Sunday, September 5, 2021

Silver Linings in a Pandemic

Fabulous customers:

Carrie

One of the cool things about having a shop that primarily has a female customer base is that it’s generally acceptable to have a girl crush on a customer. 

Like Carrie, who is not only a really nice human being, but also makes lovely quilts,  AND has gorgeous hair.  When I ooohed and aahed over it one day,  she told me about the Curly Girl Method, which I’m now reading up more on and trying out!  (I’m tired of straightening my hair but frustrated when I let it go natural, as it becomes a wavy fizzy mess)   So thanks, Carrie, for your gorgeous hair inspiration and your everyday sweet nature!




(wellll, not really going for this look!)


Making:

I started on a garment using fabric Reut hand-stamped:


She acquires her leaves from a variety of sources - ask her sometime about it!

Also, made this from the pallet that delivered the 24 Eversewn machines that were purchased by our customers to donate to Mexico:





Learned this week:

Did you know? 

Women’s buttons are sewn onto the left side of the garment. The reason for this is that buttons were very expensive and only wealthy women with domestic help could afford them. So to make it easier for the help to button up they were on the ‘wrong’ side.

Huh.  I'll remember that next time my ladies' maid buttons up my dress, and the convenience of it for her.




Monday, August 30, 2021

Silver Linings in a Pandemic

Fabulous customers:

Geri:

She came to New Mexico to go antelope hunting with her fiance.  They met in a bowling league, became friends, were widowed and are now together.  They’re from Delaware, and this is her 1st visit to NM.  We talked about the drastic difference in the land, especially flying in!  She has a house on the beach in Delaware, is a quilter, (1st time) antelope hunter, bowler, and best of all, a wonderful sense of humor and a great outlook on the world.

Update: Geri called me when she got back home to Delaware - here she is with her prize antelope!  She loved the beauty of New Mexico:




Making:

I started the 100 Acts of Sewing Dress No. 3 at Hip Stitch craft night Friday.  I love Sonya's patterns, but full confession - reading the word "caftan" in the description gave me pause, and a flashback to Mrs. Roper:


Here's what I made - just needs sleeve and bottom hemmed:


(think I'm going to love it!)


Learned this week:



Gulp!


Sunday, August 22, 2021

Silver Linings in a Pandemic

Fabulous customers:

Karen brought in her Eversewn 20 machine to learn some of its features.  Her last machine was an old Singer that did a straight stitch.  That’s all.  I LOVED the jaw dropping moments when she learned that her new machine:  could make a buttonhole to FIT the button due to being able to slide the button right onto the foot itself; that there was a ‘stop/start’ button so she can skip using the foot pedal; that the decorative stitches make beautiful designs just by selecting a stitch and pressing ‘start’.  That was priceless.  Sometimes, it’s just the little things that bring us happiness.



Making:

A continuation of the Mountain High Quilt - I'm about 1/2 way done with my paper pieced blocks:



Learned this week:

I went into the new mask mandate with some trepidation, not sure how accepting customers would be.  I learned to believe in the best of folks.  They usually show it!


Speaking of great humans, I met Dr. Eva Moya, who is a professor of social work at Univ. of Texas El Paso.  She gave a lovely and inspiring talk at Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, all about her help with humanitaran efforts at the US/Mexico border.  

Our customers purchased 2 dozen Eversewn sewing machines - we'll be taking them to El Paso and Dr. Moya will be a point person to help get them across the border to help empower those in need.  Reut spearheaded this effort!



To my right is Dr. Moya, and to my left is Roxie with the Dignity Mission with the church.






Saturday, August 14, 2021

Silver Linings in a Pandemic

Fabulous customers:

Tomato Soup:

Add milk or water?  This was the conversation I found myself engaged in with 2 customers.  How we got to this?  I have no idea.  One minute we’re standing side by side in the store, looking at fabric and patterns, the next, debating over which is better - milk or water added to a can of tomato soup.  Then, of course, this must be eaten with grilled cheese.  And so on, and so on.  These gals were in town with a National Guard conference, and, well, added to my list of “best things about my day”



Making:


My daughter sent me a text and a picture. The text:


"if we're gonna keep wearing masks, I decided I should finally get around to hanging them on hooks!"


The picture, in her tiny apartment:



That was the kick I needed to work on stop feeling so hopeless and sad about wearing masks again, and just do it.  ("embrace it" is a stretch.....)
She and I made a pact to each make some new ones.

I began the “Mountain High” quilt this week.  



The kit is from Stitch in Durango, and the owner LeeAnn is gracious and kind and has a wonderful shop (don’t believe me? - her shop was on the COVER of Quilt Sampler this past spring!)

I began it after a spell of no sewing.  Just not feeling it and riding out the "creative block"


Its foundation strip piecing, and I did all the ‘boring’ parts - cutting!  But for me, choosing which colors to group together and what pieces to pull out of each group to cut was so perfect to get me back in my groove.  I only just started on one block, but holy moley, this is fun!




Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Norma Rose: The Backstory

 


It's not often that hearing the backstory on a designer line of fabric can make your eyes misty, but that was definitely the case when we connected recently with Natalie Barnes, designer of the colorful new Norma Rose collection now available for pre-sales from Hip Stitch. 

Norma Rose by Natalie Barnes for Windham Fabrics 

Natalie's design business is Beyond The Reef, and Norma Rose is her latest collection for Windham. It was an easy collection to create because its namesake and inspiration was close to her heart: it's all about her mom. 



The signature print, shown above in two colorways, taps into her mom's love of roses. Wherever Natalie's parents lived, they always managed to plant a rose garden. And her mom always filled her kitchen with fragrant rose bouquets, Natalie recalls. 

Other prints in the collection (see below) literally carry her mom's mark, including the print set against a background of handwritten recipes from Norma Rose's own recipe box. And there are more geometrics, prints and blenders rounding out the full collection.

Don't just take our word for it, though. Listen to our interview with Natalie, and hear her tell the stories. (And get your order in now, because the yardage and Fat Quarter bundles are going fast!

Natalie Barnes of Beyond The Reef 

Monday, September 28, 2020

Anita Marsh McSorley

 


With affection, respect and sadness, we would like to tell you a little about Anita Marsh McSorley, a prolific and talented local quilting leader who recently lost her battle with cancer.

We don't want to dwell on the sad aspects of Anita's passing, but on her kind spirit, abundant textile talent and skill and dedication to helping the Albuquerque fiber arts community grow and thrive.

If you were ever part of the Row by Row crush of visitors to Hip Stitch a few years ago, from you saw Anita's design prowess. Some of Hip Stitch's whimsical blocks in that annual promotional program were designed by Anita. (See one of her Row by Row block designs pictured above.) One year, her block showcased our new shop, and another year, she included Sock Monkey, which by default has become one of our shop mascots. (Or at least our spirit guide, because we aren't a very serious bunch at Hip Stitch.)

One of Anita's textile gifts was a deftness with color in both her own quilting and design work, and her hand-dyed fabric cuts. We had the privilege of offering Anita's hand-dyed fabrics to customers, as well as other pattern designs she created from time to time.

Anita was also active in the Albuquerque chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild, but perhaps her most notable quilty accomplishments came from her work with the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council (FAC), which encompasses more than 16 different fiber arts guilds in the city. For six years, Anita was also director of the Fiber Arts Fiesta, a biennial show hosted by the FAC.  She managed the various aspects of show production with skill and diplomacy, only recently turning leadership of the 2021 Fiesta over to others.   

All that said, you know what we remember most about Anita? Her sunny spirit and friendliness. Her positive attitude and openness to new ideas and projects. A darned nice lady who loved people and quilts.   

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Moda’s National Sew A Jelly Roll Day is Sept. 19! Are You Ready to Roll?

UPDATE: Our supply of Glorious Autumn Junior Jelly Rolls is gone, gone, gone (and we won't be getting more), so if you're interested in participating in our National Sew A Jelly Roll fun, place your orders now!



Let’s do a little Jelly Roll math...


It takes 38 Jelly Rolls laid end to end to equal a little more than a mile. 


So, how many Jelly Rolls does it take to speed you on your creative sewing journey?


As many as you want!


Load up for Moda’s National Sew A Jelly Roll Day, September 19, with Jelly Roll Quilt Kits from Hip Stitch! (Plus they come in a re-usable bag! How sweet is that?)



Our seven kits feature fabulous new patterns from Moda and limited edition Grunge Junior Jelly Rolls in four vibrant color ranges. Hop on this sweet deal right away and you'll receive Hip Stitch's custom Jerry's Jelly Roll Jig for free!


Here are the color ranges:

Cool Change--Shades in a berry-ish range of blue, purple, wine...

Stitch Pink--It’s a pink-a-palooza ranging from from light Duchess to rich Maraschino.

Glorious Autumn--A so-seasonal palette with yellow, mustard, pumpkin and burgundy...

Yuletide--Merry-making golds, greens and red...


Patterns include Short & Long in two versions--Rectangles and Checkerboard; Sparkle; and Three At a Time in Squares or Rectangles. Here are sneak peeks of these new quilt designs:


Sparkle
Sparkle 

Short & Long Rectangles

Short & Long Checkerboard



Three At A Time Rectangles



Three At A Time Squares 


Prices range from $74.99 to $112.99 per kit. Kits include full pattern directions, selected backgrounds in solids or Grunges and limited edition Junior Jelly Rolls. We can also add backing and binding...your wish, our command! Free shipping on online orders of $50 or more...and don't forget that free Jerry's Jelly Roll Jig.


Thanks for helping us celebrate National Sew A Jelly Roll Day!



Creative sewing is a journey. Hip Stitch helps you go the distance!