The Dog Days of Spring

Ok, I know the saying is actually "The Dog Days of Summer"....but I couldn't wait to post this picture of one of my favorite canine quilters....please allow me to introduce "Lucy". She's a 2 year old Tibetan Terrier and she frequently visits the shop with her "mom" Cynthia. Lucy even has her own quilt which apparently she's permanently borrowed from Cynthia's daughter.

Way to go Lucy!!

Speaking of Spring....where is it?? The weather forecast show's more rain is on the way so I've decided that the only way to deal with these soggy days is to stay inside and sew. The shop is receiving new fabric every day and one of my favorite new lines is Bohemian Elegance by In The Beginning. These lovely fabrics are inspired by antique french textiles and the muted and warm colors remind me of Spring....whenever that may be.

Ongoing Class Updates!!

If you want to get some serious sewing done consider attending one of the many drop in classes we offer at the shop!! Here's a rundown of the schedule:

Mondays 10am-2pm Creative Threads with Margaret and Janis

Mondays 6pm-9pm Open Studio with Laura Nownes

Tuesdays 10am-2pm By Appointment with Janis

Tuesdays 6pm-9pm Open Sewing with Marby

Thursdays 10am-2pm Finish It with Margaret

3rd Sunday of the Month 11am-4pm Sewing with Margaret

Call the shop for more information on how to sign up and prices. There's no better way to spend a morning, afternoon or evening than sewing with one of these wonderful teachers!

UPCOMING CLASS UPDATE!!

In last week's newsletter I told you about a new class starting in May that will be taught by Laura Nownes and Terri Piper called "A Graceful Baltimore." As of today the class is already over 1/2 full so if you want to make sure you get a spot call the shop ASAP.

The class will meet one Friday a month for 6 months (5/14, 6/11, 7/9, 8/13, 9/10, and 10/8) from 10am to 2 pm. The cost is only $60 for the entire series! This class is a combination of hand applique and piecing and you can purchase a kit in either Verna Mosquera's Heavenly Peace fabric or Civil War Prints. Take a look at this picture of the sample block, or better yet come on in and get a close up view. You'll be amazed at how the flowers are done!

Have a great week and keep a look out for some sunshine!!

Great Balls of Fabric!!!

Do you have a hard time throwing scraps away?? When you look at left over pieces of fabric do you think "I can't get rid of these....what if I need them someday?" Or do you tell yourself, "I love this fabric so much, I'm sure I can find a use for it somewhere." Fast forward a few months/years/decades later and I bet you're like me, still clinging to those precious pieces! It's not a bad thing to hoard the scraps...in fact, it could be a whole new way to get creative....

Obviously no good scraps go to waste here in the shop and we have saved so many that we've turned them into "Great Balls of Fabric!!" I bet you're wondering what I've got planned for all these balls of fun.....I'm gonna tell you.....just not yet! Stay tuned.

Keeping it all in the family....this week we had 4 (FOUR) generations of quilters from one family come into the shop and each of them is working on their own individual quilt!! These amazing women, Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Mother and Daughter have obviously adopted the motto "the family that quilts together stays together." How wonderful that their love of quilting is "binding" them together. Don't you just love stories like this??

NEWSFLASH

Verna Mosquera's new fabric line "Heavenly Peace" is on our shelves!!

We have the complete line of her latest holiday inspired fabric along with Fat Quarter Bundles in these beautiful prints, plaids, florals and stripes that will make it easy for you to get inspired. It's never too early to start thinking about the...(gulp) holidays, right??? We've planned some really fun and exciting projects using Verna's new fabric line...I'll share more about that with you next time. If you want a sneak peek stop in the shop for a preview!

Sometimes you just need a little help from your friends

We all have them, that group of friends you can always count on to help just when you need it most. You know, those special friends who are right there through thick and thin, lending their support to help the cause. I personally have two great examples of friends helping friends that I wanted to share with you.

Most of you have heard of the "1 Million Pillowcase Challenge" that is being sponsored by American Patchwork and Quilting. They have challenged quilters all over the country to make a difference in the lives of people in need who would greatly appreciate the gift of a beautiful new pillowcase. The Quilters Inn has wonderful "friends" who are rising to this challenge and have, to date, contributed over 243 pillowcases for this wonderful cause! Take a look at two very special TQI friends who have just between the two of them made 46 pillowcases!! This is what I call meeting the challenge in a big way. Thank you friends!!

Ok, I have another story about friends to share with you. These friends are the fuzzy and furry kind and they just happen to live in my house. They are my 4 legged friends and the kind of "help" they give me shouldn't go unrecognized......

