A "Lucy" Update

Well, it's been about two months now that our little Lucy came to be our "Quilt Shop Dog."  She has made sooooo many friends!  She just loves to greet everyone and maybe give a few puppy kisses.  I have been working hard on  teaching her a few manners.  When it's quiet in the shop and someone comes in, she gets a little barky.  We are working on breaking the habit.  She's so smart and stubborn though, but, I think we are making progress.  This cold snap has set us back a little bit on potty training.  Take her out and she looks at you like "Are You Nuts!!!"  I guess I would object a bit as well.  Over all, she has been lots of fun to have in the shop.  Such a cuddly, sweet little girl.  Here she is showing of her new winter sweater. Need a little love and puppy kisses?  Stop by. 

Saturday Is Santa's Workshop Demo Day

 Boy, O Boy! Is it chilly out!!!  For me, It makes me want to cozy up and make lots of fun gifts for my family and friends!  Put a pot of soup on to make the house smell  good, put an old movie on the tube (It's a Wonderful Life) and create!  Now That's Christmas to me!!! So on Saturday, December 7th, all day we will be showing demos on some fun, EASY gift projects for everyone on your list.  Many of the projects are easy enough for kid to make. (With some supervision) It's nice to get the kids involved with hand made gifts. 

The Folded Christmas Tree Napkins are still a big hit!  EVERYONE loves them.  Use the pattern from the kits to use up all your Christmas fabric scrapes.  Then there is Aunt Mary's Quick Pot Holders.  They make a great hostess gift. They only take a quarter yard of fabric and some insulated batting.  Everyone can use new pot holders!

Of course there is the perfect gift for just about anyone. A new pillowcase!!  My kids are very grown up, and still need a new one every year for Christmas. (And their birthday.... etc)  They really make a great gift at any time of year.  When you learn how easy they are, they will be your go to gift for any occasion.  Well, that's not all! We will be showing more great, easy projects. So don't miss out!  Stop by!

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

The holiday season is upon us!!! One of my favorite holidays is right around the corner.  THANKSGIVING  Time to take stock of all that I am thankful for. I am very blessed with so many things.  A warm home, a full pantry and fridge, are just a few of the things most of just don't think a lot about. There are so many families in our community that need help with the basics.  Here at Aunt Mary's, I try to help.  SO..... it's time for the annual food drive.  Let's kick it off in a big way.  This week end, Friday through Sunday, Bring in a donation for the local food bank and take 20% off all Yardage,  50% off selected Halloween fabrics, and 50% off clearance fabrics (one yard minimum cut)  What kind of donation you might ask?  Well...... Non perishable food, of coarse, however they always are in need of things like shampoo, toothpaste etc, My friend Deb likes to bring in these stuffed animals with a small quilt wrapped around them.  We have had people make "Birthday Bags".  A pretty gift bag with a cake mix, frosting and small toys.  I can't tell you how much these things make the people at the food bank smile.  There are so many kids that get so little on their special days.  So use your imagination!  What ever you bring in will be greatly appreciated. Happy holidays!! Hope to see you this weekend!!

It's Been Awhile! Sorry!!

Oh, My!!  The time sure flys!!  I have neglected my blog.  To all my followers...... Sorry!  I try to post on facebook at several times each week, but my blog kind of takes a back seat.  Today is book club and the girls are starting to arrive, so this is kind of the wrong time to catch up.  So I'll just show you a picture of Lucy.  She has been lots of fun to have around the shop.  My little ambassador of good will.  She has several places to curl up under the counters. It's hard to be a party girl all the time.  Watch for more blog real soon! 

The Adventues Of Lucy the "Shop" Dog.

