auntie ju's quilt shoppe

Family Reunion Quilt

2011-08-17T10:47:00.000-04:00

Here's an idea for a Family Reunion project for the quilters in your family!

Early this year we determined who wanted to participate. There were 9 quilters so we each made 9 of the same block, signed them and sent one to each of the quilters with a challenge to make something really creative with these blocks and bring your finished project to the family reunion in August.

Well, I didn't have much time to be very creative (fact of the matter, I can't be very creative) but I did finish a small wall hanging and sent it off yesterday. We can't go to the reunion but I'll be waiting for the mail to bring my ribbon ;)

I'll show pics when it is returned to me. I'm thrilled that now I have a wall quilt with blocks made by quilting members of my family - a cousin, daughters, sisters, nieces and one of my granddaughters (actually she didn't get signed up in time so I put hers on the back with my quilt label).

The making of a family treasure!!!!

OFF TO BEREA KY FOR THE 7TH ANNUAL ARTS COUNCIL QUILT EXTRAVAGANZA

2011-08-02T09:05:00.000-04:00

Today we're loading up the trailer in preparation for our trip to Berea KY for the Arts Council Quilt Extravaganza. We're leaving tomorrow, will set up Thurs., and the show is Friday from 10 to 6 and 10 to 5 on Saturday. It's going to be a great weekend in Berea, lots of things going on, so if you're in the area stop by and enjoy the fun. We'll be at the Berea community School with the quilt show and many other vendors.

So there's more to come as the weekend unfolds..............

Gardens, Show quilts, New products, Christmas in July

2011-07-23T01:00:00.000-04:00

I've learned a lot about the 'flora and fauna' that live in my backyard this summer....they don't mix!!!!. Besides loving the Black Eyed Susan (see the very end of my last post for my 'grief in the garden' saga), my two resident rabbits also consume Sweet Potato Vines, Impatiens, and another perennial whose name escapes me at this time. On a more positive note they do feast on the seeds that fall from the bird feeder.

Crepe Myrtles

Hydrangeas

Million Dollar

Auntie Ju's has been to the Quilter's by the Sea Quilt Show in Wilmington NC, and the AQS Show in Knoxville TN since we've last talked. The Knoxville show is held at a wonderful venue, the Knoxville Convention Center, it's easy in and out for the vendors and there was very good attendance.....so please tell me why they think they need to change the show and take it to Grand Rapids MI next year!

Grounds around the Knoxville Convention Center.

On Saturday there were many locals visiting

the center and enjoying the serene surroundings.

Here are some quilts from the Wilmington Show

and we'll let the ribbons speak for quilts!

Count 'em - five ribbons!

Done with fused 5/8" squares

and looks like pixels up close.

Cute child's quilt!

Here are some quilts from the Knoxville Show

and again we'll let the ribbons speak for the quilts!

Grey whole cloth with white embroidery

Best of show

and last but not least

my personal favorite!

the title of this one is

"Does he make my butt look big?"

We introduced some new products at these shows.

Garden Walk, small wool quilt on stand

Civil War Quilt 'Chattanooga' throw

Mary Ellen's Garden

traditional piecing with a wool appliqué center

Sweet Summer Time, wool table mat

Pinwheel Blossoms, wool table mat

We've planned a 'Christmas in July' sale starting Monday, July 25 through Suday, July 31, so please check our website www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com for some really good bargains.

This has been a long one, thanks for sticking with me to the end. In the next few days I'll tell you all about the

Civil War Block of the Month planned for 2012, the project offers something for everyone.

LIFE GOES ON

2011-06-27T05:54:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since we talked but life goes on.

Here are some beautiful quilts we've seen in our travels along the way to Colonial Quilters, Elizabeth City NC,

and Quilts, Inc. Cincinnati OH

(no pictures)

and AQS Paducah KY

dog in a snowstorm

Canal in Venice, Italy

and Quilters Unlimited, Chantilly VA

this quilt is a tribute to PFC Jessica Lynch,

POW Iraqi Freedom

NQA Columbus OH

coming from the Midwest, I'm loving' this one

I've been on safari, so I relate to this one too

blue and brown, one of my favorite color combos

this is a tribute to a deceased husband

whose favorite holiday was Christmas

this lion head is magnificent

we graduated a granddaughter from high school (with honors),

we welcomed another great granddaughter

into the family June 8, 7#, Chassidy Marie,

here with her big brother CJ,

finished a UFO 10 yrs. in the making for

the mother of the new great granddaughter,

all blocks are hand appliqué

made a new quilt for the graduation girl,

made pillow cases for all the great grandchildren,

introduced a few new products to our store

Gentle Life wool appliqué

'It's Plum Repro', a kit for a small quilt, table mat

and pincushion using Civil War Repro fabrics

small wool appliqué hanging

and at present are working on finishing up some

new items for our next shows

in Wilmington NC and Knoxville TN.

Oh, and our resident mother rabbit and offspring

are causing me real 'grief in the garden'.

this is before

There is nothing left but stems from the first luscious picture above and I've discovered they also like sweet potato vines and ice plants.

Be sure to check our website often over the next couple months, there's a 'Christmas in July' sale in store along with some other events that we have planned.

Time to call it a day, 'til next time.......

Raptor Resource Project

2011-04-20T06:15:00.000-04:00

Other than the fact that I find many quilters are bird feeders/watchers, this blog has nothing to do with quilting, but I thought if you have any avian interests you might be as fascinated as I am with this Raptor Research Project.

