They're Back!

Our friend and associate Kathy White loves and cares for horses at the Whites' farm nearby, and in the horse barn there are a lot of natural phenomena going on. One curious thing is the small "aviary" that they have there. The swallows build in the rafters and framework of the barn every year. I think that Kathy must know bird language by the way she refers to the birds and how they react to daily life in the barn. One really curious thing is the timing of the return of the swallows each year in the spring. Most years they come back about April 15, more or less. That must be to celebrate tax season, you think? Anyway, last year they came back about April 1, to celebrate April Fool's Day? Now this year they have already returned and we are not yet to April. They would be challenging most of us to remember, but not Kathy. She is the best I know for remembering when things usually happen. So, if the birds nest and lay eggs and hatch the babies early the little naked birdies could be at risk if we have a late frost and freeze. Can you imagine how cold they could get being without feathers and all alone while mother bird and daddy bird are out of the nest looking for worms? Maybe we should all think about what Mary Ellen Hopkins of Crazy Lady and Friends in California and author of several early quilting books used to do. When she was cutting out a quilt or trimming her blocks she would take the skinny strips of scraps and drape them over the railing of the balcony of her apartment. The birds would pick them off the rail and incorporate them in the nests they made in the trees along the city sidewalks outside her apartment building. She said she felt much better not putting the giblets in the trash and knowing the birdies had nice soft "quilts" to cuddle in until the could fly the nest! Now, there's a good thought!!

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Embroidery Software
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature 5D Embroidery Software at 20% off and you still can get a Manufacturer's Rebate of up to $400 if you qualify. Each major step in the software carries a different level of rebate depending on the depth of the software. For example 5D Embroidery Extra carries a $150 rebate; 5D Embroidery Software has a $50 rebate; and 5D Professional Software gets a $400 rebate. Come by the shop this week because the offer ends on Saturday, March 31. We don't want you to be disappointed!!

Butterflies
Have you seen butterflies out and about yet this spring? I have seen them and photographed them as they flit from one flower to another. At Heirlooms & Comforts we have a number of prints from the 3 Sisters designers for Moda Fabrics in the group called "Papillon", the nice French word for butterfly. These prints are soft and appealing just like butterflies. Ask us about them and download the free pattern from Moda.

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.