Country Sampler Quilts

Saturday .... I Almost Forgot!!

Geez, I almost forgot to share a couple other BIG DOINGS for Saturday's "National Quilters' Day" at Country Sampler 1 and 2!  (Sometimes it seems like the light is on, but nobody's home in the old brain!)

 

First, as I promised in the newsletter, I've put together a gift basket for each store.  Just come in and put your name in the basket to win one!

 

 

Aren't they pretty??  And chock full of quilting goodies too!  Wouldn't it be fun to win one of these?  Hey, and if you stop by both stores, you can double your chances of winning one!

 

AND ... we're going to have a trunk show from the Country Sampler shop gals featuring one of their favorite quilts on the walls of the two classrooms. Kind of like a mini quilt show from the staff!  So while you're munching on cake and listening to the demos and getting your scissor sharpened ... you can peruse the quilts!

 

Whew!  I think that's it.  We've got a ton of stuff to finish by Saturday!  But make sure you come see us  ... we're gonna have fun!

 

 

Saturday!!!

Yesterday, I told you I'd have more information about our celebration for "National Quilters' Day" today. Seeww, remember I told you we're going to have cake??  (Mmmm, cake.)  Well ... while you're enjoying your cake, why not check out our demos for the day?!

 

We're going to be demoing things like the Strip Stick, Frixon pens, the Bloc Loc ruler, how to paper piece, The Flying Geese x 4 No Math Ruler for making perfect flying geese, the Magic Ripper, Transfer Eze for embroidery, and MUCH, MUCH more!!  You can munch on your cake and check out what we're demoing!!

 

And.... just to entice you a liddle bit more ....

 

All pre-cut fat quarters are $1.00 off!!

 

 

Yup, little Country Sampler buddies, we have over a thousand fat quarters and they'll all be on sale for just $1.98!  I can't remember the last time that all our fat quarters were just $1.98!!  And Edith, these aren't pre-selected fat quarters -- it's ALL of 'em in the stores!

 

So, come see us on Saturday!!  Help us celebrate National Quilters' Day and share the joy we all feel with quilting!!

Saturday!!!

Did that big post-a-note get your attention??  I hope so, 'cause we've got BIG doings this Saturday!  It's National Quilter's Day at the two Country Samplers!!!

Is it really National Quilter's Day, you ask?  Nah ... it's just that Ann and I were at retreat for this year's National Quilting Day, so it wasn't a great day to have a party at the Sampler.   (We want to party too, ya know.)  So, in true Country Sampler tradition, we've changed the date and changed the name a little bit -- and we're having a party!

Seeww, what's the big doings???

FIRST, we're going to have Mike Finnigan of Finn Sharpening Service in the two shops.  Mike sharpens all types of scissors and knives - we've had him sharpen our shops scissors (including our Ginghers) and he did a fabulous job!  Man, it's nice to have sharp scissors again!

All you need to do is bring in your scissors and/or knives - in a bag with you name on it - and Mike will sharpen them for you.  Mike's going to bring his equipment to the shops and depending how much sharpening he needs to do, he'll sharpen as many as he can while you're in the store shopping!!  I know I have several knives that are so dull they can't cut anything and need a little "Mike" attention!

Here's his schedule --

       West Center shop - 10:00 to 12:00

       Papillion shop      - 1:00 to 3:00

And did I mention we'll have CAKE???  Yup, stop by the classrooms for a slice of cake while you're shopping!

But ... there's more!!   Stay tuned, 'cause tomorrow I've got more of our National Quilter's Day celebration!

Babies ...

I quickly stitched up this baby quilt and grow chart last month ...

 

 

 

and I do mean quickly 'cause both of these are from a panel!  Aren't they cute?  Just add batting, backing, quilt as desired, and bind - how simple is that, huh?  And the baby quilt really does look like it's been appliqued!

 

It seems like I've made several baby quilts for the shop in the last year.  I made this one ....

 

 

and this one ...

 

 

just to name two.  

 

And, FINALLY I have a reason to make baby quilts!  I'm going to be a grandma!!  My daughter in law, Crystal, is three months pregnant and is due the first part of November.  I am sooo excited!  I thought maybe we were going to be stuck with "grand dogs" for the rest of our lives.

 

All the baby quilts I've made are "boy" quilts .... hmmm, could that mean I'm psychic and it's going to be a boy??!  Or maybe it means I need to start some baby girl quilts soon! Luckily, they want to know the sex of the baby; so this grandma is going to be really busy stitching this summer!   

Friday ...

Yesterday I skipped out of work and drove to Lincoln, NE for the spring "Gathering" for wool hookers.  We had a great time!  There we're over 100 women there, lots of vendors, tons of wool and wool hooking patterns, and great rugs!  It was like a candy store for hookers!

 

 

Nice big room, with lots of tables, and room to spread out your current rug.

 

Here's some of the rugs on display ...  These first two were in a vendor booth ...

 

 

 

Karen Greenfield from Elkhorn did a beautiful job with this rug ....

 

Love the bunnies!!

 

 

And just to prove all hooked rugs are "dark and dirty" ...

 

 

And this rug is one of a series of postcards from the 50 states ...

 

 

AND - BIG NEWS !!   I got my latest rug finished (trumpets blow here) ...

 

 

I really like this one - but I tend to say that with any rug that I finish!  I have two more in the sewing room that are 2/3 finished and that I need to get back to - instead I took this rug pattern with me to find background wool.  (As you can tell, rug hooking is very much like quilting - you often start a new project before the old ones are finished!)

 

 

I took this wool with me to try and get something that would match, yet contrast for the background of the rug ...

