Creations Communications

It’s amazing to think that Creations is nearly 34 years old.   We are very thankful to all of those who have continued to support us thru the years.

Our anniversary party will be February 10th - 12th.  The items in the picture will be part of the 34 special gifts we will be giving away.  Each person who comes will receive a ticket that they can drop in the sack that matches the number of the gift they would like to receive.  For each $20.00 spent, there will be another ticket that can be dropped in any sack. (Hint:  Bring some stickly name labels so you won’t have to spend alot of time signing the entries)

We will draw for the gifts at the close of business on Sunday, February 12th.  We will then post the winners on our blog so be sure and check back to see if you won.  We will be glad to send the gift to you, or hold it until you pick it up.  The names of the winners will stay on the blog for two weeks.  It will be your responsiblility to let us know you won.

Domino has been with Creations for the last 11 years and she has decided that it is time we had a “Domino’s Pieces Box” and she wants everyone who comes to our Anniversary celebration to have one too.

We will be giving out the “Pieces Boxes” across the driveway at The Main House during our celebration.  Each of the “Pieces Boxes” will also contain an additional gift.  Inside your box you might find a fat quarter, a gift card, a Quilt Across Texas tote, tin, or apron.  The gifts will be randomly mixed so no need to stand out in the cold to get the first ones!!!

Besides all this, we will be serving Mary’s Pound Cake and coffee at The Main House.  Hope you will be able to come and help us celebrate.

We hope you will enjoy our coupons for February.  During the winter months, why not try working with wool for applique, sewing, or other embellishments.  Our coupons this month will help you get started as we have coupons for patterns, hand needles, wool (both bolted goods and cut pieces) and perle cotton or lana wool thread.  These are the things you will need when working with wool.  Give it a try!!

All you need to do is print this particular blog post and cut out the coupons you want to use and bring them to the shop on your next visit.  Before you print, just click on the title of this blog and you will print only this one post.

 We hosted our 2nd Charity Sew to put challenge blocks from the 2011 Bluebonnet Patchwork Shop Hop into quilts for the Baptist Children’s Hopsital.

A group of about 20 gals sewing, cutting, and pressing put together a total of 31 quilt tops using blocks from the shop hop challenge.  We worked from 10 - 4 in the Studio at The Main House with  lunch provided by Creations.  At the end of the day, we left exhausted and very satisfied knowing we had been part of a meaningful mission.

Deanne Quill from The Quilt Haus in New Braunfels was in charge of the challenge blocks for the shop hop.  The Linus Group in New Braunfels works out of her shop and they create quilts for charity all year long.

If you would like to participate in the block challenge for the 2012 Shop Hop,  give us a call and we will be glad to get you a kit.  The cost of the kit is $2.00.  The blocks must be turned into one of the participating shops before March 27th, 2012.  There are categories for Applique, Pieced, Combination and Art/Dimensional.  There are great prizes for First, Second, Third in each category as well as a Grand Prize.   It’s fun to participate even if you aren’t an “expert”.   We need lots of blocks to put into quilts next year.

The shop hop is April 12th - 15th, 2012.  You can check out the details on our website, www.creations-online.com .  Just scroll down to the bottom of the front page to find the details.

If bold fabrics attract you, then these new collections from Jane Sassaman and Alexander Henry will inspire you.

The large picture frame shows some of Jane’s new collection.  There is a border print, large coordinates and even bright tone on tones.  We have seen these made into clothes, aprons, quilts, bags…you name it.

The small picture frame shows off new pieces from Alexander Henry.  The stripe is exceptional and goes so well with the lots of prints.  These are just plain fun fabrics to work with.  Be sure and check them out on your next visit.

It might be cold outside, but the beautiful Spring fabrics are beginning to arrive.

This new collection from Moda is called Summer Breeze II.  Nothing feels more like Spring and Summer than the combinations of yellow, blue and white. Better come by and check this collection out as it might not be here when Spring really arrives.

If you feel like Spring should be more pink, lavender and green, then this collection from Fabri-quilt called Spring Spectacular will entice you. It includes a panel, coordinated prints and even a double quilted fabric which would be great for placemats or totes.

   Please read the post just below this one to get all the details of the “Sew A Crooked Line” retreat that will take place February 5th - 7th at The Main House.

 Alice just finished this great tote bag using her class techniques.

