Four Pines Quilter

The Sewing Cave

2012-01-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

With the new year beginning I am sure at least one, maybe two of you out there made some sort of New Years promise to yourself that you are going to sew more. In the words of my brother "I want to help you be successful". So lets talk about the most important thing that promotes personal sewing/quilting, the Sewing Cave.

It could be a sewing room, but that sounds so bland, when I think of a sewing room I picture a table, mounds of fabric and a sewing machine. A sewing Cave is all that and more. A kicking music system, a few posters for inspiration, and if you are lucky a deadbolt so you can lock yourself in. There is lots of stuff involved in the creation of an inspiring sewing cave, so here are some of my ideas:

Music: Music always makes it better. No need for a fancy ipod, a second rate CD player works just fine to get the good vibes flowing.

Table: It does not need to be a fancy custom made sewing table. Just something good and solid with a decent work area. Second hand desks and old dining room tables work well, card tables and plastic folding tables not so much.

Privacy: This is important in any cave. You need to be able to escape. Sure people can come in when invited, but you want to be able to shut the world out when your mojo is flowing.

Embellishments: Normally you think of buttons and pretty thread when you hear embellishments, but for your cave this refers to all the cool stuff that gives your space personality. Posters are cool, Jango Fett can over see your cave if that is what you are into. Bumper stickers give personality to cars, think of what stickers could do for your sewing machine. Keep Out and Radio Active signs on the door might be fun too.

Television: Not a good idea. It will do nothing but distract you.

Storage: Storage and organization is important. When you have a mess that is out of control it can be discouraging. A place for everything and everything in its place.

Waste Basket: This goes along with organization. Get a decent trash receptacle and don't be afraid to use it. When in doubt throw it out.

These are some of what I would consider basics for a decent sewing cave. Everyone is a little different so adjust accordingly. Remember the whole idea behind a sewing cave is to inspire and make quilting fun. Because like I have said before if you ain't having fun you are doing it wrong.

-Brent

Big Ambitions

2011-12-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

I was thumbing through a catalog of new books I had (owning a store you get stuff like that in the mail) and as I looked at some of the titles and description it got me thinking: I should write a book. Now my planned opus will not be overly ambitious, the title will be "Ninja Quilter" or something cool like that.

What follows is the introduction for my upcoming book. Feel free to comment and if you know somebody that knows somebody that knows anything about what it takes to get published let me know, throwing this book together should be relatively easy getting published will be the trick.

Quilt Nazis: An Introduction

They don't call me Ishmael, but even if they did I am not sure why you would care because this literary masterpiece is not about me. I suppose this is where I tell you what this book is about and the intended audience and all the other crap the intro is supposed to bore you with. I won't. The index is pretty self explanatory, look up a topic of interest and turn to the appropriate page for enlightenment. The intended audience is whatever poor soul gets sucked in by the cover and/or title.

Instead I shall use the introduction to tell you why I wrote this book. Aside from destroying the environment by wasting paper on its printing I wanted to use this book to combat the Quilt Nazis.

Nazi: a person who is fanatically dedicated to or seeks to control a specified activity, practice, etc.

Quilting is a hobby, something you do by choice for fun. If you are not enjoying it you are doing it wrong. This book is intended to be nothing more than a guide to keep it all in perspective and maximize your pleasure.

fun: a source of enjoyment, amusement, diversion, etc.

It's the software stupid

2011-12-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

If you are in the market for an embroidery machine, consider this... the software. The big difference between the low end and high end machines aside from maximum hoop sizes, is the on board editing features. Admittedly the color touch screen makes laying out and tweaking patterns easy, but if the pattern is perfect before you start those features may not be so important. That is where the software comes in.

Every manufacturer offers their own version of embroidery software usually ranging in price and features, some are better than others. Your software needs just two things to start you on your embroidery career. A variety of fonts and a decent digitizing feature.

Brother's software package that has these features MSRPs at around $400. Now many of you that have gotten into embroidery may have paid closer to $1000 for your software, and Brother has that option too, but I don't think it is entirely necessary. The only thing that the high end software offers that the mid level may not is more robust image editing tools.

Now something to keep in mind is that machine embroidery is more a work of graphic design than it is sewing. Following that line of thinking, graphics design programs work great for embroidery. GIMP.NET, or PAINT.NET are free programs that have everything you need to manipulate images, and a heck of lot easier to work with than most embroidery software. Do your logo or graphic up in paint.net than "digitize" it with your embroidery software add lettering with built in fonts and you will have a decent finished product with software that cost half of what you should have spent.

This technique is also nice because you can play with paint.net at no cost and if you discover that graphics design is not really that much fun, you may want to reconsider your embroidery craving.

Feel free to disagree with me in the comments section, I am far from an embroidery wizard, that won't happen until next week.

-Brent

12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-06T21:33:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid I always thought that the "Twelve Days of Christmas" was a reference to Hanukkah. The theory was wrong on so many levels, the least of which is that Hanukkah is only eight days long, four days shy of my twelve. So I have decided that this blog post will be my Christmas Special written in the spirit of that kid whose Twelve Days of Christmas was Hanukkah.

For those that are not familiar with my full body of literary genius, I sometimes make oblique references to a wandering Jewish philosopher and his entourage of fishermen. I go to church on Sunday and I happen to think that the Jewish man in question has a sense of humor (if He doesn't I'm in trouble, Matthew 24:20 is his only joke on record.). My personal view of Christmas and the world in general is founded in large part on that guy, so keep that in mind as you continue reading.

Christmas for the most part was a political move for the early Christian establishment to co-opt competing pagan festivals and strengthen its power base. (Yes my love of conspiracy theories goes way back but pine trees and yule logs have nothing to do with a carpenter's kid from Nazareth.) So when I hear about this group or that group protesting Christmas in schools, or making a stink because some governor put up a "Christmas" tree instead of a "holiday" tree I have to laugh. Christmas is a hodge podge of beliefs and traditions that some how all got glued together by the story of a baby boy. With that thought I am now going to launch into some religious history and theories to spread a little bit of tolerance and love this Christmas season.

We are going to start with Abraham. At least half of all the worlds religions think Abraham was a pretty important guy. He had two kids with two different women, and a lot of today's problems can arguable be traced back to Abraham's dysfunctional family. His oldest kid, Ishmael spawned the Islamic faith and they feel that by right of primogeniture they are entitled to Abraham's inheritance. The Jewish and by extension the Christian faiths claim Abraham's inheritance through Isaac who was the chosen son because he was the only child of Abraham's actual wife. Both have valid arguments, but I don't think either makes a good enough excuse for blowing up the other.

Isaac's kid Jacob had twelve kids by four different women (consider that next time you want to get all judgmental on the Sister Wives, "polygamy" is integral to the Judeo-Christian narrative but it would take an act of God to convince me to try it, I have a hard enough time with one wife). One of those kids was named Judah. His tribe became known as the Jews. So Jews are a specific branch of Jacob's family tree, and if you read your Good Book Judah was not even the good son, If memory serves me correctly they had to talk him out of killing his brother for a styling coat and he had to settle for just selling the the poor kid to a couple of passing Egyptians.

But despite the dubious family lineage this Jesus fellow that every one made a big fuss about was born Jewish and died Jewish, so to player hate a tribe for a few bad apples doesn't seem very fair. If you believe a Jewish kid from Nazareth is the redeemer of the world or not how is a day of celebration a bad thing?

We all want to be Mexican on the fifth of May regardless of our stance on illegal immigration. We all claim an Irish uncle on Saint Patty's day, so why can't we pretend that the Jewish kid is an Irish Mexican who got some gifts from a few wandering queens (see how I worked in the Hispanic vote and the gay vote, maybe I should run for president). Peace on earth and goodwill toward men can never be bad thing and I believe the "Christ" in Christmas makes that possible in my little corner of the world, and if you want to be culturally sensitive think about how happy Daddy Abraham will be that we remembered his Great Grandson's birthday even if the day is conveniently close to the winter solstice and the Day of Mithra.

Batting: We are not talking baseball.

2011-11-28T22:05:00.000-08:00

"Who took the jam outta your doughnut?" - Tommy (named for a Russian ballet dancer, not the gun)
Batting or "stuffing" for the less sophisticated among us is the jam in the doughnut. The doughnut is going to be yummy no matter what you put in the middle of it, but some jams taste better than others. And so it is with batting the middle of your quilt is often an after thought, but it could add some flavor.

