Batiks By Design

Through Monday, February 15th we are having a fantastic sale:

• Buy 3 yards of fabric, Get the 4th one FREE
• Buy 3 patterns, Get the 4th one FREE
• Spend $25 and get a FREE Creative Grids ruler!

We’ve had a great response to this sale so far, but there is still time to shop if you haven’t taken advantage of it yet.

www.batiksbydesign.com

My family: Husband-BJ, Son-Logan, Daughter-Andi

Hello everyone! I am Cyndi, and I am still a little new at Batiks by Design. I am the new Administrative Assistant here. I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone. In addition to administrative duties, I will be answering the phone if you call, or filling your orders and shipping them out. I am also here in the shop during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm) if you get a chance to drop in and see our beautiful fabrics in person. I will be glad to help you in any way I can.

Speaking of dropping in at the shop, last week a customer called me to place an order. Unfortunately some of the fabrics she had chosen were gone to the Quilt Show in Pennsylvania with Patti. After talking with her for a few minutes and discussing the options, we decided it would be best if she came by and looked at the fabrics here in the shop. I told her I would pull the fabrics she had chosen and have them ready, but I would not cut them in case she changed her mind. In preparation, I pulled not only the ones she had chosen, but another stack of coordinating fabrics as well. She came by the next day and brought a friend. After seeing the material in person, she did end up changing her mind on a few. She chose what she needed for the project she had had in mind when she called (the background of a quilt) and then ended up choosing more fabrics for birthday projects for people in her life as well. Next, she spotted our scrap bin and had fun filling a gallon size zip-lock bag full of scrap pieces for only $15. She said that it did make a difference seeing the fabrics in person and she was glad she came in. We had fun looking over the fabrics and deciding what to get. I was so glad I could help her, and her friend.

Beautiful colors, quality fabrics.

So bright and cheerful!

So, any time you are in our area, please come by and check out our shop. Pictures on the computer can never compare to how lovely these fabrics are in person. I looked over the website before I came to work here, and I was amazed when I actually saw the fabrics. I am learning more every day, about fabrics, quilting, patterns and more. If you have never worked with Batiks, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. If you have worked with Batiks, I am positive you will be impressed with the quality, selection, and price.

I am looking forward to working with all our customers.  As I am learning, I will be taking you along on the journey. I will keep you updated on my projects, ideas, and anything else going on here. I hope you enjoy the ride and let me know what you think. I can’t wait to hear from you when you get a chance.

Did you know that 95 percent of fabric shoppers make their purchases at chain stores? That’s right, only 5 percent shop independents. Let’s change that.

Welcome to Project 95

Project 95: Fabric Shoppers Unite—Shop Independents is a worldwide network of independent quilt and fabric shops, that have joined forces to promote shopping independents. By buying from Project 95 shops, you support this movement and join with consumers just like yourself to ensure that you will have access to specialized quilting and sewing supplies, no matter where you live.

Why Shop Independents?

There are three good reasons to choose independents over chain stores.

Excellent Service. At independents, you can expect caring attention to your needs.

Superior Knowledge. Independent shop staffs are quilters and sewers themselves, and have unsurpassed product knowledge that they pass on to you.

Count on Quality. Fabrics, notions and tools available at independents are the highest quality.

Tell your quilting and sewing friends to unite, and shop independents!

Project 95 is brought to you by The Fabric Shop Network, Inc.—the trade association for independent quilt and fabric retailers.

Last Tuesday, the quilt guild from Jackson, TN came to visit me at my shop.  The visit was initiated at the Paducah Quilt Show in April when Judy, a member of the group, mentioned that she was bringing her guild to a shop not too far from me in June.  I suggested that they stop here while they were “in the neighborhood” and she agreed!  My shop has only recently moved into a space where I can have customers come and visit.  I started Batiks by Design in my basement, but outgrew that space so we built a building in our backyard.  The shop is finally looking somewhat like a quilt shop, I just need to get my new cutting table setup and put some quilts on the walls!  I’m hoping to offer some classes in the other side of my building where I now have my office, cutting table, and sewing  machine.

Back to the topic on hand, the ladies began arriving after their lunch in Murray.  As true fabric lovers will do, they couldn’t wait to explore the shop.  They browsed at my quilt samples that I had laid on 2 tables pushed together for a quick trunk show, started pulling bolts off the shelves, and browsing patterns, fat quarters, and their favorite, my scrap tote where they could purchase a gallon sized bag of their choice of scraps for $15, as long as the bag zipped!  I think I have about a third of the scraps I had before they came.  Everyone enjoyed the store and our trunk show, even though the air conditioning didn’t keep up with the 30+ bodies in the shop.  I’ll have to work on that!  Enjoy the pictures!  Thanks ladies for stopping by to shop.  Come again.  If you are interested in visiting us, give me a call and we’ll setup a time.

