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Newsletter
Applique - We share your passion!
Issue: #77

August 2016

In This Issue
HALLOWEEN - 2 Fabric Applique Quilt Pattern - Creative Colors
CHRISTMAS SOCKS - Runner and Borders pattern: Using your stash
TULIP VASES - Hawaiian Wall Quilt Pattern: How do I begin?
COMING EVENTS
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CURRENT

INTERNET SPECIAL

Halloween       

2 Fabric Applique Quilt   

 

Halloween  

 Sale Price: $10.00

(Regular Price: $12.00)

 Purchase yours here 

 

 $2 US postage

Top Ten Songs to Quilt To
Musings from Mark

Connie and I both have a passion for the arts. Hers is more visual and mine is more auditory. I enjoy attending art galleries and quilt shows with her and she attends live music concerts with me. people_cheering_festival.jpg While quilting is a visual activity, listening to a great old song while you quilt can only add to the enjoyment of quilting. I selected the list below based on several factors. First, the songs must be happy. Thus, the blues and rap are out. I have never seen a quilt with a sad theme. Also, to keep you awake and inspired, the songs must have a steady, fast-paced beat. Finally, I selected the songs with the audience in mind. These are songs many of us grew up with and have continued to enjoy.
  1. Blinded by the Light, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, 1977. The song was written and performed by Bruce Springsteen; however, the Springsteen version was flat and uninspiring. Although the song might be a little too "hard" and loud for many quilters, I selected it number 1 because of the creativity and complexity of the remake. The song has depth and texture. It flows together well.   This song will inspire you to push the boundaries with your quilts and let your creative juices flow.
  2. Happy, Pharrell Williams, 2014. How could you not fall in love with this catchy song and video. You quilt because it makes you happy, so what better song to quilt by.
  3. You've got a Friend, Carole King (or if you prefer, James Taylor), 1971. While quilting can be a solitary activity, many quilter join guilds to share ideas and to learn from each other. Being with others who share your passion for quilting can add to the experience. I am sure many of you have long-time close friendship with your quilting friends. This song will remind you of your friends while you are creating a quilt masterpiece.
  4. All shook up, Elvis Presley, 1956. I am sure that many of you are fans of The King. The song has a great beat that will keep you quilting.
  5. Good vibrations, Beach Boys, 1966. The Beach Boys trademark is their falsetto harmony. The song had a great beat to keep you quilting. Besides, it makes me think of Hawaiian quilts from Pacific Rim Quilt Company.
  6. Light My Fire, The Doors, 1967. The song is a blend of superb vocals, inventive guitar riffs and amazing keyboard solos. The various parts of the song a pieced together in a seamless fashion, just like an art quilt. The song is played with an intensity that will definitely keep you awake.
  7. Happy Together, The Turtles,1967. This meets the criterion for a happy song with and snappy beat. Happy, happy, happy. Keep on quilting with a smile.
  8. Theme from "A Summer Place", Percy Faith, 1960. The song set an all-time record of number 1 on the Billboard Hits for nine straight weeks. The instrumental song was inspired by the movie with Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. It was also in my favorite movie: Animal House. The song was also released by Percy Faith in a disco version in 1976. Fortunately, this version did not make the charts.
  9. Twist and Shout, The Beatles, 1963. The Beatles have had so many number one hits, but this is not one of them and it was one of the few Beatles songs not written by Lennon and McCartney. John sings this with a raspy passion. During the recording, he had a sore throat and was sucking on cough drops. The song was first made famous by the Isley Brothers and has also recorded by The Who. However, the song was probably most known for Matthew Brodericks lip sync version from the movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
  10. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Crosby, Still and Nash, 1969. The vocal harmonies are inspiring. Image fiber harmonies in your quilts.
 
Honorable mention: Here Comes the Sun, by the Beatles (Connie's personal favorite); Fields of Gold, by Sting; Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, by Simon and Garfunkel; Crocodile Rock, by Elton John.

