Welcome 2014!

A new year....is around the corner.  Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2014 to all of you.  Thanks so much for making this year full of creative fun!

We will be CLOSED on New Years Day for some last minute inventory logistics....and maybe some quality sewing time if I'm lucky!  Hope to see you soon!

Happy Stitching!

Need a Last Minute Gift?

Well...the clock is ticking and now we have some winter white on the ground to add to the season.   If you are feeling the crunch of last minute projects - maybe one of our retired store samples would be the perfect handmade gift for someone on your list!   We have a bunch of aprons - kids, holiday, half-aprons and just fun aprons, and few other items that are available for sale in the classroom.  Stop by and take a look!

Or, if you're in the mood to make a quick gift, we have a new Christmas inspired sample of the Sassy Little Apron.  Even our Mannequin is all bundled up for the season!!

We still have calenders available, a few DIY crafty holiday projects and a fun new book for the quilter on your list! 

Enjoy the snow!

Time for more projects?

Who is feeling like they have time to start a new project...or do you just need a quick idea for something to come together that won't overwhelm your schedule?  We have a few kits that feature these pre-printed stocking panels, and certainly could be finished in time to hang on the mantle or fill with treats for someone special.  

Or a festive table topper and napkin set?  Great for the hostess, or last minute someone on your gift list...

And look at this fun tree...yardsticks used in a new way - to form this tree.  We had fun getting crafty and putting together some ornaments from wooden spools, beads, fabrics and miscellaneous trims.  A fun project to do with kids, or when you need to take a minute to slow down!

Hope all your holiday projects are moving along nicely and you have time to enjoy the season now that it has warmed up a touch!

Happy Stitching!

Laura's 1870 Cradle Quilt Wrap Up

How about another shout out to some of the quilts we featured on the classroom wall last month?!!!  Kudos to everyone that finished their quilts and we certainly heard lots of oohs and ahhs as people enjoyed the show.  Here are a few 'firsts or onlies' that we noted...and another picture of each of the two quilts chosen as customer favorites - they were each a bit different from the others, so they stood out nicely!   

And just in case you're worried - the quilts are amazing - it is our photography skills that are limited - so the quilts appear more wonky in the photos than they actually are.   

Louise - 1st Finished Quilt shared with us

Mary Jo - Hand Pieced and Hand Quilted

Sharon - 1st completed top shared with us

Kathleen - 2nd place favorite 

Cheryl - Most Votes!

Thanks to everyone who shared their quilt!!!

Happy stitching!

Christmas is Coming...maybe snow too!

Giant Ric Rac...for all your peppermint garland making needs!

Perfect for hanging special ornaments, wrapping your tree, or displaying holiday cards!

Pattern Available online here.

And these fun holly bunches can be used to decorate a package, a napkin...or your jacket!

Elf Shoe pincushion - pattern here

Oh my....yes, it could be a pincushion...or filled with chocolates or hung on the tree... but it does look festive, and we hope that dusting of faux snow is all we have to worry about this week!

Hope you are toasty and enjoying some sewing time.  Happy Stitching!

Gifts to give, receive OR make...that is the question!

We have one left of each of the following kits - for a large gorgeous quilt!  This would be a pretty good score and a treat for the right quilter to find under the tree!!!  

Marseille from Michael Miller Clubhouse 

Approx. Size: 92" x 108"

Original Price: $289.95

Full Kit now 40% off

Cabana from Michael Miller Clubhouse

Approx. Size: 92" x 108"

Original Price: $298.95

Full Kit now 40% off

The one size fits all, works for every crafter, sewer, gardner or cook...a handy work apron with several pockets to fill with gadgets and seam rippers galore!  We created our version in a vintage garden collection a bit of floral, a few dots and you add the dirt!

Amanda Jane Work Apron from Villa Rosa Designs

How fun is this...a DIY five minute project?!  These trees can sit on the buffet or table or the little one can hang from the tree.  We have DIY kits available...you decide which color of wool ball goes in which hole, and voila!  Great for a holiday gift exchange - no sewing skills required!

DIY ornament and decoration

We have a couple of quilty calendars available if you need a little something for a special quilting someone...our get a jump on getting organized yourself and pick one up for your sewing inspiration!    

Primitive Quilts 2014 Calendar

Happy Stitching!

Little Quilt Show

We are so honored to have 18 little quilts on display in the classroom...our customers have been busy and we get the benefit.  We have a new favorite every day it seems, and something new to discover about each piece of art!  These are great quilts and we will be sad to return them to their owners at the end of the month.  Don't delay if you want to admire these up close - they are spectacular!!

The pattern is available if you are inspired to make one, and we have little scrap kits ready to get this project underway if you find yourself with time on your hands....Here are a few pictures to enjoy!

