Saturday, September 29, 2007

Cancellation ranting and future classes

Hello all!

I got a phone call from Lynne yesterday...I had to cancel yet another UFO class (unfinished object class) due to lack of enrollment. Hey ladies! A lot of you asked for UFO classes to finish up your projects and/or to just hang out with your buddies with help. Please let me know what days and times are best for you and I will try and accommodate. I hate to cancel classes since I always get several calls or emails asking why we cancelled (after the fact). Remember, the store policy is to cancel one week ahead of time if no one signs up. Signing up includes paying for the class since we've gotten burned lots of times with other people signing up for a class without paying, and then not showing up.

OK, enough ranting. My shoulder is feeling much, much better. I'm actually cleaning and re-organizing my studio this weekend so I can get back to work in there. The hubby and two of the kids are away at a Catholic Scout Retreat, another one is working the weekend and I've got some of Justin's friends sleeping over to keep him occupied. Now if I could just have a few little elves to do the work of cleaning up for me I'd be set!

I'm working on a few new patterns that I hope to have ready for the next session of classes in January. Ladies, now is the time to let me know what classes you would like to see offered and if I can't teach it, I'll help the store find teachers for it!

Have a great weekend!

Piece in peace,

Pat

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Quilt Pink results & my return to teaching

Hi all!

As I said in my first posting, I would try to post every day, but this time life definitely intervened. More like my computer did not want to cooperate with my posting to the site. Bob's working on it, he thinks it's our security software giving us problems accessing the blog site. I definitely did not want to go to Meaghan (one of the daughters) for help....I'd never hear the end of it :-))

Last Saturday we had a Quilt Pink workshop at the Stony Brook Hamilton store. We had a total of 11 quilters show up. Actually, some were new to quilting, having never quilted before but we successfully passed on the Quilt Pox to them. It was even more meaningful since one of our newbees is a very recent breast cancer survivor, having her last chemo treatment just the Thursday before! As usual, the "Sweatshop Gang" of Mary, Elaine and Heather were in high gear making blocks like crazy. They already have several large lap quilt tops in process. I'm hoping for at least one, possibly two queen sized quilts. It seems the larger quilts do better on the auction site (e-bay).

If you want to see information about Quilt Pink click on this link http://www.quiltpink.com. Also, you can go to e-bay (http://www.ebay.com/quiltpink) and you will see the quilts up for auction. If you want more information about breast cancer and the effort to raise funds to help find a cure go to http://www.komen.org. The more information you have, the more likely you can help yourself or a loved one.

I am recovering very rapidly from my latest surgery on my shoulder (yes, again). I will start classes in October, the first being Circle-A-Round. This is a technique class which will help you learn how to set circles into fabric to create your own unique quilt. Some of the sample quilts from the book are really outrageous. You've probably seen similar ones when you went to quilt shows and though "how did they do that?" I had a lot of fun working with this book. I've got a bunch signed up for the morning session....where's my night ladies!! Please call the store and sign up soon before we have to cancel the class....boy I hate doing that!

I am also doing more new owner guide classes at the Hamilton store. This is to help Elizabeth since she's covering several locations. That way I can get to see more of my buddies at the Hamilton store. I hope to see you all really soon!

Piece in peace.

Pat

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Hello all! My first posting in cyberspace!

Today my husband finally put most of the bits and pieces of my website and blog site together. Hopefully you all will check in from time to time to see what I've been up to. I will try to the best of my ability (chuckle) to post daily. As you all well know, life has a tendency to intervene, so if I'm late in posting, feel free to zip out an email to me to give me a nudge.

Actually, I'm pretty excited about my entry into the 21st century. I've always used computers, however, I was fairly reticent about promoting myself. When Bob (the hubby) pointed out that I was missing out on making more money, which will allow me more time to stay in my studio and quilt...I realized it was time to do it.

It's been a long time dream of mine to have a show, something like Alex Anderson's Simply Quilts but with a twist. I love teaching people how to quilt and I felt that would be an exciting way to reach more people! Whether or not I achieve that dream...we'll see. But, at least I can give shameless self-promotion a shot! The worst thing that happens is I get ignored, but at least I can say I tried.

Please let me know what you think of my new website and blog (venting) space. I hope you will enjoy reading as much as I like talking (hey, I never did say I was a quiet person).

Piece in peace!