Quilt Shop Rant

I am currently smitten with several lines from French General.  I really wanted some, so I went online at www.quiltshops.com and did a search for fat eighth bundles.  I have NEVER had any problems with any fabric purchases online.  I promptly ordered on September 30th, and waited an waited for it to come.  I of course ordered several other things as well.  When it didn't come after almost 2 weeks, I sent them an email to the address on their website.  Still I waited and waited and no communication.  I received my order a little over 2 weeks after it was placed.  Hurray!  The fabric was beautiful.  I purchased 5 yards of one piece of fabric for backing.  When I measured it to piece the backing....4 yards and 17".  UGH!!  Ok, it was on sale so couldn't complain too much.  1/2 yard shortage was only $2.50.  I don't even know what possessed me to measure it.  I have never once measured an online purchase for accuracy.

I decided I would email them (once again to the address on the website).  I waited 2 days and heard nothing.  On the 3rd day, I decided I would call them and let them know that the email address on the website didn't work correctly.  This is where it starts to go South!

When the store clerk answered the phone, instead of talking to me, she was talking to a customer at the shop.  She asked to put me on hold.  My patience is still doing well, but it is declining.  When she comes back on, I explained the sistuation.  She is still only half listening to me and is still talking to another customer.  Good Grief!  She rudely says, "so you want a credit".  I explain that it isn't really worth processing for $2.50, but I wanted to let them know that their email wasn't working correctly.  She blurts out (no other way of putting this), that I am probably in her spam folder. What??  Why would you put customers in the spam folder, and wouldn't you check that daily? (just makes good business sense to me).  She once again asked my name, and told me she would check on this.  Her words were- "I'm really busy, we are shorted staffed today can I check on this.  Would you like me to call you back?" Umm- I'm really busy too!  Currently I have 6 childen under 3 running around my house.  I politely said sure (Even though I was done with this shop), and gave the clerk my number.  That was on Wednesday- Never did hear a peep and that was 3 days ago.

That $2.50 that I was short wasn't as important as the fact that I didn't have enough fabric for the project at hand.  Is is so hard to say SORRY?  I completely understand how this could happen, but at no point in the conversation did she tell me sorry for the mixup.  The total on my order was over a hundred dollars, and it was obvious that they do not want or need (because they are so busy and under staffed) any future business.  So, Bits 'n Pieces Quilt and Fabric Shoppe in Pelham, NH (www.bnpquilts.com), I am sorry you don't love me!  You can rest assured that there are a lot of other online fabric shops out there that love me,  and they love the way I continue to build my resource center.

If you made it to the end of this lengthy post, thanks for letting me vent.  I feel much better now that I have voiced my opinion. 

Cold and Rainy

What to do when it is cold and raining?

Raspberry chocolate chip and pumpkin snickerdoodle.  Yum!  Now to find a good hiding spot from my children.

Something New

During my sewing weekend with my friend Tina was able to clear off a few things from the design wall. I have felt a little overwhelmed by scraps the past few weeks, so I began cutting. I have wanted to make a log cabin quilt for a least 10 years. I find it to be the perfect quilt pattern for scraps. I like to cut all my logs to length before I begin. These logs are 2" in width. I have another log cabin cut out from the scraps that don't qualify as brights. Almost all these fabrics were gifted to me from my non-scrap loving quilting buddies. I think I added about 1/2 yard of various blacks from my stash. Sue, Char, and Nancy, if you're reading this post, I am sure you will see a lot of your leftovers in there. Both my girls love this quilt (which is unbelievable in itself).

Waiting Impatiently

I have been needing, wanting, obsessing for the Ruby fabric line for such a long time.  I think I entered every giveaway that I could find!  I didn't win, so I did the next best thing - I bought it for myself.  I am busy fondling my new fabric today.  Look what arrived just for me.  It is going to be used in some of my blocks for my Farmer's Wife quilt.  I have about 15 blocks completed.  This is a totally new color family for me, so I am enjoying the adventure.  There are some great small scale prints in this bundle that are going to be just perfect.  The bundle is from this website Green Fairy Quilts, and the solids are from Thousands of Bolts.

The kids did well

I managed to get this quilt put together this week. The kids in my son's 5th grade class made the blocks with the help of a couple of quilters. I cut out all the blocks and each student pieced one block. I made sure none of the blocks had pieces smaller than 2" finished. It was used in conjunction with a Lewis & Clark lesson. I picked a block from each state that Lewis & Clark went to on their journey. Because there were 20 students, I had to add some additional blocks to represent other things that I thought were appropriate. I hope to have it quilted so it can be entered into the fair this fall. I think the kids will really enjoy seeing their work displayed at the fair. I was pleasantly surprised how straight the sewing was. The students have more difficulties with the pressing than the sewing.

Can't do just One

Why is it when I do most patterns, I make multiple quilts of the same pattern? I think it is because I like the finished project so much. I really liked the baby quilt that looked like a present and how it turned out, so my wheels immediately starting thinking about the possibilities of color options for it.

When one of my good friends had a baby boy (after 2 girls), none of the boy quilts seemed to fit the family. They are complete sports nuts- especially football. When I was digging into my scrap bin, I came across this lonely fabric scrap. Just 3 strips 3 1/2" wide. Immediately the wheels staring turning and the fabric started flying.

Since my scraps were only 3 1/2" wide, I had to recalculate my measurements, and away I went. I am so pleased with how the quilt turned out for baby Tate. Now lets see if I can actually get it quilted before my kids go back to school.

Study of Pink and Black

Nothing can refresh me like a new project. I was inspired by a quilt at http://sisterschoice.typepad.com/sisters_choice_quilts/2011/03/all-wrapped-up.html
I just happened to have loads of black and white prints that I have been trying to use up. What a great combination- quick, easy, fun. Who wants to spend loads of time on a baby quilt that it going to be abused. I am surrounded by a baby boom, so I need to have quilts on hand. Char shared her black and white scraps with me that she no longer wanted. I love how my version turned out.


I have had 6 flannel b&w stripe fat quarters for years. They never seem to work for what I want to do, so I was determined to make them work on the back of this quilt. I drew up a plan and went to work. The black was flannel I had on hand as well as the pink. I used every last inch of this pink fabric on the back.


I just love how the pink plays with the business of the black and white prints. Shortly after I quilted this one I checked out McCall's Fast Favorites from the library (http://www.amazon.com/Favorites-McCalls-Quilting-Patchwork-Place/dp/1604680261/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304097992&sr=8-1). When I saw this quilt (http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/americana_home)
, I knew it would work for yet another pink quilt (since I haven't even made a dent in my Black and whites yet).
I set to work on my kitchen counter piecing the quilt while standing in the kitchen. Let's just say this won't be the most straight quilt I have ever made. I have all the blocks made for the second baby quilt.



After 2 baby quilts, I still haven't made a dent in my black and white stash. Stay tuned for quilt number 3 with yellow as the accent this time. It is a quilt from McCall's Quick Quilts March 2010