The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop

Oops! Don't post personal info on Facebook

2012-02-07T08:53:00.003-05:00

If you're entering the Ideas For Shop Hop Contest, email me at Jeanne@GeorgiaSewingAndQuilting.net

I don't want your personal info posted on my Facebook page - definitely not a good idea to do this! Actually, if you've been to my shop before, we probably already have your contact info, so just submit your ideas thru email and if your idea is selected, I'll notify you thru email......

Sooooo, who's got a great idea for making this year's Shop Hop the best ever?

NEW! Contest - Win Prizes - Enter Now!!!

2012-02-07T06:44:00.004-05:00

I'm giving away 2 prizes:
1st place - $50.00 gift certificate
2nd place - $25.00 gift certificate
for the best ideas that we can incorporate into this year's Shop Hop!

So, come on all you creative quilters.....
Submit your ideas by February 29th to be eligible, and I'll select the winners on March 1st. I'll post the winners here, along with some (or possibly all) of the ideas.
To enter, go to my Facebook page and post your ideas as a comment:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Sewing-Quilting/278030968886619

The Gift Certificates are redeemable at Georgia Sewing & Quilting only and good through 2012. Multiple entries are fine.

Plank You Very Much

2012-02-04T09:59:00.002-05:00

Remember us? Thank you so much for your patience. The rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated! It took us a few false starts to find the perfect place to take our store. But we have high hopes for an old friend, the Marietta Drapery Building! We first opened there about 8 years ago and as you can see, we’re floating on air about the change!

We’re fluffing up the old place now and hope to be open in a few weeks. See you soon at 22 Trammell Street, where Shop Hop preparations have begun. Hint: We’re practicing mooing!

2012-01-30T09:16:00.001-05:00

2012-01-30T09:14:00.001-05:00

Shop Hop 2012

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here at Patrick's we're getting new fabric in and getting ready for Shop Hop. We've had some cold and rainy days lately, which are great for hiding in our sewing rooms and working on a quilt top all day. Of course I think any day is a good day for working on a quilt top. When we do have a chance to sew all day the last thing we want to do is cook dinner for our families. What is your favorite quick and easy recipe when you have to have something really fast for dinner? Here's one of my favorites to get you started. Put a slow cooker liner in your slow cooker. Put in a Boston Butt pork roast, set it to cook for 10 hours on low. No salt or anything else. When dinner time comes separate the meat and fat. Serve on buns with barbeque sauce. Add a prepackaged salad. Dinner is served in 15 minutes. You have gotten to sew all day and your family is happy.

Shop Hop - 2012

2012-01-25T07:40:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's still winter.. but at GA Sewing & Quilting we're busy planting & planning. Getting ready for the Flower Show you'll enjoy at our shop during the Shop Hop. Can't wait!! A Day At The Fair (this year's overall theme) just wouldn't be complete without a Flower Show - and we intend to bring you one. Hope to see you among the flowers!

Baskets of Hope Campaign

2012-01-16T13:48:00.005-05:00

The quilt shops in The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop invite you to participate in our Baskets of Hope campaign in support of local charities.

Shops will be providing free patterns for 12" basket blocks during the 2012 Shop Hop, and we want you to use those patterns to make blocks for the Baskets of Hope campaign. One lucky person will also win a Janome Gem Gold sewing machine and Sew Steady table in a random drawing from all quilt block submissions.

Here's all you need to do:

Collect the 12" block patterns from each shop during Shop Hop. Choose your favorite or use them all and make one or more blocks in your choice of the color categories. The more blocks you turn in the better your chances to win the prize, and the more quilts we can make for our charities!
Make 12-1/2" (unfinished size) basket blocks in any of these color categories:

*Patriotic

*Shades of Pink

*Brights/Novelties

Submit your blocks to any shop in The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop by June 30, 2012. Make as many blocks as you want - each block is an entry!

We will sponsor "sew days" later in the year at different quilt shops to sew the donated blocks into quilts that will donated to benefit Quilts of Valor/Wounded Warriors, Breast Cancer charities, and children's charities.

We all know quilters have such a giving nature and freely share their talents to support many causes. We hope you will join us in this campaign to give back to our communities.

