Tuesday, November 6, 2012

I did manage to get a quilt finished for my niece's wedding. It's Modern Maze from Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts, Spring 2012. Shar quilted it for me. She bought one of the PSQ machines and is doing some custom quilting.

I can't say that I am ready yet to launch back into the quilting I loved, but I was glad to see I have not forgotten how.

Hope you are all doing well. I think of you often.

I know I said I wanted to keep blogging, but this is supposed to be a quilt blog and I am not quilting. I was always the first to say that quilting had saved my sanity back when we were waiting for Charlie to get a lung. I never would have believed that I would lose the desire to quilt. When Charlie died, my world came to a screeching halt and I have very little interest in anything right now. I am sorry for that because I have not stopped thinking about all my quilting friends. I miss you all.

I thought I'd include a recent picture of Lilith. I don't know what I would do without her. She is my constant companion and follows me everywhere. Charlie is the one who insisted she move into our house and our lives. I consider her a gift from him.

My grand niece is getting married in October and expects a quilt like everyone else, so I am going to give it a try. If I manage to make one, I will post a picture.

Know that I am thinking of all of you.       Julie

Yesterday was the last day at Prairie Star Quilts. I was so touched at how many of you came to say goodbye. I know others of you have been in lately when I have not been there and I thank all of you. Truly the best part of PSQ has always been the people - both staff and customers and that's the memory that will never die.

We had to take two staff photos as we weren't all there at once. After five pm we drank some wine, told stories and shed some tears.

The hardest part of the day was coming home and not being able to celebrate my retirement with Charlie. Over the years he was more a part of the shop than many of you knew. He did all our books and supported everything I wanted to do. I wish you all could have met him.

We are well into our last week here at Prairie Star Quilts in Elk Horn. All this week remaining stock is –60%. I’ve also reduced a lot of display pieces and we have hung a lot of samples that will now be for sale.


On Saturday the 28th (our last day) instead of fabric, patterns and books being –65% as advertised we will reduce all fabric to $2 per yard. Patterns will be $1 and books $2. there will be other great buys, too.



Saturday will be one of the saddest days of my life. Not only do I hate to see the shop close, not see most of you again and not have my staff together,  but it was to have been a happy occasion for Charlie and me. I have to admit time for the two of us was the main reason for my retirement.

Sad though it will be, I plan to be in the shop all day Saturday --- it's been a great 20 years.

If you can put up with me, I plan to keep this blog going.


Julie, Prairie Star Quilts

Friday was rainy and windy for Charlie's funeral but many of our family and friends came and we had a beautiful service and shared lots of memories.
If you are interested there is a nice video on the funeral home's website.

I really appreciate hearing from so many of you.

Charlie's funeral will be Friday at 10:30 am so the shop will be closed all day.Thank you all for your kind words.

What I have been dreading for a month happened yesterday. Charlie passed away. He put up a heroic fight but really got no breaks. I just wanted to share with all of you.

I'd like to wish you a Happy Easter. Charlie and I are still in Omaha and he is still in ICU. I've been hearing about all of you coming to the shop for my retirement sale and am so sorry to have missed you.

We are still at the. ICU. Charlie is now critical but stable. We're hoping tomorrow will bring good news. I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

The sale is still going on without me. Hope you will have a chance take advantage of it.

I haven't been posting because my husband is really sick. We are at the ICU in Omaha. We're hoping for a good recovery.

The gals at the shop (what would I do without them?) tell me the sale is going well. I hate it that I am missing seeing some of you. There is still plenty of fabric left at -35%.

Just had to show you my cat Lilith. She loves to climb into this tiny opening on my antique cupboard. She's just a farm kitten we rescued, but the vet calls her a white tipped tortoise shell calico. We named her for the character on the old Cheers show because she's such a little devil.

My friend Kimber is an editor, quilter, doll maker and collector. You really should check out her Ashton House blog. She collects doll beds and has made many of my doll quilts for them. Ilove her blog because it is so informative and interesting.

Just a reminder -
Starting Saturday at 10 am all discounts will increase to -30%
Still lots and lots of fabric to choose from.

Linda brought here most recent project today. She was looking for backing. Isn't it spectacular? She did find a nice back. We still have a good selection of 108" wide backings.

Yesterday was the first day of the retirement sale and I was amazed at how many of you came. Iwish I had been able to spend more time visiting with everyone. As the sale will go on until the end of April I hope you'll consider coming back (several times would be great).

I know I have not been blogging much in the last months. As you can imagine I have been very busy. Now that the sale is actually underway I will try to do better.

People keep asking me when the shop will close and I have to tell them that I have still not given up on selling it so that it can stay open. It is still not too late if you or someone you know would be interested in talking about it.

I have not gotten much stitching done. I did finish a Shiloh in tan and black for my nephew and his wife. I've been at it off and on for a year, so it is about time. When my retirement finally arrives I plan to spend lots of time in my sewing room.

My shop has been for sale now since July. It
will remain for sale but in the meantime, I will be starting my retirement sale.
We will be open from
10 am til 5 pm Monday thru Saturday.

Here's how it will go:

Starting Saturday March 3 -25% on all
merchandise! every Saturday thereafter another 5% discount will be
added for the following week.

March 10 -30% March 17
-35%
March 24 -40% March 31
-45%
April 7 -50% April 14
-55%
April 21 -60% April 28 -65% (our
last day)

In 25 years we've never had a storewide sale, so this
will be an event. Come early for the very best selection. I expect our kits
especially to go quickly.

Minimum fabric cut will be one yard. Only full punch
cards will be honored ( I am sorry, but after the sale starts we will not be
able to take the time to combine partial cards). Gift certificates beyond their
expiration date can not be redeemed.

If you spend $150 for merchandise on any one visit, your
name will be entered in a drawing to win one of two Vintage Singer
Featherweights.

I will also be marking for sale office equipment,
fixtures and some antique display pieces. These items will not be discounted
and some may have to be picked up at the end of the sale.

There is a slide show on the website showing some of the fixtures, display pieces and kit samples. www.prairiestarquilts.com

I'm looking forward to seeing many of you during our sale.

I have not given up on selling the shop, so if you know someone who is interested, please have them contact me.

As you can see we're having a sales event on Super Sunday. We will not have a workshop this year, but if you would like to spend the day sewing, you can use the Retreat Center. You could even come both Saturday and Sunday. Just give us a call to let us know when and if you are coming. 712-764-7012

Happy New Year!

A few customers have been telling me they heard we were closing at the beginning of the year. The rumor is not true!
We are still open and will be for a while. We are still having discussions with potential buyers and I hope I will soon be able to announce that Prairie Star Quilts will stay open under new ownership. Nothing has been finalised, so if you or someone you know might be interested in the shop just get in touch with me.
In the meantime, we are open today, January 2. We still have lots of half price deals on Christmas fabric and kits. Come see us.