Bear in Mind An electronic newsletter from Bear Threads Ltd. Volume 7 – Issue 1 January 2015 From The Editor – We are excited about our new monthly column on doll dressing. It is a popular hobby today, especially for those who miss sewing for their babies and toddlers. It is another Alas another year is fading into the history books, and we great way to use small bits of fabric and lace, and a will soon have new challenges and adventures as we fabulous way to create imaginary adventures of your own. embark on 2015. Bear Threads was busy throughout the Of course a big plus is no dirty or torn clothing, wiggling holidays, and all indications point to a great winter and fittings, or fussy selections. To make this monthly feature Easter season. If I gave titles to our Bear in Mind issues, I more interesting for you, our readers, we are introducing would call this one ‘Let it Snow’, because it is full of ideas our friends Annabelle and Ping. Ping is from Singapore, for small projects that are perfect for a snowed in vacation! and will be staying with Annabelle, who lives in We have baby pillows, quilts and doll dressing…all small Connecticut, for a year. We hope you enjoy their hand projects perfect for a chair pulled up to the fireplace – adventures as much as we have enjoyed creating their as well as a New Years Snow Ball!!!!! stories. Perhaps you might start a doll club in your store with monthly themes and storytelling for young girls and their moms to make doll clothing. Before reading further, make sure Sunday January 11th is on your calendar. This is the day of our semi-annual Creative Sewing Market in Birmingham, Al. Note: IT IS A 1 DAY ONLY MARKET so plan to arrive early with shopping list in hand. We missed you all in September so this will be an especially big show with lots of new items to show you. And of course I will have lots of unique and vintage goodies. th Happy New Year to one and all, and enjoy another packed Easter is April 5 this year, so you have plenty of time to issue of Bear in Mind, with lots of sewing ideas for the sew, sew, and sew in the snow! Just plan your projects cold winter months. ahead of the weatherman’s evening announcement. As shop owners, several classes are surely already on your Happy Stitching, calendars, and as students you have time for learning a new technique, practicing and then turning your new skills into a wonderful spring frock for yourself or a loved one. All of Sheila the ideas in this issue are not only perfect for using small bits of lace and fabric; they are perfect for learning new techniques. Decorative Home Heirlooms From so many of you, I hear that you really miss heirloom sewing, but your children or grandchildren are past the age of smocked dresses or fancy collars. For others, you would like to learn the techniques of heirloom sewing but would wish for a project other than children’s clothing. We are here to rescue all of you who wish for another avenue to take, so that you may continue to enjoy the love of fine fabrics and laces. This month I hope to give you the incentive to be creative in your love of sewing, and use many of those leftover scraps at the same time. Baby Pillows are a quick, small project – well, depending on how elaborate you wish it to be! – and are a fabulous use for small pieces of lace and fabric. You can keep a few on hand for gifts just waiting for a colored ribbon or a monogram. We all know that baby pillows are not really for the baby’s head. Babies and small children do not start to use a pillow until at least 2 years or older, or when you notice that they actually start looking for something to put under their head. But absolutely nothing is sweeter to give as a gift – or receive – than a small pillow adorned with lace, a monogram or other themed decoration. And they The photos show some of my favorites. (Note: last a lifetime finding a spot on a guestroom bed Others were featured in the Nov. /Dec 2014 issue for all to reminisce of that time of the little ones’ of Bear in Mind, in the article ‘Heirlooms in a birth. Personally I am a big decorative ‘pillow Snap’) Even if you do not anticipate a baby for person’ and my guest room beds are stacked from your family or friends, remember they make a headboard half way to foot with pillows in great decorative addition to Aunt Jane’s bed! descending sizes…right down to baby pillows. Some of the cases I have made and others I have found in vintage linen shops. All are special in some way. I could not resist the opportunity with this article to share this precious crib ensemble. This particular crib was, for many years, used as a magazine rack. A new locking bar was made to ‘lock’ it into a shorter version which made it a perfect reading material depository! It was always my wish to have the crib dressed in all of it’s’ glory…and I finally found the perfect person to help transform it into this fairytale work. The mattress foundation is Swiss Floral damask and is ruched around the boxed edging. It is tufted with 2 hole flat buttons attached with miniature blue Another wonderful Heirloom sewing project is and white check ribbon. The side rails are covered the heirloom quilt. This can be a themed quilt (by with Dotted Swiss and trimmed with a vintage color or design), or one that joins small squares blue and white lace. Finishing the ensemble is a made of various scraps of lace and fabric. Making pillow that has a 3.5” Swiss edging ruffled in small squares to be joined is a wonderful way to circles. The only one to have slept in it was my introduce you to new techniques and stitches. dear 20yr old Kitty who was, amazingly, never put Don’t panic with the thought of making a quilt for off by the rocking! a king sized bed! Baby quilts or ‘lap’ quilts can be 36”-50” square, taking much less time. And they don’t have to always be quilted. The top and lining (and interlining, if you choose) can be joined by buttons sewn through all layers, or ribbon bows tacked through all layers. Use your imagination to come up with your own methodology. Small squares of different designs or materials are a great way, not only to use small bits of this and that, but they make a great car project while you are waiting on the kids at school events. So I encourage you to gather those bags of lace and trim pieces, as well as all of your scraps of fabric and plan a fireside project for this winter. Sew Delightful added traditional quilt making and long arm quilting services, it was easy to see that an “heirloom quilt” using Encourages Heirloom Quilting the same fabrics, laces and techniques would fill the void. Based on that knowledge, the class was planned and Sew Delightful will soon begin its fifteenth year of offered and was a great hit. This was a perfect answer and supplying sewing enthusiasts a perfect place to fulfill their opened up endless possibilities for the ladies. Some used sewing dreams. The shop opened with three employees, scraps of the fabrics they had originally used to make 1000 square feet including classroom space, and only a daygowns, Easter dresses and other special occasions limited number of bolts of fabrics and sewing accessories. outfits for their children and grandchildren. They also used It was an immediate success which was attributed to the leftover pieces of lace from those same outfits. Some just fact that only the finest heirloom fabrics and laces were purchased the required amount of Swiss fabrics and laces carried and the knowledge of the small staff was to construct theirs. All turned out beautiful. The idea of overwhelming. The first classes were smocking and this quilt is now encouraged; when new sewers begin their beginning heirloom sewing by machine. Both classes filled journey, extra fabric and lace is suggested with the and additional sessions were immediately scheduled. With thought of making this quilt in the future. excellent teachers, only the best fabrics and laces added together with Husqvarna Viking sewing machines; a successful shop was born and quickly grew to be the largest sewing center in West Alabama. Along with heirloom and smocking, Sew Delightful offers machine embroidery, long arm quilting and tons of classes. Classes include everything from beginner’s classes in basic sewing, heirloom sewing, quilt making, home dec and craft-type projects. Only the best fabrics and notions are offered. As an authorized Husqvarna Viking dealer and The shop now has 13 employees, over 3,000 square feet of service center, a number of classes specific to the retail space, plus additional classroom area, and a huge machines are also offered. At least 3 major inventory of the finest heirloom fabrics and laces in teaching/learning events are offered each year and are addition to over 1,000 bolts of 100% cotton fabrics used taught by national teachers from all across the United for quilts and clothing. All success is due to the willingness States.