Newsletter February 1
Wednesday, 01 February 2012 21:07 | 
February 1, 2012
February is here. I don't know how it is where you are, but the weather here is quite definitely not very seasonal. It's going to hit the mid-70s today! There's just something that feels wrong about late spring weather in the middle of winter. Despite the strange temperatures, we're keeping very busy here at Common Threads. I hope you've been reading our blog. We've had some interesting things being posted over there and we have giveaways every month. You also get sneak peeks at some of the things we're working on in the shop before they actually make it to the webstore!
If you live in the area and are interested in learning some new applique techniques, even if you've never done any applique before, we have a wonderful opportunity for you. Our Applique School House will be on Saturday, March 3rd. During this day-long event you will learn 5 different hand applique methods - Needle Turn, Freezer Paper, Pellon, Back Basting, Fuse and Hand Stitch. You will also get lessons in making bias vines and in using Perfect Circles. All of your supplies will be provided. You don't need to bring anything but yourself. We will also be providing lunch! Space for this class is LIMITED to 25 people, so if you want to participate you should sign up quickly!
Block of the Month
Southern Gentleman - This incredible quilt uses a pattern designed by Sindy Rodenmayer and fabric from Barbara Brackman's new line, Morris & Company. The blocks are 16" blocks and the finished quilt is approximately 86" x 86". The program will run for 16 months beginning in March. The price includes the pattern and the fabric for your quilt top, sashing, borders and binding. You can see close up pictures of some of the blocks, as well as the options we've chosen for the backings here. We only have space for 70 people in this program because we can no longer get the border fabric, and almost half of those spots have already been taken by customers who got advanced notice by reading our blog, so if you would like to participate in this block of the month, you need to sign up quickly. Once the spots are taken, we won't have any choice but to close the program. You can sign up for this block of the month here.
Spooky Hollow - This adorable Halloween quilt was so much fun to put together! It's a smaller project, since the finished quilt only measures 46" x 58", but it packs a lot of cute into a small space. The program will run for 10 months beginning in April. The price includes your pattern and fabric for your entire quilt top, including sashing, and your binding. You can sign up for this program by clicking here.
Kits
Vivaldi Shenandoah - This is a quick and elegant quilt that can be made in a single day. The kit includes the pattern and fabric for your quilt top and binding. The finished quilt measures approximately 54" x 70". You can get your kit here.
Garden Tales - This precious quilt uses the Garden Tales line from Windham. The kit includes the pattern and fabric for your quilt top and binding. The finished quilt measures 51" x 69". You can order your kit here.
Cocheco Mills Boxtrot - This quick quilt makes a wonderful gift showcasing some beautiful fabric from the Cocheco Mills IV line. The kit includes the pattern and fabric for your quilt top and binding. The finished quilt measures 52" x 80". You can order your kit here.
Valentine Happy Trails - This quilt is a great gift for someone you love! The kit includes the pattern and fabric for your quilt top and binding. The finished quilt measures 69" x 81". Order your kit here.
The Lorax Bright - I am the Lorax! I speak for the trees! As one of Seuss's later books, it's not as well known as The Cat in the Hat or The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, but it has a wonderful message, and with the new movie opening, it's sure to be a big hit with kids and adults alike! There are two versions of this quilt. This one is in the bright color way of the Lorax fabric line. It's a very quick and easy quilt to make, and will brighten any room. All of the Lorax fabrics are 100% organic cotton, in line with the ecological message of the book. This kit includes a pattern and fabric for your quilt top and binding. The finished quilt measures 66" x 79". You can order your Bright Lorax kit here.
The Lorax Earth - This is the same kit as the one above, just in the earth-tone color way instead of the brights. You can order your Earth Lorax kit here.
New Fabric
Prairie Crossing - by Julie Hendricksen for Windham. See the line here.
Aubergine - by Whistler Studios for Windham. See the entire line here.
Adventures With Alice - a wonderful 30s line from Kaufman. See the line here.
