Ending '19 With Some 99's

Do you like scrap quilts?

Do you LOVE scrap quilts? I know I do.  I make scrap quilts all the time. They are my favorite type of quilt.  You may have heard I was asked to be in Lissa Alexander's new book - Sisterhood of Scraps.

I was honored to be asked and I loved making the quilt

SCRAPS!!! As you can see, I raided my blue and cream scrap bins to make this.  You probably have bins of scraps too, but maybe you could use a little boost in the scrap department.  This is where the 99 fabric bundle can help.

I have cut 99 different Minick and Simpson fabrics and put them in a bundle for you.  While every 99 bundle is different - you can rely on getting mega red, white, and blue fabrics.

I cut a couple dozen 99 bundles at a time.  They will contain brand new Minick and Simpson fabrics (the ones in stock right now have a few pieces of Mackinac Island - just a few days before it ships to shops. These came from my personal stash). They will also contain some current fabrics (Northport and Crystal Lake) and some long, long, out of print doozies.  Once these out of print fabrics are gone - they are gone, never to return.

You will get a hefty bundle of 9" x 9" squares.

There will always be lots of reds, blues, creams, and tans......

And have you heard? There is a new Blockheads 3 starting soon.  These bundles could come in handy.

You can find the 99's HERE in our Etsy shop.  Happy New Year.

Laters,

Laurie

Catching Up

It's kind of embarrassing to see how long it was since I last posted.  Things are well here, and there is a bit to catch up on.

For the past several months, my evenings have usually been spent on hand quilting a whole cloth quilt. Hand piecers (and especially hand quilters) Unite!!  The hand quilting was a dream.  I used a cotton lawn on both the front and the back and a wool batting.  It is feather light.  The biggest challenge on this project was the marking.  I didn't mark every element - but just the BONES of it.  I measured and sectioned off the rows and marked the large wreath in the center and the cables.  Once those were quilted, I used hand made stencils to mark the leaves as I went.  There are some individual elements that I hand drew and the cross hatching was marked using masked tape.  Basically, I made it up as I went along.  Most of the elements are classic whole cloth quilting motifs - particularly from the British Isles.  Those antique whole cloth quilts from the UK that I love were the inspiration for this quilt.

Other elements were completely individual to me.  Because of the many hours spent quilting this summer watching Detroit Tiger games - I needed some comfort and solace.  Those were some difficult games to watch, but if you are a diehard fan - NOT watching isn't an option.  There are Detroit Tiger motifs stitched into this quilt: Olde English D's, baseballs, mitts, bats, and leaping tigers.

Here is the quilt drying on the dining room table.  There is more on the sides.  I tried to take photos outside of the entire quilt - but all I got is red glare, but you get the idea.  The wool batting, and the shiny cotton lawn fabric really makes the quilting pop.

In other news...... those worn sofa cushions got an upgrade. In an effort to use up and recycle, I only used quilt blocks in my "orphan block" basket. Those blocks left over from other projects.  And yes, they are machine quilted.  Speed was one reason, practicality was nother.  Gibby spends a lot of time on the sofa arranging the pillows.  I wanted these pillows Gibby proof.

See what I mean?

and lastly....... The Derby House Block of the Month is starting!!!!!!

 Today I sent out invoices to the people who signed up with me.  They were emailed to the account associated with their Etsy account.  If you were one of these...... check to see if you received it. Check your spam account too.  I have had a few emails shoot back to me as incorrect.  We'll get it all sorted in the next day or so - and Month 1 will be in the mail shortly.  The next couple of days will be cutting fabric.

Laters,

Laurie

Houston International Quilt Market - 2019

I'm packing my bags right after I post this.  It's always so fun to get to Quilt Market and see fabric and PEOPLE.  This is what I'm showing....... Mackinac Island.  It won't be long before it's in shops - January 2020.

Mackinac Island is one of my favorite places - and it's many people's favorite place.  It's just GRAND.

International Quilt Market in Houston is a trade show for all things quilty/fabric for shops the world over.  I hope to see you there - all you shop owners.  For all of you not there - these are the quilts I made with Mackinac Island

Derby House is a Block of the Month.  

Honor

Honor also fits all the criteria for a Quilt of Valor.  We are proud to be able to join in this worthy cause.

I hope to have more photos on Instagram starting tomorrow.  

Laters,

Laurie

Northport is HERE!

Northport fabric is in shops now - or in my case...... will be here on Friday.  I hope to spend all weekend cutting into it.

There will be a few kits of Leo to send out...... we have them here if you are interested.

Leo is actually quite easily pieced. The 4 pieced blocks are strip pieced and go together quite quickly.  The applique border is made with a bias maker for the vine and Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circle templates for the flowers.  All your edges are automatically turned under so the applique is quick too.

Per usual, I am one or two fabric collections ahead of you.  The Mackinac Island quilts ( Honor and the Derby House Block of the Month) will be back from Maggi this weekend and I'll be sewing on bindings.  And...... I'm starting to think about quilts after that........... My husband Bill is helping with some challenging drafting.  He is a retired cabinet maker and he still has a ruler, tape measure, and pencil within hands reach - at all times.

Laters,

Laurie

Taking RESERVATIONS for the Derby House Block of the Month

Starting today - we are taking RESERVATIONS for the Derby House Block of the Month

Derby House is a 10 month block of the month that will start in December of 2019 and run for 10 months until September 2020.

Derby House is made with Mackinac Island prints and Northport woven fabrics designed by Minick and Simpson for Moda fabrics. The BOM kit will make the 80" x 90" top and binding and have the complete instructions.  The quilt has 5 large applique blocks and easily pieced blocks.

