Packed Up and (Almost) Ready to GOOO!!!

We the backs are packed and boxes are being shipped to Puyallup, WA. We are two days away from heading off to the Sewing & Stitchery Expo. Despite the cold weather, we are excited about the show. We'll see many of our friends there and are excited to see and be inspired by new projects.

Bear Thread Designs will have some new items as well, to include patterns from a designer Veronica met and fell in love with, Cheri Leffler Designs and some new patterns by Amy Bradley. Come early and check out Hooterville by Brandywine Designs, a pattern we completely sold out of at the International Quilt Festival. If you wait, you may find they have flown the coop!!

See you at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo

February 27, 28, March 1 & 2, 2014

Washington State Fair & Events Center

110 Ninth Avenue SW

Puyallup, WA 98371

Gates open at 8 a.m.

Shopping Hours:

Thursday - 8:30 am - 6 pm

Friday - 8:30 am - 6 pm

Saturday - 8:30 am - 6 pm

Sunday - 8:30 am - 4 pm

Special Events:

Friday Night Live - 6:30 pm

Quilters Night Out - 6:30 pm

Seating begins at 6 pm

Got Thread!?!

Well, Veronica is getting ready for some upcoming cruises, classes and expos and nearly every day we have boxes coming in the mail. This one was a favorite though ... 60 spools of thread!

We are only a few weeks away the Round Bobbin Sew Fun Cruise and Veronica wanted to make sure that she had enough thread to keep sewing long into the night if there is so much fun you don't to stop!

The Round Bobbin Sewing Cruise & Quilting Cruise will tour the Eastern Caribbean March 30-April 6, 2014 with ports of call including Philipsburg, St. Marten • Basseterre, St. Kitts • San Juan, Puerto Rico. The cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 30, 2014 for seven nights on Celebrity's Silhouette.

If you haven't signed up, hurry, there is a little time left. Veronica has quite a few classes scheduled, including a Mystery.

To book your cruise contact Bonnie at CruiseOne 800-784-4480. Space is limited and filling fast. I can't wait to see you!

The Spool Story February Update

As you may remember, a month ago we announced that Veronica would be collecting all the spools of thread she used throughout the year to see how much thread she uses in a year. (You can see the post here.) Well, here's a peek at the growing pile ... She is up to 7 spools last we checked.

This month we've done a lot of "finishing" projects, completing a variety of projects that were started last year, many which are fused. I expect once we get past this pile, she'll have lots more to show us.

What we forgot to mention was that it does not include bobbin there. Veronica has a box or two pre-wound bobbins and she's just been throwing those away as she finishes them. (The ones pictured at Michelle's, her preschooler like to sort them back in order.)

Check back with us at the middle of each month and we'll let you know how the pile is growing.

Happy stitching,

Washington Bound ...

Its that time of year again! Veronica and Michelle are preparing for the 30th Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington!

In two weeks, hundreds will converge on the town at the start of this annual Expo. Are you one of them? There are more than 265 vendors this year and over 100 seminars and six style shows each day.

There are a plethora of events, classes, shows and more to participate in this year. There are a variety of speakers including our dear friend, Barbara Crawford of Crawford Designs! Barbara Crawford is a nationally recognized instructor, and leader in the pattern industry and can be seen on “The Creative Living show” and “It’s Sew Easy “on PBS.

Want to get involved? American Patchwork & Quilting® is excited to announce that the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge will be a part of the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in 2014! Join the editors and staff members of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine to make a pillowcase and make a difference for the children being treated at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Everything needed to make the pillowcases will be available for FREE!

Don't forget to stop by the Bear Thread Designs booth. We'll have demos, give-a-ways, new patterns and more! You can even visit with me, Jaggie!

See you at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo

February 27, 28, March 1 & 2, 2014

Washington State Fair & Events Center

110 Ninth Avenue SW

Puyallup, WA 98371

Gates open at 8 a.m.

Shopping Hours:

Thursday - 8:30 am - 6 pm

Friday - 8:30 am - 6 pm

Saturday - 8:30 am - 6 pm

Sunday - 8:30 am - 4 pm

Special Events:

Friday Night Live - 6:30 pm

Quilters Night Out - 6:30 pm

Seating begins at 6 pm

Seminars:

1 Needle sessions begin at 8:30 am

2 Needle sessions begin at 8:30 am

3 Needle sessions begin at 8:00 am (early entrance pass is included with your seminar ticket)

4 Needle session begin at 8:00 am (Wednesday - no admission ticket needed. Sunday - admission ticket is required)

Buried Treasures ...

Gold, silver, diamonds and other jewels may be what many would consider treasure, but for many a quilter, finding fabric, notions and half finished projects can be just as exciting!! Yesterday we showed you one quilt tops Veronica found when cleaning that was approximately half finished only needing borders. Today we'll show you the rest.

This first one contains the finished blocks, once they are put together they will look something like this.

Veronica was organized enough to keep all of the fabrics together, so after sorting through the piles and consulting the Trudie Hughes books used in the class, she was able to determine where she'd left off and what needed to be done to complete the quilt. Organization ... to quilters its like vegetables, it makes your life better, but its not always your best friend.

 The remaining four projects may take a little longer to complete, as most are just cut pieces, may a few strips sewn together. Even Veronica doesn't know what they will look like and it will take her a little more time to sort through these. Its kind of like a surprise she left for herself 21 years ago!

With a little bit of time and work, Veronica will have 6 new quilts to add to her collection! Maybe she will even turn it into a pirate themed lecture! Who doesn't like to talk about buried treasure!?!

Well, I'm off to find a parrot and eye-patch, happy stitching ...

There is a Reason Mom Says to Clean Your Room

Growing up many of us rolled our eyes, huffed and puffed and generally procrastinated when our mom told us to clean our room. Now many of us are those moms imploring for our children to clean. Well, Veronica didn't need her mom to tell her to clean.

This week she has been cleaning out all those secret places where she has stashed fabric, projects and more, and has found some pretty interesting things.

But is wasn't just the nearly-finished quilt top. 

She found all the fabric she originally put together for the quilt.

"Look at my big stitches and uneven lines," she said as she and Michelle sorted through the stack and looked over the top.


Veronica started this project in 1993, when she was taking a class with Trudie Hughes. In fact, she found 6 quilts total that she started in that class but never finished. Tomorrow we'll show you where the other found treasures.

Hopefully, she'll find a little time between make samples and quilts for lectures and programs, and will be able to finish this quilt and we'll post a photo.

Happy stitching,

Progressive Show and Tell

This past weekend Veronica joined Cactus Quilts at the Heart of Texas One Stop Shop Hop in Waco, Texas. She spent most of her time demoing projects with Charm Squares and Jelly Rolls. It was a two-day show and in the end she had completed this quilt top.

This one used 2 packs of Charm Squares and 1 Jelly Roll. It is approximately 48 inches by 64 inches. This adorable quilt will take up residence at Cactus Quilts, in Texas City, after borders are added and its quilted. Stop by and visit the quilt and enjoy shopping in this adorable shop.

(Veronica and Carla at the Cactus Quilts booth at the 

Heart of Texas One Stop Shop Hop Jan. 31-Feb.1)