Finally!

John with Eleanor-first time he held her

The past two weeks have proven that one should never give up a dream. FINALLY! A Granddaughter. Eleanor Jane Ballentine was born on July 8, a healthy 8 lbs. 14 oz. and 22 inches long - the first granddaughter for Bobby and me and for her maternal grandparents, Coach and Peggy Huckeba in Arkansas. Eleanor came to a world of 6 Ballentine boys and 3 Huckeba boys. Now the challenge is to see if she plays ball or plays with dolls surrounded by three football coaches in her uncles and grandfather.

Eleanor on her quilt from "Anna Banana"

Grandma Ballentine is going to start sewing with batiste and laces!! I'm hoping that my theory of how a child behaves is somewhat affected by the style of clothing she is dressed in - dressing prissy helps one to feel prissy. Do you think she could be influenced by those boys to wrestle and tackle when she is wearing frills? We'll see, because Grandma and Mamma Peg are planning on pink and pretty for this little lady.

Eleanor screaming because Grandma has to go back to SC

Grandma is so grateful to the ladies of Heirlooms & Comforts for picking up the "slack" at the shop while I stayed in Arkansas to help get Eleanor and her mom and dad through the first week of her life! We had some really great times together. Her room is all set and decorated beautifully. Mom picked out the fabrics and Grandma made the curtains and crib set. Eleanor's dad saw that there was fabric left from the decorating and requested YET ANOTHER quilt - imagine that from the man who never had enough quilts. When I announced to Eleanor that it was time for Grandma to come home on Saturday her reaction was to scream and cry. Don't you love it when they cry for you? I've included some photos from the week for you to see this beautiful girl. Excuse my bragging, but I agree with Grandpa and her dad that Eleanor is beautiful.
Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clover Silk Pins
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week our feature is "Fall 'n Stars" Carolina Shop Hop 2012 with a 25% discount on Clover Silk Pins. These are such skinny pins that they do not skew your fabrics when you pin seams together for sewing. They are long enough to hold the surrounding fabrics securely for the sewing process. These pins have a glass head so that you can press over them and not worry about melting the plastic heads. We find that these are our favorite pins and you can't have too many of these staple items! 

Carolina Shop Hop
Carolina Shop Hop with 14 great Carolina shops included in the hop around northwest South Carolina and western North Carolina continues through Saturday, July 21. Store hours are different this week and you can register for door prizes and grand prizes. Go the www.carolinashophop.com to find all the rules of participation and to print out a Passport to get stamped for qualification to win those prizes including a Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 875Q. Hop on in for great fun!

Final Minutes before Shop Hop

Last minute preparations are under way for Carolina Shop Hop. The shop hop quilt for Heirlooms & Comforts is ready (as soon as the binding is whipped down); the daily prizes are bagged and tagged; the four-pack prizes are bagged and ready; the $450 Basket prize is on display; the refreshments are prepared; the registration tickets are printed; the notion special (those great Clover silk pins that you can never have too many of) is ready for purchase. We are in the final preparations for all of you to Shop Hop. Come on in for a fun time with all of our old and new friends who love Heirlooms & Comforts. Go to www.carolinashophop.com to see all the details of the rules and the prizes and the fun. We look forward to seeing all of you between July 13 and 21. Drive carefully. 

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt / Clover Silk Pins 

At Heirlooms & Comforts our feature this week is for the first four days of the week to continue the Clean Off the Bolt special that was active for only two days last week. You know the "drill" regarding 25% off any regular price fabric that you take all of, and an extra 10% off any sale price fabric that you take all of. Remember now, during shop hop we can only feature on special our chosen notion special which for us is the Clover silk pins. 

 

Reminder 

At Heirlooms & Comforts we have several Designer Diamond machines that were previously owned that we are offering to our customers a unbelievable prices. There are also two Topaz 30 sewing and embroidery machines available at pre-owned terms. Stop in to try out these great machines as well as the other pre-owned models. These are all like new machines that Bobby has "blessed" with his great care. You can't go wrong with one of these!

Hands Up

What is it that happens to us when we become grandparents? We begin to act and think differently, I think. Last week as I was "bonding" with the new grandsons in Texas, I began to look at how different the twins are. Finn is the lanky one with narrow long feet and slender fingers and very defined, small facial features. What a handsome kid (even if he is my grandson). And Miles is the "stout" baby with the deep wrinkles in the arms and legs; the short stubby fingers and large hands; the square feet with toes all the same length; and the chubby, pinch-able cheeks. What a handsome kid (even if he is my grandson). They are just recipients of different traits from the same gene pool.

Miles's Hand

While spending time with them I began to think about the hands. Miles's hands remind me of my father's broad, sturdy but gentle hands - hands that did hard physical work and also offered kind, gentle care and reassurance. Finn's hands remind me of his own loving mother who uses her hands to nurture her three boys, prepare their food, guide their play and their learning, care for their needs, and at the end of a long day gently caress their precious heads as they sleep.

Finn's Hand

I remember my mother's hands as she prepared food for our family. They moved in a rhythm that was almost like a dance as she snapped beans or peeled peaches. Hard as I try, I cannot achieve that movement. I remember her hands as she caressed fabrics and manipulated the fabric into patterns and shapes that became quilts made with love and care. She had such a way with handling fabrics that I constantly try to emulate. Those were loving hands that created beauty, both physical and "spiritual", that she shared with those of us near her.

Hands are an extension or manifestation of our personality in a way. They can hurt or they can heal. They can destroy or they can sustain. They can be idle or they can be creative. Watch as people around you use their hands - how differently they employ their hands in day's time. Hands tell stories of life. I hope all the stories from my hands are uplifting!

Sara

 At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature the continuation of the Carolina Shop Hop. We are offering three items as allowed by the shop hop rules for your consideration:

1. Clover Silk Pins with glass heads is the notions item on special at 25% off. These pins do not skew your fabrics when pinned because they are so skinny.
2. Carolina Comforts is the book resulting from Robin Culbertson's compilation of quilt patterns from the 13 participating shops in the hop.
3. Sophie's Choice block kit, styled by our friend and customer Sophie Hart, is the block that H&C contributed to the theme of Civil War Reproduction style fabric/pattern for 2011. $6 per kit is the price.

See the quilt that Judy designed using the 13 blocks from the shop hop participating shops. It is hanging in the front of the store for your viewing pleasure.

Reproduction Interest Club
At Heirlooms & Comforts Joan Grove and Sarah Parham are organizing a group with interest in reproduction style fabrics and quilt patterns. This is intended to be a group that meets to share ideas, sewing tips, and challenges based on antique fabrics in reproduction. There are numerous fabric vendors who offer styles that have been directly inspired/copied from museum quilts and fabrics from all eras in the history of fabric weaving and printing. The organization meeting is being held on Monday, July 18 at 10:00am at H&C. Come for this brief meeting with pen and paper and your calendar to offer input into how the group will interact to learn more about period fabrics and design. What fun to make reproduction pieces and challenge each other! Come find out what these two talented ladies have come up with. No charge.