Holiday Fabric Contest recipients...

We had some lovely stories come in to Bolt Talk this past Holiday Season...all varied and so interesting and giving us an insight into the Holidays around the World.

It took awhile...and some re-reading and with difficulty, we chose Kathy O'Sullivan and Material Girl (Deb W) as the recipients of the WebFabrics Gift Cards.

Congratulations, Ladies...and to all who took the time to share with us, we really appreciated your stories and your participation in Bolt Talk and getting to know our customers around the World!

A Safe, Peaceful and Healthy New Year to you All!


Kerry

Happiest of Holidays to you all!!!

Here we are on December 24th...Christmas Eve..Things are quiet now at WebFabrics. It was a crazy last 2 weeks! We had a wonderful last week or so...playing Elves to husbands and children coming in to buy Mom just what she wanted!
This is all a lead in to wish all of you...our very special customers a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful Holiday time and more for the New Year!
Happy Quilting from your good friends at WebFabrics...Carly, Cathy, Nancy, Jane, Claudia, Stevii, Patty and me, Kerry...
A very Merry Christmas to one and to all!!

Another Christmas story...

Kathy O'Sullivan shares this lovely story of a Christmas many years ago...



Back when AOL had a quilting chat room . . . I was home during the week with my kids, working weekends, and I had much more time to quilt and correspond on the internet. I loved participating in block swaps on-line. Total strangers from all over the country and sometimes the world would participate in the swaps. It was a great way to meet fellow quilters. In fact, I met my very best friend in the world through a block swap. Sometimes the blocks were disappointments, but always there were outstanding blocks that more than made up for those.

One year I participated in a Christmas block swap. Most of the ladies were from a guild in Phoenix but a few of us were "on line." I finished my blocks and mailed them well before the due date. But it came time for the swap, and my blocks had not arrived at their destination. I called my post office. I called the Phoenix post office. The blocks were nowhere to be found. I spoke with the hostess. She could not delay the swap any longer. I was disappointed, but I understood that the others were anxious for the swap.

The swap went on without my blocks. The hostess told the story of the lost blocks at the guild meeting. The quilters, wonderful people that they are, offered blocks. They said "I have an extra of the ones that I made" or "I will donate one that I've received" or "I will go home and make another one for her."

A few weeks later, 16 blocks arrived in my mailbox. On the same day, the lost package of blocks showed up in Phoenix. At the next guild meeting, all of the generous people who donated a block received one from me.

The quilt that I made from that swap hangs in the entryway of our home every Christmas, where it reminds me of the good things that people do, even for strangers on the internet.

Kathy O'Sullivan

Columbus, Ohio

Thank you, Kathy.

Last weekend...

Here we are...the last weekend before Christmas...all those emergency late night bindings...the table-toppers...fabric birds for the trees...pocket books...book covers...gift bags...pillow cases...

OH my, Are you going as crazy as I am??? What are you last minute finishing... I know I will be spending most of Sunday watching sports with the family while I finish the binding on a twin size quilt...and 2 more pocket books to make...
and I.O.U for a quilt, that I never got to. Thank goodness it is an accepting recipient! And it will be on it's way the week after...thank goodness for good friends who know that your presents are worth waiting for!

How are you all coping? Have you done everything?? Or are you, like me, scrambling with a needle in one hand and a watch in the other!

How are those Christmas Fabric stories coming? We've heard some lovely things from around the world...er hemispheres...But we want to hear more! Remember Carly is offering Gift certificates for the best stories...and Gift Certificates mean FABRIC!!
Let's hear some more stories! Write to us... if you can't post on the blog itself, write to us at CustomerTeam@Webfabrics.net ...and we'll post your story for others to read and enjoy!

Back to my binding!!

Peace my friends,

Kerry

Christmas Contest postings...

I don't know how many of you have read Pam's great post. But what a concept...picnicking for Christmas...just another reminder of how we all celebrate the holiday differently!

I'm not sure how many of you are having difficulty figuring out how to post your stories...our blog is hosted by Google's blogger, if you sign in as a member with Google, you can use that account to post your entry in our Christmas Fabric Contest! There are a few other services that you may belong to that allow you to use your name and password to post (they are listed once you try to post your comments...a bit backwards...but when this internet works it's marvelous!!)

We would love to hear from you now and later...whether with comments or questions or just anything! We want Bolt Talk to become a real world-wide conversation. So consider joining our conversation with a Google identity/password. We still have our Christmas story contest going on...so join us and post your story for all to share!


As ever,


Kerry

What does Fabric mean to you at this time of year?