I have been watching a nature reality show (a live stream) starring Mr. and Mrs. Bald Eagle and their three eaglets. The first of three eggs was laid Feb. 23rd. The first hatched 4/1, the second 4/3 and the 3rd 4/6. This 6' wide nest is perched nearly 80 feet high in a cottonwood tree near Decorah, Iowa USA which is in the NE corner of Iowa, very near the Minnesota border. This is evidenced by the fact that the hidden camera gets snow-crusted every so often while they are still having snow storms. This nest is built near the Decorah Fish Hatchery which accounts for the fact that about every 20-30 minutes one of the parents flies in with a fresh fish....or some other goodie for the babies.

I also love the other sights and sounds that come with the video, cars on a road far below can be seen in the upper right hand corner, dogs barking, and an occasionally cow seen walking in the background and sometimes voices in the background.

Somewhere I read that these eaglets will be as big as their parents in about 8 weeks. In the few days I have been watching I can see their growth but worry about the smallest of the eaglets who never seems to get his share of the food at meal time.

You can also follow the RPP Blog for updates on the progress of the babies.

Enjoy natures wonders!

Bali bowls

2011-03-18T20:57:00.001-04:00

Here is a beautiful fabric bowl I made from 2 1/2" strips of 11 different fabrics from the Evening Mist line by Moda and 35' of clothesline using a Bali Bowl pattern.

Bali Bowls pattern

It's fun and easy and you end up with a bowl to put 'stuff' in!

Still in Lakeland FL, will leave tomorrow evening when the show ends and we get packed up. Will miss the help from our Atlanta Road Crew but we'll drive for a couple of hours tomorrow evening and be home in NC by Sunday evening. Bummer: yesterday someone walked off with nearly $100 worth of our inventory. Good News: if we have a decent day tomorrow it might turn out OK.

Later, y'all......

Hampton Roads VA Atlanta GA Lakeland FL

2011-03-17T22:03:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been away for so long. It's been a crazy 2 or 3 weeks since we talked. First the Mid-Atlanta Quilt Festival in Hampton Roads VA (great show), then to Atlanta GA and now we're in Lakeland FL.

We always love going to Atlanta 'cause that's where our other daughter and her family (our Atlanta Road Gang) reside, this includes grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many pictures to follow. On the last day of the show everyone shows up to help us tear down the booth, it's a mad house, but it gets done quickly. But first let me tell you that when we arrived in ATL we had some homework to do so our greatgrands helped me prepare the 4" wool square bundles that we sell.

The next picture is the end result, the children helped choose the eight different colors and I put the squares together with yarn and a button.

Here are two of my prize students working on a 'make and take' project we offer so folks can learn the technique of using the punchneedle.

Having fun while working hard to finish this project.

A little punchneedle 'sheep pin'.

I'll write a little more tomorrow night, gotta' get some rest!

Dominique II

2011-02-19T20:42:00.000-05:00

It's been a beautiful day on the East Coast! (warm and in the 70's)

Dominique II is finished except for hand sewing the binding which I'll probably do on the way to Hampton Roads next week. We'll be heading that way for the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival starting Feb. 24 through Sunday Feb. 28. We'll be in Booth 1503 Thurs. through Sat. from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

We'll have this quilt on display. It is full of beautiful rich black, brown and red fabrics and the corner triangles each have a bird or two showing. Here it rests on our piano whilst awaiting the finishing touches.

Corner triangles with birds.........

Love birds ?????

You can find the kit for this beautiful quilt which finishes at approx. 63" x 74" on our website.

http://stores.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com/Categories.bok?category=KITS%3AQuilts

Hope to see some of you in Hampton Roads VA next week......

TIME FOR A CHANGE!

2011-02-10T12:44:00.001-05:00

I decided at 3am this morning I should overhaul our blog. I added a music gadget so you can listen to some soothing music while you watch our slideshow and read our blog and I took away some gadgets that weren't necessary.....no pictures today, just tell me what you think, good and bad!!

DOMINIQUE II

2011-02-05T16:00:00.001-05:00

Today we're working on this quilt which will be 63" x 74"

when finished. Am using Moda's new line, Dominique II,

and their project sheet. Beautiful browns, reds and blacks.

Setting triangles for Moda's Dominique II - 63" x 74"

Squares and sashing

Sashing with 4-patch

This quilt is set on-point and it's going

together very quickly - more time was involved in

cutting and preparing the elements of the quilt.

Da-da! First corner done!

I need a bigger design board. I've only done

two rows and as you can see it's already filled up!

Should be finished on Monday and then

to the Longarm!

SNOWED IN?

2011-02-04T12:31:00.000-05:00

Stuck inside because of snow or rain?

Let 'Holy Snowballs' bring you out of your 'funk'!

Right click on the directions below to print them out in the original size.

And while you're sewing away, click on Alton Brown's for this hot chocolate recipe with a pinch of cayenne.

Enjoy, 'til the snow melts and the rain stops.....

Great grandbaby

2011-01-28T20:58:00.002-05:00

First things first - introducing Addison Clare weighing in at 9 lbs. and 13 oz. on January 13, 2011....our newest of 4 great grandbabies!

Today we're in Statesville NC for the Quilting and Needle Art Extravaganza - awesome attendance and beautiful weather. We just introduced Everchanging Seasons - Bunny Hill and we're already sold out! Hoorah! And everyone loves our new hand-dyed wools...it was a great day!

Bunny Hill

More later.....

2011-01-24T17:06:00.000-05:00

Just returned from The Myrtle Beach Quilt Party and Vendor Extravaganza in Myrtle Beach SC where nearly 1,000 folks came through the doors (including over 200 students for quilting classes). Good attendance for a first year public event! The dates for next year haven't been set yet but keep tuned as we'll announce them as soon as they are available.

