Floating On Cloud9

Preview | Seven Seas by Michéle Brummer-Everett

2012-01-26T16:39:00.003-05:00

We haven't even received Michéle's first collection, Monsterz (coming in FEBRUARY- we PROMISE!), and we already can't get enough of her brand of adorable.

Prepare to set sail - playful pirates lead us on a whimsical sea-faring adventure. Shipping Summer '12.

Laddies & Poppets

High Seas in Red and Blue

High Seas | Multi

Celestial Navigation in Navy and Pink

Celestial Navigation in Blue

Flying Colors

The Fleet in Red and Navy

The Fleet | Gray

Sea Critters

Monsterz-Sized Hexy Quilt | Take 2

2012-01-20T13:01:00.000-05:00

Kristen Danis made this for us using Maman and Nursery Basics in place of the original Monsterz. It's a fabulously flexible pattern - great for when you want to see large areas of print. It also goes together in no time. Give it a try... and if you do, show us!

Monsterz-Sized Hexagon quilt pattern here!

Your Take | Across the Pond New Wave Quilt

2012-01-13T12:16:00.001-05:00

We love to see what people make with our fabrics. In this feature, we have a great quilt from Rebecca, who was actually a giveaway winner back in September. The New Wave quilt pattern is from one of our favorite designers, Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Fransson!. Together with Across the Pond, it seems a perfect match. Read more about Rebecca's quilt on her blog, Our Busy Little Bunch.

Photo courtesy of Our Busy Little Bunch

Great job Rebecca!

Featured | Sewing World

2012-01-09T15:22:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! The end of 2011and the beginning of 2012 all just seems a blur. In the background, Gina and I are busy working with the builders to put finishing touches on our office space and the initial thrill of shopping for office furniture and choosing flooring and paint colors has morphed into an obligatory project with a deadline.

In the midst of all our hubbub, we received our copy of January 12 Sewing World, out of the UK. Our friend Fiona Pullen of The Sewing Directory features us in a posh 3 page spread with some great Q&A and photos of our fabrics.

Recently we were also featured in Mollie Makes and SewHip!, both also out of the UK. Lovely to be getting so much interest abroad!

2011-12-23T12:49:00.001-05:00

@michelle engel bencsko

Our warmest wishes for a delightful holiday season. As we look begin to look forward to 2012, we must first say thanks so much for being a part of Cloud9 Fabrics wonderful 2011.

Peace.
Michelle and Gina

Office Update | Walls!

2011-12-20T11:35:00.003-05:00

Stopped by today to see the guys hard at work. Sheetrock is being hung and it's definitely starting to feel like a "space". Nice to get a sense of size of each room. Outside, shrubs have been planted and the parking lot has a layer of blacktop.

Sewing area

Gina's office

Michelle's office

View from sewing area (Michelle's office left, Gina's right)

Gina and I have been contemplating wall color, flooring, and furnishings these days... the fun part! Hopefully we're looking at a Feb 1st move in.

Giveaway Day | Maman & Nursery Basics Bundle

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Our winner has been chosen! Congratulations to Anya!

It's time for Sew Mama Sew's annual Giveaway Day! Welcome to Cloud9 Fabrics! If you're unfamiliar with our product, we invite you to poke around a bit. You'll find lots of great project inspiration sewn with our beautiful organic cotton fabrics.

Today, we're happy to be offering up 6- 1/2 yards of fabric from our luxe 200 thread count premium ranges, Maman and Nursery Basics. As winner you can choose up to 6 fabrics from the 23 available patterns/solids for a total of 3 yards ($50 value). These fabrics feature authentic vintage artwork in a modern-day color palette. Lovely for clothes, quilts, bedding, accessories, with it's silky hand and crisp finish, your projects will radiate a classic heirloom quality.

To enter, leave a comment naming your favorite project from our Tutorials and Projects page and we will randomly draw a name using a random number generator.

Be sure to leave contact info!
International entries welcome.
Comments close December 16 at 5pm PST.
Winner will be emailed soon after closing and we require a response within 2 days or another winner will be chosen.
Good luck!

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If you're hopping to the next giveaway, be sure check out Cloud9 co-owner, Michelle Engel Bencsko's personal blog for a chance to win this 2012 Tea Towel Calendar.

Comments are now closed.

Giveaway Day | December 12

2011-12-10T09:28:00.001-05:00

Check in next week to see what we'll be giving away as part of Sew Mama Sew's annual Giveaway Day!

Monsterz-Sized Hexagon Quilt Tutorial

2011-12-07T14:58:00.001-05:00

Sorry things have been a little quiet on the blog lately. December (and November, actually) is proving to be a killer work-load month. However, I broke away from it all to do this project that I've been considering lately. I love little hexagon quilts- I've been seeing them around more these days and was inspired. Often they seem to be done often with paper piecing and didn't know if the process would translate well in this case. The paper piecing method also requires a lot of hand sewing, which is lovely if you have the time and inclination (which I don't!).

But then, just the other night I had a little epiphany as I gazed upon Tia's Spiderweb Quilt and I realized how she did it- sewing the hexagons across in strips.

Monsterz is such an ADORABLE collection to work with. It will arrive in January and I wholeheartedly suggest you make this quilt in the patterns I indicate because it will make you SMILE. But, this pattern is actually quite nice and it went together pretty quickly- so if you're looking for a fast project as a holiday gift, this might be your perfect option.

This quilt measures 34 x44 finished. I used a 2.5" wide strip for my binding as I wanted something substantial to frame the quilt. For the backing on this project I used Adventurez, which is a border print- and it just fit.

I cut my half-hexies using my cutting mat which had nice guidelines on it. Made it very simple. But if you don't have one, print out this template for the half-hexi. If cutting on a mat, note the dimensions below.

Below is an example of how you should cut the half-hexies out on the fabric. You should get 6 across on typical 42"-43" fabric.

Here's what you'll need to cut and how much fabric you'll need.

To cut the smaller side pieces, simply cut in half as indicated below. The legend above allows for these "halves", so no need to make more than specified.

After cutting all the pieces, lay them out as indicated below.

You will stitch across in rows. Please note all the images below to give you tips on how to do this piecing. If you don't allow for the offset corners, your half-hexies will not line up. Also pay attention to the direction of the pieces as you pin them for piecing... it's easy to get confused!

After stitching a row, press seams to the side that's darker.

After stitching all the rows across and pressing seams, stitch row 1 to row 2 and then add row 3, etc, until you've worked down to the bottom. Be sure to match seams.

After a good pressing, sandwich your quilt topper, batting and backing fabric. Pin well. Stitch as shown in diagram below. This will create perfect triangles that compliment the quilt's pattern. However, you can go nuts and do anything you like!

Bind your quilt. As noted above, I used 2.5" strips for a wider binding.

Stand back and admire your handiwork!

Market Samples Series - Monsterz Pillows

2011-11-17T07:05:00.001-05:00

Against a backdrop of Mini Moderns Festival wallpaper

These little cushions got a whole lot of attention. They're so playful I took them out for a field trip to the playground!

I want to share my source for the 10x16 pillow inserts because I love this size so much. They are small, but nicely proportioned. Because they aren't so big, they are so quick to cover. Great for propping on a chair or bed for pure decoration, but also for using to support the lower lumbar. I buy them by the dozen- they make great gifts!

Market Sample Series | Tia's Miscellany Quilt

2011-11-16T07:19:00.001-05:00

Shown with Midnight At the Oasis quilt on right

A show stopper! Tia created this quilt based on Kaffe Fassett's Spider Web quilt (which can be found in the Country Garden Quilts book.

"Grunge" solids and hand stitching for accent.

Market Sample Series - Miscellany/Midnight At the Oasis Quilt

2011-11-15T07:43:00.001-05:00

Brilliant fabric by Julia Rothman, quilt intricately designed by Lizzy House, pieced to perfection by Jaclyn Ferrell, and exquisitely quilted by Angela Walters- 4 powerhouses who inadvertently came together to create this stunner.

Market Sample Series - Tia's Across the Pond Quilt

2011-11-12T06:32:00.001-05:00

Tia Curtis created this warm-toned flying geese pattern utilizing a great deal of the orange toned patterns from Across the Pond. Obviously it agrees with the falling leaves here in our North Eastern autumn.

Tia has been making quilts for me since I first started designing for the quilt market years ago. It's been a privilege to see my work in her capable and creative hands.

Market Samples Series - Across the Pond Plush Turtles

2011-11-10T17:52:00.001-05:00

These two adorable kids were my last project before heading to market. I had to stow them beneath my feet on the airplane.

Free tutorial from Make It and Love It. I actually enlarged the template to fit an 11x17 paper.

Market Samples Series - Across the Pond Floor Poufs

2011-11-09T13:21:00.002-05:00

It was such a lovely fall day out I traipsed out to the park with my car loaded with our Quilt Market samples. Some of these projects may have been seen on this blog in the past, but not in this fabulous light.

Free pattern from BHG.com

Also blogged here.

Office Space Updates

2011-11-08T11:05:00.002-05:00

We took a little field trip over to our space this morning and things are definitely moving. We have walls! At least they are framed. For sure, we have a good feeling of the flow of the space (and how quickly it goes from large empty area to smaller area filled with stuff). Here's some of the snaps.

Up the drive. We are right here in the front of the building. You can see the freight train cars behind the building.

Not much to look at. Just your everyday industrial standard door. We'll make it pretty somehow. Nice to see an awning!

View from front door. There is a wall that flanks the left as you walk in (ladder is leaning on it). Gina's office directly ahead to right, Michelle's to the left.

Gina's office. Builders made an error (in her favor) and put an extra window in her office.

Michelle's office. Lots of wall space! Looking forward to getting things off desk surface and onto walls.

Sewing area as seen from Michelle's office. Door to warehouse to right, where the compressor is resting.

The loo! We don't expect much from the industrial plumbing they'll no doubt install, but we'll pretty this up as much as we can.

2011 Fall Quilt Market

2011-11-06T10:09:00.002-05:00

Our booth!

Finally getting around to posting pics of our booth... mainly because I didn't have any! Shameful, really, but I'd forgotten my camera. My phone did an OK job, but not what I would call great. Great pictures were taken here by our friend Katy Jones of Fat Quarterly and you can read all her market recaps on her blog Monkey Do.

Little bookshelf that used to be brown. You can't see it here, but I backed it with our Speckles in Grass fabric and it's really cute (better image below). Wish we had a dollar for every time we had to tell people that Geninne's Peacock print was not really that large, though secretly we wish they were! So dramatic. The Monsterz chevron panel on the left was sewn by friend and designer Alexia Abegg. PS- all of our printed panels- our logo, peacocks and the Ed Emberley wall were printed by our friends at Spoonflower.

Above, you can see the grand wall of Ed Emberley! It was very eye-catching and so many people walked by and smiled. Most people couldn't just walk by, though, and we were happy to show them the entire range. Happy Drawing! was a great success. I brought my *autographed!* copy of Drawing Book of Animals and it was passed around the booth with great excitement.

This is the first time we've had this much to offer and we could tell that we impressed many buyers and many commented on how far we've come since our first show only 2 years ago. Speaking of buyers... just a note that many of us exhibitors would like to pass on: Please tell your local quilt shops when you want a collection (any collection from any company!). Not all shops attend market or are in tune with all that goes on the internet... your voice has a major influence on what gets noticed and stocked, so be sure to make verbal requests. Or let us know if you know a shop that might like to hear directly from us. Gina will be on the phone in no time.

