Thank Goodness!

Thank goodness for classes. I learned most of my basic sewing skills in college in beginning sewing courses, but they didn't cover awesome things like: "Making your own Fabric Embellishment," or "Grandmother's Flower Garden." While I'm relatively new at sewing, I'm still so excited to learn more!

http://www.valliandkim.com/Calendar/ May

Thank goodness for new fabrics from Kaffe Fassett! At first I thought those fabrics were a little to psychedelic for me, but as I cut a bunch of 'em for fat quarters the designs and colors started to grow on me. Now I'm looking for projects to use them in. Do Fabrics ever grow on you or is it just love at first sight?

Thank goodness for seam-rippers. I have two kinds, one is great for more delicate ripping and the other is fantastic at tearing apart serged seams. I always make sure those things are handy when I'm trying a new project. I always end up doing something thoughtless as the night wears on. You'd think I'd learn by now and just go to sleep!

What is your favorite kind of seam ripper?

Embroidery that

For those of you who'd like to expand your repertoire of skills, we've got an embroidery class coming up on May 24. The cool thing about embroidery is that it can go on just about anything. You can embroider clothing, pillows, quilts, greeting cards and anything else you can get a needle through. 

This class is taught by the amazing Linda Myers. She designs her own embroidery patterns and sells 'em on etsy.com! She really knows her stuff. You'll also get the embroidery guide pamphlet which has awesome illustrations to remind you how to do it later. I just think embroidery so cool! You can create such interesting textures that give your finished projects that little extra zing! Hope we see you there!

By Cassie

Ps. If you want some inspiration for future embroidery ideas, look on www.esty.com/embroidery/patterns!

Unusual Uses

I got to thinking more about unusual uses for fabric and I remembered this cool lampshade Valli & Kim made! Isn't it clever? It's so bright and cheery. Definitely unique. I think they cut strips of fabric and twisted them as they attached it to the wire frame. You can go see it for your self in the store. The lamp is towards the back near the magazines and bench. 

Before I forget, we have some AWESOME classes coming up!!!! This week has an adorable Sister Smocks class, and a Tea Towel Applique class. If you want to plan ahead a bit, May has an Embellishment Class, Embroidery Basics, Laminated Tote Bag and the Basic Skirt Class. I think we'll be adding even more in the coming week. So keep and eye out!!!

http://www.valliandkim.com/Calendar

By Cassie Grace

Books and Fabric are Some of my Favorite Things!

Exciting New Books vs.

Plain and Traditional Books

You may not know this, but I'm also a bookbinder. I sew the paper together, attach it to a cover and all that jazz. It's a lot of fun and I can custom make my own calendars, journals, and sketchbooks. The only downside is the very boring, but very sturdy book cloth that traditionally covers books.

Well, I've found a imported japanese cotton that is heavy enough to cover my books, but not as heavy as most home decor fabric. It has a funky, fun print and I'm excited to see how it holds up. The next project will be to make removable book covers with the laminated fabrics.

You can see more of these kinds of fabrics here: http://www.fabricworm.com/patterns.html

By Cassie Grace

What are some unusual uses you've found for your fabrics?

Sweet!

These are my FIRST EVER cupcakes!

Red Velvet! Yum, right?!

Somehow I missed the cupcake train when I learned to bake. I know how to make cookies, brownies, pies, cakes, even soufflés. So, for my birthday I decided I wanted cupcakes, but I was feeling lazy because... ya know.. its my birthday. I bought cake mix and frosting from the store. Totally cheating! I know, I know. Luckily, I have a cupcake pan from when we got married 5 years ago. Yay! Loads of fun.

Is everyone craving sweets yet? Muahahhahahhaa!!!

