Waterwheel

  It is embarrassing to admit but as I have been cleaning and organizing my work space, I have come across some unfinished projects.  Some have been quickly finished but I found one that I started for my oldest son, Ryan, about 15 maybe 20 years ago.  I had made 61 log cabin blocks from his old high school slacks. He didn't know that I was making it.  Why it wasn't finished, I am not sure.  It just was placed out of sight.  Today was spend working on it and should be ready for quilting tomorrow. Then it will be on to the next UFO.
  Today's block is--Waterwheel.

Waterwheel

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for HST
    eight  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

  Medium Light fabric
    one  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

  Medium fabric
    one  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

  Dark fabric
    four 1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

Time to finish an UFO.
  Terry

Indian Puzzle

  As I sit here thinking, another soup night with the grandchildren is over.  I have forgotten how much work it took raising 4 kids.  The grandchildren keep me busy and we have fun but it is nice to send them home.  I have come to enjoy the quiet after the storm.
  Today's block is Indian Puzzle.  It has a little of everything in it.  The center is a square in a square, flying geese on the sides, squares and HST in the corners.

Indian Puzzle

Cutting
  Light fabric
    five  1 7/8" sq.  use 4 for HST and 1 for the center
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
    twelve  1 1/2" sq.  use 4 for corners rest for flying geese

  Medium fabric
    four  1 7/8" sq.  for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.

  Dark fabric
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
    two  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for Sq. in a Sq.
    eight  1 1/2" sq. for flying geese

Enjoy,
  Terry 

Busy Time

  December is the month that gets busy with the grandchildren's programs.  Saturday, we watch two of the girls, Maeve and Brooklyn, in the Nutcracker and Sunday was Anya's choir concert.  Next is church Christmas programs.  No matter what it is, it is wonderful to watch them all.
  So if your schedule isn't full yet, here is today's block--Tulip Lady Fingers.  Just a few squares and HSTs.  I did this one as a tablerunner a couple of years ago.  The runner is also on our youtube channel, Fabric Junction.  Click HERE to go to it.

Tulip Lady Fingers

Cutting
  Light fabric
    four  2 1/2" sq.
    four  1 7/8" sq.  for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.

  Medium fabric
    four  1 7/8" sq. for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.

  Dark fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq.

Just a reminder that HST is for Half Square Triangle.
  Terry

Another Soup Night

  Another soup night is over.  The grandbabies were over for chili and chocolate cookies. Fun and games was played by all until the parents came to pick them up.  It is wonderful to have them so close.
  Tomorrow I need to get everything ready to go to Pierre.  I will be teaching at a retreat this weekend.  I have to make sure that I am prepare for the class and truck show.  
  Today's block is made of half square triangles and 4-patches.
Here is Prairie Queen.

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq. for the HST
    eight  1 1/2" sq. for the 4-patch
    one  2 1/2" sq. for the center

  Medium fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq. for the HST
    eight  1 1/2" sq. for the 4-patch
  Reminder  HST--half square triangle

  Prairie Queen is a block that I used in a lap quilt.  The size of blocks that I made were 9 1/2".  The light fabric was the same throughout the quilt.  The medium fabric was different in each block.
  Have fun.
    Terry

Tutorials, Panels and Baby Locks

Yesterday I signed my children up for volleyball and softball.  The softball clinic is on April 1.  And to those who are familiar with South Dakota, you know there's a good chance that April 1 will still bring snow or cold weather.  My only consolation is that it will be her, not me, who will be out in that for four hours.  Is that bad?  I love that our kids have lots of options to keep them busy during the winter and spring months.  Art classes, sewing classes, gymnastics, piano lessons, dance lessons, basketball are all offered in the area for our children.  If our kids are bored, it's their own fault.  

Well, Terry isn't bored.  Since she has been back, she's been busy making tutorials for our YouTube channel.  In the last two weeks, we have published How To Use A 24" Panel in Your Quilt, and a Fabric Folding Pen Tutorial.  As always, Terry clearly explains her work in detail, making it easy for you to follow.

Since we showed you how to use your 24" panel, and we have another tutorial posted on how to use your yard panel, we decided to put a panel on sale for you.  You know, to help you get started.

Northcott Ahoy Matie Panel

This cute little panel is on sale for $6.25 this week.  We think it will make such a cute quilt for the little pirate in your life!  Click here  to take you to our website.

Speaking of sales, our Baby Locks are still 50% off!  Please call or come in to grab your next favorite machine.  You only have FIVE more days left to get one at this terrific price.  The sale ends February 28.

Our Shop Hop is coming soon.  Terry has been creating our block for this event, and it is lovely.  We can't wait to show it to you!

