NEW! The Mystery of the Salem Quilt Guild - Halloween Project from Crabapple Hill Studios!

We are SO excited about this project!  Starts January 24th, and will meet for eight sessions until the mystery is solved - just in time for Halloween!  The Mystery of the Salem Quilt Guild is a mystery quilt that will be presented in 4 pieces over the next eight months. There will be 3 embroidered panel patterns (one or more with appliquéd block patterns), and one pattern with piecing instructions to complete the quilt. Each section will be covered over two sessions.

The patterns will be available as they are released; if you are signed up for the program we will let you know as soon as the next pattern in the series is released. The patterns are from Crabapple Hill Studio.  We will have fabric and Cosmo Floss kits available too! 

In this, the first of the Salem Quilt Guild panels, you’ll meet a few of the girls as they arrive at the guild meeting. In the other two “mystery” embroidered panels, you’ll get an inside peek at their goings-on! The 4th “mystery” pattern will include all of the witches’ favorite quilt blocks and the final quilt assembly directions.

Come with us as we meet the ladies. You’ve been invited to a Salem Witches Quilt Guild meeting!

Hand embroidery and crayon tinting. Each embroidered panel measures 42” x 15”

Join us for this fun embroidery class and learn how to color your embroidery with Crayons! This is a very fun and easy technique. You will have a lot of fun in this class, and learn some new things!

Note: If you have a different Crayon Embroidery pattern from Crabapple Hill that you would like to do, that is fine with the instructor. Just let us know what you plan to work on so she can be prepared.  

Click here to register for the class.  Click here to purchase the pattern. 

Have you Made a Tuffet Yet?

Tuffets are so fun to make, and we've added MORE Tuffet Classes!  Join us January 10 & 24th OR February 14 and 28.  What is a Tuffet?  It's a very cute stool to sit on or put your feet up - and they are so fun and easy to make!  Barbara Hall will be teaching us how to make one in two class sessions - and you will finish your Tuffet in class!  During the first session you will make your Tuffet top with the fabrics of your choosing, and during the second session you will put it together!  We have patterns and Tuffet kits available, and we will have all the extra tools on hand for you to use when finishing your project.  Register early for this one since we want to make sure your Tuffet kit is ready and waiting for you!  Click here to register for a Tuffet Class!

Sew Together Bag (AKA Bionic Gear Bag) Class Coming Soon!

 

The Sew Together Bag (AKA the Bionic Gear Bag)  Class will be Sunday January 10th!

 

Do you love mixing fabrics? Do you need a way to organize the tools you bring with you when stitching or crafting away from home base? Are you avoiding any sewing project that includes zippers?  If you answer “yes” to any of the above questions, this is your class! We will sew step-by-step a zippered multi-purpose gear organizer bag. Fear of zippers will no longer hold you back. The bag features a clever exterior zip that doubles as a handle, 3 interior zipper pouches and 4 open pockets. When unzipped fully, the bag lays open for easy access to your tools and supplies. Finished bag measures approximately 10” wide and 4½” tall.

Note: The Sew Together Bag and Bionic Gear Bag (very similar) are the hottest thing on the internet right now. However, the challenge we have been hearing is that the instructions are confusing and difficult - Alla Blanca, our instructor, has made several of these bags and will give you all the hints and tips you need to get yours finished!

 

And of course if you aren't local or can't make the class, we do have the patterns available for sale!  Click here to purchase the pattern.  Click here to register for the class. 

 

 

 

Vintage Farm Girl - Saturday Sampler 2016! Register Today!

 

Exciting News - Vintage Farm Girl is our Saturday Sampler for 2016!  It's going to be sew fun!  If you bring your blocks back completed, you get your next month free!  And we will be offering this two times - you can come either the 1st Saturday of the month at 9:00 am OR the 1st Tuesday evening of the month at 6:30!  Register today and let us know which you prefer!

We are also offering two color ways - the bright, retro look, and a more traditional fall country look.  We'll be posting pictures of the blocks soon, or you can stop by the shop any time and check them out!  Register soon so you can reserve your place to make this fun quilt with us!

Click here to register today!

Year End SALE Starts Today!

