Tightwad Tuesday!

We're having Tightwad Tuesday TOMORROW!


Get 40% off 1 cut of fabric off the bolt!

Suggested Holiday Shop Hop Route!

2 

DAYS UNTIL THE ORANGE COUNTY HOLIDAY SHOP HOP!

The list of shops that are participating in the shop hop:

Fresh Picked Fabrics

3810 Prospect Ave #A

Yorba Linda, CA 92886

714-223-1701

Cozy Cottage Fabrics
740 N Brea Blvd
Brea, 92821
714-529-2999

The Calico House
1243E Imperial Hwy
Placentia, 92870
714-993-3091

Timeless Quilts

1135 E Lincoln Ave

Anaheim, 92805

714-520-5304

Quilters Garden
428 Lakeview Ave
Anaheim, 92807
714-279-8018

Orange Quilt Bee
628 E Katella Ave
Orange, 92867
714-639-3245

Flying Geese Fabric
307 El Camino Real
Tustin, 92780
714-544-9349

The Quilt Cupboard
11891 Valley View St.
Garden Grove, 92845
714-891-8639

They're all great shops, and we want you to have a chance to win as MANY prizes as possible and get the MOST amount of free fat quarters, patterns, & coupons possible so here is our suggested route for the Orange County Holiday Shop Hop (which of COURSE starts at Fresh Picked Fabrics)!  The map is below and you can access detailed directions by clicking here.


View Larger Map

Friday's weather is supposed to be partially cloudy & 68 degrees.
Saturday & Sunday is supposed to be a little cooler with some rain so grab those rain jackets, umbrellas, & rain boots for a fun day of fabric!

3 Day Shop Hop Countdown!

3 Days until the Orange County Holiday Shop Hop! The trucks unloaded... The goodies are getting back of the shelves... Ric rac is getting put away and we are getting ready for the Holiday Shop Hop Friday, Nov 19th Saturday, November 20th & Sunday, November 21st! Stop by and see all that we brought back from quilt market and quilt festival! All you need to do to participate is to pick up a passport at the 1st shop you visit! To qualify for the Grand prize of 40 yards of fabric or a gift basket valued at $100 from one of the 8 "Santa's Holiday Hop" participating Quilt Shops, you MUST visit ALL 8 participating Quilt Shops & get your passport stamped at every shop.  Even if you do not complete the entire Hop you are still eligible to win one of the 8 gift certificates valued at $25 each from one of the 8 participating Shops you visit during the Hop.  ALSO, at each of the 8 Hop Shops will receive a free pattern, fat quarter, and return coupon.  For kids 8 - 16 years of age, we have a special passport for them too.  If they complete the entire Hop they will be eligible to win a tower of 40 fat quarters.  We even have a special gift for kids 7 & under! + We will be having a sample sale during the shop hop.  We are selling off some of our shop samples and the samples the have been featured on the cover of our Threaded Pear Patterns. Watch our blog for our suggested route to get you to all 8 shops! P.S. Here's a SNEAK PEAK of the new stuff we have waiting for you to pick up during the Shop Hop!

Due Date

The movie with our quilt in it is now in theaters!  Gina went & saw it and took a picture from the 2nd row!  Someone said you can see the quilt in a trailer, and also a movie clip from the Today Show, but we haven't been able to track it down.  Email us or post the link in a comment on our blog or Facebook page to tell us where it is if you find it online!

Felted Wool Snowman Sweatshirt with Sammie EDIT

November 7 & 14 from 10:30-3:00.
$35 + pattern
This sweatshirt sporting a happy snowman and pine tree with tiny snowman decorations is a wonderful winter jacket for you or a loved one to cuddle in throughout the chilliest days. Join us for a fun day of stitching. Continuing classes to finish the project will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 PM. $10 per evening, reservation required.

Edit: Before it said Nov 13, but it's Nov 7 & 14.

New Class!

The Fresh Picked Scrap Club is Back! 

3 Fridays - Nov 26, Jan 28, & Feb 25
9am -12pm 
$35
Diana Fish is back with another great pattern! This time it’s the Arkansas Crossroads block; a classic favorite that is perfect for using
up those scraps. 
Come join the fun and learn why scrap quilts are such fun to make!

Calendar

We have an updated calendar--a couple new classes in October, but lots of classes in November & December!

A reminder that our Sew in your Socks Saturdays are FREE! They're the 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month! Come finish your projects, or just enjoy some time away from your daily cares and sew for free with Patty and Debbie. Please arrive by 6, before we lock the doors!

