Books for Quilters!
More than 200 Titles, Most at a Discount, in the Planet Patchwork
Quilters' Bookstore!
Number Thirty-Three * July 1, 1999
Classifieds | Table of
Contents
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Quilting on the Web: 1999 Quilt Sampler Websites
By Lynn Holland
Since its first issue in 1995, I have been a fan of Quilt Sampler magazine, an annual
publication from the BH & G family, which features articles about extraordinary quilt
stores. I was especially eager to see the latest issue, since I had recently visited Front
Porch Quilts in Houston, one of this year‚s honorees. The official publication date
is usually late May and the magazine is sold until August. However last year I waited
until mid-June to find a copy and was politely told by salespeople at all the major quilt
stores that they had been sold out for weeks. After coming up dry at the major news
vendors in this city, I finally found a copy at Eckerd Drug. This year my favorite
boutique, Kroger, had a copy the first week it was available and I snapped it up.
This year‚s stores are as wonderful and diverse as always, and some of the
descriptions in the magazine prompted us to drag out the atlas to find out how close to
Quilts by the Falls a bargain flight to Minneapolis would get us. Unhappily, most of us
can‚t actually go to every store in the book. However, the internet has helped us get
much closer to getting what we want when we want it, and one sign of the times is that
this year every store in the Sampler listed a web site address. Since I am a huge fan of
the virtual visit, I wandered off onto the web to explore some of the sites. As might be
expected, the sites are as diverse as the stores themselves. Some of these web sites are
in the developmental stages, while others are clearly old hands.
Material Possessions' page (http://www.quiltessentials.com)
has been around for some time, as evidenced by its polished presentation. The home page
has a huge picture of the QS cover, since their original quilt is the cover girl for the
issue. Add to that a well-executed tour of the store, good pictures of the eleven blocks
of the month they offer (along with all the important details such as price and
availability of „finishing‰ fabrics), and you have a feel for the personality of
the store. Of particular note is a stunning stained glass block of the month constructed
from hand-dyed fabric. Although Material Possessions does not offer on-line ordering as of
this writing, it is in the works. They‚ve just been a little busy doubling the size
of their store in California.
Another one of my favorite sites is the Calico Cat (http://www.thecalicocat.com
), and not just because of the great name and cat graphics. This site, too has super
BOM‚s, including some nice folk art choices and a sawtooth cat selection that truly
tempted me. The Calico Cat also offers funky doll patterns and notions, including some
fantastic colors of New Zealand mohair for the perfect doll hairdo.
Heart and Hand Dry Goods ( http://www.heartandhand.com
) cleverly offers regional gifts and patterns on the website, along with clear pictures
and descriptions of the available goods.
Although Quilts by the Falls http://www.cannon.net/~quilts/
) offers a very simple site with some great graphics, at this point it seems geared more
to in-person customers. I was taken by the invitation to „come for the quilts, stay
for the cookies‰ that accompanies information about their Piecemaker‚s meetings
that occur five times a month. These folks know how to appeal to people! This page has an
overall friendly ambience and appearance that makes you hope that they expand the site
soon to perhaps offer patterns and other stuff.
As has been previously mentioned in TVQ, Front Porch Quilts (http://www.frontporchquilts.com ) seems a very
comfortable presence on the web. They have a fun, but not too slick assortment of places
for your eye to fall, but the pages include their newsletter, the class schedule for the
quarter, blocks of the month and special offers as well. Having been to Front Porch Quilts
actually and virtually, I can verify that the site is a good representation of the shop
itself.
The Quilt Foundry ( http://www.quiltfoundry.com
) website has to be one of my favorites, just because it packs so much personality and
individuality onto its pages. The home page looks like a great big pinetree quilt (the
store‚s symbol) with click-on buttons that take you to other places on the site.
There's a cyber tour with beautiful pictures, (including a good shot of the 100-year-old
beam that hold up the walls), thumbnail sketches of the four partners who own the business
and very clever text to accompany the long list of special services that the store offers.
This is very polished site and definitely worth the "trip" to check it out.
As I mentioned earlier, all ten featured stores in this year's Sampler have websites, but
I didn't think it would be fair to review those sites that are truly in the fledgling
stages, so I‚ve restricted my comments to those that are beyond the beginner stage on
the web. However, some of the developmental sites already have the right idea, with nice
photos and graphics enticing us to "watch this space." One of the sites offers
the shop newsletters online, something I think adds tremendous appeal, and an inducement
to check back periodically. All of these stores are experts in marketing, so I‚m sure
exciting internet action will quickly evolve. Since quilters are creative by nature, it
won‚t be long before all the stores are comfortable with virtual visitors dropping by
for a cup of tea and a few yards of fabric which we place in our shopping cart. Now if we
can just work on our recipe for cyber cookies that taste good.
