Mondays with Marcus

Hello Everyone,

Today is the day to finally show you my Mondays with Marcus project called Double Dutch Treat.  As a designer for Marcus Fabrics, I was asked to create a design inspired by my trip back to New York to meet and spend time with the wonderful Marcus staff.

Prior to my trip, I read the book New York by Edward Rutherfurd. I learned that the colony of New Netherland was founded on the southern tip of Manhattan Island and was christened New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland in 1624.  Brooklyn, Harlem, and Wall Street (Waal Straat) are all names from the colonial Dutch.  Wall Street was originally built as a wall to protect New Amsterdam from pirates, and potential dangers to the colony. The Bowery (bouwerij) is also a Dutch word which means farm. I doubt there are too many farms in Manhattan now! The New Netherland colony was founded in a spirit of trade, and everyone was welcome. 

What do you think of when you think of Dutch, other than wooden shoes, and windmills…..tulips!  That is why I designed Double Dutch Treat. The double treat in this project is that you get to see the luscious Lanacot wools blending perfectly with my Heathstone cotton fabric line.  

We took the table topper out on a photoshoot to Cooper Winery in Plymouth, CA.  Mr. Joe loves this old truck, and we always thought it was a great place for a photoshoot.  This fake little steer was our California version of the Bull on Wall Street.  I'll have you know we were warned about rattlesnakes when we attempted to take this picture.  I'm still in recovery mode for my venomous bites, and I wasn't taking any chances, Mr. Joe had to put the table topper on the steer.

To download the free pattern, click HERE.  To print the pattern, go over to FILE on the upper left-hand side of the screen, scroll down to PRINT.

I'm also selling a limited number of kits in my Etsy shop HERE. I'm sorry I will not be able to ship the kits Internationally.   

Please let me know if would like to purchase the pattern only if you are unable to print it.

I want to thank the staff at Marcus for making me feel so welcomed.  My sister, Gail and I had so much fun in New York and we made memories to last a lifetime.

Soon,

Lynn

October Teaser

 Hello Everyone,

In between getting ready for my upcoming Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat at Snowflake Lodge, I'm working on my Mondays with Marcus project.  This pattern will be available for free download on Monday, October 16th.  YIKES, I'd better get busy and finish writing the pattern.

I LOVE working with wool.  The Lanacot wool from Marcus Fabrics is so soft and luxurious. I also love combining wool with a cotton project.  It gives the project so much depth.  Of course, I had to include a flange in my project and the little stripe is just perfect for it. 

The designers at Marcus Fabrics were asked to design a free project which center around our trip to New York.  You will be finding out how this project ties into my trip when I roll it out on the 16th.

Life is buzzing here under the pines at Sew'n Wild Oaks.  Thirty-five quilters will arrive this coming Sunday for the start of the retreat.  The tutorials are done, almost all of the handouts are printed. The kits and fabric bundles are all tied up with a ribbon and priced. Today is housecleaning day.  I wish I had time to decorate for Fall, but I don't think that is going to happen.  I'll be lucky to get the kitchen floor washed!

I've pretty much been sidelined for the last month with the venomous bites on my ankles.  They are getting better, but I'm not out of the woods just yet.  Healing has been an extremely slow process. I've finally come to terms with the fact that I will never be a swimsuit model.  That ship sailed when I was in 4th grade!  My right leg is looking pretty good, but the left leg is another story.  I still have the burning/searing nerve pain almost 24/7.  The medications dull the pain, but I'm always conscious of it. The medications also make me a little loopy and sleepy.  There are times during the day when I just need to sit and put my leg up.  When I have a long to-do list, sitting down for an hour is a big chunk out of my day.....so today I will fill that downtime with stitching on the wool applique, and stitch the pain away.

Soon,

Lynn

Mondays with Marcus

 Hello Everyone,

It's Monday so it must be Mondays with Marcus! Mary Ellen Robison and Paula Barnes are the creative duo at Red Crinoline Quilts.

They've chosen to honor the Survivor Tree at the 911 Memorial and Museum. On their recent visit to NYC, they had the opportunity to visit the 911 Memorial and when asked to design a quilt that was inspired by their trip, Paula chose the Survivor Tree. Witness trees are a large part of our history. They survive wars and terrorism and remain standing to honor the ones we lost. The link to this free pattern is located HERE on their website. This reminds me of the large Banyon tree in Lahaina which was a witness to the devastating fire.

When I'm not working on preparations for my September retreat, I'm working on my Mondays with Marcus project.  Here are two little teasers for you to see. My free pattern will be available on October 16th.

I'm using my Hearthstone fabric line.  If I get really busy, I'll put a limited number of kits together which will be available for purchase.

I'm teaching Bridle Path at the Purple Orchid Inn tomorrow sponsored by In Between Stitches.  If you are signed up for the class, please print out the tutorial located HERE.  The class includes lunch, and I will be covering the directions for most of the quilt, as time permits.

Just when I think the bites on my legs are getting better, I have a setback.  The dermatologist was not happy with the results of the culture on Tuesday.  Now I have to apply a stronger antibiotic cream.  Just touching my legs drive me up the wall.  The doctor's report said my wounds are 'exquisitely' tender.  I never equated the word exquisite with pain....until now.

Exquisitely yours,

Lynn    

Mondays with Marcus

 Hello Everyone,

Yesterday, Katie from Pieceful Gathering was the featured artist for the Mondays with Marcus program.

You can download a FREE copy for this pattern HERE.  You can buy a kit for the table runner HERE. You could display this table runner from many summer months.

All of the Marcus Designers who visited the offices in New York over the summer are participating in this weekly project.  The focus for this project was our trip to New York.  Gail and I had the pleasure of being in New York with Katie, and her mother Carrie, also a very talented designer for Marcus. Carrie will be featured soon.  What fun we had!  These girls are a hoot!

Thank you for all of your kind comments about the first chapter in my Pack Horse Librarian story.  In the back of my overflowing mind, I've always wondered what it would be like to write a book.  This is my first foray into this creative area.  The story writing occupies my brain just as much as beginning a new quilt design.  It can become all consuming.  Mr. Joe has added some of his ideas too, and our main character, Lexie, has come alive in his mind.  When we were driving down to the Bay Area for my follow-up appointment for my venomous bites, I had to take notes of his ideas.  This is definitely a collaboration.  

I'll keep you posted about my appointment with the dermatologist today.  I'm afraid this nasty spider or whatever bite me, caused a lot of tissue damage which will have to be surgically removed.  I'm no longer a hot mess...maybe only lukewarm. 

Soon,

Lynn

Monday with Marcus

 Hello Everyone,

I'm a bit behind the 8 ball since I didn't post about this online event which started last Monday.  I was very much occupied with all of the quilters at my Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat.

Every Monday from now through October, Marcus Fabrics designers will be offering you a free pattern!  The designer featured today is Sheryl Johnson from Temecula Quilt Company.  Click HERE and you will be directed to Sheryl's website where you can download the pattern for this adorable wall hanging.

The projects featured over the next few weeks were inspired by our trip to New York.  My date is October 16th, so mark your calendar when my free project will be available.  I've been trying to figure out how to design a quilt depicting Gail and me on the Brooklyn Bridge during a thunderstorm!  Don't worry, I came up with a much better idea.  

Over the weekend I've been pattern writing and testing out my design.  So far so good.

Soon,

Lynn