It’s so cute…

If I say so myself.  Returning from Quilt Market with tons of ideas and a 150-bolt order has made me focus on my two month time frame for their delivery.   Kaffe, Brandon, Phillip,  Jennifer, Anna Maria, Amy, Minny Miu, Art Gallery all in view through my “magic mirror.”  (remember  Romper Room? I’ve been inspired by childhood lately.)  I’ve also begun to reorganize the shop a bit with an area (as Stu says:) that looks like a puppet show will be starting.  My other amazing collection of props: a child-size wooden ironing board, bright red toy iron and a battery-operated pink sewing machine.   

A corner of kid inspiration

 

 

Minny Miu Fabrics

 

 

 

I have loads of sample garments and quilts to make, with a priority being the new pattern for Jennifer Paganelli’s unreleased line of fabric.  I have half-yards of the whole collection, thanks to my favorite courier, Nancy, who is also working on a pattern for JP.

But I just had to interrupt that project to make a tiny (size 3) dress. It shouldn’t take too long.

Art Gallery Fabrics are a great choice for kids!

 

 

 

Long Arming

 

We’ve blogged, we’ve skyed and now we’ll be long arming.  We are sad to see our fellow business, Little Red Quilt House, close operations as a resource for machine quilting this week. Because it leaves a hole in our service to customers, we’ve decided to purchase our own long arm and start offering machine quilting services at The Quilter’s Alley.  The details are forthcoming as we make the necessary decisions.  Our website will contain a special area for this information.

 

We have set up an area for Specialty Fabrics that lend themselves perfectly to children’s clothing.  Our selection of patterns for kids is growing, with the addition of some of Oliver + S fall line in larger sizes and classic heirloom style clothing from Michelle Designs and others. These have places on the fabric to embellish with embroidery. We have ordered 22 delightful bolts of Lecien fabrics in bright miniature prints.  Some of it will be sliced into Sushi Rolls (3 inch strips) and some will be available for making garments, accessories and quilts.
Look at the sumptuous colors on the horizon.

 

 

We continue to have wonderful projects coming to life at our shop.

Ohio Star is so popular at our shop, especially the witch pattern.

 

Nice free motion quilting

My Tuesday Girls

Kaci finished in one session

The next project for Start Sewing Series

Irish Chain, just back from the quilter

Some projects on their way. See next post!

One of my sidelines: Personalizing Pillowcases

 

Back from Houston Quilt Market

It seems like we’ve spent a lot of travel time in Texas this year with Husqvarna Viking Convention and all.  But, going to Market transports me to the Land of Ideas.  I’ve returned with order slips for over 150 new bolts of fabric from Westminster, Alexander Henry, Lecien, Kokka, Art Gallery Fabrics.  These will make their debut after the New Year.  Sample spree yielded little gems of Lecien, Kokka and Art Gallery Fabrics that will be tied into precious bundles of color and available for sale immediately.
I’ll take some tempting photos this week.

Still Construction but a Beautiful new park this year

 

 

The Brains & Brawn of Art Gallery Fabrics

We were focused this year on bright color, not that I don’t love it all the time.  Our goal was to cheer the economic recession into submission.  We went to the Quilt Exhibit, but I only partially covered the vast hall because of an issue with sore feet.  I took names, so I could check them out online, but only one or two had websites.  Boo Hoo

We spotted Eleanor Burns, Kaffe and Liza, Jay McCarroll, (Project Runway winner), (missed a Marie Osmond sighting),  Amy Butler, Trish & Davis from Attic Heirlooms.

Spoke to Liesl, from Oliver + S. We’ve been buying more and more of her classically adorable children’s patterns as our business turns toward the young crafty mom.  Liesl is so beautiful and real- a Brooklyn girl. Also on the real track is Anna Maria Horner, who we had met in San Antonio in June.  She and I spent quite a while chatting about being creative and business in general.  We plan to stay in touch.  We caught her doing her own photos of her gorgeous booth. So down to earth.  And we may have her coming to the Quilter’s Alley for a book signing in the Spring.  That would be so amazing!

Meanwhile at the Shop:

I promised to bring you the heirloom being quilted by hand.  Go Cindy and Erin!

 

The T-Shirt quilts are done.  Here are photos:

Molly’s Book is in its final revision, I think.  It looks great!  Thanks, Terrie.

All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation.

 

Give Away winner announced:  Sherrym2 will receive the Jennifer Paganelli Fat Quarters and the Times Square Pattern by the Quilter’s Alley

Good News!  There are several more art quilt pattern designs in the works from The Quilter’s Alley, now being prepared for publication.

 

Some things since last things

This time of year it gets really quiet around the shop.  Everybody, including us, have graduations, weddings, wrap-up-school stuff, etc. We even have a business trip to San Antonio –  got heat?  The quiet always gets me thinking, noticing things and celebrating the obvious for lack of alternatives.  It’s an opportunity.  I found this great Japanese print and made a skirt. I only bought a yard & 1/4 so I inserted a cool, coordinating strip which left opportunity for the skirt to fit and a place to do some embroidery.

This is a better view of the cute line drawing print and my handiwork.

Then I was feeling so adventurous, I draped some muslin on myself and drew a pattern for this top.  It even has darts.  The sleeves were a little tight, so I developed a slit detail that gives me room to move my arms. 

The bolt I’m holding is fabric for the matching skirt.  The fabric is cotton, but feels like a breezy linen, which I love to wear in summer.  I’m planning to try a lining this time, now that I’ve made the skirt pattern (Simplicity 4236) a few times.  I think I know how I’ll do it.

I’m in a purple mood, and finding pieces that blend together is my current preoccupation,  I plan to build out from here with either other colors or grays.  It looks better in person.

 

Sourdough starter and I finished

lots of projects today and it feels good!   I got to work ready to sew my way through the day, and I did.  Yesterday’s possible pillow turned out great. It still needs the vintage button embellishments sewn on.  I used a piece of stash fabric that hadn’t gone with anything until now for the backing. I have a few strips of the fabric left to go into another orange-themed pillow some time. It makes me think of sourdough starter.  I’ve never made sourdough bread, but the idea that a small piece comes off the mother clump and finds itself in a new loaf or pillow in this case.

I made two muslin pillow inserts that fit the 9″ by 16″ format I chose for the project. (One of them is an extra.)  I put a 7″ zipper in the back of pillow one, and the muslin slipped into its new home easily. 

I photographed Shara’s Go-Go Pillow, which she will receive tomorrow when she visits. I made it last week. The fabric is from an old dress that she saved.  I have leftovers, yea!

The garden girl baby quilt got finished today, too.   It’s sourdough is the vintage chenille border.  The friend I made the quilt for, actually gave me the chenille in a big pile a while ago.  It was from her mother-in-law’s craft room.
Remember the curtains I made a few weeks back?  Well this is another piece of an old bedspread. I was able to salvage four good strips.  It makes the quilt feel scrumptious.  Her soon-to-be- born baby girl will be warmed by the grandma she will never meet.  I’m very excited about this gift.

Pattern # 2 Crossroads is officially published.  Look for it on etsy soon.

Still on the to-do list:
Japanese (Lecien) Kate Greenaway fabric baby quilt sample. The colors are amazingly subtle: dusty lime polka dot, dusty aqua storybook toile, fabric with text, taupes and images of children playing.   I’m designing as I go, so it’s taking a bit of time, but I don’t mind because I love looking at the pictures.

The Daiwabo Taupe wholecloth quilt that I am slowly hand quilting because it wants me to.

Handbag lining for a customer who knits bags.    

And so on…