Sunday, October 28, 2012

Hellos From Houston

Morning Everyone:

Sorry it has taken me so long to post....I seem to be a computer imbecile and cannot get the WiFi hooked up in my room, even though I brought I my laptop.  Oh well, that slight unhappiness has been overshadowed by the truly unbelievable event that is Quilt Market.  It is overwhelming in the extreme, interesting to see all the new gadgets and fabrics that are coming out, including patterns, books, fabrics, notions, etc..and is quite exhausting to boot...

Sandra and I had a class with Penny Haren yesterday morning, the author of Pieced Applique....she has pioneered a way to make heirloom quality quilts easier by piecing applique over pieced blocks.  Stunning quilts to be sure....

This morning at 8:00 a.m., we are going to a class with the Grand Dame of quilting, Ms. Eleanor Burns.  We saw her at Sample Spree Friday night...she was so kind and sweet.  We are excited to hear her lecture on her new book of quilts, First Ladies Quilts. 

I was lucky enough to meet Lynn Hagemeier from Kansas Trouble Quilts yesterday and I bought her latest book of patterns and a new ruler set she is going to have out after the first of the year.  I also bought three books and ruler sets for the store, so they will be available sometime next week.  She has a new line of fabric debuting called Pleasant Hill and it is as gorgeous as every line they have made....The new book has patterns for layer cakes, charm squares and mini-charm squares, and you know how I love precuts.

I will be posting pictures as soon as I can when I get home.  I apologize for not being able to do so while we are here, but as my husband (aka my computer geek) says, "Users, what do you do with them???"..

Talk to ya'll soon.

Melissa (one of Sandra's Elves)



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

HOUSTON QUILT MARKET, HERE WE COME!!!!

Morning Everone!

The time has finally come and we will be setting off on our journey on Thursday about lunch time.  This will be Sandra's first time at quilt market (and of course mine as well) and we are both very excited.  Everyone tells us the first time you go it is overwhelming...we can't wait.  I am taking my computer with me along with a camera.  I am going to attempt to take some pictures and show ya'll as much as I can while we are there.  We are very excited about what new we can bring back with us to share with all of our friends here at the quilt shop. 

Just a reminder, the shop will be CLOSED on Saturday, October 27th.  Ms. Margaret will have the shop open on Friday the 26th, Monday and Tuesday, the 29th and 30th unless some unforeseen emergency arises.  You may want to give the shop a call and make sure she is going to be there if you are driving from some distance away to be on the safe side. 

Okay, a quick update on the class schedule.  The Jelly Roll Race class is full on November 10th as of right now.  We have had so much interest in this class, we are scheduling an additional Jelly Roll Race class for Saturday, December 8th from 9:00 to 11:30ish.  Cost is $20 per person.  You need to bring your sewing machine, basic sewing supplies including a ruler, a marking implement and either a good pair of scissors or a rotary cutter.  You will also need to bring a jelly roll.  We have some at the store for purchase at $34.95 or if you have one already, you are of course welcome to bring it with you.  We have four other ladies who want to take this class and if the 8th works for their schedule, we will only have room for one more.  If there is still further interest, we will schedule another one but we need to know who is definitely interested.  Please give the store a call at 931-682-3746 or email us at thequiltingframe@gmail.com

The Beginner's Machine Applique class is scheduled for Saturday, November 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30ish.  The cost is $25 per person.  A list of supplies will be available.  We will be using the Sunbonnet Sue / Overall Sam AccuQuilt Go cutouts for our class.  We have these available with Steam A Seam already applied for $2.00 per cutout.  You will need six cutouts for the class.  You can bring your own fabric and Steam A Seam and use our cutter to make them out of your own fabric for $.50 per cutout.  We have two ladies interested and need at least one more scheduled for the class to go ahead.  We have room for five people, total.  If you are interested in taking the Dresden Plate class in January and have no experience whatsoever with machine applique, this would be a good class as the Dresden block in the class will also be machine appliqued. 

As noted above, our Dresden Plate class is scheduled for Saturday, January 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  The cost of the class is $30 per person.  A list of supplies will be available at the store in the near future.  Ms. Sandra has ordered the Dresden cutting die for the AccuQuilt Go cutter and it will be here in the next little while.   I will show you how to cut them with the ruler during the class, as well.  We will prepare one complete Dresden block to get you started on your way to one of the most beautiful quilt pattens.  We have one lady signed up for this class to date. 

Again, a big shout out and a thank you to the ladies who just finished my very first Beginner's Quilting Class.  I enjoyed it very much and can't wait to see what your finished quilts look like after all your hard work.  I will be posting pictures as soon as they are completed so everyone can see and enjoy all your hard work.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend....and we'll be talking to you soon!

