Looking for the Silver Linings

There is a love/hate relationship with technology right now.   It is both the biggest distributor of fear and false information,  and the saviour of our sanity as it is currently the best way for humans to get to see other humans that don’t live with them.    Staying put in our own homes is also sometimes wonderful and incredible frustrating.    I am trying to stay on the positive side of things, it has taken me all week to finally discover that the webcam on my laptop is mechanically compromised.   I will be unable to go live to Youtube,  but that doesn’t mean I can’t post videos,  I will just have to film them on the smartphone.     I have promised a few of you that Jake will be in most videos,  and that the first one will be on safe rotary cutting.    In conjunction with these blog posts about the great studio cleanup I hope you will all find the inspiration to use the time to yourself and your stash to create something wonderful and bring some more beauty into the world.    We all need it.

Before

Last week I promised you I would be brave and share photos of my unruly studio, with the goal of cleaning off my sewing table,  my ironing board, and my cutting table.   It didn’t quite go that way.   Jake felt the need to be very underfoot so I decided to start with the comfy chair that he is allowed to be on.

After

If you didn’t know there was a chair under it you could be forgiven.    Trying hard not to just make more piles of things,  and instead actually putting away or tossing things,   I succeeded in clearing it off and Jake is very happy with his napping spot for now.   There was that nice fuzzy throw blanket and a pillow that my grandmother had cross stitched and sewn so he is set up.  I did also get my sewing table clear and I’ve been able to continue doing the conservation work at home.    Working at home is a different thing,  I miss my big tables, but the light is better here.   

I miss the cutting counter.     I have not cut significant amounts of fabrics at home in quite some time.    Most of the time I am using new fabrics from the shoppe inventory for samples, so both my home stash and my cutting table have been neglected.    Since the first video is to be about cutting safety,  and using scraps in the process,  my next project will be the cutting table.    It will be a challenge.    There is just as much stuff under it too, but I will consider that a separate challenge.    There is much to do.    It will be a challenge but I have found some good things as I clean,  like my sense of control, and some space to get away from others in the house when they are either teaching or learning remotely.

It is my hope that you all stay healthy, stay sane and keep busy with all the things you used to wish you had time to do.    If you haven’t done it already please like and follow the Village Fabric Shoppe on facebook,  or if you are interested in guitar, and all my odd pets feel free to like my personal page too,   Diana Louie.   The Youtube channel is also as Diana Louie.   I hope to have the first video ready for you this afternoon.    So gather your scraps, clear a space at your cutting board and check it out.

No matter how you are getting updates from me,  please reach out so we can keep human contact in our lives,  and our community strong.     Be safe, be healthy and make something beautiful.

Before

After

Mandated Closing

Since this mornings post the situation has changed.

It is with a heavy heart that I must announce to you that as a non essential business Saturday March 21 will be our last open hours for the time being.  The Governor has mandated it and I am not going to risk incurring fines or contributing to the pandemic.   I therefore am urging you to come in tomorrow if you need to stock up on needles or thread or fabric or books or even a gift certificate.   There will   be enough frustration in the coming weeks without running out of basics like that.    Remember when you said you wanted to start that project when you had time?? Well here you go.  Be sure you have what you need by getting to us tomorrow.  We are disinfecting continually and we would be happy to help you from the door if needed.

Having said that,  I may not be visiting the shoppe often and thus the best way to contact me will be by email or facebook messenger through either my personal page or the shoppe page.   I will do my best to help you to continue your projects at home.   I will post the blog every Friday as usual but will be keeping you updated more frequently as I share from my home studio via facebook live.  Staying in good communication will be key to not just my staying in business, but also and perhaps more importantly, everyone staying calm and healthy.

villagefabricshoppe@gmail.com

facebook/Diana Louie

facebook/villagefabricshoppe
Although this is going to be a struggle for a business as small as mine I will be continuing the conservation and repair work from home.   I have a considerable backlog and I am hopeful that I have enough work with that to scrape by until I can open the brick and mortar location again.  I look forward to seeing you all in person when this blows over.

Until then stay safe,  stay healthy and keep stitching.

