My Favorites - Karen

This week our featured Staff Member is doll extraordinary, Karen Smith! See what she has to say about her favorite sewing items! 

Q: What is your favorite sewing/quilting book?

A: Books are a weakness for me!  I love books and have just about every book that has ever been published regarding cloth dolls.  I also have a weakness for magazines and have just about every magazine on cloth dolls.  I think that I get the most from Patti Medaris Culea’s books.  Her most recent book is the best – it is a compilation of her first 4 books – called “Creative Cloth Doll Collection.”  It’s a wealth of cloth doll construction and everything to dress and embellish a doll.  My second favorite (right now) is “Cloth Doll Artistry” by Barbara Willis.  She has some of the most beautiful embellished dolls too.  (These can all change with my mood)            

Q: What is your favorite sewing notion?

A:  My favorite and most useful notion is the Stuffing Tools for cloth dolls.  I have both sizes – the larger one for body parts and the really small one to push stuffing into little fingers and toes.  You cannot really stuff a cloth doll without one so I always have this on my class lists and Seams Like Home stocks both sizes.  They are so useful for pincushions, stuffed animals and etc. too.  My favorite stuffing is Premium Polyfil by Fairfield. 

Q: What is your favorite sewing foot?

A:  My favorite sewing foot is my Free Motion Embroidery Foot.  This foot lets me create just about any fairy wing I design.  Also, I can add wonderful thread embellishments to my fabric before creating a doll.   I also really can’t sew a doll without the open toe foot as it allows me to see the stitching line and to sew with accuracy. 

Q: What is your favorite hand/machine sewing thread?

A:  My favorite which is really quite boring, but so incredibly useful, is hand quilting thread by Coats and Clark.  I have tried many different brands and types but this thread is the best for everything from sewing arms, legs and heads to my dolls, but also to add embellishments, beading and making wired ribbon flowers.  I can tug it fairly firmly and it just doesn’t break.  I have every color that has come out.  But it absolutely must be the “hand quilting” thread, not machine quilting.  I also like a lot of metallic threads by Madeira and Superior – they add the “fairy” touch.

Q: What is your favorite sewing blog(s)?

A:  This one is a difficult one to narrow down to one or even two.  I love Joggles – this site has just about everything a doll artist/mixed media artist would like.  This site also sends out a “mid week muse” video tutorial that is usually interesting showing techniques for new or interesting products.  I also like to visit Dollmakers Journey  -  they send out a monthly newsletter with information on new patterns and products.  They also have a sale every month on a pattern category and lots of links for upcoming challenges and etc.  I also enjoy Patti Medaris Culea’s site – she has some wonderful patterns and really good links.  But I check out many more too.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into our gift card drawing! Thanks for stopping by!

MyFav's - Sara

Join us this week to hear about Sara's favorite items! 

Q: What is your favorite sewing/quilting book?

A: One book that is my good ole stand by for Christmas fun is New Noel. It has a few simple and beautiful Christmas stocking patterns that I have used to make stockings for everyone in my family! Also the other patterns, table runners, placemats and pillows are super fun. I know the colors they use are bright and nontraditional but I have done most of my projects in green and red and they are beautiful! Definitely my holiday go to book! Also I love the Quilter’s Academy books – All of them!!! They all have lots of useful information about quilting, sewing, sewing machines, quilting tools and other good tidbits of information. For those of us out there who are sewing and quilting and are mostly self-taught, these books can take your sewing to another level! I love the confidence I have gained in my quilting and sewing through these books and I use them as reference tools often!

Q: What is your favorite sewing notion?

A: I love my Frixon Pen! You can use the pen on fabric, on your notes, in books, patterns for super sharp and precise lines and marks. And the best part is you can erase all of your marks! On fabric to make the marks disappear all you have to do is use your iron! Heat or friction makes the pen disappear! Once you wash your project and fabric the marks will never come back! Love it! Wonder Tape is also one of my favorite notions! I use to help apply my binding to hold it in place as I’m sewing it on by hand. It makes the task a lot easier and the finished product is nearly perfect! My last favorite notion is my Mini Iron II! This specialty iron has a few different attachments and they make this iron so practical! I love the small iron tip as it’s perfect to fuse the applique pieces onto your projects! Since I love fusible applique this iron is wonderful for me but the other attachments have many other functions too!

