January 18th, 2010

I finally have gotten the Christmas put away in the shop, it is a good feeling after looking at it for 2 months we were all ready!  The girls have been busy sewing new quilts so I thought you might enjoy seeing the new Barbara Brackman "Homefront" quilt finished.  It is so great, Suzanne made it up and will be teaching it in a couple of weeks too.  The kits sell for $120.00 and that includes the pattern.  I know you will love this quilt it was one you needed to see finished but everyone that has seen it done has absolutely fallen in love.  The colors and prints are soft, but striking and look so old.  What a beautiful vintage quilt.

We have a new French Farmhouse quilt coming this week but you might enjoy seeing it grouped in the cupboard.  This fabric line has been one of my favorites.  I have also moved another favorite and it really looks so great for this time of year.  I think neutral quilts are really great anytime but in the winter  they look very clean and fresh and that is the look we like to go for after the holidays.  Remember Fannies Favorite we still have 8 kits available to you might want to consider this one. You can also see the Gettysburg Sun and Jo's Brown Bayou from her Vintage Journey book.  Remember our
"Strawberry Fields" quilt Selma made up this past summer.  Well it really looks pretty swell on the little bed with Hourglass in the background and the neat French pillows are pretty stylish too here is a couple views of this quilt.  The quilt is 52" x 60" and the kit is $67.50.   I'm really loving these pillows and find they look great everywhere I have put them.  The cost for them runs $30.00.   I thought you might like a peak at the French Farmhouse quilt packaged it is not bound yet but expect to have a picture yet this week.  Here is the kit and look what you can make with the left over fabric.  Miss Rosie's Tuffets.  This pattern is just the best and for $6.50 the gifts you can make from your scraps make just the best gifts.

The French General Farmhouse quilt is  76 x 90 and includes the pattern for $99.50.  You can also get these neat French General tape measures, you get two cloth tapes one narrow and one wide packaged in separate twill stripped bags, they are handy to use, look great, and priced at $20.00.  I think they would make a good little Valentine gift idea.   Please note when the new tapes arrived today the price has changed. I have the quilt on the bed as of today and it is stunning!   I will give you a couple of views.  I just happened to think about a pair of scissors I talked about but have not pictured yet and they look so neat with the French General  tape measures I thought I would let you take a peak.  The embroidery scissors have a nice sharp point and look so old I know you will love them, we sell them for $15.40.  I am going to show you another photo  of the aged tin organizer everyone is loving.  This tin is a French organizer with four sections to store your sewing notions or anything else you might feel the need to store when you are doing handwork.  I think this would be great to use for make-up too.  The cost is $15.50.

I just got some new pictures taken of the grandkids for the annual Christmas letter that is biannual this year I never got to it last year like I wanted to so I will start writing it tomorrow with great intentions.   There is still no baby we think maybe with the big snowstorm coming this week that might just trigger it but for now here is my fab 5.  I can not believe how everyone has grown so big this year.  We are all anxious  for the baby's arrival, our little princess Emma and I are hoping for a little girl but there is always room for another prince and it will be in very good company.  Emma and I got our wish meet Carley Jean Scott born on December 19th, weighing in at 6 lbs. 8 ounces.  You can tell our little red haired Ayden is full of it he just turned five and would rather be playing with our cat Maddy.

Merry Christmas to all!

  This is our fun quilt we are calling "Dig that Crazy Reindeer" this is not for beginners you have to be experienced there is a lot of intricate piecing and detail to this quilt but the colors and design say Merry Christmas one and all.  Selma created this quilt and it is so fun I know you will enjoy it too.  The red star in the backgroundis another decorative idea you may want to try out.   The Santa's we have are always fun to decorate with and the juniper seems to make them look even more grand.  The quilt you are seeing in the background on your left is new, we call it "Remembering Christmas", it is a 4-patch and again it comes down to the use of color and fabrics.  This is a small sampling and if I have time to add more tomorrow I will.  Merry, Merry I hope we see you are the Annual American Country Christmas Open House this weekend November 6-8.  With a little luck you may even be able to see our new schoolroom facility it won't be completely done but closer than it was yesterday.

