A fun Halloween quilt

We don't know about you but we have to stop and scratch our head and wonder how did the Memorial Day holiday creep up so quickly.  It seems like just a few weeks ago we were celebrating Thanksgiving.  We know many of you are busy preparing for the long weekend so we will keep it short this week. As many of you know, we aren't big fans of Halloween.  It's not that we don't pass out candy to the few trick or treaters who happen to stop by our house......it's the creepy scary ghoulish Halloween that we don't care for.  There's absolutely no way under the sun the Halloween project we recently finished could be called creepy. We think our version of "Halloween" turned out just darling.  The center is a preprinted panel.  It's one of the highest quality printings we've ever seen; one has to look closely to see it's preprinted applique.  Your $46.95 kit includes the pattern, applique panel, borders, binding, and backing.  It finishes 37" x 48".  The fabrics are all very high quality flannel so it's super snuggly.  Let us know if we can reserve a kit for you.

We are so excited for Lydia Nelson of Dreamy Quilts.  She debuted her first line with Moda "Darling Little Dickens" at quilt market in Salt Lake City.  Her mother, Loralee, owns Mockingbird Moon yarn in downtown Rogers. Lydia's fabric is so darn cute.....but we have a more primitive look......so we were super excited that Loralee will be carrying the fabric.  It'll be great for not only quilts but children's clothing (even grown up people clothing would be cute using it) and home dec projects.

One other thing we absolutely must share with you.....as many of you know we have been fans of Jo Morton for many years.  Her first line with Moda fabric, Gratitude, was shown at quilt market.  We loved it on paper but when we saw it in person we were head over heals in love with it......so much in love that we bought the entire line.  We can count the entire lines of fabric we've bought on one hand and have fingers left over so you know we must really, really love it. It ships in August and we're already plotting....errr....planning what we will do with it.

We are almost finished cutting kits in preparation for a couple of quilt shows in June.  The Green Country Quilters Guild show will be held in Tulsa OK June 3-4 (10:00-5:00 both days).  The show is in the Central Park Hall at Expo Square, 4145 E 21st St.  Visit http://www.greencountryquiltersguild.com/ for more info and a coupon for $1 off admission. The Common Threads Regional Quilt Show will be held in Wichita KS June 16-18 (10:00-5:00 all 3 days).  The show is in the Century II Expo Hall, 225 W Douglas.  Visit http://wichitaquiltshow.com/ for more info.

We hope your enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.  We'll be back next week with more to inspire you.  See you soon. Darlene and Debby

Great travel projects

Spring quilt market begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday in Salt Lake City.  Tonight is Sample Spree which is insanely crazy.....imagine hundreds of people scurrying to grab up fabric and patterns.....all trying to be the first to have a fabric or pattern.  Maybe we're getting old but we are content to skip that craziness for a while -- our idea of fun is stitching.

Since many of you are looking toward summer and traveling we thought we'd share some great travel projects.  These all include prestamped fabric, floss, and a needle -- all you need to add is a pair of scissors for snipping threads.  We'd recommend the small travel scissors for $2.75.  At that price, you can stick a pair in each project and not have to fret if a pair drops between the car seat into the area where it's impossible to retrieve them.....you know "that" area (insert smile here).

We stitched "A House Unkept".  The background fabric is quilted and is the same fabric included in each kit we'll be sharing.  8" x 10" - $14

We know many of you with pets can relate to the next two kits.  "Cat Hair" finishes 6 1/2" x 10" for $14.......

.....and "Doggie Feet" which finishes 5 1/2" x 10" and costs $14.

"Let us be Silent" finishes 8" x 10" for $16.

"Friendship" finishes 5" x 7" for $11.  What a wonderful gift for a special someone!

"Christmas Tree" finishes 19" x 21".  The button is included.  Kit is $18

Darlene stitched and finished "Out of the Scraps" into a very nice wall hanging or table mat.  Your $29.95 kit includes the pre-stamped background fabric, thread, needle, fabric to make the top and binding.

Any of the stitched pieces could easily be finished as a small quilt.  We'll be happy to help you put something together. Before we close we have to share a couple books available for pre-order.  Kathy Schmitz' new book "Stitches from the Garden" looks like a winner.  It's due out mid-June and we'll be happy to reserve a copy for you.  $24.99

Bonnie Sullivan's book "A Change of Seasons" is due out mid-September.  We've never been disappointed with one of her books and expect this one will also be wonderful.  $27.99

This turned out longer than we expected but we had a lot we wanted to share.  We'll be back next Thursday with a really darling Halloween quilt.  See you soon. Darlene and Debby

We're so excited to be featured in Simply Vintage!

