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Sewing Friends

Enjoying The Great Outdoors with Mister Domestic's "Catch & Release" Collection

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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.

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

 

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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."


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


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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

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

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

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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!

 

 

Fall/Winter 2019 AGF New Fabric Collections Preview

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!

 

 

 


London Calling with Bari J.'s Bloomsbury

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For our latest collection, we're transporting back in time to the early 1900s in London, England. In the west end of the city, lies a district called "Bloomsbury" that was (and still is) a fashionable residential area where various intellectual and cultural events took place. During the turn of the century, a group of artists and writers gathered in this district and called themselves "The Bloomsbury Group." English writer Virginia Woolf was one of the most notable members of this group. The other members included Leonard Woolf, Vanessa Bell, E.M. Forster, Lytton Strachey, Roger Fry, Clive Bell, John Maynard Keynes, Duncan Grant and Desmond McCarthy. They were famous for being one of the first literary groups that supported women in the arts as well as many other social issues. 

Our designer Bari J. has a great affinity for this unique time in history as well as the city of London, so she decided that with her latest collection "BLOOMSBURY" to draw her inspiration from this exact time and place! Imagining a world that would surround luminaries like Virginia Woolf, Bari brings to life an English garden that would be nestled within the Bloomsbury district that's filled with gorgeous, painterly blooms, songbirds, and lush foliage.


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With 15 quilting cotton prints, these are such pretty fabrics to create luxe-filled quilts, throw pillows, rugs, gorgeous maxi dresses for outdoor weddings, and even fun accessories like make-up bags and market totes. 

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Besides our quilting cotton, Bloomsbury also comes in several different substrates, so you have tons of options to pick from! For this collection, there's four knits that come in several different floral prints, color, and scale!

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It also comes in a gorgeous rayon that's filled with jewel tones and pretty florals for dresses, skirts, kimonos, hair scarves or even cute, button-up blouses. 
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Here's the canvas option that's not only great to use for home decor but you can also use in garments or accessory-making too! 


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..and last but not least, "Bloomsbury" comes in a cotton panel that can be used as quilt borders, backings, tablecloths, skirts or dresses!

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For more ideas of what to sew with this collection, check out our "Bloomsbury Fabric Lookbook!

 

Download Quilt Pattern

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-Bloomsbury Giveaway-

Enter a chance to win a FQ bundle of Bloomsbury by signing up to our giveaway:

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Congratulations Patricia Streim! 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!


Dana Willard's "Summer Side" Collection

Hi Makers!

With our latest collection and lookbook, all of us here at AGF have been using "summertime" as our main source of inspiration these days. When it comes to this season, I definitely think about hanging out at the beach and celebrating my birthday on the Fourth of July with tons of fireworks, but more than anything, I think about a certain kind of fruit that arrives only during summer. Living in Florida, one of the best things that happens during this time is mango season! You'll find hundreds of mango trees here with tons of ripe fruit, ready to be picked and eaten. Growing up, my backyard had several mango trees, and I used to help my parents pick the ripe ones from the trees, which we used in smoothies, popsicles, cakes or would just enjoy eating by themselves! 

Our designer Dana Willard always comes up with a bright, cheery collection usually relating to summer. Gathering up inspiration from all the things that she absolutely loves about the season...from bold florals, refreshing popsicles and fruit to sunglasses and swimsuits with a retro twist..you'll find all these cute prints in the latest collection, SUMMER SIDE!

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This collection comes in 16 cotton prints with 3 knits for garments. From beachy quilts, dresses, swimsuit cover up’s, outdoor decor, and fun accessories like backpacks, clutches, or sunglass cases, these fabrics are for any summer lovin’ sewing project. 

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My absolute favorite print is the "Popsicle Party Watermint!" Just look at those cute faces.

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For more summer-filled projects using this collection, head over to our "Summer Side Fabric Lookbook!" 

 

 

Here's our "Spring into Summer" featuring a refreshing color palette for you to sew up, just click the below link for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

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- SUMMER SIDE GIVEAWAY - 

Enter a chance to win a fat quarter fabric bundle by signing up to our giveaway:

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Congratulations to our winner, Cheryl Sanchez! 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!


Welcome Our Newest Elements - Decostitch + Icon

Hi Makers, 

Are you looking for some new blenders for your next quilty project?! The usual go-to's are often solids, but we wanted to create something different that added some texture and felt just more unique! So, this time around we decided to expand our collection of Elements by adding two new designs, “DECOSTITCH” and “ICON.” Both of these different designs can be used to sew with a wide variety of prints and colors or be used on their own as well.

For “DECOSTITCH,” we were inspired by stitching motifs and decided to fuse them together with neutral shades like cream, charcoal, mustard, and olive green. Think earthy color palettes that can help contrast, balance and keep a design grounded. 

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With “ICON,” we decided to highlight simplified symbols, mixing them with bright colors like cherry red, sunny yellow, sky blue, and tangerine. Think more vibrant, almost primary colors you'd find in a candy shop! 

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We wanted to use both of these collections together and sewed up some projects, highlighting how they can complement one another. Head over to our “Decostitch and Icon Fabric Lookbook” for more sewing inspiration with quilts, garments, accessories, pin cushions, bags, and more.

 

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

Download Quilt Pattern

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/// DECOSTITCH + ICON GIVEAWAY ///

If these two collections are calling your name, here's your change to enter both of these bundles! 

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Congratulations Glenda Morrow! 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!

