Happy 2012!

Just wishing you all a blessed, healthy and happy New Year!  We hope that 2012 (can you even believe that? - 2012????) is filled with wishes granted for each of you!

After the busy-i-ness

Have things settled down for all of you?  It seems we are still busy doing lots of things with family and friends and that's good - it's fun and enjoyable to see everyone and I really like that the "season" is extended to just more than one day!  Anyway I did the drawing for the third give away - the $50 gift card - and the winner is Heather!  Congratulations, Heather.  Let me know if you want to pick up your gift card or if you would like me to mail it to you - whatever works for you.

Thank you everyone for participating in our give aways and signing up on our blog.  One of my New Year's resolutions is to try to make the blog more fun - more informative for everyone so let's see how I do!

The shop is closed today - we are in the middle of moving some "stuff" around. So we will be at the shop but still trying to make things fit into place - we had some fabric upstairs at the shop that we decided to move downstairs where I could see it and actually be more aware of what we have.  The stairs at the shop are narrow and steep and I did not venture up there very often - it was more Mike's domain so when we put fabric up there it was kind of like out of sight out of mind and now it is all in our classroom and we will be busy for a bit putting it in order.  Wish us luck!

Third Give Away.....

Well time is getting away from me and I still don't have a picture of our give away - so I am just going to tell you what it is ...a $50.00 gift certificate for Hearts To Holly.  So get your comments in (one chance) and get your friends to join our blog (second chance) to double your chance to win.

This year has been such a great year for us here at Hearts - you all have been so supportive while we have been growing and learning - Thank You!  It has been such a treat to continue to meet new people, to laugh with our customers - both new and old - and to see such wonderful, beautiful and creative quilts and projects.  You people have so much talent - thank you for sharing!

So our wish for each of you for 2012 - health, happiness, peace, joy and lots and lots of fun and smiles! 

New title - new year

Forget to mentin in my last comment that I changed the title of our blog from just Hearts To Holly to Heart Strings..  Our Moda salesperson visited last week and asked what our blog was called. When I told him Hearts To Holly he said "oh - you need to name it something catchy" Being new to blogging, I had not thought about naming the blog something other than Hearts To Holly but since Mark's comments, I have been thinking about a name.  I don't know if Heart Strings is catchy or not but after I was finished sewing yesterday I was covered in strings so thought that's it - Heart Strings.   Our quilts are all made with love and we always have strings of fabric covering us - I am always picking them off of my clothes - even at Church - so to me it makes sense - catchy or not. 

For our third give away, rules are changing a little bit - 1.  post a comment to Heart Strings and you will be entered into the drawing and 2.  if you get a friend to join the blog and post a comment, you will be entered into the drawing a second time.  Just have the friend state that they joined at your invitation in their comment.  So then they will be entered into the drawing and you get your second entry.

Our third give away is - oh that's right I have to take a picture - will post it soon ----

Another Winner

Good morning!  We have another winner - yea!  This is so much fun.  I love reading the comments and hope that you all have as much fun as I do here at Hearts.

The winner of the Holly Bunch and pattern is "Lenore".  Lenore if you can let me know if you will be stopping in to pick up your winnings or if we need to get it in the mail that would be great!

Our third give away will take place this Saturday, December 24.  I need to take a picture - so will post tomorrow - trust me though it will be a good one!

Congratulations, Lenore!

Week #2 H2H Blog Give Away

The weather is mild - no snow on the roads and it is predicted to stay like this for the next few days so it makes a perfect time to get out there and finish your Christmas shopping.  I've got some sewing to finsih but things are looking good!  Hearts To Holly has lots of great gift ideas - some ready to wrap and others that require some sewing but either way they would make great stocking stuffers or a nice hostess gift.  So put on your Santa hat, sing your favorite carols, and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the season!

This is week #2 for Hearts To Holly's Blog Give Away and this week we will be giving a Holly Bunch (12 corrdinated fat quarters) and a Holly Bunch pattern.  Holly Bunch patterns are patterns that have been designed specifically for Hearts To Holly by Valerie (our oldest daughter) and use 12 fat quarters - all cut the same way - for the quilt top.  You can then add borders if you want - and it makes a nice lap size quilt.  We currently have 7 Holly Bunch patterns and I hear that there might be some more in the near future.

Rules are the same - sign on as a follower of our blog and post a comment. Or if you have already signed on as a follower - just post a comment and you will be entered into the drawing for Saturday, December 17.

