News

Spring 2010

Signs of spring are everywhere! My hostas are REALLY up, trees are blooming, birds are singing, and orange barrels are appearing everywhere! The widening of Sylvania Ave. is going to complicate the traffic in our neighborhood this summer, starting with westbound Sylvania closing starting April 21st. If you are coming from the west you have several options. You can take Central Ave. to either McCord (also under construction but usually passable) or King (further to the east--just take Sylvania Ave. back toward the east to Sonflower). You can also go north on Holland-Sylvania Rd. to Brint. Brint is the 2nd traffic light north of Sylvania Ave. There is a Family Video on one corner and The Village Inn on the other. Turn left onto Brint and go west to McCord. This is the 4-way stop. Turn left onto McCord and go either to Sylvania Ave. and turn left or you can access our parking lot from the Rite Aid parking lot entrance on McCord. This is just a typical summer driving event in Toledo--the blooming of the orange barrels! Traffic should move much better on Sylvania Ave. when the project is done.

We are very excited to host another award-winning quilt teacher, Lenore Crawford from Midland, Michigan. She will teach a one day class on Saturday, May 22. You will learn to outline your pattern on freezer paper and then transfer it to a background fabric on which the design will be fused. No sewing will be done during the class; the emphasis will be in choosing the fabric for the desired effect and learning to make your own pattern from a photo. Lenore will also demonstrate how to add fabric paint to enhance your design. This class would be appropriate for a confident beginner. There is a choice of 3 patterns for the class: Red Poppies, Yellow Poppies, and Yellow Coneflowers. The Red Poppy quilt is on display in the shop. You may also view other samples of her work at www.lenorecrawford.com. The class is $60 + a $15 kit fee that covers the pattern of your choice, fusible, parchment paper, and freezer paper. You will provide your own fabric. Register in the shop or by phone with a credit card. Lenore will also be speaking at the Gathering of Quilters Guild on Thursday, May 20th at 7 p.m. at the Elks Club on Holland-Sylvania Rd.

Our summer newsletter went out in the mail at the end of last week. We have lots of new classes and several new blocks of the month. Samples of the new projects will be on display for our Open House from 10-4 on Saturday, May 8th. We will also be doing demonstrations of the new stripping rulers (always something new to make your projects easier!) that day at 11 and 1. We also have 2 sessions of Quilt Camp for kids ages 10 and up as well as a Project Week with different projects each day. These classes filled very quickly last year so schedule your young quilter early to make sure they get a spot! If you didn't receive our newsletter in the mail, it will be on our website later this week. Call or email us to let us know if you wish to be put on the mailing list for future mailings.

We will be taking quilts to Sauder's for their annual Quilt Fair. Quilts must be registered with Sauder's for us to transport them for you. We have to pick up any quilt we transport to the show; you will not be able to pick up your own quilt when the show is over. You may drop off your quilts at Sonflower on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. We will have your passes to the show in the shop the week of April 27th during normal business hours. We will be open from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, April 26th for pick up also in case you want to go to the show early on Tuesday. Your quilts must be picked up at Sonflower on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 4th and 5th, during our regular hours. There is a fee of $4 for the first quilt we transport and $2 for each additional quilt.

Have you ever wanted to make a Double Wedding Ring quilt but been afraid to try it? Amy Reitzel will be hosting her own Double Wedding Ring Retreat September 17th, 18th, and 19th at the Wingate by Wyndham in Sylvania. She will be teaching John Flynn's method of piecing a Double Wedding Ring. The cost is $200 per person and includes instruction, dinner on Friday night, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and lunch on Sunday. You will be responsible for your own room at the Wingate (breakfast is included with the room) at a special rate of $105 per night and there can be up to 4 people in a room. If you are local you do not have to stay at the hotel. There is $100 deposit due by July 15th with the balance due by August 25th. Reservation payment should be sent to Amy Reitzel, 9047 Yankee Rd., Ottawa Lake, MI 49267. You may call Amy 734-888-1202 or email her at adreitzel@verizon.net with "retreat" in the subject line with any questions. There are a limited number of spaces so get your reservation in early!

APRIL'S SPECIAL OF THE MONTH
Mettler Silk-Finish Thread
(purple label only)
Excellent for piecing and machine quilting!
ALL colors on sale--
Large Spools, Reg. $6.70; Now $4.99
Small Spools, Reg. $2.80; Now $1.99