The Promise of Good Things To Come!

Hello friends!  We had a very enjoyable day Saturday with so many of you stopping in to shop, have a cupcake, and, of course, meet Diana as she gets ready to start her own new quilt shop, Affinity For Quilts.  So much promise of things to come! 

Now just 4 days remaining of the Bear Patch Quilting Co. that you have known for close to 22 years!  Yes, we do still have fabric, and we still have the good stuff, too!  The picture below was taken today, 1/27.  Good stuff!

During these last 4 days, we will take those prices down one more little notch to 60% off!
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9-5:30, Thursday 9-5 and then done!
We have had so many fun interactions with you, our customers and friends.  It has been a period of adjustment, with time for me and my co-workers to embrace the concept of life without Bear Patch.  We have a great work crew, and we are already setting up plans for sewing days and retreats in the future.  A lot of you have asked, so we'll tell you a little about what the future holds for us:

Nancy T. - continues with her full time job at the League of MN Cities for now but still could work evenings and/or weekends for Diana
Diane H. - thought she was going to be a bank teller, but when she found out that they don't pay in fabric she lost interest quickly!  Diane and her husband have a little Skamp trailer, and they will be out camping whenever possible, especially up north.
Sharon L. - has agreed to stay on to share her hand embroidery expertise, and will take more trips to new destinations!
Kristina T. - might show up working for Diana, and otherwise she's knitting, dying yarn and cleaning her sewing room.  Good luck with that!
Pam H. - planning to travel, along with soon-retired husband, in our new Airstream trailer.  First we are going to Charlotte, NC, for a month with our grandsons.  A Singer Featherweight will be safely stowed for travel.  I'm getting back into knitting, and I might even use my longarm to quilt one of the many quilts of my own that have never been finished!
Carol F. - planning a 6 week road trip to AZ, FL & NC.  Is serving on the Senior Advisory Committee at the White Bear Lake Senior Center.  And always doing something good with the Lions Club.
Tammy B. - you might see Tammy back at the store with rotary cutter in hand.  And dirt under her fingernails once the ground thaws out!
Linda P. - simply looking forward to no schedule!
Debbie E. - would like to just Breathe!  And then she will organize her sewing room, knit, read, take classes, go on retreats, cook and become much more familiar with her grandkids!  Doesn't seem like there's much time left for to Breathe!
Linda E. - will continue with her full-time work for the DNR, involved with the state park campground department.  In the past, she has been a good resource for people looking for some help with making quilts or fixing problems.  If she decides to continue doing that, she will leave her contact info for Diana.
Marlene M. - already down in AZ, smart girl!
Sophie V. - plans to be using her new EMT status, so you might see her smiling face at your next emergency!  That would be very reassuring to me!
Sue S. - Will be camping and traveling. And quilting a lot. Possibly teaching classes for the new boss.
Laurel R. - is starting off her retirement with a trip to Belize with husband, George.  After that, she has "many, many, many quilting projects planned" and might work some teaching into her schedule.

Karen L. - will still be working fulltime as Business Office Manager at Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood and Lakeview Commons in Maplewood.

So, you can see that many good things await us!  I have always embraced the idea that change is good because the next new thing might be even better than the old.  And it keeps the old brain cells working!  I hope to see some of you on my shopping trips to Affinity For Quilts!    Pam

Announcing New Ownership of Bear Patch!

It's great to be able to bring you some good news!  Pam here, reporting from the action spot in downtown White Bear Lake!  This has been a wild and crazy period in so many ways!  Deciding to close a business, and then going through everything involved with that, is not a job for the faint of heart!  We have listened to your many supportive comments and concerns and wishes for Bear Patch to continue.  It really means a lot to us, but didn't change the fact that some of us are just itching to move on to the rest of our personal stories after Bear Patch!  But we have been patient and diligent, and have been rewarded with the fact that we now know that there will be a quilt shop returning to 2199 4th St.!  

The new shop will be opened in 2019 by Dianna, who is very excited about the new possibilities!  There will be a pause in the business as things change hands, some physical changes are made, and then a new shop with a new name will proudly open its doors to quilters again!  I hope I can be a regular shopper!

