Christmas is over and while it was wonderful, both Connie and I thought it was a relief to sit down and sew something.  Becky’s kids are headed home to Louisville, KY and West Des Moines, IA; Rick is one his way to Oklahoma City and I’m sewing the charm school project for January.

Chris Bakhaus sent us this picture of “another happy grandchild” with her sled quilt.  Great job, Chris!

Here was the scene in our kitchen recently – both BC and Millie appear out of nowhere every time they hear the water running.  They love to run their paws through the stream of water and then try to “bite it”.  Look familiar to any cat owners?

Look at this fabulous hand applique!  (And this is the backside.)   It belongs to a customer who sent her quilt to be quilted – we examined it and found it to be perfect!

On January 1, 2013, we will post the very first online sampler block patterns on our blog.  You can find our blog here.  Feel free to print out the block patterns and start sewing.  We have also included a picture of our finished quilt in a setting that we will post towards the end of next year.  Get out your scraps and start making blocks!

For those readers who live in North Iowa, please put this meeting on your calendar.  On January 19 at the Clear Lake Public Library from 1 pm – 2 pm, Mary LaHay from Iowa Friends of Companion Animals will speak about 3 ways you can help the dogs. Here is a copy of the flier.  If you love dogs, please help.  Start helping by attending this meeting – I’ll see you there!

House construction is still at a complete halt but last week during our Friday “snow day” my carpenters built the dog kennel in the south end of the quilt shop.  Now I will be able to safely keep my friends’ dogs on occasion.  They will be able to go outside to a HUGE fenced yard and get in and out of the building through a doggie door.  I plan to move in some upholstered furniture, carpeting, an intercom and some dog toys.  Another small dream come true for me!

I moved all my old fabric to a cupboard in the garage to make room for all that new contemporary fabric that is coming soon.  So much fabric – so little time!  Ha!

Until next Thursday,

Mary

PS – The pattern I listed last week from Villa Rosa was wrong – I said it was Limelight and actually it was Cloud Nine – so sorry!

We started as a quilt design business but soon discovered that we needed supplies to continue making country quilts so in 1987 we opened a small shop that has grown over the years. We now carry over 5000 bolts of premium cotton fabric and all other supplies and equipment needed to make your country quilts as well as quilt patterns from other designers, making our store a complete quilt shop in every way.

We have been designing original quilt patterns for country quilts since 1983. That is the reason we started Country Threads.  It’s our favorite part of the business and over the years we have designed over 500 quilt patterns for country quilts and also written 25 quilt books.

We sell quilt patterns in our quilt shop, through the mail to retail customers and to quilt shop wholesale accounts so you’ll see our patterns all over the world. Many times visitors enter the quilt shop, see a Country Threads pattern and ask, “Are you THAT Country Threads?”