NEW MATERIAL!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone,

The last couple of weeks have been very busy here at the shop. Last Monday Diane, Jan and I visited the Portsmouth Down by the River Quilt Guild for a presentation regarding the Guild in The Granary. We also stopped by Lil's quilt shop for a book signing. The day was fun and it is always fun to get out and visit other shops.

This weekend is a special weekend - we are having a 40% off sale. Check the bottom of this blog entry for your coupon.

AND . . . over 74 NEW bolts of fabric have arrived! There are a lot of Christmas prints; some lovely flannels; some beautiful new fabrics from Eleanor Burns; and lots more. They're going to go quickly, too, so you will want to be one of the first in the shop to check them out.

Know a beginner who wants to try out a new machine without having to put out HUGE dollars for it? We will start carrying Baby Lock machines SOON. For over 40 years, Baby Lock has been dedicated to the love of sewing by creating machines for sewing, embroidery, quilting and serging – all with ease-of-use, high quality and a touch of elegance. We will be carrying the Audrey, the Natalie, and the Grace models. Come in and look at them, or check them out at the Baby Lock website: http://www.babylock.com/a-line/grace/, http://www.babylock.com/a-line/audrey/, and http://www.babylock.com/a-line/natalie/. A more complete line will be available at Quilt Beginnings - just tell them Mary sent you! AND, Baby Lock even has free projects on their website: http://www.babylock.com/projects/quilting/.

For you primitive lovers, Our Sweet Land of Liberty block of the month starts on Thursday October 29. You do not have to do the class to participate in this monthly project. Kits are $21.25. Monthly pattern is $6.75.

KyleAnn is doing another knitting class. This Knit Dishcloth class will review what you've already learned (casting on, knitting, purling, binding off) and teach you how to increase, decrease and do basic lace using yarn overs (YO). You will also learn how to use this basic pattern to make a lapghan or baby blanket! Class is held Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 6-8 pm. Registration is required, $15 class fee, $5 needle fee, and you need to bring one ball of a kitchen cotton (Lily's Sugar'n Cream; Peaches & Creme; Lion Cotton, etc). If you want to start right in with the lapghan/baby blanket, then you need 2 skeins Red Heart Super Saver.

Have a great weekend! Stop in and say Hello!

Mary

WE'RE PLANNING A SPRING RETREAT!

Hey everyone,

Hope you were able to come to the Quilt Show at Arts in the Alley and then visit our tent sale! There were some BEAUTIFUL quilts to be seen. And hopefully you made it to the Arts & Crafts display in the Municipal Building. There were a lot of counted cross-stitch entries this year and all were excellent.

Did you know . . . . that you can be notified via email every time we update our blog? And it's FREE! Just go to FeedMyInbox.com, enter our blog address (AlwaysInStitchesOhio.blogspot.com) and your email address. You will receive a confirmation email for you to verify and then you are all done! OR, you can enter another blog address and they will notify you of updates for it.

And now we are planning our First Annual Spring Retreat. Mark your calendar for March 12 - 14, 2010. Cost is $290 per person for 2-, 3-, or 4-person rooms and $335 for single occupancy. Start saving your $$ because the $100 non-refundable deposit is due December 31, 2009 and the balance is due February 1, 2009. This is a first come first serve retreat for 50 of our customers and we can only save you a seat with your deposit. We are going to have a GREAT time at the luxurious Drury Inn here in Grove City.

Just In! The Farmer's Wife Sample Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird.


42 letters from the 1922 Farmer's Wife magizine contest, asking the readers Do You Want Your Daughter To Marry A Farmer? See the winning letters and quilt blocks chosen for their historical significance. Also enclosed CD containing templates for all patterns pieces, for easy printing for all 111 six-inch quilt blocks, with assembly diagrams for piecing the blocks and template cutting directions.






This weekend we are busy with our Dear Jane group and with our applique club. Stop in and say hello! Enjoy the cool weather that is finally arriving! Stop in and say Hi!

It's time for Arts in the Alley!

Hey everyone!

KyleAnn's playing with the blog again. This weekend is Arts in the Alley. You know, when they close downtown Grove City and artisans exhibit their wares. There will be all kinds of beautiful articles and objects for you to see and, of course, purchase!

We are having another "garage sale" behind the shop with approximately 16 vendors displaying treasures they can no longer use (or they just want room for more stash!) as well as some independent consultants whose products can pamper you and/or make your life easier.

Be sure to stop in (and behind the shop) to lollygag and dilly-dally! (see the quilt up front for that particular phrase).

You also don't want to miss the quilt show at St. John's Lutheran Church on Columbus Street! You just won't believe the variety of beautiful quilts, Artful Bras for the Cure, challenge quilts (wall-hangings) from the local guild, Fat Quarters, quilted clothing, and more! All ability levels are represented from Master Quilter to first-entry-in-a-quilt-show. You can even vote on your favorite quilt and the winner will receive a "Viewer's Choice" award.

And just for Arts in the Alley weekend, already-cut fat quarters will be $1.50. You will find them under our tent our back.

Be sure to come! It's going to be a great weekend, lots of fun activities, and delicious food at Arts in the alley.

(Note from KyleAnn: since Mary is doing the pre-cut fat quarters for $1.50, there won't be a coupon this time. However, the 15% off pre-cut kits coupon from the last post is still good through Tuesday the 22nd!)

Happy September! Happy Back to School

Hey Everyone!

Happy September, happy cool days to you!

