Bobbin Work with Your Embroidery Machine

Want to learn a new techinque? Bobbin work is a fun techinque you can use with embroidery or free motion quilting. When you do bobbin work you use heavy threads with your embroidery giving things a hand stitched look. You can use ribbon floss, embroidery floss or even thread ribbon in your bobbin case with your embroidery machine. Important note: you will want to purchase a second bobbin case for this techinque, DO NOT use the bobbin case that came with your machine. You embroider upside down and get an effect that looks marvelous.

Want to learn more about bobbin work embroidery? Sue just so happens to be having a class Tuesday at the Lexington store. Join her February 1st 11a-4p to learn how to do bobbin work with your embroidery machine. Call today to sign up 859-264-7472.

3D Flowers from Anita Goodesign

Look what Lesley's been playing with. She's been stitching out the 3D Flowers mini collection from Anita Good. Aren't they so cute? She stitched out this particular flower and attached it to a pair of flip flops. Fortunately, due to the weather she won't be able to wear them for a while so we'll take them to the store so people can see them in person. All you need is the design collection, some thread and water soluble stabilizer. It's that easy!

Fabric, fabric and more fabric!

Military fabrics are back at Sew-A-Lot. We just got a shipment in from Robert Kaufman fabrics with a variety of patriotic prints. These fabrics came to our Ohio store along with some other Robert Kaufman favorites, including some Batiks. So if you think of a project and are in need of some new fabric, let us know. Don't forget if you aren't close, you can always call us and we will be more then happy to get an order to you by mail! Other fabric lines that we have in stock include:

Dr. Seuss - Centerville

See Spot - Lexington

Sand in my Shoes by McKenna Ryan - Lexington

Pomare - Centerville

Floral Fusion - Centerville

Nature Rhythms - Centerville

Origins - Lexington

Happy - Lexington

Chrysalis - Lexington

Just to name a few...

The Savanna Quilt

Claire sent me a picture of the Savanna quilt that she's teaching Thursday March 17th and 24th at the store in Lexington. She's not completely done with it but almost. I just wanted to give everyone a sneak preview. Isn't it so cute? She used the Curves for Squares ruler from Creative Grids and the Savanna quilt pattern from Saginaw St Quilt Co. She still has to pick out borders but I just thought it turned out so nice I had to share. Happy Quilting!

Just Breathe!

Today I gave an owner's lesson on a serger and through out the lesson I kept repeating, "you've got the breathe." Then we would laugh. And a few minutes later again, "don't forget to breathe." Now, whenever I teach an owner's class (one of my most favorite things to do at the Sew-A-Lot) I say that a lot, don't forget to breathe. Then the other night I started going to yoga class again and I noticed that I kept having to remind myself to breathe when I would get into a challenging position. My yoga friend would be so proud of this next statement. It's so important to breathe when you are doing something that challenges you. Sewing, quilting, yoga, working... Whenever you feel yourself getting frustrated, clear your mind and take a deep breath. Usually a good lung full of fresh oxygen will do you wonders.

So the next time you get frustrated with your sewing or quilting projects, step back and take a deep breath. Enjoy what you are doing!

Look what Quiltsmart can do for you!

Nancy just finished the Mariner's Compass from Quiltsmart. If you don't know it by now, Nancy (Lexington) and Louise (Centerville) are our resident Quiltsmart experts. Louise has done pretty much every Quiltsmart project there is and Nancy has just started and fell in love with the technique. It's the process of using a fusible, printed interfacing that helps make your points and piecing to come out perfect.

Interested in learning the Quiltsmart technique? You can join either Nancy or Louise for a class.

Floating Ring Lone Star Mon Mar 22 & 29 10a-1p with Louise in Centerville 937-433-7474

Lone Star Quilt Thu Jan 27 & Feb 3 1p-4p OR Thu Mar 31 & Apr 14 5:30p-8:30p with Nancy in Lexington 859-264-7472

Call and register today!

Snow, Snow, Snow!

Ahhh, the beautiful Pacific Ocean off the coast of Kauai at sunset. Just imagine that you are there enjoying the warmth that the sun has to bring, take a deep breath and relax. (This was a picture I took during our honeymoon last week.)

Or get your warmest cuddly clothes on, make a cup of hot chocolate, and get a sewing project ready to work on. Yesterday and today are perfect days to work on a nice big quilt or anything your creative mind wants to construct. Turn on some music that makes you happy and make a fire, if you are so lucky to have a fireplace, and make something beautiful.

Remember winter has only just begun, so if you need to stock up on fabric for your upcoming winter projects our fabric sale ends Saturday. So come in and see us!