Have you had enough snow? This weekend is the OH-MI shop hop and we quilters sure are a hardy lot. It started snowing Friday--only 1-3 inches expected.NOT! At last count we have 7" on the ground. Did that stop the hoppers?? Not on your life. One hopper was heard to say we should call it the "Shop Slide"! It is so much fun to meet all kinds of quilters. We share so many ideas and there are so many fabric collections out there that no shop can carry it all. The variety is a spark to our creativity.

We've begun designing our Cross Wall hangings of the month. The patterns and kits will be available soon for purchase and mail order. I've included a picture of the first one-"FAITH".

Fall, Christmas and the Superbowl have come and gone.....I'm just getting back to blogging. My knee is great, the shop is warm and cozy. Are you quilting? I organized my sewing area over the past two weeks. It's still not the way I want it but it is SO much better! I can actually find things!

We've begun the pillowcase challenge sponsored by American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. Today I logged in 106 pillowcases donated. I have been hitting my stash of fabrics for pillowcase kits to share with those who have time but no fabric. I've got fabric that needs a home and what better way to share!!!

We finished our 2009 Bible Study Block of the Month and are starting the 2010 one. We had to cancel Tuesday's class due to the snow. Look at the quilt we made in 2009 . We are making a cross wallhanging each month this year. Watch for a picture of it too!

I must begin with an apology! I cannot believe it's been a month since I wrote! In that time, I have had arthroscopic knee surgery (which went quite well! ), got the newsletter out, celebrated my 38th wedding anniversary and have been sewing on the projects which will go in our new book! Open House was a big success. It's always good for us to have a deadline for us to have OUR projects done! Did you miss it? There are still lots of classes which have room in them. We have filled up 2 of our Beginning Quilting classes.Saturday is still open and we are taking names for at least one more class we are opening up. Call us or email us if you are interested. It would start some time in October. Don't delay!

The newsletter is on its way!

Yippee! The fall schedule is planned, the newsletter is written and should be in your mailbox within this next week. We have tried to offer a wide variety of classes for beginners and up. Amy is offering a whole new set of stripping classes, Kathy has a few new purses to teach as well as some new classes and Lois is starting a new block of the month. That is only a bit of what is going on at Sonflower Quilts.

Summer of fun

We have had a fun filled summer. Last week we hosted 8 young women for a quilt camp. The colors and concentration were amazing! We could have hosted another week because we had so much interest. Next year we will surely try 2 weeks of camp. This is the first year we have had such a turnout.

I am enjoying a week at my daughter's up in Petoskey,Michigan. The newsletter is almost done and my graph paper is full of new Bits'n Pieces ideas. My granddaughter, Isabelle, and I made her a crown with Fast 2 fuse. It's awesome! What a great Halloween idea. She also helped me with the Scrap Mania blocks. 2 1/2 year olds can count to 3 and pick out different colored squares. I'm working on a quilter! Tomorrow we are going to try to make an Indygo Junction pattern dress. Pictures will be on display.

See you soon....Cathy

Did you get to the Kaleidoscope of Quilt Show last weekend? It was wonderful to see all the quilts. It gets me inspired to FINISH things!!

Kathy and I started working on the Fall newsletter this week. It's like a gigantic puzzle, trying to fit classes in, wonder what you'd like to work on or learn, and what new things to teach ourselves! Look for your newsletter around the middle of August.

We've had inquiries about another daytime beginning quilting class.....It will start on Friday, August 7th at 11am. It meets also Aug 14, 28 and Sept 11. We need at least 2 students to run the class.It's exciting to have so many new quilters in our midst.

Next week is our kid's camp....it's full of excited campers ready to sew Yellow Brick Road!

Youth Project Camp

If you stop by Sonflower this week, you will see a roomful of young people creating some beautiful journal covers, honey bun bags, pillows and framed fusible art. They are hard-working and great at following directions. It can get very quiet as they concentrate on their creations. We certainly enjoy watching them learn new skills and meet new friends.