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Quilt Block Mania-World’s Fair- Complimentary Block Pattern for June and other news

World's Fair Block

Quilt Block Mania is going international for the month of June and there are so many cool blocks for you to be able to make something special on a global scale. Our complimentary block of the month for Quilt Block Mania, during the month of June, World’s Fair, can get your quilting creativity going to make some beautiful projects.

 

In June, we are offering 20% off two digital download patterns that we designed for Timeless Treasures Fabric. They are Celebrity Squares and There’s a Bear in My Watermelon Patch 2. These quilts are great for summer nights and perhaps a picnic or two. The link to these patterns is here: downloadable-patterns/

CS Cover
CS Cover

 

There's a Bear 2 Quilt cover
There’s a Bear 2 Quilt cover

 

Testers and Checkers wanted!

Blue Bear is looking for some additional quilt pattern testers and checkers. Testers and checkers receive a preliminary pattern before it is released. Testers actually make the quilt out of their stash and let the designer know if there were any issues with the pattern. Checkers also receive a preliminary copy of a new pattern before it is released. They review the pattern for any errors or things that may be confusing. Both are volunteer activities. An email is sent out telling you about the upcoming pattern and you can then let us know that you are interested in participating. Testers and checkers receive a digital download version of the final pattern; get photos of their work shared on Blue Bear’s social media; receive a 20% off coupon for digital download items in our web store and occasionally other goodies like fabric. If you are interested in participating in our tester/ checker program, please send me an email at reed@bluebearquilts.com 

 

 

Collaboration with Redfin.

 

Before we get to the block this month, we wanted to tell you about a collaboration we recently participated in with the real estate brokerage firm, Redfin. Have you ever wanted to create a quilting studio in your home?

Quilting 1
Quilting 1

For every quilt maker, having a dedicated space in your home to sew can foster creativity and provide uninterrupted concentration. While having a large space comes in handy, any small area in your home which can accommodate fabric storage, machinery, craft tables, and working space is all you need.

If you are looking to create a quilting room in your home, here are some great tips for you. Redfin reached out to quite a few quilting experts, including myself, to get our best tips on creating the ultimate quilting room. Click here to see what we had to say.

 

We are published again.

 

Check out who’s on the cover of McCall’s Quilting magazine for the July/ August 2021 issue. This is our Boom! quilt, so aptly named as it looks like a large exploding firework. We also had our quilt, Camp Camden, featured in Quiltmaker magazine for the July/ August 2021 issue. This quilt was named after a grand nephew.These issues should be on newsstands now.

 

Boom! cover
Boom! cover
Boom! spread
Boom! spread
Boom layout
Boom layout
Camp Camden
Camp Camden
Camp Camden spread
Camp Camden spread
Quiltmaker
Quiltmaker

Quilt Block Mania has 19 talented quilt designers creating blocks for this month’s theme- International. There were no theme colors this month.

We used the fabric from our first fabric line with QT Fabrics called Coco Chic to design this block.

This is the World’s Fair block. It doesn’t get more international than that. I went to the World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN in 1982. It was such an awesome experience. I wish they still had world fairs today.

World's Fair Block
World’s Fair Block

This block features what appear to be 4 lanterns, in light purple, yellow, orange, and dark purple, encircled by squares on a dotted white background.  This is a modern looking traditional block and is representative of the modern exhibits one might see at a world fair.

 

 

Here is a photo of the World’s Fair block that has been sewn with fabrics from our very first fabric line with QT Fabrics, which is called Coco Chic. The fabrics were derived from authentic 1920’s fabrics from the QT Fabric’s archieves. This fabric line is currently available in shops that sell QT Fabrics. If your local shop doesn’t have it, or is running low, please ask them to order it for you.

World's Fair block
World’s Fair block

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You could turn this block into a pillow. Here it is shown with a 2″ finished black border. Our Wonky Hearts pillow pattern shows you how to turn a 12″ finished block into a pillow cover like the one that is shown here. This pillow is shown as an example of how you could turn this block into a gift or decoration for your home.

World's Fair Pillow
World’s Fair Pillow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World's Fair Table Runner
World’s Fair Table Runner

The World’s Fair block makes an awesome table runner. Wouldn’t this be a nice additional to your table if you were having guests over for a meal of international flair?

 

This block also makes a beautiful quilt when you combine 16 blocks and add a 1″ finished black border. The quilt appears to create an optical illusion of the blocks moving as your eyes dance all over the quilt.

