Geez, I almost forgot to share a couple other BIG DOINGS for Saturday's "National Quilters' Day" at Country Sampler 1 and 2! (Sometimes it seems like the light is on, but nobody's home in the old brain!) First, as I promised in the newsletter, I've put together a gift basket for each store. Just come in and put your name in the basket to win one! Aren't they pretty?? And chock full of quilting goodies too! Wouldn't it be fun to win one of these? Hey, and if you stop by both stores, you can double your chances of winning... Continue reading

Yesterday, I told you I'd have more information about our celebration for "National Quilters' Day" today. Seeww, remember I told you we're going to have cake?? (Mmmm, cake.) Well ... while you're enjoying your cake, why not check out our demos for the day?! We're going to be demoing things like the Strip Stick, Frixon pens, the Bloc Loc ruler, how to paper piece, The Flying Geese x 4 No Math Ruler for making perfect flying geese, the Magic Ripper, Transfer Eze for embroidery, and MUCH, MUCH more!! You can munch on your cake and check out what we're demoing!!... Continue reading

Did that big post-a-note get your attention?? I hope so, 'cause we've got BIG doings this Saturday! It's National Quilter's Day at the two Country Samplers!!! Is it really National Quilter's Day, you ask? Nah ... it's just that Ann and I were at retreat for this year's National Quilting Day, so it wasn't a great day to have a party at the Sampler. (We want to party too, ya know.) So, in true Country Sampler tradition, we've changed the date and changed the name a little bit -- and we're having a party! Seeww, what's the big doings??? FIRST,... Continue reading

I quickly stitched up this baby quilt and grow chart last month ... and I do mean quickly 'cause both of these are from a panel! Aren't they cute? Just add batting, backing, quilt as desired, and bind - how simple is that, huh? And the baby quilt really does look like it's been appliqued! It seems like I've made several baby quilts for the shop in the last year. I made this one .... and this one ... just to name two. And, FINALLY I have a reason to make baby quilts! I'm going to be a grandma!! My... Continue reading

Yesterday I skipped out of work and drove to Lincoln, NE for the spring "Gathering" for wool hookers. We had a great time! There we're over 100 women there, lots of vendors, tons of wool and wool hooking patterns, and great rugs! It was like a candy store for hookers! Nice big room, with lots of tables, and room to spread out your current rug. Here's some of the rugs on display ... These first two were in a vendor booth ... Karen Greenfield from Elkhorn did a beautiful job with this rug .... Love the bunnies!! And just to... Continue reading

Well, it's finally beginning to look like spring - yahoo! Today we're suppose to get up to 70 degrees - though I heard something about snow for next week. It is Nebraska though, so if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes - it'll change. My tulips are popping up their heads and I'm sooo ready!! Doesn't this quilt look like spring? It's called "Sunflower Row", by Amanda Murphy and we used her Bella collection from Blend to make it just like the pattern cover! The quilt measures 42" x 55 1/2"; and uses 12 fat quarters, 2... Continue reading

I've just got two reminders for you this morning. First, don't forget the Informational Meeting for the Country Sampler Quilt Club is tonight - at 6:30, at the Papillion store. Ann and Sandy will be giving you all the scoop on how to make this terrific block of the month quilt with us ... AND ... don't forget ... we're still taking reservations for our BIG bus shop hop in May. We'd love to see you on the bus!! May Blossom Quilt Tour through Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri Friday, May 3rd – Saturday, May 4th $190 – Double Occupancy Shops... Continue reading

Last weekend, was the Country Sampler retreat and we had a great time! Waahoo, it was fun!! It always amazes me how much you can get done when you actually just sit and sew!! Usually I sew in pretty short increments, just ten to twenty minutes at a time, and then move on to something else that is yelling to get my attention. I've got to tell you, if you really love to quilt ... don't become a shop owner! Something is always yelling for attention! It puts a big crimp in my quilting time - ha! Soooo .... I... Continue reading

Today is one of those days where I keep thinking of something else I want to tell you. I should make a list, but that would involve some degree of organization and forethought -- like that's going to happen! Anyway, this is just a little reminder that the informational meeting for the Country Sampler Quilt Club is tomorrow evening, 6:30, at the West Center store. Even if you haven't signed up to attend, you're still welcome to stop by and get all the skinny on this year's club and the club's 2013 pattern, Pieceful Journey ... Even if you can't... Continue reading

Look what arrived at the West Center store from Moda .... Comma, from Zen Chic -- isn't it fun!?? We've got a quilt in the works from this line -- it's going to be so cool.... I'll send you a pic when we get it finished!! Continue reading

Remember I showed you this picture a couple of weeks ago??? It was the beginning of my Mondo Bag, from Quilt Smart. Ann and I saw tons of gals at Quilt Market with these totes, so ... of course, I had to make one too. I've never used a Quilt Smart product before - that's where you use a fusible interfacing as the base - but I was pleasantly surprised how easy it went together and all the intersections matched perfectly! Soooo, TA-DA ... here's my finished bag!! I don't know if you can tell by the pictures, but it's... Continue reading

Do you recognize that name? Eldon is a pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts, and Ann, at the Papillion store, has stitched it up for us... Isn't it a beauty??!! The quilt is about 86" by 86", so Eldon's a great size to boot! Though definately not a beginners quilt, this would be a great quilt for those of you who want a little more of a challenge. We've got starter kits available - you just add your background, borders, and bindings. This is a great way to make the quilt "your own", but we've done the hard part of the... Continue reading