Weight
How heavy do you want your finished quilt to be? The default batting for most quilters is the good ole' Warm n' Natural. It is a good all around cotton batting, but not always the best choice. Standard weight cotton batting can get heavy in a large queen or king size quilt, now imagine that giant quilt after it gets wet (yes you will have to wash it at some point) cotton weighs substantially more when wet so moving the quilt from the washer to the dryer could give you a hernia.

Synthetics (a.k.a polyester) have the advantage of having a lighter weight and not putting on extra weight when wet. But in smaller projects that lighter weight often results in poor "draping". A table runner or wall hanging won't display as well with lighter batting.

Loft

Do you want a puffy quilt? If so you want a high loft batting. Wool and high loft polyester give a third dimension to any project. But remember loft and weight are two different things.

Stability

How close are you going to tie/stitch your quilt? Stability is a reference to how far apart you can stitch/tie the batting and it won't shred or separate on you. This is important to keep in mind because if your batting falls apart inside your quilt it may still be pretty to look at, but it will suck to sleep under.

Brand

Not all batting is created equal. Some brands are better than others. Synthetics and blends especially can vary greatly between brands. Often as with most things in the quilting world you get what you pay for. So don't be afraid to ask for samples if you want to try something new or unsure of what you are getting.

There you have it, things to consider when putting the jam in your doughnut.

"You took the #$%*& jam outta my doughnut, Tommy. You did." - Turkish (a funny name for an Englishman)

Quilt Repair: One Man's Opinion

2011-11-22T08:20:00.000-08:00

I had some one stop by the store last week with a worn out quilt. They wanted advice on the best way to repair it. So naturally I though it would make a good blog post as it is not an unusual question. The best advice for repairing a worn out quilt actually comes from a Jewish carpenter who made himself a name a few years back gallivanting around with a couple of fishermen.

He said: "No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse."

By rent he means tear, not the monthly bill. So I have to second the opinion. If the tears in your quilt are a result of worn fabric I would not advise repair, a worn out binding is a different matter and can be easily replaced. If the tears in the quilt are the result of something like a dog chewing it or a vindictive ex-wife, those can actually be repaired without a problem and the quilt can go on to live a long happy life.

Now I know the next question you are gonna ask is: "What do I do with a worn out quilt?" but before I address that let me tell you how to avoid a worn out quilt. The quilt that inspired this weeks blog was only 15 to 20 years old. It had been well used, but the real source of its demise was the fabric it was made from. I have a 15 year old quilt that I love but can't use because it was made before my mother became a fabric snob. There is a reason decent quilting fabric costs $10+ a yard. Eddie's favorite "blanket" gets washed at least once a month and has more miles on it than my '74 VW. It is going on 10 years old (he stole it from his older sister). That quilt was made post fabric snob. The thing is faded in a few spots and stained in others, but there are no holes worn in it. So remember you get what you pay for.

Now back to the original question. What do I do with it now? Cut it, frame it, and hang it. This works good with worn out quilts, or even your dead aunt's collection of unfinished quilt blocks. Cut your old quilt or half finished inheritance small enough to fit into a picture frame and turn it into art. Make 4 or 5 pieces out of one quilt and artistically arrange them for an even more sophisticated effect. A quilt cut up in a picture frame is still better than collecting dust in the attic. A quilt was made to be used and appreciated, not squandered and forgotten.

Quilt Math

2011-11-14T21:19:00.000-08:00

I thought it might be useful to post some basic "quilt math" that I take for granted.

How many binding strips do I need?

[( Length + Width) * 2 ] / 40 = Number of Strips

Okay it is not as complicated as it looks. Get the length of your quilt in inches and add the width, multiply that number by two then divide it all by 40. Round that number up to the next whole number and you have your number of strips. The 40 is based on 42/44 inch fabric, I round it down to keep myself out of trouble. If you are using some oddball width fabric adjust the 40 as needed.

How much fabric do I need for Binding?

Number of Strips * Width of Strips

Take the number you got from our strip calculation and multiply it by the width of your preferred binding strip.

Consult your friendly local shop keeper if you have trouble converting inches to yards, round up to the nearest 1/4 yard to avoid shortcomings.

Both of these calculations can also be used to figure borders. I know that most you don't really care about these calculations, but at least now you will know what is rattling through my brain when you ask me to cipher your quilt.

Remember, if it ain't fun you are doing it wrong.

Halloween Special

2011-11-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it is a couple of weeks late but seeing how every one is skipping turkey day and heading straight in to Christmas I figured a little deviation from the proscribed retail marketing regimen would be a welcome diversion. So let me begin.

My wife is a big fan of the horror/thriller genre of films. I don't mind a good, well thought out thriller, or a scary movie that thinks outside of the box of creepy music and lots of blood. So here is my list of "scary" movies that I have recently watched and my analysis.

"Insidious"
I was told to leave the room if I didn't stop laughing at it. When the gas mask with the vacuum cleaner hose came out I almost lost it. Then the whispering started. I left the room.

"The Thing"(2011 version)
It was date night so I got to see this on on the big screen. I did not mind the movie, but I had a huge problem with it on a logical level. X-files (the show not the movies) raised the bar for these type of stories. If you are going to try and appeal to the logical/science side of your audience, you have to go all the way or not at all. This movie made the classic misstep of trying to scientifically explain the "thing" with out actually thinking the whole thing through so when a geek like me watches it, it pisses me off. I am willing to suspend belief and enjoy a movie for what it is, but if you want to open the door to logic and science in your movie at least build a plausible enough foundation for it stand on. Zombie movies are a prime example. I don't mind a decent zombie movie for what it is, but no one that I know can explain the basic flaw in the zombie apocalypse story line. Why do they only target healthy people? I mean if I was a hungry zombie, my slow moving and less intelligent zombie friends seem like they would be an easier dinner than the well armed and more agile uninfected people. Just saying.

"Paranormal Activity"
Another date night. Two words for this one: Holy Crap. I have to say that this was a truly intense and "scary" experience. The theater was crowded and you could hear a pin drop by the third or fourth night when the lights went out. It got to the point that I didn't want them to turn the lights out. It was every thing a scary movie should be. When Selena brought the sequel home from redbox I thought it was going to be lame, as most horror sequels are in there attempt to cash in on easy money. When the pool vacum moved across the patio it was freaky, so I am actually interested to see how they do with "Paranormal 3"

"Troll Hunter"
My wife will argue that this is not a thriller/horror movie, but I have to list it because I loved it. As one of those "found footage" type movie made popular by the "Blair Witch Project" it can be on my scary movie list if I want it to.. Troll Hunter is one of those netflix miracles. It is the kind of movie I would never have taken a chance on in the video store, but because I get unlimited streaming movies to my Wii I find some pretty dumb movies to watch. "Troll Hunter" was awesome. It is Danish or Finnish or something like that, so it was subtitled. The basic premise of the movie is some film students doing a documentary on bear poaching who are tailing this mysterious hunter that they believe to be poacher numero uno, but he turns out to be a government contractor who takes care of the troll infestation problem. I loved it, my wife fell asleep.

I love movies, books, and stories in general so I could go on all day, but I believe my work here is done. I had originally intended to rant on about the illogical inconsistencies in the whole zombie thing, and I would love to talk to somebody about how bad the "Thing" biology makes no sense but I kept it down to couple of sentences, Selena would be proud. However my rave review of "Troll Hunter" will have her shaking her head, and questioning what kind of craziness she married.

What's it worth?

2011-10-31T06:39:00.000-07:00

Last week I addressed some oft asked questions, this week I shall answer one more. What's it worth?

Now and again some one wanders into the store with an old quilt that they think is worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars and that by virtue of me standing behind the counter I know its exact value. Well I don't but this I do know: Most old quilts are not worth half as much as most antique roadshow junkies think.

Old quilts were never intended for anything more than keeping you warm at night, or wrapping up to keep the chill out. They are like that pair of mittens your grand ma used to knit you every Christmas, do you really think a hundred years from now that those mittens will suddenly be worth $100? Doubtful, however those mittens have incalculable value to the child that wore them and has special Christmas memories connected to them, but your warm and fuzzy feelings do not translate into c-notes. Unless of course you are Amish.

"Amish" quilts crack me up, many people have no problem dropping $1000 plus on an Amish quilt but when I try to get $500 for a quilt I am insane. Nobody admits that Amish is a brand and is a luxury good that is in the same category as your swanky Vera Bradley bag (yes I could make a better quality knock off of a Vera Bradly but "Brent Bag's" lack the marketing machine to end up on the spray tanned shoulder's of the Jersey Shore).

