FABRIC IN THE FRAY

North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway has more than 

windy roads, beautiful vistas and views.  

Spruce Pine, NC is along the route.
I found this wonderful LQS. 

Fabrics in the Fray!

You may think this is an odd name but

the owner,  Anita Dowd, explained that a "fray" is the "edge' 

and this "fabric" shop is at the "edge or fray of the forest"

So "Fabrics in the Fray" is a perfect name!

A front porch area with a red light signal 
and picket fence that looks like pencils

 made me wonder... "what's inside"?   

I soon found out and lemme tell ya - 
I was NOT disappointed.   
Anita has a way of showcasing her amazing 

sewing collections...look closely 
as there are history lessons all around. 

Buttons in these quirky containers!

Needle Shuttle holders...she had a couple of these. 
and took time to open them so I could see the 
antique sewing machine shuttles and needles  

this needle case hung on the wall with some great
sewing machine prints.



A peek inside antique show cases filled my
senses with glorious sewing antiques.






Center stage was an antique chair.
Perhaps a barber or beauty salon chair
Great display for this two color quilt!

There were displays of thread, pincushions

and thimbles...

more threads, pincushions, ribbons and quirkiness

The shop had a fireplace with lots of eye candy.  
Don't you love this little clothesline and clothes!

Yest another thread display from an old wooden drawer

atop an antique table

and yes there was fabric everywhere!

One of the first displays I noticed was an old boat.

Anita said it was gonna be burned so she  rescued it.  

A perfect display for this years 

2015 Row by Row and H2O Experience (Shop hop)

that is happening in all 50 states and Canada

For details on that click here.

T

Although I am not a huge novelty fabric fan

These had to come home with me 

Before I left, I knew I had yet another kwilty friend.

Thank you Anita for such an entertaning adventure at

Fabrics in the Fray!

I will never forget how kwitly it made me feel!

RED ROOSTER LQS - MODERNIZED!

Dublin, OH ... a modern fabric haven!

Enter - Red Rooster Quilts  
and right now, this beautiful kwilt welcomes you!

I have  been a fan of this shop for many years!
Why? Because of the owner, Karen O'Connor.
No matter what kwilting group I have been associated with...
Karen has always been there to support the group!

 I am sew excited to say...

RRQ has NOT ONLY enlarged their shop but 
kicked it up a "modern" notch.

Take a look...
Shelves filled with modern designer fabrics
like Cotton and Steel, Zen Chic...just to name a few

Drooling yet?

The Black and White Cotton and Steel selection was amazing!

Need a kwilting notion...look no further!

How bout a pattern? 

RRQ offer a great selection of Janome sewing machines!

Soon to arrive....the top of the line HQ Longarm Machine
They will offer classes to learn how to use it  , 
Then you can rent time to finish your own kwilts!
How cool is that!

Some great kwilt samples hanging in the shop!
Lots of classes too!

Check this out...Moda Modern Neutrals fabric

I received a mini for a spring swap made in this line.

A boatload of Sweetwater fabric was docked there
and this fun kwilt !

This post is not a paid advertisement...I just luv this shop!
If you are in the Central Ohio (Columbus/Dublin) area...
take time to visit...you will luv it too! 

THE ROOSTER IS RED!

Columbus Modern Quilters

Enjoyed a guild meeting at...

Karen O'Connor, owner, setup some great demos on
"curved piecing"

Our members had voiced an interest in this technique...

and they were NOT disappointed!

Karen began the meeting by showing us  

Sew Kinda Wonderful's 

rulers and patterns...

The Quick Curve Ruler and patterns are amazing...

stop over here to check them out.. 

Many pattern are available for this ruler...
so it is NOT a one trick pony!

 Estill provided demos on two rulers by Creative Grids.

Here he shows us The Circle Savvy Ruler 

YES, men do enjoy this thing called kwilting!

Easy and quick method to make perfect circles!

The Cats Cradle Tool was also interesting!

All setup and ready to show us what it can do

Our guild members were offered FREE patterns 
with the purchase of any demo ruler.
And of course, there was no twisting any arms

to buy fabric!

