California here we come!

Yea! Yea! Yea! California here we come!

Nancy and I are headed to one of our favorite places for a busman's holiday. We love to go to the Empty Spools Seminars at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA. We are taking an Independent Study class from our friend and fellow author/teacher, Becky Goldsmith.

That means we can do anything we want--although that is what we always try to do--5 days of sewing without too many expectations. Sewing, walking the beach, sewing, great dinners in Pacific Grove, sewing!!!! If you have not heard of Empty Spools, check it out or call/e-mail us for more information. It is supposed to be rainy and cool which is a change up from snow, snow, and more snow.

We will also make at least one trip to Back Porch Fabrics. BPF always has something new and fun--Gail always seems to have fabric that we don't carry and has a great gallery exhibit. Be sure to stop in if you are ever in Pacific Grove.

Happy stitching,

Lynda

Receiving Blankets Going to Haiti

Last Friday, we were given an incredible opportunity to help the people in Haiti. Nancy Boyd is one of our customers and her husband is part owner of a business aircraft called a Pilatus. These aircraft are smaller and can land in the smaller Haitian cities. Her husband was going to spend 5 days flying people and cargo into and out of Haiti as part of the relief effort. Nancy found out that the Haitians needed receiving blankets and immediately thought of us. The plane was going to be loaded with medical and other supplies, but receiving blankets could certainly be stuffed into nooks and crannies. We sent out an email to our customers on Friday and by 12:00 noon on Wednesday we had received 477 mostly handmade receiving blankets. What a wonderful response! To see the piles of blankets click here Receiving Blankets Going to Haiti. We will keep you updated when we get more information. Nancy was going to try to take a picture of the airplane packed to the gills. Thank you all for making this quick effort a huge success!

Lynda and Nancy

AND THE WINNER IS....

Jill from Maryland is the winner of the gift basket filled with Possibilities! Jill said "I wish Maryland was closer to your store...I'd be a good customer! Interesting to hear you on Pat's new show."

Jill, you didn't leave an email address, so contact me or Pat with your information.

Thanks to everyone who left comments--it was so fun to read them all! I can't wait for the weekend so that I can listen to Pat's second show.

Happy stitching,
Lynda

Pat Sloan's radio interview

Hip Hip Horray!

Today we made history! We were Pat Sloan's first guests on her new radio show!! Pat asked questions and made comments and we talked, talked, talked--of course Pat makes it soooo easy. To hear the interview, click on this link Pat Sloan's Radio Show . After you listen to the interview, check back here, leave a comment by Friday the 22nd and be entered to win this wonderful gift basket filled with lots of 'possibilities'.

Enjoy,

Lynda and Nancy

Lynda & Nancy's interview by Pat Sloan

Our friend and fellow teacher/blogger, Pat Sloan, is starting a one hour Internet Radio Show on Monday, January 18th and......drum roll please.......Nancy and I are her first guests! Pat's word of the year is Possibility, which led her to think of us.

Pat will be talking about creativity, motivation, inspiration, trends, techniques, GIVEAWAYS and much, much more. You will be able to listen to it live or download it to listen later. If you follow Pat at all, you will probably agree that she is the original Energizer Bunny. Her brain and body must not sleep. We are so honored to be her first guest and hope you will be listening in.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS, leave a comment on our blog (by Friday the 22nd) about the interview and be entered for a chance to win this gift basket valued at more than $50.00. It's filled with lots of Possibilities.

To read more about Pat and her new show click here.

Remember, Monday the 18th at 4:00 PM EST and be sure to leave a comment on our blog for your chance to win the basket of goodies.

Congrats on your new venture, Pat!

Lynda

Patchwork Lottery at Great American Quilt Factory

We have a special monthly lottery at Great American Quilt Factory. Every month a block pattern is given out for free in the store or online. Customers make however many blocks they would like in the suggested colorway. They then bring or mail the blocks to the store by the last day of the month. They get one entry for the drawing for each block they enter. One lucky person will win all of the blocks for that month.

This August, Layne Quiring won our Patchwork Lottery. She is the first one to bring in a completed quilt from the blocks. The block was an easy Log Cabin and the suggested colors were blue and yellow. Yeah Layne! Layne made 2 blocks, won 32 blocks and made this quilt with 30 of the blocks and used the 2 extra for the corners in the border.

It is really a cute quilt and so refreshing. Thank you Layne for sharing!

