last day for gold...

today is the last day to enter to win a box of candy bars, moda style, that might include the golden ticket... drawing will be held tonight after the store closes. see this post for details.

red carpet nervous...

i am speechless. knee shaking, heel knocking, butterflies in the stomach, giddy. i just received an email congratulating us for being a 2011 fabric shop network star award nominee. i feel like a movie star the morning the nominees are read aloud. it is truthfully shocking. apparently jellen's house of fabric has been nominated in the rising star category.

what is a rising star you ask? it reads: someone who is new to our industry whose future looks bright. i understand now, i really do, when they say just to be nominated with the big names means so much. good grief. look at this line up:

Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts

Stitch Sanctuary

Bittersweet Blessings

Cathy McKillip

Blue Ribbon Quilt Shop

Kate Spain

Sarah Vedeler

Riley Blake Fabrics

JEllen's house of fabric

i am humbled beyond words. thank you to all of our wonderful customers for supporting us. and thank you sarah and friends for defining our mission. this really is for you.

pot of the march gold...

what do you get when you combine the pot of gold at the end of the leprechaun's rainbow with march madness...


a drawing for a box of candy bars...moda style. the box may include a golden ticket...which could turn into a trip for two to moda fabrics!!!* just three days left to enter the drawing. four winners will be selected at the end of business on march 31, 2011. how do you enter, easy:

1) come to the store and join our email club
or
2) like us on facebook - just click the icon on the right sidebar

*see box for details

the tax man cometh...

thought you might like to see the fun i have been having these past two sundays:) ugh...paperwork. this is the behind the scenes footage of the not so exciting side of owning a fabric store.

now it's not like i didn't know it was coming. afterall, i have owned another business for nearly twenty years. back in the mid-90's i even facilitated seminars for the professional needle guild and the ohio arts council cleverly titled...creating synergy between your right and left hemispheres...yes indeed you can train the two sides of your brain to communicate. the sole purpose was helping artist types be more organized with the business side of things. guess i didn't listen too well.

for many of us right brainers, it just takes a few more prompts. some clever separating tools and a little music... btw, great cd. with many of the old favorites...

so classic. not just the songs but a creative type trying to avoid the task at hand. the paperwork. ok. so after making a significant amount of progress, i decided i deserved a break.

love that panera down the street. now i'm ready to tackle the next issue...

this box of register receipts. they go back to august. august 9th to be exact, the very day we opened.

first step is sorting. by month, seems like the right idea. good thing i saved those empty water bottle trays.

done. now i need to just get them entered into the computer. maybe i'll take a little nap first...

who let the dogs out...

woof, woof...who let the dogs out...

are you singing along? no...maybe that's just a cleveland thang. with the browns and their dawg pound...you know...football...ok moving right along...

presenting max & whiskers by basicgrey for moda. love it!!!

really love it!!! and we have it all including layer cakes, jelly rolls and charm packs. we also have the cat and dog accuquilt dies. so cute:) and they fit the go baby. come in for a demonstration any time this week.

we even found a few fun things on etsy...like this adorable bag...check out the pawsome embroidery by sandradembroidery.

and how about this collar by gonedoggie. fit for a bulldog. even our silent, allergy sensitive kind:) they're from bearemy's kennel at build-a-bear. max & whiskers. come get your's today!we are still offering $8.00 per yard pricing.

candy for the eyes...

forty two new batiks on display for your viewing pleasure.

montego by moda. $8.00 per yard. bali pops by hoffman $35.00 per flavor.

the significance of 3-21

today is world down syndrome day. the date is chosen because down syndrome is caused by a third chromosome on the 21st pairing. it is a day set aside for families to celebrate, as well as, let the world know how wonderful our children are. if you have been following our blog or have been able to come to the store in person, you know just how amazing i think sarah is. yet, it is my belief that society will be so much richer and wiser if everyone takes the time to get to know a child or young adult with down syndrome.

like designer extraordinaire...kate spain...

kate has become such a dear friend. we first met kate through the blogosphere. then something magical happened. actually a series of connections and developments. next thing we know, kate and her wonderful husband pete were heading to cleveland. not only did she come to meet sarah, she blogged about it. and that opened another segment of the population to read about down syndrome.

following that came an article on the etsy website. 159 comments, mostly from readers that do not have a family member with down syndrome followed. then came the front page story in american patchwork and quilting.

the new group of people were getting to see down syndrome. then kate came back into the scene. she was asked to do a live radio broadcast with pat sloan. kate could easily have filled the entire segment talking about her designs. instead. she chose to use the opportunity to talk about sarah. and the difference she is making. thank you kate. this is how we change perceptions. this is how we spread the word that down syndrome is not something to be feared. it is not a terrible disease. it is not a reason to further testing to eliminate trisomy 21.