So what's it worth? The answer as my dad once explained is that it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It's the difference between Antiques Roadshow and Pawn Stars. On Roadshow the appraisers give a theoretical value that makes everybody happy. Pawn Stars is the actual value because money is changing hands.

So why would I pay hundreds of dollars for a stained stinky old quilt when I could buy a brand new one for the same price? Oh its a hundred years old so it must be rare. Most of my quilts are a one of a kind so they are just as rare, and the fabric is not a hundred years old so it will last longer and hold up better. I just wish that everyone else knew how valuable my quilts are, I mean I have a blog and everything, I am a famous designer, I even have a ribbon from the fair.

Adah thinks here bags are priceless and Eddie would never sell his quilts but that's because Daddy made them. Brent the blogger and famous designer has nothing to do with it.

-Brent

Confession of a Man Quilter

2011-10-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

"Opinion's are like (expletive delete), everybody's got one." -Dirty Harry

So here is my opinion on a few core issues as they relate to quilting. If you are old school you may want to look away now, this may cause your eyes to bleed.

Pre-washing:
I don't do it. I have no desire to do it. I see no purpose it. Back in the day before fabric was printed specifically for quilting and the home craft market, pre-washing was essential for a variety of reasons. In todays market if you are buying quality fabric the technology and methods used to print fabric should be of a quality that prevents the colors from bleeding and running. Batiks are a different story, because the dye process is different you may see some color creep issues if you are not careful, but that still has not convinced me to pre-wash. Maybe I am just lazy.

Let me convert you to my heathen ways with the benefits of not pre-washing. First is body (this could be a man card violation to speak of "body" as it relates to limpness and work-ability in an object such as hair or fabric, not the body of the Russian babe that just proposed to me in my in-box). If you do not prewash your fabric it maintains much of its body, so you won't have to spend an hour pressing and spraying your fabric after you get it out of the dryer to return some of its body. Second is shrinkage (I thought we got all the Cialis jokes out last week). Many people point to shrinkage as a reason to pre-wash but I have turned that around. If you wait until your quilt is completely done, and it was machine quilted, the little bit of shrinkage after the first wash will tighten up the quilting and give your quilt that old school look.

Batik vs. Cotton:
News flash, batik is a cotton, so is flannel. But even if it wasn't what cosmic law says we can't mix fabric in a quilt? Maybe I missed that memo and the quilting Gestapo will have come for me by the time you read this.

Thread:
An old wives tale tells of threads cutting into fabric. If your thread is cutting your fabric, you have a serious problem with your machine and should seek immediate medical attention. Cheap thread will kill you, or at least frustrate you, (I have seen tears of frustration in a quilting class). Grandma's thread that you inherited needs to be thrown out or put on display, but under no circumstance should it be put in your machine.

Here is some shocking truth, thread color doesn't matter. Most of my quilts have no less than six different colors of threads. I often use leftover bobbins from my long arm for piecing. As long as the tension is set correctly on your machine, no one will know if you used white thread or hot pink. If your thread is showing after piecing and pressing, I can sell you a sewing machine that will make it disappear, or you could adjust your tension.

So there you have it, admittedly I am no expert, but I do have fun. If you are not smiling while quilting you are doing it wrong (that is an expert opinion).

-Brent

Commercials are fun too.

2011-10-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Dad you may not find this entertaining, but it is educational.

With invention of TiVo and the DVR the game of commercial watching is becoming a thing of the past which is unfortunate as it can be entertaining and informative. Let me explain the game. You are watching a show, I'll use Project Runway in our example because the surrounding commercials are not to subtle. One of the commercials I saw while watching reruns of PR last week was an ad for a product that helped with "feminine odor" (they were not talking about stinky girl pits).

To play the game you have to ask two questions to yourself or other players in the room. First question: Why? This is sometimes pretty cut and dry like with Jeremiah Weed it is an "adult beverage" commercial so no mystery there. In our example Vagisil commercial the why is less obvious to a guy such as myself. As a guy my "why" questions are along the lines of: Is this really a problem? Soap doesn't work on girls? Or like many products (usually pharmaceuticals) is it an invented problem to sell a product? So often in the "why round" we can introduce our theories, I have a theory on the Vagisil ad, this was no surprise to my wife because she thinks I have a theory for everything.

The next question is: Who? This often adds to the why theories. But the "who" can often be quite funny when you stop and analyze it. "Who" encompasses male/female and age. The Wilford Brimly diabetes commercials that used to come on during Matlock reruns was obviously aimed at older people and I am guessing women from Wilford's tones. So imagine my surprise when Wilford showed up between sets while I was watching Spongebob. I have a theory on that.

Compare older Viagra commercials with the current Cialis ads. Both treat "ED" (you can have fun with the "why" even if you are a guy) Old Viagra commercials usually had a flashy car of some sort and a "Man's Man" extolling the virtues of the magic blue pill. Cialis usually portrays a couple involved in romantic things like long walks on the beach or holding hands on a brisk fall day (girl stuff). The difference in the "who" is genius. Viagra targeted the man, Cialis is going after his partner.

The other aspect of the who that makes TV watching fun is that when you answer the question you find out who TV execs think are watching their shows. MTV, Spike, Lifetime, and Bravo intended demographics are obvious from their programming choices, but watch the ads sometimes they can seem very incongruent (word of the day) with what they advertise.

The commercial game also adds a new dimension to quality tv shows like "The Jersey Shore" watch the ads on that one. When I have stumbled across the show I ask myself "Whose reality is this?" and, "Are these people for real?" Play the commercial game, and suddenly you understand what's wrong with todays youth, and homeschooling almost makes sense.

What does this have to do with quilting or sewing? Who knows, but that is the problem with the internet, I can write anything I want, call it blog and pretend my opinion matters.

"Stay sewing my friends."-the Most Interesting Man in the World, (misquoted for thematic purposes)

-Brent

Man Card

2011-10-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

So I had somebody looking at a sewing machine last week and she was like, "My boy friend doesn't understand why sewing machines are so expensive." (say that with your whiny "significant other" voice for full effect, I know you have one, we all do).

So I was like, "Tell him to read this weeks blog post it addresses that very issue." (Say that with your "authoritative professor" voice)

And she is like,(whiny voice again) "He won't read it because he thinks any guy that runs a quilt store stupid."

So this weeks blog is my renewal application for my Man Card. Comments in parenthesis are comments for blog readers only and were not included on the original application

Man Name: Ferball, Ferlando, or Big Sexy (Man Name is a title/alias given to an applicant from other Man Card holders)

Sports:
Sports - Participation: Basketball, Soccer (I only include basketball and soccer because fencing and sailing may be misconstrued and could result in a "sweater vest" or "cardigan" classification on my Man Card because I lack football. Though there has been talk recently of "Pirate" endorsement which fencing and sailing should qualify me for)

Sports - Spectator: Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Baseball (I score big points with my spectating choices)

Cars:
Cars - Ownership: Audi Fox (All men have owned various cars, you are only required to list the coolest one you have owned, at first glance my Jeep might seem more manly, but without a lift kit or a winch it falls in the girl crossover category. No girl drives a Fox unless it is her boyfriends)

Project Car: 1974 VW Bus (Though not a muscle car or testosterone with wheels, I still get points just for having a project car.)

Motor Head Experience: 6.5 L Diesel (I just have to list the manliest engine I have played with)

Nascar: No (Because I have hands on experience with cars I can answer no, if I was useless under the hood and did not know a tie rod from a fuel pump I could watch Nascar to fulfill my "Cars" requirement.)

Guns:
Gun-Ownership: .22 rifle (I own one but don't keep it at home, it is kind of a wimpy gun but my time in the army reserves makes up for it on the next question.)

Gun-Experience: Mk-19 Automatic Grenade Launcher (Again most men have played with multiple guns I just have to list here the manliest one I have fired and hit what I was aiming at. The only thing that scores better than a grenade launcher is a flame thrower.)

Misc:
Beer: Designated Driver (as a non drinker I have no preferred brand of beer, so I use the designated driver status to fulfill this requirement)

Tobacco: N/A (this is no longer a requirement, but guys being guys the application has not been updated in years.)

So there you have it. Just because I may or may not watch Project Runway by choice, and I know that Marcus Brother's is not a classic rock cover band does not mean my man card has been revoked. If I start driving a baby blue mini cooper or wearing "salmon" colored sweaters even a grenade launcher could not save me from revocation.

