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Material Girlfriends

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April Showers Bring May Flowers

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What do May flowers bring? Pilgrims!

But joking aside, we have a free pattern download for you! As Marcus Fabric designers, we were invited to participate in a program called Mondays with Marcus. Every Monday a free pattern download is offered by a Marcus Fabrics designer or designer team. Monday, April 19, is our turn to offer a free pattern download! We are very excited to share April Showers mini quilt pattern with you!

Subscribe “Join Our Tribe” with the button in the right column and the pattern download link will be in your welcome email! (We promise we will never sell or share your email with spammers. Privacy Policy.) You see, Marcus Fabrics will be giving a FREE bundle of fabrics for our promo day and it was the only way I could think of to count downloads and draw a random email for the prize. You may unsubscribe at any time, but wait a couple of weeks so I can notify you if you’re the bundle winner!

We have kits available for April Showers. The kit includes die-cut appliqué, background fabrics, backing, binding, batting, AND the adorable wire/rod mini quilt hanger. $29.99 while supplies last!

April Showers Kit

We wouldn’t want you to miss out on the other free project downloads by the Marcus Fabrics designers. Visit the Marcus Fabrics website for more free project downloads. Be sure to follow us on Facebook so we can clue you in on the next freebie. Follow us on Instagram, Material_Girlfriends, because you’ll not want to miss out on Lora’s talented quilt photography and her gorgeous quilting.

I googled. I love to google. So where did “April Showers Bring May Flowers” actually come from? This is what I found from Quora.com

“In 1557 a gentleman by the name of Thomas Tusser compiled a collection of writings he called A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry. In the April Husbandry section he wrote:

Sweet April showers

Do spring May flowers

As you can see, the rhyme was originally a short poem. There is meaning behind the words, as well. “April showers bring May flowers” is a reminder that even the most unpleasant of things, in this case the heavy rains of April, can bring about very enjoyable things indeed – in this case, an abundance of flowers in May. “April showers bring May flowers” is a lesson in patience, and one that remains valid to this day.”

A lesson in patience is surely appropriate for quilters too! Hopefully this fun little quilt won’t require too much. Enjoy!

Introducing Bohemian Peels

We’re pleased to reveal our latest pattern, Bohemian Peels. It was created using Happy Days fabrics by Michael Miller. Material Girlfriend Patterns are easy to read and follow with detailed cutting and sewing instructions. Enjoy step-by-step instructions with plenty of graphics for the visual learner. Bohemian Peels is our first release that also includes instructions for Accuquilt Go! users.

You can receive instant gratification with a digital download at our Etsy store.

Etsy Digital Downloads

We’d be happy to send you a printed pattern. Just visit the Material Girlfriends online shop.

Material Girlfriends Shop

Happy sewing!

Lisa W. Norton and Lora W. Zmak

Forest Fire

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I have a family of firefighters – six of them – ranging from 30 years retired to the youngest taking fire science classes in college. The dry lighting in California has created some horrific fire storms this season. I created this quilt to honor our firefighters. I call this quilt Forest Fire. The Pattern is Confetti Star by Material Girlfriends and the fabric is a new ombré by Michael Miller. This burned up hill is down and around the corner from where I live in Clayton Ca.

My cousin is a super bad-ass Cal Fire Fighter. Directing from the skies and jumping out of helicopters. Yep. Wow.

This is my nephew Chris, a Cal Fire Fighter taking a break to eat.  Their gear is heavy and it is back breaking exhausting work. 

My newest quilt is ‘too hot to handle’. Want to know how we achieved the look? We started with 2 yards of Michael Miller’s Ombré Orange. 

First I cut my 2 yards of ombré fabric into 10” squares, until I had 24.  Then I cut my black yardage into 10” squares, also 24.  I am blessed with an Accuquilt that can cut my 10” squares for me. One strip of 11” accordion fold and presto I have four perfect 10” squares in perfect color harmony.  

I cut up the 10” Ombré square paired with the black as per the direction in the Confetti Start pattern.  I made one block at a time keeping my fabrics organized.

After the blocks were sew and squared to 8 1/2”, it was time to play with the different layouts.  When I was down to two favorite options, I gave my sister a call to see what her preferences were.  She was the one that said my Halloween quilt looked like a Forest Fire and the little triangles looked like burning trees!  Oh my.  Well, yes it does.

A different lay out option

Once the top was done, I began to play with ideas for quilting the quilt.  I had a little idea book that had  flames that I thought would be awesome.

 And of course I just love using Minky for my backing.  There just isn’t anything softer than Michael Miller’s rosebud swirling minky, this time in an orange.  I used orange Aurifil thread to quilt it.

Black binding sewn on by machine.  That’s a photo of Dad in the background. He is a retired fire engineer from Livermore-Pleasanton Fire.

Do you have a ‘hunka hunka burning love’ you want to make a quilt for? We have a few kits available. Check out www.MaterialGirlfriendsShop.com

When Smoke Get in Your Eyes

For those that have lost everything to a fire, choose a different color. Orange and Black will be too heart-wrenching. They don’t need a reminder of flames. You can cool it off with any of the other fabulous Ombré color choice by Michael Miller. 


Check your local quilt guilds for places to donate quilts to fire victims in your area. All your prayers for victims and protection for our firefighters are greatly appreciated.

Happy quilting!!

Lora