Getting To Know Us: VIvian

How did you start sewing / quilting? Who taught you? 

- I started quilting about 28 years ago. My first formal class was in 1987 but I'm mostly self-taught. My mother and grandmother both quilted. It appears to be skipping a generation in my house.

What advice would you give a beginner?

- Don't let anyone tell you there's only one way to do something ... find the way that works for you.

Aside from quilting, what other hobbies do you have?

- I knit. I read - a lot. Sometimes I do both at once. Audio books were the best invention for multitaskers like me. And contrary to popular belief, I do cook. Well, not a lot. (Does looking at recipes on Pinterest count?)

Tell us something about yourself that we might not know!

- I married the guy I took to my high school senior prom. (And yes, after 31 years we're still married.)

Do you have a favorite tool / pattern / technique you find yourself using a lot or can't live without?

- My Quick Trim ruler. I cannot retire until all my customers have purchased one.

Why do you sew / quilt?

- Besides the fact that it's my job? I like to make stuff! (And we've already established I don't cook.)

What's your favorite thing about working / teaching at SIQS?

- Relationships. Fabric.

What's your favorite / most memorable quilt(s) you've ever made, and why?

- There are two. One is my Biblical Blocks sampler. I hand quilted it for a year - queen size - during a very difficult time in my life. And second, the African Coins quilt I made my oldest son for his 21st birthday right after I left my corporate career to open a quilt shop. I still have it; he's 30. If my house was on fire and I could grab two quilts, I'd grab these.

What 5 items must you have in your sewing box?

- See Favorite Tool above. Tan or Grey Aurifil for piecing. My Fiskars thread snips. Definitely not Universal Needles.

How has quilting impacted your life?

- It's not so much that it's impacted my life but that I've been able to impact so many other lives. Especially my family's. I'd like to think it's a way to leave a legacy.

What's New At Sew Inspired!

Here's what's new at the shop! 

Valentine's Day is only a few days away and there's still time for a quick project! Among the many projects you can choose from, is the Double Flap Pillow. This pillow would be an adorable addition to any bed or chair, but best of all, the pattern includes a very interesting method of binding! And the Peppermint Table Runner is also quick and fun to make with your 60° ruler. Both patterns are by Cut Loose Press. Make a quick 3-D valentine with your scraps and the Makin It Cute templates!

We've just received many, many new bolts of gorgeous batiks that will greet you as soon as you enter our doors!

Denyse Schmidt's new collection called Franklin is finally in! This beautiful line features calicos, stripes and geometrics, and is inspired by Denyse's time spent during her childhood in small-town libraries in her native New England.

We have several bolts of Root & Fly, a digitally printed fabric collection by Flora Bowley for Red Rooster. Inspired by nature in the Northwest where she lives, Bowley named the collection after one of her paintings of trees and birds.

What's New At Sew Inspired

Here's what's new at the shop!

Cori Dantini's newest collection for Blend Fabrics, The Makers, is in store and it's absolutely gorgeous! The collection features light-hearted depictions of sewing, knitting, painting and other favorite pasttimes in fabulous floral and novel blenders in a palette of pink, blue, green and yellow. We also have a lap-sized quilt kitted up!

Sentimental Studios has released their third Summer Breeze collection with Moda. The beautiful line of fabrics features lovely florals in blues and yellows that make you wish for summer!

Gatsby's Flora by Gerri Robinson for Red Rooster is a romantic floral collection with a soft, lovely vintage feel. It features roses, stripes and paisley in soft blues, beiges and creams that would be perfect for home decor, apparel and purses.

Last but definitely not least, we have some new bolts of Cotton + Steel in stock! The new fabrics are from their Fall collection and feature 100% cottons, double gauze and cotton / linen canvas for quilts, totes, apparel and so much more!

10th Annual Fat Tuesday Quarter Frenzy

We're excited to hold our 10th Annual Fat Tuesday Fat Quarter Frenzy from February 17th through 21st!

This is our final frenzy... we're 'retiring' this event after ten years, but we have thousands of fat quarters to clear out! We're filling out back room with bins for five days and pricing them to go!

Special 10th anniversary pricing:
10-50 FQs @ $1.50 each
51-100 FQs @ $1.00 each
101 FQs and more @ $0.80 each! (That's $3.25 a yard!)

