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What's New at CQ 04/07/16









Greetings, O favored readers,

I attended a wonderful business conference at the end of last week, the Creative Arts Business Summit (CABS).  CABS is the brainchild of Morna McEver, who wanted to pull together people who had businesses related to the creative arts to help them think about, understand, and take action in their business.  There were many pattern and fabric designers there; you’d recognize many of the names.   It was fun getting to know them, share perspectives and tips with them, and to come to grips with why we are in business and how to go about making a success of it.  You will most likely have the opportunity to meet some of them at Capital Quilts, as I spoke to several about doing events and/or classes here!

One of the attendees was Terri Sontra of Purple Moose Designs.  Terri has just released a new card game, called “Quilters’ Block Party”.  It is similar to Pictionary.  The group is divided into two teams.  One person on one of the teams selects a card, which has a picture and the name of a quilt block on it.  The person then draws pictures on paper or a white board to get her team to say the name of the block.  Of course, one is not permitted to draw the block or use words, and there are a few other rules.  If the team gets the name of the block, they earn a point.  If not, the other team gets 10 seconds to say the name, and if they do, they get the point.  We played it at the conference after dinner one evening, and it was a lot of fun.  One does not need to be a quilter to enjoy the game, although it probably helps.   I brought six decks back with me to sell in the store; look for them on the glass shelves near the registers and on our website.


We are looking forward to a fun weekend here in the shop!  On Saturday, Rae Cumbie will be here to do a Trunk Show featuring her beautiful Fit for Art jackets and tops.  Some of you have taken Rae’s jacket class in the past; I invite you to wear your jacket to the Trunk Show so that others can see just how wonderful these jackets are.  The show starts at 3:30 and is FREE.  Please register so that we know how many chairs to set up!   In the evening, from 6-midnight, you can enjoy an in-store mini-retreat.  The Night Owl Sew-A-Thon includes a $10 Gift Certificate, pizza, beverages, and the pleasure of sewing with friends.  You don’t have to stay all evening if you’d rather not, but Kat is willing to stay until midnight.  There are just 4 places open still.

Have you considered joining the Block-of-the-Month group that begins this Sunday?  This is From the Ground Up, a wool project from Wooly Lady.  Diane Heller is leading the group and will show you how to create beautiful stitches to embellish the wool designs.  If you would like the kit, even if you don’t take the class, please let me know.  It is quite lovely.

Next Saturday, the 16th, Cyndi Hershey, Director of Marketing for Quilting Treasures fabrics, will be in the shop from 1-3.  She and her team have been working very hard making models to share with us in a Trunk Show.  Cyndi is the “mom” of Ink & Arrow fabrics.  She will be telling us how she came up with the concept and what the process was for getting the idea turned into real fabric.   We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how fabric is designed and meet the designer who took Cyndi’s idea and made it real.  Every single fabric ever produced went through this process.  When you think about how much fabric is out there, it gives one a new perspective on how much creativity is in the world.   Who knows, maybe you will be inspired to create your own fabric line!  The trunk show is FREE, but please register so that we know how many to expect.  Cyndi is bringing a goodie bag for all who attend, but if we don’t know you are coming, there may not be enough bags to go around and you may not get one.

We had quite a favorable response to my query last week about having classes for the Handi Quilter Simply Sixteen machine.  Thank you for your interest!   Classes are scheduled for the following dates and times:  Tuesday, April 12, 10:30-12:30; Thursday, April 14, 7-9, and Sunday, April 17, 12:30-2:30.  Visit or call the shop or go online to register for these classes.  The fee is $25, and you will be certified to rent the Simply Sixteen in the shop upon completion of the class.  More classes will be scheduled in the months following.

Did you know that Capital Quilts makes its own pre-cut bundles?  Strips, 10” squares, 5” squares, we do it all right here in the shop.  No other quilt shop, on-line shop, or other retailer will have these pre-cut bundles (unless they bought it here and copied it!).  We do our best to offer you something unique to Capital Quilts.

 

Go ‘n’ piece,

Alison Zacharkiw

 

VENDOR SPECIALS

JANOME has  two promotions going on.  The first one is get $500 back when you purchase a Horizon 15000 at Capital Quilts.  The other is a baby clothes contest!  Go to http://janome.com/en/promotions/ for more details. 

HORN OF AMERICA is offering the Quilter’s Dream sewing cabinet 3280 for $1398, regularly $1747.50.  Visit https://www.hornofamerica.com/ for more information.

