Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Can anyone have enough floral prints? The answer is always no, haha! The greatest part about floral prints is that there isn’t just one kind but tons of styles to choose from. There’s graphic, ditsy, retro, painterly, the list goes on, and that’s when the “The Flower Society” was born. We wanted to challenge ourselves to create the ULTIMATE floral collection that contained everything you ever wanted that not only fits your style but works together as a collection. Easily add these fabrics to your stash as a supporting print, a blender with character, or choose one to make it the star of the show! 

Fulfill your floral addiction with The Flower Society, where florals are more than just a print but a lifestyle! Containing tons of variety and saturated prints ranging in dark, moody, simple, modern, ditsy, and retro. There’s a style for everyone in this 100% floral collection.

*Available in 16 quilting cotton prints

Talk about eye-catching! Don’t get me wrong, as much as I love earthy colors, colors that are dark, moody, and bold, hold a special place in my heart. Sometimes you want to stand out and choose colors that make a statement! The Flower Society is just that— striking. Since most prints are small-scaled, yet high contrast, they work great together to make any patchwork project come to life. I’d love to see dresses, pillowcases, scarves, that are simple but allow the print to have all the attention! 

*Featuring prints: Retro Prairie Blush, Windswept Nocturnal, Gentle Rosebud Solar, and Wild at Heart. 

Now, this collection is quite different from other AGF collections, although there is still a variety of scale in these fabrics the main focus is how the florals are placed. Some are very evenly spaced out like “Gentle Rosebud Solar” making it ideal for small patchwork projects because it is a non-directional print. But there are still options for fussy cutting with prints like “Wild at Heart” that have groups of florals closer together that you can easily cut into a center of quilt block! 

*Rayon prints in Retro Prairie Blush and Dreamlike Daisies

You can’t have a floral collection without some rayon fabrics! Available in 2 rayon prints, the possibilities for garments just got bigger, from a darker floral to a vivid pink print option, you can make apparel and accessories for any occasion.

If you want to give these prints the spotlight, pair them with some of our matching Elements (blenders), here are some we suggest:

*Featuring PURE Solids in Turmeric & Dried Carrot and  Floral Elements in Hay & Winter Wheat.

More matching Elements not pictured:

PURE Solids: Quartz Pink, Caviar, Tile Blue, Flamingo, and Forest Night.

Floral Elements: Fuchsia, Tropical Green, and Blue Lagoon.

Take a look at all the projects made with this collection by checking out the lookbook below for tons of sewing content! 

View our stunning “Camellia” free quilt pattern below!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Get your hands on the perfect floral collection and enter for a chance to win a Fat Quarter bundle of The Flower Society by CLICKING HERE! It’s so simple to enter, all you need is an email that you can fill in. Also, if you have friends that would enjoy these fabrics too, just share the link with them! Two chances are always better than one, right? Only if you or your friend are willing to share, hehe!

The giveaway ends on Friday, February 5th, and the winner will be emailed and announced right here on the blog. 

THE WINNER IS Paula Cornell! CONGRATS! PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL TO REDEEM YOUR PRIZE!

For every collection, we have a hashtag, so if you are ever wondering what other makers are creating with a fabric collection, you can always search for the hashtag on social media! All you have to do is look up #AGF + the collection name, for example, The Flower Society’s hashtag is #AGFTheFlowerSociety. So, make sure you share with us what you’re up to with this collection, and you never know, you might be even featured on our #AGFMakerMonday spotlight! Thank you for reading this far along, and don’t forget to let me know what your sewing plans are in the comments below. 

Until next time,

Happy Sewing!

-Jannelle 

Hello, my fellow creators!

I am back with some exciting projects because I don’t know about you, but I will take any holiday as an excuse to start sewing! Valentine’s Day is around the corner and I was really excited to put together some of my favorite free patterns that you can make just in time for the big. There is something for everyone here, whether you want to quilt for a loved one or smaller projects for friends, you’ll find it right here. 

Wrapped Bouquets

Featuring Everlasting by Sharon Holland

DOWNLOAD PATTERN

Marianne Pillows

Featuring Ballerina Fusion by AGF 

DOWNLOAD PATTERN

Hearts

Featuring Bachelorette Fusions by AGF 

DOWNLOAD PATTERN

Dancing Blooms Block

Featuring Flowerette by AGF Studio

DOWNLOAD PATTERN

Scalloped Tote

Featuring PURE Solids, Signature, and Bloomsbury Fabrics

DOWNLOAD PATTERN

These are just some of my favorites! Ranging from beginner-friendly bouquets wraps to a little more challenging projects like handbags, and for any experienced quilters, we have a quilt block and a quilt to add to your sewing list. 

But here’s the best part of it all, the fun doesn’t end here! If you don’t follow us on Pinterest, you definitely should now as we are always making boards filled with tons of sewing inspiration. You’ll find projects for every occasion and holiday, and now there is a Valentine’s Day project board filled with 20+ FREE sewing projects that you can download with just a click of a button.  Be inspired by all this sewing content and all the dreamy fabrics featured that are ideal for these projects!

