Hello and welcome back! This is the Quiltbug News and Views list, an occasional newsletter telling you about the events at the Quiltbug Shop in Esperance NY.  Be sure to bookmark http://quiltbug.com/Shop/Shop-News.htm to see the latest updates between newsletters.

Always something new...

Lots of new fabric this week!  Click on the underlined hyperlink below the picture to go to the page where the fabric is sold.  As always,  orders over $100 get free shipping! You can always find our latest fabrics, patterns and notions listed on the Just Arrived page.

New Fabric

Honeystone Hill	Dragonfly Magic	Pickles - a Material Girl
Spring Spectacular	Birds and Blooms	Too Many Men
Autumn Harvest	New Backings	Black and White Tone on Tone Fabrics

Batting Roll Sale:
It's time to finish all those tops!  We crunched the numbers on a batting roll sale and discovered that, in most cases, we could reduce the prices even further.  If you make a lot of quilts, this can save you a significant amount of money.  Check it out at http://quiltbug.com/Batting/quilt-batting.htm

Shop Events
(click here for the descriptions)

• April 25th: Finishing Class
• April 28th: Making a T-Shirt Quilt
• May 1: Drop In Sewing
• May 4: Mexican Pineapples
• May 8: Drop In Sewing
• May 17: Thursday Tablerunner

Tool 'n Tell

My thanks to the Schoharie guild for that great title.  This weeks tool is the 10 Degree Wedge Tool.

This tool helps you make those wonderful circular and butterfly quilts you see from time to time.  There is a video on how to use it here: Using a 10 degree Wedge Ruler and we sell it here: http://quiltbug.com/notions/specialty-rulers.htm

We will be featuring the mini tabletopper in a class on May 17.

Fund Raisers

Every year I participate in the Great Strides Walk, which is a fund raiser for Cystic Fibrosis.  Will you sponsor me?  I admit I am primarily interested in raising fund for Cystic Fibrosis research because of my granddaughter but as it turns out, the research to cure certain components of this genetic disease will also cure components of other genetic diseases (such as leukemia.)    

Great strides are being made every day - in fact, my granddaughters life expectancy has been raised by at least a decade since she was born 4 years ago.  Every dollar makes a difference!  http://www.cff.org/great_strides/dsp_donationPage.cfm?registeringwalkid=7919&idUser=371634&source=SNOT

Now, I am sure you are wondering about the cat in the picture to the left. Catamehtysos is an original Catskill Cat. (You can see her in this Animal Planet video.)  She was an award winner last year, and even featured on a US Stamp!  She was later auctioned and sold for over $1000.  The owner thought she looked a bit like a Patchwork Quilt and since she is painted in CF colors, she donated the cat to us to raffle as a fund raiser.

Wouldn't she look good in your living room, or by your mailbox? She is about 28 inches tall and made of fiberglass, so you could feature her in your landscaping.  Or, if you win Catamehtysos, you could donate her to your local animal shelter to be raffled off as a fund raiser once again. 
 

Tickets are $2, and only 500 have been printed.  If you would like to take a chance, you can Purchase a Raffle Ticket online or mail a check made out to Cystic Fibrosis to Quiltbug.com, PO Box 273, Esperance NY  12066.  If the winner is not local, the shop will pay for shipping. The drawing will be June 3, 2012.

Other editions are available at http://www.wrbqinc.com/

Thanks for the Facebook Cover Photos!

Last week, I had asked for pictures that I could share on the shops Timeline photo.  (That's the big picture you see when you go to http://www.facebook.com/Quiltbugcom.  Feel free to scroll down and look at the pictures and ideas that I have posted.) Quite a number of you generously shared photos so you should see me changing them once every few days. If you would like to send me one, too, please do! It doesn't have to use our fabric or patterns, it just has to have been made by you.

