Long Overdue

I went on vacation and my mind obviously never came back. That and the fact that "I'll do it later" always seemed to fall after I landed on my life-sucking couch and the rest is history. I've really been horrible about updating everyone and I apologize. It's a new month and I'm trying to turn over a new leaf to keep updated on everything. We'll see how it goes.

I have a few things to update you on that are happening in the near future at Cottonpickers. We do have 2 buses going down to the NQA Show in a couple weeks. The Thursday bus is full but we still have a few seats left on the Saturday bus. If you have any questions about this event or the buses, please call us at 440-428-6449 and we can try to answer all of your questions.

Also, we have now joined Facebook. Become our friend and see what Beth has been up to lately. She's been posting pictures of fabric and books as they arrive as well as other projects she's been working on.

Once again this year we are part of the Steppin' Out Quilt Tour Shop Hop. It will run from July 12th - 31st and this year there are 15 shops involved. For more information on which shops are participating and how to get involved check out their website at SteppinOutQuiltTour.com. The passport fee has slightly changed for this year - we are participating in the Million Pillowcase Challenge. As we did last year all pillowcases donated will be given to ConKerr Cancer and stay locally within the Children's Hospitals in the area. They include Rainbow Babies, Akron General Children's Hospital and Cleveland Clinic. To get your passport, you can either (A) purchase a passport for $5 or (B) Donate a handmade pillowcase for a child (ages 2-17). For more information please call us at 440-428-6449.

Alright, getting to the good stuff! I know I am so far behind on updating what fabrics have arrived. Here is the shorter and simpler version. Sorry no pictures, but you can come in and see and touch the fabrics if you wish!

- Indigo Berries by Jo Morton for Andover Fabrics - Blues of every shade, they're delectable!
- Cherish Nature by Deb Strain for Moda - the panel is so adorable!
- Ravenwood by Jo Morton for Andover Fabrics - Blacks and Greys to go with your scraps!
- Martinique by 3 Sisters for Moda - just yummmmmy!
- Cocoa Express by Jo Morton for Andover Fabrics - the best browns you could ask for!
- Rural Jardin by French General for Moda - Come and get it while it lasts, not much left!
- Garden Song by Nancy Halverson for Benartex (we have the pattern book for this line too)
- More and More Batiks - all sorts from lights, darks, grapes, flowers, etc. Come take a look!
- Desert Nine Patch Kit and Batiks - this fabric is so scrumptious, you'll just love it!
- Fruitcake by BasicGrey for Moda - not your gramma's fruitcake, that's for sure!
- Northwoods Botanical by Holly Taylor for Moda - we're getting kits together for this of Bonnie Blue's Simple Star Pattern. It's really worth checking out!
- Wrapped in Paisley by Kansas Troubles for Moda - they're just yummy to go with the Charm Packs we have!
- Tidings by Nancy Halverson for Benartex - we have the advent calendar with this line!

We have much more to come and I apologize if I missed one or two. I think that about covers most of them. I promise to keep you all in the loop and not fall under the spell of my life-sucking couch. It's hard to resist! Become friends with us on Facebook for other updates and information and we hope to see you in the store soon!

It's been a while since we've chatted. Between the snow and ice the last month was an interesting one. And kind of a slow one as far as new fabric goes. We just started getting in the spring lines and we have many more to come. We have received a few lines so far and more to come soon. I wish I could've gotten these to you sooner, but we were busy getting ready for Vendor's Weekend at the Lake Farmpark Quilt Show (this weekend, come see us. We're in the atrium by the Cafe!)



This first one is called Garden Party. It's the latest line by Blackbird Designs for Moda. We have patterns for this line with these prints and jelly rolls. Come and get them while they last!








The next line I'm going to show you is a big one, a BIG one. We got all 47 pieces in the regular line as well as a few wovens that coordinate wonderfully. This is Looking Back by Brannock and Patek for Moda. All three shelves pictured here are the line.





Yep, all of them. Including this one...




And this one...






And this one.




We have the latest patterns designed by Janet Patek that feature this line available. These pictures do not do the fabric justice, please stop in the shop to take a look for yourself. And let me tell you, they feel as good as they look...and then some! We also have some Charm Packs available (if they last through the Farmpark weekend!)