A new event is Wrap & Sew! Drop in any time during the evening to finish your gifts and wrap them up! Hot cocoa, tea and cookies will help keep you going, and Debbie will be there if you need help with your projects. $10/session

We've also added a day to 411 Let's Get It Done--Fridays! So Wednesdays & Fridays from 10-4 with Diana Fish. Bring your UFOs & some help finishing them while enjoying the company of other busy, lively quilters. No reservation required. Just drop in and sew all day! $10/session, no reservations required.

Saturday Classes!

We are up the ying-yang with classes tomorrow!  We have our second class of the session for Beginning & Ongoing Quilting, not to mention our Glam Bag Gaiety class (shown to the left), Pitter Patter Baby Quilt, and Sew in Your Socks!  Click on the NEW "Class Calendar" tab on top to see more details and when they start!

Do you like the new format to the blog?  Tell us what you think!

We also need people to "like" us on Facebook--click the Facebook tab on top to see more details or just click on the link to the right!

Are you going to the Quilter's Piece Corp. Guild Show today and tomorrow?  YOU SHOULD BE!  It's at the San Bernardino County Fair Grounds on Sept.  10 and 11.  Stop by and test drive the new Vision Gammill quilting machine and see all out fun kits and fabrics!

Calendar Updates!

The Embroidery class that was Thursdays are now changed to Tuesday!

• Every Tuesday from 10:30 AM-3 PM and 6-9 PM (2 separate sessions). $10/session, no reservations required. Do you have a red-work, black-work, or embroidery pattern you’ve been dying to try, but just don’t know where to begin? Drop in any time, and let Sammie guide you through the stitches while you chat and laugh.

ABC Wool Sampler class that was Thursdays are now changed to Tuesday!

• Third Tuesday of the month beginning September 14, from 10:30- 3. $25 + kit for the first month, only kit fee for the remaining months. Sammie is presenting a wonderful wool and cotton sampler illustrating ordinary chores and seasonal motifs. The background is cotton, but the detail is wool appliqué with embroidered details. This s a great way to learn wool felt appliqué and practice your needlework techniques.

Darling Dolly Dresses class that was Thursdays are now changed to Tuesday! 

• September 21 from 12-4 PM $25: Join Sammie for a fun afternoon embellishing Holly Holderman’s Dolly Dress fabric panels with embroidery, charms, lace and other fun trims. If you want to complete your embellishments with Sammie continuing classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 PM. $10 per session.  

Labor Day Sale!

Do you love vintage fabric as much as we do? Come in Monday during our big Labor Day Sale! Cute 1930s reproduction fabrics just in. I already reordered this one! We made a cute quilt and kitted it too! All fabric on bolt, fat quarters, books, notions, trims are 25% off + 50 new bolts came in this week---on sale too! You NEED to sew!

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet,Twitter!

We are now on Twitter! Our Twitter name is FreshPickedFab--because we are FAB! We're going to start telling people when an email comes out by Twitter, and we're also going to have regular updates on who stops in the store! We're on our way to having a Foursquare account (where you link to where you're located, like our shop, and see who else has said they're at the same place at the same time!)& a special Facebook account just for the shop (we'll be doing something special for people who Friend us!)! Look for that upcoming excitement!

Sweet Basket of Flowers Jeans Jacket with embroidery and embellishments with Sammie

Coming THIS Tuesday:
August 24, 10am – 4pm

$35. Sammie does it again with her romantic and whimsical style. 
This denim jacket is a great cover-up for autumn, and a wonderful gift!

Why are Fabric Prices Going Up?

This is what a fabric rep was talked to us about last week (Some information above was taken from an article Karen Montgomery wrote for the FabShop News magazine.):

Fabric prices are rising, no doubt about it. Our economy does play a roll but did you know that prices are tied to the global marketplace?

Quilt-weight goods are being produced in China. Possibly 90% of the cotton for our quilt fabrics are grown in China and turned into greige (pronounced gray) goods (textiles that have not received any bleaching, dyeing or finishing treatment after being produced by a textile process). The greige goods are shipped to print plants in Japan or Korea but now China also has it's own print plants and will continue to print more and more of the fabrics.

Another reason fabric is expense is because the weight of fabric adds to shipping cost when being moved from country to country.

And then there is the U.S. economy and how our dollar compares with foreign currency. The suppliers must negotiate everything from the cost of the goods to the printing and shipping.

Recently, when cotton prices started going crazy overseas, the Chinese mills decided to hold the goods hostage and ship to whoever paid them the most money!

So don't blame the quilt shops when you see the high cost of fabric. Quilt shop prices will go up when the manufactures are forced to raise their prices, but that's so the shop can stay in business and offer you, the customer, the lovely fabrics that are being produced.

