Learning to Let Holiday Things Go.

Christmas is nearly here and I'm trying to let things go. The last couple of weeks were full of minor medical emergencies with my oldest son, and somehow time just slipped away. It usually does this time of year, and even though I made sure to have less projects on my list this holiday season I'm finding myself out of time. And, that's okay. It's okay if the basement isn't cleaned and the floors aren't mopped. If I don't get my new messenger bag finished before I leave on vacation I'll still go on vacation (though I really really really want to finish it). What IS important is pie, sticky buns, wrapped presents, and really those things aren't even that important. It's my husband and boys that make this season so special, and I'm learning to let the other stuff go.

We'll be closing tomorrow at noon and we'll be closed the 25th and 26th. We'll close New Year's Eve at noon and be closed New Year's day. We got a new shipment of Moda in the shop a few new books and patterns and some really awesome filler for pin cushions. All online and in our brick and mortar store.

New Moda Fabrics. Click HERE to see online.

We'll be with family and on vacation so you won't be seeing a blog post for a week or so, but we'll be back with new projects for the new year. Have a very merry Christmas and blessed New Year.
Happy Sewing,
Love Jessie and Sue.

Messenger Bag

I can see the finish line as far as Christmas sewing goes. I've got one more project for a gift and then if I have time, one thing for myself. I think I can make it with time to spare, though in the interest of full disclosure you should know that my house looks terrible! There are toys and laundry and dirty dishes everywhere! In the words of Scarlet O'Hara "Oh fiddly dee, I'll think about that tomorrow"... or the day after that...

Today I finished a messenger bag for my Mom. She actually requested one and I don't blame her. It's a great size. It's not huge, but it easily fits all the things from my purse, a magazine, book or journal and is the perfect size for any tablet or e-reader device. This is the fifth time I've made this bag and I'm hoping to do it one more time (I desperately need a new purse before we leave for the holidays). I use the child's messenger bag pattern from the book "One Yard Wonders" (which we have in the store). I know it says child but it's just a great size for a medium sized bag! I don't change the dimensions at all. I did add a second interior pocket with one half made to fit a cell phone, but that's the only thing I did different.

The first few I made were very "geeky" in nature. We're talking comic book, Star Trek, and Doctor Who fabric. Since this one is for my mom I made it a bit more beautiful and quite a bit less nerdy then those. I used Moda's Fig Tree fabric, Tapestry (Click Here to see it on our website), for the exterior of the bag and Moda's Grunge in Rogue (Click Here). I also used a very heavy fusible interfacing on the exterior to give it staying power (I think the original pattern calls for home decor weight fabric and this allows you to use any fabric).

 It's a bit grey out today and the fabric is dark in nature so the pics didn't turn out as well as I'd like, but the bag turned out great. I love this project, it's one of the few I go back to again and again. It's really quick to make so if your looking for something fast this is for you.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to eat more cookies.
Happy Sewing,
Love Jessie and Sue too!

New Kaffe Fassett Fabrics!

Christmas Greetings to you all! Can you believe it's next week? Next week! Hannukka over, Thanksgiving done, just these last two holidays upon us. I can't wrap my mind around it, though I will admit this snow is so beautiful and doing a wonderful job of helping me be in the mood.

First Pattern and Kit for Bertie's Year Available Thursday

Wool club this week starts at 2pm and If your wanting to finish up the Judy Neimeyer things come in anytime. Kits for the first month of "Bertie's Year" will be available Thursday; we're using flannel for the background and wool for the appliqués.

Finished Bertie's Year.

We'll be open Monday and closing Tuesday at noon (Christmas Eve). We'll be closed the 25th and 26th to enjoy time with our loved ones.

We just received a nice big shipment of Kaffe Fassett fabrics. Click HERE to see them in our online shop or come into the store. Be on the lookout for new classes starting in the new year. What better resolution then to start a new project, learn a new skill, and meet new people.

I hope this last week before Christmas finds you filled with joy and peace.

Happy Sewing Dear Friends,

Love, Jessie and Sue.

A Scrappy Project

I (Jessie) have been sewing for a while, about as long as I've been married (which is much longer then I care to admit) and I know that some of you have been sewing longer then that. In that amount of time I have accumulated the largest bunch of scraps! I'm guessing some of your scrap piles have mine beat. Which raises the question what to do with these scraps. I hate to throw them away, which, I suppose, is why the pile is so large. Just my scrap christmas pile is starting to deserve a plastic bin all it's own. What's a crafty woman to do?!

