Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hello Sewing Friends, 

I am so excited to announce 12 NEW Pure Solids to our always growing list of solid fabrics and bundles. Let’s all pause for a moment as we welcome “Ethereal Edition” to our sewing tables! This soft, pastel color palette has got me in a dream-like state! Honestly these fabrics look good enough to eat but I promise they sew better than they taste! 

Colors play a major role in quilting and finding the right colors to match back with all of the prints used in your quilting projects will decide how the overall design will look. Color determines the mood, and the visual appearance and movement the quilt will appear to have. For example a way to conduct a sense of liveliness , warmth and coziness is to use warm colors like yellow, orange, and reds. A great way to add a sense of calm and peacefulness is to use cool colors like blues, greens, and purples. 

Understanding color and how it affects the look of our quilt designs is something every quilter learns with each of the quilts they complete. Here at AGF we like to make your life so much easier by providing just about every color you have ever dreamt of to add to your quilting tool box! 

Add soft muted shades of peach, pink, blue, green, and yellow to your quilting projects to add a light, delicate touch that invokes a state of peacefulness.These gentle tints create a sense of elegance and sophistication that provides you a feeling of new beginnings and hope. 

We created some inspiring projects using the “Ethereal Edition” pure solids that I know you will fall in love with. Scroll through the projects below and let me know which one is calling your name to make! 

Asphodelic Pillow

Asphodelic Pillow is the perfect project to sew using this graceful, light toned bundle. The addition of the high loft batting has made the floral template design pop off the pillow, making it such a dream to look at. This is an excellent project to also practice your embroidery skills and zig sag stitching. This pillow comes together in a breeze but makes a giant impact to any space you decorate it in. 

Download the pattern here: Asphodelic Pillow

Hourglass Table Runner

The hourglass block is such a great way to show off colors. By creating two half square triangles and then using this technique to turn them into hourglass blocks you can create the most intricate looking designs that play with color. Have fun arranging them in the order that feels good and create stunning colorful masterpieces. 

Check out this video for Hour Glass Block technique here: Hourglass Block

Disappearing Hourglass Quilt

All you need are two 10” squares of fabric to create one of the blocks for this playful quilt. This magical technique is fantastic because you do less sewing and the magic happens in the horizontal and vertical cutting and the rearranging of your cut pieces. If you haven’t tried this block yet you are in for a real satisfying treat! Like the table runner you will be in pastel bliss arranging your finished blocks to create your quilt top! 

Check out this video for Disappearing Hourglass technique here:

Disappearing Hourglass technique

Enjoy sewing with these 12 new colors that make up the Ethereal Edition bundle! Comment below with your favorite color or what you would make! 

Here is a list of online retailers in the US carrying our new PURE Solid colors! 

Hawthorne Supply Co

Fat Quarter Shop

Stash Fabrics

Cottoneer Fabrics 

Modern Quilt Co

Ollie Fabrics

Jittery Wings Quilt Co

Global Fibers Shop

Hand Crafted Coterie

Pink Door Fabrics

Olive Juice Quilts

Golden Girls Fabric Co

Pink Peony Creations

Poppy Quilt Sew

Sew Chanting Equine

Chicory and Threads

Five Eight Seams

Yankee Quilter

Piper Autumn Fabrics

Web Fabrics

Full Moon Fabrics

Happy Sewing, 

Melissa

Hello Sewing Friends, 

Nothing is more satisfying for us quilters and sewists than to accomplish a project from start to finish in just one day or sewing session! They are the best projects to do when you're in a sewing rut, in between larger projects or just for a double dose of dopamine! I got the perfect project to add to your sewing list, the Quick and Easy table runner using the “Kercheif Forklore” panel from Anthology by Bari J. You can complete everything from pulling fabrics, cutting, sewing to finished project in the shortest amount of time yet! View the video below to see how fast it comes together. 

The “Kerchief Forklore” has the most gorgeous 8” scalloped square designs with floral trim, floral bouquets and strawberry vine centers. To make the Quick an Easy table runner all you need is a one panel section measuring approx. 17 ½ ”x 44”, backing fabric in  "Legacy Stripe Moss” and batting. Sandwich all the layers together and mark your quilting lines. 

