The Quiltzette

January 25, 2016

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Welcome Arvola, Judi, and LouAnn

Stop by the shop to meet our three new staff members. We're delighted to welcome Arvola Gray as our new Shop Assistant. Arvola has been sewing since she was five years old. She made her first shop sample on her fourth day of work. Arvola is attending college with plans to become a physical therapy assistant.

Judi Swain retired a few years ago and has since become an accomplished quilter. Judi  volunteers with the Child Advocacy Center and is an avid gardener. She served as president of the Dolores Mountain Quilt Guild for two years and continues to be active with the group. Welcome, Judi. We are so happy to have you working part-time at the shop.

LouAnn Burkett also recently joined Cortez Quilt Company. A long-time resident of the area, LouAnn loves to quilt and has recently become semi-addicted to making vinyl mesh market bags. We're grateful that she came out of retirement to work part-time at the shop. LouAnn is active in several non-profit organizations in our community including Hospice of Montezuma and the Anasazi Heritage Center. 

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Superbowl 50!

Calling all Denver Broncos fans. We have four kits for this wall hanging left. Get yours today for only $59. The kit includes everything you need to make this fun project - even the backing fabric. The wall hanging (or large table runner) measures 23" x 64".

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New: Class Pass

We've re-thought our decision to replace Class Club with Take Three, One Free. (A woman's prerogative to change her mind and all that.) Starting today, we're offering Class Pass. For only $69 you can take unlimited classes for three months. We believe the three-month plan (as opposed to the year-long one we used to offer) will benefit our customers who have busy schedules at certain times of the year (e.g., around the holidays or during farming/gardening season) and for our seasonal residents. Purchase a Class Pass anytime. It's activated when you take your first class, and expires three months later. 

Those of you who signed up for Take Three, One Free will automatically receive a 25% store credit for any classes that were recorded in that program. Look for a credit on your next Customer Loyalty Reward Certificate.

P.S. The next time someone asks you what to get you for your birthday, Mother's Day, or Christmas, tell them you want a Class Pass!

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New Fabric

This peach/gray collection arrived late last week. Soft colors, contemporary, and Southwest - great combo!

We also received a small shipment of batik last week. Here's a taste of what came in. More batik arriving in February. And March. And . . . well, you know how it goes around here.

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Upcoming Classes: It's All About the Bags!

 

Evening Make-N-Take
Becca Bags
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
6-9 p.m.
$18, pattern required

These handy bags for stow and go stand open for easy access. With Lazy Girl’s One-Zip technique, cut a zipper apart, take off the pull, then stitch one side of the zipper in straight and flat. To finish, bring the ends together and use Joan’s easy trick to put the zipper pull back on. Add easy grab tabs from leftover zipper bits. Judy Bryan will teach this class.

A Little Duffle Do It
Friday, February 5, 2016
12 noon – 4 p.m.
$15, pattern required

Make this cute little zippered duffle in an afternoon with Judy Bryan as your guide. The pattern offers several different sizes and you’ll have the option to line the bag with iron-on vinyl if you’d like. These are great for storing cosmetics, power cords, sewing supplies, and just about anything else.

Beginning Bag: Tuscany Tote
Saturday, February 6, 2016
10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
$35, pattern required

Judy Bryan will teach the Tuscany Tote on Saturday, February 6. This class is perfect for anyone who has never made a bag or tote. It has no zippers or hardware but lots of great pockets on the inside. Plan to leave this class with a completed bag.

Click here to see the complete class schedule.

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Embroidery Software 7 Mastery Class Series
Three Sessions: See Dates/Times Below
Free if you purchased BERNINA Software 7 or an upgrade at CQC; $99 for others

Class 1: Friday, January 29, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Class 2: Thursday, February 25, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Class 3: Thursday, March 24, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The classes will include an overview of the software, a variety of exercises including lettering, monogramming, auto and manual digitizing, and more. Please email Cindy Dahl or call the shop at 970-565-7541 for additional details.

Software Club
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
1 p.m. or 6 p.m.

BERNINA has once again provided us with an excellent program for our first Software Club of 2016. This lesson will use Artwork Canvas and the Contour Tool to add layers of color to a design. We will use a scanned pattern as a guideline for placing the design on the featured mini tote pattern (if you want to use the pattern). Other tools and features used will include the ellipse tool, slow redraw, align and distribute, trim, change stitch order, and more.

Please register as soon as possible by calling Cortez Quilt Company at 970-565-7541 or by sending an email to Cindy and indicate which session you would like to attend (1 p.m. or 6 p.m.). Bring your laptop loaded with Software 7, a USB stick to get a copy of the design of the month, and show and tell embroidered items for additional chances to win a door prize. Join us just for the 30 minute video presentation, or stay and create the design.

Feet Retreat
Sunday, February 28, 2016
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
$95, includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a copy of The Big Book of Feet (a $59 value)

Join Cindy and Karen on Sunday, February 7 for a full day of hands-on learning about 16 different BERNINA presser feet. Feet Retreat will take you far beyond the basics when it comes to using the proper presser foot for the task at hand. Many BERNINA presser feet have multiple uses – some practical and some just flat-out fun. If you own a BERNINA (or if you’re thinking about investing in one) you won’t want miss this event. Feet Retreat is limited to eight participants so call or come by today to reserve your space.

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Facebook

We are 13 likes away from our goal of 500. If you're not already following us on Facebook do so now. Our first "Facebook Only" special deal will be in early February (and it's a good one that you won't want to miss!).

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Block Lotto

We're extending the deadline to turn in Block Lotto blocks until Saturday, January 30. The drawing will be on February 1. Here are some of the blocks that have been returned so far.

If you missed out on playing Block Lotto this month don't despair. The next one starts on February 1.

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Tip of the Week: Remove Sticky Residue with Remove

I never thought I'd offer up a cleaning tip in the Quiltzette, but here goes. We have an old cutting table in the back of the store that doubles as a spray station when we're using 505 Temporary Adhesive Spray to baste fabric/batting layers in prep for quilting. We try to be careful, but overspray happens.

On Saturday after our Beginning Quilting class we used the spray station for six quilts and the table really needed attention. A while back we'd received a case of Remove when we placed a starter package order for machine embroidery supplies. ("What are we supposed to do with this," Cindy and I asked one another.) Now we know. This stuff is amazing. I've always been a fan of Goo-Gone which works great but smells like gasoline. Remove works just as well, comes in a spray can, and smells like citrus. I'm a convert.

In addition to removing spray basting reside you can use it on embroidery hoops, needles, quilting frames, stencils, etc. Also works well to remove stickers and adhesive tape residue. We have this product in stock.

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"Art is a subjective thing, and it should be a subjective thing. And the difficulty
of subjectivity is that it becomes hugely problematized when you start applying
large sums of money to art objects. That's where it all starts to get
a bit sticky." ~ Tim Crouch, British Playwright

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As always, thank you for supporting Cortez Quilt Company . . . your local independent quilt shop.

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Remember to Like Us on Facebook to be informed
about "FB Only" specials during 2016!

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