~Melisa

Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Shop Hop Website

2012-01-11T21:38:00.000-05:00

Hi Folks!
We are getting the shop hop website and blog up and going for shop hop this March 23rd-25th, 2012. Visit the website to see what our theme and prizes are going to be.

Intown Quilters is having a challenge for shop hop this year. Shop Hop 2012 Challenge!

This year the shop hop theme is a Day at the Fair and Intown Quilters is going to have showcase quilt competition like you'd see at a State Fair and we need competitors. We are hoping some of you might like to make a quilt, or project for our competition. The due date is February 26th.

The challenge works like this. Come into the shop and pick out a pattern (from a pattern or book we carry in the shop) for a quilt, piece of clothing, bag, or table runner, etc. Then pick current fabric in the shop. You purchase that pattern and fabric, complete the project and then turn it in by Februray 26, 2012. When you turn it in, you will receive a certificate good for 100% of your entry’s purchase price. For example: if you spent $80 on your project, you get an $80 gift certificate. Your entry becomes free. Your entry will be hung in the shop and become part a part of our Shop Hop celebration. There is not much time, so come in and let us help you pick out something fun to make. We have seen some great projects picked out this last week

Ribbons will be awarded the projects. too. Mary Carlock has a plan for some neat ribbons so plan out some great projects.

The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop page

2011-05-22T08:52:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks,

We, shop owners have decided to use this blog over the website. The website will remain up and we maybe update some information but most information will come through the blog, so please make sure you follow this blog if you are interested in news on The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop.

Things are buzzing at the Little Quilts hive.

2011-03-19T12:32:00.002-04:00

All the bees are busy making all kinds of things - like lunch kits, table runners, small duffel bags, towels, wallets, pillowcases (oh, my! BUSY bees!) - all from the Shop Hop fabric. Visit us during Shop Hop and see a hive full of fun projects, kits and ideas!

Shop hop is close now!

2011-02-20T15:43:00.001-05:00

We are approximately a month away from the 2011 Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop and we have CHARMS….in the house!. That is a play on words because the theme for the Shop Hop is A Quilter’s Tour Of Homes. You will visit a castle, a haunted house, a schoolhouse, and a firehouse to name a few. 11 in all. At each shop, you will receive a charm representing that destination, free with any $10 purchase or you may buy one or all for $3. The charm bracelets, to hold your collection of fond memories, will be $5. Here is a sneak peek.

If we do say so ourselves, we (the quilt shop owners) have designed an eye popping fabric for the 2011 Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop. It is a black background with all the sites and landmarks of Georgia that you can think of. You can pre-order now, at any of the participating shops. There is still availability. Don’t wait until the actual Shop Hop if you are sure you want some.

Little Quilts has made a pillowcase and a wallet using the fabric along with a print and a batik. See the Shop Hop fabric goes with just about anything.

Fabric Inspiration

2011-02-10T16:23:00.010-05:00

The special edition "Georgia" shop hop fabric has been well received, and we've heard some great ideas from our customers for using this fabric when it becomes available...aprons, tote bags, pillowcases...the ideas are endless.

We've made up a couple of samples at Sweet Home Quilt Co. that we thought just might jump start your creativity, too.

First is our "Georgia" quilt using the special edition fabric as borders. This quilt idea would be great for a college student at a Georgia college using the college name, or perhaps as a keepsake quilt for a native Georgian.

The pattern and alphabet fonts are from Fat Quarter Fonts by Atkinson Designs. We used the 'no fuss applique' technique from the book for the letters. This is just one of the techniques we'll be featuring at the Quilter's Schoolhouse at Sweet Home Quilt Co. during Shop Hop.

Another fun idea is to use the special edition Georgia fabric as the focus fabric in one of your favorite quilt patterns...Just Can't Cut It by All Washed Up is a favorite that we use over and over at Sweet Home Quilt Co.

We had a little leftover fabric from cutting the quilt borders, and Mellie turned it into a cute tote bag using another of our favorite "go to" patterns, Charm Party Tote by Quilts Illustrated, along with the addition of a little black fabric for the lining and pocket flap. I'm searching for a big "Georgia-inspired" button to add to the pocket flap...maybe a peanut or a peach! Wouldn't you enjoy toting this along on a day trip?