Adapting and stashbusting

These are strange times.   Many people are struggling with the isolation and many small businesses are feeling the crunch.  I received the news last evening that Red Hook has its first permanent business closure because of the virus.   It hit me hard.    It also greatly increased my frustration that I somehow can’t get my laptop camera and facebook to get on the same page.   My husband has been too busy getting his own drawing classes ready for remote teaching to lend his usual assistance.  I am working on it however,  and as soon as I can I will be doing a series of live chats about organizing and working from your stash.     So if you have not liked and followed the Village Fabric Shoppe Page on Facebook please do it as soon as you finish reading this.  Being able to stay in active communication is going to be key for all of us as things move forward.

This is as much for me as you,  my sewing space still has not fully recovered from moving the shoppe to a new location on short notice, and then not long after getting Liz ready for college.    In both those situations my sewing space became a catchall for those items that no one knew where else to put them.    Before I got to work on it,  I started having medical issues that impacted my mobility and after work at the shoppe and other family and household chores I rarely had the energy to work on it.     Now is a perfect time to get that space back to the cheerful roomy creative place I know it is under all the stuff.    It starts small,  clear off your ironing board,   your cutting space, and your sewing table this week.    Make an effort to really put things away instead of making another pile on the floor, or box under the table.    This is my goal for now.   I have plenty of things to work on if I can clear a good space.      When we go live on Facebook finally,  I promise to to be shy about sharing my messy space.

Let me tell you about some of my projects.    I finished a small scrappy piece from the basic hand piecing workshop so I had a more recent sample.     That class is being offered by private appointment and including fabric,  on sale for only $15.00    And yes, my tables are 6 feet wide,   we can maintain social distance and you can learn a skill that will potentially give you activities you can do at home for years!!    I have a huge collection of scraps that you may choose from for your project.    I have done this with kids as young as 5 too!!

I also got in a quilt from the 1980’s,  Star of Bethlehem in typical 80’s blues,  all basted and ready for hand quilting.   This one will be fun to finish.   But I am super excited that the Paula Nadelstern fabrics arrived yesterday,   I will be opening them up and getting a sample ready for a workshop whose dates will be determined when we emerge from isolation.   I know that you will have used up all of your stash by then,  or at least be tired of looking at it,  and will want to start something exciting.

Please remember that I am still here for you and we are taking precautions.    If this very small business is to survive this I need to know you are still part of my community.   I am doing what I can to be of help.   I wish you all Peace, stitching, and good health.

New hours of operation,  10:30-1  Tuesday to Saturday, or by private appointment.    If we are here the lighted OPEN sign will be lit.   ( You can see it from the road )

Updated hours

Small businesses like this one are already feeling the crunch from the virus related restrictions. In an effort to lower our overhead we will be running on reduced hours or by appointment until further notice. Our days of operation have not changed but we will only be open from 10:30-1pm.

 

Our current specials are still in effect, half off the registration fee for Make friends with your sewing machine, and basic hand piecing, both done privately by appointment and both include fabric. They are suitable for almost any age. See the workshops page for more information. We are disinfecting after each customer and following all protocols to keep everyone as safe as we can.

The Group workshop for Smarties has been postponed.   Dates to be announced when things clear up.

 

In addition we are working to quickly develop online programs to help you work from your home sewing supplies. Be sure that you have liked and followed our facebook page or subscribed here to get the updates as they happen.

 

Marbella by Bentartex.   10 fat quarter packs available now.  

 

Sweet tooth

So first I want to reassure all of you that although I have been having plenty of doctors appointments,   the issues I have will NOT spread to you.   Kidney stones and a knee injury will not give you a virus.    There is a great deal of panic,  misinformation, and over reaction going on and unfortunately fear does a great job of lowering your immune system.    I have yet another appointment tomorrow morning so we will open at 1 pm, which is why I am writing this a bit early.