SEE PINTEREST BOARD HERE

If anyone is sewing for the season, please let me know in the comments below what you’re working on. As always, I’d love to see what you’re making on social media, so don’t forget to tag your makes under the hashtag #artgalleryfabrics.

Happy Valentine’s Day,

-Jannelle 

Hi Makers,

In every blog post that I share a collection with you all, I always encourage people to tag their makes on Instagram with us so we can see it! There is nothing more exciting for us than to see all you talented people create beautiful things with our fabrics. And how can we not share the love?! We dedicate our Mondays to shine a spotlight on those that tag their makes on Instagram using the hashtag, so we can see them and we couldn’t be more grateful for everyone that participates. Not only do you inspire us, but you also inspire everyone in the sewing community! 

With that, I’m thrilled to introduce our first #AGFMAKERSSPOTLIGHT feature to you, “Elizabeth Bolten”! She is an incredible quilter that keeps pushing the boundaries of modern quilting, and we can’t help to be swooned by the AGF quilts she has shared with us. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the person behind these photos, and I can’t wait for all of you to get to know her a little better and hear her story! 

#rebachristinequilt (Pattern by Elizabeth Bolten) featuring Pacha & Kismet fabric collection and PURE Solids.

#rhythmquilt (Pattern by Brittany from Lo & Behold Stitchery) featuring Sirena fabric collection + PURE Solids.

#nightingalequilt (Pattern by Brittany from Lo & Behold Stitchery) featuring Serenity Fusion & Earthen fabric collection with Decostitch Elements and PURE Solids.

#rebachristinequilt (Pattern by Elizabeth Bolten) featuring Homebody fabric collection and PURE Solids.

#solarflarequilt (Pattern by Amber from Alderwood Studio) featuring PURE Solids and Observer fabric collection.

Hi Elizabeth! Congratulations on being our first "AGF Maker Spotlight" feature! Can you please tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into quilting? 

Thanks so much for having me, it’s an honor! Oh gosh, I grew up with a grandma who was an avid seamstress/quilter her entire life who passed that onto me, and a mom who is an artist. Creativity has always been encouraged and nurtured in our family. I inhaled every art class and medium as a kid/teen and that continued into college. I’m (quite a bit) older now and that still hasn’t changed though I have settled into quilting on a daily basis. I love designing projects and then seeing them come to life. Having a creative outlet is so important. 

What are you inspired by?

Every form of Art. Nature. My kids & husband. The unexpected. Life. I’m so glad we live in the digital age where it’s so easy to capture ideas the moment they happen, take photos of what inspires us, communicate, and create in real-time. It’s amazing to think how difficult it must have been before technology when everything wasn’t truly at our fingertips.

Describe your design style in three words. 

This is a hard one. Hmmm...  Artful. Timeless. Innovative.

Why sew with Art Gallery Fabrics? 

I love this question because I’m smitten. I started out using fabrics from all of the manufacturers, there are just so many to choose from you know? After making several projects I quickly realized AGF stood out from the rest. AGF is so consistent with unique, elegant, and artistic designs, I think that is what first caught my attention. And then... you really can feel the difference and that MATTERS. Every project we make with fabric we touch, use, hold, snuggle up with, so yes that super soft OEKO-TEX certified poplin cotton? It matters! AGF does not fray and this is such a big one for me. The first time I made a quilt top using only AGF I stood there, looking at the back of it dumbfounded, there was literally no-fray! That was the first time I’d experienced that, usually I'd have to trim the "hairs'' on my quilt tops and I don’t miss that at all. I can use all of AGF’s dark colors with confidence that they will not bleed. I used their PURE Solids in “Candied Cherry '' as a background last fall and so many people DM'd me really concerned about my quilt bleeding... I was reassuring everyone for weeks! But I get it, red, dark colors, they bleed with most manufacturers so it can be scary to trust that they won’t. I even tested it once, putting Candied Cherry in scalding water, then got sidetracked and forgot all about it... all day. I came back to it in the evening and the water was still clear. AGF also doesn’t shrink, having experienced how much shrinkage happens with some manufacturers, I’m always happy to know that AGF fabrics don’t and that means my projects stay the size they are meant to be without me having to prewash. AGF PURE Solids are vivid, beautiful hues, shades, and tints... they absolutely sing in projects. Last summer, I started using AGF exclusively for all of these reasons, it’s hard to use anything else now. Since switching to and carrying AGF in our shop I have had the pleasure of connecting with many of the AGF crew who are always amazing to work with, and that is the icing on one very delicious cake. 

How do you stay motivated with your sewing projects?

 I plan out every project before I begin, sometimes in my head, sometimes on "paper", from start to finish. What design elements I’m after, what palette of colors, prints, and textures will best bring the idea to life, what the pattern should look like, if its a quilt what FMQ or panto design will best speak to the overall aesthetic, where the finished quilt should be photographed, and the meaning/feeling I’d like it to evoke. I keep making revisions until I’m level 10 excited about it, then I can't wait to get started and that energy stays until it’s complete. I’ve learned not to start anything that I’m not level 10 about because those... well, they never get finished! 

