Summer 2010 News

Beginner Quilting Camp Weeks June 21-25 and July 12–16

The shop will be closed

Saturday, July 3rd.

Enjoy the holiday!

Stashblasters:

If you are new to Stashblasters…we offer a half hour tutorial on a particular pattern, technique or block to use up your stash fabric you have been accumulating. We do this a half hour before the shop opens on a Saturday morning, downstairs at the cutting table. One of us will do the demo and show you the quilt we made, you then get the pattern to go home and try it yourself. We also like to have a show and tell from any of the previous statshblaster classes if you have made your own quilt. This is a great motivator to get through your older fabric and it helps you get over some of that guilt for having so much fabric. Please call ahead so we have materials ready for you. The cost is $5 and we will have the coffee and bakery ready when you arrive.

Dates: Saturday 10am – 10:30am

June 12, July 17 and August 28th

MTU Fabric

We have finally located some Michigan Tech
Fabric!!! By the time you read this it should be in our shop and on our web site. This fabric has the official MTU Husky Logo with the words Michigan Tech under the logo. It runs 60" wide and sells for $10 yd. I think every MTU student, alumni and future student needs a quilt and matching pillowcase made with that!
New Gadgets and Gizmos

You know you are getting old when you catch yourself saying, "where has the time gone?" I just cannot believe I am writing the summer newsletter. What an easy winter and beautiful spring we have had! Not too mention summer in May. I don’t know about you, but I have had a very hard time staying focused on quilt projects. The weather was so nice I was actually in my kayak on April 1st and have my goals for my perennial garden already met for the entire summer. Time to get back in the sewing room! I am really looking forward to getting to quilt market and getting re-inspired! Joanne and I have decided to cut back on classes a little bit and focus more on getting projects done. It seems classes have really been the area people have cut back with the lagging economy and focusing on using up their stash. For that reason we have added additional Stashblaster classes for the summer to help you get through that mound of fabric you have been hanging on to. I have been enjoying revisiting some of my old fabric as well.

Strawberry Festival

Don’t forget to come to the quilt show. We work very hard to put on the show and we definitely need the support of the community to make it a success. If you are interested in helping us set up the show, hang quilts or make little displays at the show just come to the Trinity Lutheran Church on July 8th, Thursday at 9:30am ready to work and we will find you a job. All the proceeds go to the Copper Country Humane Society and they really appreciate this donation every year. This year we have a special exhibit planned from Pam Beal and her husband Wayne Walma of Mass City. This duo has a business called Over the Fence Designs, and they have found a beautiful way to combine their talents of quilting and woodworking. They will be on hand to show you how easy it is to frame your beautiful quilts in wood to give them a whole new purpose. We will have 2 different challenge quilt categories for viewing.

Dates to Remember:

Ironwood Quilt Show, Sat., Sept. 18, 10am– 4:30pm cst

Gaylord Quilt Show, Saturday, October 1 & 2

Marquette Quilt Show, Sat. and Sun., October 16 & 17

Silver City Quilt Retreat, October 21 – 24

Marshfield Quilt Show, Oct. 29-30

Minocqua Quilt Show, Aug.7-8, 10am-4pm cst

Art Quilters meet every

3rd Wednesday afternoon 1:30-3:30pm, join them!!!

Classes:

Beginning Quiltmaking with Joanne $40

This class is designed for the very beginner. You will learn how to cut your fabric, piece your quilt top, quilt your quilt and bind it. We start with the first session all together and then work out dates for future classes depending on all the students schedules. It usually takes 3 sessions to complete your quilt. This is the best class to take if you have always wanted to learn how. 10am – 3pm Saturday, June 26

The Next Step with Joanne $30

This class is a follow up to the beginner quiltmaking class. If you have taken the beginner class and are ready for the next step this is your class. This class will cover strip piecing and making triangles. You will learn a variety of techniques to make half square triangles to find the one that suits your style best. You will also learn how to properly square up your quilt blocks and set them. Saturday, July 24, or Thurs., Aug. 19, 10:30am-3pm.

Northwoods Nightfall Loon Wool Applique with Judy $15

If you have wanted to learn wool appliqué this is a great place to start. We have found a wonderful pattern at quilt market that really screams Keweenaw. It’s a beautiful loon and 2 lady slipper flowers. Finished size is appx. 16" x 20". The techniques covered in class will be transferring the design to wool, hand stitching the blanket stitch, French knot, and fly stitch to connect the borders. 10:30am – 3:30pm, Tuesday, July 20 or Thursday, July 29, or Tuesday, August 24.

10 Minute Blocks Quilt with Judy $15

3 seams and you have a beautiful block! It truly is 10 minutes or less if you can press fast! This quilt is a great way to use up stray fat quarters or if you have a layer cake you don’t know what to do with here is your opportunity. This is a beginner type class. If you are more than a beginner you will love the speed of your progress. 10:30am – 3pm Saturday, July 31, or Wednesday, Aug. 4.

Double Diamond Cherry Table Runner with Judy $15

Fuse, cut, fold, press, it doesn’t take much more than that. The double diamond ruler comes with 2 rulers in a pack to give you 2 sizes of beautiful 3 dimensional diamonds to embellish your sewn project. I have made a table runner using cherry fabric which would look perfect on any summer table. Beginner level class. 10:30am-3pm Friday, June 11 or Tuesday, June 29 or Tuesday, Aug. 17

Mini Embroidered Ornaments with Judy $10

These little cuties came from a new designer I found at market. She is a young girl just getting started designing patterns and are they cute! I purchased 2 different Christmas designs and 2 fall/Halloween designs. They look like tiny little quilts and take no time at all to stitch. You will be making them for all of your friends and family once you get started. Basic beginner hand embroidery stitches will be taught and minimal machine work. 10:30am – 2:30pm. Tuesday, July 27 or Thursday, Aug. 26.