Here's some of the yummy new hand-dyed wools we have to offer!

Be sure to come see us this weekend in Statesville NC at The Quilting and Needle Art Extravaganza.

We'll be there from 9am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday at the Statesville Civic Center for your shopping pleasure, along with many other vendors offering everything from beautiful wood/glass quilt display cases to knitting supplies, antique linens, buttons, quilts, sewing machines, etc., etc. There's going to be something for everyone! Be there or be square...............

HERE'S TO A VERY PRODUCTIVE DAY!

2011-01-17T11:55:00.000-05:00

Good morning,

Here's what I have on my plate today.

Prepare Calendar Series Punch of the Month mailings (darn, the post office is closed today, so they will go tomorrow)
Prepare The Civil War Chronicles Block of the Month mailings (darn.....ditto above........)

Cut Goose Feather kits for upcoming shows
Sew together 9 Civil War Chronicles blocks for our Block of the Month quilt display at upcoming shows
Finish our January newsletter
Print business cards for upcoming shows
Contemplate what block I am going to make to mail to each of 8 quilting members of our family for our block exchange (we will of course receive 8 different blocks in return and will have to get real creative and put them together into a quilt/wall hanging/ etc. for judging at our family reunion in August) never done this before, sounds like fun
I'm sure something else will come up

And, oh, by the way, I've already sent out an invitation to everyone on our mail list to come visit us at the Myrtle Beach Quilt Party and Vendor Extravaganza this weekend and at The Quilting and Needle Art Extravanganza the following weekend. See more details on our website www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com

Not to mention preparing a big pot of bean soup that is simmering on the stove as we speak. All this after my morning ritual of doing 2 Sudokus and 2 Crosswords over coffee.

Whew, I'm tired all ready, but now I've made my list so let's get to it!

Sanford Show

2011-01-10T14:55:00.002-05:00

This past weekend Auntie Ju's vended in Sanford at The Quilting and Fiber Art Marketplace. If you missed it this year, make sure you put it on your calendar for next year; it'll be posted soon on our website show schedule.

There was a nice mix of vendors, something for everyone, not just quilters. It seems we got out of town just in time as they were expecting 7-8" of snow this morning. However, the storm tracked it's way to Wilmington and we now have over an inch of snow on the ground with more falling as we speak.

We met some nice folks from Heelside Farms who were vending across the aisle from us. Carolyn and her family raise some 40+ Border Leicester and Icelandic sheep on their farm near Four Oaks NC. They shear twice a year and send off the 'dirty wool' to be cleaned. The roving is then dyed into beautiful colors which they spin into yarns.

Carolyn's friend, Victoria, is spinning the natural roving into yarn

Here she spins two colors together

Winding the yarn into hanks ready for sale

Have ye any wool? Yes Sir, Yes Sir, three bags full!

You can visit the farm and take classes in knitting and crocheting, purchase roving and yarns. They also have bees so you can purchase honey.

The Beasley Family will be at the Carolina Fiberfest in May 20-22, 2011 at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh NC where they will have a 'sheep to shawl demo', meaning you will see them shear the sheep, prepare the wool and spin it into yarn to knit a shawl - you can view the process from beginning to end.

A Give-a-way from the The Empty Nest

2011-01-10T12:30:00.000-05:00

Sign on as a follower and you might win a wonderful neck scarf made with love by Janet!

THIS AND THAT

2011-01-01T23:16:00.000-05:00

Auntie Ju's has been on hiatus since November 15th and I've enjoyed having some extra leisure time to putz? around the house - remembering to water plants, putting up Christmas decorations (even though they were sparse this year), enjoying Christmas cookies baked by hubby, cooking Christmas dinner for 5, going out to dinner with friends and attending Christmas Eve service at our St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Julie used this time to try her hand at hand-dying wool and preparing some new samples and I made a quilt sample from Morris Tapestry fabric, all in preparation for the new season of shows (evidence of our work was shown in a previous blog) and of course, we had to perform the dreaded 'year end inventory'. I think that's under control - now to update the inventory on the website and then it's up to the bookkeeper to keep it all straight for the rest of the year.

Our Blow-out Sale ends in a couple days on January 3 and then we leave Thursday, January 6 to set-up for our first show of the year in Sanford NC. If you're in the area please be sure to stop by and see us at the Dennis Wicker Civic Center on Friday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm for The Quilting and Fiber Art Marketplace. This show includes not only quilt shops but also vendors who offer buttons, trim, antique textiles, jewelry, yarn and fibers, rug hooking, threads, smocking, photography, wooden cases and ladders to display your quilts, books, patterns, notions, rubber stamping and more - all offering inspiration to get your creative juices flowing in 2011!

And through it all, I managed to read three, yes 3, books.

The first was "The Full Cupboard of Life" by Alexander McCall Smith, the fifth in 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series. I had read the other 4 books in the series and have had this one on the book shelf for a few months. It didn't disappoint and to quote a phrase from the New York Times Book Review, "Precious Ramotswe (is) the Miss Marple of Botswana"!

The second book was "Condoleezza Rice, a memoir of my extraordinary, ordinary family and me" by Condoleezza Rice. What an accomplished woman!

And the third a wonderful book called "Lucky Man" by Michael J. Fox. From the book cover, "....Michael J. Fox recounts his life, from his childhood in western Canada to his meteoric rise in film and television that made him a world wide celebrity and most important, however, he writes of the last ten years during which he has dealt with Parkinson's disease". This book was written in 2002 but is a must for anyone whose life has been affected by Parkinson's disease, directly or indirectly.

