Merry Christmas

Here it is, Christmas morning, the family is asleep and the few gifts I have are waiting to be wrapped.

I finished making two full sized quilts with the help of Anita and Marilyn - my binding buddies and passed the quilts to the mother of the two girls who will receive the quilts. My thanks to local long arm quilter, Nancy Freese for coming to my rescue and doing such a beautiful job on these quilts. In my true fashion, I waited till the last minute to really work on them and then, spent what felt like days sewing at the Attic Window. While I am lucky enough to have a large spare bedroom for my sewing room, it is a mess and I am unable to spread out without clearing said mess. So, I cross the river and sew at the store. My thanks to Diane and Marilyn for welcoming myself and anyone who either needs to spread out or just wants to sew with friends.

Being in the store so much lately has given me a chance to see many of our friends come in to "Stuff their Stocking", our 12 Days of Christmas specials. It is always fun to help people pick out their next projects or the new must have tool. (Have you seen the new 4-in-1 tool? Stop in and see this tool - look on the front counter for it.) And it is nice to meet your friends and family, who come in and pick up a gift from your wish list.

And sometimes we have someone come in and provide a smile to all. On Wednesdy, a well dressed gentleman came into the store. Kathryn said he came in dodging here and there which was a bit curious. He came back to the classroom area where I was receiving a Comfort Quilt from the NCW Quilt Guild for a local bowler who has just had a stroke, our prayers go to Jim and his family.

I asked the gentleman if I may help him and he quietly said he was there to get a gift for his mother. The problem was he had come into the store without seeing his parents' car in front of the store. Was he ever surprised that he had walked into the Attic Window at the same time his mom and dad where in the store. So, he had ducked behind racks and worked his way out of their line of sight.

I sent him back to our Christmas room out of anyone's line of sight. Taking his credit card with me to the register at the front of the store, I pulled out the gift certificate paperwork and went to the register, where I had to put his mother's purchase on a hold receipt as she was still shopping. As his mom came to the register with her final purchase, I was ringing up the son's transaction - being careful to keep the credit card out of sight (no way was I going to ruin this surprise). I take the receipts with me back to the Christmas room. After the son finished signing and we filled out the certificate, I went out of the room to check if his parents had left. Nope, now they were having Diane show them something on one of the Viking sewing machines.

So, here is the son stuck in our sewing room as the only way out of the shop is right in the path of his parents. I whip off a Santa pillow from a chair and offer the son a seat until it is clear. A few minutes later the parents go out the door and as they didn't come back in to see why their son's car was parked in front of the store, I would assume they didn't see it. At last the coast was clear and the son gave his thanks and left.

I just get such a kick out of seeing people come in to the store. This is a happy place, a stress free place where people want to be. I want to thank Diane and Marilyn for hiring me. It is such a great place to be, whether working or sewing.

After finishing two quilts, I have 2 projects that need to be done and mailed by the 2nd. I had one of those weak moments and signed up online to make 2 sets of pretty kitty blocks for exchange. So, I am making 2 sets of six identical blocks. Fabric is washed, EQ pattern for one block's background is printed and this weekend I hope to finish the blocks and mail them by Tuesday.

And just so I could have an easy project to do, I took home a sample for the shop. I hope to finish the March Pocket sample from Briarwood Cottage before the 31st. We still have a few kits left from past Pockets. They make nice small wallhangings, or would look good on a coffee table. I am curious to see April's pattern.

I hope you all are able to spend your Christmas with your family and friends. For those who have loved ones in the military serving away from home, my thanks and prayers are with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bus Tour in February

Join the Attic Window for a bus trip to Puyallup for the 

Sewing & Stitchery Expo!
DATE: Friday, February 26th
TIME: 6:00AM (leave from behind JC Penney)
COST: $42.00 (includes bus ride, ticket to show and snacks)

Make your reservations now!
Reservations need to be made and paid in full by January 31st.
Don't wait, the bus will fill up fast!!!!