If you are like me...you are going crazy trying to complete holiday gifts for those near and dear to you. These last few weeks here at WebFabrics, I have been cutting a lot of fabric...and each time...I think....hmmm this would make a great purse for my sister, Chris...wonder which one to use as a lining and straps...
Or at home, having cut out pieces for a quilt, looking at all the 3/4 inch strips left over and thinking what a wonderful rope-covered basket. I can make for my cousin, Wendy, in her favorite colors from Provence.
All the table runners and tree skirts we make will be stories for our children and grandchildren...but what of the ones we have already?
We here at WebFabrics were wondering about all of you around the world. How do YOU use your fabrics for the holidays? What do they mean to you?
Ornaments? Do you have fabric ornaments you bring out every year...and remember a story with each one as you hang it on the tree? Is there a beloved quilt that your Aunt Sarah made you that you cuddle under during this wonderful holidays? Do you decorate with quilts? How about a Christmas tree skirt made by great-grandmother and passed to down to oldest daughters in the family? Do you have fabric that tells a holiday story to you? Share that story with us. Or share a photo that will tell the story.

Starting now and thru December 26th, send us your story. Post it as a comment to the BoltTalk Blog so everyone can read it or see your photos. We will award 2 (TWO) $50.00 Gift Certificates to WebFabrics for the two best!

Post your entries as a reader comment!! I can't wait to hear all the traditional stories from around the world!

As ever,

Kerry


PS...Carly's birthday was a huge success!! You all came through to the tune of 1600 congratulatory emails. That is a phenomenal number! We have the best customers on the planet!!! Thank you all so very much for helping us celebrate Carly's birthday!

Kerry

Kaffe Fassett around the World...

Kaffe Fassett...great fabric...combinations and patterns that can be anything! You all love it! But this will really catch your fancy! One of our customers, Ineke sent this link to us. In Friesland, the northern most part of Holland, they have made a Kaffe Fassett quilt and hung it from a church tower!!!

It is actually made of 360 smaller quilts. Kaffe Fassett was present himself.

http://www.quiltkabinet.nl/page_1221931598156.html

I know many of you don't understand Dutch, nor do I, but it seems the large quilt will be turned back into smaller quilts and given away to local charities... what a wonderful way to showcase quilting around the world!

Kaffe Fasssett's Latest

The new Kaffe Fassett is here.
There was a flurry of unpacking the truck from Houston (just finished on Tuesday...PHEW!) and cutting my beloved Urban Couture (which is almost sold out on a few of the bolts!) which kept us on our tip-toes for days.







This week, every day was spent finishing the Kaffe Fasssett 1/2 yard complete collections... fat quarter complete collections (which already sold out and are being re-cut) and all the lovely Kaffe bundles that Carly puts together with her expert eye for colors and combinations...



I was amazed at the speed that the last Kaffe Collection was sold...but this one is even faster and I didn't believe it was possible to beat the old record.






This one is going, going....well YOU know the rest of THAT line!


As ever,
Kerry

Urban Couture has arrived!

It's here!!! It's here!!! and it has been very well worth the wait...
Urban Couture by Basic Grey for MODA is in the shop...my wonderful co-workers cleared all the other new fabrics that had arrived and let me have a day full of cutting. It was a wonderful day of cutting for the shop and the website and a lovely little pile for ME!!! I had downloaded the pattern from Moda's website and now I'm raring to go...

The new Kaffe Fassett line arrived as well, so the tables are full of piles of cut fabric and rolled bundles.

All this furious cutting and there's STILL Carly's truck to unload from Houston. We are busy bees this week!

Now for another introduction...Here is Jane. she is definitely not a Plain Jane! I have the pleasure of working one day a week with her and always look forward to it. If you order on Monday or Tuesday, chances are Jane has cut your order perfectly!

Houston...

Just a quick one...Carly has been sending updates at the end of her very long days and it would seem that Houston is a huge success. Everything I've heard and read online says it is definitely THE place to be.
So many customers have stopped by to say hello that Carly can't keep track of them all...Britt A. all the way from Sweden...Joyce T. and Cathy G. from here in the USA...Nathalie G. and her husband from Belgium...(I wonder if they brought some chocolates...they'll be none left by the time Carly gets home here to the shop!!!)
More later!

As ever,
Kerry

Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

I'm not sure how many people know that we participate in October's Breast Cancer Awareness month..I know you, like I know someone personally who has had breast cancer.Whether you make a quilt in dedication to or celebration of them, we have a lovely kit available here at WebFabrics.

Last year Carly and the Team made patterns on white fabric and customers who came to the shop took them and made hundreds of Bra Squares...enough that 7 completed quilts were donated to area oncologists and Breast Cancer Clinics. And one more to go in a few weeks.


This past week , we received a lovely, lovely note from Marsha Fell in Hilton Head. She made, finished, quilted and presented a Bra Quilt to Dr Virginia Herrmann at the Breast Health Care Center at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.. She explained the project to the Dr. who was thrilled and hung the quilt immediately.

Marsha hopes, as do we at WebFabrics, that you take up this cause and make a quilt for someone who could use a laugh and a hug at a very desperate time.

Marsha sent us a photo which I'm posting here... Thank you so much, Marsha for sharing!

We also received a quick note from Crazy Judy in Tennessee...back from Alabama to find her Amber Fairy Frosts waiting for her...Good news, Judy.. I heard from Carly late last night 50...yes FIFTY new colors in Fairy Frosts...hehehe

Besides the 50 new colors of Fairy Frost...the new line of Kaffe Fassett...and this is only basically Day 1....I can't wait to see what else Carly finds for us all!!!

