Dear Quilting Friends,
Wow, it’s April already and by the time you
read this newsletter Easter will be over and Quilt Fair will be
right around the corner. These are exciting times for all of us at
Threads of Tradition! We are busy preparing interesting
demonstrations, managing details of the quilt show, planning
workshops, and of course making new quilt samples, cutting kits
and ordering lots of great new products so that you can’t resist
beginning a new project or two!
Anyone still planning to enter a quilt in the
show please do that today... time is running out! You can register
online at
http://www.saudervillage.org/Creativity/QF_ex_formonline.asp.
As soon as your quilt is registered, mark your calendars for
Sunday, April 29 so you remember to bring your quilts between 1:30
– 4:00 PM that afternoon. Judging will be completed on Monday,
April 30 and the show will open on Tuesday May 1, running through Sunday May 6.
I hope you are considering taking a class
from internationally known teacher Louisa Smith; there are
still spaces available in the Bargello class on Wednesday and the
One Patch Plus class on Thursday. The Strips and Curves class on Friday/Saturday is full but Louisa has graciously suggested a
one-day Strips and Curves class on
Thursday, which she will teach at the same time as One Patch
Plus. She normally teaches in a studio and is comfortable having
several different classes working side by side. Class descriptions
can be seen at:
http://www.saudervillage.org/Creativity/quiltfair_workshops.asp.
While
online, take special note of the dinner lecture on Friday
evening. After dinner Louisa will help us choose colors more
effectively as she presents “Color My Way”. To complete the
evening, the top prizewinning quilt makers will be recognized and
receive their awards. It will be a special evening of good food,
good friends and good fun. We would be delighted to have you join
us!
Special
Quilt Exhibit
Our special quilting exhibit titled “Dedicated to Excellence” will
feature quilts made by long time Sauder Village volunteers
Evelyn Nafziger and Lorraine Wyse, two women who have
been extremely influential in the Archbold quilting
community. This exhibit will hang in the gallery adjacent to
Threads of Tradition. Opening day is Monday April 16 and you will
be able to visit this inspiring exhibit through Sunday June 3.
Retreat
News
We had so much fun at our first overnight
retreat that we decided that we couldn’t wait a whole year to do
it again! So, we have reserved space at the Heritage Inn for
Friday and Saturday, October 19–20, 2007. Mark your calendars now
and plan to take a vacation day so you can join the fun! More
details will follow later, but I wanted Current Threads readers to
be the first to know the dates for the new fall retreat. I’ve
included a few pictures of the March retreat, but you just have to
be there to get the whole picture, so join us in October!
For the
Gadget Girls
Binding with piping adds flair to quilts with
a distinctive touch that shows attention to detail! The Piping
Hot Binding package by Susan Cleveland includes a Groovin’
Piping Trimming Tool, well-tested, detailed instructions, diagrams
for every step, suggestions for sewing machine feet, seven
variations including curved edges with only piping showing, and
five yards of 1mm cording. Follow
Susan’s instructions and you
will enjoy making your quilts even more special by adding piping
in the binding!
Clover has updated and improved their mini
iron. This new iron includes five different interchangeable tips
including two different size mini iron tips, and a stencil knife
tip. Other improvements include a “cage” that covers the hot metal
wand and prevents your fingers from burning.
Fabric
So many exciting new fabrics are arriving
that we must add more shelving again! Many of these fabrics are
heavily advertised in leading quilt magazines, so I have listed
the different companies and fabric lines below. If you want to see
all of them in full, beautiful color, please stop in anytime!

Moda: Peas and Carrots, Renewal
and
Sunshine by April Cornell
Maywood: Willowberry Lights (coordinates with
the popular Willowberry Winter)
Clothworks: Blossom Thyme
Loralie: Garden Party
Benartex: Paris Cats, Diamond Balis
and Minkee in pink and yellow
Robert Kaufman: Every Iota (bright
contemporary prints)
Indo: plaids
Books
Many of you have enjoyed Nancy Halvorson’s
previous books. If you like her look, you will love her new
Winsome Baby book. The seventeen sweet projects include a
diaper bag, changing pad, Pip Squeak Baby Name Quilts, binky bags,
diaper and wipes quick totes, dribble bibs, baby announcement
quilts, soft blocks, and organizer gift totes. As usual, Nancy has
thought of everything!
Five respected quilt authors and teachers
collaborated together to write the Piecing Tips and Tricks
Tool. In spiral bound book format, each expert covers topics
in her area of expertise. Illustrations and photos make each step
crystal clear. Color-coding puts all the information at your
fingertips. In this book you will find:
·
Tips for getting started including selecting tools
and notions, choosing fabrics and creating a workspace and design
wall.
·
Tricks for accurate cutting, pinning, piecing and
pressing.
·
Ideas for settings, borders, and sashing to make
your quilts one of a kind.
·
Easy how-tos for curved piecing, paper piecing and
set-in Y seams.

We attempt to send Current Threads on the 10th
day of each month, but the May issue will be sent more towards the
middle of the month due to Quilt Fair. We want to be able to
include highlights of that annual event and will need a few extra
days to pull all the information together for you. I hope to see
all of you sometime during Quilt Fair week!
Keep on quilting, Linda
Threads of Tradition @ Sauder Village
22611 State Route 2, Archbold, Ohio 43502
800.590.9755 or 419.446.2541 ext. 3011
www.saudervillage.org
send email inquiries to:
lrufenacht@saudervillage.org
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