Deja Vu

This might look a little familiar--

Wild Child 2013

These are 2 of the 4 wallhangings that I am making.  I have 

re-engineered my pattern, Wild Child, created last year for the Quilt MN 2012 fabric!  The panels are nearly the same size, and oriented crosswise instead of upright, but it works!  

Wild Child 2012

So if you already have that pattern you are all set to go!  The other 2 new panels are hoping to get binding before Friday!  The clock is ticking!

Call 651-429-1039 to reserve your pattern!

Again, Top the Table!

Which Way?  Thata way!

This quick and easy tabletopper comes to us from an excellent Minnesota designer, transplanted from Iceland, Gudrun Erla of GE Designs.  I just learned that she is celebrating 10 years in business.

In true GE fashion, it is quilt-as-you-go, so work is saved by combining seaming with quilting.

All of the triangles are actually prairie points, so you get a little special dimension.

I try to give credit where credit is due, but I am not 100% sure of the maker of this sample.  I'm pretty sure it was Anne, and if that is wrong I will follow up with a correction.

And if you are looking for a slick way to make those prairie points look oh-so-fabulous, you need to get your hands on the Prairie Pointer tool, created by Susan Cleveland at Pieces Be With You, again another Minnesota designer.  For a quick explanation of the tool, take a look at my amazing youtube video, starring moi!

It's really kinda funny!

Only a couple days remaining before the 2013 MN Statewide Shop Hop begins on Friday.  Fingers are flying to get everything ready for our customers, and you won't be disappointed!  Everything I have featured here on the blog over the past several days will be displayed.  Many will be available in kit form.  Multiple bolts of the limited edition fabric will be stacked up to delight you!  Patterns, rulers, tools, etc., will be on hand or available to order.
And there will be treats, too!
Call 651-429-1039 for more info.

Patchabilities are in the Patch!

 It's time for some Patchabilities projects!  Our newest sample from Emily is Quilt Like Crazy.  It is pattern #148.  We have a whole bunch of Patchabilities samples on display, and we still get excited when we get a new one!  This has the added advantage of a pre-cut kit as an option if you want to skip the tracing, fabric selection, fusing and cutting.  All of the fabrics as shown are carefully selected and laser cut from the pattern shapes.  The lightweight fusible web is already applied to the wrong side of the designs.  All you have to do is sew up the border to the  background piece, lay out the cutouts and fuse them down.  Use a small buttonhole or blanket or zigzag stitch to hold them in place.  There are even coordinated buttons in the pattern to complete the design!

  

And to add to our "Up North Minnesota" decor, we have the 

Cabin in the North Woods, pattern #143.  This also has laser cut kits available, so finishing time has just been cut to a fraction of what it would normally be.  This might even be a gift that could be given on time!  You know what I'm talking about, right?!

Call us at 651-429-1039 to order your patterns and kits!

Top Your Table, Too

 We do love to have some fresh new table decor, and this one is a two-fer!  It is completely reversible, so just imagine using 2 different "themes" or "seasons" to make this project work double time. 

It is the Super Simple Table Topper from Cut Loose Press.  Just like yesterday's featured project, it is quilt-as-you-go.  It uses a Creative Grids 15 degree ruler to get the right size of wedges.  Debbie made this from our Shop Hop fabric and she said it was done before she knew it!

Call us at 651-429-1039 to order your pattern and ruler!

Top Your Table

Back on track with our preparations for Quilt MN 2013!  Are you ready for a fun and easy tablerunner?  Part of the fun is the quilt-as-you-go method from GE Designs.

The pattern is Slivers, and includes 2 sizes.  Anne made our sample in the smaller size.  We will be happy to hold a pattern if you give us a call at 651-429-1039!

Check back tomorrow for another tablerunner option!

Just a brief break from all this Shop Hop talk today--

because we are having a super sale!

This is the time of year that we pull out the stops and haul out the goodies for our wonderful customers.  We have a big table full of marked down patterns, books, notions--

And when I say marked down, we are not playing around.  Most of the patterns and some of the books are now $.99 -$1.50!  What a great chance to supplement your reading supply.

Hundreds of bolts have been culled from our shelves and marked down to $6/yard.  But on top of that, you can take an extra 25% off!  That brings these tables full of bolts down to $4.50/yard.  Many of the bolts have enough yardage to make borders and backings, so make an inventory at home of what you need and come on down!