Enjoy your weather, whereever you are! We'll be here keeping a light on...go ahead...Shop in your bunny slippers at 1 am...I'll never tell!!!!

As ever,

Kerry

On the Road Again...

Well...the dust is settling and there is a strange

quiet...the flurry of cutting is yesterday's memory...

Bins loaded and halfway to Houston...

To all those lucky enough to get to Houston this year...Safe

trip and have a wonderful time!

You like us, you really like us!!!

Oh, my goodness! What a wonderful response our new website has generated. We all think it's gorgeous,too!

What I really love is the "By Color" option. It makes finding the perfect fabrics SO easy. ( I use it at home and then look for the fabrics on the days I work.)


PHEW! We are actually finished cutting a van-full of fabric for the Houston Show. Carly will head off on Wednesday. It will seem quieter without the hustle and bustle of making yard cuts and fat quarter bundles for Houston.



Hopefully, Moda's Urban Couture will come in and we can play with it and not have to rush. If you haven't seen this luxurious fabric or the quilt made from it (we have one of Moda's own quilts in the shop for another week), go to Urban Couture
http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/free_patterns .

I know, I know, I sound fickle. I was in love with Wild Side and I still am! I did have a brief encounter with Shell Grotto last Friday (it is so sweet and feels so silky).
BUT I think it will be very hard for ANYone not to fall in love with Urban Couture - it has something for everyone.I have to stop in the shop today to see if it came in...just a quick glimpse!

We love your comments.Yesterday as we read through them...we smiled. It is so much fun touching people around the world through fabric. We are so excited that you like our blog. No pressure there! Hehehe. We have an email address you can write to:

BoltTalk@Webfabrics.net

Send us your ideas, your comments, your questions, photos of your work...I've a quilt I finished for my cousin's daughter that I'll post later this week.
We can't wait to hear from you!

As ever,

Kerry

PS
If you are lucky enough to get to Houston, stop by Booths 1924-26-28 and say hello to Carly...
oh and she sells fabric too!!

Very long distance thank you...

I have to share this. It is just too neat a moment to not tell you about.

On Thursday morning, I got in to work a few minutes early...to straighten the cutting tables and help organize the orders. Carly was busy giving the shop a once over with the vacuum and as usual, if we are there, the shop is open.
In walked two lovely young ladies, who asked for Carly. I gestured to her and they stammered in translated English. "Thank you." It seems that Katja from Bremen in Germany had had a problem with her order and Carly and Cathy had solved her problems (with their usual skill) and Katja in visiting the United States had made sure to visit the shop and thank Carly personally with absolutely yummy chocolate bars!!! (We can be bought with good chocolate! hehehe)

It is so neat to not only hear from customers...but to meet them is wonderful. Putting faces to names just makes the connection better.

So...feel free to write to me...ask questions...I'll find you an answer...tell me what you think...show me what you made... and I'll show everyone else...

As ever,

Kerry

Welcome to Bolt Talk!

Welcome to Bolt Talk!

Hello Quilters!!! And welcome to a new feature on our beautiful, shiny new website! I hope to make this a fun blog to check in on...letting you all see behind the scenes a bit. I will hopefully introduce you to some of my terrific co-workers...YOUR fabric angels!

Here at WebFabrics, we are cutting like crazy so that Cathy (that's Cathy on the right) can ship it all out 'asap' to our wonderful customers. For our in-store customers, it's even more fun, they get to see it all close-up.

Last week, we received 32 bolts of The Wild Side from Robert Kaufman. I have been waiting desperately for this fabric since Carly ordered it...I absolutely adore animal prints! Luckily for me, *I* was working the day it arrived. When I opened the cartons, I sighed audibly. It is absolutely gorgeous fabric! For every cut I made for bundles for the shop, I made one for my own lovely little stack. I could swear I heard the leopard fabric purring! I did have to endure the jabs of co-workers...they know me too well...lol I can't believe one bolt has sold out already...is there really someone crazier about animal prints than I am????

For those living within driving distance, we have our Saturday demonstrations at 11AM and 2 PM. This past weekend , Stevii, our demo guru, showed us how to make pillows for family and friends who are in recovery after breast cancer surgery. In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month, we've again put together our *Bra Quilt* kits and they are selling like hotcakes.

Our in-store free demos also include our newest Block of the Month kits and an Applique class beginning this month. I started coming regularly to the shop for the free Saturday demos over a year ago, now I work there...it really was an opportunity I couldn't walk away from. I have learned so many

fun things to do with fabric - I don't know how Carly and Stevii come up with all these neat

ideas...

I never knew, when my cousin wrote to me over 2 years ago about the quilt shop in my little home town of Purcellville, that I would be working here with the most wonderful gals in the world (and I hope to introduce them all to you).

So here I am, Kerry... novice quilter and fabri-holic, hoping I"ll be cutting for you this week.
I can promise you, that no matter who cuts your order... every fat quarter or half yard you buy is cut with care and packed with laughter and love by the team at WebFabrics!