Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Are you ready for a fun home décor project?

I've got a fun one for you!

Shannon here, popping in one last time from Shannon Fraser Designs, with an idea to bring comfort and style to your living room, bedroom or family room.

Remember when I mentioned in my previous guest post that I had fun exploring some new to me AGF substrates? Last time, I got to work with their PURE Solids, Premium Linen Blend and their Denim. This week I’m diving into canvas.

Did you know Art Gallery Fabrics had canvas on offer? I didn’t! Not until my AGF friends told me it was something I could play with.

I’d been meaning to make some floor pillows for the longest time and having this fun stack of pretties to dive into finally got the project kick-started.

Now floor cushions are not revolutionary. It’s not a new idea by any means, but I figure they’ve been around for a while because they satisfy several needs: they bring comfort, are pretty to look at and are practical to have around!

Stitching this floor cushion totally brought me back to my early days of making and selling aprons, bags, and pillows. I still make them on occasion, just not as often as I used to (quilts have kinda stolen the show for me!). But I’ve been on a kick lately and have been wanting to make a floor cushion for the longest time. Getting my hands on some AGF denim and canvas finally got me fired up to make it happen!

My family get-togethers are pretty packed and seating is always at a premium (with lots of musical chair shenanigans to go along with it!). So, I thought a floor poof would be the perfect addition for added seating when I’m in a pinch. Or, at the very least, a fun napping spot for Pips 😉

Having never sewn with canvas, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was in for a treat!

First off, it cuts amazingly well. Having been used to working with silky slippery cotton, the canvas just stays put – ha! You can’t layer it as much as cotton when cutting (it’s a workout to cut through allll those layers), but otherwise, it was a cinch to work with.

Since I just adore the tree print featured on the "Mystical Woods Solar" canvas print, I opted to forgo piecing and kept the cushion top and bottom as a whole cloth. Even better, was that my Juki had no problems stitching through the layers of canvas, batting and muslin. It was as though I was quilting through any other cotton. It was fantastic! Just look at the pretty texture the organic wavy line quilting adds to the printed textile. It’s like the trees are nestled amongst hills. I love it!

For the sides of the cushion, I decided to go with the AGF Denim in Indigo Shadow. I love how it pops against the soft cream and pinky/ peachy tones of the canvas. I wanted the focus to be on the tree print, but I wanted to add some additional texture through simple 1” straight line quilting. It adds a little dimension without being too bold. Plus, running your hands along it feels ah-mazing! AGF’s denim is the same weight as their PURE Solids, so you’re not dealing with the typical density of traditional denim. This means their denim has that silky softness you’ve come to expect from their quilting cotton. It really does feel divine.

A quick heads up – I didn’t pre-wash my fabric, and I did notice some dye rubbing off on my hands as I was quilting her up. You may want to pre-wash to avoid that transfer and/ or make sure to use some color catcher sheets when you do wash your project.

Since the devil is in the details (and we love our details, right?), I opted to add piping around the top of the cushion. I would have had this poof done way quicker had I omitted this step, but just look at how cute it is. I used the AGF Denim in Fading Darts and some cording I picked up at my local fabric shop. It was quick to piece and I feel adds that perfect finishing touch.

Now that I’ve got one made, I’m eager to try it again. Except for next time I plan on making the poof a little smaller. I'm thinking of featuring the trimmings leftover from my Cloud Surfing quilts (read more about the inspiration here and the design evolution here) that have been beckoning me to play with them! I’ve already got most of a top pieced, I just need to finish her up and decide whether she needs to become a pillow or a wall hanging - decisions, decisions. Sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss out on how I finish her up!

I have had THE best time guest blogging here and chatting with you 😊 A special thank you to the AGF team for having me and trusting me to play with all the fun fabrics! I hope my posts have inspired you to step outside your quilty comfort zone, to explore different substrates and, most of all, to just have FUN!

Happy quilting my friends!

xo,

Shannon

Created from our very own AGF Studio, we’re transporting you to a magical jungle with SELVA!

In this collection, you’ll discover where sleepy sloths swing from their branches, sweet elephants walk in rows, tropical foliage grows and a lively color palette that makes it the perfect combination to sew anything for kids. These gender-neutral colors and designs can be used in nurseries to create quilts, pillows, tummy time mats, wall hangings, and rugs. Of course, all those "young at heart" can also create decor with these fabrics. Imagine having a jungle-theme living room with some fun throw pillows featuring this darling jungle print or fierce felines! 

Available in 16 quilting cotton prints, Selva is also available in 3 cozy knits. 

To see all of the jungle-inspired projects that we've created as well as other makers, check out our Selva Fabric Lookbook! 

We created this FREE quilt pattern "Wild Gems" for you, just click the below link: 

Download Quilt Pattern

- - SELVA GIVEAWAY - - 

Enter a chance to win these whimsy fabrics by signing up to our giveaway:

Congratulations to our winner, Michele Laroe! 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!

Have you ever visited and explored a forest? There's no other feeling like being in this unique, natural environment! Being surrounded by so much greenery, the stillness, the fresh, invigorating smell of the trees, and unexpectedly discovering cute animals, bugs, as well as cute mushrooms, plants or flowers. It's definitely a place to decompress, discover, and let your curiosity and wanderlust guide you. 

