A little facelift!!

There used to be a time when Jeanne and I would come into work and decide the shop needed a facelift! We'd spend a day or 2 moving things around, re hanging quilts, changing displays, making new ones.....well, that was 10 years ago! Before we were doing all the shows we do, writing books, attending quilt market twice a year, designing fabric and wholesaling our patterns!!
Today, if we want something like that to happen - it has to be done when the shop is closed.
Hence a Sunday! Jeanne spent all day yesterday ripping apart, moving around and rearranging the back of our shop!

We have so much stock at this point, and more on it's way....and we can't knock out walls! Good thing Jeanne is a master of using our space to it's full potential! However.....while it's happening, it does look like a bomb has gone off!

But when she completed.....it look's so fresh and new back there! It was a huge surprise for our staff to wander into work and have their world turned upside down!

So now where was I when this huge transformation was taking place?? Well, I'm a pretty smart cookie....I wisely stayed in my office - did a little book work.....then I sewed on some book projects....then I went home! So the next time you are in the shop, and you think our shop looks amazing....stop and tell Jeanne that the Sunday she worked her butt off.....really paid off!

Ever wondered?

Jeanne and I recently returned from our very final show of the Spring season. Ok... a show we have to pack the cargo van and travel too!

Red Deer, Alberta - last travelled to show of the season!

And as we were doing the show, a few people kept popping there heads over the counter we have at out till table, asking, "what's back there?"

Counter top where we have our till / checkout

Sooooooo.....I took a few pics! So I can show all of you what we keep back there!! (I'm not sure if the world is ready for this!)

Water. Actually - we bring a case of water with us!
Coffee mugs for coffee...and other things.
Kleenex - For Jeanne!
And as always - extra pamphlets!

Black licorice - strictly Jeanne's - yuck!
Chocolate......totally mine!
Sesame snaps - remember those?
Tic Tacs and Mentos - to hide the coffee breath!
Banana and baby tomatoes!

And....cherries!! Yum!
A girl has to keep her strength up during these shows!

So there you have it folks.....what's usually hiding under our counter top! Sometimes you'll also find crackers and cheese, almonds, baby carrots or maybe snap peas.
We do try when at all possible to hit a grocery store before each show to stock up on snack items to keep us going when we can't leave our booth! So if you happen to be passing our booth and my eyes are downcast....I'm not tired....I'm assessing what I can eat next!

Red and White!

So while Jeanne and I were working the Heritage Park Quilt Festival in Calgary, we stayed with our very very good friend Janet Samuels! It's always such a delight to spend time with her, someone who understands quilting like we do!
Now in case you haven't been keeping up with everything that's going on here at The Quilt Patch (and I can hardly blame you if you haven't been! I can hardly keep up and I'm living it!!) we are having a Red and White quilt display during our Outdoor Quilt Show on Sunday July 22!

But the night before, Saturday July 21st, we are having a dinner at the beautiful Temple Gardens Miner Spa Hotel, which also includes a guest speaker, which just happens to be....Janet Samuels!
Janet has caught the red and white bug! Big time! And Jeanne and I were able to get a small sample of what she will be showing you at the dinner! Without giving anything away, I wanted to offer you a tiny glimpse also to just wet your appetite, or like me....get you on the red and white bandwagon!!

You are going to be blown away when you see the amazing quilts Janet has to show you!
Now only does she have a stack of red and white quilts, but she's busy sewing up a storm!

I can't wait for you to see the quilt she's made using these teensy weensy little 3 inch stars!! AMAZING!!!

Hope that little preview sparked your interest! I know I came home from Calgary ready to whip up something red and white! If you are interested in attending the dinner, with speaker and trunk show, please call or drop an email, or come into the store for a ticket! Tickets are $45 each and seating will be limited.
Check our newsletter for more info on having a quilt displayed in the park!!

Back From Quilt Market!

Wow! What a trip! We were in Kansas City, MO for one week attending Quilt Market, and just returned late last night!

I think this may have been the largest convention centre we've been in yet!!

Jo - our office manager, wholesale manager, and general keeps us in damn line manager!

Not only do we attend Market as shop owners, but also as vendors. We have a booth and sell our patterns wholesale as well. We planned a Christmas theme for our booth, and because we have to ship our stuff across the border, (which is an adventure every time!!) we do work with a minimal amount of structure and 'fluff'!

Kind of a jumbled mess at this point!

Jeanne LOVES getting her picture taken!

So in order to make out booth look more Christmasy with minimal stuff shipped, we decided to ship a roll of wrapping paper and ribbon, scrounge empty boxes and.......

wrapped, wrapped, wrapped!

It did add a little something to the booth!

Here are a few more pics of our booth:

I wish I could explain exactly how HUGE International Quilt Market is!! It's ginormous!!
Let me try..... It's an industry show and open to shop owners, patterns designers, etc. You must have credentials to get in. Quilt market happens twice a year. It happens in October in Houston, TX every year, and in the Spring it moves around. So last year we were in Salt Lake City, Kansas City this Spring and next Spring we will be in Portland!

A view of the show floor from above

So the pics above are actually from Salt Lake City. It gives you some idea of how extremely large this show is. I read somewhere that if you walked up and down every single aisle in the show, you'd have covered 3-1/2 miles!! As well, Quilt Market combined with Quilt Festival (which opens to the public) is the LARGEST convention that Houston hosts every year. Now isn't that something!?

I'm going to post some more fun Market pics on our Facebook page - so be sure to check that out as well!

I Like Everything Chocolate!

Is chocolate a food group yet? Well it should be! I mean really...who DOESN'T like chocolate?!
I like my chocolate in all forms.....cake, bars, balls, melted....I even like my fabric kind dark and delicious!

MMMMMMM.......

Kind dark and sexy isn't it??

Espresso flannel bundle

The most popular bundles we sell right now are the Espresso bundles! Whether it's cotton or flannel, people are loving this colorway. I personally think these are great 'GUY' quilts! The colours are so rich, deep and delicious, with that hint of mocha! Whoever you choose to make this quilt for, your brother, maybe your son, or maybe a very special friend - you must be sure to back it with Plush Cuddle fabric....or Minky as it's often referred to!

I backed mine in black! And the quilting looks fabulous!! But the chocolate looks equally amazing!! Who wouldn't want to roll around naked in this quilt!? I certainly do!

Now wouldn't you know it, this always seems to be just my luck....I heard that very very close to the convention centre we were just at in the Toronto area, was not only a Lindt chocolate store....but better yet.....A LINDT OUTLET STORE!!!

My very favourite kind of chocolate, in an outlet store? That would kind of be like I'd died a little death! My two favourite things! Chocolate and a deal!! Sigh.....maybe next time.....

I love these chocolate balls!

Or maybe......just maybe.........someone will........

So next time you see a lot of DARK quilts in The Quilt Patch:

Remember.......sometimes a girl is just a little sweeter after a little chocolate!

Oh....and the wine can't hurt either!