Annual Sample Sale Craziness

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Annual Sample Sale....it was a huge success.  We've made tons of rooms for new stuff and hopefully helped you add to your stash.  :)  For those of you that didn't make it, I really wanted to post some photos.  Unfortunately it was a busiest and craziest Sample Sale we've ever had so I didn't get one free moment to take photos.  Just to give you an idea of how crazy it was:

Ok, so it wasn't as bad as Black Friday...but it felt like it.  :)  No one comes between quilters (and dare I say, women) and a 75% off sale.

Don't miss our "Park Your Brooms at the Door" event (a special themed What's New) August 9th, 10th, or, 11th at 10am to see all the new things in the store.  We are celebrating Halloween a few months early.  We invite you to wear a costume, we will be giving away fabulous prizes for those that dress up.

Congratulations to Leslie Woolery, who won our Quilters' Travel Companion drawing.

E-Chatter - July 2012

Events & Classes

Quilt Circle no longer offered
July 19, 20, 21 - Annual Sample Sale! - You don't want to miss this event.  Starting Thursday, July 19th we will have 40% off select merchandise, Friday 50% and Saturday 75% off!  We will also be selling some of our store samples.
August 9th, 10, 11th - Park Your Brooms at the Door (What's New) - We're celebrating Halloween a few months early.  We'll be showing you everything new in the shop (just like normal What's New) and sharing some tricks and treats.  We invite you to wear you Halloween costume - awesome prizes will be awarded!  You won't want to miss this terrifying time!
August 11th - Garfield Day - Come for "Park You Brooms at the Door" and stay for the parade starting at 11am.
August 17th, 18th, 19th - Summer/Fall Gathering - (only 4 spots left) Our Spring/Summer Gathering was such a hit we decided to do it again.  Bring your sewing machine and your unfinished projects, we'll provide the food.  You go home at the end of every night.  For more details or to sign up call Julie at 320-834-2563.
August 16th - Rangeley Stars Class - Using a new tool, The Tucker Trimmer, we will be creating a table runner or wall hanging.  For more details or to sign up call Julie at 320-834-2563.

Fabrics

Fly Away

Movie Monster & Christmas Hunks

Christmas Time

Lost & Found

Bountiful

Shadow Leave (free pattern with fabric purchase)

Floral Flannel (looks like wool)

Cabin Flannel

Patterns

Memories

Pretty n' Pink

Animal Alphabet

Alphabet Soup

Birdie Sling

Kits

Gone Camping - 57" x 65" - $89.99  A beautiful flannel kit that features Cabin Flannel fabric by Timeless Treasures.  Great for the man in your life or to accent a cabin or den.  We used the "Gone Camping" pattern from the "Simply Done" book by Gathering Friends.

Christmas Time (Peanuts) - 53" x 63" - $49.99  Using an easy strip piecing method, this quilt is quick and easy to put together.  Great for a first time quilter or for a quick gift.  Pattern included with kit.

Love City - 80 1/2" x 80 1/2" - $79.99  Romance is in the air with this black and white quilt kit.  We used the "Cozy Winter Nights" pattern from "Fast and Fun First Quilts" book with Lost & Found fabric by Riley Blake to inspire beating hearts with Love City.

Block of the Month

Spring Bouquet

Laundry Basket Quilts' new Spring Bouquet Quilt Kit is an amazing 72" square batik quilt. Reserve your quilt kit today, and your first block with Spring Bouquet pattern, charm pack, background, and binding fabrics will ship to you in September 2012. Blocks 2 – 12 will ship once a month until September 2013.  Our kits provide Silhouettes Laser Cut Fusible Shapes for fusible appliqué, which come with pre-applied Steam a Seam 2 fusible web which will be ready to arrange, fuse, and appliqué.  Spring Bouquet is our first online Block of the Month.  Every month a block will be mailed to you, no need to stop into the shop to pick it up. For more information or to sign up, please email common@gctel.net

Notions

I-top Button Maker and accessories - Quick and easy gifts for family and friends.  Cover brads, buttons, and snaps with your favorite snapshot, quilting fabric, and much more.  Make your own buttons to match pillows and your home decor.  For more a quilters demo, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDcCgBRBKkk&feature=player_embedded

June E-Chatter

It's the first day of summer today, but you could fool me, it feels more like Fall.  We've been getting some crazy storms here in West Central MN.  The crops are happy for the rain, but we want to be at the lake.  Of course it was beautiful during "What's New" weekend so we didn't get a lot of people stopping in...we understand.  Also, the Minnesota Quilt Show in Rochester was last weekend.  If you went, tell us how it was.

We didn't have a ton of new things to show for What's New because we too have been enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.  Here's What's New in the shop:

Books & Patterns

Big One-Star Quilts by Magic
Love Lone Star quilts? There are enough starry blocks, settings, and bonus patterns in this book to keep crafters quilting till the stars grow cold in the heavens. And these Lone Stars are so easy, because all fourteen of them are made from squares and rectangles, and each one comes with two quilting diagrams for hand or machine sewing. Twenty-eight quilt designs plus fourteen bonus wall hangings mean quilters everywhere will be seeing stars!


