August arrivals and a visit from designer RAE HOEKSTRA!!

Sewing Garments with MADE BY RAE!! Wednesday Aug. 28, 6 - 9PM Come and meet Rae Hoekstra: designer, pattern maker, world famous sewing blogger, and all around lovely lady. Rae will begin the evening with a meet and greet, followed by a presentation and Washi Dress trunk show. A wardrobe full of handmade clothing is possible! Rae will walk you through how she conceives and alters a basic pattern to make many different variations using her many samples of the popular Washi Dress as illustration. She'll also share some of the things she's learned along the way about choosing fabrics, taking measurements, using patterns (both printed and digital PDFs), and more. You'll be inspired to sew up a closet full of handmade clothing of your own! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can also sign up for Rae's Washi Dress Techniques Workshop. Thursday, Aug 29, 9AM - Noon. This workshop is designed to offer time to work on the Washi Dress with Rae's assistance. Rae will also cover many of the sewing techniques needed to complete the Washi Dress. Possible topics are: sewing a smooth dart, shirring with elastic thread, adding facings, seam and armhole finishing, and hemming. These techniques are commonly used in many other women's (and even children's) clothing patterns as well! Please note that due to time limitations, we will not be able to sew an entire dress from start to finish; however, Rae will be available to assist you and answer questions specific to your dress. Workshop space is limited so call or come in to sign up. In addition to this, Rae has offered some time on Wednesday for those of you who would like a private fitting. Call us at the shop to find out more and to schedule appointments. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We have lots of smart prints for those returning to school! [Collage is shown above.] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - It is hard to believe we are already more than a week into August and soon school will be starting once again. Fall is close and new sewing projects are piling up! This mid-season shift is a great time for fabric as we recieve Summer's last arrivals and Fall's firsts.... We are very well-stocked in the shop! Here is a peek at
what's NEW:
Briar Rose!! by Heather Ross, Lush Uptown by Erin Michaels for Moda, Ziggy (and zaggy) prints form Windham,		numbers, masks and other novelties from AH, Nordika by Jeni Baker for Art Gallery, Collage by Carrie Bloomston and lots more....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fall classes have been scheduled!!! View our listings here. Call or come in to sign up. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Happy August Sewing, Anita, April and the Sew To Speak Team

FALL 2011 QUILT MARKET

Round 2
(New companies and the first arrivals!)

While in Houston this year we were pleased to pick up 4 new companies we've never ordered with before!  2 fantastic fabric cos, 1 new pattern designer, and one very unique notions supplier.

The first I'll share is Basic Grey...
an awesome notions company with a classic, collected and heirloom aesthetic. From them we ordered several styles and sizes of these beautiful "samplers." Designed to display your treasured buttons and those little pieces of fabric you can't help but hold onto. These special pieces would make great gifts for crafty friends.
The best part: the first shipment JUST ARRIVED!! So come and get 'em! We're sure their going to go fast!

also from Basic Grey we ordered these sweet little epoxy glazed buttons, for a finishing touch on any garment or accessory.

Then there was Dear Stella!

The yellow chevron dress was my absolute FAVORITE!!!

These ladies did it RIGHT...  

This was their Quilt Market debut and they had us (and many others) wowed! 

They rightfully won the Best New Exhibitor award... just look at those dresses!!! Each day all the girls in the booth wore fabulous dresses handmade in their own fabrics... LOVE!

Out of all the fabric at market, we ordered the most from Dear Stella. 10 bolts of the blues, greys and yellows are in mid transit and should arrive sometime NEXT WEEK, while other brighter, orange, yellow and pinky prints will be here in time for spring. 

FYI: They offer this "Eloise Elephant Pillow" as a free download on their site... a Holiday Softie perhaps??

Also making her market debut, Carrie Bloomston of SUCH Designs. 

Carrie was a joy to chat with! A wonderfuly personable artist and blogger, she has recently been featured in both Stitch and Studios magazines. Her unique patterns have a very whimsical quality... playful, storybook and somewhat scandinavian in style.. I adore her Wonky Little Houses and stick puppets. Plus SUCH offers something I haven't seen from any other indie pattern maker, patterns and kits especially geared toward the younger (preteen) sewer. Her up-cycled t-shirt kits teach girls to twist their old shirts into something new. If I'd seen these when I was 10 all the girls on my list would have gotten one.. in fact I might make some for my girlies this year ;)

We were fortunate (with enough suitcase room) to be able to bring many of these patterns home directly from the show! You can see them in the shoppe NOW and look for more of her designs to be ordered soon.

Finally, the fourth new company is one that many of you have been asking us for... 

Riley Blake.

We placed our first order with a super sweet sales rep and now we're very excited to add them to our list of distributors.  Not only do they carry cute quilting prints and laminated cottons but they also have some awesome buttons and trims. So you can be on the look out for these Riley Blake goodies... in they should be coming soon too!

Well that seems like a lot but there is still a whole bunch more where Market's concerned...
if I can I'll do a round 3...
it was definitely inspiring as always! 

STUNNING new colors and prints

quilting cottons...

and home decor, Cotton Sateen...

We LOVE!

Stunning Loulouthi!

30 BOLTS!

Are we crazy?

Maybe.

But how in ones right mind could one choose some and not the others when they are all so stunning?

There was no choice but to take the whole lot!

Loulouthi: The newest line of fabric from fabulous designer Anna Maria Horner.

Fabric Friday - Recent Arrivals

As you may have already heard (here or here) we were BOMBED with boxes this week!!! And those great boxes were loaded with new fabric!

Because of this I thought I'd give you a little look-see at what's come in. Most of these are fresh off the truck while others have been in for a little bit but I hadn't shared them with you yet so here they are.

New Michael Miller dots, ginghams, bikes and bunting!!

Alexander Henry owl Christmas prints, fun snails and flowers, festive donkeys and manly pin-ups [blushing]. 

Robert Kaufman's Pups in Pickups, Appleville and Just Dandy Flowers. 

Plus we also received a bunch of new apparel fabrics including silks, knits, linens chambray and more.

Happy Fabric Friday!!

-April

Santa Came Early

with lots of NEW FABRICS and some sweet new trims too!

Hideaway by Lauren and Jessi Jung, for Moda

Robert Kaufman's Metro Cafe, with prints by Suzanne Ultman and Louise Cunningham.

Tula Pink's lovely Parisville.

Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms in Quilting Cotton and Home Decor weight.

And also from Moda, Liz Scott's Sugar Pop!

Plus fun new trims from our favorite source, Renaissance Ribbons.

Happy Holidays!

and best wishes,

Sew To Speak