Here are some more random batiks that we received as well. We have so many coming in that I'm sure I've missed taking pictures of some of them, so come and check them out for yourself.

We also have received Jo Morton's latest line Indigo Berries which I realize now that I forgot to take a picture of. Sorry. We will also be getting in her next two lines over the upcoming months. I believe March is blacks followed by a line of browns in April. I will keep you posted as soon as they get delivered.

And last but not least for the updates, the winner of the February Pillowcase Drawing is Judy Gais. Congratulations and please stop in to redeem your $25 Gift Certificate. Thanks again for all of your donations, we definitely have some really creative and giving customers. We couldn't do it without you. This month alone we received 66 pillowcases to be donated.

Well, we hope to see you this weekend in Kirtland and as I said before we have many other fabrics coming in over the next few months. It's nice to have really colorful and dare I say - Springy - looking fabrics arriving. I hope it's a sign of good - and warmer - things to come.

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!

It's finally arrived and let me tell you they're even more scrumptious in person than in the magazine ads or even the pictures on the patterns. We have finally received our shipment of McKenna Ryan's All Cooped Up line. You've probably seen the advertisements for it in the last couple months of various quilting magazines and other catalogs. We have the fabric and it is gorgeous! We have a few of the patterns for the Rooster and Chicks appliques, but they're going fast! We are hoping to have kits available this week. Please call or e-mail us if you'd like us to reserve one for you.

As well as the whole line of McKenna's new fabric we also received a couple shipments in the last few days of other just as wonderful batiks. So all in all I believe we have 41 new bolts of batiks gracing our shelves. Let me tell you though, they're not going to last long! Here's what we got in, and yes it's all of these pictured below.

Well, have a great rest of your weekend and please let us know ASAP if you're interested in any of the kits for the All Cooped Up Line. If you haven't seen the fabric or patterns available, you can find a link to Hoffman Fabrics website by clicking here. There are all of the patterns as well as swatches of all of the fabrics included on this page, and as I said before we have them all, but they might not last long. Once they're gone we can't get any more until May. Yuck!



See you all at the shop this week and good luck to all who entered in the Lake Metroparks Farmpark Quilt Show. Hopefully many of you will be getting phone calls in the next few days. Until next time!

Latest Arrivals

I have been slacking a bit on blogging. So sorry but between year end as well as those holidays I just got caught up in the mix and am finally getting back into my rhythm. (Okay weird tanget here: have you ever spelled a word and thought it looked weird? I had to look up rhythm because it just didn't look right but I knew it was right. Weird, but back on subject here.)

How was everyone's holidays? We had family in town and enjoyed some really good times with them, I'll have to put up a picture sometime of all of us. I hope you had a great and safe time, even after the holidays. We've heard a few stories of slips and spills, just remember to be safe out there!

Oh, and before I forget, we drew the name for the ConKerr Cancer Pillowcase donations for December and the winner for the month is Ann Warmuth. Congrats Ann! Once again, thank you for your donations, so far we have received a total of 387 pillowcases for the cause. Thank you all so much!

Alright, I know we are having a slight warm up as far as the weather goes right now, but we have received some absolutely gorgeous and cozy flannels to keep you warm when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Hopefully it won't happen soon, but unfortunately we are in the snowbelt, winter doesn't end til May. But it is coming, right?!

Also, we got a shipment of new Civil War Reproductions in by Barbara Brackman for Moda. Civil War Homefront just came in and we can't get enough of it.

What else, oh! We just got a shipment of new 1930's Reproductions yesterday and I apologize for not having a picture yet. I will take one tomorrow and get it on here to show you. They are adorable and bright and colorful. The perfect thing to cheer up your day when it's looking a little grey and dismal this time of year.

We have several new fabrics coming in the next few months, unfortunately, I can't remember half of them right now. Several new Moda lines are coming in February and March, more Civil War Reproductions are coming in I think every month between now and May (including 3 new lines from Jo Morton), and we just ordered Christmas fabrics that will be here in May and June. I know what you're thinking - we just had Christmas. The good thing to think is this - we order it now, it comes in May and June and then you have several months to get your Christmas projects done, or that's the idea.

