Slacking off

It's the end of the school year & I'm swamped!
I apologize for slacking off in the blog posting department, but I still have another week of school where I'm staying busy with grades, last minute field trips, & mentoring a new teacher.
Then I've been ordering new fabric for the shop the past couple of weeks.
It looks like new bolts will begin arriving next week!

The new June Class Calendar is posted on our website & our Mermaid teachers have a bunch of new classes ready for June. Check it out & let me know if you'd like to be on our mailing list.
www.calicomermaid.com

I promise I'll be back & catch up soon!

 

Memorial Day Weekend Sale!

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
May 25-27, 2012

All regularly priced yardage 25% off

(in shop only - free shipping on all web orders)

Teach a Girl to Make a Bag...

 Teach a girl to make a bag, then get out of the way! There will be embellishing & variations & ideas galore!

Bags are the big deal at Calico Mermaid this spring.


The Pockets a Plenty pattern, taught by Jenny has been our biggest seller, but Margaret's Mesh Bag Class is a close second.

 Jenny has inspired Lilli to make a bunch of variations on the Pockets a Plenty Bag.

 These are examples of the free tote pattern we gave away on our Cruise to Porterville weekend. We still have some pocket kits left. Just ask if you missed out or need more.

 Rae Lynne used her Double Diamond Ruler to change up one of her mesh bags.

 Cathy did a great job on her Ruffled Up Bag. It's so cute!

Mother's Day 2012

Mother's Day is tomorrow, & I miss my mom. 

My mom taught me so much.

She told me I could do anything if I tried

She taught me to enjoy creating in all kinds of ways - sewing, crafting, cooking, music.She was an early-day Martha Stewart, recreating recipes & ideas from magazines with her own twist.   

She taught me to enjoy life.

If it wasn't fun, she made it fun.

She made everything beautiful & found the best in everything & everybody.

She wasn't afraid to work hard & make things happen.

Often when I'm selecting fabric in the shop, I notice a piece she would love & think what she'd do with it. Or how she'd laugh at some. When new tools arrive, I think of how she'd improvise & achieve the same effect without buying the tool at all. Many times I wish I could show her a book or pattern.

I think of her everyday & remember her love.

I'm very lucky to have had such a wonderful mom.

Your Mother's Going to Love You!

Win this Mother's Day Fat Quarter Pack from Robert Kaufman!
If you're a Mom, a Grandma, or had a Mother...this is the drawing for you!
Everyone through the door receives a ticket to win this beautiful pack. We'll be drawing the winning ticket Sunday at 2:00. Enter every time you visit!
(At least run around the block or go have lunch before you come back for another ticket.) 
Open 10-6 Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 Sunday

Meanwhile...
we have gift cards
blades
cutters
note cards
kits
pigma pens
fat quarter packs
scissors
beads
& all sorts of tools to make your quilter's day!

We were so busy Dion needed her bike to put everything away quickly!

Come join the fun!

Jen & Jenny ready for the Luau!

Maggie & Rae Lynne before the rush.

Here are samples of the free tote bag pattern with our block kit pocket.

You can find the Coconut Pineapple Bread & Coconut Cookies recipes here:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chewy-coconut-cookies/
http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2010/12/18/coconut-pineapple-bread/

Need to get away?

Baby Mack stopped by to check out the Happy Sea Star Sale.

Look for the Happy Sea Star Sale bolts! 25% off

Sunday's Mermaid Crew

Dion & Lynette ready for another day

Our favorite sign artist in action.

Luautastic!

Iris Festival

 The winner is Becky Haley! $50 gift card! 

I wish I was better at photography. Her piece is amazing. Everyone did such a wonderful job. 

Thanks to everyone who participated - watch for next year's details!

The Iris Challenges are hung from the ceiling with care...

Iris Festival Challenge

Well, we've had a busy week for sure. The Iris Festival Challenges are all in & were judged by the Chamber of Commerce.
I'll show you a peek, but you really must stop in to see them. They're magnificent. What amazing talent we have among our customers!
Iris Challenge Fat Quarters were purchased with rules & entry forms. There were size constraints, & each has to include a visible piece of the Challenge fabric. The entries are all hung in the shop now, & will be up until June 1.
We'll announce the winner of a $50 gift card Saturday at the Iris Festival.

These two are front & back of a two-sided entry.

Quilt Show Success!

Here's our booth at the Best of the Valley Quilt Show this weekend. We had a great time & saw lots of friends. After a year, we feel like maybe we're getting the hang of this vendor both business.
The quilts are phenomenal. I'll take some quilt pics tomorrow. It's just been too busy so far. Notice the groovy green light over our booth? They replaced it last night & today I felt like I was under a spotlight all day! It was great.
We took lots of batiks, animal prints, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Yo Gabba Gabba, brand new Christmas, local olives & citrus fruit, pomegranates, some trendy new gray & yellow, Hoffman Challenge, & some soft new Moda prints.
The Thimble Art patterns are flying out of the booth. Everyone is loving these dimensional patterns.
We have some new Pockets a Plenty sample bags, thanks to our teachers & customers. These bags are so versatile & everyone who makes one ends up making a bunch!
So it's been a good show, with one day left. Tomorrow we're open 10-4. Drop in & say hello.