Fall Classes--What's new?

Now that the summer sale is over, it' s time to plan for our fall classes.  We're now in the midst of planning the fall class schedule. (this is hard when it's 100 degrees outside). Watch for it in your mailbox or on the website early in August.  We've got some fun new classes in the making.  Of course, we'll have the basic hand and machine classes offered as always but it's always fun to add some new ones.  Julie is coming up with a couple new Judy Neimeyer classes.  Dee is planning a handwork club and will again offer her Electric Quilt class.  Cheri will be teaching handquilting along with her color clubs.  Pat and Annemarie can get you started with good basic quilting classes.  Nancy and I are planning the next mystery weekend--and mystery by mail.  This will be number 50!  Can you believe it?  I'll also be teaching the North Star Quilt using the Spotlight tool.  Have you seen the sample at the shop?  First day to signup for classes will be Thursday, August 16.

We'll also be starting a new year of our Scrap Tamers Plus From Marti and Me Club.  This club will run for 9 months, once a month, and has been very popular.  Last year for the 1st time, we combined our Scrap Tamers with the From Marti and Me club.  Each month we focused on a different tool and members received a pattern using that tool.  Members learned a lot about using the Marti Michell tools and rulers.  We learned a lot too so we'll be combining the clubs again!

One of the favorite features of our club has been the scrappy mystery quilt. Each month, members received instructions to make a section of the quilt.  Many of the club members showed their finished tops at the last class.  It's always great fun to see the same quilt pattern in different fabric and color combinations.  We've included some photos from the last class.  Watch for this quilt to turn into a pattern!  We named it Hopscotch.  We're planning the next Scrap Tamers mystery quilt now and it's going to be fun. 
And of course we always show you all the new things that have arrived at the shop so you are among the first to know. First day to sign up for Scrap Tamers Plus From Marti and Me is Saturday, August 25. 

 Mark the dates for class signup and Scrap Tamers signup on your calendars!  And don't forget the Quilt Minnesota Shop hop runs from August 3 to August 19.  We're getting some samples made using the fun new fabrics designed especially for the hop.  Hope to see you then.

National Quilting Day

National Quilting Day is Saturday. We have the 7th Session of our Scrap Tamers + Marti and Me Club scheduled. There are 135 quilters who have been part of the club this year. We meet in 3 time-slots of 45 members each. We have had a Scrap Tamers club for several years and each year have run it a little differently. This year we combined it with the Marti & Me Club. I think everyone, including me, has learned a lot this year. Each month we have focused on a different tool designed by Marti Michell. Members also receive a free Marti Michell pattern that uses that tool. It's been great fun. One of my favorites was the Good Neighbors pattern using the Small House Template Set. (Nathan and Cheri will be running a summer school class on this quilt) This Saturday the pattern is the Carpenter's Wheel which uses the Marti Michell Set A, based on a 3" unit.

In the other classroom applique lovers will be learning from Pat Cox. We had enough applique lovers to fill both a morning and an afternoon class. They surely make some beautiful quilts.

What will you be doing for National Quilting Day? We know what we'll be doing.

Fall Fun

The next session of quilting classes will be starting this month. We have some fun ones in the lineup. Whether you want a traditional quilting class taught by Pat Cox, a beginning machine piecing class taught by Annemarie Yohnk, a Lone Star class taught by Cheri Merritt or a once a month club we have something for you. Check out the class schedule on our website to see the complete list of fall classes.
Cheri teaches our Lone Star Class. She has made many Lone Star Quilts. She won a ribbon on one of them at the Minnesota Quilt show in June. You can see a photo of that quilt and another one that she has in progress on her blog. And don't let the Lone Star Quilt scare you! The small quilt you make in the class will teach you the techniques needed for perfectly matched points, perfect set-in corners and a star with a flat center. Your friends will really be impressed!
And if you want a monthly club, there are still a few openings in the 1:00 session of Scrap Tamers Plus From Marti and Me Club. We're excited to get a new year going.

Don't forget to enter our September Anniversary Drawing. Enter you name every time you come into the shop during September. We're giving away a really fun quilt called Northwoods.

Scrap Tamers Signup Day

Why the crowd in front of the shop? It was Scrap Tamer Plus Marti and Me signup day. Word has it that the line started at 7 AM. Sign up started at 9:30. Fun to see all the quilters with their chairs, coffee, donuts etc. Scrap Tamers Club Plus meets the 3rd Saturday of each month. The first meeting will be Saturday, September 17. We have 3 sessions scheduled--there are still a few openings in the 1:00 session. I think it will be a lot of fun this year as we're combining the From Marti and Me club with our traditional Scrap Tamers club--2 clubs for the price one ! I'm all about learning as many things about quilting as you can! And the Marti and Me club offers some fun new techniques and information about using her well designed tools and rulers.

If you're interested, call the shop or come in to get more information. We have sample bundles made for the Mystery Quilt we will be doing in the club. Order one or you can work from your stash--after all, this is Scrap Tamers. We also have a sample of the 1st project for the From Marti and Me Club. It's a really fun table runner called Bali Breezes. Each of the Marti Michell patterns will feature one of her rulers. This time it is the Small Full Diagonal Set Triangle Ruler.

So, come join in the fun--next year you may be out in front of the shop--anxious to sign up again.