World's Fair Quilt
World’s Fair Quilt

 

 

If you are new to our website and are interested in downloading a complimentary PDF pattern of our World’s Fair block for June, all you have to do is look for the box on our blog, on the right hand side, that says “Like this content? Sign up for free updates” and sign up to receive our newsletter. When you have done that, you will receive a welcoming email from us that will contain a coupon code and a link back to the complimentary pattern. You will act as though you are purchasing the pattern and in the cart, you will apply the coupon code, which will make the pattern free. You will need to fill out contact information, but no payment method will be necessary. Don’t worry, we do not send out newsletters very often and we never sell email addresses or contact information. Here is what the pattern looks like. It is in a format very similar to most Blue Bear Quilt patterns, so if you see what you like in this free pattern, you will like our other patterns as well.

Please note: This pattern will only be complimentary during the month of June 2021.

WF Cover
WF Cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current newsletter subscribers, don’t despair! You will be able to download the complimentary pattern as well. You have already been sent a newsletter on June 1st which gave you the coupon code.

Be sure to follow us on our Instagram page, @bluebearquilts, as that is where we occasionally have giveaways.

We are so happy that you stopped by to visit us in the Quilt Block Mania hop and we hope that you like our block. Please stop by to see all of the other designer’s wonderful blocks.

June International QBM
June International QBM

You can click on the links to the other blocks here.

Holland Windmill by Carolina Moore
Dutch Mill Tulips by Perkins Dry Goods
International Airport by The Quilted Diary
Three Amigos by Heidi Pridemore
Making Memories by Blue Heron Quilting
World’s Fair by Blue Bear Quilts
Highlander by Orange Blossom Quilt Design Studio
Love One Another by Faith and Fabric
International Space Station by Duck Creek Mountain quilting
Friends by QuiltFabrication
World Trip by Patti’s Patchwork
Hollyhock Flower by PhoebeMoon Designs
Olympic Rings by Slice of Pi Quilts
All Together Now by Inquiring Quilter
Butterfly Block by Oh Kaye Quilting
Coming Together by Cotton Street Commons
Friends Around the World by Appliques Quilts and More
Greek Cross by Mom and Me Quilting Co
Caracalla by Pretty Piney Quilts
Walking Together
Mystery Quilt: The Kids

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Patterns, Facebook Live, YouTube Channel and First Fabric Collection

Coco Chic Collection

We have been very busy creating many patterns, which we hope you will enjoy. We’ve done Facebook Lives with other talented designers over the summer. We created a YouTube channel. And, we have our first fabric collection.

We have been busy sewing lots of face masks. We even found a Quilt in a Day scallop ruler which helped cut out the mask shapes. Even the bears got into the act. Silly Reed thought you could wear them on top of your head but Beauregard Bear showed him the correct way.

Reed with masks
Reed with masks
Bear with mask
Bear with mask
QIAD ruler
QIAD ruler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Quilt Cruise to Alaska did not happen in June due to the pandemic, but it was fun thinking about the possibility and we hope to schedule another quilt cruise in the future when we can all be together.

 

We have two new fun summer sailing patterns we created for Accuquillt. One is called Ahoy Mate Table Runner.

Ahoy Mate Table Runner
Ahoy Mate Table Runner

 

You can get the free pattern here: https://www.accuquilt.com/go-ahoy-mate-table-runner-pattern.html

 

 

The other is called Let’s Go Sailing, which is a fun combination of signal codes.

Let's Go Sailing Quilt
Let’s Go Sailing Quilt

 

Let's Go Sailing
Let’s Go Sailing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is where you will find that free pattern: https://www.accuquilt.com/go-let-s-go-sailing-quilt-pattern.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have had a bunch of quilts in magazines. The first one was Firework Flowers in May/June 2020 Love of Quilting magazine.

Firework Flowers Quilt
Firework Flowers Quilt
Firework Flowers
Firework Flowers
Firework Flowers Quilt
Firework Flowers Quilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This quilt brought some joy to my 4th of July this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next was 50’s Diner in the May/June 2020 McCall’s Quilting magazine.

50's Diner Quilt
50’s Diner Quilt
may/june mccalls 2020
may/june mccalls 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t you just imagine drinking an ice cream soda at the soda fountain with your date?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever tried curved piecing like you would find in the Drunkard’s Path block? The Waverly Path quilt was in the July/August 2020 issue of Quiltmaker magazine.

Waverly Path
Waverly Path
Waverly Path
Waverly Path
QM July/August 2020
QM July/August 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, named after a grand niece, Thoroughly Modern Vivs was in the premier issue of Fons and Porter Quick and Easy Quilts. It was such an honor to be in this magazine with so many esteemed designers.

