2016

We are closed tomorrow, New Years Day and will be back to normal hours on Saturday!  Enjoy your celebrations and start dreaming of a few new projects!

Cloverdale House by Di Ford-Hall for Andover

Hyde Park by Blackbird Designs for Moda

Coryn et al for Windham Fabrics

Windermere by Brenda Riddle Acorn Quilts for Moda

Wrapping up 2015

The last gift has been wrapped and cookies are baking, time to close up shop!  Hope you  have a great holiday with family and friends and lots of great cooking and some time for relaxing and maybe just maybe some stitching.  Thank-you all for a great year!

We look forward to what 2016 holds for us and we're busy working on new ideas to share with all of you!  We'll be open again for regular shop hours December 26th.

Holiday fabric and Sample SALE

Stop by soon to stock up for next year or finish up those last minute Christmas gifts!  All Christmas panels and yardage on SALE!  We also have some selected store samples on sale  - so if you're running out of time to finish one more apron or a small quilt, we might be able to set you up with the perfect handmade item!  

And it's not too late to start AND finish some quick gifts you can slip under the tree for yourself or share with a quilty friend!   These great portable design boards are perfect for laying out blocks and taking on the go, and there is no point in making just one for sure!  A great use for extra binding strips and batting scraps.

Mini Design Boards
Tutorial by Lori Holt at Bee in My Bonnet

And this little folded star potholder turned out pretty festive I think.  It is a fat quarter friendly pattern and I finished this one with binding rather than a bulky turned edge...a quick finish at seven inches - the perfect one size fits all!

Folded Star Potholder
Free pattern at Sharon Holland Designs

And yes - we have moved into Seahawks territory with this folded star.  These folded stars are traditionally from paper, but we have more fun batik fabric choices so after a treatment in the sink with some 'stiffy stuff' the fabric is just as good paper and a pretty good look to add to your tree or the final touch on your gift-wrapping.  

Folded Fabric Ornaments
Folding Technique Tutorial Here

And yes - this little fox is cuter in person than on the pattern cover -  more fun ideas for wool felt!

Fox Ornament
Pattern by 14 Days a Week
(Available for Purchase)

Happy Stitching!

New Fabrics AND GIFTING ideas

We are in full swing crafting up fun gifts - we got some great new ribbons and had to play!  We have some of the 'old' project ideas like key fobs, bookmarks and wallets or you could whip up a lavender sachet with the lovely embroidered lavender ribbon or this fun triangle pouch - it is the perfect size for those electronic cords, and earbuds.  Super fun!

Vintage Triangle Coin Pouch
Tutorial by Sew4Home
Coin Pouch Tutorial

We also have clear vinyl in stock - it makes great pockets for wallets and zipper bags - or you can use it for one side of an envelope project bag like the one we've shown earlier - a perfect way to keep track of small pieces or gather all your project items when traveling.  

Project Bag
Tutorial by May Chappell
Project Bags

And of course - these felt ornaments would make great additions to your tree or take your gift wrapping to the next level!  Lots of fun ideas to fit those last minute gifting needs and if you're all caught up you can whip one up for yourself!  

And of course...a little fabric gifting wouldn't hurt right?

Heads Up by Quilting Treasures

Abacus by Alison Glass

Sunprints and Handcrafted by Alison Glass

Assorted Prints from Cotton+Steel

Happy Stitching!

Mixing it up!

We are getting into the swing of handmade gifts...of course these are projects you'll want to start for next year - or get them on your wish list for this year!  We are also busy crafting ornaments from fabric and wool felt, design display boards, ribbon treasures and all kinds of fun project bags and stuff - so if you need some inspiration stop by soon!

Applesauce in Brights

Applesauce with vintage linens

The above photos are from the same pattern - who knew!  Suz just finished her pattern for these and we have it available now - it includes lots of ideas for a combination of applique, pieced blocks, hand-stitchery and fun embellishing options.  We have the quilts ready to hang in the classroom for show and tell and wow factor!