(above)You can catch a glimpse of the Miscellany fabric in Lizzy House's Midnight At the Oasis quilt- another stunner. This one was pieced by our talented Jaclyn and quilted by Angela Walters. When I get this back (crate is currently in transit) I'll take more pictures of all the quilts up close and personal. You can also see here one of my floor poufs, two ADORABLE little Monsterz pillows made from the border print Adventurez and our luxe selection of Miscellany pillows Jaclyn sewed up a while back.

(above) This is another one of those "if we had a dollar" things. Right off the bat, as soon as the show opened, we began receiving requests for a pattern for this table tent. (We are currently working on this!!!) This is another one of those things where I sketched out some dimensions and Jaclyn constructed a thing of beauty. This particular house is made all the more charming by my grandmother's Maman fabric (coupled with a hefty dose of Nursery Basics). On top of the table we displayed a few pictures of my grandmother when she was a child. Also, my mom made a little catalog with a sampling of her print work from whence Maman took its inspiration. Indeed, many people became instant fans and want to see more products made with her images. Gina made the New Look dress to the left, which was also quite popular particularly in the lovely Chinoiserie.

The Maman quilts to the right were also heavily fondled.

A little closeup of the shelf with a better view of some turtle I made from this tutorial. You can also see a few more Monsterz pillows, getting a chance to see the pink colorways in action. Off to the left on the bottom shelf is a very impressive laptop bag which was embroidered by Lynn Harris over Miscellany's Nethercote. We've found a few people have had the same notion to do this with Nethercote, but Lynn's is really spectacularly involved and detailed. We were so glad to have it for the show!

Thanks Katy for the loan of the images!

Happy Drawing! -- Ed Emberley

2011-10-30T08:13:00.001-04:00

Happy Drawing!

Elephants

Giraffe

Scribbles - Orange

Scribbles - Blue

Owl

Forest Friends

Alligators

Scribbles - Gray

Scribbles - Green

Frogs

Dragons

Scribbles - Black

Lions

Maman - Origins

2011-10-26T10:23:00.001-04:00

My mom, Arlette, put together a little portfolio to show at Quilt Market of my grandmother's artwork from which Maman was born. This is just a sampling of the hundreds of works she created and that we have the fortune to possess.

I'd like to write a post soon about the creation of Maman given the breadth of work and all the different themes, colors, and styles. It was no easy task to reflect Anne-Marie Bossaert's work in so few an assortment- all the while unifying the images and making a cohesive and desirable range. But we're all very happy with the results, and we hope you are, too!

Do you recognize the girls in the top left? Les Petites Filles.

Maman (and the coordinating Nursery Basics) is just hitting stores now. Its classic and timeless appeal will satisfy many nursery decorators, gift makers, and heirloom creators--and the contemporary colors will blend well with most new and sleek furnishings... just like I wanted when I was decorating but had a hard time finding.

If you're coming to market, please stop by booths 125/127 and feel free to peruse these pages... we will have some gorgeous samples on display, too- we'll be sure to take pics and share them once we're all set up.

To Market, To Market!

2011-10-21T18:08:00.002-04:00

After months of preparation, we're finally near the end of the tunnel. We leave next Friday for the International Quilt Market in Houston. We are SO pumped about this show... we have loads of good stuff to show. Here's a recap of our current releases and a teaser of some of the previews we'll be showing.

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Maman and Nursery Basics are shipping NOW. If you're looking for a seller for this gorgeous range of prints based on the artwork Anne Marie Bossaert, drop us a note and we'll let you know who's getting it first. We'll be showing off some amazing quilts and other lovely little children's items at the show.

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Across the Pond is still going strong- lots of gorgeous samples will be on display. Fall is in full swing now and the orange colors that are prevalent are just perfect for the season.

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Of course, many of you are already familiar with Alegria by Geninne- not sure that we'll have strike-offs in time, but we will be showing the boards up close and personal.

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Monsterz by Michéle Brummer-Everett is unfortunately still in development, so we're experiencing a delay in getting the goods. We have the pedal to the metal though and we're trying to get it in before the end of ~~the year~~ January. So many people are excited by this collection and it's easy to see why. Stay tuned for delivery dates!

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We're so proud to be premiering Ed Emberley's Happy Drawing! This delightful collection of iconic characters from Emberley's first how-to-draw publication, Drawing Book of Animals is sure to please. Animals are constructed of simple shapes, letters, numbers and things and put together in typical Emberley fashion- that is to say, animated with character, humor and whimsy. Perfect for kids, but also adults who remember Emberley's work as kids themselves. Colorful and playful- our booth will be bursting with cuteness!

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We've got something swell on deck from June Craft aka Kayanna Nelson. Hey, That's Swell! is chock full of retro goodness and is part of our Cloud9 Kids series. Kayanna has crafted an assortment of prints that will suit many kids' tastes, but particularly those between 5 to15. Not too cute, not too stuffy. Cheery and hip. Plus, she's put together some special projects that are great for the beginner sewist to get those young ones motivated!

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Michéle Brummer-Everett is at it again, this time she sets sail on the Seven Seas! As adorable as her Monsterz are they may meet their match with the little laddies and poppets that star in this new range. Bold, bright color mixed with whimsy and imagination. Another Cloud9 Kids selection!

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Remember Michelle Engel Bencsko? Yeah, sometimes she designs stuff too. It's been a while, though and she was inspired recently to do something a little out of the norm from her other Cloud9 selections. simpatico is a color driven selection of geometric-based patterns. As the name implies, simpatico is easy to get along with. It can make friends with lots of styles, decors, fashions, and colors. It draws from today's popular trends and colors yet can also be called timeless.

If you're coming to Quilt Market, we'll be at booths 125, 127. Do drop by and see what we've got to show. We'd love to see you.

Let there be light!

2011-10-17T21:52:00.001-04:00

Here's a post from Gina!

Our private offices- Gina far corner, Michelle nearer window

We are happy to see how much progress is being made on our new home. As you can see the new windows are in, as well as our front door!! We are very fortunate because the way the building is situated we will have a ton of natural light streaming in. They are also putting the siding on. Tomorrow the crew is going to start working on the plumbing, and before you know it they will be sheetrocking, putting down the floor, painting…and voila…it will be move in day!! Stay tuned.

Front door. Near window is sewing area.

View from future warehouse showing full depth of space - Gina's office is left corner, front door is to the right.

Front door!

The facade going up. We get glorious afternoon light streaming in.

Half Tote Tutorial

2011-10-15T09:38:00.000-04:00

Head over to Michelle's blog for full details on how to make this simple lined tote. It's a perfect project for using 1/4yd (narrow) cuts and even fat quarters.

Project | Oh Fransson! Color Blocks Placemats

2011-10-13T13:45:00.000-04:00

photo by Elizabeth Hartman

Elizabeth Hartman (aka Oh Fransson!), quilter and author of A Practical Guide to Patchwork, shares a tutorial project via Sew, Mama, Sew! This is a scrappy version she did with our Across the Pond fabrics. So pretty!

photo by Elizabeth Hartman

Press!

2011-10-12T14:26:00.001-04:00

A quick look at all the lovely magazines that featured our fabrics over the last few months:

Fabric Trends Fall 2011 featuring Miscellany

American Patchwork & Quilting Aug 2011 featuring Nature Walk

Quilter's Newsletter Oct/Nov 2011 featuring Miscellany

Handmade Living June 2011 featuring Cut Out & Keep

Vogue Patterns June/July 2011 featuring Cloud9 Fabrics profile

Living Crafts Summer 2011 featuring Nature Walk

Maman and Nursery Basics Market Quilts

2011-10-11T12:44:00.002-04:00

Another brilliant job done by our remarkable sewist, Jaclyn. She takes my little sketches and notes and turns them into gorgeous real quilts!

Each made entirely of our Maman and Nursery Basics ranges which is due to ship in the next few weeks. This is our Premium base cloth - a 200 thread count sheeting and it is silky and luxe- just what you'd want next to baby's delicate skin. Couple that with the exquisite illustrations by Anne Marie Bossaert, my grandmother, and I think you will agree, it resonates a classic, heirloom quality while bringing fresh, modern colors to the mix.

Look for these at Quilt Market! We have another fabulous project waiting in the wings which we'll be sure to share one we get to Houston.

Fat Quarterly Feature | Pond Ripples Quilt

2011-10-01T09:41:00.001-04:00

Errata: November 22, 2011: Please note that it would be best to order 7/8-1yd of each of the 5 fabrics as the original pattern states 3/4 yd and that would be very tight and leave no room for error.

Very pleased to see my first official (as in published) quilt design under Cloud9 Fabrics on the pages of Fat Quarterly's Fall Inspired edition which will be released on October 7.

This is one of those projects I just dabbled with on a computer and before my eyes, it fell into perfect place. And it is so simple to do! All the details will be in the issue, so check it out. I must thank and applaud Kristen Danis for making this actual quilt. I had done a block with best of intentions and quickly found that I just couldn't do it in time for the issue, so Kristen to the rescue! And she did a spectacular job. If you're going to Quilt Market, you'll be seeing this in the booth.

This is a great size for tucking under at football games and lying on the grass for a little nibble in the park, or just to toss over your favorite chair ready for the cozying when you finally have time to read your magazines.

This was made with 5 prints from our current Across the Pond. Would work well with the orange tones, too! But even my husband said... "oooh, it looks all watery in those fabrics". That it does! Mission accomplished.

Not familiar with Fat Quarterly? Oh, do check them out. It's a great e-zine that is chock full of modern projects and inspiration. Each issue focuses on a theme and designs are contributed from today's hot quilters and crafters (which now I can say I am one!). In this issue there's 15 projects and at $5... I mean, really. It's a complete steal. The issue will go live on October 7, go here to get it!

More thrills abound because these very same lovely editors are about to become official authors of a book! Check out Shape Workshop for Quilters coming our way soon.

National Sewing Month | Giveaway #4

2011-09-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED: CONGRATULATIONS TO REBECCA!

Our final giveaway in honor of National Sewing Month is a fat quarter bundle of Across the Pond. This is a wonderfully versatile collection and the colors are great for either the fall or spring months.

To enter, tell us what sort of new things you'd like to see us make. It can be a new artist, fabrication, theme you haven't seen, etc. Anyone can enter, but only one comment per person, please (additional comments will be deleted).

Thanks to everyone for participating in our month of giveaways! We hope you were moved by the spirit and have lots of projects either started or completed by now.

Pair o' Poufs

2011-09-22T07:41:00.002-04:00

Sample making for the Quilt Market has begun! This free pouf pattern from BHG.com was an excellent project to show off the boldness of Across the Pond. And what's nicer, is it gives room to showcase all 10 prints in the 2 poufs.

This was very very easy to make. The hand sewing took the most time. But warning: these are fairly large and it will take A LOT of stuffing material. If you have old towels, jeans, blankets, etc, this is a great place to use them. Also, if you really want to use it as something to sit on, you'll want to pack it nice and dense. Use fiber fill. I used styrofoam pellets because I had them from past projects and didn't want to have to invest in more filler. They make the pouf very light weight and smooshy. So, while these look spectacular, they are really for show only. After market, I'll take them apart and put the scraps onto the pile and bag up the pellets for the next project.

National Sewing Month | Giveaway #3

2011-09-18T10:57:00.000-04:00

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED.

