Traveling Creatively - Paris

We don't usually post personal photos and stories on the StitchCraft blog, however I thought I'd share some of the creative aspects of my recent trip to Paris and London.  I choose to share, as I relied on blogs of like-minded individuals and personal creative contacts to plan my visits.

Between the charming old buildings and welcoming cafes, I keep my eye out for the things that interest me most.  While I had jotted a few spots down from my research, I stumbled upon a few pleasant surprises.  Spotted at the end of a side street, this was an adorable shop with buttons, trim, a bit of fabric (Liberty) and wool.  Just what one would envision a small Parisian store to be.  No English speakers and quite a few customers.  I did purchase a pair of Eiffel Towel shaped scissors.

Another surprise was in the BHV department store.  Not a glitzy landmark but we stopped in and found it to be a huge shop with everything!  Power tools to high ticket purses.  My happy stumble was it's  arts and craft department!  Full selection of fine art supplies along with trendy craft items.  Washi Tape, scrapbooking items, and a large display of decoupage (pictured).  That seamed to be a big trend.  They had a line of wonderful printed tissue paper and medium (like a Mod Podge).  I brought some candy printed papers (not surprised?) and other bright and fun choices.

We did stop by the famous Galeries Lafayette department store that had it's Christmas decor and holiday windows on display.  The three-story tree was a color changing marvel of sparkly beauty.

High on my bucket list was a visit to a Paris flea market.  While I had originally intended to make a pilgrimage to the famous (and giant) Clingancourt market,  the talented Kaari Meng from French General told me about the Porte Vanves flea as an alternative.  We briefly chatting at Quilt Market and I took her advice seriously, knowing that we both like small, sewing related treasures.  I was not disappointed!

I was able to find some buttons, a bit of trim and fabric and some original fabric design sketches.  Not too big, not too small - and friendly.  I'll be back.

My husband was a sport and trudged around with me, checking emails and eventually finding a bench to relax.  He got to fulfill his wish to visit some food markets.  While the fruits and veggies aren't fresh like they are in Florida, it was mushroom season.  Many of our meals included many popular French fungi.

Thanks to my friend, Jean, I was directed to La Droguerie.  Charming old wood shelves and floors filled with crafting goods.  Glass cabinets of samples and hanging displays provide inspiration to customers who wait in line for a staff member to help select their purchases.  Crafters can choose a sample and the sales associates will help them choose the items necessary and then provide instructions.

Beads and findings are kept in large jars that are brought to us to make our choices.  I came home with lots of pretty little things to satisfy the magpie in me.  I also grabbed a few fat quarters of fabric that I had never seen as well as some pretty binding by-the-yard. [ Leave your tired significant others that have no interest in crafts behind, as there is no place to sit.]

A wonderful surprise was stumbling upon a weekend exhibit/show of a French fiber and felt artists group at the Viaduc des Artes.  The collaborative display of this art medium was spectacular.  Dresses, coats, hats, creatures, jewelry and more - all from felt and fibers.

I hope you enjoyed some of the photos from the creative parts of my vacation.  I'll post some of the London photos, too.  Cheers!

December 1 - Creative Grids at StitchCraft

Join us at StitchCraft this Saturday, December 1, for an event featuring Creative Grids rulers and templates! We'll have a representative on hand giving demonstrations using all the latest tools to help make precise cutting easier.

Here's how the schedule shapes up (HA!):

10:30  AM - Hexagons - featuring Hex N' More
11:30 AM - Circles - featuring Circle Savvy
1:00 PM - Strips - featuring 120 Degree, Storm at Sea, and Trapezoid Strip Ruler
2:00 PM - Squares - featuring Square It Up or Fussy Cut and Log Cabin Trim Tool

This event is free. We hope to see you on Saturday!

Happy Thanksgiving

Everyone here at StitchCraft wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

We will be closed on Thursday, November 22, and back to our regular hours Friday and Saturday (from 10 AM - 5 PM). See here for details about our Shop Small Saturday sale!

Thank you for supporting your local crafting community, and we hope to see you soon!

Small Business Saturday Sale at StitchCraft

Please remember to support your local businesses this Saturday, November 24th, 2012, on Small Business Saturday! (Well, please support your local businesses every day, as well as for Small Business Saturday!)

In conjunction with Small Business Saturday, StitchCraft is having a sale - 25% off all "Grab and Go" items like pre-cut fabrics (charm packs, jelly rolls, bundles, etc.), notions, threads, books and patterns. The sale does NOT include fabric on the bolt (meaning, if we have to cut it, it's not on sale!), gift certificates, classes, or machine services. The sale is this Saturday, November 24, 2012.

Thank you so much for supporting StitchCraft and our local crafting community! We hope to see you soon!

American Express is the founder of Small Business Saturday and offers a $25 statement credit to American Express card holders who spend $25 or more at a qualifying small business on Saturday, November 24th. You must enroll your card to be eligible, and enrollment is limited. The official details are HERE.

Circle Savvy!

Have you tried the Circle Savvy yet? It's a Creative Grids ruler by Swirly Girls Design, and it makes cutting circles, semi-circles, and quarter-circles a piece of cake! It cuts from 3" to 15-1/2" and any size in between in half inch increments. Now you don't have an excuse for making those quilts with circles or rings!

Come see the Circle Savvy ruler in action at StitchCraft on December 1 at our Creative Grids event. We'll have demonstrations all day by Creative Grids reps and there is no need to register! We also have several patterns in stock that specifically use the Circle Savvy.

This makes circles seriously easy. Look at what came together in just a few minutes!

