Primitive Quilts and Projects

Birthday Shout-Out / Giveaway Winners

2012-02-01T21:07:00.000-05:00

We chose 3 winners: one from our Blog posts, one from our Facebook posts, and one from the email messages we received. You ladies rock!

Our Blog post winner is: Joanne, who loans her copy to her mom. Joanne, email us at homespunmedia@aol.com, and Leah or Kristen will send a pattern to you.

Thank you for playing!

Judy

Pattern Giveaway and Birthday Shout-Outs

2012-01-29T15:46:00.000-05:00

Hi! We’re finalizing content for the Summer 2012 issue and as always, would like to give some birthday shout-outs to the quilting world. If you or a quilter/stitcher you know will celebrate a birthday in April, May, or June, please let us know. You can email us at homespunmedia@aol.com.

If you respond to this post by 5:00pm EST, Wednesday February 1, we’ll put your name in a drawing for a free pattern.

And by the way, the Summer 2012 issue will mark our First Anniversary!

And the winner is....

2012-01-09T13:57:00.000-05:00

mk4health ...You are the winner of our blog drawing! Congratulations! Please contact us to let us know how to email the free pattern to you.

Thank you to everyone for the nice comments. This has been a fantastic journey and we are so happy to have you with us!

Judy, Jeni, Gretchen, Leah, and Kristen

Our first full year is complete!

2012-01-04T15:46:00.003-05:00

We are SO excited for our Spring 2012 issue! Here is a preview of the cover. This completes our first full year of Primitive Quilts and Projects. Thank you to all of our wonderful subscribers who have made this possible. It has been an amazing experience. To celebrate, we have decided to do another giveaway! If you comment before midnight on Friday, you will be entered into a drawing for a free pattern! Good luck everyone :)

We're ready for Christmas!!! Are you?

2011-12-01T14:20:00.006-05:00

I love my Christmas tree!!! So does my cat, Charlie. I keep finding ornaments all over my apartment! It's a never ending battle, LOL :)

We have a few gift specials going on right now. You can purchase 1 year gift subscriptions for your friends for only $19.99. We also put together a magazine storage box kit that you can customize with fabric! You can display your favorite magazines in our beautiful homespun fabric, or anything you want! These will be available on our website soon! http://www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com/.

Congratulations to...

2011-11-15T14:00:00.003-05:00

Krisgray! Send us an email to receive your free pattern! homespunmedia@aol.com
Thank you to everyone who participated. We will take all of your birthday suggestions into consideration. :) Have a great day!

Notable Birthdays? And a Giveaway!

2011-11-10T16:50:00.000-05:00

Howdy! We're finalizing content for the Spring Issue which will ship in January. Let us know of some notable birthday celebrations taking place from now (November-ish) through March-ish 2012.

If you make a suggestion between now and midnight Sunday night, your name will be entered in a drawing for a free pattern.

Thanks!
Judy, Jeni, Gretchen, and Leah

More Fall Festival Photos

2011-11-05T22:33:00.000-04:00

Love it here! We are having fun in our 10x10 home away from home away from home!

Fun at at Fall Festival!

2011-11-05T08:20:00.000-04:00

This is a wonderful show....wonderful people everywhere you turn! Here's a photo of some super funny gals who stopped by. We staged a mini "flash cheer" for Mary.

I'll snap more photos today and post them tonight.

Thanks!
Judy, Jeni, Gretchen

Quilt Market 2011

2011-10-29T11:05:00.000-04:00

Jeni and Gretchen at the Market...the booth looks beautiful! I'll join them next week at Festival...can't wait!

Congratulations to....

2011-10-19T09:53:00.004-04:00

Stray Stitches!! Send us an email with your mailing address and we will send your needle case out today :) homespunmedia@aol.com For those of you who haven't checked the previous blog, I want to explain to our subscribers our shipping situation. We are working on a second class postage rate with the post office which will make subscriber copies arrive much faster in the future. However, right now we have no control over how fast the post office will deliver your magazine so we have to give the worst case scenario for this time frame. We hope to be approved by the time the Spring 2012 issue comes out. Keep in mind that the main advantage to subscribing to our magazine is the discount you receive compared to purchasing them at the store for full price. Thank you for your patience :) Have a great day!
P.S.
Jeni is at home "working" today, but we keep getting pictures of this little guy...

My finished rug and a giveaway!

2011-10-18T14:00:00.008-04:00

I was finally able to finish my rug earlier this month! I haven't had a chance to post anything because we have been extremely busy at the shop with our Winter issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects! The magazines arrived today! Subscribers should expect to see their copies by early December, and they will be available in your local quilt shops by early November. The first 20 people to post on this blog will be entered into a drawing for a free wool needle case. Good luck!

We have a winner!!

