So it has been a while since I last posted (December!). So sorry to keep you out of the loop. Facebook gets a few posts and then there is mail chimp for the shop communications. This year has been flying by in a whirl! We have participated in several guild quilt shows, I have been teaching across Texas for guilds and shops and at retreats! REGISTRATION for our Kids Kamps are happening now!
We just completed our first year as a brick and mortar quilt shop and we are very excited for the future. Our next big event is our Customer Appreciation “Quilt Thump” on Saturday, June 17th right here in Luling, TX. Our quilters have been collecting “seeds” and will be rewarded for supporting our first year with chances on raffle bags and auction items. Please call 830-875-5432 to rsvp that you will be attending the quilt thump! It won’t be the same without YOU!
Another auction item – quilted and bound! RSVP NOW so you will have the opportunity to own this quilt!Auction item – this adorable sample is quilted and bound. Backing fabric is cuddle cloth – oh so yummy!
We have Row by Row coming up starting June 17th. We have a really fun row this year and are super excited to be participating in Row by Row Junior program as well.
Our first Junior program. Kit is pre-cut READY to sew! A great row to start with!Our Row for adults! We have a variety of kits available for this pattern, from rugged outdoors to Tula Pink. We hope you will have a little bit of fun with our row. (Pattern/Kit do not include border/binding – we have an optional charm kit available as well)
And as always we are adding new samples to the shop on a very regular basis – here is what we have to show this week.
Fabulous fabrics from Marcia Derse make this a rich yummy quilt! A quick easy Villa Rosa pattern and you will have this kit made up in no time at all.Dimples for color and a fabulous background from Libs Elliott. You need to see this quilt in person to appreciate how happy it is! We supply the Dimples – you choose your background and accent border fabric!
We add to our tools and notions wall almost weekly, our list of classes is varied with a variety of teachers as well.
Need inspiration? We will be starting a wearables group soon! Are you interested? Let us know!
And on the home front we had an exciting storm last night. As I washed dishes I realized the water pressure was low – hubby went to check and came back in “You won’t believe what the problem is” See for yourself! Luckily I am married to Mr. Fixit and we were back in business in time to go watch the sunset over the horizon!
Stay safe and dry! Stop by the shop and visit for awhile!
Lots to cover this month – I hope you will read to the end! I will try to put the fun stuff at the top just in case your time is limited!
Monday’s are OPEN sew 10-4
Come use our classroom space, great lighting, design walls and tables already set up. FREE
Friday – November 11 10-3
Christmas Tree placemats or table runner! This class has been rescheduled SEW let’s have an open sew! You work on your project and it is FREE!
Sunday – November 13 10-4
Judy Niemeyer Sew Day! This event is designed for those that already know the technique and are currently working on project or ready to start a new one. No instructor for this one, but Denise is available all day to answer your questions or help you with the next step. Fee is $25.
Want to learn how to paper piece? Watch our schedule for classes.
Ann’s Poppy! Made using the pattern African Violet!
Wednesday – November 16 9-noon
Learn how to make these festive dinner napkins for meals with your loved ones!
Fee is $25 (and (2) half-yards of fabric – what a DEAL!)
Saturday – November 19 9-noon
T-Shirt Prep Class – learn what it takes to make a t-shirt class! Bring your t-shirts and start the process. (no machine required for this class!) Additional classes will be scheduled for the actual sewing and construction of your quilt.
Fee is $15 (no supplies at this time)
Saturday – November 19 4-6
Outlander Party! Andover Fabrics is releasing their latest collection from the book (and TV series) Outlander. We want you to be the first to see it live! Join us at the Luling Oil Museum at 4:00 pm for tasty treats and drinks all Outlander Themed! Then we will open up the fabrics for you to touch and feel! They are beautiful!
Wednesday, November 30 9-4 – OR – Sunday, December 4 & 11 1-4
Machine Quilting 101! Learn how to use the walking foot and the free motion quilting foot to finish those Christmas Gifts! We use panels designed by Renae Allen along with her companion book! Denise has lots of tips and tricks to share!
Class fee is $45 (purchase of kit is required and homework is pin-basting your quilt)
Friday – December 2 9-noon
Mini Quick Curve Ruler Christmas trees! Make placemats, table runner or wall hanging!
Fee is $15 (does not include supplies)
Saturday – December 3 9-noon
Poinsettia Blocks made with Quick Curve Ruler! Learn how to use this ruler! Makes sewing curves a breeze!
Fee is $15 (does not include supplies)
Saturday – December 3 1-4 -OR- Wednesday – December 7 9-noon or 1-4
Christmas Stocking Class – use our cute panel to learn how to make your own Stockings. It is a lot easier than it looks!
