Blog

(11/18/2012)

This contest has completed. Congratulations to Deniz who was randomly selected as our winner.  Thanks to all who participated. We really enjoyed reading your ideas on how to use this great product.  Jerry

(Thanks to SewCalGal for the great graphic!!)

We discovered the Beam N Read Light a little over a year ago. Since then it has been one our best sellers not only at the quilt shows but also at the store. It's no wonder because this light is perfect for this industry, especially for those of you who work projects with your hands such as applique, crochet, needlepoint, or knitting.  Of course Marilyn mainly uses it for the English Paper Piecing projects she is always working on. She loves it because it's brighter than any other light she has ever tried (trust me, there has been quite a few) and it doesn't need to be plugged into the wall! That means you can take it anywhere.  She keeps it right in her project bag along with those lovely little hexagon papers, fabric, scissors, needle, and the all important reading glasses (they make her look so smart).

This great product hangs around your neck and rest solidly on your chest with an adjustable strap?  The Read N Beam LED6 Deluxe Hands Free Light sells for just $29.95 and has:

• 6 LED lights which burn for 50-100 hours with just 4 AA batteries
• The Light is Personal, which means it’s wide enough for your work area but won’t disturb others
• Large detachable 4 x 5 Magnifier for upclose work.  Who needs reading glasses (other than Marilyn)?
• Adjustable neck strap and adjustable angle of the light.
• 2 Clip on Filters (red and Orange)

  

About that giveaway

Thanks to Beam N Read, one lucky follower will receive their own Beam N Read Personal Light.  All you need to do is answer the following question:

How would you use your new Beam n Read Light? Send us your answer using our secure contact page so we can reach our winner!  We love to have you also post your suggestion on our Blog Comments so others can see your ideas as well.

We will be randomly select a winner and announce next Saturday, November 17th so don't wait too long to make your entry.  Beam N Read will ship the prize directly to the respective winner.

To get you your creative juices flowing on how you would use your new Beam N Read light, I've snagged a few photos from the web and posted some of your comments at the end of this blog:

For more information on this and other Beam N Read giveaways, visit their website at Beam N Read News and Events.

Scheduled Giveaways:
Nov   6 to 13:  Stray Stitches (Blog)  - http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/
Nov 11 to  16:   Bejeweled Quilts by Barb (Blog)  - http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/
Nov 12 to 16:  Cotton and Chocolate (Blog/Store)  - http://www.cottonandchocolate.com/
Nov  12 to 18: I Have A Notion (Blog/Store)  - http://ihaveanotion.blogspot.com/
Nov 12 to 19:  During Quiet Time (Blog)  - http://duringquiettime.blogspot.com/
Nov 17 to 24:  Quilting Gallery (Blog)  - http://quiltinggallery.com/

If your entry doesn't get you a free light, you can always buy it directly from us on our website for just $29.95. Buy two, one for you and one for your BFF. Again, click here to make your entry.

Comments received so far...

Deniz: Wow, I would use the Beam n Read Light for reading my sewing machine books & guides... it also looks like it would be quite handy for several uses. Thanks!

Patti: I'd use my Beam and Read Light (and magnifier!) to work on English Paper Piecing projects. All those teeny tiny stitches needed to sew together hexagons requires a LOT of light for these aging eyes! Having a directed, focused beam, along with the magnifier, would be incredibly helpful.

Melissa: With our last child off to college, my husband and I are ready to Road Trip! I would use my beam n read in the car for my hand appliqué and even reading when there is not enough light. And I won't blind my driver!

Sue: I would use that light in Soooo many ways. I love to sew , make some jewelry, paint etc. Unfortunately now that I have more time I find I can't see as we'll anymore! This light sounds like its just what I need!

Mary: I would use this light for hand work. It would be a great help!

Leslie: If I won the Beam and Read, I'd use it when doing all of my hand sewing--binding quilts and English piecing. It seems I can never get enough light on my projects to really see what I'm doing, and I'd feel very lucky to win the contest.

Kathy: I don't have the greatest lighting in my bedroom & like to knit a little before going to sleep so I would use the light so I can knit in bed & not screw it up. As I get older my glasses don't work as well as I would like.

Mary: If I won the Beam and Read, I would give it to my husband so he would leave mine alone!!! Seriously, we both love it and it is becoming a necessity when we travel and have such dreadful lighting in the hotel rooms. I'm thinking one will make it into someone's Christmas stocking this year.

Claudia: If I win this prize I would give it to my friend Martha who was saying just yesterday she has a great deal of difficulty seeing her work when she has to "un-sew" anything. She needs more light and more magnification. It seems like the Beam-n-Read is the perfect answer for her.

Carol: I would use it doing my handwork and maybe even put it by my machine when I need more light. I saw it at the PIQF and loved it but spent to much money. Would love to have one.