2011-09-06T15:43:00.006-04:00

Congratulations Hueisei!! You get a free quilt pattern! Send us an email and we will attach it as a file :) homespunmedia@aol.com

Thank you everyone for all of the support on my very first rug! It's almost done. I hope to have it finished before my next blog! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend and enjoy the rest of your week!

Leah

Slow progress with my rug.. and another give away!!

2011-08-29T20:09:00.004-04:00

I had an eventful week last week (friends visiting from out of town, a trip to the mountains, spending time with my baby nephew, etc.)... which is why I haven't made much progress on my rug since my last post. I am determined to get much more accomplished this week! In the mean time, let's do another give away! Comment on this post by next Monday and we will put your name in a hat and draw a winner. We will give one lucky winner a free pattern!

Have a great week :)

Leah

And the winner is...

2011-08-22T11:57:00.009-04:00

Robyn of Robyns Nest!!! Congratulations :) Send us an email and let us know if you would like a quilt pattern or wool applique pattern! homespunmedia@aol.com

Thank you everyone for participating! Here is my latest progress with my rug. I'm loving it!

Rug progress!!

2011-08-19T16:18:00.003-04:00

This is a little better, isn't it? haha. My problem at first was the wool strip twisting as it came up through. Jeni was able to show me how to pull the strip through correctly :) I still get twists, but now I am able to manipulate and untwist as I pull it back down. This is becoming more enjoyable now that I'm filling in! It's actually starting to look like something! Yay :)

Learning to hook! (And a giveaway!)

2011-08-15T16:30:00.008-04:00

Hi,

I'm Leah! I'm the office manager for Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine. I thought maybe I should learn how to make this kind of stuff, since I'm supporting all of you wonderful primitive lovers :) So I'm starting with a Woolen Willow hooked rug, called "Crow." I thought I would be able to You Tube "how to rug hook," and this is what I came up with... YIKES!!! So I am about to get a professional lesson from my awesome aunts, Gretchen and Jeni :) I will keep you posted with my progress!

Also, we are overdue for a giveaway! Anyone who comments between now and next Monday... we'll throw your name in a hat and draw a winner! The winner will receive a pattern for a quilt or wool applique!

Fun at Summer Quilt Festival!

2011-07-31T10:16:00.000-04:00

We are lovin' California! And the people here are super! I guess no matter where you go, if you're in the quilting world, you're surrounded by super people!

Here we are with Jan whose comment was published in our first issue. Nice to meet you, honorary sis!

Jeni, Jan, Judy, Sally, and Gretchen

California Here We Come! (and an embarrassingly funny video)

2011-07-27T15:38:00.002-04:00

Four sisters: Sally, Jeni, Gretchen, and me (Judy), plus Jeni's husband, Glen.
Just left little Williamstown, West Virginia.
Driving to Columbus (Ohio) International Airport.
Will be at Long Beach late tonight! Yay!

If you're in the neighborhood, stop by our booth at Summer International Quilt Festival...#1838-1840.

If you want to see a funny video....this is me trying out my laptop's webcam for the first time. I was trying to figure out how to take a photo and didn't realize it was recording a video. Duh!

Avery and Her Spontaneous Scrap Quilt

2011-07-24T18:03:00.001-04:00

Avery and Her Spontaneous Scrap Quilt

You might notice we were using the Hootie Hoot prints from Riley Blake. I'm making a Turning 12 with this fabric, and appliqueing the larger animal motifs onto the larger blocks. It's looking pretty good!

Kids make quilts too!

2011-07-09T12:55:00.001-04:00

My neighbor's grandson (age 8) and granddaughter (age 5) came to visit yesterday while I was putting together a "Turning Twelve" quilt for my grandson (almost 4 months). Naturally curious, they both wanted to try out my sewing machine. Turns out they really only wanted to operate the pedal.

So I pulled out a couple scraps, lined them up, and let Avery "drive." She did a great job, slowing down when she saw the end of the fabric approach the needle. One look at the two pieces we put together inspired me to add another, then another, and so on (all the while Avery drove), until we had a nice, random, 24" x 36" (approx) quilt. Wow!

Then it was Jackson's turn. He had a vision. "Can we take this piece and sew that piece on it, but leave one end open so it makes a pencil holder?" "Why sure, Jackson," I said as we sewed one piece to the other, rights sides together. The looks on his and his sister's faces were worth a million bucks as I turned the item right side out!

Their mother is an elementary school reading teacher; the two of us marveled at the excitement generated by this "old-fashioned" activity. We both thougth it would be fun for quilt- and sewing-shops to sponsor birthday parties, and the like, for young folks to have fun creating useful and beautiful fabric art with their own hands.

I'll snap photos of Avery's quilt and Jackson's pencil pocket later today and will upload to this post.

