Crisp and Sunny

Crisp, sunny days and cool nights bring great delights with the season. Are you ready to cocoon with your sewing machine? Do you have the supplies needed for a cocooning? What about fabrics and patterns for making table runners for the holiday seasons and for making cuddle quilts and bed quilts? Now is the time for collecting these items to be prepared for a crackling fire in the fireplace and plenty of things to sew. Oh! Don't forget to have enough good, strong, new threads to make sure the things you sew stay sewn forever. Have you had your machine cleaned lately? A well-cared for machine makes the sewing process much happier. Include fresh, new needles for your project, too. Ensure simple pleasure of creating beautiful projects with good preparation.

Speaking of simple pleasure, what better fun than one boy and a big mound of fall leaves just piled up on a crisp fall afternoon? Simple delight for jumping with full abandon - never mind the dust and the minor scratches. Just jump in the middle.

Similarly we elders can "jump in the middle" of our sewing projects!

Sara 

H&C Weekly Feature - Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt week. You can buy all that is on a regular price bolt at 25% off when you take it all. If you choose a sale price fabric you can increase the discount by 10% when you buy all that is remaining. There are lots of skinny bolts on the shelves waiting for you to come in. Next week is the annual trip to Toccoa for the Quilting in Toccoa Fall Retreat and we take a lot of fabric to supply those participants. So, it is urgent that you come before the trailer is loaded for the last trip we will make.

Viking Educator Visit
Our Educator friend Barbara Moore from Husqvarna Viking will hold an all-day Trunk Show and Demo Event at Heirlooms & Comforts on November 13 starting at 10:00 AM. She will be featuring the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby DeLuxe and the exciting new Opal line of sewing machines while spotlighting the newest products and projects. There will be great embroidery projects and features, easy embellishments that can be accomplished by almost any machine in our line-up. As many of you know, Barbara has so many great ideas and methods for using H-V products. The newest embroidery collections from H-V will also be featured in this program. There are new feet to learn about, too. The tuition for this all-day event and your lunch and door prizes is $10. Sign up right away for a relaxed day of fun and fellowship while learning about new products!! Space is limited.

It is just two weeks before Barbara's visit; so, don't wait too long to sign up. Do it today to save your seat. Join us for the fun.

Clean Off the Bolt

It is always amazing to me the difference in the landscape in various areas of our great nation! Cheryl, Bobby, and I are in Tucson, AZ for Husqvarna Viking Convention this week. Oh, my goodness, how different the landscape is: beautiful, but so opposite from the lush green terrain of home. The cacti are fascinating in shape and color. The flower colors are brilliant. The homes and other structures are so near the color of the ground that sometimes you have to look very carefully to see the homes nestled into the surroundings. We have just arrived here for the week of meetings and learning about new products and software. We found already a place to go to see "investment quality" quilts with a southwest theme in many of them. We are hoping to get Bobby to be quiet long enough for us to see this gallery. We'll let you know later how that turns out. Stay tuned!
Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt for all week. We have lately noticed that there are "many skinny" bolts that you can purchase at a skinny price. Take a 25% discount when you take everything left on a regular price fabric bolt. If you choose a sale priced fabric and take all that is remaining on the bolt you can get an extra 10% off the discount. Come and get it!

Great Class
Sienna Harvest Quilt taught by Kathy White is quite a great project. It is made from one feature fabric and one accent fabric, using special cutting instructions. The feature fabric is a fall stripe design with fruits, berries and fall flowers and leaves. The class is Oct. 9 and 23 from 10:00 to 1:00 and the tuition is $36. Come in to see the sample hanging in the shop and to sign up for the class. You will love this one and we have plenty of the fabric just now.

New Items in Stock
There are several new fabric groups that have arrived lately. Among them is Chateau Rouge from French General and Moda. Also there is a group of Kaffe and friends fabrics that are new to the racks. Independence Trail is from Minick and Simpson and Moda. We have three beautiful neutrals from Windham Fabrics and the Orchard House collection.

Surprise!

