuring the print “Blossom Swale Depth” to be the center of attention. Elevate your look by pairing this unique, decorative bag with any solid print outfit like a off-white tunic and olive-green palazzo pants. Download the pattern here.

Plenum Quilt #2:As you may know by now, we have created a new AGF Kit that comes with everything you need to sew a quilt top and it allows you to create this amazing “Plenum” kit! The kit includes a 10 piece bundle, two additional fabrics for the background, accents, and easy-to-follow instructions!

Birdie Bag #3: Using “Remembrose Dolies Dark” print to make this vintage fold-over bag for a romantic evening. Download the pattern here.

This “Color Master Box” can give you the option of using just one print or several to compliment any of your sewings designs. Although this bundle highlights the color blue, each print has distinct color palettes that make it easy to pair with other projects. For example, the print called “Remembrose Dolies Dark” (print shown below, circled in red) has white, bright yellows, and a dark peaches that can help piece together other fabrics with a matching color palette.

Remember that this box is there for your convenience, and has many uses! The “Color Master Box” can keep your fabrics organized and neatly displayed for easy finding, or you can share the love, because it’s perfectly curated in a box for an easy present!

Are you a fabric lover? Have a fabric lover in your life? Find them the perfect gift in our online stores

If you create any of these lovely projects, please tag us using the hashtag #ArtGalleryFabrics and #AGFColorMaster so we can see your creations!

Happy Sewing!

Jannelle

Hi Makers! 

Hope August has been a productive month for you with summer vacations and back-to-school! :) I recently went on a trip to Yosemite in California, and came back flooded with so much inspiration to create new projects! Being surrounded by mountains and forests is amazing inspiration, just in case you need some! Luckily, fall and the holidays are quickly approaching..along with some other exciting events like bridal and baby showers, so I'll have plenty of good excuses to make some handmade gifts. 

Here at AGF, we’ve been working hard on crafting up sewing projects for you using our latest, bite-size CAPSULE collections - “Craftbound” and “Stargazer” by AGF Studio. In case you're new to AGF, our CAPSULE collections are made up of 10 different prints, and we usually release two of them together in a lookbook! Combining the emerging trends of “traditional artistry”  in CRAFTBOUND and “gender-neutral prints” in STARGAZER, these two  fabric collections are filled with unexpected color, texture and novelty prints that can be used in a wide array of sewing projects! 

In Craftbound, this collection celebrates traditional skills by illustrating tapestries, mosaics, stamps and embroidery, fusing them on threads printed with tones of black, white, yellow, aqua and pink. Definitely a great collection for all you boho-lovers, out there! These fabrics make me want to re-do my bedroom and wardrobe with eclectic, bohemian flair. With the slow fashion movement on the rise, this collection is great for creating unique garments like up-cycling old jean jackets with bold patchwork! 

Here's our lovely "Osceola Quilt" for you to create, click the link below for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

Our collection “Stargazer” celebrates a playful and imaginative journey where animal friends like cute bears gather to explore the universe, discovering friendly moons, stars, and planets in airy tones of mint and blue against deep skies. These fabrics are so darling, and instantly make me want to create a ton of "outer space" nursery project like moon pillows..maybe even a "celestial" dress, made with the "Connect The Stars" print! :) 

Here's our lovely "Lost in Space Quilt" for you to enjoy, click the link below for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

For more sewing projects that include quilt, garment and home decor patterns, head over to our CAPSULES lookbook!

Now that you're all inspired by these latest capsules, here's your chance to win these two collections by signing up to our giveaway:

To enter, please fill the form below. Giveaway ends on September 4, 2018. 

Hello Makers,

What’s in your sewing kit? Over the years my sewing supplies have grown in numbers and I reminisce back to my days as a beginner quilter and think, “WOW, if only I knew about this sewing tool when I first started quilting!”  I know for me having the right tools for the job I am trying to get done saves me from major headaches and frustration. So today I wanted to share with you a few of my must have sewing supplies! Make sure to watch the video at the end of the blog post for more great tips for beginner quilters! 

Fabric Marking Pens

Fabric Marking Pens are a game changer and I could not image not having one handy when I start a new quilting project. Friction pens are my favorite because they come in so many different colors and draw nicely onto the fabric when I need to mark my sewing lines, quilting lines or mark specific places on my project.

The pen marks are erased easily by applying the heat from your iron over it!

Small Sharp Scissors

Small Sharp Scissors are a must to have with you at all times. They are perfect for clipping your threads as you sew.