Karen: When the gal pals and I get together to stitch at our favorite coffee shop, the ceiling light is too dim. This light is not only bright enough, it's handsfree!! I want one! I want one! PLEASE

Erica: I would use my Beam N Read light to finish my Kaffe Fasset needlepoints, knit scarves for my daughter and Operation Gratitude, and read my book club books at night, curled up (in my now badly lit family room) with a nice hot cup of tea. Ahhh... Thank you for the opportunity!

Robin: When I win . . . I will use the beam n read for anything using a needle and thread.

Sandy: The light would be wonderful to take to my Mini quilt group meetings. It's very hard to get good lighting for everyone in a group setting and this would solve my problem for me...thanks

Deb: I would use the Beam n read working on embroidery projects. I recently worked on a counted cross stitch project and had to have a couple lights on the project along with taking the pattern and blowing up the size in order to read it. My eyes aren't what they used to be.

Cindy: I use my Beam and Read in the car while waiting for my daughter at volleyball practice. Whether I am hand quilting, making hexagons, or reading on my Kindle, it always comes in handy! Would love to have another one to give as a gift to my daughter in college!

Jennifer: I guess I would just be happy to have some additional dependable lighting so I could work on projects later in the day. I don’t feel old, but apparently my eyes do, so with the beginnings of cataracts, I am no longer able to  do much handwork or reading in the evening unless the lights are very good.

Cathy: 1. To work on my redwork. It would be great while sitting in bed on a cold night. 2.  I think it would also be great for camping. It would be nice to have a hands-free light at night.

Carla: I’d like to win this light and give it to my son.  He loves to read and will read no matter how bad the lighting is.  I’m always reminding him to turn on a light.  Maybe this would be the solution.

Jolene: I love crafts but my new room is really dark. I have a standing lamp, but it doesn't seem to be bright enough. I would love to use the Beamer as I work with my clay works and many others. I would also love to use it for reading craft books so I need not walk outside to the living room.

Nancy: What a great way to knit at night!

Anna-Marie: I'd give it to my mother. She lives in Alaska and it's getting pretty dark out, like usual. It'd really help to have the extra lighting!

Sally: I would use it to read in bed and in the car. Thanks for the giveaway!

Deb: I would use the Beam n read working on embroidery projects. I recently worked on a counted cross stitch project and had to have a couple lights on the project along with taking the pattern and blowing up the size in order to read it. My eyes aren't what they used to be.

Dawn: I'd love the chance to win the Beam and Read because I'm chronically ill and live in an area that loses power every time it storms. This would be very helpful in finding my meds as well as making sure I'm taking the right ones. It's not easy withdrawing meds into a syringe and injecting by candle light!!

Zan: I'd love to give to to my parents (87 & 91). They are avid readers and mother loves beading.  The light plug placement in their main living area is so strange that it hard to get good lighting for reading. We don't want lamp cords all over the walking area.

Emily: I will use the Beam N Read for craft projects. I have trouble getting enough light on some projects.

Deb: I'm an avid sewer who likes great light...my husband is half troll and likes things to be dim.  Also, my daughter and I like reading to each other at bedtime, but she likes to be read to with the lights off, and our book light is pretty dim.  This would help with both!

Theresa: I would like to keep the light for myself. I make all my gifts and my eyes have worsened so I need a bright light to continue doing my crafts.

Nicole: I would love to win this light. I will use it to read at night and to help me be able to sew at night. My vision is not the best and I usually sew during the day.

Doris: Hi! I would give the lamp to my Dad, who has macular degenration and is having a hard time seeing the books and crossword puzzles that he loves unless he is sitting outdoors and in full sun. I think this would give him a chance to enjoy them a bit longer.

Janet: I'd use it to jot down all my middle of night ideas for quilts without disturbing my DH.  Generous giveaway!  Thanks!

Wilma: I would use the Beam and Read when I am doing hand work such as applique or embroidery.  I need extra light because my vision is not very good.

Donna: My 80 year old mothers loves light and she just can't get enough of it.  It's maybe not funny, but she is always getting more lamps so she can see better.  She likes to sew and read, your light is just what she needs.

Gene: I gave one of these to my Mom last year.  I would love to have one for myself to use for handwork and reading in the evenings.

Jan: If I won, I would use this while doing my hand applique, crocheting, reading at night, etc. It would provide the light my old eyes need.

I can't believe how much fun we had last Sunday for the Sam's Jelly Roll Class.  We had five determined ladies competing to complete a quilt top from a single jelly roll faster than their peers. It was a showdown like few we have seen before.  If you want to know what this is all about google "Jelly Roll Race 1600".

For weeks leading up to this date I have been hearing a lot of smack talk between Marilyn and Monique and at the start of the race, it was clear the race was on!

