Topiary Table Topper Tutorial

Hi Everyone!
I am so excited to start this year off at the Blend Fabrics blog with a free project tutorial I designed featuring my Topiary Fabric Collection - a Topiary Table Topper.

When Blend asked me to think about what projects I would like to feature using Topiary...
I wanted to make sure I created something evocative of a garden... A Dresden-style garden gate design was top of my list...



...complete with quilted grass and yo-yo flowers (although I did include a circle shape template for all you non-yo-yo enthusiasts).



I used some of my favorite prints from the collection - the wrought-iron garden furniture, the beautiful espalier & orchard vines and (of course) the fabulous topiary patterns.

The project is not very big - only 25" in diameter and you can download a printable copy of the instructions (templates and all)  HERE.

Make sure you save your scraps because I have some fun new patterns planned for this line...  Here are some sneak peeks...

You will see more details about these upcoming patterns on my blog in the next few weeks as well as information of what Topiary SKU's I'll be using for my new version of the Sundance Sampler available through BERNINA dealers.

Topiary is available now - check out where you can get yours at www.blendfabrics.com

Enjoy your Topiary Table Topper! 

Happy Sewing!

Amanda Murphy

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Blend Artist Ana Davis Debuts New Patterns & Prints

Blend Fabrics artist Ana Davis has already had a busy 2014! She's premiering 11 new patterns for apparel and home décor, is set to release her new Clementine fabric collection this month and just welcomed a beautiful baby boy.

The Ana Davis Designs pattern collection just made its debut on The Fat Quarter Shop, and contains everything from aprons to adorable pillows. Click here to see them all!

“I have always loved to sew and design clothing. As a small child, rather than playing with my dolls, I inevitably ended up sewing and knitting them clothing.  Now I am happy to say my excitement about sewing and designing apparel and crafts has an updated, and more useful, application,” Ana said, “And using my own fabric collections to design the sewing patterns is an incomparable inspiration. If my childhood self had only known how lucky I would be!”

Ana’s new fabric collection, Clementine, is also set to arrive this month.  The line features fresh-picked fruit scattered about a colorful orchard of pretty paisleys and blossoms. Orange, green, citron and sky blue hues adorn pots, pans and silverware for a unique charm from farm to table. This delightful collection is ideal for culinary accessories such as dish towels, aprons, pot holders and more.

New Ana Davis Designs patterns for this collection are coming soon, too! Stay tuned.

Cheers!

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Spooktacular Style Part 2

 Double double toil and trouble!  This week we've got a double dose of festive children's fashion for you from our Spooktacular Collection by Maude Asbury.

These delightful dress patterns were created by our friend Lawren Galloway of O So Snooty (who you will be seeing more from very soon!), and are being modeled by Saylor (left) and Lily Grace (right).

          

We don't know what's more adorable, the dresses or the models!

To find the Spooktacular Collection and many more go to www.blendfabrics.com to find a store near you.  And, as always, don't forget to like us on Facebook and post all your Blend Fabrics project photos.

Cheers!

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Spooktacular Style Part 1

Our friend Lawren Galloway of O So Snooty created three darling children's dresses using the six frightfully festive novelty prints in our Spooktaulcar Collection by Maude Asbury.  This holiday-chic dress highlights the Scaredy Cat and Distressed Dot patterns from the line, with a Pumpkintopia waistband and Gone Batty Ruffles.

As if it's not adorable enough from the front, check out the back...

We love how the pumpkin fabric comes together in a giant bow against the subtle orange dots.  It's a Hallows' Eve ensemble that's to "die" for!

The photos were taken at the Pirate's House in Historic Savannah, Georgia (how apropos!) by Golden Exposure, and the dress pattern is an O So Snooty original.

We'll preview Lawren's other two Spooktacular dresses here on the blog next week, but in the meantime be sure to check out her Etsy site!

www.ososnooty.etsy.com.

To find the collections used here and many more go to www.blendfabrics.com to find a store near you.

And, as always, don't forget to like us on Facebook and post all your Blend Fabrics project photos!