My mother’s birthday is just around the corner and I’m getting ready to make her the Towne Purse that I sell on my site.  This is one of the purses that I’ve been meaning to make for a while, but just haven’t gotten around to it.  It’s the pattern that most seems to fit my mom’s needs as well.  She doesn’t like to carry a shoulder bag anymore and has to have lots of pockets.  This pattern says there are 9 pockets.  I hope that is enough!  It even has a zipper, a must with my mom.  My dilemma is what fabrics to use . . . she’s not into the Vera Bradley look since her purse has to match her outfit!  I just use a purse until I get tired of it or it falls apart, whether it matches my outfit or not.  I’m thinking black and white, which is a nice look for summer.  If I make the main part of the bag in fabrics with black as the background, then it won’t get so dirty and I can use the white fabrics for the trim/accents.  Two of my possible selections are to the right.  I’ve also considered some of the fabrics that are black and white with a little bit of brown as shown to the left.  If you have any suggestions, let me know.

Visitors to our booth in Paducah

It’s been more than a month since Paducah’s quilt show and I’ve sat down several times to write in my blog, but it obviously didn’t get done.  Where does the time go?  Paducah was WONDERFUL and I want to thank all of you that stopped by to see our beautiful fabrics!  We love meeting each and every one of you and apologize if we were so busy we didn’t get a chance to really talk to you.  We sold a lot of fabrics, including a lot of our Bali batiks and have replaced some and ordered some new fabrics!  Shopping for the fabrics is half of the fun of running a quilt store . . . all those fabrics to choose from . . . !

One of the reasons I haven’t been more in touch with you, is that I started a temporary job at Wal-Mart working on the remodeling team.  I felt that this would give me some extra money to put into my store for advertising.  It has helped and I’ll be advertising in both Quilter’s Newsletter and McCall’s Quilting for the next 3 issues!  Please look for the ads and show them to your friends.  I have now gone to part-time with Wal-Mart working in Ladies Wear, which now gives me some extra income and the time to work with Batiks by Design.

Jelly Bags

If you check our home page, you will find some wonderful purse patterns that are perfect for those rainy summer days when you want something quick and easy to do.  I wish I had taken pictures of all of the wonderful bags and purse we saw at the Paducah quilt show.  Wow is all I can say!  We made 2 versions of Jelly Bags pattern.  What do you think?  We sold kits for the strips to make them both.   They went very well and I was wondering if you thought that they would sell online just as well?  Give me your feedback.

BQ2

We’ve also add a few new patterns that are easily made in a weekend – or less!  Check out Afternoon Delight, a truly delightful quilt that is quick, easy, and oh so beautiful!  Another one we had a lot of fun with is Love That Print.  This is a great pattern to play around with some of those fabrics that are hard to cut and need larger pieces to really show off the fabrics.  Stir Crazy (right in greens and purple) from Strip Therapy 2 was made in a weekend using the KiwiBerry Bali Pop strips and an added background and border fabric.  I’m very pleased with it.  Another quick and easy quilt that is perfect for showing off your favorite fabric or fabrics is BQ2 (far right) by Maple Island.  I made one using a variety of Asian fabrics for my daughter and we made one with a wonderful Bali fabric for Batiks by Design.  It is pictured to the right.  Isn’t it pretty?!

Join us for the Quilt Dash starting on June 15th and you could possibly win a kit to make the blue and white version of the Jelly Bag.  On our home page is a link for you to join the Dash.  It’s a lot of fun with great prizes and a limited number of shops to visit. 

Until next time, happy quilting!  Patti

And guess what?  I was able to attend!!!  I loved it, but it is a very intense workshop.  I’ve done a lot of paper piecing, but never anything with this kink of detail and with curves and a Mariner’s Star in the center.  I decided to make the new Amazon Star pattern (left) that was published late last year.  You can see what my center is going to look like in the picture to the right.  Judy taught us a paper strip piecing technique for the Lone Star parts of the design that is easy to do and very precise.  I haven’t finished that part of the quilt yet, but they are looking good.  She showed us how to do the curves and made it look easy.  I think the key is the glue stick!  We used it instead of pins and it was amazing how it helped hold everything together without the bulk of pins!  She used a Fons and Porter Glue Stick that is a water-soluble stick that has a narrow “point” that allows for more precise application.  My regular glue stick had glue all over the place!

Here are some other pictures from our workshop:

 

 

 

 

We had a lot of fun, worked hard, and learned a lot.  When I get my quilt done (which won’t be until after the Paducah Quilt Show – sometime!) I’ll be sure to post it here for you to see.   I’ll try to get some pictures of the others.  Everyone’s was different and they all were turning out wonderful!  Thanks, Judy for your awesome patterns and a great workshop!!

Here are the directions for our new FREE quilt pattern called “It’s Hip 2B Square” that is designed to be used with Hoffman Bali Pops or other 2 1/2″ strips.  Thanks to Robin Chandler for the name suggestion.  I modified it a little to reflect a song that I like from Huey Lewis and the News.  Brings back memories!  I also changed the block layout so that it is no longer on point and you don’t have to worry about setting triangles and corners, some which would have had to be half blocks.  This quilt is VERY easy! 