* Featuring “Kerchief Forklore” Panel

* Featuring Legacy Fabric

The square/tile design of the “Kerchief Forklore” panel gives you a quilty pathwork feel without having to piece any fabrics together. It even has floral arrangements on the top and bottom of the panel creating the idea of top and bottom borders for even more of a quilty feel! 

I love projects that allow me an opportunity to play around with my quilting skills. For this table runner we quilted diagonal lines going in both directions to create a diamond effect. Since its a medium size project working on free motion techniques or a quilting style you want to become better at is a great choice to get more experience. 

Once the quilting is finished frame your table runner with “Memoir Bound” the 2.5 Edition binding created specially for Anthology fabrics. Have fun folding your binding and deciding whether you want plaids or florals to frame your table runner. 

* Featuring “Memoir Bound Fabric

Need extra help with the binding process check out the Binding for the Beginners- The Easiest way to Bind your quilting projects! 

Make sure to print out our handy “Quilt Size Chart” to know how many strips and yardage you will need if binding a quilt with AGF’s 2.5 Edition or 42” WOF strips. Choose from a variety of popular size finished quilting projects or use the equation to plug in your numbers for a custom size quilt!  

Comment below with your go to projects that could be easily finished in a day! Or what quilting motif you would choose to quilt the “Kerchief Folklore” panel! Hope this project inspires you to create something new and to remind you it doesn’t need to be complicated to create beautiful projects! 

Happy Sewing, 

Melissa 

Hello Sewing Friends, 

Add elegance and romance to your sewing projects with Bari J’s newest collection Anthology. The life-like painted florals makes it feel like you can smell the fresh sweet aroma of handpicked flowers. I love the combination of her large scale and small scale design, perfect for home decor and quilting projects. With the addition of such a great variety of stripe prints to mix and match back with her floral designs, it really is endless in the combinations of quilting fun you can come up with. Make sure to visit my blog post where I take you through an afternoon of patchwork with Anthology fabrics using the magic of strip piecing. 

Bari J is an absolute legend when it comes to boho, maximalist, floral fabrics. I respect and admire her work over the years producing so many amazing collections for AGF. I love how thoughtfully curated her collections are, carefully considering a quilter and a garment sewer. Her background in interior design and creating home decor truly offers us the most amazing collections to be able to work with! 

Page through the Anthology Lookbook below to fall in love with the heavenly botanical world that is Bari J. 

The “Maximalist,” free quilt pattern uses strip piecing, template cutting, along with sashing between units to create stunning movement and depth perception. You can literally stare at this quilt for hours admiring its beauty. 

 Anthology offers so many fun things to sew with! My favorites being three amazingly designed fabric panels. 

With the “Kercheif Folklore” panel you have a premade table runner project measuring 18” x WOF. All you have to do is quilt it up and bind it! No cutting required. Cut up the panel to incorporate the pretty floral borders in garments, bags or quilts. I love the floral tile designs, which makes it easy to fussy cut and use in quilt blocks or sew into napkins, potholders, add embellishments to garments or use to create pockets. 

*Featuring Kercheif Folklore” panel 

The “Plaid Tales” panel was my favorite panel to cut into. Like the “Kercheif Folklore” panel you can quilt it up as is and it would make a fantastic center piece for your table. I enjoyed cutting out the plaid strips and cross stitch designs to use in my strip piecing to create intricate looking blocks . Use the center cross stitch design with birds and florals for a bag or fussy cutting project! 

*Featuring “Plaid Tales panel

The “Stripped Narrative” has so many different stripes and zig zag designs to cut from the fabric. What makes it even more amazing is Bari J's thoughtfully placed seam allowance in all her panels to allow you to cut out all these strips to make it easy to quilt with. I loved using this panel to create a fun chevron quilting design using strip piecing! 

*Featuring “Stripped Narrative” Panel and Anthology By Bari J

Ever since AGF came out with Linen Blends, it has become my new favorite substrate to sew garments with. “Garden Study Fresh” is such a great print for garment making to show off the larger florals in skirts, dresses, and blouses. Even larger home decor projects like curtains or table clothes and duvet covers! I love the matching tank and short set made in the lookbook with this fabric. Definitely takes lounge wear to a whole new level! 

