Stitchin' Post in Sisters

We have some winners!

Congratulations to all the winners in our Customer Appreciation Days drawings!

 

Sally H. of Sisters was the Grand Prize winner! 

Sally is taking home the Viking Tribute 140c Limited Edition Sewing Machine (and the box of goodies that goes with the machine!)  She was in the classroom this morning, taking Lawry's Beyond Beginning Quilting class when Jean drew the winning entries.  What fun, to have Jean present the machine in class! 

Click here to see Sally's reaction first hand.

 

Here are the names of our $100 Gift Certificate winners:

Elaine K. of Bend, OR

Jen L. of Bend, OR

Marci T. of Sisters, OR

Robin G. of Sisters, OR

Tisha T. of Camp Sherman, OR

From a different perspective...

Jean was teaching in Colorado week before last.  Here is a link to pictures from the workshop, and a little background story written by Denise Starck (Graphic Designer at Quiltmaker Magazine) who attended the workshop.  Its like being a fly on the wall...

 

Jean has a workshop, "Of The Earth," coming up May 7th-11th here at the Stitchin' Post. There are just four spaces left.  Click here for more information.

 

Did you see Valori on AM Northwest?

On January 23rd, AM Northwest (KATU Channel 2 in Portland, OR) kicked-off a five week Design Challenge contest. They invited four design students from the Art Institute of Portland into the studio and presented them with several fabrics to work with (including Val's new line "Karavan".) 

Click here to see the first segment.

 

Challenge #1~ The students must design a "new look" using at least three of the Westminster/Free Spirirt/Rowan fabrics provided.  This morning, our very own Valori Wells was invited to the AM Northwest Studio to be the "guest judge" on the panel of judges selecting the best new look.  

Click here to see Val on the judging panel!

 

You can also help pick the best design by casting a Viewer Vote on AM Northwest's Design Challenge website.  The voting period for Challenge #1 runs from Jan 27 through Noon on Feb 2nd. 

Click here to cast your vote!

 

The contest ends on Feb 27th and the Design Challenge winner will be announced on AM Northwest that morning (show airs between 9 and 10 am Pacific Time.)

A New Year...

    It's that time of year when we reflect on where we have been, what we have learned, and where we want to go from here!  I don't believe in New Year's "resolutions"...they are just too formal and rigid for me.  Instead, I prefer to set goals for myself.  I like "goals" because they are more flexible!   

    What are your goals for the new year?  Around the cutting table I hear two main themes:

1) "I can't wait to start a new project!"  After the rush to finish projects for holiday gift-giving, there are many quilters who come in the store looking for a new project.  I'm one of these quilters~  I can't wait to start something new!

    Fortunately, the new Spring/Summer 2012 Class Catalog will be in mailboxes very soon.  We have a fun assortment of new classes for beginners to the very accomplished~ something for everyone!  One of my goals for 2012 is to improve my machine quilting skills.  We have several upcoming classes that will help me reach that goal.  (In fact, Ann is teaching Free-Motion Fun & Fillers on January 7th~still space available!)  And for those of you who would like to learn to knit or crochet, Paula has beginning classes starting in early January.

  

     

    2) Or, there are the quilters that say this:  "No new projects!"   At this time of year we also hear lots of quilters saying that they have too many unfinished projects and they HAVE TO finish some things before they start anything new. Ughhh!  I know what they mean and I too, feel their pain.

    Our friend Anna (from www.wooliemammoth.blogspot.com) has set forth the 2012 UFO Challenge ~ to complete one UFO (Un-Finished Object) per month in 2012.  I would really like to attempt this goal...however, I am more likely to start one UFO per month than to complete one UFO per month!  So here is another one of my goals for 2012:  I want to  post a picture each month of a UFO I finish! (let's see how far I get!)  I'd love you to join in...when you finish a UFO, post it on our Facebook page, we'd love to see it!

    The Stitchin' Post would really like to help you finish some of those UFO's!  Did you know that we have free "Sit & Sew" almost every Wednesday afternoon?  Starting in February, from Noon to 3 pm you can come to our classroom and work on projects!  Our staff is right here, available to give advice through the trouble spots. (Sorry there is no Sit & Sew on April 4th, May 9th or during the summer months when we convert the classroom into additional merchandising space.)  We love to see progress!

    Whatever your goals might be, we want to help you reach them.  Have a safe and happy New Year...we look forward to seeing you (and your finished projects) in 2012!  ~Tamra

 

  

We have a Winner!

