Yes, I’m a fabric-aholic, an addict. I’m sure that most of you knew that already. The terrific Moda fabric rep just left and I’m feeling woozy. Lucky for me some of the fabric I wanted was all sold out already, or it would have been a disaster! But, I’m so very happy to say that we are going to have nearly every print in the Santorini line by Lila Tueller coming in August! Fun new fabrics by MoMo and Sweetwater are slated for September, and by then, our fabric fantasy will be taking its full shape. Until then, start planning your projects and check out the delightful tutorials on Moda’s Bake Shop blog. You might notice that the tutorial for “Angela’s Diaper Bag” features the Santorini fabrics, just so you get a taste of what will be featured here at Sew Much More in August! I love every piece of that line and it was hard to choose, but I think you’ll be able to create some wonderful and unique projects with this new fabric. Check it out!
Community Service Sewing
June 30, 2009 at 8:13 am (Embroidery Club)
Our Embroidery Club was asked by St. Joe’s to make up some little bags for patients with chronic, lifetime diagnosis. So, at our last meeting, I asked the Club to start making these little bags…the concept is that in writing down their worries, troubles, & fears down on a slip of paper, then tucking the paper inside the bag, the patient can unburden his troubles and give them to a higher power. These are sometimes known as “God Bags”, as in the saying “Give it to God,” but I think the concept of unburdening yourself to a higher power really works for any belief system. These bags can be small, because the patients will keep the bags close with them and perhaps tote them along to counseling sessions or medical treatment. We’ll take the bags to St. Joe’s after our August Embroidery Club meeting. So, use up some scraps, test some embroidery and make up a few bags that will help provide comfort. Here are a few samples of what we’ve already received!
For the love…Ellisimo!
June 29, 2009 at 9:46 am (Ellisimo)
I’m getting ready for Baby Lock Tech in August, so I have to practice the “for the love….” chant that Steve Jeffrey will lead throughout the opening ceremony. It’s kinda corny, but really, Baby Lock’s tagline, “for the love”, really captures the essence of the Baby Lock commitment to its products and customers. Yes, everything they do in these machines is “for the love”…of sewing, embroidery, serging, whatever. And, frankly, sometimes we forget these little nuances. So, when I recently checked out a customer’s Ellisimo, I rekindled my romance with Ellisimo. You know, sometimes your loved one will give you that secret look that makes you swoon all over again. Well, that’s what Ellisimo did for me! This is one of the smoothest operating machines I’ve ever seen. The sound of it humming along, while sewing or embroidering, is sweet. If you don’t believe me, you should come in and test-listen for yourself! What else did I rediscover? When I took her embroidery unit out of the carrying case, I gasped at the “seat belts”. I had completely forgotten about them. And, they’re set up alternately, so you can fold them over and out of the way without that crazy velcro looping and getting stuck on itself. How clever?! I discovered a whole page of decorative stitches that would be terrific for machine smocking and remembered the cute character decorative stitches, including ladybugs, that’d be great for embellishing (try variegated threads for this!) There’s a cool feature under the sewing alphabets, too. You can actually control the spacing of the letters, without increasing or decreasing the actual size of the letters themselves. This is a new twist and the machine remembers what your “favorite” spacing setting is, even after you turn the machine off! The little door that covers the connection for the embroidery unit closes on its own, and what about that little screwdriver? It sure is much better and easier to use than a nickel!
Maybe it’s time that you rediscovered the Ellisimo, too…for the love!
Face-ing the Future?