Happy Holidays!  Our 30% off Year End SALE starts today!  30% off on Fabrics, Patterns, Notions, Books, and more!  Join us for our annual Year End SALE, starting today,  through Sunday, January 3rd, 2016.  Enjoy 30 percent off most items; excludes machines, Handi Quilter accessories, Software, Tuttos, Quilting Rental and Services, Class Fees, etc.  Limited to stock on hand. Only one discount per item.   Prior orders and prior block of the month projects are also excluded.  New block of the month projects are eligible, and for those, the discount applies only to month(s) paid for during the sale.  Future months will be at regular price.

 

For online purchases, use code yearend2015, or type that code in the comments section of your order.  Any adjustments, if necessary, will be made before your order is charged and shipped. We will fill orders on a first come, first served basis, so order early to get your choice of items! 
And think about some of our upcoming classes - this would be a great time to get your fabrics for these projects!

Holiday Hours:  We will be closed December 25th for Christmas and January 1st for New Years Day.  We will also be closing early at 1:00 pm on December 24th for Christmas Eve, and at 3:00 on December 31st for New Years Eve.  We wish you a wonderful holiday season with family and friends!

FREE Sewing over the Holidays:  We will have our classroom open for FREE Sewing from December 26th through January 3rd.  We hope you will join us to sew with family and friends - the more the merrier! 

Tuffet Construction Class on Thursday!

Have you made a Tuffet top and are you ready to complete your Tuffet?  Join us on Thursday November 19th for our Tuffet Construction Class!  We provide the upholstery tools and the instruction you'll need to leave with a completed Tuffet!  Click here to register for the Tuffet Construction class. 

We are so excited about Tuffets!  In addition to the Tuffet Construction Class on the 19th, we also have the two day class coming up on December 13th and 29th.   The first session will be to make the tuffet top, and the second session will be to actually construct the tuffet.  Barbara Hall is teaching our class, and she made our beautiful sample!  Click here to register for class, and click here to purchase your very own tuffet kit and pattern!  We hope you will join us for class! 

Crazy Quilting Open Studio FREE Today!

 

Join Robin today (Wednesday, November 18th) at noon for Crazy Quilting time!  Work on your current project, or start a new one. Learn new stitches and get ideas for your project. join us!  Here is the Holiday Cracker that Robin is working on.  However, you can bring any project and we'll be happy to help you out.  And if you'd just like to work on hand embroidery, cross stitch, or needlepoint, that is fine too - we'd love to have you join us! 

 

Jingle Bell Shop Hop Starts Thursday November 5th!

Are you ready to shop hop? It's a wonderful time of year to get the jump on all of your holiday gift giving!  The Jingle Bell Shop Hop begins Thursday November 5 and goes through Sunday November 8.

12 Fabulous Quilt Shops are ready for you to hop on in and receive a free pattern for a holiday inspired project. Make a plan to visit Color Me Quilts, Not Just Quiltz, In Between Stitches, Ladybug's Quilts, Quilts and Things, The Laurel Leaf, Always Quilting, Cloth & Quilts, The Nimble Thimble, Scruffy Quilts, Roxy's Quilts and JMG Fabric and Quilts (see note below for Special Parking instructions for JMG Fabric and Quilts on Saturday).

Visit all twelve shops to be entered for a chance to win $100 gift cards from all 12 shops, $50 gift cards from all 12 shops, and $25 gift cards from all 12 shops. Each shop will also have an in store raffle.

JMG Fabric and Quilts Saturday Parking: Shop Hoppers will have special parking available on Saturday, Nov. 7th due to the local Veteran's Day Parade. Parking is available near the corner of "K" Street and 5th Street from 9am to 3pm. Watch for the signs!

Special Note about Shop Closure:  The printed flyers and website show 13 Shops in the Hop, however Quilters Quarters has closed due to retirement. Please make a note on your map.  The passport you receive at your first stop only has 12 participating shops.

Row by Row Patterns and Kits Available Starting Today!

The Row by Row hibernation is officially over, and we can send out our patterns and kits once again!  If you have already ordered these, we have them ready to go and they will ship out today.  If you haven't yet ordered, just let us know what you want and we'll get it out to you right away! 

 

We have two Row kits.  One is our own design, called Cruisin' to the Beach.

The second design features Hoffman batiks and is called Watercolor Wave. 

