Life is o.k., I have a new quilt pattern😊

 In October we flew to Florida, to our small condo, with intension of going back to Minnesota for Thanksgiving.  When we left, Covid was at 1400 cases a day, by Thanksgiving time is was edging 10,000.  We made the difficult decision to stay in Florida.  Although it is lovely here most of the time, missing time with family has been so difficult.  We know we are not alone, although that has not made this crazy year any easier.

We celebrated Thanksgiving on the beach, grilling burgers with friends in our bubble, mostly at a distance. 

During this time I have been sewing up a storm.  I won a prize from Free Spirit Fabrics for participating in a quilting contest and needed a pattern for precut 10 inch squares.  I couldn't really find a project from my cartoon bubble so I developed one.

In creating that project I decided to create a pattern for other's.  The following is a link to purchase the pattern called Tartan.  It is simple, beautiful and show cases fabric lines in their glory when prepackaged.

Here you go. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/893076984/tartan-quilt-pattern

With Love from your retired Facs teacher,

Jane

I am still here! What is up with me? And oh, I have written a pattern for a quilted runner.

It sure has been a while.  

Last year while on our motorcycle vacation I wrote about quilt shops.  Of course, as you all know, so much has changed.  We planned on going southwest this year to the 

Grand Canyon, Zion and several parks in between. It was supposed to happen during May.  Obviously, we passed on the trip, due to COVID-19.  

I have been busy but also in a funk.  I have finally decided to get my act together and write something.  "HI"

Also....so busy! We moved back to the East side of the twin cities, remodeled a part time home in Florida and have a grand baby.  Yeah!

During all of this I have been busy quilting and enjoying my time in the sewing room.  I will write about several of my projects later.  Right now, I would like to talk about my pattern for a simple table runner.  I wrote this during the late winter when I wanted a fun quick table runner for our new home.  I like to think of it as a study of color, light and dark.  

I have assembled several different runners both available on etsy on the following links.

The first is made for Kaffe Fassett Collective fabric.  No matter what that team is so good at what they do and their fabrics always bring a smile to ones face.

Here it is.  https://www.etsy.com/listing/775536187/quilted-table-runner-all-kaffe-fassett?ref=shop_home_active_74&frs=1

The second is a fall/winter table runner:  The theme, the famous retro pick up truck.

Here it is:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/856345050/table-runner-reversible-featuring-fall?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1

Lastly, if you would like to make your own, the pattern is available for immediate printing on etsy for only $5.  It is great for a beginner quilter but also fun to play with for those of you skilled in quilting and need a stash buster.  

Here is the link for the pattern:   https://www.etsy.com/listing/774472003/pattern-quilted-table-runner-called?ref=shop_home_active_1

I hope you are all doing well and coping with COVID-19.  I know my teacher friends are struggling, and taking on so many jobs with on line learning.  Many of you are in person and on line, which I know, brings so much stress to all of you.  

I wish that I could fix the craziness and take it all away for you.  Life has thrown us a very large curve ball this year and whew, it can only get better.  PLEASE!

With love from your retired FACS teacher, 

Jane 

My husband and I on a mini bike trip

Fall/Winter reversible Table Runner

Shop number 2 of 2 as we visit New Hampshire for a wedding, Portsmouth, NH

A visit to Portsmouth Fabric company was icing on the cake to our trip.  A short walk from our hotel and a small tour of the village as I strolled the sidewalks was a joy.

But wow, when I walked in the door my heart skipped.  Walls filled with glorious fabric of all sorts dominated by my favorite FreeSpirit fabric friends Kaffe Fassett Collective and Tula Pink.  Whoop, whoop!

I was told they have the largest collection on the east coast, and I believe them.  They even have some oldies; but for me, the selection of basics that I rarely see is what got my credit card ringing.  Wowza, I am so glad my husband does not pay attention to the cost of fabric!

2 things.....

1. They also rip their fabric.  Is this an East Coast thing?

2.  They will be celebrating a big anniversary this year!

If you live in New England and you love fabric of color you need to go to this shop.  I know it is touristy, I know parking is a struggle, but it will be well worth the stop.

They have quilting supplies ,sewing machines and notions, a web site and they will ship.

I mean, look at the color! This place is small but packed full of a seamstresses joy!  Prices are good and I know that even though I live thousands of miles away this will be a go to online shop for me.

I hope you have enjoyed my shop visits.  I love the fabric and now I have to get my act together and start using some of it.  Oh my poor non sewing boys are going dislike my fabric purchasing problem; someday, when I am 6 feet under.  (A family joke)

Until the next journey.

With love from your retired FACs teacher, Jane

A New Hampshire wedding = Opportunity for more fabric/quilt shop checks. #1 of 2

Some, may have been following my blog as I motorcycled through Canada and then U.S.