Whoops! Sorry I'm late posting this. All the excitement of Geninne's Alegria got me all off track. As such, I'll let this giveaway run until Wednesday.
Today, as part of our September giveaway series, the prize opportunity is a fat quarter of Cut Out & Keep! Heather's collection made a big splash for us, and it is not hard to find some of these prints.

To enter, tell us what your favorite thing to do in Autumn or Spring is. The transitional season seems to be here these days, so we're going to enjoy our day apple picking!

Anyone can enter, but only one comment per person, please (additional comments will be deleted).

Our next and final giveaway starts on Friday!

Week 4: (open Sept 23-27) Across the Pond fat quarter bundle
Fat quarters of each of the 10 prints in this collection

Introducing | Alegria by Geninne D. Zlatkis

2011-09-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Alegria means happiness in Spanish.

We could almost stop there with our description of this long-anticipated collection from the talented Geninne.

But we won't. We can't!

It is such an honor to be working with Geninne. As you may well imagine, if you're at all familiar with the depth of her work, it was no small feat to narrow a range down to a small handful. However, we're quite pleased with our assortment and we hope you will be filled with alegria too!

This range will be printed on our price sensitive, 100% certified organic cotton base cloth and we anticipate delivery early January or February of 2012 for a spring delivery. So, get your own sketch books out and start dreaming about the glorious projects you can make from these rich and colorful images.

If you're unfamiliar with Geninne's work, please do take a moment and treat yourself to an eye full of wonder on her blog!

Last, but not least, we would like to wish Geninne a very, very happy birthday! We are happy we could arrange things so that this reveal took place on her special day.

National Sewing Month | Giveaway #2

2011-09-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. Thanks to all who entered. A winner will be chosen and notified in the next few days.

It's Friday! Time for our second giveaway of the month.

First, a big congratulations to Gretchen on winning our 1st giveaway! Remember to check in with us every Friday in September for another chance to win some great fabric.

Next up, enter to win a 1/2lb scrap bag of Nature Walk. So perfect for the upcoming transitional seasons, be it fall or spring (depending on your hemisphere).

To participate, let us know if you've been filled with the spirit of Sewing Month this September and if so, what have you made? Me? I made this today! Anyone can enter, but only one comment per person, please (additional comments will be deleted)

Here's the schedule for the next 2 giveaways:

Week 3: (open Sept 16-20) Cut Out & Keep fat quarter bundle
Fat quarters of each of the 8 prints in this collection

Week 4: (open Sept 23-27) Across the Pond fat quarter bundle
Fat quarters of each of the 10 prints in this collection

National Sewing Month | Giveaway #1

2011-09-02T14:04:00.000-04:00

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. Thanks to all who entered. A winner will be chosen and notified in the next few days.

Be sure to stop back each Friday in September for another chance to win some fun organic fabrics!

September is National Sewing Month! In the spirit of this observance, Cloud9 Fabrics is hosting a giveaway each week to get you all jazzed up about sewing possibilities. We hope you'll join us over the next month for 4 fabulous giveaways (see schedule below).

From the National Sewing Month website:
The observance of National Sewing Month began in 1982 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan declaring September as National Sewing Month “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.”

I don't know about you, but I'm kind of tickled to think that Ronald Reagan said "home sewing". Just seems like a high improbability for the man himself, but I guess when you're President, lots of things pass through your lips you might not otherwise utter. (PS- this is just my mind's meanderings... I don't know... he may have said it all the time for all I know!)

Anyway, on to the giveaway! Here's the giveaway schedule:

Week 1: (open Sept 2-6) Forest Friends Flannel Scrap Bag
1/2 lb of various sized, but workable scraps of our Forest Friends Flannel- mainly prints and some solids.

Week 2: (open Sept 9-13) Nature Walk Scrap Bag
1/2 lb of various sized, but workable scraps of our Nature Walk prints.

Week 3: (open Sept 16-20) Cut Out & Keep fat quarter bundle
Fat quarters of each of the 8 prints in this collection

Week 4: (open Sept 23-27) Across the Pond fat quarter bundle
Fat quarters of each of the 10 prints in this collection

To enter this week's giveaway of a Flannel Scrap Bag of Forest Friends Flannel, simply leave a comment and some contact info. Anyone can enter, but only one comment per person, please (additional comments will be deleted)

Midnight at the Oasis quilt

2011-08-22T10:03:00.003-04:00

It's a little premature- and I tend to like to show only completed projects on the blog, but will you just look at how this quilt is turning out?!

I know black-based quilts aren't the rage, but I'm thinking this one can be very persuasive in promoting a new trend. So many people decorate with black. It's so dramatic and striking. So, let's hear it: Trend! Trend! Trend!

Lots of credit due on this project:

Midnight at the Oasis quilt pattern by Lizzy House as part of her 1001 Peeps: 5 Magical Projects book.
Miscellany fabric designed by Julia Rothman.
Cut and assembled by Jaclyn Ferrell, our fab sewist. ♥ And a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on her recent engagement ♥
It will be quilted by the lovely and talented Angela Walters- just have to gather the batting and ship it out.
I am happy to say I chose the fabrics and orchestrated the project. I love a great collaboration!

Office Space Update

2011-08-18T09:01:00.004-04:00

view from far side of warehouse space.

We are one step closer to moving into our new office/warehouse space, and it cannot come soon enough! We are quickly running out of space in our current warehouse and with the release of all of our new collections, it is going to be close quarters indeed! Our zoning application has been approved, and we are now working with the architect to have our office space built to our specifications (that’s him with Michelle and I). The projected date for move in will be November 1st, so keep your fingers crossed that they can meet this deadline. It is going to be such a luxury to have ample space for storage, not to mention a proper design studio! Stay tuned for further updates.

With the architect, Arnold Chriscitiello

Floor plan - furniture layout ideas

The front door will be on left of column, our sewing area on right (with a window where the BW is)

Gina's office is the left corner, the right is the front door. This will be our cutting table and shelf storage area.

Back of the building - Michelle's office on left, Gina's on right. Windows in each office, glass window on walls separating our office from studio bringing more light into the main area.

5x5 Quilt Revisited

2011-08-13T08:06:00.007-04:00

I was inspired to make another of these quilts which one can easily make in a single afternoon. To show that my stitching-frugality knows no bounds, I have further simplified the directions to include additional time-cutting methods.

Time Saver #1 - No topstitching. I'm not sure why I included it to begin with. Maybe to act as a faux binding? Well, regardless, after pressing the piece, it just didn't seem necessary. The batting is caught up in the seam, so there is no chance of it slipping from the corners. The choice to topstitch is yours whether you choose to follow my initial method or the new method below.

Time Saver #2 - No quilting. I'm not a quilter by nature. To be quite honest, pushing my painstakingly patchworked pieces through a machine to create permanent topstitching patterns gives me a bit of anxiety. Not being skilled in this aspect, I always find my quilting to be lack-luster at best and often regret that I've marred the surface of the fabrics. I do, however, love tying (or tacking) quilts. There is something clean about the finish and obviously, it does not require an abundance of technical skill.

In this example I simply tacked the quilt at every 4-corner intersection on the interior of the quilt (16 tacks). I set my machine to a zigzag stitch on its widest setting and narrowest stitch. I went forward and backwards twice in a short 1/4" burst.

Alternative method would be to tie the quilt or embroider a decorative shape, such as a heart.

Anyway you make this simple quilt, you are sure to have nearly instant satisfaction.

Some perfect applications to make this crazy-simple quilt that measures a practical 34 x 46:

Play mat
Toddler bed
Daycare/cot bedding
Lap quilt

Makes an excellent, homemade, personal and *quick* gift

Baby shower
Birthday
Housewarming
Hostess gift
Thank you
Teacher

A fabulous project for

Beginners
Young sewists
Class project (yes, please feel free to use this tute)
Girl scout or group activities
Fundraisers
Donations for those in need

Alternatively, if you're not into cutting time corners and want to jazz this piece up a bit, here's some other ideas:

Patchwork rectangles then piece then together (excellent solution for a scrap-busting project).
Mix solids and prints.
Use a print only once using 25 different patterns.
Use only solid colors.
Make columns of single colors- or shades of color- for a rainbow effect.
Use old t-shirts or men's plaid shirts (note: jersey stretches, so I recommend tacking over quilting unless you know what you're doing)
Use a decorative trim around the edges like ricrac or pom-pom fringe.

I hope my little project inspires you. If you have opportunity to make one, we'd love it if you share the link.

Our New Licensing Partner | Ed Emberley

2011-08-11T08:34:00.000-04:00

We are extremely pleased to announce that Cloud9 Fabrics and Ed Emberley (EMBR Group) are partnering up to release fabric ranges beginning in Spring '12. It's a very momentous occasion for us and we're over the moon with excitement. Read our Press Release below or click on this link.

August 8, 2011 – EMBR Group and Cloud9 Fabrics, Inc. are pleased to announce their licensing partnership. Ed Emberley’s instantly recognizable and whimsical imagery will be brought to life on fabric in 100% certified organic cotton by Cloud9 Fabrics beginning in Spring '12.

Ed Emberley is a celebrated author and illustrator and the winner of two Caldecott awards. He has over 70 titles to his credit. The collaboration with Cloud9 Fabrics starts with Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals, his first learn-to-draw book originally published in 1970 and still going strong today. Within these adored pages, Ed Emberley has taught generations, young and the not-so-young, that "if you can draw shapes, letters, numbers and things" you can draw all sorts of animals from squiggly pollywogs to fantastical dragons. His inspirational approach to creativity and the universal appeal of his quintessential style coupled with the tactile world of fabrics will no doubt translate into myriads of sewing projects thereby igniting a whole new level of imagination. Children and adults are sure to delight in the fabrics that feature Ed's beloved characters.

Cloud9 Fabrics' Design Director, Michelle Engel Bencsko recalls, "I have vivid memories of being a young girl, sitting on the rug in my room with my imagination flowing; paper and colored pencils scattered about. I poured over the pages of Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals deciding which to draw first. I'd painstakingly follow Ed’s directions and beam with pride at the delightful menagerie I had created. Today, my 10 year old son follows in my steps and is genuinely excited that his mom is working so closely with the legendary Ed Emberley and his daughter Rebecca."

"The Emberley's are thrilled to be teaming up with Cloud9 Fabrics. They echo our commitment to high quality products, which makes the partnership of Cloud9 organic cottons and Ed Emberley children's book art simply perfect. We love working in many mediums, this adds a another dimension to our work. We look forward to the new collections and hope it inspires fans of Ed's, new and old, to create and then, create some more." Rebecca Emberley

Look for the collection debut at the fall International Quilt Market in Houston this October.

100% certified organic cotton by the Organic Exchange
Printed with low impact dyes
High-end, quilter’s weight base cloth
44” – 45” wide
Exclusively for quilt shops
$11.95 per yard retail

Contacts:
Cloud9 Fabrics
Michelle Engel Bencsko, Design and Marketing Director
michelle@cloud9fabrics.com

EMBR Group
Rebecca Emberley, Brand Manager

bkwrtr14@yahoo.com

Super Sewing Scissors Block by John Q Adams

2011-08-10T11:33:00.006-04:00

John, aka Quilt Dad, man-quilter extraordinaire and all around great guy, was so kind to work with Cut Out & Keep for our last quilt market. Plus, it was quilted by the supremely talented Angela Walters. When we saw the sketch of his ideas we, of course, were ecstatic- the scissor motif was perfect for the range. We also thought it was a great block for just about any crafty person and envisioned crafty people hanging this up on a wall in their studios, or in a pillow for their favorite knitting chair. It's simply crafty goodness!

