Valerie Burton of Cookie’s Creations is the latest new designer at Quilters Warehouse.  I know your mouth is watering thinking about those cookies but we’re going to talk quilts first.   Valerie is multi-faceted so her patterns range from pincushions to full size quilts.  We’ll start small and work our way up…

Little pumpkin pincushions! Aren’t they CUTE?! And ’tis the season!

As the name, Pumpkin Patch Trio, suggests there are three sizes included in the pattern.  Too cute to just use in the sewing room.   Put a few of these on the table for fall.

Moving up a size… Flying Pinwheels – Baby Style

This quilt finishes 39″ X 54″ and is fun and easy to make.  It would make a great wall hanging for a baby’s room.  And what toddler wouldn’t want to snugglel under it while they finger the 3-D pinwheels.

Here’s another seasonal pattern. . . Countdown to Trick or Treat. You’ve heard of and Advent Calendar, right.  Same idea, just that it’s for Halloween.  If you hurry you can make it in time.  Or if you’re like me, start it now and it’ll be ready really early for next year. (Well, if I’m honest, maybe it’ll get finished at the last minute, next year, but I’ll start this year.)

Here’s a different quilt… Memories of Dad.  It’s a quilt made of bow-tie blocks, made with real neckties.  This could be a really special quilt.  Or if you have a bunch of wild neckties from the 70′s, a really funny quilt.

This next quilt was designed for a new fabric line from Moda called Basic Grey.  The fabrics are much more colorful than the name implies!  This quilt is called Urban Garden and includes 3-D pinwheels, applique and more.

I’m sure you’ve noticed all those pink hearts on the patterns… that’s because Valerie Burton is a breast cancer survivor (TWICE!) and she donates 10% of the profit from her patterns to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Now, for the cookies.  Valerie has two recipes for cookies on her website, Cookies Creations so bake some up and sit down in front of your computer with your cookies and milk (or coffee!) and browse all the quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse.  Then when you are recharged with all that sugar (and caffeine) you can hit the sewing room running.

We now have a full line of Boy Scout Fabric at QuiltersWarehouse. 

This Robert Kaufman fabric is also available with a tan background.  There are three tone on tone fabrics printed with the words that embody the Boy Scout values and principles.  There are three fabrics of different colors that have the Boy Scout symbol on them. And there’s one with lots of stars.

This fabric collection would be perfect for a lap quilt or a bed quilt for your Scout.  Or how about a bag for you for when you go to Scout meetings or activities. 

Joan Hawley of Lazy Girl Designs has just the pattern. . .  a Mini Miranda made of Boy Scout Fabrics.  She altered her Miranda Day Bag pattern specifically for this fabric.

Check out all the other fabric choices at Quilters Warehouse.  You can search and browse in so many ways.  If you like a particular fabric designer  you can browse all of their fabrics.  Or maybe you need a particular color or colors.   Take a look at all the fabric collection names and pick one that strikes you fancy and see what it is . . . there are so many to see.   Another option is the themes: Stars, Solids, Western, Abstract, Flowers, Landscape, just to name a few. There are dozens of themes from which to choose.  You could look at the Jelly Rolls that are available or at the Fabric Specials.  Be sure to check the “New Fabrics” and come back often to see what changes.  You will be sure to find the fabric you need for your next quilt pattern.  As you browse, when you find something you like, try the new “My Favorites” feature.  That way the ones you found will be right there waiting for you next time you shop.  Just be sure to leave time for quilting!

My Favorites has replaced the ineffective Wish List at QuiltersWarehouse.com. This improvement will allow shoppers to keep a list of items they like; want to look at again or plan to purchase during a future visit.

As a customer, simply add an item to your ‘My Favorites’ list anytime you are logged into your account. This list has no expiration and can be used to store quilting books, quilt patterns, notions and quilting fabrics. Then, the next time you visit QuiltersWarehouse, login and shop using these stored favorite items.

Suzanne Bruns, President of Prairieland Inc. said, “the wish list that was on our system was better suited to gift and specialty stores, not quilters or quilt shop owners who are customers.” “Our new ‘My Favorites’” will give our customers the ability to keep track of items they see and someday hope to purchase” she said.

In addition, Quilt Shops who re-order the same items over and over can store those items in the favorites. Then, with the click of a mouse, add them to their current cart without removing them from the favorites list.

“Every attempt has been made to convert current customers ‘Wish Lists’ into the new ‘My Favorites’ system by our IT staff.” Suzanne said. “Our apologies to any customer whose list didn’t all migrate properly.”

