Procrastination

I thought I'd do more quilting when I retired from teaching. I thought I'd do more quilting when I started working for Dolores and Sarah at Homestead Hearth. Apparently I've spent WAAAYYYY too much time thinking and not enough time stitching. How do I know? Well, the third Civil War quilt, Civil War Journals, will be starting in just a few months and I haven't finished this year's offering yet.

http://www.homesteadhearth.com/civil-war-journals.htm

In fact, here's the progress I've made on this year's quilt, Civil War Chronicles.

At least I know where all the blocks are--safely stowed in the very same bags they were packaged in!

When I signed up for the BOM I had the best of intentions. But when January disappeared and February arrived, I told myself ,"That's not so bad. Two months? You can easily catch up." When Valentine's Day slipped into St. Pat's and then Easter was quickly followed by Memorial Day I told myself, "You'll have plenty of time this summer." Now that summer is closing in on Labor Day, I took myself by the ear and said, "If you don't kick it into gear, Sister, you're never going to get this beauty done!"

The final straw came this past weekend when our Sunday School class issued a challenge to quit procrastinating. Each member wrote out a sticky note detailing one item she'd been putting off. As an added incentive the notes were hidden in our lesson book with the expectation we'd have made some progress by the time our lesson arrived on our chosen hiding place.

"I want the LAST page!" one of the members announced. "Now I'll HAVE to do this," another muttered as she placed her reminder after a chapter heading. "ACKK!!" I thought. "Now everyone will find out what a dawdler I've been!"

Peer pressure can be very motivating, so Monday morning I began...

As I expected, the hardest part was getting started. Once I had my tools assembled cutting everything out was a dream! The drawings were large enough that I didn't even need to hunt down my reading glasses, and the simplified sketches were just what this professional-grade Procrastinator needed.

Now that everything is out where I can see--and sew--it, Month #1 is well on its way. My goal is to keep chugging along on what I've begun, and start Month #2 next Monday, Month #3 the Monday after that, and so on. If I miss a Monday, no worries. I'll just push it back a week--and hope my sticky note is still a few chapters out.

Are you a procrastinator? Have you missed out on some of our programs because you delayed? We have had multiple phone calls from Stars and Sprigs fans who were thrilled to see a second offering of that popular BOM.

http://www.homesteadhearth.com/stars--sprigs.htm

So, are you procrastinating? Need a kick start? Leave a comment detailing one of your long-avoided projects and let us help you get started enjoying your stitching and simpler times.

Road trip anyone?

The other day I overheard a customer asking Dolores how many bolts of fabric we had in the store.

Her reply?

Over 10,000.

Far too many for us to get every one on line--and here's Ollie guarding recently delivered boxes holding even MORE bolts.

If you haven't been to our store in Mexico, Missouri, lately be sure to allow extra hours when you come for a visit.

For example, you'll want plenty of time to enjoy the Civil War section. We have numerous bolts sorted by color, several of our newest arrivals grouped by designer, and we even have one entire platform dedicated to the prolific Jo Morton. At the farthest end of this section you'll find a rainbow of blenders as well as the first two quilts in our Civil War series: Civil War Tribute and Civil War Chronicles.

In the center section you'll find colorful batiks, sale items, and plenty of Wind & Willow mixes to tempt your tummy. There's a shopping cart filled with bargain fats ($1.50 each), remnant bundles, discounted patterns and trims, as well as a variety of flavored coffees we'll be glad to grind on site.

When you stroll on over to the left side of the main floor you'll be dazzled by Japanese fabrics, cheerful 1930's reproductions, and eye-popping brights. This is also our area for modern prints, seasonal offerings, and child-centered lines. And scattered throughout the store you'll see books, candles, kits, and fat quarters galore.

Looking for Whimsicals? We have a large selection nestled in the hallway downstairs. Can't live without Kansas Troubles? Sneak a peek at our varied collection as you head upstairs.

Not a fan of stairs? No worries! Our elevator may not be the fastest, but it will get you to the second floor with no worries. Once you reach the heights you can browse through our plaids, homespuns, hand-dyed wools, and stitchery items.

So, what are you waiting for? You know you want to come. Clear your calendar, gather your friends, and head down the highway straight to our door. We can't wait to see you! Come enjoy a visit to simpler times.

When you're not a quilter...