The theme for 2016 is Home Sweet Home - we can't wait to put our design together and see the fun designs from shops all over the country!  Reserve the dates now - June 21, 2016 through September 6, 2016 - and start planning your travels now! 

Diva Wallet Class with Pat - Come Join Us!

This framed wallet is sure to turn some heads! It's so easy to make, you can make 1 to go with each of your bags so you'll be super trendy! Inside is a zippered coin pocket, 2 open pockets for cash and receipts, and 6 individual card pockets.

 

 

Great for sticking all your essentials in for a night out on the town, or just for your average everyday fun! It's even fat quarter friendly! Finished closed size is 8"W x 4 1/2"L, and open size is 8"W x 9"L using 2 fat quarters, plus additional yardage for a contrast color on the inside.

Click here to register for class on November 8th, and click here to order your pattern and frames.  The frames come in three colors - nickel silver, black, and rose gold.  Add some décor bond and a few fat quarters, and you've made your wallet in an afternoon!  You won't want to get just one!  These are so fun and easy to make, and great for gifts or for yourself. 

Tuffet Class Coming Soon!

We are so excited about Tuffets!  Our patterns and tuffet kits are here and we are ready for class on the 25th and 1st!  The first class will be to make the tuffet top, and the second session will be to actually construct the tuffet.  Barbara Hall is teaching our class, and she made our beautiful sample!  Click here to register for class, and click here to purchase your very own tuffet kit and pattern!  We hope you will join us for class! 

PIQF - Special Thimble Collection

PIQF (Pacific International Quilt Festival) is coming up this week!  You won't want to miss out on all of the fabulous quilts on display, and vendor booths.  Of course, we will have a booth there as well, with lots of fun new stuff and a great show special!  We will also have an extensive number of Handi Quilter rulers, notions, and gadgets, so if you have a Handi Quilter or need some of these tools, please stop by and see us!

I'd also like to tell you about a fun thing I just found out - there will be a Special Thimble Collection by Barbara Lockwood.  This special exhibit of 1,000 thimbles will be in the Wearable Arts area at PIQF this coming weekend.  Barbara Lockwood, founder of Bay Area Thimble Society, BATS, began collecting 40 years ago and her collection boasts thimbles of a large variety of materials - including Mt. St. Helens volcanic ash, seashells, leather, and more! The club still exists and has quarterly meetings in homes all around the Bay Area. For more info on the club, email barbaralck@sbcglobal.net.

There will be lots of amazing things at PIQF, so we hope you can join us and visit our booth!

Whimsical Wands Crayon Embroidery Class Today - Join Us!

An old crock filled with happy Halloween wands!  The images are crayon tinted and embroidered.  The sunflower has pretty rouched petals and a yo-yo that are a snap to make!

Join us for this fun embroidery class and learn how to color your embroidery with Crayons! We are featuring the Whimsical Wands pattern from Crabapple Hill Studios. This is a very fun and easy technique. An added extra will be learning how to Rouche and make a Yo Yo for the sunflower. You will have a lot of fun in this class, and learn some new things!  

If you aren't able to join us, we do have some kits available.  You can order those here.  To register for the class, click here. 

Tula Pink Eden Collection Coming Soon - Special Pre-order Price!

 

 

Tula Pink's newest collection, Eden, is on it's way and will be here soon!  We've got a special 20% off special pre-order price for you!  Once the fabrics arrive, they will go back to regular price.  We won't charge your card until the fabric comes in, however, by placing your order now you'll be assured to get the fabrics you want at the special pre-order price.

We will also have fat quarter bundles, half yard bundles, and full yard bundles also available at the special pre-order price!  This new collection is really fabulous - reserve the fabrics you want today!

For project ideas, we highly recommend her City Sampler book. 

We used this book for our 2014 Modern Sampler project, but we think it would look great in the new Eden collection.  We love the Gridlocked setting, but the book has a number of other settings as well. 

And of course it is a fun book just to look through for inspiration!

To pre-order the fabrics, start here.  You can then type "tula pink eden" in the search field and you will see all of the fabrics individually at once.  To order the book, click here.  Enjoy!

Million Dollar Pillowcase Challenge Today and Tomorrow!