Not to "dis" any of the other race contestants including Barbara, Michelle, and Lauren as they came prepared for fun as well.

 Instructor Sam let everyone have one "spotter" that could aide the racers with managing the long flowing fabric pieces. Marilyn and I were impressed that several customers not only came to watch the race but jumped in and became helpers for the quilters. A special thanks to Wendy, Phyllis, Phyliss' niece Rebecca, and Judy!

Things got off to a great start and the everyone had the pedal to the metal, so to speak:

Amazingly, Lauren was sewing on an Singer Featherweight!

Marilyn turned the corner on the first pass at about 7 minutes.  Monique and Lauren were tied just a few minutes later. The race was on!

Barbara was super focused on making sure her seams were just perfect. Little did she know Monique was doing just the opposite (a small finger hole was discovered at the end of the race but we didn't disqualify her for that).

Michelle was the the ultimate perfectionist, still working on her first set of seams when Marilyn, Monique, and Lauren were well past their 3rd and onto their 4th!

And the winner was.... 

Marilyn in a time of 22 minutes and 25 seconds which is incredible considering the best time we found on the Internet was over 34 minutes!.

In the end, everyone finished and a great time was had by all. To browse a complete set of wild and crazy pictures, visit our photo gallery.

So much for the 1st Annual Cotton & Chocolate Quilt Co. Jelly Roll Race!  Don't miss next years!

We all had a great time last Saturday celebrating our Quilt Sampler Magazine article selection with our customers.  Everyone had fun spinning the Wheel O Discounts to see what they could save on their fabric purchases. The chocolate fountain was flowing in the back and we held a number of demonstrations.

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate our Quilt Sampler Magazine. We are happy to announce that you can now pre-order either the May issue of the magazine (for a dollar off retail) or place a deposit on one of our two colorways for the quilt kits. The featured colorway is the pink and brown that will be featured in the magazine, but we are also making a beautiful batik version that is colored with blues and pinks.  As soon as Marilyn can finish the sample we will post a picture. However, this should not stop you from pre-ordering your kit at if you pre-order with a $50 deposit prior to May 1st you will be entered into a drawing for a free quilt kit! You can place your deposit either online or by coming into the shop!

We want to also thank Kingdom Sewing for bringing two of their machines to demo for folks including the Handi Quilter Sweet 16 which is new to the Kindom line. With the Handy Quilter Sweet 16, you will enjoy a true industrial machine with all the ease of a ?home? machine. And, you don't have to sacrifice a whole room to your quilting. The Sweet 16 comes with a table that is only three feet square. But the 16 inches of throat space gives you plenty of room for even a king sized quilt. The smooth surface of the table allows your quilt to glide under the needle. With stitches up to 1500 per minute, you'll get through those projects in no time at all. Contact their shop in either Simi or Northridge to see what everyone is buzzing about.

The other machine is a new Janome that Kingdom was kind enough to loan to our shop for you to try at your convenience. Come in and check it out or use it for a class.

By now you all know that Cotton & Chocolate will be in the May issue of Better Homes & Garden's Quilt Sampler magazine.  But do you want to know who else will be in it? Why wait for the magazine when you can find out now. After a bit of sleuthing on the Internet I have been able to find 9 of the 10 shops.  Here is the list as I have it along with a link to their websites. Check them out

Marilyn and Jerry are extremely pleased and proud to announce that our shop has been chosen as one of the 11 featured shops across the United States and Canada for the Spring 2012 issue of Quilt Sampler magazine, published by Better Homes and Gardens. We can't begin to tell you how excited we are and how difficult it has been to keep this secret for the last several months. But now we can share this great news with all of our fabulous customers who have helped make our shop what one of the best in the Country!

For those not familiar, Quilt Sampler is published twice each year and has been profiling North America's top quilt shops for the past 15 years. Quilt shops submit a detailed application on their history, business promotions, charitable work, teaching schedules and design philosophies. The magazine narrows down over 3000 applications to just 10 featured shops for each issue. They also select an encore shop that was featured in a past issue to revisit. The Spring issue is scheduled to be released on May 8th.

Our thanks to everyone who gave us such great feedback on the fantastic news that we will be in the May 2012 issue. We are so thrilled and anxious to share more with you. A few of you may remember one Thursday in late October when our shop was being photographed for the magazine. We told you that we were working on a new website which was not a lie. Our new website is actually only a few weeks from going live! We all had a lot of fun that day and it was terribly difficult not to shout out what was really going on!

Most of you know, but for those that don't, a big part of each issue is a custom quilt design from each of the quilt shops. Well, we are no different and Marilyn has come up with a stunning quilt called "Candied Stars" that we feel really represents our shop. While the pattern will be in the magazine issue, we will be offering quilt kits so you can make is just like Marilyn's. We'll have more information on these kits and start taking pre-orders sometime next month. Stay tuned...