by Amy
Instructions here. Felt, ribbon, and fabric glue at Bolt!
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by Gina
I Love Red Bird Studio. They opened up shop soon after I opened up Bolt and I have loved them from the beginning. I don't know if it's the whimsical drawings, the amazing cut paper pieces, or the adorable and clever silk screened Ts and other goodies that make me love them so. The shop is located between 29th and 30th. When I walk to work I get to pass their window and be inspired and amused. They have some amazing window display talent! (I tried to snap a photo, but it would never do it justice.)
Ok, enough of my gushing, let's get down to the details. This is a perfect stop off for any sweet gift you may need, either for yourself or others. Hand silk screened or painted or drawn note pads, clothing, bags, cards, even sushi pin cushions! They are stocked with Valentine's cards, a few shown above. Mel and Paul are often working on something whenever I stop in and it's always fun to see what they're doing. I love how personal this store (and many of them on Alberta) is, that you can see the items come to life right in front of you. There's always something new to find in this little gem of a store. Treat yourself or someone you love this Valentine's!
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.
--gina
Books are great, aren't they? A good sewing book is both eye candy and a wonderful transporter of information all in one. We have a great selection of books that fit that bill. I currently don't have a space where I keep my sewing supplies out, ready for use, so sometimes sewing just doesn't happen because I don't want to take the time to unpack and repack everything before and after. I can happily and easily pass an hour or two browsing through a sewing book, getting ideas, letting my imagination wander, mentally preparing for when I do have the time to unpack, repack and sew in between.
Our book selection includes a group of Portland-authored gems we're so proud to offer. In addition to thoughtful, instructional, project-based books, we carry some gorgeous ones that are heavier on the images and lighter on the instruction. These are the books I can get lost in, slowly turning pages, taking in all the fine details and incredible designs.
Thanks to lovely customer Michelle for letting us snap a shot of one of her holiday creations! Looking to make a banner of your own and want a little assistance? Pick up Autumn's banner pattern next time you're in. What a special gift for any one, for any occassion.
Please make note of our holiday closure times. We will close at 3 pm on Thursday, December 22nd and reopen Tuesday, December 27th at 10 am. We will also be closed Sunday, January 1st. We'll put up a few more reminders as we get closer.
--gina
We've started carrying this great wool felt. Many of you have asked for 100% wool felt in the past and we now have a product that we like! It comes in 12" squares, great colors. You all are picking it up so quickly we're hardly able to keep it stocked. We just received a shipment and have more on order. It's perfect for applique on the stocking or tree skirt you're busy making!
I branched out a bit too with purchasing some journals for the store. I couldn't resist these fabric-inspired designs and thought you might not be able to either. They're a great gift for anyone and a great place to keep your sewing ideas and plans in one place. Staple a little swatch of something in there so you've got it handy when you need to find something to coordinate or match thread. I know that creating more systems for me to be better organized is on my start of the new year to-do list.
--gina
While we fully encourage everyone to enjoy handmade holiday gift giving, we also can surely appreciate a good craft fair, right? Here's a list of some going on soon. If you don't see the one you're going to, send us the info in a comment!
Our sister store, Modern Domestic, will be joining the festivities at the Crafty Wonderland holiday sale at the Convention Center. If you're headed there, be sure to swing by and try your hand at one of the wonderful Bernina machines. A word of caution: you will fall in love. Saturday and Sunday Dec. 10th and 11th, 11-6 pm.
Hannah will be one of the fantastic crafters showing their wares at Hand Crafted on Dec.10th from 6:30-9:30. It's taking place at The Arbor Lodge, at 1507 N Rosa Parks Way. One more on the 10th: The Shining Star Waldorf School. This is an all day affair with classes, food, gifts, and music to benefit the non-profit Waldorf school. Woolen Vest or Advent Stocking workshop kicks off the day at 9:30 am. The school is located at 2120 NE Tillamook St.
flier design by Jill Bliss
The following weekend, on the 18th is the Handmade NW Artisans Fair just down the street at the Acadian Ballroom at 1829 NE Alberta from 11 am - 5 pm. This one's a benefit for Reach Community Development and they are asking for donations of nonperishable goods.
--gina
We have gone on and on about the glories of shot cottons here at Bolt Neighborhood. Hannah and April got busy cutting fat quarters of all these magnificent colors! Thanks for the pic Hannah!
-- Melissa
Making a whole cloth quilt can be as simple or as complicated as you feel like you have the time for. Since more and more manufacturers are coming out with larger scale/cheater style prints and are printing them extra wide (I'm looking at you Kokka), you hardly need to take a scissor or even a sewing machine to them to make something beautiful and cozy.