Interesting, huh?

KNIT! KNIT! KNIT! & Get It Done!

Tomorrow is the beginning of our Beginning Knitting Class! It's for both KIDS & ADULTS! It's a 4 session class and it's on $25! You can also pick up a starter kit for $25 and it includes needles, wool, and a pattern! It's from 9am - 12pm and we are so excited to get it started!

Today we also have our 411 Get It Done Class! It goes from 10am - 4pm with Diana Fish $10/session, and there's no reservation required! Bring your UFOs & some help finishing them while enjoying the company of other busy, lively quilters. Just drop in and sew all day!

Hope to see you there!

We're in a Movie!

 


Some of you may remember that our very talented boss, Gina, got the opportunity to make a "Gees Bend"-like quilt for the upcoming movie "Due Date" (with Robert Downey Jr...so handsome).  Well, it is finally going to be released on November 5th!!!  Look for my quilt on the wall of a house in the movie. Either that or on the cutting room floor!


The countdown to the movie being released is to the right JUST to make sure NO ONE misses opening night!

LONG BEACH & Ric Rac!

We worked SO HARD to get our booth ready for the Long Beach Quilt Festival, and the1ST DAY IS ALREADY OVER!  

There are only 14 hours left (10-7 Sat & 10-3 Sun) of Festival BLISS so COME SEE US (booth #2046)

We have some GIGANTIC Ric Rac (2" wide!) and we want to know what you plan on doing (or already have done) with it!  Just leave a comment because WE WANT TO KNOW!

Super Saturday! (Will you be there?)

We have a super Saturday coming up tomorrow! Not only do we have a WONDERFUL Christmas in July (CiJ) class, but we also have a

Quilts of Valor event going on from 10-4!

The CiJ is the 2nd class to the Embellished Stockings series

(last week's was a raging success!)

The Quilts of Valor event is where you bring any orphan blocks, 100% cotton fabric or scraps (any color or design but juvenille), & UFO's to sew and donate to our war-wounded veterans for their hard work and sacrifice to keep us free! Bring your machines and a treat to share! (unless you don't want to...there're places you can buy food nearby) Bring tops or complete quilts you have just lying around to donate. Come have fun and say thanks to the troops by making quilts for them to aid in their healing!! We will have some supplies ready to construct blocks, quilt tops, pillowcases, and backs.

They have given 178 so far this year!!!

Please RSVP to Barbara Winkler as space is limited

562.925.7673 or socalQoV@aol.com.

image via nydailynews

Summer, Summer, Summer!

Tonight's class is Reversible children or doll’s jumper/sundress OR Lovable Bubble Skirt with Reen from 6-9!


$25+ pattern.   Reservation required.

Reen has a way with children’s clothes, and this is the perfect time to whip up a summer outfit for a young lady in your life.  Join her for one of these fun projects!

Make sure to visit tomorrow when we have a special Saturday Event announcement!

What else would be more enjoyable?

There are 2 events coming up at Fresh Picked Fabrics Saturday morning!

10am brings in the holiday season with our 1st Christmas in July class! We'll be embellishing stockings--are you ready for Christmas?

5pm starts our Sew in your Socks event. What a great way to spend a Saturday night--with a group full of fun-loving girls who love to sew, just like you! What color socks will be decorating your tootsies?

image via imyam

P.S. There are two CiJ classes Monday--

have you checked them out?

Are you going to class tomorrow?

In case you haven't checked our calendar:

Tomorrow's class is 

Reversible Children or Doll’s Jumper/Sundress 

OR 

Lovable Bubble Skirt

with Reen!  

10am - 1pm

$25 + pattern

Reservation required

Reen has a way with children’s clothes, 

and this is the perfect time to whip up a summer outfit 

for a young lady in your life. 

Join her for one of these fun projects!

Calendar of Classes Available Online & Christmas in July!

We want our fellow quilters to have as much access to us as possible, so we've put our calendar of classes up for everyone to see, and it is AWESOME! Click here to see it! It's also on our sidebar so you can check it as often as you want!

We're having some special Christmas in July (& August) classes that are shown on the calendar with ** around the title so you can find them quickly!  There are both classes that are Christmas theme related or they're perfect for Christmas presents (you can't start too early)!  There's one on Saturday (Embellish Your Stockings!), so click here to check out the details!

QUILTERS RUN WEEK 2

The 2nd Weekend of the

Southern California Quilter's Run

HAS STARTED!

We are your "unofficial FRESH pit stop"

We are giving away a sewing machine!

