Happy August! SKJ had a great Summer Retreat!

Here are just a few pics from our great weekend of sewing! We had 21 ladies up at Mercy Retreat Center in Auburn and all of them had so much fun and got so much sewing and quilting done! Some of us even earned stickers for finishing our projects! Thanks Sally! As for me, I got all caught up on my monthly flower blocks, finished my Mondo Bag, quilted my yellow buffalo check quilt, finshed the store sample for the advent calender and got another store store sample quilt top done! Oh, and I made two shell collecting bags for my daughter! I feel so good about getting caught up on so many of my projects! We played Quilter's Bingo, and we had a Quilting Diva Fashion Show! See the three models above- Betsy Ross-The first American Quilter, Seam Goddess and Holly Jolly: the Holiday Quilter. Don't worry if you missed this retreat, because we are already taking sign-ups for our February retreat for 2027! Stop by the store for a flyer or I can email you one on request.

In July we received some sad news. We lost one of our quilting friends, Beth Sacco. She passed away following a recent surgery. She was one of our regulars here at Sew Katie Jean. She was often seen sewing alongside her dear friend, Carole Rouin. They were a sewing team, sewing together in one of Laurie's classes, or at sew days, or free motion classes. She was always a positive light, offering encouraging words to her friends. She will be greatly missed, and we pray for peace and comfort for her family during this difficult time.

Now, let's see what else is new for the month of August and the rest of Summer.

Window Block: Forget Me Not:

This month's flower is a forget-me-not! These dainty blooms, one of the few truly blue flowers, are known for remembrance, faithfulness, and true love. Forget-me-nots can also be found in white and pink with yellow centers. Blocks are due by Saturday, August 29 at closing.

August Classes and Clubs:

School of Sewing Level 2: Tuesdays, August 4, 11, 18, 25 from 5:30-8:30pm:

This month we continue our School of Sewing Series with Level 2. Rita Traxler will be the instructor, teaching students basic beginning sewing skills, as she guides them through four projects. The projects include: a zippered pillow cover, a purse, a tote bag, and placemats. There is still room to join this class and our next Level 2 is in November. If you are interested, please call the store and and we can sign you up! Cost is $140.00.

Grid Girls Grandeur: August 6 from 10-4pm:

Laurie Johnson will be finishing up the Grandeur Class this Thursday. The ladies have worked hard on preparing their blocks. They will work on assembly of the blocks. I can't wait to see all of the different quilts come together.

Beginning Quilting Level 1: August 8, 15, 22, 29, from 9:30-3:30pm:

Our Beginning Quilting Level 1 Class is back this month! Laurie Johnson will be teaching the Best Practices of Quilting, taking the quilters from measuring, cutting, piecing, sandwiching, quilting and then to binding.

Vintage Stars Series: Session 5, August 13 from 10:30-3:30pm:

 Betty Kisbey will be here to continue her instruction and adventure with Vintage Stars. You will learn the Illusions Star, Rising Sun Star. Spinner Star, Album Star, Old Tippecanoe, and Woven Star. Please bring the blocks you made from last month to share your progress.

Make-It, Take-It Class: Harvest Berry Trivets: Thursday, Aug 13 from 5:30-8:30pm:

August always reminds me of harvesting fruit and veggies in the garden, so this month we are going to make harvest berry trivets. These cute pie-shaped trivets are made with fruit fabric. I have mixed berries and blueberry fabric. We will add some ric rac and bias tape to look like lattice. These are so easy to make and and so cute to have in your kitchen in late summer. Cost is $30 and includes dinner.

Kinusaiga Fiber Art Class: Friday, 8/14 and Tuesday, August 19 from 10-4 pm:

This month we are offering two opportunities to take this Kinusaiga Class. We had just one class scheduled, and that one filled up quickly, so we were able to add another session. Tina Hubrig is a new teacher for Sew Katie Jean, but she is not new to teaching. She is a teacher friend of many of us at SKJ, having taught elementary school for years and is now retired. We are excited to have her join our teaching crew here at the shop. The cost of the class is $40, which includes the foam board and adhesive.

Beginning Piecing & Quilting Level 2: Skill Builder: 7/29, 8/19, 9/16, 10/28, 11/12 and 12/10 from 10-4pm:

This month will be session two of the Level 2 Skill Builder.  Laurie Johnson will be teaching two more blocks this month, including: the Ribbon Star and the Eccentric Star. Please bring all of your fabric and blocks completed thus far.

