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April 24, 2007

Hi all!

Well, I think the snow has finally stopped here!  Of all things, even here in Kansas, I had to have the parking lot cleared of snow on April 14th for our Fool For Fabric bus tour!  We had a great time, and the day was beautiful!  

I know we're excited that Spring is finally here, but, thinking ahead to next winter, I want to introduce you to the newest Thimbleberries book, due to arrive in May.

Written by Lynette Jensen, CHRISTMAS STREET has 6 great Thimbleberries projects that will help you "countdown to Christmas"!  This book and the RJR THIMBLEBERRIES fabrics will all be available in June.

Join our CHRISTMAS STREET - COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS and we'll send you the book as soon as it arrives. 

Then we'll put you on our special CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN mailing list, send you special Thimbleberries announcements, any special tips for sewing the projects, information on especially helpful tools to know about, and notice of when PROJECT KITS are ready to ship, etc.

Here at Charlotte's we are quite excited about it!

The large house pictured here is actually taken directly from one of the fabrics and is used as a backing for one of the projects, as well as being "fussy cut" in another project (the center of the village tree skirt).  Isn't it fun?!  Sure reminds me of the neighborhoods of my youth in St. Louis and Milwaukee.  

Think about getting a jump on next Christmas.  These projects will be great decorative additions to your home, or make great gifts for friends and family!

I'm off to the quilt festival in Paducah, KY.  I've never been and am anxious to see what all the fuss is about. :)

Have a great week!

Sincerely,
Charlotte Wolfe
Charlotte's Sew Natural

March 29, 2007 

Hi all!

IMPORTANT reminder!  The FOOL FOR FABRIC BUS TOUR is happening SATURDAY APRIL 14TH.  Have fun traveling to 4 KANSAS QUILT SHOPS with a bunch of "wild & crazy" quilters!
Sign up by this SATURDAY, March 31st and be eligible to win $65 in gift certificates from the 4 participating stores!  That would be like riding for FREE!  Details here:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=10707

Some nights, as we close the store, we look back on the "mess" and say "maybe the fairies will come tonight".  :)

Well, last week some really cute WOODLAND FAIRIES arrived from CLOTHWORKS, captured by artist Barb Tourtillotte.  While I continue to wait for the "cleaning" fairies to visit us, I keep sewing and have created this inviting wall-quilt featuring 5 of Barb's 9 darlings!

You can order our WOODLAND FAIRIES kit here:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11364

See all the WOODLAND FAIRIES fabrics using this search:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=woodland

One of the things I love about Kansas is how fast Spring arrives!  We suddenly go from bare trees, to flowering trees and winter coats to sweatshirt jackets.  Check out my latest, FUZZY POSY SWEATSHIRT JACKET.

I started with a couple of bundles of 5" CHARM SQUARES and a cotton SWEATSHIRT.  Get my complete instructions with the kit here:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11265

Last weekend, with nice weather, some of us still retreated to the Hyatt in Wichita for some serious sewing!  The atmosphere is so lovely, the staff pampers us, and in 3 days we accomplished much sewing, eating & watching of tournament basketball!  

I finished (including the quilting!) a new version of my DIVIDE & CONQUER TABLE RUNNER.   This runner starts with 5" squares, perfect for CHARM PACKS.  You can order our EXCLUSIVE KIT with my pattern here:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11363

I also made a quick little purse using CHARM SQUARES from the new Moda collection CHEZ MOI.   I took some liberty with the pattern, and cut the pieces slightly narrower so that there was more variety showing on the small bag.  Order our kit which includes the pattern, fabric & zipper here:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11367

When Eudora brought out her STARRING WILLOWBERRY project, it was nice for me to hear so many others say "I have that!  I should have brought that quilt to work on."  Eudora's daughter had fun helping with the final border.  

We still have FULL KITS of STARRING WILLOWBERRY available, including all the sampler blocks.  If you participated in the PATCHWORK PARTY 2006, and just need a finishing kit, we have those available too.  Click here for all the details:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=9913

Sorry!  Last time I neglected to identify this fabric of children with vintage toys.  This is from Marcus Brothers' AUNT GRACE collection.  

