The ups and downs of life...

It has been awhile since last we posted... Some of you undoubtedly already know what has kept Vicki away from not only this blog but also the store for a while. Vicki's mother passed away about two weeks ago due to lung cancer.  I know she has appreciated all the cards and prayers during this difficult time for her and her family.  Thank you all!

In the way of things, life has to move on after tragedy and what better story to share with you now than that of Laura?  Laura is a young local woman who came into the store a while back, looking to make something special for her fiance as a wedding gift.  She had never sewn before and was borrowing a machine from a friend.  With a little help from the girls here at BJ's Quilt Basket, she settled on an easy but pleasing pattern, Take 5 Gets the Point.  She told us her fiance liked to fish and enjoyed the outdoors- but did she settle for the traditional fish prints? No!  She headed straight for the batiks!  And didn't she do a wonderful job of picking colors?

 Laura continued to astound us all as the beginner sat down at that borrowed machine and with a little help, powered through block after block- with perfect seams no less! Truly, it comes easy to some it would seem. Now keep in mind that this was a gift to be given to her husband at the wedding- he could not know about this endeavor before that day. So not only was she starting on a large, unknown project, she was also having to keep it a secret! As the days and weeks progressed, we looked forward to visits from Laura as she got the blocks done, laid them out the first time, finished the quilt top, chose borders- then learned how to miter them! 

Then it came time to finish the quilt- and with some assurances from us, handed her precious work over to Sandy, our quilter. 

Stunning, no?

Last but not least, when the quilt was returned, with beautiful leaves and vines holding it all together, we gave Laura another quick lesson in binding- which she had to hurry through as the wedding was only weeks away at this point!

A labor of love!

 She was able to get the quilt on time for the wedding and we understand he loved it.  Who wouldn't?  It's beautiful!  Thank you, Laura, for sharing your enthusiasm and and journey with us- it was really fun to help you along!  Congrats to you both!

Lindsey

Summer Lily

The Festival of Classes is over and life is slowly getting back to normal here at BJ's Quilt Basket- though we do have a couple exciting things to share with those of you who didn't venture out into the craziness last week.  :)

We are lucky enough to be the temporary home of Jinny Beyer's latest marvelous creation, a quilt entitled "Summer Lily."

Isn't it amazing?!

We had several complete kits available for purchase during the Festival of Classes and they sold so well, we're getting a couple more!  We invite you guys to come into the store and check out this stunning quilt- it's really remarkable up close and personal.  If you've ever wanted to do a Jinny Beyer quilt- this is your chance!  The kit includes all the fabric you need- enough for the quilt top, binding, and borders- in addition to a full-color pattern and templates.  Doesn't get any easier than that, right?

And speaking of kits- if you wanted to take our batik BOM in 2010 but were unable to, you now have the option of buying the whole quilt as a kit!  We're waiting for one fabric to come in and then we'll have kits available for purchase.  Two of these beauties are already spoken for, so if you want one of these kits, do let us know soon and we'll set one aside for you!

Vicki

Joyful hints for July BOM!

Summer has finally arrived!  And aren't we all thankful!!  This last Saturday was the First Saturday for July and in case you were out enjoying the sunshine, we've posted some pictures in a slideshow below of helpful hints for those who are enrolled in "Joy."

We do apologize for the lack of updates on here as of late but the run-up to the Quilt Show and our own Festival of Classes has taken up all of our waking time!  We've been checking in lots of new fabrics, cutting new kits, and getting organized for the fun!!  If you're local, come on by this week in order to check out all of the nifty new things without the crowds! 

Digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Fun and Fabrics!

And the fun continues!  The last couple of days have been fun and busy around BJ's- we got to meet our Shop Hop Basket winner- Kayleen!  She is obviously a young sewer- so inspiring to see the kids getting into quilting.  She was particularly excited to get the Shop Hop bag that was tucked into the basket.

Congratulations to Kayleen, our Shop Hop Basket winner!

As if the sale isn't enough to keep me busy cutting jelly rolls, a new shipment of batiks prompted us to do some relocating...  The modern graphic section is now in the corner, all arranged beautifully by Wanda.

The Modern section in it's new home..

 And the batiks moved to their own aisle in order to make room for FOUR NEW BOXES of fabric!  So colorful, no?

Yumm!  And that's only one side of the new Batik aisle!!

 In addition to the boxes and boxes of batiks, we received a curious little box with the following lineof fabrics...we're pretty sure they're not terribly common, at least in recent memory.  :)

What is it?  *Hint* It's NOT Asian...

It's EGYPTIAN!  How fun is this?!