FMQ Feathers Class: Thursday,  August 20 from 10-3 pm:

Loretta Saenz will be back to instruct us in another Free Motion Quilting Class. This time it will be on Feathers! If you have already taken FMQ 1 and 2, then you are ready for the Feathers Class. Cost is $50.

My Grown-Up and Me: Back-to-School Snack Bag: Thursday, Aug. 27 from 4-6 pm:

Each August, we like to do a fun back-to-school project with the kids. Later this month, we will make a cute and functional snack bag. Everyone needs a little snack for school and why not carry it in this cute, reusable and washable bag? Donna Bengle and Marcie Morrill will be the instructors for this project. Cost is $30, plus supplies.

Block of the Months:

A Road Trip:

Participants can pick up their kits and get a demonstration on this month's block on Saturday, August 8 from 8:00-9:00 am.** Note the time change.

Stitchin' in the Kitchen: 

Participants can pick up this month's towel and pattern starting today, Tuesday, Aug. 4. August's towel features a retro style camper in the woods.

Dreamweaver Christmas Block of the Month:

This will be month 6 for the Christmas Dreamweaver. You will be working on the Double and Triple Star Blocks. You can pick up your kits on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8:30 a.m., and Betty will be here for a short demonstration.

Trade Winds Wool Applique Block of the Month:

Our Trade Winds Wool Applique Block of the Month will be working on blocks 2 & 5, which include the puffer fish, the flamingo fish, the black fish and a jelly fish. We will meet on Thursday, August 27.  I will let you know when the kits are back from laser cutting so you can get your pieces whipped down before class. I would also like to encourage you to sign up for the Hand Sewing Group, as this is a great opportunity for you to work on your Trade Winds Block of the Month with other handsewing enthusiasts. Hand sewing is on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 10-4, cost is $10.

Looking ahead to next year's Block of the Months:

I just purchased the patterns and fabric for two of next year's block of the months! We will be doing "Love Letters" by Marcus, a traditional pieced quilt, and The Folk Art Sampler for our wool enthusiasts. Sign-ups will begin in September for these two new adventures. You can call the shop to get on the list to be called when these post. 

Monthly Clubs and Sew Days: 10-4 pm, Cost $10:

8/5: Villa Rosa Club: Open to all Villa Rosa Pattern enthusiasts! Come work on your Villa Rosa patterns during this sew day. This club fills up quickly, so it is a good idea to sign up early. If the class is full, please call and get on our waiting list. We often have cancellations at the last minute.

8/4 and 8/11: Tuesday Girls (Mini Group and Sew Day): Meets the first and second Tuesdays of the month. This group has room for a few more sewists to join their Tuesday Sewing Group, so spots will open as availability permits.

8/7, 8/21, 8/28, Friday Girls (Closed Mini Groups): Meets Every Friday, except the fifth Friday. 

8/12 Open Sew Day: Open Sew Days are for anyone who has a project to work on. These open sew days fill up quickly, so it is a good idea to register ahead. 

8/26 Lincoln Farm Girls: This is our Lori Holt Group where we sew all things Lori Holt. This group meets the 4th Wednesday of each month. This is a popular club, so be sure to sign up early. 

8/25: Hand Sewing Club: This club meets the 4th Tuesday of each month, and it is for hand sewing enthusiasts. If you love to embroider, do wool applique, sashiko, or any hand sewing varieties, you are welcome to join us. No machine sewing on this day. Please remember to sign up ahead, as this class fills up quickly.

Looking Ahead to September:

Many of our favorite classes and teachers are returning in September. Loretta Saenz will teach an FMQ Rulers class, in addition to another FMQ 1 Class. Diana Tatro will be back to teach the Jelly Roll Rug Class, and Diana Meier will be here to teach Intro to Starch Applique. We are also looking forward to Linda Ballard returning to teach another of her original quilt designs called "Double Your Pleasure," and Tori Johnson will teach another FPP class called "Enchanted Forest." Towards the end of September, on Saturday, 9/26-Johnny Appleseed Day-we will have a "Welcome Fall Saturday Sew Day."

I hope to see you at some of our upcoming classes and/or sew days.

In closing, I'd like to wish all of the teachers going back to school soon a wonderful year ahead. You will be touching so many lives, and we appreciate you showing up for your students every day and being the best teachers you can be!

Tammy