Showing posts with label sewing rooms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sewing rooms. Show all posts

Friday, May 23, 2014

24 and More

A few more of those rectangle blocks for you today--

The blocks in the City Sampler present some interesting challenges for fabric choices.  You might notice that solids work great in a lot of these blocks.  And you will see a good example of mixing batik fabrics with our regular quilting cottons.  There is no rule that says they must stay segregated!  The floral fabric in the lower left block is a great mix with the 3 different batiks.  We do get questions from our customers about inter-mixing batiks and printed cottons, and we like to encourage people to go with their gut feeling and make the quilt their own.  If there is a perfect shade of blue in a batik, go ahead and pop it into your quilt.  We do recommend pre-washing the batiks due to the fact that there can be more dye run.  It relates to the way that they are made, and if you watch this video you will get a better understanding.  And we try to keep some Retayne in stock, since it helps to set the dyes.

And now, another sewing room reveal for you!
Debbie, co-owner of Bear Patch, has been involved in some renovating and room swaps in her house.  She has enough done to share these photos of her haven.  She is a collector of quilting-related items, and has such a pretty setup for displays.  


And she likes to collect sayings and thoughts to be displayed around her room as good reminders of good attitudes.


Antique machines hold a special spot in her heart, above is just one of her collectibles.  Maybe she will share more of them?
And don't forget the modern day machine (below) and gadget boxes to contain all the needful things for machines!

 And lastly, here is a beautiful picture on a wall of her sewing room.  I love it!


Thank you so much for letting us into your room, Debbie!  And start taking pictures of your machine collection.  And teapot collection.  And teacup collection.  And anything else you collect! Didn't see any of the fabric collection in these pictures, probably would need a fish eye lens to take it all in!

Sunday, May 11, 2014

More Modern Blocks

Just to give credit where credit is due, I want to refresh your memory on where our ongoing block project started:


This is the book, full of blocks and quilts.  If you need one, just call us (651-429-1039) and we will take care of your order.

Today, we share blocks 16-19.
16, 17, 18, 19

Each little block is a show in itself, the fabrics and shapes have a story to tell.  If you are making any of these blocks, would you share your pictures?  You can contact us via the comments or the store email:  info@bearpatchquilting.com.

Our tour of sewing rooms continues!  Today we get a peek inside Anne's creative space at home.  Thanks for sharing, Anne!  And nice space for working and planning, and a good home for your machines!  I see you are also into the bright light game, there is just never enough light, especially when I am trying to rip out black thread from black fabric!



Once a few years ago, I visited an Amish woman, Mary, at her farmhouse.  Nothing electric inside.  Gas lights and wood burning stove.  She is a quilter, and has a treadle machine but does a lot by hand.  She showed her quilting frame, right by a window so she would get the best light that she could.  I wish I could find a gas-powered Ott light for her!  I think they did have a gas powered generator for some of the farm machines, but I don't think indoor lighting was a priority.  

So let's count ourselves lucky for having light, and lots of it!