Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hi Makers, 

HAPPY MONDAY! I'm sure we all can use some "Monday Motivation" today! Here at AGF, we started a new way to feature  our inspiring makers' work that allows them to also win our fabrics, but THE BEST PART is that we all get to know a little more about you! We encouraged makers to post their sewing projects using our fabrics via their social media using the hashtag #AGFMakerMonday, so we could see how talented you are and the amazing work you all do! Once we decide on the winner for the month, the maker receives a feature here on our AGF Blog AND of course...they win A 20-PIECE FQ BUNDLE of our fabric, based on their personal preference.

With that, I'm excited to introduce our first AGF MAKER MONDAY FEATURE to you, "Tracy Martin." She's an incredible quilter based out of San Diego, California who specializes in creating personalized, modern baby quilts! Let's get to know Tracy a little a better and hear her sewing story! 

Fabric Featured: Meadow Collection by Leah Duncan 

  Fabric Featured: "Foraged Garland Peony" from Gathered Fabrics by Bonnie Christine

  Fabric Featured: Loved to Pieces Collection by Mister Domestic 

Fabric Featured: Bijoux Collection by Bari J. 

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

Hi there, thank you for having me here today! I’m Tracy the one-woman show that is "TracyBug Creative."  I'm a wife and a mom of three school-age children. Prior to having children, social work occupied my time.  Long before that, when I was 13 my Great-Aunt Mildred came for an Easter visit. She was working on a hand-quilting project. I must have asked her a million questions. A retired schoolteacher she asked if I would like to learn to quilt. My heart jumped at the idea!

We made tentative plans for me to visit her that coming summer. A few weeks later, a carefully packed shoe box arrived. Inside she had tucked away a quilt kit with tiny notes pinned on various parts to sew and pages of handwritten instructions to get started. I was hooked! That summer I visited her. My uncle made me a small frame, and Aunt Mildred sat by my side showing me the way. I’ve worked on that project little bits at a time ever since. When my youngest was due I got a sewing machine for my birthday. The first quilt I finished was a baby quilt for her. As I wanted to learn new things, I searched the internet for resources, followed bloggers, watched videos, and took online classes while my babies slept.

What are you inspired by?

Color and shape bring beauty and meaning to the world.  Interesting patterns, bright and bold colors and soft muted tones always draw me in. Likewise, I’m inspired by stories. The people and the journey behind designs and quilts add a dimension without which a quilt is really just a thing.

Describe your design style in three words.  

Bright, Fun, Modern.

When did you start creating personalized, modern quilts for kids? How many have you made?

In 2011, I added the personalized modern quilts to my shop. I have made approximately 400 of them.

How do you stay motivated with your sewing projects?

Looking at new fabric lines, following designers on their journey, and hearing my customer stories all excite me. I especially love how AGF designers share their process and inspiration. My customers each specifically choose their quilt fabrics.  This allows me to connect with them and learn a bit about their story. They share things such as how the parents wanted this baby for so long, maybe the close friendship they have with the mother, or how this is their first grandchild. These quilts are not just a textile but become part of a baby’s story.  Participating in that is an honor. As I sew, I whisper prayers for the baby and the home it is going to. Human connection keeps us all going.

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

We were all "new" once.  No one started sewing and produced his or her best work from the get-go. Keep practicing and you will get there! Also, while you are at it, use the beautiful fabric. It will inspire you, cover mistakes, and you will smile more while you do it. Be gentle with how you speak to yourself in the process.  If you are new, be encouraging, kind, and compassionate with yourself like you would a five-year-old learning to read. Lastly, don’t be afraid to learn the rules and then break as many as you would like to develop your own style and creative voice.

5 things you can't live without.

 1.My Juki sewing machine (she’s my third arm!)

2. My seam ripper ;)

3. A fresh cup of iced coffee

4. A photo of my family

5. Of course beautiful, beautiful fabric.

Where can other makers' find your work? 

You can find me telling quilt stories and sharing creative ramblings on Instagram @tracybugcreative

My Etsy shop is www.tracybugcreative.etsy.com  and my blog is tracybugcreative.com

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Since Tracy LOVES "warm colors," we curated this 20-piece bundle for her as her prize! :)

 
Thanks so much Tracy and to all you makers who have been posting away! It's incredibly inspiring to see what you all make and how you add your personal stories and styles to your projects. 

We'll be picking a winner and announcing them via the blog next month. 

In the meantime, keep posting and sharing your beautiful handmade things with us using the hashtag #AGFMakerMonday for a chance to win.