*Featuring “Garden Study Fresh” Linen Blend

“Beloved Memoir Fern” works in a similar way, perfect for garments and home decor. The linen pants made in this lookbook are so adorable in this mommy and me duo! 

*Featuring  “Beloved Memoir Fern” Blended Linen

Who likes piecing backing pieces together for quilt projects? I have to say if I could skip this step and have no seams in my backing fabric I am all for it! Which is why I love that AGF always has our backs. With AGF’s 108 edition you can choose from a growing list of fabrics that has larger scale prints and measures 108” wide for even your largest quilting projects. “Garden Study Blush” showcases my favorite florals in the collection, but larger, which will make you want to make a whole cloth quilt just with this print. 

*Featuring “Garden Study Blush” 108 edition (quilt backing)

There is so much goodness offered in just one collection I don’t want to forget to shine a spotlight on “Memoir Bound” the 2.5 edition offered in this collection. With two different plaids and small scale florals to choose from to frame your projects to add that sophisticated polished look! 

*Featuring Memoir Bound” the 2.5 edition

Bari J really knocked it out of the park with the Anthology collection and she had to take it a step further by adding to our list of Designer Essentials with her stripes with scalloped details in a nostalgic rich color palette called Legacy. Legacy was created to mix and match back with Anthology and many more of her previous fabric collections that we all love. 

*Featuring Legacy by Bari J

Last but not least, I need to make sure to let you know that Legacy and Anthology are offered as Fabric Wonders. Get the full collection in fat quarters or 10” precuts. 

Whether you are new to Bari J’s fabric collections or you have been a Bari J fan for years I would love to know what you all end up making with this collection! Make sure to use the hashtag #AGFAnthology on social media to share with us. 

Comment below with your favorite prints, what you want to make or what you like about this collection and make sure to share this post with your sewing friends!

Happy Sewing, 

Melissa 

Hello Makers, 

Boho, florals, vibrant colors, maximalist, are just a few words that come to mind when sewing with Bari J’s fabric collection over the years. I started working for AGF back when Bari J’s, Emmy Grace collection came out. It was the first photoshoot I modeled for and it is what made me become the Bari J fan I am today! This past weekend I had the opportunity to sit down with her new collection called Anthology and I was so blown away by the striking, gorgeous designs and the way she put this collection together. With an amazing assortment of florals you feel like you can smell them as they bloom out of the fabric, perfect for fussy cutting or using as a focal point in a quilt or sewing project. The stripes offered in this collection are like no other. I knew right away that using strip piecing was the best way to break into creating patchwork and block designs for quilts, bags, and decor projects with this collection. I followed along to the Quilting Tips- Learn to Strip Piece Three Different Ways video on the AGF youtube channel. 

I got lost in the quilty magic that is strip piecing and it was literally the most therapeutic and absolutely best way I have spent a Sunday in a long time. For someone who is used to designing on the computer and having everything planned out before starting a project, this sewing session really reminded me of why I love all things fabric and sewing. Allowing yourself the freedom to play and be creative, improvising as you go, really helps to think outside the box and come up with unique and rewarding pieces you can be proud of. 

I started by cutting up 2 of Bari J’s panel fabrics Plaid Tales and Stripped Narrative. I knew right away I wanted to use the Stripped Narrative in the strip piecing method to create the easiest chevron design. Playing with the direction of the different stripes in the collection was one of my favorite things to do because it allows you to create even more fun movement in your quilting projects bringing your project to life. I paired the strips I cut from the panel with more strips and prints from the collection that complimented it and that also gave me a good amount of contrast to make things flow and each print shine. To help with this I also used AGF Decostitch and Floral Elements. 

*Featuring Plaid Tales  from Anthology Fabrics

One of the best things by far I am so happy AGF supplies us quilters with is the blenders and Pure Solids that match back with every new collection that comes out, which takes out the guess work when creating quilts and matching back fabrics. They do all the hard work which gives us more time to sew! I highly recommend you take advantage of this great tool by clicking on any collection you are sewing with and click on a fabric swatch in the collection and at the bottom of the page you can scroll through the curated blenders AGF chooses to match back beautifully with the collection. 

