Cathy Heck shares some inspiration for the Bot Buddies collection.  Read the story here:

http://www.cathyhecknurseryart.com/blog/2012/01/getting-ready-for-atlanta-part-2-microfish-tales/

Be sure to visit Cathy Heck and her Quilt Market visit to the Blue Hill booth.

http://www.cathyhecknurseryart.com/blog/2011/11/miles-of-quilts-at-international-quilt-market-part-1/

NEW YORK, NY - Much of the excitement of the new Fall 2011 collections of Blue Hill Fabrics centers around their newly-formed alliance with the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum of Golden, Colorado.

Relying heavily on antique quilts from the RMQM archives, Blue Hill has created beautiful, high-quality quilting fabrics for the true vintage quilt and reproduction fabric enthusiast. The first three collections will be introduced at 2011 Fall Quilt Market in Houston. Birds in the Air and Ohio Star come from the collection of Lydia Skinner, the second wife of wealthy commercial mariner William Skinner, mother of 12, ardent abolitionist and quiltmaker for the cause.  After losing the family fortune in the Depression, many of her quilts were sold and eventually ended up in the Museum’s collection. The Birds in the Air line features a large-scale paisley border print in brown, tan and green which is very unusual and probably pre-1830, as are the chrome yellows and multi-colored prints on turkey red. The overdyed and dark teal greens are more characteristic of fabrics from the mid-19th century. The Ohio Star group was inspired by the large-scale chintz and paisley fabrics in the original quilt, probably imports from England in the early 1800s, along with roller printed fabrics highlighting “machine ground” prints. 

Pomegranate, the third in the new series, is a cheerful exception to Civil War quilt fabrics which are usually full of dark blues, grays, blacks – generally dark colors. Most of these fabrics date back to 1860-1880. The vibrant greens, the double pinks, chrome yellow with turkey red and brilliant Prussian blue are truly rare finds and make for a truly exceptional collection.

In addition to these new fabrics, Blue Hill introduces a new collection from Roberta Benvin called Early Finery, c. 1845. With the vast number of textile mills that popped up in America by the 1840s, women were able to finally afford the fabrics that had previously been only available to the affluent. This collection focuses on some of the astonishing designs from this era.

Betsy Chutchian is back on board with her new group, Wrappers. “Wrappers” were the casual dresses women wore for every day activities and were more practical in nature. As with any dress goods, leftover pieces went into a scrap basket which later made their way into quilts.

Grafiq Trafiq, know for their flirty, fun and funky designs, does not disappoint with the new bright, bold Sundance collection. Pairing blacks and grays with bright blues and pinks, this group will be high on the list of those searching for a fresh, new look.

Also new this season are two exciting holiday collections: Holiday Heritage II and Victorian Christmas II, vintage reproductions by Sara Morgan. Both of these festive lines offer elegant renditions of traditional favorites with some exciting twists: large paisley borders, tone-on-tone fruit vines, large scrollwork, beautiful vintage postcard panels and more. These are definitely “don’t miss” collections.

Sara Morgan is full of surprises this season. Her home-spun reproduction collection, Morgan’s Dry Goods brings back the textile designs found in general stores and on the carts of travelling salesmen during the Civil War. Nib & Quill is a collection of vintage motifs in black, tan and cream. Turkey Reds & Blacks is an exciting collection of brilliant reds and rich blacks of the 1800s, combined with interesting prints and patterns of the era.

Sara’s Islands collection is an amazing group of beautiful fabrics inspired by the relief printing technique in printmaking known as “wood cut”. Although created using modern techniques, Islands achieves the same Old World charm of these special prints.

The big reveal this season is Sara’s contemporary collection – that’s right, Sara goes trendy with a new look and a new line called Swing. Available in three bold colorways - yellow, blue and brown, these paisleys and retro coordinates come together in a graphic, vivid and colorful collection that is guaranteed to make you smile.

You can see the new collections at the 2011 Fall Quilt Market in Houston at Booths 1430- 33. For more information, visit www.bluehillfabrics.com or follow us on Facebook.