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11240

You can see this fabric and other 1930s REPRODUCTION fabrics, available in fat quarters or by the yard in our 1930s REPRODUCTION DEPARTMENT:

http://www.sewnatural.com/nl.asp?p=0&c=76

WASHTUB BUTTERFLIES from ANDOVER are also based on vintage 1930s patterns.  (I'd better check to see if they got added to that department!)  Panels of PRINTED Butterflies that look appliquéd will make quick work of many projects!

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=washtub

There is also a PANELS department.  See the selection here:

http://www.sewnatural.com/nl.asp?p=0&c=123

Trenna has been busy as usual, trying to keep up with all the new arrivals, putting them all up in the web store too.

BLACK & WHITE is so hot now, and all of the manufacturers are producing wonderful fabrics.  Be sure to take a look at the new ALEXANDER HENRY fabrics (click ONLINE CATALOG in the upper left corner of my web site, any page, for list of all the departments) and see all our latest arrivals at WHAT'S NEW on the web -

http://www.sewnatural.com/nl.asp?p=0&c=58

We got a new shipment of this pretty blue DAISY STRIPE.  The designer of the fabric has some especially great for new patterns to use with this new fabric line.   HE LOVES ME II, in soft blues & tan with crisp, WHITE DAISIES and PASTEL co-ordinates, is perfect for DOUBLE DUTCH - shown here in red, but imagine it in blue!  :)  (I'm working on it now!)  

Kits available in the blue in sizes LAP to KING .  This pattern cleverly utilizes the special "stripe", which does lots of the work for you in this cool design.  Click here for details.

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11242

The HE LOVES ME II line from MAYWOOD can be seen here.  Don't forget, you can order fat quarters!

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=loves

CHARLOTTE'S ORIGINAL COUPON BOOK, is good for all sorts of savings in the Newton store!  

Through this weekend you can save 15% on WHITE & NATURAL, non-colored, fabrics (Shopper's Club members save an additional 5%), 
plus $5 off larger CUTTING MATS.

Next week bring your coupon for 25% SAVINGS on ALL BOOKS.
But you must come to the store for these savings!   

If you don't have a coupon book, they are still available for just $10 with lots more coupons for the rest of the year!

Have a great weekend!  Hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,
Charlotte Wolfe

March 15, 2007

Hi all!

Here in Kansas we're getting lots more done with all this extra daylight!  LOL  Hope you are too!

Lily has been home from college for the past week and a half.  I think all schools should have a 2 week spring break!  In addition to some spring cleaning & traveling to Arizona to see cousins, she and Hannah have made 2 Buddy Quilts, adapting my pattern slightly.  They used new BIG FLORAL fabrics with that clean, contemporary yet retro feel!  I'll include pictures next week, but check out my pattern here:

  http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=3732

The rest of us have been busy too, as usual!  Lots of new fabric is filling the store.  Always something new to "play" with!  :)

A new shipment of AUNT GRACE from MARCUS BROTHERS, 1930s reproductions, were added to the shelves this week.

http://www.sewnatural.com/nl.asp?p=0&c=118

  Also WASHTUB BUTTERFLIES from ANDOVER.  Panels of PRINTED Butterflies that look appliquéd will make quick work of many projects!

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=washtub

Trenna is a busy bee putting them all up in the web store too.

See WHAT'S NEW on the web -

http://www.sewnatural.com/nl.asp?p=0&c=58

Check out NEW HAND-DYED 1895 SOLIDS from Hoffman - new "food" colors!

NEW Mandarin Dynasty from Hoffman - ooohs & aaahs escape without warning!  Great floral pieces with wonderful co-ordinates.

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=mandarin

Also new fabrics, especially great for new patterns like HE LOVES ME II, soft blues & tan with crisp, WHITE DAISIES and PASTEL co-ordinates, perfect for DOUBLE DUTCH - shown here in red, but imagine it in blue!  :)  (I'm working on it now!)  

