(Click on pattern to enlarge)

​​This month I'll be part of the August FabShop Hop on the Internet. If you’ve never tried this hop it is a free and fun way to visit and shop participating quilt shops from all over the country. I tried hopping in July and found some new favorite shops for fabrics and quilt ideas. Every shop is unique and you certainly won’t get bored as you hop through the different websites.

There are prizes and gift certificates to win as well. I really enjoyed looking for the little prize bunnies—who doesn’t like a treasure hunt!

‘Hope you’ll take a look at my website at www.marcialaytondesigns.com to find some new and old favorites in patterns, kits, towels and yo-yo makers. I’ll be giving away ten gift certificates to hoppers as well

Check out the hop at www.fabshophop.com. 

​Yo-Yo Accents--Down Under is a collection of six Australian animal appliqué designs. I decided to finish the edges of colorful towels with bright strips of fabric and then sewed the animals to the towels. Then I embellished them with fabric yo-yos and a little bit of embroidery to give them texture and whimsy. They are very fun to make!
To give you a little more inspiration, I've made a quilt to match using the animals in some of the blocks. For a long time, I've been collecting Aboriginal print fabrics because I love the bright designs and colors. The quilt blocks, sashing, and border feature over 40 different prints! You can go crazy like I did or keep your color scheme a little simpler. Batiks are a great fabric choice here as well. I've added some notes about the quilt to the website. Check in the tips section if you would like to give it a try.
 

My last show this year was in Venice, Florida early in March.  It was a lovely show and I’m glad that we were able to attend.  After that, as the spread of the corona virus became a worry, my quilt show travels came to a sudden halt.

Like so many quilters, I’m using this time at home to work in my sewing studio.  First on my list was to clean up my workspace.  That involved clearing off my desk and cutting areas which were piled high with fabric and papers and who knows what.   Then I started going through bins and shelves of fabric and sorting the yardage and bits and pieces into some sort of order.  I keep many of my fabrics together in color families, but when I’m in the middle of designing or cutting kits, everything seems to end up in a big mess.   Along the way I discovered long forgotten and half-finished projects and the leftovers from completed ones.  It was like a trip down memory lane!  There were a lot of distractions and I’ve yet to finish the cleanup, but I’m enjoying remembering the fun I’ve had sewing all through the years. 

Sewing and quilting are wonderful stress relievers. I lose myself in the bright and happy colors of the fabrics as I try to figure out new designs.  ‘Hope I’ll have some new ones to share at the end of this time spent at home.

I’m happy to have the store all set up and in operation on the website.  Thank you, Dad!!  In the past, I’ve just had  patterns for sale, but now I’m able to offer the yo-yo makers, towels and even kits to go along with them.  If you are wanting to try one of my patterns but not able to get out for the supplies, they are now here for you to order.

Hope you all will find some bright spots in each day and stay safe.