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.