The Velvet Stitch: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

25 years young!

An embroidery treat from one of my customers, Ms. Dot East. Ms. Dot brought in a quilt top made by HER mother which is approximately 25 yrs old and is finishing it for a new grandbaby of her own! Below is a picture of the entire top. Thanks so much Ms Dot for the visit and your beautiful show-n-tell! Congrats on your new grandbaby!

A VERY proud First Time Quilt Maker!

We had a visit today from two of our favorite customers, Ms. Mary Ellen and her husband to show off her first completed quilt and it just so happens it was our BOM from last year! She did a most excellent job in completing her quilt.....Congratulations Ms Mary!!! And thanks for sharing!

Pumpkin Table Runner

Fall Pumpkin Table Runner
Here's the photo of Janet's runner she will be teaching. Dates and times are posted below!

Hope to see your then!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Fall: Beginning Quilting Classes

As we've all had busy summers, and the kids now back in school, I'm sure you are all ready to 'Fall' back into some sort of schedule! With Fall quickly approaching, The Velvet Stitch is now offering classes for the beginning quilter.

Here is a list of what we have set up so far.

In an earlier post, I made mention of the pumpkin table runner and we would be offering it in September. If you scroll down you'll see a picture of it! Janet will be teaching this beginner class on the following dates:

September 12th and 19th, Saturday(2- part class)
Time: 6-8pm
Cost: $20
Class limit:5
Bring all your necessary quilting notions and machine for class.

CLASS FEES MUST BE MADE ONE WEEK PRIOR TO CLASS/NO EXCEPTIONS

September 26th and October 3rd (2-part class)

Time: 6-8pm

Cost:$20

Class limit: 5

Bring all your necessary quilting notions and machine for class.

CLASS FEES MUST BE MADE ONE WEEK PRIOR TO CLASS/NO EXCEPTIONS

RAIL FENCE (4-part class)

Dates: Friday, September 25th, Oct2, 9, and 16th

Cost:$65

Class limit:5

Time: 4-6pm

Please bring all necessary quilting notions and machine to class

RESERVATIONS AND CLASS FEES MUST BE MADE ONE WEEK PRIOR TO CLASS/NO EXCEPTIONS

Beginning Quilting: This is for the BRAND NEW QUILTER

Ladies Choice Table Set (table runner and two placemats)

Time: 10am-12

Date: September 29th and October 6th

Cost: $20

Class Limit: 5

Please bring all necessary quilting notions and machine to class

CLASS FEES MUST BE MADE ONE WEEK PRIOR TO CLASS/NO EXCEPTIONS

MAKE IT AND TAKE IT:

Quilted Wallets

We will use double-sided quilted fabric and a 7" zipper in this class, available for purchase in the shop.

Time 6-8pm

Date: Tuesday September 22

Cost:$12

Class limit: 5

DONT LET THE ZIPPER SCARE YOU! I WILL TEACH YOU THE EASY METHOD TO PUT THIS IN YOUR WALLET. These make great gifts for Christmas!!

As we make more classes, I will update the blog........

Thanks for looking! and hope you'll join us! And don't forget we are on FACEBOOK now! Tell all your friends!

ConKerr Cancer

The Velvet Stitch is proud to announce we are joining The ConKerr Cancer foundation to brighten the lives of sick children in hospitals through homemade pillowcases!

An inspired organizations, ConKerr Cancer was started in 2002 when Cindy Kerr began making colorful pillowcases for her son Ryan who in the hospital for long periods of time. The pillowcases brightened up his hospital room and put a smile on his face. The pillowcases became so loved by Ryan that Cindy and friends began making them for other sick children. Ever since, the organization has grown rapidly.

Martha Stewart Living:
The visibility of ConKerr Cancer was given a major boost in October 2007 when Cindy Kerr won the grand prize in the Martha Stewart Living "Dreamer Into Doers" contest. The media attention attracted new donors and volunteers and has helped this wonderful volunteer effort spread around the world.

Tens of thousands of pillowcases have already been made by thousands of volunteers. ConKerr Cancer has established local chapter aross North America and around the world.

You Can Help:
ConKerr Cancer is making a difference for children. Please join us in our quest for smiles! Here's how you can help:

Make a cheerful pillowcase - or

Donate funds to help purchase supplies and expand the effort!
Go to www.ConKerrCancer.org

If you need a kit with instruction, visit us as we have kits already made up! Otherwise, drop off your completed pillowcase at the shop and we will see that it gets to the organization.
THANKS FOR YOUR DONATION!!

CHILDREN'S SEWING CLASSES STARTING SOON

Our children's Sew Fun Sewing School Classes are once again starting up and we have added an additional night as well as an additional class for teens! Check the following website for information:

www.sewffunsewingschool.com

Call the store and reserve your childs spot! The kids had the most fun with these classes last year and made so many cute items. Remember, if the kids purchase their supplies at The Velvet Stitch, they receive a discount!

Fall Classes

Fall Classes:

Our certified Crocheting teacher Janice Dandar, will be offering classes this Fall starting on September 8th. If you would like to learn to crochet from a master, then make your reservation to join us for the following date/times:

Beginning crochet:

Wednesday mornings

3-1 hr sessions

Times: 10am-11 - or

11:30-12:30 - or

2:00-3pm

Choose your time!

Class limit 3

Cost: $30 plus kit ($12)

This class is for the absolute beginner

THE HOOKER'S CLUB:
Tuesdays 12-2pm
Bring or pick a project
Skill level: Advanced beginner
Class limit: 3 per session
Cost $15 per session

Special arrangements can be made for groups of friends, nursing or retirement homes. Call store for details. All classes must take place at the shop.

