Made Monday

A cute and squirrely little messenger bag from the Oliver & S book, Little Things to Sew... made by Missy. 

Made Monday

A precious Oliver + S ruffle halter in crisp japanese linen gingham. Made by Amanda Sasikirana.

BIRTHDAY SALE and some new arrivals

Starts Tomorrow!

Saturday, March 6th through Saturday, March 13th

we will be offering 20-40% off tons of great fabrics, 

both in store and online!

Including...
20% off Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey

20% off Amy Butler's Home Dec Fabrics

20% off Dolce by Tanya Whelan

20% off Joel Dewberry's Deer Valley
20% off All Flannels

40% off All Wool fabrics
30% off Oliver & S Patterns

...and MORE!

Also JUST IN:

Joel Dewberry's gorgeous new line "Modern Meadow." 

As you may have already heard me mention, I am infatuated with these!!! I am racking my brain for the perfect project to feature them in but I just can't narrow it down to one. 

They are so beautiful with a modern simplicity but a very nostalgic feel. The tiny flowers make me feel happy and I just wish I could be sitting in that sweet meadow right now, wearing a springy little dress made from these dreamy fibers. 

And an adorable, mixed grouping from Michael Miller. 

I didn't know these had come in and when I spotted them on the self yesterday, I immediately pulled them down to shoot pictures. Saying out loud 'Oh my goodness' and 'Ohh, these are so cute' and 'Oh I love these so much' and 'awwww.' Janelle must have thought I'd lost it, but they really are just too precious (and with that she agrees)!!!

I'm also brainstorming on what to make from these little critter prints... Aelyn does need some new spring skirts.... as if I don't have enough on my to do list already! Ahhh... 

If only I had about 10 more hours in my day... I'd be sewing up a storm!

I'm currently working on my first ever quilt, a Dresden plate. I am taking Mary's class and desperately trying to keep up, while I choose to make mine extra large! There is lots of hand sewing to be done and it is currently occupying all of my sewing time. But it's looking pretty good thus far and I know the final result will be very rewarding.

Well now I'm gonna hop off to do a little of that right now, while my little ladies still napping!

'til next time,

:) April

"You will wear it."

This darling little Oliver and S Jump Rope Dress was made by my mom, April's grandma, Aelyn's great grandma, Ruth Pennel.

Ruth does an amazing job sewing anything she sets out to do. She is a very busy quilter but makes us samples a couple times a year. The details on this one are so sweet and her stitching is impeccable.

Aelyn loves to carry this dress around the shoppe on the hanger, hanging it in various places. She's always arranging our little dress samples. They really are hers.

Aelyn is the real owner of the shoppe. When people come in the door she says, "Customers!" One day we heard the cash register drawer open seemingly by itself. She had pushed a stool up to it, climbed up and keyed the appropriate button. She wanted to get her hand on some cash. But she'll be ringing up customers soon. Maybe when she's 3.

Anyway, one day Aelyn had her hands on this little shirt waste dress and I asked her if she wanted to wear it. She promptly said, "No." Then April jokingly said to Aelyn, "You will wear it." Oh, the frustration of sewing for a 2 1/2 year old who has strong opinions on what she will and won't wear.

Well, April and I are secretly hoping that she will wear it. Spring is coming and we shall see.

After Market

Well it's been over a week since mom and I got back from Quilt Market and it's about time I share at least some of the photos I took (I took a ton) and let you in on some of the things we ordered (and we ordered a TON).


First of I must say that the Convention Center in Pittsburgh was amazing! I had thought a lot about what the lighting might be like for the show and hoped desperately that their would be at least some natural light for photo taking. The space turned out to be phenomenal.
As we walked into the Convention we passed over a bridge that looked over the entire showroom and Wow! We were in awe.
And so here's just a taste of what we saw...

We finally met the lovely Amy.
And of course her booth was absolutely gorgeous.

Above mom chats with upcoming fabric designer, Laura Gunn.

Vicki Payne introduced her new line of home dec fabrics,
"For Your Home".

Kimberley Gladman (below) is a new and amazingly talented young designer for
Favorite Things patterns.
I can't wait to make her gorgeous coat.


We also got to meet the designer of our favorite children's clothing patterns,
Liesl Gibson of Oliver & S.

