Hello and Happy May!
It is Happy as lots of good things are starting to happen with the transition from backdoor pick up to curbside pickup and shopping by appointment at The Quilter's Faire. This week we will still have backdoor pickup on Wednesday. Just let us know what you need through our website and we will put together the order, send you a PayPal invoice and meet you at the backdoor to hand off your package. Starting next week on Thursday, May 21st, Friday, May 22nd, and Saturday, May 23rd we will be available for curbside pickup as well as shopping by appointment from 10 am - 3 pm . Curbside pick up will be handled the same way with the addition of phone in orders as well as website inquiries. So you can either send an email through the website or call the store and we will take your order, send you a PayPal invoice and package you goodies to meet you curbside outside our front door. And if you would like to shop our store you can make an appointment through the website by sending an inquiry or you can call the store on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. We will allow 3 people at a time inside the store, MASKS MUST BE WORN, and we will have hand sanitizer as you come in the store. Each appointment will be for 1/2 hour. We have made some changes to the store for everyone's safety , practicing social distancing by installing some new display tables , removing all but one bar stool and changing where you will check out and pay for your in store purchases. The vary essence of a quilt store is to linger, visit, and share so this social distancing will be difficult at first, but we know you will understand when we are not able to assist you as we used to , but we are confident we can still offer help from across the room. We tried to make changes that will work through the summer into the fall months as we watch and see what this nasty Covid 19 does. I myself have asthma and am extremely cautious, diligent and aware of distancing and cleanliness. And even though the County of Riverside has loosened the wearing of the mask requirement at this time we a feel that is is prudent to continue this simple task to ensure the safety of all our employees and customers. We will not be able to exchange smiles but just being able to see you all again enjoying the store will bring many smiles to us behind our masks.
We will continue to operate on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday schedule throughout the summer. The loss of revenue the store has endured requires us to tighten our belts and operate close to the quick during these long summer months. Now if business picks up faster, we will of course open more hours. But for now we hope that Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 - 3 pm will allow you all to shop our store. And as time goes on and the virus goes away we can increase the amount of customers who can safely shop in the store. We are being extremely cautious until we get the green light from the State, County and City of Palm Desert.
To help the wearing of the masks more bearable and perhaps fun we are launching a new little competition... "The Masked Quilter". Starting next week, on Thursday when we open for curbside and appointments , wear you best homemade mask for a chance to hold the store title of BEST MASKED QUILTER. We will take your masked picture and pick one winner each week who will go on and compete for BEST MASKED QUILTER. The competition will run through the end of July and a winner will be announced in early August.
Some more good news to share, the annual Southern California Quilt Run is on. The dates are the same, however, we are reducing the hours just a little bit. Thursday through Saturdays from 9 - 6 and Sundays from 10 - 4 pm. Store blocks and prize basket pictures will be posted very soon to the official website.
We are still waiting to receive the last table runner of the month kit, "Springtime Bunnies", they should be showing up anytime now and just as soon as they arrive I will be calling you so we can get these shipped to you.
The Brightly Blooming panel by Moda fabrics should be shipping very soon. We have received all the coordinate fabrics and these can be seen in our on-line store. They are listed as suggest products beneath the panel along with some new patterns created for the collection.
We are having an On-line promotion on the Ketan Collection Pre-cuts by Northcott Fabrics. Beautiful batiks with several colorways, both the strip sets and fat quarter packs are 15% off through the on-line store good until the end of the month. You can order for shipping or for pickup, but all orders must go through the website to receive the promotional price.
And don't forget about our Mystery Boxes. Let me shop the store and pick out a combination of items for your personal mystery box. We have had a few orders since our launch and I have to say they are a lot of fun to put together. You can leave it entirely up to me or give me clues to what you would like to receive. Colors, themes, pre-cut items or yardage. Remnants from our clearance rack, notions, books, or patterns. Tell me some of your favorite colors, manufacturers, themes, flowers, youth baby, etc. You can order for shipping or pick up.
We continue to include the link for the "Village" pattern compliments of Moda Fabrics and Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. The little houses are made with 5" charms or scraps. And to make it perhaps a little more fun and with purpose, I would love to receive a block from my "village" of friends, so if you make me a single block and bring it to me, signed on the back, I will trade you a block for a fat quarter of your choice. I will take up to five from each of my "village" of friends with the idea that I will get enough blocks from my "village" of friends to make a shop quilt and several quilts for charity.
Well that's my good news for May. I hope that we will see you ( behind a mask) at the store very soon.