Fee is $15 (requires purchase of a pre-printed stocking panel and 1 Fat Quarter)
Saturday – December 10 9-1pm
Bargello Tree Skirt Class -learn to make this beautiful tree skirt using the 9 degree wedge ruler! You will be surprised how fun and easy this project is! Once you learn how to use your ruler then you will be able to make fun table runners and bed runners as well as creative borders for your quilts!
Class fee is $25 (does not include supplies)
Coming in 2017
Block of the Month – Using the Quick Curve Rulers!
Quilt Skillz – a comprehensive Learn To Quilt Class! I am working on my sample and will share in the December Gazette!
Have you heard about our Customer Loyalty Program?
We are Over-The-Top EXCITED about this one!
Sewing Seeds! Reap What you SEW!
Ask us next time you come!
Save the Date! Saturday, June 17, 2017 is Customer Appreciation Day!
Here are a few photos from classes/retreats held last month! My favorite is Olivia and her beautiful mama – they were in the Walk A Bout tote class! Who do you share your passion with?
Ann’s Poppy! Made using the pattern African Violet!
JoLynn’s Fire Island Hosta
November is the month when we reflect on what we are thankful for. I am thankful for a supporting family, those that live near me as well as those that live in other states. Starting with my wonderful husband (Here is a photo that shows he really does go above and beyond!)
he is my rock! It is also fabulous that he can build almost anything I dream up! New racks/shelves/displays are added to the shop on a regular basis, custom built by my handy man! (These are needed to hold all those scrumptious bolts of fabric!) (Want to know more about that quilt he is removing the registration threads from? Scroll to the bottom of this post!)
I had a wild idea that we should sell “Barn Quilts” My daughter-in-law taught herself how to do these and they look fabulous in the shop. Did you know you can get a custom barn quilt painted by her? My son and grandkids have also jumped into the fray when I had a health mishap and needed to be rescued at a quilt show where I was vending. The grandkids love to SEW when they visit and their eagerness reminds me again and again how important it is to hand our sewing enthusiasm down to the next generations.
My sister who hops on a plane to get the computer system going and brings her partner in crime for added manual labor. Then she surprises me by flying in again for the grand opening! Then also drove 5 hours to attend the PUPs retreat in Memphis.
My sister-in-law Jeanine for educating me on the purchase of my computer system and credit card handling, always ready to answer my questions and get needed supplies for me. Her partner in crime has even jumped in and he is my ergonomic specialist! Watch for bi-annual seminars and learn how to treat your body right!
Finding that perfect employee – I have lucked out here big time! Lindsey is AWESOME! and she knows every bolt of fabric! She is always eager to help you with your project and doesn’t mind pulling out multiple bolts of fabric until the perfect one is found! Her pint-sized helper is also a great employee! When he is in the shop you know you will not need to open a door! He also loves to open boxes and always exclaims with delight “It’s FABRIC!” Man I love that kid! During the spring and summer we were also able to have several local high school kids help out! Watching them learn was a great reward for me! Thanks Sarah, Lexi, Jordan and Shelby!
Our teachers are phenomenal and are always to share their great knowledge with you! Thanks to LouAnn, Vanese, Marilyn and soon Kathy! We are always looking for new classes, tell us what you want to learn (or teach!)
Friends and family that stop by the shop, offering words of advice – finding that special fabric that they couldn’t live without! And those that are too far to stop by the shop send words of encouragement on a regular basis!
Most importantly all the quilting and sewing enthusiasts that find their way to our shop! We want you to know how important you are! We have what I believe is the BEST customer rewards program in the nation! Our “Sewing Seeds” and I am sure after our customer appreciation event on June 17, 2017 (save the date!) you will agree!
All of this adds up to success! I couldn’t do it without all of you (and I really wouldn’t want to!) and for all of this I am truly Thankful!
A few more photos to share – this is Vintage Rose – I was honored to create this beautiful quilt to represent Quiltworx in the Island Batik booth at festival. Doris Rice, the Quilting Queen quilted it for me on a very tight deadline! (I will post photos of the quilting when I get the quilt back in December!)
Be thankful and kind and remember – tomorrow is not promised!
