quiltology...

Aunts and their nieces often share a special sort of relationship.  In fact there’s an old saying that “only an aunt can give hugs like a mother, keep secrets like a sister and share love like a friend.” 

Here’s Adele (pictured left) all snuggled up under the Puddles quilt that her Aunt Mary Pat made for her. 

And shop quiltologist Heather sent along a photo (pictured below) of the Urban Amish she made for her aunt, who Heather says is a real color lover at heart.   So Heather infused this project with lots of her favorite Kaffe prints.  Rock and Roll!

Enjoy the eye candy!

Patty's son must have been in football heaven this weekend....

....his mom finished his t-shirt quilt just in time for the big Bears win at Wembley Stadium!

Recently I opened my email to find a message from quiltologist Peg Tomaszek Witry. The subject line read…”Finally finished the quilt from a class two years ago.”  

I love to see photos of completed projects and this one didn’t disappoint, so I thought I’d share.

Peg started the top in a class taught by Amy Walsh of the Blue Underground Studios using Amy’s signature “In & Out” pattern.  She machine pieced the top adding in sashing with cornerstones and borders.  Then she proceeded to hand quilt the entire piece—thus the two year time frame!

This quilt is a full size bed quilt--excellent for use on one of those old vintage double beds or you could use it as a large throw to curl up with on the sofa.  It was appraised at $1,350. 

But here's the best part—Peg generously donated it to an auction for a homeless shelter where it sold quickly.  Way to go Peg!

The shop will be open this week on Wednesday 11.24 from noon to 5p!

We’ll be closed on Thursday 11.25 & Friday 11.26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Then it’s back to our regular store hours for the weekend—Saturday 11a to 5p;           Sunday noon to 5p and Monday noon to 7p.

Last year Mary Hammarin from Granite Bay CA visited.   She just sent an email with a picture of the quilt she made from some of our fabrics.  She's calling it "Chicago Bohemian."  It’s another big Kaffe WOW that measures in at 108” square! 

Mary wrote...

“I visited you in October ’09, whereupon my husband fell in love with a quilt you had hanging on the wall.  I bought the border and much of the pink/orange (!) fabrics from your store.  I thought you might like to see the finished product.   My husband loves the quilt, as do I.  Thanks for the inspiration!”

Congratulations Mary--and thanks so much for sending the picture. 

Some of you may remember our fellow quiltologist Holly—she taught some classes at the shop a few years ago.  These days she’s busy creating original and unique bags and purses, which she sells online in her etsy shop at threadandneedle.etsy.com.   

I especially love the handmade coffee cuff—just how cute is this?  Talk about environmentally friendly!  I'm thinking great holiday gift for my coffee loving friends.   

Holly learned to sew in college and made her first quilt by hand on the subways of New York. She was instantly hooked on quilting and fell in love with joining small pieces of fabric together with a thread and needle. One of the reasons she started sewing accessories was that she never wanted to carry the same purse as everyone else or have the same mass produced "stuff" that everyone else purchased at a big box store.  

Meet Holly this weekend (9/12 & 13) at the Renegade Craft Fair and check out her work in booth #151.  (and save a few of those coffee cuffs for me!)