Peacock Gold

Is the 2013 Hoffman Challenge fabric - kinda 70's retro-y!  Click the link for their homepage and additional information.

K7126_136G

Now that Sulky is a co-sponsor, they even coordinate Sulky threads for you!
Entry deadline is July 19, 2013.
Good luck!

Wednesday Work in Progress

Cool Moda fabric ("Happy Thoughts" -- Odds and Ends by Julie Comstock of Cosmo Cricket) purchase from Sewtropolis,(Yes, they do phone orders - I saw and fell in love with this on Facebook), ginko leaves applique designs from Mark Lipinski's Quilter's Home magazine, red polka-dotted parchment sheets from World Market for upcoming holiday baking gifting, Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing Kimono Wrap directions, smaller sized watercolor paper, Burda's awaiting shelving for next year's projects.  Oh and bells (!) from Paper Bear in San Marcos. Lots of ideas, little workspace!

Happy Fall!

Isn't this cranberry fairy pretty?!
From the Michael Miller Fabrics Fairy Collection a few years ago.
Cicely Mary Barker was an artist in England in the early 1900’s who created and published the beautiful Flower Fairies books for children.

Liberty of London Hello Kitty Fabric!

Tana Lawn "Hello Kitty Wonderland"
At $36.95/yard. . .Hello new computer screensaver and phone wallpaper!

2012 Hoffman Challenge

Hoffman J8670 Lavender #70
You can find information about the 2012 Hoffman Challenge at www.hoffmanchallenge.com
Deadline is July 12, 2012.  Or July 20, 2012 -- I've seen both dates on the Web, so I've included the earlier one, just in case!

2011 Hoffman Challenge

Here is the 2011 Hoffman Challenge fabric, H8709 98G-Moss Gold. Pretty, isn't it? I love to see what people do with it. Each time I look it it, I'm liking it even more enough to consider entering the contest this year! Or just sew something cool, and keep it for myself -- and blog about it here. What say y'all?

My top side picture is taken from this fabric -- The Pink Ribbon Sisterhood Breast Cancer Awareness quilt fabric designed by Suzy Torontos. I found it at The Oz Material Girls

Found! An independent fabric store!

...in all places, Smithville, Texas! MARILYN'S FABRICS - 1103 N.E. Loop 230 512/237-2939. She's right across the street from Dairy Queen. Hours are 9:00-4:30 Tuesday through Saturday.

VERY reasonably-priced assortment fabrics from fashion to quilting. Most are in the $2-$4 range. I found a 60" wide tan/navy striped linen for $4.99/yard! Fun variety of notions, butttons, zippers, even old patterns to discover. Marilyn is super nice, very helpful and fun to chat with. Unfortunately, she's not online. And be prepared to pay with cash or checks only.

If you are making the run on 71 from Houston to Austin, you may just want to take a detour through Smithville and check this place out...and grab a Blizzard, too! I look forward to making a fabric pit stop again soon! (And maybe a small Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard?)

7-9-09 Update: I just received a handwritten thank you note from her in the mail today!

Target-ed Fabric

And all on sale, too!

Orla Kiely 100% cotton napkins. 20" x 20" Originally $12.99 down to $9.08 earlier this week. Bet they get marked down further. I love the colors!

The Home Spring edition towel and potholder. Half price - $2.48. I love these potholders -they are the perfect right thickness and size. The embroidered towel, measuring 18" x 28" is just bonus for me. I use them in applique or turn into a gift bag - basting so the recipient can use it as a towel!

Fabric Shopping at Target

Further proof you can find fabric in unusual places -- and get a bonus potholder! I originally bought this on sale (it was back by the towels) for the potholder, but then I noticed the "towel" was a nice medium-weight 100% cotton. With cute trees that while didn't scream "Christmas", could easily be embellished and used for seasonal Winter sewing and craft projects. I loved the colors, too. It measures 18" x 28" with turned under edges. There you go, a nice hunk of fabric and if you incorporate the finished edges, a potential project half-done! Run to Target and see if it might be lurking in the markdown section...or the red Clearance endcaps near the sheets and towels.

Fabric chat at Wal-Mart

There ARE still some Wal-Marts with fabric departments, especially the "regular" not Super Wal-Marts. While grabbing three bolts of $1/yard knit fabric and trying to keep from becoming overly giddy, the clerk and I started talking... She said that Wal-Mart buys over 400,000 bolts of fabric for their $1 and $2/yard fabric sections and it is up to the fabric department manager's aggressiveness and luck how much or even if the store gets any, none or a lot of the bounty. She also confirmed that the knits which appear on the table are the overruns from RTW and Wal-Mart cannot order nor regularly carry these knits. Which are what I want. Jo-Ann's knits are not ready-to-wearish for the most part and buying online can be iffy -- hard to judge the thickness -- and expensive. With a couple yards of $1 or $2 yard fabric, no tears are shed if the pattern doesn't work and and if it does jumps of joy occur instead when you've made a cute top for less than $5. I did tell her that the Wal-Mart I used to find my treasures at is now a dry hole and she said again, it really depends upon the manager and she probably transferred or left. The take -- keep checking the stores every once in awhile. I hadn't found anything in years at the store where I found these (reversible microstripe in gray and brown, puckered embroidered beige knits).

Latest from Hancock - Project Runway Fabric

Some of the Sunsational Savings Sale items starting today through Sunday, June 15 --

99 cent McCall's patterns
50% off buttons and sewing machine needles
$1.77 Maxi-Lock serger cone thread



And also on sale through June 18 per the circular, I didn't see the rounder in the store, 30% off Project Runway prints by Robert Kaufman, regular price $8.99 (!) sale $6.29. Shades of brown, turquoise, paprika, salmon done in zippers, safety pins, pins, "Make It Work", notions and models. I have no idea what you would do with them. . .