Customer Pies n' Tarts

Here is a variation in the setting for the pies and tarts project - this version set on point is pretty interesting and provides alot more space with squares cut just a bit bigger than our shop version.  Thanks for sharing Andree!

And where would the fun be if we didn't have some new great fabrics to share?!  Did I mention how interesting the lecture was that I attended at Quilt Market with Margo Krager?  I've been a longtime fan of hers and so glad she is getting crazy with the fabric lines for Andover - you can expect more great stuff for sure!

Dargate Polychromes by Andover

Purebred by Erin Michael

We have charm packs for this purebred collection - and some other new contemporary lines of fabric showing up.  Need a new sewing project to look forward to in 2016?

 Cycle of Life by Maywood Studios

Some new flannels for the kiddos - great for pj's or new winter babies!

It's a Jungle in Here by Henry Glass and Co.

We have some great new gift ideas for all the quilter's in your life - have you seen the new foundation papers sized just for charm packs from Laundry Basket Quilts?  Or the latest book from Gwen Marston?  We've got some Sue Spargo calendars and coffee table books, and some glorious new ribbons.  It's not too late to start something wonderful for someone special on your list!

Happy Handmade Holidays!

Alice Challenge

Remember when we put out the call for entries in the Alice in Wonderland fabric challenge this fall?  Well check out these amazing projects!  We didn't get alot of responses but we did learn about how much the Alice in Wonderland story is near and dear to several quilter's out there!   We received some amazing project - what a great variety of thought and care that went into the execution of these and we are so thankful to those ladies that joined this challenge!  We've heard from a few of the participants that they enjoyed the process, liked their end result and feel good about participating.  That is what it's supposed to be - FUN right?! 

Thank-you Marianne, Florence, Suz, Anne and Kathleen - great talents ladies!!   We'll be offering up a bit of a thank-you and recognition to these ladies  - and if you happen to know any one of these artists, please give them a shout out.  Better yet, come by and visit the projects in person - there is alot of detail that we just don't reveal in the photos.    

Marianne Adler

Some great creativity and some nice hand quilting to make this a one-of-a-kind tea cozy!  Fun and functional, what a great idea.

Of course part of the challenge for us is to find where the word fabric was used - some were subtle and used a tiny amount or just the images from the fabric, and no the words and some camouflaged theirs up a bit.

Florence DiJulio

We love the modified rabbit Florence created - she based hers on a pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.

We're lining these projects up in no particular order - just based on the sequence that we received them here at the shop.  Which one is your favorite?

Kathleen Rathvon

Kathleen really went all out on this one - a collection of vintage hankies are really showcased here - and some additional embellishing in a modified crazy quilt style.  Really fun...I expect this may make an appearance at a future tea party with a special grandchild.  

Suz Litzsinger

I still can't believe the stitchery that Suz can whip out - this one really has some beautiful stitching around that neck ruffle and additional details to look at closely - really a fun one.

Anne Bargetz

I know Anne had a master plan on this one and each element reveals her familiarity with the Alice story.  I don't see a flamingo - but apparently that would have been the icing on the cake?!  

And we have one other new sample up that pretty much covers the rainbow.

Watercolor Palette

Sample made by Florence DiJulio

Free Pattern at Hoffman Fabrics

Have you seen the latest digital prints from Hoffman - this is the paint palette all sewn up - using a free pattern from the Hoffman website Watercolor Palette Pattern.  We haven't quilted our sample yet, but it looks pretty cool as is don't you think?  

Holiday Treats Class and Displays!

Ornament Class

Don't miss out on a chance to relax and stitch with us...we've got a couple of dates for some play time with wool felt.  The class fee includes the pattern for 5 ornaments and wool felt to create two.  Bring a friend and enjoy some social time or make one for a gift and you'll be ahead on your list!  We have two dates set right now - Sunday December 6th from 10-noon OR Thursday evening December 10th from 6:30-8:00pm for $25.00.  Stop by or give us a call to register!