Rotary Cutting Revolution
Build your blocks the Make-It-Simpler-Way: stack; cut; and sew perfect blocks. Revolutionary cutting technique saves time without wasting fabric. Over 300 photographs guide you every step of the way with unique sewing and construction tips.


Crafty Carriers
These crafty carriers have handles, outside divided pleated pockets on front and back, and a single outside pocket on each side. The outside carrier is made from three different fabrics and the inside carrier is made from a fourth fabric choice. There is a firm heavy-weight interfacing between the outer and inner layers.


Festive Kitchen Trio
These adorable coordinating aprons and pot holders offer three sizes for Misses and Girls and one size for an 18" (45 cm) doll. The aprons are made using three fabric choices and are reversible. The aprons have patch pockets on one side, a pleated ruffle at the outer edge, and neck and waist ties. The waist ties wrap around the waist and tie in the front. The round pot holders have a pleated ruffle at the outer edge and a loop for hanging.


Crafty Cottage

Hours of imaginative play are vital in nurturing important life skills in the very young, and treasured memories of playing house can be made with this charming cottage which cleverly rests over a card table. The pattern includes a convenient storage box that not only holds the cottage when not in use, but when in use, it acts as a support for the peaked ruffled roof. The cottage has a door, windows with shutters, real curtains and even a mailbox. Embellish to your heart’s content with fabric, ribbon, felt, embroidery, and appliqués.


Sleep Pants, Shorts & Top
Pull-on pants and shorts have pockets in side seams and cuffs. Waist has elastic in casing, drawstring, and header forming ruffle. Casing, drawstring, and cuffs are from contrast fabric. Pull-over tank top has a scoop neckline, and armholes and neckline are finished with narrow hems.

Kits

We used Runnermania by Gathering Friends to create three different table runners/toppers.  Buy one book and create 13 different projects.


Optical Illusion and Cinnamon Sticks are pieced in a square and then cut down to their shapes.


Optical Illusions uses an interesting binding technique that creates an easy layered binding.


Making Ends Meet uses our popular Peacock Fabric.

Spanish Tiles was created using the Living Large 2 book. This summer quilt would be great as a wall hanging in a three season porch or as a picnic blanket on a warm summer day.  The finished quilt looks intricate but is simple to put together.

Fabric

Barcelona by Alexander Henry

Larkspur Meadow by Alexander Henry

We mentioned that a free bag pattern would be available on the blog this week, but it will not be available until next week.  Stay tuned because we may be having a contest along with the bag pattern.

Quilts at Carlos Creek

Thanks to everyone who came out for Quilts at Carlos Creek on Sunday.  We didn't quite get the turn out we had hoped for, but we did make $200 (our goal) for the Relay for Life.  The weather was gorgeous and Mom and I didn't mind sitting outside with a glass of wine listening to the live music.  :)  I know I'll be out there sometime again this summer....it's like Napa Valley in our backyard.

We had 22 quilts entered in our "mini quilt show".  All of the quilts were beautiful, folks had a hard time picking their favorite.  The winning quilt was a floral Stack 'n' Wack quilt by Anita Ferguson.

Everyone that attended the event and voted for a quilt were qualified for a door prize gift bag with wine from Carlos Creek and Tastefully Simple products.  The winner of the drawing was Mary Hefti.

Congratulations to both of our winners and a HUGE thank you to those that entered their quilts and those that attended the event, we are one step closer to our goal for the Relay for Life.  (If you entered a quilt, please stop by and pick it up anytime from 9am - 5pm Wed - Sat)

FYI: Unfortunately we had to cancel the Beetles & Binding event due to lack of interest and sign up.  Make sure, if you want to attend an event, you sign up right away so that we can confirm with the coordinators.

2012 Spring Quilt Market - Kansas City

We had a graduation to attend last weekend, but that didn't stop us from attending Quilt Market in Kansas City for a couple days.  Event though we weren't there long, we found everything we were looking for and more.  Of course I can't share EVERYTHING because what fun would that be???

The best part of Quilt Market for me was meeting Chubaka and Darth Vader.  Honestly, I thought they'd both be taller.

My second favorite part of Quilt Market was meeting Tula Pink.  We've never carried her fabric at Common Threads, but it's never too late.  She recently wrote a book including patterns...of course I brought my copy for her to sign.  Here's a sneak peak of her Halloween line, Nightshade (I would love to make a "all-year-round" quilt from it).

The one theme that we noticed right away while on the floor was that everyone seems to leaning toward the modern side of quilting.  We know that some of you aren't ready to cross to the modern side of quilting, but don't be scared. :)

Of course there are always vendors that have games at their booths to try and real you in to buying their product.  Holly played Plinko at one of the booths and yes, we bought something.  :)

Some of the things we see are TOO cute!  This was one of my favs, a cute pillow at the Riley Blake booth that says "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

And just like the trend toward modern quilting, social media was a huge part of Quilt Market with their Twitter wall.  Can you spy our tweet?