Have an absolutely wonderful week - Happy Quilting!

First Winner

Our first blog winner is "Nettie".  Nettie wins the Snap Sack kit which makes the beautiful Christmas wall hanging.  Congratulations, Nettie!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Today starts the beginning of the 2nd contest.  Rules are the same - join the blog and post a comment (make sure you post a comment) and your name will be entered into our drawing for next Saturday, December 17.

I need to take a picture of this week's prize so stay tuned - will post it tomorrow!

Countdown to Christmas

One of our customers told us about a great block - the disappearing four patch.  It is a fun and easy block that looks really great! 

We started with charm squares and made a four patch using two lights and two dark charms. After sewing them together to get the four patch, press and lay on a cutting mat that you will be able to turn.  Measure from the center seam - we measured 1 1/2 inches from the center - you can measure any increment that you want - and cut, then turn the mat (don't move the block once you start cutting), measure from the center seam - same distance - and cut.  Continue until you have made four cuts from the center seam - one on each side.

You now have nine squares that you can arrange in any format you would like and sew together.  This is what we did with ours -

 Isn't it a great looking block? Think of all the possibilities!

Christmas is just a few weeks away and in the spirit of giving, we will have three give aways - one on  December 10, December 17 and December 24.  Just post a comment during the week before the give away date and you will be entered into our drawing.  Our prize for December 10 will be a snap sack kit for the wall quilt pictured above.  The snap sacks are complete - everything you need to finish this project is included.  So don't delay - post your comment today! 

Better and Better

We (Hearts To Holly, Delphine's Quilt Shop and Cousin's Quilt Shop) are currently hosting our first Demo Daze and it has been really well received.  We are giving some great demos - some really fun, easy and quick gift ideas that can be sewn up well before Christmas. 

Some of the things we are showing are the Ten Minute Tablerunner - we actually call it the 15 Minute Tablerunner because we have added a small strip to each side to perk it up a little bit, the 20 Minute Pillowcase, East Mitered Placemats, Napkins that fold into a beautiful tree shape - really pretty - and coasters.  You can make a beautiful tablescape with all of these items (20 Minute Pillowcase shortened and used as a chair cover) - what great ideas!

So we have been busy and are enjoying seeing our quilters while they are out shopping and enjoying the festive Holiday atmosphere.  Mother Nature has even blessed us with great weather to be out and about. It has been good!

Next week we have some more goodies planned so be sure to stay tuned and if you don't get our newsletter, you can subscribe at http://www.heartstoholly.com/

Have a great weekend!
 

Special Treat

I wasn't sure that I would have time to post again before Thanksgiving but I do have a few minutes. 
Thought I would share with you a great recipe for something a little different - would be a great treat for everyone after their scrumptous Turkey dinner.  This is one of my sister Viv's great recipes and everyone at Chatter Time loves it - so if you want to make one more great treat here you go -

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Topping
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Cake Batter
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs,
2 cups sour cream
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
3 t. baking powder,
2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon,
1/2 t. salt

Line 9 X 13 pan with foil. In saucepan, combine brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter. Bring to boil, pour into pan and spread to edges. Sprinkle with cranberries and pecans. Cream together 1 cup butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix just until moist. Pour batter over cranberry mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto serving platter and carefully remove foil. Serve warm.

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's the beginning of the holiday season with Thanksgiving this Thursday - can time go any faster? 

We had the opportunity to go downstate this past Friday to Battle Creek to watch the Charlevoix Girls Volleyball team participate in their first ever state semi-finals.  It was good to see the many Charlevoix supporters and the girls did great!  They did not win their match however they tried hard and their attitude was great!  Way to go Lady Rayders!

After watching those games, we then headed over to Ann Arbor and showed our granddaughter, Maddie, Michigan Stadium. What a sight - even in the dark!  Then we stayed near Flint where Maddie and I shopped on Saturday while Papaw Mike went to the  Michigan/Nebraska game.  Go Blue! 

While driving home Saturday evening, we couldn't help but notice all of the Christmas decorations already in place and lighting up neighborhoods. It won't be long before Santa is loading up his sleigh!

At the shop we are getting ready for Demo Daze - December 1, 2, and 3.  We will have lots of great demos plus great quick and easy gift ideas - some to make - some already made for you!  Always something to do - do you think that has anything to do with time moving so quickly?  And talking about so much to do and get ready for guess we better get to the shop - have a great week, a wonderful Thanksgiving and Happy Quilting!

