A relaxing, fun and creative environment for quilters of all ages and skills
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NEWSLETTER
Happy New Year!
We hope everyone had a great holiday and was able to relax and enjoy the season. 2022 is going to be an exciting year, we have so many fun things planned. Each month we are going to have a new theme with some great activities planned around that theme. This month we are hosting our 4th Tool Tote class, so January’s theme is notions. We all have our favorite notions that we cannot live without and that includes us. Each week in January the VQS (Village Quilt Shoppe) team will share with you 2 videos showing some of our favorite tools. The notions we showcase each week will be 25% off for that week. That’s eight great notions for 25% off to add to your tool tote!
Fabulous February is back! Throughout the month of January collect a red or white sealed Fabulous February envelope for every $25 you spend. The envelopes contain all kinds of surprises from discounts and free products to gift certificates. Collect as many as you can and then, in February bring in your envelopes *UNOPENED* and claim your goodies!
Our January spotlight quilter is Jane Beamish, who is also our newest teacher. Jane will be teaching paper piecing classes. There is a beginner class scheduled for January and another paper piecing class on the schedule for February. Join us in welcoming Jane to our VQS family!
Jane, Tell me a little bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m so excited to be teaching at The Village Quilt Shoppe. I’ve been a Webster resident for 22 years now; my husband and I moved here right after our wedding. We raised/are raising two daughters, now both in college. For 32 years I worked as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in K-12 schools. I retired in 2020, but then moved into the Preschool Services world- same job, smaller kids. My husband is a retired music educator who continues to work as a musician. I spend lots of weekends at his gigs.
How long have you been quilting?
My first quilting project was (gasp) 47 years ago- a Sunbonnet Sue pillow made with my 4-H club. That was the first and last item I ever hand quilted. My first quilt made as an adult was a little primary color/cat and dog theme quilt made for my first baby, who is now 20. Garment and home sewing eventually gave way to quilting, which has been my main sewing occupation for about 10 years now.
Who taught you to quilt?
I’ve taken lots of classes. I’ve taken in-person classes at fabric stores and quilt shows, plus on-line classes. I’ve also checked tons of books out of the library and watched many many tutorials online. I like in-person classes best.
What do you like best about quilting?
I love the variety of quilting. I love that two people can make the same pattern, but their fabric choices make each one dynamic. I love the variety of techniques. My favorites are the two forms of paper piecing- Foundation Paper Piecing and English Paper Piecing. I enjoy appliqué and am looking forward to starting the wool projects I have. I have a huge list of quilt "wannamakes"!
What's your quilting advice /mantra?
Quilting should be enjoyable. I think I've said “It’ll be fine!” about a thousand times, both when teaching classes and figuring out problems in my own sewing space. In my classes, students know that mistakes are just opportunities for learning. We aren’t dealing with life and death; just fabric and thread. This is a hobby for most of us, so let’s keep it fun.
Here are some pictures of some of her beautiful work.
There are some great classes and a demo scheduled in January. One of the shops’ New Year’s resolutions is to do a better job with the class supply list. Our goal is to get them emailed at least 2 weeks prior to the class, have copies in the shop and a link on our calendar. January’s demo is the Creative Grids Lazy Angle ruler. This ruler can be used to make hundreds of blocks. Our demos are the 2nd Thursday of the month at 3pm.
Here is a brief review of January’s classes - The Kim Diehl scrap club is back, the 2nd Wednesday each month, day and evening time slots available. It’s never too late to sign-up and you do not need to attend every month. The Tool tote class is back, a great tote to have packed and ready for classes, sew alongs and retreats. Everyone needs one! There is a beginning paper piecing class from our newest teacher, Jane Beamish. To finish off the month we have the Caddy Pad Jr, a great cover for your small iron. And, Blizzard, who would look great on anyone’s door. For more details look at our calendar page on our website or click on the link below.
In March we are hosting our first ever remote retreat. The retreat will be at the Holiday Inn (860 Holt Rd, Webster, NY 14580) from Thursday, March 17th – Sunday, March 20th. The hotel has a block of rooms reserved for those that wish to stay overnight (staying at the hotel is not a requirement, but could be a great escape), the rate is $119 plus taxes per night. If you would like to stay overnight, give them a call at 585.872.0900. Tell them you would like a room in The Village Quilt Shoppe block. The cost of the quilt retreat will be $160 per person. (Your room cost is separate) Everyone will get a full table and have access to at least 2 ironing boards and a cutting area, 1 meal per day, snacks, water and coffee. Plus, we have lots of surprises planned as well. There are a few spots left, your spot is considered reserved once we receive your payment. You can stop in or give us a call to reserve your spot.
Two final items: 1 - We are adjusting our loyalty program. The loyalty program is based on merchandise purchases, classes can no longer be added. 2 - Wednesday, January 5th we will be closing at 4pm.
We are so proud of The Village Quilt Shoppe and look forward to sharing the dream with you.
Vanetta & Monique
Michelle's tip of the month
If you accidentally get fusible web on your iron you can clean it off with an old dryer sheet. Lay the dryer sheet on your pressing surface and "iron" it with your hot iron. You may need to use more than one sheet depending on how much adhesive is stuck to your iron. Simply replace the dryer sheet with another one and keep "ironing" until the iron is clean. Be sure you don't get the adhesive on your pressing surface. Lay down multiple used dryer sheets to cover a larger area if necessary to keep your pressing surface clean.
January Class Highlights
Kim Diehl / Scrap club Do you have scraps? Debbie Lester will be helping you use them on with our Kim Diehl / Scrap club on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. The projects will come from Kim Diehl's Whats Not book. One of the great things about the patterns in this book is that the pieces look good in any fabric. No need to sign-up for every month, you can sign-up based on the project of the month.
A New BOM - Cranberry Frost - Get started on a six-month project in rich, floral reds with the Cranberry Frost Block of the Month Pattern. Framing the diagonal potted plants, design geometric brackets in Cranberries & Cream by 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics to bring this big, red and grey project to fruition.
Beginner Paper Piecing - Perplexed by paper piecing? Join this beginner class! You will learn foundation paper piecing with this low-pressure project, designed specifically for The Village Quilt Shop. The instructor will provide the foundations in the class kit, included with your class fee. You bring your sewing supplies, and we will have a positively pleasant time paper piecing! You will leave with a finished block that you can finish as a potholder on your own.
Tool Tote - Tool tote is what everyone needs. Pockets all the way around on the outside and inside. Heavy duty stays that keep the bags mouth wide open, easy to get in and to reach all your important tools. Great bag to take on retreats.
Caddy Pad JR - Clever iron tote and ironing pad in one! Adorable tote opens up to become your personal ironing pad. Great for class or retreat. Heat resistant fabric included. Sized to hold your 6in x 8-1/4in travel iron.
Blizzard - Who doesn’t love snowman? Blizzard is a cute snowman to hang on yourdoor or walls to help get through the cold winter days
