Sew Scary........

If you’re like me you’re probably seeing the days, weeks and months just fly by. Seems like we were just celebrating Christmas and making plans for the New Year and now Memorial Day is already behind us and June is on the horizon.

Because time moves so quickly, now is the time to start thinking about those upcoming holidays – specifically Halloween! Yes, it is still a season away, but some of us are already starting to think about falling leaves, pumpkins and black cats. Have you seen the new line in the shop with a special project you’ll want to hang on your wall the whole month of October?

It’s called Sew Scary  http://www.quiltingtreasures.com/shop/category/all-fabrics/janet-wecker-frisch-sew-scary/ from Quilting Treasures and the line features a cute panel you have got to see to believe.  The wall hanging below was made from the FREE pattern that comes with the kit purchase.

We have everything you need to make your own Sew Scary wall hanging. It is a quick sew by adding borders to the center panel and the extra work comes in the details: the bunting sewn to the bottom of the wall hanging and the letters spelling Halloween that go across the center of the project. These are all fussy cut, individually sewn with a backing fabric and tacked together with black pearl cotton. See the images below for details on how to sew the letters together without seeing the thread.

Just sew through the backing fabric corner of the first letter and in to the corner of the second letter and back and forth a few times and then tie the ends of the thread together securely. If you’re worried about the knot fraying, just put a drop of Fray Check on the threads.

The bunting and “Halloween” embellishments are added to the quilt after it is quilted and bound. The bunting is five individual pieces hand stitched to the back of the binding. Don’t worry – this goes quickly!

The word Halloween is also hand stitched to the binding on each side of the quilt. We used black thread and sweet little black bows to cover any stitching, as per the directions.

There is a second panel available in this line so the possibilities are endless. Why note create something you’ll want to pull out and decorate with each fall?

Now that we’ve got you in the Halloween mood it is time to mark your calendar for our second annual Halloween sew-in overnight-er at the shop! If you were here for it last year you know we had a lot of fun sewing the night and morning away. We all went home tired but happy! There will be great snacks, fun games and best of all – sewing with friends. The fun starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 30, and won’t stop until 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 31. More details will be available this summer and reservations are required.

Now, back to current events! Please remember to pick up your May Block of the Month kits and keep going on this project. The May colors are pinks!

I'm working on the next newsletter and class list, some of the classes this summer will be:

• Quilting 101
• T-Shirt Quilt
• Perfect Harmony Quilt
• Freemotion Quilting
• Lockerhooking
• Verstile Wave Purse
• Cathedral Windows
• Big Stitch Quilting
• English Paper Piecing-the new way

If you like wool applique you’re going to love what we’ve got planned for the fall! Stay tuned to the blog for more details as we reveal details about the new "Stitching Society".

This month my family and I accomplished something I've been dreaming about for a long time. In case you missed it, Main Street Quilt Company was selected as one of the top 10 shops in the nation and featured in the Spring/Summer issue of Quilt Sampler.

In case you really did miss it, go here to learn more!

After several months of clandestine planning, elevated stress levels, flat-out panic and finally eager anticipation, the moment is finally here. The magazine is out and the response has been overwhelming. Thank you again to everyone for your support and good wishes!

After realizing a big dream like this, the next question that comes up is: so, what’s next? Well, more of the same!  We can’t rest now. Quilters know there is always a UFO to work on, another gift to be made (maybe a 10-minute table runner?), more fabric to go gaga over and another quilt to start. It is never-ending with us as there is always something to do.  But for now, let’s celebrate! This weekend is our big Open House to celebrate the magazine and our 7^th Anniversary. Make plans now to stop by and pick up your copy of Quilt Sampler, and if you want, I’ll even sign it for you!

We’ll be open Friday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and again on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and have refreshments, door prizes, oh, and 20 percent off store-wide! We hope to see you at the shop this weekend.

The quilt I designed for the magazine, “In Perfect Harmony,” has one more important stop before it comes back to me (more on that below), but the smaller version of the quilt remains at the shop so you can see for yourself the amazing colors and fabrics. I used fabrics from my favorite designer Kim Diehl’s Heritage Hollow and Butter Churn Basics lines.

We have kits available for the queen-size version and the smaller wall hanging. When you purchase the kit you’ll receive all the same fabrics I used to make your own In Perfect Harmony quilt.

If you want to read more about the quilt, Joy Voltenburg, a quilter from Sullivan, Illinois, wrote about quilting In Perfect Harmony on her blog here. Many of our customers have used Joy for their quilting with much success and I can honestly say I owe her big time. She dropped everything to help me finish this top secret project on deadline.

After all this celebrating in Shelbyville, I’ll be heading off to Quilt Market in Minneapolis. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this trip. To begin with, Market is amazing on its own - seeing (and touching) all the new lines, notions, quilts and patterns and speaking to manufacturers and designers, oh my! On top of that there is a reception and formal introduction of the Top 10 shop owners.  This is where I will finally meet up with In Perfect Harmony again as the quilt will be hanging at market!

