Hearts & Flowers Season

We've finished this soft floral sample and feel like it certainly hits the mark for a bit of a spring pick-me-up!  This is a quick finish project featuring a pattern card from Villa Rosa Designs and some great prints from the Cheeky fabric line for Moda. 

This rainbows and hearts collection is perfect of course for your Valentine - but with this strong color palette it really isn't limited in season to February!  We have 2.5 inch strip rolls for this collection as well as the fabrics shown above.  A few simple project ideas also feature the quick to make patterns from Villa Rosa Designs - or pull out your favorite jelly roll pattern and you'll have a quick finish with precut strips!  Now ....where did I hide the latest stash of chocolate and I'll be all ready for sweethearts day! 

Variety is the Answer

If you can't settle on one style of fabric, you have to try them all right?  No two projects are the same and you never know whether you'll be making something to fit a special request or trying a new technique.  We've got some fun new additions that play great supporting roles in quilts and sewing projects as well as theme fabrics and special requests...a signature bumble bee or lady bug perhaps or just the color purple in all the shades!  

"Palette"
by
Marcia Derse

"One of Kind"
by
Whistler Studios

"Love Letters"
by
Shannon Christensen

Woven Ticking in Red & Navy

"Geo-Topia"
from
Henry Glass & Co.

"Citrus Garden"
from
RJR Studio

We hope you're feeling inspired to start new projects and finish some languishing UFO's...stop by soon and let the fabrics work their magic!  We see table runners and aprons as great small projects to finish up quick and provide some transition between wrapping up 2019 and easing into the new decade.  Happy Stitching!

Quilt History with Leah Zieber

Happy day, quilters! If you hadn't heard yet, we have a special guest coming in June!

Leah will join us for 2 days of history lessons combining antique quilts, fabric history and a bit of sewing, we'll have specific class descriptions and registration details coming later this month! 

Leah is a Southern Californian quilt historian and quilt maker specializing in Antique Reproduction Quilts from the nineteenth century. To learn more about her visit her website here.

She has just released her new book, Treasure Hunt, co-authored with Linda Collins and we have just received our initial shipment!  This book includes gorgeous pictures, great tips and lots of inspiration if you need a new project idea.  I'm having a bit of a struggle picking a favorite to start on, and that cover quilt is looking pretty tempting for a fresh spring look to be stitching on right now!  

New Fabrics

A hint of spring color and garden florals, are you ready after a week of winter white?  Here are a couple of recent additions from 2 Moda designers that will tide us over until we see some snow drops and hellebores poking through hinting of spring soon enough.  Hope you have some new sewing projects in mind for 2020? 

"Sarah's Story"
from
Betsy Chutchian

"Memoirs"
from
3 Sisters

Arlo Update!

Arlo pattern by Carolyn Friedlander

This beauty is on display in our classroom - a vibrant mix of color and texture and the hand quilting adds another layer.  Great finish Kami! 

We still have a few fat quarter stacks left for this Carolyn Friedlander collection that combine regular quilting cottons and yarn dyed essex linen blends for some variation in texture and fabric weight.  It's a great color palette for the Pacific Northwest don't you think?!

Winter Weather Activities

Hello, Quilters!

Not sure about our friends elsewhere, but we're still watching the snow melt here in Bellingham!  It looks like weather will be improving but these colder, wet days are still perfect for staying inside next to our sewing machines with a cup of hot coffee.

Taking a break from sewing, we found some amazing how-to videos! Take a look -- and stay warm and dry!

NO knots on the back of your embroidery!

With Tracy Souza, author of Stitched So Sweet. 

How to do lettering on quilts

From Sherri Noel, author of Text It. Learn how to do lettering on your masterpieces! 

An easier way to applique: stitch-and-flip method.

With Kori Turner-Goodhart, author of Stitched from the Heart. 

Before it’s on your pants: How to de-lint a Jelly Roll f-a-s-t

With Corey Yoder, coauthor of Sunday Best Quilts (with Sherri McConnell).

Hand Piecing Basics Class

We've got another skill-building class on the books - it seems like quilter's are finding more time away from their sewing machines whether traveling, or at home and on the go or at home in the midst of activity and conversation - and a bit of hand-stitching fits the situation best.  Here's one more way to keep your projects in process when you're away from the sewing machine!

Hand Piecing Basics with Sharon Tucker

Looking to expand your sewing techniques?  Join Sharon Tucker of Grass Roots Quilting to learn about hand piecing!  This is a hands-on, technique-based class where you can learn a new skill or refine you hand sewing technique.  She will give you plenty of time to practice your stitches and guide you on the basics of hand stitching. It's a great skill to learn that you can take with you anywhere! Hand piecing is a portable and travel-friendly option to keep you stitching on the go.

You will also learn about preparing templates, marking your fabric, and starting and stopping your seams.  This class will also cover some more advanced tips and tricks for curved piecing, inset seams and how to manage bulky points.  This is a two-session class and a starter kit for the first session is included in the class fee.  A great way to add to your quilting bag of tricks! Learn more here.

Seeing 2020

How many other people feel the whirlwind of the holiday season? It seems like only a few days ago we were gearing up for our Small Business Saturday open house and now it's the beginning of a new decade! Time flies when your to-do list is just a revolving list of projects you just can't sew fast enough right?!

However, we haven't forgotten about all the wonderful people who came and supported us on Small Business Saturday. It was a great day and we were thrilled to see so many familiar faces, so thank you!  And the verdict was pretty much two thumbs up for our new Two Thimbles mugs - perfect for a hot cup of coffee or soup on a dreary winter day!  I think these made it on to a few Christmas wish lists too.

For those of you who were unable to attend, we had a fabulous showcase of our local teacher, author and creative Tonya Alexander. She even decided to put some workshops on the calendar with us!   Take a peek at the class list, if you haven't seen it already.

For those who participated in the Quilt Shop Tour, thank you! And as promised... we had 2 raffle winners at our shop - Congratulations Beverly and Summer!!!

New Fabric Additions

As you know we are committed to having a large variety of fabrics... and sometimes we just can't resist!  Check out these contemporary designs that are guaranteed to brighten your stash!

In the Woods for Cotton & Steel 

Pinkerville Fairy Dust by Tula Pink for Free Siprit 

Floret Geometric for RJR Fabrics

Restocked! Kona Cottons

Classic Spots by Kaffe Fassett for Free Spirit 

Monkey Wrench by Tula Pink for Free Spirit 

Darlings by Ruby Star Society 

Winterberry Green Flannel by My Minds Eye for Riley Blakes Designs

Joey Sloth by Deana Rutter for Riley Blake Designs

Are you getting your list of UFO's together...getting things prioritized and organizing the sewing room and stash?  Well...it's always good to have goals, right?  And no matter what's on your plate...starting a new project is always pretty good!

Happy New Year!