-Brent

Sewing Machines and Chainsaws

2011-10-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

I was recently talking to a fellow I know and he was in the market for a chainsaw, something to do with cleaning up after a bit of rain and wind. He had spoken with his neighbor about it, and his neighbor was one of those old school New Englanders with a certain kind of practical wisdom.

"What kind of saw would you recommend?" my friend asked.

"Don't matter as long as it is orange." Was the Wise New Englander's response.

My buddy laughed when telling me this story because he thought it was the funniest advice he ever got. "...As long as it is orange." I thought that was the best advice ever for buying a chainsaw.

A couple years ago my Pa got the itch to buy himself a saw (the $80 green Walmart one broke), so we spent the better part of a Saturday driving all over creation to check out different dealers and different brands of chainsaws. All the really nice professional grade saws were orange. So my dad bought an orange saw. I also had an epiphany that day as we were riding around, and because I bet most of you reading this could care less about chainsaws I shall share this bit of wisdom with you.

The chainsaw he decided on was a little over $500. That is $500 that my father will never have to spend again on a chainsaw. How many things that you purchase for more than $500 would you consider disposable? Nothing I would hope, but we have been trained otherwise.

A car is the first thing that came to mind, how many of us buy a car and expect to have it for a lifetime? Some numbers to illustrate my thought: $20,000 price of a new car $12,000 what the car is worth 2 years later when you trade it in, do the math you paid a little over $10 a day, not including gas, insurance, or registration/titling fees, just for the privilege to drive a new car. Why are you trading it in? I bet it still gets you from point A to point B. You would fire your oil man if he recommended that you upgrade your furnace every two years for $4000, now if he put wheels on it and painted a cool color and parked it in your drive way, you might consider it.

Next on the list is electronics. How many of us fork over a few hundred dollars every couple of years for a faster sleeker computer? If you are young enough I bet you might be one of those that pays to upgrade your phone every so often for a "better" model. Who would upgrade their washer and dryer ever two years just because the new model will wash your clothes two minutes faster?

So that was my epiphany.

I tell you all of this and now I have to convince you to buy a sewing machine. Why drop $1200 on a sewing machine when your grand mother's feather weight works just fine? ( This is why I make a terrible salesman). The only good answer I have is: Because you can. If like my father you are a buying a tool than your old sewing machine should be fine as long as it has the functionality you need....I say that and I am reminded of my grand father. He was a master carpenter and contractor back in his day, but never owned a nail gun. "Why the hell would I want one of those, my hammer works fine and those damn nails are expensive..."

I suspect that for most sewing is a hobby and as such by extension the sewing machine is a toy. A useful toy, but a toy non the less. And if you are sewing for fun, you may find that a new machine makes things a little more fun, and expands your hobby with increased functionality. And the nice thing about a $500 sewing machine or chainsaw is that if you take care of it, your grand kids will still have it around in 40 years to play with.

An Old Man Moment

2011-09-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

I understand that this blog is supposed to be somehow related to quilting or the fabric arts, so today's post will be a little bit of a stretch. I am going to have to rely on the quilter stereo type. You know the one, white hair matronly old lady that spouts fortune cookie wisdom with a mid-west flavor. I have to take that stereo type one step further, and talk about her husband. The old curmudgeon, you know the one that Clint Eastwood portrayed perfectly in Gran Torino.

So now that I have established the tenuous link to todays post I shall regale you with a trip through my wires (Jeanne, my little sis, will love that last sentence, I used regale in the proper context and the wire trip bit is an obscure reference to a U2 song).

I was out late on Saturday night on my wife's errand for which I earned the reward of a McDonald's milk shake. I almost got a Frosty from Wendy's, but I was driving and my avid anti text/call and driving stance requires me to straw instead of spoon while behind the wheel. So back to the story... I order a milk shake at the drive through and was pleasantly surprised by the cheerful and competent voice coming out of the speaker. I pull up to the first window and pay, and then proceed to the next window because some how a second window makes your food faster.

At the second window I had my grumpy old man moment. The girl hands me a transparent plastic cup with a frilly dome top containing something topped with whip cream and a cherry. I was mad. What happened to the cheap wax coated paper cup with a cheesy plastic cover, and where did they get off putting whip cream and a cherry on it. Highfalutin (yes it was spell checked) McCafe, what happened to McDonald's?

I now understand why old men get grumpy. Sure I got another 30 years to get my senior citizen discount, and it is doubtful I will ever see my social security, but between the quilting and aversion to change I make an awesome old person.

I Made it to the Big Time

2011-09-19T07:12:00.000-07:00

A few of the fans of my email campaigns have urged me to start a blog, and with Becky not having the time nor gumption to be the voice of the Four Pines Quilting blog I have been promoted to Blogger.

Blogging is a lot of pressure, writing e-mails was easy, people actually signed up for it and it was beamed to their inbox so I had a willing captive audience. My competition was cheap Cialis, Russian mail order brides, or the occasional loto winner from Nigeria. My target audience was mostly mature women of distinguished taste, so Russian Brides did not worry me. The cheap Cialis might be more appealing than my rambling, but I don't think it is covered by insurance if you buy it on line and it was more for the husband than my intended victim. The loto winner had me concerned, but I have been assured that the money is being sent to me, so if that is in anyone else's inbox they should disregard it and read my e-mail instead.

Now Blogging on the other hand is a huge responsibility, my competition is much bigger, and I have to some how entice people to read my ramblings with my wit and charm, because I can't attach a 20% off coupon to a blog post to trick you into reading it. Not only that, I have to be sure to fact check and maintain an air of seriousness just in case one of my post ends up being a reference for the news story dujour(I think that is french for "the day", not positive though my Memere really only taught me how to swear with a Canadian accent) .

So if you read the blog for Becky's prose and weekly accounts of the comings and goings of Four Pines Quilting, I apologize now. My lavish hyperbole and lack of punctuation mastery will certainly have a different taste to it.(That last sentence was awesome, "lavish hyperbole" how often do you get to read word combinations like that and who cares if makes no sense) Please comment and stuff so I have some material to work with, if you leave me wandering around in my own mind for ideas you get stuff like taun tauns and home schooled sasquatches.

-Brent

2011-08-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

Back to school! Hope everyone is safe and dry. What a weekend that was. The brook behind our house got very high but did not go over the bank. Beautiful outside today.

So tomorrow is the first day of school. I always get excited about meeting the students and getting back on a schedule. We have some great things scheduled at Four Pines Quilting too.

Don't forget to get your Shop in the Hop Card in for the drawing this week.

Beginning quilt classes start in September on Thursdays.

Mark you calendars for the Quilting Celebration to be held on September 24th. We have got an exciting trunk show in the works. Mike will be here to share the latest and greatest fabrics available. We will be having demos and prizes. Don't forget the coupon book in your goodie bag. I am getting excited just thinking about the fun we are going to have.

Lots of new fabric and kits are in. Had a great time at Girl's Night Out on Friday. The game was the best. We will definitely be playing it again. Everyone got something done. It is always fun to get together to eat, sew and laugh.

See you soon.

2011-08-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hope your summer is going well--are you getting everything done you wanted too? Not me... I have been doing a lot of reading not sewing.
The Gabrielle Angel Panel is in with coordinating fabric. She is beautiful and elegant. Brent and I are working on a project for her.

Quilting tip of the day: Use zip lock bags to organize your cut block pieces. Then put each block in a larger bag.

Civil War quilt on Saturday, August 13th. Don't forget to bring in your shop in the hop card for the drawing to be held on August 30th. It does not need to be completely stamped to be eligible for the drawings. See you soon. Becky~

2011-07-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

Wow what a great week. The weather is beautiful, I get to spend all this time with Bernie and I get to see everyone. Hope that everyone is doing well. Having fun with Brent?!?!?!?! I know that some great classes are lined up this week. Be sure to check the calendar.

Remember the quilts? The recipients were very pleased. Notice their smiling faces!

Miss the sewing (not really I got to put borders on a quilt and make some skirts) but I definitely miss all of you! See you all soon. Becky~

2011-07-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!
I love fireworks. Always have. It is my favorite part of July 4th. Listening to the oohs and ahhs as they explode in brilliant color overhead.

The Hop into the Shop is over. Thanks to those of you who participated. I know you never got a word of the day from the blog but I also know that Brent stamped anyone who asked. So..go and see Brent he will take care of you.