I need to tell you about Maggie Bonanomi's new book, it is called "Nature's Offerings".  This book has 22 projects to do and there is 112 pages filled with great photos of Maggie's very special home and gardens in the Lexington area.  There is something for every season, the price fr this gem is $26.95.   If you loved her first book then you will definitely love this one as well.  We are gearing up to do up 3 kits for you, Winter's Garden Bed Cover, the Wild Flowers of Summer Wool quilt, and the 1870 Urn table runner.    I have also pictured a her half moon wool applique table rug she calls Tropicals underglass.  You will also enjoy her the little hooked  birdnest chairpad pattern, , boughs of holly rug mat, and the neat large pear pincushions.  If all goes well we will have at least a few of the projects kitted  in time for our American Country Christmas Open House November 6-8.  I hope you enjoy this little tour of what we all think is a brilliant book by our favorite primitive wool designer.

We have been a busy bunch of shop girls this fall getting all of our new quilts ready  for our fall guests.   Please be our guest, enjoy the great weather and did you know this is National Quilt month too?  How appropriate!!!   Your going to find us a trip well worth the effort.   Since fall is in the air I will start out with our "Harvest Jumble", this is a colorful quilt made from Jo Morton fabric you can not see the inner and outer border very well but it is easy to get the idea.  The quilt is 62" x 62"  and the pattern is from her new "Vintage Journey" book.  This kit sells for $103.75 and the book is $25.00.  We do a great fall quilt every year and this is our 2009 offering I know you will love it and the size is easy to use and display.  You will also notice an great new La D Da x-stitch for the Season, this sold out at the show and it will be next week be fore we get all the linen and patterns back in but isn't it so good? 

Suzanne just finished a  new 16 patch quilt she calls "Summer Camp, the blocks are set on point and she repeated her setting block and set in border fabrics.  I love how she has used my Worn & Loved fabric.  We all love it, I you will too.  Summer Camp is 58" x 84" and the kit sells for $99.00.  The pattern is $8.50. 

  The next quilt could be one of your favorites!  It is a "Star in A Star" pattern and the colors are really stunning, very classic and could go in almost any decor.  We used our favorite, black, brown , tan and cream prints.  It companions nicely with our Fannies Favorite quilt we did this summer.  The quilt is 62" x 52" and the kit sells for $89.00.  I love how our new boxwood looks next to it, we are dark girls and the next quilt is a great flannel quilt.  It is made from the woolies flannels we all love to cuddle up in.  They are the best.  We used a Bonnie Sullivan pattern but I'm a plain girl and wanted the fabrics to stand on there own so the only thing I did was add the date like they did in the 1800's in the bottom right hand corner.  You this rich, comforting  "Warm Woolies" throw.  It looks pretty swell with primitives too.  We packaged this kit in one of our new Country Sampler totes that I know you will enjoy using.  The cost of this kit 60" x 68" is $82.50 and the pattern is $8.50.    How about the great Tickled Primitive Cat?  The patterns are $9.00 and our Marcus overdyed muslin works great.  The Star in a Star quilt is folded over the bottom of the bed and was another very popular quilt at the Expo.  This is another one of my very favorite quilts.

 You know how we love the Civil War fabric so when we looked at the new Abe Lincoln line we all knew a new quilt was brewing.  We call this quilt "A Tribute to Abraham Lincoln".  Vickie has worked very hard on this quilt and we both looked at each other today and said we will be lucky if there are any left after the show.  It is a queen size and I know every once in awhile that is the size of choice.  The quilt is 89" x  102" and our kit is $166.50 and the binding is included. Our pattern is $8.50.  Notice the neat Abe photo in the background we only have the smaller Abe's left as we sold all of our large ones at the show.  Let's talk a little turkey these are by far the best antique replicas I have ever found they are made out os papier mache' and have wire legs.  These are some pretty handsome tom's colored and aged just right and only $36.00.     

We have even more new quilts to show off but this all I have for you today I am moving everything and taking pictures which I will try to get in before the weekend. I hope you enjoy our little preview.  You will not find any of these in the shopping cart  yet but by next week they will be there so you will have to call the shop girls if you wish to purchase any.  We have at least 6 Lincoln quilt kits left out of the 30 we made up and although we are happy about this it makes us sad to have it sold out so quickly.  You will notice the Battlegrounds banner in the background.  This piece is one of those quilts that are easy to display and it looks so great with primitives.  The kit and layout pattern sells for $35.00 and is 28" x 65".  This is a quick project and would make a great gift for a Civil War buff.

