Revisit

We live within a few hours of so many beautiful, historic, fascinating places that we should consider ourselves fortunate. Maybe some of us are just wiser than others because we consciously chose to be in this part of the world because of the proximity to these places. Bobby has a conference on Monday morning in Charleston, so I came with him for a weekend re-visit to some of the restored and preserved plantations and gardens. It has been more than 40 years since we have made this springtime trip to see the beautiful flowers in bloom and the preserved history of our state. Some parts of that history are less stellar and humanitarian than we would like, but it is the history. The main good is that we can learn from it and that it is altered from the past. We discovered some facts about Middleton Place and the Middleton family that had not previously been in our "bank of knowledge." There are other places within a day's drive or less that we should revisit as well, but as for now the colorful jaunt to Charleston will suffice.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Feet
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Husqvarna Viking Accessory Feet at 20% off the original price. Choose any in-stock foot that you wish to have to make your sewing and quilting easier to manipulate and get a 20% discount on that purchase. There is a "wall-full" of these accessories to choose from for either garment making, home dec sewing, or quilting. Make your choice; no limit to how many you can choose this week at H&C.

Embroidery Software
Husqvarna Viking is offering a Manufacturer's Rebate on the trade up purchase of 5D Embroidery Software until the end of March. The dollar value of the rebate is dependent on the choice of suite that you make. You purchase the module that best suits your purpose and the rebate is from $400 for Professional to $50 for the basic module. The Husqvarna Viking web site has the details for this program, but we can help you make your choice and get the best program for your style. Two weeks are left for this offer; so don't let it pass you by.

Change
Those of you who have shopped Heirlooms and Comforts for a longer time have probably heard it said in the shop that life is a series of changes that we must adjust to (one of Sara's frequent quotes). We at H&C are in another change just now: our co-worker Barbara Gauderer has decided to "retire" from regular assignment in the sales staff. We expect that she will be back in to teach classes on special ideas, like hand stitching and the color wheel, from time to time and that she will continue to attend Designer Diamond sessions. Her activities have changed since Michael has retired and she wants to accommodate those changes as well. We will miss Barbara's regular time in the shop, but cherish her trips into the shop for special events, drop-by visits, and fill-in help. That sense of humor and point of view that is uniquely Barbara keeps us on our toes! With love and gratitude we envy Barbara her wanderlust and "free time."

How Irish Are You?

Just how Irish are you? I have become a little more Irish than I was before after more than a week in Ireland last summer. What a beautiful country that is with people who are friendly and steeped in history. A visit to Ireland helps you to realize how history shapes the people. They are tough and fascinating. They are "chuckle" happy and hardy. Their language is fascinating and their music is enchanting. To sit in a traditional pub with the thatched roof over your head listening to the foot-stomping music about their lives is a joy. Their food is really good and full of potatoes, would you believe! Now we will celebrate with them the day of the Patron Saint Patrick at the end of this week. Join in the joyous parade of happy folks singing and being jovial. Wear the green!

Sara

Luck o' the Irish!
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature a bit of the "Luck of the Irish" by offering 25% off any green fabric in one-yard minimum cuts. You choose all the green fabrics you wish to have in one yard cuts and we will discount it at the check-out. How about an all green and white Double or Triple Irish Chain quilt for next St. Patrick's Day? That would be fun. I dare you to do it!

Free Embroidery Software
At Heirlooms & Comforts we are currently able to offer you a great sale price on the Designer Topaz 20 sewing and embroidery machine - so good you will need to come to see us to hear what it is. Not only that, we can offer you 5D Embroidery Software FREE with the purchase of the Topaz 20. This is quite a big deal because the software saving in itself is $399. That plus the sale price on the Topaz 20 is really outstanding. There are a limited number of these machines and software available, so don't wait too long to come.

Itchy Back!

There are many metaphors that can be used to say the same idea. One that I'll use today is the one that says, "If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." We at Heirlooms & Comforts like very much to recognize/reward those people who frequent our shop. One way we do that is with our peach-colored punch cards. For every $5 worth of regular price fabrics that you buy we will punch your card. When all the numbers on the card have been punched you can redeem the cad for $20 worth of any merchandise in the shop. This is a reward system for loyal customers. That is why we want you to sign the card and bring it with you each time you shop. We date the card so that we have an idea of how much we should appreciate you. Also, when you sign the card, it is for sure yours and if you should happen to drop it, it still belongs to you when we find it. Each time we punch you are gaining "escrow" toward your reward! You scratch our back; we'll scratch yours!