I apologize for not posting the pictures of the new tools Vicki has been texting me...they're not loading to a size that makes them visible  :(  Never fear!  We'll be hosting a small event to familiarize you with these nifty new gadgets when they get back!
Lindsey

Shh!

Hello all!

This is Lindsey, the resident techie at BJ's Quilt Basket, and I've taken over the blog for the weekend asVicki  is out of town- she and our manager, Nancy, are off to Market in Salt Lake City!  They'll be touring and learning all of the new tools and techniques available to the quilting world.  Keep checkin' back here throughout the weekend to see what little samples Vicki texts back to me here! 



This is a rare opportunity here at BJ's- the bosses are never BOTH gone and the SAME TIME.  To commemorate this unique event, the employees here at BJ's are having a sale...check it out!





A detail of those beautiful fabrics we showed you last week!





The newest kit available- done in Robyn Pandolph's

Scarborough Fair line of fabrics!



May Flowers!

The sun is out and the flowers supposedly promised to us by the April showers haven't arrived yet- except in fabric!    We've just received two new lines of Spring florals we thought might lift your spirits...


"Lovely Ladies Encore" by Northcott
Not even out of it's packaging yet!




The focal panel of the Lovely Ladies line!



The second line we've gotten in is Robyn Pandolph's new floral, Scarborough Fair.  I've been experimenting with kits for this line- you'll have to check back in a few days to see what I've managed to come up with!!

"Scarborough Fair" by Robyn Pandolph

Well, we're all busy around here after the crazy fun of the Central Oregon Shop Hop.  I wanted to thank all of those who visited the shop and participated in the Hop this year- we had a blast and we hope you did too!  If you're curious who won what this year, check out the Shop Hop section of our main webpage, http://www.bjsquiltbasket.com/.



Vicki



Shop Hop preparation!

I can't believe Shop Hop is already coming this Thursday (along with my daughter's birthday!)!!  Time flies when we have SO MUCH to do!!!  We are cutting more kits yet - it's always fun to see the new kits, and new tools we have in stock!!  We also are still getting in new lines - Kathy Deggendorfer's new line from In The Beginning - "My Sunshine" just arrived & is kitted - it's gorgeous!!!  Very summery - hope that brings the sun & it stays for a while!!!  Well - better get back to work - cleaning & organizing for this weekend, see you all then!!   Vicki

Mt. Bachelor's Quilt Guild Retreat

Wow – did you see the sun out there this weekend? Maybe spring will come & stay!!!  I’m actually kind of glad though that the weekend brought us stormy weather because I was able to attend the Mt. Bachelor Quilt Retreat this weekend at the Inn of the 7^th Mountain, and you always want to sew more when it’s stormy!!  You can see the quilt I’m working on here –

My "Sun Quilt"- more to come soon!

This is something I’ve always wanted to do.   I will call it my “Sun Quilt” – it will end up going from very light in the center & darker as you go out – I’m about half way done, so you’ll get to see more of it when it’s done – I’m very excited!  I will be probably kitting this at the store though if you’re interested – I’ve already had a couple people tell me they’d like one!! 

Had a lot of fun with the Bachelor gals on retreat though, just hard to get back to real life again.

Look at this stunning project finished by
some lovely ladies at the retreat!

 And now I must return to deal with my sick kiddo some more . Poor thing – she has that nasty cold that won’t let up!! 

So, see you soon when my next project is under way! 

Vicki

12th Annual Shop Hop

The Central Oregon Shop Hop is back for it's 12th year! Eight great Central Oregon quilt shops are participating this year, including BJ's!  Beginning April 28th and ending May 1st, the Shop Hop is such fun every year! Check out our website for more details about the stores participating and the hours. Be sure to pick up a Passport at any one of the 8 stores and have every store you stop at stamp it.  With every stamp, you’ll receive a clue to the mystery quilt and a free fat eighth! This year every store is giving away fabrics centered around Maywood's 13 going on 30 shown below.

The large floral print is our focus & all shops will have it!!



 So with every shop you visit, the more fabric you'll be able to collect.  And as they all coordinate this year, this is basically a quilt or porject just waiting to happen!

More fun pieces of this Maywood line!!

 Each store participating in the Hop is also offering prizes along the way- BJ's is giving away the basket and bag below, both stuffed full of useful and fun quilting tools.



The basket full of goodies that we'll be giving away
during the Shop Hop!



This beautiful bag, made by our lovely Evelyn, will be a part
of the prize from BJ's...



In addition to the drawings and prizes offered by each store, there will be an overall set of prizes as well. Those who visit every store and have their Passport stamped at all 8 stores will be entered into drawings for a FREE SEWING MACHINE! 



Janome 7700 Horizon- MSRP $2999! 