 

 

And ... a $120.00 later, I bought three yards of this beautiful wool ...

 

 

Yup, it's totally different!  And yes, wool is expensive.  When gals come in the shop and complain about the cost of cotton, I always want to tell them to try rug hooking - ha!!  Dang, I hope I'm going to like this as a background, sometimes you never know until you start hooking.  This is why rug hookers end up with closets full of wool that didn't make the final cut!  Cross your fingers for me!

Could it be spring??

Well, it's finally beginning to look like spring - yahoo!  Today we're suppose to get up to 70 degrees - though I heard something about snow for next week.  It is Nebraska though, so if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes - it'll change.  My tulips are popping up their heads and I'm sooo ready!!

 

Doesn't this quilt look like spring?  

 

 

It's called "Sunflower Row", by Amanda Murphy and we used her Bella collection from Blend to make it just like the pattern cover!  The quilt measures 42" x 55 1/2"; and uses 12 fat quarters, 2 yards of Kona White, and just 1/3 yard for binding - easy, peasy - right??  It really helps brighten up the West Center store for the season.  

 

 

Reminders ....

I've just got two reminders for you this morning.  First, don't forget the Informational Meeting for the Country Sampler Quilt Club is tonight - at 6:30, at the Papillion store.

 

Ann and Sandy will be giving you all the scoop on how to make this terrific block of the month quilt with us ...

 

 

AND ... don't forget ... we're still taking reservations for our BIG bus shop hop in May.  We'd love to see you on the bus!!

 

 

May Blossom Quilt Tour 

 through Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri 

Friday, May 3rd – Saturday, May 4th 

$190 – Double Occupancy 

 

Shops include:

Quilting Bits & Pieces, Eudora, KS

Country Traditions, Fremont, NE                    

Quilting on the Square, Holton, KS                    

The Quilted Kitty, Lincoln, NE                                       

Crossroads Quilting, Cameron, MO 

The International Quilt Study Center, Lincoln, NE        

Overbrook Quilt Connection, Overbrook, KS 

 

Exhibits at the Study Center include:  “Indigo gives America the Blues” and “Colonial Revival.”  (These are good ones, Edith!)

A special behind the scenes tour is included in your visit!!

 

Hotels, meals, and snacks are all included in this one low price.  Sign up now to reserve your seat.   Just stop by or give the West Center Store a call - 402-333-6131.

Be sure to spread the word, you don't want your friends to miss out on this two day, fun-filled adventure!! 

 

Retreat Weekend ...

Last weekend, was the Country Sampler retreat and we had a great time! Waahoo, it was fun!!  It always amazes me how much you can get done when you actually just sit and sew!!   Usually I sew in pretty short increments, just ten to twenty minutes at a time, and then move on to something else that is yelling to get my attention.  I've got to tell you, if you really love to quilt ... don't become a shop owner!  Something is always yelling for attention!  It puts a big crimp in my quilting time - ha! 

 

Soooo .... I wanted to share with you a couple of the quilts that the gals were either working on or had brought for show and tell.  We had some very accomplished quilters at the retreat.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of very many of them.  (I'd be a lousy wedding photographer - I tend to forget my job and just enjoy the show.)

 

Isn't this t-shirt quilt amazing??

 

 

 

Can you guess what the school colors are??  Look at some of the little extra details Marilyn included in the quilt ...

 

 

 

Too cool!

 

This was Nancy's quilt by Crabapple Hill, called Hocuspocusville ...

 

 

Just look at the detail in one of these blocks!!

 

 

Jodie worked on her Egg Carton Quilt from Laundry Basket Quilts during retreat.  This is in the hallway were she could lay it out.

 

 

Plus, Janet had one for show and tell already finished!

 

 

This quilt is from a Kansas Trouble book, called Loose Change  (I'm pretty sure that's right) and features raw edge applique ....

 

 

Oh, and did I mention, Ann has us working on these for the Saturday mini class??

 

 

They're little bowl potholders!  Ya know, how you always burn your fingers taking the bowl out of the microwave???  Well, not anymore!!  

 

We had a big pile of kits to chose from too ...

 

 

Aren't they fun??  

 

Hey, we've got another retreat in September -- maybe you can come and play with us then!!

 

 

 

One More Thing ...

Today is one of those days where I keep thinking of something else I want to tell you.  I should make a list, but that would involve some degree of organization and forethought -- like that's going to happen!

 

Anyway,  this is just a little reminder that the informational meeting for the Country Sampler Quilt Club is tomorrow evening, 6:30, at the West Center store.  Even if you haven't signed up to attend, you're still welcome to stop by and get all the skinny on this year's club and the club's 2013 pattern, Pieceful Journey ...

 

 

Even if you can't make it tomorrow night, how 'bout next Thursday night at the Papillion store??  Yup, we're doing a second Informational Meeting there. 

 

Remember these are FREE classes, Edith!  Ya just got to make the quilt along with us and ... our two excellent teachers (Sandy and Ann), will walk you through the construction of this beautiful quilt - giving you lots of tips, tools, and tricks to make your quilting more fun and a whole lot more accurate!!

 

Can't make it to either Informational Meeting??  Don't worry, as soon as the meetings are over, we can start signing up those gals who couldn't make it to either one.  We've got five different days/nights and times, so something will surely fit into even your busy schedule!!

 

 

New Fabric ...

Look what arrived at the West Center store from Moda ....

 

 

Comma, from Zen Chic -- isn't it fun!??  We've got a quilt in the works from this line -- it's going to be so cool.... I'll send you a pic when we get it finished!!