Saturday, May 8, 2010

Great American Quilt Factory a McCall's Hometown Favorite

We are so honored to be one of McCall's Hometown Favorites featured quilt shops! We love working with the great women at McCall's Quilting and Quick Quilts and in fact we write a column each month for these magazines.

This new magazine features 16 quilt shops around the country and each shop has designed a quilt and kitted it. This special magazine America Quilts Hometown Favorites will be on the newsstand on May 18th. Starting Monday, May 10th, 3-4 shops will be featured each day in an online Shop Hop. Register to win the featured quilt kit from each shop and other prizes, including a delicious Moda fat quarter tower. Don't forget to enter each day. Just go to the Great American Quilt Factory website for the Online Shop Hop link.

Here is a picture of our quilt, Into the Woods. I must say that it is absolutely gorgeous and would be beautiful on a wall in my family room. Hmmmm--there is the finished sample. : )


Enjoy reading about the featured shops and deciding which is your favorite quilt. Register at the 3-4 featured shops each day and remember that if you don't win a kit there will be kits available for purchase.

Good luck and happy shopping,
Lynda

Denver National Quilt Festival

We vended at the Denver National Quilt Festival last week. It was a great show and the competition quilts were remarkable--you can see the winners online here.

We had a display of 34 Possibilities quilts--the most Possibilities quilts displayed at the same time. It was so fun to see them in all of their glory. The quilts are from current books and patterns. I have put together a short slideshow so that you can see them, too. If you want more information on any of them, please comment, email us, or call the store. I hope you enjoy them!












Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Denver Quilt Show
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Another slideshow design by Smilebox

Monday, May 3, 2010

Christmas with Possibilities Surprise

Nancy and I got a package in the mail today and a special delivery for each of us at the store!

Here is what was in the package--our newest book Christmas with Possibilities published by C&T. It is truly a lovely book filled with 16 holiday projects--some old fav's from out of print books and some new wonderful projects! I'm ready to jump right in since it is May and we are already receiving Christmas 2010 fabrics.
A little bit later, we each got one of these...................


.................a beautiful basket filled with flowers!

Thank you to all at C&T who helped bring this book to print. We always enjoy working with all of you and you truly bring out topnotch products!

Thank you for a wonderful surprise!

Lynda and Nancy

Friday, April 30, 2010

Sarah's Key and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

In the last couple of weeks I have listened to two wonderful books that I think you will enjoy. It is interesting that the last two books I reviewed were about women from the South and these next two books have ties to WWII.

The first one I'll tell you about is Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. This is what Publishers Weekly has to say: "De Rosnay's U.S. debut fictionalizes the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations, in which thousands of Jewish families were arrested, held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver outside the city, then transported to Auschwitz. Forty-five-year-old Julia Jarmond, American by birth, moved to Paris when she was 20 and is married to the arrogant, unfaithful Bertrand Tézac, with whom she has an 11-year-old daughter. Julia writes for an American magazine and her editor assigns her to cover the 60th anniversary of the Vél' d'Hiv' roundups. Julia soon learns that the apartment she and Bertrand plan to move into was acquired by Bertrand's family when its Jewish occupants were dispossessed and deported 60 years before. She resolves to find out what happened to the former occupants: Wladyslaw and Rywka Starzynski, parents of 10-year-old Sarah and four-year-old Michel. The more Julia discovers—especially about Sarah, the only member of the Starzynski family to survive—the more she uncovers about Bertrand's family, about France and, finally, herself. Already translated into 15 languages, the novel is De Rosnay's 10th (but her first written in English, her first language). It beautifully conveys Julia's conflicting loyalties, and makes Sarah's trials so riveting, her innocence so absorbing, that the book is hard to put down. "
I really enjoyed this book and yes, it was very moving and I had to sit in the car after I got to my destination several times to finish a part--always a good recommendation--and it was beautifully read!

