Iris Festival Challenge

We're so excited to announce our Iris Festival Challenge. Porterville's annual Iris Festival is April 28, 2012, so we're sponsoring a challenge to all quilters - young & old, beginners & experienced. You can pick up your Anthology batik fat quarter along with a copy of the rules & your entry form at the shop (until we run out!) ;)

The Porterville Chamber of Commerce will be judging the wall hangings for us & the winner receives a $50 gift card from the shop. So come & join us. It will be a lot of fun to see what different ideas everyone comes up with. We may even help you find a buyer for your work.

Here's a copy of the official rules:

Iris Festival Quilt Challenge

Winner will receive $50 gift card from Calico Mermaid!

Challenge Rules:

Use your imagination! All techniques may be used.

The quilt can be any shape, but the combined total of all sides of the quilt cannot be less than 72 inches nor more than 144 inches

(for example an 18” x 18” quilt equals 72”, a 36” x 36” quilt equals 144”).

Each side must be between 18"-36." A round quilt cannot have a diameter greater than 30".

A recognizable amount of the enclosed Iris Festival Challenge 2012 Fabric must be used as an integral part of the entry, and must appear in the body of the quilt, not just the border. Any amount of any other fabric may be used.

All quilt layers must be secured with quilting or tying.

Each quilt must have an identification label attached to the lower left corner of the back of the piece, naming the designer, creator & quilter, if different.

Multiple entries per person will be accepted with separate forms for each.

The enclosed entry form must accompany each entry. Quilts will be displayed at the shop until June 1, 2012.

Additional entry forms may be obtained from the shop for

$5 each.

All Iris Challenge entries are due to

Calico Mermaid at

122 N. Main,

Porterville, CA

by April 17, 2012.

October classes

I'm so excited to have scheduled Becky Rogers from Morro Bay!
She will be at the shop on
October 21 from 10-3, teaching landscapes & seascapes.
Becky is teaching English Paper Piecing at the Porterville Quilters' meeting on October 20 & then staying in town for a class at the Mermaid on Friday!
What a treat.
She is a nationally accredited quilt appraiser & teacher. She hostesses regular retreats at the coast, but we'll have her right here at Calico Mermaid!
You won't want to miss her!
Check the website for a complete calendar with pricing details:
http://calicomermaid.com/

New September Classes

Sign ups have already started for September - can you believe it?
We have some cool new classes planned for you.

Our teachers are the best. Almost all are credentialed teachers -
talented & creative,
every one with years of experience teaching all ages & levels.
They will help you with whatever you need.
We just want to share the joy of quilting & creating with you.

You can register online or by phone or come by the shop & see
what our talented teachers have ready for you!

Tahoe Tote $30 + pattern
taught by Becky
9/1 & 9/8 & 9/29 4-7

Elegant Embellishment $30
taught by Priscilla
9/6 & 9/13 10-2

Stair Stepper Bargello $35 includes pattern
taught by Juanita
9/8 10-3 or 9/11 1-5

Li'l Twister Placemat $15 includes pattern
taught by Sheri 9/9 5-9

Dresden Table Topper or Wreath Wall Hanging $20 + pattern
taught by Jenny
9/15 5-8 or 9/24 10-1

Mermaid's Mystery Treasure Quilt Party
$2 pattern (part 2)
9/18 2-4
(The August pattern is still available for $3)


Spicy Spiral Table Runner $15 + pattern
taught by Sheri
9/7 5-8

More Elegant Embellishment $30
taught by Priscilla
9/20 & 9/27 10-2

Ten Minute Block $20 includes pattern
taught by Sheri
9/21 4-8

Beaded Borders $20 includes beads
taught by Margaret 9/23 10-2

Four Corners Apron $25 + pattern
taught by Becky
9/25 1-4

Friday Night Fever Potluck
Come and enjoy creative company and make this super simple big
block quilt in one night!
Easy-peasy piecing and goes together in a flash!
$30 includes pattern
9/30 5-midnight (or whenever!)
Salad potluck dinner

Beginning Quilting $10/session + book Quilts, Quilts, Quilts!
taught by Becky
every Tuesday 4-6 p.m.

Work in Progress Wednesdays
bring your projects & work here in the A/C!
no charge

Ask Sheri
bring your quilty questions!
9/7 4-5
no charge

Paper Piecing $20
taught by Juanita
9/28 5-9

Seasonal Fling Table Runner $20 + pattern
taught by Jenny
9/10 10-2

Class lists, patterns, & books available at the
shop, or we can email the class supply list
when you register.

We also have Becky Rogers from Morro Bay coming in October. You won't want to miss her Landscape/Seascape class.

Change is good

So ... this seems to be the time for changes down at the Mermaid:
We have two awesome new Mermaid Crew members, Jennifer & Rae Lynne.
Dion's baby Mackay was born on August 10. He's 9 pounds, 4 ounces & adorable!
Jenna is moving away to continue her education. We appreciate all her help in getting the shop up & running.
Richard & I are preparing for school to begin.
It's been an incredible summer at the shop. We've met many new friends & learned a lot about retail & quilting. We've had visitors from far & wide, & lots of old friends have come in to see the shop.
We have some new classes lined up for fall for both beginners & experienced quilters, a cool Mermaid Mystery Quilt that kicks off this Sunday afternoon, & tables full of new holiday seasonal fabric.
It's been quite a summer, but it's drawing to a close. We'd like to thank you all for being part of such an exciting, creative time in our lives.
All my life, (since I was 5) fall has signaled new beginnings, & this year is no exception. As we say goodbye to summer's carefree days, we welcome these new experiences & people in our lives.
Because after all, it's the ride, not the destination that brings joy.