August is a great month because you begin to see the tell tale signs of fall coming.  It is my favorite time of year, there is a bustle in the shop as the quilts begin to change and the decor transitions into late summer and fall color and the really fun part of this all is all of the great holiday folkart and home gear we have ordered begins to trickle in  Here's a few new pictures to get you thinking about what's to come .  I love the new red conservatory, it sells for $160.00 and just think of all the neat stuff you can display in it.  I put our old bird house and button leaf foliage inside.  The geraniums are so beautiful and they look so real  it looks like we have been tending them all summer, they sell al potted for $33.15.  I hope you are noticing our 1892 pin cushion.  It is from the French General line of fabrics we are expecting this fall.  The pincushion is $20.50. and comes with red embroidery thread for you to personalize it with  your own initials.    Our new golden apple wreaths will add a splash of great fall color to your door, a wall, your harvest table, our farm house bowl is another good idea they look really great anywhere.  This wreath comes in 2 sizes.  The little Herb Baskets quilt seems a perfect choice  We all like the small size too.  You might notice I have several shapes and sizes of mirrors they are reasonable priced at $37.50 - $4750.  I like to use a mirror in a display because it creates some dimension to other objects you may want to showcase.   I'm also loving this old tombstone angel she comes with a battery candle for $25.00 and looks really good tucked in with your primitive decor.  You also notice in the pictures the stunning Gettysburg Sun quilt out of the Indigo and Honey fabric line we also have made up the most wonderful bag design by a great new designer.  Kits are available for the wall quilt and purse.  It is not to early to think about Halloween as we have unpacked a lot of it over the past week.  This tin cat lantern is really fun it is made to hang or can really sit out anywhere and look great.   It sells for $42.50  it is lighted  We also have two sizes of vintage wax pumpkins that light up, there is a mini for $10.00 and a regular size for $21.25.  The batteries are included.  How cute would these be on a table and you don't have to worry about lighting a candle you can just turn them on.  We have been getting great boxwood sprays in, I have two colors and have found it very easy to display with.  I think they look great in our urns and we have several different kinds and sizes of urns to fit your needs.  I was also telling you about a new message boards, these are wonderful little tools to post reminders to and keep track of things you need to do.  We do have two sizes.  The cost for the small board which is 12 x 18 1/2 is $17.50 and the large board is 15 x 20 and sells for $21.50.  I like these vintage boards because they are shaped like hornbooks.  I have the large one sitting on our neat twig easels.  Now that is just another good thing.

Speaking of vintage I absolutely love this old Herbal Apothecary Cabinet it sells for $187.50 and you may notice how well it goes with my Worn & Loved fabrics.   Another thing I would like to mention today is a pattern from a new vendor to make the most wonderful primitive pumpkins it is $9.50 and there are 3 sizes you can make from this pattern.  Look how neat this old pumpkin looks in a wreath and think how great it could look in one of our farmhouse bowls.  Here is just another urn with boxwood in it the boxwood sprays are $9.40 and green urn is $19.95.  Isn't fall just most wonderful time of the year?

It is feeling like summer in Wisconsin.  We  have 3 new quilts finally ready for you this week.  Our "Fannies Favorite" quilt is the theme block  our Road Trip shops all made into something that really represented each of the shops that participated. We chose to make up a quilt this year, it is 68" x 68" and it is one of my favorite quilts because we chose to use neutral fabrics.  Neutrals go in any decor and just make everything else around them look great too.  Our kit sells for $97.00 and includes the binding.  Our pattern  sells for $8.50.

Another new quilt is "Lincoln's Platform" quit it is only 24 3/4" x 24 3/4" it's a great small Civil War looking table topper and kitted with backing and binding sells for $36.75.  You will enjoy using this with your primitives and antiques.  Our last quilt this week is called "Gettysburg" Suzanne made up the small version and it is 41" x 51" and our kit includes the binding.  The cost is $48.95. I think you will really love the Jo Morton fabrics we used in this quilt and how they make a unique stylized border.   The pattern is a Clothesline pattern and sells for $8.50.

 Happy Piecing!

The one thing I do love the most about summer is the Patriotic home gear and we do have some really great reproduction pieces that really celebrate our heritage.  We probably have some of the best fabrics we have ever had the prints are very classic and rich and we have had great fun coming up with interesting ways to use them.  You will be seeing a new table topper next week that I know you will love and you can really put it together in less than a day.  This spells quick hostess gift and a great new table topper for your holiday entertaining.  I really like this next project we are calling "The Soldiers Quilt".  Today we are all touched in some way either with an immediate family  member or a close friend we know that is in the our country's  military.  We think this little quilt would make a perfect gift and a great way to show our support for your loved one.  We used Marcus Brothers new American Patriot fabric line and I will be able to show you photos next week. Right now I'm going to give you a look at some of the new home gear you will see if you visit anytime soon.

