Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Our shop hop fabric sample has arrived! In keeping with the shop hop theme “Quilting…It’s Our Passion,” the participating shop owners selected a sewing themed fabric by Timeless Treasures, and it is a lively, fun print! Fabric yardage is available for pre-order now. The fabric is $11.50 per yard, and must be pre-paid when you order. Pre-ordered fabric will be available for pick-up during or after the shop hop (March 14-17), and if we have any remaining we’ll make it available for general sale at that time. You may also place your pre-order online; please indicate in the Comments Section of your order if you plan to pick up the order at the shop, or if you’d like it shipped. We will ship pre-orders the week of March 18th, and applicable sales tax and postage will be added.

Call the shop to place your order before it sells out! Or better yet, stop by to see the fabric sample up close and in person, and take a look at the cute coordinating fabrics we’ve brought in to go with! We’re working on some cute samples, including a Classmate tote from Atkinson Designs, and some cute aprons. This fabric would make adorable curtains for your sewing room, too! Limited quantities of the Shop Hop fabric are available so don’t wait if you want it!

~Melisa

As 2012 winds down, I just wanted to take a few minutes to say thanks…for your business, your love and support, and your encouraging words along the way. It was a great year at the shop, beginning with the phone call in January telling me that Sweet Home had been selected as a Top Ten Shop for Quilt Sampler magazine, followed by weeks of frantic preparation for the photo shoot in early March, and then the agonizing wait until May when the official announcement was made at Quilt Market. There were times I thought I’d burst with the news, but we managed to keep it quiet. The outpouring of love and congratulatory messages received from all of you when the announcement was made were both humbling and heartwarming, and served as proof that Sweet Home is as loved by you as it is by us! We’ve met so many wonderful new friends from all over the U.S. and several other countries as a result of the magazine article, and I never tire of hearing “what a wonderful shop!”, which always makes me smile…it makes every effort worthwhile!

In the midst of preparing for the Quilt Sampler photo shoot, we welcomed Terry Atkinson of Atkinson Designs for a workshop in February. Sixty-five quilters spent two fun-filled days working with Terry testing a quilt pattern from her then soon-to-be-released book, Graphic Mixx, which has proven to be another hit for her! Every single time I look at the Graphic Mixx book I think to myself “we had a part in that!” Today, almost a year later, I still hear comments about how much fun that weekend was, and when can we do it again?

So many special moments from throughout the year … I could write a book! But I won’t since you’re probably getting ready for champagne and fireworks! I do especially want to thank everyone who has helped support our charitable efforts this year. Thanks to you, more than 500 pillowcases have been donated to ConKerr Cancer, and over 100 pet beds went to the local animal shelter. When Hurricane Sandy devastated the Northeast, you were quick to answer my call for help, contributing nearly 100 quilts and blankets and money to help with shipping costs. I really think we made a difference in a lot of ways this year, and I’m so proud to have the support of such giving hearts! You lift me up every single day in ways I never could have imagined!

Tomorrow brings a new year. I’m excited about this one. Good things are planned. Good things are happening. I’m ready.

Wishing you happiness,
Wishing you health,
Wishing you blessings …

Happy New Year!

~Melisa

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

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

A friend’s birthday is coming up this week and while I knew what I wanted to make for her, I fiddled around and didn’t get started until last weekend. I cut everything out at the shop Saturday a week ago, and as luck would have it I was using the last pattern we had in stock. A customer wanted to buy the pattern and I certainly wasn’t going to say “No!” So I had my project all cut out but no pattern. Luckily, it was one of Terry’s patterns so a quick call last Monday and I had more patterns on the way. Unfortunately, I didn’t get back to my project until Sunday and by then I was under a deadline ‘cause the birthday girl’s party is tonight! I had already made the pattern once, though, so I felt confident I could whip it out in no time flat…yea right! This is the pattern I planned to use:

Pockets to Go, Atkinson Designs

A terrific gift idea and very easy to make! The only problem was that I complicated things by deciding to use some of the new laminate fabric we’d received at the shop the week before from Andover. I wasn’t anticipating any problems because the laminates were so soft and supple, I assumed they would sew just like regular fabric (unlike some of the vinyls and oilcloths we’d had previously which were stiff and hard to maneuver) – I was partially right. I didn’t have a teflon foot for my machine so it was a little tricky sewing with the laminates…the fabric wanted to stick and thus, shift out of place…I did a lot of ripping, which if you think about it, isn’t exactly what you want to be doing with laminates! I was able to get one box done using tissue paper sandwiched with the fabric, but it was harder to see what I was doing and then I had to pick the paper out of the stitches! I finally gave in on Monday and called our local sewing machine dealer, Conyers Sewing Center, to see if they had a teflon foot that would fit my Janome; they did, and I made a special trip into town to get it. Back home and that last box was done in under an hour…I was kicking myself let me tell you! But so happy with how they turned out…what do you think?

The bindings and the inside pockets are coordinating cotton fabrics, and the zippers? No Big Deal! Terry’s instructions for inserting zippers are so foolproof it is actually fun to do them! Did I just say putting in a zipper is fun? Trust me, it is or it can be if you use Terry’s method!

I sure hope they’re a hit with the birthday girl! Gotta run, it’s birthday night with the Batty Babes…nobody does birthdays like the Babes!

Melisa

Then join our Groovy Girls Sewing Club from Atkinson Designs! Everyone knows what a huge fan I am of Terry Atkinson’s designs, and I am really excited to be offering her club at Sweet Home! Terry has put together a fun and creative club that will expand your sewing skills without a huge time commitment…and just wait until you see the fun projects she’s designed exclusively for club members! I’m having a blast sewing up the samples, and I know you’ll love them, too. We’ll laugh, learn and be inspired by creative ideas that go along with each month’s theme. And the best part is you don’t have to lug your sewing machine and all your stuff up the stairs! I’ll demo a new technique each month and provide you with handouts for fun small projects that you can whip up in no time in the comfort of your own sewing space! How groovy is that? We’ll have snacks, games, door prizes and an all-around groovy good time! You’ll also have the first sneak peak at exclusive Atkinson Designs patterns that will only be available at participating Groovy Girl Sewing Club quilt shops – nowhere else!

Cost of the club is just $50 for six months of demos, patterns, tips/techniques, exclusive projects just for club members, and lots of groovy fun! Specially packaged kits will also be available for each month’s project for an additional fee. We’re offering two sessions of the Groovy Girls Sewing Club to make it easy for everyone to participate. This is a six-month club that will meet monthly beginning in September on the First Friday, 6:00-8:00PM, or the First Saturday, 8:30-10:30AM. So grab a couple of your groovy friends and come join the fun!

Piece out,

Melisa

Not cool as in weather because it was hot as blue blazes in Wisconsin, but cool as in a fantastic week of making new friends and sharing ideas with a terrific group of shopowners from various areas of the country, and as always fun activities and learning opportunities with Terry Atkinson. This is the second year I’ve attended Terry’s shopowner retreat; after last year I didn’t think it could get any better, but she and Roseann outdid themselves again this year. I think my friend Patti, who owns Fabric Town in Apple Valley, MN, said it best when she described the week:

To just give you a quick insight to what we do at this retreat….. Laugh, Sew, Laugh, Laugh, Discuss, Laugh, Tease, Eat unbelievable meals prepared by a fabulous Chef, Laugh, Discuss, Sew, Sew, Sew, Laugh, Laugh and Eat again..

Terry always has creative challenges and thought-provoking round table discussions for us and it always amazes me at the “V-8 moments” I have during our discussions. I suppose we tend to get ourselves into a particular mindset and it takes a fresh perspective to free us from the rut…those “I could have had a V-8 moments” are a highlight of this retreat for me.