Modern Vivs Quilt
Modern Vivs Quilt
Quick-Easy
Quick-Easy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We created several patterns for Timeless Treasures new collections. They are There’s a Bear in My Watermelon Patch 2, using their One in a Mellon collection; Patriotic Polka, using their Treats Freedom collection; Adore Him, using the Come Let Us Adore Him collection; Peaceful Valley, using the Winter Blessing collection and Cowboy Claus, which uses the Ho Ho Hoedown collection. These fabric lines are at quilt shops now and you can purchase these quilt patterns on our website.

There's a Bear in my Watermelon Patch 2
There’s a Bear in my Watermelon Patch 2
Patriotic Polka
Patriotic Polka
Adore Him
Adore Him
Peace in the Valley
Peace in the Valley
Cowboy Claus
Cowboy Claus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Facebook, we did four facebook lives covering a virtual trunk show, accurate cutting, fussy cutting tips and our top 20 favorite quilting notions. We also have a video debuting our first ever fabric collection. If you missed any of these, you can catch them all on our YouTube Channel.

BBQ You Tube
BBQ You Tube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see the videos on YouTube on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSRJrsvJV2uIdS1aquYw8JA

Speaking of a new fabric collection, our first fabric collection is with QT Fabrics and it is called Coco Chic.

Coco Chic
Coco Chic
Coco Chic Collection
Coco Chic Collection

It will be available in quilt shops in January 2021. This fabric collection was inspired by authentic 1920’s fabric from deep in the QT Fabrics archives. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a Great Gatsby or Roaring 20’s party using these fabrics from the time period. We see this fabric being used in quilts, bags, lady’s dresses and men’s shirts. We hope you are as excited about this collection as we are.

 

 

Be sure to ask you local quilt shop if they will be carrying Coco Chic. We have designed several quilts using the collection and will have demos on Youtube using the fabrics. Stay tuned for much more regarding this exciting fabric collection.

On August 4th, we will be participating in Quilt Block Mania, A blog hop with other designers, where they all will be giving away a free block pattern with the theme of Back to School. Watch for this coming soon! Keep on quilting. Oh, and Beauregard says Hi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Blue Bear Quilts is doing Virtual Quilt Trunk Show on Facebook Live April 5th 4 pm EST.

Quilt Candy Virtual Trunk Show
Quilt Candy Virtual Trunk Show

There is going to be a Quilter’s Eye Candy Trunk Show Event on Facebook from April 1st through April 10th. Since you can’t come to the designers, they are going to come to you. Many quilt pattern designers will be holding a trunk show on their Facebook page. These will be Facebook Live presentations that will be 15 minutes long and will occur throughout the day, on the hour, from 12-8 pm. EST. Blue Bear Quilts will be doing our trunk show on April 5th at 4 p.m.EST. We hope you will join us and also check out many of the other fabulous designers that will also being doing Facebook Live trunk shows. If you would like to become familiar with the different designers before their trunk shows, click on the links to go to their Facebook page. This should be a lot of fun! The schedule is listed below.  #quilterseyecandytrunkshow #fblivetrunkshow #quilterscandytrunkshow

April 1 

12 pm EST Andi Stanfield facebook.com/Anditruebluequilts
1 pm EST Nancy Scott
facebook.com/MasterpieceQ
2 pm EST becky jorgensen
https://www.facebook.com/patchworkposse/
3 pm EST carolina moore
facebook.com/alwaysexpectmoore
4 pm EST Jackie Kunkel
https://www.facebook.com/cantonvillagequiltworks/
5 pm EST Connie Jonson Sayler
https://www.facebook.com/PacificRimQuiltCompany/
6 pm EST
Laura Piland/Slice of Pi Quilts  https://www.facebook.com/sliceofpiquilts/
7 pm EST Sandra Starley https://www.facebook.com/TextileTimeTravels
8 pm EST Swan Sheridan www.facebook.com/swanamitystudios

April 2
 
12 pm EST Lisa Ruble https://www.facebook.com/LoveToColorMyWorld/
1 pm EST Beth Helfter EvaPaige Quilt Designs
2 pm EST Diane Bohn/From Blank Pages
https://facebook.com/fromblankpages
3 pm EST Deb Eggers/the cottage rose
https://www.facebook.com/cottagerosequilt/
4 pm EST Heidi Pridemore/The Whimsical Workshop
https:/www.facebook.com/thewhimsicalworkshop
5 pm EST Kate Colleran
https://www.facebook.com/SeamsLikeaDreamQuilts/
6 pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/
April 3
 
