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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Laura Gunn

I have a confession. When I was a kid, I swam against a girl named Laura Gunn. She was always faster than me. Always. Maybe that is why I've sort of ignored Laura Gunn the fabric designer, I'm still feeling competitive. I'm pretty sure they are no relation. I'm not sure if this Laura Gunn has the same swimming skills, but she definitely has mad designing skills. The fabrics are bright and colorful and the patterns appear to be painted on. Such a unique look.
Again, I'm drawn to these fabrics with the purpose of creating a blouse. A blouse I'm too afraid to make. But I'd make it out of any one of these.

I found this photo on Hawthorne Threads. The fabric is from Laura's Lantern Bloom line:


















And these 2 are from her newer Poppy line. Beautiful stuff:
































Laura Gunn

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Sew Mama Sew

Sew Mama Sew is an awesome online fabric shop - strictly online. They have tons of fabrics that I just love, but more than that they have a great blog and a forum area to their website. Both of these are full of giveaways, interviews, tutorials, reviews, buckets of flickr goodness and inspiration for every holiday and all sorts of projects. Such an awesome resource!

I've been considering something like this for the living room for a while. One day:













I want the guts to make one of these:














Pretty:

















Sew Mama Sew

Monday, March 29, 2010

Urrrr & Fabric Crush

Well, this weekend I came up with a new brilliant idea. And unlike the fabric shop, which will still happen down the road, I can make this one happen a little sooner. I need the hubby on board and his computer skills ASAP. But I think the idea is a good one, and giving it a go has little downside. So...I'm excited and the wheels are turning. More details to follow, promise.

Here's another brick and mortar store that I adore. Fabric Crush in Seattle, WA. They just moved into a new bigger building, spacious and great lighting.








































Fabric Crush

Friday, March 26, 2010

Inspiration - Biz Ladies

Design Sponge created by Grace Bonney is one of the first blogs I started following. Who knew all that blogging goodness was out there? I didn't until way late in the game.

For the sake of pretty pictures. A recent favorite post Grace shared of a reader's home in Greenville, SC.

























One of the really great things Grace does is a series called Biz Ladies. The posts speak directly to people interested in making a go of their own business. Lots of great contributors and compelling subjects - branding, taxes, organizing, planning, resources, advertising, and on and on. I'm so grateful for all this awesomeness on the web, I know I'd never have the guts to start my own business without people like Grace out there helping lead the way. Thank you!!
















Biz Ladies

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Bolt Neighborhood

One of the of the pieces of a strong meaningful business plan is to find similar businesses that represent the concept for your own business. I don't mean competitors necessarily, but companies that have similar missions. For me, the best example I've found is Bolt Neighborhood Fabric Boutique in Portland, Oregon. Just read their mission statement on the home page:
Bolt was created out of the desire to see fabric of bright colors, bold prints, contemporary designs, and a younger style of patterns all in one place. The goal for the store is to offer a space that is welcoming to all, and provides a source of inspiration for our creative sides. We wholeheartedly encourage those of you who do not have much experience with fabric to explore this very colorful world and have fun! We are always happy to help in whatever way we can, whether it’s figuring out the dimensions to make your curtains, which fabric would look great as an apron, or how much fabric you need to reupholster those not-so-lovely hand-me-down dining room chairs.

Whether you’re new to all of this, or an old pro, we hope you feel excited, happy, encouraged and inspired by Bolt!

Yes, yes, yes. Modern, young, and helpful - check, check, and check.














They've got a few different tongs to their fork. Their blog. I love that their blog is up to date and filled with good information about classes, new fabric and projects, and local goings on. Excellent. They have recently opened up a separate shop called Modern Domestic, that is strictly for classes. Check out the class list - so much goodness. And look at the interior, yes.













The grand opening is today! I look forward to following its progress.

Obviously, Charleston is a significantly smaller market than Portland, and no doubt there are big differences between the shoppers in Portland compared with Charleston. Nonetheless. So much of what I see in Bolt really resonates with me. Road Trip!

Bolt Fabric Boutique

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Alabama Studio Style

The shop will have a small library. Books for sale, but also books to inspire. I plan to have some comfy chairs, so visitors can make themselves comfortable and enjoy.

Natalie Chanin recently released the follow up to her super Alabama Stitch Book. Both books are beautiful and the vibe is just awesome. Alabama Chanin embraces the slow crafting movement - hand crafted, super detailed, carefully considered, often repurposed garments. They sell clothes ranging from t shirts and skirts to commissioned wedding dressings, home decor, fabric, notions, and books. It isn't just sewing, it's a lifestyle for sure - cooking, travel, music. Definitely worth a look. A close look.

