Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Sturgis, South Dakota!  We are having a great start to 2017.  How about you?

I don't know about you, but personally, I am already looking forward to spring.  Temps today will be topping off at a whopping 5 degrees.  I love winter.  I really do.  I don't even mind some cold temps.  But when April rolls around, I'm ready for some green grass and blooming flowers.  Only 86 more days....

Terry is getting ready to make her annual trek to Phoenix for the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival.  January 26-28, Terry will be one of 350 vendors that warm themselves in the Arizona sun.  Oh, and provide their tips, tricks, and wares to the public.

Just a few pieces of information for you this week--Our online store is still offering free shipping.  I'm not sure when the boss is going to take this one off the table.  If you need something, order it soon.

We just got an Instagram account.  

I know.  If you're under 35, you're asking, "What took you so long?"  For the rest of us, Instagram is another newfangled app we're not sure we need.  But to be honest, it's the best for showing off pictures of all the beautiful things we sell and create.  We hope you'll follow us at @junctionfabric8.  


In case you missed it, Terry posted a new video called the 3-in-1 Baby Quilt.  She goes through the tutorial on YouTube.  After you watch the video, you can buy the kit or the pattern on our website.

We had a Facebook drawing over Christmas.  Readers posted their Christmas projects and we drew a winner from our entries.  Congratulations to Milissa Stockholm!  She won two free fat quarters for her quick post to our Facebook page.  We like to offer contests from time to time over there.  Hope you'll take a look around sometime.

As we look forward to this brand new year, we look forward to writing more about topics in which you're interested.  Don't be afraid to comment on topics you would like to see addressed.  Thanks!

The Satisfying Sentiments of Christmas

Christmas Countdown

3	days
86	hours
5202	minutes
312170	seconds

No need to panic.  Just thought I'd take a screen shot of a Christmas Countdown page I had found.

We hope you are enjoying your Christmas holiday, whatever that looks like to you.  We have been having extremely cold weather, even for South Dakota.  Last week we experienced two days that didn't get above 0.  And the wind chills had us in the -20s and -30s.  It's not my favorite.  But to be honest, once it hits a certain temperature, cold is just cold.  It reminds me to be thankful I have a warm house to come home to.

Here at the shop, we have been enjoying filling our customers' orders while they browse the store.  They look over finished quilts, table runners and even some infinity scarves made from Cuddle material.  The TV runs Terry's YouTube tutorials quietly while Christmas music plays on the radio.  Our classes have been suspended until the new year.  Christopher is working on a sewing machine that has been brought in to be fixed.  Our ladies industriously work on the long-arm and embroidery machines.  They efficiently finish gifts to be given over the holidays.  Customers arrive and leave carrying their machines, finished projects, and a few items to be used for their next project.

As busy as these last few days are, there is a sense of satisfaction in getting things done.  Crossing items on our To Do list off.  Every finished task for us means another customer has what they need to help with their holidays.  We are grateful to see these customers regularly.  We are also grateful for our customers we don't see personally, but who we get meet through our online presence.  The comments on YouTube, Facebook, and email are always read with a discerning eye.  We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of the people who watch and follow us.  

Our website has been a great way to reach out as well.  We are one of very few stores that have a website that allows you to order online.  We have shipped all over the country and internationally.  Our shipping department gets a kick out of all the addresses in which we get to label and send supplies.

I hope you have gotten a little glimpse of what's going on in the store this week.  We also hope you understand how important you are to us.  Thank you for supporting this local store.  We look forward to serving you throughout the holiday and the upcoming new year.

Merry Christmas!

My Spin on a Holiday Classic

Have yourself a quilting little Christmas.

Pour yourself some wine.

From now on your fabric can be bought online.

Have yourself a quilting little Christmas.

Make your new quilt green.

From now on your new stuff will be shipped for free.

Here we are shivering in the snow,

Happy summer days behind.

Quilting blocks for our blanket now.

Yes, we'll show them how, we bind.

Through the years we all will sew together,

If the fates allow.

So have yourself a quilting little Christmas now.

Free shipping from Fabric Junction within the US. Now through Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

www.junctionfabric.com

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Credit:  Brad Lebrun

This is the view of an elementary school building about an hour west of us.  The snow fell yesterday.  Needless to say, the kids got a break from school in that town.  We have gotten some snow here, too.  Enough that the kids have missed two days of school.  Well, I'm not sure they've missed it.  But you know what I mean.

Yesterday, we couldn't even open the store.  The snow was blowing sideways.  The streets weren't plowed.  It was cold.  Walking to the car reminded me of those old cold medicine commercials.  The one where people have their heads bowed down, pushing through the blizzard, shivering in their coats.  The snow has finally died down today.  Only the wind continues to blow.

