Newsletter Archive

August 5, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

Pet Page

This week's pet picture is an adorable Old English Sheep Dog named Glory - one of two beloved sheepdogs owned by Monique and her husband Bill. Glory and Maple are often pictured on Open Gate quilt patterns, and they are Monique's favorite quilt models. Glory is standing in front of Monique's beautiful Singing the Blues quilt, a pattern made easy when using Monique's specially designed Fit to be Geese ruler.

We are loving our Pet Page, so please keep your pet pictures coming! Just send us a picture of your favorite pet with your favorite Open Gate quilt. If your picture is chosen, you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

Featured Quilt Kits

This week's featured quilt is Victoria Rose, a lovely three-fabric quilt in blacks and creams. This kit uses the Fit to be Geese ruler, and can also be created with the optional Mini Fit to be Geese ruler. Victoria Rose is the perfect lap size at 51" x 74" and costs $68.00 for the pattern and kit; $60 for the kit only.

Last week, we brought you Box of Chocolates, using S'mores, a fun and whimsical fabric line from Moda. Just a reminder - this kit is still on sale. The quilt is made using fat quarters and features 18 assorted fat quarters. A lap quilt that is a fun, fast and a great weekend project! The cost of the kit is $50.00 and includes the pattern.

Don't forget to visit our Fabric section along with our Sale section on our website. We have lots of other Christmas fabric on sale as well as several Christmas kits. Sale fabric makes great backings too! Remember to check back with us often as we continue to add fabric and kits to the Sale page.

Tips

Our helpful hint for this week is how to use the information provided on the selvages of fabric. What do the words and colored circles on the selvages mean? The circles are the colors used throughout the fabric - if you want to match the colors for coordinating fabric, these circles provide a perfect way to match. The rest of the information on the selvage contains the fabric line name, the designer of the fabric, the company that prints the fabric and sometimes the order number of the fabric. This is great information to know in case you find yourself short of a particular fabric and need to order it online or find it in a quilt shop.

If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

Mark Your Calendars!

Start planning for the Madison Quilt Expo, September 10 - 12, 2009. We will have the latest and greatest patterns and kits in our booth and would love to see you. For more information on the Expo, visit wiquiltexpo.com.

Don't forget the AQS quilt show in Des Moines, IA, October 28-31, 2009. We were so impressed with the spectacular quilts at this show last year. We reserved a booth again this year to show our treasures - come by and say "Hi!"

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Sue & Monique

July 29, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

This week's pet picture is Zoey - Lynn (Sue's sister) from Wisconsin made Fading Glory and Zoey is enjoying it! Just her size! We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

This week's featured quilt is Box of Chocolates using S'mores, a fun and whimsical fabric line from Moda. And as a bonus, the kit is even on sale. This quilt is made using fat quarters and features 18 assorted fat quarters. A lap quilt that is a fun, fast and a great weekend project! The cost of the kit is $50.00 and includes the pattern.

Don't forget to visit our Fabric section along with our Sale section on our website. We have lots of other Christmas fabric on sale along with several Christmas kits. Sale fabric makes great backings too! Remember to check back with us often as we will be putting more fabric and kits on sale.

Our helpful hint for this week is how to prepare quilts with pieced borders or no borders for your machine quilter. It is a good idea to baste along all edges of your pieced border or pieced quilt top 1/8" in from all outer edges. This prevents the quilt top from stretching when the machine quilter loads it onto her machine. This tip comes from LeAnne Olson, a very talented machine quilter.

Start planning for the Madison Quilt Expo, September 10 - 12, 2009. We will be vending there and would love to see you. For more information on the Expo, visit wiquiltexpo.com.

Don't forget the AQS quilt show in Des Moines, IA. Monique and Sue vended last year and the quilts in the show were spectacular. We will also be back this year. Come by and say "Hi!"

If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Sue & Monique

July 22, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

This week's pet picture is Gracie - Gail from Michigan made Anchors Aweigh and Gracie stands tall on the quilt claiming it to be hers! We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

We have among us a "Calendar Girl" aka "Cover Girl!! Monique's quilt, "Winter Wonder" is featured on American Patchwork and Quilting's 2010 Calendar as Miss January!! Winter Wonder is a dramatic blue and white quilt that measures 59 1/2 x 77 1/2". Kits with the calendar are available for $92.96 plus shipping and handling. Backing and calendars are also sold separately.

