Nice weather, New Jelly Rolls

We have lots of new Jelly Rolls, in bright, pastel and primary Moda Marbles, Posh Chez Moi, Flutterby, and Friends and Flowers by Mary Engelbreit. We aslo have several new books with ideas for quilts you can make from these 2-1/2" pre-cut strips for a quick spring project. Our doors are open and we are enjoying the warm N.C. sunshine!

Pouches, lots of pouches

Last Sunday was a beautiful warm spring day and while Carolina was busy winning the ACC basketball championship, look what we were doing...making the most adorable little zippered pouches! Everyone left happy with a completed pouch and many different ideas of what we might put in them. Watch for a pattern coming along sometime this spring!

Multi-tasking in the sewing room

Oh my goodness, we haven't been on here in awhile...but if you have been in the store lately you know why! Its been busy! But we love seeing all of you so often. We are so inspired by all the beautiful quilts that have been coming into the shop lately.

Customers and students often ask me, "How do you do it all, work full-time and still find time to get so many quilts made?" Well, I am not sure exactly how I do it, except that I do stay up late sewing quite often. Here is a peek into my sewing space and as you can see a great way to do double duty--get one machine embroidering away while sewing on another one. And don't ever feel guilty about owning more than one sewing machine! (Many of you probably have more than one television in your home... right?) And note what I use my laundry basket for, not laundry, but sorting fabric! This is after I had already sorted and put away most of it. I do clean up now and then, but only while the embroidery machine is stitching! Always multi-tasking, but in a fun way. Stitch away, and come see us soon!

Karen

Fun with my artista 730

I found this design in the embroidery page of my new 730 and decided to stitch it out late one night, using Isacord thread colors that matched a bright floral fabric with a black background that I had been hoarding in my stash. I put the embroidery design on the front pocket and then made a "Totally Awesome Totebag" out of it. I tried something new for my handles this time. Instead of Craft Fuse and batting in the handles, I covered heavy-weight cotton handle webbing with black fabric. I had some webbing on hand but it wasn't the right color, so the black fabric wrapped around it looks great and makes a nice sturdy handle that won't curl up after lots of carrying. Give that a try next time you make a totebag. I am pretty happy with it! (Now don't be asking for that fabric-you know it's long gone!

Karen

Florida

I just got back from visiting my family in Naples, FL. While we were there, I showed my mother and my sister how to make no-sew fabric boxes. We used Karen's pattern. They were excited to see how easy it was and plan on making some for their friends. (Sure do miss that warm weather!) Julie

New Year, New Fabric

Lots of new fabric has arrived, including these wonderful dots from Kaffe Fassett, along with many other gorgeous prints from Kaffe and Philip Jacobs, another Westminster designer. (By the way, this dot collection includes the box!) Our new shelves are bursting with color and we are busy finding space for fabric. We have an abundance of short bolts right now, so our flat folds are now 20% off all the time and will go up to 35% off during our End-of-Bolt Sale, the last Saturday of each month (next one on January 26th). Come see us soon!