Quilt Show is Coming!

Hello Pieceful Quilters!

This week is a big one at Pieceful Gathering. On Tuesday evening at 6:30 or Wednesday morning at 10:30, we begin the fun with Christmas in July for our monthly FREE Seasonal Samplings demo.

Then on Saturday, August 1st, from 10-5, we have our

Third Anniversary Quilt Show

Barbeque - Early Discount Registration - Sale

It's not too late to enter a quilt in the show and have a chance to win some of the wonderful prizes we have been getting in from our vendors and local businesses.

Our Prize Categories are:

First Prize - Judges Overall Favorite

Second Prize - Viewer's Choice

Three Third Prizes:

Best Bed Size Quilt

Best Lap Size Quilt

Best Wall Hanging/Table Topper

Three Special Awards:

Best Quilt from a Quilt Academy Class

Most Unique Quilt

Pieceful Staff Favorite

Also Appearing at the Open House:

Cute Guys Cooking

Miniature Display

Civil War Reenactors in period clothing

AND MORE... Don't miss the fun!

We want to give sincere thanks to the wonderful people that have donated prizes for our show:

Businesses in Fox River Grove and Cary:

CDI Create
Web/Graphic Design
Custom Programming

Cary Grove Photography

Atrium Arts, Ltd.
Framing & Art Sales



Stay Tuned - More details may be added to this post later as they occur to me.

Mark your calendars!

See you this week - Carrie

Mystery Solved

Hello Pieceful Quilters,

I want to share some pictures of the quilts that were made in my Mystery Quilt group. The pattern was from Jo Parrott, and it really worked out great! It was a fairly simple quilt to make, but everyone had to choose their own colors - not knowing what they were making until the end. I think you will have to agree with me that the results are stunning!

The next Mystery Quilt class will start in January - make sure you join the fun!

Piecefully Yours,

Carrie

Happy 4th!

Hello Pieceful Quilters,

As we enjoy our Holiday - don't forget to take a moment to pause and think about all the freedoms we enjoy, and how those freedoms came to pass.

I received an particularly thought provoking email today, and I would like to share it with you:

Something to Think About...

When in England, at a fairly large conference, Condi Rice was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush. She answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.

"You could have heard a pin drop...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?" A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: "President Bush knows that each of our aircraft carriers are the largest mobile 'cities' in the world. Each one has three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people at a time. They are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities. They have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day. They can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day. And they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight decks. Along with thousands of highly trained personnel, they carry modern communication equipment vital to helping recover from a disaster of this kind. We have eleven such ships. How many does France have?"

You could have heard a pin drop...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?" Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, "Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.

"You could have heard a pin drop...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.... "You have been to France before, monsieur?," the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. "Then you should know enough to have your passport ready," admonished the Frenchman. The American said, ''The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it." The Frenchman said, "That is impossible. Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France!" The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, on D-Day in 1944, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to..."

You could have heard a pin drop...

Thank you Susan

Happy 4th - Carrie

New Stuff & Fun!

Hello Pieceful Quilters,

Here are a few things you might have missed if you haven't been to the shop lately:

Pieceful Lei - Delivered in person by Queen Kamanawanaleia! Free Instant Lei kits were handed out to all who attended the June Seasonal Sampler Free Demo. Make sure you mark your calendars to attend the Christmas in July Free Seasonal Demo - Tuesday, July 28th at 6:30 0r Wednesday, July 30th at 10:30 - Be there or be square!

Deb Walker's newest Jo Club project - Americana Tablerunner. Kits are available for this last minute 4th of July project - wouldn't this make a great hostess gift? Speaking of Hostess Gifts, have you seen Debbie Lazarski's latest Candlemat kit? How cute is this? Available at the shop now - get them while they last!

Jean's Fun at the Beach Bag - note the removable Vinyl liner - great for an extra bag if needed, or to keep your wet towels and suits in. Great idea!

Three new projects from Autumn Gatherings - the newest book from Primitive Gatherings. We just can't get enough of these great projects! Check out that awesome orange on the pumpkins - Katie dyed it herself!

Hexagons - again

Hello Pieceful Quilters,

In reply to a comment below, I said I would show a picture of the back of my hexagons - so here it is:

I hope you can tell something from this - it is hard to get a clear close-up picture.
If anyone has better suggestions for Cheryl, please feel free to comment - I am learning, too!
Thanks - Carrie

My Latest Obsession

Hello Pieceful Quilters,

I never get tired of being corny with my name. I am sorry I have been such a pathetic Blogger. I think about things I want to put in here all the time, but when I sit down at my computer, my mind goes blank(er). One thing I have been wanting to share with you is my latest insanity. I don't know why I am doing this - those of you that know me will agree that it is totally out of character. I just can't seem to help myself - I love the look of these little Hexagons I have been working on. How cute are these?

They are great for take-along projects, and great for sitting in front of the TV - and they keep me awake! Civil War fabrics are great for fussy cutting into the hexagons. I am using the paper templates for Engish paper pieceing, but I cut one out of template plastic, 1/4" bigger all around, to use for cutting the fabric 1st. That way I can center my motif and cut around it. I am mostly using little floral prints, but I have some stripes cut, too.

You may be wondering how big I am going to make it. I am wondering, too. I would not be surprised if a stack of flowers ends up at someone's garage sale someday. Oh well, I am having fun making them!

We are thinking about having a class in English Paper Piecing. I don't know if we have anyone to teach it, though. Let me know if you would be interested in the class if we offer it. And while I am thinking about it, we are starting to plan our Fall Schedule, so let me know of any other classes you are interested in seeing here at PG. We are always looking for fresh ideas.

That's all for now - Stop in and see us soon!

Carrie

New Patriotic Jo Kits!

Hello Pieceful Quilters,

I just wanted to tell you about our three patriotic Jo kits. One is this great quilt from Rememberences called, "Rallye Round the Flag." Isn't it wonderful? Quick and easy, and the kits are only $19.99! You can make several before the 4th!

Next, due to popular demand, we have re-made a few Fairfax County Fair kits:

This is the quilt Deb is using for her Triangle Technics class. She will show several techniques for making half square triangles, and you can choose your favorite to make this beautiful quilt.

The third kit will be introduced next week at Jo Club. I can't divulge too much, but it would make a great table runner or wall hanging. Be sure to come and see it during or after Jo Club next week!

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We will also be showing some other summery and patriotic projects at our FREE Seasonal Sampler Demo, which takes place right before Jo Club.

Be there - Aloha!