September - December, 2003
Hello friends:
When I was little we had a special quilt that my sister and I would snuggle under when we were sick. It was an embroidered friendship quilt; filled with the names of family and friends, given to mom and dad on their wedding day. I remember lying under that special quilt, my fingers tracing the stitched names, and feeling the love that must have gone into every stitch. My sister and I literally loved that quilt to death. Over the years the threads grew weak and thin and the cotton batting worked through the worn edges. To this day I can remember the comfort that quilt gave me. When I was twelve my grandmother made me a quilt from some of the scraps from clothes mother had made me over the years and like a scrapbook it chronicled my life in fabric. There was the fabric from the pink bunny pajamas that I wore to have my tonsils out at three, the fabric from the frilly party dress mom made for my fifth birthday party and the wild floral print that had been my favorite pair of capri’s the spring I turned eleven. Of all the quilts in my collection, these two are the most precious to me. Although the workmanship isn’t perfect and the colors have faded with time, they remind me of the women that loved enough to give of themselves; to give something that long after they were gone, would leave something of themselves behind. Quilts, like old photographs, are passed down through generations and remind us of the times and people from our past.
I hope you’ll enjoy the photos of some of us throughout this scrapbook style newsletter. I thought it would be fun to share some old pictures of us when we were little girls. As I look at the photo of me at three I can’t help but think about the role fabric and quilts has played in my life. What if my grandma and mother hadn’t sewn for me and encouraged my creativity? Thanks mom, for nurturing the talent you saw in me and for leaving something to remember you by.
Suzanne
P.S.
I’ve found a special little children’s book I thought all mothers and grandmothers should read. It’s called,” Something to Remember Me By: A Story About Love & Legacies” by Susan Bosak. The book is the story about the relationship of a grandmother and her granddaughter and is a celebration of love, memories and the relationship of special people. $5.95
BLOCKS OF THE MONTH
*THE MONSTER QUILT by Quakertown Quilts A quilt guaranteed to make you smile. “There are big, scary Monsters under the bed ~ And every night they must be fed ~ They love to eat fabric ~ it’s their favorite food ~ It puts them in the very best mood! So the lesson is clear ~ consider your plight ~ Keep buying more fabric…or be dinner tonight ~” This darling saying that surrounds the border of this delightful 10-month series. Easy “you-choose-the-method” appliqued monster shapes will add humor to your sewing room or is a great gift for that fabric lover in your life. (With names like “Mr. Big Heart” and “The Dragon Madam”, don’t be surprised if your kids want one for their own room!) Each pattern includes excellent instructions for the nine-18” x 20” blocks plus the sashings and borders for month ten. Finished size measures 66"x78". Take Becky & Joni’s *Continuous Lettering class to do the borders now—even before you complete your first block. (*See Bernina Class Schedule--not just for Berninas) $17 per kit plus $2 postage for each pattern to be mailed.
OUT OF THE DARKNESS by Pam Bono Designs Looks complicated but it’s not! Replacing hand applique and traditional piecing, you’ll use “quick piecing” to recreate this jewel. Ten-18” floral blocks surround an 18” x 38” center panel full of more flowers and a butterfly. Sashings and a floral border bring the finished size to 87” x 107”. Pam has designed an instruction sheet with colored graphics and full color printing, with step-by-step instructions for each section of each block. As you put the sections together, your beautiful bouquet comes to life. Easy-to-follow instructions are included to make and attach the vining. Purchase your background fabric separately in your choice of black or white, and sashings in the color of your choice, your monthly kit will include all the fabric you’ll need to complete each block. Made from stunning Hoffman batiks and Benartex Fossil Ferns, the ten kitted blocks are $13.00 each. The center panel, which could be a beautiful wallhanging on its own, is kit priced at $13.00. Borders, kit price $27.00. Patterns only, $6.75. Please add $2.00 shipping if mailed.
WOOLY FOLK SAMPLER ALBUM by CrazyFolk. This hand-dyed wool block of the month kit finishes at 36" x 48". The hottest trend in quilting happens to be great for the novice, yet sophisticated enough for every skill level. Easy-to-work-with wool is a great project for the budding child quilter in your life, and its homey feeling will warm your heart. A collection of familiar symbols of our heritage and homelife, this spectacular 12-month BOM kit comes from our old friends at CrazyFolk. For the background, each participant buys separately, 1½ yards of black wool at the start to insure dye consistency. Simple washing felts the wool that is then cut into 12 - 12-1/2" squares. Then each month you'll receive a kit that contains a pattern and the richly-colored hand-dyed feltd wools ready to use for each applique block. A wonderful quilt to pass down through the generations. $22.50 per kit plus $2 postage for each pattern to be mailed.
Monster Quilt
First Saturday
FIRST SATURDAY, $5.00 QUILT CLUB 2003 - Over 150 women join us each month to purchase or receive free, 450 quilt blocks! Here's how it works. Join us at 8:30am (the line starts forming about 7:00) on the 1st Saturday of each month for a brief, thirty minute demonstration on the construction of a 12" block. At the first, 1st Saturday that you attend, you will purchase a kit for $5.00. This kit includes a pattern and the fabric to complete a 12" block. Go home and make the block and bring it back to the following 1st Saturday demonstration. Bring September’s block to October’s 1st Saturday class and receive October’s pattern and fabric free! Bring October’s finished block to November’s class and receive November’s pattern and fabric free. Here are a few conditions: A second color choice will be available but only one kit will be free each month. If you choose to do a second color you must pay $5.00 for each additional kit. To get your free kit you must be at Strawberry Patches no later than 9:10am - the doors will be locked at 9:10 and no one will be admitted until 10:00am. We now run three classes of forty people each - 8:30, 9:15, & 10:00. If you cannot attend one Saturday, you may purchase that month's kit for $5.00 while supply lasts. You must attend to receive your free kit; you cannot send your finished block with a friend. We will have a drawing each month for a free door prize for those of you who do additional variations on the original block. This is an exciting time of sharing and learning! We hope to see you here! Great for new quilters and pros alike! *
Charity Events
Bernina of America, has a long history of commitment to its community.
Bernina donates a percentage of its artista sewing machine sales to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and to Mutual Ground, which is an organization serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. To date, Bernina and its authorized dealers have contributed more than $350,000 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation alone.
In 2002 Bernina of America expanded its charitable efforts to benefit the Children’s Relief Fund of the World Trade Center Miricles Foundation through a fundraising campaign. All proceeds from the sales of “United We Stand” embroidery design cards will be donated to this charity. Over 4,00 cards have been sold so far.
Strawberry Patches is proud to be an authorized Bernina dealer and supports Bernina’s contributions to such worthwhile organizations.
QUILTS FOR PREMATURE BABIES
I am so proud of the isolette quilts that our customers have completed for our local hospitals. To date our First Saturday group has completed 53 little quilts that cover the isolettes in the neonatal units of our local hospitals. A very special thank you to Lois for her terrific ideas and for the time she spends quilting, binding and distributing these quilts to families in need of a little TLC
CONGRATULATIONS TO JUDY BETZ
Judy was the grand prize winner in the professional division in the 2002 Sulky Challenge. Judy won a brand new Bernina for her landscape wall hanging. And what machine does a national award winner sew on? Well, a Bernina of course!
Strawberry Patches is the exclusive Kern County authorized dealer for Horn's complete line of sewing cabinets. So functional, so durable, and guaranteed for life. Don't forget that all Horn cabinets are discounted 20% when you purchase your Bernina sewing machine from Strawberry Patches.
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