It could sound like I do nothing but sit in my chair and look out the window. Not true! However, there is a lot that I see from my vantage point in the sunroom/office of my home. For example, I come here each morning to read emails and drink my coffee. There is a squirrel that crosses the roof (I can actually hear him coming) at the same time every morning and jumps from the roof to a limb of the Maple tree just outside my window. You think he is reporting to the boss for work each day? I watched one squirrel the other day dig a hole in the yard and try to lie down in it. Since he didn't fit, he dug out more soil and tried again and repeated that until he could lie in it and roll around. Why? Scratching fleas? Pretending to float in a lake?

Now on Bobby's morning walk he has sent me a text with a photo of a leaf and stem suspended over the street in our neighborhood held only by a spider's web that spans the street and several feet of the two yards either side of the street. The web goes from tree to tree for about 25 feet and the leaf is hanging over the yellow line in the middle of the street. How can a spider get a web that far without support along the stretch? How can a web hold a leaf and stem high enough to walk under for that distance? How can the spider get the leaf attached to the web? Could the leaf have just fallen into place? Nature's mysteries are so fascinating.

I read in the newspaper today about a Black Lab dog that traveled on foot for 500 miles from Maryland to Myrtle Beach to reunite with his owner after having been left with "Grandpa" in Maryland. That is for sure a mystery as to how the dog can know how to go that far back to where he had been at home! All of this is not totally unlike the fascinating process of taking compatible fabrics, cutting them into pieces that are then fit back together in patterned assembly to make a beautiful mosaic that is comfortable and can be passed on to future generations for their comfort and pleasure fulfilling some of the need for artful beauty - Heirlooms & Comforts. A mystery from natural bent?

Sara 

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt 
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt all week long. We have lately noticed that there are many skinny bolts in the shelves. One of them could be a favorite of yours. This week get 25% off when you buy all the yardage left on a regular price bolt and an extra 10% off when you buy all the yardage left on a sale price bolt. Several fabrics made their way to the sale table this past week. You should come to see if the one you have been watching is there. Clean Off the Bolt all week long!

Save $1500
At Heirlooms & Comforts right now you can save $1500 on the purchase of a Designer Ruby sewing and embroidery machine from Husqvarna Viking. Unheard of savings! Come in early to see how this happens so easily. No hoops to jump through-just fall in love with Designer Ruby and right away there can be a huge savings of $1500 like magic!

Fall Game-Day Hours

• Saturday, September 8, 2012 - Closed 
• Saturday, September 15, 2012 - Close at 1:30 PM

Previously Owned Machines

• Designer Topaz 30 - 2 only - $1699
• Designer Diamond - 1 only - $4199

These sewing and embroidery machines have very little usage on them and can be called like-new machines. Great buys!

I Could Hardly Imagine

I could hardly imagine what it would be like to have all six grandsons in the swimming pool at one time, but I have gotten an idea since four out of six were in the pool at the home in Fort Worth yesterday. Only the sixteen-month-old twins were not in there, but they were circling the protective fence as the others swam with Tio and Grandpa. Oh my goodness how one must be alert at a time like that. At the same time it is great fun to see them all together, those six boys, for the first time ever. Now we just have to raise up Eleanor to join them one day - a rose among thorns, don't you think? NEVER. My boys are NOT thorns. They are true gentlemen (sometimes). All of the adults are working on that project. Grandpa and I have had a truly special, long trip. This has been quite an eventful week that can only be appreciated when told in person. So only those who ask will be bored by the details.
Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms and Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt week. You have seen this now for a long while that we offer a special discount on fabrics when you buy all that remains on the bolt, no matter what the yardage is. 25% off is the bonus for buying regular price goods and an extra 10% is the bonus when you buy sale price goods. Come in early in the week for the best choices. We will be looking for you.

Reminder
As we mentioned last week, we have received a good quantity of new merchandise lately. It is on the shelf and ready for you to survey and plan for your next few projects. Among those items are the solid color fabrics from Free Spirit. Have you seen them? The colors are so clear and sharp. Several of the associates at H&C have already made projects or started projects with these fabrics. Ask about them when you come in. We think you will be excited by this array of color too.

