Pom-Pom Throw

I’ve some real exciting news about a new substrate at Art Gallery Fabrics—FLANNEL! And it’s not just any flannel, it’s AGF flannel so you know it’s going to be the best on the market, made with the highest standards. Art Gallery Fabrics flannel is 100% cotton, 43’’ - 44’’-wide, and DOUBLE BRUSHED, meaning it’s super soft on both sides and ideal to get you warm in the colder months. Also OEKO-TEX certified, so you can rest assured that it’s created without compromising the planet.

For the AGF Flannel debut, my Kismet Fleuron Haven print was chosen as one of the introductory fabrics. The colors of this print on flannel are as brilliant and crisp as they are on the quilting cotton substrate.

Pom-Pom Throw

As part of the upcoming AGF Flannel Look Book I made a new free project! This Pom-Pom Throw has all the yummy tactile goodness of super-soft flannel and extra large pom-poms! Best thing is it’s reversible! I used Fleuron print and Pink Clay solid flannels for my throw.

Download the free pattern from my Free Projects page!

This is the perfect beginner project and the throw is tied with the pom-poms so no quilting even required. I added Hobbs Tuscany 100% Cotton batting between the layers but it’s not even necessary to do that and there’s no binding either.

You can make your own pom-poms with a fork as your pom-pom tool and it’s something you can even get the kids involved making. The free pattern comes with instructions but I’ve a fun video tutorial on my @sharonhollanddesigns Instagram Reels that shows you just how easy it is to make your own.

Be watching for the AGF Flannel Look Book release and be prepared to be inspired with all sorts of flannel sewing ideas! I need to make myself some flannel Fleuron P.J.’s!

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Not Going to Market, Prep

Not Going to Market, Prep

Yes, you read that right. I've a new fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics (available this month) and is part of the AGF Spring Quilt Market lineup but I won't be attending the spring show in Portland for many reasons. 

Signature is my sixth fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics. I'm very excited about this collection, especially since my last collection, Bountiful was over a year ago. It's really fun to be sewing with a new collection and this year spring came early with the arrival of my strike offs--it was like receiving a bouquet of flowers!

Visit my Fabrics page to see a list of online shops stocking this collection. I will be adding to this list as more shops get it in later this month. 

This joyful collection has put the natural world into patterns of budding florals, butterflies, and forest animals--all in my signature hand-drawn style. Blooming prints emerge in a riot of springtime colors of robin’s egg blue, cool teal, sunny yellow, radiant fuchsia, and dappled-shade green.

Free quilt pattern for Signature fabrics designed by Sharon Holland. Visit Art Gallery Fabrics for more details and download.

With each new fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics comes a new free quilt pattern. I've designed Sunflower for my new Signature fabrics and it will be available for download once the fabrics are available later this month. 

AGF has many Pure Elements solids, denims, and blenders that coordinate beautifully with this collection. 

Product mock-ups with Signature fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics 

I love how Art Gallery Fabrics shows you how the prints look in virtual products from clothing to home decor. Once the collection is available they will also publish the most amazing Look Book for this collection!

Signature fabrics by Sharon Holland for Art Gallery Fabrics

Instead of going to Quilt Market and promoting my collection for a weekend, I will be showing you even more exciting ways to use these prints right here from home. I've recently remodeled my sewing room/guest room to be a functioning sewing room/photography studio. If you've been following along on Instagram you will have seen the trials and triumphs of my remodel. 

Over the next several weeks I intend to create "booths" in my new space that will surpass what could be accomplished at Market with limited wall space, furniture rentals, and time and logistic handicaps. From here I can resource my great props, set up larger and more detailed vignettes and show you more. 

Here's a peek at some of the things I've been working on....

With Mother's Day next weekend, I remade my Art Roll-Up pattern in my Signature fabric. Using A Rose is a Rose Forever and Lacey Star Dust prints together with AGF Smooth Denim in Frosted Sage. This sewing project is a quick and thoughtful item for not only moms but grads, and hostess gifts as well. 

The Art Roll-Up is a free pattern found on my Free Pattern page. This quick project can be used to hold makeup brushes, art brushes, knitting or crotchet needles, cutlery, etc. 

To be able to create booths here at home I need to make stuff! I've had an extremely busy spring with a new grand baby in April, the room remodel going longer than originally planned, yard work that happens every spring, and of course the Community Sampler running in the background. 

It's always nice to get that first project under your belt when you have a mile long list of things to make. I decided to start small and this lampshade recover was my first finished project!

