What's New At PSQ

Thursday, July 28, 2011

What's New At PSQ Week of July 25

HUGE and easy Christmas Tree Skirt - just quilt and go!
Fun Fabric Books featuring our favorite Vegetables!
Happy Halloween Panel - soon to be a quilt and kit!
Adorable and Cuddly Flannels that match our Baby Bear line of cottons!
Happy Halloween - fun but not too spooky fabrics!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

What's New at PSQ Week of July 18, 2011 Part II

Mitered corners made easy!
Just four fabrics to fun!
The Piece O Cake ladies are back for the Holidays!
Break free and cut loose while you quilt!
Turn your favorite photos into quilts!
Hi!  Here are various photos of What's New At PSQ This Week!  Enjoy!

Four bolts - four breeds!  Labs, Border Collies, Jack Russell Terriers and Spaniels
Gorgeous embroidery stitches and MORE!
One of two new Veggie Tale Fabric Books!

White on White dots
White on White Swirls

What's New at PSQ Week of July 11 (a little late!)

Check out the adorable Patchabilities pattern inside!


Hi all!  Here are photos of all the things I mentioned in last week's email...just a little late.  Enjoy!

Fun and fuzzy flannels pair beautifully with the Baby Bear line
Fun and whimsical quilt designs.
Great Holiday patterns in cotton AND wool!






Baby Bear Hugs

Great blendables and tone on tones

Stripes and more!  Soooooo cute!

Too cute!  And two cute panels from our new line Baby Bear Hugs.  These panels are HUGE - nearly a yard wide.  Just quilt and bind and you're done.  Quick baby gifts!  Love it!

What's New at PSQ Week of July 18, 2011

Brenda Duran's "Quilt Blocks from Past to Present"
Hard at work!
Sue Jun's Family Tree of Sewing
Carole Schmidt with her winning piece featuring Spools 

 
Kay Nolan with her fabric creation comparing"Then and Now".

Hi all!  As promised, here are some photos from  our first ever Mission: Seams Impossible Quick Fire Challenge held on Saturday, July 16 at the Fifth Annual Batavia Quilt and Textile show.  Contestants had just five hours to produce a quilt top that best reflected the theme "Threads from Past to Present". 

Congratulations to all our brave and talented participants!  Enjoy!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

What's New at PSQ Week of July 4, 2011

Hi all!  What a week I've had.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my laptop was dying a slow and painful death.  The left "clicker" had fallen off, the only way you could view the screen was if I left it open no more than 45 degrees (try that sometime - it's fun!) and in the final days the power cord AND battery had died (yes, you're right, without one or the other - NO POWER).  The good news was that I had purchased the warranty on the laptop, the bad news was the warranty was set to expire at the end of June (and it was the first of June).  So...I spent one week transferring files, setting up my email and doing all the other prep work I needed to ensure PSQ (and I) kept functioning while they had my laptop for an estimated 2-3 weeks!

I sent my laptop off and after 2 1/2 weeks (with periodic emails telling me "We're working on it and all is fine!), I got the phone call.  "Mrs. Deering we have deemed that your laptop is BEYOND REPAIR!"  Uh, what!  The good news is...they told me to head to my nearest Best Buy and they would hand me a brand new lap top.  The bad news is...I spent the last week uploading all the stuff that I pulled off my old computer (which in the words of the folks at Best Buy had been "junked out").  Not too hard until you realize just how many things you have on your computer with passwords.  Oh yes, I have spent the better part of the last week trying to remember all my passwords so I can...get on facebook, my blog, twitter, my bank, my payroll service and the list goes on and on.

As of today I think I have FINALLY managed to get my new computer back to normal (with the exception of my printer at the shop which does not like the new lap top and so far will not play nicely with each other!).  But I have faith that my best friend's husband will pull his computer geek magic and make it all work.  Because, let's be honest, some of this stuff has to be achieved by magic, right? 

So...I'm now typing away on my new laptop (with the screen fully open - my lower back appreciates that!) and I'm finally technologically available to tell you all that's new at PSQ this week!

PSQ Seeks World Domination
Okay, we don't really want World Domination but we'd take a little national recognition if offered!  So...I am submitting our annual nomination for Prairie Shop Quilts to be considered as a Top Ten Shop in Quilt Sampler magazine and I need your help.  Now that we are utilizing Twitter, Facebook and have our own blog site, I'd like to show that we have lots of followers.  I'm not looking for Ashton Kusher numbers but...if you are already signed up with one of these social networking sites, we'd love to have you sign up to receive our Tweets, "friend" us on Facebook and check out our blog.  If you do anyone of these options before August 1, we will give you 10% off your ENTIRE purchase (excluding sale items, gift certificates and class fees) on the day you come in and tell us that you joined PSQ in our social networking world.  Now, we will be utilizing the honor system since I can't be glued to my computer 24 hours a day making a list of all who have joined, but I trust you all to be honest and I really appreciate your help.

Thanks for your continued support of PSQ!  We LOVE our customers!




