today tom gregoire, the dean of the college of social work at the ohio state university came to visit our new shop. i have been sharing some of what we have been doing...employing young adults with developmental disabilities, stitching pillowcases for young cancer patients being treated at local hospitals, making quilts for families who have adopted a baby living in an orphanage, and appliqueing sunbursts onto onesies for new parent visits by a local support group. we are not alone in this endeavor. quilt shops for years have been a place of social support and friendship building. women have been hosting quilting bees for centuries for the same purposes. i know that intellectually, it's just i've never before witnessed the interaction so closely. with my own eyes. on a daily basis. how enriched and blessed i am. and how aware i have become of the human importance of local quilt shops.
Monday, January 31, 2011
perfect pathways...
never have my paths crossed more perfectly than in this new quilt shop of ours. i never set out to own a fabric store. but then who ever really knows the exact path their life will take. i'm often asked about my background by new customers. i've been sewing since i was seven. i started quilting as a teenager. mostly self taught. by degree, i am a social worker. i earned my bssw from bowling green and my masters from ohio state. i have worked with abused children, battered women and victims of rape. for years i raised money for united way to help support social service programs. i have been the executive director of the american heart association in cleveland. in each one of these jobs i found a way to incorporate fabric and thread into the lives of the ones we served.
today tom gregoire, the dean of the college of social work at the ohio state university came to visit our new shop. i have been sharing some of what we have been doing...employing young adults with developmental disabilities, stitching pillowcases for young cancer patients being treated at local hospitals, making quilts for families who have adopted a baby living in an orphanage, and appliqueing sunbursts onto onesies for new parent visits by a local support group. we are not alone in this endeavor. quilt shops for years have been a place of social support and friendship building. women have been hosting quilting bees for centuries for the same purposes. i know that intellectually, it's just i've never before witnessed the interaction so closely. with my own eyes. on a daily basis. how enriched and blessed i am. and how aware i have become of the human importance of local quilt shops.
today tom gregoire, the dean of the college of social work at the ohio state university came to visit our new shop. i have been sharing some of what we have been doing...employing young adults with developmental disabilities, stitching pillowcases for young cancer patients being treated at local hospitals, making quilts for families who have adopted a baby living in an orphanage, and appliqueing sunbursts onto onesies for new parent visits by a local support group. we are not alone in this endeavor. quilt shops for years have been a place of social support and friendship building. women have been hosting quilting bees for centuries for the same purposes. i know that intellectually, it's just i've never before witnessed the interaction so closely. with my own eyes. on a daily basis. how enriched and blessed i am. and how aware i have become of the human importance of local quilt shops.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
kristen's bloom
late last evening, i discovered something at the store. a gift. a treasure. a ray of sunshine.
a thank you. nothing short of a small miracle. kristens' light is truly shining bright.
a thank you. nothing short of a small miracle. kristens' light is truly shining bright.Saturday, January 29, 2011
on the floor...
at approximately 10:58 this evening, the last bolt from the last box of this pile...
was unloaded and placed on the store floor for your viewing pleasure. and with that, i too was on the floor, in a horizontal position, pretending it was my bed. stay tuned for all that was hidden under those soft brown coverings...
was unloaded and placed on the store floor for your viewing pleasure. and with that, i too was on the floor, in a horizontal position, pretending it was my bed. stay tuned for all that was hidden under those soft brown coverings...Friday, January 28, 2011
somewhere over the...
rainbow...from the beautiful island of bali...
creamsicle, taffy, key lime, bubble gum, coconut, grape juice, shave ice, spearmint and tutti frutti. hoffman hand-dyed watercolors are in. 100% imported cotton handmade on the island of bali. buy the bundle or as individual fat quarters.
creamsicle, taffy, key lime, bubble gum, coconut, grape juice, shave ice, spearmint and tutti frutti. hoffman hand-dyed watercolors are in. 100% imported cotton handmade on the island of bali. buy the bundle or as individual fat quarters.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
beautiful smiling faces...
all helping to make others happy...in memory of kristen...one pillowcase at a time. thank you.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
a million thank yous...
simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our stitching friends in cleveland. it will take me a day or so to sort through all the photos, yet i don't want to miss another minute without thanking everyone for participating in our one million pillowcase challenge kickoff in loving memory of kristen ann kirton. your collective talents produced this...
in just one day!!! 52 completed cases with many more to come in over the weekend. thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!
in just one day!!! 52 completed cases with many more to come in over the weekend. thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
free coffee...
during the entire month of january...
free pouch of coffee with your purchase of anything java. we have the entire collection of deb strain's java in the house, including pre-cuts. all yardage is $8.00 per yard. charm packs are also $8.00. jelly rolls and layer cakes are $30.00. hurry though, the pre-cuts are going fast.
