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Family Threads News - April 2026

Good day, my friends and customers!

I hope your sewing machines are humming pretty tunes. I have some exciting news to share—chemo has lowered the number of cancer cells!!!

I’ll be starting the next round on the 20th, so this week feels a little like a vacation. I’m feeling pretty good right now and trying to get stronger.

I even got a ride to the shop one evening just to peek at what’s new—it had been three months since I’d been there. For the first time, I noticed the smell of fabric. When you’re there all the time, it just fades into the background, but oh… it was so good. I even caught that familiar scent when I got home. How I miss being there and seeing everyone!

I truly appreciate all your well wishes, prayers, and cards—they brighten my days more than you know. Thank you.

With my white count still low, I’m a bit “grounded,” but McGruff keeps me good company (and saves me from talking to myself). He makes sure I stay on schedule—breakfast, dinner, and of course… treats. We spend lots of time in the backyard when the weather allows.

I haven’t been up to sewing yet—lots of rest for now. It’s been a big adjustment, as you can imagine.

In the meantime, beautiful new fabrics continue to arrive, and you’ll see some smaller projects and kits around the shop. The girls have truly stepped up, and I don’t know what I would do without them.

I am so grateful for all of you—for your love, your support, and your kindness.

Hope to see you soon!


WISHING KEIRA THE VERY BEST

We wanted to let you know that part of the upcoming changes we’ll be experiencing involves Keira. She’s the young and talented gal who has been with the shop for the last 2-1/2 years and has decided to move on to new opportunities.

She's been such a valued part of the shop, and we’re so grateful to have had her with us. She will be truly missed, and we wish her nothing but the very best in what comes next.


NEW SHOP HOURS

We’ve found it’s time to make an adjustment to our shop hours so we can keep things running smoothly and continue to give you the best experience when you visit.

Beginning the week of Monday, April 20, our new hours will be:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 10am – 5pm
Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday: 10am – 3pm
Closed: Sunday & Wednesday

The biggest changes you’ll notice are an additional closed day during the week and a slightly earlier close on Fridays.

It seems like once Friday afternoon rolls around, everyone’s either on the road or already heading into their weekend plans, and the shop gets pretty quiet—so we’ve shifted our hours to reflect that rhythm.

As you’re updating your calendars, we’ve added a couple of additional dates we’ll be closed:

Friday, June 5
Friday, July 3

We’ll also be closed Saturday, July 4, as previously noted. As always, you can find our most up-to-date hours on our website and on Google.


TOWN EVENTS

We will be closed due to the Rib Because of the chaos and lack of available parking we will be closed two Saturdays.

Closed: Saturday, May 9
(Rib Cook Off is actually Fri, Sat and Sun)


SUMMER WILL BE HERE SOON!

The months seem to be flying by, and before we know it, summer will be here—and with it, Shop Hop by the Bay.

Be sure to pencil us in for:

Wednesday, June 24 - Saturday, June 27
10am-5pm each day

Visit the official Shop Hop by the Bay website for all the details, including participating shops.


WHAT'S NEW AND HAPPENING

We do our best to keep up with social media, but when the shop is bustling and threads are flying, not everything makes it to our feeds right away. That’s where the newsletter comes in. Think of this as your cozy insider update — sharing the latest arrivals, shop happenings, and all the fun we’re stitching up behind the scenes (even if it never made it to Instagram).

If you’d like to follow along between newsletters, you’ll find us here:
Facebook: FamilyThreadsQuiltShop
Instagram: @familythreadsinSJB

And don’t forget to tag us and use #familythreadsquiltshop — seeing what you’re creating is truly one of the best parts of our job.

Until next time, keep calm and stitch on!

 

 

 

 

 

 


CLASSES

At the shop, we love creating a welcoming space where quilters can learn, connect, and grow. From structured classes to relaxed open-sew sessions, there’s something for everyone—whether you’re learning a new technique or just enjoying time at the sewing table with friends. To find out more go to classes.

Did you know? Our classroom is also available to rent! It’s a bright, comfortable space that’s perfect for guild meetings, small workshops, or creative gatherings. See our classroom page for details.


Block-of-the-Month: Pulsar
Third Saturday of each month
Beginning April 2026
Cost: $60 flat fee; pattern and ruler required and purchased separately.

A year-long quilting journey you work on at home, with monthly guidance, tips, and show-and-tell to keep you motivated and connected.

View full details & learn more →


Wool Appliqué Open Sew
First Friday of the month
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cost: $25

Dedicated stitching time for your wool appliqué projects, with Beth available to answer questions and offer guidance.

Email or call Beth to register →

Finish-It-Friday
3rd & 4th Friday of the month
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $5

A relaxed open sew day for any project — perfect for motivation and uninterrupted stitching time.

Please call ahead to reserve your space →


WORD(S) OF THE MONTH

SCIOLIST and CANONICAL

"Every quilter starts somewhere—even a sciolist can find comfort in a canonical pattern, growing skill and confidence one stitch at a time."

DEFINITION
Sciolist (n) — someone with only a surface-level understanding of a subject—often at the beginning of their learning journey.

Canonical (adj) — following established rules, standards, or traditional patterns.

 

Each week our good friends at Machine Medics come to pick up/drop off your sewing machines.

Each week Luis (with Karen's help sometimes) brings us a word and we have to figure out the definition. It's now become a source of entertainment we thought we'd share.


Thanks so much for reading. Until next month!
Here’s to quilts, community, and many more years of stitching together.
We can’t wait to see you in the shop soon.