Quilter's General Store

Are you keeping warm? It sure has been cold around here and the snow just keeps coming. One way to keep warm is to cuddle under a quilt in front of your fireplace with a nice cup of hot whatever. There’s nothing like a quilt to warm your body and your spirit and we can help you get started on your next project. We have some specials on our calendar that will give your new project a boost.

2008 is a Leap Year. Our “proposal” to mark this occasion is to offer a Once-Every-4-Years Sale on Friday, February 29^th!!! Bring in a current Jo-Ann’s or Michael’s coupon, and we will match it on any one item. That’s right, you will get 40% off one item. There will be other specials that day as well so be sure to leap on in. One day only, one coupon per customer please, no special orders, a few exclusions will apply.

BED AND BREAKFAST WEEKEND…

Are you looking for a quiet weekend away with a wonderful project to work on? Quilter’s General Store’s Bed and Breakfast Weekend will be hosted by Delphine and Ruthie at the Olde Homestead Bed and Breakfast in Sparr, Michigan (The B&B is located just a few miles northeast of Gaylord.) The weekend begins on Friday, March 7^th at 2pm and concludes on Sunday, March 9^th at 9am. The cost is $85 per person which includes 5 meals and a shared room. You may work on a project of your own choosing or create the planned project, a Quick Nine-Patch Quilt Top from pre-cut kits in either 1800’s style or contemporary fabrics. Don’t you just love pre-cut kits? You just sit down and sew, sew, sew!!! The quilt top will measure either 63” square or 58 ½” x 67 ½” depending on how you assemble the completed blocks. The price for the kit is $65 plus tax. Delphine will teach you a new and speedy technique for piecing these 9-patches as well as a great method to join all the blocks together. You won’t believe how easily these blocks go together!!! Besides sewing, the group will take a “field trip” back to the store for some after-hours shopping that includes just-for-you discounts and Gourmet Brownies. On the return trip to the B & B you will stop at Delphine’s home where she will do a “Quilt-turning” - imagine thirty quilts piled on one bed and as each layer is peeled away, you will be awed and inspired. What could be better? Quilts and chocolate!! There is a limit of 8 quilters so sign up now for this special weekend. You can order the kit in your choice of fabrics when you sign up. Call now!!

MARK YOUR MARCH CALENDAR…

Lucky You…we have some good news for you if your new quilt or stash need some green fabrics. St. Patrick’s Day is Monday, March 17^th and the perfect time to stop in the store and choose some delicious green fabric and save some green too!! Any fabric that has green in it will be 20% off (1/2 yard minimum cuts), regular green and green batik fat quarters will be $2 while green flannel fat quarters will be $2.25. To add to the frivolity, if you wear green, you can reach into our Pot of Gold and pick a coupon worth ??% off your other purchases or an instant prize! It’s always a fun day with refreshments and great savings!!

Our popular Flannel Fridays will continue through March. Flannel cut from the bolt will be 20% off ( 1 yard minimum cut) and flannel fat quarters will be $2.25 (rather than $2.75). This is a great time to stock up on your winter (and even a Michigan spring) project stash!!

The next Sit, Sew, and Sip Soup will be Tuesday, March 4. You can work on your current project, a pre-cut charity project or just relax with other quilters starting at 10am. Stay as long as you like. We meet every Tuesday, but the first Tuesday of the month is special because we will be serving you a hearty soup lunch!! Won’t you join us? A special bonus to the Sit and Sewers: receive 10% off all your purchases that day.

March is National Quilting Month and Quilter’s General Store will celebrate on Friday, March 14^th. Come into the store to see quilting demos as well as cashing in on some one-day specials. Bring your non-quilting friends with you - let’s spread the word about the Joy of Quilting! If you bring in a quilt that you have made or perhaps a family heirloom, we will take a picture to include on our website’s GALLERY and you’ll receive a free fat quarter of your choice. Lots of fun, inspiration, and surprises on Friday, March 14^th.

For the month of March, the Otsego County Library in Gaylord will display the Comfort the Children Quilts that have been made by the Heart of the Pines Quilt Guild women and the store’s Quilt Givers Club. Over the past 26 years, quilts have been given to deserving children and families and each year similar quilts have been displayed at the library. As in the past, we are asking you to vote for your favorite quilt. Dianne Newman, chairwoman of this event, has also created a display on the history of the Log Cabin Block. You’ll find it very interesting!! Quilts will be hung on Friday, February 29^th (10am-11ish) and your help would be appreciated. In case of bad weather, the “hanging” will be held on Monday, March 3^rd. Call Dianne if you would like to volunteer (989-732-1605).

Terry Gravila from Terry's Long-Arm Quilting and co-chair of the Quilt Givers Club wishes to thank all the many women who have helped make charity blocks in the past. The next gathering will be on Thursday, May 22 from 10am until 4pm. Lunch will be provided and everyone is invited. If you can give one hour or six, we would appreciate your help.

The Kaye Wood’s Tool Club will have their next meeting on Thursday, May 8^th (MAY not March) from 10 until 2. The new project will be “Trees with Ease” using the Starmaker 6 ruler. Members will learn techniques for making the most difficult looking pattern fast and easy and IT'S FREE!!! (no class fee) Tools, patterns and fabric will be offered at a discount to club members but since the club is free, we require that supplies for club projects be purchased from QGS. There are still openings in the club but registration is required, so sign up early! Call NOW!!! Bring your lunch or order in.

The Jo Morton Club is winding down its current session but the new one will begin on June 18 or June 21. There will be two classes per month, the third Saturday of the month or the Wednesday of that same week, from 10am until noon. More information will be available in the next newsletter. FYI, not only do the gals learn about quilting in the late 1800’s but Delphine has some amazing tips for piecing techniques as well as color choices and border variations. The club’s “little women” love this class - won’t you join them?

CLASS UPDATES…

Smart Bag Tote - a great and easy Make and Take class - Saturday, March 1 (10-noon). Class fee: $10 + pattern

Card Trick on Point (aka Quilting 104) - 2 day class offered on Monday and Wednesday, March 17 and 19 (10-2 each day). Class fee: $30 (pattern included)

For more information on these classes, please see our website (www.quiltersgeneralstore.net ) for info and pictures! Call the store to sign up or if you have any questions. New classes will begin mid to late April. Look for our class schedule coming to your computer’s mailbox in late March!! If you have some special requests, now is the time to call the shop and ASK - as soon as possible!!!

SNIPPETS…

Easter is March 23 and we want to alert you that on Good Friday, March 21, the store will be closed from 12pm until 3pm. We’ll be open in the morning (9:30am-12) and again in the late afternoon (3-5:30pm).

Don’t forget about our sewing machine repair service…Richard will be in the store on Friday, March 28. Please bring your machine in a few days before. Call the store for all the details. Bob, the scissor guy, won’t be back to sharpen scissors and/or knives until April when he gets back from Arizona.

For those of you who were at our Super Bowl Sale in early February, the grand prize winner of a basket of quilting goodies was Sue Oelke from Vanderbilt, Michigan. Sue was thrilled!!

If you enjoy cross-country skiing and relaxing in a spa, check out Garland Resort’s “It’s All About You, Girl” weekend, March 7-9. Garland is located in Lewiston, about 30 miles southeast of Gaylord. Check out their website, www.garlandusa.com for details. Quilter’s General Store will be vendoring there - stop in to see us!

See you soon. God Bless and Happy Stitching,
Sharon O'Blom and the Leprauchans at Quilter’s General Store