Happy November!

I have some exciting news to offer you: Quilters' Quarters now sells Moda Fabrics, and because we have invested in that company's product, we can offer you special events run by Moda, like the Sampler Block Shuffle that will begin this week!

Each week, registered, participating shops can download a free block pattern from Moda. I'll be doing that on Friday evenings, and posting the free pattern here on the blog (I'll add a new page just for these patterns.) I'll also be in the shop on Friday evenings to answer any questions that you might have from the previous week's pattern, during our free Sit 'n Sew sessions.

I'm looking forward to this ... Moda and United Notions are considering this a "Block of the Week" event (BOW, which, they suggest, is very appropriate for the holiday season!)

Watch for the new page, and the first BOW free pattern, to appear here at the blog by next weekend. I'll post a reminder at our Facebook page as soon as the new blog page is ready, and there will be more details available for you then.

If you are on Facebook and haven't visited our page there, I invite you to do so, as often I post special offers there in between my semi-monthly blog updates.

I'm very eager to see how this new BOW Sampler Block Shuffle works out! Please join me in the adventure ... I'm expecting that we can all use our own stash for these blocks, but I will have some fabrics set aside for a discount for people who are following this event and might want to use them.

Remember, you can always click on images to enlarge for better detail viewing:

Oh - and don't forget, please, to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors ... it's a good thing to do every fall and spring when we change the clocks for Daylight Saving Time! So says the daughter, wife, and mother of firefighters!

The Row by Row™ Hibernation period has now ended, and all patterns for the 2015 Theme, H2O, can be sold in shops and online ... Please don't hesitate to ask. My pattern for the Windows on the Water row will sell for $2.00, and the complete fabric kit for one row is still $9.00 (pattern included free with kit.) Remember, I also have kits for the Timeless Treasures Tote available with their free pattern as well. And, of course, there are the Post Cards ... which I will write about in the next blog update, in November.

Thanks for subscribing to our blog.  Please feel free to share this email with your family and friends who love fabric and want to get our monthly updates!

Terry, web page/store TerryCrawfordPalardy.com
     email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Terry's blog:        http://AtQuiltersQuarters.blogspot.com

If you haven't yet seen Rick's intricate scrollwork, be sure to visit his blog to read about his work,  and his webpage / store to purchase some:

Rick, web page/store WoodenToyandGift.net 
     email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.netRick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

OOPS - Quick update! More new fabric arrived at Quilters' Quarters!

Just a quick update to showcase the new fabrics that arrived yesterday just after I'd posted to the blog: The Minions have arrived, along with the long-lost bolt of Mimosa Blossoms! Remember, you can click on each photo to enlarge for details.

Minion Panel measures a full 36" x 44",
though only the top is shown in this photo. Come
in to the shop to see the rest!

I waited several months for this beautiful
Mimosa Blossoms' bolt to arrive,
completing my order of the blending
10" squares and foliage bolt.

This line is from Quilting Treasures, and
it truly feels as wonderful as it looks!
And yes, we do still have
"HAPPY QUILTER" T-shirts,
in sizes S,M,L,XL. and XXL

Beautiful Foliage, Beautiful Fabrics, and Time for Quilts!

If you scroll down to this month's earlier post, you'll see some of the fall fabrics we have in stock ~ wonderful, quilt-quality fabrics that will bring the outdoor beauty into your hands and into your home. Here are more that capture the seasons colors, designed by our local (Newburyport) artist Elizabeth Golz Rush for Northcutt Fabrics:

When I get a deal, you get a deal. These gorgeous
quilt-quality fabrics normally sell for $12/yd, but
I can offer them, courtesy of the artist, for
$6/yd ... Half!

We also have some vintage sewing machine fabrics that are fun to work with and can be used not only to cover beds, but to cover your treasured sewing machines. I'm beginning to post those fabrics at the web store for our distance-customers ... and have had one inquiry from the Netherlands!

I'm starting my niece's ballerina quilt, using the many fabrics of her costumes through her childhood years of lessons. This will be another learning curve for me, similar to the months that I worked on a friends' silk tie lap quilt. But this one will be bed size, and will involve more fabrics than silk and cotton alone; I'll be working with some different weights and different fusible materials, finding my way through the challenge by reminding myself that we quilters are often our own most severe critics, and that often what we see as problematic is not seen at all by the recipient of the quilt.  There will be mistakes, and as one friend would advise "iron the problem away," and another will say "quilt it out, quilt it over." I'll do my best with these fabrics and make what will optimistically be received as a nostalgic memory quilt. You can monitor my progress on this one by clicking on  this link to Terry's 2015 quilt journal.

