christmas closing

just a reminder we will be closing at noon today and will be closed all day december 25th.

baby in the basket

we have just the perfect sunday sweetness for your holiday enjoyment...

 

meet cora. she has been coming into the shop since the beginning of time. her time that is. oh my she is so lovable! don't you just want to pinch those cheeks?  the lovely holiday quilt was made by her momma jill. wishing cora and her family and all of you a very merry christmas.  

christmas in july shop hop

we are participating in a shop hop with eleven other shops. we are known as the neo christmas in july shop hop. it started on the 12th and runs thru the 25th.  this year there are trees. lots and lots of twinkling trees. each shop has a tree block. if you get to all twelve shops you will have the patterns and materials to complete a quilt. i like our tree...

 

it's fun and festive. you are able to start the hop at any of the  twelve shops. for more details, click this link. each shop has a free gift and the chance to enter a drawing for a goodie basket. there will also be a chance at grand prizes for those completing the hop.

jingle bells...

can you hear them?  they will be playing for the next week. don't miss the fun...

grocery shopping...

the two young men ringing and bagging in lane seven, got quite a kick out of my purchases tonight...

if anyone was monitoring the security camera they too were probably wondering why i was spending so much time picking out all the red and greens...

two is better than one...

have you driven by the shop lately?  if not, we have a little surprise...

our sweet southern belle has brought in a second dress for us to display. for this one she chose the deep red poinsettia print from basicgreys' jovial collection. then around the bottom she took a panel from kate spain's twelve days of christmas and created a border. very clever this bonnie gal is. then around the middle she has used a square print from ready, set, snow by me and my sister. i just love them both.

this red dress is also available on bonnie's etsy site.  remember though, it is an ooak (one of a kind) so when it is sold there are no more.      

sunday sweetness...

this weeks sweetness comes courtesy of a sweet southern belle.  bonnie recently moved from georgia to be closer to her grandkids. she found our shop the very week we opened and we are so delighted she did, for she brings us adorable treasures such as this...

to display in our front window.  she has taken bits of twelve days of christmas and flurry by kate spain along with ready, set, snow by me and my sister all for moda to create this ooak (one of a kind) fashion.  it is available for sale on bonnie's etsy shop, bonbonoriginals. 

oh and speaking of snow...let's give bonnie a round of applause for braving our first official snowfall of the year this weekend. i guess rain, sleet, snow or hail will not keep a good stitcher away from the fabric shop:)  

holiday stitching...

there's still time...

and this will sweeten the deal...the sun newspaper on thursday morning will be announcing this incredible offer...

...all holiday fabric will be just $5.00 per yard now through november 30th.  hurry. it's going fast. mention this post and we will honor the sale price today...

hope, joy, love & peace...

our christmas in july sale is about to come to a close.

photo does not guarantee availability

don't miss the countdown to christmas as the calendar rolls one month closer to december. today is the last day to purchase all your holiday fabrics at just $5.00 per yard. be early as bolts are disappearing rapidly.  quilt and pillow in countdown to christmas by sweetwater for moda by crystal  of frivolous necessity (pattern available in her etsy shop and our shop) and large selvage stocking from kathi's christmas on etsy.

open late tonight...

yes we know it's friday.  we don't want anyone to be left in the cold...

and miss our christmas in july sale. so tonight we stay open until 8:00 pm or such time the music stops playing because the party is over. in other words, we will stay as late as we need to so you...our cherished customers...are happy.  remember...all fabric in our christmas room is $5.00 per yard only thru saturday.

a holiday treat...

it's the little things in life...

...like chocolate, peppermint and gum drops, that help us get through the day.  a little christmas fabric at $5.00 per yard helps too. now through saturday only. hurry. it's going fast. both the chocolate and the fabric.  that cute little candy mat is by jennifer over at the bright spot on etsy. 

new stockings...

i had visions...of sugarplums...and new grown up stockings this year...

afterall, i am surrounded by fabric. bolts and bolts of perfect holiday collections. i have patterns. i have batting, and thread, even adorable trim. i just have no time. so like the tailors children who had no clothes...we have new...store bought stockings.

i'm thrilled though. i did not hold out much hope for a last minute rush to buy stockings on christmas eve, but what to my startling eyes did appear...why two j's, an s and even one m. wait there's more...four stocking hangers...two girls and two trees. why it's perfect i say...for julie and john, sarah and matt...surely it's meant to be.

wishing you a very merry holiday full of wonderment and joy.

The No Sew Tree Tutorial

This little tree has been the talk of the store for weeks. I call it the "no sew tree." As promised, here is a tutorial for you to make your own.


Supplies needed:
fabric - enough to make 100 3x3 squares
one Styrofoam cone - 5 1/2" x 10 -12"
100 fern pins
one bag polyfil


Start by cutting 3" x 3" squares. The tree will use approximately 100 total. I have used four different fabrics from 12 Days of Christmas by Kate Spain. This would also be a great project to use your scraps.

Pinch off a ball of polyfil about the size of a large cotton ball. Place it in the middle of one square on the wrong side of fabric.

Have your Styrofoam cone nearby.

Select one fern pin from the bag. These can be found in the floral supply section of a local craft store.

Fold two corners of the square together. Push the fern pin threw both layers of fabric.

With the pin pushed about three quarters of the length threw, rotate the pin to pick up the next corner. Push the fabric all the way to the top of the fern pin.

Next, flip the pin to pick up the remaining corner. Push the fabric down to form a tight puff.

If done correctly, it will look like this. It may take a few attempts to perfect your technique. If you don't like the way it looks, take the fern pin out and try again.

Once satisfied with your puff, start at the bottom of the cone and push the fern pin into the cone.

You want to position them close enough so the fabric puffs are touching.

Once the bottom row is finished, start on the second row by staggering the first puff between two puffs.

Continue around the cone repeating this step. Each puff does not need to be the exact same size.

Continue up the tree in the same fashion.

The cone narrows as you get closer to the top. To avoid the pins coming through to the other side, start pushing the pins in at a downward angle.

Once a row is complete, use both hands to shape it tightly.

Don't worry if a loose edge is showing.

Simply take your finger and tuck the fabric in between the two puffs.

Once you get to the very top, I like to take a piece of fabric, matching the puff that will be used on top, to first cover the point. This way, the white styrofoam will not be showing. Simply lay it on top and use a few straight pins to hold it in place.

Then push your final puff straight down.

You may want to add garland or bows to the tree. Simply use a straight pin to hold them to the puffs. Total time to complete: approximately one hour. For an easy no sew wreath, click HERE.