Smarties Quilt

Engaging in activities that lower stress is known to boost immune responses,  so I believe that having an exciting new project to work on is good therapy, helping to combat the fear and helping everyone keep a level head.    Lucky for you we have beautiful new fabrics in stock, and the perfect project.    Our Smarties quilt is exactly the kind of project that is needed right now.   ANd if Smarties are not your favorite candy, how about taking color inspiration from M & Ms or gumballs, or Reeses Pieces, or using the new Marbella fabrics and calling it Marbles?    The special introductory offer is still on,   Half off the registration fee for the workshop scheduled for March 26th.  Where else can you get a fun and in person workshop for only $15.00??    After that event,  it will be an on demand class at its regular price of $30.00.     I know you have six fat quarters that would be perfect,  and if not we have packs of the ones we used, and a few color options.    Join us and indulge your sweet tooth without the calories or cavities.     Supply list is on the workshops page of this site.

Marbella fabrics by Benartex

Just a two other schedule announcements,   Crazy Quilt Club will meet this Tuesday, on St Patrick’s Day,  so wear some green!   And second, due to the venue closing for quarantine,  World of Quilts, the annual show by Northern Star Guild is cancelled.   This announcement came in while I was writing, so hot off the presses.   It is usually a great show but if the campus is closed there is no other choice.   

Burlap, by Benartex,  New arrivals

So Keep a cool head,  think logically, make a quilt,  and wash your hands after your “Smarties”

 

 

Outside the Lines

Another month is started, so it is time for the new installment of Outside the Lines.  The feature print this month is for Spring/Easter,  and features the happiest of bunnies and chicks on a sky blue background.    This print is 20% off during its feature month.   We have paired it with several single color prints, and one of my favorite hand dyes.     The pattern we think you will most enjoy using it with is our new Class on Demand, called Smarties.     Our sample of the Smarties project uses colors inspired by the candies,   but it works well with this month’s Outside the Lines fabrics as well.

We have scheduled a group session for the Smarties workshop on March 26,  10:30.    It is a one session class which normally runs about $30.00 but if you sign up before the 21st you can take half off the registration fee,  Making it only $15.00.    Easter Sunday isn’t until April 12,  you could easily have this one done by then.   It is a perfect size for a young one,  or to throw over the back of a couch to add some Spring to your decor.    Supply lists are on the workshops page of this site.   Call, email or stop in to register.   

This is the Smarties sample quilt.  It has machine quilting and a wool batting.  The colored blocks are being accented with circles of big stitch quilting to resemble the candies.    We have fat quarter packs of this color way available.     Register today!!

The New BOM

This year I wanted to choose a Block of the Month that felt old fashioned, was different from Alaska that we recently finished,  and possibly didn’t start right away in January because of my medical issues.     It is a bonus if the techniques used are with reach of a confident beginner.     I am so happy that I found a program that fits all of these parameters.  It is by Princess Mirah,  my favorite company for batik and hand painted fabrics.     The fabrics are wonderful rich fall tones with a few delicate lights.   The design is a medallion style with a pieced design in the center followed by consceutive borders.    The overall effect is very vintage.     

I have received my shop kit so I photographed the fabrics for you to see.   The program itself wont begin until May,  it will run 8 sessions,  and the finish is queen sized at 88 inches square.

Each session you will get the needed fabrics and the full color pattern, which is full of pictures too.   In addition you will have a color photo of the finished project and a printed fabric key.    It is highly suggested that you come to the meetings, on the First Saturday of the Month at 9 am,  and take notes, take pictures,  and bring show and tell – oh and a warm beverage of your choice.   If you have to miss a session or want to do your sewing with me around to guide you, there is Work in Progress Wednesdays.    Every Wednesday we are open,  and you can bring your project to work here.

You can register today!!    I will post more photos as soon as I finish the sample.   I can’t wait to jump into this Project.

A couple other brief announcements,   due to Tuesdays power outages Crazy Quilt Club will meet Saturday,  2/22/2020   (couldn’t resist, that date looks so interesting typed out)

We have other new arrivals,  Ten luscious fabrics from the line Marbella, by paula Nadlestern, for Bentartex.   Bright, rich,  and hard to resist.   Wait till you see how stunning they are in person. 

And due to a planned medical procedure the Shoppe will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next week.  Feb. 27-29.  There will be no Blog post that week.  Should be back to normal for the following week to unveil the newest installment of Outside the Lines.    Are you ready for Spring?? I am.