Spring has Sprung at Flying Geese

What a joy it was to return to the shop yesterday after what seemed like a very long leave (thanks to all who stopped by to welcome me back- you truly made me feel special). Our displays were certainly warmer than the first of April weather outside. We are bathed in spring-like inspiration within our four walls. Cheryl has done it again with a lovely spring bouquet of one of my favorite porch flowers, the geranium!



It is easy to see why her raw edge applique classes fill so quickly.

This little display reminded me of the Mary Englebrite saying: Bloom Where You Are Planted. It would be a sweet gift or addition to your own home.



For those of you who love what Moda Fabrics does with their precuts, we have a display that just screams spring, and lots of new Schnibbles patterns to use in a must-do project. Come in soon for best selection, they are selling out quickly.



For the bag/purse lover, we have an impressive display of bags with patterns/kits by the newest member of the Flying Geese Teaching Staff, Jessica VanDenburgh:



There are new batiks for large or small projects (such as this table runner):



For the scrap quilt fanatic (you know who you are!) we have just the book for you...Scrapbasket Surprises is one page after another of fabulous quilts to make with fabric strips or scraps. I have owned this book for awhile now, and am making myself sit on the urge to start "just one more project". I know...I know....but really, just look at this graphic black and cream quilt. I'm going to keep my copy hidden in the bookcase for now, even if the projects are quick and simple (with great instructions!).



We are also featuring quilts and patterns by Kate Mitchell of Berkshire Quilts. Here are just two of the quilts we have hanging on the walls:






I hope I've peeked your curiosity a bit in this post. Come in, feel the spring inspiration and pick up a little something to boost your own quilting urge. Inquire about our class openings, or sign up for one of our Blocks of the Month (there are still some available spots). We are here to answer your questions, bring you inspiration or just chat awhile about what you might have in mind to do in the future.
Here's to seeing you soon--
Karen

Have Your Caught Red and White Fever?

Two color quilts have long been a favorite of many quilters, and the end of March saw a gift to the quilting world at large and on a smaller scale- to the city of New York.
The American Folk Art museum presented "Infinite Variety- Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts. For four days the red and white quilts amassed by Joanna S. Rose were hung in the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. A total of 650! Yes! 650 red and white quilts. It was an amazing display. It is also fitting that we here at Flying Geese are offering our Saturday Sampler customers their own two color quilt project. Whether they chose red and white, or another very classic combination of blue and white, our Cobblestone Cabins will be a piece to be proud of in their own collection. Just look at this antique house and church quilt! The power of two colors!



The center piece of the exhibit truly gave me a chill. I was proud to call myself a quilter and be a part of something that is deep rooted in our country. This display, representing the quilter made me think of the joy I find in the small quilt groups I belong to. Be it a guild, a "friendship group", or a class/club here at the shop, quilting with others brings us closer to our joy in the process we so love.




An amazing gift, an amazing site to see!



Did anyone else get to travel to New York to share in this experience? For those who were not able to do so- I hope this short video taken on the last day of the exhibit makes you feel like you were there - at least just a little!

The Folk Art Museum is celebrating The Year of the Quilt. Here is the link for the museum, just in case you feel the need for a quilt fix- in any color!
I seem to be in a video mood this morning so will share this one on the museum's year long Masterworks Exhibit as well.


In my next post, I'll take you on a spring time tour of the shop. You can stay close to home and get a quilting fix just by stopping by to see what is new!
Until then, happy stitching.
Karen
(Note: to see any of the above videos, simply click on the light gray word(s). You will be taken directly to the video. To return to this post, simply hit your browser's back button)

April

Well hello everyone, happy April.

Spring is here and it is a time of renewal for everything. A lesson was learned over these last few months by myself and many others. There are losses, our bodies wear out, our thoughts come more slowly. But our life cycles are our most creative effort. We can't never not be in them, right?
The struggle is to try and obtain a sense of participation in your life the whole way through. We must treasure old age, but not wallow in nostalgia. Appreciate the joy of attachment without possessiveness. Just thoughts I wanted to share with all of you.

