Custom quilt-double wedding ring

First things first, I think I'm completely incapable of uploading photos to any social media and have them show up the right way. They are fine on my computer and then, bam, wrong way on Facebook or the blog! Anyhow...I've added a couple photos of the quilt I just finished. My camera disappeared so they are photos with my phone, so not the best quality, but you get the idea. The bottom photo gives an idea of the block. There is quilting inside each large area, plus a different quilt pattern in the small areas and a separate one in the brown squares. The borders are quilted differently as well. This quilt took around 20 hours on the machine. The quilt turnout out absolutely gorgeous, so I'm pretty pumped.

Kate

Country Register Story

I was lucky enough to be interviewed recently by Chickencreek Communications, the publisher of the Country Register for the Dakotas. Follow this link to page 7 to read the article about Quilt Essential.

Some of the questions were easy to answer, but the question  "what is your favorite part of your job" was a tough one. As with any work, there are things you love and things you would prefer not to deal with. In my case I have a hard time saying no to pushy vendors, paying bills (but really, who LIKES paying bills) and would prefer to never have to dust and clean. However, I have many things I love that I get to do: help people pick out colors for their quilts, see customer's completed projects, rearrange the shop to my liking, choose designs for quilting tops, design patterns that go with fabrics from the shop, etc. I just wish I had more time to design and less cleaning to do.

Kate

A few extra moments

The bus trip is almost here and I'm almost ready to breathe a sigh of relief. This week will be full of menus, kits, and trying to get caught up on the shop's long arm quilting. Oh...and getting ready for the International Day we are vending at in East Grand Forks. It is all coming so fast and we'll be adding to the chaos by vending in Rapid City in early June.

I can't wait for the craziness that will soon be upon us. We seem to thrive, spitting out kits and samples at the last minute. When the list of things to do is longer than the time we have left to do them in, somehow everyone pulls it together-Mercedes keeps me in line, Mom sews like a madwoman, and Grandma and her group of friends folds until their fingers ache. And it works. Welcome to my wonderful, crazy life as a quilt lady.

Kate

Spring is here!

Spring is here...well, I hope it is, anyway! The sun is shining outside and I have an itch to start my garden. 95 pepper plants last year...that's nothing compared to what we'll have this year! I was told we should really put in a LOT more tomato plants this year so we can make more homemade salsa to can. Evidently the three quarts and eighteen pints of salsa last fall wasn't enough to keep Ryan in salsa for the year, he was down to three pints just a couple weeks ago. Bring on the sun.

Enough day dreaming...just a reminder the Spring Fever (which I seem to have) Bus Trip is scheduled for April 28th beginning at 8:30am. Get a group of your friends together and book your seats today! Seats are limited and are filling up quickly, so get your seat right away!

Kate

Ha! Figured out the photos.

Here is the giraffe quilt. I love the citron, grey and black!

 And here is a photo of one corner of our booth...

Kate

Minot Prairie Quilt Show

Hello from the Minot Prairie Quilt Show! I am actually sitting in my booth waiting for the chaos to begin. The big items at the show? Our new chenille rug kit has pretty much been a hit. We are out of patterns and are getting close to finishing off the fabric.

The giraffe quilt as you go kit is now gone and I'm hoping to have enough fabric to make two more kits. We'll see if it ever sees a wall in the shop. Hmm, the blog isn't letting me upload any more photos. Grrr. Well, the noise just got louder in here, so it has started....

Kate

Spring Fever Bus Trip

Well everything has come together and we have the information for the bus trip!

The Devils Lake bus will leave at 8:30 am and wind our way through quilt shops in Rugby, Bottineau, East Grand Forks, and Crookston before returning around 9:30 pm.  It should be a great day filled with friends, food, and great shopping!

The bus pass cost is $80 and includes all transportation, meals, a goodie bag, and one lucky Devils Lake passenger will receive a $500 Quilt Essential Shopping Spree good toward merchandise or long arm quilting services! The winner of the shopping spree will be drawn when the bus gets back from the trip.


Only 24 spots are available for our portion of the bus, so your chances of winning are great! Reserve your seat at Quilt Essential or click here for the printable form to send in.

Kate