The Quilting and Fiber Art Marketplace Sanford NC

2010-12-29T12:14:00.000-05:00

We're getting ready to vend at The Quilting and Fiber Art Marketplace in Sanford NC on Jan. 7 and 8 from 9am to 5pm each day. The top for the Morris Tapestry sample is finished and hopefully will be quilted in time for the show.

This will be Julie's 9 month Block of the Month Series for 2011,

wool applique' on Taupe Silk Matka.

Here's a close-up of two of the blocks

And a few more new items we'll have with us:

A journal cover, wool applique' on Taupe Silk Matka background

A matching small notebook cover,

also wool applique' on Taupe Silk Matka background

The House Sampler, wool applique' on a prairie cloth background.

Watch for all of these to be added to our website soon!

We wish everyone the happiest and most properous New Year ever!!!

HAND-DYED WOOLS

2010-12-19T15:15:00.001-05:00

Here are a few of the wools that Julie has hand-dyed. We'll be selling F8's, F16's and FQ's and are just starting to get them all on the website, so be patient! For sure, we'll have them with us at the January shows in Sanford NC, Myrtle Beach SC and Statesville NC.

She's having so much fun, she can't stop!

Waiting for Morris Tapestry Layer Cakes!

2010-12-17T13:23:00.001-05:00

If you are a student of fabrics of the William Morris era, be sure to follow Barbara Brackman's Blog to learn more about John Henry Dearle, Morris' Art Director, and the history of the company.

The above fabric is the border of the Morris Dance quilt which we are making in the 52" square size. See a picture of the quilt in a previous blog - the pattern uses a piece of every fabric in the line. I can't wait until the layer cakes arrive so I can get started.

THIRD CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES BLOCK

2010-12-13T16:30:00.001-05:00

Yahoo, here's the 3rd block called, Flock of Geese......if we're peaking your interest in the project, click here for more information!

We're experiencing some real cold weather here in Wilmington, today tops out in the high 30's! And it's not even 'winter' for another 8 days! We're originally from Northern Indiana, so we can appreciate what other parts of the country are dealing with, but we sure don't miss it. I guess all you can do is stay inside and sew (; )

SECOND BLOCK OF CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES

2010-12-09T20:33:00.001-05:00

Here's the second block of the Civil War Chronicles Block of the Month project and the block is called 'Indian Hatchet':

1st Civil War Chronicles Block

2010-12-07T13:56:00.000-05:00

Just finished the first block of the Civil War Chronicles quilt project we're offering in 2011. If you like what you see, check out the details at Block of the Month.

NEW FABRICS

2010-12-05T15:19:00.000-05:00

We're excited about the new 'A Morris Tapestry' fabric that has just arrived. Over the next few days we'll be adding the fabric to our website so you can see the beautiful new colors in this line up close. Barbara Brackman has reproduced these beautiful fabrics, first designed for wallpaper and decorator fabrics by British Designer William Morris (1834-1896).

We'll be working frantically to complete the quilt pictured below for its debut at the Sanford NC show January 7 and 8, 2011. It features every fabric in the line :

We also just received our first quarter shipment of fabrics for The Civil War Chronicles which we're featuring as our Block of the Month project for 2011. Interested? Just click on THE CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES for more details on how to join us during 2011 and end up with a family heirloom, the second of a series of Civil War commemorative quilt projects.

All this and Christmas too....it'll be a busy month for sure!

West Palm Beach World Quilt Show

2010-11-18T23:36:00.000-05:00

Approaching the Palm Beach County Convention Center

to vend and enjoy the World Quilt Show!

We're ready, bring those shoppers on!!

Tree of Life

Best of Show by Mark Sherman

Viewer's Choice

Phantom Phoenix by Sylvia S Clary

Best Hand Workmanship

Crazy Sheep by Debora Konchinsky

details shown below

Green felted wool sheep

Black wooly sheep

The border

Wool felted mushrooms

Wool felted pink/red sheep

OUR OTHER FAVORITES

Hibiscus by Juanita Yeager

Medea Escaping by Marilyn Belford

The fun is over and now the trip home.

Who said there is no seasonal color change in the south?

Now we're in South Carolina!

Those of you who travel the I-95 Corridor will know we're about to cross over into North Carolina at 'South of the Border'!

And here's one of the famous flamingos along US74/76.

Home again, home again!

This was our last show of 2010 and we're looking forward to

some R & R. We'll be working on new samples for 2011 and

we'll keep you posted with what we're up to.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends!

Accuquilt Go

2010-11-07T12:01:00.000-05:00

Wanna' try and win an Accuquilt Go?

Check into Lavender Ridge's blog and sign-up for their give away.

It would be so fun to be the winner!

Florida Bound

2010-11-07T11:55:00.000-05:00

Hey, everyone, Wednesday we will be headed to the World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach. If you're in the area we'll be in Booth 213 on Fri., Sat. and Sun. at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Okeechobee Blvd.

In the meantime, a chill has fallen upon the Wilmington area. This a.m. I went outside to take these pictures of the 'late bloomers' in our yard it was COLD!

I don't know this vine's name but I buy it every year and it covers the fence beautifully.

A late blooming cone flower! There are 2 more buds waiting to bloom,

but they might not make it through this chilly spell.

The impatiens are being very patient with our weather.

The lighter colored impatiens were rogue plants that just came up from last year's seed.

These impatiens get along very well with the rosemary, which will serve us well through the winter.

One of the last 'roses of summer'!

Ah, the beautiful burgundy colors of the spent hydrangea.

My mother called these little violas 'johnny jump-ups'. They will brighten our fence all winter long.

