Quilting Adventures ~ The Friendly Store for Everyone Who Creates With Fabric!

We have a great new class coming up on Friday, September 10 – yes, I know September sounds far away, but guess what? It’s almost here! Anyway, I asked Kathleen (who is teaching the class) to write a guest blog entry about her upcoming class – here she is:

Come join me on September 10th for the day to make your own designer purse. This is a unique class that offers you eight purse options. Your purse will be different from the one beside you.

How is this possible? First you chose from two purse designs: a medium size square/rectangle purse or a clutch purse. Next you chose from four fabric techniques: simple strips fabric, planned wrinkles fabric, sheer layers fabric or Textiva fabric.

That’s right – you will actually create your own fabric for this purse before you assemble the purse. And the options don’t end there. Do you want pockets? How about a handle? You make all the choices during the class to create the designer purse you want to take home.

I have spent the last several months working on a book proposal that features not only this unique concept but also these purse designs and fabrics…along with others of course. The proposal is in the hands of several publishing houses. Who knows, maybe your finished designer purse will be photographed to be included in my upcoming book.

Here are some samples of the projects:

Call or stop by to sign up today!

~Joyce

Betty has been sewing like a madwoman to get the sample of the whole Buck a Block quilt done so you can see the final product with this block of the month.  Here it is, in the fire colorway:

Trust me, it’s even prettier in person.  You just can’t photograph all the details of those gorgeous batiks!

Many of you have been asking about doing the Buck-a-Block by mail – please stay tuned as we’ll be announcing shortly how you can participate as a long-distance customer. 

And in case you  missed the details the first time around, here they are again:

24 blocks for 12 bucks!?!?!
Yes, you read it right – in fact, you can even get 12 blocks for free!  Just read on….

Our latest block-of-the-month program, Buck-a-Block 7 will start in September.  This program uses Thangles to create perfect half-square triangles every time.  Each month’s block kit will include the pattern and fabric to make two center squares for the star blocks.  If you want to keep up with doing the star setting around the blocks each month, you may want to purchase one of our pre-finishing kits at the start of the program (or you can pick out your own fabrics!)

The Basics

• Monthly kit includes fabric and pattern for two center blocks     (star setting not included)
• 12 months = 24 blocks
• Requires 2″ Thangles for block
• Star setting requires additional fabric and 3” Thangles

The Colorways
There are four colorways for the center blocks, but you can personalize your quilt further by purchasing your own star setting and finishing fabrics!

• Christmas – green and black
• Fire – red, yellow and orange batiks
• Blues – shades of blue batiks
• Solids – assorted solids in blues, greens and purples

The Rules (no exceptions, not ever)

• Monthly kits are $1/month IF picked up within the current month by the person who is signed up for the BAB
• Monthly kits are FREE if picked up within the current month by the person who is signed up for the BAB with a purchase of $30 or more
• Monthly kits are $3 if picked up late or by someone who is NOT the person signed up for the BAB
• Kits will be ready the first of each month, no earlier

To learn more about this and our other clubs starting up this fall, please come to our Fall Clubs Info Session – tomorrow, Sunday August 8 at 1, or Wednesday August 18 at 6:30.

This from Kristal, who stitched the awesome sample we have on top of the bookcase by the register:

If you like embroidery of any kind this book is for you!  I used to cross stitch when I was a kid and just hadn’t gotten back into it… until I bought this book!  I have done the “Peace/Love” cross stitch pattern in a bunch of different greens (come in to the store and look above the first cash register).  And as an early anniversary present I made the “Wedding Monogram” pattern.  The exciting thing I found out is just because they do things in all one color in the book doesn’t mean you have to!  I did at least 20 different colors in the monogram to capture the colors from our summer wedding.

There are so many patterns in this book that it’s a great buy at just $24.99.  It’s going to take me a long time to do all the projects… but I sure will try because they’re all so cute.  Also, I used our Presencia flosses for my projects and splitting them into two strands is perfect for the Aida cloth we have; just enough texture without being too bulky.

Now I’m on to embroidering some blocks for a friend’s wedding.  Her theme is “Woodsy” so the deer, birds, trees, and other patterns in this book are going to fit the bill just right!

Come check out the book and see for yourself all the exciting ideas it has to offer!

