Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Often when you have a creative goal in mind, you just have to begin and start somewhere. Eventually, you'll learn along the way and get better at whatever it is that you're setting out to do! There's often no mentors to ask beforehand, no check list, no guidelines...just you and that gut feeling. However, with patience, persistence, and of course practice, you can achieve anything really! I'm sure all of us can relate to this because we've all started off somewhere. Just think back to how far you've come, and take a moment to pat yourself on the back for everything you've accomplished. 

With accomplishments in mind, a great reminder of this journey is our AGF designer, Pat Bravo. She began sewing as a little girl, and overtime got into quilting and began shopping for fabrics that she wanted to use for her quilty projects. As she became more familiar with her craft and materials, she realized the type of fabrics she "craved" did not exist at the time, and decided to begin designing her own fabric. Pat knows quilting, fabric and the process that connects the two oh so well. With her latest fabric collection "Legendary," she celebrates creating 40 fabric collection in 14 years. Celebrating this milestone, she created this special edition of 24 prints to commemorate the special occasion! 

 If you LOVE anything "romantic bohemian," this collection's for you! For more elegant-inspired projects that include quilt, garment and home decor patterns, head over to our "Legendary Fabric Lookbook!"

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

Download Quilt Pattern

I've also included these blenders from our AGF Elements for you that can easily coordinate with the bohemian-inspired prints of "Legendary." 

Enter a chance to WIN THIS FABRIC BUNDLE by signing up to our giveaway:

- - - LEGENDARY GIVEAWAY - - -  

Our winner is JEANNE RESLER! Congratulations and please check your email! :)

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Happy Monday, Makers!

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 October #AGFMAKERMONDAY FEATURE to you, "Gillian Martin Noonan." She's an incredible quilter based out of Newfoundland, Canada who specializes in English Paper Piecing! Let's get to know Gillian a little a better and hear her sewing story!

Fabric Featured: Charleston and Little Town by Amy Sinibaldi

Fabric Featured: Charleston by Amy Sinibaldi

Fabric Featured: Paperie and Playground by Amy Sinibaldi

Fabric Featured: Les Petits, Playground, Charleston by Amy Sinibaldi

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

Home for me is 'Old Perlican, Newfoundland, Canada' -  a small town on the edge of the North Atlantic. My two sons are the loves of my life. My oldest is a lieutenant in the Canadian Navy while my younger son has just finished four months of backpacking in Europe and North Africa. They both live in Halifax, Nova Scotia so I visit there as often as possible. Actually I have been travelling a lot this year (11 European countries and 5 Canadian provinces) because I retired from teaching elementary school kids, last November.

Stitching has been an integral part of my entire life.  My mother adored sewing. All my clothes were made by her. When I was younger, I could come home from school and ask for something new to wear to a school dance that night, and she would whip it up. My mom made everything from quilts to a sofa! Her stash was huge and I still have a lot of it.  Since she sewed so much, fabric shopping was always on the agenda at family vacation time. We visited bookstores and museums for my father, and fabric shops for my mother. At one store in Montreal, Quebec which we often frequented when I was a little girl, I got hoisted up into an attic like room filled with rolls of fabric, so I could pass down what I liked.

My grandmother also played a very important role in bringing me to sewing.  Nan lived with us. She was a trained seamstress who believed I needed to be able to knit, crochet and do fancy work (embroidery) before I went to school.  I did! I loved spending time with her. Nan’s sisters and her mother were embroiderers and quilters too. So, I was surrounded by passionate women who loved to work with their needles, and now when I stitch, I feel very connected to them and their love.

Quilting is my newest needle art.  About 25 years ago, my best friend wanted to take a quilting class. I was supposed to go with her but stormy weather kept me from driving the two hours to the class.  My mom went with her. They both loved it so it was only natural that I give it a try. I made my first quilt, a sampler using templates and scissors, just before my older son was born. My projects remained small because I preferred hand-sewing to my machine and my mother was happily covering my beds with quilts. Eventually I started to use my machine more, making throw quilts. While quilting has been part of my life for the last 25 years, I have never been without some kind of needlework – it is just who I am.

What inspires your work?