CRUISE TO HAWAII WITH NANCY and CONNIE
An opportunity you do not want to miss      
 
"Have you ever thought about what your PERFECT VACATION would be like?  We have, for years.  And now that dream is coming true, and we hope you'll join Connie and I for the fun:
Sailing aboard a cruise ship for 15 glorious, relaxing, fun-filled days; surrounded by other quilters who love (or want to learn to love) hand applique.

The Grand Princess sets sail from beautiful San Francisco on March 10, 2017, and arrives in Hilo, Hawaii on March 15th.  Then on to Honolulu (16th), Lahina Maui (17th), and Nawilili, Kaua'i (18th).
Then we sail for four days on our way to Ensinada (March 23rd), and back again to San Francisco on March 24th.

All those wonderful destinations!  What could be finer?
 
Well, let's add to the itinerary a 4-day workshop with me (while sailing to the Islands), learning how to design your personal wall Hawaiian quilt, and learning my needleturn applique techniques. AND, on the way from Hawaii to Ensinada, begin making a 2FAQ quilt with my wonderful and patient guidance. 

Imagine, only having to pack and unpack your suitcases twice -- once on-board the Grand Princess cruise ship, and once again when we arrive back in San Francisco.

Spending day after glorious day surrounded by sea, sun, fabric, and quilters!  Yep, that sounds like a slice of Heaven to us. 

For details and reservations contact:
www.facebook.com/ExquisiteTravelAdventures
Janet St Peter, with Exquisite Travel Adventures.
Phone: 775-781-3951.
Email is: janet.stpeter@avoyanetwork.com   
 

   

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In addition to the new patterns, I am getting everything ready for our next quilt show in San Diego at the end of the month. This will be a big one and Mark and I are going to be vending at this one together. I am looking forward to it!  ROAD TRIP!

We have had an incredibly busy month here at Pacific Rim Quilt Company. In addition to filling orders for all of our wonderful customers we are working on several new patterns. I had hoped to announce them in this newsletter, however, it is not meant to be. I am still adjusting and tweaking patterns and instructions. I do not want them to arrive at your door with errors! Then they will be sent to the printer and then assembled.

I absolutely love this part of the business. The possibilities are endless and all of you are so good and giving us your suggestions and ideas! New and exciting things to come.

Follow us on Facebook for the up to the minute updates on New Patterns.

Mark and I will be traveling to San Diego at the end of the month to vend at the San Diego Quilt Show 2016. We look forward to meeting some of you there. Please come by and introduce yourself! For more information please visit the show website in the link above. 

Come see us and stock up on your favorite patterns, fabrics, thread and notions! We will have everything you need to fuel your fall projects. 


Mahalo,
Connie   
Halloween: 2 Fabric Applique Quilt Pattern

Creative Colors        
Halloween 2FAQ quilt

Do you decorate for Halloween? It is the second-most decorated holiday in the US. Everyone seems to get into the act, adults as well as kids. 

Traditionally we think of black and orange as Halloween colors, but when you are considering making this quilt why not consider alternatives. How about Lime Green, Purple, Brown, midnight blue, or gold. It works very well with a dark applique fabric on a light background or a light applique fabric on a dark background. The possibilities are endless.

Halloween by Helen Roehl
Quilt created by Helen Roehl
This 2 Fabric Applique Pattern is a great one to consider using fusible and machine stitching. You can have it ready to hang for your Halloween Celebration in just a day or two. I also think there are so many possibilities to have fun with the quilting. Have you ever considered using metallic thread? You could also quilt additional spider webs, a spider, ghost or a crow or two... The list could go on and on.
 
I have quite a few fabric packs to go along with the Halloween pattern on the website. Take a look but please remember these are only suggestions. You can choose ANY fabric pack and mix it with any 2 Fabric Applique Pattern.  The possibilities are endless. We love to see what you have come up with so please email them to me at connie@prqc.com or share them with us on Facebook.

