Morning Glory Designs - On the Vine 70

It's a New Year and a new Block of the Month

Hi and welcome to my newsletter for 2017.

I know I am late, late, late in getting this out. It has been a month filled with family for a change, and I have savored every moment of time away from my business and enjoying my grand kids. But I am now back to work on all things quilty, including my new Block of the Month.

Morning Glory Designs Has a New Website

If you haven't already heard, I have a new website. The URL is the same: morningglorydesigns.com, but the look is VERY different, and I hope much easier to navigate. Eventually my mailing list will switch over from Mad Mimi to my new site, but for now I am still here and will be staying for a few more months while I finish building the newsletter module into my site. If you would take a look and let me know what you like and don't like about it I would be really excited! And to thank you for doing that, take 20% off anything you purchase! Type in MGD20% in the coupon code box and it will take the discount at the checkout for your whole purchase.

Fair Isles Winter

If you subscribe to my blog posts you will have already seen this. But for those of you who don't, here it is. Fair Isles Winter is my next free block of the Month. As in the past there will be a block release each month for free for 30 days. Since the January block was posted so late I a leaving it up for the month of February as well. It is a 12" block in a setting with alternating "crossing blocks" which act as sashing. Here is the setting:

Now in reality it won't look like this. Well, yours could if you really wanted it to, but there will be 12 different blocks in the 12 block spaces. I just put a pared-down version of Block 1 in there so you get a feel for the setting. Here is Block 1: Chevron Hearts

Block and Quilt Size:

All the blocks will be 12" pieced blocks, and will feature foundation piecing for all or most of each block. Each block will also have a wee bit of applique, like the hearts and circles, which are provided with instructions for using fusible web. The finished size of this quilt is 88" x 88". That will nicely fit a queen size bed. Want it bigger? Add wider borders! There are 3 plain borders around the outside which are perfect for customizing your final quilt size.

Yardage

As you can imagine I am still working on this design, and working out the details for each block -- which will remain a mystery until posted. Whooo Hooooo! But I have calculated basic ball-park yardage and here it is to get your started. 
* 8-9 yards of white prints or batiks for the background 
* 2 yards of dark blues 
* 2 yards of medium blues 
* 2 yards of light blues 
* 2 yards of a beige of ivory print or batik

Remember that is is approximate yardage. I will provide detailed yardage requirements in each block. I suggest you use your stash, if you have enough blues and whites. If you need to shop this list will be very close to what you will actually need. Or better yet. . . . why not buy a kit?

Kits

And yes, kits for each block will be available again from Peggy at ConnectTheBlocks.com. Check my block for a signup link February 1. Peggy will be using a beautiful quality white on white for the background, and lovely batiks for the various blues. The kits will include one crossing block and one unique featured block. A finishing kit with borders and binding will be sent at the end.

This BOM will run 14 months instead of 12 because there are just so darn many blocks, plus it keeps the monthly kit cost down. Postage rates have risen but she has still managed to keep the monthly cost at $29 which includes fabric for two blocks each month, shipping and the finishing kit! Way to go Peggy!!!

Bonus Blocks

And as in the past I am offering a second free block only to my intrepid subscribers! You are a special group of friends and colleagues, and I value your loyalty, creativity, and friendship over the years. That kind of thing needs to be valued and rewarded, and this is my way of saying "Thank You"!!!

The free Bonus Blocks will be applique! Oh yea, and they are really scary! Bwahahaha!! You can always omit some of the parts if you choose, and they will look just as good. For instance, here is Bonus Block 1. It is so scary I didn't even give it a name!

But if that looks just too daunting for you, why not try the scaled down version, which omits all that crazy white stuff in the middle of the block. Or you could really dumb it down by removing all but the center and the corner flowers. See, not so scary anymore!

The Quilt Pattern Magazine

I have another Block of the Month being published this month also. It is a darling ABC baby quilt starting in January and going to July which will be published by TQPM.




The magazine is published monthly and each issues has 10 or more patterns, articles, tutorials, and how-to's. Their subscription cost is $16.00 per year, cheaper than any print magazine. I hope you will join me in supporting this great quilt publication by renewing your subscription or subscribing (if you are new to TQPM).

New Fabric Line and Pattern from Northcott

Being a Kansas girl has some advantages. OK, not that many, but here is one! I was approached by Northcott fabrics to design a pattern that features their new (coming this spring) Pony Express fabric line, developed in conjunction with the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, MO. I was thrilled to come up with something worthy of this great bit of western history and this fabulous fabric collection. My husband grew up near St. Joe, MO and I have been to the museum a few times, because that is where the quilt guild in St. Joe meets!! WOW I have done programs for them the last two years so I really was honored to be able to do this project.

OK, so here is a sneak peak of the quilt design which will be in stores this spring which carry the fabric. And you can bet the stores in the 8 states through which the Pony express ran will for sure be carrying it. The panel is a digitally printed reproduction of the map which hangs in the museum and is just gorgeous!

The quilt above features a block named for each state the Pony Express crossed. The top row (from L to R) is Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and the second row is Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and California.


The lower quilt is just a framed map panel. If you are a western history buff you will want to get this pattern. Ask for it this spring at your local quilt shop.

OH, and by the way, SHHHHH, this is not out yet so keep it under your hat.

January Pattern Sale

January Pattern Sale

Red Carnations

Regularly priced $12.00

December only $6.00

A wonderful project to get rid of the winter doldrums. This beauty is all done with fusible web and goes together fast because there is no piecing! What a great idea for a winter project to brighten your world no matter where you live.