Free Sew Days

At Heirlooms & Comforts we have set aside some dates for free sewing in the classroom with your old friends and some new friends. Have you ever done that with us before? Well, this summer we have added a new twist to these days. Each scheduled day will have a different food theme and we will provide that food item for all those who sign up to come in to sit and sew. Be sure to sign up for the days you want to come because our maximum capacity is 12 participants each time. We don't want you to miss these great times.

• June 16 is Pizza Day
• June 21 is Quiche Day
• July 7 is Salad Day
• July 20 is Cheese and Fruit Day
• July 23 is Mini Sub Day
• August 6 is Melon Day
• August 10 is Dessert Day

Carolina Shop Hop

Shop Hop of the Carolinas is gearing up now. Are you ready? We are almost there. You will love the fabric printed just for Carolina Shop Hop with the beautiful Oconee Bell wild flower printed on it. There are six colors of this fabric and the 13 shops in the hop are making blocks and quilts using this fabric. You'll love it. Get ready to hop in July - from the 9th til the 17th. Prizes, prizes. Specials on notions. Prizes. Fun. Plan ahead for a great shop hop. Look at the web site.

Just back from SewFest

Husqvarna Viking occasionally holds a dealer event called SewFest and that happened in the month of March this year. Bobby, Audra, and I spent Friday afternoon and Saturday in Atlanta learning from the people from the company headquarters about products and programs that are soon going to be available to us. There is going to be a new version of software called 5D Embroidery. More embroidery packages (a raw edge layered alphabet appliqué package and Texture Quilting are two of the new offerings) and projects from Embroidery Club are coming. In addition there were great discussions with the other dealers and the company people of plans and programs that we can utilize. We'll toss these out to you from time to time. Keep your eyes and ears open!

1 Million Pillowcases

100 pillowcases and counting! On Saturday, March 23, a fantastic group of ladies with a generous spirit came to Heirlooms & Comforts to cut and sew pillowcases for the One Million Pillowcases for a Cause Project. The goal of the program, sponsored by All People Quilt, is to make one million pillowcases in the United States and have them distributed in the communities where they are made. The eight ladies from Easley came in organized and ready to sew. From the sounds of things they had a fun time while sewing. The end result of Saturday's effort was 35 completed pillowcases! Thimbleberries club members met earlier in the year after a club meeting and in a very short time made 10 or so pillowcases. Other customers have brought in ones that they have made at home.

We invite you to continue this effort by using leftover fabrics from your stash and constructing standard size pillowcases. These completed items can be dropped off at Heirlooms & Comforts and we will ensure they are delivered to distressed children, nursing home patients, battered women's shelters and other local charity organizations that can use these as gifts of personal possessions. Our aim is to contribute to the One Million Pillowcases in 2010 in the United States. Join us!

Kids Classes

We have recently had several phone calls to inquire about Kids Sewing Camp this summer at Heirlooms & Comforts.

Judy Luke is again planning four days of intense training and sewing with the kids July 26-29, 2010. There are two sessions, which you may choose from. The morning session is usually designated for the younger, beginner students. The afternoon session is usually a better time for the older more mature learners. We will accept kids from age 8 to age15. Teenagers seem a bit happier in a group of similar age and younger ones seem less intimidated when they are in class with similar age students. We have, nonetheless, had great groups of mixed ages. We want you to use the time slot that works best for your child.

Projects have not yet been selected specifically for this year. You should know, though, that there is a kit fee daily and that we try hard to keep the price reasonable. Hopefully, we will have that worked out for one-time prepayment when you come to the first class. The tuition is $50 for the four days and payable with registration so that we can secure your child's place in the class. Unpaid sign-ups are subject to removal to the waiting list if we get excessive numbers of registrations. Our limit for enrollment is 8 per session-first come, first included.

Charity Project

We wish the best for those who aren't as lucky as we and one of the ways that we at Heirlooms & Comforts are trying to make an impact for "hurting" individuals is to participate in the 1 Million Pillowcases project sponsored by All People Quilt. This national program aims at a million pillowcases constructed and donated to local worthy charities in the year 2010. At H&C we have had one Thimbleberries sew-in to make pillowcases. Six ladies sewed about 1½ hours and completed 13 pillowcases with about that many more ready to sew up to completion.

