What's New At PSQ 4-21-11

Hi all! Happy Easter - FINALLY! Easter is one of my favorite holidays - so much chocolate AND jelly beans! But my personal favorite - Cadbury Creme Eggs! I LOVE those yummy treats with the hard, chocolate shell on the outside and the rich, thick creamy goo on the inside (there is no other word to describe the substance found inside these eggs - I don't know what it is but...it is sooooo good!). If you've never had one...I highly recommend it (not for your health, mind you, but just one for your personal happiness). I personally like mine frozen first but that's just me.

Also, I am happy to report that there have been sightings of the Easter Bunny around our house in the last few days. Apparently his recent "run-ins" with Mr. Peabody had no effect on his strange desire to visit our dog run on a daily basis and so I assume that he has suffered no post-traumatic stress and will be making his annual deliveries to your house this Sunday. Whew!

And speaking of Easter, please note that PSQ will be closed this Sunday, April 24 so that our staff can spend the day with friends and family (eating Cadbury eggs, no doubt!!!).

Now that I have you all "Jones-ing" for Cadbury Creme Eggs...here's what's new at PSQ this week!

Garden of Ideas Shop Hop Next Week!
This unique hop (formerly known as the Basketful of Ideas Hop) not only features prizes in hand-made woven baskets but we're also giving away a Bernina Activa 210 Sewing Machine valued at $999 as the Grand Prize. There are several shops on this hop you may never have visited so get hopping! Passports are available at the shop or you can pick them up at your first stop. We will be offering $2 pre-cut fat quarters all hop long!

Participating Shops include:
Basketcases Unlimited, Inc. - Clare; Judy's Quilt n' Sew - Hampshire; Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop - Fox River Grove; Prairie Shop Quilts - Batavia; Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe - Oswego; Quilt in Joy - Huntley; Quilter's Heart - Sandwich; Sew Generously - St. Charles; Tammy Tadd Designs - Sycamore.

I've designed our free block and have nearly finished (just need to sew down the binding) a cute table runner which we will kit and sell throughout the hop (and after) so plan on hopping, have fun, get cheap fat quarters AND get free patterns at each shop. It's nearly Easter...doesn't that make you want to HOP?

Ask the Trainer at PSQ
So many of you have asked how I lost the weight and got into shape over the last year. Well, now you can hear it from an expert when my personal trainer, Jackie Kold, stops in to host an "Ask the Trainer" evening at PSQ. Jackie will be stopping by the shop on Friday, May 6 from 7 to 8 pm to judge our latest Mission: Seams Impossible entries and will stick around for an hour or so to answer your questions on how to lose weight safely and effectively AND how to get healthy! There is no charge, just bring your questions and get a jump start on getting healthy this summer. I am passionate about how working with Jackie has changed my life in simple AND significant ways. So stop by and see what it's all about!
Kits and Samples
Harvest Town Flannels - I just LOVE working with flannels so I jumped on the chance to make the shop sample from this gorgeous line. This fabric is SOOOO soft and yummy and the pattern is SOOOOO simple to assemble. We made a few modifications (took out the 16 Churn Dash blocks) to make it even faster and easier to make AND you CAN have it done in a weekend! I'll have a photo on our blog in the next day or so and kits are available. The design is whimsical with a folk art flair and while I know that summer is coming and you may not be thinking about flannel (though it IS freezing tonight!) winter will be here again in no time! Make it now and you'll be glad you did when the bitter cold of winter creeps back around!

Magazines
The Quilt Life with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms - The Quilt Life is a beautiful magazine with gorgeous photos and wonderful articles. If you love to snuggle up with a quilt on your lap (and with these crazy cold temps that sounds good to me!), a mug of tea and good quilt magazine, then you'll love The Quilt Life. This issue features water inspired quilts, a beautiful quilt studio and more. There are great patterns and Ricky and Alex always have some yummy recipes, too!

Books
Quilts from Textured Solids by Kim Schaefer - Kim Schaefer is one of my favorite designers and I am so excited that she has come out with a book using Textured Solids since we have over 180 bolts of the best textured solids out there - The Michael Miller Krystal line. When you have that many bolts to use and mix and match, you'll want to make every one of the 20 new projects inside this book! Simple shapes help to show off the richness of the fabric and make the colors shine!


