It was thrilling to see SO MANY of you at our Grand Opening celebration this past weekend!  We hope you had as much fun as we did!  We are honored by your patronage and are blown away by how you have welcomed us to the Ann Arbor area quilting community.

Congratulations to Susan Davis and Ina Hacker for winning the grand prize drawings for our two stuffed baskets of quilting goodies.  We wish everyone could be a winner!

We are surrounded by so many talented quilters and crafters in this area!  It is always exciting to see your projects as you bring them in for longarm quilting services, or to find additional fabrics with which to finish them, or just to share...we LOVE show and tell!  You keep us on our toes to find new fabrics, patterns, books, classes, supplies and ideas to keep your creative juices flowing, and that's just the way we like it!

Our inaugural Block-of-the-Month project is going to be CIVIL WAR JOURNALS by Judy Rothermel, Homestead Hearth, and Marcus Fabrics.  The classic pieced blocks of this quilt, featuring an exclusive fabric line of the same name, can be finished as either one queen-sized quilt (82" x 104") or four wallhangings. 

The Civil War history we will be sharing each month with this BOM concerns the children of the 1860's...how the war affected those who were most vulnerable...under-age soldiers involved in the fighting and the frightened ones who were home, fighting battles of their own, trying to cope with family responsibilities and basic survival.  This quilt represents their stories, their little voices. 

Optional 2nd Quarter Quilt 44" x 53"

Optional 1st Quarter Quilt 44" x 53"

Optional 4th Quarter Quilt 44" x 44"

Optional 3rd Quarter Quilt 51" x 60"

Every month, starting on MARCH 10 and MARCH 15 on the SECOND SATURDAY and FOLLOWING THURSDAY mornings at 10:30 am, Mary Jones will lead you on this journey...sharing the history, demonstrating the construction of each block, and sharing her tips for precision piecing that will lead you to success and completion of the quilt(s).

The fee schedule for this BOM will be as follows:

• first month will cost $59.90
• months 2-11 will cost $29.95 each
• month 12 is free!
• buy your backing with us at the end and save 15%

Sign up begins this Friday, February 10.  WE WILL CUT OFF ENROLLMENT ON MARCH 1.  You must come see this quilt in person...Mary Jones pieced this masterpiece and the quilting was done by Quality Quilting. 

Don't let the size and illusion of complexity scare you away...Mary is a fabulous teacher and her monthly block break downs/tutorials will guide you on the road to piecing enjoyment and completion of either the one large quilt or the four smaller projects.  There are also some built-in "catch up" months to help you stay on task. 

Sorry - it's not this kind of jelly roll.

Although "JELLY ROLL RACE" sounds like our employees dashing off to the Zingerman's Bake Shop (just down the street...), it is really a quilt, a technique, a challenge, and pre-cut 2.5 inch strips all "jelly rolled" together into one fabulous, FAST and EASY quilt project!

We know you've seen Jelly Rolls...these were introduced by MODA and other fabric companies as a way to market entire fabric lines, one strip at a time.  Those rolls are packaged in such an inviting way to show off every fabric to full advantage.  We walk into quilt stores, see them from across the room, and get weak in the knees.  They couldn't be better, even if they were dipped in chocolate!

We look at the price and think..."what a bargain...every fabric in the line WITHOUT buying a fat quarter bundle or, more expensive yet, yardage of each one (and we know how THAT would add up...we'd be crazy NOT to buy one or two, right??) 

We buy them, get them home - "they are so PRETTY...how could I EVER unwrap the roll, much less actually USE them?!"  Or maybe, we just don't really know what to do with them (that's me...).

Then came all kinds of books and patterns published to show us the way, and we thought - "nice...but could you make it easier and faster STILL??"  

Sample pieced by Mary J and quilted by Quality Quilting

Customer Pam Knight has jumped the starting gun and already completed her Jelly Roll Race quilt with Moda's "Renaissance Redwork" roll.  It's been quilted and she's probably already gotten it bound.

We are having our own JELLY ROLL RACE, refereed by Mary J on Monday, Feb 27.  The starting gun goes off at 10:30 am and space is limited to 8 "drivers.".  Please scroll down to see the class list. 

