We've talked about donating quilts, but what if we hosted a retreat dedicated to sewing for a cause? You've been incredibly generous in your donations to Wrap the World with Quilts -- in fact, I dropped off another carload this week. Thank you! 

We thought it might be fun to sew humanitarian projects together, right here at our retreat center. But wait... there's more... How about this: a two-day weekend retreat where you dedicate the first seven hours to sewing for a specified cause, then spend the rest of the retreat sewing whatever you like. It gets better... There's no cost to attend! We think it's a great idea and hope you'll join us!

For our first Humanitarian Retreat, the ladies from Wrap the World with Quilts will be here to share their story and their mission. They will bring simple quilt kits and other easy projects you can work on Friday 10am - 5pm for donation to their charity. The rest of the retreat (Friday 5pm - 10pm and Saturday 10am - 5pm) is yours to work on whatever you choose. You could finish up a UFO, get a jump-start on holiday sewing or continue sewing donations -- it's up to you! Register now to reserve your seat (for $0) and come give your time and skills to a great cause providing quilty comfort and relief worldwide.

When taking on a project kit, Wrap the World with Quilts asks that you complete it and return it to them finished. Whether you choose to quilt it on a long-arm, your domestic machine, or even simply tie it, the quilts need to be complete with binding upon return. It doesn't need to be fancy -- just sewn together with love! You may take your project home to finish. There's no deadline for return but please be timely with your commitment.

You'll be inspired by the experiences these women will share and you'll want to keep quilting for a good cause when you see what can be accomplished by quilters who put their hearts together.

If you can't attend the retreat this time, we encourage you take part in donating in any number of ways as directed on their website https://wraptheworldwithquilts.com/

Now, let's talk wovens. By now you know we kinda have a thing for them. We just received our first shipment from Anna Maria Textiles and, oh my goodness, are these fabrics gorgeous! Inspired by the flowers in her own garden, Anna Maria has designed these quilter's quality wovens to feel fresh and nostalgic at the same time. They have a beautiful hand, great for quilts and garments alike. We can't wait to see what you make with them! Garden Variety is just the beginning of regular Anna Maria Textile releases you can expect to find on our website and in-store!

I recently finished making the Homestead Star quilt by Plains & Pine out of Warp & Weft Wovens by Ruby Star Society. I love the way the strong colors and various stripes, plaids and textures play together in this striking design. My favorite is that colorful little fuzzy dot. So good! The pattern was really fun to put together. We have a few kits if you'd like to give it a try! And how 'bout that E2E quilting by Chelsea Hilton? Perfection.