I hope these samples give you some ideas for using your special edition Georgia fabric from the 2011 Shop Hop. The fabric is available for pre-order at all of the Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop shops. Be sure to order yours before it sells out!

Melisa
Sweet Home Quilt Co.
Conyers

Shop Hop is coming soon

2011-02-08T18:50:00.002-05:00

We have been remiss in posting on this blog, but watch for blog posts to start coming fairly regularly. We are all working hard to get ready for you all.

Does Shop Hop Prep Cause Grey Hair????

2010-12-03T11:00:00.004-05:00

Yes if you are a witch!!!! Heh, Heh, Heh!!!! Preparations are on in full swing at Patchwork Cottage to boo the daylights out of you during the 2011 Shop Hop!!! So have noooo fear !!!! Pam Kosiba gives you a sneak peak at what lies ahead!!!
Spookily yours,
Mita

One of the shop hop prizes

2010-11-17T21:17:00.000-05:00

Hi All!

Here is a picture of the beginnings of the basket we will give away as the third prize after shop hop in the spring. We are ordering a new basket for all the goodies to go in and are still collecting things to put into the basket. Visit the shop hop website to see more details about the 2011 Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop.

Make sure to put shop hop on you calendar.

March 24-27, 2011

We are planning lots on fun things.

Tell us what you would like to see happen during shop hop. Start commenting and we will think up some kind of fun thing to give away to one of you who comments in the next week.

Several shop owners at market

2010-11-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

We several of us just went off to quilt market to try to find new fabric, patterns and notions for you all.

A few of us ended up at the same event on Saturday night and ate dinner together. It is always so nice to spend time with Mary Ellen, Maetha and Mita. We wish all the other shop owners had been with us.

We each had some folks with us so the table was quite full and such fun!

New York to Sugar Hill

2010-07-02T21:16:00.000-04:00

Darlene Brandl moved from New York to Sugar Hill, Georgia, just in time for the Great Atlanta Shop Hop and look what she did with all those charm squares she collected at the shops she visited! Her tote bag will hold lots of fabric and supplies for future shopping trips or classes she might attend! Great idea, Darlene!

Shop Hop 2011

2010-06-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

Ok, everyone, the 2011 dates are finally on the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop website for you to see.

Check it out.

Winners

2010-03-27T22:03:00.000-04:00

The winners of the three shop hop prizes are:

Diane Warren from Alpharetta won the 1st prize

Mary Ann Still from Loganville won the 2nd prize

Barbara Moss from Locust Grove won the 3rd prize

Shop Hop Quilts

2010-03-27T21:47:00.000-04:00

We had our shop hop wrap up meeting and took pictures of all the quilts.

Tell us what you think.

Little Quilts' Winner

2010-03-22T21:48:00.000-04:00

The happy winner of the Little Quilts gift basket was Kathy Frank. Keeping with their theme, Little Quilts packed their goodies in a picnic basket!

Little Quilts is all set for Shop Hop!

2010-03-17T21:50:00.000-04:00

Little Quilts has finished their shop hop quilt. Since our theme is "As American as . . . a picnic!", we used the free star block patterns that you will receive at each shop and designed the perfect picnic quilt.

Little Quilts also has a completed charm bracelet featuring the charms that will be available at each of the shops. Following our picnic theme, Little Quilts will have basket charms. Charms at each shop will be free with a $10 purchase or you can purchase the charms for $3.

And the Little Qulits Shop Hop Give Away Winner Is.......

2010-03-11T18:31:00.000-05:00

LYDIA! We liked your answer, "American Pride." The block is actually known as "Rising Star" or "Star within a Star" but we think Lydia's answers goes great with our "As American As..." Shop Hop theme!

If you click the image in the post, you'll see which block we were pointing to... All 12 blocks look great and we're very excited about Shop Hop this year! We hope to see you at the store!

Lydia, please EMAIL LITTLE QUILTS and put "shop hop blog winner" in the subject line. We just need your address so we can send you the 3 Americana bundles!

Little Quilts' Give-away!