Everyone here at the shop is doing well! We are bustling around getting ready for one event or another. We are adding employees to our staff this month so you will be seeing some new faces, but all your favorite employees are still here to love.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Goodtime Quilters show. The quilts were absolutely beautiful. We appreciate your support. We are now gearing up to vend at the annual Goodtime retreat at the end of October.

Now, LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING IN OCTOBER!

Blended Borders: Quilts with a Creative Edge, by Pamela Mostek

Pamela Mostek shares her innovative Blended Borders technique, which softens the line between the quilt top and the border. Rather than "coloring inside the lines," Pamela makes artful use of large-scale appliqué shapes to create quilts of unparalleled artistry.

Included is an extensive techniques section, which is so clearly presented that quilters of all skill levels can achieve expert results. Choose from five gorgeous projects that showcase today's large, dramatic prints. The color-splashed photo gallery provides plenty of additional inspiration.

Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II15 Designs from Celebrated Quilters, by Eleanor Levie

Make a statement with Skinny Quilts! This follow-up to the popular Skinny Quilts and Table Runners showcases the talents of a new group of amazing designers. You'll love the variety of styles and techniques they bring to the table!

• Revisit folk-art traditions with Jo Morton and Sue Spargo or create an art quilt with Lonni Rossi or Sue Benner; discover designs by Karla Alexander, Frieda Anderson, Melinda Bula, Jane Dávila, Linda Lum DeBono, Joanna Figueroa, Judy Hooworth, Julie Popa, Elizabeth Rosenberg, and Karen Costello Soltys, as well as editor Eleanor Levie
• Sample a new way of quiltmaking with Skinny Quilts—without the time commitment of a bed covering
• Find the perfect projects to add sparkle and zing to your home or to give as impressive gifts

Color Shuffle: New Quilts from Karla Alexander, by Karla Alexander

Karla Alexander is back with exciting new designs to delight her many fans! Now you can broaden your quilting repertoire by combining Karla's stacking and shuffling methods with even more techniques. Choose from 16 projects in a wide range of styles, from "Blue Moon" and "Window Box" to "Somersault." Make the most of today's fabrics with these contemporary quilts—the stunning designs look far more complicated than they actually are.

Sophisticated Stitches: Designs for Quilting, Appliqué, Sashiko & Embroidery, by Don Linn

Make Your Quilt Unforgettable with Elegant Designs

• Take a simple quilt and make it spectacular with 66 art deco motifs, flowers, and Japanese crests

• Use for hand or machine quilting, appliqué, and embroidery

• Show off your stitching or appliqué in individual blocks, medallions, and open spaces

• Enlarge or reduce the designs to fit any space

Turn an ordinary quilt into an heirloom with these graceful, versatile designs.

"Mr. Quilt" includes instructions for using the designs, a supply list, and help with mixing and matching to create your own original designs.

Cozy Modern Quilts: 23 Easy Pieced Projects to Bust Your Stash, by Kim Schaefer

Elegantly Cozy Contemporary Quilts

• Make 23 cozy, contemporary quilts to complement any decor

• Sizes include wall and lap quilts, table runners, and placemats

• 100% easy straight-line piecing-no tricky measurements or stretchy bias edges

• Use color choices to create quilts with different moods

Modern doesn't have to be hard-edged. Make a soft statement with these irresistibly cozy, contemporary quilts built from simple squares and rectangles.

Rhapsody Tote

You'll want to carry everything in this tote bag by award-winning quilter Ricky Tims. The zippered tote is made from durable, 100% recycled polypropylene, creating a beautiful new use for tires and plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

Appliqué Petal Party: A Bouquet of 16 Blocks & Flowering Border, by Susan Brubaker Knapp

Celebrate the Beauty of Flowers with Appliqué

• 16 wonderful 12 1/2" bouquet blocks and floral border make a 73" x 73" finished quilt

• Make the whole quilt or use one block as a pillow or wall hanging

• Package includes needle-turn appliqué basics and step-by-step instructions for the project quilt

• Full-size, easy-to-use appliqué patterns

Celebrate the beauty of flowers with this festive floral appliqué quilt. The package includes instructions and photos of a variety of other color and fabric options, including wool appliqué.

Quilter’s Favorites–Traditional Pieced & Appliquéd: A Collection of 21 Timeless Projects for All Skill Levels

Make Your Next Quilt a Classic

• 21 pieced and appliqué quilts for all skill levels, chosen by the editors of C&T Publishing

• Includes quilts from Alex Anderson, Piece O' Cake Designs, Diana McClun and Laura Nownes, and many more

• Wide variety of techniques and sizes

• Styles from traditional to contemporary

You're sure to find projects you'll love making in this collection that combines clever takes on favorite blocks and appliqué motifs with fresh, contemporary fabrics.

Creative Two-Block Quilts: • 12 Original Blocks • 20 Quilt Designs • Unlimited Combinations, by Trice Boerens

Mix-and-Match Quilt Magic

• 12 original pieced blocks can be combined to make 20 glorious two-block quilt designs

• Mix and match the blocks into your own designs, too!

• Each block comes with complete assembly instructions

• Quilts include 6 completed models and 14 alternate combinations

You've never seen pieced blocks quite like these original creations from award-winning designer Trice Boerens. Use them to make any of Trice's 20 two-block quilt designs, or combine them in your own favorite ways. The possibilities are endless!

Imagine Hope Notecards

Set of twelve 5”x7” greeting cards features four inspiring images from the collection of textile artworks in the Imagine Hope exhibit. Created by accomplished artist and photographer, Hollis Chatelain, this collection reflects important social and environmental issues which will inspire people to get more involved in their communities. 13 envelopes included.

Have a great weekend!