If you would like a chance to win this month, download the block here, make as many as you want in the suggested colorway and be sure to get them to the store by the end of January. Maybe we'll see your picture and your quilt right here.

Good luck and happy piecing,

Lynda and Nancy

Texture Magic winners from Dolly Dresses Blog

Hello all,

I finally have chosen 3 winners randomly to win a package of Texture Magic.

jaybird said:

"The Texture Magic was such a great idea!! Your quilt is so cute!"

Christy said:

Darling project, as are all the others so far! I love the Texture Magic effect. And, of course would love to win some to give it a try. I'm in awe of all the creativity of the women and men in the quilt world. Thanks for inspiring!

brigette said:

"The Texture Magic worked wonderfully on the dress panel!! Thanks so much for the generous giveaway! "

I contacted jaybird and brigette with an e-mail. Christy, please send me your address and I'll get a package sent out to you, too.

Thanks to everyone for participating and commenting. It was great fun!

Happy New Year and Happy Stitching!

Lynda

Dolly Dresses Blog Event, Day 17

Well, the Dolly Dresses Blog Event is almost history. Today's quilt comes from Penny Sturges of Quilts Illustrated--very charming. To see her quilt go to Holly Holderman's Holly Blog for the link.



I've been remiss in picking the winners of the Texture Magic. I'll try to get that done over the weekend and I'll let you know the winners here on the blog. I'll be around the house because my 21 year old son is having his tonsills removed tomorrow.



Talk to you tomorrow,

Lynda

Dolly Dresses Blog Event

Hello,

Day 15 and 16 of the Dolly Dresses Blog Event brings two more wonderful quilts. Day 15's reveal was Tricia Cribbs of FriendFolks. Today, Day 16's quilt is a real cutie that is being auctioned off to help raise money for the Irish people who were involved in the epic flooding. The quilt was made by Elizabeth Scott of The Late Bloomer.

To see these quilts, go to Holly Holderman's Holly Blog and click on the links. Enjoy!

See you tomorrow,
Lynda

Dolly Dresses Blog Event

Today is day 14 of the Dolly Dresses Blog Event created by Holly Holderman of LakeHouse fabrics. What fun it has been and what creativity. Today's reveal is Sheri Bignell from Freckleberry Farm--cute, cute, cute! See Sheri's quilt by clicking the link on Holly's Blog.

For now, I'm leaving for the snow and cold up at Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Back tomorrow afternoon.
Lynda

Dolly Dresses Blog continues...

Hello again,



I don't have much to say today because I'm getting ready for our store party and for a short 2-day trip to the mountains to hear my favorite all female Irish group--Cherish the Ladies. But, I had to let you know that the Dolly Dresses Blog Event continues for a few more days. Today features Rachel Griffith of PS I Quilt--very cute quilt and an added storyline. To see Rachel's quilt, go to Holly Holderman's Blog and click on the link.



Enjoy,

Lynda

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

Need one last quick project? This is the cutest kit from a pattern by Patrick Lose. What a nice gift for a special friend or for newlyweds that are decorating for their first Christmas.

Fusible web applique will have this cutie finished by Christmas. Kit includes pattern and all fabrics for top and binding, and the buttons. Just $35.99 and if you order it today (Customer Appreciation Day) it will be 20% off. Click here to order.

The Dolly Dresses Blog Event continues. Here are the last two dresses that were treated with Texture Magic. This first one features a little loose apron stitched to the dress with a rickrack trimmed waistband. There's no batting and the apron fabric was stitched with a meander. The apron was zig-zag stitched all around and a little trim was added to the bottom.

This next apron has batting sandwiched between the layers and was stitched in straight vertical rows, about every 3/8 to 1/2". After it was zig-zag stitched to the dress, a little trim was added for a waistband and rickrack was added to the bottom edge.

To see the quilt and to read more about Texture Magic, go to the blog of 12/6. Please leave a comment for a chance to win a package of TM so that you can share in the MAGIC!

The Dolly Dresses Blog Event continues. Today's reveal is from Jenny McLean of Tula Pink. Go to Holly Holderman's blog to find the link. I hope you are hopping along and leaving comments, because there are PRIZES to be had!