I was so delighted to see the pattern available in the latest issue of Fat Quarterly, an e-zine that taking the quilting world by storm. As they put it, it's for modern sewists, by modern sewists." It features a different theme each issue (this quarter's - issue 6- theme is about working with alternative fabrics) and features projects from today's hottest quilters. You can purchase the single issue for only $8.00 or get a yearly subscription right to your inbox.

Giveaway | Miscellany by Julia Rothman

2011-08-05T07:39:00.005-04:00

Enter to win a fat quarter bundle of all 8 prints in Miscellany by leaving a comment with your contact info and tell us what you'd like to make if you win.

Contest runs until Tuesday, August 9th. Open to anyone in the world. One comment per person, please.

Good luck!!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.

The winner is Erin! Thanks to all who entered!

Anonymous said...

I'd use some of it to cover a jewelry board to 2 to hang on my wall & the rest I'd use to make either a clutch bag or tote bag. It would be hard to choose which pattern to use for what, they're all fantastic!

Erin

Here comes Miscellany!!

2011-07-19T22:03:00.004-04:00

We have loved this collection from the very early stages of development and we are happy to announce that it has arrived! These lovely prints, designed by Julia Rothman, will be available at a quilt shop near you shortly. Happy sewing!

Across the Pond sample yardage!

2011-07-19T11:01:00.002-04:00

Just loving how this collection turned out. Funny how seeing a yard of fabric in full can sway your opinions. Loving the butterflies more than ever! Shipping in September- remind your favorite shops to get their pre-orders in!

Tutorial | Ruffled Fan Pillow

2011-07-13T09:36:00.006-04:00

Jaclyn sent me over some sketches and general directions to help you make your own Ruffled Fan Pillow.

1. Start with a base fabric that is the dimensions of your pillow, plus 1/2" for seam allowance. We used a black solid for contrast.

2. Mark with pins where you want the ruffles to end. For ours, we went nearly to the top right corner and about midway along the bottom. This will give the background a chance to peek through without it being too top heavy with ruffles.

3. Our ruffles are made using a pinked edge only. They are not clean finished and so, yes, they'll fray a bit, but that's part of the look for this project.

3a. Cut ruffle strips 2" wide and approximately 2 1/2x the length that you will need in the end (so if you need 1 ft of ruffle, then make the strip 2 1/2 ft). You may need to join strips together to get to your desired length.

3b. Jaclyn used a ruffler attachment (lucky gal for having one!), but it's fairly easy to make ruffles using this simple method below.

Making ruffles without a gathering foot: Cut your pre-measured strips. Set your machine to baste- or hand baste- 1/4" from the edge of the fabric, leaving about 3-4" of loose ends. Then go back and baste another row about 3/8" from edge of fabric. While holding the end of the loose threads, pull the other ends (at same time) and using your fingers of the same hand, push the fabric back to create gathers until you've reached your desired length. Once there, tie off the ends so the ruffle doesn't undo itself. Evenly distribute the gathers and pin every few inches to keep it from sliding around. Go back to your machine with a regular stitch and sew through all the puckers 1/4" from edge, over the basting. Then go back and stitch again on the 3/8" mark.

•••••

4. Starting at the points marked on the base fabric, arrange the ruffle in a curve and stitch to base fabric 1/4" from ruffle edge. Be sure to leave 1/4" extension of the ruffle over the edge of the base fabric for catching into seams when sewing pillow top to back.

•••••

5. Arrange your next ruffle over the first sewn ruffle, covering the stitches of the first ruffle.

•••••

6. Continuing layering ruffles on top of one another, stitching each as you go until you reach the left corner.

NOT PICTURED: If you want to add an embellishment such as the little pennants like Jaclyn did, add them in as you go stitching them to one of the ruffles (one that is not too close to the edge is best)

•••••

7. Pin up the bottom two ruffles so that they do not get caught in the bottoms seam of the pillow. *The ends will get sewn into the left side of the pillow

•••••

8. We used a simple envelope closure by using two panels of overlapping fabric with finished edges on the interior. Arrange them face down on the right side of the ruffled panel. Sew all along the edge of pillow using 1/4" seam allowance.

•••••

9. Turn right side out and press ruffles with iron to flatten them down a bit.

A Miscellany of Luxe Pillows

2011-07-12T09:48:00.004-04:00

Our sewist, Jaclyn, whipped up these pillows for us based on some tutes I found and some rough sketches. She rocks! I think my favorite is the Ruffled Fan Pillow, but they're all wonderful. Here's some details on where you can find the tutorials/images we based these on. Jaclyn will hope to give me an idea of how she made the Ruffled Fan Pillow and I'll try to post a tutorial for those interested.

We paired these Miscellany fabrics, which are so nicely suited to these eclectic styles, with some solids I picked up at the local Joann's: pale pink, rose and black.

The Ruffled Fan Pillow is based on a West Elm pillow.

The Bold Ruffle Pillow is based on this felt pillow from Persia Lou.

The Lattice Pillow is based on this pillow from Running with Scissors.

Ric Rac!

2011-07-05T14:44:00.002-04:00

Fun, perfectly coordinating jumbo cotton ric rac from Worthy Goods Textiles on Etsy. Can't wait to get our bulk Miscellany fabric so I can play!

Construction Updates!

2011-07-02T08:32:00.002-04:00

As Michelle mentioned in her post from yesterday, we are finally going to have a proper warehouse/design studio/corporate headquarters!! The contracts have been signed, deposits were made...now all we need to do is sit back and wait for the construction team to build it! We are very lucky in that our new digs are conveniently located close to both of our homes. In fact, it is so close to where I live that I could walk to work on days that I am feeling energetic!! Michelle has given you all a sneak peek before construction has begun, and since I can just pop over to the site, I'll be posting updates throughout the construction process so you can watch it all come together. The builder said we can expect to see some action come the middle/end of July so stay tuned...

The Future Home of Cloud9 Fabrics!

2011-07-01T14:47:00.003-04:00

It's official! I know it doesn't look like much. But come October, envision this: windows, doors, modern industrial facade, paved drive, weeds cleared and a front view of a new white fence with shrubbery. We're envisioning it and thrilled to know we're getting new, built-to-suit construction and an ideal location for Cloud9 Fabrics Inc. Headquarters.

The building will have 3 warehouse/office units- and we're going to be up front and facing the main street, which you can't see from this photo, but we're actually in a little village center, so there's businesses and activity just steps away.

Hopefully next time I have an opportunity to take a picture, it will look a little more appealing - although Gina and I just look at it with our rose-colored glasses: it's a little bit of heaven. Not that we don't love our home offices, but after 3 years of inconveniencing our families and living 24/7 with our business, we're beyond excited to know we'll have a single and unified place to call Work.

Across the Pond

2011-07-01T07:02:00.003-04:00

Let's have a big "yippie!". I had to go three rounds of strike-offs to get this project just right. And now it is. Just right!

Across the Pond is a Price Sensitive collection, retailing at $11.95. Due to ship in September. woot!

Fabricland Display Quilt

2011-06-30T07:04:00.004-04:00

We love to see how our fabrics look in shops. Fabricland is nearby in our home state of NJ, so we're particularly thrilled to see this great display of a quilt using Nature Walk and designed by Carole Drabnis. So cheery!

Noodlehead + Miscellany = 2 x 241 Totes

2011-06-29T12:50:00.004-04:00

Wow, I just realized I never posted images of the 241 Totes that we made for Quilt Market in Miscellany. Behold!

Gina and I positively love our 241 Totes. For one, the design of the bag is just awesome. Roomy, but not to the point where we lose things. Enough pockets to keep us semi-orgnaized. Great design. Comfortable to wear on shoulder and even sling it over our bodies. Cudos to Ms. Anna from Noodlehead for excellent design.

Secondly, they seem to go with just about everything we own! Somewhere in the bag there's a color that matches or compliments most of our outfits. We have commented regularly how much we adore them. Julia's prints are modern and eye-catching: someone asked me if I got the bag at Anthropologie. Was proud to say it was one of our designers.

Buy the 241 Tote pattern here.

Buy the fabric at your favorite shops in... probably early August at this point. We're hoping to ship to shops anywhere from the 15th-25th.

Tutorial | Oval Bathmat

2011-06-28T12:07:00.008-04:00

I have to say, I'm quite proud of this one! It went together much like I intended, in almost no time at all AND it worked (and looks) great! I used Fishbone from Miscellany. The fishy motif is perfect for a bathroom and the colors are so modern with the pale mint and rosy pink and earthy stone- it makes a perfect addition to my shower area.

To make this 20" x 30" oval bathmat, you'll need:

2/3 yd of fabric
1 old terry towel (one that coordinates well would be best as it can peek thru from below) or 2/3 yd of terry cloth
2 1/2 yds of jumbo ric rac
template*
tape
marker

*this .pdf template will print on a single sheet of 11x17 tabloid paper. If you cannot print that size, you can print it in sections and piece it together. Essentially, the piece is a 1/4 slice of a 20" circle (so it is only 10" wide) plus, the addition of a 5" piece to create width of mat.

1. Make your pattern piece. Print 2 of your pattern piece. Cut along the long edge of a single piece and then align it to the dotted line of another. Tape in place. Trim the completed pattern piece on the line.

2. Cut your fabric. Place pattern piece on fold as directed. Pin and cut. Press.

3. Cut your terry. Lay the fabric over a freshly pressed terry. With a marker, outline the fabric with the addition of anywhere to 1/4" or 1/2" extra. It is not important to be too accurate here, but you definitely want the terry piece a little larger than the fabric piece.

*As you might notice, I cut it very close here and when it came time to sandwich my pieces together I was wishing I had a little more wiggle room.

4. Finish the edge of the terry. I'm not a precautionary sewist by nature, but I was sure glad I took this extra step and I recommend you do the same. If you have a serger it will be much easier, but it can still be done with a regular machine. This will save lots of little loopy fray fragments from getting all over your project.

4a: Serger: trim the terry leaving up to 1" excess around. Your serger will trim as you go. Serge right on the line you drew allowing your machine to trim the excess.

4b: Sewing machine: trim on the line you drew. Using a zig zag stitch on the widest settings edge the entire terry piece.

Press when finished.

5. Attach the ric rac to the top fabric. Again, here's a precautionary step to make your life easier. I have struggled with ric rac in the past, having it move on me as I sewed leaving an uneven edge. I've found that pinning the ric rac well in place and using a basting stitch to secure it is a great way to keep it looking neat.

5a. Ric rac can pucker your fabric edges, so when you're done, expect it to be a little bumpy along the edge. Pin the ric rac in a place so that when you sew your 1/4" seam, it will be in the position you want it. For me if left about 1/8" at minimum exposed.

5b. Make sure to tuck under edges of ric rac and make it tidy at the ends. Be sure to place this seam in a rather inconspicuous area- I made it happen about 1" into the straight edge of the mat- this way it was not on the curve, nor was it in the center of the mat which could be distracting.

5c. After you pin, baste 1/8" from edge of fabric. Press to flatten ric rac, but be careful if it is polyester, as the iron might make the puckering worse. You just want to give it a decent pressing to smooth it out a bit.

6. Pin the pieces together. Layer the top fabric to the terry, right sides facing. Make sure your front fabric is centered within the terry oval. Pin in the center of the oval. From there, smooth out the fabric to the top- pin. Smooth to the bottom - pin. Smooth to the left- pin (this curved edge is where the ric rac curls up the most, so be sure to flatten it down well and secure with a pin. Do the same to right side. Now, while continuing to smooth, keep pinning all around the circumference of the oval, be sure to keep the fabric edges from curling by pinning well. This should do the trick as the terry will pull it back into place once pinned.

