Thangles demonstration video

At market I was amazed by this demonstration and what you can do with it. I can't wait to recieve these in the store so I can start on next years block of the month. Tell me what you think?

Have you heard about this...

It is a Candle Mat Swap. Sign up for the exchange and then use their downloadable pattern and make a candle mat. You can use fabric that you have on hand or you can buy some new that you have had your eye on. Just have your mat finished by the deadline of November 15th or November 22nd, depeding on the instructions when you register. It mat looks simple and quick. I would love to see all of the variations of the color in the candle mats. Just click on the picture to take you to the registration for the exchange.

National Sewing Month

I didn't know until this morning that it is National Sewing Month in September. I guess that means I will have to sew something. I wonder where I will buy the fabric?

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge UPDATE

Just a quick update for the American Patchwork and Quilting 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge.

American Patchwork and Quilitng challenged everyone to see if we could sew and donate 1 million pillowcases to someone in need in 2010. The challenge started in January and will last until they have reach 1 million. Currently the count is at 135,124. We have a ways to go  people. I think that it is so cool that if everyone does just a little we can make such a BIG difference.

I would like to schedule a day that we could work on pillowcases. Any suggestions?

July's Block of the Month is finally here!

Don't they say better late than never?
I really enjoyed making this month's block of the month. You will definetly have to try out the flying geese technique.

You can download the instruction to make this block titled "Summer Winds" on my website. There is are other free patterns as well!

Go there Now!

Thank You

I just had a customer in that was buying a birthday gift for her daughter. She is serving in Iraq. Terry is a mother, wife, daughter, and friend to everyone. Thank You for giving up your time to help our country. Happy Birthday and many more!!!!

UGH!!! Everything is breaking....

Could I just get something fixed and going right? Last week my Bernina sewing machine broke. A friend dropped it off at the repair shop for me. Thanks! When I called this week they said they were waiting on a part and it probally would not get fixed soon because the repair man is going on vacation. What!
I needed my grass mowed. The guy who usually mows for me went out of town. I waited two weeks until he got back into town and then his mower's tire was broken and he was trying to get another. I decided to be brave and load my lawn mower on a trailer and bring it to town. Well needless to say the trailer came off the ball when loading the lawn mower, which caused my husband to have to fix all of that fiasco. I was finally getting to town with the mower. One kids asleep the other waiting to help me mow. I couldn't get the darn thing off the trailer. I finally walked over and asked a few guy friends to help. They did gladly. My son jumped on the mower and took off. The problem was the belt had been stretched out to much and it was not turning the blades. I then that to wake the sleepy child and go to the hardware store to get another belt. Of course, you guessed it, they were out. But could get one in two days. At that point I said fine. I am not fitting this anymore. I will just have tall ugly grass and not recieve the yard of the month award. I came back to the store and finished packing the fabric to ship and the baby comes and tells me he needs to use the restroom. I strip his bottoms off and he runs off to the restroom. For the next 45 minutes we are trying to get him to unlock the door that he lock. He was stuck in the restroom and really didn't mind it all that much. I finally had to BREAK the screen on the window to send the other son into unlock the door.
It is now the end of the week and the belt still is not here. I know that silly little Keep Yorktown Beautiful committee is driving around looking at yards to pick the next yard to be deemed Yard of the Month. My luck!
I think that is why I slept until 9:15 this morning and didn't open the store until close to 10:00. I sure hope my luck turn around soon.

Found a Home...

That was fast. The orphans that were left on my doorstep on Tuesday have already found a home....

See what you can do with scraps and free stuff that others don't want anymore. I was a garage sale and had someone ask me with question in their voice,"Do you recreate stuff?" I looked at them and said, "Why yes I do!" I hope that she sees these pictures. Have you done anything lately?

Orphan find a home...

