October is here!

It was a dark and stormy night....and finally the first of October has arrived and we can decorate for Halloween without any apologies!  The chocolate has started to arrive, and we have our costumes in mind.  Maybe a little scary pumpkin pincushion could finish off your preparations?

We added a shiny black spool for the base of this pumpkin - and I hope you recognize the shop in this  spooky scene ~ one of our personalized rulers made the cut for this project, and we love it!!

We've got lots of great fabrics arriving daily.  A few new reproduction basics from Paula Barnes and from the new line by Pam Buda as well as a few additional pieces by contemporary designers Lotta Jansdotter and Marcia Derse.  Stop by and see what's new!

Happy Stitching!

Times they are a changin'

Back to school has come and gone for most of us, and some of our staff is now gone....so we are adjusting to new routines at home and at work.  Fall is in the air, so that means time for pumpkins and new accessories?!   Or, you could use this time to get a jump on Christmas gift giving plans - but there's still about 90 days left to think about that....

We have some great new floral ruffle fabrics in - antique rose and celadon mixed with soft shades of purple, perfect for scarves!  We've also got a new pin dot - so here is just a peek at the antique rose.

Also new, some fun twills and london motif prints - great for a grocery tote or everyday bag.

One of our recent creations - a table runner, features a fall leaf panel print and it would be great with coordinating napkins or potholders!  If you're a fan of cooking accessories - maybe a new apron would complete your fall attire.  This new apron smock pattern slips over your head, no ties, buttons or tricky closures.

 Some new fabric, in amazing shades of brown and grey "woodland" stonehenge show off some great geometric shades.  We haven't figured out the perfect quilt to combine them in just yet, so stop by and share your ideas with us!

Stop by this weekend for the 91 mile yard sale - we'll be open at 9:00am both days!  And we have an amazing Baltimore Halloween quilt on display for the next week - showcasing batiks galore and one of our customer's pretty spooktacular applique and quilting talents!


Happy Stitching!

Back to School

Can't believe it's already September, can you? Here's our newest kid's quilt...made from a panel called ABC Primer from Wilmington Prints. We added simple frames, sashing, and border. Doesn't get much easier than that!

Speaking of school...The next Journey of the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle will start in October (or maybe November), and there are still a few spaces left! This six month series will meet once a month. Meetings will focus on sharing ideas and techniques for that month's project, as well as a discussion of some historical aspects of quilting in America.

You can check out our class page here.

Happy Stitching!

Cactus Blossom Pincushion

Time for another pincushion! This month the featured project is called 'Cactus Blossom Pincushion'...we're holding onto that long dry summer concept!  Pretty cute, right? This is one of those where the fabric definitely makes all the difference...and since you need four different prints it's kind of fun coming up with some creative combinations. Plus, this one's a great size for big projects. We've got fat quarters cut of our choices...plus one other color option, if you like pre-selected choices.  Remember the Cream Puff Christmas Trees from last December? The same artist designed this pattern...the company name is La Todera and they've got some seriously creative ideas up their sleeves! We packaged up the pattern with a precut cardboard base along with some washers for weights, so you just have to add fabric and a few supplies and you're ready to go - no sewing machine required!

Happy Stitching!

Summer Excursions

Summer field trips can be all about quilting can't they?  I had a fun day viewing lots of quilts and spending time with quilt fans.  We were able to get up close and really check out the quilt collection of Karen Alexander, quilt historian, Lopez Island.   It was an amazing opportunity to view a variety of quilt styles and learn a bit about the historical research effort that Karen is involved in.  One of my very favorite quilt tops (pictured below) was this amazing hexagon quilt top - papers intact!  Karen is still in the process of studying this acquisition so the verdict is out on it's origin and age - regardless of the specifics, it is a spectacular example of this style of work.  

You can learn more about Karen's activities on her blog:  

http://karenquilt.blogspot.com/.html

Photos taken at Karen's Quilt Research Studio, August 6th.

Amazing fabric choices - and design decisions that left us asking...now why do you think they did that?

Don't miss the Whatcom Museum exhibit that runs through October!  http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/387251/3f5f649900/1629500385/bd7c2c72d9/

Julie Silber Quilt Adventure,
http://www.quiltadventure.com/

Happy Stitching!

Civil War Sampler Challenge

Sewing school is back in session! With summer starting to fade, we thought this would be a great time to introduce our latest program. It's a Civil War Sampler Challenge, and we're doing it a bit differently than a traditional block of the month. The concept is to make-do with fabrics at hand, and challenge yourself to use colors and patterns that you normally wouldn't, ...in other words, embrace scrappiness! 

We'll begin the program in September. Come in and purchase a pattern (we're using Carol's Sampler from Carol Hopkins Designs) along with a starter kit, which contains enough material for four blocks. Complete your 'assignment' over the next month, bring them in for show and tell or email us a photo...and receive your next kit free! Each kit contains fabric for four blocks, and the first part of this program runs through January...which means a total of 20 completed blocks, all for the cost of the first kit as long as you complete each set of blocks by the deadline (the fifteenth of the following month). If you miss a deadline, you can pay a fee to get caught up. The first deadline is the 15th of October. 

Then you'll have all of February and half of March to complete your project, using whatever fabrics you wish. Drop off your completed quilt by March 15th, and we'll begin a mini quilt show on March 20th, displaying quilts through the Tri-County Quilt Tour at the end of March. There will even be a couple of prizes for viewers' favorites!

Pictured below are some scrappy blocks from various projects...sometimes its worth taking a risk and putting together startling combinations, just to see what you can come up with!

The goal of this program is to challenge yourself- to use scraps, to stretch your limits in fabric selection, and to work on any technical skills that you may be struggling with (piecing accuracy with small pieces, for example). In the end you'll get to show off your work, and you'll be in the running for a prize...what beats that??

Contact us for more information- you can even participate through the mail with an additional fee for shipping, let us know if that's your preference and we'll work out the cost. 

This would be a great and affordable way to get back into sewing...after the long break of summer!

Just a reminder...we are back to being open 7 days a week!  We'll be open on Sundays from 12-4 through the fall and winter, beginning this Sunday, Sep 2nd. Just in case you are hard at work finishing a project and need some thread or fabric last minute...

Happy Stitching!

Stitching for a Good Cause

As much as quilters love to work on their own projects, sometimes you just need to sit and stitch, right? Donated projects can be really good for that kind of therapy.

There is a group of quilters in Bellingham who make quilts for donation to the local hospice. Over the past two years they have made and donated approximately 175 quilts...that's a lot of work and a lot of heart gone into a good cause. These quilters meet monthly - varying their location between Two Thimbles and the Hospice Administration Building.  Their meeting day varies a bit to accommodate some busy schedules! 

If you want to participate or have questions, you can contact the group's coordinator, Alice (ask here at the counter for her contact info). You can also just drop into a meeting- let us know if you are interested, and we'll let you know when the group's next scheduled sew day is. There is always lots to do- from piecing to ironing to cutting. 

You don't have to be a perfect stitcher to be involved in something that will bring a lot of joy and comfort to someone- you just have to want to help!

Another group that works towards helping others is Project Linus. You can visit their website here to get more information- this national organization collects handmade quilts to give to children in need or in pain. One of their missions is 'to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”'. There are now chapters in all 50 states, each benefitting children in the local area.

Two Thimbles is a drop-off point for Linus quilts- you don't need to call ahead, just come by if you have a quilt to donate.

Helping to bring a smile to someone's face, and working with fabric all at the same time...can't get any better than that, right?

Happy Stitching!