Friday, March 30, 2018

Looking for Someone who Likes to Sew with Free Fabric!!! Desire to Inspire for April is Now Open!


Look at these fabulous 'Just Beachy' fabrics! All yours, all free! All you need to do is sew something with them! And send us pictures of your finished projects by the end of April. 

That's how easy it is if you are picked for our April Desire to Inspire Challenge. 

 So even if you have sent in your name before and have never been picked, this could be your month!  

Toss your name in the hat by sending an email to vanessa@jaftex.com.

If you want to sew with these 'Just Beachy' fabrics on your own, they are now arriving at your local quilt shops or your favorite online retailer!





March Desire to Inspire "Dogs and Suds" Cleans Up, thanks to Pat Gottshalk




We put out the call for a March Challenger in our Desire to Inspire feature with our "Dogs & Suds" collection by Shelly Comiskey of Simply Shelly Designs. We selected Pat Gottshalk who pushed aside all other projects on her quilting table and went to town this month on her "Dogs & Suds" effort.

Meet Pat Gottshalk, and be sure to comment below on her great effort for the March challenge! 












Hello. My name is Pat Gottshalk and I live in beautiful Bucks County, PA. I have loved fabric for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is playing with the cans of buttons at my grandmother’s house. I was surrounded by sewers growing up; my mother and both grandmothers, but I do not remember learning from them. I did the usual home ec classes in high school, after nursing school began garment sewing in the late 1970’s.

My interest in patchwork and quilting was peaked in the early 1980’s I attended the Goschenhoppen Historians Folk Festival in Green Lane, PA. The festival is a snap shot of life in the 18th and 19th centuries in southeastern Pennsylvania. During my first visit I was fortunate to meet Ellen Gehret and Nancy H. Roan and was introduced to their book, Just A Quilt or Juscht en Deppich, in Pennsylvania Dutch dialect. This softcover book with hand drawn pictures captured my heart and made me want to be a quilter. I am now an active member of the Goschenhoppen Historians and participate in the festival every August. I also volunteer with the on line textile collection which means I get to touch all the quilts in the collection!

In 1985, as a newlywed, I attended a class offered by the PA Extension Service. This was before the internet, you-tube, and rotary cutters. Mrs. Ginny Haist came to class with wonderful illustrations, sample step-outs, and a willingness to share her gift. Her preparation prior to class makes her one of the best teachers I have ever had. I was hooked and never looked back.

I was aware of the Henry Glass “Desire to Inspire” program and I follow various Jaftex social media sites, including Scott Fortunoff. I was interested in the colors of “Dogs & Suds” designed by Shelly Comiskey. I even had a random sketch done of something I thought would work. My timeline was tight. I received the fabric March 9th, had work and 9 vacation days planned prior to the deadline of March 31st. The amount of fabric I received was a generous 5 yards which meant I needed to up my game and use the gift I was given. I plan to donate the pillows and quilt to a local animal rescue for fundraising.

Below is a summary of the projects pictured.

1.      The nesting Scottie dog pillow is from a doodle in my sketch book (quadrille copy book). I love how FDR’s dog Fala inspired patchwork, tea towels, and fashion. The pillow case, with zipper is 23”square. I wish I had bordered the outer dog but the patch was already big.


2.      The second pillow, same dimensions, utilized the wonderful stripe fabric from the collection. Lots of dogs all lined up, reminded me of the Sunday comics. Both pillows are backed with striped denim from a second-hand store. I am trying to learn free motion quilting and both pillows were done on my Brother using Aurifil thread and a Schmetz microtex 12. I still need lots of practice.









3.      The small fabric boat of basket is from a Lazy Girl pattern I had in my stash. The buttons were also stash along with the fusible products I used.























4.      The quilt, approximately 40” x 45”, is dog house condos. I worked in an organized improvisational method, yes I winged it. I wanted to use the head shots of the dogs. I played with a disappearing 9 patch but the heads were upside down so the tall doghouse idea just happened. 










I quilted this on my Brother using a Teflon foot and Aurifil thread. The rick rack was added for interest but I wish I had used more. The bias binding is scrappy and I rounded the corners to save a bit of time. It is a common short cut for me but only 
works with bias binding.













5.      The felt board is a work in progress. I see it used as a small child’s version of paper dolls. I made a felt envelope around a piece of cardboard and then cut out dog bones, balls, and a dog bowl.






Thanks to Vanessa, Jaftex and Henry Glass for the opportunity to play with the Dogs & Suds Collection.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Let's Get Quilting - Bungle Jungle Bundle by designer Dana Brooks




Here is a perfect jungle theme with a gender neutral palette. Beige, orange, green and aqua. This can be a wonderful modern nursery in the making with this bundle. This collection is shipping into quilt shops now! So you can get your own Bungle Jungle now! Take a look at these prints! 






Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Let's Get Quilting - Berries and Blossoms




This week's "Let's Get Quilting" giveaway is Berries and Blossoms,  a favorite collection for fans of Janet Rae Nesbitt of One Sister Designs. Rich red berries and tones of vanilla cream mix and match to create a soft and sophisticated palette. This collection’s prints have a sweet essence, as warm and inviting as a berry cobbler on a cool spring day.You will be drawn in for hours of quilting pleasure. The designs in the collection are textural layered tones colored in different hues and values that seem to float across the fabric. 
The winner this week will also receive a bundle of Linen Closet Basics to go along with the Berries & Blossoms bundle. 






Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Let's Get Quilting - Just Beachy Bundle Giveaway




Dreaming of the beach? Oh yeah! Forget about the snow, and comment below to win some views of the beach in this fun fabric collection called "Just Beachy" by First Blush Studio. 

Here is a peek at the all the patterns in the collection. 



Monday, March 5, 2018

Let's Get Quilting - Plain and Simple by Color Principle


Take a trip to Middle America, where people are proud of their heritage and have great respect for their land. Farms across the agricultural wealth of the area celebrate their roots. These are proud, yet humble communities that gather together when trouble strikes and know how to appreciate when all is well. The pace is just a shade slower, but the experience is much richer. Color Principle presents “Plain and Simple” as a tribute to this simpler life. There are several unique pieces in the collection. If a big, bold banner style quilt is your cup of tea, enter to win this week's bundle. 




Thursday, March 1, 2018

Looking for the March Desire to Inspire Challenger - who loves Dogs and Suds?



Who loves dogs?? Here is a collection just for you! "Dogs and Suds" by Shelly Comiskey will be shipping to quilt shops during March, and you could get it first! 

Our Desire to Inspire Challenge is very simple. We send you fabric, and you have a whole month to make cute projects (that you get to keep). How cool is this? 

So this month is your chance to have some fun! Even if you have put your name in the hat before - it may be your lucky turn! 

Here is a link to the Dog and Suds Collection and the fabrics are also shown below:




1. Put your name in the hat by sending an email to vanessa@jaftex.com or comment on this blog post (please be sure we have an email address, if you do).

2. We pick a winner and send out fabric FedEx.

3. You sew cute projects in March, and send us your project pictures and a little bio about yourself by the end of the month.