18 Quilts on Display

Quilt show featuring Two Thimbles customer quilts using the pattern Laura's 1870 Cradle Quilt, designed by Annemarie Yohnk of Quilts Remembered www.quiltsremembered.com.

Favorite Colors with a prairie point edge

Nice and Scrappy!

On point with some color shading in the border

Scrappy 2!

 We hope you find time to stop at the shop before these find their way back to their owners.  The Allied Arts has set up shop in the empty space in our block until Christmas and there are some great handmade items to discover.  They are open Wed-Sunday so plan your trip and take in both galleries!

We will be closed to enjoy turkey and pumpkin pie on Thursday - hope you find time away from the kitchen to create something fun in the sewing room!

Happy Stitching!

Table Toppings and Threads

A little bit of what is new for us ... and maybe an idea for you if you're stumped on just what to bring to the holiday table this month!

We have this gorgeous pheasant motif mixed up with paisley - it makes a great table runner or bed runner, it is a long piece at 72 inches so would be festive on the back of the couch too. Of course, colors are always better in person, the sage green and rusty rose are perfect for fall decor and subtle enough to complement a holiday place setting.  We are cutting a few kits for this project - and of course, fabric is available by the yard if you're inspired to make a bigger project.

Pheasant Run Table Topper from Little Quilts, Free pdf pattern available here.

Pheasant Run Close up

Moving into winter holidays, this little topper is created using charm squares from an online tutorial pattern...and would be equally fun in non-holiday themed fabrics, don't you think?  We're hoping to try the retro camper S'more Love fabric collection from Moda for an RV heading south for the winter!    

Winter Seeds Table Topper  version stitched and quilted by Leslie Hnosko

And for added fun - we have the full collection of Cotton Petites in stock.  That means 80 colors of simple to use, ready to go floss.  Perfect for hand or machine work....

Happy Stitching!

Something for everyone?

We have the latest copies of Primitive Quilts and Modern Patchwork in stock...and you can see from the cover photos, that these two magazines certainly cover both sides of our store!

And we'll get some additional pictures added to the blog soon - but you'll want to stop by this month and visit our little customer quilt show - we have 18 little quilts, all variations in scrappiness....everyone started with the great pattern from Quilts Remembered and we ended up with a wall full of quilts!!  Thank-you to everyone who participated and has been so gracious to loan us their quilt.  They are quite inspiring to see all gathered together.  

Here is the sample version that Leslie whipped up to get everyone inspired to start this project.  

Laura's 1870 Cradle Quilt 2T version

And to start off November...our little pincushion is a fabulous wool bead with an acorn top, sitting on a brown velvet patty.  We have a little kit of components all ready to take home if you want to craft one for yourself!  We are adding some fun wools and should have a new thread rack in by the end of the month so watch for more fun with textures and fibers of all types.  

Acorn Patty pincushion

Happy Stitching - fall is here!!

The latest and greatest!

Well it seems like it has been a long October - the weather is still holding on, but change is coming!  Time to settle in with some cool weather sewing projects don'tyou think?  We have some bright and funky 'Birds of a Feather' fabrics which could turn into a great tote bag or apron.

Birds of  a Feather

Farm Chic Apron

And this French inspired farm chic collection stitched up pretty well into this fun ruffled apron... Or maybe a table runner for the dairy farmer in your life?

Dogma Quilt

 This ethnic flavored fabric collection features dark tones and muted colors with a splash of salmon and turquoise.   Not to mention the focal point of these quilt blocks...portraits of some favorite dogs.  The main print for the collection portrays  dogs upclose, painted by David Hearn, www.doodledoarts.com, formerly of Whidbey Island.

Stop by and see this quilt in person - kind of fun and funky!

Happy stitching...

Projects and patterns and gift ideas!

Look at this bright alphabet panel - add a quick border and presto a great quilt for a kiddo in your life!

Alphabet Soup

And it's not too early to be thinking about harvest table place-settings, hostess gifts and yummy fall colors!  This free project pattern from In the Beginning, features a throw quilt - we think it would be easy to simplify - into a table runner or placemats and add on a few mitered napkins.  Pretty festive!

Autumn Harvest 

And this gorgeous floral collection features some unusual plum colors, birds and vines and soft florals... this great pattern is fat quarter friendly and certainly could be created in a multitude of fat quarter collections you just might have been holding onto for the right project!  Just add a background and border and you're almost there!

Vienna Gardens

And yes - we do love Halloween, and we know lots of fun people with October birthdays so pillowcases are the go-to gift idea - that perfect one-size-fits-all gift that we can tailor to just about any decor, and we added our fun Halloween tag-its for an added touch on these cases!  We have tag-its for other occasions (Happy Birthday, PS I love you, etc.)...so there really is something for everyone! 

Pillowcase samples

Halloween Tag-its!

We are stocking up on wool for applique projects and will be hosting our scrap lecture and a few other classes over the coming weeks - check out the website for details!

Happy Stitching!