I know a lot of you are curious about this new quilt shop owner.  We know that you will all give her the welcome and respect that she deserves, and that she will work hard to earn that.  But remember that this will be her place, her choices, and her dreams.  The address will remain the same, but expect everything else to be different.  We have a special opportunity for you to join us to meet and greet Dianna on Saturday, January 26, from 11 AM - 2 PM!  This date is National Local Quilt Shop Day.  Local Quilt Shop Day is a worldwide event designed to raise awareness of the importance of independent quilt shops to the local economy. It is a day for consumers and retailers to celebrate the creative pursuits of quilters, sewists, fabric enthusiasts, and crafters everywhere and to support the local quilt shops that make it all possible.  What better way for 
Dianna to take a leap into the quilt shop world!
Bear Patch will remain open for business through Thursday, January 31, at 5PM.  All of our merchandise continues to be reduced 40%!  We still have about 2500 bolts on the shelves, so there's something there for everyone!  There's a peak below of just a portion of our shelves and all those wonderful bolts!  We have had so many happy faces with heavy bags leaving the store!  There must be an wait list for professional quilters right now, because a lot of backing yardage has been sold!  So join us for some shopping and especially on the 26th!

Regular hours continue:  Mon-Tues-Wed 9-5:30   Thur-Fri-Sat 9-5  Sunday 12-4


 If you have any questions, please call (651-429-1039) or email (bearpqc@aol.com).  See you soon!

Storewide discount moves to 30% and the Bernina discounts are amazing!

Effective Wednesday, December 5, 

our storewide discount moves to 30%!  

The same rules apply as before, if you click this link you will get the full information.  We are still cutting lots of fabric and people are coming in prepared with measurements and colors to get big chunks for backings.  I keep discovering new fabric that catches my eye, like this one--

This is a panel print, it's about 40" square, and would make a wonderfully
creative piece of wall art on stretcher bars.  It really makes a statement! 

All of our notions, rulers, books and patterns are also discounted 30%. 
We just restocked these cute these cute Stash and Store items
that have been selling out and would make a great little Christmas gift idea.

Bernina floor models are still available to purchase at prices aimed to make you smile!  The elf on the shelf thinks you have been a very good girl or boy and should have a new machine under the tree!  First, we have "demo" machines which have been lightly used in the store, but almost like new!  All are discounted individually and our staff will show you how they work and answer any questions you might have.  If you would like to call ahead, the number is 651-429-6500 or visit the Bernina website.
B880 Plus, B790 Plus-AE, B770 (x2), B700, B500, Bernette Sew and Go, Bernette Chicago 7 and the Bernette B35
Sergers:  L450 (x2) and L460

In addition to the demo models, we have some new-in-the-box machines:  a 740 and a 770 SE, Bernette B38, Bernette Sew and Go, Bernette B35.  And new sergers:  L450 (x3) and L460 (x2)
These brand new machines are greatly discounted, but not quite as much as the demo models.

Also, in the Bernina department, we still have an ample supply of machine embroidery patterns and CD's.  Thread and stabilizers have been re-stocked as well.  These are all 30% off.

Another special opportunity is available to you for a limited time.  

If you have ever been in the store, you undoubtedly noticed the class tables and cutting tables up in the front.  The craftsman who makes those tables has several prototype cutting tables that we are selling for him.  They are very similar to the tables we have been using, but there are some bumps and bruises and unfinished wood.  But, the only cost $99!  They are a great height for cutting and the tabletop fits a cutting board easily.  I even assembled one yesterday, just to prove that I could.  It comes unassembled, but you only need the little wrench and bolts that are supplied.  If you've ever gone down the IKEA assembly rabbit hole, this will seem like a cinch!

Remember, our store hours have changed so we are not open evenings.  With these dark days, it's a good time to cocoon at home!  And, we are closed for 3 days (24-25-26) for Christmas.
Another important date to remember:  December 15 is the last day that we will accept sewing machines for service and repair.  That is also the final day that we will continue to hold any special requests, so if you haven't picked up your item(s) by then it will be placed in the store for purchase.  We still do not have a final closing date for Bear Patch, it will be sometime in January.  That's all I know for now!
Watch for future emails and follow us on Facebook for updates!

Bear Patch Quilting Co.
651-429-1039
bearpatchquilting.com
bearpqc@aol.com

Bear Patch Black Friday and Beyond!

We are still going strong here in the aisles of Bear Patch!

Our Going-Out-Of-Business sale is progressing, there are a few empty spots on the shelves and bare walls where samples used to hang.

But no shortage of fabric!  All of these beauties shown below have been here a very short time, and you can still run on down and get some for yourself!  Our shelves are still full, just waiting for you!  We keep sending fabric out the front door with smiling customers, while UPS and FedEx are hauling in boxes at the back door!  