Another note about kids and projects. In our first issue, Lynda Hall's 7-year-old granddaughter Rebecca helped design the "Cold Days" project.

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on kids and sewing.

Take care!
Judy

The Fall Issue is in the Works!

2011-06-27T21:23:00.000-04:00

Hello! We apologize for kinda dropping off the face of the blogosphere and newsletter-land. Things have been pretty busy producing a new magazine--busy but super fun!

Check out the image of the Fall Issue. That quilt is by Kansas Troubles, and the cute little kitty cat on the bed belongs to Jeni's daughter, Kristin. She kept jumping in front of the camera during our three-day photo shoot.

We promise to get back on track with the newsletters, block of the week (you will get to complete that mystery quilt), and this blog.

Thank you for your well-wishes, encouragement, compliments, support, and constructive criticism. We value you, and your opinions, and are working our little fingers to the bones to make this magazine better, better, and better!

And the winner is....

2011-05-31T08:59:00.000-04:00

Krisgray is the winner of the Woolen Willow pattern! Nice blog ... "Farm Girl Transplanted." So, Krisgray, email your shipping info to us and we'll send a kit your way.

Thank you everyone for participating.

Judy, Jeni, and Gretchen

Creative Mojo Interview Wednesday 5/25 at 3:30....(and a giveaway)

2011-05-23T19:38:00.000-04:00

Please listen to Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski on Wednesday, May 25 at 3:00pm EST. Gretchen will be interviewed by Mark; tentative air time is 3:20. Go to www.toginet.com, & click on the "listen live" button. The interview will also be available later via the Show Host page under "Our Shows". Scroll to find "Creative Mojo". Hope you can listen!
It's time for an overdue giveaway....Comment on our blog this week. We'll put your names in a hat (or bowl or basket or something) and draw a winner. The prize is a free pattern!
Thank you for all the wonderful comments!

It's a Bookazine!

2011-05-15T00:35:00.000-04:00

Cherie Shaeffer owner of "Quilts in the Attic" and and Paula Barnes of "Bonnie Blue Quilts," were talking about our magazine and coined the new phrase, "bookazine." Don'tcha just love it? I think that name might stick...thanks Cherie and Paula!

We are having a wonderful time at Market, and are enjoying Salt Lake City. Jeni and I found a really neat restaurant, "The Inferno Cantina," around the corner from the convention center on Pierpoint Street-or-Drive-or something. The food is authentic (or nearly authentic) Mexican, really really really good, and the atmosphere is calm and pleasant. They play great American music, and the decor is super fun!

Salt Lake City is a beautiful, clean, and fun town. All the Utah folks we've met this weekend are so nice! Here is a photo of one little corner of the town. Love those mountains!

Jeni took a little break from the booth this afternoon and returned with this cute little sample from the Slice booth. She knows I love their Riley Blake Hootie Hoot samples. I have the fabric to make a quilt for my little grandson who is now two months old. I bought the fabric at Fall Market in Houston and haven't started the quilt. Somehow holding a full-time job AND publishing a magazine doesn't leave room for making quilts. Here are photos of the sample AND of my handsome little Julian. I bet he's growing while I'm away at Market.

We are at Spring International Quilt Market!

2011-05-13T23:08:00.000-04:00

We are at Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City Utah! It is beautiful here! I have a couple shots of our booth for you to see, and maybe more pictures soon! It is fun, but also long days of standing and lots of walking! We can't wait for you all to see the Fall Issue photographs! Oh, I guess we can't wait to see them too! We will see them next week and pick what we like for the next issue! Hope you all are getting your projects made from the first issue because July is just around the corner! Don't forget to check the corrections page on the website!
Jeni and Judy

Want to Help Disaster Victims?

2011-04-30T11:19:00.000-04:00

A quick, simple way to help disaster victims is to donate to or volunteer for the American Red Cross.

From the Red Cross website:

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster, both here in the United States and around the world. Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

We would also like to know of any ways the quilting community is rallying to help. Please comment.

Thanks!

Our Spring Festival Booth on Youtube

2011-04-19T21:53:00.000-04:00

We're new to the whole youtube thing, but we thought we'd cut our teeth with a video from Spring Festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qV5ELqLZ6k

Re the "slow boat to China" delivery of magazines..... if you subscribed before March 23 and have not received your copy, please call us, toll-free, at 1-877-809-1895.

Thanks!
Jeni, Judy, and Gretchen

Spring Quilt Festival Cincinnati!