I want everyone to know that when we asked for 5 things you like about Four Pines Quilting his name came up quite often. I have to admit that he is one of my favorite things about the store too. He was such a great help to me--we actually got TEN quilts ready for me to take on vacation. I will take some pictures and post them next week when I pass them out. I could not have done it without him.

Happy quilting, sewing, enjoying the sun, swimming or whatever you decide to do this week.

HOP INTO THE SHOP

2011-05-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

I love June...
the weather is nice
school gets out
time to go see the girls and their families out west
and of course HOP INTO THE SHOP

Instead of traveling all over the state of New Hampshire for a shop hop you can hop into Four Pines Quilting during the month of June. Pick up your booklet. Lots of fun things to do during the month. Earn prizes you can use all summer long.

Just a reminder about Girl's Night Out this Friday!
Lots of new patterns in ... bags, book covers & beach quilts.

See you soon. Becky~

2011-05-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Very busy day! Brenda & I were able to take a tour of some of the local quilt shops. Lots of ideas are brewing. I am sure that Brent is taking very good care of you while we are gone.

What do you think of pajama pants and a pillowcase that match? How about some embroidery? I am really excited about the embroidery patterns and projects. The pajama pants and pillowcases will be for Kid's camp this summer. We even got some information on having a Kid's Club.

Great news for those of you that like to paper piece or would like to get started...we found some great patterns. Quilt labels and monthly projects... yes I am thinking of the kits already!

Tomorrow we have classes all day... Jeanne will be meeting us for dinner then it is on to sample spree. See you soon--Becky~

2011-04-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

It's a new month. One that is all about spring. How did you like the snow storm on April Fool's Day. Did you know that April Fool's Day is the result of the calendar being changed back in 1582? They used to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1st. Then they changed it to January 1st and some people did not get the message--we are talking years here. So they continued to celebrate on April 1st. These backwards celebraters were considered fools and supplied us with April Fool's Day! Change is hard to take.

We are changing things around here at Four Pines this month. I still need to update the calendar but, Thimbleberries club will be the fourth Saturday. Brenda and I will be at the quilt show up in Hanover on the 16th. Brent will send out the e-mail reminders.

The Jacket class starts Wednesday night at 6:00 PM. I have my t-shirt all ready to go. If you bought a new sweat shirt or t-shirt be sure to get a larger size and wash and dry it.

See you soon--Becky~

Spring time in my backyard!

2011-03-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

Happy St Patrick's Day!

What a wonderful day! I know it is spring when my students beg to have class outside.

Be sure to come in on Saturday we are having a great sale for National Quilt Day! We have rearranged things at the store. Come in and tell us what you think. Looking forward to Thimbleberries Club too.

I finished a Thimbleberries Block this week. The block is purple with the background--need to read my lists more often. They help me stay focused (a difficult task this time of year).

I have so many quilts I want to make. In fact today I found a pattern in a magazine for a baby quilt. It was so cute. I tore it out and put in in a page protector. My next list should be all the quilts I have planned. KG has an inventory. I love the new fabric that comes in and I have all these ideas and then reality hits me....when? and what? There is a new line in from Red Rooster...perfect for kids quilt or a spring table runner. The half yard cuts of flowers are beautiful. I would really like to make something with them. A great buy too.

See you all soon. Shout out to Dana & Amber... you make 3rd block fun.

2011-03-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

What a great day! The Advanced Beginner Class is going very well. Their blocks are coming out great and they all look so different and unique. I can't wait to see them all done.

Bernie and I had a great week out west with our daughters and their families. It is always fun to see the grandchildren. That all sounds so formal. I just love hugging and holding the little ones and getting to know the older ones. I was checking out my list and realized that I had accomplished something on it!

I finished the nine-patch quilt. The next question is what am I going to do with it? I am sure that someone will fall in love with it and then I will have a great gift. :)

adding to the list:

5. Update the blog more often

6. Make my Civil War Quilt blocks

7. Make my Thimbleberries Club blocks

Those three are going to be on going..."should they be in another list?", I ask myself. Let me know what you think. I put all my pictures on my computer--so you get a special surprise!

There I am with my favorite daughter named Jeanne and my favorite daughter named Jennifer!

That means I can check the first thing off my list too. Isn't life grand!

What's New

2011-02-25T18:12:00.000-08:00

What happened to February? Life! Lots of new kits and fabric came in this month. The Cuddle kits are in with lots of yardage for backing. I really want to make a blue one. I love how it feels.

Check out our new calendar. Make plans to come in and make one of our new kits or a jacket for spring. I am having a hard time deciding which Bali Pop I am going to use. Everytime I wear the jacket that we made at our last jacket class I get compliments. Beginning Quilt Class is starting again. Advanced Beginner for those that want to brush up on basic skills or continue after Beginning Quilt Class. I am really excited about Quick Tricks. Be sure to sign up for a fun filled night.

Don't forget to come in for Cabin Fever Breakout this week. We have had too much SNOW!

I spent the day at the store. Mostly driving Brent crazy. The office looks great. I filled the zipper display. It has inspired me to make some little zipper bags. I want to make a set to put in my luggage. Then I worked on my nine-patch quilt. I am using the blocks that we swapped a few years ago. I want it to be king size. Brent tells me if I don't have enough blocks I can always make some more. We shall see. I am a great one for lists. So here is the beginning of my list.

1. Take pictures with my camera and put them on my blog.

2. Finish the nine-patch quilt

3. Make the zipper bags (set of 4)

4. Make a cuddle quilt

to be continued......

2011-02-08T02:59:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to MORE SNOW! Cabin Fever Breakout is a great time to come in and work on those projects that you just need a little more time to finish. This year it will be March 2 (Wednesday)-March 4 (Friday). I have big plans for that week.
We are going to start Tiffany Windows this week. We still have a few kits left. Of course there is always space for open sewing. Have a fun day. See you soon--Becky~

2011-02-03T02:53:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone enjoyed the snow yesterday. It is always fun to have a change in routine. I was able to work on my March Count On It. The kits will be ready today. I'm getting excited about Girl's Night Out on Friday, February 11th. There are still a few spaces left. The food is always GREAT--don 't forget about the prizes, goodie bag and shopping discount! See you soon!

2011-01-20T02:29:00.000-08:00

The Sidelights Quilt is AWESOME! Complete top done in one class. There are still some kits available and it is scheduled for next Wednesday too. (It is true I helped fussy cut the pieces.)
Brent will get it quilted today. I will do my best to get a picture of it so you can see it. Have a fun day--see you tonight for open sewing or the advanced beginners class. Becky~

Thimbleberries Club

2011-01-15T15:26:00.000-08:00

Busy day at the store--lots of sewing going on! Thimbleberries blocks and nine-patch blocks. New kits are available: Halo and Sidelights. Sidelights class starts this week on Wednesday. The kits are $45.00. Have a great week.

SNOW DAY!

2011-01-12T07:59:00.000-08:00

I love snow days. I have two choices: clean or sew! I choose to sew today! I finished my Civil War Chronicles block yesterday. Today I am going to make a cuddle blanket and a zipper bag. I have a baby shower on Saturday.
NO classes tonight! The snap sack sale will be until Saturday 1/15 or while supplies last. They make a quick gift. All you need to do is say you read my blog and you would like 40% off snap sacks. What a deal! That makes them $ 7.79 each.
Have a fun day. Becky~

Happy 2011!

2011-01-11T02:51:00.000-08:00

We are back to business. :) Classes have started...block clubs are ready. I am looking forward to a great year.

Saturday I started my Civil War Chronicles. That's right--my goal is to complete it by the end of the year, one block at a time. I will let you know when I get the first block done.

February Count On It kits are available for $7.50. They include the teeny tiny button eyes! I love making the little wall quilts.

Wednesday is snap sack. The new one is not in yet. If you would like to come in and make one we have lots to choose from at a special price--40% off. This Wednesday night (1/12) only!

Hope all is well with you and we see you soon. Have a great day! Becky~

Merry Christmas

2010-12-19T04:45:00.000-08:00

I always feel so blessed at this time of year. The Spirit of Christmas softens our hearts. We seem to become more generous and understanding. Thank you all so much for your love and support of Four Pines Quilting. I am honored to serve you and be a part of your lives. Have a wonderful Christmas! Love, Becky~

Holiday Hours
Thursday, 12/23,
10 AM - 5 PM No Class/Open Sewing
Friday, 12/24, 10 AM - 1 PM
Saturday 12/25 Closed

Come in and sew 12/28-12/30
9:30 AM- 4 PM.
No evening class or open sewing.
Friday, 12/31 10 AM- 3 PM
Saturday 1/1 Closed

Thanks!