This week's featured quilt is Cranberry Garland a kit on sale and just in time to start those quilt projects for the holidays that are fast approaching!! This quilt is 55x74 made from jelly rolls and charm squares in browns, red, green and blue. A lap quilt that is a fun, fast and a great weekend project! The cost of the kit is $54.00 and includes the pattern Quick as a Wink III, which gives you three other patterns for quilts.

Don't forget to visit our Fabric section along with our Sale section on our website. We have lots of Christmas fabric on sale along with kits. Sale fabric makes great backings too! Remember to check back with us often as we will be putting more fabric and kits on sale.

This week's helpful hint is on making a 45 degree angle. To make a 45 degree angle on your fabric, use your Easy Angle ruler. Line up the bottom of the Easy Angle with the bottom of your fabric, making sure that the line goes thru the point.

Start planning for the Madison Quilt Expo, September 10 - 12, 2009. We will be vending there and would love to see you. For more information on the Expo, visit wiquiltexpo.com.

If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Sue & Monique

July 15, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

This week's pet picture is "Ali", Heidi and Wojtek Charchalis's boxer puppy cuddling under "Quilters Window". Quilters Window was given as a recent wedding quilt but it looks like Ali is enjoying it too!
We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

This week's featured quilt is "Tea and Scones" and is one of our kits on sale. The border print sets off this beautiful red and cream 50x50 quilt and uses the Fit to Be Square ruler.

Don't forget to visit our Fabric section on our website. We have just put some Moda Christmas fabric and Free Spirit fabric on sale for $7.00 a yard. Remember to check back with us often as we will be putting more fabric on sale.

This week's helpful hint is on keeping track of your quilting tools. Mark your initials on rulers, rotary cutters and scissors with a permanent marker or a colored nail polish. Next time when you get together with your quilting friends for a sewing day or a class you will be able to keep better track of all your tools.

If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Sue & Monique

July 8, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

This week's pet picture is Judy Roubick's chocolate lab "Autumn" enjoying her Christmas Quilt "Max". Max is a 35"x35" Grinch's Dog quilt who counts down his 12 favorite things in the "12 Dog Days of Christmas" panel. This is a quick, easy to piece quilt and a great gift for those dog lovers.

We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

We have among us a "Calendar Girl" aka "The Cover Girl"!! Monique's quilt, "Winter Wonder" is featured on American Patchwork and Quilting's, 2010 Calendar as Miss January!! Winter Wonder is a dramatic blue and white quilt that measures 59 1/2 x 77 1/2". Kits with the calendar are available for $92.96 plus shipping and handling. Backing and calendars are also sold separately.

With Christmas just around the corner it is time to get a jump start on those new Christmas projects. We have two wool applique projects that are quick and easy to do - Poinsettia Tablemat and the Holly & Berry Penny Tree Skirt.
Both of these projects are in the book called "Primitive Christmas" and the book can be purchased separately from the kits.

This week's tip is on preparing a quilt label for your quilting project. Always label your quilt with at least the date, who made it and where the quilt was made. To hand applique your label, take a piece of muslin and cut it down to the size you want for the label plus 1/4" on all sides. Then take a piece of freezer paper and cut it down to the size of the label. Iron the freezer paper to the muslin for stabilization. Then write on the muslin using a pigma pen. Alway remember to set the writing on the label by taking an iron to the muslin. Applique the label to the backing after your quilt is quilted. Another way is to fuse the label to the backing using fusible webbing before it is quilted. Your machine quilter will quilt the label on permanently.
If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Sue & Monique

July 1, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

Secret Garden is a quilt combining Laundry Basket Quilts applique and Monique's piecing, this stunning wall-hanging is a beautiful addition to any home. Kit includes, fabric for quilt top, applique, backgrounds, and border, applique patterns, piecing instructions as well as a picture of the quilt. Measures 45" x 45".