Hand quilting is for lovers!  BEGINNING HAND QUILTING will be taught again on TUESDAY, FEB 14 from 10:30 am - 1:00 pm.  Many people enjoy this final step of the quilt-making process.  Teresa R will teach you the rocking stitch as well as marking and preparation steps.  She will also demystify the hand quilter's toolbox and present a small trunk show of hand quilting styles.  

CLASS Fee:  $25.00 plus $10.00 kit

CLASS Maximum:  6 students 

Jolene's Star, pieced by Mary J & quilted by Quality Quilting

Sample made by Norma M

CRAZY QUILT PETITE SHOULDER BAG will be taught over two sessions by Norma M on Wed,

Feb 29 AND Wed, March 7, from 1-4 pm both days.  This simple bag will feature crazy patchwork plus beautiful embellishment with embroidery floss, ribbon, buttons, and beading.  She will teach basic crazy patch quilting in session 1 (piecing your fabric scraps together to make the foundation for your embroidery) and the embellishment and construction in session 2.  You should have some knowledge of basic embroidery to take this class.  So Sweet!  There will be a kit for this project. 

CLASS Fee:  $25.00

CLASS Maximum:  6 students  

 

EMBROIDERY 101 will be taught by Norma M on EITHER Wed, Feb 15 from 1-3 pm OR Sat, Feb 18 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm.  This is the perfect class for beginners and a springboard for more difficult classes that Norma teaches in embellishment and silk ribbon embroidery.  There will be an inexpensive kit containing fabric, floss, and a needle.  There is also a recommended pocket stitch guide ($4.95).  As this is a basic skills class for more advanced projects, it will be offered again. 

CLASS Fee:  $20.00 plus kit ($3.00)
CLASS Maximum:  6 students  

 

Jelly Roll Race, pieced by Mary J and quilting by Quality Quilting

The GREAT JELLY ROLL RACE class will be on Mon, Feb. 27th starting at 10:30 am.  The sample is pieced by Mary J and she will be teaching this exciting class.  Seating is limited to 8 "drivers," so sign up soon!

CLASS fee:  $10 plus a jelly roll
CLASS Maximum:  8 students 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blackbird Designs basket, sample made by Teresa R

BEGINNER GLUE STICK HAND APPLIQUE,

taught by Teresa R, will take the fear out of this technique on SAT, March 1 from 10:30 am - 1:30 pm.  She will use a simple basket pattern to teach this simple method, and you will practice with additional shapes so that you will be able to tackle any applique pattern with confidence.
CLASS Fee:  $25.00
CLASS Maximum:  8 students

Representative sample made by Norma M

SILK RIBBON

EMBROIDERY 101 will be taught by Norma M on Wed, March 14 from 1-4 pm.  While this is a beginner class working with silk ribbon, you need to know basic embroidery stitches or have taken EMBROIDERY 101 to take this class.

 CLASS Fee:  $25.00
CLASS Maximum:  6 students

Sample made by MaryLiz S

HEXAGON FLOWERS will be taught by MaryLiz S on Tues, March 13 from 1-3 pm.  This is a hand sewing class that will teach you the basics of English paper piecing.  It is portable and the hexagon shape is easy for a beginner.  These can be turned into small projects, or an entire bed quilt, and are scrap-friendly...making them is satisfying and quite addictive! 
CLASS Fee:  $15
CLASS Maximum:  8 students      

Sample made by MaryLiz S

HEXAGON FLOWER MINI WALL HANGING is a 2-PART class offered by MaryLiz S on two Thursdays, March 8 & 22 from 10:30-3:00 pm on both days (with a 1/2 hour lunch break from 12:30-1 pm).  This small, quick project will teach the big skills of English paper piecing, hand applique, "Big Stitch" quilting, binding, and adding a hanging sleeve to finished projects.  If you already have some hand sewing experience, this faster-paced class is for you.  The first 4-hour session will be hand sewing, then there will be a little "homework" to finish up before returning with your sewing machine for the second 4-hour session.
CLASS Fee:  $45
CLASS Maximum:  8 students