Seam Ripper

The Seam Ripper is a tool we all hate but learn to love! As much as we just want to sew everything correctly the first time around,  that always doesn’t happen... especially when you are new to sewing. So get ready to make your seam ripper your new best friend and clean to be calm and and enjoy the process. I promise once you start sewing regularly you and the seam ripper will spend less time together because like in all  crafts practice makes perfect.

Clear Acrylic Rulers

Having a few different size clear Acrylic quilting rulers will make the cutting process so much easier and pleasant.

For cutting strips our larger pieces of fabric I would recommend a long ruler at least 6 ½” x 24”.

Then I would also recommend some smaller square rulers to help with trimming or cutting squares from your strips of fabrics. I always love to have a 4 ½” and 2 ½ “square ruler near by.

Two other rulers that also come in super handy is a 2 ½” x 12 ½” ruler to help mark straight edges into your fabric. As well as a big 12” square ruler to help square up finished quilt blocks.

Flat head Pins

When I first started quilting my eyes were opened to the giant new world of pins and all the different kinds of pins out there for all types of purposes. Two types of pins I use the most are these flower flat head head pins that are easy to find in your work and lays flat against your fabrics as you sew. I also love these crystal glass head pins because the heads are small, the needle is long and sharp and can be ironed over without melting!

Tide Pen

The last thing I make sure to have in bulk are tide pins. You may be wondering why in the world should I keep a tide pen in my sewing kit!? Well because life happens, and the last thing you want is a stain on your in progress quilt top. I always make sure to throw a tide pen in random areas in my sewing space, purse, and at work. When life happens you will be prepared! :)

Having the right supplies in your sewing kit will start your your sewing journey in the right direction. What are your "must have sewing supplies"? I would love to hear what you all can’t live without, so share in the comment below!  

Make sure to check out my new Youtube Video where I share great tips for beginner quilters and things I wish I knew or paid more attention too back when I first started quilting!

Happy Sewing,

Meli  

Hi Makers,

One of my favorite memories as a kid was playing “I Spy” with my parents during long, road trips. For those of you who might not know, it’s a game where one person will describe a small detail of something they see, and everyone else has to try and guess first what they are looking at. My dad especially was really good at this game because he would notice something so small, and it had people in the car guessing forever! It was such a fun game, and it made the car drive a lot faster!

Here we are now, playing a better version of “I Spy”- AGF style. Welcome to another month, another Mystery Monday! A giveaway that you actually don’t know what you are getting until we reveal the winner and where you have to guess what the theme of the bundle deciphering small hints in the picture, below. Good luck at taking a guess, and make sure to follow the rules below!

Can you guess what's inside the bag?! To enter the giveaway, make sure to do the following:

1. *Comment below with what you think is in the "mystery bag."
2. *Fill out the form below.
3. *Share this blog post with a friend!

HERE'S YOUR HINT! :)

Let the guessing begin!

Make sure to stay tuned to our blog for the REVEAL (next Tuesday, September 4th) of what's inside this mystery bag.

---------GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED--------- Thank you for playing! 

Put those thinking caps on and good luck!

- Jannelle

Hello Makers, 

Have you ever sewn for a Blog Tour? For those of you that are like wait..., what's a Blog Tour, it’s basically hosted by an individual who asks their sewing friends or puts out a open call for makers to be apart of creating a cool project that will later be shared on the makers blog on the day they are given. Well, I am super excited to share with you that Mister Domestic ( a.k.a Mathew  Boudreaux) has just wrapped up a jaw dropping Loved to Pieces Blog PARTY!!! Why have a normal “Blog Tour” when you can turn it into a party!? His party started on July 16th and came to an end on August 10th. Twenty- Two amazing makers took part in this event making a project with Mister Domestic’s debut collection for AGF called Loved to Pieces!  I am so happy to recap all the great projects that were made, sit back and enjoy all the projects made with Loved to Pieces Fabric!

Neighbors Quilt designed by Amanda Woodruff of A Crafty Fox  

To start off the party Amanda from A Crafty Fox created this stunning quilt! I loved reading her blog post where she describes the process of the creation of this quilt. She talks about her quilt not coming out how she initially sketched it out to be and how the creative process sometimes takes you in a different direction that you didn't expect but turns out even better than you planned! Head over to her post and read about how this quilt got its name! Such an inspiring post!