Enter the patchwork Christmas pillow. The idea isn't completely mine I saw it awhile back out in the interwebs but I can't seem to locate the original now. Anyway I used 4X4 squares out of my assorted Christmas scraps and then used my secret patchwork trick, that I will now pass on  to you.

Lay out your squares on top of a piece of fusible interfacing. Iron in place.

This works for anything patchwork that could stand a bit of oomph, like pillows, purses, seat cushions etc. and makes it so much faster. I cut out a piece of fusible interfacing big enough for all the squares. Line the squares up right sides up wrong sides against the fusible side of the interfacing, with the squares touching. Iron. Now fold the interfacing and squares, right sides together, along each row and sew the entire row at once. Do this for every row and then every column. This is so much easier and faster then sewing each little square one at a time.

The fabrics are from my stash (meaning I'm not sure where they originated) but the backs of the pillows is fabric from the shop. I love the ric rac trim and kind of wish I had used it on both. I also think a trim with little poms would be adorable.  I made the back envelope style to slip the pillow in and out for easy washing. All in all this was a very satisfying and quick project.

So that was our first Sew Unique tip, do you have any tips you'd like to pass along?
Happy Sewing,
Love, Jessie and Sue.

Wool Patterns

From the shop today with big beautiful flakes swirling down outside. This is magic snow. The most beautiful and Christmasy stuff in the world. This kind of weather makes me want to curl up with a pot of tea or cup of coffee, some hand stitching, in front of the fireplace. The only thing I’m missing is the fireplace but that’s all right because right now I’m surrounded by bolts of beautiful fabric and inspiration everywhere. I can’t wait to start some new cozy project. Come in Wednesday for special sales, another stocking giveaway, and longer hours. We’ll be open until 7pm.

If your looking for new projects but you don’t want to leave the warmth of your house we’ve added new projects and patterns to the website. We’ve got a wonderful Moda quilt kit on sale 20% off! Now that’s something to think about a big warm quilt. Maybe embroidery is more your style, we’ve added lots of crabapple embroidery patterns (these are swoon worthy aren’t they?) we’re selling some of them with all the embroidery floss you’ll need. Perhaps you’re looking for a nice project to give you something to do during this blustery weather but you’re not looking to make a huge time commitment, check out these cute little patterns! And wonderful wool patterns too!

Click Here to see all Our patterns 

These sassy ladies came to work with me today. I love their Rosie the Riveter look. Their head scarves covering their victory rolls while they work the war effort. These ladies are Christmas presents for a few special ladies. Ladies I love that are tough and sweet and sassy in their own way. The head scarf fabric is all from fat quarters from the shop and the middle dolls red shirt is also from the shop (the pants were made from a pair of old jeans of mine lol).

What are you working on? Any projects you want to share, any stories that are making you crazy? Share in the comments. We love and read every single comment we get.

Stay warm and happy sewing,
Love Jessie and Sue.

Sewing Room Tours.

This tour has been in the works for what feels ages and I think you'll agree that it was worth the wait. Today we bring you a walk through Our very own Sue's Sewing room. Let me begin by saying that I (Jessie) love my sewing room. Having a dedicated space for crafting is wonderful, but what I have doesn't compare to Sue's glorious space. Her sewing room is on the second floor in a spacious room with big windows, tons of natural light, a walk in closet AND, Sue's Sewing Room has it's own bathroom!! Okay that's it for now I'll let the rest of the pictures do the talking.

Old Sewing notions abound.

Dress form, embroidery machine and ideas board.

Old cupboard filled to the brim with fabrics!

Scissors Block available in Store.

A work space that looks out onto spacious orchards.

I think you'll agree that her space is truly inspiring. We're hoping to see more fun sewing places in the future.

To all of you that came out on Small Business Saturday, Thank you! Also don't forget about our husbands stocking stuffer open house Dec 11 (any one can come not just husbands of course) our smalls will be on sale to better stuff your stocking AND we'll be doing another giveaway. Finally if your looking for a quick Christmas project don't forget about our free downloadable stocking pattern, click here.

I hope your enjoying this holiday season!
Happy Sewing
Love, Jessie and Sue!