Bolt Neighborhood

Just In: Laura Gunn

by Gina

I'm a big, big fan of Laura Gunn's artwork.  I think Michael Miller Fabrics have done a great job of transferring her paintings onto cloth too.  We recently received her Garden Wall line and I think it's lovely.  I'm also a big fan of hounds tooth and am really appreciating the combination of what is typically a crisp, clean pattern done in a soft, painterly way.  Super fun colors too!

I was feeling the need for a little switch up with some of the store decor the other day and asked April to do some magic with some new stretched prints.  She did two different groups of fabrics and they look fantastic!  Such a great, fast spruce up!  Super easy too.  You can check out her post on stretching fabric and get some tips to do some of your own.

Want to sew something with these beauties, but aren't sure how or what?  There's a Learn to Sew: Envelope Pillow class starting at Modern Domestic on February 23rd.  This is a great project for beginner sewists and these prints could spruce up any room!

We've been busy snapping some shots around the store to change up our website.  April took this one of the jelly thimbles and I had to share.  See you soon!

I FELT this was the best way to say I love you.

by Hannah
I’ve been wanting to make my own envelopes for quite some time now. I have no idea why I’ve had such an urge for such a little project but I just did. I found Valentine’s day the perfect opportunity. These Valentine’s day notes are fun for adults and children. I understand that my snail looks more like a whale so I think I’ll try the bear next with maybe some message like, “I bearly know you and I love you.” or “I love you so much, I can hardly bear it.”

You’ll need:
*¼ yard of felt or a couple 12”x18” sheets or more depending on how many you’re making
muslin
fabric scissors
tailor’s chalk or ball point pen
*Fabricmate fabric markers
butter knife
cookie cutters or any shape you want to trace
Liquid Stitch
*envelope or my template

1. Use the butter knife to carefully undo the glue that is holding the envelope together OR cut out the template.
2. Trace the opened envelope shape onto the felt.
3. Use Liquid Stitch  to glue your felt envelope into an envelope. You’ll glue exactly where you opened the paper envelope. Don’t glue too much or press it or it will go through the envelope and you won’t be able to put anything in it.
4. Now trace your critter or shape of choice and cut it out.
5. Cut out a few triangles of muslin for your message and dab the three corners with Liquid Stitch. Place them as shown.
6. Allow everything to dry. I gave it 1½ -2 hours
6. Write a love note with fabric markers, kiss it and make some more.

You can cut out a few squares of muslin and Liquid Stitch them to the front of the envelope, this way you can label them if you’re making them for an entire classroom or big group.

*These are best because they won’t bleed and kids can decorate how they want.
*I always choose wool/rayon felt because of the quality and we have it by the yard.

Download Envelope template

Local Favorite: Amy Dotts

--gina

We're starting to add some new regular features to the Bolt Neighborhood Blog, including featuring some of our neighbors and friends.  Each month we'll boast about a person, place or thing that we think is great.  This month we're talking about Amy Dotts.  She just opened up shop down at 29th and Alberta.  She uses fabulously bold cotton prints for party dresses and offers such fun options for layering like bloomers and petticoats.  It just so happens she's having a party next weekend, February 4th, all day.  Stop in and check it out!

A reminder: we're having a tube sale this weekend!  That means all fabric rolled on tubes (as opposed to folded and rolled on a flat bolt) will be 10% off.  If it's already marked down you can take an extra 10% off!

And possibly even bigger news is that we'll be open on Mondays starting this Monday, January 30th.  The door will be unlocked from 10-6!

Surprise Sale this weekend!

--gina

We're throwing a "see you next year, January" sale this weekend, January 28th and 29th.  Both days all fabric on tubes will be 10% off regular price, or an additional 10% off sale prices.  This includes knits, wools, silks, apparel weight cottons, oilcloth, coated cottons, canvas and other heavy weight fabrics, as well as Liberty of London! The other perk--with purchases over $50, you'll receive a free copy of this really cool Portland guide book, while supplies last.  It's a great book to have on hand, for either guests staying with you or for yourself, when you need a few ideas of things to check out in our fair city. 

Oh, and the photo above is of new prints, including this super adorable squirrel-acorn print on corduroy.  These guys aren't on tubes though, so they'll be regular price this weekend.  I just couldn't resist sharing a pic of the newbies!

See you this weekend!

Fabric ink, napkin rings and buttonholes

--gina

A few weeks ago I had a crafting weekend at the coast with a pair of great friends.  I was determined to get through some things that have been on my list for waaaaaaay too long.  I also was determined to get comfortable with my buttonholer on my sewing machine.  I was successful on both fronts!  Over the weekend I completed 16 buttonholes, and they look good. 

