What a month it has been! When you received last month's newsletter, we had just started our annual shop hop, Quilters' Quest. We welcomed more than 800 quilters to the Studio from across the US and even from a few foreign countries. I was able to greet almost all of the Studio's visitors from my post, as usual, by the door. Why don't you think about joining us next year? The dates are November 9th - 18th, 2017.
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| Oh, what fun we had at the Quest! I hope you will join us in 2017. |
This month's newsletter brings you gift ideas and new projects while we bid farewell to the 2016 Block of the Month, Cosmos.
And, finally, whichever holidays you celebrate, I wish you peace, joy and some time for quilting this holiday season.
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Gift Ideas
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Gifts to Give
- Our batik scarf kits can be made into quick gifts for all the fashion conscious on your list. The new Infinity and our popular Beaded Batik Scarf kits use my Malam batiks fabrics. Check out all the different color options, including ten brand new introductions; it is hard to make just one!
- We all love the Tiny Travel Tote for its durability, portability and, best of all, usefulness, making it perfect for the quilter on the go. With six outer pockets, it holds all your essential sewing tools.
- The Portable LED Light has three levels of brightness from 24 LED bulbs yet folds up small and flat making it the perfect travel companion. It operates with batteries or the USB power cable (included).
- Architects' 5-in-1 Pen is not just a pen; it is also a stylus for your touch screen devices, a level, screwdriver (both regular and Phillips head) and a ruler.
Gifts to Get
- Aurifil thread is my favorite brand for hand and machine stitching. I've put together three boxed thread collections in colors that are perfect for the majority of your sewing needs.
- There's nothing like a shaded bundle or a roll of gorgeous fabric strips to get a quilter excited. We have a large range of precuts to get your creative juices flowing.
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Don't Miss Our Weekly Web Special
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Check out this week's web special, the
Greased Lightning table runner. The sale ends just before midnight, Tuesday, December 6th. This table runner can be sewn up as fast as the name implies using precuts and easy construction.
 Remember that if you sign up to receive the weekly emails that you are eligible for a special Subscriber Bonus. The bonus is available only to subscribers so sign up here today.
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Only in the Studio
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 If you have someone who needs a little help in shopping for you, stop by and fill out a
Studio Wish List. Copies of the form are at the register and we will keep them on file for you.
While you're there filling out your wish list, look around for skinny fabric bolts. Starting now, whenever you
finish the bolt you will receive 10% off the entire cut of that fabric. Come on in and start hunting today.
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| Tips on Making the New Infinity Scarf |
Our Beaded Batik Scarves became a popular item at the Studio a few years ago and now we've added an
Infinity Scarf. An infinity scarf is basically a large, closed loop which can be worn in a number of different ways. In making their own scarves, several staffers added a clever little twist to their construction.
After finishing the sides, put a knot one quarter of the way down from the end then seam as instructed. The knot creates an interesting touch.
If you want to create more than one scarf from the same fabric, simply buy 2 ¼ yards of your favorite batik and divide it into fourths, lengthwise, and tear (yes, tear) the four strips, creating four long pieces.
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Sitges International Patchwork Festival
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 To all of my friends in Europe, I will be in the beautiful Spanish town of Sitges for their quilt festival March 9th - March 17th. I will be teaching along with Katie Pasquini and Willyne Hammerstein.
In addition to classes and wonderful vendors, there will also be a lecture offered by art quilter Danny Amazonas.
Special exhibits will include a collection of my personal quilts and the exhibit "Color Improvisations II" curated by Nancy Crow which presents some of the best machine-pieced quilts being created in the world today.
For more information, watch for updates at www.patchworkespana.es.
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Small Business Spotlight - Art of Fire
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Bring the magic of this beautiful glass into your home!
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Art of Fire is a world class, state-of-the-art glassblowing studio located in a renovated dairy barn in nearby Laytonsville, Maryland. It began in 1984 when Foster Holcombe and Theda Hansen lit their first furnace. These glass makers use heat, centrifugal force, gravity and physics to create a myriad of shapes and forms and they are happy to share their passion and knowledge with students who participate in classes as well as visitors who shop in the gallery.
We currently have some of their wonderful pieces including ornaments and vases available at the Studio.
For more information on Art of Fire, click
here
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2017 Block of the Month - It's a Mystery!
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 Yes, we are keeping you in suspense for what we have in store for you for 2017. A few months ago, we sent out a survey to see what you are interested in and I designed the 2017 quilt based on your response.
The quilt will be a mystery quilt designed to build you skills as the months go by. Watch for more information in the January newsletter when we will reveal colors along with clues about layout and techniques.
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2016 Block of the Month - Cosmos - Block 14 & Finishing
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Congratulations for making it to the last block and finishing instructions for
Cosmos, our 2016 Block of the Month. Many of you started this project thinking it was well beyond your capabilities but I know from reading your emails and talking to you in the Studio that by sticking to it you have accomplished far more than you thought such as mastering set-in seams and learning appliqué.
Congratulations to you all and thank you for joining me these past months.
If you think you missed your chance to make this quilt, it's not so. In addition to this month's block and finishing instructions, the download link below will give you access to all the materials we've shared so far.
Don't wait though. Cosmos free downloads will only be available until January 31, 2017.
[Download link available in subscriber e-mail only]
Click here to read more tips on Cosmos.
Cosmos has two main color schemes: blue/teal or red/gold. Each of those is available with a light or a dark background for a total combination of four quilts from which to choose.
Click here for more information on Cosmos kits.
 We've also created beautiful fat quarter bundles of the fabrics used in the two Cosmos colorways. If you love the colors in the quilt and would like to use them in a different project, this is the choice for you.
Happy Quilting!
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