Snow Day = Sew Day in Lake Tahoe

Woke up today to 2 feet of new snow on top of the 3 feet we got in the past few days.  The snow from earlier this week was light, which made it easier to shovel.  However, last night's snow is heavy and wet.  Jerry made a path from the front door to our truck at home so I could get out there and clean off the truck. Of course, when you clean 2 feet of snow off of your vehicle, it all goes on the freshly shoveled driveway, so you get to shovel some more.

All 4 doors of the truck were frozen shut, so after some pushing, pulling, hitting, and kicking, Jerry was able to get the front 2 doors open, but the back 2 doors remained adamant about staying frozen shut.  Not to worry, however, they did indeed come open while we were driving to the shop. We then pulled into the Safeway parking lot to close them.  Then they didn't want to close.  They were sneaky, though.  Jerry seemingly slammed the doors shut, got back in the car, but the "door open" warning light was on.  We turned around and saw that the doors had come open again.  Again, Jerry got out and slammed the doors shut.  This little game only went on for a couple of times, they Jerry showed them who was boss.

Back out on the road toward the shop, we were apparently driving too slow for an anxious snow-boarder behind us.  Evidently we were cutting into his boarding time.  So he sped up and passed us, only to catch his wheels on the center berm (in South Lake Tahoe the snow is plowed toward the center of the highway...makes it hard to make a left turn during snowstorms, but there's always 1 brave soul who tries to cut a path in the berm with their little Subaru or the like, only to get stuck until someone helps them dig out...but I digress..)and then he did 2-1/2 spins from the center of the highway over to the side, got his car aimed in the right direction and sped off.  Fortunately, he didn't hit anyone or roll over.  Probably thought he was on an "E-Ticket Ride" at Disneyland (ok, I'm showing my age now).

Above are a couple of pictures taken from the window of our upstairs classroom toward the lake.  It's still cloudy and snowy so you can't really make out the lake.  The bottom photo is taken from inside the truck toward the front of our house.

So if your weather is anything like ours, today is a great day to stay inside and sew.  However, if you find yourself in need of supplies or company, come on down to see us. The parking area and driveway are plowed, the heat is on, and the coffee is hot.

Happy Sewing!
Sheri

Shop Hop Survey

We're in the planning stages of the Sierra 2 Sage Quilt Shop Hop coming up September 8-11, 2011 and want your opinion. We'd appreciate it if you would take a minute to answer the short survey below.

1.  What type of shop hop project do you prefer?
a.  Each participating shop makes a different quilt and sells fabric kits for it;
b.  Each participating shop makes the same quilt design using different fabrics and sells fabric kits for it;
c.  Each participating shop makes a sampler quilt with each shop in charge of a different block and a different finishing kit (ie, each shop uses all of the sampler blocks in their quilt but with unique layouts and DIFFERENT fabrics). Each shop would give away the pattern for their particular block and sell fabric kits for their entire quilt.
d.  Each participating shop makes a sampler quilt with each shop in charge of a different block and different finishing kit as in "c" above, but all shops using the SAME fabrics.  Each shop would give away the pattern for their particular block and sell fabric kits for their block and their finishing kit.
e.  Project doesn't matter.
2.  If you have attended our Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop in the past, what can we do to improve your experience? (We changed the weekend to help eliminate the traffic issues of 2010)

3.  If you have attended ANY shop hops, what was your favorite and least favorite experiences?

We appreciate you taking the time to respond to this short survey.  Please feel free to give us your comments, as your opinion is very important to us and will help to make the upcoming Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop experience the best ever!

You can respond to this blog or send us an email to info@fabricsunlimted.net.  For more detail on dates and times of the 2011 Shop Hop, please visit the shop hop website at www.sierra2sageshophop.com.  Thank you!!

**NEW** PARTY WITH PATRICK

Party with Patrick is a monthly quilting club featuring exclusive fusible applique patterns designed by Patrick Lose. Instore meetings are the 4th Wednesday monthly from 6pm-9pm. Online members will receive the party packet at the first of each month.

Your party packet includes:

1. A pattern for a project for the month with simple, easy-to-follow instructions to create things like place mats, door banners, table toppers, pillows, etc. Fabric kits will also be available for an additional charge.

2. At least two recipes for great snacks, light meals, and/or desserts.

3. A blank recipe card, designed by Patrick, that you can download and print as many times as you'd like for printing and sharing your own recipes.

4. An 8.5 x 11 piece of stationery, also designed by patrick in the theme of the month, for your personal use.

Click here for more info and to sign up!  Here is a picture of the January project.

Patrick Lose Holiday Kits

We had so much fun making these Patrick Lose holiday projects.  Fusible applique, so they are quick and easy!  Kits are available for both projects.  Click on the link to order http://fabricsunlimited.net/paloki.html

3rd Annual Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop Results

We had a great Shop Hop, and would like to thank everyone who participated.  The weather was great, too!  Hoppers who came to Fabrics Unlimited enjoyed lots of shopping, great product demonstrations, doorprizes every 1/2 hour, and free hot dogs & water. Those who joined us on Saturday were also treated to a great performance by Mary, Queen of Scots, who showed off several of her handmade costumes and handed goodie bags to everyone as they left.

Save these dates for next year:  September 8 -11, 2011.  NOTE: This is a new weekend!  You spoke...we listened.  Many people commented on the traffic problem because of numerous other events in the region, so we have changed the dates for 2011 to coincide with Reno's Hot Air Balloon Races.

Fabrics Unlimited Open House and Quilt Show

We set 2 records for our 3rd Annual Open House and Quilt Show on Saturday, July 17. Record number of attendees as well as a record number of quilts and projects!  The weather was perfect for an outdoor quilt show.  Just about everyone who attended enjoyed a free hot dog and bottle of water.  There were product demonstrations, and even a "make & take" table featuring Shiva Paintstiks.

We would like to thank everyone who helped make this event such as success, including Rita & Katie Bailey, Cindy & Gene Flores, Her Majesty Mary Queen of Scots (aka Jo Graden), Cathy Huffman, Magaret James, Bonnie & Robert Lincoln, Bobbi Rosenberger, Karen Tucker, Sandy & Dennis Weber, and Andee & Gil Wetenkamp.

A big thank you also goes to everyone who let us display their projects, whether they were finished or not! We hope that even more of you will want to participate at next year's event, so be sure to save the date...Saturday, July 16, 2011. Remember...quilt tops are just as welcome as finished quilts!

Below are pictures that we took of the event. If anyone else has any that they would like to share, please post (or email them to us and we will post them for you).

Thanks again!!!

 

Best Ever Scrappy Quilt Class

We had a blast at the Best Ever Scrappy Quilt Class taugh by Julie Flagg last Saturday at Fabrics Unlimited. What a great way to use up scraps and leftover binding.  You can use pieces as small as 1-1/2" square....so that means you can't throw away ANYthing anymore!!

If you were unable to attend, we're scheduling another class during the 3rd week of August.  As soon as we get a confirmed date, we'll post to our website, facebook, twitter, blog, and newsletter (isn't technology great!)