 

Fresh Picked Posies by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins - Fun, flirty and full of floral fabulosity (yes, I'm sure that's a word!), this book has it all! Fresh floral applique designs from the ladies at Piece O' Cake Designs fill this book. Designs can be fused or hand appliqued and you can use just one design for a fantastic focal point OR make them all to create a fanciful floral sampler.






All Time Favorite Scrap Quilts form That Patchwork Place - yes, I have to admit I have never been able to make a true scrappy quilt but I know many of you out there LOVE scrappy quilts and so this book is for you! There are designs in this book from some of the best quilt makers out there including Kim Diehl, Mimi Dietrich and Sally Schneider. So grab all your scraps and get quilting!






Fast Fusible Flower Quilts by Nancy Mahoney - It must be spring because all the "flower" books are arriving! Featuring 11 different quilt projects, this book has gorgeous flower motifs including spring favorites: dogwoods, daisies and amaryllis. So now that the flowers are starting to pop through the ground and you're feeling inspired to make a fabric garden, get this book and start fusing!

Fat Quarter Winners by Monique Dillard - Monique is another one of my favorite quilt designers so I was thrilled to find that her latest book features one of my favorite fabric goodies - fat quarters. We ALL have a ton of fat quarters in our fabric stash and Monique has done a great job taking the lowly fat quarter to new quilting heights! There are 11 different patterns ranging from lap size to king size and all fat quarter friendly. FABULOUS!

The Big Book of Patchwork - 50 Fabulous Quilts from Judy Hopkins - Yep, that's right - 50 patternsin just one book. There are quilts of all sizes from crib to king and the designs are varied but emphasize classic patchwork designs with quick, easy and fast cutting and piecing techniques.

Classes
Ohio Star - Square in a Square
Friday, April 22 from 10 am to 1 pm
The size of quilt that is in the book makes a great baby quilt but you can make it larger by increasing the block size or making more blocks. You will be learning two Options from the Square in a Square technique. The quilt comes together very quickly and is a great way to feature a print that you just don't want to cut into small pieces.
Class Fee: $21
Instructor: Janet Blazekovich
Level: Confident Beginner

Binding 201
Sunday, May 1 from 12 pm to 3 pm
If you've mastered the basics of binding and are ready to conquer some more advanced techniques, this is the class for you! We will explore fusible binding, two fabric reversible binding, flanges and piping. We'll sew samples that include rick rack and lace, and also try a variety of prairie points. Learn some great new techniques for finishing our next quilt with style!
Class Fee: $24
Instructor: Connie Pomering
Level: Confident Beginner

4-Patch Posie
Thursdays, May 5 and 26 from 6 pm to 9 pm
Take just one fabric but create many different designs! Transform a focus or novelty fabric into a 4-Patch Kaleidoscope quilt that will delight and make you want to try different fabrics.
Class Fee: $42
Instructor: Barbara Rippel
Level: Confident Beginner

Sophisticated Hobo Bag
Saturday, May 14 from 12 pm to 4 pm
This smart bag has it all! Pockets and personality. Leave the strap wide for comfort or narrow it up for added style. Caron will also share a technique for making a quilted cosmetic (or glasses or sewing kit) bag for a nice finishing touch.
Class Fee: $25
Instructor: Caron Carlson
Level: Confident Beginner

Have a wonderful Easter! Try a Cadbury Creme Egg with a large glass of milk (they are really rich!) and say "Hi!" to the Easter Bunny from Mr. Peabody (he'll be locked safely away until Easter is over!) We'll see you Hopping next week! And, don't forget to check out photos of What's New At PSQ at our blog. Just go to http://prairieshopquilts.blogspot.com. Happy Quilting!

Bonita

 

What's New At PSQ As of 4-14-11

Hi all! On my way to Elgin each day, I often pass a business along Kirk road that puts up funny sayings on their sign. Last week’s sign was too funny (and thought provoking) not to share. Here’s what it said:

Save the Earth…It’s the only planet with chocolate!

Now THAT is something to think about! And on that note, here’s what’s new at PSQ this week!

