Far Far Away - Heather Ross

How cool is my hubby. It is important that he use his video skill for the good of all (fabric;-)).

Tampa Sewing Expo

 

What a week this was! Tampa was freezing, no joke, below 32º, not pleasant, especially for all the locals. The whole family went on this trip, which may never happen again. We had a big birthday to celebrate. The kids & DH visited the sites, while Oma, my other mother & I worked the booth ( I did get to run off to Busch Gardens with my kids one day).

One of our very dedicated customers brought us a Show & Tell. On Friday she purchased some great batiks & the Whimsey Bag pattern from Lazy Girls, on Saturday she had her bag finished! Thanks!

Visit us this week in Atlanta. We will have TWO booths, our main booth (930) with all the Melly & Me, Kokka, etc and a SALE booth (136) with over 400 bolts of our beautiful older fabric, 2 cutting tables. Be patient, I hope both booths are super busy so we can make room for new, fun fabrics. Amy Schimler has a new line I can't order till I make some space.

Quick Stitch

This quick to stitch hand towel would make a lovely housewarming gift, birthday present, or new neighbor welcome. Add this to a basket filled with coffee, jams, jellies, and some homemade bread, and you have a one of a kind gift that's sure to be appreciated.

To make: cut your main fabric 18 x 20 and make a double 1/4 inch hem on all four sides. Cut the hem band 18 x 10. Fold the hem band in half long ways and press. Embroider one side. Sew wrong sides (1/2 inch seam allowance) together leaving a hole to turn. Turn band inside out and stitch hole closed by hand. Faggot stitch the hem band to the main towel. I did mine by hand but you could machine faggot stitch as well.

The embroidery is a simple backstitch. I made up my own designs, drawing ideas from the main fabric. You could use a coloring book or embroidery iron-on transfers as well. "Kitchen" in simple block letters would also work. Think of the hem as a blank canvas that screams to be embellished.

Kokka fabric from Japan would look great in a cottage style kitchen. It would make absolutely adorable window coverings, seat cushions, or table linens. It's a lovely stable woven linen cotton blend that is easy to work with and enjoyable to sew. It coordinates well with chocolate brown or natural colored linen.

A Tisket, a Tasket a Beautiful Little Basket

What hangs on the door, catches on all your miscellaneous stuff, and uses just a little fabric? Why this little hanging basket from In Stitches by Amy Butler. I think I shall make one for every door in my house and then maybe my counters would stay clutter free.