The end of January brings the End of the Month, End of the Bolt Sale. This month it will be Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1. Buy the remaining fabric on the bolt and receive a wonderful 30% discount!

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~~Spring Floral Frenzy~~

Some of us that work here at Country Quilts and Bears do not like the cold and as a result are very much yearning for warmth and the typical first signs of spring - flowers! As a result of this yearning, we are putting more than 50 bolts of floral fabric on sale at 50% off!

This sale will run from January 31 until February 28th,

or until these 50 bolts of fabric are gone,

Come in soon - they won't last long at these prices!

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~~Becky and Susan's Spring Surprise~~

Becky and Susan are planning some fun! They will be offering in April a very limited class that they promise will put a smile on your face and a hop in your step! It's a quilting event, not just a day of sewing. There will be pre-cut kits offered in either a modern grouping or a modern civil war grouping....and the pattern will be the surprise! Doesn't that sound intriguing? Both quilt options are from Moda and the fabric lines were just released this month! They are very busy working on their quilts and they can't wait until the Spring Surprise is revealed! If you wish to sign up now, the date is Saturday, April 12. The kits are going to be very limited for each grouping so call and reserve your kit today! When you call, tell us which style kit you wish to reserve.

Saturday, April 12

9:00 to 4:00

Kit $60 Class $30

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~~New Civil War Shipment~~

Also worth noting, we just received a shipment of 30 beautiful bolts of Civil War Fabric! Becky picked out some real winners that are sure to make your new reproduction quilts pop! Come grab some before it is all gone!

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We've Added a Second Class and there are still a few slots left. Call today to reserve your seat for Friday, March 14th!

UPDATE!

~~Good News!! As you know by our previous correspondence, Jan Cunningham is scheduled to teach here Saturday, March 15th. The response was so overwhelmingly positive we filled the class in one day! Therefore, I immediately called Jan to see if she could teach a second day. She worked out her schedule and now will be teaching two classes - one on Friday, March 14th and another on Saturday, March 15th.~~

Now the news is out. On March 14th and 15th we welcome Jan Cunningham, a National Award winning machine applique teacher. This class will teach the method for machine applique that is featured in Sharon Schamber's book, "Piece by Piece". The quilt pictured above illustrates this method. You will construct a small flower piece and will learn every step of this method and be able to translate this technique to your own applique and have it look like you have done hand applique. It uses a stabilizer that is included in the kit for the class. This stabilizer stays in and gives the applique a trapunto look when the process is completed.

The class is from 9:30 to 4:00 and is $40.00. There is a kit required and that can be purchased the day of the class for $5 from the teacher. You can bring a bag lunch or you can purchase your lunch locally.

We can only take up to 20 students each day as Jan likes to give each student personal attention. Sign up soon so you can enjoy the experience. There are still seats available for Friday, but call quickly as the first class sold out in one day!

Thanks so much, Marilyn

New Store Hours Have Begun!!!
It has come to our attention that it might be a bit difficult for the quilter that works 9 to 5 to make it to our store within our current business hours. As a result we have decided to stay open until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. We are hoping this will be helpful and will better accommodate our working quilters!

"Like" us on facebook!
We have entered the world of social media. Come on by and like our facebook page! We will be posting class photos, shop events, and new stock items on our wall as these things occur. Can't wait to see you there! Click the link below to go to our wall: Country Quilts and Bears Facebook Page

Winter Classes and New Products

Harlequin Star Pillow - New Pattern!

Harlequin Star

Pillow Pattern

**The second order of these patterns arrived yesterday - come get yours today!**

This wonderful new pattern can be made into a pillow or a pincushion. It whips up in a jiffy and makes a great gift. It's very Jelly roll and charm square friendly! We made our sample using the Classics by Kaffee Fassett charm packs in red and blue.

Beginning and Intermediate Applique with Carol Clarke

This course is designed to teach and refine your needle turn applique techniques. Both beginners and intermediates are welcome. You can choose your own patterns and or use the class samples. This is an ongoing class.

The fee is $20 per class. Class is held from 10 - 2.

February 15th

3 Dimensional Applique is the topic for February

March TBA

10-2:00 $20

Disappearing 9-Patch with Diane Hosman

Roses are Red

Violets are blue

Watch this nine-patch

Disappear from view!!!

This is a quick scrappy quilt to whip up in one day. Perfect for a gift, using fabric you love but didn't know quite how you might use it. Or you might want to walk through the shop and pick out new fabrics just for you. Either way, you will go home with a lovely quilt.

Saturday, February 1st

10:00 to 3:00

$30

Quilted Jackets with Marian Smith

The Northerners are back at Country Quilts and Bears and they are looking for Marian's popular Sweatshirt Class!

Here it is. If you've made one, come on back and make another. If you've never made one, come in and have fun making a jacket that you will wear out the door at the end of the second session.

If you are interested, you will need one UNWASHED sweatshirt with set-in sleeves that is one size bigger than you normally would wear (Wal-Mart currently has a large supply of these sweatshirts, so get one before they are gone!). These sweatshirts are a bit difficult to find, so be on the lookout for yours before class!

There are several jackets to choose from so come into the shop and choose yours today. She's even added two new jackets to her repertoire so stop by to see the Hexie Jacket and the new (lightweight) Origami Jacket. We will then give you the supply list for the one you want to make.

Quilted Sweatshirt Jacket

For $30 you can come in on ANY two Thursdays, from 10:00 to 2:00, until the spring. It takes two sessions to make your jacket.

Lightweight Origami Jacket

Quick and easy, it requires 7 fat quarters. From beginning to end, it can be finished in three hours.

