What's New at Quilters' Quarters?

The shop's roof was finished at the end of July, walls were painted upstairs in August, and some of Rick's woodworking tools were then moved into their new, clear space.

That left room in the downstairs workshop for the Wooden Toys and Gifts shop to move into newer quarters. And that move created more open space in the front of the barn for Quilters' Quarters to expand ... and so it is!

Ann's Fat Quarters and Bundles of Eighths

We plan to have all of the moving around finished in time for our 20th and 1st Shop Anniversaries on Small Business Saturday, November 29th.  All of Rick's toys and Terry's quilts will be back from their Art Exhibition display at the Pine Grove School in Rowley. And we have some new offerings from our consignment artists as well:

Ann Lainhart's  Fussy Cut Fabric note cards

Ann Lainhart has restocked our special fat quarters and "bundles of eighths" color family selections from her own collection of beautiful quilt-quality fabrics.  Ann has also added to her collection of quilted note cards, including some Christmas designs for kids.  Remember, these cards include actual hand done "fussy-cut" kaleidoscopic designs worked by Ann herself. Catalogs of Ann's work, including her jackets, vests, tile trivets and more are in the shop; remember to ask for yours if you don't see them while meandering through the cabinets full of fabric, the trunk of orphan offerings (remember: you set the price) and the new Wooden Toy and Gift showroom in the back of the barn.

Lynne Schulte LaValley's art cards

And our local painter, Lynne Schulte LaValley,  is also offering a selection of cards representing some of her favorite holiday images for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years and, if you're really planning ahead, Valentine's Day! Each of her cards contains a high quality print of one of her paintings.

Sandra Golbert's Fibre Art Note Cards

 Sandra Golbert's fibre art cards contain many clever sayings to enhance the images she chooses to incorporate in her mult-media collection of note cards. Birthdays, Weddings, Showers, and Holidays are made more memorable when a special card hits exactly the right spot with that special person.  All of our artists keep their prices reasonable: five or six dollars per card, and a discount if more than four are bought from one artist!

National Wildlife Federation
explanation of embossed image

And our newest artist to join our group is Elizabeth Golz Rush, who, in addition to sharing her fabric line with us, also has been commissioned to provide drawings for gold foil embossed note cards from the National Wildlife Federation, and has generously given us packs of three of her designs, shown below; each of the birds featured in her designs is described in detail on the back of the card.

Elizabeth Golz Rush cards, counted-
 cross stitch kits and bolts of fabric

Her work has also been incorporated into the renowned Elsa Williams' cross stitch kits shown in the photo below, just behind the cards and in front of the fabric line.  Remember,  you can click on any image to enlarge it. There is much more to see at Quilters' Quarters, and even more to find in our webstore

 As the shop's spacial changes occur, more room will exist for workshops, lessons and eventually classes.  One such workshop is being planned for mid to late January: it is my goal to have the two Red-Eye Singer Treadle Sewing Machines in good working condition, and then offer a workshop on how to clean and maintain those old treasures that might be hiding in your family's favorite hidey-hole!

As always, if you are reading this update in your email, thank you for signing up for the newsletter. We usually publish it about twice a month, but in between editions, we also update the various pages that comprise this blog. Recent additions are the Massachusetts Women Artists' page,  and progress on current quilts at Terry's Quilting Journal 2014 page.  Come visit us at the blog and see what else is happening at Quilters' Quarters

Feel free to share this email or blog link with your friends and families. Thank you for sharing our pages.

Terry, web page TerryCrawfordPalardy.com, email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Rick, web page WoodenToyandGift.net, email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

Sharing a Few of our Favorite Things!

The little packages keep coming in the mail, and Rick keeps slitting open the envelopes and leaving them for me to find.  I bring them out to the shop, then, and price them and leave them for customers to come and find. I am having such a good time with this new adventure in my life.

Some of you might remember that I am in a "mind-mapping" group of artists with Rick; led by a wonderful facilitator, Marci August. We sit together and share our goals and dreams and come up with valid, purposeful plans and strategies for achieving what we have dreamed. A few months ago, before we opened the quilt shop, the group focused on helping me realize what the center of my business plan was. What was in the center of the map we had formulated from my activities and efforts? A single phrase: BE HAPPY. That is the desired result that all of my goals are pointing toward. That is the focus of my wishes, my newest goal. It is achievable. It is a truth in my life.Is it a valid business plan's desired result? You bet it is!

Here are some more items that have arrived or are on their way to Quilters' Quarters, gradually filling the beautiful cabinets Rick has added to our shop::

Eight yards of Timeless Treasures: "Lighthouses"

One yard of Fabric Visions: "Curious"

We also have a new supply of fat quarters from our friend Ann Lainhart. In addition to those individual, beautiful 9" x 44" pieces of fabric, Ann has put together bundles of "eight fat eighths" ... fabric cuts in a color family, each of which  measure 9" x 22", and so total to a full yard of coordinating fabrics.

Fat Quarters from Ann Lainhart

Ann's quarters and bundles of eight fat eighths in color families

Ann has wonderful fabrics to share!

a yard of 44" fabric with 12 blue printed blocks
 of animals in Dresden Plates

2.5"strips and pre-cut squares; some 4", 5" 6" and 10"

2 yards of soft white cotton with pink floral splash

Embroidered linen tablecloth ready for finishing

We look forward to seeing you and sharing these wonderful finds with you.  Next week, we will be adding more bolts of fabric to the cabinets Rick has built for the shop. Take a look at what we have in store for you!

Remember, if you are reading this in your email, you can forward it to your friends and family and invite them to enjoy our retirement adventure with us. They can find us here At Quilters' Quarters, or drop into the shop Wednesdays through Saturdays between 11 am and 7 pm. We'll do our best to find and stock what you are looking for. We'll be at the fabric warehouse this week, so check out New England Quilt Supply's catalog and let us know what you see that you would like us to purchase and have in stock.

 You can call (978 352 2676) or email (needlesandpens@comcast.net) and we'll be happy to talk with you about fabrics and notions!

We appreciate your advice~
Happy sewing, be well, and don't be a stranger!