This weekend is our One Million Pillowcase Challenge!  This event is nation-wide, and we are so excited to be participating!  We will sew pillow cases all day Friday and Saturday. We'll have some fun treats and door prizes.  You can come anytime for an hour or two or stay both days. If you don’t want to bring a machine, we have one you can use, and there will still be things you can do to help.

You can also donate pillowcases that you have already made, or fabric for to be used for the pillowcases. We will donate all the pillowcases to local charities in the Bay Area.  Samaritan House has a need right now, and we are also talking with volunteers helping with the Northern California fires as well. 

If you have some made or would like to make some and can't get in this weekend, you can bring them by anytime.  We collect these on a regular basis and then donate them locally as the need arises.  We hope you can join us for this fun event!

Reminder - 2015 Kaleidoscope of Quilts This Weekend!

Just a Reminder -  Material Girls & Michael from Half Moon Bay will be presenting their 2015 Kaleidoscope of Quilts Show on Sunday, September 13, 2015 from 12 noon to 5 pm.  The show will be held at Lesley Gardens, 701 Arnold Way @ Main Street in Half Moon Bay, CA. 

There will be over 100+ beautiful quilts on display, a craft boutique, a 20% discount coupon from Always Quilting, and admission is FREE!  So mark your calendars now and plan on a fun day to view some gorgeous quilts on Sunday September 13th!  

Here is a small view of the map; please give us a call if you need more information about the show or the location, and we'll have someone get back to you and make sure all of your questions are answered! 

Handi Quilter Back to School Special Ends Tomorrow!

Just a reminder that the Handi Quilter Back to School Special Ends tomorrow!  Special financing and FREE shipping are available - it's a great deal and the perfect way to get your very own Handi Quilter machine in your home!

For those of you not quite ready to take that step, we'd love to have you join us for the Long Arm certification class.  Once you've taken the class, you can quilt on our in-store Handi Quilter and Gammil machines!  It's a lot of fun, and a great way to finish all those quilt tops you have that are waiting to be quilted!  Give us a call if you'd like to sign up.  Our next certification class is on Thursday, October 1st and you can click here to register! 

Closed Labor Day but Always Open Online!

Just a reminder, we will be closed on Monday, September 7th so our staff can enjoy the holiday with family and friends.  We wish you a wonderful holiday as well!  And if you need anything, remember we are always open online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!  Have a great Labor Day!

Announcing our 2016 Saturday Sampler - Farm Girl Vintage!

We are so excited to announce our 2016 Saturday Sampler project - Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt!  We just love this book, and will be doing the Farm Girl Sampler Quilt.  Each month you will get fabric to make four 6 1/2" blocks (6" finished).  If you finish your blocks and bring them to the meeting, you will get your next four blocks FREE!  What a great way to make this fabulous quilt! 

You will choose your own background, and we will also have finishing kits available that will include cornerstones, borders, and binding.  For the blocks, we are choosing fabrics that will stay with the same color way as the cover quilt.  Evelyn will be hosting this group on the 1st Saturday of the month starting in January 2016.  We are opening registration now so you can reserve your spot and get started looking at your book - it is sew inspiring! 

If you are not local and would like to do this as a regular block of the month, we have that option available too!  In that case you would be charged a monthly fee that would include everything - background fabric, blocks, cornerstones, borders, and binding - and you would not pay the registration fee.  If you don't already have the book we can easily add that on for you. 

The Farm Girl Vintage book includes complete instructions for 45 sampler blocks in two sizes (6in and 12in), three farm blocks and a bumper crop of projects! The fourteen projects include ten quilts, two table runners, a table topper and a potholder. There are over 130 pages of full color instructions, beautiful photos.
Click here to register for the Saturday Sampler or join the block of the month option.  Or you can also click here to just purchase the book.  However, we really hope you will be able to join us for this fun project! 

Learn to Machine Quilt with Jill Schumacher!

Here is Jill with her award winning quilt!

Jill Schumacher is amazing in that she is an award-winning quilter AND she is an outstanding instructor!  She will be here this month to teach a class on Introduction to Machine Quilting.  We have a number of people who have taken this multiple times, because you can learn so much from Jill each time you take it!

Class will be held Saturday, September 26th from 10:00 - 4:00.  Click here if you'd like to register.  You will need to make an Ohio Star block, although if you don't have time to do it, we have a few available for a small cost.

