Are you ready for the hectic holiday season?  Let's hope we don't have to contend with the snow and ice that we had last year!
Thanks to all who visited us at the North Iowa Quilters One-Stop Shopping Spree in Clear Lake, Iowa.  It was nice to see familiar faces and meet new friends--we will be back next November!
Thank you to those who were able to attend our Anniversary Sale November 20-22. We are starting our 9th year of bringing quality quilting fabrics, the latest in books and patterns and all the necessary notions you need to make your wonderful quilt projects.  We have enjoyed introducing many of you to quilting and continue to offer a wide range of classes inspire you.
As always we will be here to share our love of quilting and help you in any way we can.
May you have a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to being a part of your new year!
Sew long...Kathy

Greetings from Carol at the Quiltmaker’s Shoppe!

During the holiday season we take time to celebrate with our family and friends.   We at the Quiltmaker’s Shoppe have  been working closely with the Taste of Home group and the Home of the Brave project to remember the men and women serving our country in the military.

We were able to send Christmas stockings to our troops through Manchester’s Taste of Home project.  This project’s mission is to put smiles on the faces of those who serve and protect our nation. We want to let them know that we at home love and support them! We are blessed with customers that have done the sewing for us.  A special thank you to the Greeley Cadet Girl Scout group that stitched up several stockings for the project.  These stockings will be filled with gifts and goodies and shipped overseas.

The Home of the Brave quilt project has touched our hearts and the hearts of many of our customers.  Throughout history, the United States has honored its military heroes in many ways--with plaques, parades, statues, memorials and, more recently, quilts. To date, the Home of the Brave Quilt Project (HOTBQP) has presented homemade, Civil War inspired quilts to the family members of Fallen Heroes who gave their lives while in service to our country, primarily during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Quilters from across the world have united to stitch blocks, tops and quilts for our Fallen Heroes. We here at The Quiltmaker’s Shoppe have chosen to be part of this project as well. The beautiful part of this project is that you can donate a block, several blocks, a pieced top, or an entire quilt to the project.  There is always another quilter ready to pick up the project and finish whatever we are unable to do.  We will present the family of Richard DeShaw of Arlington with a quilt made by Marlene Heiserman.  The quilt was signed by members of the Quasqueton VFW group.

The Home of the Brave project also collects pillowcases and Christmas stockings to send to our troops.  Recently, thanks to the generosity of our customers, we sent off  a dozen pillowcases to the soldiers at Camp Liberty through this project.

If you would like to learn more about this project, go to www.homeofthebravequilts.com to see how you can help.  The patterns for the pillowcases, stockings and quilt blocks can be found at the site.  We will continue to be a collection spot and will forward items to our troops.  Another way to get involved in this special project is to make a monetary donation toward the cost of shipping.

Have a very blessed holiday season with your friends and family.  We’re looking forward to making lots of new memories together in 2009.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Carol


Have you ever found a neat pattern while shopping, discovered it required paper piecing, and quickly put it back?  You may have decided that paper piecing is too difficult for you.  We can change your mind about paper piecing!  You need never fear the technique again.


            I’m excited to announce “The Paper Piecers”, a monthly club to learn and use the paper piecing technique of quilting.  This class is for anyone who wants to learn how to paper piece and to practice the method. Paper piecing is a way to make very accurate quilting by using a paper foundation with lines printed on it for the desired design.  Many of you have taken a class on paper piecing, then promptly forgotten just how to go about assembling the quilt block.  It is essential that you practice until you are comfortable and confident with the process.  That is where The Paper Piecers comes in.

            On the second Tuesday of each month we’ll meet to sew a small paper piecing project.  You will have the choice of joining me from 1:00 – 3:00 in the afternoon or from 6:00 – 8:00 in the evening.  The cost will be $10.00 per session plus the cost of the kit and pattern.  We will have time to review the technique, time to cut and sew our monthly project, and time to share our successes and failures with paper piecing.  I am also hoping members will bring in their own projects to share with the group.  Our first project for January 13th will be a cute heart wall hanging or pillow wrap just perfect for Valentines day.  We’ll have a kit made up just for you so call or stop by the quilt shop to let us know if you can join us for the fun.