Cuddle Quilt with Joanne $10

You won’t find a faster quilt anywhere! We found a new product from Shannon Fabrics called Cuddle and let me tell you, it lives up to its name. It feels like Minkie, but thicker and double sided. All we did was take a yard of the 60" wide fabric and cut it on the fold and bound it with another lovely minkie like fabric. Wow!! I would love to snuggle with that blanket. This class is a great intro into working with these plush poly fabrics. Joanne’s sample is great for a Yooper boy with camouflage as its binding. Let her tell you all her secrets she has learned from using these stretchy little buggers. 10:30 – 12:30pm. Tuesday, June 15 or Wednesday, June 30, or Thursday, July 22.

Magical Mystery Tour with Joanne $15

No it’s not a song, it’s a quilt! Joanne found a cute new pattern to use up fat quarter bundles. If you like the big, graphic, Amy Butler type prints this is a great quilt for using them up. We have used a new fabric company called Riley Blake that carries a bunch of hip young fabrics. If you have a young person in your life they will love this quilt. This quilt uses triangles and basic piecing experience is a must. 10:30am-3pm. Saturday, Aug. 14 or Wednesday, Aug. 25.

Lil’ Twister Twisting Pinwheels with Joanne $15

If you love charm squares but don’t know what to do with them, you need this fun new tool. It’s only $8 and it gives a very complicated look with a very simple piecing. The design finishes looking like tessellating pinwheels. You can turn it into a wall hanging or simple little quilt. It would also make a great bag. 10:30am – 3:30pm. Wednesday, July 7, or Saturday, July 17, or Friday, July 30.

Cash and Carry with Judy $15

Here it is the latest pattern from Terry Atkinson. If you don’t know her name she is the inventor of Yellow Brick Road and Slide Show patterns. I just love her patterns. They are so well written and spelled out so clearly. Her latest venture is a simple coin type purse, in 3 sizes with a super easy zipper! Terry has come up with a way to market a variety of colors in zippers for shop owners to sell at a great price, .90 cents each. They are 14" zippers, but Terry’s method of using them will show you how to cut them down to any smaller length and use them. 10:30am – 3pm. Tuesday, July 6, or Friday, July 23, or Tuesday, Aug. 10 or Saturday, Aug. 28.

Quiltsmart Cell Phone Pouch with Joanne $10

This handy little bag is made from 2 fat quarters and one sheet of preprinted Quiltsmart interfacing. Just sew on the lines and you will have a finished project in no time! Once you have made one of these you will be dying to make another. They are so easy!!! 10:30am – noon. Wednesday, Aug. 18.

Smart Bags by Quiltsmart with Joanne $10

This is another fast little bag that would make a nice tote to leave in the car or a wonderful trick or treat bag for the grand kids. Iron on the Quiltsmart preprinted interfacing and sew on the lines and you can’t believe how easy it is! Make bags in no time at all. 10:30am-noon. Friday, Aug. 27.

Heritage Quilts

Workshop & Display

Saturday, July 31st 1-4pm

Admission $4

Refreshments served

Keweenaw Heritage Center

St. Anne’s

Corner of 5th & Scott St.

Calumet, MI

1:00 pm Presentation by Barbara Eckhoff, Iowa Quilt Historian

The rest of the afternoon Barbara will be examining quilts and speaking about their history. Come & enjoy this unique quilting history lesson. We would be happy to display your family heirloom quilt.

More info: 337-2704 or 337-0353

Summer Quilt Camp for Beginners with Judy and Joanne

If you have always wanted to learn to sew or have a young friend who needs a summer project sign them up for Quilt Camp. We have set aside 2 separate weeks to run the same program so hopefully one of these will suit your schedule.

June 21-25 or July 12-16 The sessions will be from 10:30am until 12:30pm.

The full session of 5 days would cost $100 this will save you $10 if you sign up for all 5 days. This includes all the fabrics, batting and supplies needed except for thread. If you would like to do individual projects, we have a solo project on Monday which will be a cell phone bag and a tote bag that you can pick your own fat quarters from the shop. The cost for just Monday or just Tuesday will be $35. Tuesday’s project will be another bag called the "smart bag" and a pillowcase. The last 3 days we will focus on the quilt.
We will be making a square quilt appx. 50" in size. These fabrics will need to be precut before the camp starts so it is vital you come in at least a week before camp to pick out your fabrics for your quilt. The cost for just the quilt will be $60. Again, these prices include everything needed to make the projects from start to finish. If you need a sewing machine make sure you let us know so we can reserve one for you.
Quilt Retreat

It’s that time of year. Our applications for our annual quilt retreat in Silver City, MI at the Porcupine Mtn. Lodge will be available at the Strawberry Festival Quilt Show or here in the shop that week. We are pleased to say the cost of the retreat is the same as last year, $200 for double occupancy and $265 for a single room. That rate includes a room from Fri. thru Sunday and all meals starting with lunch on Friday ending with breakfast on Sunday and a fabulous goodie bag from the Portage Quilt House. If you are interested in coming a day early we would be happy to reserve your room for you, but you will be responsible for your meals that day and the cost of your room would be $65 that you will have to pay when you check
in on Thursday. There are no scheduled classes so plan to bring some of those unfinished quilt projects. We are still trying to track down some entertainment for Saturday night. We hope to secure a trunk show, so look forward to that. Don’t miss this fun event. Get your form in soon because we fill up fast.
Dates to Remember:

Strawberry Festival Quilt Show Fri., July 9 10am – 6pm and Sat., July 10, 11am – 4pm Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chassell, MI

Come in and see the new Double Diamond Ruler. This is a fun new gizmo to make a very simple tech