Golden Ticket Bus Tour - September 23-25

Do you have your Golden Ticket yet? 

We are so excited to have been invited to participate in the Golden Ticket Bus Tour this September!  This tour will visit at least a dozen wonderful quilt shops in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri over 3 days.  The dates are September 23-25, 2011 and the cost is $229.  Your all-inclusive ticket includes:

• Deluxe motorcoach travel for 3 days
• 2 nights lodging (double occupancy)
• All meals and snacks.

All you have to pay for once you board is your shopping spree!

Seating is limited, but we are running a special offer until the end of July.  Purchase your ticket by July 31, 2011, and you only pay $199!!!!  You probably couldn't pay for the gas for this type of trip for only $199!  We are the only shop participating in Texas, so if you want to go on the tour, you have to ride with us.

We've been asked a lot of questions, so perhaps I can answer some of them here:

1. Yes, there are restroom facilities on the bus.
2. Each day will begin about 7:30ish and end around 8pm.  An exact itinerary will be distributed once we get closer to departure.
3. Your reservation is non-refundable.  However, if for some reason you cannot go, we can refund your ticket if your seat can be sold to someone on our waiting list or if you find someone to take your place.
4. You don't have to have a buddy to sign up.  We will match you with a roommate.  If you are signing up with a friend, you can name them as your roommate.
5. Some of the cities you will visit include:  Ponca City, Hennessey, Oklahoma City, and Broken Arrow in Oklahoma; Derby in Kansas; Stewartsville, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Butler, and Kearney in Missouri.  Exact routing and destinations are still being firmed up, but there will be at least 12 shops on the tour.
6. Yes, Bettepat has agreed to be "bus mom" again.  That means fun, games and prizes each day.
7. You can sign up online, by phone (972.562.2686)  or in person at the shop.

Don't delay!  Seats are selling quickly!

Edited July 9:  As of today, we have 25 seats remaining.  Only 23 days left to purchase at the special price of $199!

Spring Market Review - The Recap

We held our Spring Market Review party yesterday and had a great time!  Almost 100 people joined us and waited patiently in the heat for the doors to open.  

 Sarah baked lots of treats (as usual) and they were enjoyed by everyone.

 Everyone found a place to sit and visited with one another before the show began.

 Pam and Kelly were waiting to assist customers with all the new product once the show was over. 

Susan stood on a ladder so that everyone could hear and see about all the new products shown.  Doesn't she look like she's conducting an orchestra?

We showed almost 40 samples using new patterns, books, and notions!  I'd like to give a great big shout-out to the entire Quilt Asylum team who worked together to make this happen!  Thanks also to all our great customers who keep attending these programs.  We do it all for you!

If you missed the party yesterday, here's a heads-up...... The Fall Market Review is already scheduled for Sunday, December 4th at 2pm.  You won't want to miss it! 

1001 Peeps Summer Camp

Have you seen the new 1001 Peeps fabrics by Lizzy House for Andover yet?  Do you think it's the coolest stuff ever, yet you're not quite sure what to make with it?  We've got the answer for you - 1001 Peeps Summer Camp!

Every Friday for the next 11 weeks, a new Camp Couselor will be sharing a great summer project with you using this fabulous fabric.  I'm so excited to have been asked to participate!  I have a feeling our project is going to be a little bit quilty....a little bit fringey.....and a whole lot of easy.  Just the kind of project you need in the summertime.

Here's the full lineup of Camp Counselors:
June 17:  Sew! Mama! Sew!
June 24:  Alexia Abegg, Craftopia
July 1:  Beth, Lemon Cadet
July 8:  The Fat Quarterly!
July 15:  Moi, The Quilt Asylum 
July 22:  Amanda, MrsMcPorckchop
July 29:  Anne Weil, Flax and Twine
August 5:  Heather Bostic, {House} of alamode
August 12:  Karyn Valino, Make Something
August 19:  Deborah Moebes, Whipstitch
August 26:  Monica Solorio-Snow, The Happy Zombie

Be sure to check the designated blog for each week.  And, if you decide to attend Summer Camp with us, here's a button you can download or drag for your very own!

Oh, and did I mention that there will be giveaways at the camp meetings each week?

P.S.  Today is Lizzy's birthday!  Go say hi!

Operation: Re-Guild Joplin

I've been out of the office for the last few days attending some continuing education courses.  I met up with my friend, Kathy Runyan, from The Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville, Missouri.  On her way to Texas for class, Kathy passed through Joplin, Missouri which was hit by an F-5 tornado on May 22.  The devastation she encountered made her pull over and weep!

All photos courtesy of Kat Runyan

The last photo is the church where the Joplin Quilter's Guild used to meet.  Take a deep breath.  What if that was your guild's home?

Many great and necessary relief efforts have begun for the people of Joplin.  But during our class, we wondered, "What about the quilters?".  What would we do if we lost everything that had to do with the craft that gives us joy, peace, and a sense of comfort?  Where would we begin?

We began brainstorming ideas.  Operation: Re-Guild Joplin was born. 

The Quilt Asylum is proud to be partnering with The Quilt Shoppe and Stitchin' Heaven in Quitman, TX to collect supplies from quilters like you and me for quilters in Joplin.  We are contacting our vendors for large quantities of things like rotary cutters, rulers, and mats.  But that's just a start.  We are asking you to help us gather fabrics, notions, patterns, books and any other items you think a quilter would need to make a new start.  We will be collecting items until July 31, when we plan to ship or deliver them to The Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville for a trailer delivery to Joplin.

If you'd like to mail something directly to The Quilt Shoppe in Missouri, here's their address:

Operation Re-Guild Joplin

c/o The Quilt  Shoppe

188 Hill St.

Stewartsville, MO  64490

This is a perfect opportunity to go through your sewing room and gather up items you no longer want or have duplicates of. We appreciate any and all assistance you are willing to provide!