Notification of cancellation must be February 12th by 6:00 p.m.for a full refund.
For a 50% refund your cancellations must be received by February 17th at 6:00 p.m.
There will be no refund for cancellations received after 6:00 p.m. on February 17th.
If we have to cancel due to weather you will be refunded $32.00. (Ticket to the show is non-refundable)

Attic Window Staff Party

Group shot during dinner at Inna's cuisine, Wenatchee.  We had a great meal and enjoyed the top floor to ourselves as the wine poured and we got a little louder.  Happy Holidays!

left to right, top-Jenny, Barbara, Wilma, Martha, Carol, Richard, Kathryn, Jan, Sally

bottom-Marilyn, Diane

Now try this...Can you match the husband with the correct wife above???
Send us a note back if you can and let's see how many you get right.


Hint:  Jenny and Marilyn are not included in the game.

Thimbleberries Holiday Party

The Attic Window hosted the Thimbleberries Holiday party, on December 19th, with lots of great snacks and fun giveaways. 

The winner of our Thimbleberries gift pack was...

Dena Hanson!!!  Congratulations Dena.

After School Kids Class

Diane taught an after school class on how to make the "Quilt Smart Cell Phone Bag".

They all had a great time!

Guy's Night Out!

Send your favorite guy to The Attic Window Quilt Shoppe to do their Christmas Shopping. While they are there, they can enjoy Sausage Sandwich and a beverage of their choice and talk with the guys about.....well, what do guys talk about? Meanwhile we will wrap up your present and they are all done. But, if you don't want them to pick out what they think you want, how about you come down to the shop and fill out a wish list. Then they can pick an item they will be sure that you wanted. This way everybody is happy this Christmas. Now, if we can only figure out what to get him?

Date: December 17th (Thurs)

Time: 6 - 8 PM
FREE Sausage & Beer

UFO Night

Un-Finished Ojects

To all of you that have been coming to UFO Night, we want you to bring your UFO list and show us if you have finished anything off of your list. The one who has finished the most will win a prize. So be sure to come with your projects and maybe get one more done.

Date: December 16th (Wed)

Time: 5:00 PM

Dinner will be served.

Today we had a free class for the Sole Cool Hot Iron Bag. Diane was our teacher. My bag is the red apple bag, Diane's is the middle bag and the one on the right is from our trunk show. Our class was a small one, just Diane, Sally and me. Diane was making the bag for the first time while teaching Sally and me at the same time. I always learn so many other little tips from Diane when she is the teacher. She got way ahead of us, but graciously waited for us as we caught up. We found an error in the pattern. If you make the smaller bag the width of fabric C should be 10-inches not 11-1/2 inches. Thank goodnes the error was on the larger side, an easy fix. We're going to offer a free class each month. You just need to purchase the pattern at the store. The next one is The Professional Tote on January 10th. I'll be there. I've made one and want to make another for a gift. It's a wonderful bag. The one I made today is to put my small little iron in when I got to retreats (it's made to put a hot iron in when it's time to go home). I'm going to make a second one to use as my lunch bag for work. One can never have enough bags (and to think I used to think that about shoes!).

Kathryn

December Dates for Moda BOM and Thimbleberries

All Moda's Green Piece Block of the Month quilters, we want to remind you that this month only, we meet Thursday, December 10th at 10 AM and Saturday, December 12th at 10 AM.

Then, for all you Thimbleberries Club quilters, we are only meeting Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 - 1:00 PM for our Christmas party. Be sure to bring your Thimbleberries BUCKS.

Sew Easy Pajama Pants

Have you always wanted to make your own pajama pants? Now you can, just in time for the winter or a last minute Christmas gift. These pajama pants are great for the beginner or seasoned vetern alike. Make them out of our new flannels, wovens or our wonderful cotton fabrics we have throughout the shop. You will want to make more than one! Kids are welcome...Moms bring them and you can both learn!