2011-04-09T21:44:00.000-04:00

Here we are at Spring Quilt Festival in Cincinnati! Our booth is for the Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine! I'll have to get another picture tomorrow of just the booth, because you can't really see it with all the people! That's a good thing, cause we have been really busy! Everyone likes the magazine! Yay! The other pictures are of Judy driving the horse carriage we took a ride in last night! That was so much fun! I hope you all are getting your magazines in the mail now! Media mail is slow and I know it is hard to be patient!!! Let us know when you get it!

Jeni

The New Magazines are Here!!!! Yay!!!

2011-04-06T06:58:00.000-04:00

I'm going to refer you to Jeni's post.... she has photos of the truck pulled up to the loading dock, all hands on deck to move boxes into the building, our new publishing office, etc.

Today we will get ready for a fun road trip to the Spring International Quilt Festival in Cincinnati!

Photos of the Printing in Michigan (Lucky Jeni!)

2011-03-30T17:26:00.000-04:00

Jeni is at the Quad Graphics print facility in Midland, Michigan. Her husband Glen drove her up there. They stopped at quilt shops along the way, and are having a wonderful mini-vacation.

I know we refer to our dear West Virginia as "Almost Heaven," but today Jeni would probably say the same about Michigan. Every time she called me today it sounded as though she were holding back tears of joy, as she witnessed our sweet newborn magazine take its first breath as pages rolling off the presses.

Jeni with the first few pages

The Beezly Beary Mohair Bear Project

Front and back covers

Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine rolling off the press!

Thank you, QuadGraphics, for doing a wonderful job, and for showing Jeni and Glen such a nice time!

The New Magazine will Ship this Week!

2011-03-27T20:39:00.000-04:00

After lots of fun, work, fun, editing, fun, proofing, fun, editing, fun, proofing, fun, editing, fun, proofing, and, did I mention fun?...we finally have a magazine. And we are so pleased with how it turned out.

Jeni drives up to the printing site in Michigan on Tuesday for a Wednesday press proof. She is so excited and we are so envious!

We will now get back to schedule with our weekly newsletter. Mom is writing an answer to a question as we e-speak!

Judy

First Things First

2011-03-16T09:42:00.000-04:00

Before giving birth to our new magazine, I'd like to introduce you to my new (and first) grandchild, Julian Maxwell Williamson! He was born this morning at 3:00. Mommy, Daddy, and Baby are doing well.

Count-Down

2011-03-09T22:44:00.000-05:00

Counting down and working a lot to finish this wonderful magazine. We're so excited. Ships to subscribers 3/31. We've put the newsletters and Block-of-Week on temporary hold while we wrap things up before deadlines.

Loving it!
Judy, Jeni, Gretchen

And the Winners Are.........

2011-02-22T07:41:00.000-05:00

Here are my pets watching me (well Buster's watching; Boomie is snoozing) cut the list of names into little slips of paper for the drawing. I crumpled each piece and put them all in a big bowel along with a lucky penny.

Here are the winners:

ShabbySheep
Courtney who was sent to us by Kate at Primitive Woolens
Kate at Primitive Woolens
BillieBee (billiemick), sent to us by Linda at Stray Stitches
Linda at Stray Stitches
Jacque, sent to us by Joanne at Snippets and Scraps of Mind
Joanne at Snippets and Scraps of Mind

Please email us at homespunmedia@aol.com with your address and let us know which pattern you'd like for us to send to you! Congratulations!!!

Thank you to everyone for participating, for following, and for sending followers.

On a side note, you should see the photos of the projects. We picked up the proofs yesterday--NICE!

Thanks!
Judy, Jeni, and Gretchen

Valentine's Day to Presidents' Day Take-Your-Pick Giveaway!!!

2011-02-14T13:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

We're giving away a handful of prizes.

We'd like some more followers. Beginning today and through next Monday (Presidents' Day) if you will refer some new followers to us, we'll put your name and the new followers' names in a hat for a prize drawing.

The prize? Take your pick of any Woolen Willow pattern.

For those of you who refer new followers: If we pick your name, you get to choose a pattern.
For the new followers: If we pick a new follower's name, the follower gets a prize, and the person who referred them gets a prize.
If we pick a new follower who joined us without being referred...you can pick a prize too!

We'll draw the winners around closing time on Monday, February 21.
We want to give away 5 or 6 patterns. We're keeping that number squishy because we won't know how many pairings (referrer and refer-ee) or singles (referrer only, or new follower who joined without being referred) we'll draw.

I hope that all made sense. Anyway, let's see how many new followers we get! Yay!

Judy

Photos of the Photoshoot

2011-02-12T16:41:00.002-05:00

We're shooting the summer issue, right?

No photographers were hurt during the production of this magazine.

Such a pretty barn-I-mean-house!

Definitely a team effort.

Thank you, Chip and Jan, for the use of your beautiful home!

Photography in Progress!

