Great Fall Class Line Up

Bear Patch is such a classy place!  That doesn't have anything to do with society, but it means we love to present classes for our customers.  It's such a great way for like-minded people to sit down and hopefully learn a thing or 2!  We have always tried for a variety of projects:  big, small, handwork, machine techniques, beginner, advanced, morning, afternoon, night and weekends, too!  We try to keep our classes small and friendly for everyone.  Even though our days are numbered, we can't resist the chance to offer a few more learning opportunities.  And sometimes it's just plain nice to get some inspiration from each other!

Our fall classes are almost entirely posted up on the website now.  There still will be a few things added, but not much is left to add.  On our main page, hover over the Class tab at the top of the page, then choose Bear Patch Classes from the drop down.  You will also find a choice there to send us an email registration.  We are taking registrations in the order we receive them.  We can also help you over the phone (651-429-1039) and, of course, in person in the store.  Your place in class is not secure until we receive payment from you.  Many times we have people waiting to take any cancelled spots, so please make sure you let us know if you can't come.  If you cancel at least one week or sooner from the class date, you will receive store credit for the class fee, minus the pattern if that was included and you choose to keep it.

We want to highlight some of the classes that are coming up soon.  Next Tuesday (9/18) Joy is having an open sew for hand applique and quilting.  She has taught classes to many of you, and this is your chance to ask questions about finishing your project.  Joy also has a Beginner's Hand Applique class starting 9/19.
Continuing with the handwork, Sharon has scheduled a Hand Embroidery Basics evening class on 10/3.  If you want to learn from a master stitcher, this is last call.
Laurel has modified the Beginning Quilting class to 2 all-day sessions, starting 10/6.  She has also added a new Machine Quilting class, Beautiful Borders, for using your specialty foot and rulers.

Sew much to do, sew little time!  We hope you can work something into your schedule, and we look forward to seeing you at Bear Patch!

Bear Patch Quilting Co.
2199 4th St.
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-429-1039
bearpqc@aol.com
bearpatchquilting.comMon-Tues-Wed  9am-9pm
Thu-Fri-Sat  9am-5pm
Sunday 12noon-4pm

Our Winter Classes

We have been working hard to make many new samples to inspire you to take one of our great classes this winter.  It's the perfect time to sit down at your machine or pick up needle and thread.  This doesn't show all of them, but you can see the entire list on the website.
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The Temptations

It's time to start tempting you with our Quilt MN projects!  We have numerous samples in the works that highlight the possibilities with this group of fabric.  Here are a couple for starters:

Mary of MH Designs has 2 embroidery designs that are pure Minnesota (even though she lives across the river in Wisconsin!).  The Lady's Slipper is a makeover of a previous design, now using the fabric that is printed all over with the flowers.  A perfect combo!  

And since there are loons on some of the prints, she went to the drawing board and created a picture for embroidery for the loon lovers!  This one even has the little baby loon on the back of the adult, and this is exactly how they take care of their little ones.  I've been reading up on the loons, and found out that the baby loons have poor body temp control, and because the northern lakes tend to stay quite cold, they get heat from the mother or father by riding on their back in between swims.  Other loon trivia:  they don't necessarily mate for life, but they do usually migrate back to the same lake; they have only 1 or 2 eggs each year; survival rate of the chicks is 0.7 chicks per adult pair per year.  Anyone who has heard the wail of the loon echoing across a still lake knows that it is a special experience.  There are some recordings of their various calls on the wikipedia site in the link above.

I have succeeded in getting all of the blocks for my new quilt design sewn together and borders attached!  Yeah!  Now to get that quilting and binding done, write the directions and get some patterns printed!  This is a pretty simple block, very achievable for anyone who wants to give it a try.  I will include a class for it on the fall schedule.  The borders are mitered to get the best effect from the printed fabric, and the technique really isn't intimidating.  But for anyone who doesn't feel up to the challenge, I will include tips on making the border without miters.  I have several different size quilts that can be made like this, so it can go anywhere from a tablerunner to a queen size bed.