Good luck and keep creating!

- Sophia 

Hi Makers! 

Besides being all about fabric, are you also an "art lover?!" I'm definitely one! From an early age, my parents introduced me to many art museums near and far around the world where I had the incredible opportunity to see so many types of art. It was during this time I was introduced to the "Rococo Period." This art movement consisted of highly ornate and a extravagant style of architecture, art and music that flourished in Europe in the 18th century. I fell in-love with all of it! 

As I grew older and went to art school, I took an art history class and re-discovered my love for this time period and wrote many essays and created several, fashion projects around the motif. One of my favorite films "Marie Antoinette" directed by Sofia Coppola also captures the absolutely gorgeous art movement. (Watch it if you haven't! Amazing cinematography and costume design) Fast forward to present day, I'm super excited to announce our latest fabric collection, Decadence is inspired by the Rococo era! :)

Inspired by the Rococo art movement, our AGF designer Katarina Roccella’s created her latest fabric line, “Decadence.” These twenty prints feature gorgeous peacocks, opulent florals, stylish geometrics, and romantic, painterly textures that embody that light-hearted, Rococo spirit. Grounded in pink and teal, Decadence offers an inviting color palette utilizing charcoal and ivory backgrounds with metallic specks, making these twenty prints provide countless ideas for sewing projects. With the upcoming holidays in mind, Decadence is a great go-to collection to create luxurious quilts, stylish garments and home decor for you and your loved ones!

 For more elegant-inspired projects that include quilt, garment and home decor patterns, head over to our "Decadence" lookbook! 

Here's our mesmerizing "Tartaneuse Quilt" for you to enjoy, just click the below link for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

I've also included these blenders for you (in case you need some ideas) that can easily coordinate with the lux-inspired prints of "Decadence."

Enter a chance to win a "20-piece Decadence fabric bundle" by signing up to our giveaway:

 ---  DECADENCE COLLECTION GIVEAWAY ---

 To enter, please fill the form below. Giveaway ends Friday, September, 21st, 2018 - 

Our winner is Christina Grant! Congratulations and please check your email! Thanks to everyone 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!

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 Fabric Lovers, 

Are you ready?! Yes, it is that time of year once again, where Art Gallery Fabrics reveals their upcoming fabric collections for Fall / Winter 2018! As a fabric lover/ AGF Fan I am like a kid at Christmas excited to finally see what all of our amazing AGF fabric designers have been working so hard on the past few months! I am truly blown away every collection reveal being able to see so many gorgeous designs. I immediately start dreaming of all the projects I want to make with all the different collections! All of our designers are amazingly talented individuals with  unique styles, coming from so many different backgrounds which ends up creating  special fabric collections that our made with love, purpose and with you mind. Without further ado, below you will get a glimpse of all the great new fabrics to come!

Which collections are you excited to start working with? Click  the pictures below to view all the prints in each collection. Check out the videos below where each designer shares their inspiration behind their new collection.  Happy exploring and don't forget to mark the dates on your calendar for the release of each collection! :) 

Inspired by the days of performing in theatre, our designer Bari J shines the spotlight on romantic and bold prints that take center stage in this fabric collection. With a distinct color palette filled with jewel-tones, there’s no doubt that these fabrics fuse together harmony, opulence, and of course, drama!

Right away I am thinking of home decor projects, pillows, table clothes, wall hangings, my mind is spinning with sewing possibilities. Bari J is famous for her hand painted florals that are masterpieces in themselves which is why I would use a lot of her prints for the backing of my quilts or even make whole cloth quilts to enjoy the beauty of her lushes floral designs. 

“Little Clementine” is  adorned with enchanted forests and ditsy florals, these prints tell the story of Little Clementine, a little girl who enjoys reading books and befriending forest creatures like bears and rabbits. With nostalgic and whimsical elements, these fabrics are filled with soft, autumnal tones that make this collection, an extra cozy one!

I got my rotary cutter and fussy cut rulers ready to start cutting the cute elements out of these precious fabrics! We all know people that have little ones in there lives and this collection possess amazing opportunities for creating nursery decor! 

Inspired by the classical music of Ludwig van Beethoven, our designer Amy Sinibaldi takes us on a musical journey with her latest collection “Sonata". Composed of romantic prints, these fabrics include symphony instruments, harmonious florals like edelweiss, and ornate windows that overlook the wondrous city of Vienna.

Any music lovers out there? As we all in our own way cherish the sounds of music and the happiness it brings, it's super fun to be able to have this sweet fabric collection to add to our to sew list! The color palette in this collection is the first thing that stops me in my tracks, I always look to Amy for collections that have a soft, delicate touch! 