Q: What is your favorite sewing foot?

A: The #5 Blindhem foot is one of the most practical feet in my arsenal. It’s my best friend when hemming pants and the seams are nearly invisible because of this foot! Another favorite is the #35 invisible zipper foot! I have struggled with invisible zippers many a time and this foot has little guides that the zipper coils fit right into so you can perfectly attach an invisible zipper! This foot has made my garments and projects go from looking homemade to looking flawless! My last two favorite feet have made me a successful quilter, they are the #50 Bernina Walking foot and the BERNINA Stitch Regulator! With the aid of these two feet I have been able to quilt all of the quilts I have ever made! It feels great to be able to piece and then quilt all of my projects from beginning to end. I now have a major passion for quilting, it has become my favorite part of sewing!

Q: What is your favorite hand/machine sewing thread?

A: I have recently fallen in love with metallic threads, most specifically the YLI Yenmet threads! They are sparkly, shiny and make your projects stand out! I have enjoyed quilting and machine embroidery with these threads. The trick to achieve no thread breakage is using a size 90/14 Metallic needle and loosening top tension on your Bernina. With those two tricks I have never struggled with the Yenmet thread and I am now obsessed with them! Another favorite thread of mine is Aurifil. This is my favorite cotton piecing and quilting thread. I know many other staff members have raved about it already but I can’t say enough about this stuff! My dream is to have Aurifil in every color!!! With 216 colors, it’s a big task but one I am more than happy to work towards. J

Q: What is your favorite sewing blog(s)?

A: http://www.coletterie.com/ The Coletterie is the blog for Colette Sewing Patterns. They feature lots of real sewers and other blogs who are successfully using the Colette Patterns, which are awesome by the way! There are also lots of fun and interesting tutorials on garment making techniques and step by step guides on how to put together their patterns.

 http://weallsew.com/ We All Sew is the wonderful and amazing Bernina blog. This blog has free projects, features about the new and hot ideas in the sewing world and lots of tutorials from Bernina Educators and Sewing Celebrities. I check this blog weekly as there is always something new and exciting to discover!

P.S: Don't forget to leave a comment or tell us what your favorite notions are. You will be automatically entered to win a $25 gift card to the store! 

MyFav's - Maret

Welcome to Week 3 of our MyFav's blog series. Check out what Maret has to say about her favorite sewing/quilting related items!

1.      What is your favorite sewing/quilting book?

Why are these questions so hard?!  I love books!  Nothing is more relaxing and inspiring than a cup of coffee (or red wine) and looking through the newest books. 

Right now I have been devouring Fiberart Montage by Judith Baker Montano.  Judith is our featured teacher at our first quilt retreat in Halibut Cove this summer.  Her creations are pieces of art!  Her book combines photography, watercolor paintings, fiber creations and silk ribbon embroidery…all the things I love to do!  Her older books are timeless resources for hand embroidery and silk ribbon techniques.  I love doing hand work. 

2.     What is your favorite sewing notion?

When cleaning my sewing studio, I discovered 4 Kwik Klip notions! You really only need one, but obviously when I couldn’t find mine, I needed another and another and another!

This is the best tool for closing those safety pins while pinning your quilts.  No more broken fingernails!

3.     What is your favorite sewing foot?

I LOVE the #10 edge foot.  This foot allows you to get up close and personal with the edge of your project and gives a professional finish to your seams.  I have used in on a leather bag that I made and people are amazed at the details on the seams!  It looks better than store bought.

I also LOVE the #43 free motion couching foot.  This foot is a must have for any machine embellisher!  I also LOVE  the hemmer feet, # 60, # 61 and #62.  These feet help sew narrow rolled hems on scarves and garments.  I also LOVE…oh wait, I’m only supposed to pick one favorite?!  The list just goes on and on….

4.     What is your favorite hand/machine sewing thread?

I love to piece with Aurifil thread.  It is a long staple Egyptian cotton thread that doesn’t leave tons of lint in your sewing machine.  It is also great for machine quilting because is embeds in the quilt, instead of lying on top as some thicker threads tend to do.

