To Market, To Market….

We spent the weekend in Kansas City at International Quilt Market and came home with more ideas than time…that sound familiar to anyone.  It’s always so fun to see the new trends, tools, techniques and designs.  One thing we saw a lot of was applique’, it was everywhere.  Deb is excited about that, she’s the applique’ queen!

The new color this year is orange in pretty much any shade you can imagine.  Still seeing plenty of gray, brown being not as dominant as it was.  A lot of the quilt designs were different in that they had lots of negative space in them.  More like modern art than the traditional quilt with borders.  We don’t have pictures to show you, as the camera battery died.  We did get our picture taken with Chewbacca, Darth Vader was off duty.  That was pretty comical!!  You can check out our facebook page to see that picture.

We’re planning an After Market get together to show off some of the new things we ordered from Market, so watch for more details about that.  We need a bit of time for all the orders to start rolling in.  When we got to work Monday morning we started rearranging right away to make space for the fabric.  In short, we’re trying to get organized!  We did get a great little tidbit from the Moda booth that we thought was humorous and in closing would like to share it with you.

Straight Stitch Society:  read the society’s Manifesto

1.   Life is hard.  Sewing is easy.
2.  When the going gets tough, the tough get sewing.
3.  Sewing is cheaper than therapy and easier on your waistline than chocolate.
4.  Don’t make it if it’s not super cute.
5.  Don’t let anyone talk trash about your sewing skills.  Especially your mother.
6.  Sometimes a glass of wine really does improve your sewing.  Or at least your attitude.  Same difference.
7.  A strategically used curse word can make you feel better when you need to get out the seam ripper.  But only the first time.  After that, you’re a potty mouth.
8.  No matter what happens, remember that it’s only fabric.
9.  If someone asks, “Did you make that?” say “Yes” proudly and leave it at that.  No matter how much you fudged along the way.
10. Sewing Straight Stitch Society projects will make you thinner, younger and richer.  You’ll see!

Have a great day and keep on quilting!!!!

Sew night :)

Now that the Quilt Minnesota 2012 fabric has arrived in the store it’s time to play!!  And we did just that last night with all the girls.  We had a sew night complete with food and fun.   Sue was half done with hers before she got here, so guess who was the first to finish last night.  She chose the “Just for Fun” pattern from our runner book “Runner’s Etc.”  Fast and easy for that quilter on the go.  She got away before I could get my camera out to take a picture of her project.  Could it be that she’s camera-shy???

Here are Jane, Joyce and Deb brainstorming over what fabrics to put together.  It takes a lot of time and brainpower to put together different fabric combinations so each project has its own look.  Must be a good night, no smokes rolling out of their ears!!

And contrary to popular belief,
we often spend our fair share
of time ripping.  Isn’t that right, Jane?   Because what we thought would look great in theory, doesn’t look as good in reality.  Does that ever happen to you?   And we’re always standing ready
to keep her company because
we know it could be our turn next.  And Jane has helped me rip out plenty of times, bless her heart!

Here Joyce and Joanne are putting
their heads together over our messy
work space.   With only 2 cutting
tables, we can stir up quite a mess
when we’re sewing.  You’d think
with all that space we could be a
bit more organized, but that wouldn’t be any fun.  It seems that this is how we work best…..amid our “creative” clutter!

Deb chose to use the larger panels in the collection paired with some gorgeous balis in the pattern “Cheaper by the Dozen” from our book “Quilter’s Peace”.  She’s already to the point of quilting hers.  Doesn’t she look happy about that?

I’m using the smaller panels in the pattern “Double Dip” from our book “Quilt Cravings”.  I love that pattern, it’s a cute way to show off panels or a focal fabric and it goes together so quickly and smoothly.  I still have the outer border to put on, but it’s getting there!

It’s been a fun line to play with and thanks to our wonderful shop girls, we’re going to have lots of fun projects to share with you and hopefully inspire you as we gear up for Quilt Minnesota 2012.

Weekend + Bus Trip = Laughter

It was a crazy weekend full of food, fun and friendship~old and new.  The Golden Ticket Bus Trip started out at Gathering Friends at 6:00 am Friday morning with our people arriving for muffins, breads, coffee and juice.  And of course, one last pit stop before loading on the bus.  And they were off!

In the very capable hands of Mike, the bus driver.  He was well equipped with coolers of water, wine and margaritas!!

After our bus left it was time to get the greenhouse pulled together, as it was going to be our eating place for lunch and dinner meals.  Some days we wonder if a strong wind should blow it over, but on weekends like this it comes in so handy.  It’s always fun to decorate it with quilts and accessories!