She used the Sheer Overlay technique to enhance the pocket area, while the Dancing Threads can be found on the sides of the tote.

The “Windows” technique  showcases a fabric that ties all the colors together.

The class works with small samples to learn the techniques, then you could get started on your own special tote.  Next time you are in the shop, be sure and come take a close look at this wonderful bag.

Hope you will make plans to join us February 5th - 7th for a 2  1/2day retreat with Alice Kolb where she will share her knowledge of threads, stitches, and classic techniques.

  We are excited to have Alice Kolb, nationally recognized educator, come to The Main House for a 2 1/2 day retreat February 5th - 7th.  Alice will teach us to “Sew a crooked line” combining altered classic stitches on your sewing machine with various weights of threads.

This playful sampling of techniques turns into your personal design when it becomes the basis for a tote, small art quilt, table runner or wearable.  This class will focus on success with thread, needle and stitch choices to create beautiful end results.  Beads, buttons and trims can easily be added to the mix.

Alice is best known for her classic embellishments that make her wearables timeless.

If you are not ready to tackle a garment, you will still want to learn these techniques as they can be easily incorporated into bags, runners, or art quilts.

We just had to include this picture as it one of our favorites. The stitches are classic and uncomplicated, but the mix of threads, fabrics and stitches turns into an endearing art quilt.

Hope you will join us February 5th - 7th for this fun retreat.  You can register on line at www.creations-online.com and click on the link to The Main House where you will see a reservations calendar.  A complete supply list will be provided upon registration, but if you have additional questions, please contact Barbara Quinby at barbara@creations-online.com or give her a call at 830-315-8088.

As we enter 2012, we are seeing the arrival of some great new fabric lines.  Since we can’t put everything on our website, we will continue to feature new collections here.

This first group is from In the Beginning’s William Morris collection.  The colors are brighter than those from Barbara Brackman by Moda which we also carry.

We have chosen to do a small window treatment with one of the repeating stripes and then use the remaining portion of the stripe to do the Easy Table Runner pattern which was designed for stripes.

Another great design company is Alexander Henry.  We rarely put these on our website because they don’t last long.  Check out the photo of the 3 newest arrivals.

 We get in fabrics almost every day, so anytime you come by there will be new things to see.  Check back often to our blog and I will promise to keep you up on the very latest at Creations.

Also, be sure and check the blog each month for coupons on different notions, books, patterns, and fabric.

Happy New Year.

We had a wonderful three days when Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably were in town.   It started with a lecture that was inspiring, funny, and left all of us ready  to begin looking for inspiration in our everyday environment.

For the 27 gals who were fortunate enough to be  in the two day class, it was an experience that will inspire them for long time.

 There was color everywhere in the studio.  Sewing machines weren’t allowed during the day as this class was about design, color, and arrangement. (The machines came out at night to get started sewing what had been planned during the day!!)

It was our pleasure to bring these two inspirational teachers to Kerrville.  To see more pictures, visit the Main House website at http://the-main-house.creations-online.com/the-main-house/blog/main-house-blog/kaffee-fasset-and-brandon-mably-main-house-october-9th-11th-2011 .

We have just returned from the first Quilt Across Texas bus trip by Creations and The Main House. We had a total of 40 gals led by Barbara Quinby, the Event Manager for The Main House. (I was lucky enough to get to go too….Julie had to stay and run the shop!)

We visited all the shops in Region 7 of the Statewide hop.  All these gals are now registered to win the prize basket for our region valued at $1,100.00 as well as a finished quilt given by each of the 11 shops.

The bus originated at The Main House and we came back each night.  Twenty-one of the riders spent two nights at TMH as they had driven in from San Angelo, Abilene, Austin, Seguin, Hondo, Comfort, and lots of other places.  They were treated to a good night’s sleep and a good dinner before we ventured out early on our first day.  We visited 6 shops and returned to TMH for another meal and early to bed.  One more day out to visit 4 more shops and back to Creations.  Everyone was ”pooped”, but creatively inspired.

Hope you will make plans to go on at least some portion of this shop hop, and that your plans will include a visit to Creations as well as other shops in Region 7.  If you need more information, you can go to our website www.creations-online.com and scroll down to the Quilt Across Texas info page.  Click that link and you can get all the details.  Remember, it goes the entire month of September, so there is still plenty of time.