Not everyone who walks through the front door of Homestead Hearth is a quilter. Some of our visitors are very patient friends along for the ride. Some of our visitors are trying-to-be-patient children who have seen their fill of fabric. And some of our visitors are spouses who have a tolerance for fabric. Need we say more?

When any non-quilters arrive, we point out our gift items, food mixes, eateries on the square, and the antique store next door. For those who choose to remain in the building and wait, we bring out a chair, something to read, and a faithful companion.The other day Harvey decided to keep the spouse of one of our quilters company. Both of the guys enjoyed the latest issue of The County Register while keeping an eye on the front door. Ah, the joys of sharing a dog's life!

But sometimes spouses never set foot in the building. Sometimes they go for a walk while their partner shops--just not usually across the country.

"He's a retired anthropologist," Carole Fairbanks explained, "and says certain stages of life require a rite of passage. In his case he decided to walk across the United States."

Bill started his walk at Los Osos, California, in July 2009. Since Carole is "doing him a favor" by driving his support vehicle, Bill has encouraged her to take advantage of the many quilt stores along their route.

While Bill walks, Carole visits fabric stores or spends her time stitching at their hotel. Throughout the spring and summer they follow the lure of the open road, but when Thanksgiving nears they head back home to rest over the winter.

When will they finish? It's hard to tell. Visiting with folks along the way has caused a variety of detours to see some amazing things, and as Carole says, "This trip has grown like Topsy."

On the day we met Carole, the weather was hot and she was scheduled to pick up her 74-year-old strolling spouse close to Novelty, Missouri.

"He tells me his route when he leaves, and he tells me where to pick him up. He tries to select a place where I can turn around and where he can easily be seen."

Has the duo ever missed connections?

"Just once," Carole said. "He was on the other side of the median where there was a garden, but he saw me."

And the Fairbanks will be watching for each other for some time to come.

"We'll finish in Boston," Carole explained. "They claim every Fairbanks in the U.S. can trace their ancestry to the Fairbanks House, so that seemed a fitting destination."

Want to know more? You can follow Bill and Carole's journey by going to the following link:
http://ccanthro.blogspot.com/2011/07/bills-daily-update-thursday-july-21.html

Even if you're not up to walking across America, you can create your own "rite of passage" through quilting. You've probably already stitched a gift for a special birthday, a long-anticipated graduation, a milestone anniversary, a bittersweet retirement, a brand-new baby, or a wonderful wedding. Why not share your magical moments with us? Stop by the store, comment on this post, or share your creations on Facebook. We'd love to share your creations in celebration of simpler times.

Quality

As customers roam through the store we can’t help but overhear snippets of conversation. Sometimes we pick up names of destinations. Other times we listen in on where lunch will be served. But last week we heard something we hadn’t heard before. This time we were treated to a lesson in quality.



“I just don’t know why someone would work so hard on a quilt top, and then put something cheap on the back!” a voice declared.

A long-arm quilter, in town to find a wide backing to finish a project for a friend, shared a bit of her wisdom as she shopped. Having stitched on the work of many other hands, she’d discovered an area that could be improved.

“Your quilt is only as good as the chintziest fabric in it,” she stated.
Her comment brought back memories of a quilt I stitched many years ago. It was a fun project made of simple piecing that produced a complicated result. The colors I’d selected included deep purples, amazing turquoises, and an accent of pure white. That winter we were holed up for several days due to a record-breaking blizzard, so my masterpiece was completed in record time.

Our son loved the quilt as much as I did, and soon he’d adopted it as his own. It traveled with him to college and back, and kept him warm on multiple ski trips. The quilt covered his bed in one state, and then made the move with him when a job opportunity brought him to another. And although I’d enjoyed our son’s visits many times, it was over a decade before I saw the quilt again.

Despite the constant use, the purples were as deep and rich as ever. The turquoises still shone like a winter sky, but the white? What white? The white had dissolved--completely disappeared--causing the batting to hang raggedly where the white used to be.

I must admit, when I created this quilt I had no idea the brutal (but loving) beating it would take. My cloth selections were based on the design effect I wished to create. Had I thought more carefully about the quality of the weave, I might have included a different white. As it is, the beauty of the original quilt is only preserved through photographs.

Quality. As you select patterns and fabrics, think about where your finished project is destined. Will it hang on a wall or a display rack to be touched with eyes only? Or will it be rough-housed and toted from hither to yon? Is your goal to produce something of elegance? Or are you working under the premise of constant use that endures?

