Andover Fabrics Blog

10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Gail Kessler

We are pleased to reaffirm that Andover Fabrics is the exclusive fabric supplier for The World of Eric Carle fabrics. Our new collection based on the book 10 Little Rubber Ducks is now available at your favorite independent shop near you!

Imagine reading this childhood favorite with your little loved one all snuggled under a quilt that matches this special story!

Download our free quilt pattern here:

http://andoverfabrics.com/Quilts/10%20Little%20Rubber%20Ducks.pdf

And remember, this plus many more collections from The World of Eric Carle are available exclusively through independent fabric retailers!

http://andoverfabrics.com/SingleDesigner.php?Designer=Eric%20Carle

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A Message from David Weinstein, President and owner, Andover Fabrics, Inc.

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Gail Kessler

As President and owner of Andover Fabrics, I renew my pledge to all of
our customers that we do not, and will not ever sell the chains.

The fabrics promoted today on the Eric Carle FB page are not from us.
Rest assured, we are pursuing this matter to protect our valued
customers. – David Weinstein

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Exciting News from Quilted Koala!

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Gail Kessler

Exciting News! We just launched QuiltedKoala.com, a new lifestyle brand featuring the quality and designs of Andover in beautiful fabric covered boxes!

They’re perfect for holding everything from keepsakes to your personal stash of fat quarters. We know you’re going to love them as much as we do!

Click Here to follow Quilted Koala on their Facebook page and hear about new products!

About the Boy with the Koala…

There once was a boy whose grandma brought back treasures from all over the world. On one special trip, she brought him a koala bear. This little boy became completely attached to his bear, who he named Sugar Stuff.

Now while his siblings thought about becoming astronauts, firefighters and doctors — this little boy always wanted to go into the family business. In 1920, his grandfather started selling corduroy and his father offered fabrics for apparel. Following in their tradition, he started a company that makes beautifully crafted fabric for quilters. You can see them all at Andover Fabrics. But because not everyone quilts, he started a company where his stunning fabrics could be enjoyed by non-quilters as well.

And that is how Quilted Koala came to be.

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A taste of Kansas City – Andover Style

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Gail Kessler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3AcGZ_4p68

Posted in Gail Kessler, Jo Morton, Kelly Lee-Creel, Kim Schaefer, Lonni Rossi, Mary Engelbreit, Renee Nanneman | Comments Off

Join Us In Kansas City – Schoolhouse May 17

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Gail Kessler

Please join us on Thursday, May 17 to meet them and learn from them! Visit the Andover Fabric “Designers” page for information on all our creative fabric designers! For bio information on those designers presenting at “Schoolhouse,” click on their image.Andover “Schoolhouse” presentations will be held in Room 2504A.

	10:40 – 10:55 am — Kim and Gary Schafer — “Flower Doodle and More!”Please join Kim and Gary as they present Kim’s newest collections with Andover Fabrics, new Skinny Quilts book and new patterns from Little Quilt Company. Free gifts and giveaways!Kim’s “Flower Doodle” collection ships in May. See more about her on her website, www.littlequiltcompany.com and follow Kim on Facebook.
	11:00 – 11:30 am — Renee Nanneman of Need’l Love Company — “Open the Gate to Gather Blooming Inspirations and Marketing Ideas”Garden Gate Threads is full of colorful garden-inspired quilts and needlework projects featuring her newest fabric lines and wools. Enjoy marketing and packaging ideas to carry on the “blooming” theme!Renee’s collections currently in shops are “Garden Gate Plaids”and “Bella Bliss.” Learn more about “All Hallow’s Eve” and “Candy Corn” — both currently available — and “Black Magic” – shipping in May. Need’l Love’s website is www.needllove.com — Follow Renee onFacebook!
	11:35 am – 12:05 pm — Lonni Rossi — “Ooh La La — Andover Presents Lonni Rossi with a Twist — The French Twist”Giant damask motifs with frills, dots, swirls and metallic accents will bring on your Joie de Vivre! New colors of grey, cream, peach, French lavender and heliotrope in some very “avant garde” projects. Free giveaways!Currently in shops are Lonni’s collections of “Bubble and Swirl”and “LaLa’s Garden” — Learn more about her next collection of “French Twist” shipping in June. Lonni’s website is www.lonnirossi.com — Follow Lonni on Facebook!
	12:10 – 12:40 pm — Mary Engelbreit — “Guess What Mary Engelbreit is Up to Now?”For over 30 years, Mary Engelbreit has been one of the most respected designers in home decor markets. Come and hear directly from Mary of her unwavering devotion to designing authentic, fresh and relevant designs! Free giveaways!Currently on the Andover website is Mary’s fabric collection “Flutterby” — shipping in June. Visit Mary’s website — www.maryengelbreit.com — Check out her Blog — Follow Mary Engelbreit on Facebook!
	12:45 – 1:15 pm — Jo Morton — “Traditional, Classic, Timeless — Never Goes Out of Style”These are words that describe Jo’s lines with Andover Fabrics. Preview the newest quilts from Jo, enjoy the inspiration and fun and, of course, door prizes!Currently in shops are Jo’s collections “Alexandria” and “Simple Charm”— Find out more about coming collections of “Sunday Best” shipping in May, “Jo’s Best Friends” shipping in July, and “Toasted” shipping in November. Jo’s website is www.jomortonquilts.com — Follow her Blog!
	1:20 – 1:50 pm — Gail Kessler — “Options in Style”See the latest Andover collections presented in a multitude of patterns, books and free download opportunities — Learn how to present project options to rev up sales and keep customers returning for more! Free giveaways!Gail’s fabric collection currently in shops — “Dimples” and “Flannel Dimples” Gail’s website is www.ladyfingerssewing.com — Check out her Blog — Follow her on Facebook and Twitter!