Garden of Ideas Shop Hop April 28—May 1

This unique hop (formerly known as the Basketful of Ideas Hop) not only features prizes in hand-made woven baskets but we’re also giving away a Bernina Activa 210 Sewing Machine valued at $999 as the Grand Prize. There are several shops on this hop you may never have visited so get hopping. Passports are available at the shop or you can pick them up at your first stop. We will be offering $2 pre-cut fat quarters all hop long!

Participating Shops include:

Basketcases Unlimited, Inc.—Clare; Judy’s Quilt ‘n’ Sew—Hampshire; Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop—Fox River Grove; Prairie Shop Quilts—Batavia; Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe—Oswego; Quilt in Joy—Huntley; Quilters Heart—Sandwich; Sew Generously—St. Charles; Tammy Tadd Designs—Sycamore

I’ve designed our free block and am working on a cute table runner which we will kit and sell throughout the hop (and after) so plan on hopping, have fun, get cheap fat quarters AND get free patterns at each shop. 

Best Selling Author Sandra Dallas is coming to Batavia in May

We are thrilled to partner with the Batavia Public Library to welcome best selling author Sandra Dallas to Batavia. On May 21, Sandra Dallas will give a presentation on her latest book, The Bride’s House, with a book signing to follow. The event will take place at 3 pm at the Batavia Public Library. Tickets are available now at both the Batavia Public Library and PSQ at no cost. Tickets for the book talk are free, but if you would like to meet the author and have a book signed, you must purchase a copy of The Bride's House from us. With each purchase of the new book, you will be entitled to bring up to two additional books to get signed as well. Please note, The Bride's House will not be published until April 28th - but order early! Numbers will be given out with each purchase which will reserve your place in the signing line, so the earlier you buy your book, the shorter your wait for getting it signed will be. The books must be paid for in advance in order to secure a signing number, and we can either bring the book to the event or you can pick it up at the shop after 4/28. If you're not sure about whether you can make it, no need to fear. Books will be available for purchase at the library on the day of the event as well.

After the book talk and beginning at 6 pm, Prairie Shop Quilts will host an Author’s Meet and Greet Reception at the shop. Tickets for the reception are available for $10 each and can be purchased at PSQ. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Sandra Dallas and have their books signed in a small, intimate environment. The reception will also feature another one of the fabulous cakes from Good Gracious Cakes and beverages as well.

Oh, and everyone who purchases a copy of the book thru PSQ, will receive a coupon for the shop, too!

Magazines

Quilts and More Summer 2011 – This always fabulous magazine never fails to provide a TON of great patterns and project ideas. In fact, according to the cover, there are 26 Quick Projects for just $6.99! There is an adorable (and roomy) purse, a fun watermelon table runner and a yummy and useful ice cream cone pin cushion. There is a super easy quilt called “Soft and Simple” that would be perfect to use the new and colorful Kaffe fabric. And another quilt called “Baby Steps” that would be so cute in whites and 30’s fabrics. OR check out the so fun coaster set with matching basket. That would be a great and much appreciated hostess gift I’m sure. My copy of Quilts and More is already dog eared and I have lots of plans (if only I could find the time). Yahoo!

Kits/Samples

Calendar Quilts – Mr. Pumpkin – I LOVE these adorable wall hangings that celebrate each of the twelve months of the year. Mr. Pumpkin marks the halfway point – we’ve made up and kitted six out of the 12 projects in the fun and easy to follow Calendar Quilt book by Kim Diehl. Just think of it, you could have your Halloween wall hanging done EARLY! Start now and finish fast! I’ll have a photo of the sample up on the blog soon!

Fabric

Batik Essentials – Feast your eyes on 38 bolts of the most beautiful batik prints in all kinds of colors and patterns that just arrived at PSQ. As so it begins…yesterday we got our first of four shipments of the Island Batik Essentials which includes 38 gorgeous fabrics (with nearly 100 more on the way). These bolts weren’t even out of the box before customers who were lucky enough to be at the shop when Frank the Fabric Fairy brought this lovely gift. The colors include bright oranges, pinks and golds, luscious and deep blues and greens. There is a fantastic black with hints of orange, gold, red and more. Unfortunately my camera was at home when they arrived but I’ll get some pictures of them up on the blog asap or just stop in and enjoy them in person. And remember…there is more on the way!!!

