Grand Opening Visit to Between Patches, LLC

Today I chose to do something "Spur of the Moment"! 

I drove across the state (109 miles one way/2hrs.) 

to attend the grand opening of a long-time friend's new quilt shop 

in Bay City, Michigan. 

It is called Between Patches, LLC. 

I phoned a friend asking if she could go with me, which she could. 

The day was sunny and the temp. in the vehicle comfortable. 

Although the outside temp. was 44 degrees. 

We stopped for lunch half way there. 

Upon our arrival we found: 

A bright, cheery mailbox.

The very enthusiastic, experienced quilter and store owner, Robyn.

A welcoming display shelf, enticing us to come in and explore further. 

A shop with a variety of fabrics, with space and plans to fill more shelves 

with the next order of fabrics.

Here are blacks and whites, 1930s, and solids. 

A baskets of fat quarters, on sale this week.

A large stock of batiks that just seemed to gleam.

Colorful cottons and soft flannels. 

A crib of scraps...fill a zip bag for $3.

Does your husband need a place to sit while you shop? 

Or maybe you want to sit and look through a book.

Another shelfing unit with all kinds of things a quilter might want. 

She has a Block of the Month (BOM) to participate in. 

Robyn demostrates, one day each month, how to make that month's block.

She has classes scheduled. 

She is also an accomplished longarm quilter as well as a pattern designer.

While we were there, a group of ladies came in. 

We all began chatting about quilting, 

when one lady looked at my friend

and recognized her as the organizer of 

The Mitten State Quilters Facebook Group! 

We talked a bit longer!

We stayed about an hours, talking, laughing and relaxing around the cutting table. 

Robyn said that is the atmosphere she hopes to foster in her quilt shop. 

If you are in the area, stop and take a look around, 

you might even meet a new friend.

Her Facebook page link is HERE. 

A Trunk Show, A Hint of a Pattern and a Giveaway

The Tall Pine Quilters Guild had a trunk show at the February meeting. Robyn House-Guettler brought so many of her quilts. I have known Robyn for many years, having met her at a family reunion when she was young. Her mother is a quilter, as were her grandmother and great-grandmother. We attended many Mystic Lake quilting retreats together. She is a wealth of quilting knowledge and skills.

Robyn's quilts were stunning. She is now publishing patterns. I bought 2 patterns and have them in my TO-DO basket. I will share a few photos with you, with her permission. She has information on her Facebook page named Between Patches. Unfortunately, the only photo I got of Robyn was not flattering, and if I posted it she would probably cut me off as a shirt-tale relative.

And My Projects: 

What in the world could I be doing sewing all these strips together?  Yes, I asked myself the same question when I got half way through! I signed up at the LQS to participate in a "sewn strip exchange" related to Edyta Sitar's book, Friendship Strips and Scraps. Well, I signed up to sew 5 sets of strips which had to be the 18" x Width of Fabric. Of course I waited until the last possible day and spent well after midnight last night sewing. I got them done and will take them to the store today. I am not sure what I am going to make with the 5 strips sets I get in return, but I am sure it will be a fairly large project. Any suggestions?

 

I made 2 paper-pieced log cabin blocks for the annual guild quilt project.

New Pattern in the Works

I can't give details right now, but I am working on my next pattern for Cut Loose Press. I have a deadline in order to have it ready for Spring Market. I will give you just a little photo hint. 

      

Scraps put to use. 

I can't throw away most scraps. So from the projects I have been doing, I am using Angie Padilla's suggestion of turning  them into fabric collages. (She has lots of other ideas for scraps at her website.) So I lay them on a batting scrap near the cutting table to be sewn and then cut into inchies, made into a cosmetic case, etc. Presently, I am making a tiny landscape in the style (and I use that word loosely) of Ann Loveless, from whom I took a class a few years ago.

Spur of the Moment Giveaway! 

Microwave Bowl Cozies are my latest project. I am making them to sell at the Gala Gourmet, a local kitchen shoppe. I will be able to use some of my large cotton fabric stash for these. The photo shows just 2 of the many that I have made. They are reversible. They are made of totally 100% cotton materials and come with instructions for use. They are like a potholder that can be used as a pretty server under your bowl of oatmeal, soup or whatever from the microwave. Just hold opposing corners as you take it from the microwave and you are all set. 

In fact, I have just decided to have a SPUR OF THE MOMENT GIVEAWAY. Well, heck if you have read this far, you should have a chance to get a free cozy. So leave a message, giving me a suggestion of what to do with those strips I am going to be receiving. I can't tell you what fabric colors your cozy maybe, but we can probably work out some pleasing colors.

However, I will only be able to send to a winner within the United States. One winner will be chosen on Wednesday, March 5 at 9 PM EST. In fact, you can earn a second chance by signing up to follow my blog, leave me a second comment telling me you are a follower. And what the hay, share this Spur of the Moment Giveaway on your website or blog and leave me the link for a THIRD chance! But remember to leave me a method of contacting you. Anonymous comments go to my spam folder.

Happy Quilting!