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.

Lessons in Life

Life is not always easy. That is a good lesson. When something is just handed to a person, she may not value the gift as much as she would have if she had personal effort invested in the acquisition of the goal. Remember those persons in college classes who worked hard to gain the understanding and achievement? They were always very proud of the accomplishment and the recognition. Those for whom the task was easy did not have the same regard for the recognition.

In the world of quilting all of this also applies. Our friend Anna Willis has worked hard to get to the wonderful age of 86 years and is finally getting some justly deserved recognition for her accomplishments in those years. She and our dear friend Jackie Herndon are the featured artists in the exhibit in Cox Hall of the Clemson Little Theatre in Pendleton for the two weeks beginning this Friday, January 20. These two ladies have quilted together for a number of years and they certainly compliment each other in their talent. Life has not been easy for Anna as she raised her son and a foster son, cared for her aging mother, helped with her grandchildren's up-bringing, studied and completed her High School degree in 1978 in night school while working full time. Her health began to decline as she experienced the aging process. But, thankfully, there are medical professionals who are willing to care for the disabled and now Anna is pain-free in her hip and legs. She can again be mobile and continue to sew and quilt.

Anna and Jackie became close friends through association with Heirlooms & Comforts, and are now sharing the artful exhibit so that we can all enjoy seeing what the two of them have done, both singly and as a complimentary pair. Go to see the exhibit and share in the pride of accomplishment that they have achieved.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Spotlight on New Fabric
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will spotlight the new fabrics that have arrived from Moda and Barbara Brackman called Battle Hymn group.

There is a free pattern available for downloading from the Moda website. You can have great fun with this combination if you love the look of reproduction quilts. Check it out and come on in to H&C to get your choice of these fabrics.

Classes
At Heirlooms & Comforts this term classes are filling up rather fast. Be sure to locate the class schedule on our web site www.heirloomsandcomforts.net to see late January and early February classes that are available for your registration. One very popular class is the Friendly Snowman. This guy is very cute and is fun to make. Also, Gail's popular free motion quilting class may have one or two spaces left - call soon. If you miss these two classes, there are other very good ones to choose from.

We've Gotten to '12!

Some of us, more than others, have a hang-up about aging. As I see it, there is great celebration in aging if we can do it gracefully. To have lasted another year is awesome, considering all that could have happened to us in the last year or so. My gray hair is like a "badge of courage" as it increases yearly. To gain the wisdom of years is yet again awesome. To be deferred to by those who are younger and respect the "mileage" that I have amassed is great. I can now even be okay with someone responding to me with "yes, Ma'am". To have all the little ones who are friends of my grandchildren also call me Grandma is just fine. I never expect to attain the status that my mother had among friends and acquaintances of the community, but I do understand the pride she took in being known to all as Mema. I haven't relished the role of oldest female of the family, but I do love the recognition and affectionate response from the teenagers who defer to me and engulf me with their hugs and comments. So, I guess I'm "getting there" in a way.

All joking aside, it is nice to be able to start a new year. I read in the newspaper today about a lady who lived very gracefully to be 101 years old, 79 of those as a childless widow. I, therefore, find this a great opportunity to express my gratitude for a wonderful, large family and circle of friends that increases weekly. Hopefully my years will improve my grace!

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Embroidery Designs
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature our stock of Husqvarna Viking multi-formatted collections of embroidery designs ready for stitching out on your embroidery machine. Buy Husqvarna Viking Embroidery collections at 40% off this week (in-stock designs only). We have a variety of the newest and the best of these designs ready for your choosing. Notice that they are multi-formatted making them useable for all embroidery machines. Of course the best selections will sell first, so come by early in the week. 40% off=great savings.

Classes

At Heirlooms & Comforts classes are filling up rather rapidly. So, don't wait too long to choose the ones you want to take. Follow this link (www.heirloomsandcomforts.net) to see what is available. Then come by or call in to pay up for reserving your place in the class. Get a class supply list and save 10% at Heirlooms & Comforts when you purchase supplies from us that are on the teacher's listing of required supplies. Learn with the best!

Quilters of South Carolina
Are you familiar with the Quilters of South Carolina organization? Look at the web site for this group to see what great fun and learning this group of quilters has. There is always a large gathering in the spring and also a great retreat in the fall where South Carolinians learn from South Carolinians. On February 4, 2012 there is a planned Gathering of Quilters in District I of QSC being held in Williamston, SC not far from us. District I is the upstate counties and Carolyn Harris (chrrs@clemson.edu) is the Representative for this district. Send an email to Carolyn to learn the details and mark your calendar for a fun day with other quilters from our district.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! All the staff at Heirlooms & Comforts and Bobby and I wish for you a healthy and happy year to come. May all your resolutions be met and all your hopes and dreams exceeded.

My maternal grandmother always referred to "idle hands are a devil's workshop". We would like to suggest that you keep yours busy with the wonderful things that can be created with supplies from Heirlooms & Comforts. You can spend a year's worth of time and talent making beautiful things for yourself, your home, your friends, and your family. There are always places to sell your items for the sake of charity or to simply give some items to a charity organization for the benefit of those who are less fortunate. It is an up-lifting experience to deliver to a needy person or group something that can add comfort or cheer to their lives. Try it; you might like it.

