Our Newest Class List Is Out!

Our newest Class List is available by clicking here!

Don't Forget!

We are open until 6:00 every Wednesday!  Come by and see us tomorrow!  

Thanksgiving Week Hours

Gobble gobble! We will be closed next week in observance of Thanksgiving on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to celebrate with our families. We will open back up on Saturday, November 30th for the Sale of the Century - our annual Post Thanksgiving Day Sale! Watch your email for details.... it's a really good sale this year! The email is going to land in your email boxes on the morning of Thanksgiving... stay tuned...

Country Quilts Shop Challenge 2013

Stop by the shop today to vote on your favorite entry!  

Don't forget, today is Wednesday and we are open until 6:00 p.m.  

Weekend Christmas Sale and some Winter Classes!

It's a Christmas Sale!  Click HERE to see our most current newsletter and the weekend sale information, plus a few new classes!  

Fall Frolic, Batik Blowout and A Nod to the Pumpkin

We've had a few days to settle down and catch our breath after the Jacksonville Quilt Fest and now it's time to move on to the next project - our Fall Frolic!!  On Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th we will be celebrating fall and hopefully some cooler temperatures and less humidity!  All our batiks in the store will be 30% off!!  Yes, you read that correctly, 30% off!  In addition to that marvelous discount, we are celebrating all things Pumpkin!  If you find a non-batik fabric you like that has orange or rust in it, you will get 30% off that, too!  We are calling that our "Nod to the Pumpkin" sale.    

Marilyn is hosting Thanksgiving for her family this year and she has decided to enlist her customers to help!  No, you don't have to go stuff her turkey, but she would like it if you brought in a copy of your favorite pumpkin recipe.  If she selects your recipe to prepare for her family on Thanksgiving Day, you will get to choose TWO free yards of fabric! 

In addition to all this fun, there will be fresh doughnuts and apple cider

 So, lets's recap:

~~ Batik Blowout - 30% off all batiks in the store!

~~Nod to the Pumpkin Sale - 30% off all fabric containing orange or rust!

~~Pumpkin Recipe Search - bring in your favorite pumpkin recipe and if it wins, you get 2 yards of fabric of your choice, free!

~~Fun, Fall, Frolic, Cider and Doughnuts!  What more could you ask for?

Click HERE to see what other fun we have planned to ring in the fall!

Fall Classes, Labor Day Hours and a Sale!

Above is Linda Simon's new class, Bow Ties.  

It's a beautiful thing!

We've just posted our newest class schedule and a few other things so click the link to see what's happening at Country Quilts and Bears!  See you there!  

Our New Friend

Messages From Marilyn

Here's a photo from my vacation that started in Vancouver, Canada, where I could already feel the Alaskan breezes. That lightweight jacket would soon disappear... 

We have a new friend in the shop!  He's come all the way from Alaska!  He's settled down now and found his favorite location where he greets new friends with a big smile.  However, he needs your help.  The poor guy doesn't have a name.  So we're asking you all to please come by, meet our new friend and help us give him the proper name he so deserves.  On September 18th, I'll go over all the entries and choose the winning submission.  The lucky person will receive two free yards of fabric of his or her choosing.  Oh, and let's not forget bragging rights...

Labor Day weekend hours - we will be closed Saturday, August 31st and Monday, September 2nd so we can enjoy time with our families and maybe even gets some yard work done.

Have you studied the beautiful fabrics which make up the 2013 Shop Challenge?  We're getting some very interesting, varied entries.  These are not you ordinary little quilt!  Stretch your imagination and come out of your comfortable box.  Over the years we've noticed that originality counts and only a few kits remain for your choosing.  Come play with this project and surprise yourself and others!      

The weeks pass so fast and before we know it the big Jacksonville Quilt Fest will be upon us.  Thursday, September 26th through Saturday, September 28th.  This is the larges quilt show in the state with over 400 quilts and 74 vendors.  It has always been well worth your time and effort to attend this event.  It is always an exciting weekend!  Or triple booth is number 404, the exact spot we've been for years!  Please come on by and say "hello".    

The Cat has Returned!

A Note From Mother Cat:

Dorothy said it, "There's no place like home!"  We're tired but we did it all - from Tampa to within 100 miles of the Arctic Circle.  Our family party of six traveled by air, cruise ship, rental car, bus and train.  I'm thoroughly convinced because of the enormous size and scope of our largest state that there must be countless areas of Alaska still unexplored and uninhabited.  