2011-02-10T07:12:00.000-05:00

Hey! We're doing photography for the first issue. Things are looking good! The designers have created amazing quilts, rugs, table mats, punchneedle, and one cute little surprise. You are going to love these projects. And our photographer Jim Osborn is doing an extraordinary job; I hope you visit his website to see samples of his work. If we get a chance, we'll take some photos of the process and post them here.

Have a great day!

Judy, Jeni, and Gretchen

Hearts, Anyone?

2011-01-27T18:23:00.000-05:00

I think I've been inspired by Jeni's latest design, a Heart Quilt. I saw it in person at our weekly magazine meeting last night. Love it! (no pun intended). Jan Patek has a nice post about a "heart quilt" made by a classroom of 7th graders for the "Long Road Ahead" quilt raffle for a young man waiting for a heart transplant. Minick and Simpson have a "Heart Penny Rug."

What other "heart" projects are out there? Especially primitive ones!

Please comment to let us know about those neat, gorgeous, lovely "heart" projects.

We Want to Hear From You

2011-01-23T16:03:00.000-05:00

Each issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects will offer four reader-focused columns. Please feel free to contact us about any of the following:

Show Us Your Work! We want to feature photographs of the work you do. This can be individual or group work. Quilts… rugs… table mats… dolls… and so on. Show the world what you've created—you might inspire a new project.
Your Voice, Your Ideas. For this column we invite you to share your ideas and suggestions. This will also serve as our "Letters to the Editor" section. So if there's anything you'd like share with us—compliments, constructive criticism, ideas, or anything on your mind related to the magazine or to primitive fiber arts in general, please let us know.
Ask Mom. Do you have a piecing, quilting, rug hooking or applique question that you need answered? Just submit your question to our Mom and she'll make sure to answer you...even if she has to dig around for just the right response! She will make every effort to answer everyone's questions, but it just might NOT be possible...she'll do her best! Several of the most interesting Q&A's will be published in each issue! So, if something is on your mind and you need some advice, do what WE do...Ask Mom!
Happy Birthday! We love birthdays! And we would love to recognize your notable events. The primitive arts community is as diverse as any—young, not-so-young, and always interesting. Are you—or do you know—a quilter about to turn 80? 90? 100? 100+? Perhaps a budding textile artist under the age of 10? Or any birthday celebrated in a unique and interesting way? We want to wish you a happy one!
This is your chance to be recognized, seen, and heard in an international magazine! We can't guarantee that we'll publish your submission, and we might have to do a little editing here and there, but we will do our best to capture the voices and happenings in the world of Primitive Quilts and Projects.

You can reach us through our website, or by email at homespunmedia@aol.com.

Thanks!
Judy, Jeni, and Gretchen

We picked the winner of the Take Your Pick, Give Away!!!!!!!!

2011-01-21T15:41:00.000-05:00

And the winner is!!!!!! Michelle! Please email us at homespunmedia@aol.com with your address and let us know if you want the calendar or the kit! And BeckyJean you also win a pattern, so email us and we will email you the pattern!!! Congratulations to both of you and thank you Beckyjean for sending over followers to our give a way!!

Hooray Hooray! A "Take Your Pick" Giveaway!!!

2011-01-17T12:55:00.000-05:00

Who: For those of you who commented on Saturday's "giveaway" blog post, plus anyone else who comments this week.
What: A "take your pick" giveaway. If we draw your name, you have the choice of the 2011 Woolen Willow calendar (Retail $14.95--but now selling for half price--but still VERY NICE), or Jeni's "Winter Stitchin'" kit, retailing for $27.00. Bonus: If you get at least one friend to sign up as a follower and we draw your name, we'll also throw in a bonus prize--each of you will receive a $9.00 pattern.
Where: Right here at Primitive Quilts and Projects blog.
Why: Because it's fun and we want you to keep us in mind.
How: Just comment this week, and for a bonus, get a friend to sign up as a follower.
When: We'll draw the winner on Friday!

It was fun writing that!

Free Block of the Week Project... and is it time for a giveaway?

2011-01-15T20:44:00.000-05:00

Jeni is cooking up a Block of the Week quilt... take a look! And while there, you can let us know in our poll about your charitable quilt work, and you can sign up for our weekly newsletter. In the newsletter you can read Mom's answers to the questions people pose.

We haven't had a giveaway for awhile....hmmm....what shall we do? A kit? A calendar? A pattern? What do you think? We'll decide on Monday for a Friday giveaway. Let us know what you think.

Here is one of Jeni's latest projects, "Winter Stitchin'."

Wow... A "Little Ol' Me Fest!"

