Stitchin' Post in Sisters

Inspiration for your Studio Space...

Have you seen this fantastic new book?

 

Better Homes and Gardens Studio Spaces
projects, inspiration, & ideas for your creative place

This book is filled with tips & organizing ideas that can help you turn your creative space into the functional studio of your dreams.  Take a peek into the studios of six amazing designers (including our very own Jean and Valori Wells!) as they share the secrets of their inspirational studios. This book is filled with tons of ideas for creating attractive storage solutions for creative style ranging from vintage to modern.  Don't miss this one!

Here's a peek inside:

 

 

Jean's studio (shown left)

 

 

Val's studio (shown below.)

 

 

 

 

Pull up a chair...

This is one of the coolest things I have seen in a while (...and I get to see some pretty cool quilted items around here!)  Can you guess who made it?

Jean brought this awesome chair into the store Thursday morning!  She started it just after Christmas and worked a little bit at a time between her other numerous projects.  The chair will reside in the entry of her artfully decorated home.

Here are some photos of the work in progress:

Jean machine-pieced the covers for the chair, and then fashioned them into a slipcover (which can be removed if necessary for laundering.)  Most of the construction of the slipcover was also done on a sewing machine.  Only a small section needed to be hand-sewn to create the curved corners for the top of the chair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a detailed close-up of the intuitive-style gentle curve piecing for which Jean is so well known:

You can learn more about this type of quilting in Jean's book Intuitive Color and Design.

Jean doesn't have any plans to move into the upholstery business, but it is always fun to create new quilting challenges~especially when they turn out this great!

 

 

 

Honeycomb Hexagon~ the beginning!

Last week I started a new (not charm pack!) project and decided to take you all on a Quilt Along Adventure, if you are are the adventure-seeking type.   

Before she commits to joining me on this project, Jeanne S. has asked to see a picture of the finished quilt~ Honeycomb Hexagon.

Because I don't have a finished quilt yet, this picture is right out of the book, Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design & Inspiration by Malka Dubrawsky.

 

 

I had the pleasure of taking five days of R&R at the beach this week, so I took this new project with me to get started.  Packing was easy: stack of fabric, plastic template, a fabric marking pen and cutting supplies (I prefer to use a rotary cutter, a small ruler and small cutting mat, but you could also use scissors.)  This is what I have now:  

128 colorful hexagons about the size of my hand, with stretched out fingers. These are not teeny, tiny, handsewn, English paper-piecing hexagons!  This is a very do-able machine sewn quilt! I still need to cut out 22 cream-colored hexagons, but I just love happy feeling of these colors, without diluting the stack.

By the way, for my charm pack junkies, Jackie has made Stitchin' Post Custom Cut Charm Pack from this group of mixed fabrics.  We're calling it "OJ for Breakfast."

I'll keep you posted on progress.  Don't forget to subscribe to our Blog's Feed, so you don't miss out on any steps along the way.  Happy Sewing!

~Tamra

Hillary...this one's for you!

So Hillary was concerned that I might get bored working with charm packs from collections.  I assured her that I have other projects that keep me sewing!

 Here's a new project that may take a little time...

 

Most of these fabrics are from Joel Dewberry's new fabric line "Heirloom" which arrived last week (remember...I showed it to you!)  I've also added in some Valori Wells, Kate Spain, Dena Designs, and a few solids.

The project~  "Honeycomb Hexagon"

From one of my favorite books~ Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design & Inspiration by Malka Dubrawsky

 

This project poses a challenge to me in the countless Y-seams used to connect the hexagons.  I am willing to face that challenge! Anyone willing to Quilt Along? Tamra

 

 

 

 

Fully stocked!

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2011
is almost here and we are fully stocked!
(and stoked!)

I thought I would share some eye candy today:

New samples on loan from Sue Spargo~

Lots of colorful notions~

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Books~

A little bit "kitchy"~

Fun for fall~

  

Christmas just around the corner~

"Prince Charming" from Tula Pink~

"Polka Dot Garden" from Jennifer Jangles~

And of course, "Wrenly" from Valori Wells~

I could go on and on...

but really, you just need to be here!

If you can't get to the zoo...bring the zoo to you!

Idea #4 (for keeping the kids busy!)~

Kids love animals...these fun activity books will keep them busily engaged in creative play for hours!

 

Here come Ze Super Zeros!

Idea #2 (for keeping the kids busy!)~

Ze Super Zeros!

Ze Super Zeros are a new line of cute critters who (like every child) have their individual strengths and weaknesses.

We also have Zigg and Ze Super Zeros Gift Set which includes a storybook, a music cd and child's cape so s/he can be a Super Zero too!

You can also visit their website for games, downloadable activities and an official Super Zero certificate at www.ze-super-zeros.com 

Have a birthday to celebrate?

Cute new book in the store called "Say it with a Cupcake"~ filled with recipes and photos of beautifully delicious cupcakes.  Add our Pretty Cupcake Kit and the job couldn't be easier! 

Why not bake someone a smile today!

One of a Kind!

More new merchandise in TWIGS!

These beautiful journals and photo books are covered in fabric designed by our very own Valori Wells.  Each book is handmade, featuring the best aspects of Val's new line of fabric~ Wrenly.

 

 

 

Now available on our website!  "Tweet" yourself to one of these beauties before they "fly" out the door!

Do you have "orphan" blocks?

Do you have blocks left over from finished projects?

Option #1:

"Hot Spot" by Pieceful Designs~  Jackie made these tile trivet covers from blocks she made in Dear Jane Club.  She knew she would never make the Dear Jane Quilt, so now she has a way to use all the 4 1/2" squares she finished...by just adding a black border, she now has very Amish-looking trivets for the kitchen. (Inside the quilt block is a ceramic tile that puts a barrier between your table top and your hot pot.)

Option #2:

Karla Alexander will be here this Wednesday, May 25th (1-4 pm) to share techniques designed to use left over blocks and turn them into something you will actually like!  The demo is free; just stop by.  Bring a couple of leftover blocks and a note pad!

Karla will also be the guest speaker at Guild Night Out later that evening (6:30 pm.)  She will be sharing samples and helpful tips from her new book Stack the Deck Revisited.  The event is free; but please call the store (541-549-6061) to reserve a seat.