Fall and more

When we were getting ready for our 4th Anniversary at the shop, we put some pumpkins on the shop porch and at the classroom door.  They looked really good so we just kept them there.  This past Monday morning when we got to the shop, the squirels were having a pumpkin feast and pumpkin seeds were everywhere.  But they - the squirels - small red ones and the larger gray ones - were so entertaining we kept the pumpkins there for another day.  They are going to be fat little squirels!

One of our customers brought these cute little ornaments that she made in to the shop. They are really cute and she is going to do a class for us - yea!

 



Have a great day and happy quilting!

Mystery and more

Well we had our mystery class last weekend and we had lots of fun.  For those of you that have not participated in a mystery class before it really is a fun project.  There is some degree of trust needed in your quilt shop and instructor because you don't have any idea what your finished piece is going to look like but if you are willing to relinquish a little control, you can have a lot of fun and end up with a beautiful quilt!  We did a mystery quilt top using one of Debbie Caffrey's mystery projects and loved every minute of it.  Our oldest daughter, Val, from Las Vegas was our mystery instructor and along with all of her great tips not to mention her sense of humor everyone in the class had a wonderful time.  Val is teaching the mystery class at The Christmas Goose Quilt Shop in Las Vegas next weekend so I said I would only show one picture of the finished project so as not to spoil the mystery totally - so here is Val (center) along with two of the class participants holding up the finished quilt at our picinic celebrating the finish of the class -

Oh - its the picture of the back of the quilt - so I guess it is still a mystery - hope anyone that does a mystery class has as much fun as we did.  We will be having another mystery class so stay tuned!

This past weekend was a beautiful weekend for fall colors and we took advantage of it by doing a little color tour of our own - here is just one of the pictures we took!  Hope you all have a great weekend quilting or doing whatever makes you smile!

Each Day

Another beautiful day here in Charlevoix.  What a great run of good weather we are having and I will take another 3 months of this but I think Mother Nature may have something else in store for us so will just enjoy each day as it comes.

We (Hearts To Holly) will be celebrating our 4th anniversary next weekend.  Can hardly believe that it has been four years since we opened the shop - things have progressed quickly and we have grown from  having about 800 bolts of fabric when we opened to having over 2500 bolts now and we put them in every nook and cranny of the shop.  When people stop in they comment about having to look everywhere - every corner to see everything and it takes them ahile to go through the shop.  Don't you just love old houses?  They have so many corners that make things interesting!

Well enjoy today - make the most of it - live it to its fullest!  Happy Quilting!

Fall At Its Best

Fall is here but we are getting a bit of Indian Summer this week and it has been absolutely beautiful!  Sunny days and crisp cool nights - what a great place we live in.  And we still have some roses!

Hearts To Holly is bustling with lots of good things - Mystery Weekend (October 7-9), 4th Anniversary Celebration (October 14-15) and so many great classes - Spicy Spiral Tablerunner, October's bag of the month, Sew Simple Pineapple (great technique - no special ruler), It's A Wrap, and many, many more.  If you don't get our newsletter that has all of the classes listed, go to http://www.heartstoholly.com/ and sign up.

We have started a new fun thing at the shop - Fat Quarter Lotta - buy a fat quarter, we put your name and phone number on it, wrap it up and put it in our Fat Quarter jar.  When the jar is full, we will pull out one lucky fat quarter and the winner will get all of the fat quarters int he jar.  We don't know how many fat quarters will fit in the jar but think it will be close to 100 - just imagine getting 100 fat quarters (25 yards of fabric) for just the cost of one fat quarter.  Do you feel lucky?

Well guess that is it for now - hope to see you at the shop - in the interim - Happy Quilting!

Here Again

Well time certainly seems to get away from me.  Here it is the last of September.  Fall is definitely in the air - pumpkins are everywhere and the honey crisp apples are ready for eating.  The shop has been busy.  We were up at Sault Ste. Maire MI this past weekend vending at a quilt show and the quilts were beautiful.  I am always in awe with the amount of creativity and talent that surrounds us.

Last night our Moda salesperson - Mark - was here to show us the new fabrics coming after the first of the year and there are some great ones.  One line in particular that I liked - and those that were with me - was the "Stitch In Color" line.  It is bright and fresh looking - really some different designs in the fabrics - just really great looking.  This is a picture of the panel or "cheater" fabric.  Mark actually had a large tote made out of it and it was cute!