7. Sew the mat pieces. Sew 1/4" from the FABRIC edge all along the circumference leaving a 6-8" section open for turning inside out. It is IMPERATIVE you do this along the straight edge. It makes sense to do it in the same location as your ric rac seam as well.

8. Turn inside out. Turn the mat inside out and smooth out the edges. You will need to fuss a bit at this point. Working from the top of the mat, use your fingers to push the seam flat along the ric rac and fabric, while simultaneously, pushing the terry under the mat so you can't see it. Pin well as you go along and if you seen the terry peeking through, just go back and roll it under some more.

9. Secure the opening. In the area where the opening is, you'll note that the ric rac is not stitched as deep as where it's been sewn into the terry. So, using your fingers, press the fabric into the ric rac at the same distance to make the seam look continuous from the front. Give a little press with the iron to keep the crease.

9a. Roll the terry under and inside the mat in much the same way, so that it look continuous from the back. Pin well.

10. Topstitch. Topstitch about 3/4" from the seam where the fabric meets the ric rac. It is easiest to topstitch here first as the terry creates a bit of thickness. Once you go all the way around the circumference, give it a press.

10a. Next, topstitch a scant 1/16" from the seam where the fabric meets the ric rac - this will give it a nice clean flatness as well as seal up the opening. Press.

Enjoy!!

M is for Miscellany

2011-06-24T13:55:00.003-04:00

Today I had my boys home with me... and while, for the most part, that means I can't get much work done, we do find that if we congregate in the basement with some sort of creative activity of our own, we can have a splendid and productive time together!

So, I made this skinny scarf that I saw on Sew 4 Home today. I made some alterations for my own version... vintage goldish ric rac in place of pom-poms, no layer of batting as I wanted to keep it as light as possible, and I didn't seem to need topstitching, so I didn't add that either. What attracted me most to the project (besides being a pretty easy one) was that it used 8 prints- and that's just what Miscellany has!- so it was an easy-peasy and perfect way to highlight all 8 of them.

While I was sewing, I remembered Daisy Janie also had a skinny scarf tute - the Boho Chic Scarf - which would also be cool in these fabrics... (but I might try to squeeze some of the fab gold ric rac in there, too!).

1, 2, 3 Sew by Ellen Luckett Baker

2011-06-20T14:07:00.005-04:00

Not too long ago, Cloud9 Fabrics received a copy of 1, 2, 3 Sew in the mail and we were so excited to see how the use of our fabrics turned out. Ellen created sweet items using prints from My Happy Garden throughout the For Baby chapter, coupling them with white organic cotton flannel. The projects are darling- as are all the others in the book.

See Ellen's popular blog The Long Thread for more on the different chapters and also check out the delightful animated trailer for the launch.

1, 2, 3 Sew in stores now!

Website Design Overhaul

2011-06-17T16:34:00.007-04:00

I'm going to let out a big old "whew!" for this one. I've been tinkering with the website for months and today I can finally say, I am FINISHED! Of course, that's not to say it won't need constant updating, but the core is completed and that's good enough for me to invite you all to drop by and see how it looks. The site features a few more pages of extras in an attempt to be more specific with information, more direct linking to wholesales aspects for new and existing customers, and a little more polish over all. Hoping it reads well to users. I'd be ever so grateful for input on any weirdness you may encounter!

Green Bag Lady Giveaway

2011-06-14T09:32:00.004-04:00

Go on over to the inspirational Green Bag Lady blog where Teresa VanHattan-Granath, who is passionate about reusable bags, has a giveaway in full swing. Win a bag made with Cloud9 fabrics, or win some Cloud9 fabrics to make a bag!

ENTER HERE

Kate Conklin Designs | Stack & Slash Tutorial

2011-06-13T06:47:00.005-04:00

photo taken by Kate Conklin via Chasing Cottons

Kate has posted a great tutorial for this sharp looking quilt on the Chasing Cottons blog. As with her last project with Cloud9 Fabrics, Sea Views, it uses a single fat quarter bundle of our Nature Walk collection (or any 8 patterns) and a contrast solid. Another lovely project from Kate!

photo taken by Kate Conklin via Chasing Cottons

Debut | Monsterz by Michéle Brummer-Everett

2011-05-26T13:07:00.008-04:00

After all the excitement over a little pillow, Michéle and I worked diligently to crank this out to deliver on the promise. The results (besides a tired iMac): absolute cuteness. Monsterz will be our largest collection to date and it also boasts of our first panel print- a selvedge to selvedge print with Monster Climberz on one side and Little Dreamerz on the other and fun and versatile prints filling the center. I love that this collection has a nice handful of coordinating basics to help support the main prints. Lots of options here- things for boys and girls and tykes of all ages in a groovy modern color palette. Retails at $11.95 yd.

Shipping in October '11. Wholesale pre-orders now being taken. They'll be listed in our shop and on our site in a few days. If you're interested in pre-ordering, simply email us and let us know which ones you'd like. Be sure to set up a wholesale account first!

Monsterz Mash in orange

Monsterz Mash in pink

Spotlight in pink

Spotlight in orange

Spotlight in mint

••••••••

Monsterz panel print

Left side detail

Right side detail

••••••••

Sweet Dreamz

Static in Yellow

Static in gray

Static in mint

Mountainz in mint

Mountainz in pink

Preview | Monsterz by Michéle Brummer-Everett

2011-05-17T06:38:00.008-04:00

Sometimes a talent comes along and you are just so enamored that you want to "have it now". Such is the case with Michéle Brummer-Everett. In fact, I was so impressed with her adorable creations that I created a whole new division of Cloud9 Fabrics within a day of first viewing: Cloud9 Kids. Please, someone, PLEASE make ranges of kids clothes, bedding and accessories!! I just don't have the time and I need these for the kids in my life.

We previewed our pillow at market and it was all we could do not to tackle some people in order to keep it in our booth. What was especially nice was that Michéle lives 40 minutes away from Salt Lake City and was able to spend some time at the market and see the new and exciting world that was about to embrace her work. (she as sweet and adorable as her little critters).

Monsterz is due to ship in October on our Price Sensitive base cloth- retailing at $11.95. We are still finalizing all of the prints and color ways, but it won't take very long, so pre-orders will be accepted in about a month.

Visit Michéle's website.

Debut | Maman - the artwork of Anne-Marie Bossaert

2011-05-16T10:23:00.008-04:00

Not too long ago we previewed this classic collection based on the artwork of my grandmother. It was incredibly warming to hear so many nice comments and to see the delight of visitors stopped by to take a look. I coupled this collection with a new line of Nursery Basics, which we'll run consistently to coordinate with this and future collections. Maman is printed on our Premium base cloth which is an absolutely sumptuous 200 thread count sheeting, which has a soft silky hand with a touch of crispness. It's just right for little ones. This collection will speak to those who appreciate a timeless and classic appeal as well as those who crave unique and new (to us). The fresh palette will fit perfectly into today's nursery settings.

chinoiserie

menagerie

toile de bébé

les petite filles

motif in brun | bleu | rose

nursery basics in sky | earth | shell | grass

Debut | Miscellany by Julia Rothman

2011-05-15T09:18:00.004-04:00

Quilt by Yahaira Ferreira.

Quilt market is in full swing and Miscellany is garnering a lot of attention. Miscellany by Brooklyn NY pattern designer and illustrator, Julia Rothman, is a selection of singular patterns from her recent portfolio. Julia's delicate and imaginative style adds new dimension to Cloud9 Fabrics' offerings as part of our Designer Series. Excited to finally show it off. Shipping in July.

fishbone

stacked

flora

endless knot

nethercote

candy trees

antique flower

petal pusher

Spring Market Preview | Meet us in Salt Lake City!

2011-05-11T10:26:00.002-04:00

We're counting down the hours now until Gina and I leave for the International Quilt Market. If you haven't signed up for our newsletter, there's a peek at what we're viewing. Plus we have a new range concept called Cloud9 Kids to preview and we'll show off our new designer when we return.

See you soon!

Favor | Pick your favorite!

2011-04-28T12:13:00.013-04:00

We're going to try something new here. Just to see how things might play out, we'd like to do a little research with you all by asking you to tell us of your favorite print(s) in the Across the Pond collection. There can be a large variance in the preferences of the designer (me), production director (Gina), store buyers and shoppers. But almost always, there are one or two patterns that bubble to the top of most people's list. We have our opinion, but we'd love to know yours! It's our job to anticipate what they may be, but now we find ourselves in a unique position where we don't have to guess all by ourselves.

What's in it for you? Well, fabric, of course! We'll pick one random winner to get a sampler set of fat quarters bridging some of the recent deliveries. 10 patterns total.

Here's what to do:

Go to our {new} web page and take a look at Across the Pond. If you click on the thumbnails, you'll be able to view them larger.

Come back here and let us know which is (are) your fave(s).

Also leave some contact info.

We'll let this run until Saturday 4/30.

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT!

Preview | Maman

2011-04-18T12:21:00.005-04:00

Today I am particularly pleased to introduce a collection on which I've long been working. The artist is very near and dear to my heart and has been the influence for me and other women in my family for our entire lives. As such, I've wanted to make it just right.

Cloud9 Fabrics presents Maman.

Co-founder of Cloud9 Fabrics, Michelle Engel Bencsko comes from a long line of talented women. In Maman, we celebrate her beloved grandmother, Anne-Marie Murphy, née Anne-Marie Bossaert, of Belgian-French decent, whose many talents include illustrating a charming and extensive array of images depicting infants, children, religious themes and fairy tales around the time of WWII in Belgium and France. It is Michelle's pleasure to work with her Bonne-Maman, as her grandchildren call her, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday. Michelle and her mother, Arlette, utilized their own inherited talents to create and refine a nursery collection which will undoubtedly renew the interest in Anne-Marie's work through the medium of fabric.

Anne-Marie recalls: "As far back as I can remember I loved to draw! Eventually, I started using my art as presents to family and friends. This led to selling them framed to gift shops in Belgium. In searching for fine paper, which was getting scarce due to it being wartime, my mother brought my work to a local publisher to see if they could supply me. His response was "I cannot supply the paper, but I can offer her a job". And so my career began.
My family and I eventually moved to Paris, which is where my mother is from, and there I approached three more publishers and continued o specialize in children's subjects and religious themes. Later, I met and married my husband Vincent, who was with the US Army. After several months, when the War Brides were allowed passage, I moved to the States.
Once in the States, I am sorry to say I did not continue to use my talents as I was busy raising three children. I also found it daunting because I was told I needed an agent and that I would have to limit myself in number of colors used. But the torch got passed! My two daughters are artists (and teachers) as are my two grand-daughters, Michelle and Sara, all of them more talented than I."

••••••••••••••

Well, Bonne-Maman, we might not agree with that last statement entirely... we're just "different flavors"! You inspire us all. It's been an honor to work with your imagery and I tell you, it was no small feat trying to narrow it down to only a small handful from the hundreds of images you managed to preserve all these decades and we will all treasure them for years to come.

Much love and thanks,

Your first grandchild, Michelle

••••••••••••••

Maman will debut at the Spring Quilt Market in May. This will be a Premium collection of goods on luxurious 200 thread count base cloth. We will run this collection concurrently with a new range of coordinating Nursery Basics, which will include solids. Watch this site after market for the full reveal!