June 26, 2009 at 8:30 am (Sewing Snippets)
My son loves giving me business advice. His “sign-off” in phone calls to me isn’t “I love you, mom”, but “ABC”, which means “Always Be Closing!” What a guy. Lately, he’s been after me to set up a Facebook page for the store, and so, reluctantly, I signed up for Facebook. I really didn’t want Facebook to consume my life as I’ve seen it do to so many. Gosh, everything some people do is posted up on Facebook. How do they get everything done and still have time to post it all up for everyone to see?! I know I barely have time to squeeze in some sewing these days, so I don’t know how I’d be able to document everything, too. I was pleased to discover that even Nancy Zieman has a Facebook page, so I decided if it’s good enough for Nancy, then who am I to disagree?! I’d post a link, but I think you have to be a signed in to find it, so, instead, just do a Facebook search for Sew Much More, the STORE (there’s a picture of the front door), and sign up to be a FAN. The “fans” will sometimes get special goodies via Facebook, too. Search for Nancy’s page, and become a Nancy Zieman fan; I’ve got her page linked on mine so you can find it more easily. There’s even a Facebook page for Designer’s Gallery and the Baby Lock machines will have their own spot on Facebook soon, as well. I’ll mark them as Favorites as they get published. We’ll use the Facebook spot to post photos of customer’s creations and to highlight the more exciting events here at the store. Yes, do interact with the photos; we’ve already got some thumbs up on Karen’s cute skirt. As always, I promise to keep you on the cutting edge, but this little adventure is shaping up more like the “blind leading the blind!” In any case, we’ll have some fun! Check it out!
Cherry Lollipop!
June 23, 2009 at 12:01 pm (Sewing Snippets)
We’ve had the cute Lollipop baby doll halter dress pattern from Bananfana in the store, and right away, it caught my eye. You know I am a sucker for jelly rolls, charm packs and now (of course) honey buns, so I picked up the cutest honey bun pack with a favorite theme of mine, cherries! The Lollipop dress used wider (jelly roll) strips, but with some math, I was able to adapt the pattern for the narrow 1-1/2″ strips in a honey bun. The built-in applique cherry design from the Baby Lock Ellisimo is quite perfect, and I love the long bow necktie that attaches through grommets on the dress front. I had some cute polka dot ribbon I had originally planned to use, but I’m way too into rickrack right now. I also made my pocket a smidge smaller, edged it in rickrack and folded the corner down for a different look. Way too cute and cool for summertime!
Sew So Straight!
June 22, 2009 at 8:27 am (Kid's Club, Sew Much More Education)
Our Kid’s Club groups met on Saturday, and the project of the day was sew simple. But, as most experienced sewers know, keeping your seams straight (when straight really matters) is much harder than it sounds! So, our little gang did a practice run, creating a greeting card with flag inspired fabrics and card stock. A little variegated thread, and the results were impressive. (We won’t admit to how many times we actually used the seam ripper!) When they got to the clay pot cover, the improvement was evident and the seams were, well, straight!! Everybody had a great finished project, and learned that speed is not always the friend of a good seamstress. Sewing takes patience and a bit of creativity when things don’t go as expected. All of our students benefited from knowing how to problem solve and stay focused. A great time and a great job by all — don’t you agree?
Taking Shape
June 20, 2009 at 9:02 am (Fabric)
Ever since we opened the store nearly 3 years ago, customers have stopped in asking if we carried some of the latest in trendy designer fabrics. I reluctantly admitted that we did not, although it has always been a subplot for me in this sewing machine adventure. I mean, I love fabric as much as I love machines (or vice versa!) So, after the last young woman and her mother nearly pleaded with me in May (& promised they’d become loyal customers), I have taken the plunge into fabrics, adding to the two designers we currently feature, Hoodie and Loralie Designs. We’re going to be a boutique-style shop, carrying about a dozen or so fabric designers and their line will be spotlighted. What’s more, when it’s gone, it’s gone, making room for the next, new line! So, you’ll have to get signed up for our email bursts of new arrivals to be sure you always get the fabric you want, right away!
