We Need Your Feedback!

We are deep in the planning process for the 2013 Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop, and we've created a feedback survey to get your opinions on how we can improve this fun event. The survey is just 10 questions and will take only a few minutes to complete; all responses are anonymous.

Here's the link:

https://kwiksurveys.com/s.asp?sid=jtn8g85if4cnyum7063

We'd love to know what you think! Thanks for taking the time to complete the survey.

Baskets of Hope Campaign

Hi All,
We shop owners are having a shop hop meeting to plan next year. We are excited about getting it going.
In the meantime, we still have our Baskets of Hope Campaign going on. You guys have an opportunity to make some blocks for charity and have the opportunity to win some prizes so make sure to read the information below and get your blocks made and into your closest quilt shop by 6/30/2012.

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.

And the Winners are....

Congratulations to the 2012 Shop Hop Prize Winners:
Grand Prize - Susanne Lizotte
2nd Prize - Cindy Coppel
3rd Prize - Lisa Conant
We appreciate everyone who participated in the Shop Hop, and we're already busy planning the 2013 Hop! Stay tuned!

NOW I understand why it's call a HOP!

Bang bang, clang clang...swerve, duck, thunk! Oh sorry, that was just me walking through the store while the preparations for Shop Hop are going on!

You're gonna be so surprised at what we've accomplished with all our banging, clanging and hanging! It's going to be a great "Day at the Fair!"

Be sure to visit all of the shops on this year's hop...because we're pulling out all the stops just for YOU!

I'm just sayin'...
Karen

Are You A Finisher?

A finisher of Shop Hop, that is? Do you usually visit all of the shops on the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop and turn in a completed passport? If not, you might want to reconsider...we have added some great new prizes this year, and I'm pretty sure you'll want to have your name in the drawing!

So what are the prizes you ask?

Grand Prize: A $100 gift certificate to each of the 10 shops ($1000 value)

Second Prize: Sizzix Big Shot Pro Die-cutting Machine with Accessories ($500 value)

Third Prize: Slice Fabrique Digital Fabric Cutter with Accessories and Carry Bag ($250 Value)

Fourth Prize: Ten $100 Value Drawings (one at each shop)

To be eligible for the top three prizes, shop hoppers must visit all ten shops and get a stamp from each shop on your passport. You do not have to visit all shops to be eligible for the individual Fourth Prize drawings, just be sure to enter the drawing at each shop you visit.

Always put your name and contact information on your passport as soon as you get it to make sure we have a way to contact you in the event you win a prize; but also in case you lose your passport or inadvertently leave it somewhere along the way and it is found, we can re-issue a passport to you and then match them up afterwards.

We're getting excited at Sweet Home Quilt Co. to have you visit (just four more sleeps!) I hope you're mapping out your route and making your shopping list in anticipation of a fun "Day at the Fair!"

Our Shop Hop quilt

We posted the other day a give-away based on comments made guessing what fabric we used in our shop hop quilt.
Guess what? all five comments were correct because we used Batiks and the Kaffe Collective. You guys know my shop well! Thanks for noticing!
You all get a prize so email us your name and your prize will be waiting for you at the shop next time you come. If you cannot come because you live out of town, then email us your name and address and we will mail it.
Thanks for following the blog folks! We'd love it if you followed the Intown Quilters blog and our Facebook page.

The judges are ready

The entries are set

For our Day at the Fair-

It's the best Shop Hop yet!

Grab your hat and your purse

And head to our store

Tiny Stitches has blue ribbon winners... and so much more!

Our Shop Hop Quilt at Intown Quilters

Our Shop Hop Quilt

Is almost done and we are so excited about it. Each shop had the task of picking a basket block to make their quilt out of. We had fun playing with several and love the one we picked. Of course we had great fun picking the fabric, too. Then we had a sewing day with all of the employees who could make it, to put our quilt top together. It was such fun to work as a group first picking the fabric and then sewing the top together. Of course we had to have Regina Carter quilt our quilt for us because she is such a great long-arm quilter. We cannot wait to show it off to all you folks!

How about another give-away? Can you guess what kind of fabric we might have chosen to make our quilt out of? If you know our shop at all, then you have a good chance of guessing. Those that guess correctly will receive a free fat quarter from Intown Quilters (we will mail one to those who are out of town).

And the Intown Quilters' winner is......

Since only four commented, I have decided all four are the winners this time around. Each of you will receive a $10 gift certificate good at Intown Quilters. So, email us you first and last name for the certificate and we will then get it into the hold bin for you. If you are an out-of-towner, email us your name and address, you favorite color and we will send you three fat quarters in the mail.

Intown Quilters' Day at the Fair

In keeping with this year's Day at the Fair Shop Hop theme, we decided to invite our customers to submit their best new sewing and quilting items for a mini Needlework Competition. It's been such fun to see the projects come together and then returned for display at the store.

Here are a few sneak peaks at some of the fabrics that were chosen by folks participating in the competition. I wonder if you can guess some of the things being made with these fabrics? Tell us your favorite grouping shown here and what you like about that particular grouping of fabrics. We will then pick a winner from the comments section using random.org. The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to Intown Quilters or if you are an out-of-towner, we will mail you three fat quarters of our choice.

Our own Mary Carlock has worked hard to make decorative "ribbons" for displaying on the first, second and third place "winners" using the Kanzashi Flower Badge pattern
by Julie Creuse along with our favorite Kanzashi Flower Petal templates from Clover (Everyone loves these so much -- we have a hard time keeping them in stock!). We plan on wearing name tags made from this great pattern, too.