free pouch of coffee with your purchase of anything java. we have the entire collection of deb strain's java in the house, including pre-cuts. all yardage is $8.00 per yard. charm packs are also $8.00. jelly rolls and layer cakes are $30.00. hurry though, the pre-cuts are going fast.Saturday, January 15, 2011
meet erika and livia...
it was a great afternoon in the house of fabric. we had two young helpers willing to give their saturday afternoon to make pillowcases in memory of kristen.
erika came directly from her basketball game. she has never been on a sewing machine before, so this was a new experience for her.
i loved seeing the girls interact as they worked. this is what sarah's sewcial lounge is all about.
livia learned that an iron can be as important as a sewing machine. 
erika caught on quickly. notice her excellent hand placement as she is quiding the fabric along.
livia readies the facing by pinning it under for the final stitching. she likes how this will create a clean smooth finish to the pillowcase.
two beautiful cases completed with kate spain's verna. the machines are set up and ready for your use. if you can't make it on thursday feel free to drop in anytime this week. thank you marci and joellen for bringing your beautiful girls in today. see you again soon.
erika came directly from her basketball game. she has never been on a sewing machine before, so this was a new experience for her.
i loved seeing the girls interact as they worked. this is what sarah's sewcial lounge is all about.
livia learned that an iron can be as important as a sewing machine.
erika caught on quickly. notice her excellent hand placement as she is quiding the fabric along.
livia readies the facing by pinning it under for the final stitching. she likes how this will create a clean smooth finish to the pillowcase.
two beautiful cases completed with kate spain's verna. the machines are set up and ready for your use. if you can't make it on thursday feel free to drop in anytime this week. thank you marci and joellen for bringing your beautiful girls in today. see you again soon. Thursday, January 13, 2011
frivolous fandango...
there is a fabulous new quilt in the store...
so awesome we moved it to the front corner. it has been stitched by the talented hands of crystal over at frivolous necessity. we also have a few items displayed that will soon be offered as classes. the table runner will be taught by becky utilizing a whistlepig creek pattern. it cleverly features prairie points as the edging, so if you are wanting to learn that technique this will be the class for you. the cute bag by me and my sister will be taught by joyce, no not me, another joyce who just happens to also have a daughter named sarah. watch the website for the class schedule very soon.
so awesome we moved it to the front corner. it has been stitched by the talented hands of crystal over at frivolous necessity. we also have a few items displayed that will soon be offered as classes. the table runner will be taught by becky utilizing a whistlepig creek pattern. it cleverly features prairie points as the edging, so if you are wanting to learn that technique this will be the class for you. the cute bag by me and my sister will be taught by joyce, no not me, another joyce who just happens to also have a daughter named sarah. watch the website for the class schedule very soon.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
beauty from the inside out...
oh how i love when the snow waits to fall...
until i'm inside the store. it's so pretty looking out. i think the snowflake swirls falling in the front window were a good selection for january. although i must confess that wasn't such a hard decision here in cleveland, ohio. i just heard there was snow in 49 states today. we're thinking of our fellow shop owners out there in warmer climates not used to struggling with the snow. just try to remember, this too shall melt...it's just a matter of time:)
until i'm inside the store. it's so pretty looking out. i think the snowflake swirls falling in the front window were a good selection for january. although i must confess that wasn't such a hard decision here in cleveland, ohio. i just heard there was snow in 49 states today. we're thinking of our fellow shop owners out there in warmer climates not used to struggling with the snow. just try to remember, this too shall melt...it's just a matter of time:)
Monday, January 10, 2011
cup-o-joe anyone?
another evening introduction...
there's nothing like a good fresh cup of coffee on a cold january night. our new window display features java by deb strain for moda. deep, rich colors in teals, reds, burnt oranges, tans and browns. the stripes, dots and circles make them perfect for blending with other fabric projects. or select the coffee beans, espresso words or panels to make an entire project suitable for the kitchen or dining room. also offered are a few bolts that appear to be dyed with coffee, so real looking you will need a double shot.
there's nothing like a good fresh cup of coffee on a cold january night. our new window display features java by deb strain for moda. deep, rich colors in teals, reds, burnt oranges, tans and browns. the stripes, dots and circles make them perfect for blending with other fabric projects. or select the coffee beans, espresso words or panels to make an entire project suitable for the kitchen or dining room. also offered are a few bolts that appear to be dyed with coffee, so real looking you will need a double shot.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
one million pillowcase challenge
sarah ely and kristen kirtontwo young women who changed the world
please join us at JEllen's house of fabric for our:
kickoff party
january 20, 2011
10:00am - 8:00pm
special dedication and prayer service
7:00 pm
.
our goal is to make 50 pillowcases in one day in loving memory of kristen ann kirton who lost her brave battle with leukemia on july 20, 2010. kristen taught the world so much in her short 24 years and we want to help her family continue to share her shining light. we will have pre-cut kits ready and sewing machines available. we need your time and extra hands. questions? please call the shop at 440-684-9830.
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