Date: December 21st (Monday) from 10-3pm
Instructor: Diane Garlini
Cost: $12 (cost of pattern)

*Sew Easy Pajama Pants book is available online or in our store.

2010 Thimbleberries - Village Green

I've been a Thimbleberries fan for a lot of years. I think the first club I was in was at least 10 years ago. Lynette Jensen creates what she feels. Her quilts make you feel warm and cozy. She is well known for the houses she puts in many of her quilts. 2010 brings the third year for the Thimbleberries Club at the shop. I volunteered to make the sample. There are three color choices: Midnight, Dawn and Dusk. I chose Dawn, the softest of the three color ways. When I saw the beautiful border print I just knew that was the one. The size of the quilt is 72" x 82" or you can chose the queen variation of 96" x 106". I chose the queen. The sample is now hanging at the shop. The bolts of fabrics have not arrived yet (my sample was made from a kit), so I was not able to complete the top to it's finished sized. At this point it is 72" x 82". It is stunning. My husband loves it, I love it. What do you think?

The club meets the third Thursday or Saturday of each month. Diane demonstrates the current month's block, we have lots of show and tell, lots of laughter and the Thursday group is spoiled by Sheila Burgess who brings us the most delicatble goodies that just melt in your mouth. Lynette Jensen has a homey newsletter, a recipe, and an extra pattern that goes along with the current month's pattern - it truly is fun for all.

Let us know if you'd like to join us. I will show you the completed quilt when all of the final borders are on...oh, did I mention there are 220 half square triangles around the outside? It took me an afternoon to get them all made. I used the Wonder Cut Ruler and Mary Ellen's Best Press, the clear starch alternative and those half square triangles came out the right size and crisp and easy to sew together...both the ruler and the Best Press we have at the store.

Happy sewing!

Kathryn

PS The last book I just finished was A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid, it was wonderful. I am now reading The Star Garden by Nancy E. Turner. It's the fourth and last book in the Sarah Agnes Prine series. If you like historical fiction it is a wonderful story following Sarah's life. She writes her story in a journal. Can you imagine making quilts by the light of the fire in the evening after the day is done? We do have so much to be grateful for, don't we?

Quilt a Travel Souvenir Trunk Show

The Attic Window is hosting...
"Quilt a Travel Souvenir Trunk Show" by Kimberly Einmo
for the month of December.
Combine your love for quilts with a sense of adventure to create one-of-a-kind vacation memory quilts.


Over a dozen eye-catching quilt patterns will help you capture the vibrant color, texture, diversity, and grandeur of favorite European locales.

The projects feature a balanced mix of precision piecing techniques, fanciful machine appliqué, and stunning hand or machine embroidery.

Come into the shop and check out the trunk show...Kimberly Einmo will be coming to Wenatchee August 2010!

Sole Cool Hot Iron Bag is ONLINE

If you read Martha's post a few days ago, you read about the Sole cool hot iron bag.
It is now available in our online store as well! It would make a great gift for one of your quilting friends! Get your pattern now.
FREE class December 13th (Sunday) 12 - 3 PM

Martha's Make-up Day

Don't miss out on Martha's Make-up Day!

So, to all my students, (including some who didn't make it to class) if you have a project from one of my classes that you've never finished up or another that you started after the class and got stuck on, come to this make up day, sew with some others and get help from me if you need it! Sweatshirt jacket, shirt, vest, quilt, brown bag block, table runner, or even help with EQ6, you name it . . . you work on it. This is a no charge thank you to you from me (and the Attic Window, of course, as they provide the space.)

SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 -- 10:00 a.m. until at least 3:00 p.m.

There are only two simple requirements:
1. Call the Attic Window or stop by and put your name on the list as there is a limited amount of room -- sign up strictly on a first come basis!
2. Let me know a day or two before hand what you'll be working on and/or what you need help with so I can be sure to bring the necessary tools, samples, books, etc.

Pretty simple isn't it? So pull out those UFO's and let's get them done before the holidays overtake us!!