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.

The Beatles (Yea!) and Dave Morey's retirement

Oh Dave, say it ain't so! Just around the time we received the Beatles fabric we found out that Dave Morey is leaving KFOG. Oh no! But how can we be so selfish? Easy! Dave is always there in the morning to ease us into the day, often with Beatles music, and with the wonderful camaraderie he shares with Rene, Irish Greg, and Peter. When I (Cyndy) first moved to the East Bay from Massachusetts in 1997, I was grateful to find a radio station that played the music I love, including the Beatles. The first dance with my honey of 37 years, John, was to In My Life by the Beatles.
For those of you who may not be familiar with Dave, he has an incredibly deep, smooth voice that is so comforting. He's also known for his wonderful way of saying Yea, as if in parentheses, every time he mentions the Beatles.
So we had to make a quilt for Dave with the Beatles fabric. In three days the quilt was made, quilted with a huge variety of lyrics from Beatles songs. The last stitch was added to the quilt five seconds before we got out of the car to present the quilt to Dave.
Dave Morey and his friends from KFOG were in Walnut Creek a couple of weekends ago at Peets Coffee. Kim Fettig, John, and I got there at 9, and Dave started signing copies of Live from the Archives, Vol. 15, at 10. We were so glad we go there early--the line was almost out the door when we got there.
We had a great time talking to fellow Fogheads while we waited for Dave. Of course they are all upset, as are we, that Dave is leaving San Francisco and heading back to his native Michigan. But Dave, enjoy every second! As Bonnie Raitt says, "Life gets mighty precious when there's less of it to waste." We will miss you, and hope the quilt keeps you warm while you sit in front of the fire watching old movies. Consider it thousands of hugs.

Halloween Treats

Don't you just love Halloween? We do, especially when our customers come in their adorable children. Shown here are Taryn and Emma Bryant, who stopped in with mom for a visit today. We loved Emma's costume, and Taryn is already a fashionista with her fabulous shoes, gloves, and matching purse. Thanks for coming in, ladies! You brightened up our day.

HALLOWEEN FABRICS ON SALE
Come on in and enjoy 25% off of all Halloween fabrics. Stock up for next year, or make Halloween placemats using the placemat pattern from Artichoke Collection. Fun and easy!

And Mark Lipinski, thanks for the call. We would love to see you, but MUCH sooner than 2010!

Have a bootiful Halloween!

The Monday Drop In Crew Admires Myrtle's Quilt

Kathy and Jane with Northcott's Vic Dadika, and Marilyn Drew

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

One is silver, and the other is gold. I can't tell you how many times my mom sang that to me while I was growing up. It's turned out to be great advice.

Here at The Quilter's Inn we meet so many new people (and please forgive us if we don't always remember your names--we're all "of that age"). It's what makes working at the store such a pleasure. (OK, being surrounded by bolts of beautiful fabrics helps, too.)

There are a couple of groups who meet on a regular basis at The Quilter's Inn, including the Monday Drop In with the most wonderful teaching duo: Margaret Linderman and Janis Stob. A long-time student, Myrtle, is standing next to the quilt she just finished for one of her grandddaughters. Great job, Myrtle!

In the past couple of weeks we've made some new friends, including June Bugbee, owner of Sew Many Treasures in Williston, VT. June's son lives in the area, and he and his wife were expecting to deliver at any second, so June was just a little excited. (June, you have to let us know if it was a boy or a girl.) We loved the time spent with June, who helped Cyndy finish designing a quilt she was a bit stuck on. A lot of "quilt design by committee" takes place here, and we love it. We decided it would be a good idea to adopt each other as sister stores. Sew Many Treasures new website is under construction, so keep an eye out for it. Welcome to the family, June, and a huge Hi to her fabulous colleagues: Sharon, Angelica, Nancy, Kieth, Donna, Pricilla, and Mary Jane.

Just a day or two later we enjoyed a visit from Vic Dadika, US sales manager for Northcott/Monarch fabrics based in Cyndy's home state of New Jersey. We really enjoyed the time spent looking at fabric samples with Vic and fellow sales rep Marilyn Drew. Turns out Northcott is the manufacturer of Mark Lipinski's fabrics, and we're big fans of Mark's. So, how do we get Mark to come visit us? Vic gave us a small clue. HELLO MARK, THERE ARE LIKE 90 FINE RESTAURANTS IN OUR IMMEDIATE AREA. Maybe that will get his attention. AND, we'll also give you some homemade jam. How does Grapefruit Marmalade sound? Plum?

Hey you Baby Boomer Rockers! Come and get it before it's gone! It's the Beatles (Yea!) fabric collection that includes a panel with different scenes from The Yellow Submarines. Too mcuh fun. We're imagining purses, collages, PJ bottoms, boxer shorts, and, of course, quilts. Hurry before it's gone.

Thanks to all our friends, old and new. Enjoy this gorgeous season!

