What Makes New Pieces a Really Special Place for Quilters and Fabric Lovers?
We know about quiltmaking. We know LOTS AND LOTS about quilt making.
We know about techniques, how to start, how to continue, and how to finish a quilt.
We know about COLOR. We KNOW LOTS about color.
We are skilled in assisting you in finding something that works for your project...for your friend, for your family, or for you!
We know the impact color has on us, and we love that.
Come on in and see...it's magic!
For hours, directions and contact info>>
Meet the People of New Pieces...
Sharona Fischrup is a long-time quilter, a long arm quilter, and the owner of New Pieces. She loves people and color. Sharona has a knack for seeing what is good in quilts and in people, and she’s always seeking to join good people together in communities.
Margaret Bridge, a former 'lone wolf' quilter, is so very happy to be a part of the New Pieces quilting community! She has been quilting on and off for about 15 years after being inspired by her aunt/godmother. She enjoys appliqué work and color exploration. She also enjoys reciting Shakespearian plays with a midwestern accent but that's neither here NOR there!
Leah Brown is a friendly, long time quilter. We all enjoy working with her. She puts on her analytical hat when presented with a question, and and she is a great resource when you’re planning out quantities and types of fabric for your projects. Leah also orders our books...she is very knowledgeable in so many areas.
Mary Risard Burnett is a traveler. She went to Alaska, where she took a class from Mary Mashuta; she went to Colorado, where she taught special education for several years. She moved to the Bay Area, walked into New Pieces, and never wanted to leave. It is MUTUAL. We never want her to leave either! Curious about quilts? Ask Mary your questions. She’s got an answer for you!
Heather Jacobsen served as EBHQ librarian for several years and has worked closely with many quilters. She’s the one organizing the New Pieces blog as well as the friendly lady on the floor reassuring new quilters that she remembers her very first quilt too! Heather is responsible for the 2012 quilt challenge "12 in 2012"...wasn't that FUN! Heather is a community creator to the highest degree...when one person plays things are fun...when 10 people play - life begins to be joyful...when 120 folks are involved, Heather is right there...making sure all are having a GREAT TIME.
Susan Lambert joined the New Pieces staff after serving as a Medical Doctor for many years. What would YOU do if you retired from being a physician??? DUH! Well, Susan also loves singing, along with quilting. She sings soprano with 60 other people in the Contra Costa Chorale. She is also a soprano in her church choir. Oh, and she is the current co-chair for Voices in Cloth 2014 for our wonderful local guild EBHQ! AND, can you tell, she LOVES COLOR!
Lissa Miner quilts and paints. She loves color, texture, and pattern as well as playing and mixing colors. Her favorite part of working at New Pieces is helping customers develop their color palettes for their quilt projects, auditioning fabrics, and finding that "just right" fabric. It's here – believe it!
Lissa orders our notions...doing a GREAT job of ignoring the "whatever do I need THAT for!? and finding the latest and greatest time saver notion that makes our quilting job easier..."
Mary Jo Morris loves quilting, people and dogs...she trains seeing eye dogs, and loves caring for animals. She is an extraordinary person committed to the care of animals AND people. Mary Jo retired from her canvas sail making business in the Berkeley Marina a while ago...doesn't THAT sound like fun!!! and she loves loves loves all aspects of quiltmaking.
Sarah Reynolds wondered aloud one day while at the shop about what it would take to meet quilters here in the East Bay...now she knows a few quilters...HA...and we are so lucky she did that "out loud" wondering. Sarah has aanother field of interest (as most quilters do)...recently doing studies for the World Bank on domestic violence in Brazil. She is eager to start a similar study about domestic violence rates in Mexico. Sarah has lived in Columbia and Brazil. She has a love of design, and is exploring color in gentle subtles. She loves working with you all - to find the perfect fabric for you.
Kathy Ritter is a lover of the outdoors. Kathy has worked at New Pieces longer than anyone else, from the original owner (Carlberg), to Sally D., to Sharona. She is an extraordinary long-arm quilter who creates incredible patterns for your quilts.
Marcia Stein (www.marciastein.com) loves detail and color and all manner of quilting. She has won many prizes for her work and is a published author. Marcia merges quilting with her photographic skills to produce wonderful quilts in fabric. If you’re seeking a collectible quilt to add to your collection, check to see if we have any of Marcia’s quilts currently available for sale.
Kristen Takakawa is one of our new bright stars at New Pieces.
She loves putting quilts together, she loves her daughters, and she loves working to have you get exactly the right mix of fabrics you need for your wondrous quilts...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our dear friend, Carol Lee Blangsted has passed June 22, 2012.
Look at her smile, her jovial, well natured presence...always caring that our projects turn out and be the best they could possibly be. That is our dear friend all over...care and concern for others. We love you, we miss you, we honour you dear friend.
Pictured below are some of her quilts, some of her friends...made over time, to teach us all how to have fun quilting.
Carol Lee and Becky, talk about color!!!
Lianna, Carol Lee and the French Braid quilt.
Carol Lee making labels for the American Federation of Teacher quilts we make each year.
What a FUN beginning quilt...Carol Lee LOVED to teach, this was one of her samples.
Teacher Carol Lee and student Darlene, turned into Great firends...as clearly shown here.
COMINGS and GOINGS-these are the GOINGS end of 2012 and early 2013
Becky Keck 
retired December 2012
Here's another long time New Piecer with a retired hubby who loves to travel and 5, yes FIVE, Grandchildren to love, hug, watch grow and generally be delighted with.
Becky is bright, colorful, fun, and loves to scuba dive. She knows a thing or 2 about clothing and seaming as well as tons about quilt making. Play with lots of color is our definition of Becky! ENJOY EVERY MINUTE
Karen Dugas retired December 2012
What would YOU do if you had a new Grandson AND a retired hubby...who wants to see ALL of the WORLD-RIGHT NOW!
You'd do what Karen did...GO WITH HIM! and hug the little one as often as possible.
Karen’s work can be seen in Mary Mashuta's book. Karen is the heart of any group – a delight to be around. Much of her artwork comes from her inner vision. Karen taught Heather how to manage all our schedules to make sure someone is always here to work with you. As usual, she did an AWESOME JOB!
Mary Anne Gayhartt MOVED to France and England! and she's happy happy since her Grandchildren are all there now too.
Mary Anne is an all-around wonderful person. Mary Anne was one of our long-arm machine quilters. We still see Mary Anne and it's never ever enough, Big Heart, Big Love, Great quilter.
Come in and say hi! We'd love to see what you're working on!