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week:Double Punches on Batiks
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature our peach-colored punch card: double punches for the purchase of batik fabrics. For every $5 purchase of regular price batik we will punch as if you bought $10 worth. What a punch!

A Word of Appreciation
Thanks to all who patiently made allowances for Grandpa and Grandma to be out of the shop for the time they have spent with us in Texas. My name is Miles and this is my dad's dog Jeb with me. Jeb is almost 10 years old and my twin and I are almost 1 year old. Big brother is 2 ½ years old. On Grandma's watch she missed me and came to the playroom to find me and Jeb on the sofa trying to let her know where we were. For some reason she felt she should photograph us. Grandmas sometimes do funny things! Anyway, thanks for letting them off the hook long enough to visit us.

Well, Feb.'s Gone!

I've heard it said that time flies when you're having fun and I guess that is the way it is. February is suddenly gone-except for two days. And, it is Leap Year. We get to jump right into March this week. The old folks used to say, "In like a lion, out like a lamb or in like a lamb, out like a lion." So if that is true what do we hope for on Thursday as far as our weather goes? If it holds true to the trend already set for 2012, it could be a surprise and very different from customary weather conditions. From what I know of weather, we can't influence what is happening. We can only be prepared to deal with whatever happens and be grateful to come out of whatever kind of weather we get not too hot, or too cold, or too wet, or too dry, or too windblown. Thank Goodness I'm here to experience life as it comes!

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts our feature of the week is Clean Off the Bolt WEEK. It seems we just did that, but time flies and we are at March Clean Off the Bolt week. Get 25% off the original price of a regular price fabric when you buy all that is left on the bolt. Get an additional 10% off a sale priced fabric when you buy all that is left on that bolt. Do you need backings for some of your projects? Now is the time to get them at bargain prices! Come on in for your choice of fabrics.

Reminder
As you read the class schedule on our web site www.heirloomsandcomforts.net please note that when multiple dates are listed it means that more than one class meeting is included in the class and is indicated by a comma in the punctuation of the listing. If there is a choice of when the class meets for just one day of class there will be the use of the word "or" in the listing of the date. Hopefully this explanation will help eliminate any confusion or misunderstanding about class meetings. Now just be sure to sign up and complete your registration for the classes you wish to take.

History Can Be Fun!

The history of things and events can be fun. It takes a little time for this to mellow, but it can happen. Bobby and I have been involved with Husqvarna Viking sewing machines since about mid 1987. We have seen many changes take place within the company with personnel changes and advancements in the features and capabilities of the machines. We were a part of the celebration of 300 years of manufacturing at Huskvarna Falls and the subsequent 130 years of manufacturing of Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines in Sweden. We were fortunate enough to have two trips to the facility in Sweden to see the changes that had taken place in the process of manufacturing the machines. Now we as a part of the Husqvarna Viking sewing community are in the 140th Anniversary celebrations of the manufacturing of these great sewing machines. We invite you to go to the Husqvarna Viking website to enjoy the video presentations about the time line of the innovations that HV has led in the history of the company. You will hear from former Presidents and CEO's and managers of the company. Bobby and I have known these people and enjoyed conversations with them across the years about the features of the machines and the business of selling these wonderful machines. When you listen to Lil Nylen, the former director of the Sewing Academy in Huskvarna, notice how confident and up-to-the-minute she is. What a lady! She is so smart about all kinds of sewing and embroidery operations.

We consider the years of learning and fun as enhancements to our lives and experiences. Explore the current links on www.husqvarnaviking.com to see how avant-garde they have been for years. That's why we place our loyalty with Husqvarna Viking.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Threads
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature threads of all kinds. Buy four spools of thread (any kind) and get the fifth one (of equal or lesser value) free. Mix and match. Get all kinds that you use. Never be without basics for piecing and sewing and appliqué by hand or by machine. You choose.