This past summer our travels took us to Nantucket Island where tidy rows of houses and shops kept our eyes and feet busy for hours. As we strolled around a corner I was shocked to see a quilt stretched on a clothesline along the outside of a building.


“That’s an antique store!” I sputtered. “They should know better!”
And apparently they did. The quilt was serving an important function. It was an attention getter. Its simple design of squares and flying geese brought attention to the store—and perhaps shoppers through the door!

Quality? Perhaps not what the maker had intended, but a joyful quality all the same.
Whether you are busily creating something that will be passed down to generations to come, or stitching a cover that is sure to take a beating, come visit us. We have lots of quality items ready to be used in your next project. Check out these great brown & pink prints that just arrived:



Share your dreams. Share your inspiration. Share the quality that comes with simpler times.

Sue & the gang at Homestead Hearth

Word games

Are you in the mood for a little word association game? Just say the first word that comes to your mind when you read the following list. Ready?

Summer

Hot

Old

JetBlue

Isn’t it interesting how one event can change our mental associations?

Whether the flight attendant on JetBlue was in the right—or the wrong—haven’t we all been there? Although most days we are able to slide smoothly through every crisis, sometimes we run across a day that is just too much! Too much to do. Too much going wrong. Too much unfinished. Too much of too much!



At times we even reach the breaking point with our quilting. The needle won’t stay threaded, or the thread keeps breaking. The directions don’t make sense, or we happen to read them wrong. There isn’t enough fabric, or we made a mistake while cutting. As our attitudes slip and our fists begin to clench it might be wise to tell ourselves, “Step away from the rotary cutter!”



Most of us have projects tucked away that have rubbed us the wrong way at one time or another. Rather than doing what we really wanted to do—rip it to pieces—we did what any mature quilter would do and put it away for a calmer, clearer moment. Will we ever finish them? Who knows? But what can you do when a project is pushing all of your buttons, and your only choice is to finish?

Frustration can be a tricky thing. Although sometimes it is possible to power through and finish a difficult project, sheer determination might also undermine our ability to look for help. As internal tension mounts it becomes more and more difficult for us to think clearly—and impossible to explain our problem to anyone else.

Every once in a while we hear from someone who has reached that tipping point. How do we know? THEIR EMAIL IS WRITTEN ALL IN CAPITAL LETTERS AS THEY SHOUT AT US THROUGH CYBERSPACE. A phone call is focused on what we’ve done wrong rather than how we can make things right.

Make a mistake? Please let us know. We’ll try to track down the pattern you forgot to order, the cloth that you accidentally mis-cut, or the additional yardage you realized you need. When we make a mistake? Have a few facts ready to share such as: the name of the program or kit, the date the order was placed, what you received vs. what you expected.

Perhaps things would have gone more smoothly for the JetBlue flight attendant if everyone on the plane would have been living by the Golden Rule. “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” There is a real person behind each uniform, on the other end of the phone, and reading each email. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others.



And make plenty of time for the enjoyment of simpler times.

The gang at Homestead Hearth

Learning styles . . .

Learning styles...

My friend is an accomplished quilter. On my walls hang several examples of her meticulously paper-pieced miniatures. As the seasons change her wool appliqué penny runners and candle mats are displayed throughout my home. Her perfectly pieced, full-sized quilts grace the beds of many who know her. But despite her years of experience, when I mailed her a pattern I knew she’d enjoy she asked me if we could work through it together. Why? That’s her learning style.

Do you ever turn the radio on (or off) so you can concentrate?



Are you prone to making practice squares before using the real fabric for your project? Do you read through the entire pattern first or dive right in? When you’re puzzled by the next step in your project do you reread the text or study the pictures? Do you ever ask for help and end up getting assistance that makes no sense? Welcome to the difference in learning styles.

After spending a quarter century in an elementary classroom, I can tell you that learning styles are a reality and not just an excuse to get out of completing assignments. Not everyone learns in the same way, and what is true for mathematics and science is also true for quilting.

Some people are blessed with a gift for words. Give them something to read, make sure it details every step, and leave them alone. They’ll be happier reading and comprehending on their own, so you might as well move on.Some patterns cater to this style. Take a look at some of the patterns on AllPeopleQuilt.com to see great written directions. Checkerboard Squares is a great example.




