Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hello Makers, 

I don’t know about you but when I am looking for fabrics to sew for the little ones in my life I always have a tough time finding the right fabrics. I either find prints that are to gender-specific or the colors are just not quite what I am looking for.

Becoming an Auntie for the first time 14 years ago and then becoming a God Mother 2 ½” years ago has been such a rewarding honor. As I watch my brother's kids grow up I think back to when I was that young and I make sure to teach them everything I learned and more, so they can grow up to be confident, full of passion and motivated to make their dreams come true. When I first saw the final prints that were going to be included in our AGF Studio fabric collection called Sisu I was super impressed with this colorful, impactful and playful group of fabrics for kids. The word “Sisu”, is an untranslatable Finnish word; it is the mindset that allows us to keep going just when we think we are about to give up. As adults, we have encountered this moment many times but as a child, you are experiencing things for the first time so this mindset is important for them to learn at a young age. All the prints in this collection translate this essential message with prints of children exploring and playing, motivational phrases, and primary shapes and colors to inspire them to their fullest potential.

For this collection, I decided to sew up the “King David’s Crown” block. I took advantage of this block’s fussy cutting capabilities and fussy cut a section of my favorite print in the collection. In this block, you will learn to make HST’s using the eight at a time method and how to create an hourglass block. Join me by watching the video below.

Make sure to check out all the prints in the collection here and let me know what your favorite print is in the comments!

Happy Sewing,

Melissa

Happy Friday, Makers - 

Hope you all had a fabulous week!

We were super busy here at AGF Studio, putting the final touches on our latest lookbook for our latest collection, SISU! This bold, bright collection is so so soooo cute and was made just for kids and their imagination. While designing this collection, we collected a lot of inspiration from our own childhood with primary shapes, colors, and memories! We love putting our own little personal stories into our designs, and this time around, one of the prints that feature a little dog flying on a glider is based on one of our Design team's real dogs named "Cinnamon!" See if you can find him! :)

These youthful, hand-drawn designs were inspired by children's playtime fused with all the fun and discovery that comes along with learning. In case you were curious, the word “Sisu” comes from a Finnish word that translates into strength, determination, and perseverance, and we felt it really resonated a positive vibe with a line for kids. This collection offers 20 prints with two different colorways from cherry reds, sunny yellows, vibrant greens and cobalt blues to calming purples, citrusy orange, and tranquil teals. In addition to our 20 cotton prints, we have 3 knit prints available as well since we know little ones want to feel comfortable as they explore. 

Find out more about this collection in our "Sisu Fabric Lookbook!"

Here's our vibrant"Up & Away Quilt" for you to enjoy, just click the below link for the FREE pattern:

Download Quilt Pattern

Enter a chance to win this fabulous, fabric bundle by signing up to our giveaway:

To enter our giveaway, click here.

Giveaway ends Friday, April, 19 2019. Good luck! 

*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 your April is off to a good note, so far. :)

This month, we have a lot of fun things in store for you! One of them being our latest GIVEAWAY involving PETS. Yep, that's right. Since we're all animal lovers here and often see posts of all your cute pets with your sewing projects, we thought this would be a fun way to see/hear more about them! Here's the scoop: 

Tag us using the hashtag #AGFPets on social media with a cute photo of your of pet (this includes cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, lizards, hamsters, etc) with a handmade AGF project! This could be a quilt you've made or a baby quilt, a table runner, a cute bag...get creative! Make sure to also share a little story about your cute pet too.

Best photo and story wins a 20 piece, fat quarter bundle of our fabrics!  

Winner will be announced on our Instagram Stories on Thursday, April 11th, 2019. 

Good luck and can't wait to see your animal friends! :)

Keep creating, 

- Sophia 

Hello Makers,

Whooo is ready for another quilt block tutorial?! Me me me! I am especially excited about this new block tutorial because I got to sew with Jessica Swift’s new fabric collection called Lugu. All the prints in this collection are gorgeous, ranging from magical moons, moths, festive deer and florals and my favorite which I think is the star of the collection the Sova owl print! It comes in two great colors ways.

I fussy cut Mr. Owl to be in the center of my “ Domino and Star” Block, a fun, beginner-friendly block that is pretty easy to whip up. This playful, whimsical collection would be perfect for nursery/children's room decor or for those who just want to add a bit of quirkiness and eccentric style to any room you're trying to fill.