As a girl, I always wondered about certain things. Like if people really did leave babies on someones doorstep in a basket? Who would do that to their own child. As I grew up I understood some of the circumstances that would lead someone to leave their baby. It really hurts my heart. So this morning when I pull into my store it happened to me. Someone had left me an orphan on my doorstep in a paper box. I will take it and love it...

Okay it wasn't a child but some fabric that no one knew what to do with. Trust me I will find something to do with it.

Hungarian Blue

Tomorrow I will be seeing the UPS guy bringing me two boxes of fabric!!!! Tracking numbers are cool but it takes a little of the excitement out of receiving a new shipment of fabric. Hungarian Blue by Sue Zipkin from Clothworks! This is a sneak peak of what will be...

There is also a free downloadable pattern available. Good thing about Clothworks is they always have a free pattern/project with every fabric collection that they sell.

You can get the pattern from my website. Click for the direct link...

For the Love of Sewing...

One of my highlights is Kids Class. It has been hit and miss this year. I was sick on week. The girls had camp or didn't like the project I had planned. It was getting down to the couple of days so I let them pick anything they wanted to sew. Two picked pillowcases and one picked an ugly doll. So we set out to create. She picked a wild print with a big flower and wanted it to be on her stomach. Then we had to pick another print for the back side. Sewed and stuffed her. Then put on black button eyes and crazy hair. All that was lacking were clothes. With a band of knit at the top we made a simple dress with contrasting fabric. The best part of the whole project were the giggles and the smiles that I heard and saw. I was helping this little girl learn to love to sew and create. It didn't matter that the seams were not perfect or if the fabric didn't just match exactly. She made the doll and I bet she will be back again to create something again.

I think she was very proud of herself. What do you think?

Play in the Sand

download additional instructions

Well I did actually get this panel in about a month ago. It has been bothering me ever since. Sometimes you are just not into sewing. (even if you own the store) There have been lots and lots of things to do this summer. Vacation Bible School! I helped at one and then a few weeks later was in charge at another. Praise God that we made it through all of them and still have our sanity. At one of them we built an ark out of real wood boards. It was super cool. God even let it rain a little. The kids were going wild.
Back to the fabric...
I could not wait to sew up this back and head to the beach. I love the beach and live only about an hour and half away for the coast. So I cut out the parts of the panel. Moved them around on the cutting table for about two weeks and never sewed them. This week on Tuesday we had a quilt class at the store on One Block Wonders. I didn't quite know about it but the class filled up right away and here we go. After an hour into the class, I was hooked. It was the coolest thing. So I made up my mind to finish all of the UFO's laying around and called my mother for her to come the next week to help me make one of these One Block Wonder quilts.
So in the past two days this is one thing I have accomplished...

Keep posted for other projects

108" Backing

All I can say is wow!! If you have not tried 108" backing for your quilt, you should try it today!!!!

I almost feel sorry for the customer who comes in a needs 8 yards of fabric for the back of a quilt. That hurts the pocketbook really bad. Today I sold the first of my 108" backing. The customer was making a quilt inbetween full and queen so she needed just 2.5 yards. It only cost her around $32.00 for backing. And it will look gorgeous on the back of her quilt. Try it today!

I uploaded the cream color because you could not see the white on white at all. You can order yours at http://www.alittlefabricstore.com/

 or the direct link to108" Backing

Business of the Month

So last week the Chamber of Commerce called me to make sure that I would be a the store for a little while. They then sent a very sweet little guy over with this sign!
Yorktown Chamber of Commerce
Business of the MONTH!!!

Yeah!!!

Reuseable Shopping Bags - Cool Idea

 

So I have been seeing lots of people using these shopping bags. If I didn't have three little kids to get into the store and keep track of it might be eaiser to rememeber to bring my own bags. When I get a chance I will defintely make this cute little bag to match my personality. Hey! This would be great for Christmas gifts to someone you want to give just a little something to. I found this pattern at the Olfa website.

