March has arrived and we are definitely marching right along here at Material Girlfriends!
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of quilts, classes, travel, and creative ideas. We wrapped up four workshops and two quilt shows in three weeks, and what a joy it was to see so many familiar faces and meet new quilting friends along the way. There is nothing quite like talking quilts all day long with people who love them as much as we do.
Now that we’re home for a bit, we’re catching our breath, drinking a little more coffee, visiting our grand babies, and getting ready for all the quilting fun spring brings.
Enjoy a free pattern download, Interwoven Hearts, but made as a shamrock! Find the pattern download here.
2026 Sew Along – Bona Fide
Our 2026 Sew Along – Bona Fide is officially underway!
The first instructions have been posted and quilters everywhere are beginning their blocks. It is always so much fun to see the different fabric choices everyone makes. Every colorway gives the quilt a completely different personality.
If you haven’t joined yet, it’s not too late. Bona Fide is a 6-month Block of the Month quilt, released in small, manageable portions. Before long you’ll have a beautiful finished quilt top. Jump to the 2026 Sew Along page by clicking HERE or clicking on the 2026 Sew Along – Bona Fide tab in the header.
Lora’s progress on the Month 2 blocks. This block was first recorded in Practical Needlework, 1906 by Clara Stone. Who wouldn’t want a few extra blocks of memory? The color placement really makes the blocks look different.
Celestial Surprise Revealed
Our Mystery Celestial Surprise workshops were wonderful! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the adventure. We love seeing the moment when the mystery is finally revealed and the stars magically appear.
Now that the secret is out, we’re excited to introduce the Celestial Surprise pattern and kits. If you enjoy clever piecing that looks more complicated than it really is, this pattern is a lot of fun to make.
You can get your copy of Celestial Surprise as a paper pattern or a digital download. We also have kits!
Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes, I’ve been decluttering and organizing my sewing studio in preparation for the upcoming Delta Quilters Guild Sewing Room Tour this spring, April 25.
Cleaning a sewing room always turns into a little treasure hunt. Fabrics I forgot I owned are reappearing. Projects I forgot I started are reappearing too! Two areas of focus this week are my project baskets/ironing station and my fabric cupboard.
I used to have an ironing board but I over-packed. Let me explain. I had my suitcase on top of my ironing board and was filling it will essentials. I heard a creak and a boom. I turned around and the legs of the ironing board had bent to the floor. How rude.
The ironing station was made from two six-basket kitchen units with chop boards tops. I bought them from Walmart a few years ago. I checked to see if they were still for sale so I could share a link, but alas, they are no longer available. (There are similar rolling kitchen organizer that you may want to look at but I’ll let you do the searching.) My friend’s dad made the plywood topper that I wrapped in batting and fabric. It makes a perfect board for pressing (and packing). The 12 baskets hold my current projects. It would be nice if I ONLY had 12 project but most baskets have more than doubled up and there are now additional bins to deal with on the floor between the baskets. Oh, and the straw basket on the floor to the left has eight donation kits I had cut from my stash in January but haven’t done anything to them since. Lots of sorting to do here.
The cupboard is from Ikea. It looks like my dark brown one isn’t available anymore but the white is very pretty. My stash is organized but not tidy. I’ve been cramming and I’ve a basket on the floor that needs to be put away. My plastic bins are from Amazon. I LOVE the bins because they fit in the cupboard perfectly. (The links are not affiliate links. We don’t get anything for sharing the links.)
Sewing Room Tour tickets are limited! If you’re local to Discovery Bay, CA, check out the Delta Quilters Guild for ticket information. There are five sewing rooms on the tour. If you’re not local, don’t worry. We’ll share a video of Lisa’s Lakeside Sewing Studio on our YouTube channel.
Show Favorites
Two quilts that have been big show favorites lately are Croozling and Lavish. Quilters have really loved the grounded earthiness of Croozling and the femine beauty of Lavish. Which is your favorite?
New to the Shop
Flock of Singers is a new kit to our shop. It is a super cute appliqué wall hanging or runner made for Fat Quarters.
What We’re Creating Now
Of course, we never sit still for long around here. Our newest project in progress is called Easter Morning, and I am absolutely loving this one.
It’s shaping up to be a sampler-style quilt with a beautiful appliqué center, and watching the blocks come together has been such a joy. There’s still plenty of sewing ahead, but progress is happening. The pattern is written and in the process of being proofed and tested. We’re excited to share more as it develops.
Sneak Peak
Spring quilting season is underway and we’re grateful to have so many of you stitching along with us.
Until next time —
Happy quilting!
Lisa & Lora
Material Girlfriends