I have recently declared that I am a horrible hand-quilter and only a very mediocre embroiderer. As I don't knit or crochet I've decided that I need to get much better so that I don't feel like such a lout sitting on the couch on the evenings with idle hands watching Mary Tyler Moore reruns. When I saw the tube bin fill up with beautiful cotton/linen blend prints, and noticed that Bolt had begun to carry #8 Perle cotton I knew that I had found a good evening project. There are loads of fabric options to consider, so to start your creative juices flowing I'll list what I used.
Supplies:
Process:
This is the fantastic bit: you start by making your Quilt Sandwich! No piecing! Piecing does not a quilt make-- it's the actual stitches or ties that keep the whole thing together that qualifies it as a quilt. We've talked about sandwich making before so I'll refer you back to this post. I used curved safety pins to hold it together together. Trim off the excess backing fabric. As I was fairly certain I had a pretty tight sandwich and that I would be hand quilting/embroidering it together (which is more forgiving than machine sewing for dealing with wrinkles), my next step was to Bind the Quilt. What? Yes. I bound it using my sewing machine to sew it on, and then regular cotton thread and a sharp needle to hand tack it down.
Feel free to work free hand with your quilting or follow the outlines or design of the print your using. I used a water soluble pen to mark the top with circles and then followed the large pixel-shaped printing to make the Xs. The perl cotton glides through the fabric really well. Aided by thread heaven, it goes even easier. The X and O stitching imitates the print on the binding and it makes for lots of pretty contrast stitching on the back.
Final step: Wash and Dry your masterpiece. I didn't pre-wash any of my fabric, preferring it to scrunch up a bit after it shrinks a little bit in the dryer.
You are Done.
In no way are all my stitches even or without mistake, but it was a pleasure to curl up under this quilt every night and get to stitching on my couch. This would make a wonderful holiday/wedding/birthday gift. The voile is so silky and the cotton/linen blend washes up very softly. But don't let that limit you! Check out the soft and even warmer wool stocked in the store right now. I've already picked out fabric to start a new one.
--gina
I love November. Cooking is one of my most favorite hobbies. I can be happy reading cookbooks or food magazines all day long. And, well, November's holiday involves so many recipes, it's heavenly for me to think about it all month leading up to the big day. To honor this great month, or "eating month," we've decorated with aprons. Our window and walls are covered. All different styles for you to ponder. This is only a small sampling of the selelction of apron patters we have on hand. (And, many are marked down right now!)
Another reason to love November is the great event our upstairs nieghbors, Bishops Barbershop, put on. What more reason do you need to stop in?! Do good via a haircut and pick up a quick and easy project, perfect for a gift...
PS--Every year we contemplate being open on the Friday after Thanksgiving and every year we all decide we'd rather have that as a "bonus" day for us to spend with our friends, family, getting a little alone time, whatever we choose. We'll be back in action on Saturday. If you are out shopping, please support local businesses. You'll feel good and love your purchases that much more!
--Gina
Six years ago when I was purchasing the initial inventory for the store I brought my dear friend Renee with me to one of the fabric shows. Renee was one of the many folks who lent a hand in one way or another in getting Bolt off the ground. She helped me figure out how much I could fit in how much square footage, how many bolts fit on a bookcase, all sorts of important details. Renee also played a very important role at that fabric show. (And here's how this all ties in with what's new...) You see, her favorite color is purple. Mine are blue and green, and in the past I haven't been a huge lover of purple. She balanced things out and encouraged a second look at many a purple print. I've come around to really appreciate purples of many shades and was so excited to see this group in a box the other day. I am loving the cool lavender, sky blue and raisin color combination. It's from the Love Growsline by Sharon Holland for Fabri-Quilt. If you're wanting to make up a quick hostess gift, this line would sew up beautifully into the Jamie Christina Cupcake Apron or Palooza Apron.
Another group we welcomed this past week is the new group from organic cotton manufacturers, Cloud 9 Fabrics, Across the Pond. It's another one of their "price sensitive" lines, making it much more comparable in price to the non-organic cotton prints. And, yep, the fourth print from the bottom is of herons. Love!
A little teaser--I got word that our order from Kowa (really great Japanese prints) from Spring Quilt Market, as well as new goodies from Moda and Art Gallery arrived Tuesday afternoon. I'm sure I'll be posting pics next Wednesday if you're reading from afar.
A place for conversation about the community of sewists and fabric lovers at Bolt Fabric Boutique.
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