New Patterns from Brenda

This is the December 1 blog entry.  Somehow it got posted the other day.  But, now I am ready to begin.  The times may not be daily because of the time difference between when and where I post compared to the time zone of Blogger.  Visit every day, make a list for your family to use for shopping or just relax and enjoy!

Brenda Miller, a friend for many years, is now an internationally recognized pattern designer and publisher.  You can check out her full line of patterns on her website and under her pattern line, 'Among Brenda's Quilts and Bags'.  If you have been following the 'What's New' page on The Marsh Store website you will be familiar with the 2014 ones.

This is the first of two 'The Girlfriend's Bag' I made this fall.  It takes about 3 hours and very stylish.

'The Voyager Bag' takes a couple of days but is the perfect travel bag for overnight or as an airline carry on for longer trips.

Brenda designed the store Row By Row pattern for this last summer.  She included Nellie, the store dog, going for a walk in the conservation area behind the store.  Many people enjoy walking there during all seasons. 

December Posts Are Coming

I am starting to prepare the annual 24 days of ideas about gifts quilters would like to give or receive in December.  Panic sets in about mid-November when I think there aren't enough new things to write about.  Then I make a list and run out of days so have to start grouping them. 

Ready?!

Fall and Fabrics

Nellie and I went for a walk down by the pond the other day.  Fortunately I took along a camera.  As I took photos it dawned on me how much some of the new fabric reflected the colours of nature around us.  Here are some examples:

Nature shows this:

Northcott created an Artisan Spirit line of fabric called 'Falling Leaves' in a pattern that looks like this:

This pattern is 'Windswept' by Patchworks Studio, the quilt is 72" by 72" and we carry all the fabric.  Let me know if you want  a kit.

Nature shows this:

Moda has a collection called 'A Field Guild' by Janet Clare that looks like this:

We have enough fabric to make a quilt from your favourite nature photo.  Maybe this:

Or this:

Enjoy autumn days, long walks and taking photos to inspire your next quilt.

'Crane Dynasty' Limited Edition Kona Bay Fabrics

'Crane Dynasty; is a new line of limited edition prints by Kona Bay fabrics.  There are a limited number of bolts and we are fortunate to have 7m of the five prints in each of the 2 colourways.

There is a free pattern on the Kona Bay website for a large quilt.  It will use up most of the main print for fussy cutting blocks and the tree print used in the border.  So we can kit 1 or 2 quilts for each colourway.  I am sure you could economize fabric by being less fussy about having 2 identical cuts in blocks and by using the directional print in the border without the trees standing vertically and piecing. 

Shop Hopping in July

Wow!  We are overwhelmed by the number of quilters out and about for the shop hops.  We are close to 500 so far in July.  Thanks to everyone for taking the time to visit and get to know us. 

The July Shop Hop theme is Sew Canadian.  The 13 shops have used our red and white blocks to create a quilt unique to each store.  It is amazing how different each one turned out.  This is ours:

I solved the challenge of 13 store blocks by making 3 more of our 'Jacob's Ladder' block for the four corners.  It's a 52" square so you can add a border to make it larger.  I thought about using a nice forest green for the sashing but got out voted and went with black.

The Row By Row Experience is an exciting event that is running in July but will continues until September 2.  We are fortunate to have Brenda Miller of 'Among Brenda's Quilts & Bags' as a friend and pattern designer.  She has created a row , 'A Walk in the Park', which features Nellie, the store dog, going for a walk in the conservation area behind the store.  I'll find a photo and post it later... or go to the Facebook page for Ontario Row By Row Experience.

Here is the winner and her quilt for the Row By Row Experience at The Marsh Store.  Congratulations to Rosemary M!!

Reminder that the anniversary sale starts on July 28.  Check the website for more details.

Row By Row Experience

Last October when I went to Quilt Market I went to a session and heard about the Row By Row Experience.   It sounded like a great idea and something fun to participate in.  This March we received an email inviting us to be part of the first Row By Row in Ontario.  Hurray!

Row By Row is coming July 1 to September 2 (July 2 in Canada).  It is happening in 26 states and Ontario.  There are over 1100 shops participating this year.  Visit the website www.rowbyrowexperience.com for more information but here is what you need to know in Ontario:

1.  Visit any participating shop and collect a few pattern for a row, 36.5" by 9.5".  There are 80 stops in Ontario.

2.  Make a quilt with a minimum of 8 different row: pieced, quilted, bound and labelled.

3.  Be the first to bring your quilt to one of the shops and win 25 fat quarters.  You may win once.

4.  Have fun!

The website will take you to a Facebook page where all the rows will be on display.  We are so fortunate to have a great friend who is also a fabulous designer.  Brenda Miller of 'Among Brenda's Quilts & Bags' is designing our row.  She is even putting our Nellie in it!  You have to come to the store in person to receive your free copy of the pattern.  We agreed to abide by the Row By Row terms when we signed up so we cannot email or snail mail the pattern.

Timeless Treasures, the fabric company, has designed a special line of fabric for this year based on the theme, Sew a Season.  The banner at the top gives you an idea of what to expect.  I am waiting for it to arrive!!  Watch the blog and our website, www.themarshstore.com.

Hopefully the weather will start to warm up so we know summer is really not too far away!

Quilts of Great Britain

The Ailsa Craig Community Quilt Festival is ready to start tomorrow.  This year features quilts, workshops and quilters from Great Britain.

Tomorrow we have to be closed for the Victoria Day holiday.  This year we are off from vending at the show so I have time to take a class and visit the show to view the quilts.  I am so looking forward to  making fabric flowers in the morning.  Stay tuned for photos.

We are open regular store hours Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, so stop in for a visit and a chat. See the  new samples and hear about the events coming this summer!