Wendy’s Blog

Christmas in July

July 18, 2008 – 3:29 pm
Deck the halls with boughs of holly - fa la la la la, la la la la - that's what we have been listening to here at Among Friends.  After a few hours of Christmas music and folding Christmas fat quarters (not to mention stepping outside in this heat) we are all ready for snowflakes and eggnog.  Why are we doing this you ask?  Well, next weekend (July 25-27) is the Jingle Bell Hop, which is the local summer shop hop with a holiday theme.  It is never too soon to get ready for the holidays and we would like to help get you started.  We will set the mood with Christmas sounds, scents, sweets and sights; plus we have put out hundreds of bolts of the latest and greatest holiday fabrics.  In addition, each shop in the hop has selected a special holiday project for you to try.  It might be ...

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Wow! New Fabrics are Here

July 15, 2008 – 12:23 pm
We have been keeping our UPS man busy.  Boxes of fabric have been arriving daily.  Some of the new lines are Portugal by April Cornell and Moda (http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_portugal.pdf), Pumpkins Gone Wild by Sandy Gervais and Moda (http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_pumpkins_gone_wild.pdf) and It's Snowing by Deb Strain and Moda (http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_its_snowing.pdf).  These are but a few of the many new lines that have arrived.  Also new are pre-wound bobbins for the HQ Sixteen in many different colors.  Be sure to check out the new Superior thread collections, Living Colors, Nature Colors and The Bottom Line when you are here. Happy Quilting! Wendy

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Smores are Here

July 8, 2008 – 3:57 pm
Hi!  It is my first week back after spending a week with the mouse (you know, Mickey Mouse).  Vacations are fun, but it is nice to be back home. While I was away we received the Smores line of fabric from Me and My Sister (go to their website to get a peak at the line:  http://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com/smores.asp).  It is so cute! Also new is Harvest Reflections from RJR and Thimbleberries.  It is a nice autumn line in rich Thimbleberries colors.  We have 5" x 5" charm packs available for this line plus new Thimbleberries patterns. Hope you are enjoying your summer.  These long summer days are great for getting things done (including sewing/quilting projects).  Don't forget about FFA this Friday evening (7/11/08).  Bring a project and $6 for dinner and have some fun with us. Happy Quilting! Wendy

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It’s a Super Saturday with 25% Off Notions

June 21, 2008 – 9:08 am
It is early Saturday morning and I have just walked through the classroom looking in amazement at all the fabric.  Many of our May orders were shipped with June orders, so the classroom is FULL.  I am excited for everyone to see all that is new today.  It is a beautiful day (at least the rain is gone for now) and I hope you all will stop by.  Our Super Saturday special is 25% off notions (June 21).  That includes the new notions that have come in such as the Little Gripper which is great.  I ordered lots of these because I know everyone will want one. We also have a ton of new books that have come in and there are some really good ones.  Today we have several highlighted in the classroom and I will be talking about some in the Super Saturday meetings at 10:00 and noon. Happy Quilting! Wendy

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Kaffe Fassett, Laurel Burch and Nancy Halvorsen Have Arrived

June 9, 2008 – 5:00 pm
For you Kaffe Fassett fans out there, we have new fabrics that have recently arrived.  They currently are in the classroom.  Stop by and check them out.  We have plans for these fabrics, so check back often.  I will let you know when they have been implemented. Laurel Burch 's Christmas line is also here.  It is called Bountiful Blessings.  Also, Nancy Halvorsen's 12 Days of Christmas has arrived.  We also have copies of her latest book titled 12 Days of Christmas that includes holiday projects using the fabric line. Thank you to those of you who attended the auction last weekend.  I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first one.  It was a lot of fun and we look forward to doing it again next year.  For those of you who weren't there, you missed a good time and a lot of nice auction items.  I think everyone ...

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The Secret is Out

May 24, 2008 – 3:01 pm
The day has finally arrived.  I got to share our big secret today with everyone at the Announcement Part at noon.  Now, I am sharing it with you.  Three months ago I received a phone call from one of Meredith Publishing's editors, Jennifer Keltner.  Jennifer called to tell me that Among Friends Quilt Shop has been selected to be featured in the fall issue of American Patchwork & Quilting's Quilt Sampler magazine as one of the top ten shops in North America.  As you can imagine, we are thrilled, excited and all those other good words to express our emotions at the news.  It is such an honor to be featured in this magazine and Scott and I along with our family and staff are so appreciative of the recognition.  As a shop owner, I know that I have been blessed with a terrific staff, a very supportive family and ...

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Oregon Wrap Up

May 20, 2008 – 5:12 pm
Wow!  Another Quilt Market has come and gone.  It was once again a flurry of activity - both exhausting and exhilerating at the same time.  Our days began at 8:00 a.m. and didn't end until 10:00 p.m. or later.  That's why there were no more posts to the blog after market began.  I was just too tired by the end of my day.  We attended seminars, saw gorgeous fabrics, ordered new patterns and notions, saw more gorgeous fabrics, ate lunch with Mark Lipinski (Quilter's Home magazine), Billie Lauder (quilt designer and author) and Becky Goldsmith (Piece 'O Cake - quilt designer and author), met Amy Butler, Heather Bailey and other designers, saw more gorgeous fabrics, ordered those gorgeous fabrics...I think you have the idea.  It was fun and very productive.  I especially enjoy getting to meet the fabric designers like Sandy Gervais and Moda's newest designers, Bonnie Olaveson from Cotton ...

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Day Five in Oregon

May 14, 2008 – 11:58 pm
Today we continued up the coast in thick fog.  I think that is probably common for here.  My favorite shop today was Center Diamond in Cannon Beach.  I got some ocean-themed fabrics there.  Now, I just need to figure out when I am going to have time to make all these quilts! Tomorrow is the first day of Quilt Market.  Scott and I will be attending Schoolhouse to see what is new on the market.  I can't wait! Wendy

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Day Four in Oregon

May 14, 2008 – 12:31 am
Today we left Eugene, and no we didn't run into President Clinton, who was also in Eugene.  We headed to the Oregon coast and traveled north on Highway 101.  Several quilt shops were discovered along the way and I found some great local patterns with lighthouses and other sea creatures.  I also discovered some new products that I will be looking for at market and bringing back to the shop.  My favorite shop today was Joy of Quilting in Florence.  We have one more day of sightseeing before heading back to Portland for Quilt Market.  I am looking forward to getting to work finding new products and fabrics for the shop. Happy Quilting!  Wendy

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Day Three in Oregon

May 12, 2008 – 11:50 pm
Today we started our shop hopping in Bend and continued to Sisters, Springfield and Eugene.  My favorite shop was Sew May Quilts in Bend.  This is one of the shops in the spring issue of Quilt Sampler magazine that just came out a week ago (yes, we still have copies).  I saw a redwork quilt there (you can see a corner of it in one of the photographs in the magazine) and I bought the pattern.  I think I am going to try my hand at redwork.  It was a cute snowman quilt from Crab-apple Hill.  I am anxious to start it.  I think it will make a good travel project. Nature gave us a special moment today.  We saw a sign for a scenic viewpoint and we pulled off the road.  The walkway to the nearby McKenzie River was covered with about 6 ft. of unmelted snow.  We decided to go anyway and ...

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