Our BIG day! 2011 Quilt Sampler Party

   

3 generations of 'women who sew'  ~ Lou, Steffani and Deb

   Tuesday, September 6th was a party of all parties and what a party we had! Labor Day Monday, my family headed to the shop to set up for the 'big party'. We blocked off the lower parking lot, set up a tent (thank you Teddy Schaefer for borrowing me your tent), tables and chairs. Quilts of Valor set up a table to sell raffle tickets and donations. Brenda Peterson set up a table to sell some of her 'goods' with the proceeds going to the Salvation Army Food Shelf and American Diabetes Association.

Sampling of Brendas items she sold for a great cause! 

Marcia Stevens & Sue Carrol taking donations for our local QOV chapter. 

     Tuesday started with a bang - customers arrived as early as 7:00 to be 'first in line' for the 170 goodie bags that we gave out. Some of them actually beat us there (Donna below)!

   We opened the parking lot at 8:00, serving coffee, hot apple cider and homemade Ginger-Sugar cookies. It was a beautiful sunny morning and we feel so grateful to have shared it with our loyal customers. My mom, Lou Rademacher, started the business 41 years ago. She came home from their place in Canada just for the day. It was fun to listen to her and our long time customers as they reminisced about the 41 years as they followed us from location to location.

     At 8:50 I stood on a ladder, in the parking lot and gave away over 80 prizes that our vendors had so generously donated. Everything from yard cuts of Shannon (minkee) cuddle to FQ packs, books, pattern packs, AMH scrap bags, notion kits and so much more!

Anxiously waiting....to be chosen as one of the many winners! 

    We had our 'goody bag' station down in the classroom space with personal signed copies of the magazines ready for pick up.

Some of our Grand Prizes were set up by the registration station/trivia drop off area upstairs.

Right behind the grand prizes, we set up our 'Parisville' bedroom...Oo La La! 

  We have our version of the Parisville quilt on the bed and a second version in batiks hanging on the wall (above right) Kits Available for both! Just as the time was nearing to open the flood gates we were all set up and ready with Arlene waiting inside to help.

is it time yet...?

 The shop 'buzzed' all day and well into the evening! Many wonderful friends stopped by to drop off flowers, cards and even a special batch of cookies...

     They were so beautiful it was difficult to eat one...until we all did. Then they were so good it was difficult to stop! Thanks Kelly S! 

  In the evening, we had a local quilt guild come for a special evening session. We had some prizes for them, a little history about the shop and what our big day was about then they were free to shop. A wonderful bunch of ladies!

   Finally about 8:00 we took down the tent...packed up our bags and took our tired, sore (happy) feet home with our hearts full of fond memories and many thanks for everything and everyone.

Wednesday morning Steffani and I took a few minutes in the morning and drew the winners of our grand prizes.

THE WINNERS:
Baby Lock Tempo Sewing Machine - Tammy Kepner - Breezy Point
Arrow Gidget II Sewing Table - Mia Aho - Long Prairie
Brewer Sewing Basket w/goodies - Jan Corrick - Little Falls
Checker Sewing Basket w/goodies - Betty Cram - Pequot Lakes
Machine Quilting by Arlene Fitzpatrick - Pam Braland - Baxter
Machine Quilting by Got Quilted - Throw Size - Jan Hirschey - Staples
Machine Quilting by Got Quilted - Baby Size - Shellie Cibuzar - Brainerd
Ironing Board Top by Earl & Lou Rademacher - Rosie Prince - Baxter
Moda Goodie Bag - Joyce Olson - Baxter
Kaufman Fabric Basket - Penni Hergert - Cambridge
Anna Maria Horner Thread Pack + patterns- Diane Olson - Baxter
Anna Maria Horner Thread Pack + patterns - Tate Watts - McGregor
Binding by Brenda Peterson - Karen Boche - Nisswa

Brenda Miller was the winner of our trivia game ~ she chose a Parisville kit!
Here are the answers to the trivia game:


How long have we been in business? 41 years
Name the original owner of the shop: Lou Rademacher
How many shop locations have we had over the years? 4 locations
What are the shop names we’ve had over the years? Lou's Country Fabrics & Sewing School; Country Fabrics and Interiors; Country Fabrics Quilts & Collectibles; Country Fabrics and Quilting. 
Name the machine brands we’ve sold over the years: Riccar, Brother, Viking, Elna, Baby Lock, BERNINA, Handi Quilter
How many years has Arlene worked here? 32 years
How many years has Deb owned the business? 10 years
Guess the number of bolts in the shop: 2500
Guess the number of samples in the shop: 854 (more added since then!)
Name a few original classes taught: bras, snowmobile suits, chopper mittens, garments
How many years have we hosted a sewing retreat? 16 years
What year did the shop add-on the sewing machine area? 1998
What year did Steffani join the business? 2009
What does Brenda design monthly? Charm Project
How many years have we had embroidery club?
How much is a full punch card worth? $20.00
How much is a fat quarter? $2.75
What day of the month does Sew’cial hour meet? 2nd Thursday
How big does Country Fabrics cut a fat quarter? 18-1/2" x 22
How wide is a jelly roll strip? 2-1/2"
What is the name of the large circular flowers out back? Cleome
What is Eileen Washburns’ roll? She makes samples for the shop


I was asked all day for the Ginger Sugar cookie recipe. The trick to these cookies is to under bake them so they remain soft. I bake them at 350 for 7 1/2 minutes. I let them cool on the cookie sheet for about 3 minutes and then I remove them to a wire rack.

Ginger Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 c. shortening                       4 tsp. soda
2 c. sugar                                     2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. dark molasses                     2 tsp. cloves
2 eggs                                          2 tsp. ginger
4 c. flour                                      1/2 tsp. sale

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and molasses; mix well. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Roll into balls and roll in sugar. Bake 7 1/2 minutes at 350. Cookies crack and flatten while baking.

I want to thank all of you that came to the party and my staff for their friendship and loyalty. Without them I would not be where we are today. On to the next 41 years.....