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!

Happy 4th of July

We probably have as many different ways of celebrating Independence Day as there are families in our great country. We have known many changes in our observance over the years. Now in 2012 our immediate family is in several different locales and Bobby and I have landed in Arkansas to spend the holiday with our oldest child and his wife and family. How nice this is to see yet another family similar to ours in fellowship. Different, yet not so different. We are, really, waiting for grandchild number 7 to come into the world. Number 7 was expected last Wednesday, but has decided to make us wait a while longer. All is ready; we just need this baby to cuddle with and coo to. Number 7 will come into a great situation - four grandparents who are already crazy over the first grandchildren, two loving parents, four uncles, five aunts, and NINE boy cousins. Whoa! Lots to learn and adjust to, Number 7. But come on; the nursery is ready (Grandma got done ahead of time) and the quilts are ready - thanks "Anna Banana".

I am a happy Grandma! I can be patient when things are in good order.

Sara 

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms and Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt Week (two days). That means that you can get 25% off any fabric when you buy all of the yardage left on the board of regular priced fabric. If you choose a sale priced fabric you can get another 10% off when you buy all that is remaining. Come in on Monday and Tuesday to get your choices before the Carolina Shop Hop begins the next weekend.

Happy 4th of July
At Heirlooms & Comforts we will be CLOSED July 4-7 to celebrate our nation's independence. Find a celebration or create one of your own, but remember and rejoice over our Freedom and our freedoms provided by our nation's Constitution. Pursue that life of liberty and happiness.

Carolina Shop Hop begins on July 13 and lasts until the next weekend, ending on July 21. Go to www.carolinashophop.com to see details of how the shop hop works and participate to qualify for part of the $20,000.00 worth of prizes being given away by the 14 shops in North and South Carolina. Print your passport, gather three friends and do the road trip. We are looking for you.

Remembering

The time of our childhood influences our attitudes so much!

That time of parental and cultural input really makes us what we are, I think. My brother and I were greatly influenced in our attitudes by the experiences of our youth and the leadership of our parents. We were taught to honor and respect those who fought for the rights and freedoms of our nation and what a patriotic commitment required of the individual who made that commitment, even to the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of the nation. We were fortunate that our father was just old enough, I guess, to not be drafted in the time of World War II. However, some extended family members were active in the Great War and some even gave their lives. For that reason I am more aware of that war that our country participated in than others. The impact of that war came closer to my family than did others. It is natural for me to be reverent and be grateful for those who sacrificed for the nation because of my up-bringing. Hopefully I have inspired that awe in my children and that they can pass that respectful attitude on to the grandchildren.

Give thanks and remember the fallen ones. Express your gratitude and celebrate your freedom!

Sara 

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt Week. In celebration of Memorial Day this week we will also punch your Fab Card for fabric purchases including the Clean Off the Bolt purchases. That means that when you buy all that remains on a bolt you can also get your card punched for the purchase amount. Whoo-hoo! We have never done that before as I can remember. Only this week and only to help you be aware of Memorial Day. It is like this: regular Clean Off the Bolt discounts of 25% on regular price fabric when you take all on the bolt or another 10% off a sale price fabric when you take all on the bolt PLUS we will punch your Fab Card. Take advantage of our craziness now. It may never happen again.

Schedule Reminders
Summer schedule reminders:

• Memorial Day, May 28 - Closed
• Independence Day, July 4 - Closed July 4, 5, 6, and 7.
• Carolina Shop Hop - July 13-21.
• Sewing Camp for Kids - July 23-26

Some Fun

Into every life a little fun must fall! The Central Railroad Festival of 2012 on April 28 proved to add a little fun into the lives of the folks at Heirlooms & Comforts. After a year of hard planning and execution of those plans, Bobby saw the efforts all pay off with another successful event. All the committee members and volunteers did their parts, and "Elvis" arrived in good spirits to entertain the festival goers.