If you have visited the shop in the past two weeks.  You may have met our new addition.  LUCY!  She is the sweetest little thing.  She loves to meet everyone.  She's very social!  So, here's a little background............ My husband and I had two little precious dogs that we lost this last summer.  Henry, who was about three, ate thread and died.  He was such a sweet thing.  BUT very snoopy and would have adventures at night and eat things that he shouldn't.  BEWARE of thread and your pets.  It can be VERY bad.  Then........ our sweet old dog, Sophie, who was seventeen, after a great life of making us all feel very protected and loved, passed away.  I had a VERY hard time of it.  I loved them both very much.  Our family had a busy summer getting ready for  big wedding, so we were alone for about three months.  Even my favorite thing, (applique) slowed down.  Nobody to snuggle with in the evening.  Not to mention, under our kitchen table was getting out of hand. I asked my husband if he was throwing things under there.  I'm not used to cleaning up under there.  SO, along comes Lucy!  A few things have changed since our last puppy though.  The biggest is my husband is now working away from home. I am here at the shop all day.  Hmmm. How to have a puppy?  Take here with me!  So far she has been great!  Doing great about learning were to go potty.  There have been a few accidents, but they have been mostly my fault.  I will get better.  She hardly ever barks.  So far, only the UPS guy gets lots of barks.  He really needs to slow down!  She has lots of people come in and snuggle with her.  She loves that. Behind my counter is her area most of the time.  Lots of toys and things to keep her busy, and me tripping over.   I hope you get a chance to come by and meet her.  She would love to meet you.  

To Any Unhappy Customers.

I don't usually do this.  I don't like to be too personal on my blog. However, today I think I want to get on the soap box for just a bit.  (Hopefully nobody will read this and get upset with me)  This morning, I came in to work and logged onto facebook.  On my page there was a message for me.  Evidently, yesterday I had a customer that came in and was unhappy with her experience at Aunt Mary's.  She will NEVER come back.  Now, I know I should just write it off. let it go  But I don't!  I run over the whole day in my mind a thousand times trying to remember what I did........... Don't remember anyone upset. Don't remember being rude or not being friendly.  BUT I must have. Because this person took it upon herself to let me know.  First I have to say....... I'm sorry!  I think customer service is THE most important thing I can do.  My mission statement from the very beginning of Aunt Mary's, was to make the shop a comfortable, friendly place to visit.  A place to make friends, and feel like you got a hug. just for stopping in.  I know I'm not perfect! I know there are days that are harder than others.  Sometimes, I may not feel well, or there is something on my mind.   SOMETIMES it's just hard to take care of everything all at once.  (And now I added a puppy to my list of duties) (She's doing really well, thanks)  I have had people talk about another shops. How they didn't say hi or they were unfriendly. I always try to tell them to give them another chance.  You never know what was happening behind the scenes.  It's not always easy to "read" a customer.  There are times they just want to look around and think.  So we try to give them their space.  I try to let them know I'm there if they need me, but not be intrusive.   I think that can look, to a customer, like I don't care.  Believe me I care very much.
So ANYWAY, I guess I feel bad that someone didn't feel good when they came in.  I wish there was something I could do about it.  I'll try to do better.  We always need a reminder. But the next time you go into any small business and don't get the experience you think you should get.  Please try to be patient.  Many times it's just a misunderstanding.
 

Big Weekend Coming Up. Fun For All

 There is lots to get ready for this weekend!  I kind of messed up and scheduled Aunt Mary's Customer Garage Sale and Back to School Sale on the same weekend as the "Tri County 91 Mile Yard Sale. Woops!!! Oh well!  I think it will all work out great!  It all kind of goes together anyway.  You may have come to the Customer Garage sale in years past.  SOOO much fun!  I have all the tables in the classroom rented out to my customers.  Many of them have been cleaning their studios of all the things that make them feel guilty. (Or lots of it anyway) This Saturday they will be selling it all at garage sale prices! (to make room for more.) If that's not enough we also have our "Back to School Sale this Thursday through Saturday.  15% off all yardage and books.  Then........ there is the "91 Mile yard sale!!!

