Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hey Makers,

Have you heard about the EPIC EPP sew along? Who doesn’t love a good sew along? It’s a excellent way to brush up on a certain sewing skill and get to know people who share the same passions as you. It’s a great way to connect with people from all over and to share your knowledge and experience with others. If you haven’t heard about The Farmer's Wife 1920's Sampler Quilt  Sew Along or you are still on the fence about joining don’t worry it’s not to late.

All you EPP lovers, I highly encourage you to pop over to Paperpieces.com and get your hands on The Farmer’s Wife pattern pieces! I am so impressed with the high quality paper templates they provide and how well they put together this 111 block quilt pattern. Check out this great blog post all about the creation of this lovely pattern.  (Super duper interesting and helpful!)

While you are there you will need to pick up The Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt Book by Laurie Aaron Hird which will carefully take you through how to create each block in the quilt. Here is also a great blog post on how to stay organized and start preparing your blocks.

Now that you have your book and pattern all you need to do know is gather the fabric. The picture below shows a jaw dropping version of the Farmer’s Wife quilt all done up in 12 Fat Quarter Color Master Boxes from AGF. If colorful quilts are your jam AGF Color Master Boxes may be the perfect choice! You can check out all the awesome colors here.  You can purchase your AGF Color Master Boxes here! 

The Farmer’s Wife Sew Along started August 24th and is scheduled to run until October 2019. During this time you can sew all 111 blocks or as many as you would like. Every week Angie from GnomeAngel will be posting a blog post of her block with tips and tricks to but together each block. Also make sure to follow our AGF Designer Mathew (a.k.a Mister Domestic) as he will be sewing along using the gorgeous colors from our AGF Color Master Boxes.

Take a look at some of the blocks Mathew has made so far. Nine blocks down and it’s already starting to take shape! I am so excited to keep following his journey til the end! This quilt is going to be magnificent!

Blocks above  made by Mister Domestic using the AGF Color Master Boxes! 

Talented Maker and AGF Fan Sarai has joined the sew along too! Her blocks are out of this world, so head over to her Instagram to see more! She is also sewing with the amazing selection of colors from the AGF Color Master Boxes!

Sew Alongs are meant to be fun and a learning experience. So if you want to work at your own pace or work ahead it is totally fine! The most important thing is that you put yourself out there and try! Whether you get your quilt done in a year or five years, it’s all about the journey and you are in amazing company with all the quilters that have joined already. Get ready to meet new people and learn something new. 

Blocks above  made by Sarai using the AGF Color Master Boxes! 

Here are some more jaw dropping blocks made by Jessica Finn from Paperpieces! These pictures are so inspiring and I can't wait to keep tabs on her to see more amazing blocks in the months to come. Make sure to follow @paperpiecesepp to get a peek at her amazing blocks. 

So by know those that were on the fence to join should be all fired up to start stitching! I also forgot to mention there will be amazing Giveaways for the completion of every block you make! Even more of an incentive to start this wonderful EPP  journey! I can’t wait to see all your beautiful blocks on social media! 

Need help or want to stay connected with the group of people in the sew along? Join  The Farmer's Wife 1920's Sampler Quilt Sew-Along Facebook Group!

 Follow these hashtags to see all the  lovely blocks from all the makers joining the sew along!

#FW1920AGF

#FW1920EPPSAL

#AGFColorMaster

To get the complete kit head to Paperpieces.Com! 

Happy Sewing, 

Meli

 Hey Makers,

Autumn is finally here! Last Friday we started off the Fall Season right by dressing up in our fave Autumn inspired outfits and brought in delicious Fall treats and drinks to get us in the spirit! Living in South Florida we don’t get to enjoy the traditional Fall weather and the beauty this season brings but having summer all year around isn’t the worst thing ever either! :)

AGF Girls all decked out in their Autumn outfits! :) Love these gals! 

Mixture of homemade and store bought treats to celebrate AUTUMN! 

