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!

Quilting class

Thank you, Ellen, for these beautiful pictures of quilts in the making!  Ellen and I were both "enrolled" in the quilt class - the last session being this past Saturday.  Kathy Albright, the class instructor, took us through all the steps to making the Take 5 Quilt.

Next quilt class......coming in April!

Meet Tom

Tom's become a regular lounger at Hip Stitch.  He's not the typical customer who walks through our doors. (Well, he's not female, which consists of the majority of our customers)

He walked in one day last fall and asked if he could have a sewing lesson, as he wanted to learn how to take in his jeans - he'd lost some weight and didn't want to have to go shopping for new pants.  He had patience, interest, and quite a knack for using a sewing machine - and was soon tackling the task of taking apart pants and re-fitting them.  He's moved on to creating a hat pattern (he's donning a version of it in the picture above)

He's also become the unofficial handyman of the store - to which I'm eternally grateful.

So glad you're a regular, Tom!

New fabrics in!

Here are just 3 of the 14 new bolts that have arrived at the store in the past few days.....this is the Valori Wells Del Hi collection. I've been wanting these 3 in particular since Hip Stitch opened. They're simply beautiful!

Remember that new camera I bought at Christmastime? Didn't I blog about it? I just love it, and have some great shots taken of Hip Stitchers and fabrics and projects. And lo and behold, I've lost the cord that goes from the camera to the computer so I can download all those great pictures onto THIS blog! After driving to 4 different stores in town with no luck finding a replacement cable, I had to order one from Nikon online, and it should arrive any day in my mailbox. Aaargh!