Studio Tour debut

Week 1 - I visited Kathy Albright in her home.  What a wonderful afternoon I spent with her.....and getting such inspiration from her!

My 1st memory of meeting Kathy, at Hip Stitch, was when she brought in some things she had made from the Softies Kit.   I remember being awed at the detail of her hand stitching - it was just simply perfect. 

As she shopped at our store more often, she'd share quilts she'd made with our fabrics, and our friendship just evolved into her teaching quilting classes - every quilt you see hanging at the store is made by Kathy!

As I toured her sewing space, I found myself seeing her 20+ years ago - an owner of a store here in town called "The Dancing Needle", which sold fabrics, notions, patterns, wool felt and more, and offered classes, too (sounds familiar, huh?)  She was featured regularly in magazines such as Crafts 'n Things, and Country Handcrafts.  Her handwork was exquisite (still is) and I got to pour through things she made then, and still has - small purses, sewing kits, shadow applique.

Her sewing room - separate from where her machine is - was filled with treasures.  Here are just a few:

an antique thread holder, which I found just fascinating

a treasured little dollhouse, with all the teddy bears, and furniture, handcrafted from kits that were sold at her store:

Her fabric, all stored neatly in pull out drawers in the closet....

or bundled together as scraps leftover from quilts, organized by color/coordinates:

The ribbon and the thread - oh just look at them!




And her machine - a Singer featherweight.   So dainty, so quiet, so lovely:

I asked her what she likes to listen to while she sews.  She says either movies on the Turner Classic Movie station, or music from the 50s and 60s.  Favorite sewing tool?  The Chalkoner. (we're trying to see if we can carry it at the store)  

Here's a sneak preview of what she's working on for fat quarter classes she'll be teaching this summer at Hip Stitch:

I realize tonight that I didn't take one picture of Kathy herself!  Well, if you don't already know her, you will if you shop at the store - especially on Saturdays, when she's likely to be found teaching a class.
I must admit, I feel a special connection to Kathy - she has 2 daughters, I have 2 daughters.  She was a teacher, I was a teacher.  Her passion is sewing, my passion is sewing.  (We also share a political party affiliation, but I won't go into that here....!)  She's made sewing a timeless craft, and I appreciate that.  Styles come and go, so will colors and themes, but the art of handstitching, of making something that will last a lifetime, never will.

A new idea....

I'll start with what's new in the store, which is always exciting!  These are just a few of the bolts that arrived.....all well-loved, but sadly, have been discontinued, until - a RE-PRINT came along - woo hoo!

And, the Oliver+S new patterns have arrived!

Aren't they so sweet?!

Now, to my idea.....I feel that I'm in a bit of a blog rut.  Not as consistent as I want to be.....I feel a bit un-creative in relaying Hip Stitch happenings.  I feel a wee bit like Julie Powell in Julie & Julia - remember her?  She wanted to write, but it took forcing herself to take such extreme measures as cooking a Julia Child recipe every single day for one year.  Well, I'm not going to those extremes, though I did just take out of the oven 3 loaves of bread from by beloved bread book, "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day." (you haven't run out and bought this book yet?! shame!)  But I digress. 

I'm going to get a bit drastic in my quest to liven up the blog.  I'm going to venture out weekly and visit a crafter's studio space.  And take pictures.  And interview her a bit (there may be a 'him' along the way - who knows?!)  And maybe some weeks will be more full than others with life, and it'll be more challenging to do my job - but I'm going to give it my all.  Won't you join me in this journey?!  I may be calling or emailing YOU to request a visit to your space - I hope you'll accommodate me.

(Now, keep in mind, when I say studio space, I don't mean necessarily an entire room devoted to sewing.  It could be like mine right now - a $5 yard sale desk in the corner of my dining room.)

