Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? How crazy to think that the big day is tomorrow already, especially since there isn’t any snow on the ground! “Normally” in WI we’d have at least some at this point in the year, but as I’m sure you heard on the news, we’re getting rain and tornados instead! That being said, March will be here in just 17 short days. I’m especially looking forward to spring this year because, well… Winter was obviously a flop and I’m pretty much over it. But also, as you have probably noticed on our Interactive Events Calendar, we have a lot going at Primitive Gatherings and The Gathering as we move into the spring season. On top of our usual Sit & Stitch and various club schedules (Cross-Stitch Club, Wool Club, Stitcher’s Gathering Club, Feather Weight Club, Flying Needles Club, Bernina Embroidery Club, and Rug Hooking Club), we have several other events available for you to enjoy! For instance, coming up March 4th through 7th, we have two Bernina educational opportunities that I’m super excited about.

The first class will focus on introducing you to Robotic Edge-to-Edge Quilting. It’s offered as a one-day workshop on either your choice of Monday, March 4th – OR – Tuesday, March 5th, 2024. Whether you already own a Bernina Longarm or you’re just wondering it’s like to use one, this class is for you! Come spend the day with our Primitive Gatherings Bernina experts and experience the latest technology from Bernina! The class will focus on the single design, or “Edge-to-Edge” method using the Q-Matic Quilting Robotics System.

The second class is an exclusive opportunity to try the coveted Bernina 790 PRO a try before you buy – AND learn something new! The 790 PRO class gives you the chance to “test drive” one of the hottest sewing machines of all time. Not only will you become acquainted with the state of the art technology that the 790 has to offer, you’ll also have the opportunity to practice regular piecing, wool appliqué, and quilting using one of the most advanced sewing machines on the market. Get ready to be seriously impressed during this two-day class, happening Thursday, March 6th and Friday, March 7th, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m!

To sign up for either Bernina event, please call 920-778-8031 or email The Gathering at thegathering@primitivegatherings.us. You can also sign up via our PG Interactive Events Calendar by clicking HERE!

Quilters looking for a more advanced class will be excited to hear that we’re also offering a rare opportunity to learn custom quilting from one of the best custom longarmers around. Join Linda Hrcka of The Quilted Pineapple on March 22nd, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. as she dives into all things machine quilting while using an abundance of design work and drawing techniques to teach the process. The class is complete with hands-on demos and an exclusive trunk show on the first day (rulers will be provided to use during class)! To sign up for Linda’s class, please call 920-778-8031 or email The Gathering at thegathering@primitivegatherings.us!

If you’re not necessarily looking for a class or club to attend, but would still like to do a bit of community sewcializing in next month, I have just the event for you to attend! I was lucky enough to be invited to be the keynote speaker at this year’s Winneconne Chamber of Commerce luncheon event, “Celebrating International Women’s Day in the Heart of Winneconne.” The luncheon will take place on Saturday March 9th, 2024 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Fin N’ Feather Restaurant in Winneconne, WI (doors open at 11:00 a.m.). The schedule of events is as follows:

Like goodie bags? The first 50 people to attend the luncheon will receive a swag bag at registration! Shopping cards featuring local businesses will also be given out to all attendees at the end of the luncheon. Each participating business will have a correlating sticker or stamp to place on the shopper card when you visit their location on the day of the event. Once the shopper fills in four business locations with a sticker/stamp, their card can then be turned in and entered into a drawing for chance to win a Winneconne Chamber of Commerce gift card. A live prize drawing will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the Fin N’ Feather in Winneconne that evening (need not be present to win). Tickets for the event are $25.00 each and can be purchased right here in the shop at Primitive Gatherings, or at one of these following Winneconne, WI businesses:

• Studio 136 – 136 W Main St #9332, Winneconne – (920) 582-4567
• Red’s Boutique & Market – 100 W Main St, Winneconne – (920) 376-5001
• Mama Bears Boutique – 118 E. Main Street, Winneconne – (920) 404-5162
• Anchor Nutrition – 911 E Main St, Winneconne – (920) 706-0067
• Fin N’ Feather Restaurant – 22 W Main St, Winneconne – (920) 582-4305
• Off the Wolf Supper Club – 204 W Main St, Winneconne – (920) 582-4422

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? And it’s the perfect excuse to get out and about in our local area to do a little networking… And of course, spend some money. Good food and fun, all to support both women AND our community? I’m in, and I hope you are too! If you have any questions about this, or any of the events I mentioned please feel free to leave me a comment here on the blog and I will do my best to answer it. You can also email the shop at store@primitivegatherings.us.

That’s it for today, but I will see you all again tomorrow here on the blog for another exciting MBH5 block release, and then again on Thursday for LIVE at 1:00 p.m. CST on YouTube. CommentSold will air right after, around 2:15. We’ll be talking more about my “Love is All You Need Retreat” which will be kicking off that day, plus moving onto some more “spring-like” topics, including Easter! I don’t care if there’s supposed to be snow coming later this week… I say, tis the season, dang it!!! LOL See you all soon! ~Lisa

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