All of our regularly priced fabric is also 25% off, including Christmas!!

Plus, as if that's not enough, all of our fat quarters (18" x 21") and Bear Cubs (12" x 10") are buy 2, get 1 free!  Our fat quarters are $3 each and Bear Cubs $1 each.  This is a huge opportunity to plan for those fall and winter projects, retreats, gifts, etc.

So get movin'!  

Sale hours today and tomorrow (7/26-27) are 9 am to 5 pm.

Bundle of Fun

I have been sharing plenty of creative ideas with you for using the Quilt MN fabrics.  But what if you want some of those fabrics for to use in a quilt pattern that you have secretly been hoarding for just the right opportunity?  We can help you with that!

Not only do we have plenty of bolts of yardage, but we have made it real easy by bundling up fat quarters for you.  There are 17 fabrics, not counting the panel prints.  So you can purchase a little tower of fun--

Or claim a nice Bear Patch zippered project bag with your fat quarters for just a little bit more.

Either way, you will go home with a great memento of the 

2013 MN Shop Hop!

Call to reserve your bundle of fun--651-429-1039.

Step Right Up!

This is a new sample quilt sewn by Laurel from the Quilt MN 2013 fabrics.  She used a pattern from The Sewing Revolution called the Brown and Aqua Step Quilt.  We changed it to just The Step Quilt.  Laurel made an earlier version of this for our Sew Creative event last winter, using 2 specialty rulers from Creative Grids.  She put on her creative thinking cap, and made the 5" printed squares just a little bigger with a narrow brown border, then they fit right into this design.  

Patterns, rulers and kits are available starting August 2.

 Call us now at 651-429-1039 to reserve yours!

Dinnertime Delight

Jeanne has used our Quilt MN fabric to make the perfect dinnertime accent.  The Easy Sew and Flip Placemat from Patterns By Annie is already a great sewing idea, but becomes even better when combined with Soft and Stable in place of the usual batting.  Soft and Stable is a thin, soft foam layered between lightweight fabric, and is like the "headliner" material used in the ceiling of your car.  Who knew?!

Jeanne put this together in no time at all, and finished of the quilt-as-you-go technique with straight-line crosshatching.  Use your walking foot and seam guide to make this look neat and professional.

Call 651-429-1039 to request and reserve your placemats!

A Little Rustic Appeal

The new shabby chic?  A throwback to an earlier time?  Whatever your fancy, these cute little outhouses must surely smell as sweet as a daisy!

Whether embroidered separately or in a group, this unique design comes from Mary Herrschleb (MH Designs).

These 2 individual houses are decorative accents to tea towels, and the perfect accessory for your powder room.  We have a good supply of tea towels in plaids and stripes of every color of the rainbow.

This little outhouse cluster stitches into a small wallhanging to spiff up the biffy, and uses the Quilt MN 2013 fabrics to complete the picture.

Call us at 651-429-1039 to request and reserve your own special edition outhouses and any of the supplies needed to make these adorable designs.

Ladies' Bags (Not Bag Ladies!)

Bags, purses, totes---

whatever you call them, we love to make them!

First on our list of Quilt MN 2013 bags is the Claire Handbag by Lazy Girl Designs, sewn for us by Linda.  An excellent addition to your personal bag collection!  Numerous pockets make it easy to stow your necessities, and the size is very accommodating (10 1/4" w x 9 1/4"h x 4"d).  The Lazy Girl patterns are fully illustrated with color photos with step-by-step instructions 

and tips galore.

Claire Handbag by Lazy Girl

Second in our lineup is the Tabitha Jane bag, one of our Rose Card patterns from Villa Rosa Designs.  Debbie stitched up this sample--this is one bag that is completely reversible, so I am showing you both personalities of one bag--

This easy-going shoulder bag will be extremely handy for your quilt shop hopping, roomy enough (16 1/2" tall x 18" wide) to hold some super fibrous goodies.  This bag is made from 4 fat quarters, so pick any of your favorite themes or choose from our extensive supply of fat quarters in addition to our Quilt MN fabrics.  One of the bonus points with this bag is that the pattern, like all of the Rose Card patterns, is only $2.25!  What's not to love?!

