a content life

Yoshiko Jinzenji Fabrics are here!

I'm so excited to announce that Yoshiko Jinzenji's fabrics have arrived at Marmalade Fabrics!

The above print is Yoshiko's signature print on white and below is the same print on a perfect medium grey. Both are 100% cotton.

This next print has to be my favorite - small splashes of color on white. The print is minimal and yet very interesting.

Next is the same print on her beautiful medium grey.

Wait! I think this is my favorite. Can I have two favorites?

Or Three? I love this print, too! All the above prints are 100% cotton.

 

Last, but not least is this beautiful cotton/linen blend (45% cotton/55% linen). The color is not grey, but a dark taupe or warm brown.

Please let me know if you have any questions about these fabulous new prints.

More Kona Cotton Solids

I just added 3 new colors in the shop this morning.

          Regatta                          Coffee                          Surf

If you're keeping count, that's 143 Kona colors in stock!

Now for the really fun news . . . I'm guest blogging today at Stitched in Color. Check out my post as I preview 3 new lines coming to Marmalade Fabrics very soon!

Iron Quilter in Kansas City!

Or "How We Made Four Quilts in Five Hours"

This post has been copied with permission from the KCMQG bog written by Shea Henderson, current President of KCMQG.

One of the best things about The Modern Quilt Guild is the fact that there are so many chapters around the globe. Reading about the events online through their guild blogs is great not only for their members, but also for guilds in other areas looking for new ideas. Chicago's MQG hosted an "Iron Quilter" event this past March and once Jacquie told us about it in May, we were hooked.

It was an absolute blast! We made four quilts from start to finish... in five short hours! Here is how ours worked:

• The event was held on a Sunday from 12-5 at a local Bernina store, where one of our officers works.
• Members signed up to take part.
• They were instructed to only bring a rotary cutter, a one gallon bag of scraps (any color), some scissors and a killer quilting attitude.
• The guild supplied batting scraps (really, I should say that member Angela Walters provided batting scraps!), thread, scrap buckets from Jacquie's stash, and a Secret Ingredient fabric (a 3/4 yard cut of one of three Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush prints).

We randomly divided the 12 participants up into four teams of three. They had no idea about the team assignments or secret ingredient colors ahead of time. You know... to make them full of even more anxiety!

The finished quilts had to be at least 18" x 24", the top had to incorporate the secret ingredient and the quilt they created should reflect the MQG (in their eyes).

It didn't take long before the room was full of women working and planning and tossing fabric around!

Tammy made the official first cut of fabric!

Sewing without snacks? No way!

There was fast and furious piecing on the two sewing machines per team.

Some very clever members used the batting scraps to craft their own design wall.

And somewhere along the line, Jaime broke out a bottle of wine...that we quickly polished off.

And ever so carefully (though quickly!), the blocks started coming together.

With about an hour left until the deadline, most of the groups were assembling tops and backings.

And quilting! Jessica did some insanely fast quilting. We're talking 12 minutes, folks!

With the clock inching toward the 5pm deadline, teams were working feverishly to finish their bindings. Four different methods were used! The team above utilized every member: Robin sewing the binding to the back, Tammy supplying the pins and Claudia folding the binding to the front and pinning it down so that Robin could keep right on sewing and tack the binding in place on the front. Phew!

Jaime, our Bernina hostess, was fresh off a Denyse Schmidt workshop and used some of her free time to piece the tiniest of scraps together.

At 4:57 and 4:59, the first two teams finished!

The other two teams weren't too far behind!

It was a great way to spend a rainy day and we overheard people saying how much fun they'd had. We are so glad Chicago tried it and blogged about it and can't wait to see which MQG group will try their own Iron Quilter!

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All of us had so much fun at this event. It's good to have a challenge once in a while that really pushes what you think you can do. I never knew I could run a machine so fast. In fact, if I did everything as fast as I did Sunday, I would no doubt have 1 or 2 quilts done each week!

I may not be that fast every day, but I do enjoy the process of quilting at my own pace - even if that pace is extremely slow.

Here's hoping you're enjoying whatever it is your're doing today!

My shelves runneth over!

I nearly forgot to announce the arrival of new Michael Miller prints (although some of these are part of my new DUOS) at Marmalade Fabrics.

 

   
From the new Citron & Grey Collection by Michael Miller Fabrics

  

  
From Patty Miller's new Grand Bazaar collection by Michael Miller Fabrics

  
From the Botanika Collection by Paula Prass for Michael Miller Fabrics

      
New dots from Michael Miller's Ta Dot Collection

Five more Kona Cotton Solids

   
New Moda Crossweave shades too!