The food is ready and we’re pumped for the first of 10 busses to arrive, should be any minute.  The ever-changing weather reports were truly frightening for the weekend but our wonderful husbands went to work weather-proofing the greenhouse Thursday and we’re so grateful.  It kept the drips to a minimum!

The weekend flew by, each bus having their own brand of fun and a great source of entertainment for us.  These girls were so much fun and arrived right before the torrential rain.  They stayed dry in the greenhouse, but loading back on the bus was a soggy experience!

Joyce, in-house expert on Chenille-It, chatting with some of the girls who are checking it out.  That was a big hit, lots of girls had never seen it before.

Every time Kathy got on the bus and started talking she was met with cheers….could it be they were excited to be at Gathering Friends?  Wrong.  They were giddy when she announced that we had 3 bathrooms in the shop. (You know, whatever it takes )  Pictured below are some very patient girls in the bathroom line.

The shop girls being silly! 
The minute you get the
camera out, they stop
cooperating.   Could it be the fatigue was getting to them?  They worked really hard and we couldn’t have done it without them.  They are the best!!

The combination of rain and wind made for a chilly Sunday, so they enjoyed the lasagna to warm up. 

Gabbing in the serving line and enjoying the view.

We had some wonderful bus drivers and discovered that the girls got quite attached to theirs.  What better way for a man to spend the weekend, then in the midst of 55 happy women!! 

Sunday evening, the Brainerd bus gave us a special treat.  During their hours on the road, they composed a song using the melody from the Twins theme song.  The whole bus joined in to serenade us.

This bus was full of excited quilters!!!

What a wonderful weekend it was seeing our treasured friends and making new ones.  Everyone was excited to be on the trip and there was a lot of happy in the air!!!  That’s what quilting is all about.

Coffee Cake…

The first crop of fresh rhubarb had just been picked.

When I left for work on Friday morning Paul had decided to make a coffee cake.  When I arrived home from work, he actually had made two coffee cakes, each in a 9 x 13 pan.  WOW! That is a lot of coffee cake! Those of you who know my husband know everything is done to the extreme.  If one is good, two are better! Luckily, we were having our customer appreciation at Gathering Friends the very next day.  The coffee cake was an absolute hit!  Might have something to do with the caramel topping.  We got a few requests for the recipe, so here it is.  For those of you that missed getting a taste, it was an easy cake to make the day before because it was very moist. The original recipe is from a 2009 Taste of Home magazine.

Rhubarb Coffee Cake with Caramel Sauce

1 cup milk
1 Tblsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups chopped rhubarb

TOPPING:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tblsp. butter

SAUCE:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream

Mix the lemon juice and milk together.  Let sit for 5 minutes.  Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg and beat well.  Combine flour and baking soda.  Add alternately with milk to the creamed mixture.  Stir in rhubarb.  Put in a greased 9×13 pan.

Combine first three topping ingredients in a bowl.  Cut in the butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle over batter.

Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

For sauce, melt butter in small pan.  Stir in brown sugar and cream, bring to a boil.  Simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thick.  Drizzle over coffee cake.

 

Sneak Peek ;)

We’re getting ready for our Customer Appreciation Celebration and thought we’d give you a sneak peek of the shop.  We’re going to have some appetizers in the greenhouse and are hoping the rain stays away so everything and everyone doesn’t get dripped on.  But just for Saturday…..than it can pour!!

If we’re lucky enough to stay dry the greenhouse is just taking shape with some quilts (of course!) and garden accessories.  They started coming in the past few weeks and it’s fun to have a splash of color out there.

The metal flowers have been so fun to work with.  We saw
them at gift market and they weren’t even on the stakes, but hanging on the wall with stems and leaves painted on the wall below them.

Super cute!!  So many great ideas we get at market, that’s why we love to go.  Too many ideas, now it’s just trying to find the time.

We also have been decorating the gift shop with lots of spring and summer colors.  Since spring is having a hard time sticking around, come inside and it will feel like it’s here already! There are lots of goodies for showers, weddings and Mother’s Day (just 3 weeks away!!).  Not to make anyone nervous or anything.  

You’ll find more garden accessories inside the store and summer time decor.

Not to be left out, we have lots of fabric coming in from everywhere.  Cosmo Cricket did “Salt Air” for Moda and we’ve already had lots of fun playing with it.  This vintage beach line is filled with warm summer colors and sea-inspired patterns perfect for those summer time projects.