Classes

T-Shirt Quilt – There’s still room left! Learn to make a memory quilt – GREAT GRADUATION GIFT!

Saturdays, April 16 from 2—4 pm and May 7 from 1 pm to 4 pm

T-shirt quilts are so fun to make and a wonderful way to chronicle someone’s life in a quilt. This two-part class will teach students how to stabilize the t-shirts and prepare them for piecing. In the second session students will learn options for layout and how to piece it all together.

Class Fee: $35

Instructor: Elvira Illig

Level: Beginner

Binding 101 – There’s still room left in this GREAT and MUST HAVE class

Sunday, April 17 from 12 pm to 3 pm

Your top is pieced, the borders 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 a 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

This weekend is supposed to be cold and rainy so why not take a class! The T-shirt class is so much fun and EVERYBODY has a ton of t-shirts. Make a memory! How about learning how to bind to make sure that your gorgeous quilt has a Happy Ending! Or just stop in and say hi! You can check out our awesome array of batiks, see the Kaffe Fassett fabric in all its beautiful glory or see all that’s new at PSQ this week! See you soon!

Bonita

Mr. Peabody versus the Easter Bunny

This is a re-creation of the crime scene with a considerably
smaller bunny standing in for the Real Easter Bunny!

Hi all!  I’m sorry to report that while Easter may be late this year, I think the Easter Bunny might be a little later!  Ever since we got our schnauzer seven years ago, I have feared for the safety of all our favorite holiday friends.  Year one, Santa came down the chimney to discover Mr. Peabody poised on the hearth barking and growling at the Jolly Old Elf.  God Bless Santa, he tossed the gifts from inside the fireplace and had his finger at the side of his nose in two seconds flat before the Peas could grab hold of his furry lined legs!  Yikes!  From that point on, every Christmas our gifts could be found INSIDE the fireplace with a note “Sorry but your dog is obnoxious and Mrs. Claus is tired of mending my pant legs.  Oh, and keep the cookies!”

As our daughter started losing her baby teeth, my concern switched to the safety of the Tooth Fairy.  Now granted, she had wings so…in theory she could rise above the maylay but…do we really want to be the family responsible for the Tooth Fairy turning in her notice!  Once again, there was barking, leaping and one ticked off fairy who nose dived my daughter’s pillow to retrieve the tooth and then launched the cash at Mr. Peabody’s head.  Tooth after tooth, my daughter’s sleeping head was buzzed by the livid fairy and Peabody was pelted by loose change.  Luckily, Amelia’s last baby tooth came out this year and the Tooth Fairy is sure to celebrate the fact that Amelia is an only child!

But…the worst problem of all…the Easter Bunny.  Most dogs love to chase rabbits and Mr. Peabody is no exception.  We’ve tried to help the little furry friends of our yard by putting a fence around Peabody’s “outside” bathroom to prevent his getting out or little bunnies getting in.  Alas, over the years, the ground has settled and resulted in an opening under the fence large enough for bunnies to enter and schnauzers to exit.  As an animal lover, I used paving stones leftover from another project to form a barrier to the outside world.  That should do it, right?  Uh no…two days after my fortress of stone was erected I found one of the stones knocked over! (insert scary music here!).

Okay that’s a little freaky.  The next day one more stone was tipped over!  Did I point out that the only way these stones could be tipped over was from the outside!  Did I also mention that these stones weigh 5 pounds each and it would take one BIG bunny to knock it over!  What kind of animal could do this?  And then I saw it!  The biggest rabbit I have seen outside a mall photo stand at Easter!  It was huge and it was inside the fence!  Was it the actual Easter Bunny?  Hard to say but it was carrying a basket full of eggs and had on a stylish bow tie!  Well, at least I thought he did. I didn’t get much of a look before Mr. Peabody took off after him.  Oh, this is not good!  This was one big bunny and the space between the grass and the fence wasn’t that big!  He had gotten in but could he get back out when being chased!  I HOPE so because if my dog takes out the Easter Bunny, we’re going to have to move to the moon!