Good luck and keep creating,

- Sophia 

 


Our Newest AGF Sewcialite - Carolina Moore

Hi Makers,

An award-winning quilter, author of a quilt book and a craft book...just a few things that make her extra special...and now she's our newest AGF Sewcialite! Please give a warm welcome to the talented, Carolina Moore!

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Born in Holland and currently living in sunny San Diego, California with her husband, two sons, a dog and a cat, Carolina's been quilting for 25 years! Using her expertise and amazing precision with each make, we first noticed her back in 2012, when she became part of an AGF sewing challenge. After falling in love with her quilty passion and work, we began collaborating with Carolina on several projects for our Quilt Market booths and lookbooks. Describing her design style as "fun, bold, modern," she's obsessed with English Paper Piecing, as well as long arm quilting, and chocolate. :)  We're so excited to have her as part of our AGF family and can't wait for the upcoming projects she has planned this year. 

To get to know Carolina a little better, here's a fun little interview we did with her!

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Congratulations on becoming an AGF Sewcialite! Can you tell us a little bit about your background, and how you eventually got to where you are today?

Thanks so much! I am crazy excited to be an AGF Sewcialite! Getting to play with gorgeous AGF fabrics every day means I’m totally living my best life! The short version of my story is that my mom grew up sewing garments. She loved sewing. When we moved here to the US, she took a quilting class and caught the quilting bug as well. She taught me to sew, and sent me to a kids’ quilting camp where I fell in love with quilting as well! I also did some garment sewing, and my mom and I made my prom dress together. After having my first son, I actually spent a couple years working in a quilt shop. It was there that I was introduced to AGF. After participating in an AGF challenge, I had the opportunity to make some projects for some award-winning Art Gallery Fabrics booths at Quilt Market, and then I started attending Houston Quilt Market and teaching classes! I love making, and try to do something creative every day.

What was the very first thing you sewed?

With a mom who did a lot of sewing, I have been sewing as long as I can remember! The first thing that I remember sewing was dresses for my dolls from my mom’s fabric scraps. I was still a beginner, so my dolls had a lot of strapless gowns since it only required a single seam.

What are some of your favorite projects to create? Favorite technique?

I love quilts. And pillows. And bags. I love small projects and simple projects because life gets so busy that if it isn’t small or simple, it gets tossed into the WIP pile, never to be seen again! Though every now and then I love taking on a really ambitious project! My favorite techniques are English Paper Piecing (my book “Learn how to English Paper Piece” just came out with Nancy’s Notions last month), and I love Free Motion Quilting.

If you were a sewing notion, what would you be and why?

What a fun question! I really struggled with this one, though! Am I the thread that keeps things together? Am I a needle because I’m always sharp? What about a seam ripper that always has your back during the tough times? After giving it a lot of thought, I think I’m probably batting. I’m always in the middle of stuff, I’m all about keeping things warm, and I am a little fluffy … though I’m trying to make healthier choices so that I can be more “low loft!”

If you had to describe your describe aesthetic in 3 words, they would be?

Fun, bold, modern.

What are some of your favorite things to do in California!?

I grew up in California’s High Desert, went to college and got married up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and now live in San Diego…so there is SO MUCH that I love to do in California! My favorite might be a new tradition that we started with my kids. Each summer, we plan a road trip from San Diego up to the Bay Area to visit family. Last year, we went to the LaBrea Tar Pits in LA, and then up to the Sequoias. The year before, we spent the night in Solvang (a cute little tourist town with a Danish look) and then up to Hearst Castle. I love teaching my kids how to plan a trip, and then we all get to enjoy the trip together!

And here in San Diego, I love the beach. We live about 20 minutes away, and when one of us is having a rough day, I like to get everyone into the car and head to the ocean. Watching the sunset over the water seems to make everything just a little bit better.

Where do you often find your inspiration?

I find that inspiration can come from anywhere! Sometimes, I’m inspired by wanting to make something for a friend. Or needing something like a purse or an apron. And there are those special times when the fabric just speaks to me and tells me what it wants me to turn it into. Those are the best.

Your favorite movie of all time is?

HA! This is a funny question because I grew up in a house without a lot of television. We had a TV, but just “rabbit ears” - no cable. And my mom really didn’t want us spending our time in front of the TV. So, I spent a lot of time reading and making. Because of that, I don’t know that I have a *favorite* movie. Movies I really enjoy are “Big Fish,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” and “Shawshank Redemption.” As for books, I love listening to audiobooks while sewing. My favorite fiction books are the Harry Potter series and the Hunger Games series, and my favorite non-fiction is probably “Big Magic” and “The year of Yes.”

What’s on your “sewing to-do list” for this year?!

Oh my! I have so much on my sewing to-do list this year! I want to make pincushions and have already started with some. I have a couple of bags that I really want to make this year. I’m finally getting some new furniture for the living room, so I plan to make some new cushions. And I want to work on projects where I can teach beginners. I really, really love new quilters and treasure each opportunity to teach a new person how to quilt.

That’s what I have planned so far - I’m sure other projects will sneak their way in! Sometimes the inspiration just strikes and I have to put aside everything else just to create!

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Make sure to follow her at:

Instagram // @craftmoore

Facebook // Carolina Moore 

Youtube // Carolina Moore Channel 

Pinterest // Carolina Moore 

Blog // Always Expect Moore

We hope you had fun getting to know Carolina. Stay tuned with her upcoming projects involving our fabrics! 

Until then, keep creating - 

Sophia