Sneak Peek | Miscellany by Julia Rothman

2011-04-18T08:58:00.001-04:00

Miscellany by Julia Rothman is a selection of singular patterns from her recent portfolio. Julia is a pattern designer and illustrator located in Brooklyn, NY. Her pattern designs can be seen on products for companies such as Urban Outfitters, Land of Nod, Galison, and Garnet Hill. She has a line of letterpress stationery with Hello! Lucky and a line of wallpaper manufactured by Hygge & West. She is co-author of the recently released The Exquisite Book and author of upcoming release, Drawn In. For more glimpses of her work visit her website.

Julia's delicate and imaginative style adds new dimension to Cloud9 Fabrics' offerings as part of our Designer Series. We're so excited to bring her unique imagery to our market. Miscellany will start shipping in July '11.

The Spring International Quilt Market is only a month away and we'll be formally launching Miscellany in its entirety. It will be available for viewing on our website shortly thereafter. Wholesale pre-ordering will begin May 14th - apply for access to our web shop for ordering details and wholesale terms and conditions. For general inquiries, please contact us.

Sassy Samples | Cut Out & Keep Meets Vintage

2011-04-15T20:28:00.003-04:00

This quilt market we'll be doing a single corner booth. After last show's luxurious double booth space, we got spoiled with how many samples we could produce. This time around, we need to be economical and savvy with our choices. When considering Heather's range, I instantly thought about our garment rack and a vintage mini dress was obviously the way to go. So, it was off to Etsy to find a cute dress, simple in line and construction. What did I find but this adorable A-line from 1967 - McCalls 8945. Perfection. I want to pat myself on the back for cutting all the pieces out! It's a job I don't like doing, but I knew that Jaclyn would be doing the more arduous task of sewing them up and she did a fabulous job.

When I took this picture, I couldn't help think of the Twelve Dancing Princesses (a la Blake Edwards).

Giveaway | Noodlehead + Cloud9

2011-04-14T09:41:00.002-04:00

Here's another fun giveaway! Noodlehead is giving away her 241 Tote pattern, and we're tossing in enough Cut Out & Keep fabric (of your choice!) to complete the project!

Head over and enter!

Giveaway | Cut Out & Keep by Heather Moore

2011-04-06T06:00:00.004-04:00

Head over to Heather's blog for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of her delicious Cut Out & Keep!

Excitement abounds here, too: The goods have landed and been inspected and we're only waiting to take possession in our warehouse so we can start shipping it to our lovely customers. So much anticipation for this collection. Finally we can say we're nearly there.

Oh, and it's my birthday! (You're going to need that tidbit of info for Heather's giveaway). :)

Go! Hurry!

Preview | Across the Pond

2011-04-04T14:05:00.005-04:00

Another project in the hopper! Across the Pond has quite a history, but what matters most is the here and now. And here it is!

We're tentatively slating this as an Aug/Sept '11 delivery and it will be on the price-sensitive base cloth. Look for bigger look-sees at Quilt Market.

At Sunset...

10 prints and two color stories. A little bit of a departure for us, but oh, what the heck! Hope you like! I'm really pleased with the way this turned out. Bolder prints in a slightly more graphic style than I've been doing of late. It's nice to see where some concepts will take me.

In the morning light...

Modern Quilt Guild: word challenge

2011-04-04T13:35:00.006-04:00

Cloud9 Fabrics has proudly donated prizes for the current Project Modern Challenge No 3! This is a word challenge and the word is ORGANIC.

Check in at the Modern Quilt Guild's site for details. There's super prizes to be won - Cut Out & Keep 1/2yd bundles and FQ's of Nature Walk, along with prizes from Daisy Janie and Quilting Arts.

241 Tote from Noodlehead

2011-04-03T09:45:00.004-04:00

Noodlehead's Anna Graham recently released her latest tote pattern, called the 241 Tote. We're so happy she chose Cut Out & Keep for her samples! Heather's graphic style really compliments the bold pieces of this roomy and versatile tote.

Loving this bag. There's two versions included. One with nice big side pockets, the other with front zips. Hoping I can get some time before Market to make one of my own.

Pattern available as a .PDF for $7

Photos property of Anna Graham

Spotlight | The Smockery

2011-03-25T11:52:00.006-04:00

Nora Worthington, owner, designer, and seamstress of The Smockery has recently shared their new ranges of traditional dresses, rompers and jumpers for girls and boys. Just look at what they've created using sweet My Happy Nursery. We love to see this pride, workmanship and dedication in a product that is forever classic and, in our opinion, much lacking in today's market. We are so pleased to be featured among their fabric selections.

"The Smockery, is carrying on the craft of handmade clothing for infants and children. The signature dress is a handmade, hand smocked bishop dress that has been a Charleston tradition for nearly forty years. It is classic in its style as well as its assembly. No one else in America hand smocks in this way."- read more about The Smockery, their mission and their products on their site.

Classic A-lines:

Let's not forget the boys! I remember my brother having an outfit much like the one on the left. But my heart belongs to the red berry check romper. I can just imagine the chubby wubby thighs!

Playful pieces:

Beautifully hand-stitched smocking on the delightful Bishop Dresses:

And so much more! Personalized monogramming, diapers bibs and even patchwork quilts:

Mr. Fox and Ms. Rabbit dolled up for Quilt Market

2011-03-24T20:06:00.007-04:00

photo taken by Annie Reichmann

I am simply ecstatic over these amazing dolls that I had asked Annie Reichmann of Bird and Little Bird to make for us. I've long admired her creations and soon after I received Nature Walk, I knew (hoped) this would be a match made in heaven. You can read her own account on her blog.

I cannot say enough about these endearing creatures. First, they came in a box with little blue polka dot stickers all over the labels which made me smile. When I opened her up, I literally exclaimed "Oh my gosh, how AMAZING are THESE?! My mom was there and she, too was as impressed as I was. They are really, really dense and heavier than you might think. Annie tells me that there's a "stunning amount of stuffing" in them. Yes, I believe her. They are so exquisitely made and so precious. Certainly an heirloom.

Look for them at Quilt Market if you're going!

Annie also has an e-magazine called Alphabet Glue - "a quarterly downloadable magazine for families who love books! Filled with activities, printables, projects and plenty of inspiration, Alphabet Glue was created in hopes of helping more families to incorporate creativity, imagination and all things literary into their everyday routines.". There's things in here for both my 3 year old and my 9 year old. It's sweet and thoughtful and I highly recommend it.

Arboretum quilt pattern by Lizzy House

2011-03-21T14:10:00.004-04:00

Thrilled to bits that Lizzy House was so inspired by Nature Walk as to produce this 60"x 60" easy-to-piece quilt.

"Take a guided tour of Cloud9's newest price sensitive organic collection, Nature Walk. View the flora and fauna, the trees and flowers, as you make you way around this quick quilt. Easy to piece, easy to finish, but with a few unexpected turns, this simple quilt will have you on your own Nature Walk through your own Arboretum."

Available in our shop, along with quilt kits!

Check out this quilt pattern and more in Lizzy's own fabulous shop.

Pile o' Nature Walk Pillows

2011-03-15T07:02:00.004-04:00

This lovely pile of pillows is brought to us by our lovely and talented friend Jaclyn, who sews up all sorts of goodies for us here at Cloud9 Fabrics. These were a big hit at Saturday's visit to Spool.

Meet us in Philly!

2011-03-07T11:46:00.003-05:00

Gina and I will be at Spool in Philadelphia this Saturday, March 12 from 12pm-2pm. Gina plans to do a little talk about our business and the importance of organic cotton. I will hold a little Q&A about designing fabrics. Mainly we're there to chat and meet you. Oh, and give away stuff! We'll also be sneak peeking Heather Moore's Cut Out & Keep. We'll also be bringing some of the samples I've been making (but not my potholders because they're already *really* used.)

So come on out and meet us! Spool is located at 1912 South Street, Philadelphia 215-545-0755.

Check out this adorable outfit Laura made from an Oliver+S pattern and our Nature Walk prints. I am hoping it will also be there!

Props!

2011-03-02T12:54:00.002-05:00

We had these adorable fabric eggs made by Heather of The Polka Dot Tot Spot for our quilt market booth. I must hide them or they will become little ion grenades to a certain 3yo boy.

You can find them and similar in her shop!

IKEA hack project with Cut Out & Keep

2011-02-23T10:51:00.008-05:00

Hot on the heels of its arrival, and also on the heels of a post I did on my personal blog this weekend, I whisked down to my sewing machine and started on this VERY SIMPLE project. Half way through, I thought "Hey, I should take pics". So I did! Now you can follow along on this project that took less than 30 minutes to make (including picture taking time) and will add interest and pleasure to my living room for months to come. (I say months because this is such an easy project, I can see oneself swapping out shades quite frequently.)

You'll need a GRÖNÖ lamp from IKEA. I am using the big one that comes in a 2pc set. Same directions hold for the smaller lamps which are sold individually.

1. Measure the height of the lamp and add 1.5". Then measure the circumference of the lamp and add 2"- I give enough seam allowance to be able to pin the seam later. The finished shade will measure 1/2" shorter than the height to clear the cord at the bottom of the lamp.

2. Press over top and bottom edges 1" for a hem. Then fold the 1" hem in half again to conceal the raw edges. Topstitch 3/8" from edge on right side of fabric. Do this on the top and bottom. Make sure you are catching the hem in the back. Press.

3. Wrap the fabric around the lamp wrong side out. In a corner, pin the fabric SNUGGLY against the lamp. This shade needs to fit tightly. Over time, the fabric will loosen and sag if it does not fit well. You just want to make it so as you pin you are right up against the glass. Mark sewing line if you wish. Sew along this line.

4. Trim off all but 1" of the hem. Then fold the hem in half and stitch it down.

5. From the wrong side of fabric, press the hem over so that the clean side is facing you. Then turn the sleeve inside out and press the hem flat.

6. Slip the sleeve over the lamp- it's a project that may go smoother with an extra set of hands, but it's not necessary. Align the seam in the back corner and make sure your hem is laying flat and neat within.

7. Make sure your sleeve clears the cord.

That's it. Plug her in!

PS- Almost ironically, Heather has no IKEA in her country and it's only fitting I share her tea towel outlining her desires.

Cut Out & Keep on display

2011-02-22T08:36:00.002-05:00

I may be biased, but I think this is the cutest fabric rack in the world. What was sweeter is that, having met Heather last summer, Karl was very happy to pose for her and stood up extra straight and extended his arms extra wide. I can only hope he will be as charming when he gets older.

So, what to do with alllll this fabric?! Well, we're waiting for the balance of prints so I can't do everything I had planned, but I think a little project here and there will be in order. Might even start one today.

Look for Cut Out & Keep swatch sets in the shop in the next month. Ask to be notified when in stock by clicking on the link at the bottom of the listing.

Fabrics shown from left to right: Shards, Splinters and Avenues

Project Idea | Pinwheel Pillow

2011-02-18T12:11:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I watched this easy peasy breezy tutorial on making pinwheels from the Missouri Quilt Company and was inspired. So today, because I *obviously* (I say with rolling eyes) have nothing else to do, I decide to nip downstairs and see what I could do. Guess what? It worked! And it was just as fast and easy as they said.

As I was just testing the waters with this method I didn't go crazy, but I realized at once that I would have enough to do a nice pillow cover. So a little sashing and an envelope closure on the back and voila!: my Friday project.