My personal favorite activity in Alaska was panning for gold.  Between John and I, we assayed $33.  However, the Alaskan pipeline brought tears to my eyes.  I grew up as the Oilman's Daughter and rode the delivery trucks with my Dad.  Actually seeing and even touching this amazing engineering feat meant a lot to me.  

From Fairbanks we flew south to Las Vegas and then drove up to Utah where we spent two weeks with my sister in her wonderful rustic mountain cabin 11,200 feet above sea level.  The temperature ranged from 40 degrees at night to 60 degrees in the daytime.  

Now we are back and green grass looks real good to us.  John and I want to thank our staff here in the shop and commend them for a job well done in our absence.  Although, if you have mice tales to tell, please, by all means, stop by and fill me in!!

Meow......

Marilyn and John 

End of the Month, End of the Bolt Sale and Summer Classes

Click here for our most recent newsletter.  

Squeak squeak!  

.

Mouse Sale!!!

We survived the Annual Inventory Sale!   Wow!  Thank you to everyone who stopped by and shopped, had cookies and lemonade, or just came in for a visit.  It was our best sale, ever!  Soooooo, needless to say, the mice were very tired this morning as we were cleaning up from all the ruckus.  Half way through the process we mice decided that we were going to extend the sale of books and Jim Shore figurines through Friday, July 26th.  Please don't tell the Cat, but we are keeping ALL books at 40% off and ALL Jim Shore figurines at 50% off because, quite honestly, we don't have the energy to put them away!  

We have plenty of Edyta Sitar, Kim Diehl, Camille Roskelley, Malka Dubrawsky books, just to name a few!  Help us empty those tables so we don't have to carry them to the back room!  Squeak,  squeak!

Annual Inventory Sale is Today and Tomorrow!!

Yes, it's that time again!!  It's time to thin out our shelves to make room for all the new fabric we have ordered!    

All books, all patterns, all fabric, all threads and all notions - ALL OF IT IS 25% OFF!  

Everything in the store except kits, bears and bear making supplies is 25% off.  This would be a great time to stock up on backings, battings, threads, wool, and anything else that you need to fill in those gaps in your stash.  

And don't forget, Christmas is right around the corner and before you know it, you will be sewing up a storm!  Let's make this the year we all plan ahead!  

Friday, July 19th and Saturday, July 20th, from 10 to 4.   

There will be cookies, something sweet to drink, and maybe ever a balloon or two...

and don't forget about those mice...

They are contemplating marking one section of the shop down to 40% off. 

They are thinking it just might be the section of the shop that has pages.... and a binding...

"Yellow"

Squeak, squeak... a little mouse just whispered the word, "yellow" to us. That same mouse went on to explain that if you come by Country Quilts and Bears tomorrow AND you bring a fabric up to the counter AND it has yellow in it, AND you whisper the word "yellow" to us, you get that fabric for 25% off! Why yellow, you ask? Because that's the color of Vermont Cheddar, of course! See you tomorrow! Squeak, squeak!

The Cat's Away!

A Message From Marilyn:

John and I will not be in the shop for awhile as we take some vacation time with family.  We haven't even gone and already I'm hearing rumors around here... Last year's "When the Cat's Away - The Mice Will Play" events were so popular that I'm sure Becky and Susan are planning on recreating similar hi-jinks.  I am sure that they are in the planning stages because every time I look at them, they have their heads together and the calendar out.  Whenever possible please come by the shop to keep an eye on my Mice.  I'm certain that you'll enjoy their mischief, as well!  

A Message From The Mice:

You better believe we have hi-jinks planned!!  Watch our blog and facebook page for hints and notifications letting you know what is going on here in the Mice Den!  We promise some great fun and fabulous sales and mabe even a squeek or two.
Squeek... squeek!  

Click here for our newest newletter and the announcement regarding our Shop Challenge 2013!  

End of Bolt Sale, Summer Classes and 4th of July Hours

Our newest newsletter is available by clicking HERE
.  Happy 4th of July, everyone!
Stay tuned.... it's time for our shop challenge.  We have created the kits and we will officially announce it on or around the 5th of July...  

Wool Applique Event!

Click here for a copy of our most recent Summer Newsletter !  We have some great things planned - including a wonderful wool event!  Stop on by to see what's going on this summer! 

Baaaaaaaa......

 

Summer Newsletter and Classes are Posted!

Click here to see our new newsletter!   We have some great things planned - including a wonderful wool event!  Stop on by to see what's going on this summer! 

Below are photos of the pattern and the class sample for the upcoming wool applique class with guest teacher Marsha Hicks.  

Our colorway is shown below

And Even More New Fabric Has Arrived!