POTTSTOWN PA

2010-09-17T21:25:00.000-04:00

Hey, everyone, here we are in Pottstown PA. We had a couple days of R&R before we had to go to work and set up for the show in Oaks. Did a little shopping and eating at the Outlet Mall and these power towers belching steam against the beautiful blue autumn sky loomed on the horizon everywhere we looked within 10 miles of Pottstown.

We encountered an interesting parking formation in downtown Pottstown, never seen anywhere before. The main street was 2-way and had horizontal parking on one side and angle parking on the other side, but everyone backed into the angle slot. Each side has a bicycle lane also.

The town has a big German influence, in fact my German relatives lived in this area in the late 1700's.
My great-great grandparents on my Dad's side are buried in the grave yard at the Reading Lutheran Church, just North of here. Berks and Schuykill counties are mentioned over and over again in our genealogy papers. Seitzinger is one of the main names and I see in the Pottstown phonebook there is one Seitzinger listed, I should call the number!

The quilt show is going well and we're half way through. On Monday we head for home after an absence of two weeks. It'll be nice to sleep in my own bed again.

HEY, WE'VE GOT NEW WHEELS!!!!

2010-09-13T16:30:00.003-04:00

We have a new vehicle to pull our trailer to the shows we attend. We used to pull this trailer with Julie's Jeep Cherokee that had a tow package welded to the frame of the vehicle. After we returned from the AQS Show in Knoxville TN we detected that our trailer was riding low. Not realizing the real problem we attended the Asheville Show shortly after and when we returned home realized that there was just 1 bolt still holding the tow bar to our frame, three bolts had pulled entirely through the frame. We are extremely lucky that we didn't lose trailer and all on that last trip. It could have been so disastrous. The good Lord was surely watching over us.

So this trip from Wilmington to Cincinnati and now to Oaks PA has been quite comfortable riding in a four door truck with all the comforts of a car. We have another day to enjoy the Bourough of Pottstown PA and the surrounding area before we set up for the Oaks PA show on Wednesday. The show starts Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Back to the Cincinnati show, it was so great to meet one of the participants of our Punch of the Month. Nice to match a face to the name. The show was very well attended, so well, we ran out of some of our items. More patterns, kits, etc. are being shipped as we speak so we can have a full booth for your shopping pleasure. Here are two more items we will have for sale this weekend:

This is the front and back of the newest sweatshirt, 'Basket of Flowers', for which we will have kits available.

And this is the latest of the Little Stitchies candle mats called, 'Quilt Block'. They just flew off the shelf at our latest show!

More later,

September 11

2010-09-11T21:53:00.000-04:00

What a perfect image for today, September 11.

This quilt was on display at the Quilting, Sewing and Crafts Show this past weekend. It is a coordinated effort of the employees of Aunt Ruth's Quilt Shop in Sharonville OH. The shop is offering classes to learn to make this quilt over the next few weeks and after that the pattern will be available for sale. If you're interested in the pattern call the shop at 513 733-0006 and please tell them you saw it on our blog!

We'll talk later as we traverse the U.S., next stop Oaks PA for the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza XVII

starting September 16 thru the 19th.

Cincinnati Setup

2010-09-09T21:36:00.000-04:00

We arrived in Cincinnati around 10:30am on Wed. morning and had until 8pm to get this booth in shape! This is the 'before', the part of the quilt show you never get to see. Think we can do magic with all this stuff and transform it into an attractive Auntie Ju's Quilt Shoppe?

The 'after' took some doing and lots of time, but we did it!

Attendance today was good, hoping for the same tomorrow, lots of good vendors here in Cincinnati.

Here is just one item we are debuting at this show........

Home Tweet Home

First you punchneedle the bird pattern, then you sew wool or muslin on the back and stuff the bird, sew a button on for his eye, mount him on this old Singer oil can, stick some old rusty pins or needles in his head for his tuft and you've got a really unique pincushion. We have several old oil cans available for those who purchase this pattern I didn't realize there are so many people who collect pincushions.

The Pumpkin Farm

You've seen these guys before but we now have samples made so you can see them in person! What a bunch of bumpkins!

Well, it's time for bed so we can be bright and bushy tailed tomorrow morning, later..........

Cincinnati Here We Come!

2010-09-07T21:40:00.000-04:00

Well, we've arrived in Grayson KY for the nite after our day long drive across the mountains. Tomorrow, a three hour drive will deliver us to the Sharonville Convention Center, Sharonville OH for the Quilting, Sewing and Crafts Expo. Tomorrow is set-up day, the show starts Thurs. and ends on Sat. The renowned Mark Lipinski (former editor of Quilter's Home Magazine) was to be one of the teachers, but had to withdraw because he has been put on an organ transplant list (kidney). He recently disclosed his struggle with Polycystic Kidney Disease. His replacement is the very talented Colleen Granger, of Sew Little Time Quilting. We wish him the very best.

We'll have more to tell you tomorrow, nite, nite for now!

2010-07-16T22:09:00.000-04:00

Hey, everyone, reporting on our third day at AQS, Knoxville. It never ceases to amaze me what it might take to keep a quilter away from a quilt show. Today we saw people with broken feet wearing those cute 'blue' shoes, ladies in motorized scooters, ladies pushing walkers, ladies being pushed in a wheelchair by friends and loved ones, younger women with teeny tiny babies, etc., etc., etc......

There are over 150 vendors participating in this show so there is a huge variety of 'stuff' for sale. These shows are as inspiring for us as they are for the participants. We collect great new marketing ideas and lots of inspiration by speaking with other vendors. It's always great to meet up with our vendor friends to see how they've been, where they've been and where they're headed. And, of course, we get great inspiration from quilters who come into our booth.

