Shop Hop 2013 is NEXT MONTH!!!

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler, Y'all! 

We are now selling Shop Hop Passports!

Passports are $5.00 and include a $5.00 coupon for each participating Shop Hop store.

  

The coupon can be used for regularly-priced merchandise with a $25.00 purchase. Customers purchasing a passport are eligible to buy a 2013 Shop Hop Pin, (which are beautiful!), for $5.50.

   

Each participating shop will be selling their "quilt block" kit for $5.00. In addition, each shop will sell finishing kits for their individual quilt setting. As you hop, don't forget to look at each quilt. This year, all the block fabrics are identical and each setting is unique to each store.

  

 Here is the Bright Hopes Quilting Quilt for 2013

   

   

Every shop has their own prize basket as well; this is ours!! 

You won't believe the goodies we packed inside, valued at $250.00!

  

And when you drop your name in the tray, you will be in the running to win it. If you get your passport stamped in every shop, you are entered to win the Grand Prize,  a rotating Tower to hold books, fabrics, notions, rulers, threads and has a dry-erase board and bulletin board. It's really cool!!
  

  

Here is a run-down of all the participating shops:

Bright Hopes Quilting in Mandeville, LA

Sew This! in Abita Springs, LA

Mama's Quilt Shop in Independence, LA

Mes Amis in New Orleans, LA

The Quilted Owl in Jefferson, LA (under the Huey P. Long Bridge)

Cottage Creations in St. Gabriel, LA

Fabric Krazy in Baton Rouge, LA

The Quilt Niche in Houma, LA

The Quilt Cupboard in Morgan City, LA

The Borne Quilter, Lafayette, LA

10 SHOPS, YA'LL!!!!

Shop Hop 2013 takes place over 2 weekends this year for the first time,

 Friday and Saturday, August 9-10 and again, 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 15, 16 and 17.

So, if you have never done a SHOP HOP, here are a few tips!

1. Bring a Friend. It's always more fun in pairs. Or teams!

2. Pace yourself. You have 5 days to hit every store so don't even THINK about getting to each one in a single day.

3. Have a plan. You can break down the distance by grouping the shops by location. 

4. Stop for lunch somewhere fun and make it memorable.

5. Bring those adhesive return address labels you have thousands of and save time filling out the drawing cards. You get a chance to win the basket at every shop!! But only if your name is IN THE HAT!

6. Chocolate. Bring chocolate. If you don't eat them, you can always feed the shop staff!

7. Bring a camera...... you never know. 

8. If you have a project that has hit a hard wall, this is the time to look for inspiration so bring swatches and a photo of it with you because you just might see something that will kick-start it again.

There's probably many many more hints and tips our there that I don't recall just now so if you have any, please leave us a comment!

Saturday with Cherry Guidry

I hope you had the opportunity to join us welcoming Cherry Guidry to Bright Hopes on Saturday. We had a wonderful time hearing her journey into the world of pattern-making. For those who unable to attend, I have a few photographs to share.

Here is Celeste, who has made a number of Cherry Blossom Quilting samples for the shop and Pearl with Cherry, standing in front of her newest pattern offering, Sunday Ride (one of two Cherry brought for the show!!!!)

Earlier this year, Cherry loaned us this sample of her Christmas wreath and I had a chance to shoot a close-up so you can see the lovely machine quilting . Cherry does her own quoting as well as piecing. SHe gave us tips on creating the tranpunto appearance you see below. This is one of the reasons Trunk Shows and Meet-Ups are so exciting; you never know what you will learn!

Here are two close-ups of the blocks from Sunday Ride, to give you and idea of her quilting and fabric choices. This sample used batiks. Notice the attention to detail!!!

I want to make this block as a stand-alone!

Here is a good shot of the second sample of Sunday Ride, using a more muted palette and gives you a better idea of the final size of the quilt itself. Her quilting on this one was fabulous and inventive!

Here is a close-up.

And another. Fantastic work!

In addition to the machine applique designs, Cherry has a new pieced pattern for your viewing pleasure. The center of each block has an appliqué but the rest of the design is pieced.

We have complete collection of Cherry's pattern in stock and several shop samples. 

I hope you enjoyed a short review of the Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio trunk show, THANK YOU THANK YOU to Cherry Guidry for her time and enthusiasm, 

 and remember, 

next Saturday, July 20 is Mary Green's presentation of Modern Quilts and a review of QuiltCon. This is a free meeting and open to anyone who would like to learn more about this new direction in the world of quilt-making.

As seating is somewhat limited, we ask that you give us a call to reserve a chair and give us a more accurate idea of space requirements.

985-845-9554

See You Saturday!!

Hoffman Challenge 2013

Good morning, everyone! After a long wait, I am revealing the six entries into the Hoffman Challenge by various coworkers here at Bright Hopes Quilting.

 These are made by Mary Gerardi, Mona Lowe, Pearl Squires, Celeste Chabert, Georgia Farnet and Chris Teague.

 When Hoffman released the fabrics this year, we were so inspired that we grabbed our stash and whipped these out. They have been received by the committee and we now await the viewing and judging.

 I'll let you know what the results are when they are announced.

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