I've Got The Blues For You!

Just got some beautiful fabric in from Northcott.  It's from their "Stonehenge" collection.  I think it's really pretty.  It's such an icy blue.  The panel that comes with it would be great to just frame with some of the coordinate fabrics, but it cuts up even better! 

Check out this beautiful quilt that you can make with the panel.  It looks like you did hours and hours of piecing. I wont tell anyone!  The kits are available for this one too.  looks like a great rainy week end project!

Bat Sale 2011

The big "Bat Sale" is this week end.  We have been getting lots in, so you have lots to choose from.  I think the biggest seller is Warm and Natural.  We sell LOTS of it.  The thing is, the cost of cotton products has gone WAY up this year.  Ok that's most of what I sell.  But maybe with 20% off, everyone can stock up a little bit.  The other big seller that I carry is Wool Batting.  If you havn't tried it, WOW  it's nice.  It's excellent for hand quilting.  The needle goes through sooooo smoothly.  It's got a little loft to it so it shows off your stitches nicely. I have also used it for quilts that are machine quilted.  As with hand quilting, it really shows off your stitches, and if you really heavily quilt it. It still stays very drapey. (not sure that's a word)  The wool batting also washes very nicely.  Ok, so don't use really HOT water. but I don't wash my quilts in hot anyway.  Warm and cool water works better.  
We also have Hobbs Heirloom batting and Hobbs Black Batting on the roll.  Then.... Just so you know that I carry them and they will be on sale also - I carry lots of Pellon fleece and fusible fleece. Ok, Come on in! 

Tuffits and Movies! Oh My!!

Whew!  Busy end of the week! Sometimes it feels like there is something to think about, get ready for, take care of, order and handle every minute of the week.  I guess that's what makes this job so much fun!  Friday was the second session of our "Tuffit" class, with Krista Moser.  (She is soooo cool!)  There were some really great tuffits!  Here is Karen, working on hers.  Such pretty greens!

Here's Krista working with Sue.  Funny, Krista wore almost the same outfit as me on Friday.  She looks so cute - I kind of looked like a potato. Anyway,  The Tuffits all came together and many of the students are planing on making more for Christmas gifts.  Wouldn't you just love to have Santa bring one to you? 

Here's Marta and Nancy with their finished Tuffits.  Everyone's colors are so different, and they always come out great!  Be watching for a class after the first of the year. 

Then on Saturday, we had "Movie Night"  I had lots of fun, and I think everyone else did too.  We watched lots of movies and ate way too much good stuff.  We all went home around ten with lots of work on our projects done.  I think we may be doing this more often.  It's really fun. 

So this morning I got here early and the shop is all put back together and clean.  There was lots of popcorn all over the place.  Hmmmm?  I think it's all ready for another fun week!

A Successful Hoochy Cow Class

 Yesterday was our "Hoochy Cow" class.  I think it was fun!  I think the students enjoyed it too.  Here is a picture of part of the herd created.  It's all based on Marylou Weidman's new book. "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks"  We learned to do her carefree piecing commonly called "Hoochy Style" and made the basic cow. Then we did a little designing, making flowers, little birdies and even a barn.

Here's Norma's cow.  Isn't the little birdie cute!?  These quilts are really fun to make.  Marylou makes it easy to make all kinds of special quilts that would make anyone smile.  In her book there are princesses, birthday cakes, big birds and sew much more.  Sew creative!!! This morning we have the second session of our "Tuffit" class. They will put their project all together.  Stay tuned for a report.

Saturday is Movie Night

This Saturday is "Movie Night" at Aunt Mary's.  Can't wait.  We have done this at least once a year for the last four or five years.  I don't know why I don't do it more often. It's just allot of fun.  We spend all day (10am - 10pm)  sewing, laughing, watching movies, eating popcorn, playing games, and just having a great time.  We bring in a big flat screen and watch some fun movies (mostly ones you don't have to pay real close attention to)  Let's see... we have Young Frankenstein, Bridesmaids, Momma Mia and lots of other fun movies.  I make dinner for everyone too, believe me nobody will be hungry.  I'm thinking Ice cream sundays?  Oh, and there are door  prizes to win too.  There are still a few places left if you would like to join us.

Happy Birthday to Joanne

 Here's my good friend Donna with her sweet daughter Joanne.  Last Saturday was her birthday.  She just LOVES her birthday.  I'm so lucky she brought in a wonderful birthday cake to share with me and everyone that came in.  What a sweetie!  You can't help but be happy around her.  She brought in a small selection of some of her favorite birthday presents to show everyone.  Donna had to make two trips to the car to bring it all in.  Whew!! 

 This month is the kick off for our fall food drive.  Everyone got an extra 5% off the sale things all weekend.  Be looking for more deals, or just stop by and drop off some food.  I'm hoping to have lots to drop off at the food bank this year.  I know it's very much needed in our community this year. 

Last but not least..... here is the latest collection to come in.  Moda's "Etchings"  It's really beautiful!  We have a really nice kit that is made with this collection.  Hopefully we will have a sample real soon. 