Tomorrow is the last day of the show. We break down at 5pm, load up and then start home early Sun. a.m. So, I might not have time tomorrow night to do any blogging.

'Til we talk again, be sure to check out our website for new punchneedle patterns, the possibility of a new Civil War Chronicles Block of the Month (the educational portion will be about the wives of the Civil War Generals and how they fared on the home front while their husbands were away fighting the war) and we have other new items to offer. http://www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com/

Night, night......

Knoxville AQS Show

2010-07-14T21:58:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, the move-in process was smooth. Lots of help provided to unload the trailer. Took us about 5 1/2 hrs. to set up. Today, the first day of the show, was a little slow. Saw Alex Anderson. 552 beautiful quilts on display. Best of Show gets $10,000....yes, $10,000 smackeroos!

After the show we went to Market Square just a few blocks from the Convention Center and enjoyed a meal sitting outside and listening to a thespian group perform short spoof's of various Shakespearean works. Lots of dog walkers and families with little children enjoying the spray of the fountains, especially the little guy who wore his bright green golashes. A nice relaxing evening after a long day at the office!!!

More tomorrow.....Goodnight from Knoxville

KNOXVILLE - WE'VE ARRIVED!

2010-07-12T22:57:00.000-04:00

Our daughter from Atlanta has joined us for this adventure and so after a trip across the mountains, all the way from Wilmington, through the rain showers, we, Julie, Peggy and I, have arrived safe and sound in Knoxville TN for the AQS Show which begins this Wednesday.

With all our kits now priced and the July newsletter now on its way we're ready to hit the hay. But before we do, we have some new things to share with you all.

Love Sampler is a project of embroidery and wool applique.

These are some of the new patterns that we're debuting at the show. I'll be punching on the 'Home Tweet Home' which will be a dimensional pin cushion mounted on an oil can when finished.

Gotta' go now, will let you know tomorrow's happenings after our 'set up' day tomorrow.

2010-05-01T22:57:00.000-04:00

We've just finished the sample for this new wool applique' table mat pattern called "Geraniums".

"Garden Party", made with Moda's new line called "Garden Party".

This is a sampling of the entire quilt which finishes at approx. 69" x 83".

The above items are the latest additions to our inventory and are now available in kits and patterns.

This is just one of the blocks in our upcoming Block of the Month, "Folk Art Blossoms". Check our website for details to be announced soon.

We're in Hickory NC this weekend for the Quilt and Fiber Emporium at the Hickory Metro Convention Center which ends tomorrow. On May 14, 15 and 16 we'll be back in this area in Greensboro for the Gate City Guild Quilt Show. Check our website for locations and times of the show.

So long until next time.....

2010-03-23T21:43:00.000-04:00

Here are two new wool applique kits we have just completed!

'Our Home' and 'Home and Hearth'

For more details check out our website http://www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com/

We'll be on Hilton Head Island this weekend - come see us if you're in the area and enjoy the beautiful quilts on display by the Palmetto Quilt Guild. We'll be at St. Andrews-by-the-Sea Methodist Church on Friday and Saturday.

IN THE GOOD OLD WINTER TIME!

2010-01-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

Hey, everyone, here we are the day after the first day of the Statesville QNAE Show. Everyone came yesterday because of the impending storm which is evidenced in the picture above. Between 3 and 8 inches of snow fell last night and now freezing rain on top of that. We haven't tried to get to the Civic Center to load up our store. Might not be able to do that 'til tomorrow. In the meantime we're holed up in a hotel just waiting (with a whole bunch of other people stranded)......with a husband who is chomping at the bit to get on the road. Every county in NC is under a storm warning, according to Jim Cantore (Weather Channel). You know when he comes to town it's BADDDDD! And we don't even own a scraper. When we lived in Northern Indiana this was a common occurence, but here in NC this is a big, no huge, event!

The show yesterday was very well attended, lots of vendors and door prizes for all! But Mother Nature had other plans for today....more later.

We've just been asked to fill a spot at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton VA. So we'll hope for better weather the last weekend in February and hope to see some of you there.

2009-12-30T14:15:00.003-05:00

Linda is working on this Civil War Tribute quilt to commemorate the 150th year of the start of the Civil War in 2011. It's our Block of the Month project for 2010. The repro fabrics are beautiful and the history is fascinating! I love Gen. Stonewall Jackson's quote, "My religious faith teaches me that God has already fixed the time of my death; therefore, I think not of it. I am as calm in battle as I would be in my own parlor. God will come for me in his own time".

2009-12-02T14:58:00.004-05:00

Here's our new kit called, 'Blessings Baskets'. We've used Moda's new line of fabric,

Blessings, and a Jan Patek pattern. A jelly roll and some applique' strips and it's done.

This quilt finishes at 74" square.

For more details click on the picture or go to http://www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com/

2009-11-30T17:40:00.003-05:00

Well, we finished the last of the turkey today in a wonderful turkey/sausage gumbo made by our son-in-law, the 'rajin cajun' from Lafayette LA. We're quickly moving into the Christmas mode, but first we have to finish our newsletter for December, due in the next few days.

New kits to start the new year include - 'Blessings Baskets', 'Evening Mist Circle-ated', 'It's a Crock' and 'Yellow Brick Road'.

We're still taking reservations for our 'Civil War Tribute' Block of the Month project starting in January.

A new wool 'block of the month' will be introduced as well as a 'punch of the month'.

Be sure to check out our website where details will be annouced soon! www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com

West Palm Beach Quilt Show

2009-11-11T19:52:00.009-05:00

The sun breaks through.....

Remnants of Ida, near Savannah GA...