I had a hard time getting into the 2nd book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society until I reread the description on Audible.com and realized that it was a series of letters--and then, I really enjoyed it. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is read by 20 different people and that is one of the reasons that makes it so special. From Publishers Weekly: "The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton (nom de plume Izzy Bickerstaff) writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet's name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book's epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation—and person to person in a manner that feels disjointed. But Juliet's quips are so clever, the Guernsey inhabitants so enchanting and the small acts of heroism so vivid and moving that one forgives the authors (Shaffer died earlier this year) for not being able to settle on a single person or plot. Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life—as will readers."


Like Anne of Green Gables this book made me want to travel to the destination. I love to read books, but because I drive at least 1-2 hours a day to get to and from work, audiobooks are my salvation. I highly recommend them, not just for listening to while driving but for anytime you can't be turning the pages of a book.


If you have any suggestions for what I should read next, please comment.


Happy stitching, reading, or listening,
Lynda

Joy to the World Winners


Oh, I'm so sorry. I chose the winners for the blog contest and then forgot to blog them. The three winners were chosen at random by a random number generator and here are the winner's names and comments.

paula, the quilter said:
"I am a 'totally prepared' gal myself. Starch on the edges around either a freezer paper or templar template, iron and then glue. I 'do' remove the template if it is freezer paper."

stitchinRN said:
"my favorite is using freezer paper, but i spray starch my pieces after basting to the freezer paper template. i remove the freezer paper before i stitch it in place, no removing later, easy to peel off. it looks like needle turn, but easier."

Lori H said:
"During a recent class, our teacher showed us needleturn applique. While my sister 'hated that day', I loved it. I look forward to many new projects."

I will send each of you an autographed copy of Joy to the World as soon as I receive your snail mail addresses.

Thank you to all who left comments! There are so many methods of applique out there and I think that I just might design an applique sampler.

Happy stitching,
Lynda

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Hometown Favorites Online Shop Hop with prizes

McCall's Quilting Magazine is introducing a very special, newsstand only issue titled America Quilts, Hometown Favorites available on newstands, May 18. There will be 16 featured shops that have each designed an exclusive quilt and we were lucky enough to be one of them. Our quilt is absolutely stunning--the only thing I can tell you is that we've named it Into the Woods, it's made in creams, rusty reds, browns, and blacks, and it's a variation of one of our favorite traditional patterns.

McCalls will also be hosting an online shop hop, May 10-14, where you will be able to read interviews with the selected shop owners and purchase a kit for their quilt. And...........prizes--each shop will be giving away a kit for their quilt and Moda will be giving away a tower of 40 fat quarters (and we all need more fat quarters)!!!!

Visit McCall's Quilting to get the full list of shops along with contest details. Bookmark this site and don't forget to check in on May 10th to start the hop. We're excited!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Happy Birthday to us and a blog contest for you!



It's April and Great American Quilt Factory's 29th birthday, which means that we are going into our 30th year in business.! Hip, Hip, Hooray! I can still vividly remember sitting on the cement floor in a brand new vacant space, drinking a glass of wine and wondering how we were ever going to make it to the end of our first 5 year lease and here we are, many leases later.

Now the store is in it's 30th year which means I have been quilting for over 40 (I started at a very, very young age). Recently I have been researching different hand and machine applique techniques. I do quite a bit of machine applique but haven't done applique by hand for many, many years--my how it has changed! My method back then was to baste all the seam allowances under, baste the pieces into position, and then applique. Several years ago I tried a little bit of needle-turn and decided it wasn't my cup of tea. Just recently I took a class on the freezer paper method by Pearl Pereira-P3 Designs. I really enjoyed it, especially because after the applique was glued into place, it was totally portable. Next I'll be checking out the back-basting technique for hand applique and revisiting Beth Ferrier's machine technique.

Now, I'm asking for your advice. Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite method of applique is and why and/or your favorite applique tool. You will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 3 autographed copies of our out-of-print book, Joy to the World--a collector's item and very difficult to find in perfect condition. You will have until Sunday, April 18th to comment and the 3 winners will be chosen at random on the 19th. Please make sure that you leave an e-mail so that you can be contacted.
For a quiltylicious way to celebrate your birthday or special occasion, this little quilt from the pattern Ode to a Cupcake, might be the perfect choice. In fact, I might use this pattern to experiment with my applique techniques making an applique sampler.