Come in to the shop to get your beads, and we'll see you at the frenzy - wear your beads for a free gift!

Getting To Know Us: Jodi

How did you start sewing / quilting? Who taught you? 

- My mom taught me how to sew when I was a kid. After learning the basics, I took Home Ec in junior high and made simple garments. Then I decided to take piecing and quilting classes at my LQS on Long Island (where we used cardboard templates to mark our cutting lines and sewing shears to cut our pieces...yikes!).

Aside from quilting, what other hobbies do you have?

- Hmmm...that's a tough one  :)   I guess they would be knitting, reading/listening to books and playing math games (I love math!).

What's your favorite thing about working / teaching at SIQS?

- Besides being around gorgeous fabric every day? It's got to be my co-workers and all of the great customers I get to chat with!

What's your favorite / most memorable quilt(s) you've ever made, and why?

- While I was in college, I made a queen size pinwheel quilt for my parents as a 25th wedding anniversary gift. It was hand pieced and hand quilted...it took me almost a year to complete. They loved it  :)

What 5 items must you have in your sewing box?

- Seam ripper, pins, threads in many colors, small ruler and fabric marker.

Getting To Know Us: Donna

How did you start sewing / quilting? Who taught you? 
- I learned to sew at a young age, about 8 years old. My mother sewed clothing, curtains, doll clothes, so as she sewed she taught me. Our sewing machine was set up in a corner of our kitchen, and my mom encouraged me to use it. She is a wonderful person and was a kind and patient teacher, How lucky am I! My grandmother, who conveniently  lived next door, was also  skilled at  embroidery, rug hooking, knitting and crochet, so it was very natural for me to be drawn to sewing and hand work. I made a patchwork bedspread at about age 9, which my mother still has. I was about 11 when I made my first quilt, a little rustic with an old sheet for a backing, and tied with red yarn. It is still is use, as a sleeping place for  my cats.

Aside from quilting, what other hobbies do you have?

- My other hobby is gardening. When it is rainy, or cold, I am inside sewing, and on sunny days I am outside in the garden, the best of both worlds. Needless to say, house cleaning takes a back seat. I learned gardening from my dad. I love native shrubs and perennials, and grow lots of flowers for butterflies and hummingbirds. My backyard is a little wildlife habitat.  

Tell us something about yourself that we might not know!

- Something that you may not know about me is that I am a UCONN certified advanced master gardener. So if you have any gardening questions, feel free to ask.  

Do you have a favorite tool / pattern / technique you find yourself using a lot or can't live without?

- My favorite tool without a doubt, is my Handi Quilter Avante with Prostitcher!!! Or as my husband refers to it, the “car” that was parked in my sewing room last year. I have been long-arm quilting for about 5 years, and just love having my own machine.  

My second favorite tool is my Clover seam ripper. It is just the right size, and has a sharp point and a nice.flexible end.. it is white and large enough to find easily when needed. I am a little bit of a perfectionist, so I use it often..  

What 5 items must you have in your sewing box?

- My must haves include Aurifil thread for piecing, Clover red clips, fine glass head pins - great for pinning through batiks, Creative Grids quick trim ruler and a small pair of sharp embroidery scissors  (I have a pair of stork shaped scissors, given as a gift by a dear friend, they make me smile every time I use them.)

How has quilting impacted your life?

- Quilting has impacted my life is lots of ways. It has been my sewing therapy through some rough spots in my life. Quilting has been a great outlet for creativity, through designing and sewing gifts for treasured family and friends. I have made many quilts for charity, fundraisers, and other worthy causes. It has been a wonderful way to give back to others, sharing kindness and warmth (literally).

I have also made wonderful friendships with the people I have met through quilting.  And I have been able to go the the fabulous International Quilt Festival! If you have never been, this is a show not to be missed!

Getting To Know Us: Debbie D.

How did you start sewing / quilting? Who taught you?  

- I started sewing clothes for my dolls when I was around 10 or so watching my mom.  I took classes at a local fabric store and then in Home Ec all the way through High School.

What advice would you give a beginner?

- Just have fun and enjoy yourself, nobody is perfect.

Aside from quilting, what other hobbies do you have?

- I knit and crochet a little, I also do English Smocking and heirloom sewing (I had my own shop for a few years and studied with some of the top teachers in the world at Martha Pullen’s schools in Alabama).