2010-02-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, each year during Shop Hop, each store designs a star block, there are 11 different star blocks and each store will do something different with the stars. Here is a sneak peak at the Little Quilts Shop Hop Quilt. We're waiting on the arrival of the "Bar Harbor" line from Moda to use as the setting fabrics. If you'd like a chance to win 3 Americana fat quarters (in red, white and blue of course!) all you have to do is name the block we indicated in this picture(number 9)... it's our Little Quilts block. We're really looking forward to Shop Hop and we hope you're planning to stop by all these great stores to see what kind of fun we're all having! Our Shop Hop theme this year is "As American As..." and Little Quilts is celebrating with a good ole' fashion American picnic. We hope that you'll come to our picnic and in the meantime, please check out our shop blog!

Intown Quilters' winner

2010-02-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

Mrs. S from Alabama is the lucky winner of the batik fat quarter give-away. Thanks for your comment and all the other comments. Please email in your address so we can mail you the fat quarters, unless you would like us to put them on hold for you at the shop for the next time you come to Atlanta.

We'll post what the quilt is about during or after shop hop since it is to be a surprise for shop hop.

Try to make plans to come the Atlanta for our shop hop in March because all the shops have some great things planned.

Watch for another give-away soon.

Sneak Peak, Intown Quilters give-away

2010-02-17T19:47:00.000-05:00

Yeah, thanks for more posting. There are still a few more days so keep posting.

Ok folks, anonymous commenters cannot win give-aways because we have no way to know who you are to give you the gift. Since there was only one commenter and that person was anonymous, I am reposting this same post and leaving it open until 2/20/2010. Get posting folks! By the way, here is a clue, it is not about funky stars.

Intown Quilters' theme for the 2010 shop hop is Folk Art. Now, I know you all will say, "what?" as so many have said to me. I am not talking about primitive art, but folk art (the bright, funky and sometimes crazy art that falls under the folk art heading) as I have loved for many years.

Here is a sneak peak of the Intown Quilters' shop hop quilt. It goes with our Folk Art theme. Can you guess what the quilt might be about in relation to Folk Art?

Send in your guesses in the comments until February 20th and we will pick a winner through random.org. The winner will receive five batik fat quarters from Intown Quilters.

Shop Hop Themes

2010-02-03T21:36:00.000-05:00

Go visit the Official Shop Hop website to find out the themes that each shop has picked.

Then start thinking up ideas to play up each shop's theme. We will start a series of give-aways for those of you who decide to post your ideas.

Shop Hop 2010

2010-01-31T11:55:00.000-05:00

Ok, folks. Obviously we let the blog drop over the last few months. We are going to get back to it now, though, so start reading.

We will post the individual shop themes in the next couple of days and then start blogging some give-aways and more details about shop hop.

Shop Hop 2010 3rd prize

2009-11-12T20:12:00.000-05:00

We had a shop hop meeting last week and all brought our items that will go into a basket of goodies for the winner of the third prize drawing.

Shop Hop 2010

2009-07-28T08:47:00.009-04:00

The theme for the 2010 GREATER ATLANTA QUILT SHOP HOP is

"As American As..."

Coming March 18th-21st, 2010

Send us in your ideas in the way of a posted comment, of what you think is

"As American As...", especially ideas that could be used as individual shop themes and played out in the decor of a quilt shop for the big shop hop event.

We will draw a name from all the folks who send in ideas at our next shop hop meeting on September 2nd and then we will announce the winner on this blog soon after the meeting. The prize will be announced in a few days. Check back to see what it is.

Shop Hop 2010

2009-07-06T14:13:00.002-04:00

Hi All!

The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop website has now been updated as much as possible with the information that we have so far.

Watch for the blog to get rolling again soon!

2009 Shop Hop Quilts

2009-04-03T12:35:00.012-04:00

For those of you who didn't get to participate in this year's Shop Hop, or maybe weren't able to make it to all nine shops, I thought you might like to see the Shop Hop quilts that each participating shop put together. I am always amazed at the differences!

Heritage Quilts & Fabrics featured Christmas Morning as their theme interpretation.

Intown Quilters featured Summer Vacations.

Little Quilts carried out a Circus theme for the day. Check out their blog for more Shop Hop photos.