There were lots of other lines that caught my attention too - Minick and Simpson are bringing out Prairie Paisley II - lots of nice fabrics there!  I was trying hard not to over spend and to some extent I did okay but probably ordered more that I thought I was going to - but that just means there will be more for everyone to oogle over. 

We are doing some fun things at the shop over the next few weeks - a Mystery Weekend, October 7, 8 and 9, our 4th Anniversary celebration, October 14 and 15, Demo Daze, December 1, 2, and 3 and lots in between as well.  We have lots of classes - Chenille Applique, our Bag of the month, Spicy Spiral Table Runner - something for everyone.

Well guess that is it for now.  Take care and Happy Quilting!

Beautiful days, cool nights!

Wow have we been having beautiful weather or what?  The days have been absolutely wonderful and the nights have been cool making it really good sleeping!  However the days are getting shorter which only means one thing - fall is just around the corner and the really good quilting time is upon us!  It is time to get down to business and get those quilts going.

I am going to make some peach jam this week with the last of the peaches.  Haven't they been good this year?  And the apples - they are so crispy and good.  I love this time of the year.

We are starting two new Blocks of the Month this fall.  One of them is Aunt Grace's Garden Party.  It is so fresh and pretty.  It's a row quilt and is just a six month program.  Has some piecing and some applique - so something for everyone.

The other one is General's Wives.  This is a beautiful quilt - lots of blues - just gorgeous.  This is a 12 month program and will begin in November.  Mostly piecing - just a little applique (or not).  We are expecting the fabric anytime - can't wait to get it.

Hope your days are filled with fabric and quilting and aromas of fresh apple pies!

Shop Hop and more

Well here it is August 20th and I am just getting back to my blog.  We have been going 24/7 first trying to get ready for shop hop and then actually "doing" shop hop.  Today is the last day and we have had a lot of fun at the shop.  We have seen lots of quilters and have had some enjoyable conversations with them. We only do shop hop once a year which is probably a good thing because when the last Saturday rolls around we are all ready to sit with our feet up and relax for just a bit and this is that Saturday!

When a little one comes into the shop for the first time, we try to remember to give that future quilter a fat quarter to start their stash.  Here are two of those future quilters - aren't they cute?

Well guess I better head down to the shop.  Looking forward to seeing the shop hoppers!



Fun Time

We've been having a great time at Hearts To Holly.  This past week we had "Fright Night" and several of our quilters came in costume to give us all a little entertainment.  We had balloons that contained either a trick or a treat and each quilter got to choose a balloon, break it and find out if they were tricked or treated.  Those that were tricked were really good sports - some had to sing a song before getting their % discount, others had to skip thru the shop.  It was a really fun time.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  Pictures coming soon!

We are also getting ready for Shop Hop and that always means a good time.  We get treats provided by Vivian as well as we get to see lots of our quilters.  We have some really good demos planned too.  And then the best is that we get to see our Wisconsin friends.  Nicci and Roxanne will be joining us this Thursday.  They help us with samples and just some really great ideas!   Can't wait to see them!

Beautiful Place

It's the beginning of August and here in Charlevoix it is an absolutely perfect place to be.  We are surrounded by water and beaches and the weather although a little hot and sticky has been giving us blue sky and lots of sun and beautiful sunsets!

This past week Shelly, one of our four daughters and one of two that lives in Las Vegas, has been visiting us and she went to Lavender Hill Farms to check it out.  Lavender Hill is just a couple of miles from us and is just beautiful right now.  They have lots of lavender varieties and make some really interesting things from the lavender - cookies, lemonade, soap, sachets, etc.  It is a great place to visit.

Things are really getting busy at the shop.  We are preparing for our annual Shop Hop which we do with five other quilt shops and it is getting close - less than two weeks away - and so much to do but we will get it done - I know I can I know I can!  Demos, quilts, new fabrics, new patterns and books - so much fun - can't wait!

So take care and happy quilting!

Long time away-----

It seems like forever since I've been here and when I look at the calendar it has been a long time.  My apoligies.  I could make all kinds of excuses like we have been really busy, I had a bug, we had company visiting - all of it true but I still need to make a commitment and be here!  So I am making that commitment - you are going to hear from me lots and much more frequently!