Embark on a tropical adventure with Mister Domestic’s fabric collection, “Aura.” Gathering inspiration from his own travels to Hawaii with his daughter, these fabrics highlight whimsical sea creatures and mesmerizing, geometric designs. With a vibrant color palette, these lush flora and fauna prints will instantly transport your sewing room into a Polynesian paradise!

Having never been to Hawaii I would definitely say sewing with this collection might be the second best thing! This collection being Mister Domestic's second collection with AGF I can safely say that he has truly found his signature style. 

Using passion and persistence as her creative fuel, Pat Bravo has created 40 fabric collections over the past fourteen years and “Legendary” celebrates this artistic journey! With striking colors and energetic prints, these fabrics feature the “best selling” designs through the years while honoring Pat’s signature style.

Being a fan of Pat's designs for many years I have fallen in love with her use of color and free-spirited  bohemian style. She did a phenomenal job carefully selecting each one of these designs and recoloring them in ways that bring a whole new identity to the print! I am very much looking forward to sewing so many new project with this exquisite collection. 

Go bold or go home! Our latest “Striped Knits” now include 4 NEW BOLD STRIPES PRINTS that are 1” inch wide, so you can play with variations of scale and contrast in your sewing projects. These striped fabrics have a four-way stretch, incredibly soft, and are very “forgiving” on your sewing machine. Without a doubt, you’ll want to wear whatever you make, all day long.  

For years I have been on myself to create more garments for myself. Last New Year's Eve, a few of my sewing friends and I pledged to not buy any new clothes for the year of 2018. With 2019 approaching I think I am set to go another year with out purchasing any new outfits, especially with all the great knit fabrics that AGF offers! 

For your color mood! If you didn’t know, “Floral Elements” is one of our original AGF blender lines that has been essential to complement most of our main fabric designs. This time around, we added 6 NEW COLORS to this line. With these new vivid and textural colors, you’ll have even more options to mix and match in your sewing projects.

AGF Blenders are my go to for background fabrics and for mixing and matching into my quilt designs. These fantastic new colors are so striking and will  for sure make a great addition to my future quilts! 

With Maureen Cracknell's new collection called “Sun Kissed," we’re venturing to tropical climates.  Inspired by soaking up the sunshine, this collection features cheerful suns, tropical botanicals, and colorful pool tiles. With a color palette of ocean blues, cherry reds, and citrus yellows, these fabric prints truly create a relaxing “island escape” feel!

This collection is being released in the most perfect time of year, with  December being one of the coldest months out of the year this collection will have us day dreaming of warm weather and summer time outfits! Any of you taking a Winter Holiday to some place warm? This collection calls for the creation of  cruise wear and beach bags! 

A bite-size collection featuring AGF designers, Dana Willard, Caroline Hulse, Pat Bravo and AGF studio, “Art District Fusion” mixes together a wide array of expressive textures and bright colors. With painterly marks and strokes, these prints celebrate the “beat and pulse” of the artistic community here in Miami. With fun, eye-catching designs, this collection is fit for anyone who appreciates discovering “hidden art” while exploring the streets of an art district.

I love the concept of AGF's Fusion collections because there is a theme that caters to all the people in your life and since they are bite size collections consisting of 10 prints they are so easy to work with. Pick a few of your favorite AGF Blenders and your favorite Fusion collection and your well on your way to creating something new and fantastic! 

“Silk Road Fusion” transports us to Asia, highlighting ancient Asian techniques of brushwork modernized with geometrics. This collection creates an exotic mix of what’d you discover while traveling the trading route that connected the East to the West. These bold, impactful designs celebrate “old world meets new world” craftsmanship and also serve as a reminder to never to forget the past. 

SUPER excited about this brand new Fusion, with black and red being colors you don't see too much in AGF Fabric Collections, I am thrilled to start sewing with this incredible color palette.

I hope you are as excited as I am to start sewing with these lovely new collections! Any future plans in the works using these inspiring new collections? Can't wait to see what you all make! :)

Click the LookBook below for more insight on our upcoming collections! 