Endless Summer Tablerunner by Sharon Holland of Sharon Holland Designs

Another one of our amazing designers Sharon Holland, made this super fresh and modern looking table runner called Endless Summer. She has a created a great step by step tutorial that's super easy to follow.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of sewing a project made by Sharon your in for a real treat. She is impeccable with her pattern writing and I always feel confident  when sewing up her patterns.

Kate Skirt Pattern by Angela Wolf of Angela Wolf Pattern Collection

Angela Wolf may have just created the perfect summer outfit! Using the “Gladiolumns DeepBluem” rayon print from Loved to Pieces Fabrics she sewed up the Kate Skirt Pattern  with a cute basic tank made with AGF Solid Knit  to go with. This tank and skirt combo is so flattering and a great addition to your wardrobe in the last few hot weeks of summer!

The Jessica Dress sewn  by Brittany Jones

How cute are these two!? Brittany Jones used the “Striped Flow Rainbow” print and sewed up the cutest dresses for her and her little one! I looooove the extra details she added to her dress with the crossgrain stripes at the bottom, the great snap embellishments and the tie straps creates a nice delicate touch!

 Eclipse Quilt by Sharon McConnell of Color Girl Quilts

I am such a fan of all of Sharon McConnell’s quilts and the Eclipse Quilt is definitely no exception. If you are like me and scared of sewing patterns with curved pieces don’t worry! Sharon has created the Classic Curve Ruler’s which caters to fast, easy and accurate cutting. Head over to her blog for tips and tricks on sewing curves!

Sew Box  sewn by Elina Temmes of Elina Temmes 

Elina went wild and created such a great assortment of projects for the Loved to Pieces Blog Party! Head over to her Instagram to check out all of her makes! Two of my faves has to be the Sew Box she created to store all her sewing essentials! I love the star detail on the top of the case and how she selected the “Striped Flow Rainbow” print for the sides of the box.

 Another one of my faves is definitely this hexie zipper pouch! I loved how she fussy cutted so many great designs from various prints from the Loved to Pieces Collections.

Ferry Crossing Quilt by  Meghan Buchanan of Then Came June

Meghan Buchanan made a great throw version of her Ferry Crossing quilt pattern showcasing the “Anthonem Serene” print! This low volume beauty is so refreshing and inviting. Head over to Meghan’s blog to see more fun photos of the Ferry Crossing Quilt. As I was visiting her blog I came across a fun sew along she is hosting with her Ghost Quilt Pattern which I thought was pretty darn cute and I am always on the lookout for new sew alongs! :)

 Scallop Quilt by Nicole Daksiewicz of Modern Handcraft

Ever sew a scallop quilt before? I haven’t and I am loving the look of Nicole’s Quilt, can’t wait for the release of her new pattern August 14th! She mixed white and blue prints  from Loved to Pieces with a great shade of AGF Solid Denim and I am really loving the placement of color!  Head to her blog to check out the cute last min pillow she embellished with leftover scraps of fabric!

Colleen Tote Bag by Cristy Stuhldreher of I Love You Sew

Cristy sewed up such a chic looking tote with the “Mandala Drops Midnight” print for the exterior and  “Pieced Bunches Cool” to give the lining a pop of color. Definitely won’t have to worry about losing your items in this tote with it’s nice roomy zipper and slip pocket. Head over to her blog to check out the cute hardware’s she incorporated into her bag.

 Luminescent Quilt Kate Basti of Quilt with Kate

 If your a flying geese fan like me there is no doubt you aren’t going to fall in love with Kate’s Luminescent Quilt! She had a blast fussing cutting the florals from the “ Anthomen Festive” print and I love how this fabric pops when being surrounded by the bright pinks of the “Efflorescent Fuchsia” print.  

Shoreline Boat Neck pattern sewn by Courtney Davis, posted on Melly Sews

Courtney Davis made the Shoreline Boat Neck pattern with a cute little twist! The bows she added to the ends of the sleeves are so adorable and creates a fun, feminine touch. She sewed up this great top in the “Efflorescent Celeste” knit fabric which is just the prettiest shade of pale blue.

 Open Back Top by  Mimi Goodwin of Mimi G Style

 

This tank is  truly a must make and has been added to my to sew list! The open back is pretty cute, I could also see making a bunch of spaghetti straps and filling in the open space with a strappy look! AGF has a great assortment of Rayon Solids and prints but the  “Gladiolumns Deepbluem” rayon print has quickly become one of my all time faves and looks gorgeous made up in this tank!

