January 10, 2008 Newsletter

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Greetings from NHQE:

The holidays are behind us, the Presidential Primary in New Hampshire is over, the frigid temperatures have given way to a few days of spring-like weather and life is good. The Christmas decorations are packed away for another year, our much loved company has gone home and we can once again claim the dining room table as “our space” and settle in to a routine.

Resolutions- The New Year is often a time when people resolve to make some changes in their lives. Quilters’ resolutions often revolve around two things - #1. Unfinished projects and #2 Fabric Stash. We have some things in the works that might help you with some of this, but more about resolutions later.

[Scallops Sew Easy Image]

Marie Seroskie, proprietor of Katie Lane Quilts in Amherst, NH, has just published another book titled Scallops Sew Easy. In the event that you don’t know Marie, let me tell you, she is a talented designer/quilter, an excellent teacher, patient, generous & very very funny. Marie is a former nun turned wife, former Floridian turned New Hampshirite and she will show you, with the help of her rulers and books, how you can put scallops on all things fabric. Have you noticed how more and more quilts are being made with scalloped edges? Doesn’t it add a touch of elegance to the quilt? Wouldn’t you like to know how to put a scalloped border on YOUR quilt/table runner/placemats/window treatments, etc? Here’s your chance. I am very pleased to tell you Marie will be at NH Quilters Emporium Saturday, January 19th from 10:00am – 3:00pm ready to sign your copy of her new book. If you haven’t purchased it yet, not to worry, Marie will have a supply on hand. So mark your calendar, grab your girlfriends & come in to meet Marie, have your book signed and ask her any questions you may have about making scalloped edges.

You can read more about Marie at


Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs – What are they and how do you use them? A Jelly Roll is a package of 40 2 1/2 “ strips, rolled and tied with a ribbon. They retail for around $30.00 and include one strip from each fabric in a line. Charm Packs are a package of 5” squares; again, one charm from each fabric in a line. Charm packs vary in price from $5.00 to $8.00 depending on how many charms in the pack. With the advent of Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs comes a whole new set of patterns designed especially for Jelly Rolls (or strip rolls if the shop makes up their own packages) and Charm Packs. We, at NHQE have decided to color code our patterns to make it easier to spot the type of patterns you are looking for. Here is where you need to pay attention: patterns with Yellow dots are Charm Pack friendly, patterns with blue dots are Jelly Roll friendly and patterns with red dots are Fat Quarter friendly. Some patterns require more than one pack or a combination of both. Jelly Rolls & Charm Packs insure that your fabrics are well co-ordinated, remove the stress of choosing fabrics AND they’re already cut for you! Plus they’re just really cool! Some new Charm and Strip Patterns:

[Images of several Quilts constructed with Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs

A Beginner Class will begin mid-February. I was going to start them around the end of January, but my husband presented me with a week long vacation in Jamaica the first week of February, so classes got moved back a few weeks. There will be a Beginner Class on Wednesday nights from 6:00-8:00pm beginning February 13th and running for six weeks. Cost is $60.00. If you’re interested please come in, have your questions answered and reserve your spot. As I’ve told some of you, classes are something that will evolve. If there is something you want to learn, let me know & if we can get 2 or 3 more people wanting to learn the same thing, then we’ll hold a class.

And lastly, I am looking for Sample makers. Throughout the year I am always making new samples; some for shows, some for the shop. It just seems like a never ending task that I am not keeping up with. If you think you’d like to make samples for NHQE please email me at pam@nhqe.com and I will send you out information regarding the particulars.

Oh, one more thing. Connie Wisneskie will be joining the staff of NH Quilters’ Emporium, working a couple of days a week. Connie has been quilting for 20+ years, is a member of Souhegan Valley Quilt Guild and lives in Amherst with her family. I am really looking forward to having Connie on board – she does hand appliqué, knows how to hand piece and even hand quilts. So you can see that she will be a great asset to the shop. I hope you will make her feel welcome.

Until next time…..take care

Pam & Jack