Jennifer's Urn of Roses

Kathy August's First Grade Caterpillar Quilt

Marby and Casey's Fans quilt

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things

Oh the creativity of quilters! One great thing about working at the Quilter's Inn is seeing an incredible variety of quilts, and quilters. We love when our customers bring in the projects made from the fabrics we sell them. Spontaneous show and tell makes our day, so please come in as soon as you finish something.

Everyone who works here is a quilters, and we recently had a chance to share some of our own projects. Many of you know and love Marby Bennett, who teaches many of our classes, including the raucous, wonderful crowd at her Tuesday night drop-in, as well as her Thursday Beginner's group. Marby showed us a beautiful quilt that was the first she and her daughter Casey made together. Casey is now one of the most prolific quilters we have the pleasure to know.

And none of us can figure out how the heck the amazing Kathy August, Jane's right-hand woman, accomplishes all that she does. Kathy is shown here displaying a First Grade quilt based on Eric Carle's The Hungry Caterpillar.

Alethea Ballard, teacher by day and wild quilter the rest of the time, decided to make her own rendition of the French Roses quilt by Heather French. Love the way she used the different sized roses to surround the Lady.

Many of you may own Jennifer Rounds' pattern Rose Wreath, and may even have taken a class with her. Jennifer's newest quilt is a stunning abundance of dimensional roses in a beautiful blue and white urn. The quilt will be on display at the Pacific International Quilt Festival, which takes place in Santa Clara next week. Check out www.quiltfest.com.

Aprons are hot right now, and Beth Klingle at the is having a blast making them for adults and kids. Here she is modeling one of our favorites. Check her website at www.fromgrammmywithlove.com.

NEW FABRIC FLASH: We received a beautiful new line called Gipsy Glitter from Art Gallery Fabrics, a manufacturer of some truly unique designs. Come see them, and pick up a free pattern while they last.

Tablecloths, tea towels, and layer cakes from Moda, oh my! Come and get em while they last.

One of the area's most beloved teachers/authors/quilters, Diana McClun, and her partner Laura Nownes are featured in the latest issue of Mark Lipinski's Quilter's Home. Love the sewing structure, Diana, and the fact that you included a kitchen so Laura can back cookies for your students!

Celebrities in the News

It was great visiting with local author and quilter Terri Thayer and her friends Ruth Carter and Maureen Lardie. Look for her quilt mysteries, Wild Goose Chase and Old Maid's Puzzle.

We've Got a Winner!

We wonder how many people were surprised by the weight of the ball, which was about 3.75 lbs. Shocked us when we put it on the scale at Lunardi's--thought it would come in much higher. Congratulations to Tina Kauffman of Alamo for her winning guesstimate! Here sister, Karen, wasn't as lucky, but we won't mention that at all.

To everyone who came in and dropped a guess in the box, had a piece of cake, and shopped during our 4th Anniversary event, a huge thank you! Hope you had as much fun as we did.

If you didn't make it in, there is still plenty of half-price bolts on hand. Think of all the backings you could stock up on!

Four Years Already!

First of all, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ALL OF US!

To all of our fabulous customers who have walked through the the doors of The Quilter's Inn in the past four years, a HUGE thank you! We couldn't have done it without you. Plus how much fun would it be if we were just hoarding all of this fabric, and you didn't come see us? We have the very best customers. Neenar.

And so we say, Let them eat cake! Starting tomorrow morning, please stop by and enjoy a piece of cake and a chat. AND a discount on your entire purchase. Our in-house guru, the wonderful Margaret Linderman (or Linderperson for a more neutral last name), came up with the idea of saving all our bolt end strips and rolling them into a ball. Well, the idea snowballed (pardon us, we just can't help ourselves), and we have a rather large Bolt-End Ball.

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? If you have been in lately and guessed The Ball's weight, good luck. We will be picking a winner and the prize is a $100 gift certificate. Woo hoo! So stay tuned for a photo of the final weigh-in (remember those technical difficulties we mentioned?). We think you'll be surprised. Kind of like, what's lighter than a watermelon but heavier than a hummingbird? Huh? The BIG BOLT-END BALL!

AND it gets better. You're all invited to join the Stripper Club. Everyone who walks in will be handed a strip from the ball with a percentage marked on it. That will be the discount for your entire purchase, and it will be more than the regular guild discount. :) So come on in and get happy. What makes you happier than fabric? OK, so after your cake you can go get ice cream to make it a perfect day.

Either before or after your stop here, make sure you take a drive down to Alden Lane Nursery for Quilting in the Garden. If you've never been, it is a great two-day event organized by the always wonderful Alex Anderson, whose special guests this year include Joen Wolfrom and Melinda Bula, and fellow teracher Cindy Needham. Check it out at www.aldenlane.com/stitch.html.

NEW FABRIC FLASH: Beautiful new collection from Westminster called Daisy Chain from Amy Butler; Moda Collection for a Cause by Howard Marcus, and Charisma Layer Cakes and Jelly Rolls that are just all gorgeous.

So y'all stop by to see us, hear? And by the way, welcome back to our blog. We apologize for the huge gap in time.