12 pm EST Darcy Hunter www.facebook.com/darcydoodlequilts
1 pm EST Teresa Weaver www.facebook.com/yoursewingfriend
2 pm EST Annette Ornelas
https://www.facebook.com/southwind.designs/
3 pm EST Jo Westfoot – The Crafty Nomad
www.facebook.com/thecraftynomad
4 pm EST Lynn Kane
https://facebook.com/puppygirllynn
5 pm EST Geeky Bobbin
https://facebook.com/geekybobbinApril 3 6pm EST
7 pm EST Laura Strickland
https://m.facebook.com/orangeblossomquilt/
8 pm EST Jen Frost
https://www.facebook.com/FaithAndFabric/

 

April 4
12 pm EST Sherry Shish – Powered By Quilting facebook.com/poweredbyquilting
1 pm EST Bill Locke – Bill Locke Designs
https://www.facebook.com/bill.locke.96
2 pm EST Toni Smith/Quiltoni
https://www.facebook.com/Quiltoni/
3 pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis
https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/
4 pm EST Jennifer Fulton
https://www.facebook.com/inquiringquilter/
5 pm EST Jessica Caldwell/ Desert Bloom Quilting
https://www.facebook.com/desertbloomquilting/
6 pm EST Monique Kleinhans / Ladybug’s Cabin
https://www.facebook.com/ladybugscabin/
7 pm EST Heather Long / Coffee and Quilts
https://m.facebook.com/Coffee-and-Quilts-197254351073271/?__tn__=C-R
8 pm EST Marija Vujcic, Mara Quilt Designs https://www.facebook.com/MaraQuiltDesigns/


April 5

*4 pm EST Reed Johnson https://www.facebook.com/BlueBearQuilts/
5 pm EST Diane Harris
https://www.facebook.com/stashbandit/
7 pm EST Kathryn LeBlanc/Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio
https://www.facebook.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudioApril 5 8pm EST
April 6
 

12 pm EST Margaret Willingham/ Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design https://www.facebook.com/EyeoftheBeholderQuilt/
1 pm EST Kate Colleran/Seams Like A Dream Design
https://www.facebook.com/SeamsLikeaDreamQuilts/
2 pm EST Barbara Cline
https://www.facebook.com/barbara.cline.520
3 pm EST Barbara Persing
https://www.facebook.com/bpquilts/
4 pm EST Ms P Designs USA/ Sharon Andersen
https://www.facebook.com/MsPDesignsUSA/

 

12pm EST Tina Dillard/Quilting Affection Designs https://www.facebook.com/quiltingaffectiondesigns/
1pm EST Raija Salomaa/Quilters’ Treasure Chest
https://www.facebook.com/quilterstreasurechest/
2pm EST Robin Koehler//NESTLINGS by Robin
https://www.facebook.com/NestlingsbyRobin/
3pm EST Terri Vanden Bosch
https://www.facebook.com/lizardcreekquilting/
4pm EST Jackie Kunkel
https://www.facebook.com/cantonvillagequiltworks/

5pm EST Leanne Parsons https://www.facebook.com/devotedquilterdesigns
6pm EST Laura Piland/Slice of Pi Quilts  https://www.facebook.com/sliceofpiquilts/
7pm EST
Ebony Love https://www.facebook.com/LoveBugStudios/
8pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis
https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/

April 9
 
1 pm EST Nancy Scott
facebook.com/MasterpieceQApril 9 2pm EST Jayme Crow/Bella Nonna Design Studio  
4 pm EST
Jen Frost https://www.facebook.com/FaithAndFabric/
5 pm EST      Annie Smith https://www.facebook.com/anniesmithqs/

6 pm EST Karen L. Miller / Redbird Quilt Co. https://www.facebook.com/RedbirdQuiltCo/
7 pm EST Kathryn LeBlanc/Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio
https://www.facebook.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio
8 pm EST Monique Kleinhans / Ladybug’s Cabin
https://www.facebook.com/ladybugscabin/

April 10

 
  7 pm Toni Smith/Quiltoni https://www.facebook.com/Quiltoni/
  8 pm Marija Vujcic, Mara Quilt Designs https://www.facebook.com/MaraQuiltDesigns/
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New Patterns Aplenty

It has been a busy summer at Blue Bear Quilts. We taught our Pixie Party Quilt and Quilt in a Day’s Autumn Leaves table runner, in August, at Affinity For Quilts in White Bear Lake Minnesota. Everyone had a great time and some beautiful quilts are in the making.