Kits available in the blue in sizes LAP to KING .  This pattern cleverly utilizes the special "stripe", which does lots of the work for you in this cool design.  Click here for details.

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11242

The HE LOVES ME II line from MAYWOOD can be seen here.  Don't forget, you can order fat quarters!

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=loves

  IMPORTANT reminder!  The FOOL FOR FABRIC BUS TOUR is happening SATURDAY APRIL 14TH.  
Sign up by March 31st and be eligible to win $65 in gift certificates from the 4 participating stores!  That would be like riding for FREE!  Details here:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=10707

And here in the store, get CHARLOTTE'S ORIGINAL COUPON BOOK, for all sorts of savings this month!  

Right now you can save 15% on white and natural fabrics (Shopper's Club members save an additional 5%), 
COTTON CHENILLE is 25% off and 
POLYESTER FABRICS are all 35% off.  
But you must come to the store for these savings!   The coupon book is still available for just $10 with lots more coupons for the rest of the year!

We've enjoyed buying and using the postage stamps featuring the Gee's Bend Quilts.  And, as many of you may be traveling to Florida for SPRING BREAK, my mother has this suggestion:

It has occurred to me that some of  your newsletter readers might be coming to the Orlando area for spring break vacation. I think it would be a shame if they didn’t take the time to go to the Orlando Museum of Art  to see the Gee’s Bend Quilts. They are so beautiful, and so different, if for no other reason than the fabric used. No neat fat quarters here! 

The Orlando Art Museum is just north of downtown Orlando, about a 30-40 minute drive north of the Disney area (or longer, depending on traffic!) It is on Mills Avenue, which is Routes 17 and 92 – called “1792” locally.  There is an admission charge except on Thursday afternoons. The quilts will be in Orlando until May 13. These are not the same quilts that were traveling a few years ago. Many of these are fairly new – in the last twenty years or so.  The show is called “The Architecture of the Quilt.”

From Disney area, the route would be to get on I-4, go ‘east’ (really north, but the direction signs say ‘east’) past downtown Orlando to the Fairbanks Avenue exit, leave I-4, go east (right) on Fairbanks, and follow the signs to the museum area. In the same park is the Menello Museum of American Art, which has some nice things in their permanent collection, and in April will have a show of photography of horses. A mile or so further north and east is Winter Park, a non-mall shopping area and the Morse Museum, which is ALL stained glass and pottery and some jewelry by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and also the  house, workshop and museum of Albin Polasek, the artist who did the artwork for St. Cecilia’s cathedral in Omaha that you told me about some time ago. Orlando IS more than Disney, Universal and humongous malls!

 
And, if you are interested in more information on African American quilts, Kansas City Star has just announced some upcoming titles which include 2 on this subject.  They should be out in late April, and we look forward to these!

Have a great weekend!  Hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,
Charlotte Wolfe

March 1, 2007

Hi all!

Happy March and Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Oooh!  What a past 2 weeks!  The "strange" behavior of humans, the weather & global warming seem to have dominated the news.  Whenever I think I'm ready for the current weird "news" story to die, the media shocks me with another that tops the one I wish would pass!  So I slip back into my sewing room, turn up the classical music and pretend the whole world is really calm, happy and at peace.  (I can be a very good "ostrich".)

But even I couldn't ignore the fact that much of our staff was stricken with one or two of the many "bugs" that have been flying around.  A little short handed for a while, I think we are all on the mend, and excited about new projects and all the new fabrics that have been pouring into the store!  

Newest Additions link:
http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?c=58&p=17

Do you need some TIME & SPACE to work on some current or new projects?  (Like this new WAFFLE TIME runner which I made in about an hour and, btw, comes in a kit?)

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=10863

Come to our MARCH RETREAT at the HYATT HOTEL in Wichita for 3 days of sewing!  I've taken care of all the arrangements, food being brought into the sewing room, your luxurious bed in an elegant room shared with one other retreater and covered parking for your car!  There will be bell-staff waiting to assist you with all your STUFF - loading it up to the sewing room (for a modest tip!).  :)  

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY March 23, 24 & 25th.
$225 includes 3 days & 2 nights of round the clock access to the sewing room, plus 4 meals & your sleeping room.  The HYATT has a wonderful chef, very accommodating staff, elegant atmosphere & there's even a pool and Jacuzzi if you wish!  The sewing room is light and bright, overlooking the river.  Call for more details (what more can I say?  It is great!) or click here to sign-up now!