Halloween, 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. 
Christmas Socks: Runner and Borders patterns

Using your Stash
 
I know all of us as quilters have a stash of fabrics and have fabrics we are not quite sure what to do with. They are either too small for a larger project or scraps from that King size quilt you just finished. I think that our Christmas Socks Pattern is the perfect stash buster. I created the above version using some sample pieces of tropical fabrics.  The shape and arrangement itself says Christmas, you do not have to use Christmas Fabrics. Having said that it is wonderful in Christmas Fabric's as shown below.
Christmas Socks - 400
Another fun idea would be to use some of that lovely wool that is available these days. The shapes are perfect for a primitive wool version of Christmas and talk about traditional! I can just imagine what fun it would be to do the blanket stitch around these stockings. Who will be the first to give this a try? I was hoping to do it but have not, so I am sharing the idea with you. 
 
Sock mat 3 This pattern
also includes
a couple
versions of the socks which are perfect for place mats or a small wall hanging. Christmas is just around the corner! 

Christmas Socks, Runner and Border Quilt pattern, 13" x 70", $12.00. Purchase yours here. 
Tulip Vases: Hawaiian Wall Quilt Pattern

How do I begin? 

Tulip Vases Last Month I talked about how easy it was to make a Hawaiian Quilt. It is very easy but you do need to follow the instructions.

I wanted to share with you a couple of things that I had problems with when I was making my first Hawaiian Quilt using a pattern. First of all READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! I am saying this from firsthand experience.  I am one of those people that glance through a pattern and look at the pictures and a few of the words and think, "I know it all..." WRONG. On my first attempt I folded the fabric the wrong way because I did not read the sentence that says fold right sides together (I would like to add that it is in bold letters too). Of course I did it with both pieces, the background and the applique fabric. This creates a problem when you go to unfold your fabric one section at a time and your fabric has the wrong-side out. This is not the end of the world however but it is more difficult when you have to unfold this piece all the way and very gently place it and move it around to get the placement correct. If I had done it correctly in the first place it would not have taken so long to get the applique in place.

Tulip block I also want to remind you it is very important to pay attention the placement of your patterns. Make sure you have the bias on the bias fold and the straight fold on the straight fold.  If you are doing one of our patterns like Anthurium or Delicate Beauty where the fabric is only folded in fourths you want to be extra careful that you have your pattern on the straight folds.

So, here is my confession. I am telling you Tulip Vases, orange this so it will not happen to you! :-) 

Enjoy the process, one step at a time. 

Tulip Vases, Hawaiian Wall Quilt Pattern, 42" square with a 21" block, $12.00, Purchase yours here.

 
Hawaiian Quilt video cover

We have a wonderful DVD that will walk you through every step of creating a Hawaiian Quilt.  It is like having Nancy with you and taking you through the process and you can go back and refresh anytime you would like. This DVD also comes with the Breadfruit pattern.

Hawaiian Quilting with Nancy Lee Chong, DVD, $35.00,  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 Events
  
  • Aug 24, Yelm, WA. Gee Gee's Quilting, Inc. Yes, Nancy is teaching here again, Celtic Knotwork.
  • 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.)
  • Aug 31- Sept 3, 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.
  • Nov 3-6, Houston, TX.
    International Quilt Festival at the George R Brown Convention Center. Amazing quilts and opportunity's for shopping!
2017 Shows, Classes, and Event    
  • Feb 1-2, Camano Island Quilters, Camano Island, WA. Feb 1, 1:00 and 6:00 Presentations: Hawaiian Quilting, Its History, Traditions Superstitions. Feb 2, Hawaiian Applique Workshop.
  • Feb 27-Mar 1 and Mar 2-Mar 4, Williamsburg, VA. Academy of Applique, 3-day Design Your Personal Hawaiian Quilt. Two sessions. You can sign up for one or the other.  These classes fill quickly. Registration Day is Sept 5 at noon eastern time. Classes usually fill up by the end of the day so don't delay.
  •  March 10-15, 15 Day Hawaiian Cruise. Nancy will be teaching a Hawaiian Wall Quilt Workshop as well as 2 Fabric Applique. 7 days of classes.
  • March 27-28, Hayden, ID. North Idaho Quilter's. Hand Quilting Workshop
  • July 9-10, San Fernando Valley Quilters, Northridge, CA. Hawaiian Applique Workshop, Hawaiian Lecture.

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 August 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