Late Night party-ing

Last week, I had a private party/lounge pants class in the store (literally, the store - in the lounge was the ruffled scarf class being taught by Portia)  Lori, Nara, Carnie & Liz gathered with me at 5 p.m. and, well, at 11:30, 2 of them, along with yours truly, stumbled out the door to go home.  Not drunkenly stumbled; rather, exhausted, fried from sewing, light-headed from no dinner, but gosh darn-it, they each had a completed pair of lounge pants that looked awesome on them! (see the added pockets that was their idea!)  I thought for sure they'd discuss me grumpily the next day and how I never told them they'd be finishing their pants 6 1/2 hrs. after they started, but Lori, who's just about like a sister to me, called me that weekend to tell me that no, they weren't turned off from sewing forever - WHEW!  I, for one, enjoyed our evening together - they were so much fun, and by the end of the night, we were laughing at things I can't even remember now.  So thanks, ladies, for the great evening!

See in the pictures - they were too tired to even TRY on their pants (except Nara, who amazingly put hers on right over the pants she was wearing)

New lovlies all about

Where to begin? 

How about with more vintage pincushions, scattered about the store....a beautiful selection sent by Barbara in Pennsylvania - sheep, a cardinal, flowers, and more:

...and this reverse applique shirt, made by artist Marcia Petty - she just delivered this sample today, to give a sneak preview of what can be created in her class Saturday, March 27, from 11-3.  Have you signed up yet?  Well, what are you waiting for?!

...a completed sweater for my daughter Jane (and thankfully she's happy to wear it).  In the background of the photo?  My mom's dog, Lily, and my mom's walker - she was released from rehab yesterday and is living with us until she's ready to live independently.  I tease her that she sits in her Archie Bunker chair (brought over from her home to ours), covered up in an afghan, watching t.v.  That is SO not my mom - she's ready to take on those physical therapists and get back to life!

....and finally, Claire in HER sweater.  Same pattern - each girl picked out their yarn color.  I started knitting around November.  Two sweaters - in one winter.  Not bad, eh?

Finally, a huge gushing thank you to all who helped fill in at Hip Stitch so I could be with my mom throughout her hip fracture, surgery and rehab: Portia, Ann, Bralia, Julie, Jen & Lisa.  You're just simply the best.

Barbara

Here's Barbara, wearing the ruffled scarf she made with Portia:

She's one of those women at Hip Stitch who's become more than a customer - she's a friend.  She has this incredible kindness, and is cheerful and enthusiastic - she loves to sew, and that rubs off on those around her (even me!)  She has an adorable little boy, for whom she made this quilt:

And dang it all, she's moving to Florida.  On Friday.  And I'm really sad about that.  Some friends gathered in the lounge last week for a private party, and they sewed aprons and cute hang-on-the-seat car trash bags, and button-enclosed pillow covers.

These are just a few:

So, we'll just have to keep in touch long-distance, and she'll have to send pictures of things she's sewn, and that will have to do until either she visits Albuquerque or I go to Florida (hmmmm, Disneyworld with the family sounds really good!)

Recycling at it's finest

So, here's how we recycle at Hip Stitch:

Empty fabric bolts?  Scraps of fabric?  No problem - instant birthday party decorations!  My 10 yr. old, Claire, has her party tomorrow.  The theme is Fetch   (PBS kids' show).  Her sister, Jane, took it upon herself to make some decorations.  She got to work in the lounge with scraps and empty bolts.  I'm ever so grateful to have a child old enough to decorate the house for a party!

A break in our regularly-scheduled program

This is just 'cause I love this, recommended by Dagmar.  I watched it when she did a post some weeks back, was so thrilled by the....the.....disco-ness of it all, and now it's time to pass it on:  Shame Shame Shame   (I don't know whether I like the pink scarf or the silver platform shoes more - decide for yourself)

Don't know about you, but it's been quite a week and I'm looking for lots of  laughter to end it.....my 76 yr. old mother fractured her hip Tuesday at the dog park - took her beloved dog, was greeted by a swarm of excited dogs, and was subsequently knocked to the ground.  Surgery, 3 days in the hospital, and now onto 2 weeks at rehab.  So, when life throws you a curve ball, find some laughter - enjoy the video!