Go Green Bags


by Sheila Reinke

All the grocery stores have them, but you'll love how easy it is to make your

own coordinating pair of 'green' bags. This bag makes up quickly, and you

can use your own choice of fabrics making it uniquely yours. A bag like this

also makes a great alternative to a paper gift bag that will eventually be thrown

away.

Do your part to reduce waste, and do it in style - make your own 'green'

shopping bag!

Materials -

· 1 yard decorator fabric

· 1 yard contrasting or coordinating decorating fabric

· 1 yard nylon strapping (per bag)

Suggested Tools

(beyond standard sewing supplies)

· OLFA rotary cutter

· OLFA self healing mat

Project Level: Beginner

Construction –

· Main fabric: cut 2 pieces 12½" x 18", 2 pieces 12½" x 9", 2 pieces 7" x 43"

· Coordinating fabric: cut 2 pieces 12½" x 4"

· Use a 1/4" seam allowance for the entire project

· Reference the diagram for your cutting layout and instructions.

· Cut nylon strapping into two pieces (18” each)

· Sew together pieces "A" and "B", inserting ends of strapping in a U-shape in the seam. Sew piece "C"

to the bottom of piece "B"

· You now have a 30" x 12½" panel - repeat to create a second panel.

· Fold each of the panels in half, now measuring 15” x 12½” and press with an iron.

· Sew one "D" piece to the END (the 7" measurement) of the other "D" piece. Creating one piece, 7" x

86". Sew the free ends together - creating a large circle.

· Place the seams of your circle together, and fold with these seams in the middle of the folded circle -

press folds with an iron - this ironed strip measures 7" x 42", this is the "gusset" or side band of your

bag.

· Sew the gusset to each of the panels created in the earlier steps - starting with one fold of the gusset at

the fold of your panel, and working around to the other side. Then add the second panel and sew it in

place.

· Make sure that your bag handles and coordinating fabric strip are on the OUTSIDE of your bag as you

sew.

· Complete the bag by covering the seams with bias tape.

Pattern designed by Sheila Reinke

Pattern can be reproduced for personal (not for sale) use.

For more patterns by Sheila, see her blog at: http://sheilareinke.wordpress.com/

Kids Class

I have loads of fun this year already with the Kids Class.  We have made pillows, rag bags, towel bags, and today applique on t-shirts. I encourage anyone to sit down and try to sew something. It might not be perfect but you should have fun doing it and relax...

Check out the project we have made...

We still have a few more weeks of classes. Come and join the fun!!!

One Block Wonders

Super Excited about this. We will be having a class on July 20th from 10:00 until probally 3:00. All of these blocks are made out of the same fabric. Really Really Really cool. The class fee is $20.00 plus supplies. You will need the book, fabric with a large repeat, and a 60 degree ruler. Let me know if you want me to save you a spot.

Ty Pennington and Fabric ??????

Have you heard the latest in fabric design? Read it straight from the company who landed on of the cutest guys on Sunday night television. Westminster Fibers, Rowan Fabrics, Free Spirit... have made a deal with Ty Pennington to design exclusively for them. The "Extreme Home Makeover" star will be designing fabric!!!
Read about it right now...
 http://www.freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/
Look for it to come out in the fall...

Pizza Boxes

Have you ever thought of using pizza boxes to hold you projects and blocks? When I taught school I used pizza boxes for mailboxes and the kids could write notes to each other and to me. Most pizza places would not mind giving you a few boxes as long as you fold them. If not I am sure that they don't cost as much as a plastic box. Anyone tried it....

Round Robin

I heard about a "Round Robin" quilt the other day. Sounded interesting. You start with a group of five people. You make your block and then send it to the next person on the list. They add a border to it and they send it on. After your block makes the rounds you get it back to finish it off. Of course there would have to be some rules that go along with it, like size, time limits, etc...
Is there any desire to organize a group?
Let me know...

SALE

Hey did you know that there is  a 40 to 20% off sale going on until Friday at http://www.alittlefabricstore.com/?
You really need to check this out so you don't get left out!

