Threading the Needle

Web Customer Appreciation Days

Feb 222012

It’s Web Shopper Appreciation days so we are saying Hello to all of you special gals who visit our website regularly! Also saying a great big Thank You to those of you who are old customers, newcustomers and foreign customers too!

It’s truly amazing how quilters can come together on the internet to buy fabric just as if they were in a bricks and mortar quilt shop. I am always amazed at the fabric grouping gals purchase from the internet given everyones viewing potential being different due to browsers and monitor screen fluctuations.

We have customers from all over the world, proving that quilting is alive and well no matter what language you speak. “Quilt-on-eeze” is spoken here!

Just this week we added new customers in far away places like Moscow, Hong Kong and Denmark among many others. Not to mention those gals from the backroads of North Dakota and Utah and from right in our own backyard.

It’s truly amazing how we find each other on the internet with our common interest — FABRIC!

So it is then that we are celebrating YOU, our Web Shopper extraordinare with 3 more days of Free Shipping (over $50.00) and for our international customers, we will pay for half of your postage. Expiration date is Friday 2/24/12 at midnight EST and some exclusions do apply.

Hope to have you visit and also enjoy free ship over $50.00!

Thank you kindly for being one of our web shoppers!

Sending hugs your way!

Keep Calm and Quilt On

Block of the Month 7 Responses »

Jan 242012

I was quite taken by this Moda image and phrase when I visited Moda’s homepage to check on some fabric orders recently. It made me reflect for a moment on the British statement from whence this one must have come….. Keep Calm and Carry On.

Quite frankly I’m not big on blogging. Yes, I know it is the thing to do nowadays, but I don’t have to embrace it. I am busy all the time with the website and when the day is done so is the energy to think any more about blogging.

When I saw this phrase it made me think in a happy way about all the gals out there who feel the same way as me and have little or no energy left in their day. Gals who want to quilt but who can’t find the time or the where with all to uncover the machine and find the needles, open a pattern or book and focus on the directions, find the perfect piece of fabric in the stash that you know you wanted to make a quilt with, or who put doing another load of wash before some stitching time.

So to all of us gals who wish we had more time to stitch—- this is for you. Read it—- think about it and go do it —- You’ll be SEW glad you did! It’s a thought provoking phrase that makes you want to get back in that seat in front of your machine. I’ve got mine uncovered and oiled up ready to stitch a binding on. I’m starting small and will carry on from there. How about you?

If you need a project that comes right to your door to save you the time of driving around in the car —- further wasting precious quilting time, don’t hesitate to conside any of the kits on the website.

We’ve just opened registration for a brand new block of the month called Forever Spring. Maybe this is the do-able project you’ve been waiting for! Take a look and choose the complete quilt to receive it all at once or do it monthly the stress free pay as you go way. You decide.

So what have we learned here? Get a grip on life and realize that stitching is a vital part of your life as a quilter! It’s what keeps it all sane.

Visit the website soon and say hello!

Hugs,

Rocking Around & Pumpkin Pie

Quilts Comments Off

Dec 212011

It’s that time of year when all the Christmas carols are in your ear and even though we know the tunes, sometimes the words are a bit distorted from what they really should be. Case in point… I was watching some of Live With Kelly the other day and heard a group singing, Rocking Around The Christmas Tree and the words, pumpkin pie, jumped out at me. I guess I had our newest kit offering on the brain that is aptly named, Pumpkin Pie Kit.

I went online and found the words to the carol and sure enough I heard right!

Rocking around the Christmas tree
at the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
every couple tries to stop
Rocking around the Christmas tree,
let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie
and we’ll do some caroling.

You will get a sentimental
feeling when you hear
Voices singing let’s be jolly,
deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rocking around the Christmas tree,
have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily
in the new old-fashioned way.

Don’t ya just love this one….. it’s such a quick and catchy tune with lyrics that I now know thanks to Google.