The race was on!  The egg filled basket was firmly in the bunny’s mouth but I could tell it was slowing him down!  Mr. Peabody was fast and focused.  The bunny approached the fence and I saw it suck in its gut and dive for that little space of sunlight.  Then he struggled a little, the bow tie had caught up under the fence.  I gasped and…then Mr. Peabody slowed up just a scooch which gave our Easter pal that extra second to squirm his way out, under and off it went.   Mr. Peabody swerved to the left and went on trotting as if nothing had happened.  Hmmm, it almost looked like he LET the bunny get away.  Could it be that my little pooch had a heart after all? 

Truth be told, Mr. Peabody is actually very sweet but he does have an aversion to large men, dressed in red with beards who is technically breaking into our house.  Oh, and he’s not too fond of small flying objects (tooth fairies or quarters and dimes).  And he does love to chase rabbits (but he’s a dog – it’s what they do!).  So I’m very hopeful that the Easter Bunny will consider the fact that Mr. P showed a little compassion and still come back this April 24 to bring Amelia her Easter basket.  And this time…we’ll lock Mr. Peabody up at least until we’re sure the bunny has cleared the fence and is headed safely to your house!



Mr. Peabody













What's New At PSQ 4-7-11

Pat Campbell Thread Caddy – If you are a hand appliquer, hand quilter or a sewer with a lot of stuff (that covers just about all of us, right?), then you will love the Pat Campbell thread caddy.  Hand Appliquers love it for the multiple, see thru zipper pockets.  This caddy holds a ton of thread  AND you can color coordinate it for ease and convenience.  Some appliquérs also use a strong needle and poke through the pocket to leave a thread tail.  Then just pull out what you need snip it and off you go!  Even if you’re not a hand appliquer, we all have thread and other stuff so the pockets are perfect for holding needles, scissors, tape measures, thimbles and more.  It folds up nice and neat AND it’s cute, too.  We have several different fabrics to chose from AND they make great gifts, too! 

 

Fabric

Hoffman Batiks – Batiks - they just keep coming!  Also, Island Batiks called today to say our first shipment of Batik Essentials (these bolts are GORGEOUS) will ship today and arrive early next week.  Let the Batik Revolution begin!  Check out our selection of Blue Underground patterns that work so beautifully with batiks and make something fabulous this weekend!

Kaffe Fasset and Martha Negley – Again, photos are available on the blog and at Facebook of our latest shipment of Kaffe Fassett fabrics AND I’m thrilled to announce we also have bolts from Martha Negley’s newest line “Flower Garden”.  We didn’t even have the bolts out on the floor before customers were trying to buy this line!  Gorgeous, bold flowers in bright shades of pink, yellow, red, greens and more!  They work perfectly with the Kaffe Fasset fabrics.  Don't you agree?

All Aboard by Exclusively Quilters – This line of fabric features realistic trains in bright, bold primary colors.  Then we have two bolts of train/travel stamps and with a black or blue background and two tone on tones with line drawings of trains.  There also a beautiful sky fabric, too.  These fabrics would make fantastic pillow cases for the train lovers in your life!

My Universe by Exclusively Quilters – This fabric reminds me of my 3^rd grade science project with the painted Styrofoam balls hanging from dental floss and a coat hanger!  And it really reminds me of that solar system because it still includes Pluto as a planet!  Oops, someone hasn’t been watching the news lately, hmmm!  Well, forget the technicalities.  It’s still a cute line of fabrics.  The planets are in bright colors on a black background with each of the planets labeled in a child-like hand writing.  There is a coordinating tossed planets (more tightly packed) and a beautiful orange and yellow swirl.  Again, these fabrics would make a fantastic and educational pillowcase!

Harvest Town Flannels by Red Rooster – I know, the weather is finally getting a little warmer and we get in flannels BUT flannels are so fabulous to work with AND I guarantee you it will be cold again.  Harvest Town is done in a folk-art style in muted autumnal shades of brown, rust, gold, orange, cream and green.  The panel features four different folksy farm scenes and fabrics include pumpkins, crows, leaves and apples as well as beautiful tone on tones in shades of brown, rust, green, cream and brown.  There’s a free pattern and if I get a few free moments, I’ll get together a sample and maybe even some kits.  

 

What's New at PSQ As of 3-31-11

Fabrics

Hoffman Batiks – As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we have over 200 batiks scheduled to come in over the next few months and today, they started trickling in.  We received 19 bolts of Hoffman’s beautiful essentials in several gorgeous colors!  Check them out because this is only the beginning! 

