July 2008

Mon-Fri  10-5
Sat: 10-2
or by appointment anytime – not a problem to open earlier or stay later-just call and let me know when.

Summer is Here!  Summer Hours: July 1 – Sept 1 are Mon-
Thurs. 10-5; Fri. 10-4 and Sat. 10-2.  Warm weather, swimming, berry picking, ticks, flowers blooming, mosquitoes, fresh veggies….the good with the bad….

July Sizzler Sale…our semi-annual sale is July 22 – 26.  This is when I mark down bolts to make way for all the new winter and Christmas things that are lined up in the back hall.  40% off all the bolts in the hallway.  I’ll also have some patterns and a few books that have been around and need to find new homes.  If I dig deep enough I will probably even find a couple kits that got lost in the closet.  This is the sale to stock up on all those backings.  It is worth your drive to save this much money.  All first quality fabrics from all the top makers.  I only do this 2x a year.

Directions to the Country School House Quilt Shop 
(1) Coming N or Hwy 2/53.  See McDonald’s & Culver’s—turn left, 3 blocks to stop sign.  That is E. 5^th St.  Look diagonally across street.  I’m in the DeSmet Insurance building—has a big insurance sign in the parking lot.  My sign is on the building next to the door. 
(2) From Mn—take Blatnik Bridge.  Follow the Hwy 53 South markers which goes under the bridge.  Going along the lake, past Perkins, Fairlawn Museum.  At Culver’s turn right.  Go 3 blocks to stop sign which is E. 5^th St.  Look diagonally across street.  I’m in the De Smet Insurance building – has a big insurance sign in the parking lot.  My sign is on building next to door.
(3) Coming N on Hwy 35 (Tower Ave).  Turn right on N. 28^th St (Mall Drive)—go past mall and over railroad tracks.  Turn right at the stop lights on E. 5th St.  Go 3 blocks and I am on the right side at 21^st Ave E in the DeSmet Insurance Building.  It has a big sign in the parking lot.  Remember, I am only 3 blocks from Lake Superior.  So if you find the lake, turn 3 blocks away from it and that is E. 5^th Street.  I am on the corner of 21^st Ave E and E. 5^th Street.

Important News: 

Reserve your Magazines…If anyone missed doing this in June, you still can…..We will be offering a magazine reservation system for “Quilts and More”, “Quilt Sampler”, and “Quilter’s Home.”  The first two are quarterly and Quilter’s Home is bi-monthly.  Here’s how it works:  tell me which one(s) you want and when they arrive, I put a card with your name on it, set it aside and call you.  In this way you won’t miss an issue and I will know how many to order so everyone who wants one can get it with a few as spares for others.  All I ask is that you pick them up in a timely manner so I’m not left holding them a month later.  Call or e-mail me right away to reserve the next issues.

Remember those Red Bags when you shop this summer—we had a nice number of quilters take advantage of our anniversary celebration and since I did have some bags left, if you spend over $50 at any time this summer we will give you a bag until we run out.  However, the Red Bag event is over Aug. 31^st. 

Mark Your Calendar for Sept. 20 & 21….”Spring Into Fall” Quilt Show at Marshall School.  This is the one that replaces our “Spring Fling” that got cancelled due to the snow storm…..Same good things we planned for spring will not be in the fall show!  Get those quilts ready as I’ll be asking for them in next month’s newsletter to display at the show. 

Fall Classes and Clubs:  In the next couple months, we will be putting samples on our board to show you what classes will be coming up and what clubs we plan on starting—like the “Strip Clubs” and the “quick” types of  things you can make for gifts, etc.

Enjoy the warmth of July and gather all the sunshine so it can last you all winter.  Stop in and see us and those with “red bags”—don’t forget to bring them with you.  We’ll be putting the new winter and Christmas fabrics out next week as we reshuffle things again. 

I’m hoping to improve my golf game this month!  Have fun and start planning the gifts!

Club Notes: 

Moda Madness last meeting will be the 4^th Monday of August at 5:30 p.m.  The project is “your choice” with emphasis on trying something you haven’t done before.  We will also be drawing for the Moda baskets I will have made up.  Let’s see if everyone can make this meeting.  Thangles Buck-A-Block started in Sept. and is in the 11th month.  Remember to pick up on time or you pay!  Thimbleberries 2008 –2^nd Thursday of month at 1:00 p.m.  This month it is July 10^th.  The new projects for the quarter will be ready.

Hayward Quilt Show
July 18 & 19

Hayward has a nice quilt show in July which will be held at the Ramada Inn on Hwy 27 South.  Very easy to find.  Good air conditioning and a restaurant in case you need to get refueled.  They always have a silent auction and, of course, vendors.  Hope to see you there.

New Products

New Samples:  We’re in the process of making lots of new samples from all the fabrics that have been coming in—The girls version of “Boys Will Be Boys” is here and is called “Pigtails and Pixie Dust.”  It’s really cute and I put Minkee on the back of it too.

“Up, Up, and Away” is the newest panel from Troy and it is a baby quilt with an air balloon full of cute animals.  This is in flannel and you only need to add 1 border and cornerstones….It will also come with backing.  Can’t get much easier than that!  I’ve also got a new jelly roll pattern made from Moda’s Maypole and this is a fun one to do also.  You do some diagonal cutting of the strips and then put them together to form a secondary pattern.  I will also be working on “S’more’s” which is done with a layer cake and some yardage—this is a winter one.  Next, I’m going to be doing a few Christmas quilts and winter quilts for those who want to get started on that season soon. 

Classes:  

Mo will be teaching a class on a new pattern she has designed called “Cards to Go” which is a darling fabric envelope that you can store some of your treasures in such as note cards, greeting cards, pictures, 20 carat diamonds, etc.  This class will be May 12 at 5:30.  Cost including the kit will be $20.  There is no quilting on it, so it should go fairly quickly.  There is interfacing, but it is fusible and of course a cute closure to finish it off.  You will need to come in earlier to pick out your fabric or you can leave it up to us!  I guarantee that once you make one, you won’t be able to stop and what a cute gift to give all your friends.  Christmas gifts can be done in May too……