It's a quiet day...

but I've been busy. I've cleaned my wood floors and the powder bath, done three loads of laundry, taken the trash out to be picked up tomorrow, solved a scary computer problem, blocked my Raindrops on Roses Shawl, and read the newspaper (which I love to do on Sundays). I have a long list of things that need to be done, but I'm taking the rest of the day off.

I was looking around my sewing room and thought it might be fun to post pictures of what it looks like today. It's always piled since I have more "stuff" than room to store stuff!

And, last but certainly not least... I ordered some fabric last week. It's the first time in a very long, long time that I've ordered more than just a yard or two and I don't even do that very often. You can see that I don't need any more fabric. With that said, these are Kaffe, Kathy Doughty, and Anna Maria Horner fabrics that I've been wanting for awhile. Thought the time was right since February is my birthday month! Happy Birthday to me! :)

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday.

Take care,

Started 2018 with UFO projects: 22
New YTD: 5
Gave away YTD:0
Trashed/dismantled YTD:
Sold unfinished UFOs YTD:0
Finished YTD: -4
So far 2018: 23

I'm a little heartbroken...

Have you seen this? Can you believe this? Found this here at the Craft Industry Alliance and I just cut and pasted it here for you to see.

Free Spirit Fabrics will be shut down by parent company Coats.

A letter sent to designers today Stephanie Leichtweis, who became president of North American Crafts at Coats in October, stated, “We have worked diligently for the past few years to make this a successful part of the Coats Craft business here in North America.  But I am sorry to say that, despite our best efforts, we have continued to struggle with an inherent weakness in the business model and have not been able to demonstrate a profit.”

The letter goes on to say, “We will not be producing new Westminster or FreeSpirit Fabrics from today onwards.”

Orders placed to date for delivery prior to May 31 will be fulfilled. It is unclear at this time what will happen to designers who are currently under contract with Free Spirit some of whom are among the biggest names in the quilting industry including Tula Pink, Kaffe Fasset, Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, and Denyse Schmidt, among many others. It’s also unclear at this time what will happen to the company employees.

The full text of the letter is below. We will publish more information as it becomes available.

+++++

I wanted to make you aware that we are going to exit our Lifestyle Fabrics business.  This will take effect from Tuesday 1 May and includes our Westminster Fabrics/ Fibers, FreeSpirit brand and designers.

We have worked diligently for the past few years to make this a successful part of the Coats Craft business here in North America.  But I am sorry to say that, despite our best efforts, we have continued to struggle with an inherent weakness in the business model and have not been able to demonstrate a profit.

It also means we will be moving invoicing and customer service functions supporting the thread and yarn businesses from Greer, South Carolina to our Albany and Charlotte offices in North Carolina.  You will be provided with new contact details for this shortly and in the meantime your contact details for this will remain the same. 

We will continue to fulfil orders placed to date for delivery prior to Thursday 31 May and new orders for existing collections on a first come first service basis. We will not be producing new Westminster or FreeSpirit Fabrics from today onwards.

Coats is particularly proud of its long association supporting our customers and North America based crafters and alternative options have been considered extremely carefully.  We believe that through making these difficult decisions we will create an improved customer focused business for the future, from which you will benefit, and I hope you will continue to work with us. 

It is our intent to support you, our talented and dedicated artist, during this transition. 

Yours sincerely,

Stephanie Leichtweis

President, North American Crafts

Cc: Keith Howard

I'm shocked at this news, to say the least. This company has some of the very best designers (imho) in the business and they weren't able to make a profit. I know I had plenty of problems with them when I had my shop, but this is just really unbelievable.

I feel badly for the designers and anyone working there who was given no notice of this. This is life changing for people. I know it happens every day, but it just breaks my heart. The world is constantly changing and sometimes I just don't feel like going along for the ride. :(

Take care,

Started 2018 with UFO projects: 22
New YTD: 4
Gave away YTD:0
Trashed/dismantled YTD:
Sold unfinished UFOs YTD:0
Finished YTD: -3
So far 2018: 23

Lucy Boston blocks 1 - 4

I've hopped onto the Lucy Boston bandwagon after watching all the gorgeous blocks being put together by Alewives Fabrics. I fell in love with the shop when we visited a couple of years ago. It's one of the best shops I've been to in a very long time and it's located in the beautiful village of Damariscotta Mills on the shores of the Damariscotta River/Salt Bay.

Anyway, I've put together these first four, unsewn, blocks so that I'll have handwork when I need it.

I do have to say that I don't find these blocks all that easy in regards to fabric choices even with the h-u-g-e stash of fabric that I have, but they are definitely fun to make!

Take care,

It's a SALE!

I'm in the mood for a sale and I hope you are too!  Especially since the holidays are coming up...

I've added lots of new items to the shop and will continue to do so during the next month. I've got a whole stack of things you haven't seen in the shop previously, plus I'm adding lots of fabrics too!