Here are a couple fun fabrics we found.  We are looking forward to using them in our Kaelly Studio pattern designs.

E-Chatter April & May

We're off to Spring Quilt Market tomorrow, but before we go we had to post the E-Chatter from the last two months.  Sorry for the delay, we were so busy with retreats and Stash Bash that we couldn't get to it.  That just means more new stuff to drool over.  Don't forget that we have the "Bosses Are Gone Sale" this weekend...while we're away at Quilt Market you can save 20% off all regular prices merchandise.

Books

Pretty Patchwork Quilts
Each sweet and elegant quilt in this book invites you to combine what you have on hand with new fabrics to create a fresh, modern look.
* Twelve unique quilt patterns are perfect for confident beginners and seasoned quilters alike* Planned color schemes use a wide variety of quilt fabrics in each color for an easy yet appealing scrappiness* Several quilt patterns include charming applique designs that can be done by hand or machine

Runnermania
This book is a must for every quilter with the ultimate in runner designs, from octagons to squares to rectangles. It even includes circles. It complements a number of fabric lines and types, with 12 unique designs to get your creative juices flowing and to help you create outside the traditional box. It also uses charm packs in a variety of ways and offers a multitude of scrappy designs.

Sew Embellished
Create a focus using photos, embroidery, appliqué, novelty quilt fabrics, or found objects Add words for uniquely personal quilts Encourages self-expression using charms, buttons, beads, trims, sequins, rickrack, prairie points, and more.


Just Spooling Around
Four quilt patterns, wall hanging pattern, table runner pattern, pillow pattern, project bag pattern, and more. 

Civil War Legacies (not pictured)
Wonderfully scrappy quilt patterns from the Civil War Legacies collection, perfect for wall hangings and doll quilts Step-by-step instructions with clear diagrams and pressing directions Value-packed collection with something for every skill level.

Elegant Quilts, Country Charm
How can something so elegant be so easy? Experience the joys of using wool appliqué to add depth and texture to your quilts and other projects. There are no edges to turn under--and wool doesn't fray! Even beginners can create these cozy, antique-looking quilts.


More Take 5 Quilts
In this follow-up to her best-selling Take 5, Kathy Brown has outdone herself with a terrific collection of all-new quilt patterns.
* Choose from 16 easy quilt patterns with broad appeal, each made from just five fabrics
* Showcase the latest quilt fabrics in a variety of scrappy and complex-looking designs
* Create beautiful projects based on traditional quilt patterns and using Kathy's simplified approach to fabric choices

Scrap-Applique Playground
Discover how easy it is to fuse and patch your strips and scraps to make whimsical applique designs. These projects are as charming to look at as they are fun to make!

* Choose from eight sweet and simple applique quilt patterns for quilters of all skill levels
* Learn five different ways to make scrappy fabrics for applique designs: combine strips of varying lengths, strips of similar lengths, scraps plus strips, bias-cut strip sets, and pre-fused scraps
* Find step-by-step instructions for each project and method

Magazine

Primitive Quilts

Fabrics

Heartstrings

 Bali Pops - Plum Pudding & Blueberry

Seasonal Gatherings
(used in the Pre-Order Kit Home for the Holidays)

Heirloom

Patterns

Mosaique de Mer - fun pillow shams and a bed runner

Samples

Goofy Golf

Peanuts Pillowcases

Golf Pillowcase

Kits

(Kits will be available for purchase online after Quilt Market)
Mod Squared

 Floral Bouquet

Epicurean Delight

Garden Trellis

Dr. Seuss - Cat in the Hate Story

Baby Forest Friends panels & stuffed animals (not pictured, also comes in blue for a boy)

Pre-Order Kit

Home for the Holidays

Events 

(click on the event for more information)

Thursday, May 17th - Saturday, May 19th (this weekend) ~ Bosses Are Gone Sale

Sunday, June 3rd ~ Quilts at Carlos Creek

Friday, June 8th - Sunday, June 10th ~ Spring/Summer Gathering

Friday, June 22nd ~ Beetles and Binding
For the full calendar, click HERE!

NOTICE!: We are looking for small projects to feature at Quilts at Carlos Creek.  If you would like to submit your small project, please bring it into the quilt shop.  You could win "Best in Show" during our event.  We are also looking for people to help pre-sell tickets for this event.  If you are interested in helping out in anyway (remember, it's for a good cause, The Relay for Life), please email Katie at commonthreadsmn@gmail.com

Classes
Wednesday, May 30th & Thursday, May 31st ~ X-Blocks - With the X-Blocks ™ rotary cutting tool, you can create dozens of spectacular designs that look complex but are incredibly quick & easy!  Join us May 30th for technique/cutting and May 31st for sewing.

Class fee: $15, 20% off supplies

(click the picture below for more info)