Now down to business at the shop!!

Tomorrow is Saturday Sampler's 4th installment of 2011. Wow! We are a third of the way there. Good for you.

Also there are so many things to look at when you come in. I will try and post the pictures later today. New camera New adventure...yippee.

BOM's starting up. Get signed up for there are limited spaces.

See you soon,
Mardi

March 15th a beautiful day!

Hello everyone,
I hope you are all enjoying the wonderful gift of beautiful weather "Mother" bestowed upon us today. See good things do come to those who wait.

Well, classes are going very well at the shop and I am just sending a reminder about a few up and coming classes with some beautiful new faces sharing their expertise with our customers.


Leading Lady Pleated Wristlet by Jessica VanDenburgh
Cost: $35.00
Date: Saturday, March 19, 1-4pm

First we have Jessica VanDenburgh with her "Leading Lady Pleated Wristlet". Jessica has been designing and teaching for years now and we are very pleased to welcome her to our teaching staff. This new design is perfect for the girl who likes to carry just the basics...and a bit more. This versatile wristlet can be used as a clutch or wallet by simply removing the detachable loop. This session includes learning how to sew a zipper in a bag...Jess's easy peasy way.


Morning Glory Raw Edge Applique by Cheryl Bloomer
Cost: $35.00
Date: Thursday, March 24, 6-9pm Kits are available for class or general purchase.

If you have been in the shop lately, you have had the pleasure of seeing Cheryl's great "raw edge applique" art pieces. She has taken several patterns and added her own magical touches to each one to create such pretty one of a kind pieces. Start with one of her kits and embellish to your hearts content. Morning Glories bring in spring with these beautiful blooms that are simple and sweet.


Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Your Sewing Machine by Linda Denner
Cost: $35.00
Date: Saturday, March 26, 12-3pm

In this class, you will learn the setting and preparation for perfect satin stitching and buttonhole stitches for applique. Also, when to use stabilizers, how to use decorative threads and embellishments, and how to get your $199 machine to behave like an $8,000 model. Bring your manual and unidentified presser feet for questions. Some machine quilting will be covered.


NEW THINGS AT THE SHOP


Kate Mitchell from Berkshire Quilts has graciously dressed our shop with some of her personally designed quilts. They are lovely and we have the patterns by Kate for your to purchase. Also keep in mind, we have scheduled a trunk show by Kate during this year's SHOP HOP.


Sue Pritt creator and designer of Sweet Seasons Quilts, has new patterns available for her spring collection and her new pocketbook/bag designs. Her patterns are now available at the FG.


Jess VanDenburgh has samples of her reversible bags in sizes S,M,and L on display at the shop with patterns available for your purchasing.

Our own wonderful Miss Patty has whipped up a darling little bag made with grommets. Easy and Fast. Kits and patterns available.


Just a reminder, we are still doing our Applique Club every second Wednesday of each month. With all the bad winter weather and cancellations we were unable to meet when scheduled, so please take note that we are still up and running this club.

April Class descriptions coming soon.

Have a wonderful weekend....go to your local quilt shop....Flying Geese Fabrics
Mardi

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit

Welcome March! Yes that wonderful first day of March when even as temperatures barely reach out of the twenties, hope springs forth and just for a moment we feel the rebirth of earthsong and human spirit.

Hello all my friends, it has been a while since I took pen in hand. A long winter for us all and so much "feeling" under the weather has kept so many of us too "cooped" up for too long. I myself have been waiting to "awaken" again and feel the breath of spring flow all around me and get my creative juices flowing again.

New fabrics at the shop are brightening up our shelves and displays, along with new patterns for spring projects and classes to get you out of the house and into that freshening up mood. A new spring coverlet or maybe a pretty bag are just a few of the projects we are offering in our new classes. A fast and easy landscape wall hanging might just be that special piece you need for that wall you've been wanting to hang something on, but couldn't decide what it should be. Let us help you and it will be done before you know it.