2011-01-08T18:09:00.000-05:00

It seems that we've all joined hands in a "little ol' me fest." These are such amazing designers and they're all delighting in each other's company. We are humbled by their participation. With a deadline nearing, we're receiving projects on a daily basis from these out-of-this-world designers (in alphabetic order)... Buggy Barn, Cheri Payne, Dawne Heese, Gloria Parsons, Heather Lynn, Jan Patek, Jeni Gaston, Kathy Schmitz, Lisa Bongean, Lori Brechlin, Lynda Hall, Maggie Bonanomi, Renee Plains, Rita Briner, and Tonya Robey.

What is Your Cause? We'd Like to Know

2011-01-03T13:50:00.000-05:00

Hooray…it’s going to be a great year! I started the 2011 work year with a day of vacation from my paying job… how ‘bout that? I did this so I can work on the magazine...it’s not going to happen on its own, you know. And boy oh boy, is this ever a fun job! Thinking about what readers want to read and see. Thinking about all those wonderful designers—WOW—their projects are out of this world! I am really, really, really excited!

Something very important to us is charitable support and giving. Each issue will showcase what our readers do help others. Do you volunteer in any way? Donate quilts, money, or time? What are your causes? A homeless shelter? A children’s hospital? Quilts of Valor? The Million Pillowcase Challenge? The Humane Society? An environmental cause? Cancer Support? The Red Cross? Do you have photos of your work?

We know you have hearts of gold. We want to know what you are up to out there. Please comment here to let us know, or email us at homespunmedia@aol.com. If you include photos of your work, we just might feature you in the magazine!

Happy  Holidays,  Merry  Christmas,  Happy  New  Year…

2010-12-24T09:25:00.002-05:00

"Happy,  happy  Christmas,  that  can  win  us  back  to  the  delusions  of  our  childish  days;  that  can  recall to  the  old  man  the pleasures  of  his  youth;  that  can  transport  the  sailor  and  the  traveler,  thousands  of  miles  away, back  to  his  own  fireside  and  his quiet  home!"   ~Charles  Dickens,  The Pickwick  Papers,  1836

We  wish  you  a  healthy, happy,  joyous  holiday.   Despite  the  hectic pace  and  rampant  commercialism,  I'm  always  inspired  by countless  acts  of  generosity,  smiles  from  the  soul… and  a  quiet,  warm  understanding  that  when  you  get  right  down  to  it,  all is  right in  the  world.  

Merry Christmas!

And the Winner Is!!!!!!!!!

2010-12-23T12:27:00.000-05:00

And the winner is.....................Ranae! Congratulations! If you will email us at homespunmedia@aol.com with your address we will mail you the little Christmas quilt!!!! Have fun making it! Merry Christmas!

We will have a new free pattern for a Christmas ornament to download in the newsletter! Look for a Free Block of the Month soon!!!

Thanks everyone for commenting and entering the give-a-way! Jeni

Kathy Schmitz' Quilt for the April Magazine is Here!!!

2010-12-20T09:18:00.001-05:00

The first completed project for our debut issue has arrived! You’ll have to wait for the magazine to see it…but we will tell you it’s from Kathy Schmitz and it is wonderful!!!! Can’t wait to make it! Be sure to visit Kathy’s website and blog—her work is unbelievable. Thank you so much, Kathy!

Sneak previews of some of the other projects for the magazine... Lori Brechlin, Lisa Bongean, Dawne Heese, Cheri Ralston, Lynda Hall, and Rita Briner have sent photos of the projects they’ll contribute—you are in for a real treat!

The first issue with these fantastic projects will ship in early April. Subscribe now!

Another Giveaway.... Small Christmas Quilt Kit

2010-12-20T08:56:00.001-05:00

It’s time for a giveaway… this little Christmas quilt is a $24 kit designed by Jeni Gaston. Any follower who posts a comment will be eligible for the drawing—we’ll draw the winner Wednesday afternoon.

Connecting With the Past (from last week's newsletter)

2010-12-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

We're so excited, we had to repeat last week's newsletter article in our blog...

A dilapidated log cabin… a decrepit barn…reconstructed…now a house, studio, or office. Posts and beams from trees born hundreds of years ago in the Ohio Valley… when you lay your hand on one of the oak beams you somehow transcend centuries and connect with hard-working people who fell the trees, hewed the logs, and raised the barns…. people in small communities working together for more than survival—but for love, joy, beauty, family, and community.

We are humbled and thrilled to tell you that some of our first-issue photography will take place in old-made-new buildings, in and around Williamstown, West Virginia. How fitting to showcase the magazine's first projects this way. Our "primitive" art began long ago when those same hard-working people lovingly repurposed used or leftover fabrics and fibers into functional-yet beautiful quilts, rugs, totes, table mats, and the like. Why do I suddenly want to curl up on a sofa in front of a fire and do some wool appliqué?

