Let It Snow, Let It Snow

The sale started yesterday and there was quite a crowd.  Today there is a snow streamer coming off the lake so a narrow area is expecting 10-15 cm of snow.  The rest of the area will get less than 4 cm.  So it is a little quieter today but we are Canadian and it can take heavy snow to stop us!  Nellie will be digging in the snowdrifts soon.

The sale is 30% off all in-stock items: fabric, notions, books, thread and batting.  We have to count whatever is left starting January 1.

Last But Not Least

Wishing you the happiest of everything.  No matter which holiday you celebrate, may it bring you together with friends and family.  These are the people you quilt for and want to wrap in your warm quilty hugs wherever they are.  Your quilts are the way you go with them and try to keep them warm and safe.
We are off today to spend time with family.  We are at that stage where there are little ones again to remind us of Christmas past and make us look to the future.
The store is closed but, as a last minute present, you could make someone call, leave a message with phone number so we can call later to get a credit card number for the gift certificate you can pick up at the store during the sale.
Closed until Tuesday December 27 when the 30% off everything sale starts.

Merry Quilting!!

Monthly Programs

Just one more reminder we are closed tomorrow.  It is the first regular working day we will be closed in 7 years.  We are closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

One more idea today.  We have a couple Block of the Month programs next year.  ‘Ginger Rose’ is an 8 month program from Andover Fabrics and designed by Nancy Murty.  Each month you receive a pattern and fabric.  The first 6 months are blocks.  You make 2 of each block.  Month seven is the sashing and month 8 is the outside borders.  The cost will be $23 per month.  You are welcome to come and sew here once a month at no additional cost. 

The second program uses Stonehenge fabric.  Here is what Northcott says about the program:

Northcott has partnered with From Marti Michell to create a BOM program that is the best of both worlds: Marti’s tried-and-tested comprehensive program combined with our outstanding Stonehenge fabrics, in two show-stopping colorways – Neutral & Brights. In either color combination, this double/queen-size quilt is sure to take center stage in any room. The suggested start date is April 2012, but sign-ups start now at your favorite quilt shop. We hope you enjoy this special program as much as we enjoyed putting it together. It promises to be a real winner!

I'm waiting for the information and store sample kit to arrive.  When that happens I will be able to determine the cost. 

Time to Relax and Sit Upon

Reminder that we are closed Christmas Eve to spend time with family.  The sale starts on Tuesday December 27 and ends Saturday December 31.  Every regular priced item in stock is 30%0ff. 

As I write I am testing the ‘Gypsy Sit Upon’.  It still feels strange but I can feel my core strengthening as I wiggle around.  If it works like the packages says I may be able to plan my massage therapist visits a little farther apart.  It says:

A softly inflated flexible disc used in chair seats to prevent fatigue, reduce pressure on the tail-bone, and help relieve lower back pain, while strengthening the core muscles and improving posture. The Sit Upon can be used on hard or soft chairs, recliners, car seats - anywhere you sit for long periods of time! The Sit Upon should be placed in the chair with its smooth side facing down. The side with knobby texture allows air flow for cooler seating and promotes improved blood circulation. Because it is filled with air, it will stay soft and comfortable, and "one size fits all"!

I think I need to get more comfortable on it before trying to do piecing that requires accuracy.  Wiggle one way and you could end up with a wobbly seam…lol... but it is fun.  Last night I tried it on my sewing chair and then upstairs on a soft chair.   It felt like it kept my spine aligned a little better but I will need to keep using it to feel longer benefits.

Idea Source

Reminder we are closed on Saturday December 24.  We will reopen on Tuesday December 27 for our year end sale.

Days are passing quickly and shopping time is shorter.  There is still time to pick up stocking stuffers.  Print out previous posts or email them to your loved ones who are still stumped as to what a quilter would like to receive. 

I went grocery shopping for, I hope, the last time before the big day.  As always I checked out the magazine aisle.  Several new winter issues are out so there is a good chance you can suggest a magazine to that last minute shopper who doesn't have time to get to your favourite quilt shop. 

We carry the new Winter issue of ‘Quilter’s Connection Magazine’, a Canadian magazine.

Or, there was one at the grocery store called ‘Quilt Trends’ which says it is the premier issue.  No matter the title, a magazine always features the newest fabrics and techniques to inspire you.

More Specialty Rulers

Creative Grids has been making rulers for a while now.  You recognize them because they are clear plastic with black markings.  There are fuzzy looking circles on the underside which have texture to keep the ruler from slipping. 

So now they are creating interesting specialty rulers for those who have all the basics and are looking for something different.  I ordered three of the double strip rulers last summer but didn’t have much chance to try them so I took the 60⁰ ruler to the retreat in November.  I figured this one might appeal to those crazy quilters making the ‘One Block Wonder’ quilts (make multiple hexagons from a large print fabric).  You could cut multiple stacks without moving the ruler.  The strips would be cut 4 ½”. 

When I read the instructions I discovered the ruler is designed to use with 2 ½” strips.  Sew two strips together and use the ruler to cut out accurate triangles.  The top point is missing, i.e. flat, so matching triangles is much easier.  I sewed together the two strips, cut the unit into two pieces 20” long and inverted one strip over the other, butting the seam allowances.  I was able to cut pairs.  The hexagons went together nicely.  To build them into a wallhanging I cut background triangles the same size and used markings on the ruler to cut half triangles to finish each row.  I added a small border in the background colour and a wider outer border.  Here is what I came up with:

There is a double strip ruler for 45^o kaleidoscope blocks, perfect for traditional kaleidoscope or spider web quilts.  In a new flyer are new rulers for Storm At Sea, Drunkard’s Path and others.  You can check them out at www.checkerdist.com   Go to the Notions tab, click, click on Vendors, click on the letter C and choose Creative Grids from the list.  I will be ordering from this US supplier in January so let me know if there is something you need for one of the forthcoming snow days…

I decided Nellie needed a special pillowcase for her store pillow and made it yesterday.  Here is Nellie trying it out.  Notice she is cuddling a matching squeaky toy.

   

Buttons

What do buttons have to do with quilting and why would a quilter want buttons in her stocking?  Maybe not every quilter would but there are quite a few of us who would love it.  Buttons are little and don't take much storage.  One button costs less than a metre of fabric and most fat quarters. 

Growing up we had a red plastic cigar container that held buttons.  Those buttons were memories of clothing worn and made.  They provided hours of fun sorting and sharing stories of their origin.  Many families saved buttons from old clothing in case one was needed to repair a clothing item. 

Later, I moved out and met Tim.  I didn't have my own button container so when we were at an auction I bid on someone else's collection.  I thought one of the 4 containers would be enough but the auctioneer put them up as one lot.  I was the lucky winner, taking home all four!  There were 8126 buttons in all.  (Not that I took the time to count them all!)

Since then I have added more from yard sales and other auctions.  Old sewing boxes and machine cabinets store all kinds of button surprises.  In July 2004 we purchased the store but didn't start the quilt shop until March 2005.  During January and February the antique business at the store was slow so I took the time to sort my button collection into colours.  Now, whenever someone comes in and asks about buttons, we pull out the jars.  After dumping the buttons into a tray, the customer can pick out the perfect ones.  Fill a bag for $1.



This fall I made Brenda's 'Everything Goes Bag".  She added a D-ring as a decorative element on the pocket but all I could think of adding was buttons.  However most of the buttons in my collection are small for such a grand bag.  So I had to add more large buttons.  Dill makes a line of funky large plastic buttons so we started an inventory of them. 

So at your family celebrations this season why not pull out the button jar and share stories for the next generation to take with them.