New Wool Works magazine is here

It probably comes as no surprise to you that we are a small family owned business.  When minor touch up projects need completed, our family pitches in and helps.  For quite some time we've wanted a quilt block on our building.  When Darlene and Kay were at the Kansas City show they spotted the perfect block.  Before it could be hung, Darlene's son and future daughter-in-law painted the front door.....then hung the block.  We love how it turned out.......now that we've got the nice sign it's time to tackle that awning....baby steps.....

Doing most of the mundane every day tasks ourselves means we occasionally make a mistake.  If you purchased an "Ever Thankful" kit please check it and be sure you have 3 cream background fabrics.  If your kit is short, please e-mail info@sewgracefulquilting.com and we'll get fabric right out to you.  Our shipment of the fall issue of Wool Works magazine arrived.  The collage below shows the magazine cover on the left and projects from the magazine on the right.  $9.99 per issue. Please e-mail info@sewgracefulquilting.com and we'll reserve a copy for you.  You may also visit our website http://sewgracefulquilting.com/ and place an on-line order. Debby recently designed a fun table topper.  Your $19.95 "Merrily" kit includes instructions to make the top, fabrics for the top and binding.  This is a quick and easy project.  It would make a nice Christmas gift for the person on your list who has everything. Kay will be soon be packing for the Little Balkans quilt show in Pittsburg KS.  Please let us know by Aug 30 if there's something you would like her to bring.  The show is Sep 1 (9:00-6:00) and Sep 2 (9:00-4:00) at Memorial Auditorium, 503 N Pine, Pittsburg KS.  A quick check of miles shows the distance between Rogers and Pittsburg is 96 miles -- perfect for a day trip with friends. For more info about the show go to http://littlebalkansfestival.com/ As we mentioned at the beginning of this newsletter, we are a small family owned business.  We know many of you are concerned when we are facing life's challenges.  If you have enough challenges in your life and would prefer not to read about ours, we totally understand. We will close and hope you have a good week. For the others......our father, Dallas, has fought Parkinson's Disease for many years.  Recently the disease along with dementia has caused some significant physical and mental issues.  This week we made the very difficult decision to have him moved into a hospice facility.  We are spending as much time as possible with him.  Please keep our family in your thoughts. We'll be back next week with more projects to inspire you.  See you soon. Darlene and Debby

Block of the month openings

Kay had a wonderful time sharing her love of wool applique with the Gone to Pieces quilt guild in Wagoner OK.  Welcome to all the new readers who signed up for the newsletter.  We send a weekly newsletter every Thursday morning, rain or shine. Last week we promised to share a project that may surprise you.  The table runner "Autumn Song" pictured below contains a variety of sweet appliqued motifs......all the things that bring a smile to our face......but wait......are they actually appliqued?

This is actually a very high quality panel which has been quilted to bring the shapes alive.  To save time, we machine quilted ours but this project would be a great place to practice your hand quilting skills.  Rather than do fine quilting, we'd recommend using Valdani perle cotton to give it a primitive look.  The runner finishes 22" x 44". A kit containing the panel, backing fabric and binding is $19.95.  If you'd prefer to choose your own backing and binding, the panel is $7.95. We are down to less than a handful of openings in several blocks of the month so wanted to let you know. "Spooky Hollow" is a 9 month program ($19.95 per month).  The pattern is sold separately for $20.  Backgrounds are all Diamond Textiles fabrics and the applique is wool.  The quilt finishes 46" x 58".  We have 1 spot left. Some wools used in the project are hand dyed and may vary slightly from the photograph. We have 1 spot left in Lynette Anderson's mystery button club, Seaside Town.  Each month for 12 months you'll receive a pattern with hand painted button and fabric to support the pattern.  The quilt is a mystery but Lynette has told us it will measure approximately 34" x 44". Cost is $22.95 per month.  An optional thread kit is available.  We have 3 openings left in "Winter Sampler".  The quilt background fabric is from Moda.  Most applique is cotton; berries and a few miscellaneous pieces are wool.  The quilt finishes 60" x 70" Cost is $24.95 per month - program lasts 12 months.  Cost includes the pattern, background fabric, applique fabric, wool, borders, and binding. We offer an optional thread kit, stabilizer, wool punch and backing fabric.  Since we enjoy visiting quilt shows, we like to share information about upcoming shows.  Kay will be vending at the 30th annual quilt show presented by the Little Balkans Quilt Guild.  The show is Fri, Sep 1, 9:00-6:00 and Sat, Sep 2, 9:00-4:00 at Memorial Auditorium, 503 N Pine, Pittsburg KS.  Admission is $5.  For more info, visit http://littlebalkansfestival.com/events/quilt-show/ The Piecemakers Quilt Guild show is Sat, Sep 2, 9:00-5:00 at the North Fork Baptist Church in Eufala OK.  Admission is $5.  For more info contact Carol (csbuckner@hotmail.com).  See you soon. Darlene and Debby