Placing my strips at varying width 2 ½” apart I sewed strips together and lined up my 45 degree line on my ruler to the bottom of the strip set and cut a clean edge and cut out as many 3” strips as I could. 

I followed the video and made another strip set with my strips going in the opposite direction to get the other half of my chevron design and alternating my piercings to get a chevron design below. You can use this technique to create a full quilt or make a big enough section to make bags, pillows, even garments to add a bit of patchy boho style to your wardrobe! 

I also played around with sewing strips together and using different rulers to cut out triangle shapes to create intricate looking HST’s.

I used square rulers on point to create a string block and cut out four of them to create this X block design below but have fun turning your pieces and creating different style blocks just by placing them in different directions. For this block I cut out strips from the Plaid Tales panel showcasing the fun plaids and cross stitch folk art designs, mixing them back with AGF blenders to really make them stand out. 

If strip piecing wasn’t already magical enough you will find that you can even create additional blocks by using your left over scraps. With the scraps left over after cutting out my string blocks to create the block above I was able to use these left over triangle scraps to create this block below! 

Using another triangle ruler and shape you can sew your strip piece triangles together to create a whole quilt, maybe alternating solids or AGF blenders triangles to add to the quilt design. It's just as easy as that! 

Or sew your triangles into octagon designs. I would love to turn the octagon block I made into a placemat or make a bigger one to make a large mediation poof to sit or lounge on! 

I loved the main design on the Plaid Tales panel that I needed to give it some love by fussy cutting out the two birds perched facing each other with the beautiful cross stitch floral looking designs and elements. I used strip piecing units I cut to create a border to frame it. I decided to pair it back with some AGF Floral elements as well. 

My first impression after creating this block was I need to turn it into a tote bag! Even continuing another border to make it larger and turning it into a pillow would be so dreamy! 

I had left over sub-cut strip pieces and started playing around with sewing them to other left over strips I didn’t use and made a striped patch block. The sky is the limit here with the directions you can take and explore when sewing with Anthology Fabrics. I can see this patchwork piece inserted into a back of a jean jacket for a upcyled new look. 

I also couldn’t pass up the chance to fussy cute the elegant bloom in the,“Ribboned Blossoms Tart” print! For this block I wanted to make it a lil bit less loud and busy and go more monochromatic. I knew I wanted to frame it using a four patch square design. The easiest way to do that is sew two strips together, sub-cut and arrange your units to create a four patch block.

As you can see there are so many ways to quilt with Bari J’s Anthology collection but I haven’t even made a dent into all that you can do with this collection. I hope this is a great starting point for you and I can’t wait for you to get your hands on this collection and have a well needed weekend cutting into the beautiful works of art Bari J created for us! You know the question: “If you ever get stranded on a desert island and you can only bring one thing, what would it be?” Well, if I had to choose one fabric collection to sew with for my entire life I would hands down never get tired of sewing with Anthology Fabrics! Make sure to tag us using the hashtag #AGFAnthology with all your creations! 

Until Next, 

Happy Sewing!

The time has come!!!!

Say hello to beach days and fancy refreshing drinks while lounging in your backyard!  Tangerine Fabrics by AGF Studio is here and it’s sending us a cool retro Summer, filled with charming florals and playful designs. This collection reminds me of my days living in South Florida and my weekend getaways to Key West. Popping on my me made Summer dresses and my sunnies and riding on mopeds all day weaving in out of the endearing streets of this island's rich history. I am so excited to start sewing up some of the projects from the Tangerine Fabric Lookbook. Depart on your next vacay without even leaving the comforts of your sewing space by simply flipping through the pages below. 

Quilts are my all time favorite thing to view in our Lookbooks. Finding the ones that speak to me and downloading the pdf patterns and saving them in my "quilts to make" folder on my computer! The best feeling ever is moving them into the "completed quilts" folder! The “Orange you Sweet” Free quilt pattern is definitely one getting added to the list! This is such a rewarding quilt because you get this dreamy, patchy quilt design for half the time it would take to piece all these squares because of the strip piecing technique used. This 75½" × 87½" quilt is perfect to take on summer outings or have out displayed in your home or patio for bbqs and cool summer nights. 