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=10139

ON-LINE, be sure to check out our NEWEST ADDITIONS (like the Heather Bailey "Expressive Floral" pictured above).  Trenna has hit her "goal" of more than 30 new pages showing at once!  At 10 items per page, it is easy to do the math!  Keep checking, as she's still got a long working list.

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?c=58&p=17

Local designer, Cleo Mounday, brought in a BIG & BRIGHT new wall quilt - TULIP TIME.  This is the second in her FLOWER SERIES.  
The first is CLEO'S IRIS GARDEN.

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=cleo

Cleo is very versatile and has also written a wonderful VEST PATTERN which can be pieced or not.

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=10959

A couple of weeks ago I used some very "Springy" woven fabrics to make this darling little purse - THE BUTTON BAG.  I extended the handle over what is described in the pattern, but that is easy to do, and you can too!

They sold fast when I first introduced it, so we made more bundles of the 5" OLD FASHIONED CHARM charm squares with a piece of fabric for lining and a piece for the bias trim together with the little pattern.  Very cute.  If you'd like us to include some coordinated buttons & a zipper, we can do that too! 

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=10818

I've also been inspired by all the newly arrived red, white & blue fabrics.  I especially LOVE the new 
FARMHOUSE WEST vintage reproduction fabrics.  

http://www.sewnatural.net/nl.asp?s=farmhouse

I've started a new quilt using Terry Atkinson's LUCKY STARS pattern.  We can send you as many fat quarters and background fabric as required by whatever size quilt you decide to make!

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=11056

Just a reminder, that the third installment of our new
KANSAS SPIRIT BLOCK-A-MONTH program will be Saturday March 10 at 9 a.m.

Pictured here are the 3 color choices - 
KANSAS, FEED SACK, & URBAN MYSTERY - 
blocks for both January & February (which is Tonganoxie 9-Patch).  

If you would like to join us, stop into the store, get registered,  and purchase a February block kit, make the block, come at 9 a.m. on March 10th, show your block, and get the next block kit for FREE.  Or come any time after that and purchase the next kit for $5.  We still have January and February block kits available in all 3 colors.  

If you would like to get started with this program by mail, you can still do that too!  Normally we will send you 4 fat quarters each month, in whichever color way you wish.  At risk of confusing you, since we are sold out of fat quarter bundles both Jan. & Feb. in the KANSAS colors, if you would like to start this program, we can send you $5 kits for Jan. & Feb. blocks.  (Fat quarters are still available in the Feed Sack and Urban Mystery colors.) 

We will start you with the $5 kits and then continue to send you fat quarters for the rest of the year.  

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=9993

If you'd like to see a little bit more of Kansas, join our 
FOOL FOR FABRIC BUS TOUR, Saturday April 14th.  
For just $65 you can ride a luxury bus to Salina, Hutchinson & Derby and shop at 3 other wonderful Kansas quilt shops!  (If you want to volunteer or see the quilts at the MCC SALE, go on Friday night!)

Sign up here for the BUS TOUR:

http://www.sewnatural.net/nli.asp?iid=10707

Meanwhile, here in Newton, Kansas March has entered with a little snow & wind which I think qualifies it as a "lion", so I'm already looking forward to the "lamb".  :)  

The robins & wrens seem busy enough with nest building.  Want to bring a little SPRING indoors?  Watch as Trenna adds this delightful new fabric line from Betty Cotton - BACKYARD BEAUTIES -to the web site!

http://www.sewnatural.com/nl.asp?p=0&c=115

Have a great week's end!

Sincerely,
Charlotte Wolfe
Charlotte's Sew Natural
710 N. Main St.
Newton, KS  67114
316-284-2547

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