“Sunrise, Sunset” by Holly Taylor for Moda carries through with their traditional style in warm, earthy tones that bring to mind the peaceful, calming effects of nature.

“Ten Little Things”  is the debut collection by Jenn Ski for Moda.  An adorable line done in owls, numbers, toy trucks and whimsical reminders of childhood.  This line has a retro look with that playful quality that children of all ages will enjoy. 

We’ve already had some fun playing with this line.  These little treat bags were made from a magazine at the store called “All Small”.  2 fat quarters will make 4 bags, and they’re so quick and easy to make.

Brights definitely have a place in our hearts, they’re so happy to work with.  “Calypso” by Paintbrush Studio fills the bill with its gorgeous floral and dragonfly prints.  We have all kinds of coordinates to work into this line, just not enough room to capture them all in the picture.  

Just a few of the fun things going on at the shop. :)  Hopefully everyone can join us for the Customer Appreciation Celebration Sat, April 14th from 9 am to 3 pm.  Grab an egg by the door to see what discount you’ll get off of your Fabric Purchase.  Enjoy the appetizers and good company!!!

Happy Easter

I’m sure everyone is busy gearing up for the holiday weekend.  It’s hard to believe Easter is here already.  We’ve been busy gearing up for our Customer Appreciation Celebration Saturday, April 14th from 9 am to 5 pm.   We went to gift market early in March and went a little crazy buying.  We’ve had lots of boxes rolling in full of great Spring and garden decor.  Our greenhouse is going to be decked out with garden stakes and a whole array of different outside decorations.  (Watch next week for a sneak peek at how the decorating is going )

When you arrive at the store on April 14th, you’ll grab an egg to see what percentage you’ll receive off your fabric purchase…15-20-25-30% off.  We’ll also have demos going throughout the day to expand everyone’s quilting skills.  We all love to learn new techniques, don’t we??  Now we’re just counting on the weather man to forecast warm, sunny weather for that day.  Oh yeah, that doesn’t always work here.  They say warm and sunny, we wake up to windy and chilly.  He, he!!

Our sign up is underway for The Golden Ticket Bus Tour for May 4th, 5th and 6th.  We still have seats available on our bus, but register early as they are filling up fast.  Visit 14 shops and 5 states in 3 days for 229.00, and leave the driving to us!!  Hotel accommodations and meals all included.  Tip off your family to this great Mother’s day treat early.  The best treat is you won’t have to cook for anyone!

Happy Easter and enjoy the Spring!!!!

Golden Ticket Bus Trip sign up coming

We just got back from speaking at Faye’s Henhouse in Mayville, North Dakota last Friday night and teaching in Mahnomem, MN on Saturday.  Faye’s Henhouse is an adorable shop with lots of samples and fabric to choose from.  She’s been working on getting us up there for a while, so we were excited to finally make it work and it was so fun to see her shop.  The girls who came to listen to us speak that night got a sneak preview of all the samples from our new book “Runnermania”.   Now all the runners are up on the walls of the shop for everyone to enjoy!

Saturday morning found us in Mahnomem, MN at the casino teaching our newest pattern that hasn’t been released yet called “Center Stage”.  And yes, we were teaching…not gambling!  With our luck, we would have come home with empty pockets if we went to gamble.  We got to teach a fun group of girls, some of them we remembered from teaching up there in the past…even tho they didn’t want to claim it at first!  At the end of the day, one of the girls in the class came up and asked us to teach and speak for her guild as they were looking for “entertainment”.   What?!?!?  It could be because right before that,  we’d been test driving a pair of therapeutic ”Miracle Balls” by laying on the floor on top of them.  Hmmm, do you think they took us serious??  It was a fun time and everyone got a lot accomplished, that was the best part.   They learned new techniques and played with some new tools.

Center Stage is now at the photographers, so soon we’ll have the pattern ready for everyone to enjoy.  We used fabric from the line “Bittersweet”  by Nancy Halverson, the colors are warm and it’s very scrappy.  Be sure to watch for the pattern on our website soon.

Spring is starting to pick up speed and registration for the Golden Ticket Bus Trip is here already!!  Sign up starts Saturday, March 17th at 9:00 am.  Call early to register and hold your spot.  Visit 14 shops and 5 states in 3 days and travel with no worries.  We’ll get you to each shop, feed you and put you up each night.  This bus trip is going to be a blast!

Hope everyone is enjoying this gorgeous, possibly record-breaking weather we’re having.  It’s so fun to see people out and about, walking and biking everywhere.  I do believe Spring has sprung!!!