Good morning quilters!  Well it has been a hot minute since I've written on my blog.  It is now pretty widely known that I sold my business "Simply Put" back in 2020.  I had design obligations that prevented me from completely closing down my website until December, 2021.  As that day is fast approaching I wanted to post an email address which you can reach me at should you have any inquiries.  

Contact:  lauralsimplyput@gmail.com

Facebook:  Farmhouse Friends (private designer group, join for FREE downloadable patterns)

Wholesale/Retail pattern inquiries:   info@midwaywool.com

  My business was started out of necessity, it continued with the support of this wonderful quilting community.  I am so very grateful to all of you who shopped with me, became my friends and boosted my spirits when they were waning.   Thank you,  Laural

Crazy Mystery block release

   On Friday, March 1st I released my crazy quilt seasons block.  This mystery quilt is hosted by Farmhouse Threads with our fearless leader Rhonda leading the charge.  The pattern is available for free download on my website underneath the kit description.  There will be a total of 12 blocks, 3 for each season.  Below is the flyer of all designers involved in this fun project (the links will not work as this is a document).  Enjoy!

It's Garden Mystery Block Day!

Today is reveal day.   Here is my block for the Garden Mystery block of the week, hosted by Farmhouse Threads.  

Kits are available at $12.95 each which includes shipping.  You will need to download the free pattern, which is available by clicking the link under the kit description on my website (link is listed above embedded in the word available).  Enjoy!!

Simply Published!

I just received the artwork for two of my designs published in Quiltmania Publications.  They do such a great job and I'm honored to be featured in their premier magazines.

 Pick up your copy at your local brick n mortar quilt shop.

 "Follow Your Heart" small wallhanging (kits available just message me)

 Subscriptions available HERE

5 x 7 Framed stitchery "SEW" (kits available just message me)

Mystery Garden BOW 2018

I am so excited to announce that today is the first day of the Farmhouse Threads garden mystery block of the week.  A new pattern/kit will be released each Friday starting TODAY and running through April 27th.

 Hope this mystery BOW inspires you to dust off that sewing machine and make this beautiful spring quilt.  Take care,  Laural

2018 Happenings

Happy New Year Quilters!!  Here's some exciting news from Simply Put for the upcoming year...

This week I will be vending at Road to California Booth #916.  So excited to be a part of what is clearly the premier quilt show on the west coast.  Hope you can stop by and see me.  I've been very busy making product for the show.

Kitty Spike has been so helpful with folding patterns.

I turned my 5 x 7 stitchery into a Sewing Journal kit.  These will be available for $14.95!! 

Love Birds pattern and kits available for $19.95

I'll be loading up all these goodies tomorrow, setting up on Wednesday and working my booth Thursday through Sunday.  Come on out and see the new pieces in my line plus some old favorites.  Thank you,  Laural

PS:  I love getting your feedback/comments HOWEVER I have changed the settings on my blog to moderate the comments.  This means until I approve the comment it won't show up.  I have had too many spam comments with links to other sites so unfortunately they have ruined it for all of us.  It will take a minute or two to get your comments posted, thank you for understanding.  

"Love & Joy" poinsettia

  This weekend I received my new PQM Winter 2017 edition with my design "Love & Joy" inside!!!  Woo Hoo!!

I am offering kits for this design and I have just listed them on my website HERE.  The kit sells for $32.00 and that includes FREE shipping, textured tan background fabric, ALL border fabrics, homespun binding and a complete wool selection for all of the appliqué'.

This little wall hanging finishes 20 1/2" square.  You will need a backing and some black embroidery floss (not included).  I do have a limited number of kits and the instructions are not included you must have a copy of the magazine in order to make this design.  Thank you for stopping by.

PS:  I want to thank everyone who reached out to me regarding my health from the last post I put up. It means a great deal to know I have the support of such a wonderful industry.  Laural

Show Update

   I'm not sure how many of you know that when I go do my shows I do them alone.  This isn't such a big task when its a small local quilt show but those long distance, week long shows really kick my a**.  Not only physically but mentally.  They become a stark reminder of the loss of my husband and how my life now is one of solitude.  I mention all of this now because back in June I  booked Houston Market and Festival.  I did so with a lot of trepidation.  In our industry this is THE show.   