Here is the Ohio Star block

  In this class you will learn to quilt loops, curves, designs, free- motion straight line and simple stipple by using your home sewing machine. You will also learn how to follow a design, both continuous and beautiful heirloom feathers. Learn to pin your quilt and prepare it for quilting. Many tips are shared in this valuable introduction to machine quilting. You will learn the art of Heirloom free-motion machine quilting. Today's quilts are tomorrow's heirlooms.  This is a beginning class and students will successfully learn the art of heirloom machine quilting.

We hope you can join us for this fun class with Jill! 

Upcoming Event - Kings Mountain Art Fair on Labor Day Weekend

 

 

The Kings Mountain Art Fair is coming up on Labor Day Weekend, September 5-7, 2015.  This is one that I've always wanted to attend, and seem to not know about it until after it happens - so I wanted to have you put it on your calendar now so you can go to this fabulous event!

This is a juried art fair with more than 130 artists, so the  quality of the art is really good.  They also have a grill that serves breakfast and lunch. The food is great and you can eat under the redwoods - so beautiful!  There is Kiddy Hollow, a place for kids to do art projects and there are huge cookies for sale to benefit the elementary school.  Proceeds also benefit the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade. 
 

 

Some of the techniques and items featured include Oils and Acrylics, Watercolors, Serigraphs, Sculpture, Photography, Mixed Media, Ceramics, Handmade Knives, Leather, Jewelry, Furniture, Batik, Glass Paperweights, Toys, Fine Wood Works, Quilts, Wearable Art, Weaving, Children's Wear, Etching, Blown Glass, Lithographs, Metalwork, and Collage. 

The fair runs Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over Labor Day Weekend from 10
a.m. To 5 p.m.  There is parking along the highway and a FREE shuttle up
and down Skyline Blvd.  Admission is also FREE!  Please note, no pets are permitted!

The event will be held at the Kings Mountain Community Center, 13889 Skyline Blvd, Woodside, CA.  It is 7 minutes from Hwy 84 or 92.  Contact phone number is 650.851.2710.  For map and additional information, including a list of the juried artists, click here. 

Whimsical Wands Crayon Embroidery Class Coming Soon

We are so excited about this Whimsical Wands Crayon Embroidery class coming in September.  The pattern is from Crabapple Hill Studios, well-known for their fabulous hand embroidery projects.  Join us for the class and you'll have this stitched before you know it - ready in plenty of time for Halloween!

If you'd like to register for the class, click here.  If you'd like to purchase the pattern and/or the kit, click here.  For crayons, you will need to bring your own! 

Have you done a crayon embroidery before?  If so, let us know and send a picture - we'd love to see what you did! 

Row by Row Ends September 8th

September 8th is the last day to pick up your FREE row pattern from Always Quilting!  After that, we cannot give out the patterns until November 1st. At that time, we will be able to mail them out - so if you'd like to be on the November 1st list, just let us know!

And what a fun way to show off the fabric plates you have collected....we have included both of the Always Quilting rows in this project!

We are also waiting for our winner - you have until October 31 to bring in your quilt with 8 rows - all finished, bound, and labeled.  We have some fun things planned for our winner, so we hope you will come in soon!

Free-Standing Lace Pumpkin - Wow!

What a beautiful project!  Kit and I saw these at the recent Janome Institute in San Antonio at the OESD booth, and we both loved them!  My favorite is the one that says "Give Thanks".  Of course we ordered them right away, and have just scheduled a class!  Click here if you'd like to find out more about these beautiful designs.  There are two different design collections; the picture above shows the newest collection (with some fun color ideas), and the picture below shows pumpkins from the first collection.  Click here for information on the first collection. 

The class will be on October 9th.  If you don't have an embroidery machine, you will be able to use our machine for the class - just let us know.  We will have the supply list and more details for the class soon.  Click here if you'd like to register now to reserve your place in the class!

We've also found a great tool, the Alligator Clamps / Forceps, that is extremely helpful for this project, as well as other machine embroidery projects.  You can find out more about those here.

And here is a picture of the Alligator Clamps in use....and yes, that is the corner of a Gingerbread House that you are seeing.....that may be our next project that we'll do in time for the holidays! 

We hope you can join us for class, and we'd love to see the pumpkins you make!