I've been humming this tune for the last two days ... "Just jump on the bus, Gus. No need to discuss much. Just drop off the key, Lee... and get yourself free." Why, you ask? 'Cause we've got a bus trip planned for you! Here's the scoop... May Blossom Quilt Tour through Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri Friday, May 3rd – Saturday, May 4th $190 – Double Occupancy Shops include: Quilting Bits & Pieces, Eudora, KS Country Traditions, Fremont, NE Quilting on the Square, Holton, KS The Quilted Kitty, Lincoln, NE Crossroads Quilting, Cameron, MO The International Quilt Study Center, Lincoln,... Continue reading

Just a little reminder that our Jo's Little Women Club here at Country Sampler will be kicking off it's first club meeting this coming Monday night, at the West Center store, at 6:30. Just as we did last year, our first meeting not only features all things Jo, but Jane and Carla have a little extra beverage planned for ya ... Those gals are always thinking of ways to improve on the club, aren't they??!! Several weeks ago, I showed you this poster for Jo's Little Women's Club ... But the gals have been working hard and now I have... Continue reading

Yup folks, I've declared this National Change Your Needle Day - a one women push to remind you that your sewing machine needle doesn't last forever. How do I know this?? Well, yesterday I'm sewing away, just having a gay old time, and I notice that the bottom thread on my seams are kinda wonky. Hmmm... I say. I just had this baby in for maintenance. Is it the tension?? (Man, I hope not. I hate fiddling with the tension. It always reminds my of my junior high home ec. teacher yelling at us to NEVER, EVER touch the tension!!)... Continue reading

If you live ANYWHERE near Omaha, NE, you know that they're predicting that we're going to get a boatload of snow on Thursday. Predictions now are around 10", not to mention that we're suppose to have killer winds to go with the snow. So ... if the weather people are correct, I just want to let you know now that Country Sampler 1 and 2 will be closed. Hopefully, Friday will be a better day! Continue reading

If you live ANYWHERE near Omaha, NE, you know that they're predicting that we're going to get a boatload of snow on Thursday. Predictions now are around 10", not to mention that we're suppose to have killer winds to go with the snow. So ... if the weather people are correct, I just want to let you know now that Country Sampler 1 and 2 will be closed. Hopefully, Friday will be a better day! Continue reading

I actually had some time to finish my Merry,Merry Snowman quilt this week end. (Thank goodness for husbands with busy week ends that take them elsewhere!) We offered this beauty as a block of the month last year. Now, I don't do every block of the month we offer, but I really loved this quilt! Just in time too, 'cause I've got a date with the long arm quilter next week! Speaking of block of the months, did you read in the newsletter that we've got a new block of the month starting in May? Yup, we're using Warm Winter... Continue reading

Just a quick note to let you know that the long suffering and a week-and-a-half late Country Sampler newsletter is now available in the shops and online. Check it out here or pick one up at either shop. It's chock full of new classes, information on the start of our Country Sampler Quilt Club (below is the quilt we'll be making) ... ... a new block of the month starting in May.... ... the 2013 Jo's Little Women, starting in March .... ... our Spring Retreat .... and a party for National Quilting Day!! Whew! that's a lot needful things... Continue reading

I got it done, my Dancing Umbrellas quilt by Laundry Basket Quilts, is done and it only took me about a month! Remember ... this is the one I told you I was starting for my annual New Year's Day, start the New Year out right, quilt?? Now I know a month is a lot of time for some quilters, but it's good for me. I tend to jump from one project to another, so to stay somewhat focused is amazing! It was really fun to stitch too, so that always makes the process a lot more fun! It's on... Continue reading

If you haven't been in the shops in a while, you might have missed Jo Morton's newest line, Spice Market ... The colors are even richer than they appear here - a great collection for you Jo Morton fabric lovers! We've got this lovely small quilt above the fabric collection ... Although Jane made Country Lanes before Spice Market arrived in the shops, it really seems to blend well with the new fabric! Don't ya just love the use of the stripe for the sashings and border?? The pattern is from the book Remembrances by Jo and, of course, we... Continue reading

We're still rearranging at the shop, it's kind of a never ending job. Anytime new fabric comes in, or a new model arrives -- we have to start rearranging again.... and we've had BOTH arriving in the stores almost daily!!! YEAH!! At the West Center Store, we've got in a lovely spring group called, Noteworthy, from Sweetwater and Moda.... We've got a kind of summer picnic quilt in the works with this line (at least that's what it reminds me of), but until then Carol and I hung a little clothesline over the pew and ... voila ... Don't all... Continue reading

Just a quick note to let you know that we've received the Spring Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine! I thumbed through it - I still need to sit down and go page by yummy page - but it looks like a good one! Several primitive quilts that I really liked and a couple of wool projects that are beautiful! Stop by and pick up an issue soon - this is one of the magazines we always seem to run out of!! Continue reading

I took a little time off from the blog to get past the holidays. It seems there's always more things to do, than time to do it in, doesn't it?? Sooo, after Christmas, Fat Quarter Frenzy, the New Year, and inventory .... I'm ready to get back in the saddle! Well, kind of .... now I 'm working on the spring newsletter. Big sigh. For the most part, we've been reworking both of the shops this week. There seems to be sooo much Christmas to put away and only so many cubbies to stash it in! We're making some progress... Continue reading