Happy haunting!  Cheers!

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Blend Fabrics & Baby Bibs

Hi Everyone~
I wanted to share a great tutorial with you featuring Blend Fabrics...
Our friend, Amy Friend from During Quiet Time blog recently joined the Therm O Web design team & her first order of business was a tutorial on "how to make laminate baby bibs" using their iron on vinyl. Lucky for us Amy thought of our fabrics and featured two of our collections in her bibs...
Bugs by Jone Hallmark and Timber & Leaf by Sarah Watts - Both collections are perfect choices for not only these fabulous bibs, but for so many other projects that you may have in mind!!  Check them out!!

You can find the tutorial on these Laminate Bibs the Thermo O Web blog and don't forget to check out the During Quiet Time blog and see many other fabulous projects and tutorials by Amy!

To find the collections used here and many others go to www.blendfabrics.com to find a store near you.

And don't forget to like us on Facebook and post all your bib pictures (and any other projects) using Blend Fabrics.  Cheers!

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Handcrafts & Handmade Projects with Tilly

Blend artist Charlotte Lyons is our collector.  She keeps coasters, trinkets, old fabric and then she weaves a fabric story that instantly transports you.  The Tilly collection is no exception.  From the Posy Gingham fabric that looks like it cam right off an antique kitchen table to the Tilly Alphabet which looks so much like the buttons and zigzag stitches and squares are added to the fabric instead of being part of the fabric.

And finished projects using Tilly are instant handmade keepsakes.  Blogger Amy Friend from During Quiet Time played with the fabric and created a charming pincushion and bag.  What could be more fun than storing you handcrafting supplies in a bag that looks like it was handcrafted!

            

And here are beautiful creations form Charlotte Lyons!!

     

                              

To celebrate handcrafts and handmade projects, the Anna Griffin blog http://www.annagriffin.com/content/annas-blog is giving away a fat quarter bundle of Tilly.  To qualify post a comment to this blog by 9:00 p.m. EST, Dec.12 and share your fondest crafting memory.  Bonus points for cross-stitching and handcrafts!!  

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Quilt Market Fall 2012 - Take 2

As promised - Quilt Market Fall 2012 - Take 2...

So many fabulous projects and so many fabulous people to thank.  Where to start....

How about pillows...  I need to first thank Darcy from www.moderncozy.com (who also happens to be based right here in Atlanta) for making all the solid fabric pillows (and drawstring bags - which I will get to a little further down)... She is an absolute life-saver!!
The top pillow, the Cathedral Window below was made by Tiffany with our Bella collection - You can find more of these fabulous pillows as well as much more on Tiffany's Etsy shop - warmnfuzzies.
                                  
The next 2 pillows - the zig-zag pattern with from Blomma and the fan pattern made with Anna Griffin's Chinoiserie collection were done by Amy from www.duringquiettime.blogspot.com
  

Next up... Bags!!  We had so many & are so happy with how they are turned.  Huge thank yous go to all the fabulous designers who created them for us, our fabrics and for our booth!

Mother & daughter dynamic duo Clara & Jennie from Clover & Violet created the bags for us above using their 3 of their fabulous patterns.  From left to right... The Madeline Bag featuring Animal Parade, the Libby Bag featuring Bella and the Claire Bag featuring Global Bazaar.

When searching for the best projects to show-off our fabrics & make for market - Etsy is my best friend!!  I found some of the most talented people willing to help...  Kathi from Sisung-Callura Designs is one of them.  She has so many wonderful bags in her Etsy shop... You definitely need to check it out!!  Here are a few of her designs...  The duffel bag and tote (on the left ) featuring Bugs and the beach tote featuring Blomma.

Last, but certainly not least are 2 bags made from 2 wonderful people - The drawstring bag (which was 1 of 3 that she made) featuring Anna Griffin's Chinoiserie collection is done by Darcy from www.moderncozy.com.  The second pattern & bag was created by Lynn from the Handmaiden's Cottage (Lynn also did those fabulous Tea Party dresses for us) featuring Timber & Leaf.