There is even more I'd like to share, but I think I'll break it up a bit and leave you hanging with anticipation.
Well... okay, I'll give you a clue... Japanese!

Party Preparations and New Goodies too!

Hello shoppe blog sewer friends,
It has been nearly a month since my last post. I haven't meant to be neglectful, I've just been busy busy busy. Between trying to help out around the shoppe while simultaneously chasing baby, sewing feverishly through nap time, enjoying time outdoors, and trying not to be too neglectful of my housework and sweet husband, the blog just slipped onto the back burner for a bit.
But now I'm here, excitedly typing, because there are such wonderful things to announce.

First PARTY time is less than four days away!
Our Birthday Celebration is this Saturday, March 14th, from 11-5! Stop in to put your name in the jar for our "every half hour" prize drawing. Your name will stay in the jar all day so you don't have to be present to win! The prizes are awesome and I must say I'm almost jealous because being the daughter of the shoppe owner renders me disqualified to win (but don't worry about me, I get my perks too:} ).

Second, yesterday we received a wonderful shipment of NEW goods.

Two beautiful New books, hot off the press...
Heather Ross' new book "Weekend Sewing". Gorgeous, fresh and inspirational with stunning photography. This book is filled with great projects including many lovely dresses! and comes with patterns!

Sewing Green by Betz White is all about inspiring us to reduce our waste and reuse what we have. Amazingly creative, with diverse projects, her book includes templets and patterns. This lady breathes new life into ideas that have been around for decades. She shares ways to save money while not sacrificing a bit of style.

Several fun New Japanese treasures. Fabric from Kokka as well as some beautifully made Japanese trims...

This kitty print has the sweetest salvage edge I've ever seen!

Japanese trims are in limited quantities so get them while they're here:)








and New Oliver&S patterns...

adorable spring looks for both boys and girls, more designs not pictured.

Also, we have some new Alexander Henry fabrics recently , a couple lovely new patterns for little girl attire by an awesome indie designer called Sugar City and tons of fun new shoppe samples as well as gift ideas for all ages.
So come party with us, bring your friends and your little ones, it's gonna be fun fun fun and the weather should be nice too... We can't wait to see all of you!
Until next time-
April.

Oliver & S Trunk Show

Starting today, Tuesday, November 4th through Saturday, November 15th. . . the Oliver and S Trunk Show
is on display in the front window of Sew to Speak.

These wonderful pattern makers have sent us several samples of their adorable fall clothing line. The pieces are darling. Exquisitely well made! We've left some of the garments folded on the table inside so that you might pick then up to look over the stitches in awe, as we have. The quality is outrageously good and their use of fabrics and trims is very inspiring. I must say that my absolute favorite piece in the show is the little pleated skirt hanging in the front window. If only it were about four times bigger...I guess I'll just have to make it, or maybe have it made, for my Aelyn. I always dress her in the things I wish I could wear! :)
We also have a few samples made by our friend Shelly of Figgy's children's wear and my mother, Anita will have the "Sunday Brunch Jacket" finished for Aelyn any time now. It is looking super cute in rusty orange velveteen with blue gingham bias as a surprise on the inside and four vintage buttons on the breast.

Also. . . Anita is giving 10% off these patterns during the trunk show, so be sure to take advantage of that and stop in to pick yours up.
Keep in mind, even if you don't have little ones of your own, handmade baby and children's clothing make wonderful gifts. Mommy's go gaga over this stuff... I speak from experience. I am blessed to have a mother with many crafty friends and was gifted with tons of great hand made goods before my baby girl arrived. We still get great new things made for her all the time (grandmothers are the greatest!). I can't get enough of it! These are the things I'll cherish forever, and I'll share them with my daughter as she grows and one day becomes a woman with baby's of her own.
hmmm.... this blog is making me feel a bit sentimental.
I'm reminded of when my mother and I used to get into her old cedar chest and pull out the blankets and things to find the box of my baby clothes she had tucked away. There was the outfit they put me in when I was first born, my hospital bracelet and hers, a soft, silky pink baby blanket, some photographs and several diffrent hand made outfits, rompers and such. She would talk to me about each piece. . . I remember feeling very special when we would sit and do that. . .


I love you so much Mom!
your baby, April