Software Rebates Up to $400
Starting now and until March 31, 2012, you can get a rebate on a trade-in to 5-D Embroidery Software. Bring in an old system of any brand to trade in for 5-D and get this rebate. You don't have old software? Let us know and we will help you qualify to trade in and get this rebate. If you want Pro, you can get $400 in rebate. On 5-D Embroidery Extra you can qualify for $150 and on 5-D Embroidery there is a $50 rebate. Just look at this link to get other information: www.husqvarnaviking.com. Come in to Heirlooms & Comforts to get more details.

Love Quilts?

How much do you love quilts? Quilts are very important to members of our family and extended family. My grandmother Nalley told her daughters that if they made a new quilt each year, they would never be cold. That seems to be a truth - you generally cannot wear out a quilt in one year's time. So every year my mom would make at least one quilt. As we got older and my brother and I married and started families, she began to make more than one quilt a year to pass on to us and our children. She shared quilts with friends and their children and with relatives who began to reach milestones in their lives such as graduations and marriages. That is why Mema made so many Double Wedding Ring quilts across the years - 30 we counted at one point when she and I could remember where they had gone.

Actually, the name of the shop came from the love of quilts: quilts are heirlooms that can be handed from one generation to another and cherished as a handiwork made with love. Quilts are also a comfort in many ways. They are comforting to your body when you are not feeling well (body or spirit) and to make a quilt is a comforting exercise that can produce a sense of accomplishment or achievement even in a time of grief. Did you ever think of quilting as therapy? Try that when you are "low" - you can get so lost in the quiltmaking process that your pain abates.

Recently I completed the quilt that I started for my five-year-old grandson before he was born. When I handed it off to him a few weeks ago, he immediately began wrapping himself in it every night for sleeping, covered head and ears in "love from Grandma". Now that is a proud thought for Grandma.

How much do you love a quilt?

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: 25% off any one Notion
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature 25% off any one item you choose from our stock of notions. You may choose from scissors, rulers, needle for hand sewing or machine sewing, pins, pens, etc. You choose one item you wish to purchase that is in our notions inventory and you can get 25% off.

Pre-Owned Machines
Recently we have traded machines so that we now have at least five great machines to sell at unbelievably low prices. Some are embroidery machines and some are not embroidery machines. All are with the longer sewing space from the needle to the motor area. This long bed allows for larger embroidery or for accommodating a large quilt for machine quilting. Come in soon to review what is available and to see which one will fit your needs. Sew on your choice and be ready for long days of fun in the sewing room.

Tribute!

Bobby and I spent the day in Atlanta last Tuesday at the annual Sew Fest Meeting of the Husqvarna Viking company SVP Worldwide. Meeting with other dealers in a forum of that sort always adds to your bank of knowledge and insight. We had great information exchange with fellow dealers, educators, managers, and officers of SVP. We learned of new products in the world of embroidery design packages, accessory feet for the Huskylock s25 and s21, a new endless hoop for the Designer series of embroidery machines, and other products that make embroidery and sewing easier and more fun. Now we are waiting for some of those products to arrive in the shop so that we can show them to you. We came home with two new machine models designed to celebrate the 140th Anniversary of the Husqvarna brand sewing machine - the Tribute 140C and the Tribute 140M. These two machines have a beautiful red accent panel and have features that our customers are going to love and a price that you will love as well. The Tribute 140C computerized model has already gone to its new home - one day after it arrived in the shop! Now we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the others that we ordered at the meeting. I'm sure we will shout to you when these units arrive in town. In the meantime, come in to see the mechanical version, the Tribute 140M, and try it out.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Red and White
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature 20% off red or red/white fabrics in honor of the Valentine celebration that is coming soon. Get these fabrics early so that you can complete projects for your special loved ones. We have a beautiful supply of these pieces that will work well in projects that can express your feelings for those special to you.


Free Sew Days
At Heirlooms & Comforts we have what we call Free Sew Days in the shop. You and your friends are invited to come in and sew for the day and to bring a bag lunch or order in a lunch and have fellowship and inspiration from each other as you sew and share life's experiences together. We provide the space, the electricity and climate control inside the room for your comfort, and occasional advice as you spend time with your friends and our staff. Call the shop to be sure when those days are on our class schedule (days with no formal classes). We look forward to seeing you among those who love Free Sew Days.

Just a Reminder
This is just a reminder that the special Designer Days promotion ends on February 15, 2012. Look at the details on the Husqvarna Viking web site and run into Heirlooms & Comforts to make your purchase while this promotion lasts. Do it right away.