This is a picture of our newest angel, you can also see our new Honest Abe and George Washington framed prints in the group of pictures, our new houses, carved stars, flag ribbon, and many other really fun good things  you will really enjoy.  Don't forget about "The Flag Day Farm" designer quilt we did up this spring.  Neutral looks great in every decor and really help show off color it's classic and being a panel it goes together fast.  You just let your long arm quilter do her magic it really is a beautiful quilt and you can buy it with or without backing fabric.  Have a wonderful summer weekend!

I bet you have been thinking about and doing some  gardening at your houses this past weekend.  It is really easy to be consumed and carried away by the beautiful plants that are available kind of like fabric.  I picked up some for my outside urn now the trick will be to keep them alive.  I do not necessarily have a green thumb so I tend to use a lot of silk florals in my house they are made to look so real these days you can hardly tell.   We are so excited over this new quilt called "Gettysburg Sun".   The fabrics in this quilt just could not be more perfect for the season and at $54.00 a kit, and an  overall size of 29" x 36" what better way could you possibly  welcome our summer days?   I thought you might like to see the new Fruit Salad Watermelon pincushions.  We have kits available and the pattern sells for $9.00.  The pattern includes a great big old strawberry pattern too.  I like the idea of a bowl full.  Notice the urn with the lavender and the old reproduction gardeners planting screen in the photo at the top left of this page.  We have some great silks in the shop as well as other gardening folkart you might enjoy.  The quilt pictured is "Herb Baskets" from Country Threads we have this kitted.  We have some great folkart bird houses and several different lanterns that you are seeing being used everywhere in all the catalogs .  The lanterns are great for indoor or outdoor entertaining you may be doing over the summer.  Glass domes have been popular, urns are also a good choice and the white tulips, lavender, rosemary, paper whites, and clover look great anywhere.   In this picture you can see Emma's quilt hanging, the soft plaids and stripes make a great girl quilt and the nice thing about this is the patchwork is a panel we just added the borders to give it a polished finished pieced look.  If you have a grand daughter going off to college in the fall this would be perfect.  We have Michael's quilt for a guy in rich dark browns too.  We just got in Marcus Brothers new Regency and basics today.  Yummy for sure!  To your left you will see "Gentle Grace" our newest Worn &Loved  quilt it measures out to 72" x 84".  We are cutting the kits this week, the cost is $130.00 for the kit and the pattern is $8.00.  

There is one other quilt I have neglected to get a good photo of for you.  Gwen made up this quilt and the pattern is packaged with the kit as it comes to you via the Quilters Newsletter.  Barbara Brackman is the designer and it is called "Civil War Crossing", the quilt measures 68 x 78 and the kit is $93.00.  If you love the great old bubblegum pinks this is a quilt you will enjoy piecing, we have only 2 kits left.

It's a new Schnibbles pattern from Miss Rosie called Tuffets.  You will love how Suzanne used the Marcus Brothers Indigo and Honey fabrics when she sewed them together.    They are all really stunning I think you will need a bowl full for sure.  The Treenware tray pitured would work great and sells for $41.50.   Think what great gifts they would make for your quilting friends.   These are going to make you twitter for sure.  It could surely be a great Happy Mother's Day too. and the little love handle scissors would also be a good choice.  The kits sell for $25.95 and include the pattern, backing everything you need.  The scissors sell for $12.00.

It has been awhile since you have seen some new quilt candy so before it is all sold out I'm going to show you some new quilts we took to Quilt Festival.  First my favorite, "George".  I look at this quilt and know it will be an heirloom someday.  This quilt is 64 x 66 and the kit sells for $110.00.  The pattern is ours and sells for $8.50.  He is very handsome.  You can see our "Reach for the Stars" on the bed. Do you know it is the poison green fabric that makes this quilt so good.  The drab old stars are also good but that green is awesome.  This quilt is 66 x 70.  It is also one of our pattern and it sells for $8.50, and the kit is $78.00.

Another very popular quilt is Savannah we did this quilt up in a soft, subtle palette that can be put pretty much anywhere.  It is a great size 80 x 107, the pattern is a Bonnie Blue and sells for $12.00, the kit is sold out.    You will notice I have Maggie's White Flower pillow done and sitting on the bed, we have kits for $16.95 you will love the fabric I used in this kit.  This is a pattern from "With These Hand".  There are so many patterns I want to make up from this book I better get going because her new book will be out in September 2009.  If you have not gotten this book yet it is one of the best and only $25.95.  The last quilt pattern I'm going to put up today is again one of ours, it sells for $9.50 and we named it "I Declare" because it has the Declaration of Independence as a focal in the middle.  The wall quilt size is 44 x 44  or you could use it as a table topper depending on your space as a bonus we have added a great flag table runner in the same pattern.  We only have a few runner kits left but we have made more quilt kits up this week.  The kits are sold out .