RESERVATIONS AND CLASS FEES MUST BE MADE ONE WEEK PRIOR TO CLASS/NO EXCEPTIONS PLEASE

Block Lotto

We will once again be starting the Block Lottery in September at The Velvet Stitch!

For those of you who are not familiar with the lottery, here is what it consists of:

Buy a fat quarter of our feature fabric, in Sept it will be the Fall Harvest Corn print pictured above, and incorporate it into a 12 1/2" block of YOUR choice.

The only rule that applies is 1/4 of the block must be represented with the Fall print. The block design is all up to you! Check out our prints and solids that you can add to make the block or use your stash.

ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE to increase your chances of winning!

Won't it be fun to win several blocks with the Fall theme? The work is already done for you!!! All blocks will be displayed in the shop.

The Lotto starts September 1st and lasts until October 1st.

We will pick a winner on October 9th.

October's lotto will begin on Oct. 1st and lasts until the 1st of November. I will let you know what October's focal fabric will be closer to the first of the month. You do not need to be present to win.

GOOD LUCK!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Great Photos and New Additions to the Store!

Well hopefully the HOT days of summer will soon be coming to an end and the children will return to school. With that said, we can all get back on a schedule and start the countdown to the holidays, yes the holidays!

NEWS FROM OUR SHOP.......

THE VELVET STITCH IS ON FACEBOOK!!!!!!!!

If you'd like to become a 'friend' just send me a message on the VS page!

I'm glad to announce that once again our children's sewing classes will be offered to homeschoolers and regular schoolers starting in September. Monday and Thursday classes will be held this year starting on the 10th. A teen class is also being added this year Mondays at 6:45 to 7:45pm. Either call the shop or come in to register your child/grandchild. Machines are provided. A $45 monthly fee applies and a $40 register fee includes notions patterns and instructional booklet.

In October, the Sewing Sister's Society will be hosting a Fall Festival, I will send more details as they become available.

Don't forget we offer alterations with a turn around time of one week and appointments offered with the seamtress on Fridays in the afternoon.

We've had several new blender bolts and prints to arrive (priced at $6.99) and Fall fabric's as well.

If you need red or black velveteen to make Christmas dresses for you children or grandchildren, they are also in stock. Fleece will be arriving soon for those toasty warm 'no-sew' blankets everyone loves to make.

Our Pellon interfacings have been replenished great for making handbags, wallets, or placemats.

New different 'sized' quilting rulers are in and more are due to arrive soon.

We will soon be stocking quilting magazines for purchase, no more waiting in the grocery store lines!!

Block Lotto will be starting again in September so the more blocks you make and bring in the better your chances will be to win them all! Drawings are held at the end of the month. September's focal fabric will be a fat quarter of the 'corn' fabric. Come on in and take your chance at the VS Lottery!

Penny Sturges 'New' bag patterns

have arrived to the shop!

These gorgeous Placemat kits are now available at The VS perfect for the Fall/Thanksgiving season. Instructions are also included to make matching napkins. Hurry they are going fast...

Christmas is not far off and The VS will be offering stocking kits with the Seminole pattern great for Secret Santa's, quilting friends, family, or yourself! Check the store soon for these great kits !!

Ladies from The Carolina House paid The VS a visit sitting a spell to enjoy the cool air-conditioning on one of the recent HOT days! Do you notice the crocheted Pumpkin Family on the table? How about the Pumpkin Table Runner? Classes will be offered for both starting in September.

Elegant Greenery is one of the Newest additions to the store complete with an apron panel, pillow panels, and a mantel swag/tree skirt. Traditional rich Christmas colors in reds and greens and cream with greenery are among the few offered.

This elegant tree skirt panel features beautiful wreaths tied with candy cane ribbons. The color palette includes Christmas red, pine green, brown and golden tan. Full instructions are printed on the panel. Tree skirt will require batting, 3 2/3 yards of 45'' fabric for the backing, 3/4 yards of 45'' fabric for the binding and 3 yards of ribbon are for tree skirt ties. topper. Each panel measures 30'' x 58''.

Designed by Cat Williams for South Sea Imports, this craft panel features four blocks of urns filled with holiday greenery. The color palette includes Christmas red, pine green, coffee, and golden tan. Each block measures 13.5 '' x 18''. The panel measures 29'' x 44''. This is perfect for pillows, quilting, and craft projects. This is sold only by the panel.

Now this precious little girl, Autumn, came into our store modeling her new dress mommy made from our Amy Butler Fabric selection! Nice job Sarah, who is by the way, our newest addition to The Velvet Stitch! Sarah works on Saturdays and different days during the week, Welcome!

This quilt was brought in by a couple visiting our Elizabeth City area. It was just as breath taking in person as it is in the photo. A Magnificent example of 'Stack-N-Whack," Thanks for sharing!

That's about all for right now, this coming week I'll post pictures from the ribbon cutting we had with the E.C. Chamber of Commerce. We had a fantastic turn out with several chamber members in attendance! Don't forget we offer alterations in the shop with a turn around time of one week and appointments offered with the seamtress on Fridays in the afternoon.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Tidewater Quilt Guild Visit!

The Tidewater Quilt Guild paid The Velvet Stitch a visit looking for novelity fabrics.......

I think she found some!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the visit ladies!

Newest Fabrics and patterns

These fun and easy bag patterns are the latest from quilt market and now in stock.

New potholder and casserole patterns and soon arriving is the lastest bag patterns from Penny Sturges, I'll post the patterns to the blog when they arrive. Joan Hawleys (Lazy Girl Designs) newest bag , The Claire bag pattern from market is now in stock .

For all of my customers who come in on a regular basis and wonder why I'm not there on Fridays and sometimes Thursday and Fridays, the picture above explains it all!!!!! Granny spends time with her cutie grandson, Jordan!