note to self

Note to self.... never open anymore boxes from the UPS man at the Quilt Shop.
Yesterday he brought us a long rectangular box.... that can only mean one thing... "fabric".
I opened it, and found 2 bolts of "dots" I went to put it away with the rest of the collection and found 2 other fabrics that matched it perfectly. Then it started, Lois and I found this grouping.
Right now it is sitting in a cart at the Quilt Shop, patiently waiting for me to come back and cut it.
But, how much?
I know the big print is at least 2 yards... but the others?
And, what will I do with them...
This morning I am going to shop at home... for a pattern or an idea.

back to quilting

Now that the new schedule is done, the sign up book is ready, I can get back to my sewing machine. Right now I am machine quilting my Let's Go Dottie quilt. I had 3 false starts. I tried one thing, didn't like it, took it out, then tried marking designs on it, that lasted about 5 minutes, took that out too. I even tried marking some of the blocks with feather circles, which normally I love. Someone this quilt just isn't a feather circle type of quilt.
So, I went back to my quilting books and found my Twice quilted design pack. I found a really nice spiral flower design. It goes great with my dots! Quilt is about half way quilted.. I'll post a picture of it later. We have this design pack at the shop!
Windy cold days are the perfect days for quilting. Sitting at the machine with a quilt in front of you, makes you feel all warm and toasty! Stay warm everyone!

The new schedule is up and running

I have posted the winter schedule on our website... Check it out. The Quilt Shop Online
Call us soon to sign up for the classes you would like to take. 203-743-0543

calling Sherlock Holmes!

In the new schedule, we are going to have a Superbowl Mystery class. It is on Feb 7th from 9:30-4. I can't show you any of this quilt... but it is pretty! When you sign up for the class, we will give you the fabric requirements, and the cutting directions. We will even cut your pieces for you if you want....( for a fee and if you register by Feb 3rd). Once you come to class you are in for a lot of fun. Our Mystery classes are a Quilt Shop event. We have snacks, prizes, raffles, lunch and lots of sewing. Best part is, you are home in time for the big game.
Call us or stop in soon to sign up. This class always fills up quickly. It's a great way to spend time with your quilting friends, or to make new quilting friends.

giving back

Have you been thinking about how you can use your sewing and quilting skills to help others?
There is a great new website called We all Sew. It is filled with projects that you can do to help other people all over the country. Check it out.... We all Sew

Let's Go Dottie

Here is a sneak peak at the "Dottie" quilt. This class will be a block of the month class, we will meet the 3rd Saturday of each month. During the class you will construct one block, plus receive patterns for other projects as well as recipes, etc. Your $35 class fee gives you the pattern for the block, the pattern for another project, a monthly recipe, plus 6 "dotted" fat quarters. If you come each month, you will wind up with 72 "dotted" fat quarters! This quilt is fun to make. We will spend time discussing colors as well.
Please consider joining us! We'd love to have you! Now to start quilting it!

Happy Holidays to all!

The Quilt Shop will be closed on Thursday, Dec 24 and Friday Dec 25th. We will open again on Dec 26th.... ready to help you choose your fabrics for a new project! Our new schedule will be on the web next week... stay tuned! I just have 3 more pictures to take, ( and 2 more rows of Dottie to put on).
All of us at the Quilt Shop want to thank you for your friendship throughout the year and wish you a wonderful holiday!

snowed in...

Sometimes being snowed in is a good thing.
The winter class schedule for the Quilt Shop, is almost ready to be put on the website. It is a real winner. Wait till you see it. I'll post it here when it is on the website.
Our brand new Amy Butler fabrics arrived on Friday. The collection is called Love, and boy do we love them.
Ginny made a quilt from them already.... it is called Sexy Hexy.... and yes, it is on our new schedule.

Class fee $25- includes the pattern!
Sunday January 17th and 31st- 1-4
or
Friday Feb 5th and 19th- 6:30-9

holiday rush!

The holiday rush is on.. Santa is on his way. Do you still need a gift for a friend who quilts or sews? Or better yet, do you need a gift for yourself? We have lots of gift suggestions as well as gift certificates for last minute gifts. Stop in soon to see us!

Our Snowball retreat is filling up fast, only a few spots left. If you are thinking about doing it, call us soon! We wouldn't want anyone to be left out of all the fun.

a sneak peek at the new schedule

Besides Dottie, we have another new program coming up this January at the Quilt Shop.
Lois will be running a program called "BlockSwappers". Sign up and you can make a totally scrappy quilt by letting us help you swap your blocks with other quilters. You will make multiple blocks each month based on a theme. At the end of this six month swap you wil have enough blocks for a very scrappy quilt.
The first theme is called "Dressed to the Nines".... look how great these quilts are coming out.