Books

Four Seasons at Minglewood by Debbie Roberts – “Four Seasons at Minglewood” showcases the talents of Nebraska quilter Debbie Roberts and her quilting community.  You’ll find a stunning block-of-the-month quilt with 15 blocks to cover even the largest bed.  Several variations of this sampler quilt are included.”  Okay so now you have the facts, let me tell you what I think…the blocks are fantastic and varied.  No two are even close to being alike and you can either make the sampler or pick a block you love and make a quilt of all one block.  There is also a beautiful appliqué that is perfect to set in the center of your sampler OR stands alone as a wall hanging or table topper.  Lots of options make this book the perfect addition to your quilting library.

Table Talk: Runners, Toppers and Family Treats by Gudrun Erla – “For Gudrun Erla, gathering at the dinner table brings back special memories of friends and family in her native Iceland.  These memories are the inspiration for her first Kansas City Star quilt book.  Included are 16 projects designed to grace your table and Gudrun’s family recipes to share with yours.  Six pieced projects can be done with simple sewing room staples.  There are four quilt-as-you-go projects – excellent “quickies” to whip up for friends and family.  There’s also a collection of holiday projects like the festive “Wrap It Up” runner, and three projects made from fabric leftovers, along with creative recipes for those dinner leftovers.  It’s all there to enjoy..at the table.”  I LOVE this book.  The number of projects inside will blow you away and most are quick and easy to make in an afternoon or over a weekend.  I love projects with instant gratification and these designs fit that bill perfectly.  Oh, and did I mention there are yummy recipes, too!  Yep.  Make a table runner then make the yummy chocolate cookies as well!

Home on the Plains:  Quilts and the Sod House Experience by Kathleen Moore and Stephanie Whitson –  “Inspired by sod house homemakers’ words and quilts, Kathy Moore and Stephanie Whitson tell about those hard working women striving to create a home on the plains..in houses made of dirt.  While struggling to survive, they still found time for beauty, cutting scalloped edges on shelf paper, growing geraniums on their windowsills and planting roses in the yard.  And they made quilts – lovely, intricate quilts to brighten their homes.  Peek into the homes and lives of these Nebraska women.  You’ll want to use one of the eight timeless patterns or one of the variations included to make a quilt in remembrance of their courageous spirit.”  Well, I think that just about says it all.  A great history book with quilting patterns, too! 

One More Thing

Here's a photo of the 108" fabric we got in a few weeks ago.  They are perfect for backings.  Check them out!

What's New At PSQ As of 3-24-11

Here’s what’s new at PSQ this week!  Enjoy!

Batavia Quilt and Textile Show – July 15 - 17

Yeah, I know it’s a few months off but…but it’s never too early to mark your calendar and plan to attend AND submit your quilts to be a part of this great show!  Celebrating its fifth year, the Batavia Threads from Past to Present Quilt Show is always a terrific opportunity to view beautiful quilts both old and new from quilters all over the Fox Valley, and yours can be among them.  This is our chance as quilters to show off the talent of the quilters of the Fox Valley.  Any and all quilts and textiles (including embroidery, cross-stitch, crochet and knitting pieces) are welcome!

We NEED your quilts.  Prairie Shop Quilts is the sponsor of the show so we want our customers to be well represented!  Forms are available for downloading at the Batavia Quilt Show website at www.bataviaquiltshow.com. The deadline to submit your form is a ways off but you can submit the form whenever you like – the earlier the better.  To submit your quilts, just visit the website at www.bataviaquiltshow.com and click on the link to “exhibitor application” to print out your form. 

Check out the photos on the website of quilts from past shows.  Vintage quilts are welcome too!  And, this year there is a special exhibit of “Patriotic” quilts – including a special exhibit of Naval Air quilts.  And on Saturday, July 16 you should stop by and see participants in our Mission: Seams Impossible Quick Fire Challenge.  Contestants will have five hours to create, from start to finish, a quilt project based on the theme “Threads from Past to Present.”  It’s going to be VERY exciting!  Friday night plan to attend a presentation by guest speaker Chris Moline whose topic is “A Collector’s Diary”.  She will discuss how to collect quilts, care for them and where to purchase them.  She will also bring a collection of her beautiful antique quilts.