Shannon, the original Cuddle Fabric
$15.50 at Quilters' Quarters

We have the coveted Shannon Fabric, "Cuddle," in various colors and textures, but no one has attempted to work with them yet. If they remain on the shelf into the winter, I may send them back to the makers, as this is an introductory offer for first time buyer-shops. There are less expensive forms of Cuddle made by other manufacturers that are bought in larger quantities at lower prices, and it may be that my shop is too small to sustain such a quality collection competitively. My price is $15.50 for the 54" wide yard. I have lower overhead than other small shops, but cannot buy in the quantity of larger shops and so have the lowest price I can offer for this luxury fabric. 

We also have a full rainbow of colors

in the popular "Moda" marble swirl pattern. These fabrics were requested by name by a few customers this summer. They are also 100% cotton, quilt quality, 44" in width, and feel wonderful to the hand. Moda cannot be purchased in small quantities; new shops purchasing have to invest nearly a thousand dollars to stock this fabric, so we bit the bullet on this one, too, anticipating that quilters will recognize the quality and beauty in these bolts. Moda sells for $11.00/yd.

We've also acquired some sample panels of Dr. Seuss fabrics that would be wonderful children's quilts or classroom designs ... Some have coordinating fabric samples attached as well.

All are 100% quilt quality cotton, and all will bring a smile to your face! Teachers, don't miss these deals, and remember to ask for your professional discount! Each panel set is priced at $7.00 to $8.00.

More panels

Now,we are almost two months from Christmas, and would love to see you and your friends in our shop. After the holidays, Rick and I will be closing the shop down for the bitter winter weather in January and February, as heating the space is a challenge in this new century's changing weather patterns. (Nine feet of snow last winter kept customers away, no doubt busily clearing their own driveways... I hear the

Farmer's Almanac is threatening as bad or worse this year~) But we will be reopening in March, with Spring and Summer collections in stock.

Our quilting lessons will continue through those cold months, but will take place in the house, by the warmth of the woodstove and the healthy air surrounding the greenhouse geraniums. And customers who need a piece of fabric or a spool of thread or such can always phone us to open by appointment. After all, we opened this fabric and quilt shop to provide a local spot for needleworkers shopping for supplies. 

'Til then, we're here, 11 to 7 on Wednesdays through Saturdays, and are open 'til 9 pm for Free Friday Sit'n Sew with our people-powered treadles and hand cranks, or affordable Weekend Workshops on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons (click links to see those pages.)

And, I almost forgot to mention: the Minions are due to arrive later this week! Stay tuned ~

Thanks for subscribing to our blog.  Please feel free to share this email with your family and friends who love fabric and want to get our monthly updates!

Terry, web page/store TerryCrawfordPalardy.com
     email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Terry's blog:        http://AtQuiltersQuarters.blogspot.com

If you haven't yet seen Rick's intricate scrollwork, be sure to visit his blog to read about his work,  and his webpage / store to purchase some:

Rick, web page/store WoodenToyandGift.net 
     email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.netRick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

Halloween Fabric $3.00 / yd this week!

Fall Workshops are Slipping By ...

Have you been wondering what to do with some of your remnant fall fabrics?

Our Friday evening and Saturday afternoon workshops will give you weekly ideas, provide inexpensive lessons using fabrics, rulers and embellishments, and offer good company.  A circle of quilters is always good company!

You can bring and use your own machine and fabric, or just bring yourself and use our modern or antique machines. Any fabric you might purchase for a workshop will automatically be reduced in price by 15%, and the workshop itself costs only $15 and can last two hours or longer!

Don't miss out on all that you can learn and enjoy at Quilters' Quarters~ This week is log cabin blocks ... next week is varied log cabin block arrangments, and the following week is red white and blue blocks introducing the LeMoyne Star ruler.

And the week before Halloween, we'll be offering the workshop on making Trick of Treat Bags that are reversible, reusable and washable!



Our workshop topics are posted at the beginning of each month, and stay at the top of the right hand margin of our blog page. They are also updated frequently on our Facebook page. 

Come and join us ... there's never a crowd, and always room for you!

Thanks for subscribing to our blog.  Please feel free to share this email with your family and friends who love fabric and want to get our monthly updates!