What fun it was to watch women of all ages, but mostly those of near my age, swoon over a guy who only dresses up like and sounds a little like Elvis Pressley as he performs his routine. It is all imitation of the real thing who is long since deceased, but fun to remember and pretend. "Elvis" spent most of his breaks between shows at Heirlooms with Sue, Kathy, and Sara preparing scarves and teddy bears to hand out to his audience and singing a little phrase or two from his repertoire. He even watched a video of the real Elvis just before returning to the stage for his second show. It was quite fun to see the behind the scenes of a professional impersonator and hear some of his real-life stories about Elvis fans.

If you missed the fun and the historic tours and the train museum and the other attractions in Central on Saturday, be sure to mark your calendar now for April 27, 2013, for the next Central Railroad Festival. Who knows, some year there could even be a marvelous quilt show with train quilts!!

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt all week. This is the time to get 25% off a regular price fabric when you buy all that remains on a bolt - whether it is two yards or 20 yards. If your choice is to buy all that remains on a sale price bolt you get an extra 10% off. Think backings this week, or think main fabric and borders. This is the time to save for that big project.

Reminder
The class schedule for classes at Heirlooms & Comforts is now on-line as of last week. Look it over for what is happening this summer and call us soon to be sure to get into the session you want to have. Completed registration (paying the tuition) holds your place. When we reach the maximum number of registrants for any particular class we have to close off sign-ups for that class. Don't delay.

Things Aren't the Same

Are you 40 yet? Can you remember 40? Would you want to be 40 again? You know, 40 now is not like 40 was 30 years ago. When I was 40 thirty years ago there was a 13 year old son, a 10 year old daughter, a 9 year old son, and a 6 year old daughter in my household. I was very sure to be on my p's and q's to not say or do anything to influence their behavior in any manner that was not according to the southern, conservative, fundamentalist point of view. I don't even remember whether there was a party to celebrate the maturation process and arrival at that milestone age. Forty years old now is quite different! Our then 10 year old is now 40 and there has been a party. Preparation went on for days; invitations went out to lots of people to attend with guests ranging in age from very young adulthood to senior citizens with white hair. Considerable amounts of food were prepared by her friends and elaborate decorations within a theme were put in place. A music system was put in the building for guests to dance to. The party day arrived on last Friday and the guests came in anticipation of "roasting" the honoree and having a great time with conversation, dancing, food and not least of all adult beverages. Wow! Even Grandma had fun with it all and stayed awake up to midnight. I'm telling you, 40 is not now like 40 was 30 years ago.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will again feature Clean Off the Bolt Week. Since last Clean Off the Bolt Week a number of fabrics have been placed on the sale bench. You don't want to miss one of your favorite choices when it arrives in the sale area, so you will want to come in to the shop soon to be sure that doesn't happen. Remember you get 25% off a regular price fabric when you take all that is left on the bolt and 10% additional discount when you take all the is left on a sale priced fabric. Great things can happen when you shop the Clean Off the Bolt Week at Heirlooms & Comforts!

New Fabrics from Westminster Fibers
At Heirlooms & Comforts last week we received a shipment of new fabrics from the Kaffe Collective-Kaffe Fassett and his friends, Philip Jacobs and Brandon Mabley. They are sooooo...beautiful and bright. It is next to impossible to describe the colors and patterns. There are Cosmos, Brassica, Feathers, Roses, Sand Dollars, and more to choose from. If you love those wonderful Rowan Fabrics from Westminster Fibers that are designed by these talented men, you should see these!!

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.

How Cute is This?