Ornament bulbs

We have some other wool and wool felt holiday patterns just in from our local designer Suz - these lightbulb ornaments are pretty easy to whip up and feature in your holiday decor or gift-giving plans.  

Reindeer wool & stitch

And in case you're looking for  items to put on your wishlist - we've got some great new prints multiplying on the shelves so stop by soon and grab your favorites!

Australian Fabrics

Canyon from Kate Spain for Moda

Loominous by Anna Maria Horner

Classics from Kaffe and Philip Jacobs

Happy Stitching - 'tis the season!

Palampore Tree of Life Quilt

Have you seen the finished quilt?  We and by that I mean Suz, finished her quilt and we have it hanging on display along with the pattern she created for us!  The pattern has some mix and match options where you can combine different border sizes and switch up blocks if you want.  It is all centered around the fabulous panel designed by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics.  The panel has so many color choices you can emphasize what you prefer and the gorgeous toile border comes in three colors sure to meet your design preferences!  If you mention this blog post and want to purchase both the panel and pattern, we're offering it at 10% off this week!  

As with most projects - seeing them is always better in person, the colors and textures come to life and you get a better feel for the details.  The Palampore quilt is certainly one of those projects - as are these great wool pieces below.  We are setting things up for another wool and stitch class beginning in January - the perfect opportunity to practice some embellishing stitches on a wool applique project of your choosing. You can sign up and see more of the details here.  These two photos are for exclusive patterns Suz designed for us - they would be great on a project bag, pillow or framed on the wall.  So if you don't have a project in the works - we can set you up!

Wool N' Stitch Class

Join Cathy Callan for a six month Wool N' Stitch class beginning in January

And of course we have some great new fabrics to wedge onto the shelves - so you'll want to gather up a new idea or two so you can jumpstart your quilting year with something fresh and fun!  

Carolina Blues by Paula Barnes

Collections Nurture by Howard Marcus

 Little House on the Prairie by Andover

Little House on the Prairie by Andover

We still have a few calendars and special books and fun things to get your holiday shopping underway, so stop by and take a look at some new samples and displays! 

Keeping it Bright and Crazy

Almond Country Quilt Top

This bright new york beauty variation has been in the works for a bit, and the top is finally complete!  I have it in the queue for some quilting time, but that won't happen any time soon...but I wonder if one of these crazy digital prints (see photo below) will end up on the back of this quilt?  We do have a couple of kits left for the project if you have been thinking about it - it is a great foundation paper pieced project, perfect spikey points everytime!  

Skyline prints from Hoffman

Who knew that there were Alice fans out there....we have heard about collectors and fans and people that named their kids Alice!  We sold alot of our fabrics to a collector in Indiana that had a personal shopping fairy drop by the shop one day - but we have secured a couple of replacements bolts which should be showing up soon.  We don't want ANY excuses why you can't finish your challenge project!  

It's not too late to join, or to finish up a little something - so get those ideas transferred to execution, projects are due December 1st!

We are just starting to get crafty around here, looking for fun projects to make for yourself friends and family and we have these two fun items completed - the big white tag on the project bag, is so you can write your label with a frixion pen, then change it up when you want to change out the contents.  Pretty brilliant eh?  We've linked to the tutorial and pdf pattern here so you can't go wrong.  We've even got some fun colored zippers in stock so you can mix and match your project bags and favorite colors!

Project bag

May Chappell Project Bag Tutorial

Dilly Bag 

Judy Newman's Dilly Bag Pattern sourced through gnome angel

And of course - if you're thinking of fun projects or need to play with some new fabric - we have some great new pieces.  We've added to our Derse collection and now that several of you have had a chance to meet her and see her studio you will enjoy these fabrics even more.  

Bookends by Marcia Derse

Neco by Moda

 Elizas Indigo by Betsy Chutchian

This last collection coordinates with the Moda Frivols project #3 so if you want to acquire a little goody in a special tin this is the one for you!

PS we were here on Sunday, switching things up so stop by and let us know what you think!