 Cynthia's Sewing Center and Janome have helped provide this year's top prize- a Janome 7700 Horizon. This is Janome's best selling quilting machine!  It features 11" bed space, a built-in walking foot, 250 stitches, 3 alphabets and an extension table.  For more information on the specifics of the sewing machine, visit Janome Horizon 7700.  
And as if this wasn't enough- those with a completed Passport are also entered in drawings to win several giftcards as well!  Up for grabs are $50 and $25 giftcards to each store.  There are going to be many winners- why shouldn't one of them be you?!  Plan on checking out the Shop Hop April 28- May 1st-- you won't regret it!

Vicki

Sew and Tell was so much fun!

We had so much fun at our last  Sew & Tell - my daughter Kendra even joined us this time, and she got way more done than anyone else!!  When we get her quilt up on the wall we'll post a picture of it - it will be cute, it's from the pattern "All About Me" - because you know, life is all about her!  ; )

Our dinner from Fresh Indulgence Catering was wonderful, best we've ever had I'd have to say!  Tri-tip with a wonderful strawberry spinach salad & pasta salad with honey butter on our homemade bread!!  If this sounds mouth-watering to you, sign up for our next one! 

We do them every 2nd & 3rd Friday nights of the month!

Kendra hard at work!!

Evelyn and Kendra celebrate a fun and productive night.



Spoiler alert!

For those of you enjoying our First Saturday Block of the Month, "Joy," the fabric above is just a sample of the greatness that awaits you this Saturday, April 2nd.  Be sure to finish up those blocks!  We told you we'd make next month worth the work of last month!  :)

Spring is in the air...

The first week of Spring has technically arrived- and I'm sure once it's done snowing every other day, it will feel like Spring soon!  We promised you teasers of more of the new fabrics as they arrive in the store, so here are this week's highlights:



New Dr. Seuss Flannel! Wouldn't these make great pajamas?!





Camelot by In the Beginning



American Valor by Timeless Tresaures- this would make a wonderful, modern quilt for the Challenge!  *Hint, Hint*



It's always interesting and inspiring to see the projects our customers create.  This week we were treated with a Mariner's Compass created by Elaine Templeton that was simply stunning.

See you at BJ's- it's the quilting place to be!

Vicki



New Challenges for you!

Evelyn just completed a lovely bag with the knit fabrics I mentioned on the last update…

Isn't it adorable?!

Remember, if you have an idea of something fun and funky to make with our new knits, make a comment on the post below. There could be free fabric for the person who makes the best suggestion!

And now, on with the business of the day...A couple of really fun challenges have been occupying my mind for a while now and I’d like to share them with you.

I have been put in touch with an organization, Reece’s Rainbow, that could benefit from our particular skills. Reece's Rainbow is an organization that promotes the international adoption of children with Down syndrome and it got us thinking about the need for baby quilts and lap size quilts for these children and their families. The quilts bring more than just warmth; the happiness and comfort they bring to those who receive them aid more than the body. Our challenge, aptly named to benefit Reece's Rainbow, is titled "Pot of Golden Blankets!"  October is national Down syndrome month and BJ's Quilt Basket would like to donate 25 "golden" baby size quilts to Reece's Rainbow by then. The quilts do not need to follow a specific pattern or color scheme, though baby- toddler sized quilts are our goal. You may bring any quilt you would like to donate to the store. We also are going to host open-sew time in the store to provide you a time and place to work on these quilts. (See below for more info.) If you have fabric you would like to donate rather than a quilt, we will have a box for the "Pot of Blankets" challenge in the classroom. No matter what pattern you choose or what fabric you donate, the smile on the face of the child who receives it will be worth the pot of gold at the end of any rainbow.

The second organization to catch my heart in the last couple of months is the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which aims to cover all service men and women and veterans with patriotic quilts donated by volunteers across the country. To date, they have gifted 39,166 quilts to those who have served our country in war. This foundation and its mission have earned the notice of fabric manufacturers across the country and many have agreed to produce patriotic fabric lines that are useful in the production of these quilts. Additionally, a portion of every sale made from these fabrics is then donated to the Foundation. I’ve recently received two of these lines of fabric, American Valor from Andover and American Valor Collection from Timeless Treasures  and am expecting a third line to arrive soon. I believe that the fabulous quilters of Central Oregon could produce incredible quilts to donate to our servicemen and women and veterans and to that end, I am hoping for your participation in this project.

We will be setting aside days to come and work on these charity projects! We will have simple patterns available for use (or use your own) as well as kits (we will discount kits that are dedicated to these donation drives), and we have received fabric donations to get you started!  Every third Thursday, starting in April, our classroom will be available for this Challenge Open Sew Day- no charge!  Bring any project related to these two charity challenges and join us in making the world a little bit happier through quilting.

