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WHAT'S NEW
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18 new colors of cotton thread: Note: All new thread items are at our new 2014 prices. We will continue to hold our 2013 prices on other existing inventory through the end of April. Buy now, before prices go up.
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I HAVE A NOTION
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Introducing you to the notions Nancy & Janice use.
Sewing Gauge with movable slider
The tool we use for marking echo quilt lines. $2.50. Buy yours here.Water Soluble Pencils
A good pencil to mark your echo quilt lines. $8.00 for a pack of 3. Buy yours here.
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LEARN AT HOME
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DVD:
Hawaiian Quilting with Nancy Lee Chong
 In this 2-1/2 hour DVD Nancy teaches you everything you need to know to make your Hawaiian quilt. Starting with your fabric and pattern preparation, cutting, unfolding, basting, appliqueing, marking echo quilt lines, hand quilting, binding, sleeve and label -- it's all here! Plus, the pattern for the 20" Ulu quilt, shown on cover, is included.
These quilts may look difficult, but they are amazingly easy to make. Follow along with Nancy as she shows you each step in clear detail. How great is that, to have the teacher right at home with you as you make your Hawaiian Quilt! Read more about our videos, and purchase yours here for just $35.00.
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QUILT SHOWS
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Look for these vendors
Nancy will be vending at several quilt shows this summer, see her schedule at right.
Remember, our patterns are also sold by other vendors at quilt shows. Visit these booths to see quilt samples and buy our patterns at these shows:
Quilt Festival IX - Denver, CO (May 1-4, 2014)
Home Machine Quilting Show - Salt Lake City, UT (May 8-10, 2014)
- Quilter's Cove
- Quilt Passions
Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival - Del Mar, CA (May 15-17, 2014)
- Quilter's Cove
- Quilt Passions
Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival - Albuquerque, NM (May 22-24, 2014)
Additional shows in summer months are posted on these websites:
We try to publish accurate information, but it is always best to confirm with the vendors if you are making special plans.
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We have always felt incredibly fortunate that we live and work in the world of quilters. You are amazing, up-beat, creative, peaceful, honest, and colorful. You love to create and surround yourself with beautiful things, and those beautiful things help you to stay engaged with the positive things in
 | Dogwood in Spring
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life. We live in a crazy world, bad things happen, but the best way to counter the chaos around us is to focus on the positive.
Quilting, by its very nature is positive. Even when quilts are made in response to horrible events, the purpose of the quilts are to help and heal. What could be more positive than that? So this month we present to you two quilts that especially epitomize the positives in life. We all need more positives.
Nancy gets to stay home and Janice is the one traveling in April, purely for fun! First a visit to Nashville, Tennessee, then on to enjoy AQS QuiltWeek in Paducah, Kentucky. That is a real positive!
What do you have planned for fun this month?
E komo mai,
Welcome,
Nancy & Janice
P. S.
Many of you know that Janice lives, and our business is based in Snohomish, Washington. Snohomish County and the little town of Oso have been in the news a lot this past month because of a devastating landslide. We appreciate all of you who inquired about how close we were to the slide and were we OK. We are fine, thank you. Fortunate for us we do not live near that particular river, so were out of all danger. We do have friends who, while not directly in the slide area, have had their lives disrupted by the disaster. Your concern, thoughts and prayers for all affected are greatly appreciated. Mahalo.
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ORCHID OASIS - Hawaiian Quilt
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Love. Luxury. Beauty. Strength.
 | | Black Orchid |
Once a symbol for virility, the orchid today symbolizes love, luxury, beauty and strength. Orchids come in a dizzying array of colors, shapes and sizes. They can be found as houseplants, and grow everywhere from equatorial jungles to arctic tundra. Adaptation is the key to their success, morphing into 30,000 different species and over 200,000 hybrids!
Janice found this amazing specimen of a black orchid (left) at the Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Gardens on Kaua'i. Contrast that with this one she found somewhere else in Hawaii (right).  For a quilt designer, the orchid provides a never-ending source of inspiration.
IDEA: Visit a local orchid or botanical garden this month. Absorb the colors, revel in the diversity.
Our Orchid Oasis pattern depicts a cluster of four orchids in the small center medallion, and a lei of orchids for a border. The presence of a medallion and lei often raises the question of how to echo quilt around the lei and the medallion. What happens when the quilting lines start to bump into each other? A good question, read the next article for the answer.
 | | Orchid Oasis |
Internet Special: Normally the Orchid Oasis pattern sells for $12.00. For a limited time it is only $10.00. 42" x 42". Buy the pattern here. Find Fabric Packs for your quilt here. |
ECHO QUILTING WITH A BORDER
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Merging lines
The concept of echo quilting is easy: Evenly spaced rows of quilting radiating out from the applique. Like this picture from our Orchid Oasis quilt, at right.
