Please Help Us Help Others!

Hello friends!  We are still going strong here at The Patch, still receiving some new fabric -- beautiful fabric!  Don't forget that you get 20% off everything (except Bernina machines which are discounted separately).  That means more than just the fabric!  Stock up on needles, thread, interfacings, books, kits, patterns, machine embroidery supplies, Bernina accessories and more!

We hope you have a very fine Thanksgiving next week!  We will be closed Wednesday and Thursday (11/21 & 22) for our own celebrations.  We will be open again on "Black Friday", 11/23, and there's no need to get up and come shopping at Bear Patch while it's still dark!

Every year at this time, we ask for your thoughtful donations to make Christmas a memorable holiday for our friends and neighbors in need.  Now is the time to turn to all of the good in our lives, and realize that we have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to share.  You can help make our final collection the best ever!

The White Bear Lions Club collects our donations of non-perishable food items to add to the local Food Shelf.  Canned items, boxed meals and nutritious snacks are just a few of the items that can help hunger.  Cash donations are also welcomed.  Load up your wagon or car and come on down!

Toys are the holiday highlight for many youngsters!  We welcome your donations of new, unused toys for kids of all ages!  Imagine the smiling face of a child you don't even know, but who will know that some dreams really do come true when they open their package!  The joy comes back to the giver manyfold.

A few items of clothing are also perfect for our collection!  Mittens, gloves, socks and underwear are all needed especially for the winter months.  You can help take the chill away for anyone out in the elements here.  Try going without those things for just 1 day, and you will not be able to deny the need.  And it's so easy to give!  All sizes, from small to extra large, are needed.

In addition to the White Bear Lake area, we also support the Roseville Shop With A Cop program.  Pull out a little bit of that stash fabric that is just sitting there on the shelf, and make some bright and cheery pillowcases!  Remember you can buy new and fun designs at 20% off!  It doesn't take long, and it means a lot to the kids and the cops.  If you don't know how, we can help with that, or view one of many online videos for directions.  Get together with your friends and combine your talents to create a pillowcase assembly line!  And eat some Christmas cookies, too!

Donations of all of these things need to be in the store by December 14.

Bear Patch Quilting Co.

2199 4th St., White Bear Lake, MN 55110

651-429-1039

bearpatchquilting.com

Merry Christmas To You!

It's almost Christmas and we hope you are going to enjoy family, friends and food!  

Are you ready for something peppy today?  I want you to meet a young woman who clearly loves what she's doing with sewing and machine embroidery!  I met Sue (of Sue O'Very Designs) at Quilt Market in Houston last fall.  She has an outgoing and captivating personality that just pulls you right in to a discussion about her products and brand.  Our Sewing Center now carries some of her designs for In The Hoop embroidery.  (I also learned from her website that ITH stands for In The Hoop!).  Our experts in the Sewing Center have trialed several with great success.  She does make use of some specialty fabrics, including cork. So if that's something you have been tempted by, her use of machine embroidery on cork might be the little nudge that you need to get started.  And, by the way, we have a good supply of beautiful colored and patterned cork.  In addition to larger pieces and cork by the yard, we have small pieces (18" x 28" for $26) from Fabric Funhouse.

Many more colors and designs in the basket!

Sue O'Very has been making and sharing sewing related YouTube videos on the Sue O'Very Youtube channel.  She has quite a list of videos covering a variety of topics, but what I especially wanted to bring to your attention is her list "Does This Notion Really Work?".  If you use the link above, you will find Sue's YouTube homepage.  Scroll down just a bit to find her group of videos (playlist) of her review of notions.  I think there are 21 different videos right now, each featuring a different notion or tool.  There's bound to be one in there that interests you!  Just last week, at my Ham Lake Piecemaker's guild Christmas party, there was a discussion about what that Purple Thang is really all about.  Well, Sue has a video about the Purple Thang!

I've included a little introductory video about Sue O'Very here.  If you like her videos, now you have something else to watch besides football over the next week or so!

Merry Christmas from your friends at Bear Patch!

Holiday hours:

Closed December 24-25-26

Sale December 27-28-29-30

Closed for Inventory Dec. 31-Jan.1-2

Open again at 9am January 3 with new samples and displays!

New fabric selections!

More Christmas fabric on the shelf!  And the vintage ice skates seem to be a common thread with 2 other fabric groups we already have---

I never did very well on those ice skates as a kid, it was much more challenging to stay upright than what it looked like on the Olympics!  Maybe the fact that the pond was in the cow pasture didn't really help!

And, our much awaited first shipment of Quilt MN 2015 fabric is in the store!  We can take pre-orders for any of the yardage, plus 5" squares, 10" squares and 2 1/2" strip packs.  We just have a couple bolts of each right now, enough to put some out on the shelf and cut more for our store samples in the works.