Other folks prefer to look at pictures. For them the words are distracting. Give them clear, precise illustrations and stand back. These learners live out the truth of a picture being worth a thousand words! Lots of patterns on the market now serve this style of learner with loads of graphics and very little written direction.

Then there are the talkers. They mutter to themselves. They mutter to their rotary cutters. They mutter to the ironing board. They mutter to their sewing machine. Don’t bother asking what they said—they’re not talking to you. Talking is how they process. Talking is how they make sense of their world. Talking is their learning style—just don’t bother them with talking to anyone else.

On the other hand, there are the social talkers. These are the social butterflies who revel in group projects. Invite them to a quilt retreat, and they are in hog heaven! For them working alone is torture. Give them a group setting and watch out!



These gregarious gals will stitch circles around you and barely stop to draw breath.

Have you found yourself yet? Can you tell which method brings you stitching bliss?

Then congratulations, you’re halfway there! What? There’s more? Absolutely! Knowing your own learning style is empowering, but knowing your pattern designer’s teaching style is the other half of success.

Don’t believe me? Think back to your last quilting frustration. Did it happen to have anything to do with the instructions? Could it have been because “this dumb pattern doesn’t even make sense?” Maybe, just maybe, the problem wasn’t the pattern itself, but the learning style it was written to. Were there pictures when you wanted words? Were there words when you wanted pictures? Could you move on from a dead stop once you read it out loud? Or were you stymied until you got help from a friend?

At Homestead Hearth we have been blessed with more and more opportunities to share our creations in magazines, books, and under our own pattern label. During this growth in exposure we’ve become acutely aware of the variance in learning styles. Humbling though it is, we have discovered that what makes perfect sense to us doesn’t always make things clear to anyone else. The challenge has become making our instructions clear enough for most.

Civil War Chronicles will include adjustments based on many of the lessons we’ve acquired about learning styles. Visual learners will be pleased to see improved layouts and graphics. Word smiths will appreciate the well-crafted text created under the guidance of Vivian Ritter. Finished size measurements for individual units will appeal to the perfectionists. And when you contact us, we’ll be assisting you based on what we’ve learned about our own strengths.

Dolores is the wizard with illustrations. Jane can explain written instructions and visualize where you’ve gotten off track. Sarah will whip out an email with mathematical precision, and Sue will cheer you on or sympathize.

To adapt a phrase—it takes a whole village to make a quilt—and a whole lot of learning styles. Celebrate your strengths as you enjoy simpler times.

Sue & the gang at Homestead Hearth

Inspiration

Where do you find your quilting inspiration? Books and magazines? Quilt shows and workshops? Visits to fabric stores and websites? What about a stroll around town?

This time of year many of our friends and neighbors celebrate their patriotism by flying the Stars and Stripes. Why not slip a little of the flag in your quilting? From sawtooth to feathered, stars are always a favorite, and who doesn’t love a quilt stitched from the red, white, and blue palette? Whether your creation is bright and bold, or pieced in grayed tones, the patriotic color-way is sure to be a winner.

Need a new challenge? Thinking about stepping out of your color box? Why not gather a little inspiration from Mother Nature? Summer is filled with flowers that fade with the seasons. Why not preserve those breath-taking color combinations in your quilts?































Do you have a quilt that is looking a little blah? Getting tired of the piecing the same old thing? Look closely and you’ll find a wonderland of embellishment assistance right under your nose.

Enjoy the accent of a bee on a blossom.













Savor the intertwining leaves and the texture of ripening blackberries.




Not ready for appliqué or venturing into the three-dimensional? The world around you still has plenty to challenge and inspire.

Ready to whip up something quick and straight-forward? What about building a quilt made of bricks? Stacked or staggered, they make a visual impact.

Whether you’re looking up…

Or down…

















All roads lead to quilting…

and a summer full of simpler times.

Let us inspire you at www.homesteadhearth.com

Happy July from Sue, Sarah, Dolores & the Homestead Hearth gang

How 'bout some SUGAR?

Do you like sugar in your coffee? Your iced tea? On your cereal? How about with your quilts? Until this week we thought sugar was something to avoid—or at least limit--but then participants from the SUGAR (Statler Users Group and Reps) began stopping off at the store on their way home from this year’s conference, and we discovered SUGAR was a good thing!