I'm working on new Kona bundles that you're going to love. More details coming soon.

Have a wonderful day!

Google confirms no malware - Marmalade is back!

I just got the news regarding the malware warnings at Marmalade Fabrics "Google has not detected any malware on this site." The review is complete and the store has passed. I'm now approved by Google and I hope things can get back to normal. 

Click here to get to Marmalade Fabrics!  (http://www.marmaladefabrics.com/index.php)

Thanks for all the encouragement you sent my way! You guys are the best!

I cut off my Pollyanna pigtails

I really try hard to be a positive person. No one likes a complainer, but really how much can one girl take? 

Yep, I cut off my Pollyanna pigtails. Today, things are not so great. Here's the scoop regarding Marmalade Fabrics.

Google doesn't know me anymore. I've been put on their naughty list. It's just like they never knew me and are suddenly very suspicious of the site.

It's like the electricity was turned off and when it flips back on, none of the appliances work!

I hope you'll bare with me on this little detour - bumpy, rocky, uphill detour!

Can I blame menopause?

I checked out the symptoms but I didn't see anything in any of the lists that indicated stupid behavior as a symptom. At least the good news is that I haven't started that season of life quite yet.

That means I'll have to use the blond excuse. Here's what caused Marmalade Fabrics to completely disappear for nearly 6 hours . . .

Have you ever gotten any of those pesky renewal emails from unused recipe clubs or unread magazine subscriptions? Well, I got a notice a few weeks back and I decided I could cancel the subscription and never miss the service. I'm quite embarrassed, actually extremely embarrassed to say the renewal notice was from the company that hosts my store's website. (I hear the laughter from here)

I just assumed that my website developers took care of those sort of things. Oh was that a dumb move! I totally forgot I set up the hosting on my own long before I hired the firm.

So, around 10:00 am this morning, Marmalade Fabrics disappeared into thin air. You can only imagine my horror when I couldn't find it anywhere! The shock took over completley when my website developers asked me if I had renewed the hosting agreement. What? I needed that?

Thankfully, several gracious and knowledgeable and patient and wonderful people (only one laughed that I could hear on the conference call) took pity on me and restored my sweet shop back to the internet . . . via a host site (yes, I do need that). If it's not up when you read this, it should be very soon.

Here's the lesson. If you don't know what a renewal notice is for, just ask. One simple question could save you a great deal of time, effort and grief.

I'm taking the evening off. I'm beat!

MarmaladeFabrics down a bit longer

It seems it's going to take a little bit longer to fix my "blonde moment" that caused this mess!

I'll explain when everything settles.

 

Store is down for a bit

I'm having technical issues at Marmalade Fabrics. It may take 2 hours for my store to return online.

I hope you will come and visit a little later today.

Count me in!

A couple of weeks ago, Katie of Swim, Bike, Quilt contacted me to see if I would be interested in sponsoring the annual charity quilt drive called 100 Quilts for Kids in conjunction with the DC Modern Quilt Guild. Would I? Absolutely!

Here's what it's all about:
Make a baby or toddler sized quilt -- finish a WIP, try a new pattern, find a use for extra blocks from virtual bees, or start and finish a new quilt.

Donate your quilt(s) to an organization in your community -- consider donating your quilt(s) to a local foster care program, domestic violence center, homeless shelter, children’s hospital, or local military family support organization, or to an organization such as Project Linus or Margaret’s Hope Chest.

Donate your quilt(s) from September 15-October 14, 2011:  Let Katie know you donated your quilt (and where you donated it) by sharing a link to a blog post or picture on flickr at one of two linky parties. (You can also email Katie (swimbikequilt@gmail.com) a picture of the finished quilt and she will link up for you). 
Link-Up #1: September 28-30 here at Swim, Bike, Quilt
Link-Up #2 October 12-14 ! here at Swim, Bike, Quilt

Oh did I mention there are giveaways? To encourage a few more people to make and donate a quilt or two (each quilt you make & donate will get you an additional entry to win one of the prizes) many shops, designers and sewing enthusiasts have donated great gifts. You can view the growing list of sponsors and prizes here.

I'm so happy to be a part of this initiative --  Marmalade Fabrics is a proud sponsor of 100 Quilts for Kids!

Catching up

Just when I thought I was finally getting in a routine after school started, the first nasty cold of the season hit me and hit me hard. Friday through Sunday was spent in bed with cough drops and hot tea. Oh and I had such plans for this weekend. Oh well, at least I'm well rested. I'm much better now and I want to share a few things with you.

