Connecting People with the Joy of Quilting

Hi <%[First]%> <%[Last]%>,

Hello, my Quilters in Paradise!

I guess it's been a month already since I sent my last newsletter! A good part of the reason is that I went on my twice-a-year quilt retreat - lots of quilting and sewing and a few other really fun things that were good for the soul ... But, you know what they say: "What happens at the quilt retreat, stays at the quilt retreat!"

Another reason is that we've been real busy here at "Laser Labs" working on a couple of new creations! First, I'm excited to introduce our easy-to-use CutRite^TM Nine Patch Ruler. I don't know about you, but I love the endless variety of Nine Patch blocks and quilts that you can make. But I was constantly frustrated because dividing my starting squares into thirds was a real pain - especially when the size of the square is not easily divisible by 3! (This includes 5-inch charm packs and 10-inch layer cakes.) So, using an established technique, we came up with a ruler in which no math and no measuring are required ... and you can make any finished nine patch block size from 3-1/2 inches to 9 inches! To top it off, what's really exciting is that both the Nine Patch Ruler and the Square-Up Templates Set that we came out with a few weeks ago will be shown and introduced at The International Quilt Market in Houston next month!

Next, for all you cat lovers out there, the latest Garden Patch cat pattern, Gourdo Gato, was just released and laser-cut kits for it are now available. Looking ahead, we're hard at work on McKenna Ryan's "Back on the Farm" blocks and expect to have laser-cut kits available in the coming weeks ... so stay tuned!

We keep getting new fabric in every week and so my staff convinced me that some "re-arranging" was in order. So, the next time you come to the shop, you'll find many bolts where they've been for a while while others have gotten a new address. Half the fun, of course, is just looking at (and fondling) all the fabric and so we hope you'll make some new discoveries and enjoy meandering around. I do want to remind you from my last newsletter that we have the entire line of Girl Scout fabric from Robert Kaufman - all 26 bolts! They feature badges, Girl Scout cookies and the Girl Scout motto, all in delightful designs and colors! So many projects can be done for or with that special Girl Scout in your life! But what about that budding and handsome Boy Scout? Well, we also have the complete line of Boy Scout fabrics!

For classes, we're welcoming Mary Lou Rankin back for a practical, hands-on class called Turn That Old Sweater Into Your Favorite New Jacket. And, Jan Steffen is providing a holiday treat with Exploding Star. Plus, there's still room in