If you follow us on Facebook you probably have figured out we are lacking when it comes to the whole Facebook thing.  We can't seem to remember to pop over and update our page but we are really, really going to try to keep it updated at least once a week.  You're probably wondering why we're opening with this discussion of FB........we follow Quiltmania and were blown away when we saw this photo come up on our feed (photo courtesy of Quiltmania).

That's the quilt we designed which will be featured in the Summer issue of Simply Vintage!  Needless to say, we are super excited to share this news with you.  We are taking pre-orders for "Pinwheels and Posies" kits.  $76.95  Let us know if you'd like to reserve a kit. One of our favorite designers of Christmas themed stitchery is Gail Pan.  Her newest book, Christmas Patchwork Loves Embroidery, is filled with all sorts of cute holiday stitching.  The book is in stock and ready for shipment or to be placed in your folder.  $24.95

While we're on the subject of books, we are taking pre-orders for Kim Diehl's new book "Simple Christmas Tidings".  It's her first Christmas book and looks like a great one.  Below is the book cover followed by photos of some of the projects contained in the book.  The release date is late May; cost is $28.98.  Let us know if we can reserve a copy for you.

Our featured project this week is from Threads that Bind.  We framed ours but it's also very cute when framed.  Your $32.95 kit for "A Gentle Life" includes the pattern, background fabric which we have washed and distressed for you, wool for applique, and binding.  Finishes 7" x 31"

Last but not least -- The Salem Witches #3 block arrived.  Like the other two panels, it is absolutely adorable.  Meg does a wonderful job with explaining what colors of crayon to use to color your piece.  If you're on automatic to receive this pattern set Debby has pulled yours.  If you're not and would like a pattern (or #1 and #2), please let us know.  Pattern is $10

We're working on several new projects and can't wait to share them with you.  Spring quilt market is next week and we are relying on Kay to bring back lots of new goodies.   Shortly after market is the Tulsa quilt show followed by the Wichita show.  We are busily (is that a word?!) preparing lots of kits to pack for both shows......as well as several new projects we will debut at the shows. Hope you get some time to sit back and enjoy this beautiful spring weather.  See you soon. Darlene and Debby

Lots of new things

What an unseasonably cool start to the week.....made us glad we still had the winter quilts on the bed.  It was also good staying at home and stitching weather.  Since Mother's Day is just around the corner (like Sunday, May 8), we were reminded to share a fun piece that is all about family. "Precious Threads" combines our love of family and needlework into one piece.  The stitched wording "Family Ties are Precious Threads" says it all.  The applique is wool but we would be happy to swap out cotton if you'd prefer cotton.  Your $36.95 kit includes the pattern, fabrics for the top, wool for applique, and binding.  It finishes 33" x 33".

If you stitch quickly, you'll have this finished in time for Mother's Day this year.  Your $12.95 kit includes the pattern and fabrics for the top.  Of course, we think this would also be equally sweet with another relative stitched in place of mother:  An aunt's heart is a patchwork of love; A grandma's heart; A niece's heart; A friend's heart......you get the idea.

We are very excited Quiltmania has decided to publish another book by Yoko Saito.  If the cover quilt is any indication of what's inside, we are in for a treat.  "Scrap Valley" is on the way to us and should arrive mid-week next week. If you'd like us to reserve a copy for you, let us know.

We are also taking pre-orders on Quiltmania #113.  It also should arrive mid-week next week.  If you're on automatic to receive the magazine, Debby will process your order.  If not, let us know if we can reserve a copy for you.  As always, the magazine is only $13.99.

If you're familiar with Lynette Anderson you know she often carries her stitching supplies in cute totes.  We were able to get some of the totes she uses and are offering them for $26.95.  The outer cover is red or blue......

.....once the case is covered, the red (or blue) portion is no longer visible.  We have Winter Moon and The Sewing Case patterns both available.  Each pattern is $16.

Kay has created a wool covering.  Pattern for "My Stitching Tote" is $9.  We will be happy to put together a wool kit for you. Let us know what we can reserve for you.  Please note the totes are out of production so it is doubtful we will be able to reorder them.

Don't forget about the Eureka Quilters Guild show May 6 & 7 at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center in Eureka Springs (hours 9-4).  Also, the Airing of the Quilts May 6 & 7 at Bell Park, 1050 Bell Park Road in Greenwood (hours 9-5).  The weather looks lovely for both events.

This turned out to be longer than we anticipated but we had a lot to share.  Spring quilt market is just around the corner.  Kay will be heading to Salt Lake City and will be happy to keep an eye out for any special request you might have.   See you soon. Darlene and Debby