We are slowly bringing in more art threads to be used for embellishments.  King Tut, Masterpiece, and Rainbows just to name a few. 

I also love silk ribbon, floss and thread.  We have the ENTIRE line of Judith Baker Montano’s hand dyed silk threads and ribbons.  Scrumptious!

5.     What is your favorite sewing blog?

This blog makes me laugh!  Zombies have invaded, but at least this one has a sense of humor and “thehappyzombie.com” makes me happy.  Monica Soloria-Snow is unsupervised and armed with sewing needles.  Not your traditional quilter/sewer!  I love seeing what new tricks and techniques she comes up!

Karen Snyder is a mainstay in the quilting industry.  She is an author, fabric designer, and previous shop owner.  I had the pleasure of meeting her a few years ago and spending some time during dinners getting to know her.  Her style is more traditional quilting and her blogs are always entertaining.   Her blog, “annalenaland.com” features her sewing projects as well as her love of photography.

Okay so, not a sewing blog but a life blog…I love “hands free mama.com” blog.  Our lives get too busy and our eyes are always glued to the computer screen, phone screen, movie screen,  tv screen so much that that sometimes I want to scream! While we need to have some interaction with electronics…do remember to put them down and enjoy the moments around you.  Rachel Macy Stafford writes posts so eloquently…read it-live it.

And don't forget, leave a comment here to be entered into our $25 gift card drawing. We will randomly choose the winner next Monday!

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to come in the store to check out the items Maret mentions above! 

Happy 10th Birthday To Us!

To all of our loyal customers,
Thank you for your support and business over the last 10 years! Come join us on June 2nd for our 10 year Birthday Celebration! We will have cupcakes (from local business "Simply Cupcakes") as well as a super duper coupon that allows you to choose your favorite item to get a discount on! Below is the coupon for that discount. You can bring in a print off of the coupon or show us the coupon via your phone when you check out. There is a limit of one coupon per customer and the coupon is only good for June 2nd!
Hope to see you in the store!

My Favs - Angelyn

Okay SLH Fans.. this week our featured Team Member is Angelyn! Here is what she has to say about her "Favs": 

1. What is your favorite sewing/quilting book?

OH GEEZ. My favorite? Well for all around fun quilts, my favorite book is probably "Dare to be Square" by Boo Davis. But right now i'm also sucked into the Colette Sewing Handbook and Carol Doaks Mariners Compass Stars paperpiecing book! But as my sister and Sara would tell you, I own just about every "Art to Heart" book that was ever made. I think i maybe have made one or two projects from the 15 or so books i have, but I LOVE THEM, and i just tend to collect them.  One day I will get to all the fun projects those books hold!  TOO MANY BOOKS TO LOVE!!

2.What is your favorite sewing notion?

Umm...beside my seam ripper. :) Well lets see, Honestly my one notion I couldn't live without is a 4" pair of Omnigrid needlecraft scissors. I  use them for everything from snipping threads to pulling off paperpiecing paper. And they are still sharp despite being dropped repeatedly into my floor ( which they stick straight up out of)

3. What is your favorite sewing foot?
OH man... well 90% of the time I use my (AMAZING) 1/4" patchwork foot for piecing, but I also love my #10 edgestitch foot(which is great for topstitching and closing seams when you turn things) But the one foot that I think is the all time coolest is the #18 button sew on foot (thank you Bernina) It makes it possible to sew buttons onto anything using your machine!!

4. What is your favorite hand/machine sewing thread?
So, I have to a agree with my sister and say Prececia and Aurifil are by far the best piecing threads. I may be bias but you will not find a better thread for piecing than either of those. BUT...my mom just decided to bring in King Tut by Superior Threads...and all I could say when it came in was...aww crap. :)

5.What is your favorite sewing blog?

Seriously? Favorite as in singular favorite...hahaha! ok. 1. "Oh, Fransson" by Elizabeth Hartman, 2."Make it and Love it", 3. "Artisania"- by Sonja Callaghan ( ok, if you like paper piecing, you will LOVE her blog, she is amazing. Her patterns are amazing) and there are many more but my list would go on and on and on and on...well you get the point.

