Sweet Home Quilt Co.

 Happy Mother’s Day from Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Remember the workshop we did back in February with Terry Atkinson where we tested a new pattern for her? Well, here’s the book, hot off the presses! Terry has hit another home run with this book (and yes, I might be just a little partial since we helped with the testing!). The graphic nature of the designs lead to some really great projects…large and small…that offer a challenge for all skill levels.

Terry has also released four new patterns, including a new table runner in three sizes, a casserole carrier and an organizer and project bags. These will be fun, quick projects to make!

Our shipment of the new books and patterns should be here early next week. Be sure to get your copies before they sell out!

Melisa

Need a last minute gift for Mom? Or maybe a little treat for yourself? We have the perfect answer! Our Sewing Machine Mat can be made in under ten minutes, no sewing required, and will help solve that age-old problem of the “bouncing” sewing machine. Don’t you hate it when you’re sewing along, pedal to the metal, and your sewing machine starts bouncing up and down on the table? This mat will help eliminate the problem…

The mats can also be used as a portable ironing surface – just roll it up and stick it in your case when you go to a class or retreat! These are perfect gifts for your quilty Mom, or a treat for a quilting buddy. Heck, make one for yourself and call it your Mother’s Day present to yourself! Kits are just $12 and include your choice of fat quarter from our selection.

You’ll have plenty of fabric leftover from your fat quarter to make a matching mini-size mat, which can be used as a coaster or a mini ironing surface – for paper piecing maybe? Mini-size mats are just $2 each.

Drop by Saturday, May 11, between 10 and 2 and we’ll have everything you need to make one…while supplies last.

See you then!

Melisa

Second installment…this is the good stuff! I said before that this was the most productive retreat group I’ve ever seen and I wasn’t kidding!

In addition to all of the projects they brought with them, they were compelled to watch the demos I did throughout the weekend. Here I’m demonstrating how to insert a zipper using Terry Atkinson’s Sweet Zip pattern, and we had quite a few tackle zippers for the first time with great success!

We played with selvedges and made heart-shaped pincushions…

And Gwen made great progress on a queen-sized selvedge quilt…

Her plan is to do two blocks a week until it is finished and she figures she’s about ten weeks ahead of the game thanks to this great start!

Sew Simple Pineapple was another popular demo…

Here’s one Millie whipped out from a couple of fat quarters after seeing the demo…I love the effect of the stripes!

Sometimes you just need a friend to help out…Debbie’s pastel Popsicle Sticks went from this…

to this in no time flat! Debbie has a real hard time with “scrappy” so this was a bit of a challenge for her! Great job, Debbie…

Diann finished this Underground Railroad Sampler which will be a gift. She had to make a few extra blocks and then sash everything and get the borders on…it’s a king-size quilt so she had a ton of work to do to get it finished! Beautiful…

Donna finished this bright pink and black quilt…the black prints have fun smiley faces, chili peppers, etc. and although you can’t see it in the picture, the pink fabric has a texture that makes it look like chenille. Every single person reached out to touch that fabric only to be surprised that it wasn’t really chenille!

I think Gwen was the first to finish a project…a work-in-progress for a couple of years. This quilt is simply amazing and far more beautiful in person!

Jane whipped out not one…not two…but three (!!!) of these cute baby quilts in no time flat! Not to mention the fabulous neutral and gray quilt she’s working on for her son…unfortunately, she ran out of a key piece of fabric and now we’re on the hunt to track down enough for her to finish it up!

Marsha completed her Footprints in the Sand quilt…a fun Instant Bargello technique!

Millie finished her rail fence quilt made from Bowood House by Robyn Pandolph. She had to do a bit of maneuvering with the borders due to a shortage in the kit she had purchased, but it all worked out!

Peggy put together this fun quilt for her grandson. Her joy turned to agony when I pointed out that she had several of the same fabrics touching…why didn’t I keep my mouth shut???

After a bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth, we figured out that it was just one section (and thus one L-O-N-G seam!) that was reversed. An easy fix…thank goodness!

I lost count of how many pillowcases Peggy made after Gwen taught her the Magic Pillowcase method!

Ruthanne was a chain-piecing machine…

resulting in this beauty! Doesn’t it remind you of sea glass?

Vicki finished this great patriotic quilt (after a quick trip to SHQC for a different border fabric!)

This was our Mystery Project…Happy String Flowers…a fun wallhanging or baby quilt!

I know I have more pictures somewhere (note to self: don’t use the iPhone, iPad and camera to take pictures!) but I’ll have to find them…something else for you to look forward to!

Melisa

Our four-day Spring Runaway Quilter’s Retreat is rapidly becoming a distant memory and things are beginning to return to normal (whatever that is!) I have finally recuperated enough to get the photos all in one place and ready to share. We had so much fun and everyone was super-productive! I don’t think I’ve ever been on a retreat when so much work was accomplished…this group was focused!

Our retreats are held at the Charlie Elliott Conference Center, which is out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nature and wildlife.

Buford and Beulah Buzzard are the resident “pets” who keep a close eye on the comings and goings of quilters at the Center. This was the only photo I was able to get of them…they’re sneaky little buzzards! But Donna managed to get some great shots (I shamelessly stole these photos from her!)

Notice not only the pair of buzzards but the beautifully landscaped grounds!