Alabama Studio Style


















Gorgeous

















Details











Alabama Chanin

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Creature Comforts

I'm not big on the extra details - I don't like to waste and I'm cheap. But I do like pretty and practical. I plan to use nice tags and twine like these. Creature Comforts' online store is closing today. Boo. So hurry. I, however, will have to begin sourcing elsewhere.




























Creature Comforts

Monday, March 22, 2010

Inspiration - Craft Venture

Paper n Stitch is currently doing a great series of blog posts on small crafty business issues. I have found each post extremely interesting and thoughtful. Thank you!!

And a photo for fun, Anna Maria Horner Cathedral in Royal, the current color combo inspiration for my logo and marketing materials (all only in my head at this point):

















Craft Venture

Friday, March 19, 2010

Amy Butler

Natch. As ubiquitous as Amy Butler is out there, she's hard to find in my area. Must remedy. There is a reason why she is everywhere, her prints and patterns are awesome. She is a one woman fabric shop really. Patterns, fabric, books, crafts, and now bedding, stationary, tableware, rugs - the brand is out there.

Some fabric favorites from her latest line LoVe:
I'm totally digging the inky blue in thes florals. I'm all about inky blue right now. And she nailed it.

































And how about some coordinating dots?

































Amy Butler

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Kona Cotton

Confession - Kona Cotton is the only solid cotton I've ever used. It's beautiful. To me it has some color limitations, so I know I need to branch out to other solids. My biggest miss is I can't seem to find a good mucky orange color. None of the shades are exactly what I'm looking for. But what it has is beautiful. It washes up so nice and soft and feels great. The shop will definitely carry Kona Cotton.
Some favorite staples:

bone

















coal

















nightfall

















Kona Cotton

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Oliver + S

I've got to have sewing patterns, too, don't ya think? I confess, I need some 'following patterns' lessons. I know tutorials are out there, and I need to read up. I've attempted following a few patterns, and I don't quite get it. The notchings, the dotted lines, the straight lines - I'm not always sure what I'm looking at. And I'm always a little apprehensive to make clothes for my babies knowing that they will likely outgrow them by the time I finish. What I do know is that these patterns are gorgeous. And the blog world out there loves them. I love the many many different directions people have taken a simple pattern.

Here's a most recent pattern set:














Take a look at this great pattern, the playdate dress:
















Now look at just 3 different ways sewers have interpreted the pattern. Oh, yes:

















































Oliver + S

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Sublime Stitching

I can't just sell fabric at my fabric store, can I? I love embroidery, applique, felting, beading - all the cool effects that kick fabric creations up a notch.
Sublime Stitching sure does fit the bill. I guess I'm supposed to call the designs hip and modern, but really they are just great. They are inspiration to all of us, that crafting doesn't have to be traditional, and we all can think out of the box to create something that speaks to each of us.
Some favorites:









































Sublime Stitching

Monday, March 15, 2010

Binding

This is a great tutorial about how to bind a quilt. I love the video tutorials, so much easier for me to understand than trying to figure out what a book is trying to explain. This one is by Connecting Threads.
Binding a Quilt
I found the tutorial over at Bolt's blog. They inspire me. More on that later.
And a picture of a pretty quilt for good measure. One day when I start my first quilt, it will be inspired by this one.

































Stacking the odds by Denyse Schmidt

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Denyse Schmidt

The quilts, oh the quilts. I'm confident that whrn I finally complete my first quilt, it will be inspired by Denyse. My goodness she inspires me. Her fabric is pretty great, too.













Hope Valley



















Flea Market Fancy



















Denyse Schmidt

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Heather Ross

So much to love with her. And these are hard fabrics to come by. Heather Ross is so much more than fabric. You can find her everywhere from stationary to surfboards. It is safe to say that my son already knows those seahorse and octopi very well.



















Oh those mushrooms and knomes.



















I didn't even realize she made those awesome nests, I've seen on baby clothes. Figures.

Friday, March 12, 2010

A Stitch in Dye

A lot of her fabric is organic. And it is all hand dyed and gorgeous. These fabrics work so nicely together. Some favorites. Want.




















































A Stitch in Dye

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Anna Maria Horner

No fabric store will stand without Anna Maria Horner. Her work is all sorts of awesome. I actually own some of this, and can tell you the touch of this...oh yes. So good.

Folksy Flannel - (it's flannel!)

I made boy2 a blanket with this:


















Currently hoarding this:

















Little Folks - (Cotton Voile - such a great feel, lighter than quilting fabric 'with a buttery soft feel and a gorgeous drape'. She's not kidding!)

Coveting this:


















Little Folks Dobby - (printed on cotton dobby dot which lends a charming and nostalgic texture) I want to touch this.

Loving this: