Vintage Quilt Thursday: Tree of Life

One of the best things about working in a quilt shop is getting to see vintage quilts.

This two fabric quilt was brought in by a customer to have machine quilted by Amy.  We often get old tops that are folded away in a box, never finished. It is nice to see these quilts being finished and used.

Our building used to be a hardware store, Arnold's. I think the building is a little over 100 years old. The blue fabric was bought at Arnold's back when it was a hardware store and  carried a variety of fabric.

We were so pleased with this quilt show and tell with a bit of history.

Feather Weights For Sale

Have you ever wanted a Feather Weight sewing machine? Have I got an opportunity for you. Our friend, Toni, is selling several of her machines.

I have a photo of each machine and there is a number on a piece of paper under the spool.

Each machine comes with a carrying box, the attachments that came with it when Toni purchased it, and a manual printout on how to do repairs and such.

The black machines are $500 and the painted machines are $750

Call Toni if you are interested 320-2665

Happy Sewing

Flash Sale!

As we get closer to our "Moving Day", we are bundling up fantastic fabrics and holding Flash Sales a couple of times each week.  

What is a Flash Sale you ask? It is a time and quantity-limited offer with a high discount.

Check our website often to see what our newest listed bundles. Heather is listing new ones today and Amy and I are cutting new fat quarters this week for the next bundle.  Check out the great deals!

30's Reproduction Irish Chain Quilt

The good news is that the sun is shining today. The not really bad news but downfalls is that I couldn't get a good picture of this quilt. I can live with it.

I am really liking 30's reproduction fabrics lately. I made this quilt using about 50 or so charm squares. Sometime this year I will put together a pattern or tutorial. It was easy and quick. Two quilting qualities I can appreciate.

Speaking of writing up a pattern, Heather and I are hoping to put together all of the patterns and tutorials we have up our sleeves after the Quilt Barn makes its exciting move.

Maybe this is a better angle. Looking at this makes me want to make a scrappy version. I cut my scraps (a couple of times a year) in to 5" squares, 2.5" squares, or 2.5" strips. Then I am ready to go. This last round of scrap management I also cut dresden plates.

I want to show you the backing too. It is a cheater Grandmother's Garden print. It matches pretty good, I think. Sadly, we are out of this now or I would buy more.

I have more Handmade Wedding photos to share but first I am am going on a honeymoon.
I am a bit of a micro-manager in my home so I am a little anxious about leaving. I will leave everything in my mom's capable hands.

See you in a few weeks!

Hand Made Wedding: Brides Maid Dresses

It was a great weekend, I got married on Saturday and hosted a Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday Today I am showing you the dresses my daughters wore. Two of the girls wore a lace dress from TJ Maxx ($14.99).

I made each girl a lace bolero (one curtain panel, $2.99) to cover their shoulders. I love how they turned out, and do easy. The pattern had you cut 2 pieces for the back and sew a seam up the back. Instead I cut the pattern on a fold. 

It was a great weekend, I got married on Saturday and hosted a Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday

Today I am showing you the dresses my daughters wore.

Two of the girls wore a lace dress from TJ Maxx ($14.99). I made each girl a lace bolero (one curtain panel, $2.99) to cover their shoulders. I love how they turned out, and do easy. The pattern had you cut 2 pieces for the back and sew a seam up the back. Instead I cut the pattern on a fold.

The lace dresses weren't as long as I liked so I made a slip out of white batiste (McCall's pattern 4113) and added a gathered strip of light pink tulle to the bottom.

'

A friend did each of the girl's hair. Our hairdresser is 13! She did an amazing job

The younger 2 girls wore pink dresses from The Children's Place ($19.99). They also wore a lace bolero.

We made the bouquets (the girls folded, I hot glued) . So, I think I stayed fairly thrifty buying 5 dresses and making the accessories. My oldest girl wore a lace dress from Down East Basics ($19.99)

Handmade Wedding: Napkin Rings and a Tutorial

Today I spent some time preparing my linen napkins . I wanted to create a pocket to hold the knife and fork and some sort of tie to keep it closed.

It was quick, easy, and super cheap

Twine 20"
Hemming Lace 10"
Mini Clothes Peg
Button

All of these items came from a thrift shop and cost about .25 per napkin (including the linen napkin)

I sewed a button on the corner of most napkins. If there was already some embellishment, I left it as is. These buttons came from my mom. I called her up with a need for them and she had a cup full

Fold the napkin in to a traingle

Bring the corner over

And then the other corner. I messed around with how much to fold until I got a width I liked

Tie the twin around and make a bow. Tie the lace length across the bow once

Clip on your mini clothes peg

Easy, peasy. Now, I am off to fold and tie 45 more napkins.

Hand Made Wedding: Bouquets

I have 5 attendants and, therefore, 5 bouquets.

Our attendants are our daughters, my 3 and his 2. Yes, five girls. Its kind of awesome actually.

 I knew I didn't want to buy flowers. One, flowers are expensive and two, I think I can make everything. Do you ever say that, "Oh I can make that"? I get myself into trouble thinking that but this time I knew I could make flowers, paper flowers.

I dug an old hardback book out of my garage of wonderful crap. It cost .25 originally.

The title is Veterans of Foreign Wars. Funny right? And by veterans they use Paul Revere as an example, so an old book. I used almost the whole book. Each bouquet takes 30 papers.

I used this tutorial but I only made half of the ball. I will attach a handle on the back some how so they can carry them. Now, they have this to keep forever. I am thinking of mounting them on the wall.

The helped make their own bouquets and I like that they got to be a part of this.

So, total cost for 5 bouquets: .25 for the book and about $2 for the hot glue. Not bad at all.