July-August 2011 Newsletter of Classes

I slipped the collar and disappeared for a week and while I was gone, Linda Kay and Pearl put the final touches on our new schedule of classes. If you are subscribed to our newsletter, you will be receiving this in an email form in a few days, as well. But you get a jump on the others by reading the blog! (and I thank you for reading the blog)

Here it is for your downloading/printing needs.

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At first glance, you will see that July is devoted to getting everyone well underway towards Christmas and gift-giving projects. There is something for everyone and especially for fast and fun things to make and present.

August is definitely more laid-back and traditional but you will find, even there, some fast projects like pillows and table toppers and runners.

Sign up early before the classes fill and please, if you must cancel, do let us know as timely as possible to allow others on the waiting list an opportunity to take your vacated spaces.

Amy Bradley BOM

We are rapidly approaching the last months of a couple of our Blocks of the Month and gearing up for our next offering. This one, keeping with our "Christmas in July" theme will be a 6 month BOM, Amy Bradley's Merry Christmas!

Once again, Amy Bradley has designed some wonderfully whimsical patterns that can be embellished with embroidery and rhinestones and buttons. It is perfect for machine (fusible) applique or the more traditional needleturn. And because the blocks are not complicated, you won't be working on this endlessly.....

Now click on the reindeer and see the lovely workmanship by Jayne below. I love how the bulbs glow...
The gingerbreadman, below, being made by Celeste is only fused at this point in time and waiting for his smile.....

The patterns include all the penguins and nut-crackers you see here as well, so you can switch things up if you are so inclined.

If you saw our Dog BOM and the UFO BOM from a few years back, you know how "happy" these quilts look.

They will become available at the start of July, so give us a call or drop in and sign up.

Shop Hop 2011 -UPDATED!!!!!

I know, I know... It's just June, right?

Well, that means August is not far away and August is synonymous 'round these parts with Shop Hop, "Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler"!

It's back, it's BIGGER and it's bodacious! With eight stores participating across the lower half of Louisiana, we are gearing up and getting ready for what we believe will the best Hop yet!

As always, passports go on sale July 15 at all the shops for $5.00, they will include the valuable coupons for every store and the Grand Prize this year is an AccuQuilt Go system! The lucky winner will be cranking out quilt pieces by September.... you lucky lucky thing!

You'll have 3 days to travel and visit the stores, get your passport stamped and fill out a chance for each store's prize Gift Basket. Get all 8 stamps and you are entered for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the Grand Prize!

So call your quilting friends and start making plans to buddy up and join in the fun. You know the more is the merrier!

ROAD TRIP!!!!!

Up-Date!!!!- Now, SPEAKING OF ROAD TRIPS!!!!! Pearl, Mona and Brenda are organizing a bus to take hoppers on Saturday leaving Mandeville and headed to the 3 shops in West Louisiana: The Borne Quilter, The Quilt Cupboard and the Quilting Niche. Why not just sit back, hang out with your friends and let someone else worry about the directions, right? Box meals will be included in the final cost, so if this sounds like your cup of tea, give us a call and get on the list. Space is limited and you'll hit all the shops in one fun day. 985 - 845-9554.

We are working on the Theme quilt and will post another blogblurb shortly to reveal all.

Kathy Brown's Strip-Smart Quilts

It was a packed space last Saturday here at Bright Hopes Quilting, when Kathy Brown brought her new book and accompanying trunk show.

Oh to be so up-close to the quilts and feel the fabric, linger over the quilting designs..... and be able to ask Kathy, what is this fabric!? Case in point: The Twist

Okay?

Now check out the back!

And now the quilting.

When I saw this one in the book, it's softness was apparent but in person, the subtlety of color and simplicity of quilting just took my breath away! And the fabric was so soft and alluring. It was everything I love in a quilt! I wanted to curl up in it in some corner immediately and just just keep going over the rest of the book.

Here's Carlyn and Meliss, two of the Wednesday quilters, in front of Merry-Go-Round, one of the many bright quilts you'll find in the book.

So, when this whacky-looking ruler showed up, we were all asking each other, "What do you make with that!?" The answer is: "A lot more than you think!" and so much so, Kathy is in the process of designing new quilts for a second book.

She had even more exciting news to reveal! She showed us photos of her new fabric line that should be hitting "market" in the fall. And let me tell you, they are beautiful. What a talented woman we have living just down the road from us in Baton Rouge.

I enjoyed seeing the actual quilts, watching Kathy demonstrate and reveal the tips she has to make make these vibrant quilts. It's always fun to compare the photographs to the originals; in this case is proof to the pudding that this quality is at a high standard indeed with "Strip-Smart Quilts."

Someone at the demo said (I'm paraphrasing here), "You speak like you write in the book. Your personality comes through." and she truly does. She has pulled from her life and weaved anecdotes to the patterns.

Now, I wonder if she'll share the recipe for those good-looking brownies on page 26!