I will have to crop the picture to make it fit, so it doesn't have to be perfect.  And I will give you credit, of course, so you can brag to your friends. I will put the full pictures and your story on a Facebook Headliners page.  Send your pictures to krisdriessen@yahoo.com along with whatever you want me to say about you:-))  I don't mind doing a little promoting if you want to include your blog or whatever.  I think of this as "basking in the reflected glow."

Our Facebook fans hear about the latest fabric arrivals, the newest gadgets, and special events first. I often post free patterns and special sales just for them.  If you would like to join the Facebook Fan Club, click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/Quiltbugcom or text "fan Quiltbugcom" from your mobile phone to FBOOK (32665) .

If you would rather not join Facebook, you can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/quiltbug.  We post the same information to both. 

Until next time,

Enjoy!

Hello and welcome back! This is the Quiltbug News and Views list, an occasional newsletter telling you about the events at the Quiltbug Shop in Esperance NY.  Be sure to bookmark http://quiltbug.com/Shop/Shop-News.htm to see the latest updates between newsletters.

Always something new...

New fabric has been pouring in this week!  Click on the underlined hyperlink below the picture to go to the page where the fabric is sold.  As always,  orders over $100 get free shipping! You can always find our latest fabrics, patterns and notions listed on the Just Arrived page.

New Fabric

Spring Spectacular	Too Many Men	Pickles - a Material Girl
Autumn Harvest	New Backings	Black and White Tone on Tone Fabrics
(free pattern!)	Birds and Blooms	Dragonfly Magic

Batting Roll Sale:
It's time to finish all those tops!  We crunched the numbers on a batting roll sale and discovered that, in most cases, we could reduce the prices even further.  If you make a lot of quilts, this can save you a significant amount of money.  Check it out at http://quiltbug.com/batting/quilt-batting.htm

Shop Events
(click here for the descriptions)

• April 10: Drop in Sewing or Knitting (free)
• April 12: Hunter Star
• April 13: Friday the 13th drawing - see below
• April 14: Drop in Sewing or Knitting (free)
• April 19th: Thursday Tablerunner
• April 21: Freemotion Machine Quilting
• April 25th: Finishing Class
• April 28th: Making a T-Shirt Quilt

Friday the 13th
Everyone who comes into the shop this day will be entered into a drawing.  13 Lucky Winners will receive a $13 gift certificate!

Tool 'n Tell

My thanks to the Schoharie guild for that great title.

There is a tutorial here: http://www.checkernewsletter.com/?p=6651 and we sell it here: http://quiltbug.com/notions/creative-grid-rectangular.htm

Thanks for the Facebook Cover Photos!

Last week, I had asked for pictures that I could share on the shops Timeline photo.  (That's the big picture you see when you go to http://www.facebook.com/Quiltbugcom.  Feel free to scroll down and look at the pictures and ideas that I have posted.) Quite a number of you generously shared photos so you should see me changing them once every few days. If you would like to send me one, too, please do! It doesn't have to use our fabric or patterns, it just has to have been made by you.  The one at the bottom of the page came from LOLCats.

I will have to crop the picture to make it fit, so it doesn't have to be perfect.  And I will give you credit, of course, so you can brag to your friends. I will put the full pictures and your story on a Facebook Headliners page.  Send your pictures to krisdriessen@yahoo.com along with whatever you want me to say about you:-))  I don't mind doing a little promoting if you want to include your blog or whatever.  I think of this as "basking in the reflected glow."

Our Facebook fans hear about the latest fabric arrivals, the newest gadgets, and special events first. I often post free patterns and special sales just for them.  If you would like to join the Facebook Fan Club, click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/Quiltbugcom or text "fan Quiltbugcom" from your mobile phone to FBOOK (32665) .

If you would rather not join Facebook, you can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/quiltbug.  We post the same information to both. 

Until next time,

Enjoy!

 - PS -

Hello and welcome back! This is the Quiltbug News and Views list, an occasional newsletter telling you about the events at the Quiltbug Shop in Esperance NY.  Be sure to bookmark http://quiltbug.com/Shop/Shop-News.htm to see the latest updates between newsletters.

