A Look at What's Happening

There are a few things I'd like to share with everyone about what's happening this Spring at The Crazy Quilter.

Coming up quickly is the Clarkston Quilt Show, at which I will be vending. It is April 24th and 25th, and if you'd like more information see their webpage here!

Following closely behind that will be Spring Quilt Market, in Minneapolis this year! I made my reservations this past week, after a few weeks and weighing cost against benefit, etc. etc. I decided I just couldn't pass it up. Quilt Market is always a great time for me to get re-energized about quilting, not to mention a chance to see everything new and wonderful about to flood quilt shops everywhere. How can I pass up an opportunity to get it first?? I can't.......so coming the 3rd weekend in May my husband and I will be traveling to Minnesota. My mom has decided to sit this one out, since she is busy building her own business, which I'll post about later this week I hope! So.......now I get to train C on how to pack as lightly as possible, stuff one suitcase into another to allow for carrying home all kinds of great goodies from market, and survive on nothing but pure adrenaline and lots of Starbucks for 3 days. (sounds like F-U-N!!!)

I'm expecting a new book (new to me, at least) called "One Yard Wonders" this week. I ordered one copy for myself to investigate, so I'll share what I find out with you all soon. It's full of projects that use one yard of fabric, great for stash-busting all of those cuts of fabric we all collect because we love the print but don't have the perfect project yet.

After a long, dry spell of no new fabrics, Spring will finally be bringing in some great new things from Moda, Blank, and a few others! Believe it or not, it was once again time to order new Christmas fabric from Moda. I placed my order this past week, so watch for it to arrive sometime in July.

Super Fast and Easy Apron

Looking for a gift? Want to make it yourself but don't think you have the time?
I discovered this apron pattern just before Christmas and LOVE it! It take less than 2hours to make these great No Neck Stress Aprons! The loop on the front pocket holds a dish towel, and you can customize the size and depth of the pockets on the front.
So grab your favorite two or 3 fabrics and let's make an apron!

Let There Be Light!

This weekend, after having it on my "list" for 3 weeks, I FINALLY remembered to buy some more light bulbs for the quilt shop. Back when I purchased the building, I replaced all of the light fixtures in the main room. As usual, price was the main determining factor in deciding which fixtures to purchase.

(OK, minus the absolutely fabulous ceiling fans with the matching fabulous price tag that I fell in love with and had to have. They look cool, right?)

Little did I realize at the time, the cheap lights would prove to be an issue during the dark North Idaho winters. Plus, they go through regular light bulbs like a newborn baby goes through diapers. (A newborn, breast-fed baby, no less) And my dad, the ever reluctant but always coercible handy-man, was getting a little cranky about spending every other weekend changing light bulbs.

So, Saturday I dropped a $100 on light bulbs, of all the things I could think of to spend $100 on....super awesome, super expensive light bulbs weren't exactly top of my list. Except they were really getting necessary. So light bulbs jumped the list, passing up a badly needed mani/pedicure, and new speakers for my commuter car, and leaped into first place.
Then, my husband (a very good sport, indeed, to take ladder duty) and I spent an hour yesterday replacing every light bulb (ALL 24 of them!) in the main shop room. And Hallelujah, Let....There.....Be.....Light!!!!

What a difference! Wait until you visit the shop next, I know you'll be pleasantly surprised. I forgot to warn my mom about the switch, and she reports that when she switched the lights on this morning she thought for a moment that the building was on fire!

New Weekly Special-Every Saturday!

Every Saturday, starting today, I will be marking down a different line of fabric for one week only! This ain't yo' mama's kind of mark down, either! ($4.99/yd for Moda!?!)

This week, Soiree is on sale.

Happy Shopping!

Hooray, Montana Modern is on it's way!!

Here's an update for all of you who pre-ordered any of the Montana Modern fabric or kits!

The fabric is shipping to me this week, and we will start sending out kits next week, just as fast as our rotary cutters can fly. There's sure to be smoke flying off our green mats!

If you preordered a kit, start watching for it to arrive in a couple weeks. If you haven't ordered a kit yet, what are you waiting for??? This fabric won't be around long, as over half of it is already spoken for. Wait at your own risk....

New and Fresh From Quilt Market!

My mom and I made a whirlwind, less than 48 hour total, trip to the Fall Quilt Market in Houston the weekend before last. Even with very limited time, we managed to find some awesome new stuff to bring home! Here is a list of what you can watch for in the next week or two:

*2 new Garden Patch Cats! Get ready to grow an Eggplant and Gourd in your Kitty Garden, patterns will be posted online soon!
*New projects from Hillcreek Designs, featuring coordinated button packs and wire hangers. Great projects you can finish in an hour or two, perfect for gifts!
*A fantastic, beautiful new Block-of-the-Month for 2010! Featuring fabric from Timeless Treasures, "Back to Nature" is a one year feast for the eyes. Sign up begins now, and for the first time ever, I will be cutting sign up off (tentatively Jan. 5) so don't miss your chance! View the project HERE!
*We also came home with many new patterns, including quilts, bags, and aprons! Watch for them to be added to the "New Additions" catagory as the orders arrive in store. Some of them are already up!

We also ordered new fabric lines for early 2010 arrival, and I test drove 3 brands of quilting machine. All in all, it was a great trip!

Do I Have Time to Quilt?

I want to take a few minutes to reassure everyone that, Yes! I am still quilting. My mom is also quilting with me, so rest assured we can and will still quilt your quilts! Not only that, but my quilting prices have remained the same for over 4 years now, and I would like to believe that my quilting skills have improved.

Due to some big changes in my life this year, which I am not ready to get into here, I now hold a full time job outside of my Quilt Shop. I piece at home during the evening, and I quilt on the weekends. My mom quilts some during the week.

So, the short answer to the question everyone has been asking me is "YES."

I am still quilting, I have no plans to quit, and NO! The quilt shop is NOT FOR SALE.

If any of this changes, you'll read it here first.

And.......to address another comical rumor I've heard swirling around: No, I am not pregnant. But hey, I can always use a good laugh, so keep those rumors coming!