   Last month I received some upsetting health news, news which explains how tired and weak I have been feeling for some time.   Yesterday I sent one of the hardest emails I have ever had to write...I cancelled my Houston contract.  Rose was so lovely and understanding, my friend Shawn who was co-driving and work sharing also, couldn't be more supportive.  This is the norm in this industry.  The support has always saved me when I've been at my worst.  

    Want to know something ironic?  Minutes after sending that email I heard from Road 2 California. After 5 years on the wait list I got a booth in the Ball Room!!!!!   Hours later, I heard from PIQF...also a booth became available!!!   

  So the message to everyone today is...follow your heart, trust your instincts.  

If any of you plan on attending either of these shows, please stop by and say hello.  

Take care,  Laural

Today's the Day!!

   Welcome to simplyputplus.blogspot.com!  Today is my day to post my design (block #11) in the Farmhouse Threads mystery summer blog hop.    And here it is...

 To download the pattern directions simply click this  LINK then click the printer icon along with your own printer.   For appliqué' templates click this link.

Kits are available through my website.

The kit is $10.95, ships for FREE (within the lower 48), includes all wool for appliqué' and 4 cotton background pieces.  Thread and pattern are NOT included.  Thank you so much and I hope you have as much fun with this project as I did being a part of it.   Also, if you haven't visited my blog before please take a moment and follow me here, on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

Happy Sewing,  Laural

Blog Hop Update

   I hope you are enjoying the Farmhouse Threads Mystery Blog Hop?  It isn't too late to get started as there have only been 4 blocks released so far.  Here are a few that you might have missed...

   Every Friday a new block will be released.  You can download the photos and patterns FREE on each designers blog.  Kits will be available from their sites.  My block comes out in mid May so stay tuned.  

Primitive Quilts Magazine

   Yesterday I received one of the photos from my quilt "Baby Star's" photo shoot.  

My design directions will be available in the Summer 2017 Primitive Quilts magazine.  

On Holiday

   This week begins the Farmhouse Threads mystery blog hop!  I am beyond thrilled to be a part of this exciting designer event.   Also happening this week though is that I leave for a holiday to the Gold Coast of Australia.  The timing isn't the greatest as this is a very busy time for Simply Put.

I was able to complete the stitching on these blocks for a new design that I will premier at Spring Quilt Market in St. Louis Missouri.

Simply Vintage #22 is now available in your local quilt shop, featuring my Modern Log Cabin design on the cover and instructions inside.  I got my copy and can't beleive how many wonderful projects are in this issue.

I will try and respond to any questions, emails and orders from my retreat in Australia.   Thank you for your patience in my absence.  I return on the 22nd of March.  Enjoy the blog HOP!!!

Mystery Quilt Blog Hop

I am so pleased to announce that I will be one of the designers included in the Farmhouse Threads Mystery Summer Blog Hop!!!  What a great honor to be among these premier Primitive designers.  Hope you all enjoy!  

MARCH 10 - Rhonda McCray, Farmhouse Threads 

farmhousethreads.com 

MARCH 17 - Shawn York, Rusty Crow Quilt Shop 

shawn-rustycrow.blogspot.com

MARCH 24 - Lisa Bongean, Primitive Gatherings 

lisabongean.com

MARCH 31 - Jeni Gaston, Woolen Willow Designs  jenifromthewillow.blogspot.com

APRIL 7TH - Debbie Busby, Wooden Spool Designs 

woodenspooldesigns.blogspot.com

APRIL 14 - Joyce Weeks, Geoffs Mom Pattern Co. 

geoffsmom.blogspot.com

APRIL 21 - Kathi Campbell, Heart to Hand

hearttohand.com/

APRIL 28 - Linda and Donna, My Red Door Designs 

myreddoordesignsblog.blogspot.com

MAY 5 - Joan Grenke, Bits and Pieces by Joan 

bitsandpiecesbyjoan.com

MAY 12 - Gloria, Vicky and Heather, Old Green Cupboard Designs 

oldegreencupboard.com

MAY 19 -  Laural Arestad, Simply Put Plus

simplyputplus.blogspot.com

MAY 26 - Kathy and Taylor, The Cottage at Cardiff Farms  thecottageatcardifffarms.com/blog

JUNE 2 - FINISHING Farmhouse Threads  

farmhousethreads.com

2017 Happenings

   Welcome to a new year with many new opportunities on the horizon.  Last year I made the decision to move out of state and open a small retail shop up in Washington.  Unfortunately those plans did not come to fruition.  The ramifications of that was I didn't have many shows booked so it was back to the drawing board, literally, and designing became a huge outlet for me.  2017 I will have 4 designs in two different magazines, Primitive Quilts and Quilt Mania!  woo hoo!

