Trunk Treasures

New Update

Just a quick reminder of our fun Saturday afternoon event - From 1 - 3 PM we will be exploring "Color with Friends".  Just bring a fat quarter of some colors you wish you could wear, think you might be able to wear..... you know, the ones you're just not sure of.  We'll share swatches AND tell each other the TRUTH about what does and does not make you look your best!!!  Just $5 reserves your spot!!

While you are in the shop, check out the recent additions to our Christmas and Halloween and Fall fabrics - some of which are already headed off to some wonderful projects!!

 

We are looking forward to getting out of the heat and enjoying a few days at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.  (There just might be a space or two still available.............)  Days filled with quilty inspiration and shopping and nights relaxing on the beautiful Queen Mary.  We're busily preparing for our booth in the vendor mall, as well.  We've been creating new Jelly Roll and Charm Pack combinations which we will be offering there --- but YOU deserve first pick!!!!  Stop in this Saturday and you will receive the 13% discount on these items that we will be offering in the booth next weekend!!!

Great Ways to Beat the Heat

Looking for some ways to beat the long, hot days of summer? Read on....

There are one or two seats left for the Long Beach trip to the International Quilt Festival, July 22-25. We have just received word that the rooms on the Queen Mary have been remodeled so we’re looking forward to seeing what they have done there. Call the shop (480-857-5833) if you want to see if you can still book your place.

Update on the Civil War Tribute Block of the Month Project

Last Saturday, the CW Tribute BOM group met to enjoy a wonderful presentation by Roberta Bowen. The CW topic for our 6^th group was the Battle of the Ironclads. It is easy to tell that Roberta loves history. Her lectures and presentations are inspiring to hear and her collections of historical and antique items provide so much insight to the subject. Although the blocks are not necessarily tied to the CW historical topic, it seems to make the time we spend, cutting and sewing each block, more interesting when we can recall the information that was shared at each group session. In fact, we decided that this months block could represent the turret and cannons mounted on each of the ships.

A special reminder about the July CS Tribute group-we will meet on Saturday, July 17th at 10 AM. Don’t forget and remember to bring your blocks and projects to share.

Summer Treat

We thought you might enjoy some links to some very creative and very cute websites. Most of them feature free tutorials and great ideas for some great sewing projects. Have fun.

If you haven't already cut all your worn jeans into small quilt blocks, you might want to try this very cute idea from My Birdhouse Blog.

We couldn't resist this idea. Cupcakes + scrapbook paper=too cute.

Oh, and let us know if you used any of these great ideas. We’d love to see your pictures, too.

Where Were We This Weekend?

Everywhere!!!

With a lot of work, a lot of help and a lot of patience, we covered the State of Arizona this past weekend. Keeping the shop open for all of our wonderful friends and out-of town visitors was our first priority and thanks to our wonderful staff, that was taken care of.

Then there was the AQG Annual Quilt Show. Thanks to the talented help of our best friend, Ken Casey, our booth came together and we had a wonderful time greeting all of the Show visitors.

The booth was full of colorful quilt show finds and Ken's great "happy to see you" smile.

And then, if Ken is handling things so well at the AQG Show, where was Mary?

At Picacho Peak, of course.

"What was she doing there?" you ask. Well, it started about 149 years ago when the only battle of the Civil War was fought in Arizona at Picacho Peak (about 60 miles south of here.)

According to the historians, the battle occurred on or about April 15th, 1862, when the Arizona Confederate Army (Tucson) met the California Union Army in one of a series of on-going battles along the old Butterfield Stage Route. So every year, Civil War fans and historians meet to re-enact the battle.

And we were there to enjoy the show, and share our Civil War Era Reproduction Fabrics and quilts.

 Mistress Mary with her portable mercantile and goods.

What great way to spend an Arizona spring day-learn some history, meet some very talented and devoted people, and sell quilts and calico.

We would like to thank everyone who helped put our booths together; haul, tote, pack, unpack and pack again and then clean up when the day was over; and held down the fort at home. Your help was what made this weekend a success.

Award Winning Quilt

We extend our congratulations to Lynnita Knoch for her award winning "IxChel" quilt entered in the Arizona Quilter's Guild 2010 Quilt Show this month. We are proud to have this beautiful wall-hanging displayed in our shop.

 

Congratulations Lynnita.

More This 'n That

Several weeks ago, we held a class featuring this beautiful  Beyond the Block quilt (you can see it at the AQG Quilt Show in Mesa this weekend) and we were thrilled when one of the class members brought her interpretation of the quilt in to share with us.

 

Judy's selection of Asian print fabrics (sorry for the poor quality of the picture) was a perfect choice for this beautiful art quilt.  We enjoy seeing your projects anytime, so bring them in and share them with us.

We have received new fabric this week. You have been asking for this and it is finally here. We love the soft rich colors of Snuggles from Moda. These are perfect for those baby projects and quilts and we have the perfect colors-Cherry, Aqua, Ivory and Black in bold colors and Baby Blue, Baby Pink, and Baby Mint in pastels.

 

While your are in the store, getting a sneak feel of the soft Snuggles, check out the beautiful spring colors of batiks that arrived today.

We have 12 gorgeous colors waiting for you and this Terry Atkinson "Lucky Stars" pattern was made for these fabrics. 

We are busy loading up the totes for our booth at the Arizona Quilter's Guild Show "Sol y Sombre" starting Thursday, March 11th through Saturday, March 13th. This year it is back at the Mesa Convention Center at 263 N. Center.  Remember to come by and say hello. We have some great new quilt kits for ready you.

Ken's Outstanding Entry

Meet our celebrity-Ken Casey. For the 4th year, Ken has been invited to submit a quilt into an exclusive show at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colorado. His entry this year is a wonderful expression of his love of color and design.

If you have had the opportunity to take one of Ken's classes or spend any time with him while you are in the shop, you will know that he strives to create quilts that are "out of the box" and that's exactly what he did with this one.

Amber Dance

Congratulations Ken. You deserve a place in this quilt show.

Wranglers Among Us: 10th Biennial Quilt Show is exclusive to the men of the quilt world. Ken's entry was hung beside entries from many notable men who love quilting as much as he does. He joins Scott Murkin, Joe Cunningham, Ricky Tims, David Taylor, Richard Caro and many other men who are adding so much to the quilt scene today in this great venue. The show opened on February 2nd and will run until May 2nd of this year.

If you have the opportunity, make plans to add the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum to your travel plans this spring.