I promised I would bring you some new Spring Home Gear to think about this week.  I have been working on new vignettes in the shop so here's some new eye candy I think you might find of interest.   The little quilt in the background is the Windham Sampler I have told you about over the past few weeks and it is finally done.  It is 33"x 40" has the ever popular gray blues and browns in it and this kit is sold out.  The pattern is $8.00.  This is a great companion to our Union Sampler pictured on this page you may want to think about them both.  You will also notice one of our new Bethany Lowe pieces of folkart .  Easter Egg Delivery is a wonderful piece and has been popular, the cost is $70.00.  If you do an old Easter tree you will love the beeswax ornies, there is a rabbit, old chick and lamb, the cost is$3.25.  The girls have loved the Meadow Birds Transferware.  The platter is $28.50 and the bowl is $45.00. both pieces are dishwasher safe great and could be just perfect serving pieces for spring and summer gatherings.  I think the subtle soft blue is a bit unique.  I'm going to point out the unique raised serving tray the bowl is sitting on.  It is very sturdy but looks like old twigs and it also has an old bird that you can't see but trust me it is there and you will like it.   I feel the selling point on this item is the idea of it being raised and you are doing a buffet luncheon it will just be perfect.  The cost is$41.25.  This year you are going to be seeing domes used in every capacity, to showcase folkart and serving.  We have three sizes of the galvanized serving pedestals from 7 - 9 inches and ranging from $25.00 - $35.00.  The glass domes come in all shapes and sizes and range in price from $22.50 to $52.00.  I have to tell you we have a beautiful pedestal cream serving bowl for $45.00 that I can just see you getting a lot of use out of.  The one you see pictured is full of match boxes I was so excited to find these as I have bee buying ones like them from Pottery Barn for several years.  They look so nice sitting out and have  long sticks so you so don't get burnt.  The boxes have very cool covers, old olive branches, bird nests, and old letters.  The cost is only$3.25 and I think it is also a nice little hostess gift.  That is all I for this week. 

This has been a pretty exciting week for us as we have one of our samplers from the shop featured in the April Country Living magazine.  This is a true folkart sampler and when I stitched it I new it was one I would never grow tired of.  I love those kind of samplers and when Sarah called me from Country Living last fall to ask about it I was delighted she chose our shop because we carry a great selection of Folkart handwork patterns, and home decor.  This is a great opportunity for us and I hope it will drive new folks to our website and acquaint  them with our services and style.  We are offering the "Alphabet Sampler"  to you kitted on either 30 count hand dyed linen, packaged with over dyed Weeks threads, the pattern and a needle for $30.00.  ****

FYI:  On 3-16-09 it was brought to our attention that we need 4 Caper threads, that 2 were not going to be enough enough, so we are adding this to all new orders.  The threads are $2.00 so you will notice a change in the amount you are being charged.  I'm sorry for this inconvenience, I stitched this back in 99 and if I did need more caper I have long forgotten it, we were trusting the pattern directions.  So call if you need more caper we will have to charge you the thread cost but ship it NC..

The store just keeps getting better every week as more and more spring merchandise arrives.  This week we have two new quilts I think you are going to love.  We have finally been able to finish "Reach for the Stars" which was our 4th and last quilt in our 25 series. It is so perfect for your spring decor we have to pinch ourselves.  This quilt is 66" x 70", the kit sells for $78.00 and the the pattern is $8.50.  I can't wait for you to see it.  Next our Gwen finished "Country Lanes", it is 54"x 54".  The kit is $75.00 and the pattern is $8.00.  I can't think of any better looking quilt for Easter, it is stunning and looks like colored eggs.  Lastly you will be thrilled with our new Beach House Fat Quarter pack these were our favorites, only 6 fabrics for $16.00.   Enjoy a photo of our egg shaped Rabbit Boards, they are only $10.00 and look  really old.  The spring flowers are blooming everywhere there are eggs under glass domes Spring is definitely right around the corner.  What a fresh breath of springtime this is for us.  I'm kind of one of those girls that love beautiful plants but can't seem to keep them alive so our colorful and green accents are just right and fit my busy crazy schedule.