It's feeling like Fall

What a surprise as our weather went from sweltering hot to balmy temperatures but we are loving the cooler weather.  It reminds us fall is just around the corner.  This week we'd like to share a couple of fall themed projects to help as you transition from summer to fall decorating. If you've been a fan of the primitive look for very long you're probably familiar with Cheri Payne (Quilts by Cheri).  We were saddened to learn of Cheri's cancer diagnosis but happy to report the treatments seem to be working.  Cheri closed her web store several weeks ago but before she closed we bought several of the patterns that have been on our "to do" list for many months. "Ever Thankful" finishes 18" x 19" so is the perfect size for a side table accent or to tuck in a small space in your kitchen, bathroom or bedroom.  Your $29.95 kit includes the pattern, background fabrics, wool for applique, borders, and binding.  Once these are gone, we won't be able to get more.  The pattern is not available separately.

"Happy Jack" is a fun little piece that can be framed, finished as a pillow or as a small wall hanging.  Your $9.95 kit includes the pattern, background cotton and wool for applique.  Please note fabric and wool in the kit is slightly different from the photo below.....but we think you'll be very pleased with our replacement choices.  Darlene and Tami have been busy playing in the wool dye and have dyed up a pretty batch of wool.  We don't have (and don't plan) to have our wool on our website.  It's an almost full time job keeping the website updated with what is on it -- if you are looking for specific wool, please contact us.  We will be happy to be your personal wool shopper and mail it to you. We have a full fall schedule of shows so are in preparation mode for them.  Although it only feels like fall, Kay will be at the Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild in Wagoner OK on Aug 14 where she will be sharing her love of working with wool. We'll be back next week with a new project that we think will surprise you.   See you soon. Darlene and Debby

New $10 block of the month begins Jan 2018

Every year since we opened, we have offered a $10 block of the month.  Our program is quite simple - you receive a pattern and a block every month for 11 months; during the 12th month you get borders and binding to complete your quilt top.  No finishing kit is required. Kay's been working on the sample for our 2018 $10 block of the month, Mary's Farmhouse.  The quilt will finish approximately 35" x 35".  It is a combination of wool applique and embroidery.  Below are 6 of the blocks - we will keep you updated on the progress.  The finished quilt will have 9 blocks and will contain applique on all borders. Mary's Farmhouse block of the month will begin January 2018. If you know you absolutely definitely must have this project, please e-mail us at info@sewgracefulquilting.com or call 479-372-7403 to sign up. When you sign up please let us know if you'd like us to include any (or all) of the optional items: Soft Fuse $19.95 Chenille needles $2 per pack Thread kit (cost varies but averages approximately $5 per month) Brown pigma pen $2.98

We're sure many can relate to the sentiment expressed on the cute wall hanging below "Home is where the cat hair sticks to everything but the cat".  Your $18.95 kit includes sandcastle background fabric which has been prestamped with the kitty image and wording.  It also includes perle cotton floss, a needle, border fabrics and binding.  Let us know if we can reserve a kit for you - it's not too soon to be thinking of holiday gift giving. We've been notified by Quiltmania that Irene Blanck's book "Focus on Applique" is out of print and only a few dozen remain in stock in their warehouse.  If you haven't got your copy of this beautiful book, don't delay.  You can order your copy by visiting our website Sew Graceful Quilting If you're local and would like us to put a book in your folder, email info@sewgracefulquilting.com or call 479-372-7403.  $49.95 The cooler weather has us thinking of fall projects.  Hopefully it has inspired you too.  We hope you're finding some quiet stitching time these last few weeks before school starts and the holiday bustle begins.   See you soon. Darlene and Debby