It must be written someplace that all friends and acquaintances of grandmothers have to listen to and agree with the opinion of said grandmother about her grandchild! So here goes for Grandson #3. Just look at this photo. Now imagine this as a ten-foot poster in the trade show where people are buying merchandise to stock their clothing stores. Who in this wide world would not buy the entire line from Dickies after seeing this poster with this child's handsome face? If it showed up in the department store in an even smaller size wouldn't you buy those "togs" even if you had to find a child to give them to, not having a grandson of your own? I ask you again, "How cute is this?" Too bad he doesn't get royalties for this. I think it is worth a million! Now, just for the record, you should see his brothers and cousins.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt all week long. Buy all the fabric left on the bolt of regular price fabric and get 25% off the price. (Special orders and kitted fabrics are excluded) Buy all the fabric left on the bolt of a sale priced fabric and get an extra 10% off the original price of the fabric. (Offer cannot be combined with other offers.) There are some really nice fabrics on the Sale Table, folks. This is a good time for borders and backings!

Sew Fest
Husqvarna Viking is having Sew Fest for the American dealerships during this week and part of next week. So, look for new things to come from Viking. We will return from the session in Atlanta with new ideas and plans bursting forth just like the daffodils in the garden! We will be ready to show and share with you whatever they have in store for us at this meeting. Watch out and listen for Bobby and me to spill the news.

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.

Headlong Toward Yuletide

Now it is time to charge headlong toward the Yuletide season. We are ready at Heirlooms & Comforts to do just that. Down come the haystacks and pumpkins, and up go the Santas and Herald Angels. We will be looking for the appropriate fabrics to make those table runners and napkins and even some ornaments. Have you gotten the stockings completed? This Grandma managed to get the additional two done before leaving for a Texas Thanksgiving. Some of our holiday fabrics remain and they are the latest arrivals into the shop. They are very pretty; so if you are not done there are still some great things to work with.

And by the way, if your personal Santa has not received your wish list yet, let him know that there are some really good prices on our Husqvarna Viking sewing and embroidery machines and software. Send him in to Heirlooms & Comforts for the great help our staff can offer. We also issue Gift Certificates so that the recipient can make her own choices. Be sure to convey all this information to your Santa.

Sara

Husqvarna Viking is offering a $500 Rebate on the purchase of a Designer Diamond deLuxe from now until December 15. When you purchase or trade up to a DDDluxe, you get an opportunity to apply for a $500 rebate directly from Husqvarna Viking. What a great chance to save, but it ends on December 15, 2011. Look on the H-V website to get more information.

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature our Clean Off the Bolt special. If you clean off a regular price bolt of fabric you get 25% off the original price. We have a large number of skinny bolts in the regular price fabric racks. Also, if you clean off a sale priced bolt of fabric you get an additional 10% off the original price of the fabric. So, you could be getting 40%, 50% or 60% off if you take it all. Think of those Secret Sisters and others who would love a "batch" of great fabrics to add to their stashes.

Special Financing
At Heirlooms & Comforts from now until December 2, 2011, we can offer you 24 Months with no interest financing on your purchase of a Husqvarna Viking machine or Embroidery Software. Two years with no interest, now there's a deal for you. See us soon because December 2 is Friday, you know. We will help you with the application for the GEMoney Home Design Card and process the sale for you. We're ready; come on in.

Changes

Many times you have heard me say that life is a series of changes and that we have to roll with the flow. Well, once again all around us is changing. Just look at the world around you! This year the dogwood trees and the oak trees are the stars of the show. How could they be any more burgundy than they are just now? As Bobby and I rode through the hills on the way to Shop Hop meeting in Asheville on Friday we were amazed at the blazing color even in a year of not such good conditions for beautiful fall foliage. How could anyone not love the autumn part of the year? Mother Nature is always sneaking up on us with some kind of beauty - thanks, Mother!

Sara

Special Closing
November 1, Tuesday, we will be closed. Unfortunately the new sidewalk at the shop is not as the engineers had anticipated it would be. The efficiency of turning rainwater from the front door and eliminating puddles didn't happen. Sooooo-now on Monday, Oct 31 the construction company is back to our front door to chop up the new sidewalk making way for a newer, re-engineered pouring of the section in front of our doors. They have been three weeks deciding exactly how they wished to do this: On Monday they will jack hammer the concrete. We will be open for business, but watch your step coming in. On Tuesday, November 1, we will be closed for the pouring of concrete. It will be suitable for walking on by Wednesday morning when we open again. Hopefully, this will be the last of the inconvenience for all of us; but we are thankful for the progress we are making toward a safer, smoother entry to Heirlooms & Comforts.