Give my video a view below and make sure to leave me a comment! Also, make sure to check out all the other block tutorials in our AGF Quilt Block Collection Playlist!

To end my blog post for today I wanted to share a personal quilting story with you.

I had the privilege to sew up the Free Quilt Pattern for the Lugu Lookbook called Owl’s Tale. Not only did the beautiful colors in this collection bring me joy but the delightful, carefree illustrations brought my mind into a magical place. I started this quilt two days before I got the call that my Dad wasn’t doing well and was being brought to the hospital and that I should fly home to Minnesota immediately. My Dad was diagnosed with stage four Pancreatic cancer four and a half weeks prior to this. With my heart in my throat, I packed a quick bag and made sure to pack my Lugu fabrics. That same day I got to Minnesota and was able to talk to my Dad for the last time. The very next morning he passed away. We didn’t think that this was going to be the end but it was. That same day we came home from the hospital after his passing I went straight to my Mom’s basement where the sewing machine resides. Shocked and filled with about every single emotion you can think of I start to sew this quilt. I sewed for hours and hours, with tears running down my face. The only thing holding me together was the sewing machine and the fabric running through my hands. Sewing brings me so much joy and even in the time of just about the worst heartbreak you can endure sewing was the only thing could console me.  

Here I am my last night in Minnesota holding up one of the blocks of the quilt. This quilt and fabric collection will always remind me of my Dad. I can’t thank Jessica Swift enough for making such inspiring fabrics and I am beyond thankful for the art of sewing, this creative outlet has saved me in so many ways.  To see the finished quilt make sure to check out our new Fabric Lookbook!

I know many of you have stories to share both sad and happy and everything in between. I would love to hear them if you are willing to tell. I just felt like my story needed to be told because even as devastating as my experience was I know everyone has or will go through something like this in their life. Sewing/ quilting is more than just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle, it feeds your soul and changes you in ways you wouldn't have expected. I will leave you all with this find out what makes you happy and do it every day, love with all your heart and have no regrets. It’s how my Dad lived and it’s how I plan to live the rest of mine.

Happy Sewing,

Melissa

Hello Makers,

Happy Spring! We are excited to share a great way to decorate your home this Spring Season by making Easter inspired mini’s.  We could never just make one mini so we decided to create a trio of 8” x 10” minis, a vase mini to store dried flowers or your palms on Palm Sunday, a bunny silhouette and an Easter basket filled with colorful eggs! Make all three or choose your favorites! We made all three mini's with  Bonnie Christine's collection for AGF called Gathered! This collection is a perfect match for all your spring sewing! 

The full tutorial is located on the WeAll Sew Bernina Blog! Head over there to find all the step by step instructions.

Are you all decorated for Spring? I would love to hear what handmade makes you have made for the Spring season.

Looking for some more Easter inspired projects?

Check out my makes below:

Easter Treat Bags

Made with Les Petits Fabrics

Springtime Chair Cover 

Made with Pure Solids, Floralia Fusions, Lambkin Fabrics

Happy Sewing,

Meli

Hello Makers,

What is your favorite go-to blender fabrics? For those of you new to quilting, blender fabrics are basic tonal prints that read as a solid and can be used to add contrast and texture to your quilting projects. They also help break up busy prints to help better appreciate the fabrics used in your quilt. Blenders are great supporting designs but can be used all on there own as well! 

AGF carries a great assortment of blenders, we call our blenders “Elements” and we have a ton of different types of Elements ranging in size, texture, and colors. We have Squared Elements, Oval Elements, Nature Elements, Prisma Elements, Floral Elements, and Round Elements!

We are happy to announce two new “Elements” to the list, Icon Elements, which celebrates the beauty of simplified symbols and icons and Decostitch Elements, a blender MADE for stitch lovers.

If you haven’t gotten a chance to take a look at our NEW Fabric Project Catalog it is filled with the most colorful, inspiring projects that will fire up your sewing mojo.

I wanted to make a block that will help celebrate the color in our brand new Element collections so I decided to whip up the "Patchway" block. I love the itty bitty flying geese all pointing into the center of my block and like always it’s hard for me to choose a favorite block. To follow along with me make sure to watch the video below. Feel free to leave a comment letting me know what you think of my block or what your favorite go-to blender is?

For more block videos and tutorials head over to the AGF Channel.

Happy Sewing,

Meli