Believe it or not that jumble of feet and tails and fuzz and fur would be my 2 dogs Dash and Elliot and Squirrel the cat. My sewing table has quite the sunny window spot and all three have found this to be the best place to take their morning nap. I didn't have the heart to wake the up, they looked so cozy and cute together....needless to say, not much sewing happened this day.

Springtime at The Quilters Inn!

Spring is right around the corner and everyone seems more than ready for some nice weather and sunshine. It's great to see everyone out and about and speaking of out and about......

Thank you to all the Shop Hoppers who made their way to The Quilters Inn over the last two weekends. It was great seeing everyone and make sure to check our website on Wednesday, March 16 when we announce the winners of the drawings.

Everyone at The Quilters Inn is really excited about the coming week when Verna Mosquera's latest fabric line hits our shelves. This is a holiday line called "Heavenly Peace" and it's absolutely gorgeous! We will have the entire line so make sure to stop in and get your fair share!!

We also have other new fabrics in the shop that include:

Rainy Days and Mondays by Riley Blake (we also have an adorable kit available using this fabric)

Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey

Love by Amy Butler

Check out this quilt..........

One of the great things about owning a quilt store is getting to see all the amazing projects customers are working on. We love "show and tell" and that definitely was the case this week when Vilma brought in her Little Brown Birds quilt that she started working on back in 2004. Vilma came in to choose her back fabric and quite a crowd gathered around to see this beautiful quilt with all of Vilma's gorgeous hand applique and needlework.

Coming next time.....new patterns from Bari J, news about updates to our on-line store and more pictures of wonderful customers and their quilts!!

Starting Over with PamKittyMorning's help

Pam came over to help the computer challenged and see what we did.

Check out our two new Lincoln Museum Quilt kit done in Kaffe Fassett and Civil War Fabrics. Look how different our Civil War version is with mitered borders.

Our version of Crabapple Hill's Over the River is done with Holiday Fabric. And a lot less embroidery. This too will be on our new Shopping Cart.

Keep your eye on our blog as we will be doing this on a more timely basis.

It's Quilt Show Season!

In the next few months it's easy to satisfy all your quilt cravings. Now through September 27 there is a quilt show, Quilts: Traditions with a Twist, at 205 Railroad Ave, sponsored by Chevron and The Quilter's Inn. Their summer hours (through Labor Day) are Tuesday through Saturday, 10-1, then Tuesday through Friday 1-4. Diablo Valley Quilters will be there doing demonstrations on August 15, September 5, and September 19. www.museumsrv.org

And mark your calendars for Diablo Valley Quilters Quilt Show September 26 and 27, 10-5 Saturday and 10-4 Sunday, Charlotte Wood Middle School, 600 El Capitan, Danville. Sandy Klop is the featured quilt artist. It's always a show full of fabulous quilts made by local quiltmakers.

And save time forthe beautiful annual event Quilting in the Garden at Alden Lane Nursery, 681 Alden Lane, Livermore. Laura Wasilowski, Joanna Figueroa, The Pixeladies, Alex Anderson, and Jeff Krause, will be featured.If you haven't been there before you owe yourself a trip. Flowers, and trees, and quilts, and sweet treats, OH MY!

We'll be here Saturday and Sunday, so please stop in to see us.

Start saving now for the Jingle Bell Hop, a Quilters' Shop Hop, that will feature 14 great quilt shops from Brentwood to Tracy and in between. Dates are November 19-21, 9-6, and Sunday from 10-4. GRand Prize is a $1400 Holiday Shopping Spree--a $100 gift certificate from each of the 14 participating stores.

It's About Time

Hey all,
Hope you haven't fallen out of your seat in amazement that we are actually blogging again. So sorry that it's been such a long, long time.
Yea, it's finally summer. Well, sort of. Breezy, but not too hot. Much better than what is happening on the East coast, where it has been raining forever. Hope you're having a good one so far.
We have a new teacher who you have to meet! Alethea Ballard is outrageously creative, and came up with the design for this quilt.

Isn't it fantastic! Even better up close and personal. She's teaching a class on July 26th. And even better, she's doing a Drop In Art Class every Friday from 9:30 til 12:30 for $15 a class. Come play with her; you'll have a great time.

Here's another version of the same quilt:


Cool, isn't it?

We also have some new batiks in beautiful gradations of yellows, greens, purples, and pinks.

New Releases! Wildwood is a new fabric line from Free Spirit by Erin McMorris. Very fun and contemporary. Come and get it while it's still here.

If you came in today, you'd find Chocolate Chip cookies up by the register thanks to the fabulous Kathy August.

Stop by soon! And next time we won't let so much time go by between postings.