2010-12-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

A BIG thank you!

With your help with your help, the National Honor Society at Stevens High School was able to collect for Families in Transition:

74 bars of soap
70 tooth brushes
37 tubes of toothpaste
20 deodorant
14 dental floss
12 combs/brushes
10 bottles of shampoo
4 Wash cloths
3 Bath Towels
2 Pairs of Socks
2 Hand Towels
2 Laundry Soap

Chap stick, lotion, tissues and lots of travel size items. We are sure that everything will be put to good use.

HELP!

2010-11-28T16:10:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for all of you. I admire the way you love and support one another and for your generosity. As most of you know I am the National Honor Society Advisor for Stevens High School. As a service project the Honor Society students are collecting personal items for Families in Transition. They are contacting businesses in the community. I told them I would contact all of you. We are asking for donations of items that are the basics we use everyday. Hand soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, hand towels, bath towels and laundry soap. New socks would also be appreciated. These items will be used by families in need here in our community. Any donation will be welcomed. Please bring the items into the store this week. I will keep you all updated. See you all soon. Thanks again. Becky~

2010-11-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hope this finds everyone well and happy! Make plans to come and sew the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. It will be our 4th annual "Get Ready for Christmas!"I am really looking forward to sewing some Christmas stockings. We have a new tree skirt pattern too. Come in and see the sample. Kits will be available. If you don't want to sew Christmas things how about some gifts? The little zip bags can be made for any occasion. They are great to fill with little necessities. A cuddle quilt makes a great gift too. See you soon! Becky~

2010-10-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! What happened to October? A trunk show from Minnesota got delivered this week. Come in next week and see the goods! Road show day on Saturday, November 6. We will have demos and special discounts on patterns and books. Mark your calendars and come on in! The cuddle kits are flying out of here. We just put in another order. The strip quilt goes together in ONE DAY! Makes a great gift. KG loves to wrap up in hers. BL is going to make some for her grand kids. I really want one to cuddle up in too.

2010-10-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

Special Delivery! We had a great class. Everyone was able to get their blocks done. We have a couple of extra kits. For those of you who ordered the kit it is ready for pickup. See you soon.

Thank You!

2010-09-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone that we saw on Saturday. It was a great day.
Congratulations to:
Hourly $20.00 Gift Certificate Winners
Debbie VanDijk
Priscilla Stevens
Priscilla Stevens
Cheryl Bailey
Dorianne Lescord
Becky Ford
Meg Lambert

Guess the Fabric--Two of you chose 167" so we cut it in half for:
Cynthia Barriger
Peggie Poore

The quilt winner:
Chris Lary

Customer Appreciation Bag:
Gloria Jarvis

E-Mail drawing of $50.00 Open Sewing Card:
Christine Martinson

GRAND PRIZE: $150.00 Open Sewing Card with Machine Quilting:
Betty Jones

Be sure to stop in and get your prizes.

2010-09-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

The time goes by so fast. Making plans for Saturday. The customer appreciation tote is loaded with goodies...be sure to bring in your postcard for a chance to win. Making the goodie bags -- of course it will have a super savings coupon book in it. I am getting excited about all the fun we are going to have! Hourly door prizes and demos with some great deals. Be sure to check out the demo schedule. Don't forget about the quilt raffle and the grand prize of a 15 session sewing card with machine quilting. Come in and get the latest quilt as you go table runner pattern.

2010-09-10T15:56:00.001-07:00

What a busy week! The beginning quilting class started. Welcome new quilters :) Looking forward to seeing all the Thimbleberries Club members tomorrow. The demo willl be prairie points that will be used for the extra project called Candy Corn. There will also be a special preview for next year's club. Jeanne White will be having a hand applique class. Sounds like a busy day. Be sure to stop in.

2010-09-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

Delivery Day! Button kits for wall hangings. Hangers for your wall hangings. A beautiful kit from Bernatex--Shades of Autumn. This week Jeanne White will be coming in to teach hand applique on Wednesday and Brenda LaCasse will teach our Beginning Quilt Class on Thursday. See you soon.

2010-08-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

The time sure does fly by! Thimbleberries Club was a great time. A new pattern with a demo and all the new stuff. Congratulations to MB for winning the door prize. The calendar is done for September and October. Brent should have it online Tuesday. Classes starting in September include Beginning Quilting; Violet Wishes; Getting ready for Christmas and Hand Applique with Jeanne White. Be sure to come in and sign up. This week we have the Guild Meeting on Tuesday night. Paper/Foundation Piecing on Wednesday with Basic Binding on Thursday. Be sure to stop in. NEW fabric--Child's Play with Nate & Kate from Northcott.

SAVE THE DATE--SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH FOR OUR 3RD ANNUAL QUILTING CELEBRATION.

2010-08-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

What a GREAT weekend! Lots of fun on Friday at Girl's Night Out! Everyone enjoyed the food and the prizes. Next one will be held in November or December. Watch the calendar for details. Of course I will be sure to let you know on the blog as soon as I set the date. Brent is back so the quilting will be back on schedule. We sure missed him. Saturday several of you came and worked on your projects from Friday. BF finished her bow tie bag. It is so neat. BL got all her pieces done for the quilt that she working on. WS worked on a quilt. SW came in and started a "Cheese and Crackers" quilt with Northcott's Stonehendge. It is gorgeous. KG worked on a layer cake pattern. She completed the blocks. They are looking great. Just need to be trimmed. Hope to see you this week. Zipper Basics on Thursday and Thimbleberries on Saturday. If you attended Girl's Night Out--click on The Blog at the top of this column and leave a comment. Have a great week. Becky~

2010-08-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Lots if news! Pansy Park Kits are ready for those of you who signed up. Come in and get Step 4 of your Summer Breeze Mystery Quilt. We also have the softest cuddly fabric known. I just can't stop touching it. :) Tonight is paper piecing class. So bring in your scraps to make a nice little sampler wall hanging. See you soon.. Becky~

2010-07-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

July is over! What happened to it? Time to think about August. The Embellishing Packets are in for the class on Thursday. I have been working on the Birdhouses. Next on the the list is Happy Haunting. Bargello class on Wednesday (unless you want to make the newest Snap Sack) Love the colors--blue/green batiks. Don't forget to use your coupon for 20% off Snap Sacks this month. Scrap Therapy Day on Saturday. We will cut all your pieces so you can sew-sew-sew. Sounds fun. Still room in the Paper Piecing class and the Zipper Basics class. Pansy Park kits should be ready this week. I will keep you posted. Lots of sewing got done this Saturday. SG finished her Lovely as a Tree quilt. It is gorgeous. EH worked on her bargello. It is so pretty. JL worked on the mystery quilt--clue 2 DONE! She also worked on her Dinosour quilt. It is so CUTE! BL and I worked on an awesome Table topper with matching placemats and napkins. If there are no takers for bags on Saturday, August 14--we will be making the set. Only 1 Dinosaur kit left. Be sure to come in and get your Block of the Month--Mystery Quilt clue #3--or just to say HI! See you soon. Becky~

2010-07-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Yippee! What a crazy week we have had. Full house on Wednesday and Thursday! Come on in and sew in the afternoon with Brent. The bargello quilts are coming along. Everyone has theirs cut and the strips sewn together. Next week we make our loops. The One Bizzillion BC Fabric is just perfect. We have 5 kits left. BF finished hers. KG made a baby one just by cutting the panel in half. Make plans to come to participate with our Summer Mystery quilt. Clue one is available until Saturday at 3 PM. I can't wait to see how many different color ways we are going to have. It should be really awesome. See you Saturday. Be sure to check out our new calendar. Lots of new classes.

2010-07-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a busy day we had on Saturday. I love Thimbleberries Club. A chance to visit and catch up with everyone. VS won the 20% off coupon for her kit. Lots of sewing and cutting. KG is so excited that she got all her kits cut out! Now she can start sewing. BF is hooked on pillow cases. They came out awesome. EH worked on her kitty quilt. BL worked on her Thimbleberries kit and started her little purses. They are so cute. I was able to get the calendar all done through September. Brent should have it posted for everyone on Tuesday. Be sure to save Friday, August 13th for Girl's Night Out. We will start at 6PM with a Potluck and sew to our heart's content. You can work on a UFO or choose to work on a project we will provide. This week we are going to work on our Bargello Quilt (Wednesday) or Dinosaur Quilt (Thursday). See you soon!