24 blocks for 12 bucks!?!?!
Yes, you read it right – in fact, you can even get 12 blocks for free!  Just read on….

Our latest block-of-the-month program, Buck-a-Block 7 will start in September.  This program uses Thangles to create perfect half-square triangles every time.  Each month’s block kit will include the pattern and fabric to make two center squares for the star blocks.  If you want to keep up with doing the star setting around the blocks each month, you may want to purchase one of our pre-finishing kits at the start of the program (or you can pick out your own fabrics!)

The Basics

• Monthly kit includes fabric and pattern for two center blocks     (star setting not included)
• 12 months = 24 blocks
• Requires 2″ Thangles for block
• Star setting requires additional fabric and 3” Thangles

The Colorways
There are four colorways for the center blocks, but you can personalize your quilt further by purchasing your own star setting and finishing fabrics!

• Christmas – green and black
• Fire – red, yellow and orange batiks
• Blues – shades of blue batiks
• Solids – assorted solids in blues, greens and purples

The Rules (no exceptions, not ever)

• Monthly kits are $1/month IF picked up within the current month by the person who is signed up for the BAB
• Monthly kits are FREE if picked up within the current month by the person who is signed up for the BAB with a purchase of $30 or more
• Monthly kits are $3 if picked up late or by someone who is NOT the person signed up for the BAB
• Kits will be ready the first of each month, no earlier

To learn more about this and our other clubs starting up this fall, please come to our Fall Clubs Info Session – tomorrow, Sunday August 8 at 1, or Wednesday August 18 at 6:30.

It’s been a little while since we did a post of just the new stuff, so I thought I’d write one today to show off some of the fun new fabrics (and books!) that we’ve gotten.

First up are some home dec fabrics.  We had the white owls before, but we re-ordered it and now have another bolt in.  We also got it on brown this time around!

These are the newest Flower Fairies from Michael Miller.  There are also two panels with this print:

Nutmeg is a cute fall line…

Castle Peeps!  This is by Lizzy House for Andover, and we’ve been waiting for it for a couple of months.  I took some home on Monday night and started these pants from the new Anna Maria Horner book Handmade Beginnings at 9:30 (yes, PM).  About three hours later, they were done!  They’re fully reversible, and totally cute!

Here’s the back…

These were the 6-9 month size, but if I remember correctly, they go all the way up to 18 months!  (I just checked, it’s actually 24 months)

Some more owls, this time with a slightly more Halloween-y twist.

Holiday Flourish 2 from Robert Kaufman.  Many of you remember this from last year.  It is so beautiful and elegant, the colors just sing!  We have some new prints, as well as one or two favorites from last year.

This is another one from Robert Kaufman, called Sparkle All The Way.  Everyone who works here wants to make samples out of this because it’s SO CUTE!  I called first dibs on it though, because I needed some samples for the window display (which will change next week, the day before the anniversary celebration).

And here’s something Mary Terry made for that window out of these fabrics…

If you look in the background, you can see a stack of fat quarters that are from one of our Christmas lines that ships next month.  It’s done by Mimi Dietrich in the style of Baltimore Album fabrics.

In the spirit of Christmas stuff, I had Amy bring her embroidered Advent Calendar back in.  We have this pattern in the shop, and I love seeing it year after year.  Here’s a closeup of two of the pockets.

While I was writing this blog entry, we got a shipment of new books.  I haven’t even checked them in yet, but I thought I’d show you a picture..

Last, but not least, I have some reminders and sneak peaks.  First up is a sneak peak of one of our new clubs starting in September.  This is a teensy piece of the quilt I made for the first month.  We’ll officially debut the club next week at the anniversary celebration, along with (hopefully) another quilt, too.

We’re also planning some other block-of-the-months, as well.  We’ll have another one starting in September, and we’re planning an embroidery one which will start in January.

Don’t forget about our 5th Anniversary Contest.  The deadline is this weekend, so you still have a chance to get yours in!  They are just mini-quilt size, so you could whip one out today!  The 1st prize is a $50 gift card.  If you need some inspiration check out our two new books on mini-quilts, Whip Up Mini Quilts or Pretty Little Mini Quilts.

I would say have a wonderful day, but it’s pretty nasty outside, so why not make the best of it and SEW! 