Some of the Quilt MN Shop Hop "swag" this year--

shopping bag, t-shirt and pins are all available.

More projects will be shared with you as I collect pictures from our sample makers.  Many of them will be available in kits, so you can pre-order (call 651-429-1039) the kits or yardage or pre-cut packs (5" squares, 10" squares, 2 1/2" strips) anytime you want, and they will be ready for pickup when the Hop starts July 31.  It will be a fun time at the Patch!

A Little Rustic Appeal

The new shabby chic?  A throwback to an earlier time?  Whatever your fancy, these cute little outhouses must surely smell as sweet as a daisy!

Whether embroidered separately or in a group, this unique design comes from Mary Herrschleb (MH Designs).

These 2 individual houses are decorative accents to tea towels, and the perfect accessory for your powder room.  We have a good supply of tea towels in plaids and stripes of every color of the rainbow.

This little outhouse cluster stitches into a small wallhanging to spiff up the biffy, and uses the Quilt MN 2013 fabrics to complete the picture.

Call us at 651-429-1039 to request and reserve your own special edition outhouses and any of the supplies needed to make these adorable designs.

The Showy Lady Slipper

Our Minnesota state flower is the elusive Lady Slipper.  Not frequently seen in everyday gardens and roadsides, but occasionally spotted in protected spots and wild wetlands.  In fact, it is an imperiled and vulnerable plant in many states.  A member of the orchid family, it blooms only a short time in the spring.  But if you ever catch sight of a group of these in full bloom, it is a wondrous vision.  And you should count yourself among the lucky on that day!

This artistic rendition of our state flower has been created and stitched by Mary Herrschleb, the creative genius of MH Designs.  Well known for her excellent paper piecing patterns, Mary also loves some hand embroidery.  Her drawing has been transformed into a very life-like image, using an accent from crayons to add shading.  Very easy to learn, the basic embroidery stitches and coloring technique are well-explained in this pattern.  This new design of the Lady Slipper is gorgeous, and the pattern will be available exclusively at Bear Patch.  Plus, a limited number of kits for this pillow will be packaged.  

Call to request and reserve yours now!  651-429-1039

Retreat Update for Friday AM

One thing that these ladies have in common is the tendency to be thread hoarders.  I think this might be a new reality TV show!  Can you see the gleam in Carol's eyes as she looks over one of her many thread boxes?  Always looking for just the right color number!  She forgot to pack her thread color number chart on which she keeps a record of which of the hundreds of Isacord colors she possesses.  But she does share!  Such a dilemna.

Judy is trimming up some threads on a block for her Feathered Star quilt, the same design that I wrote about in my last post.  Her machine accommodates a bigger hoop, so her blocks are a little bigger than mine.

Zane was stitching some great words to live by on dish towels.  I wouldn't mind a set of these for myself!

More towel stitching, this time Kelli is putting cocktail recipes onto black towels--very lovely and oh so handy to have around in case of a cocktail shortage!

Grace is showing her completed puppy dog from the Animal Antics by Stitch Connection.  This makes an adorable little baby quilt along with a whole zooful of other critters.

Grace is one very devoted retreater!  She flew back to MN from her winter haven in Florida just to come here with us!  We have another fun day ahead of us and I will have more inspiration to share very soon!  I have also posted a few things over on my own blog so take a look over there!  And if possible, sew a stitch today! 

Boo!

 It's really time now to get serious about frightening things.  If you haven't already made something to add to your Halloween decor, this is just the thing!  We have a slick little project--

Jack O. Lantern from Quilt Company Patterns

The best part is that this comes in a little kit with pre-cut pieces and directions.  It just doesn't get much better than that, and will be done in no time at all!  We were all out of the kits, but our stock has been replenished.  So now is the time to make your move.  Come in or call (651-429-1039).

And if you want to work on something a little more involved, but still totally fun for Halloween, take a peek at this wonderful needlework design from Crabapple Hill.

Which Witch's Boot

Sharon stitched this up for display, quilting by Janet Hanson, Grand Quilted Glories.  Beautiful!
  The stitchery includes shading with the use of crayons, adding a whole new dimension.