Batavia Quilt and Textile Show - Bigger Than Ever!
Thank you ALL so much for submitting your entries for the Batavia Quilt and Textile Show.  We put out the call and you answered.  By July 1st they had to start turning quilters away because we had hit our capacity.  I can't wait to see all the fabulous quilts and textiles you all have contributed to make this, our fifth annual Quilt show, the biggest and best ever!

Next Friday evening, following the first day of the Quilt Show, join us for an evening presentation.  Make sure to get your tickets soon for Chris Moline, AQS certified appraiser who will give a presentation and trunk show titled "A Collector's Diary". For more information on the show and the Friday night program click here or contact the nice folks at the Batavia Depot Museum at 630-406-5274.  I know they are also looking for volunteers (code for you get to touch and stare at all the pretty quilts!), contact Carla or Chris at the number above.

 Products to Help You Get Your Quilt Ready for the Show!
And now that the applications are all in, you have to get those quilts labeled and put sleeves on them, right?  Well, don't panic, we have two products to make your life easier.  First to get those labels on quick and neat, try Printed Treasures - a paper backed fabric that goes right into your printer and allows you to print customized labels (in color if you have a color printer). Then simply fuse the label down or hand sew it to the back of your quilt.  If you aren't too wordy (but you should include the name of the quilt, your name and the date finished at the very least!), you can print 2 or 3 labels on one sheet of Printed Treasures.


 For the sleeves, try our "Hang Ups" pre-made sleeves.  They come in a box with 3 yards of pre-made sleeves.  You can cut them to the width of your quilt (or I cut mine into smaller sections and attach it in three places along the back). You can hand sew the sleeves on OR if you are short on time like me...pin them on with safety pins.  Easy on, easy off!  Love it!

Classes
New Applique Sampler
Saturdays, July 9 and 16 from 1 pm to 3 pm; Saturday, July 23 from 10 am to 12 pm; Saturdays, September 10 and 24 from 10 am to 12 pm; and Saturday, September 17 from 2 pm to 4 pm
Learn the more advanced techniques of needle turn applique while creating a beautiful sampler quilt.  Be amazed at what you can do!  Must have taken pre-requisite Applique Primer class.
Class Fee: $78
Instructor: Leanne Hurley
Level: Beginner

The Basics
Sundays, July 10, 24, and 31, August 7, 14 and 21 from 12 pm to 4 pm
Learn the basic techniques of quilting that will give each student a solid foundation to use as a spring board to more complicated projects.  Students will make a sampler quilt of 16 different blocks while learning numerous techniques and building a wealth of quilting knowledge.  Students who take this class will have learned the skills to tackle just about any quilting technique.  The Basics is an excellent opportunity to start at the beginning no matter how long you've been quilting.
Class Fee: $135
Instructor:  Barbara Rippel
Level:  Beginner

Anything Goes
Thursdays, July 14, August 11 September 8 from 6 pm to 8 pm
Are you stuck on a project?  Almost done but just don't know how to finish it?  Have a new technique you want to try but just don't know how to start?  Well, we have the class for you because at "Anything Goes"...Anything Goes and instructor Barbara Rippel will teach you how to get started, get going and get it done!  Sign up and bring whatever quilt project you have and want to complete and get it done.
Class Fee: $20
Instructor:  Barbara Rippel
Level:  Any Level

Binding 101
Thursdays, July 14, August 11 September 8 from 6 pm to 8 pm
Your top is pieced, the borders are added, the quilt is quilted...now what?  We will cover the basics of binding in this three hour class.  We will cover how to trim the quilt for binding, how to make straight grain and bias binding and how to attach the binding to the quilt with perfect mitered corners.  Extras include that wonderful flange of fabric under the binding that adds so much punch.  We are hoping that after this class binding may be your favorite part of the quilt making process.
Class Fee: $24
Instructor:  Connie Pomering
Level:  Beginner

First Star
Saturday, July 23 from 1 pm to48 pm
When you wish upon a star!!  Now you can do more that dream about making a sensational star quilt!  Learn how traditional designs come together using rotary cutting and strip piecing methods without set-seams to make a dazzling star quilt.  The possibilities for this quilt are endless just by changing the layout and color selections.  Come to the class and see how easy it is and soon you'll be snuggling under the stars!
Class Fee: $21
Instructor:  Janet Blazekovich
Level:  Beginner

I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth.  We enoyed our annual viewing of the fabulous but, alas, historically skewed musical "1776" and partook of our favorite Independence Day treat 'smores - yummy!  This weekend we'll be celebrating Amelia's 12th birthday with two parties (friends and family).  How my little baby got to be 12 and so tall, I'll never figure out!  Time flies!  Have a great weekend, stop in and say hi this weekend and don't forget to join us in the Social Media revolution - John Adams and Benjamin Franklin's little revolution had nothing on us!

Happy Quilting!
Bonita

Prairie Shop Quilts
"Quilting With a Mission"
1911 West Wilson Street
Batavia, Illinois 60510
630-406-0237
info@prairieshopquilts.com
www.prairieshopquilts.com
BLOG prairieshopquilts.blogspot.com

And check us out on Facebook

Hours
Monday through Friday - 10 am to 6 pm
THURSDAYS OPEN UNTIL 8 pm
Saturdays - 10 am to 5 pm
Sundays - Noon to 4 pm