Patrick's featured a Weekend at Grandma's.

Quilts and Fixins' theme was Saturday Morning Cartoons.

Red Hen's theme was A Day at the Farm. The first photo is their quilt in its entirety, and I also included a close-up of the center portion of the quilt. This is not a panel - it is entirely appliqued. Amazing detail!

Sweet Home Quilt Co. played dress up in Grandma's Closet. Our quilt featured our Cut Glass Dish block in our signature black and white fabrics with a little green thrown in for good measure! Check out our blog for more Shop Hop pictures.

I did not get to see the quilts from Tiny Stitches or A Scarlet Thread. They will probably post photos later, or you may be able to see them on their individual websites.

The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop 2009 was a blast! And we're already making plans for next year. Thanks to everyone for their support and patronage at the participating shops.

Melisa

Sweet Home Quilt Co.

SAVE THE DATES: MARCH 18, 19, 20 & 21, 2010.

Shop Hop 09 Winners

2009-04-03T12:26:00.003-04:00

Just a quick post to announce the winners of the 2009 Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop prizes. Shop owners from all participating shops met on Wednesday and drew the winners from approximately 600 completed passports.

Grand Prize Winner: Stacie Harris, Macon GA
Stacie won a $100 gift certificate to each of the nine participating shops

Second Prize Winner: Sandie Hendler, Roswell GA
Sandie won a Baby Lock Grace Sewing Machine & Accessories

Third Prize Winner: Kathleen Bishop, Griffin GA
Kathleen won a Longaberger basket of 90 fat quarters (10 from each shop)

Congratulations to all of our winners! We sincerely appreciate everyone who participated in the 2009 Shop Hop, especially in light of the horrific weather we experienced. It was a lot of fun, and we are already making plans for 2010!

Mark Your Calendars: March 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2010

Sweet Treats Bag Giveaway Winner!

2009-02-27T18:43:00.004-05:00

The winner of the Sweet Treats Bag giveaway is mamaspark

mamaspark said...
Sounds like fun...count me in! Love your blog too!!
February 3, 2009 1:31 PM

The Sweet Treats Bag will be winging its way to her as soon as I get her address. Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment. Stay tuned as I'm sure one of the other shop owners will be tempting you with something else soon!

We are busy as little bees here at Sweet Home Quilt Co. getting ready for Shop Hop! New fabric collections are arriving every day, kits and bundles are being cut, and samples are being sewn at break-neck speed. I have completed the design for our Shop Hop Quilt and cannot wait to see it made up! We'll start on it next week, in between everything else. Every Sunday I've been haunting local antique and junk shops searching for props to carry out our theme - Grandma's Closet. You will definately want to see us all dressed up in our "Grandma's" finery! The treasures I'm finding bring back so many fond memories for me of time spent in my Grandma's closet when I was a little girl!

I hope you're making plans to visit all the shops during the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop, March 26 - 29th. We'll be looking for you here at Sweet Home Quilt Co.!

Melisa

Visit us on the web: http://www.sweethomequiltco.com/
Visit our blog: http://www.sweethomequiltco.com/weblog

Preview the 2009 Shop Hop Charms

2009-02-12T16:51:00.007-05:00

Hi again, Melisa from Sweet Home Quilt Co. here, with an update on the 2009 shop hop charms. Each shop has received a sample charm bracelet with all of the 2009 charms on it, which is available for you to preview. Also available is a charm pin holder. Each individual shop has selected a charm and there is also a 2009 Shop Hop charm for a total of 10 charms to collect. I tried to take a couple of pictures showing the sample bracelet and charms, but I'm not the best photographer in the world! Maybe you'll get an idea anyway!

These items must be pre-ordered and prepaid, and will be available for pick-up during Shop Hop in March. You will need to contact each individual shop to place your charm order. Cost of the charms is $2.99 each, bracelets $5.99 each, and charm pin holders $9.99 each. Participating shops have a very limited supply so don't wait to place your orders!

