Quilters Haven Blog

Quilters Quarters Store

Karin — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:18:20 +0000

It has been such a pleasure to visit and teach in this store.
Yesterday, my class was ‘Geese in a Storm’, and the students were sewing with such diverse fabrics. One had come all the way from Louisiana, now that is a state I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting. Lunch, provided by the Queen’s Pantry, was included in the Worksop fee and had been set out like an English afternoon tea party. Scones and chocolate covered strawberries arranged on tiered plates, clotted cream and jam, English size sandwiches and china cups with proper hot tea and milk.

I know you all interested in seeing the quilt store.
A mannequin, pasted with fabric, greets you at the entrance.

The owner, Jerry Stube designed the General’s Wives BOM and here is the original quilt on a bed.

Celtic Crystals is her latest BOM which is being launched at this Market.
Anybody interested in QH doing the Block of theMonth?

Northern Lights is hanging up. I do envy this shop’s high ceilings.

and they sell umbrella’s…..It must be to shade you from the sun! Gorgeous weather and hot in Kansas.

A pre-market bus tour has just arrived and there was Mandy Shaw from England…..It is a small quilting world.

Location:Leavenworth, Kansas

A Quilter’s Home

Karin — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:54:14 +0000

It is Monday night, and I am lying in a bed surrounded by quilts. One behind me on the wall, two quilt racks full of quilts, a wall rack with three bed size quilts folded and hung, a basket full of quilts and a chest piled with quilts. My bedside lamp stand is a glass vase full of cotton reels. The pillowcases are made from fabric that coordinates with the gorgeous bed quilt. It is just like having my own quilt exhibition in one room!

Welcome to the beautiful home of Jerry Stube, owner of Quilters Quarters in Leavenworth, Kansas. She has taken me on a tour around her large house and every room has a number of quilts.

I forgot to tell you about the three antique sewing machines in my bedroom. One is a tiny Singer machine, designed for a child.

Now which quilt do I find the most fascinating…….It is the one that features a cross stitch design in each block. Obviously an antique. I wonder if Jerry can tell me about the history?

Have you lost a camera?

Teresa — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:49:25 +0000

We have a lost camera that has been here at QH for some time.. we have been able to download the pictures on it for clues….!! They are from the Quilt Walk in 2010… and among the pictures are a lovely family group – Mum Dad and a cute little ‘thumb sucking’ girl of about 3 years old. Is this yours or did you hear of anyone losing a camera? If we can’t find the owner we will donate it to a local youth group.

The Longwood Garden Quilt

Karin — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:59:36 +0000

The weather is sunny and hot here in Philadelphia, ideal for wandering around the Longwood Gardens, a large Parkland on the south west side of the city.

Inside the entrance hall, hangs a fabulous triptych quilt crafted by the Longwood Gardens volunteer quilt group. ‘This dedicated volunteer group worked tirelessly to create a design that expresses the theme of light in the gardens’.

And here are some close ups…..

Superb machine quilting.

And ‘cute’ little creatures.

I really enjoyed looking at this quilt and I hope you have too.
In America, quilts can often be found on the walls as art in public places. It would be wonderful if we could see more in the UK.

Izzy’s Quilt

Karin — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:18:31 +0000

For the last few days I have been staying in Mount Laurel, outside Philadelphia, visiting Bean’s first grandchild.

Isabelle Madeline is 11 weeks old and gorgeous!
Naturally, she had to have a quilt. Considering this is supposed to be a baby quilt she does look tiny lying on it.

The quilt uses fabric from a current range called ‘A walk in the Woods’, designed by UK designer Aneela Hoey.

Off to America

Karin — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:57:24 +0000

Spring Quilt Market is being held in Kansas City this month and I am going to be there primarily, to launch Sew Simple Pinwheels, our latest book. Then of course there is the shop shopping to do, demos on my distributors booth and filming.

Packing has been quite a challenge. I need to take 12 quilts with me, plus teaching aids, sales flyers and postcards, and of course clothes.

I have four flights. As the transatlantic one any includes only 23k and none on the internal flights. I decided one case plus a carry on would have to be my limit.