Color and shape inspire me. Always having my camera with me lets me quickly capture images/motifs. I love visiting art galleries and taking closeups of paintings to just focus on the palette used. A French artist who I met on holiday here in Newfoundland inspired me to look at “line” in my world. A Newfoundland painter challenged me to look for the pink in the morning snow. Conversations like these and reading about what motivates artists has motivated me to reflect on what I see around me. Quilting friends both near and far also inspire me with the beauty that they create.

 Describe your design style in 3 words:

Storied, energetic, textured.

How did you get into “EPP?”

About 20 years ago, I needed a sewing project that didn’t require electricity and was compact. At the time, my family had a cabin in a secluded cove on the ocean.  It was totally off the grid; you actually had to take an 80 minute boat ride to get to it. I had seen a "Grandmother’s Flower Garden" quilt in one of my mother’s books and I knew it was perfect.  Blue scraps from my mother’s stash which reminded me of my grandmother’s dresses were chosen and my templates were hand drawn on freezer paper. I was set, but when I went to sew my hexie flowers together, they didn’t fit. My accuracy was off so, I put them aside for many years. Eventually I appliqued each to a background and joined the blocks together.  It will be hand-quilted, once I finish embroidering the names of my mother, my grandmothers and great grandmothers on the blocks.

Getting some precut EPP papers on a magazine two years ago made me decide to try it again. This time the hexie flowers went together perfectly. In the Spring of 2017, I took part in the Girt By Sea quilt along.  The central medallion was English Paper Pieced using Tales of Cloth’s precut papers. It was just the best sewing! I ordered another EPP kit as a retirement gift to myself and the first Mandolin block was included as a bonus.  I loved making it as well as the next 17 blocks! Now I have so many EPP plans for the future.

What was the most “time consuming” EPP project you’ve ever completed?

My grandmother’s garden has been the EPP quilt that has been under construction the longest, but my Mandolin blocks have consumed more time as there are many more pieces to each block. I usually make a Mandolin block over three or four evenings. I made my first Mandolin block in January of this year and I have two big blocks and a bunch of joiners left to complete.

How do you stay motivated with your sewing projects?

The key to my motivation, I have come to realize, is that I do many things.  I always have a pair of socks on my knitting needles and frequently a bigger knitting project like a sweater.  There are several pieces of embroidery in progress, and lots of quilting projects in various stages. While I do enjoy a finished project, I believe that I am more process oriented. This year, my quilt guild has had a WIP challenge. I had 10 things on my list (definitely not all my WIPs) and I have completed two.  I will get back to them – maybe. Learning something new is more important to me. This year, I've already have taken classes in goldwork and stumpwork embroidery, and in improv quilting. When I find my motivation lagging with my quilting, I just go work on a totally different thing.

What was the best quilting advice ever given to you?

There has been lots of advice given to me over the years probably because I am not afraid to ask questions. Some advice is specific like having an accurate but scant ¼” seam allowance. Other advice is broader like use the best fabric you can afford, but I think the overall best came from my grandmother who valued patience above everything. Patience lets you take time to get it done to your best. It encourages you to practice which improves everything, and patience lets you help others which opens you to receiving their help when it is needed.

5 things I can’t live without:

1. Books

2. Wool and fabric (How could I choose?)

3. Peanut butter  (A food group isn’t it?)

4. Needles (sewing, knitting, embroidery

5. The ocean (I have always lived near it and I miss it so when it is not near)

Where can other makers' find your work? 

My Instagram @sewgolly - I enjoy the interaction and inspiration it provides with other artisans throughout the world!

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Since Gillian LOVES "Amy Sinibaldi" and sweet florals, we curated this 20-piece bundle for her as her prize! :)

Thanks so much Gillian 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 November! 

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 

If you haven't gone yet, you MUST go to Hawaii at least once in your lifetime! There's so much beautiful scenery to take in there! The sunsets, the gorgeous Pacific Ocean, the amazing food like fresh pineapple..it's truly a gorgeous and magical place. My favorite part of visiting Hawaii was going horse back riding where "Jurassic Park" was filmed, I felt like at any moment a dinosaur was going to pop out of the huge trees there. It was completely surreal and breathtaking. 