Classifieds
MOTHER HEN'S QUILT EMBROIDERIES
Quick, easy, machine embroidered quilt blocks to embellish vests and jackets, towels,
pillows, wallhangings or create a quilt. Come and visit Mother Hen's Quilt Embroideries
and view the goodies! http://www.accn.org/~lildozer
Old-Fashioned Quilt Frames
Thomas and Annie Kaczmarek offer easy-to-assemble
old-fashioned quilt frames with a variety of features. Style #1 has 3 tilt positions.
They're 93 inches long and 24 inches wide. Only $135.00 INCLUDING shipping and handling. A
smaller version, 58 inches long, is $100.00 including s&h.
New! Style #2 is 108" x 31.4" with a 104" x 24" work area, allowing
six quilters around the frame. It will also break down to a small frame of 54" x
31/5". It has three tilt positions, muslin on the poles to baste the quilt on, and
breaks down for storage. Made of high quality wood, only $160, including shipping! E-mail
us at
tmankacz@wilmington.net for more information and ask about our baby play quilt, our 57" X 48"
Nap scrap quilt and other items.
Send check or money order along with your order (USA only) to:
Annie Kaczmarek
609 Hunting Ridge Rd.
Wilmington, N.C. 28412
For more information you can call Annie at (910) 791-5904 or e-mail her at tmankacz@wilmington.net
BREAKING TRADITIONS
Cathedral Windows Quick Method Quilt
This book will instruct even the novice sewer how to create an heirloom quality quilt,
entirely by sewing machine, in a fraction of the time it would take to sew by hand. Full
color cover, clear concise illustrations, yardage charts and many tips.
The possibilities are endless!
$8.95 per book plus $1.95 s&h
Please make check payable to 'Kimberly Nappier' and mail to: Kimberly Nappier
6827 Sparkman St. Dept. tvq
Tampa, FL 33616
E-mail inquiries to: Bountipres@aol.com
Greenhaven Enterprises
Greenhaven, a bed and breakfast retreat especially for Quilters, on the Olympic
Peninsula.
Visit Washington State and stay with a quilter, and her cat Oliver.
The Herbolds live just outside of Sunny Sequim. Their home, set in the tall trees, is
warm, pleasant, and affordable.
Norma can direct you to quilt shops in the area, plus the natural wonders located on the
Olympic Peninsula. For those in the Northwest, Norma can also plan a personal retreat for
you and your quilting friends.
You are invited to visit the website for Greenhaven, where you can check out Norma's
quilts, learn more about Sequim, and of course, see Oliver. The address is: http://www.olypen.com/normah
You may email Norma at normah@olypen.com or call
360-681-0364 for more information.
MY FAVORITE THIMBLE
My Favorite Thimble is here with a hot summer offer along with our unique thimbles,
patterns, etc.
Visit our web site at www.myfavoritethimble.com
and receive a FREE FABRIC gift with your $10.00 minimum order. The fabric is 4"
square swatches of hand-dyed 100% cotton in five beautiful summer colors. We don't sell
fabric, we only give it away! This offer is being made only to TVQ subscribers, so be sure
to mention TVQ in the Special Instructions box on our Order Form.
Attention Canadian quilters! We now ship free to Canada as well as the USA. Canadian and
other foreign quilters can now also get Currency Exchange information from our site. The
Order Form has a handy link that you will want to bookmark. Have a great Summer!
Chris Hanner & Company
3687 Coldwater Lane
Snellville, GA 30039
Email: mailto:hanner@mindspring.com
THE CRAFT CONNECTION
The Craft Connection ( http://www.craftconn.com/
) is the most exciting place on the Internet if you want to make or sell handcrafts. We
sell quality cotton fabric, Mettler and Sulky thread, and quilting notions, all at a
discount. Fabrics are linked to coordinating fabrics, so you know your choices will look
great together. We try to find fabrics you won't see anywhere else. And we'll package them
into packets of fat eighths, fat quarters, or 5" squares, so you can get a good
variety without a big cash outlay. Among our fabric categories are florals, pictorials,
and guy stuff, and you should see the new Lost Fabrics of Atlantis collection.
Every month some items are for sale at 20 percent off our already discounted prices.
You can use your credit card online on our secure server to safely purchase our fabrics
and also our crafters' products. If you're a crafter, you can sell here and take credit
cards without having your own credit card vendor account.