With the energy and enthusiasm of the newly inspired, the SUGAR gang dropped by on their way back to their longarms. This bubbly bunch examined Connie Gresham’s quilting on our shop samples, put together exciting combinations of fabrics for their next projects, and took time to share a few stories before they got back on the road to head home.

Hughetta, a Homestead Hearth friend from a Nashville event, told her SUGAR tale of being in the right place at the right time. Thanks to an encounter with a man in charge of outfitting Disney World’s Cinderella’s Castle, Hughetta and her buddy Jewell’s ability to stitch more than straight lines earned them the opportunity to quilt 17 comforters. Isn’t that a fairy tale come true?



About the time the SUGAR folks wandered away a three-generation group of gals stepped into the store. Mothers, daughters, and a daughter of a daughter roamed the shop matching completed embroidery tops to border cloth, hand-picking colors for new projects, and browsing the books. One of the mothers in the clan, Connie, shared this creative idea during her time at the cutting table.

Take one son-in-law who works as an over-the-road trucker. Put him on the highway for weeks at a time. Stir in a little boredom and Connie’s inspiration (and determination) to find a cure. What do you get? A postage stamp (2x2”) quilt built from novelty fabrics accompanied by a printed Seek-and-Find guide. How much of the puzzle do you predict he’ll solve before his next trip home?

When the afternoon rolled around our Thrilling Thursday continued with an invasion from Burlington, Iowa. When the bright, red Trailways bus pulled up we were thrilled to welcome 37 enthusiastic quilters from across the border! While some of the gals holed up in the brights, others delved into the Civil War fabrics. The rest? They spread out throughout the store—and the other two fabric stores in town. We’re sure Bonnie at Mexico Sewing Center and Mona at Sticky Wicket enjoyed the Iowa gals as much as we did. Y’all come back now, you hear?

Don’t you love summer when you can get out and go? Whether passing through on the way home from a conference, making a special bus trip, or just out for the day, it is wonderful to have all of you filling the store with your excited voices and the opportunity to tap into your amazing ideas.

Lately many of our visits have been from folks traveling to family reunions. One couple, Quilter’s Travel Guide in hand, was making the journey from Utah to Quincy, Illinois, one shop at a time. Another day a multi-generational trio took time out from their adventures at Lakeview Park to wander into the store and pick a project for the campsite. Once in a while grandmothers and grandchildren stop by to select fabric for “Grandma Camp” projects. And of course there are always remembrances under construction for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and soon-to-come babies.

Quilting is such a wonderful way to celebrate the milestones and connections in life, but as you create those projects remember to include labels with the Who, What, and Where. Nothing is sadder than digging through a box of lovingly made quilts or old family photos not knowing the hands, hearts, and faces behind them.
Labeling can be as simple or as complicated as you wish. Handwritten information can be done with a permanent pen, or some quilters prefer to write and then embroider over their lettering for more longevity. Whether you use your computer to print labels, the embroidery feature on your sewing machine, or your own best penmanship, we created the Family Album panel to help simplify the preservation of your family’s history.


Get your own Family Album panel by clicking here.

Loved enough for a quilt? Certainly loved enough for a label.

Summer is definitely here, so enjoy your travels, enjoy your families, and enjoy making memories of simpler times.

Happy 4th of July!
Sue, Sarah, Dolores & the Homestead Hearth gang

Growing pains

Thanks to the internet, visitors from all over the globe make their way daily to Homestead Hearth. And sometimes our cyber friends even find their way to our brick and mortar store here in small town America.

This past week we enjoyed meeting Penny, staffer at Suzy’s Quilt Shop in Garland, Texas. Penny was making her annual pilgrimage to muggy Missouri to visit her dad for Father’s Day. Thankfully she also managed to squeeze in a bit of time for us. It was great seeing you and safe travels, Penny!

If you’re ever in the area we’d love to meet you face-to-face. We’re easy to find--just look for the building with the jeep over the door. The flock of flamingos from the back seat has flown the coop, but you’ll still recognize our store front. Some days you might get to meet Harvey, our unofficial mascot:




Our building was last used as a restaurant, and that owner was into recycling long before being “green” was in style. As you stroll through our store you’ll see:

chunks of airplanes,


walls made of old doors, a variety of floor tiles,

an old bathtub



and yellow duck prints leading straight to the restrooms.



Of course we also have hundreds of patterns, 1,000s of fabric bolts, a variety of notions, and a J.C. Penney catalog outlet desk.




