www.FabricEssentials.com

 

Quilt Market Overview
 
We drove to St Louis and got there just in time for the FabShop 20th Anniversary dinner. Many of you participate in the monthly FabShop Hops
and this dinner was for all the stores who are members of FabShop.

On Thursday, we attend Schoolhouse. This is an all-day event with multiple sessions scheduled every 30 minutes. It was really hard to choose which ones to attend as they all looked good! That evening we attended Sample Spree, where we could look over new pre-cuts (jelly rolls and fat quarters mostly) from various vendors.

From Friday to Sunday, the vendor exhibits were open. It took us two whole days to cover the entire floor and on Sunday we went back and spent more time with selected vendors.

On Friday evening we attended a wine and cheese event at Delve/MIY in St Louis and caught up with Stephanie Brandenburg and Melissa Marie Collins - two of our favorite Frond designers. Here's Melissa pictured at left. 

 
Scroll Down to See the Trends We Saw at Market... 
        
I'll write again in a few days and show you more great concepts and a few new Block of the Months we have scheduled!

Marsha Doyenne 
 

Trend #1 - Backgrounds - Scrappy

This Quilt Was a Knockout!

We were walking around Sample Spree and saw this quilt and it literally stopped us in our tracks! Our horizons were expanded by seeing the variety of contrast in the background fabrics used in this quilt. Over the next few days we saw more of the same idea.

This pattern uses a special Leaf Template set for 10" and 5" petals. We have the patterns and templates arriving in a few weeks and you can order yours now. This is a great Stash/Scrap Buster pattern!
Scrap Petal Garden

  
 

See the Scrap Petal Garden & Nested Templates Here.
 



Trend #2 - Backgrounds - Graphic Elements

We saw a LOT of quilts that used a variety of elements - including text - on white, cream and gray all mixed up. Imagine the Scrap Petal Quilt above using this set of lighter backgrounds and bright petals! Here are a few examples of fabrics we have in stock that fit the look:  

 		    
 		  
 
     
    
 See our Black & White Collection! 
  

We attended a Schoolhouse session with Natalie Barnes, a pattern and fabric designer with Windham fabrics. Here are two of Natalie's patterns that illustrate the scrappy background concept. Click on the patterns to see a larger image and notice how "everything goes together"!



Morning Star, Evening Star


Trend #3 - Backgrounds - Focal Fabrics

I wish this picture wasn't blurry, but it will give you the idea. In the past we thought of the focal fabrics being used in the blocks and the blenders and textures used in the background. Here's just the reverse!
 
 

Trend #4 - Plus Signs Everywhere!

It seems there is no end to the Plus Signs in quilts! Here are two examples. We have patterns coming in soon.
 
 
 
 

Mystery Quilt Update
       
Spread the word! Tell your friends and fellow quilt guild members about our Mystery Quilt! We still have spaces available in a few of the colorways, so if you haven't already signed up, it's not too late!

Please check your email. We have now invited each of you to join our Secret Facebook Mystery Quilt Group. If you don't see an invitation, please check your spam folder or contact us at [email protected]. 
    


For all of you patiently waiting on your Sapphire Colorway, here's an update: We have been waiting on three fabrics. The background fabric came in and we cut that. The second holdup is a bright blue required in Clue #1 and Clue #2. We know this has shipped, but it's not here yet. We have started cutting Clue #3 and Clue #4 and if this gets done before the fabric for the first two gets here, we will start you all on Clue #3 and Clue #4. There is nothing in these clues that is dependent upon the first two. If you are doing multiple Mystery Quilts, we have sent out the other ones so you can get started on those.


See Prior Newsletters!

 Thank You!

Thank You for Being Our Customer!
We really appreciate all of you and your support for our store in Concordia, KS as well as our online store. 
    
Marsha Doyenne & the Staff of Fabric Essentials! 
Joyce, Marlene, Danny, Majean, Tina, Marlene and Kahlie 


  
Monday to Friday - 10am - 6pm   
Saturday - Noon - 5pm
  
Marsha Doyenne
Fabric Essentials
114 West 6th Street
Concordia, KS 66901 USA
+1-785-243-4044
[email protected]
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