Say “Aloha” to Mister Domestic’s new fabric collection, “Aura!” Inspired by an island adventure with his daughter "Helena" to Hawaii, exotic botanicals, playful sea turtles and dolphins come to life in “Aura.” Using hues like brick reds and golden mustards, this color palette is filled with a warmth that radiates from Hawaiian sunrises and sunsets.  Aura is perfect for your quilting or sewing needs, available in two knits and a rayon for garments. This collection can be used to create tropical-inspired quilts, pillows, table runners, wall hangings, garments, and travel bags. I would definitely love to make some retro-inspired Hawaiian mens' shirts with these fabrics and a travel, duffel bag! 

Head over to our “Aura Fabric Lookbook” to discover sewing projects and ideas!

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

Download Quilt Pattern

Here's my top picks for blenders that can easily coordinate with gorgeous, tropical prints of "Aura!"

Wait, wait there's more! You guessed it! Enter a chance to win this fabulous, fabric bundle by signing up to our giveaway:

Congratulations to our winner, Deanna Wall! Please check your email! :)

*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!

 Hello Fabric Friends,

 So the secret is out! AGF is now offering CURATED FABRIC BUNDLES! We just introduced our AGF Bundle Up Edition and if you missed out on that you can read all out it here!

 The fun is not stopping and today I want to share with you our Color Master Designer Palette, new curated groups that celebrate each of our AGF Designers’ signature style! The very best of each designer’s fabrics are grouped together to create the perfect bundle for all your sewing needs.

 Got a favorite AGF Designer?  If you are a avid fabric collector of certain AGF Designers (or all of them :)) this is a great way to collect your favorite prints from their various fabric collections! It’s also a great way to get to know a designer because it's basically a amazing sample or preview of who they are as fabric designers.

Ready to see all these amazing groups? Sit back and get ready to say ooooo and awe like five million times! Enjoy all the bundles below!

Our NEW “Designer’s Palette”  come in 12 different bundles, choose from a Fat Quarter Bundle or Half Yard Bundle! Available in two wonderful presentations; choose your fave,

our signature AGF box which is perfect for gift giving or for organizing your sewing space  or it also comes presented in a beautiful paper wrap. 

            Pat Bravo

Pat is definitely my go to designer when I want to create a project with a bit of bohemian flair. Incorporating  her famous floral designs and use of color will give your next sewing project the perfect touch of romance and eclectic design.

Mathew Boudreaux

Mathew is the newest edition to our designer crew and has brought so much laughter and love to the team.  His debut collection called Loved to Pieces has definitely been a big hit and we couldn’t be more happier for him! We have collected the best selling prints from his collection making sure to offer an even amount of lights and darks, and scale for optimal quilt making.

Bari J.

Bari J is known for her painterly florals and maximalist style! I love how her dramatic yet melodic designs come together to create  sophisticated, expressive, fabric collections. You will find a lovely combination of artistic florals infused with the right amount of geometrics and blenders.

Amy Sinibaldi

Amy stays young at heart with her charming, delicate, and youthful collections. In her palette you will find sweet florals, soft shades of pink and blues, and cute heartwarming designs. She is always a go to designer for me when I want to create something feminine and elegant. I also love using her collections for baby quilts and apparel! 

Katarina Roccella

If you are looking for jaw dropping, edgy prints and  blenders that act as solids but add the right amount of texture and movement. Then I highly encourage you to check out Katarina’s bundle! All of her collections carry a sense of exotic elegance and dreamy feels!

Bonnie Christine

Bonnie is your gal when you are looking for a sweet, earthy color palette with delicate designs dedicated to her love for nature.  Dedicated to finding joy in the simplest things Bonnie reminds us to slow down and enjoy every minute of the creating and sewing processes. 

Sharon Holland

Sharon is a designer of many talents who is inspired by the world around her capturing photographs and translating these images into her paintings and hand drawings she turns them into the most powerful fabric collections. When I sew with her fabrics I know that every prints has a special meaning behind it and a lot of thought and love went into to every element. Her collections posses a modern vintage vibe that we just can't get enough of!