.

beautiful fabric. a quilt shop. employment opportunities. all of a sudden it is no longer just about that extra third chromosome. on the 21st pairing. it is about acceptance. it is about change. it is about love. it is about a better world.

a sign of spring...

just under our window are tiny buds sprouting...

and the beautiful painted bird we placed there just before the first snowfall. ahh...there's a freshness swirling about when the first signs of spring appear. something magical. uplifting, rejuvenating.

babies are so cute...

and this one is no exception. our accuquilt go! baby has finally arrived. i guess she must be a girl with this adorable pink carrying bag...

we have the go! baby and several dies set up for demonstration. come in and give it a try. it really is a quick and accurate way to cut designs. if you are interested in purchasing your own, just let me know and i will tell you about a special we have going throughout the month of march.

got milk?

we've got cookies.

as in GIRL SCOUT cookies!!! they sell for $3.50 per box. as a courtesy to our local troop, we will be happy to process your order on credit card if you are short on cash. hurry though. they are going quickly. especially the thin mints.

top o' the morning to ya...

if ever there was a day to make this curly carrot head feel special, it's today. so how about a little celebrating...fiber style...

a darling dancing leprechan whispered in my ear that all green fabric shall be on special today...3 for 17...that would be 3 yards of any fabric sporting the color green for $17.00. now that's a steal of a deal. don't need 3 yards...how about 17% off the purchase of anything green. including fat quarter bundles, buttons, zippers, thread, even mary ellen's best press in citrus grove. sorry offer does not apply to previous purchases or extend beyond march 17, 2011.

.

have you signed up for our email club? if not, you will want to come in and sign up today. a very grand offer is going to be announced shortly with a chance to win a pot of gold...

i heart etsy...

do you etsy? a while back i received an email from a writer at etsy. they wanted to do a story about sarah and kristen and the pillowcases. until that time, i was familiar with the site, but not a strong supporter. then the more i got to thinking about it, i fell in love with the concept. so last week i went surfing...

i wanted a few samples using kate spain's central park. so i simply typed in "central park" and found several fun items:

jingle balls from littleladybugz

a large patchwork ball from gingerfreckle

a chenille bib and burbcloth from woodlandrabbit

a bib and ball rattle from thelittlethingsboutique

and a vintage inspired retro apron from terracehill

they all arrived within days of placing my order, even in the midst of our one day blizzard, and each one was made with skilled hands and creative hearts. many of the creators have a story to tell as well. i especially like to know the background of the person(s). it makes each purchase all the more personal.

i also ordered this awesome quilt from frivolousnecessity. i knew it would be a delight as i have purchased items before from crystal. her work is perfection. this has been such a pleasant experience and a wonderful addition to our shop. i wonder what i will find next...

back in business

sarah and i were so relieved to see a clear parking lot as we pulled in.

i've lived in northeast ohio for a very long time. i'm used to snow. yet i am always amazed how it can temporarily bring life to a stand still. like freeze frame. like playing simon says. the good news...we are back to normal business hours. hope to see you soon.

rain, sleet, snow or hail...

i made to the store. barely.

as i tried to turn the wheel to pull into my usual space, my tires had other ideas. i might be stuck. i was pleasantly surprised to find this...

waiting on the cutting counter. it looks like the united states postal service keeps it's word. the deliveries have arrived...

closed until further notice

i had an inkling the weather forcasters were spot on this time when i heard the weather channel was sending a crew to cleveland. sure enough. this is the scene at the end of my home driveway...

right behind the snow plow is an amvet truck also stuck. behind that, the garbage truck. i think i will sit in my nice warm house and wait it out for awhile. i will post again as soon as i make it to the store. be safe please.

spring has sprung...

as in sprung a leak...literally...

inside and out. i think our little furry friends are thinking about going for a swim in that lake forming in our front yard. maybe even jump into the can collecting the drips. inside the window. i guess one should be careful what they wish for. maybe that snow last week wasn't so bad afterall.

sunkissed...

you are my sunshine...

my only sunshine. you make me happy...when skies are gray. you'll never know dear, how much i love you...

sunkissed by sweetwater. brings the sunshine into the front room every single day. we have precuts and yardage...

and all the patterns featuring sunkissed by sweetwater, piece and quilt and this and that. and...

look what i just spotted on sweetwater's etsy site. they always have lots of fun stuff for purchase. check it out. and hurry in for sunkissed. it is not going to be here long.

dream with your hands...

every sunday i have waiting in my gmail inbox a quote of the week from where women create. today's is exceptional...

if you would like to receive your own quote click here. i wish all of you on this snowy sunday in cleveland, beautiful dreaming today. we have all been so blessed with creative hands.

blessings and patience

it is with deep gratitude and appreciation that i am able to introduce you to my new friend alice...

she came in today looking for some binding for this absolutely adorable wall hanging. the level of detail is amazing, much done by needle turn applique with teeny, tiny little stitches. alice is a skilled quilter. i can't imagine the number of masterpieces she has completed in her ninety plus years of life.
.
i met alice once before. her first visit to our store did not go quite as planned. we've been so worried about her. week after week, friends would come in and give me a report. it was a slow road to recovery, but alice was patient.
.

which made her visit today all the more exciting. it was so good to see her and this adorable project that she was kind enough to let me photograph, but not before she took her coat off and fluffed her hair. jeepers, i hope i have her spunk and sense of humor when i reach her age. just in case you are wondering, we did not have the little red calico she first inquired about, but we did have a perfect red pin dot.
.
seeing alice up and walking, full of energy, and sweet as can be, truly made my day. and then she gave me a charming white wicker basket from her collection. she said it looked just like our store and she wanted me to have it for good luck. thank you from the bottom of my heart alice. i will treasure that basket always along with the memories you have etched in my mind.