#M396 Kaleidoscope Garden pattern $8.00  

I have designed a line of 6 mini quilt kits which I will sell exclusively at the quilt shows for $14.95.  They include all fabrics, backing, single fold binding and 6" heart wire quilt hanger.

#407 Simply Mini-Halloween 

#408 Simply Mini-Snowmen

I began remaking many of my primitive designs with Modern fabrics in 2015, this continues with my two newest designs "House Warming".

#362 House Warming pattern $7.50   28" x 41"

#M362 Modern House Warming pattern $7.50 

Spending time on the beach and in the mountains are two of my favorite places to retreat.  "Cabin Life" was inspired by one of those visits...

#399 Cabin Life pattern $7.00  pattern/kit  $19.95

This morning my Events page was updated with all of my shows AND the Farmhouse Threads blog hop mystery block which I am so honored to be a part of.   Hope to see you at one of my shows.   For more timely updates follow me on Facebook or Instagram (links in margins of blog).  

New Designs

   Show season is beginning this Labor Day weekend. I never like to vend at a show with the same designs I brought last year. I've developed a line of mini quilts sold as kits that were super fun and quick to make...

               Simply Mini Snowmen

              Simply Mini Baskets

I also have a Haloween mini to round out the group.  Although Primitive is my love I also am quite fond of remaking those designs with a Modern edge. Here's my latest modern design which I will have up in Big Bear this weekend

Hope you all get a chance to visit your local quilt shows and your brick n mortar shops. Happy sewing!

Sew Group

   The sewing group times are always a fun time to catch up and to take a peek at what the other ladies are working on. Our resident hooker, Shirley, shared two of her projects...

Love the turquoise background on her pumpkin tree piece.  

And she's almost finished this sports piece for her doctor. 

I am nearly finished with the embroidery on my new mini quilt.  This may just lead to a few more designs that are floating around in my head???

Working on Projects

   Okay vacation is officially over!  My project basket is empty and therefore it's time to prep more hand sewing.

This little rabbit pattern is by Cheri Payne and has been on my to do list for years. 

I found some Bunny Hill blocks I had hand sewn a while back, so I made a shabby chic table runner out of them. Just needs quilting. 

This little mini quilt took on a life of its own. Soon it will be a kit that I sell at shows.  What a relief to have a few projects prepped to work on again. 

A modern type day

Summer vacation is officially over!!  One downside to living in Southern California is the abundance of fun things to do during the summer. Unfortunately that isn't always conducive to getting work done...

So this morning I added the border to this new design that had been on the drawing board for a month now.  

Next to add the fun stuff...applique' and embroidery.  

Went up into the hills to take cover photos of my new piece..."Kaleidoscope Garden". This one is on its way to France to be published in an upcoming QuiltMania edition.  So you see it is a Modern kinda day here at Simply Put. 

Market Wrap Up

   Simply Put recently returned from vending at spring quilt market in SLC Utah. For the past 3 years I have been reworking my primitive designs with modern fabrics. 

This decision has led to several successful markets in a row. I'm able to reach a larger market and shops that would normally pass me by...stop and chat awhile. 

I walked away from Market determined to focus on designing this year. My new design Kaleidoscope Garden was picked up by Simply Modern magazine.  

Primitive Quilts and more magazine took 2 other designs (not able to show you those).  Simply Put will be distributed by Petersen-Arne and I did a live interview with a national blogger who was fascinated by my primitive to modern designs!  I will post links when that interview airs. 

Utah was a beautiful state and I left there feeling more inspired than I have been in a really long time, that in itself is priceless. 

What I'm working On

   After three shows this year it's time to restock...

So it's kit making time here at Simply Put.