Ta da! Recovered using the Flora and Fauna Hidden print in cotton, I love this modern toile print for my antique floor lamp! 

Those of you sewing along with Maureen Cracknell and I for the Community Sampler will recognize this block as the Cactus block. I loved this block so much that I've designed a new quilt around it. Once I've gotten it quilted, photographed, and posted, I will also have instructions on how to make one like mine. 

There's lots more to share with you (and make) but I wanted to take a moment and share this sneak peek post with you before I got any further along. My plan is to each week theme a booth and really give you a Look Book-style feel about this wonderful collection. 

Be sure to tell your local shops you'd like them to stock Signature from Art Gallery Fabrics and be watching in just a couple of weeks for it to be on the shelves and ready for your next project. 

Happy sewing,

Sharon

Paper Lanterns Table Runner

Paper Lanterns Table Runner

Paper Lanterns Table Runner by Sharon Holland

I had the greatest pleasure of sewing with Maureen Cracknell's new Soulful collection. Soulful is inspired by nature, handmade goods, and vintage finds celebrating the gentle spirit of makers. The sumptuous collection just released in May and is Maureen's newest fabric line for Art Gallery fabrics.  

As you remember, both Maureen and I attended Quilt Market last month and both had booths to show off projects made from our newest collections. I created a table runner for Maureen's booth and finally have the pattern written so you can make one as well! Find the the free download for my Paper Lanterns Table Runner on my Free Patterns page. 

I love table runners and have several different looks that I rotate throughout the year. This runner is a large size of 21" x 69". If you need one larger or smaller, simply make more or less of the blocks. If you make a runner exactly the size as the free pattern then you'll have 8 extra A shaped pieces leftover. These leftover pieces are intentional because the A shape is an A and an A reverse type of shape. Having an extra piece allows for you to play with where the prints go and the orientation of the shape in the block. 

After I had completed my runner I was playing with the leftover A shapes and found I could turn those into a cute pieced zip pouch!

I sewed the 8 leftover A and A reverse shapes together to make a rectangle. I used flannel behind the pieced rectangle and machine quilted 1/4" aways from the seams in all directions. You can you all or just some of the leftover pieces, depending upon how big you want your pouch.

Once the quilting was done I squared it all up and cut a lining to match the pieced exterior size. From there you will want to follow your favorite pattern for making zip pouches. I do not have a pattern for this but can point you to some blogs that have some nice tutorials:

The Sewing Chick

Jedi Craft Girl

Missouri Star Quilt Company

Be sure to watch for the upcoming Soulful Lookbook by Art Gallery Fabrics. The fantastic virtual magazines published by AGF for each fabric line is a feast for the eyes and loaded with sewing inspiration! You'll even see my Paper Lanterns table runner among the beautiful projects. 

Check out more of what Maureen is doing by stopping by her blog. 

A Time to Sew

September's here and a reminder that we only have four months left in 2016! Why not get a jump on some of your holiday and gift giving sewing with free patterns and a chance to win free fabric!?!

Did you know that Art Gallery Fabrics has dozens of free quilt and sewing patterns available on their site?!!? 

Find free AGF quilt patterns here from all the beautiful Art Gallery Fabrics fabric lines.

Find free AGF sewing patterns here.

Find free AGF tips and tutorials here.

Harbor Bag free pattern by AGF using Coastline fabrics

Transire free quilt pattern by AGF

Make and Mend sewing kit free pattern by AGF using Maker fabrics

Falling free pattern by Sharon Holland for AGF using Sketchbook fabrics

Ancient Lands pillows free pattern by AGF using Wanderer fabrics

This is just a tiny sampling of the fun patterns you'll find on the Art Gallery Fabrics web site. 

Now, to help you out with your sewing projects, my generous sponsor, the Fat Quarter Shop has a beautiful stash builder bundle to giveaway this month. The Ivory Color Fun bundle is made up of favorite AGF cream, ivory, and white prints that are essential staples in any stash. Two of my favorite Gossamer prints are part of this bundle!

TO ENTER:

Giveaway for the Ivory Color Fun bundle begins today, Tuesday, September 6th, 2016 and will end on Tuesday, September 13th, 2016 at 4 p.m. EDT. 

• Leave a comment on this blog post anytime between 9/6/16 and 4 p.m. EDT on 9/13/16 to be entered into drawing

The winner will be randomly drawn and notified via email so be sure to completely fill out the comment box entry form with a valid email address. The winner of the bundle will also be announced with a congratulatory reply to their comment entry after 4 p.m. EDT 9/13/16. If the winning name does not reply to email or comment reply within 24 hours I will select an alternate name.