Spring is coming even though it seems to keep snowing.  The good thing is it doesn't last too long, today it is 40 degrees and tomorrow it will rain and they are predicting snow again.  In the meantime the shop is beginning to make the welcome transformation most of us are longing for with  green wispy foliage, rabbits, eggs, urns, and paper whites.  We have also gotten in several great new lamps, with beautiful linen fabric shades.  If you have been looking for new lighting options you may want to stop by to see what's new.  Our newest spring quilt is called "Herb Baskets".   The pattern is from Country Threads it sells for $8.00 .   We are really thrilled over the kit, we used a great Japanese fabric for the border, it is priced at $86.00.  This quilt is a nice size to display at 52" x 64".   You can also see our last 25 quilt called "Reach for the Stars" hanging but we are still waiting for our green fabric to come in to complete the kits so with a little luck we will be seeing it very soon.  The little board eggs with rabbits on them are really fun and have been selling like crazy because the price is so right @ $10.00. I've already ordered more. You might be in the market for a new old looking sewing box, you can see ours has 9 drawers that could hold lots of threads and needfuls.  This was shown in the last Country Living, the cost is $110.00.  You can see one of our urns, it is light weight and very easy to handle and looks so great with lavender.  The quilt is Belle Meade.  I hope you enjoy a little spring and can plan a get-away soon.    

"My Heart Is True"  is the newest Blackbird Designs book for stitchers.  We love it and have already ordered linens to stitch models.  The book is full of small, simple designs and Barb and Alma have embraced and introduce you to a new designer from Milan Italy, Nicoletta Farrauto.  I know right now that this is going to be a book your will treasure, the color photos are so peaceful and inspiring. I am picturing several projects so you can get a good feel for the book you will want to own.  I think it could just be a Happy Valentine's Day to you!  The cost is$24.00.  This is a Flock of Birds stitched on Weeks 28 count gingham linen, light grey/straw you are also going to love  Garden Gems Pinkeep box, the Humble Pinkeep is so simple but so precious, and the Friends with You project book would be fun to make.

Look what's new this week!!  Our "Union Sampler" wall quilt  is all done, it is 33 x 40,  and we love it.  I think the scallop border is the frosting that sets off the 12  5" pieced blocks.  The kit is sold out. The pattern is a Clothesline Quilts pattern and is $8.00.  I think you will enjoy the piecing and these cold days we have been having are great sewing days. Coming soon a companion called the  "Windham Sampler" in teals, beige and browns.  You may want to do both because the blocks are totally different in the 2nd quilt.

"Belle Meade" is our new quilt kit.  We are all in love with Belle.  It surely is all of  the fabrics we used that compliment the pattern but the border fabric used on the setting triangles is the homerun.  It is just the perfect fabric for this quilt.   We love to use a signature fabric to make our  quilts special.   The pattern is by Bonnie Blue and sells for $10.00.  Belle is 70 x70 and the kit is $140.00.  The size of this quilt gives you options for hanging and using it as a table topper.  I love the warmth you feel as you look at this quilt and just imagine using it as a table topper, setting your table with antique or new cream or brown dishes and using one of our new Green centerpiece ideas we will be showing for Spring.  It is a good thing.

Can you believe it?  It is 2009 and the days are already flying by us.  This week we have a couple of new projects we are marketing..  First  a really neat little wall quilt which we will frame as soon as it gets back from the quilter.  Please note it is not in the frame yet is quilted.  It is approximately 17 x 21, I used wool instead of doing needle turn applique and we all think it turned out just great and it went together in an evening. The kit is priced at $32.00 and the book with the pattern is 12.00.    There are several neat little Valentine gifts that you can also make in this book.  We hope to get a couple done up by next week to show off.  This is "Pinney and Pa", the pattern is $9.00 and the kit makes a 82" x 82" quilt the kit sells for $143.50.  This is such a great quilt and the colors are perfect for the season but pink and brown is one of those color combinations that is always good.  You will find a wonderful splash of a fresh lemon grass color that is the zinger we love in this quilt.  Selma made this quilt and said it went together quite easily.

Baby Lil  is back from the quilter and getting bound.  Our pattern is revised and ready to go as well. The kit is $62.55 and the pattern sells for $8.50.

 As you will see from the photo the quilt is gender friendly and will go into any decor.   The pattern is a square in a square.  If you need a great quilt that looks old and cherished I think this might be the quilt you have been looking for.  We did a simple cross hatch to finish it and I think it works well with the pattern.