Call us at 651-429-1039 to request and reserve your bag patterns!

The Showy Lady Slipper

Our Minnesota state flower is the elusive Lady Slipper.  Not frequently seen in everyday gardens and roadsides, but occasionally spotted in protected spots and wild wetlands.  In fact, it is an imperiled and vulnerable plant in many states.  A member of the orchid family, it blooms only a short time in the spring.  But if you ever catch sight of a group of these in full bloom, it is a wondrous vision.  And you should count yourself among the lucky on that day!

This artistic rendition of our state flower has been created and stitched by Mary Herrschleb, the creative genius of MH Designs.  Well known for her excellent paper piecing patterns, Mary also loves some hand embroidery.  Her drawing has been transformed into a very life-like image, using an accent from crayons to add shading.  Very easy to learn, the basic embroidery stitches and coloring technique are well-explained in this pattern.  This new design of the Lady Slipper is gorgeous, and the pattern will be available exclusively at Bear Patch.  Plus, a limited number of kits for this pillow will be packaged.  

Call to request and reserve yours now!  651-429-1039

Cookin' Up Something Special!

We are smack dab in the middle of summer, so that means it's getting close to Quilt MN!  Starting August 2 and ending August 18, this is a statewide fabric fest to celebrate all things quilty.  I have enjoyed the opportunity each year to design a pattern or 2 that use the limited edition fabrics that are created especially for this event.  If you click on the link you can see them better than these 2 little pictures.  Even better, you can come into Bear Patch and see them live and in person!

 Below is an Electric Quilt rendition of one of the 2 quilt designs I am working on.  I have named it Wound Around because it kinda looks like it goes round and round if you follow the lines.

Wound Around by Emmaline Design for Quilt MN 2013

This quilt is on the longarm frame right now and perhaps could get finished tomorrow depending on interruptions.  You can see that the centers of the blocks use the 5" squares cut from the featured fabric. But this would make good use of any of those 5" squares you have collected, or any focus fabric with a motif close to that size that could be fussy cut.  If this looks like something you would be interested in making, please call to reserve your kit and/or pattern.  651-429-1039

Stay tuned for upcoming pictures of quilt #2 -- I think it might be named Slug Bug!

Pam

Patterns Picked For You

Some new patterns to highlight for you---

A Quilter's Dream has designed some inspiring quilts and bags.  Here are 5 new patterns in the store.  I am thinking about fabrics to choose for Wildflowers.  And do you see the cool thing about Box of Stars?  The star points are "floating" on the background square, so you don't have to worry about matching and chopping them off!  Genius!

 Madison Cottage Quilts has again released some quilt patterns that are sure to be favorites.  One of our teachers, Sue, has already used some of the Madison Cottage patterns for class and display samples, and people have loved them.  These new designs will likely be just as popular.

Watch for a Madison Cottage trunk show display later this year!

Pam

FEPP (Fans of English Paper Piecing)

We have just recently finished up with our Busy Fingers Hexie Club and I wanted to share some of the wonderful work and inspiration from our talented stitchers.  These samples were all done by hand using the English Paper Piecing technique.  In case you aren't familiar with this method, the simple explanation is that we used die-cut paper templates and basted fabric pieces to stitch up some fabulous blocks.  Probably the most commonly seen use is for the traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden block, which is the basis for the placemat shown below:

The hexagon pieces are all stitched together, then sewn down to the whole piece of background fabric. This example was then machine quilted with straight lines and edges bound.  Our long-distance club member, Jan, made a set of these.  Too good to spill on!

Our Busy Fingers Club used the same concept with variations in combining triangles, hexagons, half-hexagons, diamonds and parallelograms to make unique designs.

Here are some examples of the possibilities:

 One club member, Cindy, used the blocks she had made and put them together with applique flowers to make this --

 Alice (on the left) added fussy-cut borders to surround her blocks--

Don't limit your possibilities to the traditional reproduction fabrics.  Use some bright batiks and create a neat little stash bag!

 And next up on my list is learning to make these clamshells.  

So many possibilities, so little time!  But if you would like to learn more, or try more, or continue with an English Paper Piecing project you are working on, watch for a fall class listing that will be tailored to  fit your needs!  

Pam