New fabrics at the shop include: Moda's Dominique II. A French patchwork quilt from the 1860's inspired the fabrics of Dominique II. This beautiful quilt appeared to pay homage to the traditional quilts and tapestries designed to grace the stone walls of European residents. The fabrics display the French love of a floral garden with sinuous botanical blooms and tranquil garden song birds. The collection boast two outstanding paisley prints: a Jacobean floral paisley and a tossed seed paisley foulard. The classic paisley floral stripe provides a dramatic appearance. Rich and timeless colors imbue this heirloom collection of fabrics. Precuts and bolted fabrics available.

Moda owner Mark Dunn may not make quilts, but he certainly appreciates them. Twice yearly he selects an antique quilt from his substantial collection and reproduces its fabrics for his Howard Marcus lines. The proceeds from these fabrics, know as "Collection for a Cause," benefit charities that touch Moda customers and employees, including breast cancer, juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer's, Quilt of Valor, and more. Beautiful fabrics created in the true spirit of quilting. This year the collection we are featuring is called "Faith". Beautiful browns and pinks in yardage as well as precuts. Hurry in because these won't last long at all.

Moda's French Pom Pom Paris is here. In her seventh collection for Moda, Kaari breaks into beautiful colors of the French garden. Kaari walks you through the romantic floral garden with the pastoral scenes. Blooms and butterflies abound in the Chapeau de Napoleon. Peintres shows Arts and Crafts at its best with the classic Stawberry Thief in rose hedge. Felicite Perpetue offers a most beautiful floral column stripe. The floral continue to woo with Louis Gimard and Plantier. The coordinating pieces are simple and elegant. Precuts and yardage available.

Don't forget to sign up for Shop Hop. Dates are May 19, 20, 21 and 22. This is the weekend before Memorial Day. Bags and passports are now on sale for $5.00. Don't miss the chance to visit all eleven shops for fun, games and great prizes.

Reminder

Goodmorning everyone,
This is just a reminder that the house class scheduled for Sat. Feb 5th at 10am is cancelled. We are being cautious with the weather prediction. The store is open for regular hours both Saturday and Sunday. The beginner machine quilting class with Linda Denner has been postponed also, but I believe it is to be scheduled for Sunday the 6th. Please call the store to confirm.
There is an error also in the directions for the Saturday Sampler cobblestone block.
Please call the store to get the corrected information.
Thanks,
Mardi

Happy Groundhog Day....Spring just around the corner

Ok!! I will buy into that one. Spring is only 47 days away, so literally it is right around the corner. With so much beautiful winter weather gracing our homes and yards and the trees dripping with crystal chandeliers who could possibly be in a hurry for spring? All this weather has slowed us all down. Mayhaps we should take the opportunity to do just that and nestle down into our sewing rooms and sew, sew and sew somemore. What feeling of accomplishment we will have if we don't let the winter weather consume our every thought. If you're a snow bunny then this is your year...enjoy...I wish you all the fun you can find. If you are yearning for spring, change your screensaver, buy a daffodil at the grocers, bring in some branches from the early spring flowering trees and force their buds, or pick out your prettiest spring fabrics and grab your simpliest quilt pattern and go to work. In no time you will be singing and happy and so pleased with how winter has given you this slow down time and captured you in your homes. Then just look at the beautiful quilt you started and are almost finished piecing or appliqueing. Be happy, don't worry, Mother Nature may teach us harsh lessons, but she always comes through with a change for the better. Be blessed, be safe and be happy for the next 47 days...or maybe more.
The shop is on winter alert so please check before venturing out to make sure we are open. We will try our hardest to be there, but we will be careful too. If you are scheduled for classes this week please call the shop and if you cannot reach me at the shop, you can call 956-1677, it's my cell. With the storms approaching and unpredictable, we may postpone the Saturday Sampler block classes on Thursday and Saturday.
Thank you and please...safety first
Mardi