We hope you are enjoying our weekly tips. This week's tip is on preparing for your quilting project.
To make rotary cutting a breeze, change your rotary blade when you notice the blade not making good clean cuts. We also recommend changing your needle on your machine often and cleaning the lint from your bobbin area. We use a can of Dust Remover and keep this by our machine during our project to keep our machine free from those dust bunnies! This can be purchased at any office supply store. We also recommend winding several bobbins ahead of time before starting your project.

Star Power is a twin size quilt using soft blues and browns. This is a fun and easy to piece quilt using the Easy Angle Ruler.

If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com. We would like to wish you a Happy and Safe July 4th holiday.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Monique & Sue

June 23, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

Our featured quilt this week is "Star Power". This is a twin size quilt using blues and browns. Pictured with this quilt is one of Monique's puppies Maple. Maple is an Old English Sheep Dog who is a bit camera shy and looks like she is going to bolt out of the picture at any moment. Monique's other Sheepdog, Glory, loves getting her picture taken and is featured in a lot of Monique's quilt patterns.

We hope you are enjoying our weekly tips. This week's tip is on putting your quilt blocks together.
Lay out your blocks in a big enough area that you can view how your quilt will look when sewn together. Once you have all your blocks positioned, pin a piece of paper on the very first block of each row and number the rows (1,2,3,4...) When numbering the row it also makes it helpful to put a directional arrow under the number so you will know which way to iron the row (ironing to the right or to the left). By following this step, putting your blocks and rows together will be quick and easy.

If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Monique & Sue

June 17, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

Our pet picture of the week with your favorite "OPEN GATE QUILT" goes to Sarah Orjada-Dachtyl and Kloi. Sara, says: "This is a picture of Kloi on a quilt my Aunt Gail made for our daughter Stella. The quilt pattern is called 'Soft and Sweet.' Stella is usually rolling around on it, but sometimes Kloi claims it for a little while

We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

We can't "Thank You" enough for the great response we got from Rhythm & Blues. We are out of fabric for the original kits. Call Sue to be placed on a waiting list if you are still interested. 815-568-6081

Our featured quilt is Secret Garden. Combining Laundry Basket Quilts applique and Monique's piecing, this stunning wall-hanging is a beautiful addition to any home. Kit includes, fabric for quilt top, applique, backgrounds, and border, applique patterns, piecing instructions as well as a picture of the quilt. Measures 45" x 45".

Don't forget "At The Crossroads". This Reproduction quilt is made in reds and muslin and measures 75x87.

We hope you are enjoying our weekly tips. This week is on preparing binding. When cutting out your quilt, cut your binding out at the same time. Sew your binding pieces together, iron and then roll up the binding and pin it with a note with the name of the quilt on it until you are ready to sew on the binding. That way you don't use the binding fabric for another project.

When your quilt is pieced and you are ready to sew on your binding, we find it helpful to take the end of your binding and pin it to a pincushion. This will keep track of the end while you are preparing the quilt to add the binding.

Soon we will have our tips on the website for future reference. If you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

Monique just got back from Dyersville, Iowa where she taught Beyond Borders and Ballyseede at Vintage Threads Quilt Shoppe. She had such a good time - what a great group of gals.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Monique & Sue

June 10, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

Our pet picture of the week with your favorite "OPEN GATE QUILT" goes to Laura Fischer, Lady and Riely of Michigan. Looks like Lady and Riely like taking naps on Best Friends quilt.

We are loving our Pet Page so keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com!

As for Rhythm & Blues, we are so excited and over-whelmed by the great response we have been getting! We have sold a lot of kits and as of today, we are out of fabric for the original kits. Wow!! Thank you!! If you are still interested in a kit, you can call Sue at 815-568-6081. We can make kits but they won't be in the original fabrics.
The price for the kit is $87.00 and $93.53 for Illinois residents. (price includes shipping) Magazine is $5.99 plus shipping.

Our featured quilt is "At The Crossroads". This Reproduction quilt is made in reds and muslin and measures 75x87.