Melissa (one of Sandra's Elves)

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Morning Everyone!!!

Morning Everybody!

Isn't this the greatest weather......it looks like fall has arrived!!!  Doesn't that make you think about upcoming days and nights snuggled down in that new quilt you just finished enjoying your favorite warm beverage and a good book (quilting, of course :):))

Wanted everyone to know that our "Not the Shop Hop Sale" sale is ongoing through the 6th of October.  With the weather cooling off, it is a perfect time to get out and visit all the area shops.  All bolted fabric is 20% off and all quilt kits are 10% off.  Precuts are also 10% off.  The patterns, pattern books and batting are not on sale.  Finished quilts are also on sale, marked down from 10% to 20%.  We have several bed sized quilts and some smaller baby and lap sized quilts as well as a few wall hangings.  Also, Ms. Sandra went fabric shopping last Sunday, and there are a few new bolts in the shop to browse!

This is the last week of our Beginner's Quilting Class, and the time truly has flown by.  The ladies have all been excellent students and fun to work with, even though I sent them home with homework every week!  We have crammed alot into the last four weeks, and I am excited to see their finished quilts.  Thanks again ladies for all your hard work, patience with a new teacher and sense of humor.  I have enjoyed every minute of our time together!!!!

Our Hearts and Stars class is scheduled for Saturday, October 13th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30ish.  The cost is $25 per person.  We have three ladies interested, and have room for 1-2 more if you are interested. Please call the shop at (931) 682-3746 or email us at thequiltingframe@gmail.com and let us know.  I am putting my own version together as we speak and am hoping it will be ready for show and tell on class day.  We have one already hung in the shop made with 30's reproductions.  For anyone wanting to make this quilt, I will tell you that laying it out and putting it together is very challenging.  I spent 2-3 hours just laying the quilt out and getting the pieces where they needed to be.  However, all the effort will be worth it as it is a stunning quilt when finished. 

The Jelly Roll Race class is scheduled for Saturday, November 10th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30ish.  The cost is $20 per person.  This is a really fun, quick and easy way to make a quilt in a day.  You absolutely can do this, even a beginner.  All you need is a jelly roll, sewing machine, pencil and ruler, and you are off.  If you want to add borders (which is very common), you can make a lovely large lap quilt.  The jelly roll center itself, quilted and bound, would make a lovely baby or small child quilt.  I have three ladies interested in this class, and have room for 1-2 more.....call us and let us know if you want to join us.  If we have more people than we can fit in this one class, I will schedule another class perhaps the first or second weekend of December. 

The Machine Applique class is scheduled for Saturday, November 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30ish a.m.  The cost is $20 per person.  We will be using the Sunbonnet Sue / Overall Sam precuts available at the shop.  The cost of the doll with Steam A Seam already on it is $2.00 per doll.  You will need six dolls for our project.  If you want to bring your own fabric with Steam A Seam already applied, you can use our AccuQuilt Go Cutter to cut your dolls out.  Each doll is $.50.  We also have Steam A Seam available for sale at the shop for purchase, should you need some. 

I have scheduled one class for January, on the 19th.  This will be our Dresden Plate class.  I have had people requesting a Dresden Plate class.  Ms. Sandra will be ordering the Dresden Plate cutting die from AccuQuilt Go if you want to cut your petals out using this.  I can also show you how to cut them out using a Dresden Ruler.  The cost of this class is $25 per person and will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30ish.  We are going to cut out enough petals for one Dresden plate and make the plate in class.  This quilt does require some basic machine applique, so if you haven't done machine applique prior to this class, it may be a bit more challenging. 

Alas, after the 19th of January, tax season will suck me up until April 15th. 

Also wanted to give everyone an update regarding the store hours.  Ms. Sandra and I are taking a road trip to Houston, Texas for the Houston International Quilt Market.  We will be gone from Thursday, October 25th through Tuesday, October 30th.  Ms. Margaret will be at the shop on Friday, Monday and Tuesday for any of you ladies that wish to drop something off or come shopping.  THE STORE WILL NOT BE OPEN ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27TH. 

One last thing, please don't forget that Ms. Sandra has set the cut off for guaranteed Christmas delivery (barring any unforeseen circumstances) at Saturday, October 13th.  If you know you have something you are going to need by Christmas, please make sure you have it in the shop by Saturday next, or call us and let us get you on her list by the cut off date.  After October 13th, she cannot guarantee she will be able to get it done. 

Everyone have a fabulous weekend and enjoy all this beautiful fall weather!!  Happy days to you all!

Melissa