Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

To paraphrase Ebenezer Scrooge, "We will honor Quiltmas in our hearts and try to keep it all the year!" In fact, we'll keep in for several years, because this year marks the Fifth Year of the Quiltmas Spectacular! In case you haven't heard of the Quiltmas Spectacular, let me tell you! Twelve quilt pattern designers were busy in the Quiltmas Elf Workshop designing 12 quilt block patterns to celebrate the wonderful, wintery season! Every day, December 1 through 12, the Quiltmas Elves unwrapped one free quilt block pattern and shared it with everyone.

To celebrate the fifth year of the festive fun, the elves calculated yardage for you to make all the quilts into one coordinated quilt top (more on how to get that info in a bit!). We kicked off this year with an extra special giveaway from Art Gallery Fabrics. The giveaway included enough yardage of PURE Solids to make the all the blocks, plus 4 bonus FQs from the Wintertale holiday line by Katarina Roccella. 

We used the same solids and fabric collection to make all the Quiltmas blocks - in fact, we've used Art Gallery fabrics for several years of Quiltmas! Take a look through the Instagram hashtag #quiltmasspectacular to see all the past years' designs and how we've used Art Gallery Fabrics's holly-jolly holiday fabrics throughout the years.

To keep Quiltmas in our hearts for the rest of the year, let's revisit all the 2023 Quiltmas blocks!

On the first day of Quiltmas, Elf Heather of Gladhand Sews brought us the North Pole block.

On the second day of Quiltmas, Elf Holly of Holly Clarke Design brought us the Deck the Halls block.

On the third day of Quiltmas, Elf Ben of Ben Millett brought us the Snowpal Kit block.

On the fourth day of Quiltmas, Elf Astrid of Apples and Beavers brought us the Little Robin block.

On the fifth day of Quiltmas, Elf Lynett of Lyns Avenue brought us the Country Glow block.

On the sixth day of Quiltmas, Elf Satomi of Satomi Quilts brought us the White Snow Globe block.

On the seventh day of Quiltmas, Elf Amanda of Broadcloth Studio brought us the Snow Quartz block.

On the eighth day of Quiltmas, Elf Andrea of 3rd Story Workshop brought us the Twinkly Lights block.

On the ninth day of Quiltmas, Elf Shannon of Shannon Fraser Designs brought us the Christmas Crackers block.

On the tenth day of Quiltmas, Elf Laurel of Porcupine Sews Threads brought us the Wreath Around the Block block.

On the eleventh day of Quiltmas, Elf Emily of Peach and Honey Studio brought us the Holiday Ribbon block.

On the twelfth day of Quiltmas, Elf Erin of Mija Handmade (that's me!) brought you the Charlie's Tree block.

If you haven't signed up for Quiltmas, you can still jump the sleigh! Sign up for the Quiltmas Spectacular, and you'll immediately get access to all the block patterns, as well as the yardage information. Make sure you download the patterns before December 31st - that's when we close the Quiltmas workshop and pack up the patterns.

Whether you've made all the Quiltmas blocks, one or none, we hope these blocks bring you all the season's cheer, and you remember Quiltmas all through the year!

Attention all quilting and sewing enthusiasts! Get ready to be captivated by the extraordinary talent of our Sewcialites. They recently took over our Instagram, sharing personal stories and their knowledge, skills, and insider tricks. And that's not all! Be prepared to be endlessly inspired by their latest projects. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner on your creative journey, our Sewcialites have something for everyone that can take your quilting game to the next level. And Who are our Sewcialites, you may wonder? They are a group of 10 of the best creative and passionate quilting and sewing enthusiasts, all joining together to spread their love for AGF within the community. Keep reading to find out more about them!

Not only are they sharing their knowledge & experiences with quilters, but they have also personally hand-picked a bundle of fabrics that resonate with their distinctive aesthetic, thoughtfully selected from our renowned collections, AGF Elements & PURE Solids. In addition to their incredible bundles, they have designed a captivating FREE Pattern that beautifully showcases them, turning your journey into their world into a wonderful and immersive experience. 

So, gather your tools, ignite your imagination, and get ready to be captivated by the artistry of these incredible Sewcialites!

Wendy Chow of  The Weekend Quilter

Get inspired by our first Sewcialite, Wendy Chow, a.k.a. The Weekend Quilter. Hailing from the energetic streets of New York City, Wendy is the creator of the captivating ‘Summer Streets’ Sewcialite Bundle, showcasing her bold geometrical design aesthetic. She designed a FREE Pattern, the ‘Mercer Street Quilt', to complement her curated bundle that is beginner and fat-quarter friendly and focuses on quick-corner units, a piecing method in quilting. Discover ongoing inspiration by following Wendy’s Instagram.

Ashelyn Downs of Urban Dwell Studios

Meet Ashelyn Downs, the creative force behind Urban Dwell Studio! Her quilting journey blends sewing expertise, pattern designing, and design background, resulting in a collection of beginner-friendly quilt patterns that beautifully reflect their creators' styles and spaces. Inspired by 20th-century architecture, 90's grunge, street art, travel, and pop culture, Ashelyn's work showcases minimalist color palettes and artistic concepts, igniting a passion for quilting in the next generation of creators. Don't miss her ‘Boulevard’ Bundle and the perfectly complementing FREE Quilt Pattern, ‘Right Turn Only’. Explore more of her creations by following Ashelyn's Instagram!

