The Quilt Sampler Magazine

 It's finally here! 

The spring issue of the Sampler Magazine

by American Patchwork and Quilting.

Why I am so excited?

Because the shop I work at for 18 years

was chosen to be one of the shops featured.

I had started the process of nominating 

The Fig Leaf and many of the loyal

customers added their comments to get the 

shop included.

The shop opened in 1982 and has

weathered the ups and downs of the quilting industry,

the economy and the whims and desires of quilters.

That's a great testimony of the shop and owner, the staff,

and the customers who have continued to call

the Fig Leaf their quilt shop of choice.

Take a look at the magazine and check 

out the shop.

The magazine doesn't include a staff picture anymore

so I have.  

 That's me in the red.

We had a great time getting the shop all spiffed up and 

looking it's best.

Several of the quilts that I sewed are included in the first photo.
Tah Dah!

They're not original patterns, but designed by Carrie Nelson,
Primitive Gatherings, and ?

One of the quilts that's highlighted used Kate Spain"s fabric, Good Fortune.

See it way in the back.

Congrats to the Fig Leaf for joining a list of

prestigious quilt shops.
If you're ever in the area stop by.

 Until Next Time-

This Is Big News

I think everyone who owns a quilt shop

would love to have their shop featured in the 

American Patchwork and Quilting Sampler Magazine.

It really is an honor to be picked out as one of the 

ten shops that is highlighted either in the spring or fall edition.

Last spring I went on a campaign, of sorts, to have

 The Fig Leaf 

be nominated and accepted into this Hall of Fame.

Laura Shotwell, the owner, has been in business

for 30 years, silently meeting the needs of her customers 

and advancing the art of quilt making.

It was time for some acknowledgement 

in the industry.

With the help of many of our loyal and wonderful customers

and their positive affirmations, 

 I am happy to say 

The Fig Leaf will be one of the shops

featured in the Spring, 2012 magazine!

We have had to be "hush hush" about this wonderful

opportunity until now.

Take a moment to watch my Smilebox

about our photo shoot with the photographers and

designer from Meredith Publishing Co.

It truly was a wonderful day.

Until Next Time-

Times They Are a Changing

Whenever I have to make a change in my life,

it's never very easy.

I wrestle with my decisions.

I try to weigh both the pros and cons.

I ask for plenty of advice.

Listen to the people I respect and 

then take the leap.

I have decided that it is time for me to retire

from working at the quilt shop.

I hate to use the word retire, it makes me feel "old".

But, I guess I'm older than when I started 18 years ago.

I actually started teaching for the shop, (gulp) 27 years ago!

I have helped so many customers learn about quiltmaking,

plan projects, and figure out yardage and more yardage.

These customers have become friends.

I have watched and enjoyed the excitement

of someone becoming a parent or grandparent,

felt the worry of friends dealing with major and minor health issues,

of others facing retirements or layoffs,
the loss of loved ones, and

the sorrow of customers moving away,
but the happiness of new friends coming to the shop.
I've followed customer's children through school, college and beyond,

enjoyed friend's travel adventures,

laughed at people's funny family  moments

and also listened to serious stressful situations.

It has been like "Cheers".  

A place where I have become "friends" with so many wonderful people.

And I hope where many people feel the same way about me.

I will certainly miss seeing so many 

fantastic quilters on a regular basis. 

But, I'm hopefully, that our paths will cross on many occasions.

To be honest the one thing that I will miss the most

is working on Fridays with my dearest friend, Becky.

We've worked together every Friday for 15 years.

We have had a wonderful time.

We've even referred ourselves as 

"the Lucy and Ethel Show".

If you know us, you know who is who.

So as of today, I have only 4 more Fridays

to work with "Lucy" I mean, Becky.

I will be part of the Fig Leaf Staff until November 11th.

I thought that would be a good day to say good bye. (11-11-11)

But there's many good things laying ahead for me and my family.

It's just time to close one door and open another.

Until Next Time-

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is the process of coming

up with a strategy to get something done.

There are all kinds of courses and flow charts

to teach you how

to successfully reach your goal.

My goal this week has been to get all three

store sample "quilting projects" done and over to the store before Saturday.

I didn't make a chart, 

contract a strategic planner,

or take a special training.

My strategy is:

1. sit down at the sewing machine,

2. put on an audio book, Smoking Seventeen by Janet Evanovich, and, 

3. as my friend Eileen says" Just run it through!"

And that's exactly what I've been doing.

The more I'm able to chain piece, the faster

it all goes together.

I work on all gazillion blocks at a time.

Actually, for this last project it's 32 blocks,

but it still seems like a lot. 

I do each step 32 times and then move on to the next.

Sew, trim, press and sew....

I'm working on a Schnibbles pattern,

by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

called "Oso", which is Spanish for bear,

using a new, yet unavailable line,

by Kate Spain called "Good Fortune".

I'll post a picture when I'm done,

which according to my strategic plan 

had better be soon.

Until Next Time-