2010-07-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

I love summer--don't you? The sun and the heat and sewing in air conditioned bliss. :) Tonight TW finished her Jinny Beyer tote bag. It came out perfect (and her husband didn't think she would finish her bag). BL worked on her strip scrap quilt. It is one of my favorite patterns. KG and I made kits and got the counter all cleaned off. I am going to do a calendar tomorrow so that all you thimbleberries club members will be the first to get one. See you on Saturday!

2010-07-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

What a fun day at the store! SB came in the afternoon and made pillowcases. They are so beautiful. I love the color combinations. She has inspired AB to join her in the pillow case frenzy. She helped AB pick out some fabric to use with some of her stash to make MORE pillow cases. VS finished up her table runner and placemats. She has plans for them this summer. Don't forget to use your coupon for July-- 20% off machine quilting New notions and fabric. The D-rings and swivel hooks are in for those of you who need them for making bags. The fabric is absolutely beautiful. It is Wild Rose from Maywood Studios. It has pink rose buds with greens and black. I am making kits tomorrow with it for our Bargello Class that starts next Wednesday. Let me know if you would like to join us. KG and BL stopped in for a visit. Thimbleberries on Saturday--See you then if not tomorrow!

2010-07-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

So good to be back! Had a wonderful time. Everyone is doing fine. Took lots of pictures. We thouroughly enjoyed our trip. Of course as soon as I drove into Claremont--I wanted to see how Four Pines was doing! Good news it is still there with lots of new things to see. Some beautiful buttons to use on bags. I love Hillcreek Design buttons. The AccuCut Go display is up. I am excited about using it to make something, but first I need to make a new calendar. I picked up an awesome pattern in South Dakota that uses a large print, the ones you just don't want to cut. Look through your stash and see if you can find a piece. I will be in the store Wednesday night for class. See you then. We can get started on our Bargello Quilts!

2010-06-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

Hope all is well at Four Pines Quilting. I am on my way to see my daughters and their families. So that being said, tomorrow I am going to look for a quilt shop that I can share with all of you! Thanks to BL and Brent for taking care of the classes. I heard a rumor that someone used their rotary cutter the wrong way last night. Lots of sewing on Wednesday. Hope all your projects are closer to being done. I love the new patterns with the rainbow rack of zippers. Can't wait to make some little bags. Would love to hear your comments. Just click on "The Blog" A new window will come up and you will be able to let me know how things are going. More tomorrow! Word of the day--Smile! You all have beautiful smiles that really lift me up when you share them with me.

2010-06-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day! Just like summer. :) Thimbleberries Club was lots of fun. What's new..demos and sharing. Always good to see everyone. BF won the door prize--20% off her kit. Pillow cases were dropped off or made for the a Million Pillowcase Challenge (and a stamp on a game card). Hope to see everyone at the Guild Meeting on Tuesday. We are going to sew up a storm--Quilts of Valor are on the agenda. PS and JL worked on their table runner and placemat sets--they are looking really good. WS worked on her bindings and a quilt--the quilt for her grand daughter came out beautiful. JL made a pillowcase to put the quilt she made for her granddaughter in. What a great way to give the gift of a quilt. We have several baby quilts for sale if you need a gift in a hurry. Tons of fabric came in Friday. The cutest panel came in for a baby quilt. We made up some kits for girls and boys. BL and I whipped up an awesome autumn theme quilt in a hurry. We plan to have the pattern and kit made for that one too. Hope you have a safe and peaceful Sunday. See you next week.

2010-06-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

Quiet evening at Four Pines. WS made a beautiful pillowcase for the challenge and to get a stamp in her Hop into the Shop. She is going to get it done! TW started her Jinny Beyer tote bag. BL worked on bindings and helping TW. She is the best teacher ever. If you want to make a bag--she is the one to go to. Be sure to come to Thimbleberries Club on Saturday. There is a plan for lots of stamps in your card. Great demo planned. Don't forget to come in on Saturday--a stamp in your book for purchasing $4.99 fabric for $3.99.See you Saturday.

2010-06-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

What did I do Wednesday night--cut-cut-cut! AB and CB made their Cat quilts. They needed a break from their other projects. I love panel quilts. BL is even working on one. A king size! They provide instant gratification. CB came in and finished her beach scene. It is so pretty. JL and VS cut their strips into triangles for their table runner and placemats. They are going to be beautiful. How are you doing on your Hop into the Shop? Don't forget...Thimbleberries club on Saturday. We are starting a new block of the month in July. It will be fun...no kits, pick it up at anytime...a free monthly block pattern. You just need to pick out you background fabric (3 1/2 yards) Then it is just 2 fat quarters a month. You will want to keep everything together because the parts of the fat quarters you don't use each month will be part of the finishing kit! Do you need a word of the day? How about "home". I love being at home. It is a fun and safe place to relax and be with friends and family. See you at Four Pines Quilting... my second home. :)

2010-06-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

Another week is almost over. CB came in tonight and started her beach scene with the batik confetti. It is looking great. TW came in just to show us her beautiful quilt and check out some classes. Next week she is going to work on a Jinny Beyer Bag. We still have a few kits left. LK worked on her paper piecing sampler. She made an awesome tree, then she trimed and sewed on the line, turned it over and wondered why the stitching showed. Oops--forgot to put the fabric on. :) She also brought in a treat to celebrate BL's birthday! Love that Chocolate cake.. Let that be the word of the day! Yummy chocolate! Hope to see all of you out there on Saturday. Don't forget-20% off your school colors in celebration of Alumni weekend. So hop into the shop and get your cards stamped. Before you know it you will have earned your prizes of a 6-session sewing card, 15% off purchases for the summer or 15% off machine quilting for the summer (you can also earn all three prizes). See you soon!

2010-06-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

Come in and check out the store. We have some new displays to show off our new notions and fabrics. A special table has been set up for classes.
Busy class night. The table runner with six placemats is a hit. I can't wait to see how the different color combinations look. JL got started on hers first--PS came in and got hers cut out to. Both of them sewing those strips like pros. BL made sure they were putting them together correctly. VS made a pillow sham for a birthday gift. Then she decided to join the fun with JL and PS.
SB started putting her blocks together. It always feels so good to start putting the top together after sewing all the blocks. AB finished her tote bag. It is gorgeous. She is thinking about joining the table runner crew next week. Hope she does. It would be fun to see another combination. I would like to make it in thimbleberries colors. KG made a quick table runner from a kit (frame-up). She wasn't ging to stay but we talked her into it. It is like a party! Hope you can join us tomorrow for Batik confection.
WS is headed on vacation. She stopped in to get the borders on a baby quilt and sew the back for her granddaughter's quilt. Both of them are on the quilting que now. They should be finished when she gets back.
We need a word of the day..remarkable. That is what each of you are-remarkable. You each have your own unique gifts that are so incredible. It is a pleasure to call you friends. Life is so much sweeter knowing remarkable people like you!

2010-06-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

I love Saturday! Busy day..lots of Shop Hop cards passed out. You get a free fat quarter when you decide to play. The prizes are good for the whole summer so don't miss out. Did you notice the little rabbit wall hanging? It is a little kit you can earn as you complete your shop hop card. JL finished her quilt for her granddaughter. WS almost has hers done. BL worked on baby quilts. If you need one in a hurry we have a few for sale in the store. I made some kits with the new patterns from Swirly Girls. Be sure to take advantage of the Go Cutter at 20% off a $70.00 savings. A new block of the month will be starting in July. Nothing to sign up for. You will just need to pick up your pattern each month. More details later. Have a restful and peaceful Sunday.

2010-06-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

They are back! WS and LK came in tonight to sew! WS is working on a quilt for her granddaughter. It is really cute. I love the pattern Walk About. It does a nice job showcasing a fun or large print. Cute frogs! LK worked on her paper piecing project. The little sampler is so fun to make with little bits and pieces -- but LK is using those scrap therapy blocks. Hope you are planning to come in for scrap therapy Saturday. Just bring the scraps--pick out a pattern and we will help you cut the pieces. There is a cute little scrappy Scottie Dog we can work on. BL and WS are very interested in the secret word that they need from the blog so they can get their game card stamped. So today the secret word is friends. It is always good to see a friend.
See you Saturday!