Today's travel was a challenge. Rain - anything from mist to near torrential rain all the way from Wilmington NC to Savannah GA. We're in Ormond Beach tonight and all is clear. Up early in the morning and on to West Palm Beach to set up for the show this weekend.

More later,

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

2009-11-09T15:06:00.003-05:00

We're getting ready to hit the road again, this time to new territory, South Florida. I hope we don't arrive the same time as 'Ida'!! Along with vending at a quilt show we hope to have a nice visit with a nephew and his wife who live in the area.

Our own Pepper Cory (also a North Carolinian) will be one of the teachers at the World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach. Hope I have the opportunity to meet her! We'll be in booth #213, so come by and see us if you're in the area. There will be over 400 quilts from 10 countries on display, many workshops and lectures delivered by world renowned teachers, a large merchants mall and many other outstanding exhibitions.

We will arrive Thursday morning and set-up for the show starting at 10am on Friday until 7pm - same hours in Saturday and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Will talk to you more 'on the road',

P.S. I'm listening to NPR on this 20 year anniversary date of the 'fall of the Berlin Wall'. The interviews with folks who were there on that day are most interesting.

115 quilts

2009-11-01T19:19:00.003-05:00

We are so proud of our quilt ladies at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wilmington NC. This picture shows 115 quilts draped over all the pews and choir lofts in our church this morning. The quilts were made by a group of 10 ladies who meet twice a week each week of the year. They will be sent to Lutheran World Relief who will distribute the quilts to people in need all over the world. Great job ladies!

2009-10-16T20:20:00.005-04:00

Julie is receiving so much teasing from our vendor friends at the show in Hickory. A customer came by and thought her 'scardey kats' were monkeys....and now that I look at them again - I think it's the mouth!

Don't forget to read up on the Civil War Tribute Block of the Month which will begin January 2010. It's going to be an interesting project with lots of history and blocks made from beautiful repro fabrics. Click on the picture for more information. Preorder a beautiful 108" backing before November 15th and get a 20% discount on the backing. Please consider joining in on this great project and have a beautiful Civil War quilt to enjoy just in time for the 150th commemoration of the Civil War in 2011.

More from the show tomorrow - g'nite all.

2009-10-15T20:34:00.003-04:00

Here's a cute Halloween quilt called 'Scaredy Kats'. It's a sort of 'stack and whack' pattern and we've made the sample and the kits using various Moda wovens. It's not too late to finish it for Halloween! Come see the quilt in our booth at the quilt show in Hickory.

It's a rainy, cool day in Hickory, hope it clears up for the show tomorrow and through the weekend. The Metro Convention Center is so easy to find, Exit 125 off of I-40, and a great place for a quilt show - lots of room for the quilt exhibits and vendors all in one spacious room.

More from the show tomorrow, g'nite for now......

2009-10-14T21:07:00.011-04:00

Hey, everyone, getting ready to head for Hickory NC early tomorrow morning for the Catawba Valley Quilters Guild Quilt Show. If you're in that neck of the woods, come by and see us at the Hickory Metro Convention Center on Friday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sunday from 11am to 5pm. There will be over 100 quilts on display, vendors, free demonstrations, door prizes, The Lily Boutique - all for a $3 admission fee with free parking. There will be a drawing Sunday for the winner of 'Celebration Splendor', a hand-quilted sampler quilt.

We'll be there with our new wall quilt, 'Vintage Wreath', made with fabric from the new line by Barbara Brackman, 'The Morris Workshop'. See Barbara's blog for information about the fabric designers and origin of the color names - interesting stuff! http://www.barbarabrackmanblogspot.com/.

Here's a close-up of the bow!

Gotta' go now, we'll talk to you from the show.......

2009-10-13T16:07:00.009-04:00

It's been a while since we've talked. We've been on the road and have been keeping busy with new projects. Check this one out......

Here is an embellished sweatshirt designed by Julie Ploehn-Vigna Designs. The mocha sweatshirt is turned inside out and appliqued with wool layered flowers and embroidered stems flowing from one flower to the next. The neckline shows off some old pearl buttons. Love the mocha and aqua color combo! You can order the sweatshirt and pattern from our website. It's called 'Chocolate Bouquet'.

2009-09-16T21:32:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone,

Well here we are in Philadelphia for the Pennsylvania Quilt Extravaganza XVII (or some number close to that)! We set up for the show today without any hitches....Lots of vendors so we'll see how it goes in this area this year. Last year it was in Harrisburg - shd be better this year - a much more populated area to draw from. Hope to see you this weekend at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in the Oaks area (Valley Forge). Check us out in Booth 831.

We've got a new 'homespun jacket' on display as well as a new sweatshirt called 'Chocolate Bouquet'. I'll have pictures tomorrow.

'Night for now - 'til tomorrow.

P.S. When we arrived at our hotel this p.m. everyone (staff and guests) was standing outside as this wailing fire siren was sounding off! Obviously everything checked out, but sure hope we're not disturbed at 3AM with another malfunction of the alarm!

2009-08-03T21:17:00.004-04:00

Bloomin' Spools is a fun piece, some quilting and some applique'.

Victoria Rose is a large sized throw. We've kitted it up using 3 of 'The Morris Workshop' fabrics in cream and browns. The Ohio Star block within the Ohio Star block - fun to do, but me thinks, not for the beginning quilter!!!

Gourdy's Gang, a wool applique' piece, is perfect for your front door on Halloween night!

This Fraidy Cat pattern will be familiar to our punchneedle fans. Here it's done up in wool applique' as a penny rug.

All of the patterns shown above are kitted up and will be available at the Rotary Quilt Show and also on our website www.auntiejusquilts.com.