AND, plan to join us to see an exhibit on “Quilting for a Cause” and explore the various charitable opportunities available in the tri-city area.  Each year the show gets bigger and better.  This is the show to put your quilt in.  We need to show the people of the Fox Valley just how many of us love to quilt!  Your quilts can and SHOULD be a part of this great show that will also feature local vendors.  So check out the website and get the scoop!  It’s a great show and if you’ve  never been, this is the year to start!

Fabric

Extra Wides – We just got in more colors of 108” wide cotton backings.  These backings are perfect for quilts more than 42” wide – No Piecing!  In addition to white on whites we also have brown, beige, cream and green.  Check them out.  They are great neutrals that would go with just about any quilt AND they are quick and easy.  Perfect!

Times Flies by Quilting Treasures – We just got in a re-shipment of the fabulous Time Flies fabric by Quilting Treasures.  This fabric features different styles of clocks, there are bolts with words about time, tone on tone cogs, roman numerals and more!  We’ve also made up kits of the Time Flies quilt that we had previously and that sold out in days.  The quilt goes together in hours and is so easy but so stylin’.  The colors are dark and rich in black, brown, reds, greens and more. 

Books

Beautiful Botanicals – 45 Applique Flowers and 14 Quilt Projects by Deborah Kemball – I have seen a lot of books on floral appliqué but the photos of the designs in this book trump them all!  These flowers, leaves and more are not difficult to do (there are detailed instructions on how to hand appliqué each one).  The designs are fantastic and interchangeable and the finished quilts in the back are stunning.  Even if you just want a little flower or leaf, maybe add a berry to a pieced quilt, this book is the perfect guide.  The embroidery technique she uses to create an embellished stem is worth the price of the book alone.  Check it out and be inspired.  I know I was! 

Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter – An Illustrated Guide to the Space of Your Dreams by Carolyn Woods – When I saw the title of this book I thought, I have to have this!  While my sewing room is not out of control (the folks from “Hoarding: Buried Alive” won’t be calling me anytime soon) it is not organized.  I spend hours when I could be sewing looking for scissors, seam rippers, thread, etc.  But no more!  This book promises to make my sewing space a “calm and happy place”.  I say, “Bring it on!”  The ideas inside are specific and applicable to just about any sewing space and includes tips on how to pack and prepare for “Quilting on the go!”  My sewing room is already looking better for having read this book and it is a happy place!  Now if someone could write a book on how to organize my life so I could actually spend time in the room sewing!

Patterns & Samples

Tortilla Bags – Boy, my staff is quick!  The pattern for the Tortilla bag (for heating up tortilla’s) came in one day and the very next day the sample was sitting on our shelves.  Impressive and timely since I made tacos the other night and needed just one of these bags.  I’ll admit at first I was skeptical – did I (or anyone else for that matter) really need a special bag for cooking potatoes or heating up tortillas?  Yes!  After burning two potatoes (and let me tell you, that is NOT a good smell in your microwave) and enduring chewy or crunchy tortillas, I now swear by these bags.  They are so simple to make and what great gifts!  They are adorable, too!  We have potato AND tortilla chip fabric AND we have the specialty batting that is microwave safe.  Check out our samples and then consider making one for yourself and a few for friends!. 

Classes

Rapid Fire Hunter’s Star                                                                                  

Saturday, April 9 from 1 pm to 5 pm

Learn a new technique designed to streamline construction of the traditional Hunter’s Star block.

Class Fee:  $28                                    

Instructor: Edith Hubbard                                

Level: Confident Beginner

The Basics                                                

Sundays, April 10, May 22, June 5, 12, 19, and 26 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

Machine Embroidery Club                   

Mondays, April 11, May 9, AND/OR June 13 from 10 am to 12 pm

Come every month or pick and chose to make a new project learning new machine embroidery techniques.  A great way to learn

all the functions of your embroidery machine.  In April, we’ll cover “Creative Cutwork Napkins”.  In May we’ll learn how to embellish jeans and in June learn a Chenille technique (thread velvet).