1. Sew 5 Bali Pop Strips together using 1/4″ seam allowance.  The red strip should be only 1 1/2″ and should always be first in order to get the red square in the middle if this is what you want.  Unfortunately, when you do this, you can only use every other cut when you make the triangles, but the opposite cut can be used for another quilt without the red center.  It will give you a small red stripe between the strips and the background fabric.  You could do every other block of 4 the opposite way for a different design!  Press all seams in one direction.
2. Cut background material in 12″ strips by width of fabric.  Then cut strips into 12″ squares and the squares on the diagonal to make 2 triangles per square.
3. Cut the Bali Pop 4 colored strip on a 45 degree angle.  You can place 2 sets of strips together so that the seams nest together and cut at one time.  We used a Companion Angle Ruler or you can use a square ruler set on point with the top corner of the square aligned with the top of the strips.  You can also use The Easy Star and Geese Ruler that we sell on the Batiks by Design site.  You should now have a triangle that measures 12″ on the left and right sides and 17″ across the bottom.  Keep cutting by flipping the ruler to continue cutting triangles.
4. Sew one Bali Pop triangle and one background triangle and sew together across the 17″ side.  You have now formed a 12″ block (1/2 Bali Pop and 1/2 background)
5. Repeat steps above until you have enough blocks to make the quilt size that you want!  Remember that you need to make it an even number of blocks both across and down to keep the pattern.
6. Layout the quilt putting blocks until you like the combination.  Sew together in straight rows.  Sew rows together.
7. Inside border is 1 1/2″ by length and width of quilt top.
8. Outside borders are made by sewing 2 1/2″  strips of fabric together to make the needed size.
9. Send us your pictures!  We’ll post them in the blog for others to see!

Check out Diane’s interview with me at the AQS Show in Des Moines on YouTube.   Diane is with Details by Diane and is such fun!  The picture is a bit grainy, but it’s so neat to see the interview she did.  Send me your comments.

Yes, we finally got the garage doors put on the new building and although I unpacked my trailer from the last quilt shows into it, I’ve been working between there and my family room where I’ve been located since I started my business.  That was reallyfrustrating because I never knew whether something was here or there and I was contantly going back and forth.  Well now the fabrics and its shelving is all moved to the new building!  It was not a fun job . . . and it isn’t totally done since it isn’t all nice and pretty and organized yet, but it is a start.  We did most of it on Saturday, but in the process I hurt my lower back (ouch!) and have been trying to give it a chance to heal before bending and lifting the bolts of fabrics to get things really organized.  Today it is feeling a little better, but I might just give it another day.  Besides, it is raining and a good day to work on the computer!

In the process I found that I have a lot more of some fabrics than I realized (some of my extra bolts have been in a storage locker for a while) and even found a bolt of a fabric that I thought we were out of.  The inventory is off from the quilt shows and as much as we tried to keep a record of what was sold, it didn’t always get updated online in a timely manner – remember, this is still a one person operation with me wearing all of the hats most of the time.  Yes, Shirley is a BIG help, but she has been busy since the last show making quilts for all of her close family members for Christmas (she does this every year).  She makes one for each, wraps them and then they have a Chinese Auction.  Sounds like a lot of work AND a lot of fun.  I asked her to adopt me, but she just rolled her eyes.  It was worth a try!  Her brother also has colon cancer and she is busy helping him as well since he is single with no children.  Keep her and her brother in your prayers.

I’ve added a lot of new fabrics to our site in the past couple of weeks.  We’ve received a lot of traditional and Bali batik fabrics.  I am not a “brown” person, but I love the fabric to the left, which has a brown background with fuschia, pink, and tan flowers.  It has a large dotted border in brown that we used as a coordinating fabric when making this bag called __________ (right) by New Beginnings Designs.  Many of the new traditional designs have large borders that are fun to play with as a complimentary fabric. 

Another 2 fabrics that we love together are the two to the left and right.  They look very elegant together in a purse or jacket.  They are black with creamy white and tan.  Both have large orders that add another “fabric” or trim that can be added to your project.  I put the pictures in with the borders so that you could see them.  Aren’t they just wonderful?

For new patterns, check out our version of Fan Dance II.  It is rich and chocolatey!  We also love Zen Garden, Walk About, and Blue Bayou, which was designed for Timeless Treasures and I can’t wait to make it in our blue and white traditional designs with a few Bali batiks thrown in for good measure!  I made the Mandarin Jacket pattern and just love it.  I need to get some better pictures to put online – maybe without ME in it this time!

Gotta go and update my inventory, eat lunch, and wrap some Christmas presents.  I figure if I do a few a day it won’t be so bad!  I love the shopping and hate the wrapping!  If you need a gift certificate for a friend for a gift, just contact me and work with you to get ‘r done!

Keep quilting,

Patti