A Happy New Year from all of us at Quilters Treasure.
We were very happy to see December end with its record setting snow fall, since 1876, of 44.5". That is almost the total amount for the entire winter and the snow banks are higher than most cars.
Our journey starts, or so we thought.
Our original departure date of Jan 2nd was moved because we had to meet with the accountant. This is a necessity for us since are not scheduled to arrive home until after the 3rd week in May. I did learn that the IRS has not finalized their forms for 2007 yet and this will result in a mad rush or time extension from the IRS. Just thought you might want to know.
Thursday, Jan 3rd we woke to -4 degree temperature. This is not weather that is kind to bodies or machines. We bundled up and finished packing the car and drove to our friends house where we had parked the motor home. Our narrow dirt road had been reduced so much that we had moved it two weeks earlier. Looking back that was the smart thing to do. We never would have gotten out of our driveway if we had not.
First the diesel motor refused to start. Joel went home for a propane heater. Encasing the area with cardboard, time, the heater and electric block heater would warm the engine. 45 minutes later it reluctantly started. Success or so we thought.
Two of the leveling jacks were incased in ice. Space is limited so Joel had to slide under the motor home with torches to melt the ice. This worked after another 2 hours but the pads separated from the pistons. Joel (the repair man) pried the pads back onto the pistons. Joel wears many hats which is very beneficial.
It was too late to leave now so we went to dinner with our friends and back home for a good night sleep. Joel was so cold he built a fire in the wood stove and took a long hot, hot shower. Tomorrow is another day.
Friday, Jan 4th we started to the motor home about 8 am. The motor started, we did not put the jacks down last night, so they were ok and off we went. We covered 520 miles and stopped in Hagerstown, MD for the night. The weather there was a balmy 45 degrees. When we leave NH it is important we get far enough south the first day to prevent pipes from freezing. While in NH for only 6 weeks we (Joel) had to drain and winterize the motor home. Snow or no snow it is always too cold to just sit for this length of time.
As we travel I will post our adventures. I hope you will enjoy reading these and will someday have an opportunity to visit the wonderful places we see.
We will tell of quilt shows, quilt shops, new tools or techniques, what is hot and what is not. If there is anything you are interested in you can email us directly at joe@quilterstreasure.com. We also hope you will check our schedule on the website http://www.quilterstreasure.com/ and stop to say Hi at the shows.
Brian & Paul are busy with the web site and plowing all that snow. We are fortunate to live on the same street and they take care of the house when we are gone. When the weather breaks they will be doing shows & quilt guilds. These are also posted on our web site under “Show Schedule 2008”
As previously posted we are a family business. Our love of fabric & quilting is shared by all of us. We do have different interests and approaches to what influences our quilting. I love to hand quilt. Brian has a quilting machine. Joel drives so has less time to sew. Paul is gaining more confidence in his abilities. As you can see we all approach quilting differently. We still remember our humble beginnings and are constantly learning each day.
We live in a Log Home that Joel built. This is where the studio & warehouse are located. Brian & Paul live at the Lake House. The panoramic view of the water and woods offer them their inspiration.
It is a rural area with only 4 houses on a dirt road that ends at the water. Great in the summer but Paul & Brian must plow it in the winter. This winter looks to be a snowy one.
I am a lucky woman. I have three men who quilt and know the difference between fabric & paper scissors. Joel, Brian & Paul paint all our hand marbled fabric. Brian is know as MRMARBLEDFABRIC We all quilt, teach, vend at quilt shows & present trunk shows & workshops for guilds & quilt shops.
Coming soon to our web site is “Show & Tell.” This is for you to post and brag about your work. This is something I miss by not being able to attend my guild meetings.
Our new Challenge is now posted on the web site. The winners for last year will be announced at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show in Hampton, VA on February 21, 2008 and will be posted on our web site with pictures. We want to thank all the entrants for outstanding entries. Judging will not be easy. Don’t forget you have to enter to win.
I hope you enjoy our blog. Let us know what your interests are and we will be happy to include these in our posting.
Bobbie & Joel Bergquist
Quilters Treasure
- Quilters Treasure
- Rindge, New Hampshire, United States
- Joel and Bobbie, are quilt makers, manufacture, educators, strive to keep things simple quick and fun. Bobbie was the inspiration for Quilters Treasure whose goal is to give quilters an artist pallet. Bobbie found nothing available to make a stained glass quilt. Joel created fabric which has inspired her and many others to expand their creativity. They have taught in 39 states including Hawaii, conducts workshops, seminars and lectures at retreats, quilt shows, guilds and shops. They sponsor a mentor program for new designers and yearly “Quilters Treasure Challenge”. Bobbie’s physical and medical limitations meant she had to simplifying techniques. What was a necessary modification for one made quilting easier and less stressful for all. They now brings these same talents into the quilting world modify popular traditional quilting methods, easy to perform. Traveling in their motor home they are living the dream of seeing the USA and meeting quilters from all over the world. Their constant exposure to about 35 Quilt Shows each year helps them gain insight into the traditional and innovative trends and keeps their classes and products on the cutting edge of quilting.
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