Vicki

LOOK - more freight!!!

This week's post starts with boxes...why?  Because that's what the girls at BJ's have been unpacking for the last week!  That's right, new fabrics for Spring have arrived!  We've even passed on a volume discount to help you in this economy!   Some of these new fabrics that arrived are 20% below typical retail prices today! We don't want you to quit quilting or anything!

Lot's of freight!!!

Wait till you see what I'm doing with these beauties!

Quilts of Valor!  Help support the troops!

Even knits!!!  Let's see what we can do with these!

If you have any ideas of what to create with these knits, we'd love to hear them, so comment below!!

If we choose your idea as our next featured project - you could win free fabric!!

Vicki

First Saturday Follow-Up!

Below are the photos promised by Bevalee to show you how to go about cutting your setting triangles, etc.  Hope they help, I'm sure they will!  I know that our first meeting went a little longer than planned, but it's all in good meaning!  We truly think that extra instruction will help when it comes time to sit down to cut.  I know I've already heard a lot of thank you's for the extra information - if you still get stuck, please don't hesitate to come by for extra help, that is what we're here for!  Just remember "Joy" group, next month will be easy as pie!  Now, you mystery people, your turn is coming I'm sure... But, in all honesty, I'd like to thank everyone for their patience - it takes time to make sure everyone is comfortable, and I'm glad to have your help in making that happen for anyone who needed it.

Now for the FUN stuff - we are starting to receive even MORE freight!!!  Therefore, you need to come shop during our MARCH MADNESS!!!!!  There's a new sale every day during the month of March- to learn what goes on sale each day, make sure you are signed up to receive our emails next time you come in. Lot's of fun during these sales - today is Turquoise Tuesday, which means any fabric with turquoise in it is 20% off! 

ANYTHING TURQUOISE!

Tomorrow is Western Wednesday -  great time to plan that next project!! 

Lovely border, no?

See you at BJ's - it's the quilting place to be!! 

Vicki & Staff

Cutting Photos for "Joy" from Bevalee

Here are Bevalee's promised pictures.  These illustrate the cutting instructions she covered this last Saturday.

This is step one: setting up the Easy Angle to cut the 10-1/2" Easy Angle Triangle

Step 2: Fabric is actually doubled, so you have cut two triangles!

Step 3: Setting up to do the second cut of the 10-1/2" Easy Angle Triangle.

Step one of setting up to cut the 6-1/2" Companion Angle Triangle.

Close-up of step one of cutting 6-1/2" Companion Angle to show flat point lined up at edge of fabric.

Set-up of cutting the 6-1/2" Companion Angle Triangle, but using the 98 ruler.

Set-up to cut the 6-1/2" Companion Angle Triangle using the whole 98L ruler. Top point hangs over and bottom flat side is even with edge of fabric.

Hope these help jog your memory!  If you still have questions, feel free to drop by the store and ask any of us for help!

The Winter Ball!

Well - I promised I would post a photo of my daughter & her "boyfriend" Alex in their snazzy outfits for the Winter Ball - so, here you go - they looked so dapper!  And, they had a ball - Kendra said she had something to tell me that night after we got home, so I sat down on the bed expecting to hear some girl stuff, you know she did this, or he did that...well, she said, "thank you mommy, I had soooo much fun!!"  Almost brings the tears!  So glad she enjoys life - we should all take note!!  Happy Quilting!  Vicki

Computer problems!

So, I'm told you like to hear what's going on in the background of running this store sometimes, guess that's what a blog is for!  Can I use it to whine??   A couple days ago my computer email simply crashed - don't know what happened - but we're still trying to figure it out - so if you're emailing me, it may take longer for me to get back to you & I apologize in advance!!  How frustrating!!    On a lighter note & a more positive one, I have to go home early today to get Kendra ready for her "Winter Ball" that she & Alex are going to!  She is so excited - I will post a photo of them - they always look so cute - she will wear her prom dress, and he's getting a tux!!!  That will be fun!  Also, taking a class tomorrow with a couple of my employees, and whoever else wants to join us - that Chubby Charmer tote bag!!  Sounds like fun & I could use a new work out bag!!  Hope you'll join us! It's Saturday from 10-4pm!  It's always fun in our classes!!  Will post photos of my project!!  Talk soon!  Have a great weekend!   Vicki

We received this new line of fabric from Moda: FRESH FLOWERS.  If this doesn't bring out the Spring in you...  The border is folded 'buds of flowers' mixed with triangle 'mountains'.  Such a fun table runner to do. Check our our website, and store to see more of this Springy line!  Susie