Sew Inspired "Snips & Pieces"

It's a new year... and it's time to get that sewing room, studio - whatever you call it -under control. Our recent Saturday Sampler program highlighted some organizational products we've brought in especially to help you with this New Year's resolution! From project boxes and bags, notion bins and caddies, needle holders and cutter cubbies, we're all about tooling you up for the job. But seriously, your first step is to take an inventory of your PIGS (projects in grocery sacks) then decide what you're going to do about them. Need a tool? Visit our link on the Saturday Sampler area of our site and download a convenient tool to help you with your inventory.

Speaking of inventory, ours was a breeze this year! Guess how many pounds of fabric we have on the floor? Post a comment - if you're the closest (by Jan. 31) we have a prize for you!

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Don't make us count it!

OK, we really mean weigh it. That's right, after New Year's Day, we'll disassemble the entire store so we can put every bolt on a scale and do that physical inventory thing to make the accountant happy. Because it doesn't make us happy - having to close for two days (Jan 2-3) and then put everything back together.

So here's your opportunity to make our load lighter! For 4 days after Christmas all the fabric is 20% off! That's right - we've never done this in our five-year history, but it's true. We're taking 20% off all fabric - minimum 1/2-yard cut - and 40% off the Christmas stuff that's left. See a NEW tag? Not on sale. We want to have something left on January 4th when we re-open after inventory!

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The holidays are coming - the holidays are coming!!!

 If you haven't noticed yet, it's time to start triming the tree, lighting the candles, and making preparations for company.  Which means giving gifts.  Which means you, my friend, are probably in need some some quick gift ideas.

If you have an hour or so, try these:

1. Quiltsmart Christmas Stocking
2. Ca$h and Carry coin purse
3. Half and Half Apron
4. Super Simple Mitered Placemats
5. Floral Bouquet Napkins

If you don't have an hour to spare, drop by the shop for these time and wallet friendly Secret Santa / Stocking Stuffer gifts:

1. Sew Inspired Gift Certificate
2. Aurofil piecing thread in neutral color
3. Two Year Pocket Calendar
4. Sewline Marking Tools
5. Best Press starch alternative

If none of these suggestion are floating your boat, come on by and we'll help you pick something out for that someone special.

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A: Matisse hurt!

Get it?  Matisse hurt!  Ma - tisse hurt.  My teeth hurt...Well, I never claimed to be a comedian.  Regardless, I wanted to let you know some new fabric has hit the floor of the shop.  And it's wicked cool.  It's by Alexander Henry, and here's a peak:

And here's a closer peak:

And here's an even CLOSER peak:

Pretty interesting, huh?

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No pithy prose from me today Ladies and Gentlemen - I'm going to let the fabric speak for itself!

From Alexander Henry: June Bug

It's A Hoot by Moda:

In addition to the tried and true cotton quilting fabric in this line, we have several bolts of twill fabric, including this piece:

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If you haven't heard about it already, let me be the first to tell you - we are starting a new block of the month program in January.  And it's beautiful.  No, scratch that.  What's even more beautiful than beautiful?  Like "the face that launched a thousand ships" beautiful?  Hmm, maybe divine.  Or resplendent.  Yes - that's it.  Resplendent.  A lovely word for a lovely quilt.

The program is called Roses of Remembrance.  Here's what the finished quilt will look like:

Don't you agree?  Isn't it divine?  The blocks are all traditional Rose of Sharon designs, but done in batiks from Island Batik.  There was a nation wide contest for the design of the blocks, and Ricky Timms and Alex Anderson chose the 12 winning blocks.

There are several ways to do the applique for this quilt (finished size 63"x63"): traditional hand applique, and machine applique.  If you are unfamiliar with these techniques or would like a refresher course, never fear: here are dates for upcoming classes:

• Hand Applique: Saturday, January 29, 10am
• Machine Applique: Saturday, February 5, 2pm

For those of you who own the Accuquilt Go or new Baby Go die machines, we have dies available that will cut the shapes for you, significantly reducing prep time if you choose to machine applique.  If you have a Accuquilt Studio membership, we have a die for that machine as well - simply bring your fabric to the studio and be done in a matter of minutes!

The Roses of Remembrance quilt was designed to "quilt as you go.'  If you would like to learn about this technique, we are having a class on that as well.  It's being held Saturday, January 29 at 2pm.

This Block of the Month program begins in January of 2011 and runs for 13 months.  There is a non-refundable $25 start up fee, and is then $24.55 per month.  This includes all the fabric for the blocks, borders, sashing, and binding.

We will be having a kick off event for this program on Saturday, December 18 at 10am.  We'll give you tips, techniques, and tidbits for making this wonderful piece.  The session is free for those registered with Sew Inspired for this program, but please R.S.V.P. so we know to expect you!