Congratulations to Madeleine of Camp Sherman!
Madeleine is the winner of our $100 Gift Certificate drawing
for bringing in non-perishable food for the local food bank. 

Here is Madeleine at our Holiday Open House,
stamping her own gift wrap at one of the Make & Take stations.

We wish to thank everyone who participated in our
"Gift of Sharing"
Holiday Food Drive helping local families in need. 

Congratulations Valori!

Valori just returned from International Quilt Market, where she was promoting her new line of fabric called "Karavan" (due to arrive at the Stitchin' Post any day!)  While at market, Valori won Second Place for her booth!  Here is one BIG reason why:

This is Jewels, a one-of-a-kind prop, created to  by Val, to accompany her to Quilt Market.  Of course everyone is asking...will there be a pattern?  What do you say Val? 

It must be November 1st...

Even before tearing off the October calendar page, I could have told you it must be November 1st! 

Not because of the sugar hang-over this morning.  Not because of the chilling temperature outside.  No...I could tell it was November 1st because of the number of phone calls this morning asking "What day is Pajama Sale?"

Pajama Sale is Saturday, November 12th.  It is always on the SECOND SATURDAY in November.  Our two biggest events of the year are both second Saturday events:  Quilt Show is the second Saturday in July and PJ Sale is the second Saturday in November.

The earlier you arrive, the bigger your discount AND if you're wearing your pajamas or robe, you will get an extra 5% discount!  Here's how it breaks down:

6:30-8:30 am~ 30% off
8:30-11 am~ 25% off
11 am- 2 pm~ 20% off
2-5 pm~ 15% off

We hope to see you bright and early
(and in your jammies!) on Nov 12th.
 

~Tamra

 

 

 

"Santiam Pass"

"Santiam Pass" by Jean Wells-Keenan and Patty Bently

 

Jean has been working on a collabrative project with Patty Bently, an oil painter from Portland, Oregon.

The art above, called "Santiam Pass," is a a set of five separate panels.  Pieces 1,3,and 5 are paintings by Patty, while pieces 2 and 4 are quilts made by Jean.  The art will be on display at the 2011 Sitka Art Invitational Show to be held November 4, 5 & 6 at the World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon.    

The two artists came up with the idea of commemorating the 2003 B&B Complex Fire along the Santiam Pass.  A simple sketch of the landscape and selecting a color palette were the starting points.  Jean first pieced the land in panels 2 and 4, then sent the work to Patty, who did the preliminary paintings on panels 1, 3 and 5. 

After the base work was complete, Jean and Patty met again to plan the placement of the tree snags and the details to be added to all five panels, that would unite the panels into one flowing work. 

Jean added the tree snags, quilted her pieces, finished them with art facings and returned the panels to Patty.  Patty finished the paintings and took the peices to a framer.  The quilts hang free from the top and the paintings are stretched over frames that are about 3/4" in width. A dimensional feeling is created when you look at the piece.

If you are in the Portland area, stop by the 2011 Sitka Art Invitational Show and enjoy all the marvelous artwork on display November 4-6th.

Meet Jenny!

This is Jenny, employee here at the Stitchin' Post
for the past seven years! 

This quilt was pieced by Jenny and quilted by Laura S. (also an employee of the Stitchin' Post.) This quilt has been generously donated to the Kiwanis of Redmond, Oregon!  The Kiwanis are having an Octoberfest fundraiser on November 5 (5:30pm) at the Convention Center, where this quilt will be part of the auction.  For more information about tickets to the Octoberfest event, please contact Kiwanis of Redmond.

Pictures from Kid's Quilting Camp 2011

          Grace        Natalie           Emma              Shelby                 Emily

Friday was the last day of Kid's Quilting Camp for Summer 2011~ we had a good time together!

The girls made "Magic 9-Patch" quilts, using 5" squares (...yes, I had to work in Charm Squares somehow!) The girls sewed together nine 9-Patch blocks. Then I cut all the blocks in half both directions, the girls rearranged the blocks and sewed them back together again!  I did all the cutting in this class, but we had a discussion about rotary cutter safety, do's and don'ts. We added borders, layered quilt sandwiches, did a "pillowcase-turn" finish, turned the quilt right-side out, closed up the hole by hand and had a discussion about how to quilt the layers together.  Everyone went home with a nearly finished lap-sized quilt, ready to be quilted (in just 15 hours of class time together!)  AWESOME!  Great job girls~  Tamra

Click here to see our complete Facebook photo album.