I have been working on another exclusive pattern for these fabrics, which will be available for purchase soon!  Along with a kit, of course, if you choose!  It's only on paper and scrap fabric so far, but I will be ready to cut and sew the real stuff before long.  That's if I get more progress made on our little home improvement project with my husband!  We are replacing carpet with laminate wood flooring in a loft area of our home, and my evenings and some weekend time has been focused on moving this along!  This is in part due to the fact that everything that had been on the loft (desks, computers, storage, shelves, etc.) is now crammed into my sewing space!  Makes it look like an episode of the Hoarders in there!  So I am motivated to get this done and get my space back!

New wood flooring!  Yay!
Nowhere near done!  Ugh!

Call us (651-429-1039) to order your Minnesota fabric!

The 12 Months of Christmas!

Here's what you have been waiting for! What is better than the 12 days of Christmas? 

The 12 Months of Christmas 2015!! 

Bear Patch Elves have been busy packaging recipes, tips and hints and 12 different coupons - one for each month of 2015. For only $10 you will receive 12 coupons worth a minimum of $60 and the sky's the limit for the maximum value. Coupon packages are available for purchase December 8-January 17, 2015.

We will start you off with a free gift right in your package, which makes it totally worth the price.  Throughout the year, you'll get discounts on some of our favorite things:

thread, notions, patterns, rulers, Best Press spray and 7 other fabulous surprises. 

All packaged in pretty papers and colors.  Makes a super stocking stuffer! 

Please note:  Coupon good only during stated month. No exceptions. Coupon must be present, no cash value, good one time only.  Must be presented to sales clerk at time of checkout.

So don't hesitate, give yourself the gift that keeps on giving all year long!  Remember, these can only be purchased beginning next Monday, December 8, and ending January 17.  Then the fun begins as you sort and sample new recipes, learn a few new tips and tricks, 

and best of all, get something special every month of 2015!

.

Made By Hand

Number One concern for many, many people during the winter is THE HANDS!  The dry, scaly, cracked, sore, bleeding hands!  

The cold, dry air seems to suck the life right out of the skin,

 and that is no fun!

Add to that the need/desire/requirement to actually use those hands for any kind of fine work, and the problem just became serious!  You know it's getting serious when it interferes with your fun time.  I was just yesterday trying to do some English Paper Piecing.  

I like to use a very fine thread to sew the pieces together,

 like Superior's Bottom Line or WonderFil thread.  

So frustrating when it snags on my hands!  Yuck!

So let's give ourselves a break, and do the right thing for our skin!  Try this:

Mary Ellen's Made By Hand.  A hand therapy gel.  

Here's what the company says about it--relieves nicks and scratches; soothes swollen, sore hands without greasy residue; softens dry, callused skin.

Mary Ellen says:

Quilters!  Now you don't have to suffer for your art!  

Made by Hand relieves your sore muscles, nicks and scratches, 

and you can get right back to work since it leaves 

no greasy residue.  It won't stain fabrics or affect your needle grip.  Put it to the "snap judgment" test, and you'll see:  

it dries so fast, you can snap your fingers right away!

This product is made with white willow bark, a natural, 

proven pain reliever that contains salicin, 

a natural anti-inflammatory related to aspirin.

Give your hands a break, or if you are someone who loves a quilter, this would be the perfect stocking stuffer!

Extreme Ironing

An excellent idea for improving the life of a quilter--

A lovely new, bright and shiny, fancy pants iron!

The Panasonic 360 Freestyle Cordless Steam Iron!

We have a limited quantity of these on hand, so don't dilly dally if you want one.  I have been putting my own precious new iron through the paces the last few days, and I can assure you, it is a keeper!  It is a cordless style with tapered points on both ends, something that is not your typical iron.  But then, you are not the typical quilter, either, right?!  

Because you are special, and you deserve a special iron!

It is easy to handle, heats up well and steams well, and even comes with a handy carrying case.  Your new iron is all wrapped up and ready to go with a big bow on top!

Call (651-429-1039), email (info@bearpatchquilting.com) or come in the store!  

You won't be sorry!

A Good Time Was Had By All!

Well, we have wrapped up the 2013 "Stuff My Stocking" event--figuratively and literally!

We have started tallying and gathering items for the many people who have ordered our specials over the last 12 days.  This is going to take awhile, because you (our wonderful customers) have outdone yourselves!  In a few days, we will have some fun facts for you about just what is involved with organizing, running, and carrying out the plans!  What a fun project, with such fun people!

  We love hearing via phone and email and in person from each and every one of you as you pick and choose what is going to be stuffed into your own stocking!