Market Exhibits Open on Friday — Put on your walking shoes and come see even more in the Andover Booth #1724. You will find us at “Sample Spree” at Tables 27, 38 and 39.

Posted in Gail Kessler, Jo Morton, Kim Schaefer, Lonni Rossi, Mary Engelbreit, Renee Nanneman | Comments Off

Quilts of Valor Documentary Update

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Gail Kessler

“Quilts of Valor,” a 73-minute documentary starring national quilters Eleanor Burns, Alex Anderson, and Mark Lipinski and hosted by Marianne Fons, has just been made available to all public television stations nationwide by its producer, Iowa Public Television. To make sure this unique and compelling program is aired on your local station, contact your station’s programming department and ask it to schedule the show.

For help in finding your local station, go to http://www.pbs.org. Contact your station via email, phone message, or personal note to let them know you want to watch “Quilts of Valor.” Click on this link if you’d like to watch the opening section of the show!

http://www.netaonline.org/5minutes.htm#QUILTS

Download the featured quilt pattern here: http://www.andoverfabrics.com/Quilts/American%20Valor%20Fabrics.pdf

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Flock to your Quilt Shop!

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Gail Kessler

Can you stand it? Thomas Knauer is the newest “cover guy” of the June issue of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, shipping to subscribers now, and on the newsstand April 3.

Here is a flat shot of the front of his fabulous quilt – “Electric Slide” – so fresh, fun and surprisingly easy to make!

And as is Thomas’ trademark, his backs are just as cool as his fronts – the awesome backside of “Electric Slide” pictured above. What a great reversible quilt!

His latest collection, FLOCK, is flying off the shelves at your favorite local quilt shop, so spread your wings, head on out and get your share!!

http://andoverfabrics.com/Grid.php?GroupName=Savanna%20Bop

Be sure to follow Thomas’ blog and share his excitement

http://www.thomasknauersews.com/blog/

And check out this great interview on The Jolly Jabber!

http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2012/03/designer-tidbits-thomas-knauer.html

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Introducing Storybook Lane

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Kelly Lee-Creel

One of our newest designers, Kelly Lee-Creel, has been busy behind the scenes getting ready for the launch of Storybook Lane which will ship into stores in May.

Storybook Lane is a village where all of our favorite fairytale characters are next door neighbors. It began with one idea: How cool would it be if you could sew your own village and the houses opened up?

The fabric collection features 18 prints in two colorways including 2 very special panels that can be sewn into stuffed houses, dolls, and more.

Click here to see a full tour of the collection along with some close-ups of the panels.

This May, Kelly will have her first booth at Quilt Market in Kansas City, Missouri where she will be debuting 6 new sewing patterns. If you’re following us on Facebook, you may have already seen some sneak peaks of some early pattern prototypes.

These are not final fabric, but they give you just a little taste of all of the fun things you can make with the Storybook Lane panels. We can’t wait to see new villages popping up all over!

All this week, be sure to visit the Ever Kelly blog to meet the residents of Storybook Lane and take a peek inside their houses! On Friday, she will be giving away an entire set of fat quarters!

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Renee Nanneman’s in the House!!!

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Gail Kessler

Renee's working on her next gorgeous collection!

Renee Nanneman of Need’l Love Designs www.needllove.com is currently here in our studio working on her newest collection – goodness we don’t even have the name yet, but it MIGHT be French and it MIGHT have a little something to do with a lovely Chateau…….

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Announcing Grand Prize Winner of Andover Fabrics Winter Schoolhouse Fat Quarter Tuesday Sweepstakes

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Gail Kessler

We are so very excited to announce the Grand Prize Winner of Andover Fabrics Winter Schoolhouse Fat Quarter Tuesday Sweepstakes! Our winner, Susan Callaway, of Taylorsville, Utah writes:

Gail,

Here I am, home alone (I retired a year ago) and no one to hear my screams of excitement! I am so excited I can’t even put it into words. Along with my daughter, we participate in Jo’s Little Women Club and were anxious to see her new projects which she presented at Fall Quilt Market in Houston. I collect Jo Morton fabric, which is the reason I was checking the Andover Blog waiting for Jo’s presentation. However, I really enjoyed each of the schoolhouse videos and all the wonderful fabrics I saw each week. I can’t imagine having all those fabulous fabrics to make into anything I want! I have a sign that says ‘Any Day Spent Quilting Is A Good Day’ … this has been a GREAT day. Thanks so much. I love Andover!!!!

Susan Callaway

Gail,

I’ll send you a picture when the fabrics arrive. You’ll get pictures, too, when I get something made using the wonderful, wonderful fabrics. Thanks, again!

Hugs,

Susan

We are so very happy for Susan and all our winners! Thanks to all who participated in our contest. Be sure to continue follow our blog, “like” us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for all the latest news from Andover and our talented designers and staff! Hey, you never know when we’ll come up with yet another opportunity to win fabric – but know you’ll always come away with great inspiration……

Happy Sewing!

Gail Kessler

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