April Fools!

Shop Events
(click here for the descriptions)

• April 4:  Drop in Sewing or Knitting (free)
• April 5:  Finishing Class
• April 6: Friday Freebie: Chicken or Egg Pincushion
• April 10:  Drop in Sewing or Knitting (free)
• April 12: Hunter Star
• April 13: Friday the 13th drawing - see below
• April 4:  Drop in Sewing or Knitting (free)
• April 19th: Thursday Tablerunner
• April 25th: Finishing Class

Friday the 13th
Everyone who comes into the shop this day will be entered into a drawing.  13 Lucky Winners will receive a $13 gift certificate!

The Shop Hop is Coming!

To celebrate the 10th year of the Quilters Quest Shop Hop, the theme this year is "Thanks for being our friend".  All participating shops are giving you two 10" squares...AND... not only are they giving you fabric for a project, but they are giving you the pattern to use in it, too!  If you finish the entire shop hop, you will have 12 patterns for various projects using 10 inch squares like purses, totes, aprons, table runners and quilts. 

Won't you be our friend this year?  The shop hop is May 31 - June 3.

Facebook

Have you noticed that Facebook has changed yet again? Now when you go to http://www.facebook.com/Quiltbugcom you will see our Timeline with a picture of a quilt at the top of the page. I am fine with the Timeline, but that quilt is one of mine!  Shouldn't it be one of YOURS?  I am hereby making a public plea - please send me a picture of one of your quilts that I can use in the header.  It doesn't have to use our fabric or patterns, it just has to have been made by you. 

I will have to crop the picture to make it fit, so it doesn't have to be perfect.  And I will give you credit, of course, so you can brag to your friends. Send your pictures to krisdriessen@yahoo.com along with whatever you want me to say about you:-))  I don't mind doing a little promoting if you want to include your blog or whatever.  I think of this as "basking in the reflected glow."

Until next time,

Enjoy!

 - PS -

Hello  and welcome back! This is the Quiltbug News and Views list, an occasional newsletter telling you about the events at the Quiltbug Shop in Esperance NY. Be sure to bookmark http://quiltbug.com/Shop/Shop-News.htm to see the latest updates between newsletters.

On March 17, we celebrate National Quilting Day - AND the life of St Patrick, the priest who drove the snakes out of Ireland according to legend. (Yes, I know there were never any snakes in Ireland, but who am I to get in the way of a good story?) St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador and a reason to dye the Chicago River green in Illinois. We are celebrating St Patricks day here in the shop from March 15 - 17 with a 17% off all fabric sale if you are wearing green.

Those of you who are not local, you don't have to wait for a sale! Yesterday I moved over 50 new fabrics to the sale page. Check them out on the Sale Fabrics page. Remember, quantities will be limited and must be purchased in 1 yard increments.

And I do have a gift for you, too. Click here for a Irish Chain Table Topper pattern. Would you prefer something smaller? Check out the Irish Chain Table Runner.

Shop Events
(click here for the descriptions)

• March 17: National Quilting Day
• March 20:Drop in Sewing or Knitting
• March 22: Third Thursday Tablerunner
• March 27:Drop in Sewing or Knitting
• March 29: Beginner Boot Camp (four Thursday mornings)
• April 6: Chicken Pincushion

The Shop Hop is Coming!

To celebrate the 10th year of the Quilters Quest Shop Hop, the theme this year is "Thanks for being our friend". All participating shops are giving you three 10" squares...AND... not only are they giving you fabric for a project, but they are giving you the pattern to use in it, too! If you finish the entire shop hop, you will have 12 patterns for various projects using 10 inch squares like purses, totes, aprons, table runners and quilts.

Won't you be our friend this year? The shop hop is May 31 - June 3.

My Annual Plea for Help

Every year I participate in the Great Strides Walk, which is a fund raiser for Cystic Fibrosis. Will you sponsor me? I admit I am primarily interested in raising fund for Cystic Fibrosis research because of my granddaughter but as it turns out, the research to cure certain components of this genetic disease will also cure components of other genetic diseases (such as leukemia.)

