Conversation Starter Hearts

Conversation hearts are like a sweet beacon to signal memories of Valentine’s Day past. These sweet candied hearts symbolize the ultimate playful and favorite treat that makes its annual appearance in the candy aisle during the Valentine’s Day season. We love everything about conversation hearts, except that when their gone, that it’s for the year. We decided to make some conversation hearts with staying power, in the form of these cute little mini pillows for your favorite loved ones.

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Winter Games by Amanda Murphy

Hi everyone,

The Winter Olympics are just around the corner and so is the advent of some serious sewing entertainment!  I love watching the athletes compete (having no athletic ability myself) and figure skating is my favorite.  Since I designed a line called Winter Games for Contempo or Benartex in celebration of this year's Olympics, Brewer invited me back here to celebrate the advent of the games with all of you!

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Faux Suede Fringe Stockings DIY

I’m pretty sure that stockings were actually the very first thing that I learned how to sew with my Mom when I was growing up. They were pretty simple designs but I definitely remember the pride I felt in hanging them up for Christmas knowing that I had made them all by myself (with a little help from Mom, I’m sure). Since this is our first Christmas with our daughter Lola, I thought it would be fun to make some family stockings for the mantel to celebrate this extra special holiday! I love the texture and look of faux suede, so we partnered with EverSewn to incorporate that in some way and a layered fringe look felt like the perfect route.

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Let it Snow by Cherry Guidry

I love the traditional reds and greens of Christmas, and Let It Snow, my new fabric collection for Contempo introduced at Fall Quilt Market, is filled with bright reds and greens, a little touch of grey, happy snowmen, yummy cookies, ornaments, words, and several coordinating prints that will work well beyond the holidays.

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DIY Applique Skyline

Think outside the ordinary quilt or pillow application.  Try incorporating a scrappy appliqué technique using cork fabric as your creative canvas background for a beautifully stunning piece of wall art. Shannon Brinkley’s quick and fun Scrappy Appliqué techniques makes this project doable for beginners. We’re a little partial to our sweet home Chicago, but this pattern contains a large fold out template with 6 different skylines; New York City, Seattle, Austin, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco. Pick your favorite skylines.

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