What are YOU making today?

Project Idea | Basket Liners

2011-02-17T10:46:00.002-05:00

This is just a teaser, but I wanted to share. This liner was way more work (read: math) than I expected! I have three baskets- same style, different sizes. This is the smallest one. When I manage to do the other two, hopefully I'll have a sensible tutorial for you! Please don't hold me to it though because I if they go anything like this one, it's basically winging it. Sort of like draping patterns: Measure. Drape. Snip. Pin. Snip. Measure. Measure. Measure. Drape. Tuck. Pin. Baste. Unbaste. (repeat) Snip. Pin. Sew. aaaand Done.

Project Idea | Pocket Full of Love Pillow project

2011-02-11T07:30:00.009-05:00

Last minute projects are nothing new in my world. However, I'm pleased as punch to have made this with enough time to spare that I can give you a tutorial- and if you're a last-minute doer like myself, you'll find you can make this up in no time at all. This little Pocket Full of Love Pillow project will sure to please, especially if filled with your loved one's favorite goodies.

Download the heart template HERE. Please note, this is to printed on tabloid 11x17 paper.

1. Cut pieces as shown below. I used the same fabric (Moss | Crimson) of the front accent, pocket and back. You can use any combination of fabrics and hopefully you can find a little treasure of a print to put in the center square. I used Leaves | Crimson as horizontal accent and a tree from Grove | Straw for the highlight.

2. Assemble the horizontal strip. Press seams away from the center square.

3. Assemble the other strips of fabric as shown.

4. Fold the pocket fabric in half and press. The folded edge should be on top.

5. With the front panel face up, lay pocket so it sits at the bottom edge of the vertical stripe. Last, lay the backing fabric face down.

6. Position the heart template - be sure to keep the horizontal stripe perpendicular and within the widest part of the heart. Pin well- especially around the pocket- and cut through all thicknesses.

7. Remove pattern piece and re-pin. Sew all around heart leaving about 2" opening in the straight area at the bottom edge for stuffing. Pivot cleanly at the "v" at the top of the heart. Snip the tip of the bottom of the heart. Also snip the "v" but be very careful not to snip too close to the stitching as it may pull apart. Reinforcing this area with another pass of the sewing machine would be helpful.

8. Turn inside out, press open seams, making a nice smooth curve along the top and top sides of the heart. Stuff with your fiber fill of choice and hand sew close. *Don't over-stuff as is may contort your pillow- also making it hard to slip things in the pocket.

9. Add your love notes, some sweets, a card and rest on the bed waiting for your true love to happen upon it.

Happy Valentines Day!

Quilt for Karl

2011-02-09T13:38:00.005-05:00

My poor neglected 9 year old! He's been too old for elephants and birdies and I spent much of my Forest Friends Flannel time on miscellaneous projects- one of which my 3 year old inherited. Now I've got Nature Walk, I knew the first project to tackle was a quilt for my son's day bed- which I've wanted to do since we got him the bed years ago.

This bed has posed a number of catches. Because of the back and arm rests, the quilt needed to fit the twin mattress exactly without overhang- it is not a standard quilt size. I also didn't want the overhang in front to drop to the floor because the style is such that the airiness should be maintained. Because you can't walk around this bed in order to make it, my son needs to climb on the covers in order to get it to the back corners- which, of course, is impossible to do when you are kneeling on it! So, the bed, unless I made it by leaning over it, was never really "made". Also, he's a kicker and thrasher at night so I wanted to make this his only blanket for warmth so he'd not get all tangled up in layers of blankets- so it needed to be pretty warm especially on these ridiculously cold nights we've been having lately.

So, my first thought was to measure it out- the mattress being 39"d x 75"w and a 9" drop. I rounded the measurements off to 40" deep with a 10" drop for a bit of give as it draped over the front edge- this put the total measurement of the quilt at 50" x 75". In this way, I could make 5 rows of 10" high blocks (by 8.5" w). Now that the quilt is finished, though I realize I could've done with an extra .25" or so on the horizontal measurement of the block to give it a slight overhang on the head and foot of bed (my infamous 20/20 hindsight). My recommendation is the measurement of the blocks including seam allowance should be 10.5" h x 9.25" w.

I laid out a grid pattern on my computer and got to cutting. I used Moss | Earth, Moss | Ocean and Leaves | Leaf (cut in both directions). The piecing went together simply and easily. Afterwards, I cut a backing from the Moss | Earth pattern to the exact measurement of the topper. Facing rights sides together, I pinned them and sewed all around leaving a 10" opening at the back edge of the quilt, through which I turned it inside out. I pressed the seams.

Rather than use my typical batting, I purchased an $8 comforter insert at IKEA which was lofty, warmish and easily adapted into a smaller size by measuring and drawing a line on the size I needed, minus 1" on the length and width to ensure it would fit well within my "cover". I used a zig zag stitch on my markings, then trimmed the excess off. If I trimmed then sewed, I would've had a messy mess with the poly filling spilling out. All in all, though a bit of a physical workout, it went quite well!

I stuffed the insert into the hole and smoothed it all out on the floor and made sure the insert was centered and not bunched up along any edge. It was much like wrangling a duvet cover. Then I pinned like mad to keep it all in place. Then I topstitched over the opening to seal it up: it doesn't show, so it didn't need to be hidden very well. I decided to go the tied quilting method for a couple of reasons: First and foremost, it's easy! But also, the insert, though it could be sewn, was sure to move around from the pressure of the foot causing puckering problems for the back. The ties also allow for the loftiness to prevail- making it a very comfy comforter indeed. My son was so happy to snuggle up underneath it last night and I was proud to have been able to make this for him (finally!).

The genius of this quilt is the ties! It's fortunate that the bed has all these rungs that I could easily tie the quilt to in order to keep it in place. This way, no matter what the flailing damage to the bedding during the night, all he needs to do is pull it forward and smooth it out. I went in the room today to find a nicely made bed! YAY!

Nature Walk | it's here and it's shipping!

2011-02-08T12:49:00.002-05:00

Nature Walk has started shipping and some big project making is now underway in my house.

Look for it soon in most of these wonderful shops and let it inspire you! And as always, if it does, please share it with us. We love to see what you're making.

Project Idea | Table Runner

2011-02-03T10:09:00.008-05:00

Last night I had to break away from the computer and with nowhere but the kitchen and a sink full of dishes to go, I decided to head down to my sewing area. I pulled out the box of Nature Walk scraps and inspiration struck! After doing the Fat Quarterly quiltalong, I needed something a little more freeform and the pieces I pulled pretty much helped me formulate my idea with nice sized blocks of thick and thins in all my favorite shades from this collection.

First I started by lining it all up to get a feel for balance. I tried not to have any two of the same fabrics directly touching one another. I also tried to get the horizontal pieces to run at both the top and bottom in a balanced manner. Keep in mind if you need to make it a specific size to add 1/2" seam allowance to total measurement- will give you 1/4" allowance on all sides.

To assemble:

1. Create 5 "blocks".

2. Sew all 5 blocks together.

3. Lay the top on the backing fabric as a template and cut the backing to the exact size as the top. Do same for the batting.

4. Next lay the top- face up- on the batting and smooth it out nicely. I put a few safety pins on it too to keep it from sliding around too much. Then lay the backing face down on top of the facing side of the top then pin all around the edges.

5. Sew 1/4" along edge, leaving an area of about 6" open in an inconspicuous place- for me it was the back left since a lamp sits on top of it. Trim corners.

6. Turn inside out through opening. Push out corners.

7. Press edges so it all lays flat. Turn under and press the opening, too. Pin all around edges and throughout center - smoothing as you go.

8. Topstitch along edge 1/8" - be sure to catch the seam allowance in the area that was the opening- it should be sealed shut now.

9. Topstitch however you like through the body of the runner- I stitched in the ditch (directly on all the seams). If you do this, be sure to backtack a little at the beginning and ends of your stitches.

10. Press again. Admire work. Display!

Fat Quarterly Quiltalong Project

2011-02-02T19:49:00.006-05:00

Are you familiar with Fat Quarterly magazine? Oh, you should be!! It's chock full of quilty goodness. I was checking out their latest issue Solids all excited to see my friend Victoria's editorial contribution and a fabulous quilt made from my friend Jan's organic cotton fabric. Then I came across the section highlighting their 2010 quiltalong and thought, hey, I may actually be able to manage that pattern! I could see how other people were doing theirs and I thought it would be a great project for Nature Walk.

So, I'm a little late in the game, and I'm not really "quilting along" so much as "quilting at my own pace"- which is to say: frantically. I immediately set out to cut the pieces and made a royal mistake on all the rectangles- they were .25" shy on the long horizontal side- oh yes- all the pieces - which meant I had to do some crazy piecing - which in my mind showed... *sigh*. After that cutting fiasco, I decided to hand cut my squares: yup, it was as tedious as I thought it would be. But after that, I was in action mode. I was sewing up a storm: crookedly, awkwardly, spastically. But I got it done. And as I got it done I realized that my layout lacked a bit of finesse. It also lacked solids which would have made it pop nicely. If I were to do it again, there would be a whole lot of changes... however, in and of itself- and the fact that I will NOT be redoing the quilt- I am quite pleased with the outcome. I backed it with the green polka dot from Forest Friends Flannel which gives this lap quilt a nice heft. I have plans to give it to my boys, so I know they won't worry about my persnickity ideals. Nature Walk will go super in their newly updated Rumpus Room.

Oh! And some great news!! Nature Walk should be in our warehouse this Friday which means our lovely customers should have it next week some time. If you're aiming to make something, please be sure to add it to our Flickr pool so we can see!!

What people are making with Cloud9 Fabrics

2011-01-31T09:53:00.002-05:00

Sorry about the slow posting lately. Behind the scenes busy-ness is keeping us preoccupied lately. Are you waiting for Nature Walk? So are we! It's landed and customs seems to have eaten up our goods. Just waiting for them to get released, then we'll be shipping to your favorite stores.

Until then, be inspired by all these wonderful projects from our Flickr pool members. Do you have something you've made and want to share? Please add it!

1. Untitled, 2. yellow pencil pouch1, 3. DSC_0006, 4. Simplicity 4206 w/ Cloud9 Organic Fabric, 5. yellow pencil pouch4, 6. laptop tote7, 7. My Happy Nursery baby quilt, 8. hexie colours, 9. harper's scottie, 10. yellow lavender bags 4, 11. 003, 12. 011, 13. First ever quilt!, 14. Spotty bottoms, 15. Untitled, 16. Baby Organic Set from CottonBlossomFarm, 17. Quilt, cushions and rattle, 18. ice cream dress, 19. Cute ted!, 20. 1blueyonderdress640, 21. Oh Boy! a finished quilt, 22. Laptop Sleeve - 13 Inch, 23. Beyond the Sea Sun Hat Closeup, 24. Untitled, 25. Quilted pillow

Flood Appeal Auctions

2011-01-14T11:01:00.003-05:00

THIS AUCTION IS NOW CLOSED- THANKS TO ALL OUR BIDDERS!
Cloud9 Fabrics is so saddened by the flooding in Queensland, Australia where whole communities have been devastated by the rising and raging waters. In order to help raise funds to help victims, we are participating in the Flood Appeal Auctions, spearheaded by Toni Coward of Make it Perfect. Our contribution is this My Happy Nursery lap quilt and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal.

Measuring approx 52"x52" (133cm x 133cm), is is made with 100% organic cotton fabrics and batting. The image shown above is not bound, but it is indeed completed with the same brown binding (see below). The backing is mostly brown with a 12" wide column of the same prints running vertically down the center.

