Easter

Well it is now the Easter holiday and we hope that you are all having a good break and not eating too much chocolate.

All of the memory squares have been delivered and are being put together by Jenny Dove at the moment.  Typically both Joan and I have been a bit late with ours and are hoping that they still make it on to the quilt, fingers crossed.

We are both in a state of panic - Joan's daughter is imminently about to give birth to her second child which is brilliant news but there is a possibility it could be next week when Joan's handbag course is on which is where my panic comes in as I may have to take over (omg).  I know I am capable of doing it (Joan's exact words) but it still sends me in to melt down.  Lets hope Katie manages to hold on for a few days!!! although not if it makes her feel ill - I'm not that unpleasant.

We had our first grouchy customer last week who obviously is fed up generally with all quilt shops because they don't stock what she wants (haberdashery from the 70's) and although we were both very pleasant, which I know is hard to believe, we couldn't help restore her faith at all.  Hopefully she will find what she is looking for!

I have had ordering melt down (with the help of Shirley who I did say I would blame if Joan has a heart attack).  Yet again the reps found me alone - Tim rang on Wednesday morning (my day in the shop) to say he was just passing and could he call in.  So I ordered more stock -Shirley was in the shop at the time and I did ask her opinion on some of the samples and in my eyes that makes her just as responsible as me should Joan not like any of it.

Thursday morning (Joan is teaching a class) Alan arrived with another load of samples which I ordered - thank goodness they don't arrive until August by which time I could probably convince Joan that she ordered them!

We hope that you all have a lovely break, the weather is brilliant and that always helps.

Debby

New workshop list & Easter



We have to sort out our new workshops for July onwards and thought it might be a good idea to ask if there is anything people really want to do or any suggestions/comments regarding workshops that have already happened! We will try to incorporate as many suggestions as possible.

Also we need to let you know that we will be closed over the Easter weekend (including Saturday) but only for that weekend (its not permanent).  Will put a note in the window to remind everyone

Debby

Another week and Dawn Cameron Dick Workshop

Another week of both Joan and I holding our breath when  a delivery van turns up outside the shop.  We have been waiting for bondaweb for the last two weeks, not very exciting but really useful and it has got to the point where the delivery drivers won't even look at us when they turn up as they must be able to see us out of the corner of their eye standing and staring.  I am sure we have a reputation!  On Thursday afternoon one of the City Link drivers did turn his head and look in the window and I 'pretend talk' asking if he is coming to see us and he nods, poor bloke was probably frightened to death as I am jumping up and down shouting to Joan that we have a delivery.  Even worse for the poor chap when he came in with a small package and a tube which was obviously not what we were waiting for.  Joan's job today is to ring and find out what is happening.

On Friday we had a workshop with Dawn Cameron-Dick - Machine Quilting.  Of course I did not read the requirements list until the night before and realised that I did not have some of the items required.  My husband was sent on a mission on Friday morning (after working a night shift) to get a darning foot and machine needles, which he then delivered to the class.  When I looked properly I realised that I already had a darning foot but had never known what it was and I also had plenty of needles but I haven't said anything as I am sure they will be useful at a later date.

Jane, Sue and me (talking as usual)

Me, Sue & the back of Debby

Pat doing the royal wave



Dawn and her vegetarian chickens

 Everybody enjoyed the workshop (I think), Dawn is really knowledgeable and an excellent teacher, I actually learnt loads.  Bee took some photos which I have selfishly cropped to remove some areas I am not keen on, sadly we don't have a sophisticated enhancement package on our computer so I was unable to take off some extra years off my face as well. 


We have some spaces left on our Jelly Quilt workshop with me on Wednesday May 11th and also the Flip & Stitch workshop on Friday May 20th with the brilliant Anne Baxter so if you have any free time you are quite welcome to come along.

Also need to let everyone know that we will not be open over the Easter Weekend (including Saturday), we will put a note in the window to remind everyone.  Hopefully you will all be too busy eating chocolate to even notice.

Debby

On my own

On my own this week as Joan is off for a few days - reliving her honeymoon with her husband! 

Before she left we met Lisanne (Elisabeth) who has just moved to Taunton, she showed us some of her fabrics from South Africa which were lovely and bright.  She was really enthusiastic and took photos of anything and everything she even took a photo of Alice who served her coffee in the Chocolate Box.   She has a stand at the Shepton Mallet show this weekend so if you are going you should look for her. 

Because Joan is away I have had no-one to talk to about the day so am wandering round the shop talking to myself again, the weather is so lovely at the moment the door is open so people passing by might think I am going slightly mad as I talk to the computer continually.

Joan is back tomorrow, normal service will be resumed and Dawn Cameron Dick is coming here on Friday so am looking forward to that and maybe I will master the art of machine quilting - maybe!!

Delivery just arrived - more boxes to open, brilliant

Debby