Hey, we have to be good to ourselves, because then others will be good to us, too!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Beginning next Tuesday, 12/17, at 9am, you are welcome to pick up your order, or send your favorite elf to do the deed!

All charges will be placed on the credit card that you chose, and a complete itemized receipt will be attached.

Over the next few days, I am going to share some additional ideas for some great gifts for holidays, birthdays, or just because!  So stay tuned!

Pam

Christmas Is Coming!

Our shelves are filled to the brim with choice holiday prints and coordinates! We would love to share them with you. Stop in and we will help you put together a fun new project! From traditional to cute and playful, we have something to please!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

 Tammy and I worked on moving around a bunch of bolts today to make room for new Christmas fabric!  Yay!  Are you happy to see a little touch of the holidays already?  Whether it is your cup of tea or not, now is the time to get the best pickins', so don't delay.  We also have charm packs, jelly rolls and even the little 2 1/2" square packs of these.

Aspen Frost by Basic Gray for Moda--

Our customers have really liked these colors in the last 2 years, and this should be well received, too.  A little pale blue turquoise, sorta lime green, dark red and crisp white, even though you might not be able to see it very well in this picture.

This is one of the Aspen Frost prints that would make a wonderful background.

And Primitive Snowman by Primitive Gatherings for Moda---

Not really "Christmasy", but just right for a winter project.  Little snow guys, snow flakes, dots and coordinates.

So put on your jingle bells and get down here to see what else is available!

Pam

Holiday Time is Here

Come see all of our wonderful autumn, halloween and Christmas fabric collections!  We brought out more bolts today, and have an excellent selection.  In fact, we had to haul up another table from the basement just to hold it all!  The assembly of that table did provide some comic relief, I wish I had a video of Debbie and Tammy putting together the cube base of the table.  Those pieces were every which way by the time they pulled it together!  So we need your help to come take some of this fabric home so we can avoid a replay of that scene!  Below are pictures of many of the fabrics, but not all.  I did forget to get pictures of the great Christmas flannels.  I have to save something for next time, OK?

More Christmas

We are steadily bringing in more bolts of Christmas fabric, although we are far from thinking of December as we swelter in our heat wave!  But I just couldn't resist sharing this special group with you.  It comes from Stof Fabrics and is called Enjoy Christmas.  There is a little touch of metallic gold mixed in with this holiday theme fabric.

The border print panel has about a 24" repeat, and we think it would fit well into a couple of our favorite patterns.  The Triple Treat pattern from Thimbleberries comes to my mind.  What do you think?

Stuff My Stocking - Day 12 - Book

Our final day of the Stuff My Stocking event is a good one! It takes me back to my beginning days of quilting when I made this--

This is the Star Log Cabin and was made in the late 80's (or maybe early 90's) while on a retreat at Camp Lebanon. I had never heard of the concept of "Quilt in a Day", but was intrigued enough to try it out. It was more like "most of a quilt in a weekend", but I wasn't put off by that because I really liked the thorough directions and process written by Eleanor Burns. From her many TV shows and patterns and books, I think she has helped shape most of the quilters I know. She is an interesting woman with a great sense of humor.

Today's deal is awesome! We have one of Eleanor's recent books on a huge discount for you.

Normally, this book would cost you $27.99, and would be worth every penny. Today we can stuff this into your stocking for only $12.99!

I have been checking out this book and found plenty of projects in there for a quilter of any experience level. There are 20 individual blocks, each broken down into very easy instructions with loads of step-by-step illustrations. They are categorized by style and difficulty, so you can choose for yourself which ones are best for you. Those blocks are combined in several settings and projects from small to large. There is going to be something inside these covers that you will find helpful.

So, once and for all, tell us to "Stuff My Stocking" via email (info@bearpatchquilting.com) or telephone (651-429-1039) or do it the old fashioned way and walk into the store! No matter which way you contact us, you will not get an automated reply, we have real people to talk to! Remember that we need your full name and phone number in order to make this work. If you want to leave your credit card number that is fine, we will total up the cost of your stocking contents and process the charge.

Your goodies will be all ready to pick up after Thursday the 15th. We will be spending Thursday sorting and organizing and packaging everything for over 160 people! We are amazed at the response to this event, Debbie and I went into this without the experience of doing something like this before using only internet advertising. Honestly, we just started talking about and planning this Nov. 1, and thought we would be happy with a couple dozen participants. Well, our wonderful customers had a different plan, and have kept Debbie busy ordering enough of the products to meet the demand, while I have tried to keep up with logging in everyone's requests. It has been fun hearing from so many of you near and far. Some people wanted only 1 item, others have shopped daily for multiples. We even have a special customer who emails us a little rhyme with her orders! All of this has prompted us to start planning for the future and similar projects, so make sure you are on our email list and check the website and this blog often. You just never know what will pop up!

Pam