Great strides are being made every day - in fact, my granddaughters life expectancy has been raised by almost a decade since she was born 4 years ago. Every dollar makes a difference! http://www.cff.org/great_strides/KrisDriessen

Posters

I've been seeing a lot of wonderful posters lately! I guessed that there must be a generator online someplace and I was right - it's here: http://whatireally.memegenerator.net/

If you make a great meme, I would love to see it:-)) You can post it to our Facebook Page or put it on Pinterest.

Or just send it to me at quiltbug.com@gmail.com and I will post it to our Secrets page so you can brag.

Until next time,

Enjoy!

- PS -

Did you know: if you use the coupon code PATTY when you check out now through March 17, you will get 10% off your whole order!

Hello and welcome back! This is the Quiltbug News and Views list, an occasional newsletter telling you about the events at the Quiltbug Shop in Esperance NY.  Be sure to bookmark http://quiltbug.com/Shop/Shop-News.htm to see the latest updates between newsletters.

Super Sunday Mystery

There were actually two Super Sunday Mysteries this year.  There was a comfy cozy version called April Breezes and a more dynamic version called March Winds. The pattern and some pictures are here: http://quiltbug.com/free/april-breeze.htm. 

I will admit to being surprised at how many variations there are this year.  Seems everyone made the quilt their own, which I think is fabulous!

New Patterns and Fabric

Click on the underlined hyperlink below the picture to go to the page where the fabric is sold.  As always,  orders over $100 get free shipping! You can always find our latest fabrics, patterns and notions listed on the Just Arrived page.

Shop Events

• February 18: Irish Chain Quilt
• February 23: Irish Chain Tablerunner
• February 24: Bear Paw Tablerunner
• February 25: Celtic Visions
• February 26: Make a Civil War block at the Voorheesville Library.  Kris will be talking a little bit about the civil war and will be bringing her civil war quilts for examination.  She will also be giving patterns for some of the blocks typically used in that time period.  Click here: http://quiltbug.com/PDF/CWblocksupply.pdf for more information.
• March 3: March Winds!
• March 10: Irish Chain

The Hearts Delight Kit is still available!

This charming little 25" x 25" wall quilt will just fit on your front door, or in that small space in your foyer.  Our kit includes all the fabric you will need to make the quilt top, including the precut charms.   Only $25!

• Click here for more information

The Shop Hop is Coming!

To celebrate the 10th year of the Quilters Quest Shop Hop, the theme this year is "Thanks for being our friend".  All participating shops are giving you three 10" squares...AND... not only are they giving you fabric for a project, but they are giving you the pattern to use in it, too!  If you finish the entire shop hop, you will have 12 patterns for various projects using 10 inch squares like purses, totes, aprons, table runners and quilts. 

Quilting is Murder...

While you are on the site, be sure to read the mystery and visit the sites of participating shops to gather your clues.  It's lots of fun and the prizes are great!  It kills me to tell you this, but here is a clue to our clue:  It's a good idea for all detectives to keep up on current events by reading our Shop Newsletter.

Keeping in Touch on Your Tablet

I love my ipad!  I never thought I would find a use for a tablet, but I use it pretty much every day.  Did you know that you can create an icon for your favorite site on the home page of your tablet? These directions are for an ipad, but most tablets will have a similar method. 

Go to your favorite website, say http://quiltbug.com.  Touch the Add Bookmark button at the top of your browser.  In the dropdown menu that appears, touch Add to Home Screen and a tiny Quiltbug will appear on your home screen.  Tap that bug to visit our site!

Pinterest

What's Pinterest?  It's a website that lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes - and share their favorite quilt pictures:-))

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from other people. I've spent many happy hours perusing those pictures and following links.  You can see my pinboard at http://pinterest.com/quiltbugs/ but I don't always repin.  To get the best pinboard experience, go to Pinterest and request an invitation.  I promise you that it is worth it. 