50% off February

We love Baby Lock!  We love them so much we are an authorized dealer for their machines.  And we love them so much we want you to try them.  So for all of February, we are offering our Baby Lock machines for 50% off MSRP.  How good of a deal is that?  Our Destiny II, which usually sells for $15,699.99, is now half of that.  That is a serious chunk of change that stays in your pocket.  There are three machines that aren't in this sale. They are the BL-9, the Coronet, and the Tiara.  Baby Lock manufactures sergers, sewing, quilting, and embroidery machines.  If you would like to learn more about one of our machines, please call our shop at 605-347-2235.  One of our experienced employees would love to work with you to find the best machine for your needs.

Sophia 2 machines being used by our sewing class.

In other news, we have had a great 2017 so far.  January has been a whirlwind of sewing classes, trips to Phoenix, long-arm quilting for our customers, and improving our YouTube channel.  Our little sewers have made an owl craft, a drawstring duffle bag, and a pair of bowl cozies this month.  It is so fun to watch the improvement those kiddos make from project to project.  Terry and her husband made it home from Phoenix with some great stories and a little bit of a tan.  Our customers keep bringing in quilts for us to finish, and we love using our two long-arms to make that happen.  Our software gives us the ability to create some beautiful scroll work, shapes, and designs that complete a quilt in exquisite detail.  And lastly, our YouTube channel now has some new thumbnails of Terry and titles right on the screen that will help you find the tutorial you want faster.  With over 24,000 subscribers, we are excited to see more and more people watching and learning.  On that note, we should be adding new videos soon.  I'll keep you posted when they come out.

By the way, if you need a new project, find our newest quilt kit on our Facebook page.  It's beautiful.  Understated and soft.

We would love to see what you've been creating this month.  Send us your pictures and we will feature them on our blog.  You can send your pictures to our email:  junctionfabric8@gmail.com

Happy Sewing!

Contest Time!

Otherwise known as, Whoops!  It's Thursday.

Sorry that I'm late in updating our blog!  We are having so much fun at the store that it kinda slipped my mind.  Here's what is going on:

• Lots of customers are coming in to stock up on their fall projects.  
• Our Christmas flannels are starting to be delivered.  
• We are in the process of installing a Smart TV for our live Baby Lock Destiny II Launch Party.
• We are smack-dab in the middle of teaching our 8-12 year old sewing students how to make headbands, key chains, baby blankets, pin cushions....and well, you get the picture.
• We are finishing 20 quilts this week for our awesome local customers.
• Terry just posted another YouTube video with an Easy Twist technique for your next project.

Do any of these things sound fun?  Click on the links that interest you for more information.

On top of all that, we are having a contest!  Like and Share our Facebook page for an entry to win an exclusive Sturgis Rally Gift Pack.  It includes a Sturgis Rally fat quarter, nail file and key chain.  If you follow us on Pinterest and/or Twitter, you get an extra entry.

Thank you for allowing me to be late this week.  I hope you are having a beautiful autumn season and are filling your calendar with enough projects to keep you busy as it gets cooler.  Don't forget to call or contact us online if you have any questions or need anything!

It's Getting Prettier!

Fall is coming quick.  We live in a beautiful part of the country that is a photographer's dream during the changing seasons.  Here's a quick peek of Spearfish Canyon.  

Photo Credit:  Mike Gussiaas

In other news, did you know we have a YouTube channel?  Over 21,000 subscribers viewed Terry's 85 tutorials over 2.5 million times.  To get inspiration, instruction, or just a chance to watch an expert, try our YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bq6lhcBXmSxk3FZr73iNw


Here is our most popular video.  It's called Fun & Done-A Quilt As You Go Technique.  We hope you get a chance to watch this one, or any other tutorial that Terry teaches.

I know I've been talking a lot about the sewing classes we're offering at the store.  I can't help it.  My oldest daughter is a new sewer and I was so excited to have her take a class.  This week they are getting familiar with the Baby Lock machines and working on a very basic project.  She came home with a pin cushion.  She loved it.  Right now, the classes are for 8-13 year olds.  We hope to be able to offer classes to more age groups in the future, based on interest.  Here's the setup we are using this week.

We have lots of fun items we carry in the store and online.  Gifts and small projects are a great way to show people you have been thinking about them.  One of the exceptional lines we carry is Goat's Milk Stuff soap and gifts.  GMS is made by a family in Southern Indiana and their soap is one of the best we've seen.  Made with just a few ingredients, they keep hands and skin moisturized during the harsh South Dakota winters.  Lip balms, bath fizzies, and candles complete the experience.  When you're in the store, please check out our GMS line in aromatic scents like Hazelnut, Lilac, Almond, and Vanilla.  We also carry seasonal scents like Cider Press, Frankincense and Myrrh, and Evergreen.