2010-06-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

Wow! Is it Wednesday already? Hope you are taking advantage of our summer Shop Hop. Hop in this week and pick up your game card. Lots of prizes. You can even earn a little wall hanging that is just so cute. :) Don't forget about the July coupon for 20% off machine quilting. You have plenty of time to finish a project by July. Guess what came in today--66 one yard pieces of different batiks. It is the new collection for spring 2010. We are calling them batik bars--come in and get your favorite colors for $10.00 each. Be sure to check out the web deal. If you want to pick it up at the store just mention that you read it on the web site. Have a great day..did I tell you that I can cut 36- 3-1/2" squares in less than a minute? Come to scrap therapy this weekend and find out how. Pick a project and I will help you cut it!

2010-05-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day!

I was able to get my quilt done on Saturday after organizing the clearance corner a bit. Did you know you can get 6 yds of fabric for $10.00. That is what I call A GREAT DEAL! Perfect for quilt backs. Brent got the table runner done with the six matching placemats...Lucky 7. They are on the calendar for June 9th, 16th and 23rd. Just in time for summer. Don't forget that batik confection is this Thursday. The kits are in and we have all the supplies you need to make a beautiful beach landscape. The June Hop into the Shop Passport is ready for pick-up. The sooner you get yours the sooner you get a free fat quarter and the opportunity to earn some great prizes. Have a great Memorial day picnic.

2010-05-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

I was checking out my home page (which happens to be this page). I looked over to the right and saw a column which says "What's New". Wow--April 27. Well I just want you all to know there is lots of new -- fabric, books, patterns, kits ands notions. Some beautiful civil war prints came in from Windham--the best part only $4.99 a yard. Some 30's prints came in too. Very spring time looking. Big plans for tomorrow--I really want to finish my word quilt. Stop in and see us. Get ready to earn a summer sewing pass! The game begins June 1st. The sewing pass can be used in August and September. Watch the blog for details. PS brought her twins in. They are so cute I can't believe they are a year old! The past year has just flown by.

2010-05-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe it is Thursday! Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner. I am enjoying the irises. My daisies are getting ready to bloom. Tonight PS was making her snap sack kits. They are so cute. Her flowers came out beautiful. AB was excited to see BL. She wants to get her Jenny Beyer bag done. She is working on the blue colorway with the star. KG made two quilt tops. She sure enjoys making"convenience" quilts. They are pretty! BL finished her citizen Sam quilt and started cutting out a kit. I got to work on my words to live by quilt. I must say it looks pretty good. Hope you can make it in this weekend. Lots of new patterns and some notions that are going fast! Have a great Friday.

2010-05-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

Busy night at the quilt shop. Did I tell you about the air conditioning? CB is busy with her blocks--the colors are beautiful. I love the friendship star in the center. BL worked on a table runner with matching placemats. Come in a check it out. The class will start June 9th. You can use fat quarters or yardage. VS finished her mini bow-tie bag. It is so cute. Just needs a button. Did I tell you we will be getting a rack of buttons from Hillcreek Designs, perfect for handbags and embellishing. KG contemplated working on her latest creation. All in all a fun night. Hope you will join us tomorrow!

2010-05-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

You would not believe what can fit into a couple of suitcases! Come in tomorrow and check it out. Guild Meeting Tuesday night--Hope to see JS --found a couple of patterns I know she will like. I found an awesome book with a doll and her wardrobe. She is so cute! I saw her hanging in a booth with lots of outfits--I just couldn't resist. I can't wait to make her. The latest scissor pals are in too. There are a couple of new ones for those of you that collect. See you tomorrow night!

Back from Market!

2010-05-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

Home at last! What a busy time we had in Minneapolis. Classes all day Thursday, more on Friday and Saturday and Sunday too! We picked up some great notions. I am really excited about the magnetic pin cushion--it has a magnet that has some power and a little drawer. Brenda found some really nice snips--three colors to choose from. We brought back some patterns, fat quarters and kits. Something for everyone. We ordered fabric, notions, books and patterns. What a great summer we are going to have. Hope to see you all this week. Pillow cases on Wednesday and Open Sewing on Thursday. Have a great week!

Another Beautiful Day

2010-05-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

A busy day at the store. So fun to see everyone at Thimbleberries Club. Thanks to GJ for inviting DD and AF to come. The extra project this month is a quilt as you go table runner. Lots of creative ideas to personalize the pattern. Of course BL won the monthly drawing--20% off her kit! Next month we are going to get creative before the drawing. :) PS, KG and BL stayed to sew. PS worked on her tote bag and finished it! KG got the bindings on her quilts. BL worked on her thimbleberries blocks--in her words, "I finally got the damned things done!" (just to let you know there is a right flower and left flower). She also started a baby quilt for the Downey Project. PS received the kits. They are going to share at quilt guild. Sounds like another sewing night. If you are looking for a quick or should I say SUPER quick tablerunner a kit is available for that last minute gift. Come in and see it all made up--Be sure to come in and PARTY with Brent on Wednesday and Thursday and make the Braid Table Runner! He will have your kit --ready for sewing--just let him know you will be there.

Red, White and Blue

2010-05-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day! Hope you all enjoyed the sunshine. A perfect day for doing some work in the garden or taking a walk. I was so happy to finish the last mystery quilt we did. I love the red, white and blue. It is so nice. Of course I am the last one to finish...but one stitich at time you can finish any project. There is something about a red, white and blue quilt. I am going to use all my red, white and blue scraps to make a really scrappy quilt. Very similiar to the one I made with my 30's fabrics. Take a peek at on the bed the next time you are in the store. Let me know if you are interested in joining me. It is very fun and easy. BL is still working on her red, white and blue star gazing quilt. It is going to look so awesome. She also made a pillow case to match her Patriot Quilt. She has inspired me to make one to match my courtyard steps quilt! KG put the binding on her kitty quilt. It is so cute. The company was great--the sewing was fun! Be sure to come to Thimbleberries Club on Saturday!

Bags & More Bags

2010-05-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

Hope you have your cat quilt...the fabric is going-going-gone! AB, CB & VS were very excited that they got the rest of the fabric for the backs of their quilts!

AB came in tonight with her Autumn Patches snap sack all done except for the binding. She sewed it on and then she learned that it is easy to twist the binding. It has happened to me too. :) Then she worked on her Jenny Beyer Tote Bag. WoW! It is awesome looking.

VS is working on a bag she started at home! It is very springtime looking with flowers on a green background and a beautiful pink accent fabric.

CB is still working on her blocks. She is "getting there". She is almost ready to put all the pieces together to make the big blocks. Next week she will be on her way!

BL made a beautiful Patriot Quilt for Citizen Sam. Get more information at citizensam.org
The quilt is for injured soldiers being transported. (she also sewed some more scrap therapy blocks)

See you tomorrow night...There is fabric calling your name!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

2010-05-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

What a day. Bernie and I got to the store really early to get the tents set up for the National Honor Society Sale. Thanks to all of you for the Donations for the Honor Society. CF came in the store for the first time--she thinks she might want to join us after her daughter graduates from High School.

JE came in and picked up her quilt. What a beautiful job. It looks awesome.

BL got all her star blocks done for her star gazing quilt. I'm impressed. I need to get mine done. LK started sewing mine one night when she didn't have anything else to do. Now I just need to get mine done too!

PS worked in her Jenny Beyer bag. It is beautiful! She is doing a great job! We have a few kits left. Come in and BL will be happy to help you!

KG made two quilt tops! Those Caterwauling Panels are great! She made one for her granddaughter to match her Mom's. I put mine in the window. I have to say it is one of my favorites. You should see the screen bag that SG made with the border print. They look like summer and the beach.

More next week! Have a wonderful Mother's Day! Becky~

2010-05-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! What fun we are going to have! I have big plans. When I went to visit my Grandma Vi a few years ago, she was cleaning out some boxes of papers and pictures. She told me to take anything I wanted. I held back--I wanted it all--but I did not want to be greedy. When she had a young family they lived in Kansas. She wrote a column for the local newspaper. All about who was visiting, where people were going, who wasn't feeling well... it was full of friendly news about friends and neighbors. That is who we are at Four Pines Quilting --friends and neighbors. So I am not going to use names--only initials. You can keep up with the news--just in case you miss us on Wednesday or Thursday night. The weather is getting nice. Be sure to stop in. I will do my best to keep in touch with you. Feel free to add your two cents worth too!