Last Two Hershey Pictures

Here are the last two pictures I took at the Hershey quilt show.  This next one I took because I don't do applique but always are drawn to them at the shows.  Second reason I took this picture is that this quilt was made by a lady (Norma) in Calvert County that belongs to one of my guilds.  Wonderful job Norma.

This last quilt I was amazed at how realistic the maker made the animals. 

Day one of the road closure is over and it wasn't that bad.  People were easily able to get into the parking lot through the back and all the construction crew was gone and the street back open by around 4.  Hope today and tomorrow will go as well.

Hershey Quilt Show

Yesterday Jane and I went to the Hershey quilt show with a bus of local quilters from the Patuxent River Quilter's Guild and Quilters by the Bay and had a wonderful time.  As a shop owner now I definitely looked at things differently than in past years.  This year I was looking at vendors to get a look at patterns and books that I might like to carry in the shop, what is new in the market in notiions and how items are displayed. 

As usual there were many wonderful quilts to see.  I took pictures of my favorite five quilts and will share those with you if you didn't have the chance to see the show. 

This first quilt was the big award winner, the workmanship was wonderful.

You can't tell from this picture but there were many crystals and metallic thread on this quilt, I do love bling on a quilt!

When I came up on this quilt I probably stood there with my mouth open for awhile, I know I definitely said WOW more than once.  Everything about the quilt was so precise and since purple is my favorite color by far I was definitely drawn to all the purples and pinks in this one. 

I will download the rest of my pictures and hope to post those in the next day or two. 

Road Closures

We were advised that Fenwick Street will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.  I will be sending out alternate routes to get to the shop in an email I am sending out this weekend about First Friday specials, events and upcoming classes. 

Senior Discounts

Senior Citizens Discount Days
Seniors over the age of 60 will get 15% off every Wednesday (everything in the shop excluding quilts, sewing machines, and Tutto Bags). Make sure you tell the shop assistant that you are eligible for the discount.

Future Class

This beautiful quilted jacket is going to be a future class taught by guest instructor Julia Gaff.  Specific details and dates have not yet been set but wanted to give a sneak peak at this one.   A stunning jacket and I love the bling she added at the hem.

WOW Bag

Patterns for the ever popular WOW bag are back in stock.  This cute tote bag easily converts to a duffle bag for your weekend trips. 

Also now available is the WOW Junior pattern that includes a medium and a small bag pattern.  

These patterns were created by a lady in Fruitland, Maryland so nice to support a Maryland owned business.

Sweet Delights

This is one sweet delight that contains no sugar, glutin or calories!!!  This would make a great quilt guild door prize, quilting friends birthday present or just a treat for yourself.  Each cup contains 4 fat quarters all in a certain color or theme and have fun names like Grape Crush, Cherry Splash and Cafe Mocha.  Take a look next time you are in the shop.   

Thanks to Betty and Sandi for this great idea.

Project Linus

The latest fabric to arrive in the shop is this Project Linus fabric from Quilting Treasures.  Love Linus with his blanket, reminds me of watching all those Snoopy specials when I was a kid. 

HoBo Bag Show and Tell

June's HoBo bag class had four ladies making bags, all out of totally different types of fabrics.  Both Nancy and Jean shared pictures of their finished bags with me yesterday.  Didn't they turn out terrific?

If you hare interested in taking this class the next session is coming up on Tuesday, July 24th from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. 

Charm Square Quilt

As new fabrics come in I am thinking of all of the projects I want to make with them but have found surprising little time to actually sit and sew.  I did manage to finally get this little top together using the Moda Vintage Modern charm packs. 

My daughter said it reminded her of strawberry shortcake dolls from when she was little so this is now my Strawberry Shortcake quilt. 

I was never big into charms, jelly rolls or layer cakes before but being in the shop with them I have found that I love them.  What other way can you get a little bit of an entire line of fabric to play with. 