Now back to the reason I heard the pumpkin pie verse……. Our new kit which features Anne Sutton of Bunny Hills pattern and Moda fabrics is baking in our ttn oven right now. We will have it packed and ready shortly after the New Year when the embellishment kits arrive from Bunny Hill. You will get it piping hot from our oven and then you can get started on this yummy quilt. You will have it ready by the next time its pumpkin pie time.

The photo of the Pumpkin Pie quilt was taken at the Bunny Hill Designs booth at quilt market in Houston. I look forward to hearing your comments on this tastey quilt!

Hope you Rock around your Christmas tree this weekend!

Hugs and warm holiday wishes!

Made with love

Holiday Fabric Collections Comments Off

Dec 152011

Don’t stress……there’s still time to make a handmade gift for someone you love. You just have to make sure it’s a simple project that you can complete in short order that’s all. That’s right….. make it with love but make it quick! So “do you have any suggestions”? I thought you’d never ask. Take a look at my website for a ton of idea but let me highlight a few ideas right now so you can jump right on it and get started. We have a brand new kit to offer you called Oh Sew Sweet . It’s made quickly with a panel for the center and is surrounded with adorable pinwheel blocks that go together lickety split! See the image above to tempt you. How about a quick stitchery project that you could complete lickety split while watching your favorite tv show? Choose from Merry Mini’s #1 or #2. Each are equally adorable and quick! Let’s not forget to make a stylish quilted cover for your new E-reader, Nook, Kindle or other brand. It’s from Atkinson Designs patterns and includes great instructions by Terry to get you finished in the blick of an eye. And, Santa, if you’re listening, I’ll make a cover if you’ll bring me the reader. Wink! So you see, there’s a lot of ideas out there that can certainly be done in time for Christmas! You just have to get stitching! I appreciate you as a customer and cherish you as a quilting friend! Merry Christmas to you all!

Quilt Market Fun

Travel 2 Responses »

Nov 072011

Just returned from Fall Quilt Market in Houston Texas and wanted to share some of the fun we had there. Embarking on this mini whirlwind adventure included fabric shopping, meeting designers to catch up on all that is new with their fabric collections, paroozing new pattern companies, looking for block of the month potential and the list goes on and on. We checked into our hotel …. WOW! check out the quilt block in the elevator. We dropped our bags and headed right to the convention center to get our entrance credentials and began our mission. Check out our first and very very tiny view, as it turned out, of the convention center as it was being setup. I’m going to be a name dropper now so bear with me…..First thing on Saturday morning we began our rounds and visited with —– drumroll please —– Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs. Anne showed us her next block of the month called Merry Merry Snowmen. We have registration open on our website now so you can sign up! Annes new collection is called Ooh La La and we will have it all in February. Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts…. we bought all of her new collection, California Girl, so look for that one come March. Deb Strain is such a happy and centered gal. I enjoyed seeing her new Tend The Earth fabric collection and her stationery collection. Jan Patek is such a hoot! Always so inspiring with an applique needle in hand most of the time! Jan’s new collection, Farmers Market, complete with [...]

The Thimble

The Thimble 1 Response »

Oct 122011

It’s amazing to think of all the wonderful things that can happen to us when we totally don’t expect it. Such an event happened to me quite recently in Bermuda. I was enjoying some time on holiday and was meeting other guests at one of the rum swizzle parties that the resort hosted for guests. One of the guests was regailing us about his diving adventures and he had some small artifacts with him to show us. Low and behold I spotted a small brass thimble among the buttons, pins, pieces of colored glass and lots of bits and pieces that he put onto the table. It was so delicate and tiny. Perhaps for a youngster as was the custom in the 16-18 hundreds that young girls learn to sew and embroider. Having an interest in his possessions brought Jason great joy and so we began to talk about me and what I did. Owning thethriftyneedle.com of course meant that I had a great interest in thimbles and this one in particular since it was so small. He told me where he found it and under what conditions. Next morning, under the door of my suite there was an envelope with a note inside and the thimble. You can just imagine how I felt to open the envelope and read the note and have the tiny thimble fall out into my hands. I was speechless …… all I could do was scoop up the thimble and clutch my heart and feel the goosebumps running up my legs. I was so totally overwhelmed at Jason’s generosity. He [...]

