New Arrivals & July Events

An update on what the Postal Carrier & the UPS driver have been delivering.
We just received many more Bali Pops (those yummy 2-1/2" strips of Batiks),
the new "Roll-ups" of Robert Kaufman Geo & Prisma Dyes Batik 2-1/2" strips. Beautiful bolts of Batiks in Pastel colors, these are great for background or borders in any quilt using the strips.
Also, Hoffman Batiks in the cutest infant prints in soft pink & baby blue & coordinating bolts.
The greatest tote from ArtBin, it will hold your whole quilt project plus thread & quilting tools. This carrier has 4 compartments, including a thin 12-1/2" space for your completed block. The staff loved this one.
New embroidery & applique' patterns for the upcoming Holidays.
From Superior threads:
Frosted Donuts: 36 pre-wound bobbins of Masterpiece thread all organized. This is great for applique', all the colors you might need in one handy take along spill-free bobbin holder.
Titanium machine needles in 2 sizes. These machine needles are available in 2 sizes; 80/12 & 90/14. I've got one in my machine right now & it's fantastic. I'm HOOKED. These don't make that Popping sound when sewing on Batiks. Superior reports that they last significantly longer than other machine needles. I'm currently on my 3rd project with the same needle. No popping, no skipped stitches, & no thread fraying.
Texture magic; this great product for making fabric crinkle with just some stitching & a steam iron. This will give your handbags, throw pillows, or art quilts a great look without a lot of work.

Custom made wood finger pressers (aka Weavers Widgets) in the most gorgeous unique woods. I've been using mine for about a month & it is the BEST!!
We also have a new selection of custom seam rippers from local craftsman Jason Clark of Four Corners Designs.

Christmas fabric is arriving. Peppermint Cottage from Clothworks is my favorite (so far). The free project is a Christmas card holder, which we will be putting into a kit. A shop sample will be hanging very soon.
For those who love Kansas Trouble fabric line from MODA, we have the complete line of Kansas Winter.
Nancy Halverson's new book I Believe is on the shelf. It has lots of great projects for Christmas. If you don't know how to machine applique' we have a class for this wonderful technique.
Classes for making Christmas gifts: No Sew Gift Bags, Fusible Machine applique' and the Christmas Mystery Quilt all scheduled the last week of July. Check the website: www.aquiltersoasis.com for details. These classes will fill quickly so sign-up early!

This Saturday, July 18th is the 3 Dimensional Flower in a Square class. This flower looks just like a poinsettia when done in Red. Learn the technique of fabric folding for a 3-D effect. You can apply this technique to any project to make it more fun or more dramatic.

Just a reminder that everyday during the summer is END OF BOLT. 20% Off if you purchase what is left on the bolt. With the temperatures high it's a great time to get our WIPS (works in progress) completed. This special will end Labor Day, it's for those of us who stay & handle our desert temps.

Watch your email for our Weekly Sale Category.
This week Floral Fabric is 20% off. 1/2 yd minimum cut.
If you aren't already signed up just log into the website & select Email sign-up, fill in the information. You will need receive a confirmation email that you must verify you requested our emails: just respond "Yes" and your all set.

Project Linus is low on blankets so if you have any donations for this great charity please drop them by the shop & I'll make sure they get to Madonna for delivery. A Linus Project Bee is upcoming so check the Project Linus website for dates. The bee is held at the Gilbert Community Center.

Have Fun Stitching & Stay Cool
Kathy

Class Survey

The teachers & I are looking for what our customers are looking for in classes. We are in the process of scheduling this fall & winter classes. I have composed a survey for you to complete and give us your suggestions.

We want to schedule classes that will meet your quilting/sewing interests.

Please complete the survey, just click on the link below.


Take my Survey: Class Interest

Quilt Retreat 2009

Wanted to share some of the photos of the Staff Quilt Retreat with you.

Candy had the tables & chairs all set for us in this large room.

We got the cars unloaded & started machine set up as soon as we arrived at Breath of Life Retreat House.

We were ready to start sewing.

After lunch on the patio, Candy & Jim Bridges gave us a few simple house rules and checked with us on meal times.
Lorene got right to work on another great bag. Here is the completed Professional Tote. It has lots of pockets, holds a laptop computer, and zips closed. Of course Lorene made hers in Pink & 30's prints.
Terri Tresise started & finished the most projects 5. She won the OVER ACHIEVER PRIZE. Here she is showing us her machine quilted baby quilt.
Cyndi was the first person to finish a project from start to finish. She made 6 Schlep bags (trick or treat bags) for her 4 grandsons & 2 neighbor boys. She tells me that the Schelp bags are as popular as the pillowcases she made for everyone at Christmas.

