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Well, it must be spring - look what arrived Wednesday....
Yup, it's the spring issue of The Quilt Sampler magazine, featuring 11 top stores and 10 great new projects - with complete directions to make all the quilts!
So far, I've only had a chance to skim the pages - but I LOVE the quilt on page 53 from Yellow Creek Quilt Designs in Pearl City, IL, called "Cross and Crown". Stop by either store and get your copy today!
No, not Jo Morton... although I bet she's been pretty busy too getting ready for Spring Quilt Market. Nope, it's our own Jo at the West Center store... Jo Schmitz. This is Jo - she's restocking our yummy carmels that are at the front counter. Either that or she's really hungry...
So, why has Jo been so busy?? Well, she just finished a model for us of this great pattern by Lazy Girl Designs ...
And Jo's versions turned out great!
Look at the inside pockets! And did you notice it has outside pockets too??
Although the Suzi pattern was designed originally as a purse insert, it's sooo much more! It's great for organizing anywhere you need some pockets: in your purse, on your desk, or next to your sewing machine (my personal favorite). You can use either Bosal Dura-Fuse #334 or Pellon Decor Bond interfacing to make Suzi stand up straight. The pattern includes two sizes: Medium - 6 ½” x 4 ½” x 3 and Large - 8 ½” x 4 ½” x 3”.
Here's a picture of it loaded with possiblities... (I'm assuming yours wouldn't include all the packaging still on the sewing notions, tho.)
But that's not all!! Jo stitched us up a model of this pattern too....
Who hasn't taken a road trip and wished they had one of these to keep everything organized?? In the picture below, it's set up for the kids - but for us "big girls", wouldn't it be great to keep all your maps, water bottles, stitcheries, cell phones, and other really "needful things" for a little road trip? If you're like me, I end up with a huge pile of "stuff" at my feet and tossed in the back seat; so when he says, "Where's the (insert almost anything in here) - I have to rummage through everything to (hopefully) find the missing item.
I THINK you can find both of these patterns on the website at ... www.countrysampleronline.com , but I'll check on that as soon as I finish this blog post. Who knows, though?? Heck, I can hardly remember yesterday - let along what's on the website - ha!
Whew... we had a super busy weekend at the West Center Country Sampler!! We had a bus full of happy quilters leave our shop on Friday at 6:30 am. (Yup, that's early, but the early quilter gets the best fabric, right?) Off they went... on their way to seven fabulous quilt shops in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then, for the next three days, we welcomed seven buses full of MORE happy quilters from our sister states!
It's really heart warming as a shop owner to have a bus load of women come to your shop and love what they see. The happy chatter and quilting energy among the gals is sooo fun! I can't wait to hear what our Country Sampler bus moms and quilters have to say about the shops they visited - I'm sure they had a great time and found lots of treasures and FABRIC!
AND, (trumpets blow here!!)... we're already working on another bus trip for this fall! Yup, we've got a TWELVE shop bus trip planned for September 23th through the 25th. Stops include quilt stores in Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Nebraska - three days, two nights - and it's all for just $229.00! That includes your hotels, the bus, two of the best "bus moms" on the planet, goodie bags, treats, gas... Heck, with the price of gas alone, this could be the steal of the year!
So... you ask, were are we going??? I KNEW you where going to ask that, so here's a list of shops...
Calico Hutch - Hayward, MO
Quilter’s Cupboard - Ankeny, IA
Crossroads Quilting - Cameron, MO
Quilter’s Quarters - Leavenworth, KS
Sunflower Quilt Shop - Hiawatha, KS
Sew Country - Belleville, KS
Material Girl - Grand Island, NE
Heart & Hand Dry Goods - Sioux City, IA
Dutch Rose Quilt Shop - Sioux Falls, SD
Gathering Friends Quilt Shop - Bird Island, MN
Quilted Treasures - Rogers, MN
Grab your best quilting buddies and have a wonderful weekend seeing the best quilt shops in the Midwest. Soooo.. start saving your quilting bucks and mad money now! Maybe a couple hints for Mother's Day might be in order, huh?
