Wow, I can't believe that January is gone.  Where did it go?  I guess all the planning for Road to California kind of took precedence over everything else.  We had a tremendous show and were tired but thoroughly enjoyed the whole 4 days.  I thought the quilts this year were outstanding, especially the ones that you could see the front and the back.  Wow, that quilting was unbelievable.  I do hope that you got to see the show.  Thanks to everyone of you who came by the booth to either shop or just say Hi.  It was busy, which was a good thing for us.  We actually had to come back to the shop each evening to bring something new!  That's a first!

Larry and I had dinner last Friday night at my daughter, Krista's, house.  Chase, who is now 20 months was so full of it.  He would go outside on the patio then race into the house and throw himself at me with a great big hug!  He was so cute and full of smiles.  And his brother, Teagan, who is now 8 months old, is crawling and pulling himself up on everything in sight.  Chase's hair is getting curlier and he looks like a little "Dennis the Menace" and warms your heart with his little grins!  As he was laying on the couch with his bottle, he had to hold my hand and totally melted this Grandma!  We call Teagan a Chunky Monkey cause he has pudgy little legs and arms but once he starts walking, he will slim down a bit.  Once they are both on the move, my daughter will never get any peace!  Oh well, we all survived, didn't we?

February is full of fun classes:

Fri Morning, February 3 - Applique Club 10 AM - 1 PM.

Fri Evening, Februrary 10 -  Applique Club - 6 PM - 9 PM

Beginning Quilting - We will be starting a new class Tuesday mornings 11 - 2, on Tuesday, Feb 21st  if you have ever wanted to learn to quilt, taking this class will give you all the basics you will need.  Check the website for details and costs.  The Tuesday evening class is finishing up and a new session will also be starting Feb 21st - 6 - 9 PM.  The Thursday morning class is available for anyone wishing to start a class.  Give us a call at the shop.

Sat, February 11 - "Re-Piecers" a closed Friendship group 10 AM - 2:30 PM

Wed, February 8th Placemat of the Month - Earl Grey Tote, An original design by Larene Smith 4 - 8 PM.

Fri Morning, February 10 Civil War Club 10 AM - 1 PM - We are starting a new Civil War quilt called Wellesley.  Work on the latest block with others who love the Civil War era.  Also starting in Feb, the 2nd Civil War quilt, Charleston Harbor, will be available and you can work on that as well.

Wed, February 15 - Beginning Applique Class 10 AM - 1 PM $25.  We are once again offering the needle-turn applique class taught by Diane.  Don't let the "A" word get you down.  She has a really easy way and you will certainly become hooked.

Thursday, Feb 16 - the 6th installment of Quilter's Academy 10 AM - 2 PM. There will be 2 more meetings of this class.  The next groupings of machine quilting classes will begin Thurs, May 3rd and will continue through the end of the year.  Check the website for details on what the classes entail.

Fri, February 17th - Redwork Club 10 AM - 1 PM.

Fri, February 17th - Kids Fri Friendzy - 3 - 6 PM

Fri and Sat - Feb 18th and 19th, South Bay Quilt Guild's Quilt Show "A Twist on Tradition" at the Torrance Cultural Center in Torrance, CA.

Sat, February 18 - Embroidery Club 10 AM- 3 PM.  Bring your Embroidery Machine and start on a beautiful Spring wall hanging.

Wed, February 22 - Beginning Hand Embroidery 10 AM - 1 PM.  Have you seen all the wonderful Crabapple Hill patterns on display in the shop and would love to learn how to do it?  Well this class will give you the foundation for hand embroidery, or "Redwork".

Thursday, February 23rd - "Ribbon Swirls" 10 - 4 PM $35. Class cost includes the pattern.   This beautiful quilt, designed by Annette Ornelas, was on display in our booth at Road.  It is a wonderful way to utilize a Bali Pop. 

Thurs, February 23 - Acacia Friendship Group - 4 PM - 8 PM

Fri, February  24 PMS 6 PM - 11 PM.  Call to reserve your spot.

Sat, February 25th, "St Patty's Day Tablerunner"  taught by Scott Griffin 10 AM - 2 PM  $25 + pattern.  See the sample on display in the shop.  You can do this tablerunner in lots of different fabrics for different holidays.  Even back it with another holiday and get double use from the pattern.  The supply list will be up on the website shortly.

2012 Block of the Month

All of the 2012 BOM's are available for pick-up in the shop.  January blocks are ready as are the February blocks.  For those of you who signed up for Charleston Harbor, the first block is now ready as well.  If you still wish to participate in one of the BOMs, please let us know; however, there may be a few fabric substitutions in the Aunt Grace's Garden Party.

Book Nook Spotlight

"The Farmer's Wife Pony Club"

In 1907 the Webb Publishing Company in the city of St. paul created The Farmer's Wife Pony Club, inviting children to join and compete for prizes by selling subscriptions to The Farmer's Wife magazine.  The Grand Prize was a Shetland pony with a saddle or carriage.  To satisfy skepotics who doubted a child would, indeed, receive a pony, they asked winners to send photographs of themselves with their ponies.  Many of the children sent thank you letters along with their photographs.  These endearing, poignant, and sometimes hilarious, letters provide a unique window into the lives of children in rural America at the turn of the 20th century.  The book also includes 90 blocks with patterns that help tell the children's story (A CD of patterns ands templates is included with the book as well).

We have also just gotten Jennifer Chiviarini's latest Elm Creek Novel - "The Wedding Quilt".  Sarah's daughter, Caroline, one of the twins, is all grown up and about to be married. The wedding will take place at the Elm Creek manor, in the same ballroom that Sylvia and Andrew were married.   This is a wonderful book.  We also have Red Rooster's line called "Caroline's Collection" to accompany the book.  She has another new one coming out in Feb called "Sonoma Rose".  We have it on order and will receive our copies as soon as it is released.  Can't wait!

Super Bowl is coming - Sun February 5th.  In honor of the XLVI (46th) Super Bowl, we are having a Super Sale on Thursday, Feb 2nd through Sat, Feb 4th.

All Civil War and 30's fabrics will be 30% off

All sale fabric will be 50% off (1 yard minimum)

All patterns, and boy we sure have some cute ones, will be 25% off (does not include books)

Be sure to check out the beautiful Spring lines we have been receiving from RJR, Red Rooster and South Seas to name a few.

Everyday should be a great day for quilting

Sheri, Theresa, Kristy, Diane, Annie and Steve