I’ve Come Full Circle

Quilts Comments Off

Sep 052011

Here’s a personal interest story that I hope you enjoy! Realizing my dream to visit the 140 year old house that I was born in came with a few magnificent surprises. My husband and I took a trip to the small town in Scotland where I was born. Coming upon the house I saw that it had a red door just like our own house. As red is my favorite color I was just delighted. What other wonderful surprises did this 140 year old house hold? Much to my surprise as I crossed the threshold there was a wonderful tiled quilt on the vestibule floor. At the very moment I saw it, I knew that it would be my next quilting project! As soon as we got home I graphed out the floor tile design from the photo and began stitching. See the original floor photo here. Maybe seeing this beautiful quilt on the floor as a child in some small way put me on the path to becoming a quilter. I’d like to think so. It gives me such a warm feeling to think about the house and its current owners, Nora and John. The quilt that I made and sent to them now hangs in the hallway adjacent to the original tile floor quilt. It is my small way of thanking them for allowing me to come home again. I feel like the circle is complete.

Aftermath of Irene

Hows the weather 1 Response »

Aug 302011

It’s been a very crazy week around here. First there was an earthquake and then 3 days later we felt the impact of Hurricane Irene. Both unusual occurances for us. Yes, being on the east coast in Maryland, we have a nor’easter every now and again but never the combination we just experienced. All that is behind us now. Just have to get the kids started with their first day of school. That was supposed to happen last Monday but didn’t. Now that we have our power, cable and phone back we are ready to start back with the new website. Hopefully everyone out there reading this blog is feeling the warm sunshine instead of the driving rain and are feeling relieved that we are able to pick up and march forward again. Our grass has never been this green in August….. ever! Maybe there is a special someone who needs you to make them a quilt that they can cuddle up in to feel the love you have for them. hmmmmmm I feel a new project coming on! Blessings and warm hugs to all of the hurricane suvivors out there!

A day away

Uncategorized Comments Off

Aug 152011

I’ve been working so very hard lately with the new website that I thought I would take my camera and head for the nearby Chesapeake Bay to watch the boats and try to have a little quiet time. As it was nearing lunchtime, I ordered a nice salad at the local marina grill and while that was being made I took a couple of shots of the bayview that I was enjoying. Such a serene spot complete with a promenade and full scale marina. There’s always some boating, biking and fishing action down here to watch. There’s even a cute gazebo that offers shade and a welcome seat after a leisurely walk on the promenade. Suddenly I heard my name being called and my salad was ready. I went to the pick up window and took a seat facing the water. Mmmmmmmm doesn’t my salad look good. I stopped to enjoy the salads appearance and all of a sudden I found myself thinking about how I could make this salad in fabric using charm square packs or layer cakes. I guess I’m on image and website overload right about now! But, wouldn’t this be a great looking quilt that would make you salivate every time you saw it! Before I knew it the salad was gobbled up and I was on my way back to do some more work on the new website. Hope you are all getting some time to dream about your next quilting project.

So you think the same needle will last for the life of your machine

Machine Needles Comments Off

Aug 042011

It always amazes me that such a simple thing as replacing the needle in your machine can make such a difference to your projects. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t keep a chart on when I last replaced the needle but I try to make it a point to do it with each quilt project. It’s not a big deal—- really it’s not! You will be amazed how much better the needle will glide in and out of the fabric. No ripped or shredded threads either. How crazy does it make you feel when the thread keeps shredding and breaking? That’s usually due to a little spur in the eye of the needle. Let’s make a pact to change the needle more often, drop a little oil into the bobbin case and always make sure the dust bunnies are removed from the throat plate area. Need needles? Try Schmetz needles size 12 and size 14. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

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