Oh my Goodness – September just flew by and we are 1/3 of the way through October and I am just now reaching out! Hubby and I were very happy to put September to bed this year. He started the month with a tear in his retina on Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. The next weekend found me at the ER (after vending at the Coastal Prairie Quilt Guild Show) with a 10mm kidney stone, surgically removed the next day! A big thank you to my son and grand-kids for coming to the show to pack my booth! I was miserable for the next 2.5 weeks until the stint came out – the next morning at 6:45 am I flew to Memphis, TN to teach at a retreat! On Saturday of the retreat I realized I had energy and I was BACK! I also realized that I had not feeling well for a few months, I had chalked it up to being busy opening a new shop and having a different routine! I am SEW EXCITED to be back in the swing again and we have lots planned – so much that I am just starting with October – but stay tuned to our Facebook and/or Instagram pages or follow our blog to stay up to date!
On the schedule you will find:
T-Shirt Quilt Class Information
Multiple Madness Dresden Plate Class – uses beautiful fabrics with a 12″ repeat
Visits from local longarm quilters to help you turn your TOPS into QUILTS
A FREE Quilting Ergonomics Lecture (October 22)
And Lots more – click on one of the above links to learn more!
BIG BIG BIG NEWS!!!!
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION AND REWARDS!!!
May your bobbin run out (as that means you are sewing!) May you smile and find peace while you sew! May we see you soon!
Til Then Best Wishes,
A little delay in posting here – but better late than not at all right? On August 6th we had Louann here to teach the “WalkAbout” tote! All of our students went home with a completed bag and a bag full of tips and tricks shared by Louann!
We are hoping to schedule another class for this bag in the near future – let us know if you are interested! These would make AWESOME Christmas presents!
Louann’s bags – the center one is her daughter’s knitting bag!Louann’s bags – the center one is her daughter’s knitting bag!Pieces and parts to be used as demos during the class! Won’t these make a fun bag!In processIs it inside or right-side out?
Just lovely! Great accent colors!
Looking sharp!I love love love Genia’s bag – what a great project!I love love love Genia’s bag – what a great project!I love love love Genia’s bag – what a great project!
Good Morning! I was searching through my blog the other day for something and realized I really miss blogging and sharing (in more depth) what I am up to these days! SEW – from now on I will be blogging more frequently to let you know what I am working, what we have new in the shop, where I am teaching etc.
First of all – thank you to all that have stopped by the shop since we opened – we are grateful. In our effort to show our gratitude we have a monthly give-a-way! July we gave away this quilt! Fear not – I have a pattern available if you did not win but would still like to have this festive quilt to show your love for the USA!
I also want to share this adorable quilt with you – the fabrics are by Cori Dantini – my new favorite fabric designer! My granddaughter is part of an acting ensemble and her very first play was “Into the Woods” and she played the granny – so of course I had to buy this fabric collection! We have this wonderful kit available for you! Call us for more information!
I have been asked to help Quiltworx complete a quilt for the new technique of the month – Vintage Rose! The color way is designed by Judel and the fabrics are from Island Batik!
Here is what I have done so far – be sure to “follow” the blog to stay up to date!
You can also keep up to date with our shenanigans on Facebook and Instagram – both under HollyDee Quilts!
I may have mentioned in an earlier post that my word for the year is “ACTUALIZE”. I wanted something that would inspire me to do the things I really want to do and not procrastinate. Life is short, make the most of it.
Back in 1995 I started quilting, I think the seed was planted then that I wanted to own a quilt shop and share my new passion with everyone I came in touch with. A few years later while taking a workshop from Mary Lou Weidman she asked each of us what our favorite part of quilting was; I replied sharing what I know with other quilters. Time Warp to 2011 I became a certified instructor for Judy Niemeyer Quilting aka Quiltworx and I have had a blast. Traveling around Texas and even outside of Texas to teach and vend at shows has been so much fun; but I want to be more productive in my own community.
As you recall in 2014 we made the BIG move to the SMALL town of Luling, TX. There is just something about this town that calls upon me to make an impact! While we are not residents of Luling; we live just past the county line; I consider Luling my new hometown!
So begins the next chapter, and I am so excited about it! I have found a perfect little building right on the main drag. The owners have just completed a fabulous renovation and I must say it is full of charm and excitement. I can’t wait to share the inside with you – but for now you will have to whet your appetite with a few photos of the outside and the town.
For you to really appreciate the work that has been done I will start with a before photo from google.
The before photo!The address! 405 E DavisThe building, original brick, new awning, new doors and windows.Looking forward to seeing what my sign bidders come up with!Two doors down from the shop! It’s all happening here the last weekend in June! Two doors down in the other direction is a cute little shop that sells “beverages”
This one can be found at the Luling Oil Museum, however, there are many around town and that have been “decorated” and you can take a self-guided tour!
The Luling Oil Museum is a great place to learn more about the history of our town.
Stay tuned as I will be sharing photos from the inside soon. You will also get a sneak peek at the fabrics that will be lining our shelves!