Featuring “Orange you Sweet” 

Tangerine Fabrics has the prettiest linen blend print called “Wind Dance Haze”. I love the soft ivory, creamy, low volume, dreamy floral design. I can see summer dresses, table clothes, table runners, pillows, tote bags, and coverups made with this fabric. What would you make? I love how breathable it is while still having the right amount of weight to the fabric, which makes it so versatile. 

Featuring “Wind Dance Haze” 

If that wasn’t enough this collection also has the softest ,most lush flannel print called, “Sweet & Charming”. This print says lounge set all over it! Where are my sewing Mama’s out there? How about mom and daughter matching sets? Yes, PLEASE! 

Featuring “Sweet & Charm 

I really can’t get over how amazing AGF’s  2.5 edition binding prints are! I can’t stress enough how fun and easy it makes your projects become and how it elevates your projects to the next level! 2.5 adds a polished professional look and is so versatile and can be used in so many other ways as well. Embellishments, strip piecing projects, straps for bags and garments and so much more. Head over to our Youtube 2.5 Edition Playlist to learn more about this revolutionary product! 

The “Orchard Bound” 2.5 edition offered in this collection has three cute design elements to choose from.  A geometric orange stripe, dancing oranges in peachy shades and playful florals. Which side would you choose to frame your quilty or garment projects? 

Featuring “Orchard Bound” 2.5 edition 

Lets not forget to mention the 14 quilting cottons to choose from to make all those summer outfits, bags and decor! The juicy oranges and peachy hues with pops of lavender adds such a delightful feeling of joy which will radiate through your finished projects! 

Featuring Tangerine Fabrics

Let's not forget about AGF's Fabric Wonders we have  

We love seeing all your beautiful makes, so make sure to use the hashtag #AGFTangerine so we can see all the fun things you create! Wishing you all the best Summer season and to many handmade projects! 

Happy Sewing, 

Melissa

Hi Quilters,

Welcome to Week 2 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

If you are just joining or haven't chosen fabrics yet, kits are still available HERE.  Grab one while they last!

This week we are cutting our fabrics and will begin assembling the units to make our Starburst blocks.

I love to start with a fresh blade and usually begin with cutting the background first since this usually has the most cuts (and honestly, it keeps me motivated to keep cutting since the prints are the most fun to cut, right?

There are fabric labels provided for you on page 9 of the pattern to keep your cuts organized.  I highly recommend using these labels.  It will make assembling your blocks later so much easier!  I like to use large paperclips or binder clips to keep my pieces together.

Once everything is cut, you can begin sewing your half rectangle triangles and your snowball blocks.

If you are new to making half rectangle triangles (HRTs), I've included a video link below to help guide you through that process.

Watch the Video Tutorial

There are two important things to keep in mind when making HRTs.

1.  You need to be sure to orient the pieces the right way to make the units have the color on the correct side of the block.
2. Make sure to trim them so you have a 1/4" seam allowance.  That's what will get you the sharp points in your Starburst blocks.

The snowball blocks are easy peasy, and the diagrams in the pattern will guide you through those simple blocks.

As always, you can contact me at [email protected] or drop your questions in the Facebook group.

If you just joined, check out the Week 1 blog post here!

***Now to this week's prize!***

This week's sponsor is Omnigrid.  I've been using Omnigrid rulers since I first began quilting.  They have a permanent place on my cutting table.

Omnigrid is providing a 1/4" ruler set and a rotating mat.  This prize will make some of the future sewing so much easier! 

-
To enter the giveaway:

Sign up for the Summer Jubilee Sew Along: Click Here! 

If you're on Instagram - Follow me @midlife_quilter & @artgalleryfabrics

If you're on Facebook - Follow me Midlife Quilter & Art Gallery Fabrics

Comment "Summer Sewalong" in the comments below to be entered.  The winner will be drawn on Monday, May 12th.  Entries close at midnight on May 11th.

Don't forget there is still time to order a kit!  You can shop here.

We can't wait to see you next week!

Victoria Newmyer & Art Gallery Fabrics