To create are own Autumn Vibes we have been sewing with Maureen Cracknell’s new fabric collection called “Autumn Vibes” filled with autumnal tones that  captures the best of what this season has to offer. If you haven’t flipped through the “Autumn Vibes” Lookbook yet, I highly encourage you to take a look. It’s filled with super inspiring projects from quilts, home decor, apparel and so much more!  

 Stunning LookBook cover above! Nothing better then quilts and nature! :)

Like always with every new collection release I create a quilt block tutorial for the AGF Quilt Block Collection! The “Lehigh Maze” block was such a perfect block to showcase my favorite print from the collection! The “Foxes in Fall” is so stinkin' cute!!!!!!! Which is why it is the star of the show by being framed in the center of my block.

Being a super fan girl of Maureen Cracknell’s work and after seeing all her hand drawn pencil drawings of many of the prints from this collection and watching them come to life with the most amazing colors, I truly am in awe of all the talent and hard work that goes into making a fabric collection. Which is why as quilters and sewists we find it hard to cut into our precious fabrics! :)

But don’t be afraid, if you're looking for a great project to start sewing with Autumn Vibes Fabric then the “Le high Maze Block may be the way to begin! Let’s get sewing, join me  by viewing the video below!

In the video I mention at the end I would love to make place settings for all my Fall get togethers using this block. How cute would that be for everyone to have a different colored fox in the center of their place mat? This block would also make a festive wall hanging.

 What would you make with this block? I always love hearing all your ideas and input. For all of you who viewed the video thanks so much! I love receiving  your comments and getting to know you all!

Happy Sewing,

Meli

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Hope you're as excited as I am with this new season that's finally here!

Hands down, fall is my favorite time of year, even though we're here in Florida where we don't really have seasons..minus hurricane season! I still like to pretend the leaves change color and force myself to wear "cozy layers" despite the humidity. There's something so festive about this time of year that's super exciting! It's that time when you get to gather with your family and friends, eat a ton of pumpkin-flavored foods, continue traditions with holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and just enjoy being together. I think my favorite fall tradition is getting together with my gal pals at one of our homes, paint real pumpkins while watching the movie "Hocus Pocus" and eating way too much candy corn! :) 

Inspired by that fall feeling, our designer Maureen Cracknell translated that true spirit of this season into her latest collection, "Autumn Vibes." This whimsical collection’s color palette features earthy shades of cinnamon, honey, pumpkin, mustard, and eggplant which are all my absolute favorite colors! Filled with vibrant blooms, whimsical foxes, playful squirrels and folkloric designs, these twenty prints are a great go-to for your autumn-inspired sewing projects! From quilts, garments, pillows, accessories, and novelties, you’ll have endless ideas for upcoming holiday gifts. After all, ‘tis the season for giving!

Browse through our "Autumn Vibes Fabric Lookbook” to discover more seasonal, sewing projects complete with instructions we’ve put together, just for you! 

Here's our lovely "Autumn Winds" for you to enjoy, just click the below link for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

Here's some blenders for you (in case you need some ideas) that can easily coordinate with the autumnal-inspired prints of "Autumn Vibes."

Enter a chance to win this gorgeous, "Autumn Vibes" fabric bundle by signing up to our giveaway:

 To enter, please fill the form below. Giveaway ends Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018. Good luck! 

CONGRATULATIONS, GLENDA HOLLANDER! Please check your email. :) Thank you to everyone else who participated! 

*Once you have entered the giveaway it's normal for your information to disappear. To confirm your entry check your email for a confirmation and approve it. By entering our giveaway you'll be automatically signed up for our newsletters. Don't worry, we don't spam!

Happy fall season, my fellow sewists! Guess what?!! It’s that time of year again, where the weather gets cooler, the leaves change color, and pumpkin spice flavor is everywhere! Here in Florida, the weather doesn’t change much, it’s usually hot all year long but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate this festive season! It’s that time of year that we can sew cozy projects with all our warm colored fabrics. This month, I’d like to present you the perfect box that will get you crossing off your seasonal sewing to-do list! Introducing our “Color Master Box” in Gold Leaf Edition, a bundle that represents yellow horizons, blooming white flowers, and cozy autumn nights.