If the auctions are not in your interest, but you can see it in your heart to donate even the smallest amount, you can do so through this link, too.
More auctions will be promoted and held until January 24th on Toni's blog, Make it Perfect. She's rallying craftspeople all over the world to help with the cause. Please stop by there on January 17th where she will compile a master list of auctions. Thanks so much in advance for your generosity.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxAuction Detailsxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

How this auction works:1. Bidding will start at $30 US (about $30.30 AUD)- this will include postage costs to any where in the world.
2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and contact info. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.
3. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4. This auction is open to everyone.
5. The auction begins now and will end at midnight on Monday 24th January 2011.
6. At the close of the auction, we will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your contact information). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send us proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received, we will post your quilt to you.
7. Thank you for participating and happy bidding!

Thanks so much! Michelle and Gina

Debut | Cut Out & Keep by Heather Moore

2011-01-07T07:13:00.007-05:00

So pleased to be introducing the first in our Designer Series for 2011 featuring South African surface and product designer, Heather Moore whose brand name is Skinny laMinx. For a closer look at all the loveliness, pop over to her Flickr page.

Cut Out & Keep is a striking collection of 8 prints based on her paper-cut designs. This is the first range of fabrics of this type for Heather and we're really excited about this collaboration. We received the strike-offs just before the holidays and I quickly sent them half way across the world to Heather's studio in Cape Town, where you can see, she didn't pause to get busy with her new creations. Amazing what she managed to produce with such smallish pieces of fabric in what seems like no time at all. Everything is so clean and breezy with her cool color palette and infusion of whites.

Cut Out & Keep is part of our Price-Sensitive offerings which will retail for under $12/yd for high quality, 100% certified organic cotton quilting fabric. This range won't be available in shops until April, but if you're hoping to see it in your favorite shops- in the US and abroad- please be sure to request it and steer them our way as we're already taking pre-orders.

Project | Pot Holders

2011-01-06T11:59:00.005-05:00

Do you have one of those homes where the oddest things go missing? I do. Pot holders, for instance. Can't find any of them. It's just weird.

Looking on the bright side, it gave me an opportunity to make something useful for my kitchen in Nature Walk. These are "my" colors, so I'm looking to add little bits in just about every room in my house. I found this excellent and easy tutorial on Craft: for the project. Instead of a ribbon I used some small scraps of fabric sewed them together, then made a little .5" wide tape.

If I were to do it again (and I might because they were so darn easy- and Heather's collection is on it's way {more on that soon!}) I'd invest in some of the Insul-Bright that they recommended.

Giveaway | Nature Walk

2011-01-04T07:20:00.007-05:00

xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Winners have been chosen!

For the fat quarter bundle given away on this blog post: kim said... LOVE it!

For the 1/8th bundle on Twitter: ectotherm nikki the ectotherm

For the 1/8th bundle on Facebook: Judy Panke

Will the winners please email us at your earliest convenience.

Thanks to everyone who entered! We're so happy to hear how much you're looking forward to this collection! Look for it in your favorite shops end of January.

xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Happy 2011! Let's get this party started with a little pre-release giveaway. These lovely little bundles of Nature Walk are from our sample bulk fabric and if you're a winner, you'll have some before just about anybody else.

Nature Walk is our first Price Sensitive collection, retailing below $12/yd. We're so pleased with the vibrant colors and the soft hand/feel- and we think you will be too. And best of all, it's 100% organic cotton. Nice!

3 prizes with 3 ways to win:

1. To win a fat quarter bundle of all 8 prints (2yds), leave a comment here. One comment per person.
2. To win a 1/8th bundle of all 8 prints Tweet #naturewalkgiveaway at Cloud9 Fabrics http://tinyurl.com/23rwu98 One tweet per person, please. (No need to re-comment here)
3. To win another 1/8th bundle of all 8 prints Like our Nature Walk Giveaway post on our Facebook page (No need to re-comment here)

Winners will be announced on this post and our Facebook page, so please check back to see if you're a winner. Anyone in world can enter. Contest ends Friday, Jan 7 9pm EST.

Comments are now closed - winner to be announced tomorrow, Sat Jan 8

2010-12-28T08:23:00.001-05:00

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

2010-12-23T09:54:00.005-05:00

I had every intention to get these made yesterday before my dad, step-mom, and brother came to celebrate Christmas, but it was not in the cards. So, I woke up extra early today and sewed these little tokens of thanks for my sons' teachers and was practically wrapping them as my oldest walked out the door!

But thankfully, they couldn't be easier to make. A great project for scraps, too. You can always piece different fabrics together. They can be as simple or elaborate as you can imagine.

Start with 2- 5" squares- they can be pinked (use pinking shears for a zig zag edge) or straight edge before sewing... but you'll want to pink them after sewing to prevent fraying and also to give it a little interest. I pinked them first, but it was not always easy to align them perfectly while sewing. My recommendation would be to pink the edges after sewing.

With WRONG sides together, stitch 3/8" on 3 sides, leaving the bottom open. Stuff with dried botanicals- I used an equal blend of lavender and chamomile buds. You could use rose petals, pine needles, cloves and dried orange peel... Fill the pocket, but don't overfill because you will need to pin it closed to sew- and you don't want the filling to fall into your machine.

Once filled and pinned, sew the last edge to seal. Then if you haven't already, use pinking shears to finish the edges. I happened to have 5x5 plastic bags for greeting cards, and they fit beautifully.

This is a simple sewing project that the kids can help with too. If they fear (or you fear for them) the sewing machine, have them hand stitch them - they'd even be fun in felt.

Sachets are a simple gift but they are thoughtful... and most people would be happy to receive them. (me!)

Christmas Tree Skirt

2010-12-19T20:17:00.007-05:00

After the success of my Peep Boots (and the approval of my family) I was inspired to make a coordinating tree skirt. I found this great tutorial on Sew 4 Home- only I wanted to be able to see all 8 patterns in this collection - mainly because I can't really say which 4 I like best and because my tree is nestled into a corner, you only ever get to see the front of the tree skirt... so I devised a simple pieced pattern that just introduces an extra step and allows for the showcasing of more patterns. Click here for the .pdf pattern piece. There is a full size for people who can print out large format 13x19 pages, or a version for letter-sized 8.5 x 11 which will require piecing and taping. Once you've sewn together the pieces (inner panel to outer panel) and have your slices of the pie ready to sew together, go back to this tutorial to finish through.

Couple of things to note: My skirt measures 48" wide. I used store-bought bias tape - just didn't have it in me to go the distance in such short time, though the red ditsy would've look marvelous!... I found Coats & Clark double-fold 1/2" wide bias tape in Taupe was an excellent match. I needed 3 packages (3yds ea). I backed my skirt with flannel, but it could be anything, really. I used a layer of thin organic cotton batting between and stitched it up as noted on the tutorial, plus I stitched in the ditch of the horizontal seams I made.

A few other directions:

1. Here's an image of what the letter-sized format pattern pieces should look like when pieced together-

the outer panel is above, the inner panel below).

2. Cut all 8 panels* of each pattern piece in various fabrics- you can be as random or pattern-like as you care to be with your fabric selections.

2a. *if you are using a one-directional print, be sure to align it so that the print will "face outward" from the tree trunk therefore it will look correct to you when looking down at it.

3. To create a full panel, sew the outer panel to inner panel (right sides together) matching notches. Press seam flat. Then continue to the tutorial.

Now, to decorate that tree! Hope your holidays has its share of crafty goodness!

...the Peep Boots were hung by the TV with care...

2010-12-16T13:06:00.006-05:00

Finally! Some Christmas decorations at the Bencsko household. The other day I bought this delightful Peep Boot pattern from one of my favorite designers, Lizzy House. Yesterday, Mom came over and helped me assembly-line-style by cutting out all the pieces for me (my least favorite part of sewing). Everything went without a hitch and I'm the proud new maker/owner of 4 sweet Peep Boots presented in Nature Walk. Perfect for a non-traditional traditionalist like me.

Hmmm, next, I may tackle a tree skirt! Have you got any holiday projects on or fresh off the cutting table? Share a link!

Nature Walk Samples Arrived!

2010-12-14T07:08:00.003-05:00

Finally! Now... what to make?? Ideas?

This collection is really exciting for me. Not only does it use some of the darker colors I'm so fond of, but it is made from a little collection of images that I was pretty pleased with creating. Plus, it's our first Price-Sensitive collection which will retail for under $12. It feels lovely, the colors are rich and vibrant and best of all, it's 100% certified organic cotton.

Swatch sets are now available in our shop. Nature Walk will start shipping to your favorite shops in January.

Zippered Pouch

2010-12-13T07:43:00.002-05:00

I tackled my first zippered pouch on Friday. I was so nervous because I haven't sewn with zips in ages. But it worked out just fine! I used this great tutorial over at Flossie Teacakes with the addition of linen piecing along the bottom (coupled with Leaves | Sky from My Happy Nursery) and a handy lip balm pocket on the interior- because no matter how small the bag I always lose my lip balm!

Scrap-Happy Accent Pillow

2010-12-09T13:04:00.003-05:00

I've been chomping at the bit to get my sample yardage of Nature Walk in. The project ideas are just bursting to get loose (though to be honest, if I can make a fraction in reality, I'll be very surprised). So, still working with little bits of the strike-offs, I did up this little patchwork pillow made with 2.5" x 5" swatches.

I'm really loving the darker tones of this collection- it goes very well with my home décor... and I would definitely wear many of these prints... so clothes of some sort seem inevitable.

Tutorial | Contoured Burp Cloths

2010-12-08T13:55:00.007-05:00

I've been planning some baby gifts lately and I must say, My Happy Nursery couldn't've come at a better time! After doing a dry run on this simple and stylishly contoured burp cloth, I thought to share the project with you. I made these 4 in under an hour, so it's a fast, practical but fun, last minute project, too.

You can get 2 burp cloth faces out of a fat quarter (18"h x 22"w), which makes it economical if you made two of the same print per set- or even two sets of assorted patterns. Each is backed in our organic Cloud white flannel (1/2" yard needed for 4). The flannel not only makes for a more absorbent mopping-up-side (let's be honest here, these things are intended to be USED!), but also keeps them from sliding off your shoulder. They could be entirely made of flannel of course, but I was looking for simple and effective ways to use our lush My Happy Nursery sheeting. Plus it's silky soft for little cheeks to lay against when their bellies are full and they want a cuddle.

The pattern piece can be downloaded here. Print at 100% scale.

You will need to cut out the spacer piece and tape it to the bottom (straight) edge of the pattern. See details in images below- click on image to enlarge.

Trunk Show | Sew to Speak

2010-12-07T06:24:00.003-05:00

Laaaaaaast stooooooop! Sew to Speak, the do it yourself style shoppe, in Columbus OH.

Sew to Speak

4610 N. High St.

Columbus, OH 43214

614-267-3011

Samples on display now thru December 13

Spool's My Happy Nursery Quilt

2010-12-06T13:47:00.004-05:00

How adorable is this quilt designed by Philadelphia's Spool fabric shop owner, Laura Singewald. Simple, modern yet classic. We're really excited by it- particularly in our sweet My Happy Nursery... but also, it's so translatable to any fabrics. As a matter of fact, I may take a spin on it with Nature Walk when it comes in.

Read more about Laura's thoughts and process as well as a link to buy the ($3!) .pdf.