These structures are the amazing work of good friend and local business man, Chip Pickering. Now here is a man who takes recycling seriously! Several times Chip has disassembled old barns and cabins, transported them to his property, and then reconstructed them. A few are now beautiful homes (he lives in one), another is the home of Pickering Associates, Chip's engineering firm. The log cabin sits next to the office and serves as the firm's library.

We'll try to get more information and photographs of Chip's buildings and post them on our blog and in future newsletters. So check back from time to time.

Drum Roll Please!

2010-12-10T17:56:00.000-05:00

And the winner is...... and yes, I did make the drum roll sound while I drew the winner in my kitchen large Tupperware yellow plastic bowl all alone! LOL!...... Angela from Bedfore IN, CountryCellar!!!! Congratulations Angela! Please email us at homespunmedia@aol.com attn: Jeni, and give us your address, we will mail it right out tomorrow!!! I hope you enjoy it!!

I'm thinking of another give away, so I'll let you all know soon! The new newsletter should be up on the http://www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com/ there is a new ornament pattern to download!
Have a great weekend!
Jeni

Drawing on the give-a-way tomorrow!! Free ornament pattern!

2010-12-09T22:55:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow we will post the winner of the Give-a-Way!! I'm really excited! It has been so fun to see all the great comments! Also, if you go over to the magazine website...www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com you can download free ornament projects! So far, there are three of them! We will have a new little project pattern each week on the newsletter, and on my (jeni) other blog, I post projects that I'm working on for the Woolen Willow shop! There is a lot going on, so join in on our fun and take some of the polls! Last week it was about if you have a sewing room or not! This week the poll is about why you buy quilting magazines and what you enjoy about them! Thanks again! Jeni

Give away!!!!!

2010-12-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

Okay! Here is another give away for you!! This is a Mini Sampler I designed for The Woolen Willow as a block of the week this summer! It is great to have out all year long! Each block is a 4" square of a cotton print, and the applique is wool! I aged each square before adding the wool applique with a strong instant coffee solution! Very fun and addictive project! You can do a couple of blocks each evening and you are done before you know it! The kit is a $30.00 retail value and we will give it away!!! Be a follower and post a comment, and your name will go in the hat and be drawn on Friday of this week!!! Thanks a bunch and good luck!!!
Jeni

Newsletter, Free Ornament, Ask Mom, etc.

2010-12-02T21:17:00.000-05:00

Visit our website, for a newsletter highlighting our free "Santa Bell" ornament project, and offers an "Ask Mom" Q&A.

And the Winners are.......

2010-11-30T16:29:00.000-05:00

The winners for the drawing are: Donna Joy, Iluvffmn, Olde Crow, Dgill3, and Alicia Nagy!!! We just need for you to email the website, homespunmedia@aol.com with your name and address and we can ship your Calendar out right away!!! Congratulations!!

Free Ornament Project

2010-11-28T11:09:00.000-05:00

http://www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com/projects/GingerbreadmanOrnament.pdf

Great Holiday Music for the Young (and not-so-young) at Heart!

2010-11-27T19:28:00.000-05:00

For a musical Christmas treat on Pandora Radio, type in "Vince Guaraldi Trio." Oh yeah... and we're up to 50 followers....10 more and we'll draw names for free calendars!

Turkey Day Giveaway - 5 Free Calendars!

2010-11-24T17:14:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!! At the time of this posting we have 30 followers. As soon as we have 60 followers (that's just 30 new people) we will throw all 60 names in a hat and draw five names for the calendar giveaway. Tell your primitive friends to join us! You can see the calendar (and learn about the upcoming "Primitive Quilts and Projects" magazine) at: http://www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com/.

Let the Holiday Giving Begin.... Free Calendars!

2010-11-23T19:36:00.000-05:00

We have some beautiful 2011 Woolen Willow calendars featuring original designs by Jeni Gaston: quilts, hooked rugs, and a penny rug. They retail for $14.95 and can be purchased from our website at http://www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com/index.html. But we decided to offer some giveaways between now and Christmas. For starters, the next two followers who post a comment on this blog will receive a free calendar. And.... we are open to ideas for other ways to do a giveaway. So feel free to offer your ideas!

Thanks!
Judy, Jeni, and Gretchen

A fun Christmas Quilt!

2010-11-19T20:41:00.000-05:00

Hello! I just wanted to share a fun Christmas Quilt I designed that we made in our Small Quilts Club at The Woolen Willow Today!

I love Primitive Projects! I would love to see some projects out there from some of you!!! Email us some pictures at Homespunmedia@aol.com We will post them in a gallery!

Jeni

Reliving the Excitement of Market!

2010-11-17T19:01:00.000-05:00

This is just a short message.... we've been going through the business cards and brochures from the exhibitors we saw or met at the Market. WOW!!!!

There sure is a lot of amazing talent out there!

