Welcome!
I’m finally back! So sorry for the gap in my writing, but there’s been so much going on, and I can’t wait to share everything! We’re announcing new opportunities and opening doors to an even bigger quilting community!
But first, one imminent deadline I don’t want you to miss …
If you’re interested in purchasing a Handi Quilter longarm or possibly upgrading your current system, please remember that Handi Quilter’s prices are increasing as of July 1st. This impacts not only the prices of all their longarm machines and the Pro-Stitcher systems, but also ALL accessory items (e.g., needles, bobbins, rulers, …).
To beat the price increase, you must have your order placed by Monday, June 30th.
Please call or email us for more details ASAP!
Okay, let’s lighten the mood. Moving on to the fun, new, exciting opportunities I promised!
Quilting Central Podcasts
Have you had the opportunity to catch one of the new Quilting Central podcasts?
Three of us, Cathy Thayer of Fabric Bash (Nebraska), Julie Mercer of Two Chicks Quilting (Texas), and myself have joined together to create Quilting Central! So far, we’ve posted five podcasts. Join us on YouTube!
Episode 1: Get to Know the Hosts (39:33)
Episode 2: The Creative Process (51:34)
Episode 3: Behind the Bolts – How Quilt Shops Choose Fabric (49:38)
Episode 4: Serving the Quilting Community (37:51)
Episode 5: Finishing a Quilt (41:24)
Quilting Central is a work in progress. We’d love to hear from you!
- What would you like to know about ANYTHING quilting?
- What causes you frustration, or what do you struggle with?
- What’s something new that you’ve learned, or what creation would you like to share?
- Where would you like to go, or who would you like to meet?
We’re open to any and all quilting related ideas! Please email us at info@quiltingcentral.com so we can produce podcast episodes truly tailored to what you’d like to see!
One of the ideas that we’re already working on is hosting a virtual quilting retreat. Interested? Read on!
Virtual Longarm Retreat
Want to join in on a longarm quilting retreat? One that you can participate in from the convenience of your own home? (One that you don’t have to pack up your longarm to attend? Yeah, right!!!)
Sign up for this Quilting Central event! Mark your calendar!
Friday, August 15, 2025
Saturday, August 16, 2025
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
This will be a live stream video. (It won’t be on Facebook. No social media account required!)
Join Cathy, Julie and me for two days of quilting magic! We’ll be offering:
- multiple mystery projects that are perfect for completing on your longarm. (But if you’re not a longarm quilter yet, no worries! We’ll show you how to adapt them to be completed on your domestic machine!)
- live demos, tips and tricks galore, and interactive Q&A sessions.
- super fantastic door prizes!
Want even more details? See the Classes page on our website. Once you sign up, you’re guaranteed to receive your Fun-Filled Retreat Box filled with project patterns, retreat fabric requirements, a door prize ticket and lots of quilting goodies … all shipped right to your door!
Now while I’m talking retreats, I also want to make sure you’re aware of the up-coming APQS in-person retreat.
APQS All-Star Longarm Quilting Retreat
Interested in a trip out to beautiful Golden, Colorado this fall? If so, that’s where and when APQS is holding their two and a half day All-Star Longarm Quilting Retreat this year!
Scheduled for September 4-7, 2025, this retreat allows you to experience a mix of hands-on and lecture-based sessions led by knowledgeable APQS educators. Options allow you to dive into Quilt Path™, sharpen your free-motion skills, or explore design and business strategies.
No matter where you’re at in your quilting journey, APQS is there to help you grow and flourish as a longarm quilter! More information is available on the APQS website – click the above link.
Now if you’re one of our Handi Quilter owners, we’ve got you covered with in-person events as well!
Handi Quilter Beginning Longarm Bootcamp and Advanced Pro-Stitcher Classes
For those of you local to Elkhorn and Appleton, check out these opportunities! Handi Quilter Educator, Leigh Zipf, will be leading a pair of two-day bootcamps, and I’ll be teaching one-day advanced Pro-Stitcher sessions. Want to know a little more?
Beginning Longarm Bootcamp (Elkhorn)
Tuesday & Wednesday, September 23 & 24, 2025
9 AM – 4 PM (Lunch Included)
or
Beginning Longarm Bootcamp (Appleton)
Friday & Saturday, September 26 & 27, 2025
9 AM – 4 PM (Lunch Included)
These 2-day bootcamp classes are designed for quilters that don’t currently own a longarm but want to learn all about our amazing Handi Quilter machines! This is also a great refresher class if you own a Handi Quilter but haven’t had the opportunity to use it for a while!
Special Bonus: If you buy a Handi Quilter machine or Pro-Stitcher at this event, we’ll apply the cost of this class towards the purchase price!
This 2-day class is divided into 4 parts:
Day 1 morning covers longarm quilting basics. Leigh will explain machine and frame elements and features, how to load a quilt, and share vital facts about thread, needles and tension.
Day 1 afternoon covers sweet and simple free motion basics. You’ll learn how drawing and muscle memory contribute to free motion quilting and how to create stunning designs.
Day 2 morning covers radical rulers! You’ll learn how to handle rulers and templates safely using the ruler base and Sure Foot. You’ll see how these tools can assist you in placing designs accurately and stitching them out precisely.
Day 2 afternoon covers Pro-Stitcher basics. Pro-Stitcher is an intuitive computer-guided quilting system designed specifically for use with Handi Quilter longarm machines. It is user-friendly and simple to operate. And you’ll find the step-by-step process for each function easy and fun.
Advanced Pro-Stitcher Class (Elkhorn)
Monday, September 22, 2025
9 AM – 4 PM (Lunch Included)
or
Advanced Pro-Stitcher Class (Appleton)
Sunday, September 28, 2025
9 AM – 4 PM (Lunch Included)
I’ll teach you how to place and stitch borders, turn a piece of edge-to-edge design into a block design, use the mark feature, stitch out triangle designs, and crop designs. We might even get a chance to learn the magic of mandalas! You’ll finish a hands-on project using Pro-Stitcher!
As you know, education is our passion at The Quilting Connection. So whether you’re listening to a Quilting Central podcast, attending Quilting Central’s virtual retreat or joining us in-person for a class, you’re helping me, Rick and The Quilting Connection team achieve our mission!
We want to see each of you reach your quilting potential and achieve your quilting dreams while enjoying every step of your journey! Thank you for letting us be part of your journey!
Thank you for joining our growing quilting community!
And one last bit before I sign off for this post …
Sales!
APQS has again extended this wonderful opportunity … and we still don’t know for how long!
Please contact us for more details!
I’ll wrap it up there!
Please remember, if you ever have ANY questions or want additional information about ANY of the products and services we offer, please call us at (262) 723-6775 or email us at info@QuiltingConnection.com.
You can also visit us online at QuiltingConnection.com or in person at 21 Adams Street in Elkhorn, WI (usually M-F 9-4, please call to confirm we’re open) or 1017 W. Northland in Appleton, WI (W, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).
Finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.
And please share your thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you!
Angie