Tri-County Quilt Tour

What is round, blue

and grown here 

And good for you too?

Yep you guessed it, I'm a quilter and not a poet...

We stitched up a couple of different totes that feature our blueberry block on the pockets.  These are both from free pattern tutorials and could certainly be varied with your block and fabric choices.  Here are the two links for these totes.  Tote and kidlet tote .  Great for gifts or a treat for yourself...

Something to crow about? 

Speaking of treats, a little low-calorie pie?  Blueberry pie pincushion that is....

Washington State Stitchery panel

We went a bit overboard, and included lots of fruits and vegetables produced here in Washington State on this cotton and linen blend stitchery panel - and of course, blueberries are featured in the tri-county area!  This is a fabulous pre-printed panel, created exclusively for Two Thimbles!  Thank-you Suz we love your execution!  You can stitch as much or as little as you like, color in with felt pens and/or crayons and practice your embroidery stitches.  I'm thinking we may just keep the kids busy at the Easter dinner table with some felt pens.   Framed on the wall or stitched on a pillow or tote - this would make a great reminder of a visit to our state.   I may learn to do embroidery yet...

The tulips are blooming early in the Skagit Valley, so don't wait too long to take those in this year - last year I was hosting Mary Elizabeth Kinch from Toronto, and we caught a beautiful day in the fields.  

The Tri-county Quilt Tour is happening through Saturday, so take some time out for a bit of fabric therapy!  Happy Stitching.

Spring sewing fever?

Have you been doing some spring cleaning, finishing up projects and getting organized?  I think it must be in the air along with all the pollen and dust!  Happy Saint Patrick's day...Easter will be here before we know it so if you need a little something to spruce up your holiday decorating scheme - we have a couple of kits left for the colorful egg table runner.  It is a fusible applique project, so you still have time to get this done!

We have some new products in stock as well overflowing fabric shelves.  Our latest and greatest addition ....some of the aboriginal australian prints from M&S Textiles.  These are so colorful and varied in the prints that you can't go wrong.  They are fun to work with and combine well with solids and some of our other contemporary lines of fabric.  Stop by soon and check them out!  

M&S Textile Aboriginal Prints

If you are ready for some stitching - huck toweling is the 'new' alternative to counted cross-stitch.  You can keep it simple and just do some geometric designs, or use a vintage towel for inspiration.  These two samples were stitched up and combined with a bit of fabric trim.

Huck Towel Samples

And we have a few new notions as well - the beeswax is great for smoothing threads for handquilting or other hand stitching.  And the little colorful clips will keep your bobbin and threads matched or ensure you have the right combination when sewing at retreats.  The colorful strips shown in the photo are actually a stack of the "Quilter's Magic Wand" - the perfect tool for marking the diagonal sewing lines on squares.

Don't forget the Tri-County Quilt Tour coming up at the end of the month March 26th - March 28th...we are busy pulling together our Farm to Market plan, and I'm sure it's going to be great!!!

What have you been working on?

We have had a wonderful busy few days with Gwen Marston, and we'll share some photos from class on the blog soon.  While we regroup, unpack, and recharge - here are some pictures of some of our other recent projects.  Hope you have been busy doing some spring cleaning and finishing up sewing projects!

Daybreak batiks in Grey and Yellow 

Hip to Be Square Blue and Green Batiks

 Here is our 2nd little modern Mini from Jaybird quilts.  This one is called Tiny Dancer, and includes a variety of solids including the yarn-dyed In the Beginning that have such a lovely hand and added depth with the slight color variation in the weave.

Tiny Dancer

felt crown

 And if you're looking for an update to your spring wardrobe, this fancy felt crown, could be the perfect way to complete your ensemble!  There is a simple tutorial we found, and then added some ribbon and buttons and voila, it goes with everything!

Beeswax Thimbles

We have started carrying a new local product...beeswax for your hand-stitching, perfect for smoothing threads and won't leave an icky residue.  Of course you can't beat something that comes in the shape of a thimble either.

L Bingham Pumpkin Peel

Here is the amazing completed quilt from one of the dedicated students - the workshop we hosted with Mary Elizabeth Kinch last year.  You almost think it is a vintage quilt - WOW - just the look the quilter was going for.  Great job Laurie and thanks so much for sharing!!  Stop by soon if you want to see this one hanging in our classroom.

Is Spring really here?

Well it may be early March, but these last few days, it sure feels like spring is already here...will we get spring showers in April or just skip those entirely?  We are busy preparing for the St. Patrick's Day parade that pretty much starts here in the parking lot - so be forewarned if you're planning to pop in on Saturday March 14th...you better wear some green!  We have a new window display featuring our best green, so stop by soon and let us know what you think.

Cotton Linen Blends

We have some fun textures and new fabrics appearing on the shelves - some heavier weight cotton linen blends, perfect for table linens, totes and pillows...and some super soft cotton lawns that make gorgeous quilts, or fun Easter dresses!

Regent Street Lawns from Moda

We combined a pack of charms and some chambray for an easy wall hanging, then added some simple line quilting and the job was done.  Sometimes a straightforward project is just what you need.

Regent Street Charms + Chambray

We combined flannels (a perfect gift paired with a classic Frog and Toad book) in this simple mitered border blanket mitered border blanket and used the new organic cotton fleece from Michael Miller paired with a sweet pink floral print - a perfect change of pace if you want a quilt alternative.  

Organic fleece, pink floral cotton and a satin ruffle!

Hope you are getting inspired for spring sewing!!  Don't forget to mark your calendar for the Tri-County Quilt Tour, it runs from March 26 through March 28th this year.