Happy Sewing, 

Meli

 Hello Makers, 

What is your go to quilting technique? EPP, scrappy quilts, foundation paper piecing, quilt-as-you- go?  There are so many ways to create a single quilt and whatever way you choose why not incorporate a bit of fussy cutting to add a dose of extra cuteness to your handmade creations. When I first started working at Art Gallery Fabrics about  4  and a half years ago, I was introduced to all things quilty! One of the first quilting terms I learned was the word "Fussy Cutting", which I thought at the time was a pretty silly name. When you think about it fussy cutting is exactly as it sounds, being fussy about the things you cut from your fabric. Later, I learned fabric designers actually design fabrics based around this silly name called Fussy Cutting. It's safe to say this fun technique has become apart of many of my quilting and  sewing projects.  Below are a few on my favorite prints and projects showcasing the Fussy Cutting technique! Enjoy scrolling through the post and make sure to comment below with your favorite AGF prints that you have used in your fussy cutting projects! 

 Nightfall Fabrics 

 Click here for Free Pattern! Prints made by Maureen Cracknell.

The "Foxfire" free quilt pattern made it's debut in the Nightfall Fabrics lookbook where it featured this super cute owl and bunny print! These adorable prints made it's way into the middle of each quilt block which is my favorite way to incorporate fussy cutting into my quilts. This quilt bl0ck design does a great job framing your fussy cut prints while adding half square triangles to each corner of your block. When all your blocks are sewn together it adds a nice secondary block of Half Square Triangles. (Can you see what I am talking about? ) Pretty cool, right!?  

Loved to Pieces Fabrics

 Projects made with Loved to Pieces Fabric

Now let's talk about my newest favorite print to fussy cut from Loved to Pieces Fabrics! The "Anthonem  Serene"print exhibits an array of  distinctive florals all lined up in alphabetical order.  How sweet is this? Mister Domestic made this super sweet pillow below showcasing this cute postage stamp floral print.  

Also an extra bonus is this print comes in another colorway! Most often times your favorite AGF print will come in two different colorways which I love but sometimes it ends up being hard to choose which print to use, which I don't tend to mind! :)  

I also wanted to show you the "Alabama Quilt Block" using the same florals! Make sure to head to our Youtube for the full tutorial! You will have a blast cutting out all the little flowers, I know I sure did. :)

Charleston Fabrics 

 Prints from Charleston Fabrics 

My two favorite prints from Charleston Fabrics by Amy Sinibaldi has to be the " The Row" which celebrates the beautiful architecture and scenery of the historical town of Charleston.  My other fave is the cute stencil pineapple print called "Ananas Powder" , there is just something so inviting about pineapple fabrics and decor which is probably why the pineapple is a symbol for welcome, friendship, and hospitality.

I can't get over all the hard work and patience it takes to get through a EPP project like the one above! Jodi from @talesofcloth is a EPP master! If your new to EPP I suggest you head to her profile and if your feeling inspired pick up the Pirouette Quilt with lots of fussying cutting options!  

Lambkin Fabrics

Prints from Lambkin Fabrics by Bonnie Christine

For those of you who have children or are obsessed with sewing things for your niece and nephews like me you are going to love the next two collections! Lambkin Fabrics (pic above) consists of two beautiful color palettes which cater  to sewing for girls and boys. First let's talk about how charming the "Sir Wooly" print is, he is perfect to fussy cut and apply to your kids clothing or incorporate into your quilt blocks for a cute baby quilt. 

I also am crazy about the numbers and symbols print called "Arista Oats"! I have a two year old nephew and I can't wait to make him something with this print maybe spelling out his name or using the numbers in this print and making him something so I can teach him to count! 

The next print called "Little Entomologist" displays a collection of insects you would find in your garden! I am not necessary a fan of the real thing but on fabric these cute critters  are fun to cut out from the fabric!  

Campsite Fabrics

Prints from Campsite Fabrics

I am not the most avid camper but I do remember going on a few camping trips with my Girl Scout Troop back in my childhood. There is something so special about being outdoors, breathing in fresh air and being one with nature. Campsite Fabrics brings back this special memory for me is such a cute way. My two favorite projects has to be these cute patches and table cloth! You can find these super cute fussy cutting projects in the Campsite Lookbook.  

Tallinn Fabrics 

Last but not least, I wanted to talk about the Tiger print from Tallinn Fabrics by our talented designer Jessica Swift! This print comes in two different colorways and has so many great elements to fussy cut. These denim pants made with our smooth denim fabrics can be found in the Tallinn Lookbook! What a super cute way to embellish your denim! This project definitely got my wheels turning and inspired me to take my fussy cutting to the next level! 

Well I hope you enjoyed hearing about the  prints and projects in this blog post. If you have any other fussy cutting inspired projects you would like to share with me I would be so excited to see! 

 Happy Fussy Cutting, 

Meli

Hi Makers!