The view from our workroom…that’s a beautiful lake glistening through the trees.

I managed to get a couple of good shots of the Super Moon on the 5th…

This shot was taken through the window and is of the moon reflecting off the water in the lake.

Super Moon about midnight shining down on the Conference Center where we were.

We couldn’t ask for a better facility…plenty of room for everyone to spread out and work!

My right-hand assistant, Gwen!

Peggy seems to think if she ignores me, I’ll go away with the camera…NOT!

I have lots more pix to share, but in another post since this one is rather picture-heavy already. Prepare to be wowed…

Melisa

I’ve been quilting more than 20 years and through the years have devised methods that work for me – they probably wouldn’t pass muster with the Quilt Police, but they work for me! This includes quilt bindings. My method for finishing binding ends invisibly works perfectly and I’d challenge you to figure out where my quilt bindings start and stop. But lately I’ve been making a lot of small projects and sometimes my method is a little cumbersome on small things and doesn’t always end up looking as neat as I’d like.

I was happy to run across this video showing an alternative method of finishing off the binding ends that I think will work very well on small projects. I’m going to try it this weekend on a bag I’m making…I’ll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, you might want to try it, too!

Melisa

Sweet Home Quilt Co. is hiring, and we’re turning to you to find our newest employee! Are you an enthusiastic, outgoing person that loves to share your quilting and sewing knowledge? Sweet Home Quilt Co. is a fun, friendly and creative work environment where fabric is always the topic of the day!

The Job

The most important part of this job is building relationships with our incredible customers. This includes everything from explaining the layout of the store to selecting the perfect materials for an upcoming project! You will also help with the daily duties that keep our shop running smoothly: re-stocking shelves, ringing up customer purchases, assembling our unique kits and fabric bundles, and general housekeeping duties. Other requirements include basic math skills, ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs., and ability to stand for long periods. Retail experience is preferred, but not required.

This position is for SATURDAYS ONLY, 9AM – 4PM. Please do not apply if you are not available to work every Saturday.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for the position, please email hiring4shqc@gmail.com and attach your resume in PDF format, along with photos of your creative work. No phone calls, please.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Melisa

Wishing you and yours a blessed Easter!

Prairie Life
95 1/2” x 95 1/2”
Designed by Brenda Plaster, Spool & Bobbin Quilting
Featured in QUILT Magazine, June/July 2012

I am always amazed at the inner workings of the quilting industry, and especially when the stars align to create opportunities. I recently received a call from the Technical Editor at QUILT magazine inviting us to kit the project shown above for their readers. Why us? Well, the project is made from one specific fabric collection (Sienna by Kensington Studio for Quilting Treasures) and the magazine had contacted the fabric manufacturer to find out which shops had ordered the complete collection. As it turned out, due to a mix-up last fall, we had received DOUBLE the complete collection! Lucky for us and QUILT magazine readers, we still had plenty of the fabric in stock, so I was able to say ‘yes’ to the question of kitting the project.

This is a striking quilt project, easy to construct using just two blocks, but with dramatic results. The rich reds, creams, golds, and browns of the Sienna fabric collection result in a beautiful quilt! Grab a copy of the magazine and call us for your kit!

Melisa

More pictures of the beautiful quilts from the Festival of Quilts Show and the members of the Heart of Georgia Quilt Guild.

Cottage and Flowers by Joyce Jones
(hand appliqued and hand quilted!)

Toots’s Flower Garden by Alice Smith
A Piece ‘O Cake pattern, Alice started this quilt in Utah in 1987, worked on it in Hawaii, Korea, Florida and New Hampshire, and finally finished it in Georgia! I wish you could see the machine quilting done by Alice on her Bernina – it was simply amazing!

Hidden Star (miniature) by Kathy Darley

Buttons Blooms and Baskets by Alice Smith

Stretched Chains by Page O’Neill

Miss Lily’s Baskets by Sandy Gilreath
(an original design)

Hartwell Commons by Sandy Gilreath
Quilt features silk ribbon embroidery, free motion quilting, and applique. This quilt has been selected as a semi-finalist in the AQS Show & Contest in Paducah, April 2012.

How Does My Garden Grow by Jeannine Burton
This quilt was fabulous with machine embroidered applique flowers and crystal “bling” all over it!

Raj, Rob Roy, and Ralph (Rooster series) by Beth McGinn

Blue Flame by Carol West

Pansy Baskets by Sumie Martin

Exotic Flowers by Joyce Jones
(hand appliqued and hand quilted)

Mill Wheel by Laurene Wooten
(hand pieced and hand quilted)

Angeline’s Garden Quilt by Angeline Walker
(Angie’s first applique quilt!!!)

Friends and Flowers, You Can Never Have Enough by Sheila Bender
(hand appliqued)

As I mentioned earlier, talent abounds in this guild. Many members had 7, 8, 9, and even 10 quilts entered in this show! And you can see that they really, really love applique and do some absolutely amazing work! I am always awestruck and inspired while viewing the masterpieces created by this guild!

There were a couple of special exhibits that I’ll share with you in a separate post so that I can share the stories, too. In the meantime, if you have an opportunity to attend a guild quilt show and view the local talent, please do so in support of the quilters who put so much time and effort into their work. But remember, don’t touch the quilts or you could end up like these hapless folks…

Melisa