Terry, web page/store TerryCrawfordPalardy.com
     email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Terry's blog:        http://AtQuiltersQuarters.blogspot.com

If you haven't yet seen Rick's intricate scrollwork, be sure to visit his blog to read about his work,  and his webpage / store to purchase some:

Rick, web page/store WoodenToyandGift.net 
     email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

"Hibernation Period" Sale: 9/8/2015 - 10/31/2015

For the next seven weeks, quilters who spent some summer time collecting free Row by Row™ patterns are expected to be hunkered down at home finishing their nautical quilts for the free 25 fat quarters they'll be awarded if they are the first one to return with the quilt to a shop nearby.  During these seven weeks, shops are not allowed to give or sell their row patterns and kits. The thought is, those who could travel in the summer ought to have the best shot at winning the prizes. Not sure I agree with that, but I'll abide by their rule.

But hunkering down in this beautiful New England weather isn't likely, so Quilters' Quarters will have a sale on ALL nautical fabrics and notions ... 15% reduced prices in the shop, and on line.

Now, I'm told that some shops' patterns and kits are being sold on eBay by the customers who bought the kits during the summer. "That's not fair!" some would say... and while that's true, the customers didn't have a rule to follow. They bought the kit and it's their property to sell. But it does conflict with the notion that others can't buy the kits and receive the patterns from the original shops during the Row by Row™ Hibernation Period. (After 10/31, shops will be selling their kits and patterns again, as the contest will have ended.) Technically, if the quilter hasn't signed in at each shop whose pattern is used in the quilt, he or she can't expect to win the fat quarters ... the shop would have to verify the quilter's visit, and that alone might create ill will with the customer. I'm not in this dilemma, as my shop fortunately had a winning quilt turned in before the Hibernation Period (and it is a truly beautiful quilt!) At the bottom of the back of her quilt, Regina embroidered the shop names as well - a wonderful record of her busy summer shop-hopping!

Meanwhile, the Northern Hemisphere moves on toward Fall (Autumnal Equinox is the first day of Fall, on September 23rd this year, despite what the weathermen claim.) And Quilters' Quarters has gained yet another vintage machine (see the blog page for the story.) More vintage fabric has arrived at the shop as well:

 

And the school fabric made a wonderful book tote just in time for the public library's annual book sale!

Lined tote measures 22" x 16-18"

Come visit us at Quilters' Quarters to see what other new fabrics have arrived ... Moda Marble Swirls in twelve colors ... Cuddle fabrics ... Halloween Panels and more - oh, I think I'll make a Halloween Trick or Treat bag with some of that fabric, too!

Thanks for subscribing to our blog.  Please feel free to share this email with your family and friends who love fabric and want to get our monthly updates!

Terry, web page/store TerryCrawfordPalardy.com
     email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Terry's blog:        http://AtQuiltersQuarters.blogspot.com

If you haven't yet seen Rick's intricate scroll work, be sure to visit his blog to read about his work, and his webpage / store to purchase some:

Rick, web page/store WoodenToyandGift.net 
     email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

School is in Session!

Welcome back to the quilters and crafters who have been busy this summer with their children's activities ... You've made a lot of wonderful memories with them!

Some of you are also going back to school, or back to work, and all are watching the calendar days slip by while beginning to look for materials to use in fall projects ... holidays are ahead and we have a lot of fabrics and patterns ready for those quilts and pillow cases, table runners, totes, purses, slippers and more.

Our regular "Sit 'n Sew" Friday evenings will continue on until 9 pm

AND

We're going to try something new this fall: Friday evening (from 6 to 8 pm) and Saturday afternoon (from 4 to 6) workshops! Each session is offered for $15.00, and allows for a 15% discount on fabrics and notions purchased for the project of the day.

 Quilters' Quarters will be closed at 6:15  on Friday September 11th to allow attendance at the Georgetown Public Safety Building for a public memorial service honoring those lost in the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks. 
We'll then have a late start of the workshop series on Friday, September 11th with a workshop on making "quilt as you go" blocks in patriotic colors that can be donated as Quilts of Valor to our Military Veterans, or to our EMTs, Firefighters and Police Officers who keep us safe every day.. Quilters' Quarters will revisit this workshop on the second Friday evening of each month, and will accept donated blocks produced to be assembled into quilts for our local veterans. (If you prefer to keep your block(s) and assemble your own quilt, you certainly may do that.) Fabrics purchased at Quilters' Quarters for this effort wil lbe discounted by 15%. We have a small group of local QoV quilters who enjoy making and finding recipients for these quilts. The workshop will be repeated on the following Saturday afternoon for those unable to attend in the evening.

For the third week of the month, on Friday, September 18th, our workshop will feature easy to make Totes for carrying the books in style ... our local library is having its annual Book Sale that weekend, and the totes will be very handy for carrying home those treasures you find Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Georgetown Peabody Library on Maple Street in town.  Watch for the book sale reminders on Facebook! That workshop will also be repeated the following Saturday afternoon at Quilters' Quarters.