The new ‘My Favorites’ list for customers went live at QuiltersWarehouse.com on Tuesday, September 16, 2008.

Picnic time is almost over and we will be moving inside and baking and cooking more with the coming of fall.  Of course, we’ll be sewing more (and sometimes the cooking will wait!) so let’s make some aprons for all that work in the kitchen.

Virginia May Patterns by Susan Thorup began with the patterning of old aprons she has been collecting for years and emphasizes the vintage style. Here’s a few of her apron patterns…

Mother’s Feed Sack Apron is so pretty you could even use it to decorate your kitchen so make a couple of them. Use fabrics to match you kitchen decor and you’ll fit right in.

How about an apron for your little helper (or if you are really lucky, helpers).  Children’s Apron Selection has five aprons from which to choose.  They are easy to make; perhaps your little helper can even help you to make the apron – they’ll love it.

Are you wanting just one more BBQ before you give it up for winter?   This BBQ Apron is a simple pattern. You’ll be able to whip it up right quick.

And now for something completely different.  Isn’t this Hankie Quilt the cutest?!

Here’s one more selection from Virginia May Patterns.  Cathedral Window is a traditional quilt that is mostly hand sewn so this makes it a great take along quilt project.

 
Virginia May Patterns are written in a clear and easy to understand step-by-step format. Traditionally inspired quilts, aprons and home decor items as well as apparel will continue to show up in Susan Thorup’s collection of designs.

 Are you drawn to quilts with curves and circles but afraid of sewing curves?  Here’s a few patterns that give the illusion of curves and circles but are all made with straight seams.

Rings & Things by Carolyn Griffin of Far Flung Quilts, while not a pattern for a beginner, is made of only straight seams.  There are two sizes: full – 82″ X 82″ and queen – 82″ X 112″

Chain of Events another pattern of Far Flung Quilts is a dramatic quilt that is wall or lap size.  Cozy to snuggle under but what a statement on the wall! The curves are so pronounced it’s hard to believe that there are only straight seams in this quilt.  You will be combining two blocks, the “54 – 40 or Fight” and “Goose Chase” to creat this illusion.  If you use the Lazy Girl Designs Flying Geese Ruler you won’t need Math! and you won’t have to cut or sew any triangles!!  How easy can circles be?!?!

Baby Katchina by Barbara Engelking of 2 Much Fun is the perfect “circle” quilt to start with.  It measures 36″ square so it’s not a huge project but you will be paper pieceing Courthouse Steps, Curved Log Cabins (again, straight seams only!) and Lemoyne Stars.  If you’ve never paper pieced before, this is a great pattern with which to learn a new skill.  The designer promise tricks to make it easy as pie. 

If you like this quilt there is a lap-sized quilt, Katchina, which has a “curved” paper-piecing border… one quilt for the wall, one for the easy chair.  Then, circle around to Quilters Warehouse and check out all the quilt patterns.

Time to get sewing for autumn holidays.  The first to come will be Halloween.  No tricks – try these treats.  Yummmm!!  Sweets with NO calories!  Aren’t these Sweet Confections pincushions the cutest!  Use Halloween colors and arrange a few on a plate, add a spider or two and you have a wonderfully creative Halloween centerpiece.

The sweet treats are ready. Now to dress the table with Bats in the Belfry table runner and placemats.  This pattern by Sue Shipman of Friendship Designs is spooky enough as it is but you could add a few embroidered insects fot the bats to eat and really get the Halloween ewww factor!

Who doesn’t like making new friends?  Friends of Halloween would dress up a side table.  Make a few of the spiders and spread them around the candy bowl to add some spookiness to the treats.

Have you made any of the patterns from the “Straddling Series?”  If you haven’t, the Straddling Witch is one to try.  All the quilts in this series are the same size.  The quilts have pieced background and applique figures.  The straddling figures are all assembled in the same manner.  You’ll feel like you are working with an old friend when you make more than one.  There are over a dozen from witch – oops! – from which to choose. And if you fall in love with these cute characters there are a few notepads available each featuring a different straddling figure.

Well, after all that you are finally ready for the trick-or-treaters.  You could make a wallhanging to hang on your door to let them know you are welcoming them.   Welcome Halloween has all the requirements: a full moon, a bat, a ghost and a pumpkin!

There are many more Halloween patterns available, so do some browsing at Quilters Warehouse.   There you will find quilt patterns for any whim, need or desire.