Here's the list of shops and their respective charms:
A Scarlet Thread - pin cushion
Heritage Quilts & Fabrics - Shoo Fly block
Intown Quilters - Log Cabin block
Little Quilts - thimble
Patrick's - Dresden Plate block
Quilts 'N Fixins - sewing machine
Red Hen Fabrics - scissors
Sweet Home Quilt Co. - Basket block
Tiny Stitches - spool

I am really happy with how these have turned out, and I know you're going to want to collect these charms, too, to commemorate the 2009 Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop! Call any of the participating quilt shops if you have questions or need more information.

On another topic, here's a reminder about the giveaway I'm currently hosting here on the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop blog (see my previous post.) Leave a comment on that post and be eligible to win a cute little Sweet Treats bag! Tell all your friends to leave a comment and mention your name in their comment to be eligible to win a Sweet Treats Bake Shop Box yourself! The giveaway ends February 27th.

Hope you're enjoying the beautiful spring-like weather!

Melisa
Visit my blog at www.sweethomequiltco.com/weblog

I

Take Our Reader Poll and Win!

2009-01-30T10:03:00.019-05:00

Hi Shop Hoppers! Melisa at Sweet Home Quilt Co. here. Can you believe January is almost gone already? The month has flown by as we recover from the holidays and year-end inventory, and get everything re-stocked - our UPS guy seems to be a regular around here these days! New samples and kits are being made every day, and I'm spending a lot of time planning and preparing for the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop in March. Our shop hop quilt is still in the design stages but I think you'll like what I've come up with! Our theme design is coming together, too, and I've been haunting antique shops and eBay for props - you'll know you're in "Grandma's Closet" when you get to Sweet Home!

Even though we're still two months away from this year's shop hop, our thoughts have already turned to next year's hop. Months of planning with all of the participating shops are necessary to ensure a successful shop hop, and as soon as we complete one we move on to planning the next. We are continually looking for new ideas and themes, and opportunities to improve the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop experience. We'd like your feedback about Shop Hop, and what we can do to make it better. What do you like best/least about the Greater Atlanta Area Quilt Shop Hop? If you've participated in other shop hops what fun things did you enjoy that we might be able to incorporate into our shop hop? We're always searching for fun theme ideas, too, and would really like your suggestions.

Tell us what you think - you could win this giveaway!

Leave us a comment with your feedback, and you could be the lucky winner of this Sweet Treats bag that we've made from Moda's upcoming line called Spring Magic, designed by April Cornell.

And tell your friends to leave a comment and drop your name. If you are mentioned in the winning comment, I'll send you a Moda Mini Honey Bun Bake Shop box so you can make your own Sweet Treats bags. So spread the word - two chances to win!

Here's the "fine print":

*Please leave only one comment per person

*Make sure to leave your blog or email contact so we can let you know if you've won

*Winner will be selected February 27, 2009, and posted here on the blog

*Winner will be chosen at random using the random.org integer generator

Good luck!

Melisa

Sweet Home Quilt Co. (check out my blog!)

A Day at the Farm Winner!

2009-01-25T14:45:00.002-05:00

Churndash said...

I used to spend summers on my uncle's farm in Wyoming. I loved being a farm girl for several weeks each year even though my cousins called me a "city slicker." Lots of fresh air and hard work: from gathering eggs from the hen house to hanging out the laundry to working in the hay fields to bringing the cows home to be milked in the evening. We also found time for plenty of horseback riding, swimming in the local swimming hole, campouts, cookouts and family togetherness.

Please email Mary Anne Henderson at Red Hen Fabrics to claim your prize. If she does not here from you by 1/31/2009, she will give the prize to the other person who commented.

A Day at the Farm

2009-01-05T19:49:00.003-05:00

Mary Anne Henderson from Red Hen Fabrics will offer and author signed book

called "Ribbon, the Art of Adornment", for the best photo of a farm or personal

farm memory.

Here is a memory from my uncles who were raised on a small farm in Missouri.

"We raised cotton, which is a backbreaking crop. I remember shopping cotton for hours on end while our dad, who was a schoolteacher, went uptown to play pinochle with his buddies. You are chopping the weeds out, but they come right back. I vowed everyday not to be in the farming business. That's how I got into cars, though, because I could fix farm machinery and our ratty old truck. I never farmed for a living." James

Klinkhardt, Hayti, Mo. who died last month at the age of 92.

Send in your memories or pictures of farm life.