I'm going to put up a few more Christmas photos that will reference my weekly email.  I really have love the little balsam fir trees we have in the shop and it seems every time I open a magazine I see them being used in the holiday homes.  They are beautiful on tables, on mantles, clustered together by the front door really just anywhere.  I like putting them in urns, baskets, boxes the possibilities are endless and they look wonderful on the kitchen counter, by the fireplace, in a bath or on there own. I really love our Juniper garlands and wreaths, there is nothing like beautiful greens for the holidays.  Today they look so real all you need is a Christmas Tree candle and people think they are real.  Time to trim the house.  I'm just going to put up a few photos so you can visualize the trees, check out Country Living magazine for December, they used two on a holiday table and the  Pottery Barn wish books along with many others are also showing them this year.   The large trees are 25inches and sell for $52.00, the small trees are 10 inches and sell for $26.00.  It is time to deck the halls I thought this might be something you might want to consider.

I am going to put a few pictures in of our Boxwood and Berries Gathering this past week.  It was sooooo- great and we did have a folk-artist dream team with Maggie and Stacy!!  The bonus for me was a wonderful class.  We are very blessed by our customer base and this weekend really brought that front and center.  Our students came all the way from Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Idaho, Montana, and Stacy is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Maggie is from Lexington, Missouri.  2 of our students are missing from this photo.    The next photos are from the With These Hands Trunk show Maggie shared with us on Friday evening and it is already on route to International Quilt Festival in Houston.  Plans are already on the table for next year and I think after this year you will want to start planning your getaway with us right away.  Watch events for details.  Stacy introduced her new book "A Simply Early Christmas", it is quite adorable full of stitcheries, recipes and decorating ideas.  22 pages and the cost is $20.00.  I think you will want to get yours ordered right away.

I promised to add a few new pictures of Halloween and Fall gear last week but just have not gotten to it yet but think you might enjoy seeing a few of the neat new stuff I mentioned.  There are many great candles this year, Trick or Treat Blocks to tuck on shelves, wreaths, Jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, quilts to make, wool projects,, punch needle that you will really enjoy and several new cross stitch patterns to add some spice to you fall decor.  We think this little cross stitch called Tricks & Treats is pretty fun it is a With Thy Needle pattern and sells for $9.00.  We also just got a new La D Da  in called "Something wicked"  It is a great old witches shoe, she also has another new one we will want to get done up called "All Our Troubles".  These patterns are $8.00 and will be in the shopping cart this week.  Still waiting on a few other new offerings so check back for more new goodies. 

 Boughs of Pomegranates is one of our favorite new quilts it uses several Japanese prints and  has a great deal of wool appliqué' handwork.  It's pretty stunning, I hope you love it.   The kit for Hookers Hat-patch sells for $48.50. The patterns are $8.00.  These are great reproduction patterns done up in our reproductions fabrics.     

We finally have the Lori Smith #9 you frame it kits finished. Binding is included for $32.95.  The pattern is $9.00.  This is going to be a wonderful set of small quilts to tuck about and use for the holidays.  Greenery and berries are just what it's calling for and you can have them framed and finished in time to impress your guests.

"Dutch Treat" is a new quilt we have just gotten back from the quilter.  The pattern is an Open Gate pattern designed by Monique Dillard and it uses a great Fit to be Square ruler that has also been designed by Monique.  We love this quilt!  We used Windham's Williamsburg fabric line, the kit is $132.00, pattern $8.00, and the ruler is under $20.00.  This quilt measures 62" x 79", it's definitely a good thing if you love the reproduction prints!

Girls Night out is done!!!  We love the Halloween prints especially the gold witches and traditional colors in this years quilt.    The pattern we used is a pattern  from Evelyn Sloppy's 40 fabulous quilts book.  The book is a bible, we use it often, and these days to get 40 great quilts in one book for $29.95 is a value you can't ignore.  Our kit is $90.00 and includes the binding  We have this on special for $60.00 if you are interested.  It is 63"x 84".  Grab your booms girls and let's get sewing so it is ready for the season.

Look what just can in the door today!!  Maggie's Book is here and it is so wonderful I can't imagine anyone that would not want to own it.  We are so pleased on the cover you will see the wall mural Maggie painted in our 2nd Story and the beautiful runner on the fireplace the shop girls had Maggie make up for me for my Christmas present.  Wow!!! Then I look inside and see a wonderful tribute from Maggie.  I have encouraged Maggie to share  her talent it is rare, unique and from her heart!!  I don't think it can get any better than that.  We love Maggie's style, it fits us and her club is a testament to her popularity in our shop.  The book has 19 primitive projects for your home and just so you know the photography was done in her home.  What a treat!  I present for your approval

"With these hands"!