Crayon Rolls

I had two great customers come in today and buy some fabric for crayon rolls. What a cute IDEA! I am going to jump on the bandwagon and make one myself. I will keep you posted.

Quilter's Travel Companion

11th Edition
Don't leave home without it!!!

For the first time I have advertised in the Quilter's Travel Companion. Let me tell you I am impressed. They did a wonderful job searching and find all of the quiltshops around. 640 pages worth of interesteing shops to visit along with a schedule of quilt shows to browse. Most of the shops also have a website that you can also search for different fabric types. There is something for everyone in this book. If you are planning a trip in the next two years make sure to have your copy of Quilter's Travel Companion along so that you don't miss any quilt shops along the way.  You can get a copy of this book at my website. http://www.alittlefabricstore.com/
Those of you who have used this book before please tell us what you think.
Quilter's Travel Companion also has a website that is packed full of useful information that will help you get the most out of any trip! http://www.quilterstravelcompanion.com/

Quilters - Did You Know????

Just wanted to let everyone know about two wonderful tools that are free !! !

 www.quiltshops.com. You can go to this site and type in the search box any type of fabric, theme, designer, manufacturer, number, etc... and it searches over 200 quiltshops inventory. It brings up little thumbnails pictures of the fabric and you can pick which shop you want order from.

or

fabsearch@aol.com You can send and e-mail describing your fabric in search of and night a digest is compiled and mailed out to hundreds or quilt shops that can reply back to you about if they have this in their inventory. Some of the shops on this list are not on the web so therefore might not show up on the other search. Please don't attach a picture to the e-mail, attachments are not sent.

Congratulation!!

To all of the Seniors graduating this year, HATS OFF TO YOU! I wish you the very best in your future. Dream Big

ReArranging

Well I have been doing some technical stuff to my website. When I started I thought that I knew a fair amount about computers and the Internet. Boy was I wrong!!!! I have learned so much about the Internet in the past year it is crazy. I would like you eyes and ears to help me find all of the mistakes on my website so that I can correct them.  My goal is to have an easily navigable website that people will be able to find what they need. Will You Help?

Followers

Just giving a shout out to my 3, yes count them one, two, three. FOLLOWERS!!! Thanks for your support. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Tell your friends about me. Maybe we could get a few more followers...

Ad coming out soon!

Okay the truth is coming...
I scrapped up my pennies and purchased and ad in the FONS and PORTER quilting magazine. I hope it works out well. Let me know if you see it and what you think? It will be mailed out next week....

Just In

Super Excited abou the Michael Miller Fabrics that just arrived.  I already know that I will make a shirt out of three of these pieces together. I have been trying to pick out just the right fabric to sew an Olivia Dress pattern. I wasn't happy with anthing that I had seen until this morning. YEAH!!!!
I will post on the website this afternoon so that you can order yours now!
http://www.alittlefabricstore.com/

RJR Search

Hey people who are in search of fabric...
I just found on RJR's website that they made a forum that anyone can post their fabric request on. It is pretty neat. Us shops can go and read all of the request to see if you can help you find what you are looking for.
Go ahead and try it. Then let me know how it works

May's Free Block of the Month Pattern

UNION SQUARE

This block gave me a few gray hairs. I am not finished with mine yet. I am going to start over. I am making the twelve inch block to use as my center of my sampler quilt. I might do a variations of it with two borders of the half-square triangles a little larger the second time to make it the center/focal piece of the quilt. I need to get busy on it so that I am not behind like last year!

Go to my website and print your copy of the this months block. Please if you find a mistake on the pattern, quietly laugh to yourself and then let me know, so that I can correct it.

Hard Hats

Just Arrived!!!

