It's Back to School Time for almost everyone during the month of August. I had very mixed emotions when my children were all home and getting ready for school. I loved shopping for school supplies but didn't like the structure of having to get up and be on time. Hmm imagine that, me not liking structure. We have a great display of Back to School in our shop window - check it out. 

July brought us our Christmas in July BOGO sale.  It was a hit - thank you to everyone who came and shopped. We took a month off and didn't have a retreat but are gearing up for our August one.  July also had the beginning of the Quilting Across The Dakotas Shop Hop. It is very stream lined this year and even if you don't want to go to ALL the shops, you only have to buy a book for $10 (you will received a cute notebook) and you will be entered into the weekly drawings (with one code), you get to enter into our drawing every time you come into our shop plus we are giving away a prize for buying a book. There is also a Mystery Quilt which you can participate in by buying the kit. You don't have to buy a QATD book. The clues will be sent via email in PDF form each week so you can print them off. We currently have 3 kits availabe for $125 (Kansas Troubles, Halloween and Christmas). We are also working on a couple more. 

August we have a retreat on August 7 - 9. There is still room so if you want to come, give us a call. 701-974-7899. We are also in the Jaftex Video Challenge. The shop that gets the most views will win a prize from Jaftex and we will share!!  so please Watch, Like and Share the Video.  We were really close last year to winning so we are trying again. It is pinned to the top of our Facebook Page.

We covered the employees and my family so this time, I will tell you about my extended family - well immediate extended family since I would write a short novel if I told you about all my cousins.  Maybe next newsletter. I have 7 sisters and 2 brothers. We grew up on a ranch north of Richardton, South of Dodge, East of Marshall with a Halliday phone line so we didn't really know where we were from so we just called ourselves and everyone else in the area the Knife River Rats.  All of my siblings live in North Dakota except my sister in law who resides in Michigan. My brother Lynn passed away.  We get together for a Sister slumber party every six months and yes, we all quilt. Mark has 2 brothers and 2 sisters. They reside in ND also except our Brother in Law who lives in New Mexico. Sister Jayne passed away. They are my greatest gifts along with my husband and children and we are very blessed to have them close.

Our Long Arm Quilting Business is going strong. Thank you to everyone to has entrusted us with your precious quilts. We will do our best for you. Just give us a call at the shop for an appointment and we will call you when it is time to bring in your quilt.

Our hours are Tuesday - Friday from 9:30 am to 5:30 on mountain time. Look at our website calendar to see when we are open on Saturday. We will stay late if you give us a call. We also will be open by appointment if it works out. Just give us a call if you would like us to be open. We aren't at the shop usually during off hours so you will have to make an appointment early.

New items and fabrics are: Winter Sports (skiing, boarding, Snowmobile) Color Dance (color wall), Sugar & Spice (Christmas), Farmhouse Flannel, Twas The Night Before Christmas, Moose in the Woods, Migration (Elk), Cotton Shot (color wall), Dear Santa (red & white), Paradise with Tonga Batiks by Wing and A Prayer, Loralie Quilting, Chickens and Farm. Some new notions are the Villa Rosa Patterns, Spot Remover. We also have a new Back to School Folded Star Hot pad kit.

Congratulations to Laurie Dakken and Lynnette Geare who are our July cash/check winners.  Congratulations to Becky Voigt and Mary Duletski who were our July Bolt Killer winners. You can come and pick up your prizes any time, please remind us that you won a prize!

Villa Rosa Pattern Club. You can receive 6 new patterns a month for $9 which includes shipping. Each month six new patterns will be sent to you. Call us for more details or to sign up. 701-974-7899

UFO club is on our last month - Details below for a NEW UFO club starting in September 2024.

We are an AccuQuilt dealer and we will match the prices that are shown on their website plus we offer other incentives like stash cash. New items are the Go! Towel Topper and Mini Oven Mit. 

 Every Wednesday at 9:15 am - FB Live  at 9:15 am on Wednesdays. It is a less then 10 minute video on what is new and what is happening!   https://www.facebook.com/stashsuzys is the address on Facebook.

We are going to be featuring about 10 - 12 items each week. They will be listed in a special category called Weekly Specials and New Items under Shop Now. We will list the new items that were shown on our FB Live plus 3 - 6 items that are deeply discounted for one week only or until they are gone. We are also doing a prize drawing each week. Watch the video, share it please (helps get the word out about our shop) and respond in the comments the item you liked the best.  Our July winners were Nancy Woehl, Lori Jacobson, Theresa Berg and Susan Zaske. Your prizes are at the shop! Make sure you tell us you won a prize so we can get it out of the bin!!

LONG ARM QUILTING SERVICES       

          We are excited to begin offering Long Arm Quilting Services.  Cost will be 2¢ a square inch for most edge to edge computer quilting. Add on Services will be Sew together backing - $5/seam, Binding - 10¢-20¢ inch, Pressing Back or Top - $10,  We still have a list of long arm quilters if you are interested in them or want custom quilting done. 

