Antique Sampler progress

Holy cow!!!! I can hardly believe its almost done! Here's a little peek. I'll post a photo when it's all together. This pattern is by Patchwork with Busyfingers. Her stuff is awesome!

Addressing the Elephant in the Room

Well, I bet some of you are reading this hoping that I will hurry up and share my thoughts about the store being for sale.  So here ya go.  Depending on the hour of the days, I'm either excited about the unknown, or thinking I'm crazy for passing up such a great opportunity to have a quilt shop.  BUT...sometimes our personal, self-seeking desires are not the things that will bring the most fulfillment and joy into our lives. 

Docia and Jim are R.E.A.D.Y. to retire.  They've worked so hard for the last 6 1/2 yrs and have come to the conclusion that its time to rest.  And travel, and spend time with family.  Its been an icky year for Jim, and even though he's going to be fine (for any of you that think his health might have something to do with it), its just solidified that its time to turn the page to the next chapter.

As for me, the most frequently asked question by customers when they find out the shop is for sale is, "What about Beth?"  Trust me when I tell you that we've talked, cried, prayed and agonized over the decision and have complete confidence that we're making the right one.  Jon and I want to have more children (whether biological or adopted) and maybe foster some day and that is not something we can do if we own a store.  For 72 hours I spent my life trying to devise a plan that would make it all work, but alas.  Its can't be done. 

So we're moving forward as usual for a while and hoping that someone (maybe one of our amazing customers) will want to take up the challenge and the blessing that is The Quilt Merchant so that we still have a shop in our area.  It would be so sad to have a hole again in the Wheaton/Winfield area.

Please forgive us...I know a lot of you are a bit caught off guard and dismayed by the whole thing, but its all in God's hands and we are excited for the journey.

Oh, I forgot to say that I am going to continue designing and hope to peddle my wares at Quilt Market someday soon.  I love the industry too much to walk away completely and it will give me that change to "work while home".

Much love and gratitude.

Before and After - Crimson Bouquet Project

I thought this would be a great place to start sharing my before and after photos of quilts that I make.  The vast majority of the quilts I design are deeply inspired by antique quilts I've either seen in person or have collected photos of.  This specific one is really close, but the block size needed the whole thing to be smaller than the original layout.

So here's the original quilt.  I know its a little sorry looking, but it was the design that caught my eye.

 So here's what I did out of Jo Morton's Crimson Bouquet collection plus an assortment of lights from previous collections.  Don't have a name yet, but it will come, I'm sure.

My helper

Sometimes this refers to Eliza, but today it is Bubba. Silly kitty. I am ALMOST done with the Antique Sampler sample. Hopefully by the weekend I'll be sewing blocks together. Woohoo! Today I'm at home with my little girl watching Tinkerbelle, doing laundry and stitching. What a great day.