Pixie Party Class
Pixie Party Class
Autumn Leaves Table Runner
Autumn Leaves Table Runner

While we were in Minnesota, we ran into the editors from one of our favorite magazines. Quilt Folk. They were kind enough to pose for a photo. If you have not discovered this magazine, you need to. It has gorgeous pictures of quilts on premium matte paper and really interesting articles about everything Quilt Folk might be involved in. We also went to the Great Minnesota Stae Fair and I had to have photo with my favorite lumberjack, Paul Bunyan.

Quilt Folk magazine
Quilt Folk magazine
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan

 

We had a couple more of our quilt designs show up in magazines. Canoe Junction made the cover of the September/ October issue of Love of Quilting magazine. It uses Flower Garden Gatherings Fabrics from Moda. Winter Visitor is featured in the November/ December issue of McCall’s Quilting magazine. It uses the Cardinal Woods flannel collection from Northcott Fabrics.

Canoe Junction
Canoe Junction
Canoe Junction in Love of Quilting
Canoe Junction in Love of Quilting
Winter Visitor
Winter Visitor

 

Speaking of lumberjacks, don’t forget about our Quilt Cruise to Alaska’s Inside Passage June 6-13, 2020 aboard the Holland America Eurodam. We will be making the beautiful Northern Star Garden Quilt, a pattern that was designed exclusively for this cruise. It involves shapes that have been precut for you with Accuquilt, a no tear-out the paper, paper pieced center star and Hawaiian (should be called Alaskan) appliqué snowflakes in the border. A different technique for each day were are quilting, while the ship is at sea. When the ship is at sea, it is up to you as to how much time you want to spend sewing. When the ship is in port, you will be able to go into the the ports of Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Victoria, BC with your family and friends. This is a trip of a lifetime to one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The trip is over half full, so don’t miss out and sign up today. Here is the link if you are interested in joining us on this cruise. https://quiltretreatatsea.com/quiltinginthewild/

Quilt Cruise to Alaska
Quilt Cruise to Alaska
Alaskan beauty in fabric
Alaskan beauty in fabric
Northern Star Garden
Northern Star Garden

We have created some wonderful free patterns for Accuquilt, which we hope you will enjoy making. They all were designed with Timeless Treasures Fabrics. Speaking of which, we have several new patterns, which will be making their debut at Fall Quilt Market for Timeless Treasures Fabrics. More to come on these patterns at a later date. A couple of them do involve panels, however. The first Accuquilt pattern is Antique Americana, which involves the use of the Hattie’s Choice die. Here is the link for the pattern.   https://www.accuquilt.com/go-antique-americana-throw-quilt-pattern.html  Then, we have Orange Cream Soda which involved the use of the Studio 6″ setting triangles. Here is the link for that pattern.   https://www.accuquilt.com/studio-orange-cream-soda-throw-quilt-pattern.html  Sherbet Dreams involves the use of the Glorified Nine Patch die. Here is the link. https://www.accuquilt.com/go-sherbet-dreams-throw-quilt-pattern.html   Love Letters uses the Studio 8″ setting triangles. Here is the link for Love Letters. https://www.accuquilt.com/studio-love-letters-throw-quilt-pattern.html And finally,  Fall is Coming, which uses the Studio 8″ setting triangles. The link to Fall is Coming.  https://www.accuquilt.com/studio-fall-is-coming-throw-quilt-pattern.html

 

Antique Americana
Antique Americana
Orange Cream Soda
Orange Cream Soda
Sherbet Dreams
Sherbet Dreams
Love Letters
Love Letters

 

 

Fall is Coming
Fall is Coming

Last, but certainly not least, we have two new patterns making their debut with QT Fabrics at Quilt Market, In Houston, October 2019. They are Fit For a King, which utilizes the Accuquilt Hattie’s Choice die and Kings and Queens. You will be able to purchase these patterns from QT Fabrics, if you are a quilt shop and also from our website, very soon. Fit for a King uses QT Fabrics basic lines, Quilting Illusions and Color Blends. Kings and Queens uses a fat quarter bundle from QT Fabrics Illuminations collection, which will be arriving in shops around April 2020. Kings and Queens pattern is perfect for those fat quarter bundles you would love to turn into a beautiful quilt.

Fit For a King
Fit For a King
Kings and Queens
Kings and Queens

Well, that’s it for now. Happy Quilting till we come back and share more of what’s happening at Blue Bear Quilts.