Count Down to the 1st First Saturday

This Saturday, Oct. 4, will be the first Saturday that the shop will be open early for our Block of the Month members. All of our samples are ready, and we are busy putting our kits together. If you have been planning on signing up for one or more of our programs, please hurry, so your blocks will be ready for you on Saturday morning. This promises to be the first of many fun, and inspiring Saturday mornings in the shop.

Also, on our Oct calendar is our annual fall sale. Oct 16,17, 18 and 19. All of our regular priced yardage will be 20 0/0 off.

The fall is always a busy and fun time here at Keepsake, we hope to see you soon!

Giving

I have been working for several months on organizing charity projects for the shop. It is amazing to me how many contacts I have made, and have had no response. I understand that many organizations are understaffed, and use volunteers for many of their positions. I have finally made contact with an organization that I have volunteered for in the past and am happy to announce a partnership with. It is Project Linus, you many have heard of this national organization. They make blankets for children in many areas of need. Their mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, or traumatized.

We are working on a date for January for a big blanket making day. I am hoping to use the Court Yard Hall, here in the Village for the event, but if that doesn't work we will use a large space near the shop. Please watch for the details both here and on the Website.

In the meantime, with the recent Hurricane in Texas, I know that many blankets will be needed to comfort the Children in the wake of the storm. If you have donations of 100 percent cotton, fleece, batting or yarn you can drop them off at the shop. Also, finished quilts or knitted or crocheted blankets are always welcomed. We will have all of the information you need at the shop. Just stop by of call us.

Thank you for helping me make a difference. Julie

Quilt Tour

Today I am finishing up the instructions for my block for the March Quilt Tour. If you did not participate last year, you might want to put it on your spring calendar of things to do. It is a Tri-County shop hop for Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties. The theme for the 2009 Tour is The Sky's the Limit, check out their website at quilttour.com for the list of the shops that will be participating. The dates are March 25,26,27 and 28. Each shop has designed a block, and will make a quilt using all of the block designs and their own setting and their own fabric choices. It should be fun to see all of the quilts! You will get a free pattern at each of the shops. J

Blocks of the Month

I love where I work. It is always inspiring to be here in the shop. As fall arrives there are always new samples, new projects, tons (I do mean tons!) of fabric and lots of customers. There is a buzz in the shop that comes from everyone wanting to start something new. We have 4 different block of the month samples hanging, with our new vintage kitchen towel sample in the wings. The quilt Sweet Tea, is here from the Quilt Company, we will have it for a month, so be sure and stop in to see it. It is beautiful. We have kits, and patterns. It was made in 2006, so the fabric in our kits is not the same, but they are beautiful just the same.

September

It's here, one of the most beautiful months of the year. I love September. I love school supplies, new shoes, new classes and new projects. I have really been busy sewing for the store, it will be fun to get the new samples hanging and the new programs under way.

For years my boys have gone to the Dave Mathews concert at the gorge over Labor Day Weekend, they go three nights in a row. Meet up with lots of friends, play on the river during the day and listen to wonderful music at night. They have always "camped" usually in the parking lot. Hot, dirty and noisy. This year they have grown up. They stayed in a condo, with 2 bathrooms, ac and a pool. As a mom, I knew this day would come. They are becoming men! Men who appreciate the finer things in life. Well done!

I am totally in love with Aurifil thread. If you like to applique and you haven't tried it, please treat yourself to a spool. It is really wonderful, you'll think your old thread was really twine!