And don't forget..leave a comment here before next Monday and you could win a $25 giftcard to the store! Have fun and we look forward to seeing what your "Favs" are!

MyFavorites - Enjoli

Welcome to our "MyFavorites" blog series. Here you will get a chance to know our staff members better. We will have a good time and assuming that our distributor can keep up with us we will have stock in store of all the products you hear about here! 

Enjoli is up first, so here it goes...

Q: What is your favorite sewing/quilting book?

A: My current favorite book is “Practical Guide to Patchwork” by Elizabeth Hartman. I want to make every quilt in this book, AND in June Elizabeth is releasing her second book that promises to be just as great as her first.  It’s called “Modern Patchwork”. I’ve also picked up a few new releases that are fantastic, called “Modern Minimal” by Alissa Haight-Carlton, and “Quilting Modern” by Jacquie Gering. 

(NOTE: "Modern Patchwork", "Modern Minimal" and "Quilting Modern" are all new release books and have not made it into our store yet. Keep an eye out for them soon!)

Q: What is your favorite sewing notion?

A: This is a hard question, I have so many favorites, its hard to choose just one. I love my “machine needle pack”, it holds all of my packaged and loose needles and has labels so I don’t have to guess which ones are which.

I also can’t go to any class or sit and sew without knowing where my “Bohin sewing gauge” is. It is awesome and has survived my 2 year old using it!

And last but certainly not least, my “Rainbow Easy Kut” snips are my favorite for clipping threads on chain piecing or paper piecing projects. They are easy to use and stay sharp forever!  

Q: What is your favorite sewing foot?

A: Right now my favorite sewing foot is my Jeans foot! Despite the name you can actually use it for sewing knit as well. And since I have been altering jeans into maternity jeans and sewing up knit maternity tshirts it has come in super handy. And even though its not a sewing foot, it helps to use a straight stitch plate when using the jeans foot because the opening in the stitch plate is a single hole instead of an oval opening. The jeans foot (for my Bernina it is foot #8) has a single keyhole opening as well and the sole of the foot is hinged so that you can go over the thickness of denim. Check out the video on Bernina’s website to see how cool this foot it!  (http://www.berninausa.com/product_detail-n25-i51-sUS.html)

Q: What is your favorite hand/machine sewing thread?

A: I am partial to sewing with Prescenia or Auriful thread for piecing and quilting. The Prescenia thread is so thin that you keep a true ¼” seam when piecing. You still get super strong thread but you don’t have the bulk of some other types of thread. As for Aurifil, well…I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It is just a great all around thread, also very thin. I use it for everything, piecing, quilting and even embroidery. It is not a shiny thread like you’d find with Isacord (which I also love for embroidery) but embroiders out beautifully and runs through my machine like butter without leaving a lot of fuzz!

Q: What is your favorite sewing blog(s)?

A: Oh my..I currently have 60 websites/blogs bookmarked on my web browser! :P I have to say that my top 5 are:

1)    “OhFransson” by Elizabeth Hartman

2)    “Handmade by Alissa” by Alissa Haight-Carlton

3)    “Tallgrass Prairie Studio” by Jacquie Gering

4)    “Fresh Lemons Quilts” by Faith

5)    “Stitched in Color” by Rachel Hauser

I visit these sites constantly and find myself adding projects from each of them to my “To-Do’ list! Each are so inspiring and have fun tutorials and projects, as well as beautiful pictures to just lift your spirits!

Leave a comment here telling us what your favorite sewing books or notions are and next Monday (the 21st) you could just be the winner of a $25 gift card to SLH! 

New Blog Series - My Favorites

Okay here it goes... Today is the official (actually un-official because I'm behind) launch of our new blog series called "My Favorites". You will get to hear from each staff member on their favorite crafty blogs, book and tools! We are going to have a great time and all of the items (books, notions, etc.) will be in our store for you to come check out in person and/or purchase for your own!

And, of course since I manage the blog I get to go first! So in the interest of making sure you all can collect some of my favorite items for your own, my list of "My Favorites" will post next week on May 14th. So be sure to check back here on that day so find out what books, notions and other crafty items I hoard in my studio!

Looking forward to sharing and chatting with you all!