Friday, February 23, 2018

Do Fabrics make you drool?



I have been adding a lot of fabrics to my stash. I sure don't need anymore, but who can resist??? Not me. I find them so inspiring and a great incentive to do something new.
When I get a custom order for a fabric style I don't have, I am so happy because it gives me a valid excuse to be fabric happy! Thanks Dianne! I was so happy to add some Asian prints to my stash. Aren't these pretty!


I added these quilt block inspired fabrics this winter. Ooooh how I love them. They inspired a new house!



I am aching for my spring flowers. I think you can see that with these beautiful flower print fabrics I found...


Well then I needed some pretty fabrics to go with all those beautiful focal fabrics... right?


These are just the fabrics I picked up since the holidays. I have more to add. Check out my Fabric Choices page as I update all my new fabrics. Sorry they are added in a mish mash style. I just want to get them up so you can see them.

If you would like to order a custom pincushion with any fabric you see here, stop by my Etsy shop. Lets chat. I wish I could invite you all over to have a fabric party. Oh what fun we would have!!
Happy Sewing!
Jill

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Creative Collaborations!



I often find that my favorite new designs are born from custom orders. I have met so many creative people though my Etsy shop. I count many of them as my muses and my friends. They bring me their ideas and requests and together we create something new and amazing.

It may be something as simple as new twist on an old favorite. We tweeked the flowers and colors of my Summer Garden to create an all purple version as shown above. We also substituted silk ribbon with embroidery floss in the pincushion below. Wow, what a difference!


I just love it when I hear..."What if... or Can you?" That is an open invitation for me to play. Have a request? Just ask!

"Can you please add a scissors fob to my Garden of Delight Needlecase?" Yup!


"Can I crazy quilt my Big Strawberry?" Lets try!



"Would you please add some beads to the Pink Mountain Pincushion? How about turning the mountains into trees?" Great idea!


These are just a few from the end of last year. I am so very grateful to all my customers for supporting my shop, favoriting and sharing my creations and for those who are up for a little adventure in sewing and embroidery. They invest in my love of color, creating and of course play. I just couldn't do what I do without you!


(Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Public Television, wpt.org)

Before I go, I just feel like I want to send my love and gratitude to Nancy Zieman, who passed away last November. I've watched for as long as she has been on public television. She taught me how to sew every drapery that has ever hung in all of my homes. She gave me the confidence to sew the dress I wore to my son's wedding. She shared her knowledge, her passion and her love of teaching with me so that I can now pass it on to my grand children and to the people I meet. I'm sew for charity because of her end of show segments. I love to sew and I thank Nancy for infusing such a humble craft into an honored tradition. She was only 5 years older than myself and she never aged and always grew with time.
Thank you dear Nancy. You will be missed and your heart will beat on in those you taught.


I promise to be back much more frequently.
I have a new puppy who loves and destroys anything left in his very tall reach. He has been tossed from home to home in his short life so he's a bit of a clingy baby. We are working on it and he is well worth the effort. When I can get him to stop whining at my studio door, I'll be back better than ever. Does anyone know a dog whisperer?


Bye for now!