The shop has been busy, lots of new people in and it is so great to see the enthusiasm that is so evident in quilters.  Have you noticed that quilters are happy, enthusiastic people?  They (we) just love what we do and enjoy sharing with others too.

The new Quiltmania just arrived at the shop and it has Minick and Simpson featured in it with their Chippewa Nine Patch quilt.  This is a beautiful quilt and is done with the Charlevoix line of fabric.  Hearts To Holly just happens to have kits for this quilt too.  Minick and Simpson do such a good job - we just love their fabrics.

We also have some great new lines of fabric in - we are bursting at the seams!  But we just love new fabric!

Okay so with promises made - I will be back soon -

Happy Quilting!

Whew -

I feel like I have been on a treadmill that just keeps going faster!  Graduation, grandson leaving for Marine bootcamp, surprise birthday parties, visitors from NV,  PA, Phoenix and downstate MI and then there is the quilt shop.  Good thing I have great hard working staff that keep things going at Hearts To Holly - I don't know what I would do without them!  Hearts To Holly will be vending at the Little Traverse Bay Quilt Show Friday and Saturday this week.  It sounds like they have some great quilts for us to see.  I can't wait to see the creativity and workmanship.  I think we have some of the best quilters here in northern Michigan but then I guess I am a little biased!

We are also getting ready for our shop hop - August 13 through the 20th.  We had Island Batik design a special batik for us (six shops that are part of the shop hop) and it is really pretty.  Our theme this year is fall and I think the quilt blocks and quilts will be beautiful.

Well just wanted to let you know that everything is good here at Hearts To Holly - just busy!  So happy quilting and I hope to be back again soon with more updates!

June is busting out....

June has brought lots of blooms and blossoms.  What a beautiful time of the year. The blossoms above are from a tree outside of the shop.  The tulips are done now but oh were they pretty!

The shop is busy - visitors are stopping in and our staff is bustling about cutting kits, fat quarters and more.  They have been great filling in for me while I have been out attending open houses and going to my grandson's high school graduation.  What a great time we had this past weekend.  Braden graduated, his mom - our daughter, Leslie, was the commencement speaker - chosen by the senior class - and she was great.  Braden is now in San Diego for basic training at the Marine base there.  He will return in September after his graduation from basic training to attend Eastern Michigan University.  So many many things that just makes my heart swell with love, happiness and pride!

Best get to the shop now - Happy Quilting!





June 1 and counting

June 1 and the days are nice and long.  The sun doesn't set until well after 9 p.m. and is up in the sky early - it is so good having the sunlight.  Today is sunny, warm but not humid - a perfect day.  The shop has been busy - new people coming in, quilters starting and finishing projects - it's all good!

We will be hanging our fabric challenge entries today and voting will go until the end of July.  We have had 14 entries and they are all so different!  The quilters do such a good job - I am always amazed at the creativity - the imagination - of everyone.  They all start with the very same fabric and this year we put no size limitations on them and we got small things to large.  I will be taking some pictures and will post them asap.  Monies raised from the votes will go to Women's Resource this year.  Hopefully we will raise lots!

Happy Quilting!

Flying by....

I know that we say it all the time but time really does fly by.  Next weekend our grandson, Braden, graduates from high school and then (same day) leaves for San Diego for his basic training for the Marine Corp Reserves.  He then comes back to begin college at Eastern in September.  But really I think he is only about 5 - it just doesn't seem possible that he is graduating next week, or that our oldest grandchild, Katie is finishing her first year teaching kindergarten, that our second grandchild, Nick, just finished his first year of college, that Ryleigh our fourth grandchild is going to be a sophomore in high school and that our fifth grandchild, Maddie, will be in middle school in September.  Why, in my mind, am I a much younger person with still a lot to do and these kids should still be sitting on my lap while I read them their favorite book?  But time - instead of marching on - flies by so quickly that in a blink of an eye our kids/grandkids are all grown up and taking on the world.  Maybe that's what Godspeed actually means - go with God - at His speed - not ours.

Have a great day and happy quilting!

  

Spring is here!

I think spring has finally arrived here in Michigan.  The temps are pleasant, the trees are in blossom and the tulips and daffodils are beautiful.  Mike told me to look out of our classroom door the other day stating "look outside - we are in our two weeks of pretty!"  And he is so right it is absolutely gorgeous!  The grounds surrounding our shop are nice anytime of the year but when spring arrives it is awesome.