US flag Hello Kitty fabric!

$8.99/yard on the patriotic red, white and blue rounder at Jo-Ann's, on sale now for 30% off. It will probably be discounted further closer to July 4, if there is any left!

All You Need is Love

And a charm pack package of 32 5" x 5" squares of Deb Strain designs for Moda Fabrics. They are all different - reds, pinks - natch, but also lime green and chocolate brown. Yummy! I found these for $10 at Quilter's Emporium

Fashionably Late with Stacy London on TLC

Love, love this show! I only wish I could have some luck finding the featured recipes. (My apologies to those Googling and hoping I had them here. But I can tell you where to get the fabric for Stacy's apron.) I was watching the repeat this afternoon and noticed the apron fabric Stacy was wearing during the cooking segment was the same Paris Eiffel Tower fabric I have in my stash! (blogged about June 24) Between gawking at those huge brownie cookies they were making by the fistful and trying to focus on the apron at the same time, I recall the pockets trimmed in black -- what a great idea! I only have it in a fat quarter, but I think I'm going back to Quilter's Emporium for more to make an apron, too! The fabric is "Friends Around the World" by Judie Rothermel for Marcus Brothers Textiles, Inc.

Good Fabric Deal!

As if I need further incentive to buy fabric from Nancy Erickson's Fashion Sewing Group...
With a portion of proceeds from the sale of her patterns, Nancy has supported the Komen for the Cure, Family Violence Prevention Fund and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In her November/December issue's back page, she is offering a discount on any one fabric in the upcoming January or March issues. You can either contribute to one, two or all three and in return she will offer you a proportional discount ranging from 10% to 25%. And you can still use the contribution amount for your own 2007 tax return, because you are writing the check/s to the charity/ies, not to Nancy! She will forward the checks to them for you. Deadline is December 15.

Here in Houston for Quilt Festival and looking for more fabric?!

As long as you are downtown at the George R. Brown Convention Center, be sure to check out High Fashion Fabrics (and if you are into home dec, High Fashion Home right across the street).

High Fashion Fabrics is at 3101 Louisiana Street at Elgin (telephone 713/528-7299). Hours are Monday-Saturday 10-7 PM, Sunday 12 Noon-6PM. The address of the GRB is 1001 Avenida de las Americas if you want to Mapquest and see where exactly they are. However, I do not recommend walking it. Take a cab! Or if you have a car, there's free parking. Watch out for the one-way streets.

In today's Houston Chronicle Star (features section), on page E5 middle right side there is an ad with a 10% off coupon. If you are an American Sewing Guild member, they also give you a 10% discount, just in case you can't find a copy of the Chronicle.

High Fashion Fabrics has gorgeous, $$$ fabrics when you step inside the main area, but after taking a few moments to drool, fantasize and compose yourself, take a right and you'll find a roomful of more affordable fabrics - cottons, rayons, knits, and more.

In this day and age of independent fabric stores going by the wayside, HFF is well worth visiting and keeping in business!

Oh, and if you are looking for a fun quilt shop, and you have a car, take a drive down the Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59) about 17 miles to Quilter's Emporium. (Telephone: 281/491-0016 -- not long distance, Houston has several area codes!) 11925 Southwest Freeway, in Stafford, just inside the Ft. Bend County line. They are on the South (left) side of the feeder road coming from downtown, so you will have to exit and U-turn at West Airport. Stay on the feeder, you'll pass Wal-Mart and an auto dealership. The next business area is Brighton Lanes, look for the Yamaha sign. Quilter's Emporium is at the far left facing the freeway, the store has lace curtains in the window. Their new location just opened a few weeks ago and is filled with fabric and other goodies. Hours are Monday-Saturday 10-5 (Thursdays till 6), Sunday 12-4.

2007's Christmas fabric additions! The plaid was 60% off and not technically holiday, and the bottom mutli-colored hologram circles actually 50% marked down Halloween fabric.

(Nan, do not look upon the snowpeople skiers!)

Score at Jo-Ann's!

Being able to use my 40% coupon to nab the $omer$et Holidays & Celebrations issue, which was just displayed today per the clerk. So if you like these, too, run to your Jo-Ann's - there were only three left.

This dark green suede with micro gold metallic dots scattered about in the markdown bin. I bought what was left, a little over 2 yards. It shouted, "Easy Christmas!" to me. And even if it doesn't all get sewn this Christmas, it or what's left will puddle about my tree this year. I'm still burnt out from the skirt I made for my sister two years ago.

Night-Nightlife

Still smarting after those Sandra Betzina clunkers, best to go another round with TNT Kwik Sew 2811 PJ's. L and I just happened to be in the neighborhood of a remaining Hancock's. Gotta do our part to keep them around. She pulled together this fun combo, and on sale, too. Another one of their marked down/take another 20% off/now toss in the 10% ASG discount. I think the "sophisticated 60's ladies" ended up less than $1.50/yard, from an original $5.99/yard. The peachy pink, "Tea Time by Phyllis Hoffman" (wasn't she once the editor of Crafts or Country Cross Stitch magazine back in the early 80's?) will be the shirt, and the ladies are "KerryBeary" for the pants-both fabrics are Hancock exclusives. I plan to have some trim and contrast fun combining the two fabrics--embellishing the champagne with a few bead "bubbles" and their ensembles with either more beads or embroidery touches for the shirt pocket.