Back From Market

I popped into the shop and found Pearl and Mona back from the Houston Quilt Market, loaded with wonderful things and more to come.



What's great and surprising is to see how rested they look after! (I was lucky enough to go last year and let me tell you, it's so much fun but utterly exhausting)

Pearl has had in stock many of Little Bits paper piecing patterns (those tiny packages near the register that make wonder mini quilts) and has brought in even more new ones, (and one that I intend to snap up once they get into inventory) some with autumn themes.

LOTS of patterns and if you look hard on the table, that large pink thing left of center is a Sashiko template you have to see to appreciate. Sashiko is that beautiful Japanese quilting/sewing technique. Pearl has some new indigo fabric as well to go along.

That square thing resting on the templates is something new and intriguing. Framed quilts and Pearl has several patterns to show you and they are really lovely. Again, a new direction for fabric.

Anyone who knows me knows I trumpet the use of acrylic templates when making complicated patterns. Pearl has a new set in that make something along the lines of a Marine's Compass or rosette and and quilt pattern to go along.

They have decided on more BOMs for next year: Alex Anderson's Romantic (more on that later, check back after Thursday) and from Patch Abilities look at these

There will be twelve in all and each has a unique themed hanger. I just think they are fun and totally different for a BOM.

I have been told that we will be receiving lots of new fabric over the coming months....(yea!!!!!)

{Oh I realize these descriptions of everything is only a bit maddening... you'll have to stop by soon and see what all they trooped home with. I will update the post with better photos on Thursday, I promise, for those of you who live long-distance and popping in and out is not an option.}

As I leave you now, one more shot of something I saw at the checkout. Look at these great little stocking stuffers! They are sewing kits in mini-barrels. Christmas really is just around the corner now.



Not to rush you or anything. I am the first to cringe and groan when I see the stores haul out halloween candy with Back to School supplies, Christmas trees in October and Valentine's chocolate the day after Christmas. What's the RUSH!?

Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin

Classes here at Bright Hopes Quilting are a blast, and Leslie brings to hers a high level of energy as well as a broad base of knowledge. On Thursday, she and group of students worked on a kaleidoscope style design using the Clearview Triangle Ruler. If you look behind her on the display board, you'll see a project Leslie is working on and using as her demonstration.

It's a bit hard to see in this small shot the ruler Leslie is placing, but click on it and you'll get a better view. You'll see it's lined up along the upper corner
The projects are coming from this book, Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin, by Sara Nephew & Marci Baker, which is chockablock with gorgeous quilt designs!

So, if Log Cabin is a block you've told yourself is essential to have in your pile of quilts but haven't been enamored with the "squareness of it all", check out this book and you will be so inspired to give a go.

Here's a parting shot of the students and their progress.

Methodist's Childrens Home

This lovely quilt you see before you is going to be raffled off at the end of the month. All proceeds will be donated to the Methodist's Children's' Home here in Mandeville, LA.

It's a big one! 92" square.

Tickets is be $1.00 per chance and 6 for $5.00.

Come on by and see it hanging behind the counter and take a chance!

July Baskets Block

Here is the July Block for the Baskets Block of the Month. Hope to have August finished soon. Go Tigers!

Leslie

This is our Anniversary Month

It will be 6 years this month that the doors opened here at Bright Hopes Quilting and, naturally, we're going to ring the bells and celebrate!

On Sept 25 and 26, we will hold demonstrations and door prizes. We will have a free pattern and refreshments. We will have special sales and WE WILL GIVE AWAY A FINISHED QUILT TO A LUCKY WINNER!!!!!!

How is this possible? Here's how it goes:

Beginning Friday, Sept 4, for every $10.00 spent, you will get one chance to win. Spend $50.00 and get 5 chances. ALL MONTH LONG! At this end of the month, we will draw the winner's name and no, you need not be present to win, but yes, you MUST fill out the chance with your name and phone number and put it in the glass before you leave the shop each trip.

So let's start the Anniversary Month rollin'!!

A Question

I am posting/posing this question to anyone who wishes to answer it, locals and web-readers both:

What classes would you like to see offered by a quilt shop in the future? Fabric dyeing? Embellishments? SweatShirt Jackets? Traditional blocks? Basic borders and binding?

What degrees of difficulty do you hope we would offer? Mostly beginner? Mostly advanced?

The next newsletter is going to start taking shape and I thought I would try to get some feedback ahead of time. Thanks in advance!

Quilt Camp for Adults

has been a blast for us and here are a couple of photos of the "campers" and their projects!


Shannon and Abby each made a 16" pieced AND quilted AND binded mini-quilt (table rugs as one husband calls them), embroidered tea-towels and tissue box cover, beginning paper-piecing block and Wonky Town Houses, a market tote and a cell-phone shoulder-bag. They are covered in wares!
It's the participants that make the classes fun for us and I thank you both and all the students in the past for taking them with us.