How does this happen? Well, another trip to Ikea is in order for fabric shelving, we’ve rearranged the store to highlight the fantastic Baby Lock machines (news on the newest products in August!!) with space for fabric and re-fashioned our existing shelving into a much coveted cutting table! The top is custom made by our very own Roy, who is known for stopping by with his “brute” strength to loosen a screw or drill some holes for sewing machine cords. Thank heavens he retired last year, at least thank heavens for me!
Patty Young, one of our featured fabric designers, came by and was wowed by the cutting table, and a bit envious, too. If you zoom in, you might see a sample of Patty’s corduroy on top of the table. Yes, it’s eye-catching, and yes, we’re going to have it. I already envision jumpers, vests and a cute bucket tote for me out of this fabulous fabric! And, we’ll have a fabric open house to kick it all off, featuring a Patty Young trunk show, contest and prizes! We’re hoping to have the newest Baby Lock products, too! We’ll post the particulars when it’s all set up.
So, check out some of the Michael Miller fabrics by Patty Young, Paula Prass, Laura Gunn and Pillow & Maxfield, our newest additions. Shipping in July, we’ll begin this new chapter in our adventure into Sew Much More!
Fabric Alert
June 10, 2009 at 10:40 am (Fabric, Sew New)
I’m pleased to say we will have nearly the complete collection of Hoodie’s Spring Fever by next week. The green colorway was so much fun, I had to order it in the black colorway, too. (You know how I love black fabrics!) I see this fabric as usable for quilts, totes, garments, home dec and sew much more! And, look, the designer even has tennis shoes and coffee mugs with these terrific prints. Be sure to check out her ties, for stylin’ dads!
As Promised…
June 5, 2009 at 7:55 am (Sew Simple Tips)
I finished the patriotic banner I described the other day, and while it is not my best sewing, the embroidery is impressive! You know we sell Robison-Anton polyester embroidery thread, so here are the colors I used: navy #5603, light navy; red #5549, burgundy; and the metallic is Mettler #2108. The designs, again, are from Anita Goodesign’s Winter Monogram in the smaller size and the eagle/crest is also from Anita Goodesign – American Biker.
Show Your Spirit!
May 30, 2009 at 9:27 am (Sew Simple Tips)
Most of us have collected tons of embroidery designs. For those of us who’ve been embroidering for 10+ years, it’s safe to say the number of designs we own is frightening and/or a bit overwhelming. I always want to find ways to re-fashion some of our embroideries, twisting them from their intended use. Here are some examples that I hope you find inspiring for summer fun:
- Nancy Zieman’s Dressed-Up Embroidered Alphabet — This is a new product of applique letters, but wow, what possibilities! Team these letters without the flowers in your favorite sports fabrics. What about using patriotic fabrics and creating some totes, tees and tablewear?
- Anita Goodesign’s Winter Monogram offers up some interesting takes, if you dare look beyond the winter theme. I’m creating a patriotic USA banner, using the designs that feature star borders and swag borders. You can make the corners that feature berries into grapes by just changing the thread colors. Doing a monogram on a wine bottle tote with this border would be a fabulous hostess gift.
- Also from Anita Goodesign, what about using the Baby Butterflies pack and substituting patriotic fabrics for the applique pieces? That’d give any young girl a great tee for the fireworks, and all summer long!
- Dakota’s Peanuts designs gives you those loveable characters, Snoopy and Woodstock, doing all sorts of summer activities. Combine Snoopy with an American flag design (there are several choices built right into the Ellegante 2!) and add the words “All American Dog” for a fun shirt that your Peanuts lover will enjoy.
- There’s a great exclusive floral design, also built into the Ellegante 2, that would be super for the Fourth of July festivities. Try embroidering design #5 from the floral section in the colors shown. It’d be a hit, and useable all summer long. It’d also be great on the edge of linen placemats for summer!
I’m sure you can come up with many other ways to re-invent some of the designs from your stash to fit your summer holiday themes. And, when you’re looking to purchase new design packs, you might try to think of the other ways you can use them. Sometimes, it makes it easier to add the collection to your growing design library.