But what do you do when quilting lines begin to merge between a center medallion and an outer border? Or in the center of a quilt that has a large open center? Or, when the shapes of the applique cause the lines to bump into each other? The principles are the same. 
- You want an equal number of quilting rows coming from each direction until the lines meet.
- You need to draw the lines in from each direction to find where they will meet before doing any stitching in that area.
- You do not control the shapes created by the intersecting lines, they will be what they will be.
Here are the basics for how to make this happen:
- Stretch your quilt in a hoop in the area you are working.
- While the quilt is taught in the hoop, use a chalk pencil and ruler to mark an equal number of rows coming from all directions. (We space quilt rows 1/2" apart on wall quilts, and 5/8" apart on bed quilts.) At some point the x row from one direction will meet the x row from another direction. Those two lines stop where they touch.
- If there is room for another row, or more, keep drawing lines until the space is filled, joining each subsequent pair of rows.
Notice the third row coming off the medallion connects with the 3rd row coming off the border. Also notice that to the right it is the second row from each direction that meets.
This shapes created in this way are not something you determine ahead of time. As you mark from multiple directions into a space, with an equal number of rows, they will meet where they meet; forming odd shapes that will be what they are.
 Echo quilting is not reserved for Hawaiian quilts only. True, we naturally think of echo quilting on Hawaiian quilts, but, you can echo quilt any style of quilt -- by hand or machine. Here we sketched on a pattern page what the echo quilting would look like on a Tea Ceremony quilt.
For more detailed instructions and more photos to help with your echo quilting go to the How-To and Ideas page on our website.
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TEA CEREMONY - 2 Fabric Applique Quilt
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Harmony. Respect. Purity. Tranquility.
 | | Tea Ceremony |
Tea-drinking is central to social gatherings in many countries. Tea parties, tea rooms, tea time, afternoon tea, high tea...warm and soothing, or cold and refreshing, makes for good conversation with friends. A haven in a busy day. It just seems so civilized, calming--promoting positive qualities we certainly want to embrace all the time.
An essential element of the Japanese Tea Ceremony is a hanging scroll of calligraphy, appropriate to the purpose of the event. Harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility (the glyphs, or kanji, on this quilt) are traits central to The Way of the Tea, and often are on the chosen calligraphy scroll. Definitely positive characteristics we want to emulate.
IDEA: On your quilt, embroider or ink the words for the kanji under or beside each applique. Then hang the quilt where you can contemplate these positive qualities in your life. Tea Ceremony, 24" x 36", $12.00. Purchase your pattern here.
Find Fabric Packs for your Tea Ceremony quilt here.
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COMING EVENTS
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Nancy's Whereabouts:
Making plans for Spring and Summer travel? Here are opportunities to take a class from Nancy or catch a presentation at shows, shops and guilds. Most guilds welcome visitors, so don't be shy.
Make your plans now for one or more of these events:
2014 Shows, Classes, and Events:
- May 17-18, Grants Pass, OR. Nancy will be vending at the Rogue Valley Piecemakers Quilt Show.
- May 24-25, Brookings, OR. Nancy will be vending at the Azalea Quilters Guild Quilt Show.
- June 11 & 14, Simi Valley, CA. Simi Valley Quilt Guild. Hawaiian quilting presentation and 2FAQ class.
- June 12-13, Northridge, CA. Valley Quiltmakers. Hawaiian quilting presentation and class.
- June 18, Baltimore, MD. Baltimore Applique Society. Hawaiian quilting presentation.
- June 19-21, Baltimore, MD. Faithful Circle Quilters. Hawaiian quilting presentation and Hawaiian quilt design class.
- June 27-29, Medford, OR. Nancy will be vending at the Mountain Stars Biennial Quilt Show.
- August 1-3, Newport, OR. Nancy will be vending at the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild Quilt 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.
Academy of Quilting
If you do not live where you can take a class from Nancy in person, then perhaps an online class at Academy of Quilting would work for you.
Academy of Quilting brings you the joy of learning quilting, applique & patchwork in the comfort of your home with online classes. Nancy's next class begins:
- April 18, Baltimore Basics
- April 25, Make Your Own Hawaiian Quilt
Schedule Nancy now for your show or event in 2014, 2015, and beyond. 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.
Piggy-backing is good!
Nancy is always eager to teach or speak at more than one location when she travels. If she is able to book multiple events, then each group shares in her travel expenses. So it is just an economical and efficient way to book. If you see that Nancy will be anywhere near* you, then contact her to see if additional engagements can be arranged during the same trip. That way EVERYONE WINS!
*Remember, Nancy is traveling from Oregon. So near means that if she will be in Florida even Virginia is near. Think regionally.
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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
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