But hang on....

Our own member, Elizabeth,  did a demo on EPP
She made everyone a 3 hexie kit
for a hands on experience!
Then a winner took them ALL home.

She also put together kits with 7 hexie papers 
for a take and make challenge.
Thanks Elizabeth for your generous effort!

And oh yeah...these kwilters in training enjoyed

us as much as we enjoyed them.

Josie, just turned 4 months old and sew cute

My favorite baby-boy Miah, will celebrate his 1st birthday soon!

Thanks to Karen for a wonderful evening.
and to all the Columbus Modern Quilters for organizing
and making every meeting an enjoyable time!
A special welcome to the new kwilters who joined in the fun!

Stay tuned for another post showing you

the newly remodeled shop AND 
the beautiful modern fabrics now available!

FINDING FIBERS!

As with any kwilting retreat...

shopping for fabric is always involved.   

I bought this fabric before I left my house.

Kathy G found this C & S at 50% off 
 and called me to see what I wanted...
now that's a kwilty friend!

Then I found these at Mrs. Miller's QS in Charm, OH
and they offered a 10% off coupon.

I see another knitting project bag!
or maybe several for my Etsy shop!

Mrs. Miller's has a great sale area in the basement.

These were $6.00 / yard  

The Country Craft Cupboard, Berlin, OH - 10% coupon.

Kathy didn't want anything so I used her coupon too!

You know I'm a charm hoarder!

The Helping Hands LQS , Berlin, OH. 
I asked if they were offering retreaters any discount.
WELLLLLLL!!! 
They printed off  30% off coupon
for my group - to use the entire weekend.  
"Always Ask"

I found these yummy skeins of yarn to bring home!

Retreat participants can bring their destash items to sale
so I unloaded a few things...and snatched these up for FREE  

Some "I Spy" fabrics ...FREE

Kathy also gave me some C & S leftover triangles 
from the quilt project she was working on. 

I sewed them into HST...just gotta trim to size.

Wonder what they will become. 

All in all...lots of new stash to bring home

but the best was time spent with kwilty friends.

RETREAT, PROJECT LINKS AND A GHASTLIE SECRET!

Springtime = Kwilting Retreat with my BFF in kwilty crime.

Kathy Guenther and I share a room, sewing space and of course, WINE!

We made a lot of fun project and I am providing links to both the free projects and 

the ones for purchase.

And no I am not being paid for any advertising.

Here are the great projects Kathy made..  

Poolside Tote by Noodlehead (for purchase

Lil Cute Pouches free tutorial by Noodlehead

  Reversible Box Tote free tutorial by Very Shannon

 1 Hour Basket free tutorial by Hearts and Bees 

 and Get Carded by Dog Under my Desk (for purchase)

My retreat projects included...

 7 Wide Open Zipper pouches by Noodlehead

Free tutorial here.   

I sewed all the zippers in before retreat-headstart!

ALL pouches were made with fabrics saved from other projects. 

I just bag the pieces til I'm ready to get scrappy.

I had this Nested Churn Dash top pieced.

I did some easy organic line kwilting - added binding.

 NCD pattern here by Quilt Jane for a small fee.

Made myself a Noodlehead 241 tote  (for purchase)

with Ghastlies Garden fabric.

this bag was a bit smaller than I like

but I can still fit my iPad inside with a few other things.

Next time I will add the front zippers.

I had all 9 of my Orange Ghastlies NCD blocks made

Sewed the top together !  awesomeness! 

  I began another Ghastlies kwilt top

using the Ghastlies Gallery fabrics.

I love the Perfect 10 pattern by Swirly Girl Designs

for purchase here

When I posted this pic on InstaGram 

I tagged Alexander Henry fabrics.   

He "loved" it  !!!

What is better than getting accolades from the fabric designer!
NUTTIN HONEY!

Did you catch the secret?

'MORE GHASTLIES FABRIC IS COMING" 

 YES, YES, YES!!!

My Ghastlie prayers have been answered!

The retreat was a huge success in kwitling 

catching up with kwilty friends and....

 Kwilting Retreats are always a way to