A Sit-Down with Janet Lutz of Calico Gals

(Again, I promise I will obtain a storefront photo soon!)

I talked to Janet at Calico Gals for a while. Some new things right off the top of my head--
She is selling BabyLock machines and now has financing available for both BabyLock and Elna. If you have any questions about the machines, Mimi is the machine wizard and she has a few staff working with her demonstrating the machines if you want a look. We were treated to some demonstrations of the BabyLocks by Wenda Coburn and she was very friendly and NOT high pressure; instead Wenda was knowledgeable and focused on helping you meet your needs.

Calico Gals is carrying some Kwik-Sew patterns, so call the shop before you order online to see if they have it in stock.

Janet recently returned from QuiltMarket and had lots to talk about. She walked her feet off and bought lots of really cool stuff and has the skinny on the trends for the next 6 months.

Aprons... Not your Grandma's Aprons. These are aprons made with bold modern designs that evoke the style Amy Butler's fabrics. Everyone is doing Amy Butler, --it will be interesting to see where she goes from here. Anyhow, the young women are wearing these aprons as fashion accessories--they are wearing them everywhere.


Bakery goods and Salad Bags.

Well, back in the old days, in order to put together a first rate scrap quilt or water color quilt, one would set about purchasing fat quarters and 1/8 yds or joining online swaps. Now there are jelly rolls which are forty 2.5 inch strips of fabric (all different) and Layer Cakes which are forty 10 inch squares which are all different--the actual amount of fabric for both of these "pastries" are the same. Also offered are what I called "Napoleons" which are charm packs of 5 inch squares (all different). It is a "salad bag" approach to quilting. Instead of purchasing all the elements separately (your heads of lettuce, mesculin, arugula, carrots, radicchio, green onions, parsley, celery) the store sells you bags of lettuce, pre cut, prewashed and preplanned and offers in different combinations "chicken Caesar". Italian, French, American style, taco, etc.

This is a new approach to serving quilters and there are loads of designs and projects to go along with them. In fact, Calico Gals has purchased an AccuCut machine which die cuts the fabric to custom shapes and they will be developing their own original custom jellyrolls, layer cakes and napoleons and maybe even a signature pastry that has not been thought up yet. While they are creating these confections, they will also be cooking up new designs and projects that again, will be exclusive to the shop. To be up on all developments, there is a Jam and Jelly Club and the people to talk to are Kris and Sharon.

I've mentioned four staff members and there are plenty more of whom Janet relies on and she is the first to say that her staff is her store's greatest asset. She explains that they live the mission of Calico Gals. "Today, it is not necessary for people to sew. People sew because they love to, they enjoy it, it is pleasurable to express creativity. We strive to begin the excitement and enjoyment from the moment our customers step into the shop. Our sales people are encouraged to get into the project planning with the customer and have fun with it. " They certainly succeed. I know I always have a blast when I go there and I don't quilt all that often. In fact, Calico Gals always has small projects showcased that I can do up in an evening or two incorporating techniques that I can often use in a garment or a large project if I wished. Janet says she realizes not everyone is able to put together queen sized projects and sometimes people do get bogged down by a larger more time consuming work and it can, judging from our collective UFO's get unfun. She likes to offer alternatives.

She also talked about two programs that have originated with Calico Gals that are sold to shops around the world.

BlockSwappers which is a club, costs $5 to join and runs for 6 months. Each member creates 12 identical blocks each month and hands them in and receives 12 different blocks in return. At the end of 6 months, she has 72 blocks and is on her way to create a beautiful quilt top.

Joan Ford's Scrap Therapy is another club in which there are certain techniques taught to utilize all your scraps so in the end you have a bin of elements you can use to create all manner of blocks. scrap therapy website

If you have any questions or have interest in checking out the diverse sewing and quilting related products and the fabric!, stop by Calico Gals. Check out their great website! Calico Gals

I hope I have all this right Janet!