Each year the Tri County Quilt Association cleans out their shops of all kinds of goodies.  I like to go through all my books, patterns, fabric and even kits that have not moved as fast as I would like and mark them all down to 50% off.  I may even have a few samples to sell.  It's just a great time to clean up and get ready for new.  A really fun thing that the Tri County Association does during this event is a gift certificate give away.  For every ten dollars that you spend in our shops this weekend, you get an entry into a drawing to win an either $10 or $20 gift certificate to five of our shops.  COOL HU?   Who wouldn't want that!?? Hey! and if that's not enough!  Aunt Mary's will be hosting the QA Quilt Guild. They will be here selling tickets to win their raffle quilt.  I hear it's gorgeous!!!  It's shaping up to be a big weekend.  I hope to see you.

I'm Back! Kind Of.....

 Oh!  The Wedding last Saturday was truly magical!  Really one of the best days of my life!  I've had lots of my friends say, "I bet your glad it's over"  NOPE!!  That day could go one for ever.  The kids were so happy, the party was fun,(Thankfully, there was plenty of food) the sun came out just in time for the ceremony, and the evening was beautiful with all the lights in the trees.  There was even fireworks! My favorite!! It was wort all the work that went into it.  With that all said......... I'm really not as young as I used to be.  Monday morning came way to soon!  I was a ZOMBIE!!! It's Thursday now and I'm starting to feel a little more awake, and it's time to start thinking about the shop.  We have lots of fun things on the horizon.  

This Saturday, Aunt Mary's will be hosting "The American Hero's" quilt group.  I love having them here.  They do such great work.  I'm proud that I can help in some little way.  They would love to have you join them this Saturday.  There is work for everyone.  Binding, sewing a few blocks, ironing or just stopping by to cheer them on.  They take donations of time, fabric or even $$.  We also have some great classes coming up soon.  Here's a picture of one of Krista's Tuffit classes.  We have a new session coming soon.  There are many fun classes, come in and get a newsletter and let's get you signed up.  Then,  Nest Saturday is our big Customer Garage Sale, that just happens to coincide with the big 91mile yard sale with the Tri County Quilt Shop Association.  All the shops will be getting their clearance stuff out.  More about that latter.  I just had a Sales Rep come in the back door.  I FORGOT!! Go figure!!  I gotta get my head in the game.  So Blog with you latter.

Wedding Day This Saturday

I don't usually share very much of my personal life on my blog,  I try to keep it about the shop. Most of the time, My personal life is kind of boring!  But I'm so very excited about this.  My son, Pat,  is getting married to a wonderful, dear, sweet girl this Saturday. VIRGINIA!!!!  It will be at my house in my yard.  We have been working in the yard for months now to have it all pretty.  I'm making the food and the cake. Did I say how excited I am?  It's just three days away!!!  Everything is falling together quite well.  I will be away from the shop the rest of the week.  Ethel an Kathy will be here to take care of all your quilting needs. Come on in!  Use the Name VIRGINIA and get 15% off your purchases.  I'll try to post some pictures of the wedding.

Meet The Teacher - Friday

 Lots of fun new classes coming up this fall.  We also have a few favorites that everyone still asks for returning.  I think there s something for everyone in this schedule. Great projects for the gift giving season and some fun new quilt projects as well.  On Friday September 6th, we have "Meet the teacher." It's a great time to stop in and meet the instructors, ask any questions you may have and get signed up. If you sign up for classes at this session, You will receive a coupon for 15% off your supply list.  However,  just for fun, (Hee, hee) if you say "Polka Dot" in a sentence.  We will give you an extra 5% off your supplies!

The first picture is one of Stephanie Davis's classes called "Fabric Christmas Cards"  Soooo cute!  And they go right through the mail.  Wouldn't you just love to get one?  Stephanie shows how to embellish and make them one of a kind.  Then, we have the "Floorquilt' class.  This one has been on my floor in front of the counter for about three years now.  It still looks great!  They are lots of fun to make as well. These are just a few of the classes.  Scroll down for more fun classes, and  in and see us for meet the teacher and lets get you learning something new!