I'll have more information in the summer newsletter (which I'm starting to work on already. Geez... where does the time go??). But, with all of our busy schedules we have to start planning now, don't we?? Hey, but don't feel you have to wait 'til the summer newsletter, you can sign up now!! Just stop by either Country Sampler shop, plopped down your down payment (just $100.00) - and we'll save ya a seat!
A few more pictures from last month's retreat....
First, more of our Country Sampler trunk show. Can you believe all the quilts, kits, books, and patterns we trunked out to camp??? The gals were really busy stitching up a storm so we could have LOTS to choose from for our retreaters!
This is a remake of our popular Country Sampler Fireside Chenille pattern. Could be a great throw or twin for that special Husker fan, huh? It looks a little on the red/pink side in the photo, but it's truly just red. Somebody really needs to take a photography class. (Notice the little fingers at the top -- too funny.)
These two great little country quilts were there ....
...made from this pattern. Great carpet shot too, don't 'cha think?
And these two small quilts from the book, Nine Patch Gatherings, by Primitive Gatherings. Did you know Dawn is doing a class this semester for these beauties?!
Here's the book. (It's on the website too.) In addition, we have a staff trunk show from this book at the West Center store. I'll try to remember to get a picture of it for a future blog. It's really great!
Sally was working on this great quilt from the Modern Basics book. Here - it's still in pieces, but it's finished and on display at the West Center shop - yeah! It's kind of a modified log cabin design and it's really striking in the cream and blues. Could be a great quilt in creams and reds for Christmas, don't 'cha think??
From the Papillion shop, we also had this little wall hanging from Patch Abilities - fast and fun. Notice the cute wire hanger - we've got those too! Sometimes it's nice to do something that you can finish in an afternoon, isn't it?? (I know, I know... it's a HUGE picture for such a little wall hanging!)
Three of the gals at retreat were working on Tree's Up, Light's On - by Sandy Gervais. I've always wanted to make this pattern. We've done this quilt as a class and it's so fun to stitch this stack, slash, and sew block.
Nan and Ann working hard...
And look what Ann finished... Labyrinth. Made from batiks, it's a real stunner!
Retreat's a great place to lay out a quilt and stitch it together. Look how hard they're thinking!
One of the things Jody worked on was this little Husker table runner...
from this book. It's now a kit at the Papillion shop. I love Atkinson books and patterns. Terri's instructions are so clear and easy to follow, plus she often gives you multiply sizes for each project, so you can tailor it to what you need.
And look at this Bernina!! Lynn found a site on the internet where you can special order these cool "decals" and you just stick them on your machine. And, no... I don't know the website, but Ann thinks you can go on the Bernina USA website and there may be a link or information there. Check it out if you're interested!
So... feeling a little jealous of all those women having so much fun, Edith?? Well, don't despair -- we have two retreats planned at Camp Calvin Crest for this fall that you won't want to miss. They're scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ....
September 16, 17, and 18th
or
November 18, 19, and 20th
and there's an optional additional sewing day all day Thursday. If you think you might be interested, check out the 'ole Country Sampler newsletter at -
http://countrysampleronline.com/Newsletter%202011%20WinterSpring.pdf
or call the Papillion store for all the skinny (402-537-9515).
Happy Quilting!!!
A little time out for a VERY IMPORTANT message. Today... Thursday, April 7th, is National No Housework Day!!
No sweeping! No dusting! No laundry! No Dishes! No Guilt! NO KIDDING! Celebrate No Housework Day and relax a little - you deserve it! Just Say NO! (I know I'm going to!)
I've got lots of pictures from this year's Spring Retreat that I want to share with you. We all had a great time and we could always use a little inspiration, don't 'cha think?