Six more quilts to be revealed,

Lynda

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

Why not start the New Year with a present for yourself? Maybe you would like a kit to make this delightful quilt--it's a favorite of mine. Let's Build a Snowman is one of our newest patterns. It's very colorful and cheery and measures 48 x 58". To see a larger picture or to place your order, click here . And, if you order this Saturday, Customer Appreciation Day, you will get 20% off. Don't forget, we also have gift certificates on sale through Dec. 31st as well.


Now, back to the Dolly Dresses Blog Event. It has been fun sharing with you the different dresses and how the Texture Magic was used. The ruffle treatment on this little dress was sandwiched with batting and stitched with straight rows of a decorative stitch.

This next little dress has a vest and an apron texturized. The pink fabric was sandwiched with batting and quilted with a small feather. The apron was not sandwiched with batting and was stitched with a small meander.

For a chance to win a package of Texture Magic, leave a comment here on the blog by Dec. 12. Winners will be chosed at random.

The Dolly Dress Blog Event continues with the next quilt revealed (or maybe not) by Monica Solorio-Snow of the Happy Zombie. You can see this quilt by hopping to Holly Holderman's blog and clicking on the link. I hope you can take the time to go see the other quilt--they are all so different.

Happy stitching,

Lynda

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

Need a stocking stuffer idea? How about a Sewline Fabric Pencil or two with a refill of lead in all of the available colors. The Sewline Pencils have specially formulated ceramic leads that make a very clean and clear line. I prefer having 5 pencils, one of each color (the cap is colored to let you know what lead is in the pencil) but some people don't mind changing the lead as a new color is needed. The colors are black, white, yellow, pink, and green. The lines can be removed with water or the eraser that is on the pen. Package them up in a pretty little pencil box and tie on a cute bow. To see available colors as well as other Sewline products, click here.

Now, for two more Dolly Dresses treated with Texture Magic. The little apron on this first dress was has no batting sandwiched between the layers. The fabric stitched with different stitches (a tight little cross stitch and a much looser cross stitch) in each color stripe. To attach to the dress, a small piece of fusible was fused to the wrong side of the dolly dress, along the bottom edges of the jacket. The corners of the jacket were cut so that the apron could be tucked under. The apron was tucked under the jacket and the jacket was fused back into place. The apron was zig-zag stitched to the dress and the jacket was also zig-zag stitched.



The fabric used for this pretty little red apron was also not layered with batting. It was straight stitched to the Texture Magic with every row stitched vertically and every other row stitched horizontally. The edges of the apron were zig-zag stitched and lace was stitched to the bottom edge. The apron was tucked under the jacket using the method above, but left loose. Very cute!

For a chance to win a package of Texture Magic, leave a comment here on the blog by Dec. 12. Winners will be chosed at random.

The Dolly Dress Blog Event continues with the next quilt revealed by Julie Herman of Jay Bird Quilts. It's a cutie! You can see this quilt by hopping to Holly Holderman's blog and clicking on the link.

Happy stitching,

Lynda

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

Magnet-Ficent Invisible Quilt Hangers allow you to easily and securely support your quilt for display, yet it wll appear to be floating very close to the wall with no means of support.

This hanging system uses a small mounting plate attached to your wall using 3M Command adhesive strips. Powerful, specially designed magnets securely hold you quilt to the plate via the adjustable metal rod inserted into your quilt's rod pocket. Go ahead and hang quilts 10 inches to 48 inches wide, or even larger with additional kits. It's easily adjustable-just slide the magnet! Remove, re-hang, or change your displayed quilt with no hassel. All you need to add is an adjustable metal rod (such as a curtain rod) the length of your quilt., inserted into a casing on the back side of your quilt. Just $35.99 Click here to order.$35.99

Here are the next two dresses using Texture Magic. On this first one, a little lace trimmed apron with a waistband was added to the dress. The fabric was layered on the texture magic with no batting inbetween. The stitching was a small feather stitch. The edge was zig-zag stitched and the trim was added covering the zig-zag. The apron was tucked under the waistband and left loose and the waistband was zig-zag stitched in place.

The next dress has a little red jacket. The quilt sandwich included batting and was stitched in straight rows about 1/2" apart. Before it was stitched to the dress, a new blouse in a different color was added as well .

For a chance to win a package of Texture Magic, leave a comment here by Dec. 12th. Three winners will be chosen at random.

The Dolly Dresses Blog continues. Today's reveal is Gina Halladay from Quilter's Buzz. It is another darling quilt. Go to Holly Holderman's blog to get the link.

It's freezing cold here, stay warm,

Lynda