{promo} Bag it for Mother’s Day

Are you hosting any special Mother’s Day promotions or events? It’s a great holiday for handmade gifts–what mother doesn’t love something made just for her?!

Here are a few of our favorites, both new and not-so-new, in the purse and handbag category. Whether your customers are looking to make wallets or clutches or over-the-shoulder bags, independent designers have the patterns just for them.

PATTERNS: 1. Cash and Carry Wallet from Atkinson Design 2. Cancun Clutch from Pink Sand Beach Designs 3. The Classic Minaudiere from Ellen Medlock Studio.

4. Urban Tote from Indygo Junction 5. Carolina Carryall from StudioKat Designs
6. Abby Bag from V and Co.

BOOKS: Released in 2011, Bags: the Modern Classics (Stash Books/C&T Publishing) by Sue Kim includes how-to and patterns for 19 projects with plenty of tips for making each project unique. Lisa Lam‘s The Bag Making Bible, published in 2010, is considered by many to be the resource for bag construction, whether you are making a small wallet, a market tote, a handbag or a Weekender.

{book it} Kaleidoscope Paper Piecing by Nancy Mahoney

Dutch Treats by Nancy Mahoney

Nancy Mahoney

Kaleidoscope Paper Piecing is your twelfth quilting book and you’ve made dozens of quilt patterns. How do you keep coming up with ideas?
Designing is one of my favorite aspects of making quilts. My ideas come from a lot of different places; vintage quilts, playing with blocks, gardens, old buildings. I see quilts designs all the time. When I need to create a design using a specific fabric collection, I let the fabrics talk to me and then I look for a design that will showcase those fabrics. When I’m design quilts for a book, I play with blocks and borders until I come up with a design I like and then I add the fabrics.

You’re very encouraging in the book, urging new quilters to learn new skills and experienced quilters to try something a bit more challenging. Do you find that writing is a bit like teaching?
Yes, the approach is very similar. I can reach out to more quilters with a book and I always want lots of visuals to help each person understand the process. In a class, I can help each person individually depending on their skill level and I like to include lots of tips, tricks, and stories.

What do you enjoy most about the quilt design process and does that tie into the writing process, as well?
I really enjoy the “what if?” part of designing, as in what if I change this block, fabric, border. Then there’s the “aha” moment when it all comes together. I design quilts using EQ7 and always carry my laptop when traveling. I’ve spent many hours in airports, playing with quilt designs. For me, the process of writing a book is similar to designing and making a quilt. I start with an idea or concept and tweak it until it’s just right. Next, I break it down into its many components and then I put together one step at a time.

Emeralds and Amethysts

Between writing and designing and teaching, do you still find time to do much quilting yourself these days?
Actually, I still make lots of quilts. In 2011, I made about 30 quilts and machine quilted all of them myself. I try to make good use of my time. If I’m on hold or waiting for someone or something, I use that time to work on a project. Even if it’s only a few minutes.

Of the ten quilts featured in Kaleidoscope Paper Piecing, which one is your favorite? Or which one are you dying to see made by someone?
Oh my, that’s like trying to pick your favorite child! I love each one for different reasons… but if I have to pick just one, I would say Raspberry Truffles [featured below]. For one thing, I love using black and white fabrics. My sister was visiting from Idaho and I was working on the blocks for that quilt. We spent several wonderful days chatting and sewing together. Of course, I’d love to see all of the quilts made by someone else using their own colors and fabrics. It’s always a thrill to see your design interpreted differently.

Rasperry Truffle by Nancy Mahoney

If you had to give some advice to someone who has never tried paper piecing (like me!), what would it be?
Most people who haven’t paper pieced are intimidated by the designs. Choose a simple design, without a lot of odd-shaped pieces, and try it. Be patient and keep in mind it takes time to learn a new technique. Take a class or get a book… I know of a really good book that shows how to paper piece Kaleidoscope blocks!