New Mermaid Crew Members

We're so happy to welcome our new crew members, Jennifer & Rae Lynne. They are awesome! They've been busy learning the ropes & you've done a great job of breaking them in properly.
They've been shelving new fabric & keeping their noses to the grindstone, so stop in & introduce yourself sometime.

Jenna's Sale

One of our original Mermaid Crew members is about to embark on a new adventure. She's headed off to college soon, & we'll really miss her & all her help at the shop. For her last week of work, we planned a way to really give her a workout -

Jenna's Going Away to College Sale!

Since this is her last week in P'ville...

25% all yardage, cut goods, panels & kits
including the new holiday fabric - including the Bargain Bolts
Tuesday, August 9 though Friday, August 12
(in shop only - may not be combined with any other offer)

plus
free shipping on all web orders
Come on in & wish her luck
She'll be working every afternoon this week
We appreciate all her help in getting the shop up & running, & we'll miss her -
so let's really give her a work out before she leaves!

Calico Mermaid
Downtown Porterville's

Quilt Fabric Shop

122 N. Main St.
559 793 2510
open 10-6 Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 on Sunday
additional parking in back
www.calicomermaid.com

New Fabric

I've been so excited writing about our new classes that I've neglected to show you much of our newest fabric.
We have lots of new Halloween, fall & Christmas fabric in already.
We have snowmen in all shapes, sizes, & color palettes. We have holiday flowers, trees, reindeer, & ornaments. Look at these beautiful Fall Colors from Wilmington Prints. There's a wall hanging panel & an apron panel - the perfect gift for your Thanksgiving hostess.
Then check out this cute Halloween door hanging panel.
Very cute!

Mermaid's Mystery Treasure Quilt

Piece your map to the
Mermaid's Mystery Treasure Quilt!

Here's how it works:
Come to the shop once a month, beginning on August 21 from 2-4 p.m. Pick up your first set of directions for $2 & enjoy some treasured treats.
Sheri will show you some fabric choices & help you choose fabric for your own Mermaid Mystery Quilt. (Since we'll be finished early in December, it's a great opportunity to use some holiday prints.) If you'd like help cutting & getting started, she will be there to help. What fun, since no one will know how the pattern will turn out! That's why it's called a Mystery!
Each month on a Sunday afternoon you can come & buy your next set of directions. If you want to bring your machine, you're welcome to get started. Bring your questions to Sheri. She'll be there for support & assistance if you need her. She'll also bring her competed work to share. By December 4, we'll all be able to show off our pieced quilt tops.
Mystery dates:
August 21, September 18, October 9, November 13, December 4

If you want to run in, buy your pattern & go, that's fine. If you want to stay & enjoy the refreshments & get to work, that's okay too. It's going to be a fun time to meet new sewing friends & maybe even learn some new skills.
Tell everyone - the more the merrier!

Each pattern will be available the following week for $3 in the shop.

If you're feeling adventurous, come in & sign up to make your reservation.

I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

Quilt show!

We have lots of beautiful quilts down at the Mermaid. Some are class samples, some were made in classes & some are loaned by our wonderful talented friends.










Here's Mary Ann's Flip Flop quilt.



















Look at this fabulous cross stitch Susan made
for us!


















This is Kathy's Convergence she made
in class with Camelot fabric.



















Sandy made this Rail Fence in Lynette's class.

August Classes

We have a wonderful bunch of new classes this month.

All our teachers are patient & thorough, committed to your success!

For all classes you're welcome to brown bag it, or potluck it, order in or explore downtown's restaurants. We have several menus to check out before you decide.
Call for more info, or come down to the shop to see the class samples. 793 2510

WIP Wednesdays - Come & sew in the A/C every Wednesday.

Ask Sheri - no charge (Bring your quilty questions!)
Aug. 3 4-6

Machine Quilting Basics - $25
Aug. 5 10-3

Beginning Quilting $10/session
every Tuesday 4-6

Zippy Strippy Bag - $15
Aug. 10 6-8

Beginner's 4 Patch Stack n Whack - $20
Aug. 11 10-2

Spruce It Up! Wallhanging - $30
Aug. 12 10-2 & Aug. 19 10-2

Judy Niemeyer foundation piecing patterns taught by Cat Wilson - $40/day
Aug 13 & 14

Four Applique Techniques- $20
Aug. 17 6-8
Aug. 26 10-3

Fabric & Thread Painting Pizzazz! - $20
Aug. 19 4-7

BQ2 - $20
Aug. 28 1-5

Handi Quilter Demo - no charge
Aug. 20 3-4
Aug. 30 5-6

The Mermaid's Mystery Treasure!
Aug. 21 2-3
Pick up your $2 pattern & see Sheri's fabric choices. We'll meet once a month to see everyone's progress & enjoy some munchies...& be finished before Christmas!
You can cut & sew with Sheri or just pick up your Mystery pattern & go!

For all our classes you're welcome to brown bag it, or potluck it, order in or explore downtown's restaurants. We have several menus to check out before you decide.
Call for more info. 793 2510