Class Fee:  $18 each                            

Instructor:  Becky Robinson                            

Level: Beginner & up

Bonita Plays Dress Up

Hi all!  Last weekend my husband and I went to a black tie fundraiser for our daughter’s school.  Since we made the decision to attend the event a few months ago and since deciding to try to fit into a gown I have had for over a dozen years (which I loved the first and only time I wore it!), I have been working to drop just a few more pounds so the dress would fit perfectly.  Last week when I tried on the dress, the zipper made it all the way to the top and I found that breathing, while not fun, was achievable.  Success!  And so I thought my troubles were over.  Not quite!

That’s when I discovered that I had no shoes that would work (thanks to my pregnancy 11 years ago, my feet had flattened and gone up ½ a size!), no matching purse and no wrap to keep my bare arms warm in the chilly March air (the last time I wore the dress it was August!).  Yikes!  So out I went shopping for dressy shoes – something I haven’t done in a long time – and was mortified to find that there was not a single dress pump that was less than 3” high!  Seriously!  I spend my days in tennis shoes and even they hurt sometime!  I didn’t think I could make the arch of my foot bend to accommodate 3” heels.  But, I bought them (on clearance no less – Yahoo!) and hoped for the best.

Purse – We tried several stores and the purses were either really big (can you really carry a tote bag with an evening gown?  Apparently, some people do!) or way too small!  One bag I found wouldn’t even hold my phone (which is tiny) and I doubt I could have even stuffed a tissue inside!  So I went to the internet and found a purse that not only matched the shoes but would allow me to carry my phone, a credit card and, if folded into a tiny origami like design, a tissue.  Excellent!

Wrap – I thought this would be the easiest accessory to find but…NOPE!  By the time I was ready to leave the house on Saturday night I had four different wraps and or jackets and wasn’t really thrilled with any of them.  One was too dark, another too flimsy, a third two tight and the one I settled on was pretty but the little gold details on the wrap kept getting tangled amongst themselves and the wrap stopped wrapping and instead twisted into gnarled up mess but… it was going to have to do.

Okay, I’m done now, right?  Guess again.  At UFO last Friday we began to discuss pantyhose vs. bare legs and it would seem this is a HUGE controversy.  I wasn’t planning on wearing hose but was informed that for formal occasions, pantyhose are expected.  Well, that’s what half the group said, the others were with me – go naked – well, naked legs, that is (although there was a strange few who thought going commando (sans undies) would help prevent those nasty panty lines!)  Uh…no!  I had horrid visions of my tripping on those 3” heels and having to move to another state to escape my overwhelming embarrassment.  When I got home that evening, I informed my husband of the controversy and he immediately jumped on the internet to discover that it is in fact about 50 – 50 – hose vs. no hose. 

Who knew!  Well, I decided I was better off with the pantyhose in the hopes they would help keep my shoes on (they didn’t) and because my husband was appalled that I would wear a formal gown without them (a child of the 70’s, he still fondly remembers the little plastic eggs from the pantyhose packaging that his mom used to let him play with).  Even once that decision was made I spent hours trying on different pairs (yes, I had to buy them all – they don’t let you return those babies) to find a pair that didn’t have a huge seam running down the front and making me (once in the dress) look like I had a 7 inch scar running down my belly (okay, I told you the dress was form fitting!).  It was ridiculous but I finally found a pair that had a minor seam and if I took shallow breaths while standing, the front looked flat and smooth.  FINALLY!

So…did I trip and fall over those 3” heels, did the dress split when I bent down to pick up a dropped napkin, did my be-speckled wrap snag on another attendee’s dress and leave a nasty pucker?  Nope!  While I struggled to remain upright in those heels, I kinda liked being that much taller.  My dress remained in one piece though it felt like it got even snugger when I finished off the yummy tiramisu they served for dessert (I LOVE tiramisu) and my wrap did get a little tangled up but only on me.  We had a fun evening (I always did love playing dress up) and it was all for a good cause, though next year I’m buying a dress that fits even when I take a deep breath!  What a concept!

Have a wonderful week!  See what happens – I say in last week’s email, “Enjoy the spring-like weather!” and then last night…it snows!  Sorry.  I’m not saying anything more!  Except – “Wouldn’t it be great if John Cusack were to walk through my front door?”  We’ll see if the power of my words has any effect on him!  Well, stay warm, the calendar says it’s Spring anyway and…Happy Quilting!

Bonita