Cabin Award Winner: November 28, 2010

 

Congratulations to kiowa and tammy burke.

You are both winners, and will receive  “snowflake”  gift packs, featuring about $40.00 in “Snowflake” quilt merchandise (patterns, fabric, thread, etc.). 

I just sent you both messages,  including codes that allow us to identify you as a winners.  Please include that code with your shipping information, and e-mail Tera at promotions@dakotacabinquilts.com.   She’ll help you redeem your awards.

The next cabin award will be in two weeks, Sunday December 12th.  THREE winners that day, grab-bag style, assortments of Christmas merchandise. 

New arrivals from Punch Studios

I am constantly amazed by the number of beautiful note cards, notepads, little books, and other “gifty” items that go out the door of our shop.  Some items have a fabric or quilting theme.  Others don’t.

I think the trend can be explained by a couple of common bonds, shared by most quilters.  We like pretty things.  And, we like to share them with others. 

Our newest arrivals from Punch Studios are a perfect example.

View Full Album

Decorative file folders, 10 letter size to a pack, made with thick creamy paper, and decorated with exquisite artwork.

View Full Album

Magnetic notepads, 100 pages per packet.  The thicker strip on top is embellished with little jewels, and each page is printed with pretty detail.  The pages are perforated, and tear away leaving the decorative strip across the top intact.

Why write a note on plain notepaper, when you could write on pretty paper?

Why file papers in a plain manila file folder, when you could use a beautiful folder?

The new arrivals from Punch Studios can be found here.  Lots of other treasures too.

Ahhh… quilting heaven.

I imagine a painter feels this way when she begins with a fresh canvas.

I imagine a chef feels this way when her knives are freshly sharpened.

I imagine an author feels this way when she starts a new book.

I know that quilters feel this way when we start new projects.  I spend a lot of time with quilters, and speak with confidence.

The joy of a stack of beautiful new fabric on the cutting table… Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Joanna Figueroa.  Jelly roll and background/accent fabric for Fig Tree Club, Year 2, Project 1, Twinkle Throw.

 

Jelly roll, unrolled, and sorted by colorway:

Fabric cut, and carefully sorted into stacks for the various blocks.  I have to put my stacks in Ziploc baggies, as I know the rambunctious kittens will play as they help me sew.

As the first blocks emerge, my heart fills with a sense of accomplishment. Graceful pinwheels float on a creamy white background. 

 

I love this pattern.  Simple, pretty, and fresh.  I’m making the larger size, 61” x 70”, and the blocks go together quickly.  Some of the pinwheels spin the other way, some are on a creamy yellow dot background, and a few star blocks are scattered in for fun.  

The overall experience… enchanting!

Mmmm… it’s quilting heaven.

Join us in Fig Tree Club year 2, click here for details.  Join by November 30th, to be eligible for the Welcoming Bonus drawing.  More info here.

Cabin Award Winners: November 21, 2010

Congratulations to crhauens and Kathy Reinertson!

You are both winners, and will receive  “apple”  gift packs, featuring about $40.00 in “Apple” quilt merchandise (patterns, fabric, thread, etc.). 

I just sent you both messages,  including codes that allow us to identify you as a winners.  Please include that code with your shipping information, and e-mail Tera at promotions@dakotacabinquilts.com.   She’ll help you redeem your awards.

Moving on… from Apples to Snowflakes!

The next Cabin Award will be announced Sunday, November 28th.  Two winners again that day, but “snowflake” gift packs instead of apples or pumpkins.  Here’s an example of some of the items that might be included:

 

View Full Album

 

Remember, you must be a blog follower to qualify for the Cabin Awards.  Join today… See the list of followers in the left column.  Click into the “Follow, with Google Friend Connect” area, and add your information.

My favorite snowflake quilt projects?  That’s easy.  Click here for the Let it Snow batik category.

View Full Album

Fig Tree Club at DCQ!

As we prepare to launch the second year of our Fig Tree Club at DCQ, we have opened up the club to new members.

Carry-over members from Year 1 will receive an e-mail soon, inviting them to specify size and backing options for Year 2: Project 1, “Twinkle Throw”.

 

New members are asked to join by November 30th, to be eligible for the “Welcoming Bonus Drawing”.  Although Joanna does a great job guiding our local club along, with beautiful fabric collections, and inspired pattern designs, she encourages us to “make the club our own”.  

Yesterday, I finished this “Mini Quilt Trio” project, using scraps left over from my first year’s club projects.  The accomplishment inspired me… to inspire you!

First, we’ll have a drawing for THREE Mini Trio Quilt packets.  All confirmed Fig Tree Club members (new or old) will be eligible.  Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail, and announced on the blog (first names only, to protect privacy).