Check out our Free Stuff. Each month we offer a new pattern and a new lesson. We also
have a Calendar of upcoming Quilt Shows. Come by our website at http://www.craftconn.com.
THE QUILT BLOCK
We are a cottage industry located just outside of Yosemite National Park. We specialize
in clothing and patterns for quilters and for people who love quilts.
We offer t-shirts and sweatshirts in sizes from medium to xxx-large. All of our quilts are
machine pieced. Most of our patterns are easy enough for beginning quilters. Come see what
we have to offer at our website. We have a great sale page, and we now offer secure online
shopping!
http://www.sierratel.com/thequiltblock/salepage1.htm
Or e-mail for more information to
mailto:gastinc@sierratel.com
The Quilt Block
P.O. Box 127
Midpines, CA 95345
(209) 742-5418
Fax: (209) 742-7662
HICKORY HILL QUILTS
The next QHL conference TEXTILES AND THEIR PLACE IN HISTORY will be held August 4-7 at
the Hollowbrook Lodge in Greenville, New York. Learn while you relax in the Catskills.
Comprehensive seminars from Rabbit Goody (wovens), Cindy Brick (Crazies), Jane Clark
Stapel (feedsacks), Merikay Waldvogel (fabrics), more. Appraisals, behind scenes at
Farmers Museum and more. For more information, see http://www.quilthistory.com/1999.htm.
SILVER DOLLAR SHEEP STATION
The MINI DUST-IT. Genuine sheepskin duster on a 6" stick that is perfect for
picking up dust and lint from your sewing machine and serger. Soft, beautiful sheepskin
won't scratch polished surfaces. Picks up the lint and tiny threads; doesn't spread them
around. Prevents lint build-up. Inexpensive way to protect expensive sewing machines and
sergers. Fun and handy to use. Also works great on the computer.
ANNOUNCING: New colors -- white, black, navy, gold, cocoa, taupe,teal
blue, gray, charcoal!
Price: $3.50 each including mailing.
To order send check to
Silver Dollar Sheep Station
5020 Winding Way
Sacramento, CA 95841.
800-887-8742.
E-mail: :Sheep50@aol.com.
SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER: Because we manufacture the Mini Dust-it to a very high
standard, we currently have a small supply of imperfects. They may be a little thinner and
not as pretty or have some other defect, but they still work great!
And best of all we offer these to you for just $1, INCLUDING postage. You can order them
at the address above and enjoy this wonderful product at a bargain price!
THE QUILTBROKER
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * *
Get a FREE Judy Martin Point Trimmer ($7.50 value) with purchase of Judy Martin's The
Block Book from Design Plus . . . now ONLY $18.98 + $3.00 S&H Mail your check (US
funds only) for $21.98, payable to:
DESIGN PLUS
907 Columbia Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525-1838
The QUILTBROKER http://www.quiltbroker.com
Get a new FREE pattern by Design Plus at Marcus Brothers Textiles web site: http://www.marcusbrothers.com/
PINETREE QUILTWORKS
PineTree Quiltworks' online discount catalog and fabric store has its own URL for
faster access. Visit PineTree at www.quiltworks.com
and bookmark the spot! The online fabric store now loads faster and much more reliably!
Visitors are unlikely to get a TOO BUSY message!
Please visit the new fabric store! Quilters will find loads of new fabrics organized by
"department" but also viewable by manufacturer and fabric line (designers and
named lines). To view fabric, click on the dot at left of a category or manufacturer (or
whatever) to activate that selection, then click on the VIEW FABRICS button at the right
of the selection.
Look for the latest fabrics from Hoffman, RJR, Marcus Bros., Maywood, Clothworks, Hi
Fashion, Timeless Treasures, Fit to Print, Rose & Hubble, Northcott, Benartex, Moda,
Peter Pan, and more, all at 20% off retail prices.
Go to www.quiltworks.com . When the main page
comes up, click on Virtual Fabric Store, then select your fabric viewing options!
SCHOOLHOUSE ENTERPRISES
Amazing but true!
Gridded Geese(c) is a unique paper foundation method for mass-producing Flying Geese units
up to 24 at once (no kidding!). Schoolhouse Enterprises, inventors and manufacturers of
this revolutionary product, offers both a printed version of their catalog, and an on-line
( http://www.planetpatchwork.com/store/index.cfm?DID=21
) shopping cart service in conjunction with Planet Patchwork. You can safely order online
through Planet Patchwork's secure server with your credit card!
The folks at Schoolhouse Enterprises and Planet Patchwork search for items for quilters
(and friends of quilters) which are unique and often overlooked by other catalogs you
might connect with. Check out their on-line catalog, which offers such interesting items
as Photos-to-Fabric(tm) photo transfer paper, Ott Lights, beautiful embossed note cards,
kaleidoscope pendants, and much more! And while you're visiting, be sure to check out the
current Monthly $pecial!!