The Lorax - the new Dr. Seuss line from Kaufman. See the entire line here.
1862 Battle Hymn - by Barbara Brackman for Moda. See the entire line here.
Redwork Renaissance - A wonderful red, white and cream line from Moda. See the entire line here.
Garden Tales - Bunnies, bunnies everywhere in this darling line from Windham. See the entire line here.
St. Remy de Provence - by Robyn Pandolph for RJR. See the entire beautiful line here.
Highlights from the trip to Golden, Colorado in June!
Our luxury coach will be departing from Common Threads for a fabulous, fun-filled 7 days to and from Golden, Colorado in June with quilt shop stops along the ways. Of course there will be quality stops for meals and we allow you ample time to shop for fabric as we visit each quilt shop. Our arrival in Denver will find us in the same quality hotel during the entire stay in the area so we can hop on the bus and come and go without packing and repacking.
We will be visiting with Harriet Hargrave and her daughter Carrie, in their own shop in Golden. Harriet is no newcomer to the quilt world. She was a machine quilter back in the days when many thought machine piecing was not kosher, let alone machine quilting, which she is more famous for in these days. An exciting visit awaits us. Cynthia Brick a local well known author, past editor of the Quilters Newsletter as well as quilt maker, will be inviting us into her home which sits in the foothills of Pikes Peak with a knock-your-socks-off view. Her program will keep us excited from start to finish.
A journey to another time will be had on the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad which will bring history to life as we travel through the rugged Rocky Mountains as the steam engine winds up the Clear Creek canyon and unfolds many wonders of the terrain before our very eyes. The train will scale an elevation of 640 feet over mountainous landscapes on what is considered an engineering marvel completed back in the late 1800’s. This trip will include horseshoe curves, grades up to 4% and four bridges across Clear Creek including the massive Devil’s Gate High Bridge. A trip that will take your breath away.
Free time with your traveling companions can be had on the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall which was built in 1982. The Mall is a tree lined, pedestrian promenade of red-and-gray granite that runs through the center of Downtown and is lined with outdoor cafes, renovated historic office buildings, sparkling glass-walled skyscraper, shops, restaurants and retail stores. Numerous fountains and plazas offer a variety of daily special events and entertainers. When your feet start to give out there are free shuttle buses that cruise the mile-long Mall seven days a week for your comfort.
Don't Don’t miss a minute of this trip. You can jump in as we speak and get the full information along with our friendly family payment plan on our website here. See you at curbside!
What is the Patchwork Express? The North Texas Patchwork Express is a two day trip full of fun and shopping with a group of other quilters to visit these seven wonderful quilt shops!
Common Threads - Waxahachie
Quilt Country - Lewisville
Cabbage Rose Quilting - Ft. Worth
The Old Craft Store - Carrollton
The Quilt Asylum - McKinney
Happiness is....Quilting!- McKinney
Stitchin' Heaven - Quitman
Buses will take off on Saturday, June 23rd at 8:00am, and return in the evening on Sunday, June 24th. You'll enjoy two days packed full of fun, friends, and shopping. Registration includes your transportation in a luxury coach, hotel accommodations based on double occupancy, food, a custom printed tote bag filled with over $25 in quilting supplies, and a truly fun quilting experience with your friends.
Also, if you register with Common Threads and pay before March 15th, 2012, your name will be added to a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from our store. You must register and pay no later than May 30th, 2012. But be warned! Buses will fill quickly! You can get all of the details for this trip here.
Don't forget that Common Threads can now be followed on Facebook. If you'd like to get immediate notification of our new fabrics, patterns and kits, as well as notifications of sales that don't always make it into the newsletters, consider becoming a fan of the page. You can also keep up with some of the other things going on with Denice and Laura by following our blog.
Pieceful Blessings,
Denice & Staff
Common Threads Quilting
Waxahachie, TX
972-935-0510
http://www.commonthreadsquilting.com