visiting marissa...

twenty years separates the two, one extra chromosome unites them...

 last night we were able to make the delivery. sweetness all around. a few tears of joy too.

sarah's on a mission...

just heard there is a little girl from florida coming to the cleveland clinic for surgery... 

so sarah got busy making her a pillow case. she decided circus animals were in order.  

hugs from around the world...

i know i talk often about adoption.  and the kiddos who have been placed in orphanges simply because they have down syndrome.  i promise it makes a difference to each and every one who finds a loving family and each dollar we raise with the help of our customers is appreciated.  just look at this smile...

today my handsome hubby got a neck full of love from this sweet, adorable serbian prince.  asher was adopted last year by a wonderful family in minnesota.  you can read much more about their incredible journey to serbia to rescue asher and the transformation that has occured in the past few months on their blog.     

squelching rumors...

honesty is always the best policy, i do believe.  i know a few customers today heard a discussion that has already lead to a few questions. so before the rumors go any further, let me just clarify a few things...

yes, our landlord did come into the shop today to inform me that he wants to put the building up for sale.  by a broker.  that is all i know at this moment.  are we interested in buying it? possibly. there are many questions and details that need to be discussed. and some praying that needs to occur. have we talked to the bank. yes we have. sba applications are lengthy. and complicated. anyone who tells you otherwise has either no experience with them or is not being factual. 

no, this does not come as a complete surprise. we have been wrestling with the possibility of the need to move for years. my husband has had location b, c, & d in his hip pocket for sometime. just in case. 

i too have been thinking ahead. from the very beginning. that is why nothing is nailed to the walls or the floor. the white furniture can be moved anywhere. even the cutting island and counter top was designed so it can be picked up and relocated in a moments notice. 

drive up and down mayfield right now and you will observe for lease signs everywhere.  i am not worried. did i mention i am praying though? for guidance with the possibility of a pot of money falling from the sky.

jellen's will not disappear overnight. i promise you that.    

new samples for sale...

the cuteness just keeps arriving. meet ben. he and his mama and big brother came in the shop to purchase a sample quilt...

...because hand made quilts make great gifts.  and because 100% of the sale price is directed to reece's rainbow, a down syndrome adoption ministry, helping to get the kiddos born with an extra chromosome into loving homes with families.

the dottie bowl...

...has been replenished for all the christmas in july shop hoppers...

have you received your free token of our appreciation?  if not, come hop with us this weekend.  

jingle bells...

can you hear them?  they will be playing for the next week. don't miss the fun...

open for business

for all you inquiring quilting minds...yes we are open today for the shop hop from 10-5.

grocery shopping...

the two young men ringing and bagging in lane seven, got quite a kick out of my purchases tonight...

if anyone was monitoring the security camera they too were probably wondering why i was spending so much time picking out all the red and greens...

winner, winners...

we have winners. but first the tally. i decided this go around to separate the bolts.  i think the end result is exactly what you would expect in our store based on what we purchase. so here it is...

the total is 361. we had one small dilemma. we had an empty roll from a laminate. technically it is not a bolt. but it was empty. so we decided if we had someone guess 360 and another person guess 361, they would both be winners. but we didn't.  the winner over on facebook was ann with a guess of 350 and here on the blog the winner is lori with a guess of 347.  your $50.00 gift certificates will be waiting in the store. congratulations!!

still digging out...

oh my goodness.  the carpet looks great.  the store not so much...

we are still trying to get things back to viewing order. please bare with us...

happy and thankful 4th...

are you enjoying your holiday? i almost forgot to mention our latest contest here.  it is only possible to do so with a very HUGE thank you for all the support for our semi-annual clearance sale. i know i say this every time...but wow you leave me speechless.  now here it is...for a $50.00 gift certificate...can you guess the number of bolts we emptied last week...

this contest is also going on over on facebook. and just because we are so thankful for your support, we will pick one winner here and one over there.  that means you can guess twice.  the first person on each site to guess correctly without going over will be the winner.  contest ends over on facebook at midnight tonight.  we will leave the comments open here until thursday 7/5 at midnight.  happy guessing.

closed for cleaning

all day today july 3 for carpet shampooing...

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.