First, some of the quilts we brought for the Country Sampler show 'n tell.
We had all three of the new silk quilt kits that are in the shops now. FIrst, Berkley Blue, featuring 15 gor-ge-ous dupioni silk fat quarters and a dynamite pattern ....
Then, The Gift, featuring yummy shimmering dupioni green silks ....
And, another silk beauty and the one I worked on at retreat.... In and Out Red. And there's a bonus to this one! For every kit sold, $1.00 will be donated to the American Heart Association - not bad, huh?
They come in these cute tins too - (cute packaging is always a plus!). This is mine, only half full 'cause I was working my tail off precutting and pressing at home....
At first, I was a little intimidated by the prospect of sewing with silk, but it was easier that I anticipated. I've decided there's two ways to work with silk.
First... if you don't use a stabilizer (and you certainly don't have too, it'll work just fine without it), just be very gentle in handling it - it can ravel like crazy if you're not careful. Second... if all those little threads that ravel drive you nuts, try fusing on a ultra light interfacing (we happened to have a bolt at the West Center store, so I thought I'd try it) to the back of each fat quarter. I did this with my retreat quilt and it sewed like a dream. Of course, this does add some cost and time to the process, but it worked well for me. The silk is still soft and pliable, and raveling is cut down to almost nothing.
Bottom line, don't be intimidated by silk - the results are stunning! All three of these kits are listed on our website, so take a look.
What else, you ask??? LOTS!!
From the Papillion store we brought an adorable baby quilt and kit, called Zoo Parade...
Or how 'bout a great wall warmer for Spring? This picture is a little light and a bit of washed out, but it's truly much brighter than the picture. (We were dealing with some heavy duty florescent lighting - great for sewing, not so great for picture taking.)
From this great book by Joined at the Hip ....
And, Primitive Pinwheels by Primitive Gatherings. Sharon stitched this one up for us and the pattern is pretty neat 'cause it comes with the Primitive Pinwheel Tool. It's hard to judge the size by this picture, but it's around 11' x 12 1/2" - so a fun smaller project to sew up. We have a kits of this too, but it's also a good scrap buster since you only need a variety of 3 1/2" squares to complete the interior. Wouldn't it look great from batiks or more contemporary fabrics too?
And these beauties, from the Garden Walk book, by Blackbird Designs ....
Aren't they amazing?? I'm finding that a lot of my favorite quilts incorporate a lot of applique in them. It's time to stop fearing the "A" word, Edith!
We have the book and kits for both...
Although (again) this photo looks a little washed out, Stars in the Garden is beautiful in person. We have a model on display at both stores, from Robyn Pandolph's new line of fabric, and it's really soft and elegant...
Whew... seems like a lot, doesn't it??! But there's more from the busy quilters here at Country Sampler. Part Three will be coming soon. I've got some more pictures of our trunk show featuring what's new in the shops - and some great photos of what the gals were working on during retreat. Stay Tuned!!
I wanted to get a few pictures of our latest Country Sampler retreat on the blog today. Really, I wanted to get them posted last week but that didn't happen - big sigh...
The Saturday make it and take it was a BIG success. Ann tought a spring table topper pattern called Bella B. Isn't she a cutey?? The table topper, not Ann --- though Ann's a cutie, too. Good save, huh?
Bella's made with the flip and sew method and goes together pretty quickly. Here's a picture of just some of the gang and their finished or near finished toppers. Aren't they great (okay, this time it's BOTH the Bellas and the gals)?! Lots of quilters were making multiples of Bella. You know how that goes... your daughter-in-law (or your bestest girl friend) sees something cute you made and you end up making another one anyway...
Here's Sandy and Suzanne working hard on their Bella Bs...
Now, I don't have these on the web - but if you're interested, I think the Papillion Country Sampler has rekitted this sweet project, so give them a call and they can mail ya out one. (402-537-9515) You can make your own little Bella B. this week end and have it on the table by Sunday!
