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!