Shop Stop in Fairbanks, Alaska

Where is Eazy Peazy Now?
We visit Blue Ribbon Sew & Vac

FAIRBANKS, ALASKA  -  Q: Do you know one of the longest quilting seasons in the U.S.?
A: It has to be in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the snow doesn't melt until April!

The months of cold and snow give customers of Blue Ribbon Sew 'N Vac in Fairbanks lots of time to make wonderful things.

Susan Phillips and husband John purchased the business two years ago and sell four sewing machine brands plus two brands of vacuum cleaners. As you can imagine John is kept busy keeping all in running order.

Susan's forte is bringing the latest fabric and notions to the shelves. She does much of the investigating to find new fabrics online but also does purchasing through fabric distributor's representatives.

And as Susan will tell you, samples sell. She tries all the Eazy Peazy patterns and displays her creations with the patterns, making it easy for her customers to see what can be accomplished.

Learn more about Susan's shop on her web site http://www.blueribbonsewing.com/

Another Shop Stop

Where is Eazy Peazy Now?
We visit the Canton Quilt Corner 

CANTON, S. Dakota - Free popcorn and a ‘man cave’ are only two of the reasons the Canton Quilt Corner is a popular and unique place to visit. Of course for quilters there are also the more than 1,100 bolts of fabric plus the opportunity to see the interior of their historic 1897 red granite bank building and even shopping inside the vault.

Owners Robert Wight and Lori Kern greet customers with a cup of coffee or tea and really are most helpful. The old bank has plenty of room for a 2,000 square foot classroom and boasts 245 square feet of design walls. What quilt top couldn’t be perfected on a wall of that size?

Oh, did I mention a commercial grade popcorn maker? Robert and Lori bought it to use during the quilting retreats they sponsor in their upstairs retreat center, which accommodates 15 quilters, not to mention taking care of hubby in the man cave while you shop.

Pictured is a wonderful idea they had to display and promote the Eazy Peazy Eazier Livin’ Walker Saddlebag. Lori and right hand employee Marcia VanOort (a life-long quilter with a degree in textiles) are next to a walker with the pattern kits and patterns in the Saddlebag. Simple but effective. Robert tells me they quickly sold out and had to reorder…music to my ears.

Want to learn more about Lori, Robert and their fabulous shop?
Visit them on the web at http://www.cantonquiltcorner.com/.

Shop Stop

Today finds us in Winter Haven, FL. 

Heartfelt Quilting, owned by Pat Roberts, is always a happy, active place.  Pat was the very first shop to see and purchase the early Eazy Peazy patterns.  A great merchandiser, she's able to take a simple idea and build it until it becomes fabulous. 

Note in the picture the bejeweled walker which was in Houston. Pat didn't just hang the Walker Saddlebag on it...but added "Granny".  Granny has her own "back-story" complete with facelift and hip replacement!  It was taken to another step when Pat put soap products in a bucket. She's able to sell patterns plus soap in this eye-catching display right inside the front door.  This starts and ends your visit with a smile. See more of Heartfelt at http://www.heartfeltquilting.net/

Where's Eazy Peazy Now?

Let's start this series at Red Hen Fabrics in Marietta, GA.

Hop off I75 in Marietta and travel the few extra miles to Red Hen Fabrics for a real treat.  "Mother Hen", Mary Anne Henderson runs a wonderful quilt shop filled with yummy fabric lines.

Mary Anne, an artist, fabric designer, and award winning quilter brings her creativity to her store. The merchandise displays and quilts are constantly changing.

Red Hen Fabrics was one of the first places to take a chance on a new pattern series...and during one stop, Mary Anne asked for a sample of the Bodacious Brag Bag, and ended up getting the one I was using.  I just hauled out my wallet, tissues, cell phone, keys, etc., and that bag still hangs in the store.

On the day this picture was taken, Mary Anne who did not know I was arriving, remarked that she was dressed in the "Eazy Peazy colors".   You'll find her website: http://www.redhenfabrics.com/ 

Post Christmas Cleanup

Welcome to Blog #1 for Eazy Peazy Quilts. We're a pattern design company specializing in purse and purse accessories plus our Eazier Livin' line for the handicapped.  Getting this blog up and running was on the "to do" list for January...actually it first appeared 6 months ago in July, but was able to procrastinate until now!  Somehow I can trick myself into thinking I'm ahead of schedule when it goes up prior to changing the page on the calendar.  Just the way I fool myself!

Hope to bring in the coming months some fun peeks into the world of Eazy Peazy.  You'll get to see how some of the Eazy Peazy patterns are displayed in great quilt stores across the country, plus learn about new products on the market which make our quilting lives easier.  I'd also like to introduce you to some wonderful quilters and quilt shop owners who I've met. 

My wish is that you'll "stop by" now and then and will enjoy the light-hearted posts.