On Friday, September 25th, we'll have a lesson on the Quick and Clever Pillowcase, so that you will be ready to turn out novelty pillow cases for every member of your family, using fabrics chosen especially for each one. That workshop will repeat on Saturday September 26th.

The schedule of workshops will be posted here at the blog at the beginning of each month, and will also be found at Quilters' Quarters Facebook page.

October workshops will feature Sewing Machine Dust Covers,  our ongoing patriotic quilt as you go blocks, school day lunch boxes and washable sandwich bags, Halloween table runners, and one surprise workshop.

Vintage Sewing Machine and Back to school fabrics are in stock at the shop and are also posted at our webstore: remember you can click the image to enlarge it for viewing.

Dan Morris Design via RJR fabrics

Wilmington Fabrics

Wilmington Fabrics

Timeless Treasures

Thanks for subscribing to our blog.  Please feel free to share this email with your family and friends who love fabric and want to get our monthly updates!

Terry, web page/store TerryCrawfordPalardy.com
     email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Terry's blog:        http://AtQuiltersQuarters.blogspot.com

f you haven't yet seen Rick's intricate scroll work, be sure to visit his blog to read about his work, and his webpage / store to purchase some:

Rick, web page/store WoodenToyandGift.net 
     email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

It's that Time of Year... Row by Row™ 2015 deadlines

August is wrapping up ~ the 2015 summer Row by Row™ will meet its first deadline on September 8th, when shops must cease providing patterns to visiting quilters.  September 9 through October 31 is called the "Hibernation Period: No patterns or kits may be sold or handed out in any way during this time"  per the RxR rules. Quilters have until October 31st to complete their 2015 RxR quilt and return it to any participating RxR shop that has not had a winner yet. Twenty-five fat quarters will be awarded by each shop to each winner.  On November 1st, "the game ends."

Quilters' Quarters still has an abundance of kits, RxR pins, tote mini-kits, Robin the Bobbin patterns and 2014 and 2015 license plates available through September 8th. We also have the 2015 water-themed Massachusetts Post Card kits and are the only shop that still has them. 

On November 1, patterns and kits will again be available, this time at our shop and also online at our web store.  Items bought through PayPal that are shipped out of state will have the Massachusetts Sales Tax refunded immediately upon shipment, as will any over-estimated shipping charges that exceed the actual cost. Items ordered online will be shipped on the following business day.

We have a winner! Regina Souza brought her finished quilt in to our shop in the last week of August and left it with us for display for a while.  I'm happy to show it off to quilters who are wrapping up their summer shop hop purchases.  We have not seen as many quilters for Row by Row this year as we had last ... but look forward to continuing our relationship with all of the new customers we  have met because of this international shop hop. Without the publicity of Row by Row™ we may never have been found by many of you. 

Our numbers are less important to us than is meeting the community of quilters that has found its way to our door, and we plan to continue with the RxR events as they occur.  In fact, "Helen and Henry," our new mystery series characters, will be experiencing their first quilt shop hop event in the second edition of their story. Publication date is estimated at November 15, 2015. The autographed books will be available in both the quilt shop and online at our  webstore's book page.   Books can also be purchased  at Amazon.com and at Smashwords.com. 

Aside from the excitement of the 2015 Row by Row™, Quilters' Quarters has had several new additions to our stock - we now carry Cuddle Fabrics, host a new local artist with creations of yarn, and are beginning to add holiday bolts as well. We have  a supply of rotary blades, cutters and Olfa rotary mats, and an assortment of both Schmetz and Superior needles for sewing machines, as well as a good stock of hand sewing needles. We have a selection of Superior brand threads in solid and variegated colors, some Mettler, Coats and Clark and more.

Stop in to see us ... there is always something new to see at Quilters' Quarters!

Thanks for subscribing to our blog.  Please feel free to share this email with your family and friends who love fabric and want to get our monthly updates!

Terry, web page/store TerryCrawfordPalardy.com
     email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Terry's blog:        http://AtQuiltersQuarters.blogspot.com

If you haven't yet seen Rick's intricate scroll work, be sure to visit his blog to read about his work, and his webpage / store to purchase some:

Rick, web page/store WoodenToyandGift.net 
     email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com


Pssst: There's an update at the 2015 Quilt Journal page of the blog, too. And,if you're into vintage sewing machines, you'll want to check for updates at the Vintage and Antique Sewing Machines page, too.