Quilting has changed so much in the last 40 years and I am so glad that it is still my passion! Next I'll be checking out hand piecing techniques and perhaps we'll hold another contest.

Best of luck to each of you and happy stitching,
Lynda

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Eco-Friendly Snack Bags


Nancy's daughter, Laura, shared her pattern to make eco-friendly snack bags with us. These are pretty darn cute little bags--about the size of a self-sealing sandwich bag--that are lined with a waterproof fabric called PUL. Think of how many self-sealing sandwich bags you can save by making a few of these eco-friendly bags and tossing them into the washer to clean.

We have made them up in sooooooo many different fabrics, from fruit and veggie fabrics, to cupcake fabric, to florals, and we are even making some kits up with the new Monopoly fabric from Quilting Treasures. The bags were featured this month in Quick Quilts magazine. Check them out on our website--kits and pattern or already made by Mamamade.
Happy stitching,

Lynda and Nancy

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Beautiful Pineapple quilt top by Marcia Koester

Marcia Koester was in my Pineapple class in late January and came in a couple of weeks ago with this beautiful Pineapple top. She made 56 blocks following the Barn Dance pattern from our book Positively Pineapple using the Pineapple Rule. The top is made entirely from scraps-florals, conversation prints, calicoes, and pretty much anything that she had.


It is what I call a "controlled scrap" quilt, because in this case, each row (or round) is made with the same fabric. When you look at the blocks upclose, you see this easily, but from further back it is hard to notice.

It is truly a lovely quilt and she did a wonderful job. I can't wait to see it quilted. Thank you for sharing the top with us Marcia!

To see more information about our book Positively Pineapple and the Pineapple Rule, check out our webite http://www.greatamericanquilt.com/.


Happy Stitching,

Lynda

Friday, March 19, 2010

"The Help"--a wonderful listen!

I live almost 25 miles away from work and have to drive from one side of Denver to the other-35 minutes at best and 1 1/2 to 2 hours at worst-not fun! So my favorite driving pasttime (since I shouldn't be stitching) is listening to audio books. My favorite book in the last couple of months is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett (her debut book). The story is about African-American women working in white households in Mississippi in the early 60's. I enjoyed it so much that when I got to my destination I had to make myself get out of the car and stop listening. When it was over, I didn't have another book downloaded, so I started listening again and enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. I have recommended it to several friends and have yet to hear of anyone that was not facinated by this story. The audio version is narrated by 4 gifted women, including Jenna Lamia who reads for Skeeter, the main character. Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, and Cassandra Campbell are the other narrators. I highly recommend that you listen to this book, but if you can't listen to it, find a copy to read.

I'm now listening to another great book, "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" by Beth Hoffman. It is another Southern debut novel narrated by the same Jenna Lamia. I'm enjoying Jenna's interpretation so much in both of these novels that I will search her out in the future. (She also narrated "The Secret Life of Bees".)

I'll continue to let you know what I am reading and I'd appreciate any recommendations from you to add to my wish list.
Happy reading or listening,

Lynda

When I grow up I want to be...

One of the services that we provide at Great American Quilt Factory is making photo transfers-usually from photos, but this time from drawings. Lenora Chavez made this quilt from her daughter's and classmates drawings at St. John's Lutheran School, in Denver. The kids are 7 and 8 years old and they had to illustrate what they would like to be when they grow up.


Some of their answers depicted doctor, veterinarian, paleontologist, spy, detective, dentist, and pet store owner. Lenora pieced the quilt together (her very first quilt). Doesn't she look happy?

The quilt will be auctioned off for a school fundraiser. I hope it brings in lots of money and I hope it goes home with one of the lucky artists. Thank you for sharing your first quilt with us, Lenora!

Happy stitching,

Lynda and Nancy

Thursday, February 25, 2010

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

Thursday, February 11, 2010

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

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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

Monday, January 18, 2010

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