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Newsletter
Applique - We share your passion!
Issue: #75

June 2016

In This Issue
DOG and DAISY - 2 Fabric Applique Quilt: Fascinating
WATER LILY - Hawaiian Pattern: The Birth flower for May
COMING EVENTS
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CURRENT

INTERNET SPECIAL

Dog and Daisy      

2 Fabric Applique Quilt   

 

Dog and Daisy 2FAQ  

 Sale Price: $10.00

(Regular Price: $12.00)

 Purchase yours here 

 

 $2 US postage

Travel Adventures
Minnesota State Quilt Show            
          
I traveled to St. Cloud Minnesota for the Annual Minnesota State Quilt Show. It was a great experience but have learned something about myself and that is... I do not wish to be a long haul trucker. I traveled 4,532 miles and drove every mile on my own. It was a fabulous show and the first time this far east for me with PRQC.

While traveling I chose a route where I could visit family along the way. It made it a bit easier and more manageable. I spend a night in Gillette, Wyoming with my sister and her family then on to Sioux Falls South Dakota where my Aunt lives. Then on to St. Cloud where my cousin met me. She worked the booth with me and gave us some incredible time together. I was also lucky enough to connect with my Uncle and Aunt and a couple of my other cousins for dinner.

When the show was over we traveled back to Sioux Falls and made a side trip to Minneota, Minnesota where my ancestors arrived when they came from Iceland. My cousin knew the area very well and was able to show me around and share many stories. I saw where my Grandmother and Grandfather met, where the Icelanders went to church which was not the same church, the Norwegians attended. :-) This made me giggle a bit. The Norwegian church has been replaced but the Icelandic Church remains and since we were there on a Sunday the church was unlocked and we were able to go in and take a look around. It was just fascinating and to see things as they were in the 1800's was wonderful. The cross on the old church was tilted a bit but that is like all of us Icelanders... I was able to visit my Grandmother and Grandfather's graves and left them with a heart shaped rock I found.

This trip was a long one but it was so full of blessings. Who would have thought a quilt show could bring me so many extra blessings!

Are you inspired by your summer travels and family stories for your quilting? Share with us on Facebook
How to and Ideas
Less than perfect fabric selections 

Did you know that we have a, How to and Ideas page on our web site?

One of the questions we have tackled is fabric choices that are not quite what you thought they would be. Have you ever chosen fabrics you love and when you got your 2 Fabric Applique Quilt done you were less than thrilled with the results? We have some suggestions for you.

Take a look.
CRUISE TO HAWAII WITH NANCY
15-day Hawaiian Quilting Cruise       
 
March 10-25, 2017, No Sewing machine required! Classes are taught while we are at Sea.  Nancy will be teaching a Hawaiian Wall Quilt workshop as well as a 2 Fabric Applique Quilt workshop. 7 days of classes. I will be joining her to assist and have a little shop set up.

Come and join us for an exciting vacation filled with laughter, learning, sunshine and umbrella drinks!

Reserve your quilters cruise early as space is limited for this popular itinerary and learning experience on hand applique.



For details and reservations contact: Janet St Peter, with Exquisite Travel Adventures.  Her number is: 775-781-8951 
ACADEMY OF QUILTING WITH NANCY LEE CHONG
On-line and on demand        
 
If you don't live where you can take a class from Nancy in person, check out Academy of Quilting  where Nancy's classes are all "on demand." That means you can take Nancy's classes from anywhere at any time you want.

Here is a list of her classes. Check them out:

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Oh what a year, by Mark Sayler (Connie's husband).

June 1, 2016.  One year ago today, we bought Pacific Rim Quilt Company from Nancy and Janice. It has been a great year, thanks to our many wonderful customer's.

Let's go back several years. Connie and Nancy had become good friends. They share their love of art, quilts, and a love of life. Connie had been a stay-at-home mom for over 25 years and was thinking about the future. As some of you may know, employers want job experience and seem uninterested in the fact that Connie managed the high school snowboard and crew teams for four years. On a lark, Connie mentioned that she might be interested in buying PRQC if Nancy and Janice ever wanted to retire. It turned out that they did, sort of.  Although they are no longer managing the day-to-day operations of PRQC, Janice is happily producing the most amazing hand-dyed fabric and Nancy is extremely busy with teaching engagements.

Our first year has been a wonderful learning experience. Connie learned to design quilts, program the website using HTML, PayPal and QuickBooks. Fortunately, Nancy and Janice helped show us the ropes. They also shared some of their "secrets" of success, like producing a high quality product for a reasonable price. Not so secret. We strive to maintain their excellent customer service standards, such as mailing within 24 hours for the placement of an order.

In the past year we have been to seven quilt shows. This year, we are planning to attend larger, distant quilt shows like the show in Minnesota, San Diego and Houston, with many smaller quilt shows in between. We are enjoying talking to customers who have used our patterns in the past and customers new to our patterns.

I asked Connie what she felt her biggest success was. She gave me two. First, learning to maintain the website with no downtime and designing her first two quilts: Dog and Daisy and Cat Nap.

One of my jobs is to help assemble orders and then take the packages to the post office. I am amazed how far and wide we ship. I don't have the exact numbers, but I think we have shipped to all fifty states plus Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Each time I look at a package, I wonder what our customer look like, what her house looks like, her family and so on. If I could, I would like to hand deliver each package so I could meet all of our customers.

So, what is next? First, several new patterns. Our customers have given us some great ideas. Also, continue to expand into social media. We now have a Facebook page with over 1,000 followers.
Pinterest and Instagram have been a great way to share our story also.