Schoolhouse has recently begun carrying the complete line of Electric Quilt products,
including EQ4 design software, and Sew Precise! and Sew Precise with Shirley Liby. We also
carry the popular Quilt-Pro program. We offer some of the best prices on quilt design
software you'll find anywhere. EQ4 is only $89.99 and Quilt-Pro is an unbelievable
$79.99..
They also offer a large selection of Merry Mayhem's Mystery Quilts. If you missed any
of the Cases which were previously online, you'll find them here!
If you're not able to access the web page, just e-mail Schoolhouse Enterprises
(mailto:cluesew@jerseycape.com) with your "snail mail" (post office) address for
your FREE CATALOG and Sample of Gridded Geese(c)! (Sorry, but Samples are only available
in the printed catalogs.)
PERFECT SQUARE
PERFECT SQUARE and PERFECT TRIANGLE are tools that help quilters make quiltpieces more
easily and accurately. Patterns have been written especially for PERFECT SQUARE and the
necessary sheets to make the quilt are included in the pattern.
The PERFECT SQUARE website has been updated to include information on all products and
patterns complete with pictures. Credit cards are accepted.
Also included are pictures of Monica's art quilts and links to really cool quilt sites.
http://www.webworldinc.com/perfectsquare
for details.
PCQuilt for Windows
PCQuilt for Windows is easy to learn and easy to use quilting software. The block and
the quilt are on the same screen so you can see your quilt emerge as you design and color
your blocks. Combine blocks in a variety of ways to see endless new designs. The program
includes all the features that have always made PCQuilt easy and fun to use. Now with the
new Windows version, PCQuilt will help you estimate your yardage, print templates, quilts
and blocks, and has a friendly Windows interface with easy to use toolbars. PCQuilt comes
with a extensive library of blocks, border, quilts, palettes and fabric patterns. PCQuilt
is also available for the Macintosh. Look for PCQuilt at your local Husqvarna VIKING
Dealer or visit our website at http://www.pcquilt.com
.
Nina Antze
7061 Lynch Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707- 823-8494
1-800-731-8886
ADVERTISING WITH TVQ.
Our advertisers, both here in the newsletter and at the Planet Patchwork website, have
found TVQ to be an effective and economical way to reach thousands of online quilters. Ads
in the newsletter are only $5 each (up to 100 words, inquire about longer ads) or 3 for
$10, and there are also attractive packages available which combine newsletter and website
ads. For more information e-mail rholland@planetpatchwork.com
or visit http://www.planetpatchwork.com/adcard.htm.
We specialize in helping small quilting-related businesses gain exposure on the internet.
In This Issue:
Following is a list of the rest of the stories in this issue of TVQ. In order to read
them, you must be a subscriber. Subscribing online here and following
up with the small subscription fee will entitle you to eight issues of TVQ, including this
one. You will receive TVQ every six weeks by e-mail, and will be issued a password to
access it here at Planet Patchwork.
Subscribers: Please report any password problems to Rob Holland. Be sure to include your name &
e-mail address. We will try to resolve all password problems within 24 hours. Thank you!
And here's what's inside!
Lynn went to San Francisco on business, but made it her business to
visit the local quilt shops. And the local color!
Will people buy quilts over the internet without seeing them in person
first? This innovative new site combines the best of eBay and your local quilt dealer.
Christina Holland visited the quilts at the Smithsonian, and tells you
why you should, too.
The creator and programmer of the most popular of all the quilt design
programs talks about how it all started, and where it may be going from here.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, NEWS, IDEAS, BRICKBATS?
Like any news publication, TVQ is always hungry for information about new
developments in the area we are trying to cover. If you have an idea for a story, or want
to tell the world about something you are doing which relates to computers and quilting,
we'd like to hear about it.
We'd like news of new classes starting up to teach quilt design on computers, or new
approaches to that teaching. New products, maillists, World Wide Web pages, etc., are all
fair game, and we'd appreciate any tips you can provide. Send your tips by e-mail to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.
If you have a comment about an article, a complaint or a correction, we're glad to hear
that, too, and may publish some comments as letters to the editor. Again, these may be
sent to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.
Editor and Publisher: Robert Holland, Decatur, GA
© 1999 by Robert Holland. All rights reserved. This file may not be reproduced in any
form except to be printed out for the personal use of its owner without the expressed,
written consent of the copyright holder.
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In upcoming issues you will find more in-depth reviews of quilt design software, more
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