We drove back to the Midwest, Chicago to be exact.  We got our sons car, drove to Iowa, stayed the night at my 93 year mother in law's home, washed our clothes, drove back to Chicago, with my mother in law, and flew to New Hampshire for our nieces beautiful wedding.

(Speaking of my mother in law, I will blog about her someday soon.  Amazing seamstress in her day)

Any who, I made time to visit two fabric shops while there.  The first was in North Hampton, NH, approximately 8 miles from Portsmouth.  North Hampton is a beautiful community set on the ocean.  At first glance you will be overwhelmed by the grand homes that indicate nothing but wealth.  Frankly it is worth a visit just to see the homes.

The shop, Pintuck Purl, is set back off of a main road in a small strip mall.  This shop has fabric for everyone.  Quilting, garments,  and upholstery.  It also houses a fantastic collection of yarns (and it killed me not to buy, but yeah I have too much already).  Some of the yarns were locally dyed for that shop specifically.  Along with the yarn and fabrics it has patterns for garments (including retro patterns, many that I made in my youth) and all notions that your heart desires.

They house a nice classroom/workspace too!

The people were lovely, helpful and enthusiastic.  They will ship.

I may even put my nose in their business when a customer asked about putting a zipper in a cosmetic bag.  ( always a teacher, sometimes a busy body )

And yes, I purchased.  Got me some Tula.  I have restraint on yarn, not fabric.  One thing different, because they started as a garment shop, they rip their fabric.  This is a great debate among sewers.  It is what they do.  For those of you that wonder why, it is about strait of grain.

If you live close and haven't been, live far and are visiting, check it out, a nice shop.

With love from your retired FACs teacher, Jane

Day 14 and 15 on our Motorcycle journey with a side of quilting

Today I am doing my last blog from our motorcycle trip.  We have family obligations for the next few days and no time for side trips.  I didn't go to a shop yesterday because on Sundays shops are often closed or have short hours.  I had difficulty making it to an open shop.

And, on a side note, three cheers to my husband for supporting my crazy quilt store stops and  supporting my hobby, quilting and sewing.

Yesterday we traveled from Lake Placid to Rochester.  Today we traveled through New York, Pennsylvania and stopped in Sandusky, Ohio.  Tomorrow we stop in Chicago for our family "stuff".

We stopped early on our journey today in Buffalo, NY.  I intended to get to two shops today but it just didn't work out.

But wow, I hit a gold mine in Buffalo.  I stopped at " Sew What?"  The shop is filled with novelty themed prints and I mean filled.  I couldn't possibly list all of the options but some are: sports, holidays, foods, summer, east coast,  outdoors, characters, cartoons and more. They have a ton of panels,  a huge wall of colorful blenders and a generous selection of white on white.

The shop also houses a small classroom, notions, and cutting supplies.

This shop has a good online presence and sells on their website and Etsy.  The owner and I had a great chat about surviving in business.  They decided 5 years ago to sell online and this decision has helped them find their niche in the fabric world.  Make sure you stop in to see the shop or look it up online.  It is well worth a look.

I hope that you have enjoyed my journey with quilt shops in North America.  Watch for more reviews as I travel.  I like doing these reviews and of course buildings my stash.

  Although I love fabric and I admit to buying more than I need, I truly do want to help small businesses survive and grow.   I feel as though making others aware of shops it does help the industry. I once owned a gift shop and I know the challenge that many business owners face.

Keep sewing, keep teaching others to sew, and continue to be creative!

With love from your retired FACs teacher, Jane

Day 13: Trip home from Nova Scotia to Minnesota, with a side of quilting in Littleton, NH

Today we traveled from Maine through New Hampshire, Vermont and ended our day in Lake Placid, New York.

We stopped in Littleton, NH for lunch and quilt shop investigation.  😄 Littleton is a wonderful community full of shops and restaurants.  It is set in a play ground for summer fun and thrives on tourism.

This banner is on the street but when you walk in the door you are in a book store.  You need to find the steps and go to the lower level.  You can also enter from the lower level.

The store is filled with yummy fabric.

There is an adorable New Hampshire panel with fun matching fabrics on display.

There are many bolts of fabric along with a class sewing area.

There are many quilts on display for inspiration for a quilter.

I had so much fun browsing,touching, and feeling the fabrics

There is a great selection of bright fabrics, grunge, batiks, kids prints, holiday prints and more.

It was nice chatting with the shop employee.  We had a motorcycle chat.

They do not ship but upon request will mail.

I recommend! Stop in and buy some fabric......I did 😁 Shock! Haha!

With love from your retired FACs teacher, Jane