Wednesday, March 16, 2011

National Quilting Day!

Remember to come celebrate National Quilting Day with us at Quilting Bits & Pieces this Saturday, March 19th and choose one in stock item to receive 30% off!  This is the perfect time to splurge on that FQ bundle, kit, ruler, batting or some other special item you've been eyeing.  One cut of fabric counts, so backing fabric is always a popular item, too!  We will be open from 9:30am - 4:00pm. 
 
Looking forward to seeing you then,
All the shop gals

Friday, March 11, 2011

Another Convert!


If you've ever tried to buy normal run-of-the-mill straight pins while I was working, you might have experienced a conversation something like this:

Nan: Do you mind if I ask what you're going to use those pins for?

Customer: Piecing, why?

Nan: You've got to try my favorite pins!!!  Everything else will feel like nails after you've tried these!  They're not for strength jobs, but for precision jobs they're the best!  When you match seams to nestle, they don't distort the seam you've just matched like other pins will.

Well, one day Amy Bradley (with all the cute patterns from Amy Bradley Designs) went through my meddling about pins, decided to try my favorite pins, and now she's converted.  Check out her blogpost from Thursday here

The next time you're in the shop, you might want to try my favorite pins, too!
Nan
P.S. A special thanks to my friend Linda J in OKC for first turning me onto these wonderful pins.  We started carrying them after she gave me a few to try.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Bus Trip - last day for Early Bird Sign up!

LAST DAY TO GET THE BUS TRIP EARLY BIRD RATE
Our bus trip is a one day event, Saturday, April 16.  We will meet at Quilting Bits & Pieces at 8 in the morning and we will be visiting --
Charlotte's Sew Natural, Newton
Needle in a Haystack, Severy
Overbrook Quilt Connection, Overbrook
Prairie Pieces Quilt Shop, Emporia
and returning to Quilting Bits & Pieces, Eudora approx 8:30 pm

The Fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, beverages, and chartered bus with bathroom. Tipping your bus driver is separate from this fee. You just bring yourself and money for shopping. Early Bird Rate gives you a discount if you register and pay by or on Monday, March 7 - $83.95. Registration and payment after March 7 is $93.95. Fees are non-refundable.

To register, call QB&P at 785/542-2080, come in to sign up, or email us at bitsnpieces@sunflower.com. Come cruising' with us to Kansas Quilt Shops – we are going to have a lot of fun!

March is upon us!  It is beginning to feel and look like spring is really going to come.  The crocuses are blooming! We have some big events planned for this month  –

First of all, we have the Quilters Mini-Retreat on Wednesday, March 16.  For just $20, we offer you a full day of sewing. It begins at 9:30 or whenever you arrive and will end at 4:30. We will provide you with a fun day with  lots of SEWING!  Bring your own projects or pick out a new one while you are here.  We will have coffee and donuts in the morning, bring your sack lunch or order carry out from one of our local restaurants.  As you work on your projects we are ready to assist you in any way we can AND there will be door prizes throughout the day. Sign up now for a day of POWER SEWING and fellowship. Don't delay as space is limited.

National Quilters Day will be on Saturday, March 19. Come in then to get 30% off any one (in stock) item!

Fire Escape

Over President’s weekend several of us managed to sneak away to a guild retreat at Tall Oaks.  Deanna worked on a “Fire Escape” quilt (Atkinson’s Designs Pattern) and has it hanging on display already. 

Deanna

Christina

Christina has been working on a Pineapple quilt for sometime and she finished it at the retreat.  It is a darling little quilt and so easy to do with Little Foot Foundation paper.  With this method of paper piecing you actually have the fabric on top of the paper.  It is a beautiful little quilt for Christina's granddaughter, Olivia.

4" Pineapple blocks
 
1930's Churning Pennies



Amber
Here are the first blocks for the “Churning Pennies” Block of the Month using the 1930’s reproduction fabrics and varigated floss.  Amber made a second set of twilled blocks using the same #5 pearl cotton floss, but just using the stem stitch instead of the twilling stitch. If you are not interested in twilling the blocks would look great done in regular embroidery stitches.

I, Kaye, managed to get all 30 churn dash blocks in the "Antique Fair" colorway sewn at retreat and am having lots of fun with the twilled blocks.  I have added just a tiny bit of fused applique to my twilling – as many of the early Penny Squares included some applique.  This block of the month will be starting on March 15 and continue to be ready by the 15th of each month.  It is $12 a month for eleven months and $29 for the floss kit. 
 
   
March Monthly Twilling

The March Twilling Mini Block is kitted and ready.  Christina twilled our spring flowers in yellow and a varigated spring green.  Kits are $19 or just the pattern for $4.50.
Last but not least, mark your calendars for our Spring Sale, Thursday through Saturday, March 31, April 1 and 2.  We will have 20% off all fabrics, kits, notions, patterns and books and also some 40% discounted items.
Don’t forget to send us a photo of any quilt you have finished that was started in one of our classes, or that you chose the fabric at our shop.  Write a few lines about it...quilt name, approx. what year, your name and any other interesting details.  We will post them  here on our blog for a big "Show and Tell".
Until next time, happy stitching,
Kaye

Friday, February 18, 2011

Welcome to the Quilting Bits & Pieces Blog!


Barb unpacking a new shipment

Hi there, we are excited about having this opportunity to give you a peek into the daily happenings here at Quilting Bits & Pieces in Eudora.  Our plan is to keep you informed when we get cool new fabrics and notions or have fun and interesting things going on.  We hope you will check in often so we can keep you "in the know".

Over the past 13 1/2 years that we have been in business, we have had lots of classes and helped many many customers choose fabric for some great quilts....are YOU one of those people?  Send us a photo of any quilt you have finished that was started in one of our classes, or that you chose the fabric at our shop.  Write a few lines about it...quilt name, approx. what year, your name and any other interesting details.  We will post them  here for a big "Show and Tell".

The big news for this week (in my opinion) is the arrival of all the fabric and "some" of the floss for the new Twilling BOM -- Churning Pennies.   I will get real busy now making the first month's sample.  I hope to have the first blocks ready to pick up on March 15.  In the meantime, watch here for progress.  Amber will be doing the same pattern in 1930's reproductions and my version is the Antique Fair line by Moda's Blackbird Designs.  Call or email us to reserve your kit in either colorway. 

New BOM fabrics ready to kit

By the way, February is National Embroidery Month!  This week's shipment provided a re-supply of #5 pearl cotton and other floss, hoops, needle threaders & needles.  Celebrate by choosing a new embroidery project!

Until next time "happy stitches",
Kaye