What’s New, Pussycat?

by Sarah Mac

Here at the shop we’ve gotten a few new fabrics in.  You simply must stop in and take a look for yourself, but here’s a little introduction to a few of our new lines.

La Petite Ecole

 ”La Petite Ecole,” was based on a collection of old fabric prints that might have covered children’s schoolbooks in the 19th Century.  Alphabets, dictionary pictures and small prints – all in shades of  French blue, old red and hemp feel as if they are right out of an old French schoolhouse.”

Timeless Treasures African Safari

Bold animal prints and lush jungle grasses adorn this Timeless Treasures line.   Complementing prints of rustic maps and coordinating panels combine for a “wild” time! 

Fresh Flowers by Deb Strain for Moda

Immerse yourself in these bright, beautiful, cheery flowers.  Bright yellows, oranges and reds on contrasting blue and green backgrounds are reminiscent of sunshine, warm weather, and the joy that bursts forth after long cold winters.

Blah, Blah, Blah!

And last, but certainly not the least…Max is back!  Robert Kaufman and Hallmark have teamed up to bring back more of Maxine’s snarky, witty humor.  From new panels to coordinates, we’ve got attitude by the yard! 

What will you be making with our new fabrics?

Piece!

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

by Sarah Mac

How cold is it in your neck of the woods…or cityscape, as it may be?  Way up here at the quilt shop, it is so cold it’s downright uncomfortable.  In the past few days, the temperatures have dropped to forty below zero in some areas.  And that’s not factoring the wind chill!   There are a lot of ways to keep busy while stuck indoors.  I thought it would be fun to share how the ladies at the shop stayed warm – you can share your cold winter’s eve plans, too!

So true.

Charlotte spent her cold hours bundled up in an electric blanket and worked on cutting up her rag quilt.  Judy makes sure she’s bundled up from head to toe and will even wash her hands just to warm!  Ruby cuddled up in her electric blanket and used the time to catch up on some reading.   Karen worked on carding some wool to spin over the weekend.  There’s a pattern of staying indoors, here, isn’t there?!  I spent my time indoors and out.  Our beloved car isn’t as winter-hearty as the rest of the family and we (mostly my husband) were in and out all day to remedy the situation.  I mixed up some homemade cocoa to warm us all up and I’d like to share the recipe with you.  You can adjust the amount of ingredients to your liking.  I like a little more chocolate and cinnamon than the rest of my family!  Here is my basic recipe.  Experiment away!

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Warm, chocolately goodness!

2 cups of confectioner’s sugar

1 cup of cocoa (Dutch preferred, Carob powder can be substituted)

2 1/2 cups of powdered milk

1 tsp of salt

a pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Mix ingredients well and store in an airtight container.  Heat 6-8oz of water.  Measure 1/3 cup of cocoa mix into a mug.   Stir in water, add marshmallows or whipped cream an enjoy!

Table Runner of the Month

This year at the quilt shop we’re offering 3 sewing clubs.  In our last post, we talked about “Color Me Happy,” our Block of the Month Club.  In addition, we are offering a Table Runner of the Month Club.  Karen Forbes will be hosting this monthly get together.  Here is what she has to say about the club:

Table Runner of the Month with The Pieced Tree:  A great little club with the beginner in mind.

*Each month you will receive a kit to complete a table runner. 

*Kits include: backing, batting and binding.

*You must bring in your completed runner from the previous month to receive your next kit.

We will meet each month on the 4th Saturday at 10am for show and tell and also to get your next month’s runner kit.  If you’d like to stay for a “little” help with your runner or just fellowship with other quilters, you are welcome to do just that.  Just let us know ahead so we can reserve a sewing machine for you.

Can’t make the meeting?  No problem!  Just stop in anytime to pick up your next month’s kit.   Kits are available any time after a meeting.

When you bring in your finished runner, don’t forget to enter for the drawing.   Every month we will pick a name from the box.  The winner will win his/her kit for the next month!

Cost: $5.00 to join, Kit cost is $12.00 a month.   Your first month’s kit will be $10.

***Join at any time during the year!

The Pieced Tree Tiny Ones offers fun and easy patterns on a small laminated card.  We have many of Pieced Tree’s patterns in stock at the shop.  Stop in and see what we have to offer and don’t forget to sign up for Table Runner of the Month!

Well, “Color Me Happy!”

January marks the beginning of a few sewing clubs at our shop.  There will be a “Groovy Girls” Sewing club by Terry Atkinson of Atkinson Designs (hosted by Sarah MacRostie)  and Table Runner of The Month club by Pieced Tree (hosted by Karen Forbes).  Today, we’re talking  “Block of the Month!”

Join Charlotte Palmer on the second Saturday of each month for Color Me Happy by Pat Speth of Nickel Quilts. With 13 monthly installments Color Me Happy is geared towards new quilters; starting with very simple blocks and teaching new techniques during the year with easy-to-follow diagrams and instructions.

The first meeting will be held Jan 15th, at 10a.m.  At these meetings participants will go over the patterns.  However, it is not necessary to attend the meetings.  You may at any time during the following month bring your completed block in and purchase your next pattern and fabric.

