Thimbles.... Where Everyone Knows Your Name

It took years of searching, but I sure do belong to a great sewing group, Silver Thimble Quilt Club in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Yesterday, was our montly meeting day. As each person entered the room, there was clapping and cheers. It made me think of the TV program, Cheers, where everyone knows your name. This was our second offical month to meet. Many of us became friends from other quilt gatherings. I first joined Pinheads which was an early group lead by our teacher/mentor/friend, Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Quilt Company in 2003 (I think)  I sewed with that group only a couple of months. In 2004, Pat began a new quilting club called Stitch 'N Sisters at Stitch 'N Quilt Shop. We spent years laughing, sewing, starting projects, finishing some projects, adding fabric and ideas. Through it all, we improved our quilting skills and became friends. With the closing of Stitch 'N Quilt, we are now meeting at a local church and our club is called Silver Thimble Club. What a great beginning! We missed Pat our leader.  Pat was at home, highly medicated after knee-replacement surgery. Remember, Pat, new body parts are a good thing! Here is our show and tell so that Pat will see that like good students, we did our work when "our teacher"  was out of the room.

 Sarah does inspiring work. Her collection of feedsacks has been enhanced through Gretchen's influence. They both love Ebay. She is using her feedsacks to make a Yo-Yo Quilt. It is breath-taking - an unbelievable project.

 Carol had knee-replacement surgery in January. She was a whiz on her featherweight. Her table quilt from Fons & Porter magazine is almost complete.

 Karin worked on her Double Delight Mystery Quilt from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville.com site. Lots of little pieces, but Karin's quilt is stunning.

  

Gretchen is preparing for Mardi Gras. Her Orange Crush Mystery Quilt will be so festive. Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez

Sue completed her Georgia quilt. 

     

Mercedine took Pat's pattern, Pinwheel Parade, which was our project in January, and completed this wonderful patriotic quilt. She actually made two quilts in the past month. Seeing her quilt inspired many of us to get working on our projects.

Welcome to Patchwork Cottage

       

On my way home from work today, I made a detour. A new quilt shop, Patchwork Cottage, opened on the first of February. What a treat it was to visit this brand new shop!  It is in a portion of a previous shop, Stitch 'N Quilt. Many happy memories were made at S'NQ with our Stitchin' Sisters group, classes, sew-in's and events. Joan and Ladye, the owners of S'NQ, retired in December.

 Mita Chatterjee is the new owner of Patchwork Cottage. Mita is taking her love of quilting and reflecting it in her shop. It will be a pleasure to watch her transform her shop. Mita graciously allowed me to take pictures for my blog. Here is Mita ringing up sales for her customers. One of my favorite quilters, Sandy Stites, is working with Mita in the shop. Sandy has worked at several quilt shops. She is a valuable addition to Mita's staff.

Immediately, when walking into the shop, this fabric was displayed. It's the new line Rebel Roses by Heather Mulder Peterson for Henry Glass. Just last night, I was admiring this fabric on Heather's blog Trends and Traditions

Hanging over the shelves was a completed top from Bonnie Hunter's lastest mystery quilt, Double Delight. According to Sandy, this top was pieced by another local quilter, Peggy McIntyre.

Here are some shop photos. I love the sofa in the back of the shop to sit and look at books, magazines, patterns and fabric.

I couldn't resist signing up for the $5.00 block of the month. It began last Sunday. The blocks will be beige and black with an additional different color each month. The design for the finishing kit was placed next to the block. I love sampler quilts. This will be a fun one.

I did come home with one little purchase in this colorful bag. One of the Moda mini Honey Bun Bake shop boxes convinced me to take it home. The Honey Bun is by Three Sisters in their new line Aviary.

Thank you Mita! It will indeed a pleasure visiting your shop. It will be fun seeing it take shape.

Giggles

This is the project that I worked on this weekend. The pattern is called Giggles. The pattern designer is Tammy Tadd. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to sew shop samples for my quilting club, Stitch 'N Sisters at my local quilt shop. I received a call last Thursday that the kit was cut (fabric selected by the shop) and ready for sewing. I sewed with one of the Sisters' groups on Friday during the day. We had a day off of school because we had not used our snow days. I was able to sew some Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening. I still need to attach the piano key border on the top and bottom. There is one more thin border around all four sides. It sure is a cheerful quilt. It makes ya giggle!