Posted on Monday, March 22nd, 2010, by Janet - Calico Gals store owner, gabby gal, newsletter editor, occasional piecer
In Upstate New York, spring is so close we can taste it, smell it and feel it! Isn’t it great? We feel like dancing!
Kathy and Marcia enjoying the party at the Taste of Spring.
The Gals have been working up some classes, ideas and projects to get you dancing, too. The spring newsletter was mailed last week and the Taste of Spring event was loads of fun. Hop over to the Calico Gals website if you need a copy of the news or just want an update on the classes and calendar. Here’s something that just missed publication:
Chunky Elizabeth by Joan Ford
Wow – this is a pretty quilt! It works up fast with big, beautiful pieces and the binding is big and chunky, too. The fabric is from Alex Anderson’s newest line: Elizabeth Anne. This feminine quilt would make a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or someone special. The kit includes the pattern and all fabric for the top and binding.
The picture in the newsletter of Wenda’s Bugle Boy quilt did not do it justice, so I have included a bit of the piecing here. The stars turn out perfectly when using the new Square in a Square 4-Patch ruler. Learn to make the stars and the 4-patch blocks in the class on May 19th. Wenda chose fabric from the Remember Abe fabric line to give her quilt a feel of the 1800′s.
Bugle Boy in blue.
Wenda does beautiful quilting, but she also enjoys fun crafty projects. She is always bringing in new bags, pincushions, jewelry and other little darlings to show us. This time, we all went crazy (dancing again) for the Little Charmers baby blanket and matching block toy. She used the super-soft Minkee fabric, flannel and Texture Magic to create the cuddliest projects for big and little babies. Sign up for the class on May 3rd and learn to “magically texturize” fabric. We are pre-cutting squares of Minkee to make it easy.
Just add baby for instant cuddles.
If all of that doesn’t get you thinking of spring – then the Itty Bitty Blooms quilt will cure any winter blues. This table-topper starts with a charm pack or pick up the complete kit with everything for the project. Sign up for Kathy’s class on June 8th and you’ll save 15% on the supplies and learn some great tips on piecing triangles and stitching circle appliques on your machine.
Spring? I'm thinking summer!
Just Because…
I was sorting through my pictures today and found a bunch of cool shots of interesting quilts that I have seen at Quilt Market, quilt shows and in the store. Why am I so selfish when I could be sharing these beauties with you? So, here is the first in the new series of photos I call “Just Because.” It was on display at Fall Quilt Market in Houston when I snapped the pic. See you dancing with the gals!
Just Sing... Sing a Song by Tom Russell from Katy, Texas
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Posted on Saturday, February 6th, 2010, by Janet - Calico Gals store owner, gabby gal, newsletter editor, occasional piecer
Grand Prize
Through the generosity of Baby Lock, Calico Gals was able to host the Great Sewing Machine Give-Away during the month of January. 817 people stopped by to enter the drawing, but there is only one winner and she is Kathy Gresham! Kathy came by the very day she got the call to have a “Sew-and-Go” lesson with Nina and pick up her new Audrey sewing machine. Kathy was a winner because Audrey is the perfect machine to take anywhere. Check out the details on the Baby Lock site.
Sew-and-Go with Nina. Thanks, Baby Lock! Congratulations, Kathy!
February is a winning month, too. Any day in February when you spend at least $25at Calico Gals, you can take a free spool of YLI Soft Touch thread home. You choose the color. Just go and sew!
Calico Gals is pleased to announce the addition of our very first Calico Guy. Bruce Barden (that’s right – Pastor Bruce – Kathy B’s husband) has joined the team as our on-site sewing machine technician. Last summer we sent Bruce to St. Louis for Baby Lock training and in January he took off to New Jersey for intense Elna training. He learned to take our machines apart and put them back together – an important detail. Elna published a report and guess who had a photo in it!
Calico Guy, Bruce, learning the ropes and threads.
Fabric Quiz
In days past, if you wanted a licensed print, you had to settle for chain store fabrics. Not any more! Quilting Treasures – the folks who brought us the Wizard of Oz collections – has secured the licenses to many well-known designs. Do you recognize any of these?
That's right, Jim Shore! His quilty animals look great on cotton.
OK – how about this one?
Did you guess Warren Kimble? Americana, of course.
One more – this is an easy one. Here’s a hint: QT has the license from Hasbro. Wouldn’t this fabric make great boxer shorts?
Don't spend it all in one place!
To see more of these fun fabrics, you have two options: Calico Gals new store or the Quilting Treasures website. Hey – why not both?
Go and sew
The best thing to do in the winter is hibernate with your needle and thread. No argument there. But occasionally we get the chance to take off and go somewhere else to enjoy our stitching. In January, Joan and I drove way up north into the mountains for a quilting retreat with some good friends at Minnowbrook Conference Center. I admit to being easily distracted, but the scenery is so beautiful! What do you think?
Blue Mountain Lake
Yes – there was a good amount of sewing and laughing, too. Just getting us ready for our next retreat at Christ the King Retreat House. The Farm Gals Quilt Camp will be held February 20-22. There are still a few openings. Take a look at the class photos on Facebook and then give us a call. We’ll get you in!
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