it's the $5.00 bonus time

so hard to believe 2012 is almost half over.  yet the calendar tells us it is indeed the last week in june... 

which means our semi-annual $5.00 per yard sale starts...today!!!  all collection and batik fabric included. full yard cuts only please. (sale does not include marbles or white on whites and does not apply to previous purchases.

feet in the kitchen sink...

i wash my dirty feet in the kitchen sink...

how about you? 

smokey kind of day...

smoking hot that is. remember that phrase...where there is smoke...

...there must be fire. yikes, yes there was...bright orange flames...shooting close to our new signs. with the electrical box on the ground. no pics because that is the point when i ran for the phone to call 911. no big deal really, they had it out in just a few minutes and soaked the ground really good for us. i was a tad apolgetic to have called, but the captain assured me it was the right thing to do. the ground is so dry right now and fires can spread rapidly he reminded me.

the creative calendar...

at long last, Sarah's sewcial lounge is just about ready to start humming with the sound of machines, friendship and laughter.  the creative calendar booklets arrived from the printer today...

screech...halt...stop the presses. the inside is...up.side.down.  not to worry...they are reprinting and making a quick delivery on friday morning...in the meantime if you are not doing anything this friday night, june 22 from 5-8 or saturday june 23 between 10-5, stop in and have a look for yourself.  it is time for Sarah to finally show off her lounge.    

sample sale...

our first ever sample sale is continuing through this week...

all sales will support families adopting with the assistance of reece's rainbow.

it's father's day...

i originally posted this last year, yet it's message still rings true...and i would like to send out a message to my dad.  he is rarely visible around the house of fabric, but behind the scenes he has been one of my greatest supporters. visiting chamber events, offering business advice, building shelving, even paying invoices to help us get started. jellen's would not be what it is today without his help. not to mention being the best grandfather ever to his precious sarah...

thanks dad. we truly appreciate your help. happy father's day. we love you!!!

when perfection arrives...

there are days when life can just be...frustrating. but then the door chimes and in walks a breath of fresh air...

pure perfection.  sarah and luke.  they have so much to teach me. so much to teach the world.

it's often the little things...

...in life that warm the heart. i was searching for an email address for a customer when i came across this...

it is the writing of my little buddy ammon.  he has been coming in with his mommy since the early days of our shop being open. each and every time he melts my heart. so adorable.  his entire family came in recently. to say goodbye.  that's the hard part of having a shop so close to a university.  we have many transient customers. in this case, dad just graduated from case medical school and is now off to arizona where he will complete his residency in neurosurgery.  i've learned a lot from this family. the commitment it takes to keep others alive.  more importantly, that love keeps it all going. wishing the messegee's the best. we will miss you so much.

planning time...

...in the sewcial lounge. why yes, these are calendar pages you see...

shocking?  i do believe.  but with patience and perseverance, all things are possible.  we are putting the final touches on the next few months.  if you are interested in teaching a class, leading a block-of-the month club, or have any suggestions for what you want to see included in our curriculum, now is the time to let your voice be heard. 

kiss the cook...

just in time for father's day.  or for the barbeque go to guy in your life...

kiss the cook, condiments, ketchup and mustard by michael miller along with turf, plaid and ticking by emily herrick.

the fat quarter bundle belongs to the lucky winner of the guessing challenge on facebook. if you don't follow us over there you might want to. just click the facebook link over to the right of this post.

national donut day...

who knew?  it was on the first of june. i missed it.  but not to worry...

last night my friend catherine, sarah and i made a midnight run to the dunkin'.  i don't know why this has never happened before, but i stared more at their logo than i did the donuts.  four squares, bright pink and orange, white sashing, a little applique.  can you see where this is heading...  

more about malka...

the newest issue of american patchwork & quilting has a very nice article about one of moda's newest designers, malka dubrawsky...

we have both the magazine and much of her fabric in the shop.  as an added treat, we also are lucky enough to have a pillow made by malka herself. come on in to see it.  if you are reading this from affair, send us an email with your contact info and we will be happy to ship the fabric to you.

another box...

of reading material, hot off the press. arrived today...

did you know we are on an automatic delivery rotation with all better homes & garden's quilt magazine products?  they are just about the only thing that arrives by fed ex, so when i see the purple and green truck pull in i know more visual yummies have arrived:)

travel companion...

just in time for your summer travel plans...

the quilters' travel companion has arrived. and we are in it!!!  this is the must have, go to, travel bible for all quilters. don't leave home without one. 

home sweet home...

every now and then someone walks into your life for a reason. that happened to me just a short while ago. of course at the time i wasn't fully aware of the significance. i'm sure eileen wasn't either. i've been busily working on a quilt this week...

some of you have seen it. some of you wondered why i had taken on the challenge. truthfully, i questioned that myself.  the answer can be found on my creative blog.

sample sale...

today begins our first ever sample sale...

all proceeds will go to reece's rainbow, a down syndrome adoption ministry.

a heart of gold...

those are the words kristi capel thought to add to the segment as she was describing sarah.  we are on a journey that includes so many wonderful friends who we also could decribe as having a heart of gold.  thank you to each and every one of you who have helped make this story possible...

hello luscious, front...

...and center. each and every time we change the front window display i can't help but step back and drool.  this one especially...

featuring hello luscious by basicgrey and sophie by chez moi both for moda.

a rednek woman...

i'd heard so many people talkin' about these new glasses.  for down home feminine drinkin' i reckon...

so i was pretty happy when i found 'em. even happier once they arrived...

can't decide which one i like best...the wine, the margarita or the martini:) btw...new window display in progress...featuring a queen size beauty by our very own katrina. stay tuned...

snake eyes...

i was so excited when i heard the cleveland zoo was offering free admittance to moms on mother's day.  then i realized i no longer have any children who want to go with me. so i headed over to the sewcial lounge for some afternoon relaxation...

i think a trip to the zoo might have been a safer idea:)  yes, the needle broke. fortunately, after it went through my finger.  how about you. do you have any sewing injuries to share?

dropping hints...

...is always helpful.

thank you marie...

oh my goodness what a day it was.  thank you to everyone who came out in the pouring rain to support our shop and most important for sharing your time with marie bostwick...

 

  

i would be remiss in not sending out a thank you to the handsome umbrella man...love you honey:)

parking & logistics...

today is the day we have been waiting for...

very soon we will see marie bostwick sitting behind this desk in that empty chair.  if you will be joining us, please know you may park in the empty parking lot next to us, as well as on either side street as long as you are facing north.  for the safety of everyone, we will be loading into the store from the side door and exiting through the front doors.  we do still have books for sale and a few open slots from 12-1.  please call the store if you have any quesions.

counting down...

the new quilt sampler magazine is in. as i was leafing through the pages i spotted this...

we have all five books in stock for purchase.  most importantly we will be meeting marie in just five days!!!  we still have a few spots available before we exceed our safety regulation maximum, so please call 440-684-9830 to let us know you are coming.  if you purchase your book before monday, you will be moved to the front of the line to meet marie.

grand claps and kudos...

...for the past several months, we have been selling bits and pieces of fabric to a very talented group of quilters from the african american quilt and doll guild. they have been sharing snippets here and there of what they were working on, yet i never imagined the project to be so grand...

 
this past week was the grand opening of the new warrensville heights library and the unveiling of the extraordinary quilts that are now permanently displayed thanks to the efforts of carole, helen, janice, julius, laura, mary, myrya, norma and sandy standing along with congresswoman marcia fudge.  if you have facebook, click over and like the new page for the aaqdg.