             Please call to make an appointment for your quilt. We will give you an approximate date. We will call you when we are ready to have you bring your quilt in. When you bring your quilt in, we will measure it and have you answer a few questions about quilt design, thread color ect.  and give you a date that we hope to have it finished by.

STASH UFO September 2024 - August 2025

We will beginning a new Stash UFO contest on September 1, 2024.  We are trying something new this year. There will be prizes!

1. Submit your list of UFOs (any amount as long as it is at least 12 - can be more). Make a numbered list along with the name of each UFO and make a copy for yourself.
2. Send me the list via snail mail to PO Box 33, Richardton, ND 58652 or bring it to the shop along with $1 for each UFO ( if you have 12 - it is $12, if you have 25 it is $25)
3. Each time you get a project done on your list, post a picture to our private FB page or else email it to me at suzysstash@ndsupernet.com and you will get in on a drawing for that month. 
4. Prizes will be awarded in two categories. One will be the monthly finished projects and the second will be all the projects overall. The monthly drawing will be put into the overall projects.
5. Your Duties: Make a list for me and you, Send it to me with $1 per project - get to work beginning Sept. 1
6. My Duties: Draw for monthly winners and send prizes.  (I am using all the money for prizes - I am not going to keep any of it so there will be some wonderful prizes) The biggest prize will be to get those UFO's DONE!!!!

TIE ONE ON CHALLENGE - TAKE TWO!

The Challenge is to create a project using part or all of the Ties you receive. Your item can be a pot holder, runner or a King Size Quilt. Anything goes, Use your imagination. Prizes will be a minimum of a $50 gift certificate (all entry money will go back into prizes)

Challenge Rules:

• Cost is $5 and you will receive three ties in your packet.
  • We will mail a packet for an extra $5.
• You must use a portion of all three ties
• You may add any fabric of your own.
• Project must be finished. You can add embellishments.
• No Minimum or maximum size requirement.
• One entry per project
  • participants can purchase multiple packets
• All projects will be displayed at our annual Open House in December

RETREATS

 Retreats will have less room for overnight guests. The Assumption Abbey has graciously allowed us to rent some rooms from them so that is an option also. There is also the Dwell in Richardton if people would like to stay there.  Retreats will be on a first come, first deposit, first saved basis.  Registration policy is a $50 nonrefundable deposit to save your spot. If you cancel before 10 days prior, you can transfer your deposit to another retreat.

The retreats will only be held if we have a minimum of 10 quilters including people who attend that are not staying.

You can register for any or all the retreats with a phone call - you can send a check for the deposit or give us a card number over the phone.  Any questions please call. 

2024 Retreats: Cost will be $225 for 3 days / 2 nights and 7 meals and $150 for 3 days, no lodging and 7 meals. Additional day charge is $25/day and $75/Night.

Aug 7 - 9    Room for Both          Sept 13 - 15 Room for day quilters & Dwell overnighters                                     Oct 11 - 13 Room for Both            Nov 15 - 17 Room for day quilters  & Dwell   Dec 6 - 8  Room for Both

If you are interested in booking your own retreat at Wix Lodge, go to their website www.wixbarnandlodge.com.

KEEP ON QUILTING - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!!  Have a great month. 

Quilting Needles, Rulers & Rotary Cutters

This is advice from one person. It may vary depending on who you ask but it is a good place to start for new quilters

• Needles: I like to use a regular universal 80/12 needle in my sewing machine when piecing quilt blocks. When I machine quilt the three layer quilt sandwich, I can usually keep the same needle or switch to a 90/14 because they punch through multiple layers of fabric with more ease.
• Rulers: Inevitably, the longer you quilt, the more rulers you acquire. If you’re new, I suggest starting with a 6" x 24". Creative Grids is a good one and I really like Quilters Select.
• Rulers: If your ruler does not come with grippy pads on it, buy some and stick them on your ruler. That will save your wrist from having to force all of your body weight onto the ruler to keep it from shifting while you cut. Invisigrip is also nice to have.
• Rulers: I’ve never regretted a ruler purchase. So, if you have a quilt pattern that would be made easier with a specifically sized ruler, my advice? Treat yourself. It will make the process more fun and probably more accurate. The best rulers in my opinion are Studio 180 by Deb Tucker. They are wonderful tools to make a variety of quilting blocks. 
• Rotary Cutters: Fact: quilters are frugal...kinda. Let me explain. Our quilty heritage was birthed out of necessity and economy. Historically, we quilters would make patchwork quilts from whatever was leftover—the scraps. I think that mindset still seeps into our point of view today. So I know what I’m about to say goes against that—try not to use a dull rotary blade. Yes, they are expensive and yes, I have been guilty of straining my shoulder and repeatedly running over the same cut because I don’t want to waste a single blade. But, I really don't recommend that. A dull blade is a dangerous blade so bite the bullet and put in a new blade!!! My favorite rotary cutter is the Martelli one but I also like Olfa.