More New Arrivals

These fabrics and panel I am really excited about getting in.  You have probably seen them in all the recent quilting magazines.  It is the stars and stripes collection by Stonehenge.  These were designed in coordination with the Quilts of Valor Foundation and a portion of the procedes are being donated by Northcott to Quilts of Valor. 

The panel is beautiful and the fabrics that go with it are very rich looking including my favorite which is a tanish gold fabric with muted eagles on it. 

If you re not in the mood for patriotic fabric look at this other new line of P&B fabrics that just came in called suede because that is exactly what it looks like.  Wouldn't these make a wonderful vest or quilted jacket? 

Stitchery

With the name Olde Towne Stitchery we have people come in looking for knitting supplies, clothing patterns, embroidery hoops etc. so decided to get a quilt shop sign.  Leonardtown has very specific rules on permanent signs and the landlord also doesn't want any larger signs attached to the building so thought this flag type of sign would be a good compromise and people would know exactly what we are. 

The sign is a little bigger and a little harder to get into the ground than I thought so will probably only be using it a couple of days at a time but sure like the look of it.  You can't tell in this picture but the background is muted quilt blocks.

Charity Quilt Blocks

Our first friday activity of making string blocks was a huge success.  From noon on we had two or three people at a time sewing away making these charity red/white and blue blocks.  I think they are going to make a wonderful quilt.

By the end of the evening we had over 30 blocks done out of the 48 we need to make the quilt.  I am sure all of us in the shop will continue to work on them when we can until enough are completed to put together the quilt.   I want to sincerely thank everyone that stopped by to help us out with this effort. 

Here is a new product just in at the  shop.  It is a cd for your computer so that you can print out papers to make perfect half square and quarter square triangles.  You select the size, print them out and then sew and cut on the specified lines.   Sounds like a great way to improve accuracy.

Fabric Deliveries

Tuesday afternnon the UPS driver delivered 5 boxes of fabric.  That is a record delivery in one day, so yesterday I spent my time getting all this fabric logged in, priced and on the shelves which required some rearrangement around the shop. 

Included in this delivery were 4 additional bolts of Batik Textiles, a nice floral grouping from Windham fabrics and a complete kids line from Northcott called Forest Buzz.  If you have a child or grandchild  in your life you will have to take a look at these bright cheery fabrics. 

I know it is going to be wickedly hot the next few days but remember to stop by on friday if you have a chance and sew a block or two for our charity quilt. 

Kathie

Beautiful Baskets

Jane has taught how to make these woven baskets several times.  Dale enjoyed making them so much that she has made three already for relatives for Christmas and came back in the shop for fabric to make two more. 

Thanks Dale for letting us see them all finished, they will make wonderful gifts!!

Back Room

Our back room, formerly known as the office, is starting to take shape.  All stabilizers have moved there to make room for additional wide backings that we have been receiving.

In addition all discount fabrics have been moved in there with six additional bolts being added last week.  As the shelves out front fill up with new fabrics I am moving some of the older fabrics, or fabrics where there is just a bolt or two left of an entire collection to the back at a discount.  Check it out for some great savings. 

We decided to try being open on the 4th of July to see if anyone would be in the mood to shop or if everyone is busy with other activities.  Wednesday will be double punch day on all full yards of fabric cut so if you have time in your schedule take a run by. 

Northcott Fabrics

Back when the decision was made to purchase the quilt shop, but before I took over I placed an order with Northcott fabrics (blenders, stonehenge and some prints) to make sure that fabric started coming in immediately.  The first delivery was delivered to my house and sat in my living room for a month.  After that everything started being delivered to the shop so it was with great surprise that I got home thursday night to find two boxes of fabric had been delivered to my home.

Since these fabrics were back ordered from April I guess the purchase order still had my home address on it.   These fabrics are now in the shop and on the shelves.  I love the wide Stonehenge backing, it is mostly tans and creams with a touch of blue.  It reminds me of a granite counter top.