Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Defining 'Modern Southwest'

How do you define “modern southwest?”

It can be a line of fabrics, reworked traditional motifs, timeless-yet- fresh color palettes…and so much more. At Hip Stitch, we define “modern southwest” in many ways, including our shelves full of fabric with kitschy and cutting-edge Southwest, Native American and Dia de Los Muertos prints. (Did you know we have the biggest collection of Dia de Los Muertos prints in Albuquerque? Yep. We love our little sugar skulls...)

At Hip Stitch, "modern southwest" is also about connecting with the natural world in New Mexico, with our local mix of traditions and cultures, with bright colors and bold designs. And it’s about the satisfaction of working creatively and helping others tap into their inner artist. Today, we’re sharing the first in an occasional series of mini profiles about our Hip Stitch staff, the real jewels in our modern southwest collection.  

modern southwest: Claudia Reyes   

Claudia has been in the U.S. more than 25 years, but she was born in Mexico and lived there the first half of her life. She is a lifelong creative, doing “all kinds of artsy fartsy stuff,” she says, including ceramics, silk printing and stained glass. She earned her B.A. in Visual Arts and had the rare privilege of working for a time at the Museum of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Mexico City. It was a one-year professional development requirement for her degree, but it was thrilling! She and other students catalogued photographs and other works by Rivera, Kahlo and other surrealist painters and photographers of the time, and assembled archives.  (“I touched photos and paintings that had not been on exhibition before,” she marvels.) After earning her degree, she owned a stained glass shop and studio in Mexico City, designing and making stained glass and etched glass creations. Quilting, in fact, reminds her of stained glass because you cut and assemble pieces, choosing colors that will pop, but not really quite knowing what the final composition will really look like until you’re finished.
profession: 4th/5th grade bilingual teacher in Albuquerque Public Schools
hobbies: quilting, sewing and cooking. (“Cooking is number 1! I love to eat food…that’s my hobby!”)
fave fabric style/color: modern prints, Kaffe Fassett
local food love: “Definitely I love green chile! I’m a foodie.”
known for: Her brutal honesty and sense of humor.
Hip Stitch claim to fame: Claudia loves helping teach the kids’ summer sewing camps. During the school year, she works the front counter on various Saturdays. and Sundays.
life goal: To have a big sewing room with lots of windows! And a mid-arm.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

It’s Metro Quilt Stroll Time, Baby!

UPDATE: The earlier posted version of this gave incorrect dates for the Metro Shop Stroll. The event is Aug. 17 and 18. We apologize for being so excited that we mis-read the calendar. 

Where are the pumpkin spice lattes? Fall is right around the corner, yes?

Well, in New Mexico, it’s not exactly right around the corner. However, it’s close enough that we can all dream about falling leaves and sweaters with actual sleeves. And we can celebrate this upcoming delicious season with this weekend’s Metro Quilt Stroll, Aug. 17 and 18.

For the uninitiated, the annual Metro Quilt Stroll brings together five shops in Moriarty, Albuquerque and Corrales into one great event. Our fellow participating shops are The Quilt Works, Quilts Ole, Busy Bee Quilt Shop and Southwest Decoratives. Each shop creates a thematic block—this year, the theme is Autumn Harvest—and then each shop creates a quilt using all the shops' blocks. Got it? Our block was designed by Hip Stitch staffer Beth Trujillo, and it draws on two key colors in New Mexico’s autumn landscapes.

Hip Stitch's Metro Shop Stroll 2018 block, designed by Beth Trujillo
“My inspiration was when the leaves start turning in the fall in New Mexico. The mountain become a beautiful gold color from the aspens and the sky is still a crisp bright blue,” says Beth.

Beth’s aspen block becomes the centerpiece of our Metro Quilt Stroll quilt, which she also designed, surrounded by the blocks from the other participating shops: 
 
Hip Stitch's Metro Shop Stroll quilt, featuring blocks from all participating shops. Designed by
Beth Trujillo and quilted by Tisha Cavanaugh of Quilt Icing.
And you, too, can make our block and this quilt! In fact, you can make every shop’s block or quilt. Block kits and finishing kits for our creation will be available at Hip Stitch all weekend, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, and you’ll find the other shops’ block kits at their stores.

But wait, there’s more! The Metro Quilt Stroll includes free patterns, demos and lots of door prizes at each shop. “Strollers” also have a chance to earn more loot. Get your “passport” stamped at each participating shop, and you’ll be entered for yet more prize drawings.

See you this weekend! (We’ll be the ones wearing sweaters….just kidding!)

P.S. Here’s our fave crockpot recipe for pumpkin spice lattes. You’re welcome!
Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Lattes
8 tablespoons pumpkin puree
8 tablespoons vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
8 whole cinnamon sticks (or more cinnamon)
4 cups strongly brewed coffee
6 cups milk (at least 2%)
8 tablespoons sugar
Whipped cream (optional, but who passes this up??)

Combine the milk and coffee, and pour into the crockpot. Whip together the other ingredients (minus the cinnamon sticks and whipping cream) and pour into the crockpot. Mix together well. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Meanwhile, whip and lightly sweeten cream into soft peaks. Ladle coffee mixture into mugs. Generously dollop whipped cream on top, and add a cinnamon stick or a sprinkle of ground cinnamon for extra flavor.