Let’s get these sewing machines running and start creating for the next season! With these unique tones of warm yellows, 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”!

Willow Blooms Pillow #1: Layer in some “fall feels” into your home with some contrasting purples and yellows, with the featuring print  “Plotted Farm Spices” to be the center of attention. 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 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!

Alba Dress #3: The cutest, fall-worthy dress for layering with cozy layers like an oversized cardigan or just wearing “as is.” The bodice features a cowl neck and keyhole back opening using the print “Lunation Bright”. You can also layer over your favorite long sleeve top and she will be as cozy as she is cute! 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 golden yellow, each print has distinct color palettes that make it easy to pair with other projects. For example, the print called “Garden Rocket Ruby” (print shown below, circled in red) has deep reds, cool blues, and rich oranges 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 yet thoughtful gift!

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 Fall and Happy Sewing!

Jannelle

Hello my pet loving friends!

Are you a cat or a dog lover? According to studies, cat lovers tend to be introverted, intuitive, sensitive, and more receptive; while dog lovers tend to be less stressed and more cheerful. So whether you have a cat or a dog, we will be learning how to make a bowtie for our furry friends using the elegant Houndstooth XIV Onix from the romantic Decadence collection. I hope you enjoy this tutorial as much as Kobi did while posing and eating treats.

Start by measuring around the neck of your furry friend or the collar length to figure out the size of your bowtie and the pieces that you need to cut. The neck strap should be 3" longer than the collar length.

Lay your pieces in front of you to fold them in half following the white arrows in the first diagram, and stitch at 1/4" from the edge following the turquoise guides in the second diagram. Make sure to leave an opening in the bow body to turn it to the right side.

Press your seams and turn the pieces to the right side. Here I will show you one of my favorite ways to do it. All you need is a hand sewing needle and a thread: make a strong stitch at one end of the strap, pass the needle through the inside of the tube gathering the fabric until the tip of the needle crosses to the other side, then carefully pull the needle with one hand and help the fabric go through the hole with the other hand.

Press the again pushing the raw edges towards the inside of each piece. Edge stitch each rectangle following the turquoise guides:

Fold the bow body like an accordion and hold it with your fingertips. Take the center strap and roll it around the bow body. Secure the center strap hand sewing the edge. Make sure the needle doesn't sew through the bow body.

Take the neck strap and cross it between the center strap and the bow body in the back side. To finish it up, just saw a small piece of Velcro to each end of the strap!

Do you have a pet that would look great in a bow tie?! :)

Happy bow-tie making!

 - Laucara

Hello Makers, 

I always get so excited to add new quilt block tutorials to the AGF Quilt Block Collection , not only because  we all get to learn a new block that we can incorporate into our quilt making but because I get to sew with the latest AGF Fabric Collections and really learn what the collection has to offer me as a sewist/ quilter. For those that may be new to the AGF Quilt Block Collection, its basically a Youtube series dedicated to step by step quilt block tutorials! It's a place where whether you are new to quilting or have been sewing for years, we can all come together and have fun creating something new.   

Being a AGF Fan I have fallen in love with all of our amazing designers, not only their style of creating fabrics but them as truly genuine awesome humans! There is so much talent and passion for fabric and the sewing community in the group of people that make up AGF!  Today I want to shine a spotlight on Katarina Roccella's new fabric collection called Decadence!  Three words to describe this collection would be luxurious, romantic and rich. 

There are lot of dark colors mixed with pops of hot pink and teals which create the most striking color palette to work with. It's always hard  for me to choose only one favorite print from our designers fabric collections but one that stands out the most to me is the "Florid Peacocks Demure" and "Florid Peacocks Lush"!

  Magnificent artworks of peacocks, blue jays and cardinals, which I believe to be some of the most beautiful birds. I added this print to the center of my "Wheel of Fortune" Block and then chose the rest of my fabrics by selecting prints that best coordinate with this this main print.  Follow along with me below by watching the video and let me know what you think of the block and Katarina's new collection! 

 Got any block suggestions? Let me know in the comments below! :)

Happy Sewing,

Meli