By Cassie Grace

A Little Spring Finishing

The finishing Saga Continues! I have a another chair that I've had for over a year that I've wanted to make over. I FINALLY bought the cushion and fabric to finish the danged thing. I want to repaint the chair too, so I'll share a before and after photo next week...... I just realized that this is the first photo of me on the blog...... I bet ya'll were wondering who this crazy girl was!!! Haha

Anyway, I thought you might like a little print out on how to do cording. It's not as hard as it looks and it really makes a cushion or pillow look finished. You can find cording at any ol' craft store too. 

By Cassie Grace

Ps. How is your "Finishing Saga" going?

Shop Hop

Valli & Kim are keeping longer hours for the Bluebonnet Shop Hop this weekend. They are going to be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (9am-8pm), as well as Sunday (10am-4pm)! As if you needed an extra reason to stop by and pick a little something up! 

Lots of new Kaffe Fassett Fabrics in too! 

On another note, I've been on a finishing kick of late and I want to pass it on. It feels dang good to get something completed. So I'm going to challenge ya'll to finish one thing this week. It can be anything, sewing, home repair, a thank you card. Something! Anything! My big finishing thing was finally hanging some of my oil paintings in my art cave. They had been crowding my work table for some time. It feels great and it looks cool! You can do it!!!!!! 

....... and maybe you'll have to drop by Valli & Kim for a little bit fabric to finish off that one project... wink wink!

By Cassie Grace

Ps. Let us know what you finished! So we can give ya a big HooRAY!!!

Just in Case...

Just in case you kids didn't know, we offer beginning sewing and beginning quilting classes. Sooooo if you have some friends that "ooooh" and "aaah" over your awesome stuff, send 'em our way! Get them started on their own creative journey! If they don't have time for such a long term class, we've got a Pajama Bottoms Class on Saturday. It's low-key and you get a cute pair of PJ Bottoms out of it!

http://www.valliandkim.com/calendar

Also, here is a tasty picture to brighten your day!

Valli & Kim have and example of these silken cloth crocheted into a scarf.
What else do you think we could make out of it????

By Cassie Grace

Paper Piecing Party

Paper Piecing is so cool! I know I've mentioned it before, but with this free class coming up on it (April 20th) I thought I'd put in another shameless plug.

Thanks Sonja Calaghan!!!

I found this pattern online for free. Now that I know how to do it, I've even played around a bit with making my own designs. I'm still working out the kinks. The free class will have a pattern of a heart, but after you learn the fundamentals, you can go crazy!! I find it exciting to have a project finished in an hour or so that actually looks like something!

By Cassie Grace

Burst!

Tree Monster

Carrot Monster

Do you ever have a sudden burst of inspiration? Well, some hit me over the weekend. I was helping my friend Grayson learn how to cover a foam pillow. When we trimmed the foam, I asked if I could keep it. Then stopped by the Stitch Lab for "some undercover work" (wink-wink)and fabric. I got some cotton all covered in hilarious little monsters and the idea smacked me in the face:

  FOAM MONSTERS!!! 

So, I got home and got to work! I cut up the foam and drew up some ideas. This is my "pattern" for the Tree Monster in case you want to replicate it. Thank you, Valli, for showing me how to embroider without a hoop! It works great! 

How do your bursts of Inspiration come?

By Cassie Grace

New Classes for April! Hurrah!

This photo has nothing to do with the
classes coming up, but I just think it's pretty!
haha!

We've got a FREE FRIDAY CLASS!!!!! It's all about paper piecing hearts. So bring your machines and scraps on April 20th. Paper piecing is so cool! It totally exploded my world of possibilities for my quilts. I'm even figuring out how to design my own!

You can treat yourself to a couple of fat-quarters for that
Paper Piecing class. Wink wink!

If you missed Machine Quilting 201 last time, we've got it again on the 21st and 28th of April. All the ladies who went last time said they learned loads!

Oh and we've got Pajama Bottoms on Saturday the 14th. That class is perfect for beginners and teenagers. Please check out our calendar for our other classes in May too! See ya'll soon!

http://www.valliandkim.com/Calendar

Ps. Be sure to call or come on in to sign up!