Hard Hats by

Avlyn

1 Million Pillowcase Giveaway

Just an update on the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge...
American Patchwork and Quilting is challenging all who sew to donate a pillowcase to someone in need. You can construct the pillowcase anyway you would like and donate it to anyone who would like. Lots of shops have kits made up or would gladly make a kit for you if you ask. There is also patterns for very cute pillowcases on the American Patchwork and Quilting website. http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/
You will need to log onto the site after you have donated your pillowcase and post how many and who you gave them to. Great service project for kids envoled in 4-H, girl scouts, etc...
Right now there has been 69,742 pillowcases donated. You still have time to sew a few and donate. Just make sure that you tell them after you have!
Think of how good you can make another person feel with a simple gesture. I would love to here you stories of kindness.

What Can You Do In an Hour?

The even smaller town where I came from is having a BBQ cook off this weekend to raise money for necessary things. It will benefit the local volunteer fire department and the street light fund. So as a joint venture, my sister sewed the top together and I quilted and did the binding. I think it is just to cute. I have all of the these fabrics available at http://www.alittlefabricstore.com/ and will soon have the free pattern for download. This small baby quilt only cost around $25.00 for the fabric.

Free Block of the Month

Hurray!!!!
I am so excited. I finally have two people (that do not live in DeWitt County) showing interest in the block of the month. Anyone can do it!!! It is FREE, FREE, FREE and you can use up some of your scraps!!! Two were enough to get me motivated to finally figure the technical side of it out. It is so fun when you finally get the correct code for something and it works. So you can go to http://www.alittlefabricstore.com/ and print off the pdf files of each month's block. So super cool.

This is the pattern  for April.
The block is called Underground Railroad. I was up for a challenge this morning so I made the six inch block. Not all of the points are perfect. But they were perfect enough for me. I think I am going to make several more of these to go into my sampler quilt.
The good thing about the pick your own quilt ending is you can be creative and do more of what you want to do and not have to follow a pattern to the letter. Although I am always here if you need help or suggestions. My opinion is always free!

This is the block that I sewed this morning. I almost can't wait until next month to do another block!

Click Here TO PRINT YOUR COPY

Tax Day

Just a friendly reminder that it is April 15th. Happy Tax Day. I hope that everyone remembered to mail there money to the IRS. Oops. I better find a check book and go mail mine.

NEW FABRIC

The best part of owning your own fabric shop is that you have Christmas all year long. We have to order the fabric so far in advance, I forget what I ordered. Probally not the best business move on my part, but very exciting. So yesterday when the UPS man showed up at my door with a box, I could not help but smile. (I even enjoy that smiling is contaigous)

This is what he brought me.

June's Backyard

Being a small store, I was only able to order four of my absolute favorites from this collection by Skipping Stones Studio. How exciting would it be to have a job to design these gorgeous pieces.

There is a free pattern that goes with this collection design my Anita Peluso. There is a link on my website    A Little Fabric Store wher you can get the yardage or you can find it at Clothworks Free Patterns.

Spring Cleaning Sale!!!

I need to make room for the new fabric coming soon!! I can't believe that April is already here.I thought I had more time.

 I have put a new page on my site that will stay. Sale! It contains the still good fabric collections that need to find a different home. They are priced at $5.00 a yard with a 1 yard minimum cut. This is a bargain!!!!

check it out at www.alittlefabricstore.com/

Women of Faith

Have you been to a Women of Faith weekend? I have only been to two but have already purchased tickets for the next years event. There is an energy in the building and a closeness that you feel. I love the music, stories, and mostly the laughter.
What do you think?

This is how big Andrew thought Lyle, Lyle Crocidle was going to be when we got him later in the afternoon.

Blind Hem Foot

Yesterday I used the Blind Hem Foot on my sewing machine. Really cool. I have always had lots of feet that came with the machine and never took the time to learn to use them. What is the purpose of having them if you can not use them? I was hemming dress pants for a customer and decided to try it. Really Really Cool. It takes a little bit to figure out the way to fold the pants but less time than to sew them by hand.  Try a new foot and tell me about it...

Wanting to come up with a great logo. How about this one?