New Things and Halloween too

 Most days, here in the shop, I get a group of ladies relaxing and enjoying each others company.  I love that part of my shop.  I really enjoy getting to know my customers and finding out their likes and dislikes.  I got talking to one of my friends about my blog and what she enjoyed reading on it.  She like to see the new fabrics that come in. Sooo...  Here's what we got yesterday.  New Australian fabrics.  Its made by a very small company IN Australia, called M & S Textiles Australia.  Most  Australian looking fabrics are just made to LOOK like they are from Australia.  These are designed by the aborigines.  I love all the bugs and symbols.  They all mean something.  We just got in a new book written by the artists.  I has some really nice patterns for some fantastic projects. It also tells all about the people and the heritage of the fabric.  HOW INTERESTING!

Also!  Halloween is just around the corner and I still have lots of halloween fabric. Today and tomorrow it's on sale for 15% off.  Bring in a donation for the ffod bank and take an extra 5%.  Woo hoo!  Boo!!!

The Bats are Back!

 It's that time of year again.  The bats are starting to arrive for our annual "Bat Sale."  Oooooo Kind of scary!  But these bats are very friendly!  They are here to help us get ready.  Soon all our BATTING will be on sale.  Friday and Saturday October 28th and 29th, all batting will be 20% off.  It's a great time to stop in and order a whole roll of your favorite batting, and take an extra 5% off.  With the cost of cotton going up the way it is, now you can get a great price.  Maybe you can split one with a friend or two.     

Ok! I'm Ready!

Whew!  What a day!  This morning was book club. We had such a good discussion! Even though this last months book wasn't exactly a deep thinker book.  We read a Janet Evonovich book.  It was in honor of our good friend Kathy Smith.  She really liked Stephanie Plum books.  So we all had a good laugh and had fun together. Mostly discussing who we would choose - Ranger or Joe Morelli.  Hm..... I'd pick Ranger! 
Anyway, after book club I had to get ready for the 91 Mile Yard Sale.  Normally that would not be to bad. But, Friday and Saturday I have some big classes in the classroom.  So, I had to move all the garage sale stuff up front by the window.  I guess I should have not been so thorough in my "Spring Cleaning."  I pulled lots of bolts and books and other goodies to put on clearance.  It was a BIG job getting all arranged.  Whew!!!  It think I need to put my feet up! I hope the yard sale goes well.  See Ya? 

91 Mile Yard Sale

It's that time again!  I am so proud to be a member of the "Tri County Quilt Shop Association."   We are a group of THE BEST quilt shops anywhere!  We are all located in Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom county.  We have banded together for over four years now, bringing some fun events for you all to take part in. 
I think many people think that quilt shops are in direct competition with each other.  I may come as a surprise to many that it is just the opposite.  We work together to make this a great destination for quilt  shopping.  I am very proud of all the wonderful quilt shops in our area.  They really are some of the best in the country.  the thing that most people notice is that we are sooooo different.  We hardly ever carry exactly the same thing.  And, even if we did have the same line of fabric, it's always fun to see the different things we may do with it.  The other thing I just love is that I can always call up one of my buddies and have a good talk about things we have concerns about.  It's nice to have someone that really understands the problems of running a quilt shop.

This Friday and Saturday is one of our fun events!  We call it "The 91 Mile Yard Sale"  That's cause it's just about 91 mile from the farthest shop south to the farthest shop North. Stop by your closest shop and pick up a map of all the shops and get out on the road!  All of our shops have been doing some "spring cleaning"  we will have lots and lots of clearance fabrics, books, patterns, kits and all kinds of other goodies that need to find a good home.  At Aunt Mary's we will be selling all that for up to 55% off!  We will also have all yardage at 15% off.  Whew!!!  

Just to make it a little interesting.  For every $20 dollars spent in any of our shops during the "Yard Sale" you will get an entry into a drawing.  Some lucky winners will win either a $20 gift certificate to EACH  of our shops, or a $10 gift certificate to each of our shops.  That's $260 or $130 shopping sprees!  Cool Hu?
I hope everyone can make it!  See ya then!!!
  

The Gastlies are BACK!

If you have been following my blog, you may recognize this cute quilt.  It's made with the really great fabrics from Alexander Henry, called "The Gahstlies."  The fabric was soooo popular that it was gone VERY fast.  Well, now I have more.  It just arrived in the shop yesterday.  
This quilt is really fun and easy to make.  it uses a pattern that we have used  over and over.  It's called "Side Lines"  We have used it to highlight fabrics we just didn't want to cut too much.  It's would be great for beautiful with big florals, asian prints, or almost anything you fall in love with.  We made it with bears and it was really fun!
I'm sure you could still get this quilt done for Halloween.

Robert hasn't been in my blog for a while. So here he is.  What a sweet little guy!  I have had Robert in the shop almost from the beginning of Aunt Mary's.  So that's over eleven years.  He's getting kind of old.  He doesn't sing quite as much as he used to. But every once in a while, he sings like a rock star.