~Phoebe

Okay, so you guys mostly already know that I’m a bit goofy – this post won’t come as a surprise.

I’ve always bought my ironing board covers at some department store, those cheapy foam padded thin junky muslin covers with a drawstring.  They look nasty pretty quickly – especially if you ever spray water on what you’re pressing.  But they’re cheap, and like everything else, you get what you pay for.

Well, gross finally got to me, and I thought, “Hmmm….   I bet I can order one from one of my distributors.  Maybe even a NICE one.”  So I ordered me a IronSlide 2000 Ironing Board Cover to try.  The description says, “Cut your ironing time in half. The Fit & Stick cover is made from space-age fabric that reflects the heat of your iron back to the garment. Reflects 300% more heat than a regular cotton cover. Fits all regular boards up to 15in wide.”  Space-age fabric?  YAY – gotta try it!

Well, I’m here to tell you, I love this thing!  First of all, it’s a peel and stick cover.  Rather than the goofy drawstring thing, you trim it to fit your ironing board (mine is older than my children, all nasty and rusty), then you peel off the backing and just stick it to the board.  So it stays in place, all nice and snug.  The “space-age fabric” does indeed reflect the heat back, making pressing easier.  It’s sturdy – it’s not going to stain and fall apart in a few weeks like the others.  And I even got some fusible on it, and was able to clean it right off with a green scrubby thing (scotchbrite-type).

Yes, it’s a little pricey at $20.99, but I figure that it will last easily three times as long as the junky ones I used to buy for probably $8-$10, so I’ll come out ahead.  And yes, I’m going to carry them in the shop.  We have one in stock now, and I’ll order more.  I know we all hate to spend that money on something like an ironing board cover rather than fabric, but honestly, it should come out of the household budget rather than the sewing budget, right?  Because after all, other people in their house use it to iron their clothes, too, and they’ll be so grateful to you for buying it! 

~Joyce

I’m sure most of you don’t know this about me, but I’m a book junkie.  There, I said it, I can’t take it back.  It’s out there for you all to see.

Book publishers make their living off people/shop owners like me.  I just can’t resist the newest/latest/greatest/freshest title.  No willpower – almost like trying to resist chocolate!

This Spring Market was no exception – lots of new books, and they’re starting to arrive.  Awesome, yes, but it also creates a problem.  If the bookshelves are too full, you can’t find anything and then you don’t buy anything. 

So, time to make some room for the new.  This morning I pulled a “few” books to put on clearance.  I had to stop cause the cart got full:

So, PLEASE help.  Stop by and visit the clearance section, where you’ll find all these books – and more, since I’m not done yet! – on sale for up to 40% off.

And then check out all the new titles, too, since you’re here…. 

~Joyce

Okay, folks – I’m going to be sewing in the classroom ALL DAY Saturday, and I need you to come keep me company!  I’ll also be playing with some of the new tools and gadgets from Market – the double diamond ruler, and the bloc loc ruler, maybe the strip tube ruler, and some others depending on what comes in tomorrow’s deliveries.  NO CHARGE for you, but please do call or email to sign up so we save you some space.

Think of all you can get done in a full day of uninterrupted sewing!  Besides, where else can you have this much fun? 

And, by the way – if you aren’t a QA fan on Facebook, you’re missing a chance to win a free 2010 (yes, this year, but still great pictures and there’s 7 months left!) Quilting Arts Calendar.  So just click here to read all about it!

I hope you’ll join me on Saturday!

~Joyce

It’s late, and I’m tired – so I’m going to let the pictures do the talking. 

Hope to see you this weekend!

~Joyce

April orders are still rolling in! 

Here’s America from Clothworks:

Follow this link to the free pattern on the Clothworks website – it’s pretty cool!

Also from Clothworks, June’s Backyard:

And click here for the free pattern from Clothworks for this line!

New from Timeless – Willow, a lovely blender.  We’ve had a few of these pieces before but now we have nineteen of the colors.  I didn’t take a photo, but here it is on Timeless’s website.  Of course, their website shows all the colors – we just got the pretty ones. 

And don’t forget that today (27th) and tomorrow (Wednesday 28th) are our monthly finish the bolt days.  Buy what’s left on a bolt of fabric and get 25% off the entire piece!  Help us make room for the May shipments that will start rolling in next week.

~Joyce