So, starting on Friday, November 23, 

our storewide discount goes to 25% off!

What's included in the discount:
All of our wonderful fabric from so many makers, plus any remaining clearance fabric that was marked down to $7 earlier.  Half yard minimum cut.
Books and patterns galore!  We still have many popular titles on hand.
All of our threads (Cosmo, Sulky, Aurifil, Isacord, Mettler, Cotton+Steel)
Machine embroidery CD's and patterns
Bernina feet and accessories

What's not included:
Bernina machines, they are discounted separately
Consignment items
Clearance items and store fixtures

In addition to your 25% discount, we also want to let you know that beginning December 1, we will not be open in the evenings except for only a few class nights.  

We will add revised dates and times on the online calendar in case you forget.  Please check this link, or call 651-429-1039 if you have any questions.  Thank you for your kind words and support as we usher Bear Patch into retirement!  We held a retirement party for Debbie and Laurel with more than 50 people in attendance at Tria in North Oaks.  So much fun, and a few tears, too!  We had gathered lots of old photos over the 21 years of business for a slide show, which was great entertainment!  I'll work on creating a Smilebox slideshow for you soon!

Winter Village by Charles Wysocki for Northcott

Belle Fleur from P&B Textiles

Printemps 1 from STOF France

Art History 101 by Marcia Derse for Windham Fabrics

Art History 101 by Marcia Derse for Windham Fabrics

Santa In Space from Alexander Henry
I know 3 little boys who will have these pillowcases to sleep on for Christmas!

No Tricks, All Treats!

Hello!  We have a big holiday coming up!  Are you ready for some treats?!  
There are enough tricky things in our lives, so we are all about the treats!

Our Going-Out-of-Business Sale continues!  Yes, there are still thousands of yards of fabric for you!  You have been keeping us very busy, and we are still unpacking new fabric.  We want to keep the supply fresh!  

The #1 question we are asked is "What is your last day of business?".  
We don't really have that date set, but we will know when the time is right!  
The #2 question we are asked is "Isn't someone buying the shop?".  
All that we can really tell you is that there have been some talks with interested people, and it's not a quick process.  If there is any news that we can share, 
we will definitely communicate that to you. 

 

Now, for the treats!  Starting Wednesday, October 31, our storewide discount moves to 20%, and we are done with all those exceptions to the discount!  The only thing still sacred are the Bernina prices and services. We will honor the 20% discount on Bernina feet and accessories, Isacord, OESD stabilizer, Embroidery Design CD’s and patterns.

Starting the 31st, the minimum cut on all fabric is 1/2 yard, and we are not cutting fat quarters.  We are no longer taking special requests unless the item is something that we consider our regular stock items.  

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.  

We do still have some classes going on and Open Sewing on our calendar.  
Come join us for a day!

Finally, we again want to say how much we appreciate all of our customers!  
You are the best!  It's a bit of an emotional roller coaster to be working 

at Bear Patch right now, and we try to put that aside 

so we can focus on you, our friends.  
Please understand that we all are going through a big transition, 
and we will do our best to make your shopping experience a good one.

Look for the beauty in every day!

Your friends at Bear Patch

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

Playtime!

 Are you in a playful mood?  

Do you have need of a cute kids' quilt?

We have the Kinder line of fabric by Heather Ross for Windham Fabrics in the store now!

Charming little kid-friendly motifs are scattered across the yardage.  Who wouldn't love a frog, 

or a herd of frogs, leaping around?!

The colors are good strong shades, and the artwork was inspired by the drawings of Heather's own kindergartner daughter.  

So this is "kid approved"!

This is the Rainbow quilt, a free download on Windham's website.

Here's something else the kids love--a drawstring backpack!  Pattern is free on the Windham website.  Personalize it if you wish, using the cut-out letters from the alphabet prints.

Easy raw edge applique can spell out the child's name, a favorite expression, or something funny.

Shop with us any day of the week!

We know that many of you have a lot of other things going on 

day-to-day.  That's why our business hours are perfect for you!  

In addition to daytime hours, we are open 3 nights a week 

(till 9 on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday) and even 

Sunday afternoon (12-4).  

There must be a chance for you to stop in the store sometime during the 64 hours each week that we are open!  

Looking forward to your visit!

A Quilt Minnesota Retrospective

Today I'm sharing our new window display at the store.
We'll call it the Quilt Minnesota Retrospective.
And it's all about me, Pam Hansen, your friendly blogger!