I will get organized and post an updated list of what's coming in soon. For now, the only other thing I have to remind you of is it is almost time for the Lake Metroparks Farmpark Quilt Show is just around the corner. Quilts will be dropped off next week and the show will commence shortly thereafter. We will be at the show for Vendor's weekend and we will see many of you at the Show's opening reception. If you have any questions about the show or would like more information, please feel free to give us a call or check out the Farmpark's website by clicking here. This year's featured quilters are Harriet Hargrave and Marti Michell, both wonderful and legendary women in the quilting world. Be sure to go see the show and plan to spend atleast a few hours there, it's never disappointing.

Well, have a great weekend and like I said earlier, I'll be sure to get organized and update you on what we're getting and post pictures of each line when we get it in. Take care and enjoy the slight heat wave.

November Winner!

How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was so good, we had family in from out of town and Becky hosted her first Thanksgiving without even a hiccup. It was good and hopefully tonight's dinner will get rid of the last of the leftovers. Don't get me wrong, I love leftovers, but not this many!

We drew for the November winner of the pillowcase donations for ConKerr Cancer and Beverly Scoby is the winner! Congratulations Beverly. You amazed us once again by donating 45 more pillowcases making the total thus far donated at our shop 321! Thank you again.

And last but not least, we again this year are a drop off location for the Madison Chapter for Toys for Tots. We have a collection box for new and unwrapped toys if you would like to bring those in. Or if you would like this year we also have trains that ccan be signed and hung around the store for the donation of $1.

Please stop in and see what new and wonderful things are going on around the shop. We will be having our annual Customer Appreciation Sale in the near future. This year it'll have a slight twist, but we'll elaborate on that later. Once we get the details finalized we will update you on here and we'll be sending out an e-mail with the details as well. Have a great day and we hope to see you in the near future.

Back again!

Okey dokey, we're back. I don't even know where to start, we've been running around so much that once we finally slowed down it seemed like the world was spinning. Do you know what I mean?

We just got a new shipment of fabric in from Moda this afternoon that we've been patiently waiting for. It's the new line from Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts called Close to My Heart. It's the first line Moda has put out that combines batiks and regular printed cottons. She just released her next design due out in Spring and it'll again combine the prints and batiks that she does so well. We love her to death and can't wait to start a project or two out of this fabric.

What else? Hhhhmmmmm, I'm thinking. We rearranged the store again slighty to expand our newly redefined seating/husband/sewing/whatever room. We now have a wonderful and really comfy sofa added to the rocker and other really comfy chair in the back room. The hoosier cabinet most days has coffee and cookies to welcome you and all that missing is - well, you! Grab a friend and a project, come sit and sew or knit or something. Just call us up or pop on out and relax and have fun!

Alright, I'm still thinking. I feel like I'm forgetting to tell you something and I just can't think of what it is. Can you tell it's close to the weekend? My brain must already be on vacation. Well, I still can't think of it so I guess it'll have to wait until next time. See you back here later for more updates and other goings on around the shop.

The October Winner Is...

This one is really short and sweet. Later in the week I'll have more time to update you on the goings on around the shop and what wonderful and exciting things are being planned for in the near future. Right now we're trying to catch our breath. Eleven weeks on the road participating in all kinds of shows and retreats can really do a number on oneself. But you knew that right? Maybe next year we'll catch on - or not. There's always next year, right?!

Okay, getting to the good part. I just contacted the winner of the pillowcase drawing for October and - Margaret Hawkins - was so shocked that she won. The poor lady has had just a bad spell of luck these last couple of weeks and this really brightened her day. We're so happy for you Margaret and hope to see you in the shop soon!

You ladies really impressed us this month! I thought last month was great. I thought it was superb. I didn't believe it could be done. I know I've said before how gracious we as well as the foundation and the children receiving your donations are for the work and generosity you all have put forth, but honestly I didn't believe it could happen. This past month we received a grand total of 249 pillowcases!!!! Our office is overflowing with pillowcases right now. This Sunday we will be delivering them to our Chapter Coordinator and they will promptly be passed out to the local hospitals. Thank you again and I can't wait to see what happens this month.

As I said, I'll tell you more later in the week once we finish getting unpacked from our travels and regain our sanity and it couldn't be a moment too soon. This week we'll be working on a updated class schedule as well as many other odds and ends for the rest of '09 and the plan for 2010. Give us a call or stop in if you have any questions or just want to chat. Again, congrats to Margaret and thank you to all of our friends who are helping to support this amazing cause.

Back to work!