Packet includes:

Mini Trio Quilts Pattern, by Suzanne’s Art House, AND Pear Table Top Trip Tic Stand (6” x 12” units). Total  Retail value $27.00.

During the year, winners can use their scraps to make a trio of adorable miniatures. 

Then, at the conclusion of year two, we’ll have an award like never before. 

All graduating members will have a chance to win this beautiful Fig Tree quilt from Joanna’s “Pastry Shop” book… Finished size: 60.5” x 63.5”.

  Close-Up Detail

  Close-Up Detail~ Such Pretty Quilting!

Professionally pieced by my friend Susan, professionally quilted by my friend Tammy.

The quilt features fabrics from the “Patisserie” collection, and is one of my favorites. 

So, if it’s one of my favorites, why are we giving it away?  Good question.

Hmmm…  Joanna’s Fig Tree style has a wonderful message.  A handmade gift is the ultimate expression of kindness, appreciation, and friendship.

As I think about our shop, and the way we reach out to our customers, it is through the common bond of quilting. It’s  time to give the gift of quilting in a new, tangible, and exciting way! 

Prize value?  Priceless :)

Or, if you are a practical person, I think the quilt would sell for between $350-$500.

So, from one “Fig Tree Girl” to another…. Join us in the Fig Tree Club!  We welcome you with open arms. 

Click here for details, and we’ll save you a spot.

Cabin Award Winner: November 14th, 2010

Congratulations to Twila D and Maree!

You are both winners, and will receive  “pumpkin”  gift packs, featuring about $40.00 in “Pumpkin” quilt merchandise (patterns, fabric, thread, etc.). 

I just sent you both messages,  including codes that allow us to identify you as a winners.  Please include that code with your shipping information, and e-mail Tera at promotions@dakotacabinquilts.com.   She’ll help you redeem your awards.

Moving on… from pumpkins to apples.

The next Cabin Award will be announced Sunday, November 21st.  Two winners again that day, but “apple” gift packs instead of pumpkins.  We don’t have very many apple quilt patterns… but here’s an example of pretty “Apple” items that might be included:

View Full Album

I’m sure we can come up with something really good.  “Apple” gift packs will include approximately $40.00 in apple themed merchandise.

Cabin awards are randomly chosen from the current list of “followers”.  Join today!

My Favorite Pumpkin Projects

As mentioned in today’s newsletter, we’re celebrating the Pumpkin this week at DCQ.

Here are a few of my favorite “Pumpkin Projects”:

Saginaw St. Quilt Co.: Great Pumpkin Harvest Kit

This & That: Pumpkin Party Runner Kit

Fall Memories Pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts

And, a variety of beautiful Hoffman “Pumpkin” batiks:

View Full Album

I plan to make a Four Square Farmhouse quilt using these batiks, plus a variety of creams, browns, and taupes:

I think it will be pretty, don’t you?

In honor of our Autumn Pumpkin Celebration, we’ll announce TWO Cabin Awards next week. Each winner will receive a “pumpkin”  gift pack, featuring about $40.00 in “Pumpkin” quilt merchandise (patterns, fabric, thread, etc.). 

A quick reminder to sign up as a follower for Blogs from the Cabin. 

Look to the left.  Then scroll up.  There’s a list of names, some with photos (optional), of readers who follow this blog.  Weekly cabin awards are randomly chosen from this list.  If you haven’t registered… you’re missing out!

Become a “follower” by next Sunday, and you’ll be eligible for the “Pumpkin” awards.

Selling Cards

As shop owners, we shop for fabric in a much different way.  We are presented with fabric samples, either “on paper”, or “on cloth”, approximately 6 months before the merchandise is ready.  We commonly shop for seasonal goods about a year before that season.

Faced with so many choices, it can be a daunting task.  But, we know what we like, and hope that you like it too.

Some fabric companies do an especially nice job presenting their fabric to us.  For example, this past spring, we were shown the following fabric cards:

    So pretty!

Plus, a Free Pattern Sheet for a Quilt in Two Sizes, designed by Miss Rosie (aka Carrie Nelson), to perfectly showcase her debut fabric collection:

The decision… an easy one!

Yes.  We’ll take it all.  Plus, multiple bolts of our favorite prints.

Time passes.  Memory fades a bit. 

Then, the UPS truck backs up to the shop, and unloads huge boxes of fabric.

Open… unwrap… price… add to website… display.  Take a step back, and smile.

Ta Da!  We did good!

Click here for Fresh Palette.  Kits are now available for the quilt kit, in two sizes.  Backing is optional.