Special Event
Calling all who sew, embroider and machine appliqué! On November 18 (Friday) we will host Gail Dodson, a Husqvarna Viking Educator from the west coast, USA, in a special all-day trunk show and demo. For a $15 fee you will get unbelievable inspiration for machine embroidered and sewn projects, knowledge for how to use stabilizers and when to use different types of needles, tricks you can do with embroidery software, and we will buy your "lunch with the girls." Gail has an entirely new set of ideas for us coming from a different background than we have had before in our events. You will receive a bag of "goodies" from the world of stabilizing and embroidery and appliqué that is worth more than $25. There will be specials on various products that day as well. What a fun start for the holidays of 2011! Seating is limited in our classroom, so sign up early to take advantage of the opportunity to once again be inspired and have fun. Call the shop today.

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we are featuring Clean Off the Bolt Week. For the entire week we will honor our regular procedure of 25% off any regular price fabric when you take all that is left on the bolt. When you take all that is left on a sale priced bolt you get an additional 10% off. There are some bolts on the sale table that have enough left for quilt backs. Take advantage of these bargains this week!

New Voice

Finn Ballentine here. I'm the smallest of the Ballentine boys, but don't underestimate my strength! My twin brother Miles was pretty nice to let me be the spokesman for this newsletter. But, you know, it works both ways. I'm nice to him too; I even let him gnaw and gum my foot when they put us on the quilt on the floor to play. His tooth is not yet breaking the gum like mine is. He may be four pounds heavier than me, but I'm getting teeth first and he better be on his best behavior or I'll have a weapon for him. Really, though, I like playing with him and sharing time with him while Mom is tending to our older brother Naaman (2 yrs.) You know Naaman just might have a good idea about only using the word NO so much and I think Miles and I will note this for when we get to be two.

Grandma and Grandpa (Naaman usually calls him Bobby unless Grandma insists that he say Grandpa) came to Texas for a week to help my family move to our larger house. We just needed more space to be comfortable as a family and, boy, did we get it. There is even a room that Grandma and Grandpa can use when they come again. This past week Grandma watched us with the help of our Aunt Sissy while Dad, Mom, and Grandpa did all kinds of jobs at the new house. Our Nana and Poppy live just five minutes away, but they were moving into that new house this same week. Sissy let us all stay at her house when the furniture left our little house.

I hope that those nice ladies at Heirlooms & Comforts were able to take care of all your requests while Grandma helped here. My brothers and I enjoyed having Grandma and Grandpa in Texas. Now they are back in South Carolina with my cousins and at their work. We Ballentine boys put our heads together and decided that they should come more often to visit because they play games and do things that Mom and Dad don't seem to have time to do. Please don't get mad if they start to do that more often. We love it. Grandma has a really great smile when she is playing with us and we like to see that. You know how patient Grandpa is when he is working on your machines? Well, he is that patient when he is teaching us to play games too. That really is nice!

Finn

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt and 50-off-75
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week there are two features: Clean Off the Bolt all week and 50-off-75 from MyEmbroideries.com.

As usual we have our first full week of the month event for clearing the bolt -- take all of a regular price fabric on the bolt and get 25% off or take all of a sale price bolt to get an extra 10% off the original price. We had a number of skinny bolts ready to cleaned.

The second great feature is MyEmbroideries.com is having a special event from Oct. 3 until Oct. 6. When you spend $75 or more with MyEmbroideries.com you will receive $50 off and you must use the code 50off75 when checking out after making your selections. How about that -- $75 worth of embroidery designs for only $25. You should be sure that Heirlooms & Comforts is selected as your dealer when making this purchase. Great week for saving!