The blinking girls....

On Friday the ladies from the Quilt shop went out.... we wore our finest jewelry.....
This movie is a little dark, but you can see our special jewelry!

I'm in love with Dottie!

I am working like crazy now on my Let's Go Dottie sampler quilt. 6 blocks done, 6 to go.
When I first started this, I wasn't sure at all what I was getting into. Now that I have some blocks done, I can't wait to finish it. The blocks are easy to piece, but have a few little challenges in them, just to help you learn something. Best of all you get to use lots of different dots!
We are taking sign ups now! Here is the info:
Classes will be held on the third Saturday of each month from January to December 2010.
You will get the following in each class:
1. Pattern for the block
2. Extra project pattern from Dottie!
3. Dottie's dot filled recipe- ( yes I will make it for a snack during class)
4. Games and fun!
We have made up 12 different collections of 6 dot fabrics. Each month we will have a different one for you- for $15 each.
By the end of the year you will have 72 different dot fabrics for your stash!
Class fee is $25 a month.
Our January class starts on January 16th- from 10-12.
You can call us to sign up over the phone- 2023-743-0543.
Please come and join us! It will be "dots" of fun!

Grab and Go

These new kits arrived last week. They are called Grab and Sew Kits by Art Gallery fabrics.
We have 3 kits for 3 different purses. These kits have everything that you need to make these great bags, even the thread! They would make a great gift to give to a friend who sews, or who wants to start sewing. They would also make a great mother daughter sewing project. Stop in to see them soon.

Sale sale sale and a road trip!

All remaining Christmas fabrics are now 50% off at the Quilt Shop!
Think of the quick gifts you can make, pillowcases, tote bags, table toppers, candle mats, etc.
Come see us soon to stock up. They wont be around long!

Also, you can start signing up for the 2010 CT NY Road trip! Remember how much fun we had last year, well this year will be even more fun! Sign up at now, for $5 you will get the official Road Trip tote bag, your passport to each shop, the cover of the 2010 Road Trip quilt pattern, and a special road trip coupon. We've had lots of people signing up their friends as a holiday gift. Click on the picture for more information.

First snow day! Yippee

I can hear the sleet outside my sewing room window this morning. Most people I know go back to bed when they find out school is closed. Not me, I go in my sewing room and turn on my Bernina830 . I finished the last of my tote bags, 9 in all. Now to start working on " my" stuff.
This is why you need a stash, you never know when you will be stuck at home and have the time to sew!
This is Ginny's latest quilt. It is a hexagon quilt made from Amy Butler's newest collection. This will be a class in our new schedule. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming classes in our new schedule. Remember that the schedule will be posted online on our website. I will let you know when it is posted.
Stay safe everyone!

Heather Bailey comes to call

These new fabrics came to our door last week. They are a new collection by one of our favorite designers, Heather Bailey. They are beautiful. The colors just blend so nicely. I pet them each time I walk by them, I am thinking about what to do with them. Come and see them soon.

welcome to my sweatshop

In the last 2 weeks I have made 7 of the bali pop bags...
Here is my 8th- but it is made from a Hello Betty jelly roll from Moda. You can get 3 bags out of a jelly roll too!
I think I can make these in my sleep.
What are you making for gifts this year? These bags work up quickly and look great!
We still have one more class coming up= December 12th. Class is free if you purchase the Bali Pop pack from The Quilt Shop.

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

The weather channel is calling for snow outside later today, but we made our own snow at the Quilt Shop today.
Here is our new friend, our snowman. He stands near the front counter to remind people to sign up for our Snowball Retreat on January 30th 2010.
If you haven't signed up yet, do so soon, Spots are filling up quickly. It will be a day of prizes, games, fun and sewing all rolled up into one!

tea for two, two for tea

This new issue of American Patchwork and Quilting arrived last week. Amy T came in the store and picked it up. She discovered this great teacup quilt. We had all of the fabrics at the store, so she cut the pieces she needed and went to work.
It's done and at the store. Come on over to see it, it is so pretty. Check out the beautiful prairie points Amy put around the edge.

Amy Butler "love" flannels

Look what came to the Quilt Shop. These are new Amy Butler flannels from her new collection.
Soon we will be getting the cottons, but they flannels are here first and they are wonderful.
If you love Amy Butler, you might be interested in her new software package. It contains lots of her great patterns. You can print them out on your computer. Santa, are you listening?