Quilt Therapy: 2012

The Shop Hop is over, and we're finally getting things put away and back to normal. For those who weren't able to attend, it ran from Thursday, September 6 thru Sunday, September 9. Twelve shops from Northern NV and Northern CA participated. This year's theme was "Celebrations thru the Year" and each shop celebrated one month of the year. Fabrics Unlimited's month was July, so of course we had some red, white, and blue going on! Every shop gave away a cookie cutter (to coincide with the month they were celebrating) as well as a favorite recipe. Our cookie cutter was a flag, and our recipe was for my grandmother's Shortbread Cookies. I can remember decorating those cookies for Christmas when I was a little girl.

Fabrics Unlimited served free BBQ hot dogs and bottled water...nothing new there, as we do that with all of our big events. We were able to set up our welcome tent, product demos, and some products for sale outside in our parking lot. We also had picnic tables and chairs set up outside so people could relax with their hotdogs and friends. Everyone seemed to have a pretty good time. I think I heard more laughing and joking this year than in past years.

The Fabrics Unlimited Shop Hop Quilt was an original design consisting of only 3 fabrics (you guessed it...red, white, and blue...) with stars and banners. I called it "Celebrations". I actually finished writing the pattern just before the Shop Hop, but ran out of time to make kits. People who have purchased our Shop Hop Quilt Kit in the past are used to waiting until Christmas to get it because I never have enough time to write the pattern and get them kitted prior to the Shop Hop. Since I've already finished the pattern, nobody has to wait as long as usual to get the kits this year. Yay!!!

Our Shop Hop had a bus this year for the first time. Forty people paid only $99 each to ride the bus to all of the stores...half of the shops on Thursday and the other half on Friday. With the price of gas these days, that was a great deal! Since the bus riders only had 45 minutes of shopping time per shop, our Fabrics Unlimited Staff took great pains to be ready to help get them cut and checked out on time. However, we didn't count on our computer crashing the minute the bus pulled up!!! So I wrote up orders fast while Jerry tried to get the computer going. We set up a backup cash register for cash and check orders, and with everyone's help and patience, we were able to get everyone taken care of. (Of course, Jerry got the computer running again as soon as the bus left!)

I am posting some of the photos from the Shop Hop for you to enjoy. If you were able to attend, be sure to let us know how to improve the Hop. If you weren't able to attend, we hope you will be able to come next year in September.

I would also like to take a minute to thank everyone who helped us at Fabrics Unlimited. We couldn't have done it without you. Jerry and I are blessed to have such good friends! Thank you to Julie Roberts, Janet Roberts, Mickey Madden, Nelly Peterson, Andee Wetenkamp, Margaret James, Jo Graden, Bobbi Rosenberger, Roxie Upton, Paula Thompson, and Bobbi Cole.

Until next time...

Sheri Lilienthal
Fabrics Unlimited
155 Shady Lane
Stateline, NV 89449
www.FabricsUnlimited.net

We held our annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday, July 21. Our 1-day show was a big success again this year with 246 projects on display. (Not quite as big as the Sisters, OR show, but even they had to start somewhere!) In addition to the quilts, we served free hot dogs and water, had product demonstrations, and gave away many doorprizes. Award winning free motion quilter Jill Schumacher was here demonstrating her free motion quilting technique on her sewing machine. She will be back at Fabrics Unlimited to teach her beginning class on Wednesday, August 15. Click here for more information and to register for her class. Sandy Weber demonstrated clothesline bowls on her sewing machine. The fact that she had so many samples is evidence of how addicting this technique is! No special machine necessary...just use your sewing machine.

Also joining us were the very talented Fiber Art Chix all the way from Florida. Cynthia, Paula, and Roxie brought several of their creative pieces for display and for sale. Click here to visit their website. Be sure to check out their gallery pages.

Jerry and I would like to thank everyone who volunteered to work at the Quilt Show and also those who displayed projects. You are the reason the Show was a success!

Following are pictures from the Quilt Show. Enjoy!