Be sure to look for my pin called "The award for the best use of a sewing machine goes to..."

Facebook

If you have clicked the like button at http://www.facebook.com/Quiltbugcom, you should see the link for our group on the left.  Our Facebook fans hear about the latest fabric arrivals, the newest gadgets, and special events first. I often post free patterns and special sales just for them. 

Did you know that Facebook allows you to group your friends into Lists?  If you have certain people or companies you always check, you can put them into a list.  There is a video tutorial here: but the basic steps are:

• In the left hand column of your Facebook Feed, you should see a category called Lists.  Hover over that word with your mouse, and you will see the word MORE light up on the right hand side of that column.  Click on it.
• You will come to the Lists page.  Click on Create List in the upper right hand corner. This creates an empty list, which you get to name.
• In the upper right hand corner again, click on the Manage Friends drop-down box, then Add/Remove friends.  You will get a box that says Friends in the upper left hand corner, and displays pictures of your friends.  Click on them to add them to your list and click on Done at the bottom when you are finished
• If you are trying to create a list of companies that you follow, you will have to click on the word Friends in the upper left hand corner to open up the drop-down box.  From there you just click on Pages.

Putting someone into a list doesn't mean you will never see their posts on a wall.  It just means you can easily check on people.  Everyone in your guild might be one list, and all your favorite quilt shops might be another.

If this is all too confusing, you can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/quiltbug .

Until next time,

Enjoy!

PS - Here is a picture of me with my Valentine:

Hello and welcome back! This is the Quiltbug News and Views list, an occasional newsletter telling you about the events at the Quiltbug Shop in Esperance NY.  Be sure to bookmark http://quiltbug.com/Shop/Shop-News.htm to see the latest updates between newsletters.

Are you local to our Shop?  Be sure to see the coupon on the end of this page!

Super Sunday Mystery

The Super Sunday Mystery will be available in two varieties this year.  There will be a comfy cozy version called April Breezes and a more dynamic version called March Winds. I will be giving you a lap quilt size for both versions BUT this is a quilt that can easily be enlarged simply by adding more blocks. Fabric requirements are here: http://quiltbug.com/shop/april-breeze.htm

New Patterns and Fabric

Click on the underlined hyperlink below the picture to go to the page where the fabric is sold.  As always,  orders over $100 get free shipping! You can always find our latest fabrics, patterns and notions listed on the Just Arrived page.

Shop Events

• January 26: Thursday Table Runner Class. Bear Paw using Triangles on a Roll
• January 28: Hearts Delight Class.  The class is full, but the kit is still available.  See below.
• January 29: Kris will be giving a talk at the Voorheesville Library about the life and times of 19th century women, illustrated with quilts and clothing of that time period.  Call 765-2791 for more information.
• February 2: Groundhog Day!  We will be having a Double Your Fun sale that day.  Sign up for one class, get the second one free!
• February 4: Library Quilt Class (AM) and Learn Paper Piecing (PM)
• February 10: Friday Freebie: Border Print Placemat Pattern
• February 11: Machine Quilting Class using a Walking Foot
• February 25: Celtic Visions
• February 26: Make a Civil War block at the Voorheesville Library.  Kris will be talking a little bit about the civil war and will be bringing her civil war quilts for examination.  She will also be giving patterns for some of the blocks typically used in that time period.  Click here for more information.

New Kit: Hearts Delight

This charming little 25" x 25" wall quilt will just fit on your front door, or in that small space in your foyer.  Our kit includes all the fabric you will need to make the quilt top, including the precut charms.   Only $25!

• Click here for more information

The Shop Hop is Coming!

To celebrate the 10th year of the Quilters Quest Shop Hop, the theme this year is "Thanks for being our friend".  All participating shops are giving you three 10" squares...AND... not only are they giving you fabric for a project, but they are giving you the pattern to use in it, too!  If you finish the entire shop hop, you will have 12 patterns for various projects using 10 inch squares like purses, totes, aprons, table runners and quilts. 