This weeks tip is on the Easy Angle. A lot of Open Gate Patterns use the Easy Angle to make 1/2 square triangles. Here are a few tips to help you use it:
* The unfinished size of the 1/2 square triangles is the size that you cut your strip. So if you need 2" unfinished 1/2 square triangles, you cut 2" strips of 2 fabrics. The finished size is 1 1/2".
*Lay your strip of fabric horizontally. Place the ruler so that the cut off flat edge is lined up with the top of your strip. The side of the ruler will be lined up with the end of the strip. Cut on the diagonal. Rotate the ruler like a frisbee. Line up the diagonal line along the line you just cut and the flat edge of the ruler along the bottom of the strip. Cut along the vertical.
*Note that this method is not how the instructions are written. Disregard the lines on the ruler if you use this method.
*Sew using a scant 1/4'" and square your piece up to the unfinished size.

We would like to start a tip section in our newsletter and website. SO, if you have a question or a tip that you would like to share, please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

Featured on the left is Laura Fischer from Michigan. (Yes, the same Laura who is mom to Riely and Lady!) She is pictured here at the retreat in Michigan where Monique and Sue were last weekend.

It has been a busy June so far. Monique and Sue just got back from Michigan where Monique taught Quilters Window and Quarter Karat at a retreat put on by Gail Brown. It was loads of fun and the retreat-goers were awesome! Hi to all! This next weekend Monique is headed for Dyersville, Iowa to Vintage Threads Quilt Shoppe to teach Beyond Borders and Ballyseede.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Monique & Sue

June 3, 2009


	Bundles and Bolts Quilt Co.

Dear Quilter,

Our pet picture of the week with your favorite "OPEN GATE QUILT" goes to Kirby and Joan of Indiana.

Joan's guardian Westie, Kirby, stands watch beside his beloved "Blackberries and Cream" quilt as it dries on the clothesline. He is accustomed to napping on this quilt on the Master bed as Joan works in the sewing room across the hall. He also loves to sleep on her Best Friends quilt on the couch in the family room. Is it difficult to guess what his favorite activity is?!

Monique designed Blackberries and Cream for American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine featured in the October 2007 edition.

We have had great response with your pictures of your pet on an Open Gate quilt. Keep them coming! If your picture is chosen you will receive a free gift from Bundles & Bolts. Email your pictures to: Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com! We hope you are enjoying the pet page as much as we are.

The magazine has arrived! Monique's design, Rhythm & Blues, is featured in American Patchwork and Quilting, August, 2009 issue! AND on the cover! We are so excited! There are a few kits still available but they are going fast. If you would like a kit, you can order it on the web-site or call Sue at 815-568-6081.
The price for the kit is $87.00 and $93.53 for Illinois residents. (price includes shipping) Magazine is $5.99 plus shipping. If you are interested in backing, contact Sue.

Ballyseede is one of Monique's newest patterns. This pattern is the result of a trip that Monique & Sue took to Ireland. They stayed in a castle, named Ballyseede, near the town of Tralee. The entryway of the castle featured tilework that inspired Monique to create this stunning quilt.

Occasionally, we will get e-mails from customers with questions on fabric, quilting, binding, etc... so we thought we would start sharing them with you. Recently, we had a question from Ruth Ann on washing fabric before quilting. We typically do not prewash our fabric BUT if you don't pre-wash your fabric, here are some important tips to follow:

1. Make sure that you use high quality fabric that is purchased from a quilt store like: BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com. They are less likely to bleed.

2. If you are using darker fabrics, reds, navys, blacks, it is a good idea to pre-test the fabric to see if it will run. First, take a swatch of the dark fabric and the light fabric and soak them in some water with some quilt soap. Let sit for 15-20 minutes, take it out and let them dry on top of each other. Once they are dry, make sure that there is no running. If not, then go ahead and use them without washing. If you are worried about the running, you can always pre-wash them with a product called Retayne. Follow the directions on the bottle.

3. If you are worried about the fabric shrinking, you can pre-wash it and make sure to set the dyes with Retayne.

The nice thing about no pre-washing is that you can start a project right away and the sizing is still in the fabric and that makes it easier to cut.

We hope this helps and we would like to start a tip section in our newsletter and website so others can learn from your questions or tips. SO, if you have a question or a tip that you would like to share with our readers please email us at Monique@BundlesandBoltsQuiltCo.com.

Don't forget Hidden Glory, this wonderful scrappy red, cream and blue quilt is perfect for the upcoming 4th of July holiday. Another fun quilt using the Fit to be Geese Ruler.

As always,

Quilt, bind and enjoy!

Monique & Sue