It is going to be hard to top the first months of 2015 as I have accomplished several goals but I know we can do it. I promise to come back from Market with even more great patterns, fabrics and ideas. Like I said earlier, it never ends. There will always be more fabric, more quilts, more patterns, more notions, more ideas… and I can’t wait to share them with you on this blog.

Reminders:

Don’t forget to pick up your Modern Building Blocks packet when you come in. This month our color is: Pink

Why not meet your friends for a night of sewing at the shop. UFO Sewing Evening is on the third Monday of the month. This month it is Monday, May 18, beginning at 5 p.m. If you haven’t joined us for this evening you must start now. Just bring your machine (or handwork if you prefer) and your unfinished projects for an entertaining evening of stitching and chatter. The fee is $5 and a light dinner is provided! Be sure to pre-register by calling us at 774-3484.

Two BOM classes meet on Saturday, May 23, with Kate: Green Tea and Sweet Beans from 9-noon and  Bluebird Sampler from 1 to 3 p.m.

We are hitting the road...

Three days until our big bus trip.  I am so excited to see all the quilts on display.  It is always such an inspirational day.  I come home motivated to get going on my own masterpiece.  There are several local quilters with quilts in the show this year-Congratulations to Joy and Thelma!  Can't wait to see them in person.

We have lots of new fabric in.  The Seasonal Gatherings line arrived last week.  Sarah is going to be using this one in a BOM to start in the fall.  It will feature piecing as well as some applique and embroidery.

We also just got in Lily Ashbury's newest line, Trade Winds.  It is bright and ready for summer, very exotic prints.

Ellie and I have also been very busy on our East Central Illinois Shop Hop Quilt.  I think you will all be very pleasantly surprised by this years quilt.  Hopefully we will have the big reveal next week.  All the blocks are done and we are in the final stages of assembly.  It is by far my favorite shop hop quilt to date.  (The shop hop is July 12-14 this year.  Passports are available now.)

Have a great weekend!
Kate

It's been a while...

I always have the best of intentions when I start something like this blog.  I think "I'll be sure to post something new at least every week."  Then life happens and before you know it one, two months have past.

We have stayed very busy.  Between the shop and kids it seems like I don't make it home before 8 most nights.  Sometimes I remember back to the days when my kids were little and I was home for days on end, just wishing for something to do that would take me out of the house.  These days I would be happy to spend a whole week there with nowhere to go and nothing to do.  But then I remember my goal to "be content".  I have really enjoyed watching my daughter play volleyball during some of those late evenings.  It's been fun to see the girls learn to work as a team.  Kelly's skills have really improved this year but unfortunately their season is over after the loss last week. (Congratulations to the 7th grade girls who advanced to the State Game on Tuesday!)  As the weather has improved we now get to move on to track and field.

New things continue to arrive at the shop.  I am happy to announce we will be starting a new Block of the Month class.  It is based on the gorgeous quilt featured on the cover of the last American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine.  We chose fabrics that looked as close to the original as we could and in my opinion our quilt looks even better in person.  This one will last for four months, it will begin in April.  It meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 6-8 p.m.  You can choose to make a quilt just like the one we made or use your own scraps.  Kits for our quilt are limited (at this time 4 remain).

We also have the "Friendship Braid" class coming up this month.  The first class was moved to March 19th so there is still time to sign up.  Perfect for that special Jelly Roll you have been saving!

The Sassy Strips Quilt As You Go runner will be on March 24th from 9 a.m. until finished.  There are also a few spots left in this class.  It is the perfect project for a beginner or if you have strips left over from the Friendship Braid class.

We will be heading to a couple of quilt shows this month.  Springfield has their bi-annual show in March 16th and 17th in the Orr Building on the State Fairgrounds.  We will have a booth there with lots of new goodies.  Later in the month we will be at the annual Decatur Quilt Fest.  This one is held at the Civic Center in downtown Decatur on March 30 & 31.

I'll leave you with a selection of whats new......

Some Rearranging



We have had our hands full lately redecorating our newly acquired space due to our finished class room.....Along with all this new space comes new fabric!

It's Finished.

We finished the new classroom just in time for our Open House last weekend.  The room has already been put to good use with several classes.

During the open house we collected can goods for the local food pantry.  THANK YOU! to everyone who donated.  We collected 149 cans and $62.34!!!

Please note that the shop will be closed November 24-26.  Please enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday with your family.  I plan on eating lots of turkey and pie and getting lots of sewing done over the long weekend.

Not much sewing going on....

Lots and lots of construction though!  Our new classrooms should be up and running by the Holiday open house on November 18 & 19.

Sneak peek...

The classroom will feature two huge design walls, lots of counter height cutting and pressing areas, bright lighting as well as a mini kitchen area.

If your group needs a place to sew the room is available anytime we don't have a class going on.  Just give me a call.

We have gotten lots of new fabric in as well.  The following are a brief snap shot of some.

In the Beginning

Quilter's Home and Make do and Mend

Counting Sheep

Richard Scarry's Busy Town

Wool and Needle Flannels

Wool and Needle Flannels

Towne Square Quilts

Full Circle

Little Gathering by Primitive Gathering

Etchings by Moda

At Home featuring Etchings

Cat Club

Big Bloom

Flora by Moda

Flora by Moda