NEW YORK, NY - Blue Hill Fabrics is proud to present its newest collections. This season, it’s all about color! Known for their unique graphic motifs and exciting color combinations, Grafiq Trafiq “wows” us with their newest collections - Brighton and Modern Blossom. Brighton wows us with sophisticated color combinations and exciting design motifs, full of color and fun! Perfect for that unexpected splash of surprise, the Brighton collection delivers bold brights in happy flowers, silly circles and perfect paisleys! Modern Blossom blooms with bright colors and adorable florals to create a fun, flirty energy. Brilliant pinks and minty greens complete the retro look!

Looking for something sweet and unique in juvenile print? The Cathy Heck Studio has created Zoophabet. Available in cotton and coordinating flannel collections, these adorable alphabet animals will have you sewing “Y” for Yay!

For not-so traditionalists, Blue Hill shows off authentic antique reproduction fabrics with a fresh look. Carrie Quinn, designer, educator and historic quilt authority, has two new collections this season. Carrie’s Madders is based on an antique quilt and quilt top from the private collections of Alexandra Schweitzer and Carrie Quinn, respectively. Both items have been certified and appraised as authentic pieces with fabrics ranging from 1860 – 1880. Captain Phillips, another Carrie Quinn collection, is near and dear to her heart. This sensational patriotic collection is named for her father, Captain William Evertson Phillips, “a man of convictions, who never wavered in his devotion to God and his country,” writes Carrie.

Cynthia’s Scrapbag was conceived when Carrie purchased an antique top from Cindy Rennels, one of her favorite antique quilt dealers, dating from the 1880’s. This particular quilt top that Carrie fell in love with was a mix of wonderful richly colored fabrics from somebody’s deep scrapbag.

Although the art of fabric reproduction brings rich history and tradition with every “find”, every once in a while, we come across a rare treasure. Such is the case with the Manchester Glory collection by Rose Studios. Based on fabric swatches and antique quilts that were saved from a French immigrant’s family, these extraordinary pieces have a wonderful, colorful story all their own. The young woman collected these small bits of fabric centuries ago to pass on to future generations in remembrance of her Grandmother. The centerpiece for the collection is a captivating medallion sure to be a eyecatching piece in any quilt.

When Betsy Chutchian created her Hot for Chocolate quilt to display in her shop for Valentine’s Day several years ago, she had no idea it would cause such a sensation! Her first Hot For Chocolate was an instant success and lucky for us, there were enough beautiful designs to create yet another collection - Hot For Chocolate II! A big fan of reproduction fabrics, Betsy went through her stash and came up with the most interesting pinks, reds and browns she could find - her customers loved the fabrics and so will everyone else who sees the collection.

Sara Morgan, designing exclusively for Blue Hill Fabrics, also has several collections to introduce this season: Cheshire Plain, 1840-1850, is from a stunning Estate Collection, discovered during one of Sara’s many travels abroad as she toured the English countryside.

Another special Estate Collection from Sara Morgan features favorite Garibaldi II prints in brilliant reds, sharp blacks and soft creams. These extraordinary fabrics were discovered as a result of an estate appraisal and are just a small sampling of the treasures which were found. This group of prints reflect the popularity of the colors and motifs of the well-known Italian nationist who is credited with charming both men and women into following him for “the cause”.

Keeping herself busy designing fabrics during the cold winter months, Sara offers four additional lines: Colonial Favorites - from a time period when fabrics were rich in a history all their own, this collection of darling picotage prints, the graceful florals, and the crisp geometric motifs brings us back to the days before the Civil War; Heirloom Shirtings, reminiscent of the popular Allen Print Works’ shirtings during the decade of 1874 – 1884; and Cumberland Valley, a collection of soft florals and calicos in rose, seafoam, brown and cream colorings. Of course, no season would be complete without an Old Glory II collection from Sara. This one features a pre-printed patchwork panel, ready as is or with a few personal touches.

Blue Hill Fabrics is also proud to announce a complete redesign of their website. The projected “live” date is Friday, May 13 and will feature all of the latest collections. Projects will also soon be available for FREE download. Be sure to surf by and visit.

You can also see the new collections at Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City from Friday, 5/13 through Sunday 5/15. Blue Hill Fabrics will be at Booths 2601–2607.