Sara

Class Schedule Online
Our Heirlooms & Comforts class schedule is now on our web site at www.heirloomsandcomforts.net. Go there and review the offerings from our instructors. Choose the ones you like and call or come by to complete your registration with tuition payment very soon. Completed registration by January 21 will merit a 20% discount on supplies listed by the teacher as requirements for the class. The extra discount is valid through the end of the first meeting of the class.

Additionally, there are two classes that run for six months as block-of-the-month classes. If you pay the full tuition for either of these classes up front, you will receive a 10% discount on the tuition fee. Otherwise, you may pay in two parts: ½ now and ½ at the halfway point in the class. Act soon since the schedule is newly posted and sometimes classes fill rapidly.

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt all week. When you purchase all the fabric remaining on a bolt you get 25% off a regular priced fabric. If the item is a sale fabric and you clean off the bolt you get an extra 10% off. This is a great opportunity to add to your stash or to purchase backing fabrics. Check us out. Who knows what will appear on the sale table next?

Want to be a Professional?
At Heirlooms & Comforts you can become the user of 5D Professional Embroidery Software at a 75% off when you purchase a Designer Diamond DeLuxe or Designer Diamond or a Designer Ruby machine. Yep! You can be one of those who do the special effects, and designs, and cross stitch conversions, and resizing, and so forth. Also there is special financing available for a limited time. Get the best of the best while limited supply lasts. Don't wait around too long.

A Mixed Bag

What an eye-opener a class can be when you attend one at Heirlooms & Comforts! There were 11 ladies getting their skills honed in the area of 5D Embroidery Software on Thursday. They learned procedures that will allow them to create customized embroidery designs to use on special gift items of various kinds. I am always amazed and amused at how diverse in character the "students" in these classes are. It is wonderful! A cross section of our community together in common interest is always delightful. We are so pleased to have the experience in our shop.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: 25% Off One Item of Your Choice
At Heirlooms and Comforts this week the feature is one item of your choice at 25% off. You can choose any product other than sewing machines, sergers, cabinets and embroidery software. Select from rulers, scissors, threaders, threads, or other items that you wish to purchase at 25% off. This is an opportunity to purchase a new rotary mat or other item you have wished for.

Husqvarna Viking has an offer to make your head spin! With the purchase of a Designer Diamond you can qualify for a $500 mail-in rebate. First you make the purchase at our Heirlooms & Comforts special sale price and this qualifies you for the $500 mail-in rebate. This is an offer that rarely happens in the world of top-of-the-line sewing/embroidery machines. Prepare to take advantage of this rebate. Come in to the shop to see the Designer Diamond and have a chance to sew on it yourself. You will love the ways it hums along and all the features that it presents to you for sewing and embroidery.

Class Registration
A look at the calendar of classes on our web site will reveal to you some really interesting classes still available for registrants. Carolyn's jacket class "Let's Go Out in the Cold" is designed to help you make a cozy jacket that is flattering to most figures. Susan is planning a class for teaching you to do basic paper piecing which gives you quite an edge on making quilted projects with varied motifs. Barbara is working away at preparing to teach hand embroidery and red work stitches. Go to the class page and check it all out. Then call or go into Heirlooms & Comforts and complete your registration for never being bored again!

Resolutions

Happy New Year! Do you make resolutions? Are able to keep the ones you make? How does that make you feel? Mostly I keep mine to myself so that nobody knows by observation whether I was successful or not. That is not the way it is supposed to be done, I know. However, it is a "safe" way to get by, right?

I do wish for you and your loved ones a year of prosperity, achievement, health, happiness and creative inspiration. We at Heirlooms & Comforts want to be included in your creative experience. We would like very much to be a part of the inspiration for the items that you produce in the world of sewing and quilting. For that reason we have compiled a group of classes to assist you with developing skills and with having fun with fellow artists and craftswomen. We are looking for you in the shop; spend your creative time with us.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Class Registration

At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we are featuring Class Registration. When you sign up and pay your registration fee this week you will qualify for a 20% discount on the supplies listed by the instructor for the class you sign up for. That is twice the discount we normally offer for supplies. There is no limit for the number of classes you can register for. The 20% discount ends with the end of the first session of the class for which you register.

Click here to see the class listing.


Classroom Machines
At Heirlooms & Comforts we have several Sapphire 830 sewing machines that have been used in the classroom that we are offering at an unbelievable price and with full warranty. Are you looking for a great machine to carry to class, or a second machine for when your sewing-embroidery machine is busy doing embroidery, or a machine for a beginner sewer who is very interested in sewing? This is a great solution for you! Come in and test sew one of these Sapphires to see how great they are for the sewer or quilter. You'll love the way this machine sews!

New Items Arrive
We have received several large shipments of fabrics at Heirlooms & Comforts. Among them are new Westminster Fibers groups from Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett and friends, Moda's Morris Tapestry, In the Beginning Fabric's Marzipan, voiles and linen/cotton prints for home décor, and of course new Batik fabrics. Seeing them "in person" is the best way to experience the excitement of the vibrant color and marvelous design.




Reminder

At Heirlooms and Comforts this is Clean-off-the-bolt week.  The usual discounts for this event apply.