|
CURRENT
INTERNET SPECIALS | | |
Banana Tree
Sale Price: $10.00
(Regular Price: $12.00)
click here
Frog
Sale Price: $10.00
(Regular Price: $12.00)
click here
|
|
I HAVE A NOTION | | |
Introducing you to the notions Nancy and Janice use.
THREAD CADDY
This ingenious caddy for keeping your applique threads close at hand, comes to us from Pat Campbell, with new fabric covers for 2012.
Holds 48 spools of Aurifil thread (small, 220-yard spools, or similar). Using a large-eye needle, pull each thread through the red faux-suede strip. When you need a particular color, just pull on the thread tail and snip off the length you want. No need to take spools in and out. All the thread stays clean and neat. Use the large plastic pocket to hold your sewing notions. Folds up, neat and compact, to travel with you - around the house, or around the world.
Caddy (without thread)
$35.00. Buy it now.
Caddy with 40 spools of Aurifil cotton thread
$185.00. Buy it now.
(on April 1 the price goes up to $195.00)
|
|
|
AURIFIL THREAD | | |
Aurifil USA announced price increases at the beginning of 2012. We hold our old pricing as long as we can, but on April 1 the following price changes take effect:
- 50-weight, 220-yard spools will increase from $3.75 to $4.00 per spool.
(suggested retail is $4.80) - 50-weight, 1422-yard spools will increase from $10.00 to $10.50 per
spool.
(suggested retail is $12.00) - 28-weight, 820-yard spools will increase from $10.00 to $10.50 per spool.
(suggested retail is $12.00)
We are giving you advance notice, so you can stock up now! Click here
Remember, we carry all the solid colors, plus 14 variegated colors, in the small 220-yard spools. We let you pick the exact colors you want.
|
|
RETREAT TO THE OREGON COAST | | |
Nancy's studio is beckoning! Come by yourself, with friends, or family. Come for one day, or many. Sew on your own, or get an applique lesson from Nancy. So many choices! All you have to decide right now is when, then contact Nancy to reserve your dates.
www.quiltchong.com
|
| If you received this Newsletter from a friend, sign-up to receive future issues here: |
 | |
|
Greetings!
 This month it's all about the men in our lives. OK, well maybe not ALL about them, but our men do deserve a little extra attention around Valentine's Day.
A quick search for best Valentine gifts for men turned up ideas like these: micro-brew beer basket, jerky-of-the-month, grooming kit, electronic gadgets, and apple pie. Not a necktie or flower on the list! But you are a quilter, and you love to make things for the people you love. So, the quilts we feature this month are just the kinds of quilts you can make and give to the boys - big and little - in your life.
Nancy's report from last month's classes:
My third visit in 10 years to the Foothill Quilters of Auburn, California, gave me the privilege of seeing the finished work of students from previous years. What a treat! As I travel, I rarely see what the students do after I'm gone. It leaves me wondering if anyone ever takes another stitch on what they start in class. Now I know that many do. If you ever see a former teacher again, remember to show your finished projects--let them know that they influenced you as a quilter. Thank you to everyone who shared their quilts with me!
Created by a dam on the Colorado River, Lake Havasu is bounded on the east by Arizona and on the west by California. Lake Havasu City is the current resting place of the London Bridge (yes, the one built in London in 1831). The bridge was disassembled and rebuilt here after being sold to an American in 1967. I taught at Quilting at the Lake, at the London Bridge Resort, where we had a wonderful view of this historic bridge. But nothing could top the delightful conference with its enthusiastic and talented quilters, not even the wonderful weather. What a delightful place to be in the middle of January!
My thanks, to both groups, for your hospitality and enthusiasm. I look forward to returning, again!
Welcome,
Nancy & Janice |
| BANANA TREE | | |
Quilts for Men
 | | Banana Tree |
The first time we displayed hte Banana Tree quilt at a show, it was commented on by several men. We were surprised that they really liked this particular quilt. Since then, every time we display it, it gets attention from the men at the show. We believe the down-to-earth colors, combined with the strong lines and bold image of this quilt appeals to men. Nothing very fussy, feminine, or frilly about this one. If you have been looking for a quilt that will appeal to a man, this is one to consider. It would lose none of its masculine appeal if it was done in other colors.  What are his favorite colors? Brown, green, blue, gray? All would attract the masculine eye.
TIP: This quilt is designed specifically so the applique medallion and border can be cut from one yard of fabric. Pull out that special one-yard piece of hand-dyed fabric, pair it with a muted earth-toned background and you will have a stunning quilt.
Banana Tree: 42" x 42", plus a companion 21" block. Normally $12.00, for a limited time, just $10.00. Buy It Now
Need fabric? Click here.
See two quilts made by our customers using this pattern in our Gallery of Hawaiian Quilts (scroll down nearly to the bottom of the page to find them).
|
| FROG | | |
For Boys and Frog-Lovers of All Ages
 Little boys and quilt shows are not a match made in heaven. There is seldom anything that appeals to boys. If it doesn't have trucks, sports paraphernalia, or creepy crawly things on it most are not impressed. While Nancy did not design this quilt with little boys in mind, it sure is one that attracts their attention. Finally!
Anyone with a fascination for these amazing creatures would love this quilt, too. And face it, there are not all that many quilt patterns with frogs!
We could not decide which pattern to make the Internet Special for February, so we have put both of them on sale!
Frog: 24" x 36". Normally sells for $12.00, for a limited time, just $10.00 Buy It Now.