Grunge by Basic Grey for Moda Basics has arrived.  Each bolt within the line contains a subtle mix of shades to create a wonderful blender fabric that is great in traditional as well as contemporary projects.  Yum!  

New Fabric has Arrived!

Fabric Alert! Malka Dubrawsky's in the house! Woot woot!!! Her new line, Simple Marks Summer, just arrived and we couldn't be more pleased. Stop by and grab some before it's gone!

New Bolts of Civil War Fabric Just Arrived!

Many new bolts of Jo Morton and Renee Nanneman have just hit our shelves!  All new designs that we are sure you will want to add to your stash.  Renee's fabrics are the "shirtings" that some of you have requested.     We are pleased and hope you are too!

Also - there's a small group of Modern Quiters that have been stalking our shop.  We want you all to know that we recently ordered many new modern charm pack sets.  We are certain that these, along with some of the solids and brights that we have recently acquired, will satisfy at least a few of your many modern creative impulses.  Stay tuned....

New Summer Class List and End of Month, End of Bolt Sale

Click here to see our New Newsletter!  We have some fun things on the books - stop by and check them out!

Stop by to see our new Color Splash!  It's the perfect summer sewing project!

Procrastinating Quilter's Guild Meeting Here Tonight!

The Procrastinating Quilter's Guild meets at our shop tonight at 7:00 p.m.  We will reopen the shop at 6:00 p.m. so you can arrive early and chat a bit. Debbie Fultz  will be our guest speaker and her program topic will be "Stabilizers".  See you tonight!

Portable Folding Ironing Table

Have you always wanted a folding/traveling ironing table like you see people using at quilt classes and quilting retreats and you just didn't want to make one for yourself?  Now you can buy one here! These are a wonderful addition to your sewing room and make fabulous gifts.  We have done all the work for you!  Stop in the shop and pick one up today!  $25 

New Jo Morton Fabrics!

Five new bolts of Jo Morton fabrics have just arrived.  These are great for backgrounds, backings or just to add to that ever important Jo Morton stash!  Come on by and grab a yard or two....

If you haven't done so already, be sure and "Like" us on Facebook!  Click here:  Country Quilts and Bears Facebook Page

Thanks so much!

New Photos Up on Facebook

We just posted some photos on our new facebook page - come on by and have a look!

Country Quilts Facebook Page

Francy's Rosebud Rabbit

Hop...Hop...Hop...

Updated March and April Class List

We had a late addition to our class list for March!  Linda Simons is going to teach her Accurate Piecing class for us on Saturday, March 23rd.  Yeah!!!  In addition to that, Diane Hosman's 1930's 9-Patch class information has been updated.  Follow the link below to see the new addition and changes to our class schedule.

Updated March and April Class List

News, Facebook and our Current Class Schedule

Hello everyone!  This has been a very busy January and February for all of us here at Country Quilts and Bears and thus we just haven't had even a moment to update our blog!  Today was the day that, no matter what, we were bound and determined to get a post up here!  Whew!  We did it!  So, first let us announce our March and April Class Schedule.  If you click that link it will take you to our schedule.

Secondly, we have also stepped into the social media world of facebook and we have created our very own facebook page.  Follow this link to see our new Country Quilts and Bears Facebook Page. Be sure and "like us" while you are there.  We will periodically post photos and shop happenings there as well.

We are off to another show - the very last one - this weekend.  Stop by and see us in Sarasota at the 2013 Friendship Knot Quilter's Guild Quilt Show. Click here to see the event website. 

The Mice DID NOT Get to Play!

Typically when the Cat's away, we mice get to play but that sure wasn't the case during the Cat's Christmas Vacation!  The Cat went to Dallas to visit her Kitten and prior to her leaving, she scheduled a HUGE end of the year sale.  That completely removed any opportunity we mice had for play time.  The lines were out the door and the mice nearly starved to death due to the lack of even a lunch break!  In fact, the poor man shown in the photo below made the fatal error of coming in to shop with his wife, and when we saw him sitting idle in the back room, we gently encouraged him to get involved... and the rest is history!    

A Note From the Cat:

It came, perhaps before we were ready, but then Christmas has a way of doing that.  Now it's time to move ahead into 2013.

But first, I really want to thank all of you who helped make our year-end sale such a huge success.  The Christmas and Bali prints moved well and the fall-type fabrics really surprised us.

Keep an eye on your calendar and attend some of the 2013 Quilt Shows.  First up is the Florida Cabin Fever Quilt Show.  It is February 1st and 2nd in Orlando at the Central Florida Fairgrounds.  This is the largest quilt show in central Florida and we will be there with bells on and hope to see you there!