The RESERVATION is HERE in our Etsy shop

Once you make your reservation (and leave your phone number in the "message to seller" part of the order) - You will be invoiced monthly through Square.  The invoice will be emailed to you can pay by credit card, debit card, or paypal. 

The monthly kits will be sent in a Priority Mail envelope - and shipping is included in your fee.

Thanks everyone

Laters,

Laurie

A Peak at Our New Collection - Mackinac Island

It's been too long, folks.  I'm sorry for being tardy.  Things have happened and I'll show you all the news.  

First of all, my pal Leigh Ann and I collaborated on making a purse.  I was admiring boro bags online and thought (with the help of Leigh Ann) we could make one.  We did!  Don't ask about a pattern - since we completely WINGED IT.  Like I said - I made the 2 panels and they are sewn to an oval bottom and Leigh Ann added the lining, pockets and hardware.  The bag construction part is all above my pay grade :)  I'm sure there are many bag patterns that could be adapted to this technique.

The outside panels were hand quilted by me (basically mini quilts) and then handed over to Leigh Ann to turn into a purse.  I used antique fabric scraps and Minick and Simpson scraps.

She does beautiful work and I'm over the moon with it.  It is my summer purse and I love it!

In other WHOO-HOO news..... our next fabric collection has started to be shown to shop owners.  I received some sample yardage to make ALL the quilts.  I am over the moon with this too. This group is called Mackinac Island.

 Here are the actual fabrics...........

 You will notice it is the usual Red, White, and Blue of Minick and Simpson with some added pink.  Do you like it as much as I do?

As for the quilts........ I have designed a quilt that fits all the requirements for a Quilt of Valor. I was so happy to participate in this project.  This will be a boxed kit offered through Moda Fabrics and it - and all the yardage will be in your favorite quilt shops in January 2020.

 Last, but not least is a new BOM.  This is Derby House.  Derby House has 5 applique blocks and the rest is easy piecing.  Yes, easy.  It looks complicated, but it isn't.  The piecing is all 4 patches, 9 patches, HST's, log cabin blocks, and such. Easy peasy.  Granted, it is a lot of piecing - but it's simple.  Once you get all the blocks made - they are then sewn together in 9 vertical rows.  SIMPLE.

This will be a 10 month Block Of The Month and I hope to start it in December/January.  There will be lots of warning for the sign ups.  I will be able to do a few here in my Etsy shop.  Many other shops will offer it also. 

Whew!  I think that's it for now.....

Laters,

Laurie

Charm Swap - Me and My Sister

Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister designed this great little quilt using Northport!  I love it!  Thanks, gals.

Make sure to head on over to their blog for the free download pattern


What other things are happening over here........... a small vacation is planned (very small - 3 days).  Beach towels and sunscreen has been obtained!

Oh....... just to get your attention....... A new Minick and Simpson Block Of The Month has been finalized!  I will post pictures next month and we will get the process going for subscriptions.  You can expect this quilt to start around the end of the year - so get your quilting schedules in order !

Laters,

Laurie

Charm Swap Day

Today is Charm Swap Day here at Minick and Simpson.  A while ago a few Moda Fabric designers swapped Charm Packs™ and made a mini quilt.  The challenge was to use fabric that is a bit different than we usually use - and add up to 1 1/2 yards to complete a quilt.  I used a Charm Pack™ from Sherri and Chelsi - a Walkabout charm.  Here is the quilt.....

You can get the pattern HERE

Remember to visit all the other Charm Swap quilts....

Kansas Troubles

Me and My Sister 

Sherri McConnell

Primitive Gatherings

Lella Boutique

Laters,

Laurie

4th of July Celebration

Hope you all have a great summer spectacular celebration.  We will be laying low as I travel the next day.  I'm going to celebrate by showing my gratitude.

This quilt is quilted now - by Maggi Honeyman.  I have offered this quilt for auction on my Instagram page. (if you cannot get there by the link - go to the instagram icon over on the left to get you there),  

If you want to bid on the quilt just comment and "@" the previous high bidder to let them know they have been outbid.

In celebration of this American holiday - ALL proceeds of this auction will go to 2 charities.  Our long time charity - Semper Fi - and The International Rescue Committee.  Semper Fi benefits wounded veterans and the International Rescue Committee helps family seeking safety. Both of these charities have the highest ratings from Charitynavigator.org.

The auction is open until noon on July 4th.  The winner will get an invoice from me and receipts from the charities for their records.   

The quilt...... it has been English paper pieced by me using Northport prints and wovens.  It is beautifully quilted by Maggi.

Thank you

Laters,

Laurie

Charm Swap

There has been a plan brewing between myself and 5 other Moda Designers.

We have some fun planned.  Every wednesday for the next 6 weeks.  What is it, you ask?  Well, we all swapped charm packs and made quilts using each others fabrics. 

Today, we start it off with Lynne at Kansas Troubles 

Here is her quilt and go to her website to get the free pattern.

Isn't it adorable?  

Here is the schedule for the blog hop.......

Here’s the Schedule …
June 26 ~ Kansas Troubles  http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/
July 3 ~ Sherri McConnell  https://www.aquiltinglife.com/   
July 10 ~ Laurie Simpson  http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
July 17 ~ Me and My Sister Designs  https://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com/blog/
July 24 ~ Primitive Gatherings  https://lisabongean.com/
July 31 ~ Lella Boutique  https://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/

Laters,

Laurie