You can be eligible for 2 grand prizes....

A sewing machine or a sewing table!

You can also win

free long arm quilting gift certificates

fabric kits patterns

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Over 30 prizes, just from our store.

PLUS--Receive 15% to 50% off your purchase of fabric, patterns or notions. Pull out a bingo ball and see what your discount will be!

We would love to see you.

Our hours are extended for the run!

June 24-27

Thurs, Fri, Sat 9-9 & Sun 9-5.

We are giving away a sewing machine, table and more...

you just have to walk through our Fresh Picked Fabrics door!

We are just 1 block from a shop on the run, so stop on by!

2 Day Sale-a-bration!

2 Day Sale-a-bration!

Monday, May 31st 
&
Tuesday, June 1st!  

Memorial Day Monday
&
Tightwad Tuesday
are combined for a 2 day sale-a-bration!

All fabric on the bolt 25% off!

Jumbo Rick Rack $.99 per yard--regularly $1.49!

Books & patterns 25% off!

JAM PACKED E-MAIL UPDATE!

If you don't get your emails, and you follow this blog, YOU SHOULD!  The email that's going out today is JAM PACKED! (We'll send it out again to the new people who sign up for our mailing list, if you email us!)

Here's one of the things that's in it!

Surfing, USA!

On route 66 or surfing at the beach! Does your favorite guy need a pillowcase or quilt?

These are just in from

Robert Kaufman!

Quilt Market!

A shot from our quilt market booth! Had fun meeting all the shop owners and pattern buyers. It warms my heart to hear the success stories of quilters making my designs and having fun sewing! We bought some display items at Ikea and a lady wants to haul them home to her shop--she loved what we did with the pieces! Gotta love that kind of transaction.

Adam the Rick Rack man, now has even jumbo-ier Rick rack ...about 2 1/4 inches wide. I will be ordering up! Plus he has been sporting an "Apron a Go Go" apron all market! Thanks for the cross marketing (not dressing), Adam!

Had lunch with this guy (Mark Lipinski...he has a fantastic blog). He entertains the troops like no other. He is directing the operations of four quilting magazines. Hope to write a few pieces sometime!

While the Cats are Away, the Mice Will Play!
Wed, May 19 - Sat, May 21st

The boss is gone, so we're cleaning house!
(doesn't really sound like play to me...)

While Gina is off at quilt market buying new goodies,
we are clearing out to make room! 

We have 2 shopping carts full of
fabrics, kits and grab bags all for 40% off.
Come and play, we are sure we have something for you!

From Wed. through Saturday, only!

Thrifty Thursday!
 
  Tomorrow Only!  

35% off on 1 cut of fabric on the bolt!

(minimum cut 1 yard)

 

WHAT WOULD A SPECIAL EVENT 

BE WITHOUT A SALE!?

Gina (our fearless leader) decided last minute to make all fabric on a bolt  20% off during our
Curby's Closet Special Event
Friday and Saturday!

Don't pass it up!

SPECIAL EVENT!!!

 

Big Savings!!
This Friday and Saturday only
(April 30th-May 1st)

Curby's Closet!
Vintage Baby Dress Sale!!

(Baby boy clothing available too!)

All dresses/clothing only $12.99 each!

(Reg. $18.99-29.99)

   Is a friend or family member having a baby??
Do you need a baby shower gift?
Want to give something unique and one of a kind??
Now is the time to buy one of these lovely, sweet heirloom dresses for any of the sweet babies in your life!
Hurry--they're going to go fast!!

Quilted Baby Shoes Demo!
Friday, April 30th
10am - 12noon

 

Chris Anderson, owner and designer of Curbys Closet, will be demonstrating her Quilted Baby Shoes! Using her patterns and your pre-quilted fabric you will see how easy and fun they are to make.
You can whip them up in less than an hour!!

There's more!?
Tuesday, May 25th 6 - 8pm
Saturday, May 29th, 10am - 12noon

Be the first to sign up for her new
Quilted Baby Cowboy Boot
and/or baby booties class.
These boots are "rootin tootin" cute!

The Mother's Day 2 for 1 

Special ends TOMORROW!

HURRY IN!!!

Mothers Day 2 for 1 Special!

Buy 2 patterns or books get 1 free.

Buy 2 fat quarters get 1 free.  

Buy 2 yards of fabric get 1 free.  

Buy 2 notions get 1 free.
(of equal or lesser value)

Mother's Day is right around the corner!
Treat yourself to something!
(you certainly deserve it)
Or treat your mom!
(we all know she deserves it)

Goes until Wednesday, April 28th!