And just when we are enjoying spring, we get a shipment from Moda - Sandy Gervais' Grand Finale - a beautiful fall line.  No wonder I get confused! 

We are getting ready for our Shop Hop which isn't until August but the way time flies, it will be here next week.  Our Shop Hop bags will be ready next week and we already received our original shop hop batik - so pretty and it was designed specifically for our six shops.  We have started working on our  shop hop quilt - will keep you posted as to our progress.

Have a great day - happy quilting!

Back again!

It's been awhile since I have put anything out here on my blog.  The past few weeks have been quite a whirlwind.  We had Quilter's Cruizine (shopping, meals and busses) which was a great success, vended at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island for Minick and Simpson's classes, had our celebration party for the Quilt Sampler magazine (lots of fun was had by all) and then went to Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, UT with three of our four daughters.  Each event was great and created special memories for me.

The quilt market was filled with vendors showing the latest and greatest and we put lots of miles on our feet during those four days.  We learned lots, saw lots, ordered lots and we are now looking forward to seeing those things in our shop. The picture above shows a sample from a new pattern from Grizzly Gulch.

This picture shows off a quilt that I fell in love with.  It's done in some nice 30's reproductions and has some great embellishments done with a new type button maker.  This vendor had us making some great do dads with their handy tool and we loved them all - rings, headbands, and more.  We had lots of fun at this booth.

Well I guess that's it for now - the shop is calling - but I will be back before too long.

Happy Quilting!

It's Here!

Yesterday Mike and I were our of the shop for awhile and I got a call from Emily who was manning the shop telling me that we had received a shipment - some boxes from Moda - which really is no surprise - seems like we get something from them every week but then she said we had also received lots of boxes that FedEx delivered - lots of little boxes.  I couldn't remember anything that I had ordered that would come in little boxes so Emily said - uh - I think it might be the magazine we are waiting for - and she was soooo right - Quilt Sampler has arrived!

When we got back to the shop - which was soon after we got Em's call -  Mike and I sat and just looked through the magazine one page at a time.  What a great thrill it was to see our quilt on the cover, to read our shop story and then to read about all of the other shops.  I am still thinking that I might wake up and this will all have been a dream!  But what a wonderful dream it is.  Guess until I wake up I might as well think about what we are going to do with all of those boxes!

Almost Here

I just cannot believe how time is flying by.  Someone sent me an email that said life is like a roll of toilet paper - the closer you get to the end the faster is goes!  Well time seems to be on zoom speed - so with everything that I want to do yet I better step it up!

We received an email notice this past week with the following link:

 http://www.mydownloadcentral.com/Meredith/0411-2/QS_SS_2011.pdf   - what a thrill to see our quilt on the cover of Quilt Sampler and it looks great - not that I am prejudiced or anything but it really does!  We should have the actual magazines in about a week.  Can't wait to actually see one.  Everyone is getting really excited.   And this just proves what I said about time flying - it was 8 months ago that we first learned about our shop being chosen for Quilt Sampler and it certainly does not seem like that long ago.

We are starting a beautiful block of the month this week - Chestnut and Vine - it is a six month BOM and the colors are so warm and pretty.  This quilt has a little bit of applique and some great strip pieceing techniques.  Should be a great project. 



Just heard the weather and we are supposed to get up to a foot of snow Wednesday - maybe we still are in winter and I have just been dreaming it's April and springtime!

Time Flies

I cannot believe how quickly time moves!  I think I am going to get so much more done and then before you know it the day is done.  Have been trying to sort the triangle exchange fabrics so I can get them back to the quilters - takes time to sort and count out all of those half square triangles!

We are currently house/dog sitting for one of our daughters while they are on spring break in New Orleans.  The dogs - two beautiful chocolate labs - are doing great only barked a lot the first night and I think that was because we were in "their" room.  Have been working on binding a quilt while we are house sitting, but seems like I fall asleep under it before I get a lot done.  

Our winter friends are starting to return - that's a sure sign of spring for us.  Can't wait to see them all at Chatter Time.  Summer will be here before you know it!  On my way to the shop - Happy Quilting! 

Another Day in Northern MI

All the schools around us were closed yesterday,  the roads were not nice and the shop was really quiet so we got lots of kits cut and made some plans for upcomming events.  I guess its good to have some days like that just to keep up with things.  We did have some customers come in - we probably should have given them an award or something for braving the elements!  Schools are in today and the skies are supposed to be clear so my hope for Spring remains high!