As you can see I have managed to get all the quilt paraphernalia packed.
Not much room left for the clothes and shoes. Looks as though I am just going to have to wear a lot of it. The airlines have not yet resorted to weighing the passengers!

I leave early this week to spend a few days with family in Philadelphia.
Then on to Missouri. My first stop will be Leavenworth, to teach at Quilters Quarters, a class on ‘Geese in a Storm’ plus book signing and demos. They have an English tea shop across from the store and I have some English surprises with me which adds up to lots of fun in the class.
Jerry, the quilt store owner is letting me play in the store, before we travel on to the Kansas City Convention centre.

Then it is four intense days at Market.

Keep reading the blog to hear about all the exciting quilting events in the USA.

Time to celebrate

Georgie — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:15:06 +0000

With the Queen’s Jubilee and Olympics getting ever closer, it was time last week to decorate the window to celebrate these two events.

I began a few weeks ago, making bunting to hang at the window, using the London fabrics we stock in the shop. I kept it fairly simple, just using the pinking cutter to make triangles, and attaching to red bunting tape. I made 5m of bunting, and it looked very effective.

I think that these look very festive, and it was quick and easy to make.

My next task was to complete the banner that I had designed to put into the window, which you will see in the pictures following.

Then on Wednesday I started the window. This, of course, meant a rearrangement of the shop displays, which always causes consternation among the other members of staff as they have to search the shop to find out where I’ve put everything. ….

A few hours later,after playing with stands, fabrics and boxes I came up with the following display, which gives a flavour of the celebrations to come in June and July.

Might have to tweek the display for the Olympics though; thinking cap on then.

Jelly Roll Waffles?

Teresa — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:51:52 +0000

I have just brought in my class sample for the Jelly Roll class that I am teaching on Saturday June 9th. We try to plan a variety of classes on Saturdays for those that are unable to get here during the week.

Belgium Waffles makes a decent size quilt (46″ x 54″) using just 1 Jelly Roll and no extra yardage. If you don’t want to make a quilt, then you also get instructions for a place-mat set and table runner.

I loved the technique used to make this quilt and the border, all pretty simple sewing but great results. (So you don’t need to use many of your ‘Little Grey cells’….)

It’s A Wrap

Karin — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:19:15 +0000

It is always a delight to have someone send photos of their completed quilts. Especially, when the quilt was started in a class I taught on the other side of the world.

Dear Karin
I hope you had a great time in NZ. I did one of your classes -”It’s a Wrap” – at Queenstown and you asked me to send a photo of my quilt when it was completed. I was thrilled with it and have given it to my sister who lives in Wanaka. She admired the work I had done at class.
I finished the quilt in July but couldn’t find your email address until I was tidying up recently.
Kind regards
Marilyn Gibbs

It’s a Wrap will be taught at Quilters Haven on Mondays starting 21st May. We would love you to join us!

Welsh Quliting

Kathleen — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:58:05 +0000

In the first week of June, Pippa Moss will be showing some of her antique quilts in the teaching area of the shop. What is the difference between Durham and Welsh quilts? How were they made? and who made them? Just some of the questions that will be answered!

Pippa says: I’ve been quilting for a long time! but I only started collecting antique quilts in 2006. After my twin sister Carol passed away, I inherited a small amount of money from her estate, and decided to DO something with it. As Carol had been interested in quilting, it seemed like a good idea to buy some antique quilts. And the quilts themselves are relatively good value, when you consider that they are over 100 years old, the cost of fabric these days and the time spent making them. In addition, I now have a wonderful new interest – quilt history. I belong to the British Quilt Study Group (part of the Quilters Guild) and very much enjoy the yearly Seminar weekend where we go to a different part of the country and explore Britains fanctastic textile history. This year, we’ll be going to Burnley, once the textile capital of the world.

I’ll be displaying some of my most beautiful and interesting quilts – and presenting what I know of their history and makers. Then in July, August and September, many of these quilts will be travelling across to Llanidloes in Wales to the Quilt Association for their Summer Exhbition at the Minerva Centre. So come save yourself the journey to Wales – or enjoy a preview – see them at Quilters Haven first!!

Be sure to take check out Pippa’s Welsh Quilting Class here at Quilters Haven!

Later days,

Kathleen