Don't you just love this bird pillow?  I'm sure we will have to kit these for the shop once I get a chance to study them a little more.  The cost of the book is$25.95. and we will ship it out to you right away.    We also got in the newest Blackbird Designs book called "In Full Bloom" today.  It is another must have book and the cost is also $25.00.   With all of this good stuff going on we have been screaming with glee all day long and it's only Monday.  I can finally sit down and just start to go through them so it will be a late night but oh so satisfying to take in two of my favorite designers best efforts.  I can't wait to hear from you.  We will put up more pictures this week from both books.

We also have a Stone and Thread Punch Needle Trunk Show in until August 4th.  I think you will enjoy seeing the creative ways you can finish your projects.

Let me see where to start I need to give you some great new eye candy.   I will try and picture just a few new patterns that might be of interest that have come in over the past week and also tell you we just got in the new Andover Jo Morton Toast fabrics and Windham's Coverlet 2 .  Primitivebettys is a new cross stitch company.  I have pictured the Blue Tulip, 1836 Spring Tyme Sampler and Friends Sampler.  The Friends Sampler is our newest Primitive Club offering.  Patterns sell for $10.00.

  Stacy Nash also has new designs, Emma & her Pony Sewing Roll, Tulip Sewing Book, Early Style Alphabet Pillow Pinkeep, and Letters Scissor Pouch.  You will also notice some adorable heart scissors in the heart pouch that will be coming in this next week along with a cute little scissor called the Putford.  We will try to get them both pictured so you can see them.   Stacy's patterns are also $10.00.

We do love all of the new fabrics that have come in and I will get them pictured for you to look at by next week. The Toast fabric line has 16 sku's  and we will be putting them into fat quarter packs and if you would like we will do a 1/2 yard pack just call us and it will be done.  We are also excited over the Coverlet fabric line.  If you loved the quilt we did with the first line last year for our open house I know you will be just as excited over this one so watch our site for details.   If you were not one of the lucky ones to get this neat quilt you will have anther chance.

  Linda from Chessie and Me has a great new summer sampler.  It is called "Where Stitching Leads" and is in her designer series packaged with the linen for $18.00.

  We are liking a new Punch Needle pattern from With they Needle and Thread called "Flag Day".  It uses the Valdani 3 strand ovdyed threads and the printed pattern sells for $12.00.  We are also going to have the primitive paddles made up so you can finish  yours like the model.  If you are in the market for a new Market Tote bag we think we have found the perfect pattern for you it is 16 1/2 h x 14 1/2 w and the pattern is $8.00.  We may just decide to offer this tote as a class.  If you are interested please give us a call.  Virginia Cole's galloping pony studio patterns are pretty exciting.  We have her new 4 books and 2  of her individual patterns.  Quilt Study is a collage of miniature pieced quilt art.  This piece is framed uses the quilt study blocks, and vintage papers and photos.  The pattern is $10.00 and the books are all $15.00.   Oh Christmastime, My Quilting Friends, Hey Nonny Nonny, and Family Days are the four book titles and each book has about of the neatest projects you could ever imagine.

More new quilts are  getting done this week.   A new favorite is Dandelion Days made out of Moda's  Fig Tree fabric line.  It is fresh as the summer day with grass green stripes and urban prints, soft dandelion yellows in twills and searscker stripes, and a wonderful earthy soft brown.  The quilt is 72" x 86" and the kit sells for $99.50.  The pattern is a rail fence with an hourglass at the intersections it is one of the shop girls designs and it sells for $8.50.  We also have great back packs and small zippered bags out of the same fabrics.  This quilt would make a great picnic quilt, you could fill your back pack with treats and enjoy a great lazy summer afternoon or put it on a little iron bed your summer porch.  This quilt was in the a  parade home and I just got a new picture for you and I will also give you a little close up.

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 The shop is always brimming with inspiration and all new products for the upcoming seasons. We will look forward to your visit!  An extra incentive please remember we have retreat rooms above the shop that sleep 7.  There are photos on our web-site of our Second Story call for availability.

Please look at our website and plan a destination visit.  Weekend with us at our 2nd Story and get as excited about quilting as we are.

Piece Out!!!

  Jeanne and The Sampler Staff