Way back in 2008, I began a little journey into the land of designing and writing patterns.  I have learned so many things along the way!  Even if everything is proofread 3 times there can still be typos!  And math is really important!  I've learned ways to improve the formatting, and learned to create diagrams.  I've also been using photos in some patterns, so I've worked on making those as clear as I can without being a pro!
I've gotten pretty good at shooting the pictures for the pattern covers, with tips and ideas picked up along the way.  My son, Dan, is responsible for the template on the front and back of the pattern.  I send him pictures and text and he makes it work!

Debbie (store owner and therefore the boss) encouraged me to try writing some quilt patterns specifically using the exclusive fabrics designed each year for the Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop.  I thought sure, I'll give it a whirl!  And so the story goes.....!

I searched high and low in my house to find each year's special quilt.  The first year I only made a tablerunner, I didn't have time for anything large.  But from then on, I designed something different each year, and sometimes more than one!  When I got all of these displayed, I had to step back and take a deep breath!  That's a lot of work!

Slug Bug, Wound Around and Pie In The Sky

 Each year there is usually some sort of panel or border print or decorative scenes.  So I usually incorporated that whenever I could to just give customers ideas of how they could turn those into something more than they started with.

16 In Between, Star Light and Wild Child up above.

Pie In The Sky and Explore More

 I've used the row quilt layout more than once.  There are 2 examples in the picture below, although the quilt on the upper left isn't very visible.  The quilt on the lower left was made with fabrics originally designed by James Meger, a noted nature/outdoor artist.

Ten and Sweet Treat on the left, MN Mixer on the right.

MN Mixer, Connections and Stix Mix pillow below.

 The quilt on the right above is called Connections, and it is one pattern that I have made in multiple sizes.  The baby quilt is cute and just the right size!

Below are 2 patterns that are small items that were part of the collection - a tablerunner and a pair of tablemats for centerpieces.  

I've used that round tablemat design for making some Christmas gifts, too.

Ring A Ding and Winner Spinner

So that's the saga of my Minnesota quilts!  It's been an interesting endeavor, and it's been fun to see many patterns come to life in fabric.  We always make up some kits for the quilts, and I've taught some as classes.  The 2018 fabrics can be viewed online but we haven't received any bolts yet.  I'm wondering what I will come up with this time?

So Many Things To Love

We are very excited to share lots of wonderfully inspiring ideas through our many new class offerings!  We have classes for all levels of experience with sewing and quilting and machine embroidery.  Visit our website for complete descriptions and information on any of our classes.  Or, you can give us a call (651-429-1039) and we'll do our best to answer your questions.  Or, best of all, come into the store!  Our slideshow covers many of the class samples, but there are more in addition to these.

We're going to do everything we can to keep you happy this winter!  Just think, by the time this "term" ends, it will be May and springtime!  There's light at the end of the tunnel!

 

Free slideshow design created with Smilebox

2 of our Favorite Things

It's time for another anniversary moment, and it's a two-fer!

It's not too hard to guess what I'm talking about when you see this picture! 

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that if Bear Patch had lived in a previous life, it would have been a ribbon store.  That's the kind of prettiness that is just under the surface when Debbie is choosing goods for the store!  She could easily slip over the edge and buy racks and racks of ribbons and trims!  I've been there.  I've seen the lust in her eyes when she is surrounded by beautiful ribbons, and I've had to pull her back to reality!  It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!

And what about those rainbows of zippers!?  We love our 14" zippers from Atkinson Designs!  We use them in so many ways, it's hard to imagine what life was like before our rack of zippers moved into Bear Patch!  These are the best zippers for many of our bag patterns because they can be easily sized down for any length 14" or less.  There's no fear of zippers around here, and we'll help you master any zipper anxiety you might have!

So, it's December 20th just around the corner.  Our final chance to pass out a little present to celebrate our 20 years of doing business right here on the corner of 4th and Banning!  

It will be a zipper and ribbon combo, because we want to share 

2 of our favorite things with you!

Come to the store from 9AM to 9PM to receive your little present! 

 No purchase necessary, one per customer, please.  

We would love to see many happy faces on Wednesday!

Our 11th Celebration of our 20th Anniversary!

We just love to celebrate!  We find many occasions to celebrate our customers, our store, our employees, the fact that the sun was shining all day yesterday, etc.!
You know we have been celebrating our anniversary all year long, right?  So, November 20 is upon us!  And what better thing to share with you than one of our favorite pattern designers!  

