Quilt MN Shop Hop Ends for 2016

The Hop might be over, but there's still fabric to claim for your own!  On the final day of the Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop, these are the bolts we have remaining--

Still several to choose from.  As we've heard from many visitors, we are out of some of the same things that many shops are.  Namely:  Brown and Orange texture lines, turquoise dots, multi-colored theme stripe, colored fish and mosquitos.  Not a single mosquito left in the store!  You would think maybe the Mosquito Control people had visited Bear Patch!

Also, we still have 5" and 10" square packs remaining.

Since the shop hop rules explicitly state that the fabric group cannot be sold at a reduced price for 1 year after the shop hop, we have been holding onto some of the 2015 fabrics!  Starting today, whatever we have left is marked down to $7/yard and 5" square packs also $7 each.  Here's your chance to pick up some good deals on those fabrics!  As a reminder, here's what the theme fabric looked like last year.  Still very charming!

Are you wondering what 2017 will look like?  So are we!

We still have the Row By Row Experience continuing, with your free pattern available for the asking, through September 6.  We still have kits available for our row, too, in 2 colorways.  Shown below is the funky fabric colorway, and the other is black/white with primary colors.  These happy houses are paper pieced, and designed by Mary of MH Designs.  She's a master at paper piecing, so you know this pattern is done right!  She's also a loyal friend of Bear Patch, and we so appreciate her talent.

During our Row By Row period, because it is a national endeavor, we have a big map and ask people to pin their home location.  We have so many pins!

  

But here's the deal--we need a few more states to show up!  We need:  West Virginia, Delaware, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Louisiana, Maine, Vermont and New Mexico.  If you live in one of those states, we need you and you still have time to plan a trip to Bear Patch, so come on down!  You will make our map complete!

Row by Row Shop Hop Exclusive Keepsakes!

 The Row By Row Shop Hop starts across the nation in just a few days.  The official start date is Sunday, 6/21, but since that is Father's Day we will not be open.  We will kick off on Monday AM at 9:00.  Our pattern, designed by Laurel, is called Walleye Chop.  It fits in well with the "Water" theme.  The pattern is our gift to you, but you must be physically present in the store to claim it.  That is part of the Row by Row Book of Law for all shops.  Kits are available for purchase if you want the same fabrics that were used in our sample.  They are packaged in this nice little zipper bag.

And in case you aren't familiar with what Walleye Chop means, I have to tell you that it's not some kind of chopped fish meal!  It's a reference to the somewhat choppy waters on a lake that are favorable for catching walleyes, quite possibly the best fish to come out of a Minnesota lake!

If you are traveling to Minnesota from another state, try to find a place that serves some good walleye.  I had a great walleye meal at Gluek's Brewery in downtown Minneapolis before a Twins' game, it's real close to the stadium, so you could have walleye and a Twins game all at once!  Anyway, back to the Shop Hop!

We have some Row By Row souvenir pins, and a special acrylic ruler that is a very handy size (you might want more than 1, so get yours soon!).  And tshirts and caps will be on hand very soon, so you can be fully outfitted in proper Row by Row attire!

Of course, we have the official Row by Row fabric on hand--

I have to say that for me, personally, these prints are so much more appealing than last year's.  They would go so well with the fabrics in our row!

And finally, our license plate!  Our order for these plates is still being printed, and we will need to take orders for them so they can be mailed out once the shipment arrives.  I think the slogan says it all!  Happy stitchin' to all of you, and enjoy the Row by Row Shop Hop!

The Row by Row Experience

Do you know about the nationwide quilt shop hop?  It's called the Row By Row Experience and runs from June 21 to September 8.  It is an organization of shops from all 50 states and Canada, too, that have signed up to participate.  As a participating shop, we have created our unique row design, only available when you come to Bear Patch.  The pattern is free, one per customer.  We will also have kits available to purchase for our row.  The goal is to collect the patterns and create your own quilt of at least 8 different rows.  There are prizes for winners who bring their completed quilt to a participating shop.  All of those details are explained on the Row By Row website, as well as a directory of shops.

Another fun feature of this experience is the chance to collect fabric vanity license plates from each of the stores.  Can't wait to see what all of the fun quips on the plates will be!  

Our regular summer store hours will apply:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9am-9pm
Thursday*, Friday, Saturday  9am-5pm
Sunday 12 noon-4pm

*After July 30 we will return to our usual 9-9 Thursday hours.

47, 48, 49, 50

Modern Quilt Sampler is back!  

A quartet of triangle blocks is our pleasure today.  And the halfway mark to the goal.

Again, Kristina has pulled some gems from her scrap collection.

We have been amazed and pleased with the hundreds of shop hoppers that have been crossing our threshold.  Not only the participants in Quilt MN 2014, but also the nationwide Row By Row Experience.  It is so rewarding to meet new people and greet the familiar faces again.  We have been keeping the copiers humming trying to keep up with block patterns, row patterns, quilt labels, etc.  Cutting kits and more kits is nearly a full-time job!

Many of the quilt shop customers also discover some of the other nearby shops and cafes on their way to and from Bear Patch.  We are located on a busy corner of the downtown area of White Bear Lake, and just a few short blocks away from the lakeshore.  And one block in the other direction is a little park with fountains and a gazebo.  Friday mornings will find that park overflowing with fresh produce for the Farmers' Market.  And, yes, there is some annoying construction on Hwy. 61, but it is open and the improvements will make it better for you on your next trip!  These beautiful hanging flower baskets almost make up for the inconvenience!