Baby Lock Destiny II Launch Party!

We are so excited to be a part of the Baby Lock launch party for their new machine, the Destiny II!  Join us in the store on October 1, 2016 from 12:30-3:30 to see Nancy Zieman introduce the Destiny II live from Baby Lock headquarters.  If you bring your smartphones, you can get your questions answered live by the experts.

Watch a short video here.

In other news, our very first Row by Row customer came in with her project.  Doris brought her quilt by yesterday and showed us her beautiful creative design.  Thank you, Doris, for letting us see it!

Did you know we provide long arm services?   

We own two long arm machines and lots of quilting experts to help you finish your projects. We welcome you to come in or call to learn more about how we can help with every stage of your quilt.

Sewing Classes and Customer Pictures

Remember Judie?  She's our resident genius.  She will be teaching sewing classes starting in September!  Kids aged 8-13 will receive basic Sewing 101 lessons and then have the option of multiple projects throughout the fall and winter.  They will be using our Baby Lock Sofia brand sewing machine, which will allow them to personalize their projects.  Classes will run $10 plus the cost of materials.  We start 9/19/16.  Classes will run Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 pm.  If you want to sign up or have any questions, please let us know!


A few customer pictures:

This one is a of a favorite family of ours-Mrs. Jean Rounds and her husband, Mike.  Jean is a regular customer at our store.  Mike happens to be one of our state's US senators.  We appreciate their patronage and their service to our country.

This picture is one of a completed project that our customer sent in.  She got her instructions from our YouTube tutorial called our Last Minute Table Runner.

We love the colors and the crispness of her lines.  She did a fantastic job!

We hope you get a chance to visit the Black Hills Quilters Guild booth at the Central States Fair this week.  We love seeing all the finished quilts and demonstrations.  OK.  And the funnel cakes might be calling my name.

Baby Lock Sale and Other Stuff

Sturgis hosted its annual motorcycle rally last week.  Around here, we start counting the days until fall after the rally ends.  (Sometimes it's a short count.)  This fall and winter are promising to be colder than usual, so we are going to make sure our sewing machines are tuned up and ready to go.


If you need a new machine, this might be the time for you to buy one from us.  We are running a great promotion on two of our Baby Lock machines.

Baby Lock was the first to introduce the world to sergers with easy air threading and no tension knobs.  The Baby Lock Ovation Serger brings you the largest workspace in the home serger industry.  The Ovation has other innovative features like a knee lift and six bright LED lights to make every sewing project easier.  Plus, you get 87 stitch combinations including the Baby Lock Exclusive Wave Stitch.  

MSRP-$5,999.00  

Sale Price-$3,999.00

We are also offering the Baby Lock Ellegante3.  With hundreds of built-in embroidery designs including exclusive Nancy Zieman designs, the Ellegante3 makes it easy to make every project unique.  Baby Lock IQ Technology works with the "brain" of the Ellegante3 to help you transition between sewing and embroidery.  Plus the IQ powered LCD Color Touch Screen lets you effortlessly change your machine settings.  Additionally, with on-screen editing, you can put a unique spin on designs from your personal library.

MSRP-$6,999.00

Sale Price-$3,888.00

Supplies are limited.  Sale ends September 5, 2016.  You can order your machine by calling the store at 605-347-2235.

Our Wednesday fabric sale is our brand new Studio E Mariposa Meadow line.  This line includes beautiful blues, purples and pinks with a butterfly design.  These would make a great option for those of you who watched the Disappearing 9 Patch tutorial and liked the fabric we used.  (Which has since sold out.)

Regular Price-$12.50/yard

Sale Price-$10.00/yard

As school gets started and you have a little more free time, we hope you come and visit us in Sturgis.  Or browse our website for free patterns, tutorials, and of course, our high quality quilting supplies.

Judie

This is Judie.  

Judie is our newest employee.  Judie should really be named Jack (Of-All-Trades), because she can do just about anything we ask her to do.

Judie has extensive sewing experience, along with a retail and teaching background.  She is patient and knowledgeable, and she will be educating many people in the coming months.  We will be offering a sewing class soon and Judie will be the teacher.  Judie is also becoming the expert in our Baby Lock machines.  If you have any questions, or need a new machine, Judie would be happy to help!

Judie has lived in the Black Hills area for the last 30 years.  Her hobbies include quilting, writing, and enjoying her grandchildren.  Judie is excited to meet everyone when they come into the store.  Please make sure to ask for her when you come in!