January 2, 2012
Happy 2012!
Hello everyone, hope you had a great holiday season and are ready to get back into a routine and by that I mean back to sewing and quilting, of course. I have been busy working on the new shop; thanks to all of those of you who have stopped by to say hi, who wave as you pass by, and those of you who have posted messages to me! I am very happy with the new location on Fort St/Antique Row (825).
I am missing my own sewing and quilting time, my hands are getting itchy to work with fabric again. Soon I will be working on new samples for the shop, can’t wait to share them with you. I also have some new projects I want to share with all of you so stay tuned for more details to follow shortly. I have been snapping lots of photos but alas my camera cable (to upload photos) is missing in the move….hopefully it turns up soon.
Let me address some of the questions that have come up thus far:
- will we have classroom space? – absolutely! It will be an open and welcoming space and I hope to keep it pretty filled up with happy quilters. One of my favorite quilt shops in AB (The Chicken Coop in Mundare) is run by the fabulous Val, who welcomed my friends and I in to her classroom space any day it wasn’t booked, at no cost. We spent some wonderful days there visiting, shopping, laughing, and even quilting. I would very much like to open my classroom to small groups [of quilting friends], just give me a call to book your day. I will have coffee and there are [of course] at least 2 coffee shops on the street.
- will there be parking available? – Yes! There is street parking in front of the store (both sides of street) and a loading zone (perfect for dropping off your sewing machine for classes or sewing days). I will also be offering one hour free parking at the City parkades vouchers (the Library parkade is the closest, I think).
- Bus service? – Yes, there is a bus stop on the street, I don’t know all of the bus routes just yet but will keep you posted, or feel free to post here if you know which buses stop on the 800 block of Fort St.
- Bicycle parking? – yes, again, right in front of the store.
- I belong to a local group who previously met at Satin Moon – will you have room for us? – Yes, I am happy to welcome you to the new Satin Moon Quilted Garden, my classroom space is your classroom space. I will be setting up those times with you soon, to begin in February.
Please, keep sending me your questions and comments, I want Satin Moon Quilted Garden to be your shop too!
Linda
looking from front to back of store, the before
November 25, 2009
Quilt Angel Opportunities at Satin Moon
Welcome Quilt at The Cridge Transition House
Giving, caring and comfort are the foundation of the quilting community. Having devoted over thirty years of my life to public school teaching, working toward the common good is an important facet of my life that dovetails nicely with the greater quilting community and Satin Moon.
This holiday season Satin Moon is expanding its commitment to The Cridge , and The Cridge Transition House for Women.
Our Seamstress Joan G is busy completing eight quilts to give to eight new residents of The Cridge Transition House for Women. The quilts will be on display at Satin Moon December 5-17, before being given to the new residents. It is our hope to add to these loving gifts with eight new donated cosmetic bags . I have two Clinique bags full of new cosmetic samples, saved just for this opportunity.
I hope that some of you will be able to provide 6 more. The Nanaimo Quilters Guild girls send me back with a bag stuffed with toiletries to start our ongoing collection.
We will continually collect gift cosmetic bags and new travel size toiletries to provide gifts to new residents as they enter and exit The Cridge Transition House. In addition The Cridge has asked us to participate in their cell phone recycling program which will provide the women with cell phones and initial coverage. Your old cell phones can be mailed or dropped off at Satin Moon and picked up by The Cridge staff for recycling and distribution. Contact Candace Stretch Assistant Manager of Women’s & Family Services (250) 995 6404 for more information
One more box is waiting to collect eyeglasses and sunglasses for CHILDREN and adults. As a proud Chinatown Lioness I am participating in the Lions Club Operation Eye Care. This program was established to provide reconditioned, recycled eyeglasses to developing countries around the world. The Lighthouse sends approximately 100,000 pairs of glasses overseas each year. Gord and I collected 6 pairs of reading glasses and 3 pairs of prescription glasses plus 2 pairs of sunglasses just from our own “stash” . Once again, the Nanaimo guild members sent back 3 pairs of children’s glasses to start our collection. These too can be mailed or brought in to the store, all year long.
For more opportunities , check out our links page– and send me more links and ideas to add.
September 25, 2009
Meet Sharron!
On the average 100 bolts of new fabric arrive at Satin Moon most months. It is a group effort to get them ready for you.
Without Sharron, fabric would never be organized. She checks all my orders against the shipments as they arrive. Each fabric is scanned, logged into the computer with a code, description and a photo. In doing this we can easily track down our inventory or reorder for you and get everything posted on the website (by Rory and Sarah).
Once all the fabric is checked in, two fat quarters are cut- on for immediate sale and one for display.
Most are then nestled onto the shelves, but some of the real dazzlers get a front and center spot to introduce them to you- like this Aurora by Robert Kaufmann!
If you are lucky, you get in before the staff covets it all!
September 23, 2009
Fabric Fabric Fabric!
Every month several fabric representatives, from the major Canadian fabric distribution companies – like Trendtex, CSM and Harpers , representing all the major fabric companies like Moda and Kaufamn, call on Satin Moon. They bring SUITCASES full of crisp laser images and actual fabric samples.
From the approximately 400,00 new fabrics previewed at Quilt Market each year the importers select and create sample cards of hundreds of thousands of quilting fabrics for the Canadian market .
Wonderful reps like Dennis patiently show all the lines to me, and over two to three hours of intense decision making, I arrange and select the fabrics that I think will please and excite you to create the quilts of your dreams.
I often get the opinions of staff and customers.
Often fabrics are ordered 6 months or earlier before they debut at the store. It is becoming more common to only see printed paper from which to order. The companies then print the yardage according to the pre orders- so if a shop does not order, you have virtually no chance of getting the fabric!
A wonderful new Christmas 2010 edition of the Paper dolls will be available next May- so I did pre- order several bolts. Crazy to be ordering for Christmas of NEXT year!
September 16, 2009
Amy Butler and Satin Moon
Amy Butler keeps making a bigger and bigger presence at Satin Moon. She has some tantalizing new photos on her website.
I can hardly wait until the fabric representative comes to show me the samples. I have been waiting to see the fabrics since Amy announced them at the Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. Let me know what you like, I cannot order them all, so l’d love your input on the must have’s.
Here are some cute skirts we have made for the skirt class starting tomorrow. I made the lipstick skirt, by Bananfana and Maureen made the two great Barcelona skirts and over skirt. My daughter plans to wear them over tights, and since they are lined, they will be perfect for winter here in the temperate rain forest!
Here are a few more of the ways we have been inspired to use Amy Butler fabric.
I would love to see your ideas. Have any of you been using her new software? We used it for the two pillows.
~Brenda
I just wanted to quickly say how MUCH I love the fabrics that Amy Butler creates. They’re always so colourful and modern. All the people my age just adore the stuff that Amy Butler comes up with! I’m excited to see what’s next! I still want to make an Amy Butler quilt!
~Rory
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