Comments are due in by Sunday the 18th and the winner will be announced on the 19th.

We have a winner

2009-01-04T20:28:00.001-05:00

TraceyIL won the Little Quilts give-away.

Congrats!

Circus Fun!

2008-12-21T12:48:00.007-05:00

Little Quilts would love to hear about your favorite Circus act or memory. In return for your comments Mary Ellen will give away an autographed copy of "It's Magic!", a booklet by Little Quilts.

Yeah, we have a winner!

2008-12-17T19:55:00.002-05:00

We have a winner for the Summer vacations give-away and it is Nancy.

Since we have no information to contact folks in this blog world, I am posting the winner here. If Nancy does not claim her price by Wednesday December 24th, we will pick a new winner.

Watch out for the next give-away posting to come soon!

Summer Vacation give-away

2008-12-10T20:54:00.002-05:00

For those of you who are sending in comments for the last post, please make sure you check back after Sunday to see who won. We will post the winner on the site.

Summer Vacation give-away

2008-12-08T19:32:00.006-05:00

Like Melisa at Sweet Home Quilt Co., some of my fondest memories are with my grandmother. I got to see her during my summer vacations, when most years I spent my entire summers in California. I moved between the houses of my maternal grandparents and my great Aunt (my grandmother's twin sister) and Uncle, who lived about 20 minutes from each other. There was a great public park with a pool, a playground, and a library about a mile from my grandmother's house that we rode our bikes to quite often.

Other summer vacations I had as a child were time at Girl Scout camp and soccer camp, a short trip on the coast of Georgia several times, and lots of time spent running around with my friends.

I would love to know what your favorite summer vacations were when you were a child.

We will make it a give away opportunity. You fill out your comments on your favorite summer vacations and I will do a random drawing on December 13th, for a pair of bright batik fat quarters for the winner.

Magic in Grandma's Closet

2008-11-20T13:57:00.005-05:00

My fondest childhood memories are the times I spent with my maternal grandmother, going through her closet and bureau drawers, picking out dresses and hats and shoes and purses so that I could play dress-up. I spent hours making up elaborate stories of elegant ladies, all the while dressed in my grandmother's worn dresses and cast off shoes and hats. My grandparents lived in the country on a working farm, and she had beautiful flower gardens where I was allowed to play to my heart's content, as well as the many hours I spent turning her modest bedroom into my fancy boudoir! That's me in all my finery shown in the photo!

These are warm memories dear to my heart, and this is what we'll be recreating for you at Sweet Home Quilt Co. during The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop, March 26-29, 2009. It's not too early to begin making your plans to enjoy "The Magic of Childhood" with all nine participating Atlanta area quilt shops.

Its Freezing!

2008-11-18T18:27:00.004-05:00

It is very cold here in Atlanta and prospects of nice spring weather for Shop Hop 2009 are in our thoughts!

We are almost at the point of finalizing all our printed material so it can get off to the printer and back to us by January to start handing out to all of you.

November 2008

2008-11-03T21:20:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is election day. Hopefully all of you have either voted already or plan to tomorrow.

The weather has been just beautiful the last few days and the trees are changing colors rapidly now. Get out side and look!

I am having fun thinking up fun things for Shop Hop in 2009. I trust many of you have put the date on your calendar and plan on being in the greater Atlanta area the last weekend in March for all the fun. Don't let yourselves miss out. It will be fun!

Welcome A Scarlet Thread

2008-09-07T21:34:00.004-04:00

All the participating shop of The Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop want to welcome A Scarlet Thread to the quilt shop hop group.

We are already enjoying their participation in our planning meetings.

Shop Hop plans for 2009

2008-09-07T20:13:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the new Atlanta quilt shop hop blog.

The 2009 quilt shop hop participating shops all got together for a planning meeting on September 4th for more planning. We decided we should have a blog, so here is the first entry.

The dates for the 2009 Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop hop are March 26-29, 2009. Make sure to put the dates in your calendar, as we are planning some really great things like some new prizes, different from previous years.

The theme for 2009 is The Magic of Childhood. We are all having fun coming up with our individual themes under this main theme. We are working hard to put on a great event for all our loyal shop hoppers!