Lone Star Quilt by Kim Niedzwiecki of Go Go Kim

Kim has created such a stunning Lone Star Quilt with the blue, green and white prints from Loved to Pieces fabrics. Placement of fabrics are key to creating a successful Lone Star Quilt and I can definitely say Kim did a phenomenal job! Head over to her post to hear about her quilt photography adventure! :)

Linden Sweatshirt sewn by Tara Curtis of Wefty Needle

If you haven’t heard of the Linden Sweatshirt Pattern, let me introduce you to a perfect basic garment  you will want to make over and over again in many different fabrics. Tara modified her Linden Sweatshirt by weaving  the back panel . Never weaved fabric before? Tara is the inventor of the WEFTY Needle which aides you in the weaving process and is a awesome tool to have in your sewing arsenal. Head over to her blog to read all about the step by step process of her Woven Linden Sweatshirt!

Harlequin  Quilt sewn by Saija Kiiskinen of Saija Kiiskinen

I love scrolling though Saija’s instagram  ,full of amazing photography of her amazing makes! She did a amazing job sewing up the Harlequin quilt pattern using a great selection of Loved to Pieces Fabrics! Head over to her blog to see a bonus project she made to go with her quilt!

Urchin Mini by Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth

 Jodi from Tales of Cloth is a EPP master in my book! I always get excited to see what new projects she sews up next! She created this cute mini showcasing the lovely blue prints from Loved to Pieces Fabric and fussy cutting the sweet flowers from “Anthomen Serene” for the center! It’s safe to say everyone is enjoying the fussy cutting possibilities of this print!  

Pickled Fish Quilt sewn by  Brett Lewis of Natural Born Quilter

All I can say is WOOOOW! Brett used the most exciting and striking colors from AGF pure element fabrics and mixed it so perfectly with Loved to Pieces fabrics.

I enjoyed reading about his piecing and quilting process so make sure to pop over to his blog to hear how he made the most comfiest quilt.

Obsession Quilt by Karen Tripp of The DIY Addict

Karen new right away she wanted to create a EPP project with Loved to Pieces Fabrics because... yep, you guessed it, it’s absolutely amazing fussy cutting possibilities. She created blocks using her Obsession Quilt pattern but appliqued them to square blocks of fabric to create a faster quilt top! What a great idea!

 “Kid Sized” Quilt by Tracy Martin of Tracy Bug Creative

Loved to Pieces fabric is inspired by Mathew’s daughter Helena and her love for flowers, which is why Tracy decided to create a quilt with Helena’s name on it! This heart warming quilt I am sure will be loved and cherished for years to come!

Flourish Cushion Cushion by Sharon Burgess of Lilabelle Lane Creations

 Sharon Burgess made the most festive pillow by sewing up a EPP block from her Flourish Quilt pattern. I could totally see my 11 year old niece loving this vibrant pillow! She also made a cutest boxy pouch with pom poms so make sure to head to her blog to check it out! 

Quilt -As-You -GO Zipper Pouch by Maureen Cracknell of Maureen Cracknell Handmade

Maureen Cracknell is another one of our fabulous fabric designers at AGF and like always I am blown away by her project! She is famous for making the cutest Quilt-As- You- Go zipper pouches. If you haven’t made one before head over to her blog but I warn you these cute lil pouches are addicting, probably because they come together so quickly. She ended up making 20 of them, the pictures in her post all definitely drool worthy!

Pinky Promise Bag sewn by Kylie Gersekowski of Little Moo Designs

Kylie made the cutest little bag for Mathew’s daughter Helena with the bright bold pink from “Efflorescent Fuchsia”  for the flap and AGF Solid Smooth denim for the front and oh boy it just pops! I love how she used a different fabric for the sides of the bag and strap making it super colorful and playful. She made a second project that is perfect to store all your sewing essentials on the go so head over to her blog to check it out!

It’s was such a treat reading all the post and seeing so many great projects  from all the participants in the Loved to Pieces Blog Party! I am so inspired by this great group of people and have added quite a few more projects to my to sew list!  

Cristy Stuhldreher of I Love You Sew said it best, “When Mathew Boudreaux throws a party, you know it’s gonna be big and fabulous!  

Here is a look at all the lovely faces that took part of Mister Domestic's Blog Party! I encourage you to check out their blogs and get to know these wonderful people that are apart of this amazing quilting and sewing community! 

Happy Sewing,

Meli