While we were closed, we missed our customers who come to visit us.  Thankfully, they could still order online if they needed to.  Our website is up 24/7, every day of the year.  If you ever need anything, please check on our website.  Flannels, thread, fill, widebacks, and more.  You can even place an order for quilting services.  We may have exactly what you're looking for!  www.junctionfabric.com

If you do get a chance to visit, bring your scissors.  In addition to cleaning and servicing machines, we now have the ability to sharpen your scissors.  Let us help you make the season bright by keeping your equipment shiny and new feeling.

Wherever you are, we hope you are having a fantastic festive season.  We would love to see your holiday creations and feature them on our blog!  Send them to junctionfabric8@gmail.com.

Planning Ahead

I might be a planner.  I really don't like to fly by the seat of my pants.  I don't accomplish much and I usually get a hole in my pants.  Having children has altered my plan making abilities a little, but it still makes me uncomfortable.  

Terry is the same way.  She loves to plan ahead.  And she loves to help you plan ahead.  If you're that kinda person.  That's why she has taken on our new Block of the Month.  In November, it's hard to think about summer.  Or at least next summer.  I'm still thinking about last summer. <sigh>  But by getting this BOM started now, you will have a beautiful, patriotic quilt done just in time for the 4th of July.

To help you out, Terry has started her YouTube video tutorials for this project.  The first month is right here:

You are welcome to join us every month.  We can ship right to your door so that you can follow along.  Here's the sign-up:

Marcus Fabrics Star Spangled Liberty Sign-Up

Our holiday sale is getting better and better.  Don't forget to look at our sale page for cute fabrics and panels.  Or sophisticated.  Whichever side you lean towards.  We have fabrics for everything from quilts to wall hangings to table runners to placemats.  And we have the videos to help you make them.  If you make a mistake, we have tools to help you with that, too.  We just got in new scissors, snips and tweezers by Famore Cutlery.  Take a look on our Notions page.  We're hoping you might want some.  If not, maybe a sewer in your family needs a stocking stuffer.

Thanks for following along.  We really appreciate everyone who reads our blog, views our YouTube channel, and surfs our website.  Feel free to comment, call or email us if you have any questions, need some supplies, or want to provide feedback.  Have a great week!

A Nation....Tired.

I'm not one to comment on the political process.  I believe both sides have some ideas worth value and some that should be tossed in the trash.  God in heaven rules and nothing is a surprise to him.  But wow, am I tired!  Are any of you taking a huge breath of relief that it's all over?  What will we ever fill our time with now?  

I know!  Let's fill it with quilting.

How cute is this?!

A customer of ours from Virginia sent us this picture.  She used our panels to make an adorable baby gift.  I love these Northcott Connector Playmat panels.  The kiddos can even run their cars and planes and boats on them.  It's like a soft, portable train table!   

Need some ideas for home decor for the holidays?  Come look at our Thanksgiving and Christmas items.  Currently on sale.  Saving money on gifts just means you can make more gifts, right?  I'll also let you in on a little secret.  We still have a few Halloween items in stock.  They are 50% off.  Want to plan ahead?  Or just like Halloween?  Pick up a few things before they are sold out.

Terry has posted a brand new YouTube tutorial.  If you have a bunch of scraps laying around, this might be your ticket to de-cluttering.  You can watch this quick, 7 minute video here:

I hope that this week brings you interesting things to create, a friend or family member that loves your work, and the energy to get it all done!

November has Begun

I am a fan of the Farmer's Almanac.  They are so smart and insightful.

Usually.

This year, they said that winter would start early, be colder, but end early.

I got ready.

I put away my summer clothes and hung up my winter ones.  I had the dog groomed in October so she would be nice and wooly (and warm) by December.  I found our winter hats, gloves and scarves and made them accessible to the kids.

Then I waited.  

I waited for the cold, cloudy days and the small hard snowflakes that would attack our cheeks in the turbulent South Dakota wind.  I waited with furrowed brow and a cranky attitude.
And this is what happened:

The leaves started turning.  The temperature dropped a few degrees.  The sun set earlier.  And my eyebrows became unfurrowed.  At least temporarily.  It was, after all, only October.

A few days ago, the US National Weather Service forecasted November to be above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.  So now I feel really, really, over prepared.  And a little silly.

Regardless of the weather, November is a time to be thankful.  And a time to think of our loved ones and what they mean to us.  And darn it, what are we going to get them for Christmas?!  We have tried to help you out be discounting our Thanksgiving and Christmas fabrics 30%.  You can look here to see if anything catches your eye.  So much to choose from!  And if you need any patterns, don't forget to check out our Free Pattern page.


In other news, Chris and Terry just got back from the Quilt Market in Houston yesterday.  It is an amazing 3 day trade show dedicated to the sewing and soft craft industry.  They have come back with some exciting ideas and new fabrics ordered.  I can't wait to show them to you when we get them in.

In the meantime, don't forget to check our YouTube channel for our free tutorials.  These tutorials can really help you visualize how your finished project could look.  If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see, just let us know!