Click here to find Fabric Pack selections for your Frog quilt.
Notice that we show you two versions of the quilt - one with a light applique on a dark background (above), another with a dark applique on a light background (left). Colors and values make a difference, and you can go either way. Your choice!
Note: If you already have the Frog pattern, check the date below the title on the pattern page. If your pattern is dated July 2008 you will want to click here for a simple correction. If your pattern is dated July 2009, you have a corrected pattern and are good to go. |
|
QUILTING IDEAS FOR 2FAQs | | |
Inspiration & Ideas
"Quilt as desired." Don't you just hate those words? Wouldn't it be nice if there were at least a few suggestions for how to quilt this marvelous top you just finished? In the instructions for our 2 Fabric Applique Quilts (2FAQs) we do offer this little bit of help: "We suggest you quilt "in the ditch" around each applique shape, then add additional quilting lines to enhance the details of the design. Let your fabrics and applique design inspire your quilting choices."
For some of you that is all the help you needed; but, if you are stuck, and your quilt top is not getting finished for lack of quilting ideas, we are here to help. In addition to the suggestions listed here, we have put pictures on the How To and Ideas page of our website.
- Use wavy, horizontal lines in the background to suggest clouds, wind or water. To make it more interesting, space these wavy lines closer together in the bottom third, then gradually space them further apart as you move up into the sky.
- Using the lines from your pattern page, quilt in a few more images from the pattern. We call these ghost images, and depending on the pattern you have made, these could be leaves, cattails, flower petals, hummingbirds, or stars. Put them in the background, in the frame, or both.
- Echo quilt, either the entire background, or just in the outer frame. Space echo quilt lines about 1/2 inch apart.
 Inside the applique, add details to the image. Put veins in leaves and flower petals, dripping wax on candles, add texture to the frog with quilted circles.- Think about what else lives with the images in your applique - add quilted snowflakes to the Penguin or Snow Lady quilts, dragonflies on the Frog quilt, a lady bug or two on the Rose Arbor quilt, spiders on the Halloween quilt. We love to hide little surprises in the quilting, which viewers only find on close inspection.
- Use a printed image on your fabric as quilting lines. If the fabric for your Kimono quilt has fans or cranes on it, quilt around a few of those, then repeat those images in the background or frame, in different sizes.
- A cross-hatch grid can suggest a trellis for either the Grapes or the Rose Arbor quilts.
TIP: To see close-up photos of actual quilted quilts go to the How To and Ideas page of our website.
To find photos of the quilts mentioned above, go to the
2 Fabric Applique Quilts page on our website.
Our special thanks to the following quilters who agreed to let us use photos of their quilts as examples:
Carole Doyle for Giraffe Family, Pat Berry for Grapes, and Yvonne Bagnell for Calla Lilies. Mahalo! |
|
COMING EVENTS | | |
Nancy's Whereabouts:
Here are opportunities to take a class from, or enjoy a presentation by Nancy at a quilt show, guild or shop. Most guilds welcome visitors, so don't be shy.
Upcoming Classes and Events:
- Feb 18-25, A lucky few will be cruising the Hawaiian Islands with Nancy while they learn to design their own Hawaiian quilt! Sorry, cruise is full.
- Feb 27, Pahala Quilting, Big Island, Hawaii
- Feb 28, Quilt Passions, Big Island, Hawaii
- March 10, Jannilou Creations, Philomath, OR
- March 12 & 13, Quilting Loft, Seattle, WA
- March 16-18, Quilters Anonymous Quilt Show, Monroe, WA. Both Nancy and Janice will be at this show with all our goodies for your shopping pleasure!
- March 27-29, Des Moines Area Quilters Guild, West Des Moines, IA
- April 25-26, Valley Quilt Guild, Yuba City, CA
- May 4-5, Mountain Star Quilters Guild Show, Medford, OR. Nancy will be the Featured Artist and we will have our booth at this show!
Register early for classes. They can fill quickly, or be canceled if not enough people register in advance.
Click CALENDAR for details and contact information.
Schedule Nancy now for your show or event in 2012, 2013 and 2014. If you would like her to come to your area to teach, let your quilt shop, quilt guild, or show organizer know. Print Nancy's Brochure and pass it along.
Looking further ahead on Nancy's schedule, here are opportunities to piggy-back on trips she has already scheduled. If other groups in neighboring towns or states schedule a class or event, then travel expenses are shared between the groups.
- Sept 20-21, 2012, New Bern, North Carolina. Open to book before or after.
- Nov 1-4, 2012 in New Hampshire and Nov 10, 2012 in New York City. Open to book between Nov 6-9.
- June 19-20, 2013, San Mateo, CA. Open to book before or after.
QuiltUniversity.com
If you do not live where you can take a class from Nancy in person, then perhaps a class at Quilt University would work for you.
"No tests. No grades. No Pressure. New classes open every weekend from January until the end of October. Students receive a password to an online classroom with a teacher-led Discussion Forum and Student Gallery. A typical class consists of three or four lessons."
Nancy's up-coming classes begin:
- March 2, 2 Fabric Applique Quilts
- March 30, Baltimore Basics
Janice's next class begins:
- February 22, Photographing Your Quilts
|
|
Thank you for spending a little of your precious time with us, we really appreciate it. Remember to send us your stories, pictures, questions, or suggestions. We love to hear from you.
A hui hou,
Until next time,
Nancy & Janice |
|
|
|
|
