May 2012

Waterwheel House Quilt Shop is one of the top ten quilt shops in the Nation and Canada to be included in the Fall 2012 issue of Quilt Sampler Magazine! The list of the 10 shops was released at Quilt Market in Kansas City yesterday. Sadly, I could not attend to receive our award so I will have to wait for the mail. If you are not familiar with this publication, it comes out 2 times a year, Spring and Fall. Quilt Shops from all over the country and Canada must apply with a portfolio of pictures and answers to a bezillion questions. Our beloved customer and friend, Lydia worked her magic in putting together our submission to the editors of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. We got the call that we were selected in early February. In early March, a team from the magazine came and took pictures of the shop and our quilts and me and Andrew and of course Gracie! We had to keep it a secret until Spring Market. This was not an easy task!

We had to design a quilt for the magazine and write a pattern for the quilt. We had very little lead time to come up with an idea. Shelley taught herself "Electric Quilt" a computer program where you can design blocks and quilts. Many ideas were tossed around, but we finally came up with a design using all of Kaffe Fassett's woven stripe fabrics in a Courthouse Step type pattern. Gracie is wearing the sample block in the photo above. The actual quilt is in Kansas City right now in the American Patchwork and Quilting booth for all the quilting world to see. What an honor!

Here is our prototype block. The original quilt will stay with the editors of the magazine so they can photograph it professionally so we will be making another quilt similar to this one for the shop. When the magazine comes out in September, there will be kits available by mail!

On another note...Sunday, May 20th we will hold our first Challenge Worshop, "Cut The sCRAPs". This workshop is full, but we plan to have another this summer. You do not have to attend a workshop to compete in the Challenge. There is a $100 gift certificate to the WWHQS for the first place winner. The challenge is to make a quilt from your scraps that have been cut to 4 specific sizes. 5 , 3 1/2, and 2 inch squares and 2 1/2 inch strips. At the workshop we will actually start cutting and organizing our scraps, sorting them into 2 plastic bins and then exploring ways to combine these units into blocks. Here are a few examples that Judith has been playing with...

3 1/2" squares

Step down to the 2 inch squares for a few examples.

If you are interested in coming to our next Challenge workshop, call the shop at 802-824-5700. If you would like us to mail you a hard copy of the rules for the challenge, give us a call.

Participants in Truddie Green's "Sunburst Block" class had a blast and came up with some beautiful small quilts. Here is Gina's work, she used silk fabric as well as cotton!

Ready to be quilted!

Our schedule of classes for the summer is coming along. You can see what we are offering in June, July and August on our website. More classes will be added shortly, so keep checking.

And finally a big Shout Out to all of our wonderful customers and friends who have helped us to become a Top 10 Shop! Not to mention our loyal staff, Judith, Andrew, Faith, Meg and Gracie!

As Always,

Happy Sewing,

Shelley

Gracie picked a beautiful bunch of "flowers" for her mommy this morning! Our dandelions are the size of sunflowers! A few lilacs and her sweet face make for a wonderful day! Happy Mother's Day!

Here is my finished English Garden Candle Mat from Wooly Lady.

We will hold wool penny rug classes on Thursday, May 31st, 10:30-2:30, Friday, June 22nd and Friday, July 13th. Hope you can make one of these dates. Simple embroidery stitches, Finca Presencia perl cotton and luscious hand dyed wool make for a great take-a-long project!

Here is the mat before stitching. All the pieces are arranged on the background.

Wednesday, May 9th from 10:30-Noon we will be sewing up a bunch of Wonky Stars! You can turn your stars into a mug rug, pillow, pot holder or the beginning of a quilt!

On Saturday, May 12th from noon- 4 pm Jessica Vandenburg will teach her Diva Wallet Class.

On Wednesday, May 16th is another Modern Quilting Technique Class, "Pick Up Sticks" You will explore inset piecing.

On Friday, May 18th, make a ruffled pillow with Judith.


This is a removable pillow cover without a zipper!

Saturday, May 19th explore Shiva Paintsticks on Fabric. Create your own fabric for a quilt!


Paintsticks are easy and fun to use!

Attendees will receive a free magazine "Cut The Scraps" by Karen Ford from Taunton Press as well as 2 clear plastic shoe boxes to corral their scraps.

You will cut your scraps into 3 sizes. 5" squares, 3 1/2" squares and 2" squares. You may also cut 2 1/2" strips. For the challenge you must use these sizes in your quilt. For more details, check the website. 1st Prize is a $100 gift certificate to the Waterwheel House! Entries will be due November 1st when we will have our Challenge Event Party!

On Wednesday, May 23rd is another Modern Quilting Technique Class, Transparency Effects. Learn to use value and hue to trick the eye!

On Thursday, May 24th learn to make the "Tourist Tote Bag"

This is for ages 12 and up. Students must know how to operate a sewing machine.

On Thursday, May 31st Learn the secrets of wool applique. This pattern is by Wooly Lady Designs. We have received a limited edition of their gorgeous hand dyed wool fabric for these kits. This is a relaxing, simple, hand sewing project.