What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

We know…spring weather is “thisclose” and we can’t wait!  And our upcoming collections prove that there’s fresh inspiration to be found everywhere, from traditional prints and palettes to silk neckties, from a tranquil garden to a coastal paradise, from an elegant manor to America’s Favorite Pastime  If you’re in need of a creative boost, check out what’s coming to quilt shops near you in the coming months:

Pam Buda, and all of us at Marcus, are thrilled to see the Circa 1880 Club in full swing in quilt shops across the country and beyond!  Pam just shared this photo from Karen, a friend Pam traded blocks with when creating her own Circa quilt.  Karen is one of the 70 Circa participants stitching at Pieceful Gatherings in Fox River Grove, IL:

An impressive sight!  Many of the shop’s members sent them in by mail for trading.

How is your club progressing?  Remember that your participating quilt shop can enter our video contest, to complete for the grand ...

Congratulations to Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison on the release of their latest book, Step Back in Time (Martingale).  Reproduction-fabric collectors and antique quilt lovers alike will love this the much-anticipated follow-up to Tributes and Treasures!  The Red Crinoline Quilts design duo presents an all-new, jaw-dropping collection of 13 of their vintage-inspiredquilt patterns. Each quilt design is paired with a fascinating historical account from the 1800s. More than 70 beautiful photos capture the style and sentiment of this unique era in American quilting history.

You’ll enjoy recreating their designs with your favorite Paula Barnes collections, including BALTIMORE HOUSE ...

Christmas lights

Merry Christmas everyone!

Here is a Christmas project I have been working on…. sort of last minute and will be finished for next Christmas!

I just fell in love with these Christmas light bulbs!

The pattern is by Burlap and Blossom Patterns. She specializes in pieced patterns… no paper piecing!!!

She has lots of cute Christmas blocks!!!

I used my trimmings to make these Sawtooth Stars. I will make those the center.

Then I will add a border… maybe Christmas trees or candy canes…. and then have a large border of these cute Christmas lights. I am sort ...

HOLIDAY 2019 – We officially welcomed Vicki McCarty to our designer family at Quilt Market in Houston, and her debut collection PATCHES OF JOY is already a hit!  It features her “Patch-It” panel (27″ x 44″) of classic Christmas motifs perfect for all types of embellishment, or used just as they are. The patchwork layout designed to be cut apart as well so you can create a variety of projects from just one panel, also plain or embellished. Vicki’s four coordinating creative strips are comprised of 5″ wide printed across the width. The collection was inspired by her popular Calico ...

…and if you’re attending, we look forward to seeing you in the Marcus Brothers/Studio 37 Fabrics Booth #1801! These are just a few of the featured collections you can see up close and personal:

And there’s more…

—SCHOOLHOUSE:  “CREATIVE BLOCK EXCHANGE with Pam Buda’s Circa 1880 Club”  Friday, Nov. 2,  Room 362F, 3:45-4:15pm

—NEW BOM and CLUB PROGRAMS from your favorite designers, including Pam Buda, Sheryl Johnson, Krisann Watkins, Nancy Rink and Sarah Maxwell.

—BOOK SIGNINGS with Sheryl Johnson (Sat, Nov 3 at 2pm) and Pam Buda (Sun, Nov 4 at 11am)

—CREATIVE ...

Annette Fecteau of Temecula, CA!!   Annette commented:  “I mainly make mini/doll size quilts that I incorporate into vignettes around the house. Haven’t used too many layer cakes, but using one to make that many projects is inspiring. Like the options.”

We’ll be shipping Annette’s copy of the book and Pam’s Prairie Basics & Shirtings precuts immediately after Quilt Market.

Thanks sew much to everyone who commented on our Pam Buda blog post!  You shared some great ideas for using Marcus Fabrics 10″ precuts, and of course, your love for Pam is stronger than ever!  Just wait ...

Yes, today is World Embroidery Day!

In 2011 a local group belonging to Broderiakademin, the Swedish Embroiderers’ Guild, took the initiative to plan and create a special day to celebrate embroidery. World Embroidery Day was born. It’s now celebrated yearly on July 30.

So we thought we’d celebrate with a sneak peek at some of the embroidery work in our office, both finished and in-progress:

A while back, Brandy added lush embroidery stitches over the floral motifs of Laura Berringer’s INDIGO INFLUENCE, all raw-edge appliqued onto a background of Laura’s hot pink COLOR INFLUENCE texture print ...