One of the projects I brought (and finished) was a set of easy napkin rings for us to use every day.  We use cloth napkins and sometimes it's hard to remember who had which napkin the night before.  Other times it's challenging to convince my three year old that my napkin is not his.  So, I got this idea to make personalized rings.  I whipped them up quickly and there are a few things I would do differently.  I used a Moda Cross Weave fabric for my ring (shown above) and the weight was perfect.  I used Westminster Shot Cottons for the others and they were a bit too light weight (shown below).

The length is also something I changed up.  I made the boys' rings longer so I could easily stamp their names on them.  I'm not sure it's the best length.  I think the shorter length of mine works nicely to easily cinch up the ring.  My ring's finished length is 10.5", the boys' is 15.5".  I also got a little creative with some fabric ink and rubber stamps.  I headed over to Collage with my son and we chose a set of letters, a blue ink pad and a fancy dragon stamp.  (I also discovered that the more detailed the stamp, the more challenging it is to get a really good image on fabric, at least for the novice I am!)

Just In

--gina

I find it rather challenging to find attractive knits.  I'm so, so, so excited about these.  I hope you all are too!  New knits for your enjoyment.  These came in yesterday along with some woven buddies, also one of kinds, from designers' cast-offs.  We've got some great books and patterns working with knits too, if you need a jumping off point. 

Shot Stripes in 2012

-April

Yes, shot cottons are great but did you know about their sibling shot cotton stripes? I have a thing about stripes, I heart them! These are some of the richest and most lovely additions to my ever growing stripe collection. I have heard many a quilter loving these stripes and using them as a staple in their quilts.  Looking ahead into 2012 an all stripe quilt is on my list.  I treated myself to a quarter yard of a dozen different shot stripes for inspiration. 

Naturally there are other items on my 2012 list that I hope to get done. First on the list, FINISH two other quilts from years past(top is done, bottom is cut, batting is ready to go). More on that later. Second on the list, trying some new to me quilting (Elizabeth Hartman's Sparkle Punch Quilt).

I polled the staff here at bolt on what is on their 2012 list of things to sew. Here are a few answers: "Continue working on my son's never ending life quilt", "get into more apparel sewing" ,"Rooibos Dress". I won't name names.... perhaps we can hold the ladies to these aspirations at a later date. Have you started your list for 2012?

 

New Liberty

New Liberty of London prints arrived today...

Looking Back Local 2011

-April

Looking back on last year I wanted to share some tidbits about 2011.

We are so very lucky to have such talented folks live in and around this fine city of Portland. Not surprisingly some best selling items of last year were from locals.

The most popular pattern of 2011 was The Crepe dress by Colette.  (Pause for applause and joyous cheering)! This dress can be sewn up in so many different combinations very dressy to totally casual. I think that is a sign of a great pattern when it can be so versatile......always a hit. 

Four other Collette Patterns were among the top sellers of 2011, including Negroni, Violet, Sencha and Ginger. Most of those patterns are labeled as beginner, and we think that is great that so many beginning sewers are taking the plunge into garment sewing. We look forward to seeing some of those finished garments uploaded onto our flicker pool, or shown off in person.

In the books category Modern Log Cabin Quilting by Susan Beal got the top pick among our local bunch.  The interview with Susan was one of my favorite posts on Bolt's blog last year. I love to see the studios and get an insight into other sewers spaces and places. 

Another contender was Elizabeth Hartman's A Practical Guide to Patchwork  (Elizabeth is coming out with another book Modern Patch Work this year that is on our radar). In case you did not know Elizabeth is one of the stellar teachers down at our sister shop Modern Domestic. You could learn to quilt from the author herself.

If you feel like 2012 is the year you are going to do more sewing, or learn to sew, any of these titles would be a great place to get started.

If you missed out on any of these great patterns and books, stop by and see what your missing.

Happy Sewing in 2012!

Just In

--gina

We're back!  Holiday down time has been enjoyed, inventory has been counted and we're ready for a new year.  We received some great new pieces on tubes right before we closed up a couple weeks ago.  Generally the pieces on tubes are end runs from designers.  These tend to be more apparel appropriate fabrics.  They're really fun for me to pick out for a couple of reasons.  The first being that I have no idea at all what I'll be shown when I meet with my reps and I can imagine these pieces made up into a wider variety of things than the quilting weight cotton prints.  The black and cream piece above I envisioned as a vintage Vogue pattern of some sort, maybe a 1940s era design, with simple lines, or maybe the Colette Peony dress or a simple pencil skirt....so many options!

A few more interesting pieces--a cream, soft wool with these mauve flowers every so often.  I love the combination of a wool with tropical looking flowers.  The piece next to it is a two-faced denim and golden velveteen.  Oh my.  Really, who doesn't want some of that in their life?  We just may be seeing a sample whipped up with this soon...stay tuned!  We have a number of lovely wools still in stock, many of which would stitch up beautifully into a cozy hooded scarf.  Remember that fantastic project?

We're excited for this coming year.  We have some new things planned and we're bringing back some other things--like the Organization of the Month program.  I'll be posting soon about January's organization and how you can help us support them.  Happy New Year to you all!