Time for a new swim bag...

My youngest's swim/summer bag has seen better days and it's time for a new one, and quick! Since there are three kids in my family they all have to be responsible for their own stuff. Besides the fact that I just don't have enough hands to carry everyone's stuff, I believe in teaching responsibility early on. While carrying your own towel, goggles, and swim rocket my not seem like a big deal, let me tell you the first time one of them doesn't have what they need they learn really quick not to leave their bag on the counter. Therefore, when one six-year old's bag is falling apart, she is not a happy camper. There is no way she wants to carry all her stuff in her arms. She needs her stuff all together, easy to carry, and ready for action!

Here is a super quick pattern that Robin whipped up. You can use any cotton print that will personalize it to your child. Sarah just finished her first year in Little League, so this print is right up her alley.

We used Simplicity 1602. All you need 5/8 yards of a cotton print, 5/8 yards of a coordinating rip stop, and 3 yards of a drawstring cord.



Ironing on some fusible interfacing to add some "hand" and body to the fabric.


Laying out the pattern.



Same for the lining.


Marking the drawstring line.



Sewing the side seam.



Drawstring pulled through.



Drawstring pinned to the bottom of the pack. This is what makes the backpack straps.



Finished product. One very happy six-year-old ready for a swim day!

Enjoy!

Hello Kitty and Sponge Bob jump off the bolt...

One of our sample sews made these adorable items from our new Hello Kitty and Sponge Bob cotton fabrics.

I love how simple this t-shirt dress is. You can go to anyone of your favorite retail stores, we got this one from Target, and with less than a yard of fabric, you have this adorable dress. If you have a really little one a onesie works perfect as well.

      

The apron and pot holder are perfect for your little chef. What little one wouldn't love to cook or grill wearing one of these.

     

What is most appealing, being the mom of a boy is that by making your own you can choose from so many great boy prints. For some reason out there is the retail world boys still don't have as many options. Really, if you have a boy or a girl we have the print for you. Whether your little one is super girly or you boy is preppy, if they just can't live with their favorite tv characters, or sports is their number one go to, we have a print for them. If you don't see it online yet, just know we're getting it up as fast as we can. This month the cotton is just flowing in. Keep checking in to see all our new prints.

"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope."...Here comes Valentine's Day!

I can't believe it's almost February. It's time to show the special people in your life you love & appreciate them. Hopefully you're doing this everyday, but on this day maybe take it one step further. Here are a few cute ideas...







Love the hearts on the elbows. So sweet, yet effective. I can think of a few other places your honey may like to see those hearts, but I will leave that to your imagination. All I have to say is even a non sewer can cut and paste!

I just stumbled across this website, Design Finch. What a great resource for making your own Valentine cards. 

The Oj and the gold fish are just too darn cute. Who wouldn't love to get these as Valentines?

Check out our Valentine fabrics, felts, trims, and rhinestone hearts. Perfect for Valentine's day. Whether you want to get crafty with your kids or spice it up for your honey, we have the perfect items for you to make it a special day.

Echino is online....

We've had Echino in the retail store for awhile now, but I was so happy when I heard I was getting stock and able to put it online. It's beautiful, modern, and fun. Echino is a line of fabrics designed by Etsuko Furuya. She graduated from Department of Textile Design Textile Kyoto Art College. On her website you can see more of her works, including ceramics, bags, and of course her full line of fabric.

Here are just a few of the prints we have...

Honestly it is hard for me to pick which one I like the best. The colors of the Echino are so vivid and the prints are so quirky, it really has a great range, and for me that always make a fabric appealing.

While I can imagine this fabric looking amazing in a frame on my wall (really I may be doing that this week), there are many other projects people have come up with. Here are a few...



Check out this web site for some inspiration. I love the peasant dress style. The first year it makes a lovely dress, but what I love even more is the second year, when they have a growth spurt, and the dress turns into the perfect tunic top over simple leggings.

Check out this Messenger Bag....



While the directions are in Japanese I have been told most sewers can figure it out.

Here are just a few pictures to get you inspired to buy a piece, or two, of this great fabric.




Need the purse hardware, buy it here.




We have both these patterns, as well as many others, that would work great for these prints. Enjoy!

Hello Kitty goes Rock & Roll

If you had asked me 5 years ago if Hello Kitty was going to join forces with Kiss I'm sure my answer would have been no, but obviously I was way off base.

Here is what I saw on the cutting table yeaterday....

 I have to say I love this! We just received this darling line of Hello Kitty from David Textiles. The cotton prints are crisp and the two fleece panels makes great blankets. Here are a few of the patterns of what we got in...

                                                                                                

Click here to see all the cotton prints or here if you want to check out the fleece panels.

One of our buyer made up the fleece panels. While the lighting in the store isn't great, these panels are.

                   

Aren't these fun? You might think only little girls love Hello Kitty, but not so. My teen daughter and all her friends are into Hello Kitty. I think Hello Kitty is retro. Honestly I'm ot really sure, but I know we can't keep it on the shelf.  I have a feeling these prints are going to fly out of the store just as the other have.





I'm a big fan of PJ bottoms. I think the cotton prints would be perfect.  You could use one print for the majority of the pants, and than use another for the cuff.

Craftstylish says you’ll need:

• Favorite pair of pajamas


• Ironing board and iron


• 2 yards of main fabric, prewashed and pressed


• 1/4 yard contrast fabric, prewashed and pressed


• Cutting mat


• Fabric marker


• Seam ruler


• Ruler


• Scissors


• Pins


• Thread


• Sewing machine


• Safety pin


• 1 yard of 1-1/4-inch nonroll, sew-through elastic


• Seam ripper


• Approximately 60 inches of 1/2-inch ribbon

Check out our Notions section for most of the items she suggests. Our ribbons are here and more cotton that you know what to do with is here, that's if you haven't already put the Hello Kitty in your cart. LOL! Just a side note, if you love your first pair so much you have to make another, why not try flannel or fleece. Just a thought.

Here is a video that uses jeans to make the pattern. Looks like a great idea.

If you get started now you can have a great homemade gift ready for the holidays. Remember these prints are  online, as well as in the store.

What a cool visitor...

Last week one of the designers of a few of our Timeless Treasures cotton prints stopped by the store. I wish I was there to meet & greet, but after reading her blog it is clear she had a great time. Her prints are so fun & quirky. I see why the two women in the store picked them out. Considering the fact that we have thousands of prints I can imagine it was a real thrill to see the two customers eyeing her fabric!



Besides loving that Samarra blogged about her trip to our store, I also enjoyed the wrap skirt she referenced in her blog.



We carry this print in our retail store. Hopefully I will be able to get another piece and offer it online. I will link it to this blog as soon as I do.

Again, I want to thank Samarra and hopefully next time you visit you will drop me a note first. I would love to meet you.