Any words of advice to those new to quilting or who are interested in starting? 

Best advice: 1. Learn the basics but don’t ever feel like there is only one right way to something. The right way is whatever way works best for YOU and that is different for each of us. It’s ok if what/how you do things is different than others. Honestly, in a social media world where there is so much sameness, it’s better. Lean into YOU and enjoy every moment without worry that you aren’t doing it right. You are. 2. Enjoy the process of learning and keep pushing your boundaries every time you start to get comfortable. 3. Know what inspires you and create from that place. Try not to get pulled into the influence of what is trending (it’s hard!). This community needs your unique perspective, and creativity can’t thrive when following. 

What’s next on your sewing list? 

Ahhh...  I mean, what isn’t?! I have new design ideas spilling out for all of these new collections AND I equally love playing with the AGF book of existing prints. It really is the very best playground! 

5 things you can’t live without. 

Family. Daily creative time. Being outdoors/traveling/camping. Differing perspectives. Plants. COFFEE. Good food. That is more than 5, isn’t it... 

Where can other makers find your work? 

IG: @elizabethboltenstudio  

Web: elizabethboltenstudio.com  

Come hang out!

Thank you so much Elizabeth for allowing us to share your story and your beautiful makes! Please show some love in the comments below and make sure you follow her on Instagram for more quilty goodness. To everyone who has been posting under the hashtag, THANK YOU!

Until next time,

Happy sewing!

-Jannelle  

Entering the year with a new attitude and ready to tackle any challenges that come our way! Welcome back makers, with the first blog post of 2021 and I’m happy to be writing to you all about the new AGF collections for this year. Although life continues, there is something about a new year that feels so refreshing! With so many new ideas on the table, I’m excited to be a part of it and even more excited that I get to be the one you get to see it from! As we come up with fresh designs and inspiring projects for our Lookbooks, today is a special day because we are releasing Maureen Cracknell’s latest collection HOMEBODY! Talk about starting the year with a bang!

Homebody celebrates the unspoken magic of being home. Find yourself surrounded by cheerful florals, cozy feathers, and soft textures that encapsulate a calm, peaceful space that nourishes and comforts you.

*Available in 16 quilting cotton prints

There is something about this color palette that is so calming! It reminds me of a sunset on a chilly night, where I can wrap myself around a quilt and watch movies. I also really enjoy Maureen’s style, there is always a little boho flair that hits a special place in my heart. It makes me want to make quilty wall-art, boho tote bags, and garments too! 

*Featuring prints: Homelike Wishes, Domestic Charm Birch, and Crafted Blooms Vanilla. 

The beauty of every collection is that there will always be the perfect balance between scale, color, and design. The prints shown above display a variety of scale offered in this collection, from small florals to medium-scaled elements and larger flowers! With this always in mind, there are certain prints you can take advantage of because of their design, whether you use “Crafter Blooms Vanilla” as the focal point or fussy cut all the elements in “Domestic Charm Birch.” The print “Homelike Wishes” is also a great example of the diversity of projects you can create because it can be used alone, work well with the larger prints, or cut it in any direction without ruining the pattern. 

*Rayon print in Homelike Greetings 

*Knit print in Domestic Charm Birch 

Hurrah, we have new substrates to add along with the collection! Available in one knit and one rayon, the possibilities for projects just got bigger. Blankets, scarves, dresses, bedsheets- you name it and there is a substrate for you. 

This collection has a large variety of prints, but if you’re still looking for more matching blenders, check out these suggested Elements:

*Featuring PURE Solids in Grapefruit, Raw Gold, and Golden Bronze. Decostitch Elements in Blue Minerale and Floral Elements in Ballerina.  

More matching PURE Solids not pictured: Nocturnal, Toasty Walnut, Miami Sunset, Weathered Brick, Crystalline, Blushing, and Terracotta Tile.

Take a look at all the projects made with this collection by checking out the lookbook below for tons of sewing content! 

Prepare to be swooned by our “Sanctuary” free quilt pattern below!

DOWNLOAD HERE

In our latest YouTube segment “Let’s Talk Fabric”, you will experience the warmth and comfort that this collection encapsulates through every print as if the fabric was right in front of you! Be inspired by the cheerful florals, cozy feathers, and all the sewing projects you can create. Click play, relax, and enjoy!

I can’t think of a better way to start the year than a giveaway! For a chance to win a Fat Quarter bundle of Homebody, CLICK HERE, and enter your information. The giveaway ends on Friday, January 15, and the winner will be emailed and announced right here on the blog! 

THE GIVEAWAY WINNER IS JENNI HUNT! CONGRATS, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL TO REDEEM YOUR PRIZE!

For all of you that have been reading these blog posts all of 2020, I am sending you a big thank you! I am ready to start this new year with familiar faces and ready to welcome new ones with open arms. Every day I am shocked by the amount of creativity I see online, and all the stunning projects people create with AGF on Instagram under the hashtag #artgalleryfabrics and if you’re using this collection: #AGFHomebody I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with using Homebody fabrics, and I would love to know your favorite print in the comments below.

Until next time,

Happy Sewing!

-Jannelle