TIGHTWAD TUESDAY!
Tomorrow (or today...)--

April 13th!
 

 Come in for Tightwad Tuesday! 

Get 40% off one item from the shop---
fabric, kits, books or notions!

Terrific! Terrific! Terrific!

Email Updates

Do you get our e-mail updates?  You should!  Every week (this week was a little late...) we send out an e-mail to keep you informed of all the new things in our shop!  E-mail if you want to be added to our list!

Presenting...

The new Short-Arm Quilter!

Visit here to get more information--it's going to revolutionize the whole industry!

Don't be a FOOL!

Happy April Fools!

Come in for your foolish fabric fix and make some crazy quilts!  April 1st ONLY, all fabric on the bolt is 30% off!

Also, go to FamilyFun.com for some April Fool's Day pranks, crafts, and recipes! (we are not paid by them...we just think they're hilarious!)

Show and Tell!

Out devoted customer, Margo Weber, stopped by the shop and wanted to "show and tell" the quilt she made with her daughter, Stacy.  The pattern is Mega Bits by Swirly Girl Designs.  She used 28 fat quarters bought almost exclusively at Fresh Picked Fabrics, AND she quilted it herself!  It is a darling quilt that we're so glad she came to share with us!

2010 Spring Fling Shop Hop with Suggested Route and Map

The 2010 Spring Fling Shop Hop is coming up this weekend!  The hours are 

         Friday,        March 26th,     10am - 6pm

         Saturday,   March 27th,     10am - 6 pm

and  Sunday,      March 28th,     12(noon) - 4pm.

 

Click here for a suggested hopping route for the Shop Hop!  If you don't like the route we've arranged, just move around the locations on the left by clicking and holding down the green letters (A, B, C, etc) and moving them in the order you'd like to travel!  It also tells the directions between each shop, if you scroll down!  By our calculations, if you spend a half an hour in each shop (except for Fresh Picked Fabrics which we, of course, have set aside 45 minutes), it would take approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes to complete the whole course!  What a great way to spend your day!  (There are lots of places along the way to nibble for lunch)

Here are the participating shops:

Cozy Cottage Fabrics
740 N Brea Blvd
Brea, 92821
714-529-2999
www.cozycottagefabrics.com
 
Calico House
1279 E Imperial Hwy
Placentia, 92870
714-993-3091
www.calicohousequilting.com

Fresh Picked Fabrics
3810 Prospect Ave, #A
Yorba Linda, 92886
714-223-1701
www.cranberryquiltworks.com

Quilters Garden
2007 E Orangethorpe Ave
Placentia, 92870
714-223-9566

Timeless Quilts
1135 E Lincoln Ave
Anaheim, 92805
714-520-5304
www.timelessquilts.com

Orange Quilt Bee
628 E Katella Ave
Orange, 92867
714-639-3245
www.orangequiltbee.com

Flying Geese Fabric
307 El Camino Real
Tustin, 92780
714-544-9349
www.flyinggeesefabric.com

The Quilt Cupboard
11891 Valley View Street
Garden Grove, 92845
714-891-8639
www.thequiltcupboard.net

National Quilting Day!

March 20th (today) is National Quilting Day so come celebrate with us!  Today and Monday, March 22nd, bring in an ugly Fat Quarter and we'll trade you for a new one!  We'll vote and the ugliest Fat Quarter brought in to the shop will win a gift certificate, and we'll make an Ugly Quilt out of those Ugly Quarters!

We're also having 30% off our remnants so don't miss those while you're in--there are so many to choose from!

We have a new Baby at the SHOP!

We have just unpacked and set up the newest edition to our Gammill family.  The VISION machine--the next generation of quilting machine (you wouldn't believe the features it has!)

This crazy, new, and innovative machine, available in three model sizes: 18”, 26” and 30”, Vision (can you hear the angels singing?) by Gammill™ is designed to be a "quilter’s creative partner" with a host of patented applications. The easy to use touch screen accesses key features such as:
• On-Board Memory System – Save your personal settings and update new features!

• Advanced Stitch Regulation Technology – For better control at all speeds!

• Stitching Speed – Stitches at an amazing 2,700 stitches per minute!

• Available Digital Video Camera – Smart Technology – “See” the back of your quilt!

• Built-In Diagnostics – Check your system at a glance with confidence!

• NEW! Tie-Off Feature – Makes the starts and stops simply beautiful! (They've thought of everything!

• FM Tuner – On board Sound system! Made for people who enjoy listening to the radio while they quilt (is there anything better?)

We already have ours unpacked and ready to go so, stop by and explore all the new ways to make quilting even more great with the VISION!