Kaleidoscope Paper Piecing: Ten Dynamic Quilt Designs is available now through your favorite distributor and Martingale/That Patchwork Place.

{book it} Charm Squares and Urban Country

Back to Charm School (Martingale & Company/That Patchwork Place)

Gather up your little precuts–charm school is back in session! Discover fresh designs from the popular authors of Country Threads Goes to Charm School. Sparkling with energy, these quilts make the most of today’s 5″ precut squares and also include instructions for using yardage.
–Choose from 20 patterns and gather fun decorating and gift-giving ideas
–Make appealing designs such as table runners, doll quilts, a pillow, and a tree skirt in fabrics ranging from country to bright, reproduction, theme prints, and more
–Try new techniques and get lots of quilting pleasure from these little, quick-to-finish projects

Urban Country Quilts (Martingale & Company/That Patchwork Place)

Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks, authors of the best-selling ‘Tis the Season, won many fans with their chunky, funky appliqué projects. Now you’ll be thrilled to find quilts and other comforts in the same cozy style for decorating all year long!
–Appealing designs with floral themes are a little bit country with a dash of contemporary flair
–Fifteen simple projects include wall hangings, framed appliqués, lap quilts, assorted pillows, a table topper, and a bed quilt
–Easy fusible appliqué makes for quick work on both cotton and wool projects

{book it} Best Books in Fiber Crafts

Library Journal just released their year-end reviews, including the Best of 2011: Fiber Crafts. Among them were a few of our favorites, too– Scrap Therapy: Cut the Scraps! (Taunton Press), The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible (St. Martin’s/Griffin) and Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery (Arsenal Pulp).

The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible by Wendy Gardiner and Lorna Knight
“‘Get to know your sewing machine’ books are a dime a dozen, but few provide the extensive coverage of sewing machine accessories needed by both beginning and experienced sewers. Gardiner and Knight describe the wide variety of sewing machine feet in detail, and photos of each foot allow for easy identification: excellent” (Library Journal 8/11)

Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery by Leanne Prain and Jeff Christenson
“Prain’s examination of the world of alternative, free form embroidery is both inspiring and educational. Part art book, part guide, it will appeal to crafters who are looking for something beyond the stamped patterns available in big-box craft stores.” (Library Journal 10/15/11)

Scrap Therapy by Joan Ford
“Ford’s system, designed to help quilters organize (and use) every last usable bit of fabric, is a godsend for thrifty quilters who cannot seem to throw away scraps. Her book is a fun blend of advice, techniques, and attractive scrap-quilt projects, suitable for quilters of all skill levels.” (Library Journal 5/1/11)

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Library Journal also recommends:
*Charts Made Simple: Understanding Knitting Charts Visually by JC Briar (Glass Iris)
*The Knitter’s Book of Socks: The Yarn Lover’s Ultimate Guide to Creating Socks That Fit Well, Feel Great and Last a Lifetime by Clara Parkes (Potter Craft)
*Extreme Double-Knitting: New Adventures in Reversible Colorwork by Alasdair Post-Quinn (Cooperative)
*Lacemaking: A Step-by-Step Guide by Jan Tregidgo (Crowood)

New Free Pattern from Need’l Love

Need’l Love just released a new free pattern to help shops host a “Halloween in July” party.

Here’s what Need’l Love’s Renee Nanneman shared about the pattern

Our “Haunted Jacks” free-to-use quilt pattern will help get the party started!  The design uses my vintage Jack-O-Lantern fabric and other “spooky” prints from “Spellbound,” mixed with black prints from your inventory.  This quilt is fun and is the perfect beginner quilt project for those young moms with limited time to sew, or for the grandmother wanting to “treat” their grandchildren.

Download the pattern right here.

Need’l Love also has released another Halloween pattern, Happy Jacks, available for $4.50 (wholesale).

In addition, Andover recently posted a video of Renee’s Schoolhouse at Spring International Quilt Market.