This is me holding up the one and only project (a shop sample) that I completed. I got lots of tedious sewing done; Half square triangles for my delectable mountains quilt and the interfacing sewn to the melon pieces for an applique' quilt. (all 150 melons now have interfacing) Hurray!!! I also, taught the group how to take 5" squares & make small basket blocks.

Oh did I mention that I won the Left, Center, Right game & a pile of Fat Quarters?

Boy was I excited after 6 quilt retreats I finally won!!!!!
Terri Teeple got this quilt top done. This is a sneak peak at one of the quilts that will be displayed during Shop Hop 2009. Each of the staff is required to pick out fabrics & make a sample for Shop Hop. Then Terri was busy piecing together Noah & Co., a great kids quilt for her co-workers son.

Teresa Brooks, an alumni staff member pieced together this patriotic red work wall hanging. Teresa also pieced together a table runner, a beautiful feathered star block, then started on another table runner.

Mary Lou Kent, our Honorary staff member put together this scrappy Cheese & Crackers quilt. Then started on a second quilt. She is donating both to charity.

Jody Driver cut & pieced this fabulous black, white, and red Bits and Pieces quilt. This quilt is a gift for a family members 1st wedding anniversary.

Candy & Jim (our gracious hostess & host) are newlyweds so I pieced this quilt, Jody quilted it, Lorene made the label. A wedding gift from the staff at A Quilter's Oasis. The most amazing thing, it matches their bedroom colors exactly.
The retreat was fabulous! Loading up & heading for home what a bummer, our retreat was over so quickly. We had lots of laughs, lots of fun, lots of food, a whole lot of sewing, but not much sleep. The perfect quilt retreat!! So until next year.

Hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse of the staff retreat.

I've attached a link for Breath of Life Retreat House. Just click on the title of the blog. (Quilt Retreat 2009) If you would like to get a group together for a retreat contact Candy Bridges.

Vacation

Before we started out on our car trip; Bob & I attended our 9 year old granddaughter Carmin's karate belt exam. She was tested for her orange belt. Here she is after the exam with her orange belt.

Bob and I had a great trip to Texas.

With 2 days driving to Austin I got caught up on quilting magazines and got a binding on a quilt.

I did drive quite a bit also.

We stopped in Fredricksburg, TX; When we first drove into town I saw quilts hanging so of course we had to stop. Well it wasn't a quilt shop (no fabric) just quilts for sale. I was really disappointed when I saw that the shop was selling quilts made in China. We didn't stay long after I showed Bob what I had found. So we did some window shopping and had lunch. Then back on the road for the last 40 miles.

The weather was superb. It was never over 88 and only one day of sticky humidity. The sun was shining everyday with only 2 days of brief sprinkles.

Needless to say we spent lots of time outside playing and working in the yard.

The grandchildren were wonderful! It was so much fun being entertained by 3 1/2 yr old Killian and 18 month old Addison. Although my energy was deleted quickly, I was going to bed pretty early most nights. Here are some photos of them. Yep, Grandma is bringing out the brag photos.

Killian

Addison (aka A.J.)

We spent a morning at an indoor play park that had lots of inflatables. We were the only folks in the place. So we had a great time running and playing.

My daughter in law; Michelle was interested in learning to sew. I took her one of my machines and we spent some time sewing.

I did wipe her out fabric shopping. We bought lots of fabric for her to make window treatments and those Amy Butler Gum Drop Pillows.

Her introduction to sewing wasn't a small project. She jumped right into making 2 very large patio curtains. She did a great job managing yards of home DEC fabric. The photo is Michelle making the tie-backs for the patio curtains.

Bob was worried I overwhelmed her with so many projects. But Michelle assured me she was HOOKED.

Thank goodness I finally have a family member I can leave my Fabulous Fabric Collection with.

Then we started on curtains for the kids rooms.

Killian even got into helping make the curtain for his room.

Michelle has since finished the smaller curtains for Addisons bedroom and will be working on the larger curtains for her room.

It was really hard to leave the family in Texas. I sure do miss those great hugs everyday from the grandchildren. There is nothing like em!

Thanks for allowing me to share some of my vacation with you.

Kathy