Quilting and Sushi

New customers constantly come by saying they had no idea we were “here.”  Yesterday just such a person walked in (called first) recommended by one of our mutual friends.  She had been desperate for fabric and brought in her internet finds – all sushi yards.  It was such fun to get to know her a bit over this pile of fabric and a few more bolts from our shop.  And I’m anxious to see my “On the Grid” pattern covered in novelty prints, very unlike the original, but yet another fabulous use for this pattern.

It won’t actually look like this, but I thought it would be fun to imagine.

Happy birthday Sue, the winner of our fat quarter and pattern drawing. She will receive eight fat quarters: the new Studio e Flourish collection with a couple of Art Gallery prints that really go perfectly with it, and a Quilter’s Alley pattern.

Winner of drawing will be announced this week.

We’re having a sale

Visit our website and check out the savings for internet purchases through July 31, 2009.    Enter the coupon code to get  20% off all inventory while it’s available.

I promised

new fabric, but first a few new fabric projects,  Sometimes, I get on a roll and it seems that the binding bug has taken a big bite this week.  It feels good, with so many projects coming and going, to finally finish some of my own.  This is the shower gift I made mostly from stash material.  And I had one good idea when I checked the registry to inspire the color scheme.

with new quilting design: Almost Paisley

Did you know it takes two years to plan a statewide shop hop?  Well besides deciding to participate, all I have to do is sell passports and make the shop quilt.  I actually made a lot of progress at quilt camp and got some quilting done this week.  The best part  is getting the binding on (binding 1)

I’ve had a sample of a simple Daiwabo Taupe throw folded cleverly  so you wouldn’t notice the edges.  It was being hand quilted and that slows things down a bit, but I finally chose a binding and it  feels good. (binding 2)

Finally a won-auction vintage quilt top, from two summers ago, quilted one summer ago by the amazing Wilma, and the vintage binding was hiding among my vintage fabrics for sale at the shop.  It’s good to re-merchandise now and then.  And the pretty blue and orange flowers match the scrappy color scheme perfectly. (binding 3)

Okay, I also took a poll and the majority of folks voted for fabric and a pattern giveaway.  So comment by July 3rd and be entered into the drawing for exactly that.  Here are some of the possibilities.  New fabrics in the shop:

Jennifer Paganelli's Dance With Me Collection

Flourish Collection

Heavier weight for stuff like tote bags...

Bird Print and Coordinating Texture Print

Alexander Henry Halloween 2009

How cute are these witches?

Camp Weekend

and other topics I’ve missed telling about… Lots of pictures

It’s been busy around the shop.. I take the pictures, celebrate the finishes, but have little time  to crop, resize and post.  Lately, it seems, there are so many last minute gifts, graduation, wedding, even weddings in my family that require pause for designing and executing that special quilt to make the bride and groom know how much I love them.  So here in not any specific order I have loaded some interesting images from the past few weeks that need recording.

I gave this amazing embroidery artist a lesson on how to bind this work of extreme motherly love.  Libby executed this hand-embroidered masterpiece over the last year to honor little steps in her daughter’s life, bits of clothing embellished with perfect embroidery to represent a lifetime of memories.

A yearlong ( at least) project. Holly reprised a family heirloom for contemporary appreciation, ie. her couch.  She mended and quilted  the old suit strips so it will  last another 100 years. What’s next Holly?

Cathryn put so much thought and planning into her sampler.  And then it was on our Gammill frame – now officially a quilt.

I quilted this patchwork with a retro geometric pattern.  I have another quilt top from Janine  to finish this week and, to think, she’s a knitter.

Quilt camp was a huge success.  Not just the food, but the number of projects finished and started in three short days.

Big piles of cut  fabric turned into quilts.

What MP finished and what she will be starting after camp…

Kiwi, Camp Mascot

Next episode: New fabrics have arrived

Israel is the site of the most ’70’s lampage and other cool facts

I actually took all these pictures in the Arab Market except for the big chandelier which is hanging from the ceiling of Max Brenner, Tel Aviv

Other cool facts… (double click)

Eze yom sameyach (This is a happy day)

Ally & Shara

Shara reporting in real time…

David joined them at (Kikar) Rabin Square

Don’t they look so…. happy!

And finally some more tmunot (pictures)

some beautiful place near Jerusalem

at the Wall

ah!……

Meanwhile at the shop…

My wonderful young women sewists are producing the most extraordinary projects.  Here are just a couple from last Sunday.

They used some of their scraps and other fabrics to make decorative guest towels or wall hangings.  Aren’t the colors just “Springy.” They really took off the with sewing machine decorative stitches like pros.  

Sandy fussy-cut a Heather Bailey flower for hers.

Debbie Zig-Zagging

 

Brave and patient feather stitching

 

Aqua, lime and brown are a great combination!

We will get everyone else started on this project next Tuesday, when our class changes day and time.  Don’t miss it!

They’re Off…

This morning  (Sunday, the 31st) I started a very short photo journal of Ally and Kate preparing for  their trip to Israel.  I am happy.  I am sad.  My girls will be together tomorrow, after nine long months.  I am not with them.   Shara will meet  Ally and Kate at Ben Gurion Airport.  As I write, they are still lifted on wings of jet power.   But soon will be landing and hugging and bringing hugs from Momma and Daddy, too.  And then, Ally will go on her tour, and Shara promises to stalk the tour, so she can be near/with her sister.  

Kate & Ally

 

They repacked their bags in anticipation

Okay, Moma, one more picture.

Okay, Deeds, one more smooch.

I documented their waking moments, the bags they will lug through Israel for the next week and hugs so-long until next week.  I had a bit of Israel for Mothers’ Day, too, but I’d much rather be on the plane with them.

Start your engines

The battery on my digital camera is charging for the next big upload of amazing quilt tops that have arrived at our shop for the quilting.  Poor thing, really takes a beating from me.  The quilts on the other hand are lovingly brought to life and the results speak for themselves.  

 

This quilt: I WISH I quilted.  There is something about Suzie Anderson’ s quilts that draw me in.  It’s called color.  And once again, just browsing around Pittsburgh at the quilt exhibit, I spotted this gem and bet myself that it must be hers.  Yes, yes and that much better in person!   

My sketchbook is  also getting a  real workout these last couple  of days, with ideas flying from head to pencil lead.  If only I could just hibernate and draw, but  work is always  calling.  I think I’d be bored, if things were any different.  

Topically speaking, I’m planning a giveaway. I haven’t decided if it  should be one of the many quilt projects  we’re retiring from the shop or a copy of an unpublished Quilter’s Alley pattern and some beautiful fat quarters.  What do you think?