Making her debut with a collection, our newest designer Alexandra Bordallo takes you into a whimsical forest with “DEW + MOSS!” These prints are filled with little gnomes, fireflies, and florals that were inspired by wandering through the forest with her family in Spain. Alexandra’s youthful style comes to life in this collection through hand-drawn, inky lines, and quirky designs. 

With a color palette that’s grounded in various greens with pops of burnt orange and grapefruit, these 12 fabrics can be used in various sewing projects to use in nurseries, playrooms, or even classrooms. 

Along with 12 prints in cotton, there's 3 knits to pick from to make cozy garments! The prints are a super fun, retro vibe, especially with the color combinations and can be used in numerous gender-neutral sewing projects. You'll discover cute snails that serve as a great reminder for "slowing down," blooming florals and a gnome village that's filled with mushroom houses, and where gnomes gather to drink coffee and garden.

Check out our "Dew + Moss Fabric Lookbook" that features this collection and what you can sew with it! 

Here's our "Gnomesville Quilt" that is a bold, impactful design! Click the below link for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

- - 🍄 DEW + MOSS GIVEAWAY 🍄 - - 

Enter a chance to win these 12 prints by signing up to our giveaway!

Congratulations Sarah Jasinki! 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!

Mister Domestic takes us to the great outdoors with his newest collection, "Catch & Release." Inspired by trips with his family to their favorite fishing spots in Oregon, he captures the spirit of relaxing and unwinding in nature with these 12 prints. 

Catch & Release is a whimsy collection that’s for those who enjoy disconnecting and being present in the moment. From swirling, schools of fish to gorgeous mountain scenery, these prints are perfect for creating fishing-inspired quilts, weekender bags, plushies, or even fishing gear for all ages.

In this collection, you'll discover schools of cute fish, paddles, ladybugs, a gorgeous mountain landscape, and even a fun, fish-scale print! 

This collection also comes in 3 knits - a super cute fish print in navy blue called "Catch & Release," a sweet fluttering ladybug print called "Good Luck Trails," and a ditzy floral print called "Flower Stream."

This collection also comes in a gorgeous, flower-filled rayon print named "Blue Bank Flora!" 

Along with Mister Domestic and other talented makers. we collaborated on fishing-inspired projects in our "Catch & Release Lookbook!" Make sure to check it out for inspiration of what to sew with these fabrics. 

Here's our "Making Waves Quilt" that's filled with tons of fun print and movement, just click the below link for the FREE pattern:

Download Free Quilt Pattern

---- CATCH & RELEASE GIVEAWAY----

Enter a chance to win this fish-filled bundle of "Catch & Release" by signing up to our giveaway:

Congratulations to our winner, Michelle Olejar! 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!

Hi Makers - 

It’s that time of the year again where we get to share with you a PREVIEW of our NEW AGF COLLECTIONS for Fall/Winter 2019!

With this round of collections, there's definitely a lot of amazing storytelling involved in each line. You'll get to see a glimpse of what's new from designers like Maureen Cracknell, Jessica Swift, Sharon Holland, Mister Domestic, Katarina Roccella and AGF Studio. With these collections, you'll also discover lots of different places around the world..like the ocean, an African grassland, an English countryside, the midwest prairie, and an enchanted forest! 

For production this time around, we decided to switch things up and film all of our collections in ONE VIDEO for you to see. Don’t worry, we’ll also be posting each collection preview this week on social media as well. 

We hope you love this video and enjoy what we've been secretly working on the past few months, make sure to comment below and tell us what's your favorite upcoming collection too!

Have you ever been on a road trip that just inspired you so much? There's something just so exciting about packing up, jumping behind the steering wheel and heading out on an unforgettable adventure. Windows down, music up...observing all the sounds, sights, smells..as you drive through quiet forests, open fields, majestic mountains, serene deserts...welcoming spontaneity and the unexpected. Trips like this often bring new perspectives and creative ideas, and this is exactly what happened to our designer, Bonnie Christine! 

Bonnie recently went on an 8,000-mile road trip across the country with her family in a vintage Airstream named "Miss Marjorie"! With each state that she visited, she collected wildflowers from the roadside and also took tons of photos of wildlife and nature. Once she arrived home, she decided to use everything she had seen on her trip and turn it into her latest collection, "The Open Road"! 

"The most challenging print is also my favorite…the animals print called “Walking with Bear” (and Doe). It’s one of the most detailed and intricate prints I’ve ever created and although it was challenging, I loved every minute of it. These are all animals we had sightings of during our travels, and I love how it represents the wildlife of our beautiful country."

The Open Road is a sweet collection for children as well as those young at heart. With these 16 prints that are filled with wildflowers and cute animals, there’s plenty of options for you to create nature-inspired quilts, throw pillows, travel accessories, and romantic boho garments!

This collection also comes in two colorways! Bonnie created both of these groups of colors by pulling inspiration found in photographs she took during her trip. The "Under The Sun" colorway has earthy tones of blush pink, sienna and sage. The "Under The Trees" colorway has sunny hues with pops of navy and kelly green. 

To learn more about Bonnie's inspiration, the story behind the fabrics and projects you can create with this collection, head to our "The Open Road Fabric Lookbook!" 

Here's the lovely "Marjorie's Quilt" that features a map of the United States...just click the below link for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

- - The Open Road Giveaway - - 

Here's your chance to win a bundle of these gorgeous fabrics! To enter, just sign up to our giveaway - details below. 

Congratulations to our winner, Josina Dunkel! 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!