Lori’s Penney catalog business (right inside the front door) always gets a second look from our quilt shop customers. Her catalog business represents the resources of a company with over 1,000 stores and 150,000 associates. The J.C. Penney distribution centers are spread throughout the nation and offer an inventory of millions of items. In comparison, our sole location serves all of the retail, wholesale, and internet needs of our worldwide customers.

Our staff of less than ten employees stays busy cutting kits, taking orders, packaging, and shipping. They answer phone calls, pull orders, bundle fat quarters, and give stitching advice over the phone and in person. Despite our small number of staff members, life at the shop was going pretty smoothly. Then came your overwhelming response to the Civil War Tribute block of the month (BOM) program.

Partnering with Judie Rothermel and Marcus Brothers to present this BOM project was a dream come true. We worked for months preparing ourselves for the changes and challenges we knew would come. What we hadn’t foreseen was the exponential enthusiasm for the project—and the growing pains such rapid growth would mean.

It didn’t take us long to realize that our original printing arrangements weren’t going to be adequate for the increasing requests from our customers. The search for a reliable printer with appropriate capacity led us to a town 45 miles from the shop, and soon we were taking turns making the drive to shuttle boxes and boxes and boxes of patterns from the printing facility to our store. Then came a series of unexpected delays.

First the printing machinery broke and a part had to be ordered from out of state. Next the weather didn’t cooperate as schools and businesses across the region were closed due to blizzard conditions. Then our building flooded.

Pipes in an unused area on an upper floor separated and doused the ground floor with several inches of water. The inventory of patterns wasn’t damaged, but we were too busy rescuing bolts of fabric, mopping floors, and removing water with shop vacs to get any orders shipped out for a while. It was definitely a series of events that led to the point where you just had to laugh so you didn't sit down and cry.




Once the printing was back under control the multitude of questions began. As more shops stitched their shop samples and more customers began their own versions, we were inundated with questions. Questions about yardages. Questions about instructions. Questions about hints for easier sewing. Questions about readability of diagrams. As each concern was shared we worked to find ways to respond.

Pattern updates were posted on our home page. Diagrams were changed from gray scale to patterned backgrounds. An alternate block was offered for a universally troublesome piecing challenge. Quarterly shipments were added to the original shipment choices for store owners. Despite the glitches and adjustments you stuck with us—and we will be forever grateful!

Backed by your enthusiasm and shaped by the lessons we’ve learned over the past year, Civil War Chronicles will be our second BOM offering in partnership with Marcus Brothers and Judie Rothermel, and we know you'll enjoy the improvements.

Vivian Ritter, experienced technical editor, has written the pattern directions for clarity and accuracy. Quick piecing tricks are included. For those who prefer picture examples, improved layouts and color coding have also been added.

Finally, just in today is info on the new Gettysburg Memorial quilt kit. Order yours now!



As we get closer to the Chronicles kickoff date, we will be sharing more information about this second heirloom project reminiscent of simpler times.

Sue, Sarah, Dolores & the Homestead Hearth gang (including Harvey!)

It's All in a Name . . .

The phone rang at the shop the other morning and a voice asked, “What time is check in?”
“Excuse me?”
“What time is check-in?” the voice repeated. “We’d like to get into our room as soon as possible.”
“There is no check-in here. We’re a quilt store.”
“A quilt store?” the voice said. “I thought you were the hotel on the edge of town.”
Country Hearth Inn and Suites is a popular stopover for visitors to Mexico, but they don’t sell quilt fabric. On the flip side, Homestead Hearth doesn’t take room reservations. This little slip was easily mended, but not every phone request is so easily solved.

Them

Us

A second caller had a question we struggled to solve. She was working on the Civil War Tribute block of the month (BOM) and needed a tad more fabric due to a "whoops" in cutting. We got her name, phone number, and fabric requirements then scoured our records for her shipping information. No matter where we looked (in paper files or computer) she was nowhere to be found! Finally, we were forced to call her back. "I'm so embarassed," she said. "I forgot I was doing the BOM program with XYZ shop. I called you because your name was on the pattern." Mystery solved!