Sometimes I get to a point that all of my creativity seems to have been drained away by the daily mechanics of owning a quilt shop, and this summer retreat is the best way I’ve found to restore that creative well, and just have fun. We always test a couple of patterns for Terry and the quilt we did this time around was really fun…sorry I can’t share my F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D (!!!) quilt top with you since the pattern is still in the design testing stage, but you’ll see it as soon as Terry releases the pattern in a few months. Here’s just a tiny sneak peek…yes, it’s black and white. Surprised?

Terry and Roseann always coordinate dinner themes with Jason, who cooks our fabulous meals for us, and our last night is a holiday celebration. This year it was Halloween, and this is the tablescape that greeted us at dinnertime…

We were instructed to bring a Halloween gift for exchange…something that reminded us of our childhood Halloween experiences. You can see that all the gifts were wrapped in fun Halloween fabrics and packages. Halloween as a child for me meant the school carnival so I filled my Halloween gift bag with little toys and candies…a slinky, a fun pencil with a smiley face eraser, Pixie Stix, the little wax bottles filled with colored liquid…all stuff that we’d come home with as prizes for playing the games at the school carnival. We also always had a cake walk at the carnival so I included my mother’s recipe for Toasted Coconut Cake, which she always made to donate. It was an evening filled with laughter and funny memories as we all took turns telling our Halloween stories and sharing bits and pieces of our lives. I think we ended up sitting around the dinnertable for several hours, just sharing and laughing and having fun!

There were 18 of us at the retreat, and although several had to leave a bit early, there were a few diehards who didn’t want to leave and stayed until the absolute last second!               Back row (L to R) Carol, owner of Batiks Etc. & Sew What Fabrics; yours truly ; Shelley, owner of The Quilted Forest; Cathy, owner of Wish Upon A Quilt; Joyce, owner of Quilting Adventures; Laura, owner of Cotton Patch Quilt Shop; Roseann, owner of Rosebud’s Cottage. Front row (L to R) Kelly Ann, owner of Kelly Ann’s Quilting; Sue, owner of Gruber’s Quilt Shop; Terry of Atkinson Designs, and Julie, owner of Keepsake Cottage Fabrics.

This is a wonderful group of women that I am happy to have as friends and colleagues. Be sure to check out their websites and blogs for inspiration!

Melisa

If you weren’t here today for UFO Day, you missed a G-R-E-A-T time!  There was lots of “alien food” and laughter, and even a little bit of quilting was accomplished!

I snapped this early on before everyone arrived – Alien Juice (lemonade), Martian Orbs (green grapes), and Planet Cookies. (We have a fabulous new bakery in town – Sugar Bakers – and they had fun with our UFO Day idea!) We also enjoyed Martian Toes (creme filled pastries), Flying Saucer Chips with Beam Me Up Bean Dip, and lots of other stuff that escapes me now. Trust me, we had plenty to eat and there was lots of creativity depicted in our alien food!

Page brought her cross-stitch projects to get caught up on – Christmas Stocking two years in the making for her son-in-law, and a fall scene featuring pumpkins and a scarecrow and moon against a black background – I’d have been blind! In fact, it’s hard to tell from this picture, but Page wears 2 pair of glasses at a time!!! No wonder, doing all that cross-stitch on dark backgrounds!

Mellie managed to sew a few seams in between customers in the shop. She’s working on a new sample for the Market Party next week – you are planning to come to the Market Party on Wednesday, right?

Gwen is working on a patriotic project using the new Lil Twister tool – she’s making it up as she goes along…the best way!

Several different options were auditioned for finishing – I can’t wait to see what she finally chooses!

Doli managed to elude my ever-present camera, but I did manage to capture what she was working on. She had bought these fabrics in Florida 5 or 6 years ago, but could never decide what to make with them. We looked at several pattern choices, and she settled on Fire Escape by Atkinson Designs. Can I just say…Y-U-M-M-O!!! She didn’t quite get it finished, but almost!

I know you’re wondering about the other glorious piece hanging behind Gwen, too. This was a show-and-tell that Doli brought to share.