Saturday, February 22

10 - 1:00

$20

Hexie Quilt with Marian Smith

A wonderful, fun new quilt! This quilt is super easy to construct and a fabulous scrap buster. As if that wasn't enough, the quilt blocks are in the shape of the newest trend, Hexies! No set in seams, no "Y" seams - just fun!

Join Marian, with a little help from Susan, and come have a great day of sewing. The construction is very quick and you will have a finished quilt top in no time at all!

Be sure to stop by the shop and see the Christmas version. It's fabulous! Supply list available at the shop.

Class date:

February 15, 2014

Exact day to be announced soon...

Template required.

class $25

10 - 2:00

Hedgehogs with Francy Gordon

Who doesn't need a Hedgehog? Enjoy a fun day making a prickly little Hedgehog with Francy.

Wednesday, January 29th or

Saturday, February 1st

10:00 to 3:00

Class $35.00 Kits $15.00

Call Francy for details

727-460-6203

Clothes Line Baskets, Placemats & Rugs with Susan Freebery

On Saturday, February 8th come join us at the shop to wrap, wind, and sew fabric strips into fantastic baskets, containers, place mats, rugs, purses or trivets. Create all those things using cotton clothesline and strips of fabric from your stash or yardage that you cut into strips. This is a fun, easy and rewarding class and you will leave with a basket you are proud to call your own using fabrics you already have in your stash!

How about making one from that left over fabric from a baby quilt and it can then be used to hold loose items in the nursery. Or how about starting early to prepare for Christmas 2014? These projects make marvelous gifts when given, full or empty!

Stop at the shop to see the samples and get

your supply list.

Saturday, February 8th,

10:00-3:00 $25

Susan Basket

Miss Molly with Francy Gordon

Back by popular demand, the perfect little ten inch cuddle bear, Miss Molly. You get to choose your own half yard of cotton fabric for Miss Molly's clothes and Francy will help you match it up with the "just right" mohair for the head, hands and feet. Lots of fun to make and share!

This is a two day class - $45.00

9:00 to 4:00 both days

Wednesday, February 19th and

Thursday, February 20th

Call Francy for kit details

727-460-6203

Beginning Quilting with Becky Madasz
This class will take you from fabric selection to binding your projects with the beautiful sample shown to the right. This is a four session class with the dates listed below. Cost of all four classes $40 10 - 2:00 Book required. Supply list available at the shop. Monday, February 3rd Monday, February 10th Monday, February 17th Monday, February 24th

Four-Patch Shuffle with Marian Smith
Has the pressure of the holidays gotten you down? Try this quilter-friendly scrappy, easy, fast quilt. It will charm you back to reality. This is a very fun, fast and fabulous quilt! You can use coordinated fat quarters or layer cakes, batiks, or civil war. Just have fun and relax with this interesting technique. Saturday, March 1st 10:00-1:00 $20 Supply list available at shop.

Hexagons - Traditional and Not So Much! with Becky Madasz
A new trend in quilting is the resurgence of "old" (traditional) patterns made "new". In this class you will make a small flower in the traditional English Paper Piecing method and a modern version using your machine! Come and experience the old made new again! Monday, March 3rd 10:00-2:00 $20 Supply list available at shop.

T-Shirt Class with Becky Madasz

Take all those t-shirts that have significance in your life and turn them into a memory quilt! Each shirt brings back special moments in time that can be preserved as a commemorative heirloom. Becky will take you step by step through Eleanor Burns pattern to turn those memories into a valued quilt!

This is a two day class. Pattern is required. Supply list is on the back of the pattern.

Monday, March 10th

Monday, March 17th

10:00-1:00

$20

Machine Applique with Jan Cunningham

A Nationally Award winning quilter, Jan Cunningham, from north of Atlanta, Georgia, will be teaching a machine applique process class on March 14th and 15th. This method of Machine Applique is the unique technique created by Sharon Schamber and featured in her book, "Piece by Piece". The method uses glue and a stabilizer to create the applique pieces. The stabilizer is not removed and it turns to fiber when the blocks are soaked in water at the end of the process. This gives the applique a trapunto look when quilted. This technique will revolutionize how you feel about applique.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

This class will teach the method for Machine Applique that is featured in Sharon Schamber's Book "Piece by Piece. You will construct a small flower piece and will learn every step of this method and be able to translate this technique to your own appliqu� and have it look like you have done hand appliqu�. It uses a stabilizer that is included in the kit for the class. This stabilizer stays in and gives the appliqu� a trapunto look when the process is completed.

Friday, March 14th or Saturday, March 15th

9:30 - 4:00

$40 class plus $5 kit

Bring a bag lunch or purchase something from the nearby deli,

pizza shop or cafe.

Bow Tie Craze with Linda Simons

Join the little bow tie craze with our award winning quilter,

Linda Simons!

Learn great sewing and design techniques so your two inch bow ties go together perfectly to make this stunning quilt.

Warning: this is not a quilt-in-a-day project, but we'll complete a block or two to get you started!

. Saturday, March 22, 2014

10:00-3:00 $40.00.

Supply list available at the shop.

Pattern included in class price.

Beginning Bear with Francy Gordon

Learn basic Teddy Bear making skills and have a fun day with Francy Gordon.

Chocolate will be provided.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

9:00 - 4:00

$40 plus kit

Call Francy for details

727-460-6203

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Country Quilts and Bears is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Humphries

Country Quilts and Bears
1983 Drew Street
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-461-4171
www.CountryQuiltsandBears.Blogspot.com