"Breakfast At Tiffany's" and "Patisserie" by Fig Tree Quilts

January’s cost is $5.oo and will include your first pattern and 3 fat quarters.  Subsequent months you will receive a pattern and 1 fat quarter for $2.50.

You may choose from any quilting fabric line at our shop.  Please be aware that we cannot guarantee your quilting line availability for the entire year.  The patterns show different backgrounds being used, however if you wish to use the same one, it would be about 1 1/2 yards if your fabric measures 42″ wide.

Batik Rainbow

The Block of the Month Quilt is a lot of fun and completely unique to you, so come join us an enjoy!

Piece!

Make It A Road Trip!

Earlier this week, our quilt shop had a few very fun and generous patrons.  Two lovely ladies, Jen and Martha, along with their husbands drove all the way up from Madison, WI just to see our store!  They’d heard good things about us from friends in Canada and wanted to see for themselves. 

The first day they came in, we spent the afternoon talking fabric and laughing.  Each of us here can really relate to the ‘kid in the candy store’ feeling our new friends were feeling.  They enjoyed themselves so much that they forgot their original mission was to find flannels.  No problem.  They were were staying overnight locally and said they’d return in the morning to finish their shopping.  As they made their way out of the shop and promised to return, Karen joked, “Don’t forget the doughnuts!” 

And you know what?   They didn’t!  The next morning, the fabulous four showed up with three delicious powdered sugar doughnuts wrapped up in a to-go box. 

They also arrived with bright smiles and cameras for a photo op.  We sure had a lot of fun with them while they were here! 

Piece!

Oh, The Horror!

I know you’ve been there.  The bobbin runs out and you didn’t notice.  For several feet.  Needles break.  The pattern (infallible, no?) is wrong.  And of course, the dreaded: You sewed something inside out. 

 It is just not a good sewing day. 

 

 Here at the shop, Karen and Sarah both experienced days like this over the weekend.  We found out we both do the same thing in similar situations.  If the error is just too big – we tuck that particular project away…to tackle when we’re not so…frustrated.

  

What do you do?  Do you have the wherewithall to rip those stitches and begin again?  Or do you find walking away for a while  is just a better solution?  Do you have a crafting horror story to share?  Stop in the shop and tell us about it or leave a comment on our Facebook page.  We’d love to hear from you! 

Piece!

The Doctor is in!

“From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.”

We have something fun for you!  Celebrate Seuss from Robert Kaufmann has just arrived with all the zany characters we know and love

This collection includes coordinates to expand & enhance both the Cat in the Hat group as well as the “family of characters” focal prints in this range. The line also includes a large-scale full-width stripe print with the most popular Seuss characters peeking out, as well as a smaller scale word print listing the 9 most popular titles, done in both color and black-and-white.

Stop in and let the Dr cure your winter blahs!

Piece, Karen

Pieced Tree Trunk Show – Tiny Ones

 We invite you to attend a Trunk Show on loan to us from The Pieced Tree. What is a trunk show you ask? Well, in this case, it is a selection of runners, toppers and quilts on loan to us from The Pieced Tree. Our featured trunk show, on display through January, is Tiny Ones.

Tiny Ones are terrific!  These pint-sized patterns make full-sized table toppers and runners in a variety of sizes and shapes.  They are great for showcasing all types of fabrics; batiks, novelty prints, florals, brights, and specific collections.

Each card is laminated on both sides for durability and priced right at $3.50!  There are currently 56 different Tiny Ones, with more to come.  Try them all, and keep coming back to see what’s new!

Each card measures 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″.

EASY TO PIECE, EASY TO ENJOY!

 Piece, Karen

 

Too Much Fabric???

Is it possible to have to much fabric? Ask any quilter and you will hear a resounding NO! 

However,we, here at the quilt shop, will beg to differ. Ruby and Karen have been fabric shop-a-holics and now need to make room for the new fabric which is arriving daily! We have a whole table of fabric marked at 50% off and have added new fabric to our 25% off wall! Now is the time to buy that quilt back or replenish your stash!

One of our new fabrics arrived yesterday –  Moda’s La Petite E’cole by French General. This fabric has the feel of an old French schoolhouse. Based on a collection of old prints that might have covered children’s school books in the 19th centrury La Petite E’cole design includes alphabets, dictionary pictures and small prints in French blue, old red and hemp.

Oh, and one more thing, we are overloaded with scrap bags and are GIVING them away. These bags are loaded with beautiful pieces of drapery and upholstery fabrics of all shapes and sizes. They are perfect for chairty quilts! Come get yours today!

Piece, Karen

We’re Blogging!

Welcome to our blog!  We’ll be showing off our new lines of fabric, projects our staff and customers create, promotions and giveaways.  We’ll keep you up to date on our Block of the Month, Runner of the Month and Groovy Girls clubs.  We want you to be involved!  Don’t forget to share our Facebook fanpage with your friends.  We’ll link our blog to the fanpage so you can find everything in one place.  Let us know what you’d like to read or see and we’ll do our best to accomodate. 

Happy Sewing!