This was a Round Robin that Doli made with her mother and her sister. They each started with the center pieced blocks section and the large flower, and all used the same fabrics. This is Doli’s finished top – don’t you love it??? She is going to bring pictures of the other two quilts to share with me and I can’t wait to see them also.

So, you’re asking, what did you finish Melisa? Well, I did manage to get two things off my list, but I can’t show you. (I really did finish, I promise!) No sneaky peaky until the Market Party next week — see another reason you need to plan to be here Wednesday, June 30th, 5:30 – 8:30PM!!!

Fun Days of Summer at Sweet Home are off to a fantastic start, and I’m excited about all the other fun stuff we have planned. I hope you’ll come play with us, too!

Melisa

We’re vending at the Heart of Georgia Quilt Guild “Silver Anniversary Celebration” quilt show in Macon, GA this weekend, and we’ll have many of our new samples and kits in our booth. While packing up this afternoon, I snapped a few sneak peeks to share with you.

I’ve gone pincushion and bag crazy, and we’ve got lots of new samples of all sorts to prove it. Strawberries and Cream, anyone? We’ve got the patterns for all of these, but they aren’t loaded to the website yet. If you need to know, just shoot me an email.

This is the Grommet Grab Bag by Indygo Junction. We’ll be making more things with grommets…have you tried them? Easy peasy…

New versions of my favorite table runner pattern, Waffle Time by Atkinson Designs. Notice the quilting on the red/black? It’s forks and spoons! How fun is that???

A cutie patootie panel quilt made with RJR’s Caterwauling fabric line…fun and funky!

The shop will be stripped bare tomorrow morning so we can take a lot of these samples with us to hang in the booth in Macon, but we’ll be re-hanging everything come Monday, just in time for the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop next weekend. I hope you’ve made your shop hopping plans already because we pull out all the stops and you won’t want to miss it! Don’t worry, if you can’t do the hop, I’ll post lots of pictures of our theme decor and all the new samples. Plus I’ll be posting from Macon, too, so come back here for scenes from the show, too.

Melisa

There were so many new ideas and techniques that I learned last week during the Rags to Riches Shopowner Retreat with Terry Atkinson, I have to get my notes out to even remember them all. But there were a couple of stand-out moments, first:

Everyone, including me, gave a collective groan when Terry announced that we were going to learn to do zippers.  I’ve done zippers, eons ago in Home Ec, and I have gone to great lengths to avoid anything with zippers since! But Terry insisted we could do it, and once the challenge was issued we were off. Her demo looked simple enough, and the projects she had prepared for us to practice on were just too cute to resist. And you know what? She was right! Here are my completed projects to prove it!

The two bags on the right are from Terry’s book, Big Bags Little Bags, and were a snap to make – even with the zipper! We even made our own beaded zipper pulls. I could see another addiction there; as a matter of fact, one of the first things I did when I got home was go to the Bead Shop and grab some tools and a few packages of beads to use on more bags! The drawstring bag on the left was a tutorial that Terry offered on her blog a couple of weeks back. It has a little zippered pocket on the outside. I think she called it a “Sock Sack” and it will be perfect to keep my sock knitting in; I can see more of these in my future, too. Pop on over here for the tutorial to make your own Sock Sack! I still have a couple of small bags from the book that I haven’t finished yet – they are addictive!

The other significant thing I learned from Terry is more of a “what not to do” moment. Terry’s sewing machine was making a “clunky” noise one afternoon and we all know what that means – clean it!

Here’s Terry about to start the task of cleaning her machine. Looks pretty innocent, huh?

Take a look at that mess! Can you see all the lint and threads in that poor machine? No wonder it was clunking!!!

Terry had all the right tools for the job. This is just a very small bit of what came out of her machine. Terry’s comment, after all was said and done, was “Here’s my hint for the day – never clean your sewing machine with an audience!”

Thanks, Terry, I’ll keep that in mind!