Taylor Krz of Toad and Sew

Discover the artistry of our Sewcialite, Taylor Krz, also known as Toad and Sew! Based in Seattle, WA, Taylor's modern quilt patterns beautifully capture the essence of PNW landscapes with a nostalgic color palette of vibrant tones. Taylor curates the ‘Nostalgia’ Bundle, evoking memories of the 60s tableware, 70s band posters, 80s scrunchies and leggings, and even 90s TV shows. To complement her bundle, she designed a stunning FREE Quilt Pattern, "Courthouse Steps Zine." allowing the vibrant colors to mix magically. Find creative inspiration by following Taylor's Instagram. 

Christina Lee of Sweet Potato Quilts

Say hello to the incredible Sewcialite Christina Lee, also known as Sweet Potato Quilts! Prepare to be amazed by her inspiring quilting journey, and guess what? She's a talented musician too. Her curated bundle, ‘Joyful Jaunt’, transports you to moments of childhood wonder and curiosity. The complementary FREE Quilt Pattern, ‘Bora’, was specially designed for this bundle. This Baby-Size Quilt is beginner-friendly, making it both easy and fast to create. Follow Christina's Instagram Page to discover more of her beautiful creations!

Abby Luchsinger of Abby Maed

Get ready to be inspired by Abby Luchsinger, our Sewcialite and third-generation quilter, affectionately known as Abby Maed. Her love for sewing was passed down by her grandmother since childhood. Her middle name, Mae, is a sweet tribute to her quilting heritage. Abby's curated bundle, ‘Roseglow’, captures the magic of golden hour throughout the seasons. Don't miss her FREE Quilt Pattern, ‘Soft Focus’, designed to complement the bundle, making it fat-quarter-friendly. Discover more about her inspiring work by following Abby's Instagram. 

Victoria Newmyer of Midlife Quilter

Prepare to fall in love with Sewcialite Victoria Newmyer, the talent behind Midlife Quilter! Her passion for quilting bloomed when she gifted herself a sewing machine on her 40th birthday. Victoria is the creative force behind the heartwarming Beloved Bundle, encouraging you to embrace and cherish the love you feel. Don't miss her FREE pattern, ‘Bejeweled Table Runner’, perfectly designed to showcase her curated bundle. It's a scrappy-friendly project that comes together in no time. Explore more about her on our website and stay inspired by following Victoria's Instagram.

Vickeidy Plybon of Sewspicous

Get ready to explore a world of vibrant colors with Sewcialite Vickeidy Plybon, the creator and visionary behind Sewspicious! As a high school Spanish teacher and fourth-generation sewist, she has a passion for both teaching and sewing. Vickeidy's ‘Alegría’ bundle is a burst of colors inspired by her joyful memories of the Dominican Republic, her birthplace. Check out her FREE Quilt Pattern, 'Rosalia,' which beautifully brings the colors of her bundle to life. Explore more about Vickeidy on our website and stay inspired by following Vickeidy's Instagram.

Brooke Shankland of Eudaimonia Studio

Discover our talented Sewcialite Brooke Shankland, the creative force behind Eudaimonia Studio. Passionate about philosophy and modern quilting, she curated the stunning 'Thrive' Bundle, representing the full spectrum of beauty in nature and human experience. With a diverse range of colors, geometry, and scale fabrics, it's a celebration of our world's eclectic totality. Don't forget to check out her FREE Quilt Pattern, 'Resilience,' which beautifully showcases the fabrics. Follow Brooke’s Instagram for inspiring work, and explore more on our website.

Kelsey Swatske of White Rose Designs

Enter the world of inspiration with Sewcialite Kelsey Swatske, also known as White Rose Designs, a passionate sewer for over 15+ years with an unwavering love for floral fabrics. Delve into her creative realm through her curated Secret Garden Bundle, which combines vintage pastel florals with cool sage greens. Plus, you'll get the perfectly complementing FREE Quilt Pattern ‘Secret Garden’, stunningly showcasing the fabrics' beauty. Discover more about Kelsey on our website and find ongoing inspiration by following Kelsey's Instagram Page.

Christina West of Kindred Quilt Co.

Discover the artistic brilliance of Christina West, the heart and soul of Kindred Quilt Co, a company known for its exceptional quilting and pattern design. As a full-time quilter and pattern designer, she resides in the vibrant DFW area with her husband, son, cat, and dog. Experience her curated bundle 'Wildflower Hill', capturing the spirit of spring's renewal in the picturesque Texas Hill Country. Don't miss her FREE Quilt Pattern, 'Wild Season,' a stunning showcase of her bundle. Learn more about Christina on our website and stay inspired by following Christina's Instagram.

We hope you enjoyed meeting our ten Sewcialites. Through every stitch they shared, these talented individuals have taught us that patience, passion, and dedication are key ingredients for creating extraordinary wonders. Embrace these virtues, unlock the magic in your hands, and let their inspiring journey fuel your creativity. There are no limits to what you can achieve!  

Stay connected by following our hashtag #AGFSewcialite, and visit the Sewcialites Section on our website to learn more about them. 

Until we meet again, keep creating - 

Juana 

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!