There is a March date on our calendar when anyone who wants to help impact local charity can come in to sew. Even if you don't want to actually sew, you can cut or press or pair fabrics. There is something for everyone who wishes to help. We have some fabrics donated by a supplier to be used in the effort and H&C is also providing some fabrics, thread, and use of our classroom machines to help move this along. If you have fabrics that are appropriate to the project that you wish to donate, we are happy to have you bring it when you come to sew. You can help us choose local charities to receive the pillowcases including facilities that care for children without proper homes, treatment centers, nursing homes, and homebound individuals. To have a cheerful pillow cover that can be called your very own can somehow become a comforting arrangement. Check in with H&C to get exact details. You will feel very confident for having done something for someone else

25th Anniversary Celebration

Thursday, September 24th is the day we kick off the 25 Year Anniversary Celebration at Heirlooms & Comforts. From 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM we will offer door prizes and refreshments to our customers who come in to share memories and projects and pictures with us. What a great time it has been for all of us across the years. We love to hear how you have fit into our shop life. Come in to tell or come in to hear about others. Arrange your schedule to allow for some time in the day for H&C-spend lunch hour or spare time with us for fun! We will offer refreshments and renewed friendships. Pick up contest rules for the 25th Anniversary Quilt Contest. That can be fun, too. Bring someone with you who can become a new friend at Heirlooms & Comforts. We look forward to seeing all of you.

Sara's News from Husqvarna Viking Convention - June, 2009

Husqvarna Viking unveiled lots of fun, new products at convention:

• 4D ExpressMonogram Wizard software for users of 4D Embroidery, 4D Embroidery Extra, and 4D Professional Embroidery.  This software allows you to create unique monograms and names that show your style and personality.  For that extra touch, embellish them with decorative frames and flourishes.
• Inspira Monogram & Vision is Husqarna Viking’s software program for those who do not have the other 4D Embroidery modules.
• New Feet:  The Changeable Dual Feed Foot is a walking foot that have exchangeable plates for particular sewing functions:  the straight stitch plate that allows normal straight sewing and the zig-zag plate for sewing wider decorative stitches with the dual feed foot.
• A separately purchased plate for stitch-in-the-ditch sewing when placed on the Changeable Dual Feed Foot.
• The new Texture Hoop for embroidery using ribbons and yarns to enhance the chosen embroidery in the hoop.  Special clips hold yarns and ribbons in place while you embroider using this 150 x 150 mm hoop.
• Up-date for the Designer Diamond that has about 100 new stitches.  These are found in the D, H, and N menus and in the totally new Z menu.  The Z menu is filled with decorative stitches from other menus but this time with the capability to taper the beginning end as well as the ending stitches.  Thus you can creatively appliqué and sew.
• Flat Felled Seam Foot is one that helps in making this style seam used especially in garments.  The foot turns and guides the fold-over of the seam making it easier to achieve an even straight seam.
• Many new embroidery design collections from Husqvarna Viking, Inspira and Cactus Punch.  Included are thread velvet designs; Majestic cut-work designs; projects in the hoop to Hoop, Sew and Go; yarn couching designs; and more.
• Emerald 203 is a new model Husqvarna Viking computerized machine with fabulous features and stitches.

Designer SE Limited Edition Upgrade

Are you looking forward to the upgrade to your SE to automatically trim jump stitches, allow you to specify a stitch number to go to, and tell you the time left to complete the embroidery (among other features)? Downoad to your Designer SE the software upgrade that was recently released or take advantage of the Jump Stitch Trim Command by upgrading your hardware (call store for price and details).

Our experience is that SOMETIMES, NOT EVERY TIME there can be a few "sticky" points with the installation of the updated hardware of the DSE's if the machine needs cleaning or some of the settings are not exactly on the dot. For this reason, we must do a basic service on your machine and at that time install the updated hardware. (DSE's that have been serviced in the last year or are less than a year old usually are okay for a quick installation and do not need a basic service.)

Bobby is asking that you call in to say when you are ready for your service/installation. He would like a "steady stream" of these machines, not a "gully-washer" of them. H&C and VSQ will have a log of calls and projected availability. Be sure to call before bringing in your machine to ensure you can get it back in a timely manner.

Show off those Gifts!

Are you making wonderful gifts for holiday gift giving? Let us hear about them by bringing in the gift to show us or by sharing the ideas with us. We love hearing about how you are using the items that we offer for sale and the variations that can be made on the ideas we have. We would like to photograph your projects and share those on the web site giving you the recognition for having done the work.

SVP Worldwide Partnership with Martha Stewart Living

Last year Husqvarna Viking became the key link in a new company that is currently the largest sewing machine company in the world. The initials stand for Singer, Viking, and Pfaff. Since that time there have been a number of exciting new products and marketing programs that will further enhance the line of Husqvarna Viking products as being the top brand in their class in the market.

On April 3rd it was officially announced that SVP Worldwide and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. announced a long-term endorsement by Martha Stewart of SVP's sewing machine lines under the SINGER®, HUSQVARNA VIKING®, and PFAFF® brands.

“Martha Stewart's long-term endorsement of the SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING, and PFAFF brand lines is confirmation of the company's success in designing, producing and providing easy-to-use sewing machines," said Don Fletcher, President of SVP. "Martha brings extensive experience and a passion for sewing to our newly formed relationship. Our shared vision to inspire the sewer and elevate creativity will provide endless possibilities for sewers."

This is exciting news for all of us in the sewing community.