New and Exciting this Summer

What?  It's July 20th?  Where did the first half of the summer go?  By the looks of the shop you would not be able to tell that we are 'off season'.  We have been so pleasantly busy with lots of great classes and events, plus amazing new fabrics coming in several times each week.

We have had both the Annual StitchCraft Challenge and the Florida Row by Row Experience going on  and we are so excited with the results of both!  We have met such amazing quilters from all over who have come to pick up our shop's unique bock.   We have had over 200 people sign up to participate in our challenge.  Wowza!!  We are getting all of our prizes and celebration in order for the September 2 deadline and September 6 participants' event.  It's not too late to participate!!

We have received some amazing fabrics - they continue to arrive several times a week.






They have included batiks (the pre-cuts from Timeless Treasures are delicious!), the remainder of the American Made Solids from Clothworks (we now have the entire collection), adorable childrens fabrics and panels and of course lots and lots of fabrics for the holidays - Christmas, Hanukkah and Halloween!!  

I especially adore these winter gnomes that arrived this week.  I am trying to decide if I should make a bag (the Fiji Tote is perfect to showcase a novelty print!) or a mini quilt.  Thoughts?

School will be starting in a month, as will Baby Lock's annual convention (new and amazing machines in our Destiny).  Lots and lots of classes being added to our calendar, including our ever popular classes for the holidays, and a special visit from Kaffe Fassett in October.  (this was just confirmed last week so the details are in the works).  

This is what is on my design wall (or actually my dining room table because I don't have a design wall at home that is useful).

Look familiar?  It's the quilt from Quilt Sampler magazine.  I am doing it in grays for a 50 Shades of Gray challenge.  Inner border on; now the piano keys.  My dilemma is how to quilt it.  I keep staring…
Thanks for visiting!  
Creatively,

Johanna

2014 Row by Row Experience

This summer we're so excited to be participating in the Row by Row Experience - a fun new statewide shop hop! (It kicked off yesterday, July 1, 2014, and goes until September 2, 2014.)

How does it work?? Visit any of the 38 participating FL shops in person (find out which ones on the Row by Row website or the Florida Row by Row Experience Facebook page) and receive a free pattern for a row. Create a quilt using at least 8 different rows and be the first to bring it into a participating shop to win a stack of 25 fat quarters (6-1/4 yards of fabric!). It must be quilted, bound, and labeled to be "finished!" You'll have a finished quilt to remind you of your fun summer traveling to quilt shops!

Each participating shop designed their own row. Since it is sea turtle nesting season now and we have Gumbo Limbo Nature Center here in Boca Raton, we thought a sea turtle themed row would be perfect! Our row is made by machine appliqueing the turtles, and we used some of our favorite batiks. The pattern is free, and we also have kits made up for $12 ($1 of the kit goes to Gumbo Limbo!).

We also have a custom license plate patch ($4.50 each). What a fun souvenir!

We hope to see you soon!

Ten Buck BOM 2014 - Sign up!

It is hard to believe that the 2013 Ten Buck BOM has come to a close.  We displayed our finished quilts in the Chocolate and Jelly Bean color ways this past Saturday as inspiration to our participants to finish their quilts.  (Last year everyone got so creative finishing with their blocks - we can't wait to see what the quilters do with the candy-themed ones!)  We will be sure to post photos when we can.

Missed out on the fun last BOM or had so much fun you can't wait to do it again?  Now is your opportunity to sign up for the 2014 program - which will begin on Saturday, March 8th.  You have your choice of two different color ways and two times for our super fun and entertaining Saturday Programs.  The times are 10 am or 1:00 pm.  Your color choices are:

French General

or

Black, White and Red

Here is how the Ten Buck Bom (also sometimes referred to as Second Saturday Sampler - which is what some of the great shops that used to be in the area called it)  works:

• Sign up by paying a $10 registration fee and choose your color choice.
• Come to StitchCraft on the Second Saturday of March to pick up your first block - the pattern and the fabric.  Stay and be entertained by Johanna and Raine and receive any explanation of the block.  Sessions are at 10 and 1:00.
• Complete your block at home before the next second Saturday. 
• Visit StitchCraft on the Second Saturday with your finished blocks.  YOU must come with YOUR block FINISHED.  You will receive the next block pattern and fabric for FREE!  
• Repeat the above every month!

some FAQ:  

MUST you attend each session?  You do not have to stay for each session but you must come in on the second Saturday.

Can I send someone in with my finished block?  No, someone cannot pick up your free block for you.  

What if I miss a month?  If you miss a month, you can pay $10 for the block that was missed and continue from there :)  You may also send someone in with $10 to pick up your block so you have it in time to finish it?  

What if I need help on a block?  Just ask us for help!!

How many blocks will there be?  This year we will have 10 blocks so that we may get back to beginning in January the following years.

Did we mention a theme?  Oh, yes, we will have a fun one!  Costumes and props and snacks and lots of entertainment!  

Sign up asap so we can make sure we have a block for you in March!!

Simple Sewing

Easy Upcycled T-shirt Pillows

(a super project for young sewists)

Do you have a pile of oh-so-adorable t-shirts from when you/your kids/your grandkids were small? (Before they had opinions about what they would or would not wear - when we could pick them up cute mementos or dress them in 'future lawyer' or 'grandmas rock') Being in a house of boys and dogs I am not willing to buy nice pillows for decoration on beds and sofas.  Not willing to toss some of the cute tees in boxes, I did a bit of crafting and ended up with upcycled cute pillows for nothing!

• Carefully cut the ribbed neck, sleeve and bottom bands off
• turn the t-shirt inside out
• sew or serge the open edges of the one sleeve, the bottom and neck.  I left one sleeve open for turning and stuffing.( you could also leave a 3 inches opening for turning along the bottom if you prefer stitching both sleeves
• Turn right side out
• Top stitch the sewn sleeve and neck  
• Stuff the t-shirt to your liking with your favorite stuffing, such as Polyfil or even scraps
• Turn a seem inside the open sleeve and top stitch closed  
• Enjoy your pillow - Steve enjoys his

Above is the reason for no nice throw pillows.  Now if someone could only post a tutorial on easy and permanent fur repellant on upholstery everything would be perfect!!

Happy Holidays from StitchCraft!!

Create a free greeting

Opus Tweet

Opus Tweet

Our next Block of the Month

We have had a lot of success with our Block of the Month programs, especially our applique projects.  The last few quilts have turned out so magnificent that we searched far and wide for something new and exciting.  From Australia comes Opus Tweet, an adorable design from Helen Stubbings at Hugs and Kisses. 

Dotty will once again coordinate this block of the month,  and the colors shown will be different (however if there are some who like the color combination shown we may make it available as well.)  Opus Tweet is an applique project - but one that can be done in any method of applique that you choose.  While Dotty teaches needle turn, Sarah teaches classes in machine applique and I am going to try using the special applique paper from hugs and kisses.   A little bit of hand embroidery finishes the blocks.

We are taking names for those interested in this BOM and official sign ups (with prices that we need to convert to American dollars) will be available by next week, along with any other details to share.

Stop in, call or email to reserve a spot in this brand new Block of the Month that will start in February!   

Follow my blog with Bloglovin