Pat, of Villa Rosa Designs, is always producing plenty of inspiration!  I can't even tell you how many times we have used her patterns, sometimes repeatedly!  Her patterns are printed on heavy cardstock in glossy color.  One side of the card is a full picture of the quilt, with the very succinct directions on the reverse side.  This is the "no-frills" set of directions, very easy to understand.  Many of these patterns are good for a favorite print or panel that you don't want to cut up into little bits.  Others are just right for a pack of 5" charm squares or a 2 1/2" roll.  There's great diversity!  

Maybe a Prince tribute??

We call them Rosecards, from Villa Rosa.  The price ($2.25) makes them perfect to collect for yourself or a friend. 

And notice that one on top of the stack?  It was custom printed for Bear Patch and features the Quilt MN fabric from a couple years back.  It was used as an incentive prize for shop hoppers!

A few years ago, Pat visited Bear Patch and did a "bed turning" show of some of her quilts.  We really need to have her back!  Comparing the picture on the card to a sample made of different fabrics and colors can really bring on that "aha" moment.  We are displaying 2 or 3 hot-off-the-sewing-machine samples right now for our Christmas display, and that's a perfect example of how different the resulting quilt can appear from the picture.

So, Monday, November 20, from 9am-9pm, we will be handing out 1 Rosecard per customer!  No purchase required.  Just pick a card and get happy!  We have a lot of the newest designs to share, carried home from Quilt Market just for you.  And, of course, we have many on hand for purchase, if you want to expand your collection.

It's All About The Pink!

 It's a Circle of Quilters Challenge!

The Bear Patch Circle of Quilters meets every other month to share design ideas, tutorials, product information and so much more!

For this challenge, participants were given a pack o' pink!

Not just any pink-- this is

Robert Kaufman's Color of the Year, Pink Flamingo.

There were very few rules.  Even though they were given a pack of 2 1/2" squares, they only had to use that color, in any amount, somewhere in their creation.

We are collecting votes for some prizes for Viewer's Choice.  Actually, 3 prizes will be given to the top vote-getters, 

plus 1 more from the employees.

Isn't that exciting!?

Customers can vote every time they come to the store 

between now and November 21.

I can't wait to see what happens, 

because there are 13 excellent choices.

I don't have pattern names or sources, so if you are dying to know those details, you can contact the store (651-429-1039) to leave a message.  When the names are revealed, we can put you in touch.

So, here we go!

This is the center of a longer tablerunner, with strategic placement of the pink.

One section of a tablerunner, with just a little pink in the butterflies to tie it together.

Finding the perfect fabrics to go with the strong pink could be an additional challenge!

Hotpad, trivet, coaster for a very large latte?  It all works!

Don't bikes just make you happy! 
This is done by machine embroidery, using just the right colors of pink and turquoise.

Someone was very clever here with the Bear Paw block!
How can we not love that?!

Some skilled paper piecing went into these blocks! 
This does look like summer!

This is a section of a tablerunner with some great
whimsical flowers with button embellishments!

The pink triangles really shine in this quilt!

A color wheel of Aurifil thread spools, plus the perfect quilter's mantra, are wonderful! 
There's lots of stitching on those spools to show the thread wraps!

Perfect hand embroidery, embellished with crayon shading, makes a colorful pillow cover! 
Can you spot the pink fabric?

This quilter took the Pink Flamingo fabric literally! 
We really do have the most creative people around!

These coordinates really blend nicely, and tone down that bright pink!

And a big round of applause for a job well done!

Maybe you will join us for the announcement of the winners at our next Circle meeting at 9:30 on December 9!

Back To Quilt School!

It's back to school time!  And we have some Grade A classes for you!  We are always looking for new ideas, techniques, rulers, tools, etc., to add to the curriculum and give you chances to become a better educated quilter!  Plus, there are some classes that are all about the fun and social experience of sitting down with friends and soon-to-be-friends!  We have watched many people form friendships with the other people they meet through Bear Patch, which makes it much more fun!

I have prepared a new slideshow with pictures of some of the class offerings.  Please watch it for inspiration and ideas!  Then, go to bearpatchquilting.com and read the details for each class under the "Classes" tab.  Click on anything that catches your eye to read the full details.  Another good way to look for classes is via the "Calendar" tab, which is great if you are looking for something during a particular period of time.

Sign-up day is next Saturday, 9/9, which is always like a party at the store!  We also have provisions for you to register separately from that day, and it's all explained on the website.

Enjoy this tail end of the summer, and join us for a great class (or classes) this fall!

This free digital slideshow made with Smilebox