Exception to Normal Saturday Shop Hours
At Heirlooms & Comforts on Saturday, October 8, we will close the shop at 1:00 for the Clemson Homecoming Game with Boston College. October 22, 2011 shop hours will be announced at a time closer to that date. Other Saturdays in October are normal hours of 10:00 AM till 3:00 PM.

Classes
In case you didn't notice last week, the class schedule is on-line on our web site. Peruse it and make your choices. We are ready to roll. The process is to complete registration by paying your class fee to secure your seat in the class. We print out a supply list for you and help you make your choices for the class. It is all fun and a great learning experience for all of us. Look over the schedule for fall and give us a call!

Class Listing

Vacation for the Nation

You may know that in the South of the United States the textiles industry was "alive and well" for a great part of the 20th Century. Then there was the recession and the transfer of operations to off shore facilities that combined with many other factors and took the industry out of the economic picture in the south. Having been a part of that workforce, Bobby and I experienced a lot of tradition and felt the loss of the industry poignantly when it declined. One of the traditions of the textile industry in the south was that the mills shut down during the week of July 4th. Everyone who worked in a mill got a vacation paycheck. Well, that was a bonus for those hourly wage earners. They went to the beach or to the mountains and visited all the "sights" in the area. If they opted to not travel with family and/or friends, they took that "free money" and spent it on new appliances or cars or recreation equipment - something "bonus" in their lives. They worked hard and they planned each year for the "week of the 4th." Maintenance employees were the only ones who worked that week and they were servicing the machinery that had to be silent while they worked on it. One year in particular (1973) Bobby opted to help the crew work that week because he and I decided that he would be more needed in August when baby #3 was to be born. Guess what. Baby #3 didn't wait until August. He was born July 9, during the week after the 4th that year. Now Baby #3 and his beautiful wife have three babies of their own. Grandma and Grandpa are doing the "week of the 4th" idea and shutting down the operation for a few days at Heirlooms and Comforts to go on the road to visit our families west of the Mississippi.

Enjoy your family and friends during this time of celebration of our nation's Independence. Wave a flag! Have a picnic. Exercise caution in playing. Be safe. Show your patriotism. Celebrate soundly (firecrackers and all). Take in a fireworks show wherever you can find one. Celebrate Freedom!

Sara

Oh Yeah! Check out our pre-owned machines!

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt all four days. You probably remember the drill: take all that is remaining on a bolt of fabric for 25% off the regular price fabrics or another 10% off a sale price fabric. HERE'S THE DEAL THIS WEEK - Take 35% off regular price fabrics and another 20% off sale price fabrics. For these four days June 27-June 30 you can enjoy this special "Remember Textiles Week".

July 4th Closing
At Heirlooms & Comforts we will close from July 1 through July 4 for Independence Day vacation. We will reopen on July 5 at 10am and be ready for the beginning of Carolina Shop Hop on July 8.

Carolina Shop Hop 2011 begins Friday, July 8 and continues until Saturday, July 16. Go to the web site to get your passport print out and see all the details of the rules of the shop hop and how to win $1300 worth of Gift Certificates. Join us for the fun!

Ending and Beginning

This is the time of year that we see the Ending and the Beginning - young people ending their various stages of education with graduation, and suddenly they and others are beginning new stages of life. This is the time for excitement and contrasting nostalgia and reflection. For some of us it is the end of paying and paying and paying for what the offspring are doing and learning - no more tuition. For some of us it is the beginning of such paying.

However this may apply to you, we offer our best wishes to you and yours. In particular we want to wish the best of everything to one of our own: Cissie and Rick's third daughter Rebecca is graduating from Miami of Ohio. Congratulations!

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we will feature Clean Off the Bolt all week. This means that if you buy all the fabric left on a bolt of regular price fabric you will get a 25% discount on that purchase. If you buy all the fabric remaining on a sale price bolt of fabric you will get and extra 10% discount off the original price of that fabric. Measure your finished quilt tops and bring them into the shop to find bargains for the backings. We have some really good-looking fabrics at great prices right now. Come early.

