Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Free motion machine quilting is like anything else…it takes lots of practice to master it and make it look good. And even once you master the basics, while it looks good, there are tips and techniques that will take it “over the top” without much more effort. Hyper quilting, a phrase coined by free motion quilter extraordinaire, Patsy Thompson, is one such technique.

Check out this link to Patsy’s blog where you’ll see how this simple technique can take your free motion machine quilting from “good” to “WOW!”

http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/blog/index.php/archives/247

Grab some cheapo muslin and start practicing! Be sure to check out the Education tab on Patsy’s website where she offers many machine quilting video tutorials that will help perfect your free motion techniques.

Melisa

I’ve used pizza boxes (new, of course!) for years to store projects in my sewing room, but those stacks of white boxes on the shelves are kind of boring. Today I ran across this video showing how to cover your pizza storage boxes with fabric…definitely not boring! The video makes the process seem a little labor-intensive, but I’m sure after making one or two, it will be easier and faster.

(The video is in two parts for some reason…)

Just think how much fabric you’ll actually use out of your stash to cover your storage boxes, and how pretty they will look on your shelves. I’m thinking a label with double-sided tape will do the trick for noting the contents, and when you finish a project (!!!) just change the label and add a new project to the box! Sweet!

This is going on my to-do list….send me pictures if you make some for your sewing room!

Melisa

One magnificent magnolia blossom survived last night’s horrendous wind and rain…

I think it was spared just so I could discover it among the mess of fallen limbs and leaves this morning…it brought a smile to my face!

Melisa

One of my favorite market finds was this Season’s stitchery series from Sherri Falls at This & That. The stitchery patterns are packaged with matching notecards and envelopes, and Sherri is offering the complimentary finishing instructions on her website. Collect all six stitchery patterns and dig into your stash to make the scrappy 40” x 54” quilt. The notecards are an added bonus…send a note to a friend, or tie up all six notecards with a nice ribbon for a cute gift. Patterns/notecards are available individually or as a set of six on our website.

Happy Stitching!

Melisa

Runaway Quilter’s Retreat

Runaway with us for three days of sewing fun! This is your opportunity to get away from it all and just quilt and sew ‘til you can’t sew anymore! Enjoy the company of other quilters in a relaxing setting. You can choose to stay the night or just runaway for the day.

Whether you finish a UFO, start a new project, make our special mystery quilt project, or just kick back and relax, this will be a great weekend! Drawings, prizes and surprises…demos…SHQC mini store…spacious sewing area…great snacks and meals…good friends and fun!

When: Friday, October 14 to Sunday, October 16, 2011

Check In: 3:00 p.m. Friday Check Out: 10:30 a.m. Sunday
Early Free Sew begins 10 a.m. Friday and Late Free Sew Sunday afternoon until 4 p.m.

Charlie Elliott Conference Center
543 Elliott Trail
Mansfield, Georgia
(Located 30 miles east of Conyers)

Accommodations:

Stay in a spacious hotel style room. No one shares a bed and no one sleeps on the top bunk! All rooms are double occupancy; if you come alone we can arrange a roommate. You will be sure to have many new friends before the retreat is over. Smoke free rooms; smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the buildings. No pets or alcohol permitted.

Cost:

Retreat Fees are $250 Per Person for the full weekend, or $175.00 Per Person for Day Retreat with no overnight accommodations.

This fee includes:

• Three days of unlimited sewing and two nights lodging
• Six meals, snacks and “Death by Chocolate” Extravaganza
• One beautiful finished quilt will be given away along with other prizes
• Block Challenge (fabric and guidelines will be mailed to all participants)
• Demos, instruction and special mystery quilt pattern
• Lots of fun and lots of friends – PRICELESS!

Food:

Traditional style buffet meals included:

Friday (Dinner)
Saturday (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Sunday (Breakfast & Lunch)
Plus snacks and beverages (including our “Death by Chocolate” Extravaganza!)

Project:

A fabric kit for the Mystery Quilt project will be available for purchase through SHQC or you may bring fabric from your stash. Fabric requirements will be provided at a later date.

Kit price is $45.00 plus 7% sales tax (for GA residents only.) There are two color choices to select from and some of the fabric will be precut for you. When you register for the retreat, please choose one of these fabric kits:

Fabulous Fall or Christmas Splendor

Kits must be ordered and purchased by September 15. We will have extra kits available if you wish to purchase a second (third or fourth) one! Final kit selections must be made by September 15.

REGISTER TODAY! SPACE IS LIMITED…

$100 deposit is due at registration.
Balance is due by September 1, 2011.

Refund Policy: No refunds after September 1 unless we can find someone to take your place. If you find yourself unable to attend, feel free to find a replacement for your reservation. (Sometimes we have a waiting list, so please let us know.)

Download Registration Form

Sponsored by Sweet Home Quilt Co.
1004 Green St. SW Conyers, GA 30012
www.sweethomequiltco.com 678-413-1611

Please ignore this post as I am testing a new app from my iPad…let’s hope it works!