We hope you'll find lots of inspiration as you tour Intown Quilters and all the other shops, during Shop Hop!

Best in Show at Quilts and Fixins

 Quilts and Fixins is always bustling this time of year, getting ready for the Shop Hop.  For our Day at the Fair theme, we picked a Dog Show (you're shocked, I know).  We've been busy stocking our shelves with loads of great puppy prints and making canine-inspired quilts to adorn our walls.  We've also got a great trunk show heading our way with lots of great patterns from The Whole Country Caboodle.

 

The In the Dog House pattern comes with a printed panel of A Dog's Prayer:   

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray this man will always keep.  I pray for gourmet doggy treats, and waterproof boots on soggy streets.  I pray my food bowl is always full, for knotted rope to tug and pull.  I pray my life will be full of bliss, and you’ll always accept my sloppy kiss.  I love my master for all his care, for when I need him he’s always there.  For I will never have to pretend, I know that I’m my master’s Best Friend! 

How sweet is that? 

Our feline fans need not worry.  We've got you covered as well with some great new patterns and fabric lines, including Cattitudes, an adorable group by Red Rooster Fabrics 

and a fun-filled bright assortment called Caterwauling Tales, from RJR fabrics.

And, as always we'll have plenty to see and do - games, prizes, and surprises.  We can't wait for Shop Hop to begin, and we hope you're looking forward to it, too.  See you soon!

We Love the Fair!

Hi there!

Since you don’t have enough junk information, I thought you’d like to see me “owling” or at least my version! This is the day before our store move began. At the end I’ll only be able to do “planking” since I’m sure I’ll be flat out!

I don’t remember who suggested this year’s fair theme, but it’s very meaningful to me. My mom was a 4H leader and the fair was the biggest event of the year. Four days of junk food, late nights, and running all over the Montgomery County Fair Grounds in Dayton, Ohio, like so many birds. My sister and I each did a demonstration at the 4H tent and a good time was had by all in spite of the intense late summer heat.

My first big date with my husband was to the Ohio State Fair. After a 15 hour day together, we were still getting along so we decided we might have something special. That was 40 years ago.

We hope our colored lights and popcorn machine and general old timey air will bring back happy memories for you, too.

See you at the Fair!

Mary Anne
and the gang at Red Hen

So Charming!

Charm bracelets have been so popular in past Shop Hops that we’re featuring them again this year.  What better way to represent the Rodeo at Little Quilts than with a lucky horse-shoe charm!  The charms will be $3 each or free with a $10 purchase.

Each shop will feature a different charm – plan now to visit each shop and collect all ten charms!  We’re taking preorders now for  bracelets, $5.99,  necklaces, $9.99,  and special Shop Hop 2012 charms ($3).

  

Little Quilts prize basket

For a fun time at the rodeo, visit us at Little Quilts during the 13^th Annual Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop, March 22 - 25!  We’ve lassoed up a heap of new books and patterns that you’re going to love and the barn is full of reproduction and contemporary fabrics along with our popular new line of fabric, “Hampton Farms” and lots of new wool. 

In addition, we’ve roped in some great trunk shows for the event.   Games, prizes, free patterns, and fun for all!  See www.atlantashophop.com for full details about this year’s Shop Hop.

Sound Off!

Sound Off!

Hello out there in Quiltyland! We are moving NEXT WEEK, so all is aflutter at Red Hen. Every inch of our store is being repainted and redone just in time to Hop! In addition, we’re receiving 500 bolts of fabric in the next 2 weeks alone! AAAARRGGHHH!

When we have meetings about the Shop Hop, we all have our opinions, but we’d appreciate some feedback from you guys. Here are a few questions, but you can feel free to add any comments you want.

1. Are you planning to do the Shop Hop this year?
2. Have you done it before?
3. Do you plan to finish the whole thing?
4. What is your favorite part?
5. What is you least favorite element?
6. Do you ever make any of the quilts or block projects generated by the block patterns you collect?
7. What would you like to see that you don’t currently see in the stores?
8. Do you have any theme ideas you would like to share?

You can make a difference! We can’t wait to hear from you.
The gang at Red Hen Fabrics.

Little Quilts - A sneak peak at one of the shops on the HOP

We’re getting ready for A Day At the Fair for the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop, March 22 – 25.  Here at Little Quilts we’re having a rodeo with lots of fun and games planned.

Each shop will have a different 12” Basket Block available for you.  We can’t show you ours yet, but we’re making a Rodeo Picnic Table Topper.  We’ll have kits available if you’d like to make one, too!

If you weren’t able to get to New York for the Red/White quilt exhibit, now is your chance to see a mini version of the show right here at Little Quilts.  From Feb. 13 – 18 the shop will be hosting a Red and White Quilt Show you won’t want to miss!  To make your visit doubly rewarding, visit the shop on Valentine’s Day and make a purchase -- 10% of all sales on Feb. 14 will go to The American Heart Association to benefit women’s heart health.  

 For those of you visiting the shop on Thursday, Feb. 16, join us from 2pm – 8pm  to sew pillowcases benefiting  ConKerr Cancer (sign ups for this event are requested).  Fun, door prizes, and free patterns for all who attend.

Oops! Don't post personal info on Facebook

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!!!

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

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!

Shop Hop 2012

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

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!

Shop Hop Website

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.