I was on Minick and Simpson's web page yesterday (http://www.minickandsimpson.com/) and they have a beautiful quilt - Flying Free - that will be featured in the upcomming issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.  I really like the look of this quilt and you can use your scraps to make it.  Might have to try this one! 

    

It Just Keeps Getting Better

We just found out that our quilt for Quilt Sampler Magazine will be on the cover of the May, 2011 issue.  We are so totally thrilled and overwhelmed - it just keeps getting better!  We have been so fortunate - our customers are the absolute best and are and have been so gracious and supportive - what a great job we have!

Deb was working yesterday and I made the comment to her that we have so much to do that I wish I had the energy to pull several "all nighters" and really get some things done.  However, in thinking about that I started wondering what those projects would look like when I finished with them.  I think it's probably better to work on projects with a clear head and for me that generally means morning.  So guess we will just keep working on things and getting them done as we can one project at a time.

I am still waiting on Mother Nature to catch up with the calendar.  We got some snow last night and a large majority of our surrounding schools are closed today - the grandkids are thrilled.  Hopefully this will be the last measureable snow for this season - I am so ready for Spring!

Did I say another day closer?

Just when I thought Spring was just around the corner I hear that we are expecting amost a foot of snow Tuesday/Wednesday!  But the good thing about that is that it won't stay long - hopfully!  Besides, snowing and blowing just gives us another reason to stay inside and stitch on a project.  So along with getting your milk and bread stocked get your thread, needles and sewing supplies ready.

At the shop on Saturday we had Ann Loveless teaching her Lakeside Collage quilt technique.  Everyone seemed to be having a good time and were learning lots.  Some even wished that the class would go for another hour or two.  Ann's work is beautiful and she inspires us to keep trying to make those beautiful landscape quilts!  Thanks Ann! 

We have been working hard at the shop trying to get all of the new fabric on our shelves.  We got some beautiful Amy Butler prints - Soul Blossom - and two of the vinyl covered fabrics.  We have lots of new stuff and will be working on some new samples for everyone to see.  Will take some pictures asap.  There always seems to be lots to do and not near enough time or energy!


 

Another Day closer

It's  7:30 am and the sun is starting to come up and it was light until after 8 last night so Spring is definitely getting closer.  I absolutely love having more daylight it just makes me feel better.  The sun is supposed to shine today lots and the temperature is on the rise - yea!

We are keeping busy at the shop - getting ready for lots of fun things coming up - Quilt Cruizine- May 3, vending at Mackinac Island - Mother's Day Weekend, Quilt Sampler Magazine (featuring our shop as one of the 10) - May 10 and Spring Quilt Market, Salt Lake City UT - May 11.  I think after the first two weeks in May we might need a vacation!  We are preparing lots of kits from the Charlevoix fabric line and others and trying to get our web site up to snuf adding all of the new fabric that just keeps arriving - our UPS and FEDEX  drivers love us! 

With all that has to be done, I better be getting to the shop - have a great day!

 

My First Installment for Hearts To Holly blog!

Well here goes - this is my first attempt at blogging - I thought I should jump into this century before it flies by like all of my days seem to.  As a brief introduction, I am the owner of Hearts To Holly Quilt Shop in Charlevoix MI.  I guess I should say that my husband and I are the owners -  that would definitely be more correct.  Mike and I opened the shop a little over 3 years ago and have been having a good time with it.  We have been very fortunate and have met some terrific people.  Our customers are great and it's been a lot of fun - hard work but fun!

Our town of Charlevoix is small - only about 3500 people in the winter - grows a bunch in the summer with all of our visitors - and is like living in a postcard.  We have Lake Michigan on the west and a large lake - Lake Charlevoix on the east with a small harbor connecting the two lakes.  Charlevoix is about an hour above Traverse City and about an hour south of Mackinaw City. 

Mike and I have four daughters - all of whom quilt and design and are so very creative.  They have been a real help to us in this quilting venture.  Two of our daughters, Val and Shelly, live in Las Vegas and Leslie and Emily live here in Charlevoix.  Val and Leslie are long arm quilters, Shelly is an art teacher and Emily works here at the shop.

Well I think I will call this my first blog for now.  Will be back soon - I always have lots to say!