            

And finally the softies... Everyone always loves the softies and who could blame them especially after seeing these...  

The plush foxes featuring Timber & Leaf were created and made by April from I Sew Lucky - Her Etsy shop carries fabulous plush animals & dolls as well as this same characters as book ends.

Hans, Greta, and Ruthie Bear not too mention the adorable fruit pin cushions (featuring Bugs, Hope Chest, Gabbie and Anna Griffin's Juliet collections) are all the fabulous creation of Kim from Retro-mama.   This is our second market featuring Kim and her softies...  She has been a great partner to us and I really look forward to working with her more in the future!!

The next 2 softies and their creator were a fabulous find for us.  Jill from the Etsy shop Love Jill contacted us about making a skirt & the next thing she knows she is making Piper & Sprouts (the giraffe & elephant & yes that was plural) and the bug softies (plus a fabulous snake that is not pictured).  You can find the Piper & Sprout patterns in her Etsy shop plus so much more...

Last and certainly not least were the ring stacker's.  Amy from the Etsy shop Pattern Play is another market veteran - last time she made us the wonderful ornaments from out Tinsel collection and this time not only did she design the ring stacker's, but some wonderful soft blocks.  The soft ring stacker's were a huge hit especially featuring 2 of our children's collections - Little Monkey (above) and Animal Parade (not pictured).

There were so many other wonderful projects & I could go on forever...  I do want to everyone again for all their help!!  If anyone is looking for a specific project from this blog or our other market post just drop us a line & we would be thrilled to get you in touch with the designer.  Cheers!!

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Quilt Market Fall 2012

Fall Quilt Market was this past October in Houston... Between Blend and Anna Griffin, we introduced 11 new collections with over 100 fabric options.  Seems like we spend months and months preparing and it is over like that!  Dozens of quilts and projects were designed and made and displayed in our booth and I wanted to share some pictures as well as the fabulous people who helped along the way...

Here is our booth!!  It looked beautiful with the ivory and white walls and carpet that really helped set-off all the collections.  We had 2 quilts for every collections (one is the free project that can be downloaded from our websites), 2 tables full of fabulous projects and 6 dress forms showing off some beautiful little girl's dresses.

       

          

What did I tell you... months and months of preparation!!  Now let's get back to those dresses...

People oohhh'ed and aahhh'ed over them - They were a huge hit and I need to give credit where credit is due...

     
These beautiful dresses were designed &/or made by some very talented ladies...

-Top left dress - Made by Amy (from a Simplicity Pattern) from During Quiet Time blog featuring Hope Chest from Josephine Kimberling.

-Middle Fairytale Handkerchief Dress - Pattern designed and dress made by Jen from Tie Dye Diva Patterns featuring Anna Griffin's Olivia collection.

-Top right Pillowcase Dress - Pattern designed and dress made by Melinda Little Lizard King featuring Anna Griffin's Chinoiserie collection.

     

2 more dresses...

Left Square Neck Dress - Pattern designed and dress made by Jen from Tie Dye Diva Patterns featuring Global Bazaar from Josephine Kimberling.

Right Tea Party Dress - Pattern designed and dress made by Lynn Jefferies from the Handmaiden's Cottage featuring Maude Asbury's Gabbie Collection.

    

And last, but certainly not least is the Ruffle Dress - Pattern designed and dress made by Melinda from Little Lizard King featuring Global Bazaar by Josephine Kimberling.

Get you patterns today at:
www.tiedyedivapatterns.com
www.littlelizardking.com
www.etsy.com/shop/handmaidenscottage

And check out all these collections (coming soon) and many more at:
www.blendfabrics.com
www.annagriffin.com

Oh - And Blend is now selling fabric by the yard!!!
Go to www.annagriffin.com - products - quilt fabrics and buy some today!!




Besides these fabulous dresses we had so many other wonderful projects to showcase our fabric... From bags to softies to pillows - a little something for everyone!!  Here is a sneak peek at the projects... Stay tuned for my next post and find where you can get yours...  Cheers!

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