If you see something you want, make sure you use the coupon code Holidays2015 and a 20% discount will be applied to your purchase(s). The coupon expires 12/31/15.

Hope you have fun!!

Take care,

I joined the drop...

Are you familiar with Massdrop? If you're not, you should be. They have some really good deals on quilting fabrics, notions, tools, etc. Actually, they have great deals on a lot of products unrelated to quilting, but I'm not much interested in them. :)

Anyway, I joined the drop for the Inked (by Lynn Krawczyk) Fat Quarter bundle. I've been hoping it would be offered here and it's a great deal!!

Take care,

Kaffe Quilt "Kits"... for sale!

I "kitted" fabrics for two of Kaffe Fassett's quilts and sold them in my online quilt shop in 2010, just after the book (in which the patterns can be found) was published. They sold like "hotcakes".

Every time I created a bundle, FQ pack, or design roll to sell, I kept one for myself. And now the time has come to do a little de-stashing. Are you ready?

Autumn Log Cabin Quilt...

and here's the kit...

The second quilt is... Pastel Flower Power

 
and the kit...

They are both in the shop!

The quilt patterns for both are from this book...

Take care,

I made a "mini"...

I just finished up this little mini Sew Together bag. It seems tiny compared to the original size, but it's cute and very easy (and quick) to make. In order to make the mini version, you must purchase the original pattern from Sew Demented and then use the tutorial/worksheet provided by Occasionalpiece-Quilt.

The true colors are just a bit more muted. I took this photo in a room filled with that beautiful, warm, late-afternoon light so it makes everything pop.

I've been putting together some fabric "kits" for the regular-sized Sew Together bag. My quilting friends asked me to teach them how to make the bag and wanted me to provide kits (there will be a charge for the "kit" but no charge for the instruction). We'll take two Thursdays and work our way through the bag. I know we'll have a lot of fun!!

It started me thinking about whether I should put some kits together to sell in my shop. Got an opinion?

Take care,

I couldn't share this until today...

I recently made a second Sew Together Bag. I truly love this bag and encourage you to try one. I know that zippers intimidate many people, but I promise you it is not difficult at all to sew this bag. Just take it slow. Quilt Barn has done a 5-part sew-along with a multitude of photos that make the instructions much more clear.

Pat and I gifted it yesterday to our friend Johanne, who invited us to her lovely home for lunch. While there we saw all of her gorgeous quilts, both finished and in-progress and her very organized studio. It was such an enjoyable and inspirational day! Thanks Johanne!

Johanne's favorite colors were the inspiration for the fabrics we chose. These were pulled from my stash. I couldn't believe I actually had these beautiful fabrics buried on my shelves. Anyway, both Pat and I were happy with the way it turned out.

I always like to use fairly light colors on the inside of zipper pockets since that makes it so easy to see what's inside.

After spending the afternoon with Johanne, we drove over to Sun Dried Tomato Bistro in San Juan Capistrano for dinner. Truth be told, we really went for the Black Cherry Lemon Drop martini's and dinner was secondary. :)) Those martini's are so, so good! My Angel Hair pasta was excellent too.

Today I tried to work on my Caravan Tote, but I think I had to rip out as much as I got sewn. Tomorrow will be another day, right?

Take care,

I'm desperately seeking...

5/8 yard of this gorgeous fabric by Nel Whatmore. It's a 2014 Free Spirit (Westminster Fabrics) fabric and the line is called Merry Go Round. SKU #PWNW049-Grey

If you have any of this fabric and you can spare 5/8 yard of it, please contact me at imquilternity at yahoo dot com to provide me with payment information.

eta:  (Denise from Sacramento... please email me again since I never received your original email. I'm very interested in your fabric!!)

Thanks so much!

Take care,

My last gift done!

This is the last gift I needed to make before Christmas. I have three more to do, but they will be delivered after Christmas so I have time to get them finished next week. That means I can relax and enjoy the next couple of days.

This is the first clutch bag I've made and it's also the first time I've made a bag by creating my own pattern. The bag measures 10" x 5" x 1 1/2" and I actually think it's the perfect size. Not too big and not too small. How I got so lucky on the first try is a surprise to me! It's got an outside zipper pocket and four credit card slots on the inside. I'm really happy with it and don't think I would change anything about it.

I hope the recipient feels the same way! Btw, I used Birch Farms fabric by Joel Dewberry. Aren't those Owls adorable?

Take care,

Looking for Christmas gifts?

If you are looking the the perfect Christmas gift for a quilting friend, mother, sister, etc. in your life, remember that these lovely fabrics are available in my shop!

Amy Butler Glow

 Tula Pink Moonshine

 Joel Dewberry Birch Farm

 Anna Maria Horner Pretty Potent

 Kaffe Fassett Spring Collective 2014 Light

There are other items available as well, but after all these years, I still get more excited about fabric than anything else!!

Take care,