Not all questions come to us by telephone, sometimes they walk right in the front door. One bright, sunshiny day a pair of friendly visitors strolled in with a quilt in hand. “We’re looking for the name of this block,” they announced, unfurling a gorgeous quilt with precision piecing. We oohed, we ahhed, and then gave our best guesses. It looked like a pinwheel, but along with the pinwheel-style blocks was a troublesome (but lovely) modified sashing. Could it really be a pinwheel? No one knew. Before they left the visitors discovered a similar block in one of our 30’s display quilts, but that still didn’t help because we couldn’t remember the name.

As you’ve probably discovered, the same quilt block can be found under several different names. Haven’t you seen all of these designs alternately referred to as Churn Dash, Shoo Fly, Monkey Wrench & who knows what else?

Regions of the country, different time periods, or even misprints can bring different titles to the same design. When we created our Civil War Tribute quilt our goal was to select blocks and titles from that time period. The battles we selected to highlight had direct significance to the war. And the blocks themselves? All were in general use but have no direct ties.

Sometimes confusion is the name of the game. Book titles, fabric lines, pattern names, and magazine issues can be hard to keep straight. Although we can’t always come up with the answers you need, we’ll be glad to try. Phone us (573-581-1966) or email (info@homesteadhearth.com) and we’ll do our best to make your life simpler.

Sue, Sarah, Dolores & the rest of the gang at Homestead Hearth

The Blog comes back to life!

Hi guys!
So, we've not been too good at keeping the blog updated, but a friend gave us a great idea. We're hard at work on our follow-up to Civil War Tribute. Another great quilt design using Judie Rothermel's fantastic 1800s reproductions is underway. As we've worked to incorporate so many fabulous suggestions from folks who are working on Tribute, we wondered if folks would like to see what goes into a block of the month quilt design and pattern? We'll share some of the craziness that is our daily life, give you sneak peeks at some of the quilt & more. So, whaddya think? Are you in? We'd love to hear about things you'd like to see and we'd love to have your friends join us. Watch for more in the coming week!

Signature Block Swap starting!

Have you ever participated in a block swap? Do you like signature quilts? Join us in our first signature block swap hosted by Homestead Hearth!

We thought it'd be a lot of fun to exchange signature blocks with our customers and to let them exchange with each other too. When we saw Jo Morton's new book, Vintage Journey, we knew it was time to make this all happen.





So, here's the scoop: It's really easy to participate. You need Jo's book. Then, you need to pick among the four aged muslins we have selected as backgrounds. To make the quilt as shown with 64 blocks, you need 1 yard total of background fabric. You can pick just one of our 4 choices, use two of them or use a 1/4 yard of all four. This aged muslin we have selected is not just regular muslin you might have at home. It's specially dyed and has an old, worn look, perfect for this quilt. Here's where you can buy it: http://www.homesteadhearth.com/main.php?sortby=alpha&category=Fabrics&sc=1800s+Prints+-+Aged+Muslin

Be sure to note in the comments section or by a separate email how many blocks you hope to make so we can make sure everyone is in the same ballpark.

The prints for the blocks need to be Jo Morton 1800s reproduction prints you have purchased from Homestead Hearth. They can be old treasures or fabrics you purchase now.

What do we want in terms of signature? We'd love to know your name, city and state or country. The blocks are super easy so you can make lots in no time at all.

You need to mail your blocks to us by July 31. We plan to swap and mail back out on August 15.

Finishing kits to put your blocks together similar to the original quilt will be available from Homestead Hearth.

There's no charge to participate--just purchase your aged muslin from us and make sure to use fabrics you've bought from us. We will ship your blocks back to you using the US Postal Service and charge you for the return shipping or we can send them along with your finishing kit.

Feel free to discuss or ask questions in the comments.

Our favorite notion!

Dolores & I travel occasionally with a trunk show of our quilts. One question that always is asked: "How do you get your points point-y?" Aside from the basics of cutting accurately and then making sure your sewing machine is set up to produce an accurate 1/4" seam allowance, my favorite trick involves a notion: Judy Martin's Point Trimmer.

This cool little gadget helps trim the ends off your triangles so when you align triangles to each other or to squares and rectangles, they match up more easily. No more trying to center shapes on each other. As a result, the points almost always turn out better!

We always carry this item in our store so we can refer customers to it if they ask about how to improve their patchwork. Order one for yourself at our website:

http://www.homesteadhearth.com/main.php?sortby=alpha&category=Notions&sc=Judy+Martin%27s+Point+Trimmer

What's your favorite trick for improving your points?

Sarah