It seems FADE OUT is becoming the new favorite background of quilters everywhere! Designed by Laura Berringer for Studio 37 Fabrics, it’s a perfect mix of subtle patterning and contemporary neutral color.

Okan Arts has embraced the collection along with everyone else, and they’ve paired these prints with Aurifil threads to create a great giveaway!  Check out their blog post to enter now thru midnight Pacific Time on April 30, 2018.  Thanks to Okan Arts for partnering with us and Aurifil!

And if you love these, watch for the debut of FADE IN, also by Laura Berringer!

P ...

What makes a batik an “artisan batik”? Clearly, all batiks are created by talented artists around the world, whether or not we know their names.  With two beautiful designer batik collections in our current Studio 37 line, we asked our designers what it is that gives their creations that “artisan” touch, and uncovered some of their signature characteristics:

Victoria Findlay Wolfe describes her PARTS DEPT. BATIKS as having an artistic use of negative space in the designs.  “Graphic, fun rock-and-roll style prints…Edgy, yet they play well with others.  Classic dots and Crisp whites.” Her Star Storm pattern and kit ...

Thanks to everyone for your inspiring ideas about our AGED MUSLINS and NEW AGED MUSLINS.  If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to read thru everyone’s terrific ideas – including some we hadn’t even thought of!

Without further delay, the winner of our random drawing is Christina Northern, from the metro DC area.  We’re pleased to introduce this new palette to so many new fans, includung Christina, who commented:   “What an interesting idea. I have not seen this kind of thing before. But Aged Muslin sounds so interesting. Can’t wait to work with it and ...

TEN YEARS and still going strong!! In fact, ever since we introduced this novelty “not-so-solid” solid in 2007-08, they’ve just gotten better with time —

What separates our AGED MUSLIN from the look-alikes is a special dyeing technique that creates a faded, distressed, look.  The result is an inherent overall shading that gives the cloth gives its rich, suede-like appearance.   These qualities make our AGED MUSLINS an interesting complement for prints in pieced quilts, where a true solid would read too “flat”, and a texture print isn’t quite right either.

• The 100% cotton range began with a few neutrals ...

It all begins on April 6, and it features one gorgeous quilt made up in two gorgeous Studio 37 collections…

The quilt is called “Kaleidoscope”, shown in Nancy Rink’s SEA GLASS (Left) and Sarah Maxwell’s BRING ON THE BUBBLY.

In addition to their own renditions, they’ll share versions of quilts by a few of their quilt buddies in other fabrics as well.

Get the complete details on Nancy’s blog, grab your pattern, choose your fabric, and join in the fun for 8 weeks, starting on  April 6. And be sure to join the Facebook Group, too ...

While some of our staffers and designers are recovering from QuiltCon mania in Pasadena this past weekend, we thought we’d review three can’t-miss collections you’ll find in your favorite quilt shops now…plus, following the show, we’re still in Giveaway mode, so read on for details on how to enter and WIN a Studio 37 fabric bundle!

IMBUE – Kim Eichler-Messmer’s debut collection for Studio 37 is a beautiful blend of artisan batiks. You’ll love her color sense, whether you use them all together, or combine just a few of the colors in a project ...

We’re happy to have the newest member of the Studio 37 design team joining us at QuiltCon! Meet Kim Eichler-Messmer, whose debut collection of gorgeous artisan batiks, IMBUE is hitting quilt shops this month! 

FREE DEMO: Kim will share her techniques for reverse applique on Thursday from 2-4pm in our booth (911).  She’s also giving two lectures (at this time, they’re both still available, unlike her reverse applique workshop that’s already sold out!)  Her lectures include:

Fine Art to Functional Quilts – Thursday 2/22 10:30 – 11:15am.  Kim studied painting and printmaking in college (among ...

We’re thrilled to return this year as a sponsor and exhibitor at QuiltCon, the premiere event of the Modern Quilt Guild!  It takes place in Pasadena, CA from February 22-25, and we’re busy putting the finishing touches on the booth and some special events. We’ll again sponsor the award in the category of Modern Traditionalism, and we’re also the proud sponsor of the MQG Leadership Breakfast meeting for chapter leaders, so we’ll see you there, bright and early on Saturday ; )

During the show, you’ll find us in BOOTH 911, where you can pick up ...

A fresh year means a fresh start for our creative projects…check out just a few of the exciting things coming your way in the coming months from Marcus and Studio 37!

Sneak Peeks!  Watch for these collections online beginning February 1:

And get caught up with our most recent releases, online now: