Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Let's Get Quilting - A Toile Token of Thanks



What a great sewing weekend we had - snow up and down the east coast, and cooler weather everywhere! Finally. Winter! It's time now for this week's giveaway, and thank you so much for all of your comments last week. Take a look here and see what everyone says about the "Simple  Life".

It seems we all agree, that there is wisdom to be found in slowing down, returning to some values that seem to be forgotten. Time-crunches, technology (although we still love reading blogs), and electronics have moved in and captured our sewing time!! Not to mention our time with family, friends and just plain quiet. It's a goal that we should not lose focus on. It was very nice to read all the comments, and thank you EVERYONE for taking a moment to relish the thoughts of what a simpler life would look like. Simple life reigns!



This week's giveaway is from the Roswell Mill Collection in the "Reflections of the South" series by Mary Ellen Von Holt of Little Quilts. The drawings of the toile are based on actual rendering of a typical cotton mill in the South during the 1800's. The drawings of the toile are done so well that it shows the workings of a mill from the processing of the cotton to spinning the fibers into cotton we use in our quilt making today.


This week's giveaway is kind of a 'collectors' item', because it is a part of history now that won't be back this way again, just like the cotton mills that the collection is named after. Slowing down but not out, Mary Ellen from Little Quilts has a recent release called "Savannah Garden" that will ship into shops in August 2016.

Mary Ellen has closed the retail store, after seventeen years in the brick and mortar store; to spend more time with her family and 5 grandchildren, and now will have more time to design new collections for Henry Glass. She still has the website: www.littlequilts.com, where classic Little Quilts patterns and booklets are available for purchase online.  Partners Alice Berg and Sylvia Johnson have retired. 

For over 30 years, Mary Ellen , Alice and Sylvia, through their company Little Quilts, has been a mainstay in the quilting community, designing patterns and booklets for making small quilts that were not miniature in size. Mary Ellen, Alice and Sylvia have designed for Henry Glass and Co. for 20 years, and authored books for Martingale & Company...one of which "Little Quilts All Through the House" is now an e-book; but can also be ordered along with "Patriotic Little Quilts" on their website www.littlequilts.com. When Mary Ellen teaches and lectures, quilters continue to comment in person and on the website that...."they learned to quilt with the patterns by Little Quilts"; and loved the collections from Little Quilts for Henry Glass fabrics.

In the near future, Mary Ellen plans to spend more time developing her fabric collections for her "Reflections of the South" series with plenty of patterns and projects  in support.

To win this week's giveaway, (and since everyone's comments are so much fun), let's hear if you have a favorite fabric collection or pattern from Little Quilts, that you have enjoyed working with.

Let's hear it! And win this:



Let's Get Quilting - 2016 Edition 'Collector's Item' Giveaway

46 comments:

Janie said...

I have never heard of this line of quilts. I finally am going to try my hand at making a mini quilt. I will also look into little quilt patterns. Thanks so much for opening my eyes. I love the primitive look of them. Thank you for the giveaway.

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT GIVEAWAY!
USED THE SANTAS PATTERN FROM LITTLE QUILTS;IT IS SO CUTE+MAKES A NEAT GIFT-SIZE WALLHANGING!I SHOP ABOUT EQUAL ON-LINE+LOCALLY. msstitcher1214@gmail.com

mumbird3 said...

I am so sad that the Little Quilts store is closed - it was one of my favorite shops! All the quilts were adorable - they had the gift of being small and exquisite! All those ladies were so talented - I liked everything I saw there! Now I buy more online than from brick and mortar stores - not quite the same. I like to fondle my fabrics before I buy!! :)

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love the quilt kit that Mary Ellen has for sale. It is called Playing Dress Up. I plan on purchasing it at a later date. The reason is, my father had 12 other siblings and one them was my Aunt Amelia. She was a well renowned quilt maker. To make a long story short, my Dad passed away when I was 12 years old and my Aunt Amelia made me a quilt that looked just like the one that Ellen is selling. I still have the quilt after 48 years, and plan to pass it on to one of my children. The point being I would love to make this quilt for my first granddaughter, so she can have one just like Grandma's. I also just wanted to say Thank You for having this contest or I would never had found this quilt. Maybe Aunt Annie & Dad are still watching out for me. :)

Unknown said...

I love the Savannah Garden line especially the blue with cream flowers and birds. I love toile too. I think I still buy as much fabric in shops as I do online - unless I am searching for something in particular when I will track down an online source.
Pauline
perry94022 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anna brown said...

I liked the roswell mills fabric line..But her Savanna gardens line is very nice too....ty for the giveaway... happyness04431@yahoo.com

Sabrina said...

I have not worked with any of her fabrics or patterns, but now that I have heard of her I am eager to try them.

BrenWall61@gmail.com said...

I know that I have followed Little Quilts for years and have used patterns from their books, but I can never remember names of pattern. This new Toile is lovely being from the South and I buy toile whenever I find it.

Renea said...

I have many of the Little Quilts patterns. I am sure I also have some of the fabric hidden away in my stash. Thanks for the great giveaway.

Betty, BFF said...

I love the "Memories" pattern.

Betsy said...

I buy more patterns online and fabrics too

tac73 said...

My favorite pattern by Little quilts is Honeybees. I buy fabric online because there is no longer a nearby quilt shop.

Unknown said...

I can't think of a particular pattern, but I learned to quilt at Little Quolts last year, and I am so happy I got to know everyone there!

Denise said...

I have never worked with one of their patterns or fabric collections. I would love to so I hope I win!

Kathy E. said...

I haven't used this pattern, but I really like the Greetings pattern from Little Quilts. The idea of personalizing a banner or wall hanging using this pattern opens my mind to great ideas! I can't wait to start!

Anonymous said...

This is my first introduction to Little Quilts and I wish I'd know about it sooner. My favourite fabric collection has to be Roswell Mill. I love the drawings of days ago.
Yes, I am buying more fabric online now.
Thanks Linda.

sugar_lin2 at hotmail dot com

ledamewood said...

I lover her Flags pattern

Janette said...

As always, a rich, beautiful collection.

MoeWest said...

I like Little Quilts Memories pattern of signature blocks. I do buy most of my fabric from online shops. The selection is wider and I can watch for the sales. Thanks for the great giveaway!

Beth said...

I haven't made any of their patterns, but I love the "Flannel Folk" pattern.

I am buying a lot more of my patterns online. I still buy more fabric at shops, I think, although I look at it online in advance more often.

Cathie said...

I am no familiar with littlequilts.com, but I love the fabrics in the Roswell Mill collection.

GranChris said...

I like the kits in a cigar box. I live 15 miles from a grocery store and 30 miles from a fabric store so buying online is easy and convenient. Saves time.

Pamela said...

I really love the Women of the Bible pattern! Sorry to see Little Quilts close...

claire ross said...

I am loving the Flags pattern. I do a mix of on line shopping and visiting real stores. I do like to see the fabric I am purchasing in the flesh but am happy to buy patterns online.
Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

Millie Long said...

I'm not familiar with that fabric. However growing up we had curtains that we're so similar and they were red with a capital R. I hated them then,but I would love to have them now. ��

Susan L. said...

I love the Little Quilts All Through the House book! I've made several quilts from it. I do buy more fabric online. I find it easier to find the prints I'm looking for.

Emily C said...

I love Sentimental Stitches. I do buy some fabric online, but it depends on what I need. I shop online if it is a really good sale and I am just adding to my collection right now, for a future project. If I need something to go with a current project or to round out what I have to start a new project, then I always shop at my LQS as I can not color match online. I have tried and it does not work out. Some stores are better than others with true colors, but it is so very hard to tell, that I often end up with something that does not work the way I thought it would.

Karen said...

My favorite fabric line is batiks...love the vibrant colors.

Kathy G. said...

I wasn't familiar with Little Quilts but this Roswell Mill bundle is beautiful!
I tend to do my shopping online, more because my free time is limited, but I love to visit local fabric/quilt shops, too!

Miriam said...

My quilting journey began with a Little Flag kit as well as several Little Quilts books that I lost in a house fire. I made several quilts using their Sunbonnet Sue and Sam pattersa, and they remain my favorite of the many Sues and Sam's available.
I try to support my local quilt shop while supplementing with online purchases as needed.

Anonymous said...

I have not heard of Little Quilts until just now on your blog, so I don't have a favorite.

I definitely buy most of my fabric on line - less expensive and more convenient. Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I have always been partial to the Sunbonnet Sue pattern. My sister has a Sunbonnet Sue quilt that my granny quilted.

Debbie Rogowski said...

I found her two collections at the Henry Glass web page. I love Paisleys so my choice would be the Savanah Collection, I like the paisleys and the simple little floral prints, (not so much the toile type print) I could easily select the small flowers, the paisleys and the tone on tone wispy prints to make a beautiful quilt.
We don't have any local fabric shops so most of my purchases are done on line or at shows. I do try to stop in shops when I'm out and about in different towns to see some fabrics up close and personal :)
Of course patterns and books are bought the same way. Mostly when seeing a pattern someone has done or from a designer on line I will then find a book with those patterns or just the individual pattern. I'm on the hunt for tree skirts now (I've bought 3 patterns and haven't hit just the right one yet LOL) My other passion is to make quilts for other people.

Pamela said...

My favorite Little Quilts pattern is the scottie dog quilt from the Little Playmates pattern collection. I buy most of my fabrics and patterns online. Thanks for the fun!

Deb said...

My favorite general fabric collection is anything by Bonnie and camille. As far as Little Quilts, that's new to me, so I'm not familiar with their fabrics.

Cecilia said...

I like their Sunbonnet Sue red work stitchery pattern, I love hand work. I buy quite a bit of my fabric online when I know what I want, but if I'm not sure about the exact colors, I go to my LQS. I have just moved and am closer to a quilt store whereas before I was over an hour away, so I do shop locally more often than before. Thank you for the giveaway, this toile looks beautiful!

janice said...

I've heard of Little Quilts but I don't think I've used one of their patterns. I would love to win -the toile fabric is gorgeaous.

Kristy said...

For those having trouble searching, you can find Little Quilts on the Henry Glass website here, http://www.henryglassfabrics.com/designer/little-quilts/

I think the blue prints of Savannah Garden are beautiful! Thanks for the chance at this giveaway! And while I love visiting and purchasing from my local shops, with 6 kiddos, right now it is much easier to buy online! Thanks again!

Cecilia said...

I like the Red work Sunbonnet Sue pattern. This toile is beautiful, thank you for sharing.

Sheri Kunrath-Barnes said...

My favorite little quilt pattern is "Homestead". Although, I do buy fabric online. I really like being in the brick and mortar quilt stores so I feel the fabric and really see the colors. I also get a lot of inspiration for quilt stores that you just can't get online. I'm thankful that I have several awesome quilt stores near me.

Unknown said...

I have heard of Little Quilts, but not until they were closing! I have not used any of their lines of fabric or patterns. I love the history of the mills...read everything I can. This fabric would be wonderful to win.

I mostly shop online...but also love the stores I do get to visit.

Nancy said...

I love old fashioned prints, so this bundle would be it!
I buy everything online; I live in a small town

Rose Santuci-Sofranko said...

It's actually about equal between the two. Thanks and God bless! ILuvTheEucharist (at) aol.com

Amanda from Georgia said...

I am just learning and visited a few times. I enjoyed their candle mat pattern. I will use that for years to come!

Emmyquilts said...

I am currently finishing up a sampler block quilt with borders from the Roswell Mill fabric line. Little Quilts was my "home" quilt store and I will miss it greatly. I will be shopping more on line as I put to work the skills I learned from ladies during their "Saturday Sampler" classes.