It's alway's time for the holidays!

It may be 88 degrees outside but my mind has been on santa lately. I couldn't resist this darling yo yo santa by Karen Kottke of Indygo Junction.Inc. The pattern is $8.59, and also includes a snowman and a reindeer. I had so much fun making him. The large and extra large yo yo makers make him a breeze to create. We have started to receive many wonderful new Christmas and holiday fabrics.

You will find Christmas fabrics from Hoffman (those beautiful cardinals are back), Moda, Benartex and Marcus Brothers. Come in and check out some great Christmas panels too. We would love to help you create that special holiday project. Call us at (952) 934-5307 or email us at sampler@qwestoffice.net for more information. Happy stitching, Mary Deeney

Stitchopoly

Stitch-opoly, a new board game that will keep you in stitches! 2-5 Players: fellow quilter's, kids, grandkids, everyone will enjoy it. Take a break from your machine and roll the dice. Have fun. $29.95 The Sampler: 551 W 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317, 952-934-5307 Barbara

Karol's on the road again!

The Sampler will be traveling to more quilt shows than ever before. Our first stop was the American Quilter's Society show in Paducah, KY. Karol and I had a great time. We met many new friends and quilters.
On June 15th we sent Karol off to Columbus, Ohio to the National Quilting Association show. Show dates are June 19-21. When Karol returns we will have a day to replenish supplies and get her ready for the Minnesota Quilter's show in Rochester, MN. Show dates are June 26-28. We will be sure to keep you up to date on the Sampler's whereabouts as the year goes on. But you can always find us at the shop in Chanhassen for all your quilting needs. Check out our website http://www.the-sampler.com/ for all the lastest news. Just a note: the quilt behind us is one of Lori Allison's newest creations called Big Star Flower. It is a beautiful quilt and we have made kits with all the great fabrics included. You can call 952-934-5307 for more information. Keep on quilting. Mary Deeney

Best Purchase I Made All Year

That's right! I picked up this instructional DVD in late winter and couldn't believe the value for the money. For a mere $29.95 (less than the cost of a class) I got a 2+ hour video that I can watch again and again (and I have watched it again and again.) Patsy gives great tips and she demonstrates (on a domestic sewing machine, not a long arm) how to stitch 29 different designs, which she divides into families. She explains things in a way that makes it easy to duplicate her designs, in most cases, without marking anything on the fabric. I chose Fast and Free! - Volume 2 because I already knew the basics of machine quilting and had mastered stippling and meandering. I was looking for more creative alternatives for overall and background quilting designs. My machine quilting on my Bernina Artista 730 has improved as a result of watching this DVD . If you are a beginner to machine quilting I would suggest Volume 1. I have also seen Free Motion Fun with Vines & Leaves! Equally good. My next purchase will be Free Motion Fun with Feathers! We carry all four of these DVDs in the store. They are only $29.95 each, so give us a call and we will gladly send one (or all) to you. Our phone number is 952-934-5307. Or, email us, sampler@qwestoffice.net.

Wendy Fedie, Bernina Department Manager

Funky Stripes

Funky Stripes by Allison Quilt Designs is not your grandmas quilt -- which makes it perfect for that teenager or young adult that you need to make a graduation or college dorm quilt for! It uses two or more "funky stripes" that you probably saw on the shelf and wondered "what's a quilter going to do with that?" and it uses some big prints. Start cutting and strip piecing a funky stripe to a big print, subcut into triangles, sew two triangles together, set on point and, in no time, you've got a spectacular quilt -- that doesn't look anything like grandma's quilts -- and your teen or young adult will go wacko over! You'll hear some original phrases like, "awesome"and my other favorite, "totally awesome."

Call any one of the ladies at The Sampler, tell them what size (lap or twin) and the colors you'd like in your Funky Stripes quilt and they will be happy to assemble a kit especially for you from the latest Kaffe Fassett fabrics. I might make mine red, orange & yellow!

Lori Allison, Pattern Designer