Jaybird Quilts Hex N More & Pattern Restock

Our last bunch of Hex N More rulers sold out quickly, but we just got a restock! It's such a versatile tool; it gives you 4 sizes of 4 shapes (Hexagons, 60 Degree Triangles, Half Hexagons, and Jewels). The Hex N More is the brainchild of Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts. She has great tutorials on her site, including several for using this ruler. 

We also have patterns in stock that go with the Hex N More. 

Have you used the Hex N More yet? We'd love to hear what you think about it!

V and Co.: Simply Color

V and Co.'s new Simply Color is simply beautiful! We have several bolts of the Ombre solids, as well as coordinating Junior Jelly Rolls. We also have regular Jelly Rolls and Charm Squares featuring the patterned fabric of the Simply Color line.

We're really looking forward to seeing what you make with the ombre solids. To get your creative juices flowing, here's a quick and easy baby quilt tutorial from the designer. I'm going to see what happens when I use an ombre solid with Eleanor Burns' Braid in a Day!

Quilt Market Recap, and Note to Our Ten Buck BOM Participants!

We're still unpacking from Quilt Market and have lots of goodies to share! Tomorrow, Saturday November 3rd at 1 PM, we'll be having a Market Recap and Show and Tell at the shop. We hope you can come by!

Also, if you participate in the Ten Buck BOM, please note that we're not having our usual sit-down presentation on November 10th. Everyone is looking forward to the World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach, so hopefully you'll be at the show! Please come by StitchCraft on Saturday, November 3 or November 10 to pick up your November block. Here's a great suggestion - come by tomorrow to pick up your block AND see the Quilt Market Show and Tell!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Quilt Market Houston - Inspiration Overload!!

Houston Quilt Market is a yearly whirlwind trip that brings everyone from all aspects of the quilting world together.  Fabric companies and their designers, book authors and their publishers, every cool and necessary gadget and their distributors gather under one roof and we all leave recharged (and a bit tired!)

Here are a few (I took a lot!) to give you a little preview of what inspired us.  We will have a market recap and show and tell of all of the great things we brought back with us and order to come in.  We will also let you know what trends we see for the coming year.  We are so excited and inspired and hope you will be too!!  [The above photo is from the Hoffman booth.  They are introducing Bali Pops in single tone packs.  The sample quilt was done with the blues package.]

Hoffman also is introducing Snaps and Crackers (their version of the 5" and 10" precuts).

We LOVED everything Sue Spargo had.  Her school house was eye candy!

More Sue Spargo and the ever popular hexagons.

Is this not an amazing quilt!!  I love it!  A bargello quilt out of solids in the Timeless Treasures booth.

Melody Miller has designer some awesome new retro-inspired fabrics.  She had samples out of her new designs in everything from chairs and pillows to  dresses, kitchen towels and of course, quilts.  My favorite booth!   Also new is more Hello Kitty fabric!!  Adorable apron and bag on on of the sales associates.

Glamping in the Moda Booth (what do you think I thought of THIS?  hee hee)


More photos to come.  We'll have a whole display done for Saturday, too!  With some cool show and tells and demos, too!

Quilt Market Here We Come!

This is my very empty suitcase.

  

I plan on filling it up with lots of exciting and fresh new products and ideas for you in HOUSTON!  We are scheduled to fly out to Houston tomorrow for the International Quilt Market.  This to-the-trade-only show hosts just about anyone and everyone connected with the quilting industry from all over the world.  Information and inspiration overload and a huge amount of fun!  The quilt show that is so very famous and known to be one of the pinnacle shows is up for our viewing.  Every fabric company has a booth, along with the providers of machines, threads, patterns, rulers, you name it!

Market is kicked off Thursday night with the Fab Shop Network dinner (we are building our website so you KNOW we have to hide the bunny, too!)  Friday is School House.  More about that in my next post.  I'll post from market here, as well as on our Facebook page.   I have figured out how to upload photos from to my ipad so I will include some good, visual quilting eye candy for your enjoyment!!
See you soon!!

Made at StitchCraft

Here are some of our latest projects featuring fabric and supplies from StitchCraft!

We love this modern quilt made from Denyse Schmidt's Chicopee fabric. The pattern comes from Modern Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman.

The Buggy Barn Yarn Dyed fabrics are perfect for rag quilts - super soft and snuggly. 

Finally, here is the Metro Bag (pattern is online at Grand Revival Designs) made from Jay McCarroll's Center City fabric. We added a snap enclosure and a large button.

What are you working on lately?  Remember, we love when you share your projects with us in the shop or on our Facebook page!

Red, White and Beautiful

Did you make it by the South County Civic Center yesterday to view the Red, White, and Beautiful exhibit from the Gold Coast Quilt Guild?  It was remarkable!   Talented ladies that put it together have a great creative eye.  Here are just a few of the 64 quilts on display.

The quilts will be on exhibit at the Mancuso World Quilt show in West Palm Beach on November 8-10 at the Palm Beach Convention Center.  (The Baltimore album quilt shown above is the raffle quilt.  For $1, you can have an opportunity to win it!)

Sat., Oct. 13, 2012 - We're Open 10 AM - 4 PM

Please note! We'll be closing up a wee bit earlier than usual on Saturday, October 13, 2012. StitchCraft will be open from 10 AM until 4 PM on Saturday, and back to our regular hours after the weekend.

Need something to do with that extra hour? Come check out the "Red, White and Beautiful" quilt Preview Exhibition at the Palm Beach County South County Civic Center. It's hosted by the Gold Coast Quilter's Guild and features all red and white quilts. The event is free and open to the public from Noon to 5 PM on Saturday, October 13, 2012. (If you miss the Preview, you can catch the exhibit at the World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach in November.)