Our studio is a 'buzz' with last minute preparations for our visit to the Asheville/Rotary Quilt Shows. The main show is at the NC Arboretum just a shuttle ride from the Biltmore Square Mall home of the Rotary Quilt Show. We'll be vending there along with Country Heirlooms, Dixie's Quilting, Judy Lea Enterprizes Loose Threads, Quilter's Gallery, Quilting Solution, SewBatik, Textile Treasures and Unique Yarns.

We can't wait to see what the 'Shady Ladies of Waynesville' have to display from their 2009 Challenge Quilts and also a sampling of what's new in art fiber by the Fiber Arts Alliance.

Please come spend the day in Asheville, take in all the beautiful quilts and come by our booth to see what we might have just for you!

'Til next time......

"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain!

2009-06-29T22:40:00.005-04:00

Hey, everyone, this month has been busy with a trip to Columbus OH for the NQA Quilt Show and then vending here at home at the Wilmington Quilters by the Sea Quilt Show this past weekend.

We're excited about the pending delivery of Moda's 'The Morris Workshop' collection by Barbara Brackman. These are reproductions from the 1872-1887 period of Morris's life.

Wm. Morris said, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful". We can't wait to make something from this collection that is both beautiful and useful!

I'm working on a large picture punching beautiful blue thistle flowers on a piece of yellow decorator fabric. Hope to have it finished in time for the Asheville show. The Rotary Club of Asheville is having their first annual Rotary Quilt and Fiber Arts Show to be held at the Biltmore Square Mall in conjunction with the Asheville Quilt Show held at the NC Arboretum, both held on the same weekend - August 7-9, 2009. We hope those of you within shouting distance of Asheville will come to see the 2009 Challenge Quilts by the Shady Ladies of Waynesville, a sampling of what's new in art fiber by the Fiber Arts Alliance and then visit us in the Biltmore Square Mall.

Stand by for our 'punchneedle tutorial' coming soon!

'til next time, lettielulu

2009-06-04T11:29:00.007-04:00

Good morning to y'all!

Our Sammi, can hardly be called a 'lap dog'. Now at 4 months and 23 pounds, she definitely has a mind of her own! She's probably not totally enjoying the swing with Julie, who has spent some 'downtime' at the beach.

We're preparing to vend at the NQA Quilt Show in Columbus OH. If you're in the area or have signed up for classes, be sure to stop at Booth 440 to see what we have and say hello! Click on http://www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com/ for a taste of our offerings.

Linda will be demonstrating the punchneedle technique as she works on this new pattern, 'Claus & Co'. The finished project will be mounted on a black piece of wool for a striking table mat!

Julie will have sample blocks from the two BOM's we are offering, Folk Art Album (wool) and Love Letters (Moda fabric). Click BOM for more information.

'Til next time,

2009-05-09T22:35:00.000-04:00

We'll be motoring up the North Carolina coast to Morehead City in a few days to vend at the Crystal Coast Quilt Guild Quilt Show. This year in addition to their beautiful quilt offerings, they are hosting "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece", a traveling quilt exhibit, created by Ami Simms and consisting of fifty-two art quilts offering interpretations of living with Alzheimer's disease.

The show is held at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, a beautiful venue right on the water, and will be open on May 15th and 16th from 9am to 5pm each day. If you're going to be in the area next weekend, be sure to stop by and see us and all the beautiful quilts!

Meet Sammi!

2009-05-05T11:42:00.000-04:00

Meet the newest member of our staff, Samantha Carolina (that's what I call her, haven't heard her full official name yet). Julie's Golden Retriever puppy is called Sammi' for short. Here she's just 6 weeks old, but is growing by leaps and bounds and is now into her 'terrible twos' (two months that is), biting everything in sight. But 'this too shall pass', right?

She loves to hide among the bolts of fabric and then get your ankles and red toenail polish when you least expect it! The training is tedious, but we are making progress as she has learned to 'sit'.

Welcome y'all to Auntie Ju's Quilt Shoppe blog

2009-05-01T22:09:00.001-04:00

We're new to blogging so we'll try to make this interesting and share with you the latest in the quilting, wool applique and punchneedle worlds. If we can figure out how to put a video on this blog we might even demonstrate the art of punchneedle.

First, a little background of our company. When Julie started our online shop in 2007, we had lots of quilt and wall quilt kits and a few wool applique' kits and a little bit of punchneedle. As the business has evolved, we are offering fewer quilt kits, but more applique' kits (wool and fabric) and more punchneedle displays. We even have two Blocks of the Month going right now - one wool (Folk Art Album) and one using Moda fabrics (Love Letters - Blackbird Design). The art of applique' and punchneedle seem to be really popular right now!

We also carry Moda fabrics by the yard on our website and we currently have the some of the following lines: Dandelion Girl, Cranberry Wishes, Merry Bright, Holly Jolly, Hemming House, A Morris Garden, At Water's Edge, Birchwood Lane, Chelsea Boutique, Kashmir II, Neesha, Peace on Earth, Prairie Paisley, Ruby's Flower Garden, Snow Blooms, Symphony, Tamarack Grove, Heritage (Collection for a Cause), Portugal, Harvest Home, Wildflower Serenade II.

In our next post I will talk about the art of punchneedle. Until then, I leave you with these thoughts:

"A master in the art of living draws no shape or distinction between her work and her play.

Her labor and her leisure, her mind and her body, her education and her recreation, she hardly knows which is which.

She simply peruses her vision of excellence through whatever she is doing
and leaves others to determine whether she is working or playing.

To herself, she always seems to be doing both." Anonymous

Later, lettielulu