Maureen Cracknell

Maureen’s hand drawn sketches come to life with the different shades of magical blues and pops of pretty pinks. I love how she plays with nature elements while staying  true to her boho style and always adding a hint of playfulness amongst her prints.

Dana Willard

Three words that come to mind when sewing with Dana’s Willards fabric is festive, colorful, and simplistic. If you like bright, happy colors and adorable  novelty prints her collections will fit nicely into your fabric sash.

April Rhodes

If you love everything Southwestern April Rhodes is the designer for you! Her bundle is  full of warm earthy tones and sky blues to create the most visually relaxing quilts and home decor. A lover of macrame, yarn crafts, and discovering patterns in objects both handmade and naturally occurring you can definitely see her passions of her crafts displayed throughout her collections.

Caroline Hulse

Caroline has been known for her cheerful and playful collections. Expect to see fun geometrics, bold brush strokes, and vibrant color! Her bundle is a easy way to add some excitement to your quilt and quilty projects.

Jessica Swift

Jessica has been such an amazing edition to our wonderful group of designers. She has created two uniquely different collections for us, one taking us on a journey through Eastern Europe with her quirky folk motifs and another about her childhood dream of becoming a mermaid! I love how her collections tell a story and sewing with her  fabrics opens your imagination to creating things with a fun, colorful mindset.

Watch Video Below to learn more about our designers! 

I am so excited to get sewing with each one of these bundles and after going through all of them it is WAY too hard to choose a favorite. They are all my favorite in different ways! I can’t wait to see what you all sew with them and which ones you gravitate  to and why! To shop all these bundles click here! 

Happy Sewing,

Meli

Hi Makers, 

With the holidays right around the corner, I know all of us are prepping or have already begun sewing gifts for our family, friends, colleagues and teachers. I think that as a maker, we're always trying to create gifts that are so personalized to the person we're giving it to, so if you haven't started sewing your gifts yet, don't worry! We just released TWO NEW FUSIONS that cater to two different themes that can turn into so many great gifts! 

If you're new to AGF, our "Fusion Collections" are bite-size collections featuring best-selling prints from our internationally-known designers such as Pat Bravo, Maureen Cracknell, April Rhodes, Bonnie Christine, Katarina Roccella and Sharon Holland. With these two collections, you’ll find two different themes that provide you with countless sewing ideas and are no doubt, two collections that are a must-have for your fabric stash. Now, let’s take a closer look on how you can sew with these fabrics!

RAINFOREST FUSION

With botanical designs high on the trend radar for “jungalow inspired”  interiors and fashion, our “Rainforest Fusion” is perfect for creating a “tropical paradise” in your sewing room! Filled with vibrant, lush prints, this collection highlights tropical florals, palm fronds as well as tribal patterns that also act as great blenders. Grounded in bright and warm colors, this collection can be widely used in quilts, outdoor home decor, resort-inspired garments, as well as in accessories and wall art. I would love to make curtains and TONS of throw pillows with this collection! 

 Download Our FREE "Vertical Garden" Quilt Pattern:

TRINKETS FUSION

Channeling “vintage meets modern” and recalling old memories of sifting through a grandmother’s treasure chest,  our “Trinkets Fusion” offers countless ideas for sewing with nostalgic prints that are inspired by pressed flowers, vintage knitting, and hand pressed wallpaper. Deeply rooted in warm hues of rust and gold, this festive collection is a great option for your holiday, sewing projects! From various florals that range in scale to textured designs that make unique blenders, these fabrics can be sewn into romantic, bohemian quilts, throw pillows, rugs, tapestries and special occasion garments! I would love to have a dress made out of "Trinkets" fabrics for Thanksgiving - preferably one that's loose, so I can eat all those delicious Thanksgiving side dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing and creamed spinach! :)

 Download Our FREE "Free Spirit" Quilt Pattern:

For more sewing projects we've put together using these two collections, head to our "Rainforest and Trinkets Fabric Lookbook!"

In case you're OBSESSED with both of these collections and need them NOW, enter our giveaway for a chance to win BOTH! 

 To enter, please fill the form below. Giveaway ends Friday, October, 12th, 2018. Good luck!  

Our winner is Jo Isaac! Please check your email! Thanks to everyone else who participated!