We want to thank the many existing customers who welcomed the transition and to our new customers. We look forward to serving you for the years to come.

Mahalo,
Mark & Connie   
Dog and Daisy: 2 Fabric Applique Quilt Pattern

Man's Best Friend      

Dog and Daisy was my first Design for PRQC. It feels fitting that it be our internet special this month. Our dog Butch was the inspiration for this quilt. Designing this quilt was something new for me and as Mark said in his article it is one of my biggest accomplishments this year. Doing something for the first time is always scary and putting my designs out there is a first for me.

Rose, one of our customers made this quilt her own. She took the Dog and Daisy pattern and added a border and make it into a quilt for her grandson who has a Yellow Labrador. It is the ultimate compliment to have my pattern used to create something so special.

Since our Butch is a "Career Change Dog" from Guide Dogs for the Blind we have decided that a portion of the sales from the Dog and Daisy Pattern will be donated to Guide Dogs.    
 
Dog and Daisy, 2 Fabric Applique Quilt pattern, 24" x 36".  Normally this pattern sells for $12.00. For a limited time, it is the Internet Special for just $10.00.Purchase yours here. 
Come take a look at all of the new fabric packs that have been added.  The fabric packs can be used for the pattern of your choosing. Janice has also been busy in her dying room and we have a great new selection of Sunset fabrics.  Which are your favorites? 
Water Lily: Hawaiian Pattern

Minnesota the Land of 10,000 Lakes  

Water Lily-lilac As I traveled through Minnesota I thought about the state's nickname, Land of 10,000 Lakes. I grew up in Wyoming which has very few lakes.

My parents were raised in Minnesota and we would return there every summer to spend time with my Grandmother. She lived on one of those lakes. It was such a beautiful place to spend time. There are so many things that I saw for the first time since the climate was so different from that where I lived. One of these things were Water Lilies. There are not many Water Lilies in Wyoming! I am constantly amazed how diverse the plants are from one region of the US to another. 
Water Lilies

Water Lilies grow in ponds lake and along the edges of streams. 
 
Water Lily, Hawaiian Quilt pattern, 42" x 42", $12.00.  Purchase yours here
COMING EVENTS
Connie & Nancy's Whereabouts:
The Spring and Summer quilt show and travel season is shaping up! Make your plans now to shop with Connie and learn from Nancy in 2016. Here are places where you can find one or both of us, watch a presentation, take a class at a shop or guild, or find us at a quilt show. Most guilds welcome visitors, so don't be shy.
  
Make your plans now for one or more of these events: 
  
2016 Shows, Classes, and Event
  • June 24-25, Medford, OR. Mountain Stars Quilters Guild "Cherish the Old, Embrace the New" Quilt Show. WOW, more shopping!
  • July 7, Yelm, WA. Gee Gee's Quilting, Inc. Nancy will be teaching Hawaiian Applique.
  • July 11-12, Sandpoint, ID. Panhandle Piecemakers. Nancy will be teaching Chong Way to Applique, Hand Quilting and speaking. 
  • July 13, Hope, ID. Clark Fork Valley Quilters. Learn 2 Fabric Applique from Nancy.
  • July 19-23, Kona, HI. Join Nancy for 4 days of workshops at Quilting on the Beach Summer Camp
    • 7/19, 2 Fabric Applique
    • 7/20-21, Hand Applique Landscapes            
    • 7/22, Hibiscus Vase Hand Applique              
    • 7/23, Show, Nancy is the featured Quilter
  • Aug 16, Sevierville, TN. Nancy will be teaching 2 Fabric Applique
  • Aug 24, Yelm, WA. Gee Gee's Quilting, Inc. Yes, Nancy is teaching here again, Hawaiian Applique.
  • Aug 30, Anacortes, WA. Come for one of Nancy's Applique Mystery classes, Mysterious Merry-go-Round. (if this sounds like fun, consider hiring her to come and teach one of her four applique mystery classes.)
  • Sept 31, San Diego, CA, San Diego 35th Annual Quilt Show at the San Diego Convention Center. Even more shopping and quilts.
  • Sept 8-10, Medford, OR. Mountain Stars Quilt Guild. 2 Fabric Applique (a rare 2 day workshop) and Hawaiian Lecture with Nancy.
  • Sept 23-24, Philomath, OR. Mary's River Quilt Guild. Nancy will be speaking and teaching 2 Fabric Applique.
Register NOW for classes. They can fill quickly, or be canceled if not enough people register in advance. 
 
Schedule Nancy now for your show or event in 2016, 2017 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 really 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 Washington State. So "near" means that if she will be in Virginia even Florida or Maine is near. Think regionally.

Looking ahead, Nancy is returning to the Academy of Applique in Williamsburg, Virginia.  Feb 27 - Mar 3, 2017.  Contact Nancy if you live on the East Coast and want to schedule Nancy to visit your guild either just before or just after these dates.

And Nancy will be visiting the San Fernando Valley Quilters in California July 8-10, 2017.  Let Nancy know if your guild would like to piggy-back with that trip.  

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 hearing from you.

A hui hou,
Until next time,

 Connie & Nancy

Copyright

Contents of this newsletter copyright June 2016 by Pacific Rim Quilt Company. No part of this newsletter may be used in any form or reproduced in any media without written consent of Pacific Rim Quilt Company (PRQC).

Items made from our patterns and the articles in this newsletter may be used for personal use only. Items made from PRQC patterns may not be sold or used for commercial purposes. Copyrights on individual artworks not made from our patterns are retained by the artists.

Go to our website to read more specifics: Copyrights
 
Mahalo for your kokua
Thank you for your understanding