Thank you for being so wonderful!!!!!

How do you define the primitive style?

2010-11-14T21:44:00.000-05:00

When did you first learn that there was such a style as “primitive?” My introduction was several years ago at my sisters’ new quilt shop—they had a Jan Patek trunk show with a sample quilt: “Morning Has Broken.” Oh my! I almost cried when I saw it. I had never made a quilt in my life, but it was love at first sight—I just had to make it! Mom helped me. She taught me paper piecing, needle-turn applique, measuring, rotary cutting, squaring off, and eventually binding and quilting. Through all of this I didn’t realize this was primitive style—or that there was such a thing. I just loved the style and didn’t know why. As I spent more time browsing the quilt shop I began to realize so many of the projects shared this unique, rich, warm, comforting style. I took note of the projects: hooked rugs, penny rugs, braided rugs, punch needle, stitchery…yippee!!! I realized that I’m crazy about applique… wool…warm, earthy tones…mmmm…who needs Calgon when you can be totally immersed in a comfort project? What really grabs me is the realization that for ages, women have been taking simple function up a few notches to create not only useful items, but beautiful works of art!

Our Calendars are Here!!!

2010-11-12T17:48:00.000-05:00

After lots of support from wonderful people, our 2011 Woolen Willow Calendars are in. We are super happy with them. We shipped a bunch today. To order one or more, visit: Primitive Quilts and Projects

Jeni from the Willow

2010-11-11T15:59:00.000-05:00

If you want to see what Jeni's up to from the Woolen Willow....http://jenifromthewillow.blogspot.com/

Howdy!

2010-11-11T15:20:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Primitive Quilts and Projects blog. The folks at Homespun media will take turns blogging here--should become pretty colorful. I've convinced Dad that he can join--he lit up at topics such as "A man in a quilter's world," "How can you tell which room is the sewing room when they all look like sewing rooms," "Interesting ways to pass time in a quilt shop while your wife is shopping," and so on. Maybe he can even sneak in an occassional review of the latest "Cheyenne" rerun on the Western Channel.

We're excited to hear from you. Please let us know what's on your mind.

Primitive Quilts and Projects

Birthday Shout-Out / Giveaway Winners

Pattern Giveaway and Birthday Shout-Outs

And the winner is....

Our first full year is complete!

We're ready for Christmas!!! Are you?

Congratulations to...

Notable Birthdays? And a Giveaway!

More Fall Festival Photos

Fun at at Fall Festival!

Quilt Market 2011

Congratulations to....

My finished rug and a giveaway!

We have a winner!!

Slow progress with my rug.. and another give away!!

And the winner is...

Rug progress!!

Learning to hook! (And a giveaway!)

Fun at Summer Quilt Festival!

California Here We Come! (and an embarrassingly funny video)

Avery and Her Spontaneous Scrap Quilt

Kids make quilts too!

The Fall Issue is in the Works!

And the winner is....

Creative Mojo Interview Wednesday 5/25 at 3:30....(and a giveaway)

It's a Bookazine!

We are at Spring International Quilt Market!

Want to Help Disaster Victims?

Our Spring Festival Booth on Youtube

Spring Quilt Festival Cincinnati!

The New Magazines are Here!!!! Yay!!!

Photos of the Printing in Michigan (Lucky Jeni!)

The New Magazine will Ship this Week!

First Things First

Count-Down

And the Winners Are.........

Valentine's Day to Presidents' Day Take-Your-Pick Giveaway!!!

Photos of the Photoshoot

Photography in Progress!

Hearts, Anyone?

We Want to Hear From You

We picked the winner of the Take Your Pick, Give Away!!!!!!!!

Hooray Hooray! A "Take Your Pick" Giveaway!!!

Free Block of the Week Project... and is it time for a giveaway?

Wow... A "Little Ol' Me Fest!"

What is Your Cause? We'd Like to Know

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year…

And the Winner Is!!!!!!!!!

Kathy Schmitz' Quilt for the April Magazine is Here!!!

Another Giveaway.... Small Christmas Quilt Kit

Connecting With the Past (from last week's newsletter)

Drum Roll Please!

Drawing on the give-a-way tomorrow!! Free ornament pattern!

Give away!!!!!

Newsletter, Free Ornament, Ask Mom, etc.

And the Winners are.......

Free Ornament Project

Great Holiday Music for the Young (and not-so-young) at Heart!

Turkey Day Giveaway - 5 Free Calendars!

Let the Holiday Giving Begin.... Free Calendars!

A fun Christmas Quilt!

Reliving the Excitement of Market!

How do you define the primitive style?

Our Calendars are Here!!!

Jeni from the Willow

Howdy!

Happy  Holidays,  Merry  Christmas,  Happy  New  Year…