FLORIANI is always offering more specials than you can shake a stick at.  Visit their website to see what is happening!

HANDI QUILTER is running a ProStitcher special April 8-18.  Buy a ProStitcher during those days and receive $600 to $820 worth of free quilting digital designs!  The amount depends on whether you purchase just the ProStitcher or the ProStitcher with a machine.  Come to the shop to test drive a machine today! 

 

 

WHAT’S NEW AT CQ

 

We’ve put together bundles of 10 half-yard cuts for your quilting pleasure!  These are great stash builders.  Give your next scrap quilt a head start! $45, a savings of about 25% over the regular price of $6 for a pre-cut half yard. 

We have a wonderful pattern for the owners, relatives, and friends of toddlers: “Animal Blankets” by Cotton Ginnys.  Made from Cuddle, this blanket is sure to be your toddler’s favorite toy.  Look for them near the Cuddle fabric and online.  $7.50

And for the owners, relatives, and friends of slightly older children, we have a fabulous new panel from Wilmington Prints with three supporting fabrics.  The collection is called “Help is on the Way”.  $11.99/yard for the fabric and $8.50 for the panel.

Kanvas Studios gives us fabric that looks yummy enough to eat.  "Fresh Squeezed" is a fruit basket full of summer’s bounty.  $11.50/yard

 

CLASSES


Do you Love Your Luggage?  You will with these luggage tags!  Karen Fricke has oodles of ideas to make yours eye-catching and unique!  Friday, April 8 at 10:30.


Join Rae Cumbie for the Fit for Art Trunk Show on Saturday, 4/9 at 3:30pm.  See the gorgeous clothing Rae has designed over the years, and learn about her journey into the garment industry.

Kat's popular Night Owl Sewing is Saturday, April 9 from 6pm-midnight.  It's your own little in-store retreat!

From the Ground Up is the Wooly Lady BOM.  Led by Diane Heller, this group will start to meet on Sunday, 4/10. The project is a beautiful floral wool quilt.  Learn lots of new embroidery stitches.

Hand Quilting is the Ultimate Finish for your quilts, and Chris Giannascoli will show you the way.  It is a very soothing activity, better than therapy!  Join Chris Tuesday, April 12 at 10:30 to find your quilting peace.

Want to rent our Handi Quilter Simply Sixteen to quilt your quilts?  Become certified on Tuesday, April 12, 10:30-12:30; Thursday, April 14, 7-9; OR Sunday April 17, 12:30-2:30.  $25.  Annette is teaching.

Are you looking for a "soup to nuts" quilting class?  If so, then Capital Quilts' Complete Course is for you!  Annette takes you through ten weeks of gentle instruction; the first class is April 13th.  This class is aimed at beginners, but it is a great refresher, too!

How do fabrics get designed?  Find out at the FREE Ink & Arrow Trunk show Saturday, April 16th from 1-3.  Meet the inventor and the designer.  Free goodie bag for all who pre-register!!

Rae Cumbie is back on Monday and Tuesday, April 18 and 19, to teach you how to make your own Tabula Rasa jacket.  You get a free fitting as part of the class.  Depending on the fabrics you use, you can make a casual jacket, a career jacket, a dressed-to-the-nines jacket, or whatever sort of jacket you dream of.  Once you’ve made one with Rae, you’ll be able to go on and make many more.  Rae has other patterns that augment the basic jacket pattern, so that you can change the look of your future jackets.  We have the patterns in the shop, so you can take a look ahead of time and think about what look you want to achieve and what fabric you’d like to use.  You’ll make a muslin model and begin the basic jacket in class.

If you are a beginner quilter who would like a quilt basics class, but don’t have the time to take our 10-week Complete Course, Hilary is offering a shortened version called “Let’s Start Quilting”.  You will learn basic terminology, how to use the rotary cutter, do basic piecing, and quilt and bind your quilt.  This 5-week class begins on Thursday, April 21.  You can take the class in the morning, 10:30-12:30, OR in the evening, 7-9. 

Also offered on Thursday, April 21 and again on Saturday, April 23 is the Handi Quilter Certification course for those who would like to rent the Avante or Fusion machine to quilt a quilt.  Thursday’s class begins at 11 and Saturday's at 12.

HOURS
Monday-Saturday, 11-5
Sunday 12-5

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  • 15926 Luanne Drive
  • Gaithersburg, MD 20877

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