Won't you be our friend this year?  The shop hop is May 31 - June 3.  We start selling the bag February 1.

Quilting is Murder...

While you are on the site, be sure to read the mystery and visit the sites of participating shops to gather your clues.  It's lots of fun and the prizes are great!  It kills me to tell you this, but here is a clue to our clue:  It's a good idea for all detectives to keep up on current events by reading our Shop Newsletter.

Home is where the Quilt is

Every year, the Alliance for American Quilts sponsors a contest.  Participants are asked to create a quilt depicting a certain theme and donate them to AAQ.  These quilts are later auctioned to raise funds to continue AAQs mission, which is to ensure that this nation's quilt heritage is documented, preserved and widely shared.

This year’s contest theme is “Home Is Where the Quilt Is,” a celebration of the form and the meaning of Home. You can use any medium, any technique and any approach--traditional or non--to create a house-shaped quilt. You could win the Grand Prize, a Handi Quilter machine quilting system!  For more information, visit http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org

Pinterest

What's Pinterest?  It's a website that lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes - and share their favorite quilt pictures:-))

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from other people. I've spent many happy hours perusing those pictures and following links.  You can see my pinboard at http://pinterest.com/quiltbugs/ but I don't always repin.  To get the best pinboard experience, go to Pinterest and request an invitation.  I promise you that it is worth it. 

Facebook

If you have clicked the like button at http://www.facebook.com/Quiltbugcom, you should see the link for our group on the left.  Our Facebook fans hear about the latest fabric arrivals, the newest gadgets, and special events first. I often post free patterns and special sales just for them. 

Did you know that Facebook allows you to group your friends into Lists?  If you have certain people or companies you always check, you can put them into a list.  There is a video tutorial here: but the basic steps are:

• In the left hand column of your Facebook Feed, you should see a category called Lists.  Hover over that word with your mouse, and you will see the word MORE light up on the right hand side of that column.  Click on it.
• You will come to the Lists page.  Click on Create List in the upper right hand corner. This creates an empty list, which you get to name.
• In the upper right hand corner again, click on the Manage Friends drop-down box, then Add/Remove friends.  You will get a box that says Friends in the upper left hand corner, and displays pictures of your friends.  Click on them to add them to your list and click on Done at the bottom when you are finished
• If you are trying to create a list of companies that you follow, you will have to click on the word Friends in the upper left hand corner to open up the drop-down box.  From there you just click on Pages.

Putting someone into a list doesn't mean you will never see their posts on a wall.  It just means you can easily check on people.  Everyone in your guild might be one list, and all your favorite quilt shops might be another.

If this is all too confusing, you can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/quiltbug .

Until next time,

Enjoy!

PS -

Mention this coupon at the register when you check out Friday or Saturday and get a free gift!  I promise you will like it:-))

Here is a Tease:

"I don't know what to wear!" Katy wailed. Her entire wardrobe lay on the bed: slacks, skirts, blouses, knit tops, jackets, even her jeans.

"It's only four days," Melissa said calmly. "Two pairs of slacks, four shirts, a jacket or sweater, two bras, four underpants, a nightgown."

"A nightgown," exclaimed Katy, rummaging frantically in a drawer. "I forgot a nightgown!"

And our story begins..... Where are they going?? Did they find something and are now frantically packing to leave and hunt it down? Does Bob know? From Upstate NY you can travel pretty far in 2 days, assuming they are going there and back... Or are they hiding from someone? What happens in four days, anyway?

Prizes are being donated by Creative Grid Rulers, Auriful, Ofla, Noble Notions, and Summit Retreat Center.  The grand prize is a Bernina! In addition, the shops will be offering special deals. Don't worry, we will be dropping hints along the way. 

The mystery starts in January but you can read about it now! Visit Quilting is Murder for some diabolical fun!