*Once you have entered the giveaway it's Winner will be announced on Monday, 10/15! :)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!

Hello AGF Fans,

At AGF, we're always constantly trying to deliver the best fabric collections and inspire sewists around the world to create something new! We're so honored to be apart of this amazing sewing community full of talented, kind and creative people. You motivate us everyday to keep creating new and easier ways to sew in this crazy, busy world! I'm so excited to tell you about something we've been working on for quite sometime! All you fabric lovers and AGF Fans, AGF has heard your many requests and we're happy to announce AGF is now creating bundles!

Not just any bundles but special curated bundles to make the most out of your creative time, making it easier to create something new. These curated fabric designs are grouped together to help you sew with a theme in mind. Our new groups consist of our best-seller prints, they're balanced in value and full of color!  

 Let me introduce you to AGF Bundle Up , a  group of fabrics with fun, special themes to create special projects for you and your loved ones! We have 8 amazing themes catered to all different types of sewist and sewing for the seasons. Grab yourself a warm beverage and enjoy all the fabric themes below. Share with me in the comments your favorite AGF Bundles! Pick up your favorite bundle online or at your local quilt shop. 

All of these bundles come in two different sizes, half yards and fat quarter bundles, and we will be occasionally updating  our themed bundles to make sure you have the newest selections and lots of variety to sew with.

Americana Edition

Red, white, and blue, AGF Style! This group has everything from playful ditsy florals, to basic geometric designs with the perfect choice of textured prints and blenders. This modern and fresh arrangement of fabrics has me dreaming of home decor projects.

Are you a holiday sewing addict like me? There is no better excuse to create something new then for special occasions and holidays. This bundle has me feeling all the feels of July 4th!

Written Edition   

I'm always in search for a good text print and AGF has gathered together such a great array of different styles. In this bundle, you'll get to play with dreamy brush stroke words,  newspaper/ typewriter fonts, bold stencil lettering and words created from florals.

 What do all these text prints say you may be wondering? They share words of love, happiness, and words of encouragement!

Animalia Edition

Looking for a gender neutral color palette? The Animalia bundle has such a fresh and inviting color section perfect for any season. You'll find cute goats with crowns, buzzing bumble bees, pugs with floral necklaces, and cuddly cats for our first round of all things animal related! Right away, I think about fussy cutting the cute critters from the fabric to create the most sweet and  lovable baby quilts.

Floralism Edition  

Who needs a bouquet of flowers when you can get your hands on a bundle of beautiful blooms of all shapes and sizes?! What style of fabric florals are your favorites, geometric,  painterly, hand drawn, whatever your style may be this bundle has them all!

Autumnal Edition

Pumpkin Spice Latte in hand as you watch the leaves fall into beautiful piles of all shades of orange, red and yellow, fall is here and the Autumnal Edition has captured the best of this season!

 I think Halloween and Thanksgiving sewing is in order with this All things Autumn bundle!

Woods Edition

Who doesn’t love being out in nature? There is something so magical about being away from the busy city and out amongst the trees, breathing in the fresh air and listening to the sounds of the animals.

The Woods Edition highlights the very best of being out in the woods. Use these prints in your next sewing project to create a sense of nature in all your living spaces.

Winterland Edition

As cold and cruel as winters can be there will always be something so enchanting about this season.  Not sure if it’s the beauty that comes with a fresh snowfall or if it’s staying warm by the fire all wrapped up in your favorite quilt with all your loved ones but sewing with the Winterland Bundle will get  you in the holiday spirit.

Geometrical Edition

Love to sew with lots of color and basic prints? The Geometrical Bundle has just become your new best friend. Think all things straight lines and shapes of all kinds! This bundle is packed with a punch of juicey colors that will hard to resist  drooling over.

The holiday season is approaching and it’s time to start making those handmade gifts. AGF has really made our job as sewist so much easier by gathering the best of best and creating such a fantastic new way to create based on a certain theme. Have any suggestions for new fabric bundle themes? We would love to hear what you are looking for! Any of these themes remind you of someone in your life? Make sure to share this post with your sewing friends to spread the fabric love.  

Happy Sewing, 

Meli