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With all the not-so-encouraging news coming from the financial markets on Wall Street, wouldn’t it be nice to hear some good news from the quilt market in Houston?  Well, Viv and Heidi just got back from the Space City and after they showered and slept, I pounced on them to get the latest gossip.  So, straight from their mouths to my typing fingers, here it is!

Solids.  Everyone wants ‘em, and we’ve got ‘em.  Our ladies were accosted at by every vendor trying to peddle their lines of solid fabrics.  We’ve already got a good thing going however, with our over 40 bolts of solid fabric from P&B.  These fabrics work wonderfully with the new modern quilt patterns found in City Quilts by Cherri House and The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartmen, and we’re getting more in on a steady basis.

Embellishments are still all the rage in the quilt world: buttons, ribbon, beading, and especially flowers.  Flowers made from wool felt are popular, as are flowers made from normal cotton quilting fabric.  Attach any of these embellishments to a quilt to make it “pop” and add dimension, to bags to add some flair, or even to the lapel of a blazer to fend off the winter blues.  As with most things in the quilting arena, there are very few “right” ways of doing things.  If you ask me, as long as it makes you happy, go for it.  I would however, NOT recommend embellishing a significant other’s clothing while they sleep.  Apparently guys don’t seem to like it when you bedazzle their favorite t-shirts without their consent.  Hmm…who would have thunk it?  I thought it looked great!

In addition to solids and embellishments, more and more alternative fabrics are coming into the quilt shop scene.  Look for linens, coated and waterproof fabrics, knits, twill, and canvas coming this winter and spring…with fun patterns as well to give you ideas on how to use these new fabrics.

Last, but certainly not least, I’d like to mention the Quilts of Valor program.  The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to provide quilts to Armed Service members and veterans touched by war.  As of the publish date of this blog entry, the total number of quilts given to Service members is 33,385.  We here at Sew Inspired have made and donated several quilts to this program, and have purchased a line of fabrics designed by Moda specifically for Quilts of Valor.  More information will be coming on Quilts of Valor’s new program “Under Our Wings” and when the new fabric will arrive, so be sure to check back.  Until then, you can certainly read more about this wonderful foundation here.

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According to Moda (which, as everyone knows, is my favorite), "Maison de Garance - the House of Garance - was one of the only dye houses in France to cultivate all of the shades of the garance flower - from deep red to chocolate brown."  Accordingly, the next installment of the French General series is colored with deep reds, brown, and beige florals.  It's beautiful, as if anything called "Maison de Garance" could be anything but.  The line is expected to arrive at Sew Inspired in the next few days - if you are our UPS man, consider this fair warning: 21 bolts of to-die-for fabric is on its way!

You can find a free pattern using Maison de Garance Jelly Rolls and sashing here.

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HandiQuilter has done it again!  They've upgraded their "Sit Down" machine, and let me tell you, it's amazing.  The original was so wonderful that we couldn't think of a thing to change (just ask Viv or Kathy, our resident HQ SitDown owners).  But, that's the sign of a good product, right?  You thinks it's perfect until the new one comes out and then you think, "Man, why didn't I think of that?"  So, I here by introduce you to the new HQ Sweet Sixteen.

The Best Stays the Same:

• Full 16" throat space, with 8" of vertical space - more than 3 times the quilting space of the average domestic sewingmachine
• Smooth table with available extensions assures an even quilting surface
• Up to 1500 precision stitches-per-minute (average domestic sewing maching: 800 stitches per minutes)
• Large capacity "M"-style bobbin
• Hopping foot prevents fabric movement during a full-stitch cycle

Improvements to the Original:

• Ability to save 3 preferred speed settings. One for slow, controlled quilting, one for free motion, and one for fast all-over designs
• Adjustable Color-Touch Screen includes:
• Customizable speed control
• Stitch counters: Lifetime and resettable "Trip Meter"
• Hardware and software info
• Diagnostics
• Customizable speed control
• Stitch counters
• Innovative Light Ring illuminates the quilting area with 28 LEDs
• Use HQ  Rulers for perfect stitch-in-the-ditch and curved quilting lines

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the Holidays are coming!  I know - it's a VERY scary thought!  Here it is, the end of September already!  Before you know it, it'll be Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanza.  Ack!  It's enough to make me want to crawl under the covers and not wake up until New Year's Day.  Well, not really, far from it actually, but you get the idea. 

So, what are we going to do about it?  Well, because I'm such a nice person, I'm going to help you by suggesting some simple, quick and fun home made gift ideas.  These should all take you less than an hour and before you know it, your gift list is half way finished - yippee hurray for all.

• Ca$h and Carry
• Baked Potato and/or Corn on the Cob Steamer
• Easy Striped Table Runner
• Two Halves apron
• Easy Mitered Placemat

Need some uninterupted sewing time to make these gifts? Join us in the studio! Every Tuesday beginning November 9th, we're opening our studio so you can use our design walls, tables, cutting stations... and get your projects finished! Need a more structured class? OK - the Cash & Carry is November's Totes & Techniques, and there are two other Sundays for aprons and placemats.

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