First, I just have to tell you about the most recent Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild meeting. It was Jaquie Gering's last meeting with us before she moves to Chicago. Oh, I can't tell you how much I will miss her, everyone will. She has taught us all so much and been an inspiration in so many ways. She's my quilting hero! It was Jaquie's blog that really inspired me to try improv quilting and now when I look back, it was that simple exercise that set me on a path that would change my entire life. I owe so much to Jaquie!

Last month, all of us in the guild decided to put together a really quick inprov quilt in her favorite color combo - orange and grey - and present it to her before she left.

 
I think it's amazing! Each block is signed with personal farewell wishes from the KCMQG members. There wasn't a dry eye in the room when Jaquie accepted her quilt. What a sweet moment it was and Jaquie wore the quilt as a cape the rest of the evening.

If you have a chance, check out your local Modern Quilt Guild or any quilting guild for that matter. Sharing your quilting experience is so rewarding. It's a highlight of the month for me and who knows, it could change your life!

Next is this . . .

On Saturday, October 1st, 2011, the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild is hosting a unique outdoor art installation featuring over 200 quilts made by members of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild. A special display will be devoted to the Robert Kauffman "No Prints Allowed" challenge that the Guild participated in earlier this year.

Working in partnership with UMKC Women's Center, UMKC Campus Facilities and Her Art Project, the event is being held in conjunction with UMKC Women's Center's 40th Anniversary Celebration and UMKC's Homecoming festivities.

Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: UMKC Quad Area, 52nd & Rockhill Road

Founded in January 2010, the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild has grown to over 100 active members who focus on creating functional quilts with a modern aesthetic. Modern quilting is a relatively new movement, but traditional quilters and those new to the art of quilting have quickly embraced it. Bold colors, solid fabrics, use of negative space, non-traditional layouts and improvisational piecing characterize modern quilting. Modern quilters enjoy putting a twist on the traditional.  (copied with permission from kcmodernquiltguild.blogspot.com)

I will have 2 quilts in the show! This will be my first time exhibiting any of my quilts and I'm so excited. If you're in the area and want to learn more about what Modern Quilting looks like, stop by and check it out. It's sure to be a fun time with all the additional UMKC activities planned for that day. (Pray for dry weather as the exhibit will be cancelled if it rains.)

Here's wishing you a healthy happy week!

Kaffe's Serape Stripes are here!

Back in the spring I got a peek of one of the quilts featured in Kaffe Fassett's new book, Quilts in Sweden. I fell in love with the Serape Stripes he used from his spring 2010 collection.

   
           Pastel                               Green                               Red

I plan to add more Kaffe Fasset Serape colors as well as his new Spots due out this fall. I doubt I could stock too many stripes and spots!

NOTE:
I'm anxiously waiting for Yoshiko Jinzenji's newest line of fabric to arrive. I'll post as soon as it does!

Zigzagged winners & Juicy Blossoms are here!

You guys are great! Thanks for following my blog. I wish I could send free patterns to all of you - all over the world! So, instead of one random winner I selected two!

  
#16 is Shari and #6 is Julie. Send me your info ladies and I'll get the fabulous Zigzagged pattern right out to you.

Wait! There's more!

Juicy Blossoms by Simon+Kabuki has arrived!

 
 


Five prints are in stock now. The rest of the line is scheduled to arrive later this month or in October.

The colors are vivid and bright. If you like orange and grey, you'll love these!

I hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend! I got a little quilting done and I'm hoping to have something to show for it soon.

Zigzagged

Oh, I'm so excited to show you Shea's new Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio pattern -  Zigzagged!

See the quilt on the front of the pattern? I got a sneak peak of it a few weeks back and it is absolutely divine! Moda Cross Weaves give the quilt such a rich beautiful sheen and texture. Really yummy!

All the fabric came from Marmalade Fabrics and I even recommended the backing which is one of my favorite Loulouthi prints, Buoyancy in Butterberry. I can't wait to make one of my very own!

You'll find kits to make the cover quilt in the shop for all 4 sizes listed in the pattern. You can choose kits for the quilt top only or with the backing and binding too.

Now, to see even more samples of this new pattern, head over to Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio!

Once you've done that, come back and leave a comment. Tell me which of Shea's Zigzagged quilts you like best. Choose one of the following: Lap-size Shot Cotton quilt, Crib-size Art Gallery quilt, Lap-size quilter's linen quilt, Full-size Sherbet Pips quilt or the Twin-size Cross Weaves quilt.

I'll take comments through Monday and draw a random winner on Tuesday. What will you win? A new Zigzagged pattern of course!

Have fun!