The Newest Class Schedule is on our Web Site
Read over the listing of classes being offered at Heirlooms & Comforts for the summer and complete your registration before May 14 to qualify for a 20% discount on the supplies listed by the instructor for her class. The 20% will apply until the end of the first session of the class you are taking. Look at the photos of the samples that have already been brought into the shop for you to see. We have posted as many of these as we have already. We are waiting for you to come in.

Recovery!

Grandma has recovered from the "experience" of more than one small child at a time for more than a sleepover. But, my oh my, it does take time to do so at this age. God is a wise God, giving the active little ones to the younger mothers. What a joy to be able to have the grandchildren close by to be able to spend time with them. Now we can move on to other experiences with the boys.

Let's think about spring-cleaning a little bit. Do you get revved up when the weather warms and gets ready to make all things look new? How long does that energy last? Can you get through the project of clean-up quickly enough to not give up on it? Are you organized for your collection of fabrics and notions to be handy when you get back to sewing your creations? Lately I have been trying to get organized in the "land of thread" with locating containers that adequately hold all the different kinds of threads I want to have on hand. Each brand or type has a different shaped spool. So, I have to have different shaped storage containers. It has been a quest and I have a few samples to show you at Heirlooms & Comforts. Come by and we can share ideas.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
At Heirlooms & Comforts this week we have Clean Off the Bolt Week. Don't be "fooled" even if Friday is April Fools Day. We will have something special going on for you that day. Otherwise, the normal Clean Off the Bolt rules apply: take the remaining yardage of a regular price bolt for a 25% discount or take the remaining yardage of a sale priced bolt for an additional 10% off. Who knows? There could be new "neighbors" in the sale racks by the end of the week as well.


VIP Treatment for Home Design Customers
If you currently have a Home Design card from H & C then you will get VIP treatment this week. When you use your Home Design Card you can take an additional 10% * off your purchase this entire week. If you currently do not have a Home Design card, don't worry; you can still get the VIP treatment - just apply for one and you will qualify for the extra 10% * off when you use it. This applies to any purchase. Whew! This is no April Fool Joke--Let's rock!

*The extra 10% discount applies to the net purchase before tax and after all rebates (in-store and mail-in) have been applied.

Reminder
Thursday, March 31st is the last day for your purchase to qualify for the $500 Rebate on the Designer Diamond and also the last day to trade in old, anybrand embroidery software (certain rules apply) for a $500 coupon against 5D Professional Embroidery Software. We have had some really happy customers who took advantage of this offer. Join them in their bliss.
Visit the Husqvarna Viking web site for more info.

See! It all comes in time.

If you live in the South, the weather all comes in time; you just have to wait a short while. There is frigid winter and less than two weeks later there is light, warm spring. But be careful. Winter could rear its icy head again. We're not safe until March has had its say in the matter. Keep your supply closet at "the ready" just in case you get shut in again. One never knows when you live in this region.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Clean Off the Bolt
This week at Heirlooms & Comforts we will feature Clean Off the Bolt all week long. You will get 25% off any regular price fabric of which you purchase all that remains on the bolt. You will get another 10% off any sale priced fabric when you clear its bolt. There is no limit to the number of yards you can purchase. Be sure to look for backings in the sale fabrics at this time to get the real bargains. We noticed some really nice skinny bolts in the racks this week. There may be some that you really need if you look around a bit. Come on in to see.

Class Picture
There have been several requests to see pictures of the jacket that Carolyn is going to teach. Look on the class page of the web site to find a picture of the jacket without sleeves-commonly known as a vest. Carolyn is happy to show you how to convert the pattern to a vest if you prefer. This is a great place for that special button you have been saving for a special garment.

Free Quilt Pattern
At Heirlooms & Comforts receive a free pattern when you purchase fabric from the Clothworks collection called Beetle Boy. It is a cheerful group of fabrics in bright colors that are typical of what young people like nowadays. Some lucky child would be delighted to have a cuddly quilt made from this group of fabrics!