I Love Sewing Blog

Big News

2012-01-12T05:47:00.000-08:00

What happened to our wonderful January weather? Tuesday, mid 60’s, today 30’s and dropping.

Big news is happening at our quilt store. We are having a Grand Re-opening January 20 – 22. We hope you can come. There will be sales and drawings and a little refreshment. We love our new addition from ceiling to floor but find there is more walking involved (becoming more fit is # 3 of my New Year’s Resolutions). Speaking of resolutions, listed below are my top five:

#5. Continue to Learn something new. Yep, one is never too old to learn. Sewing and quilting provides a great environment for learning and doing!!!

#4. Enjoy Life more. There is something to the adage “stop and smell the roses”. My parents were firm believers in stepping back and reassessing. Vacations are important. Hobbie are important. Sewing and quilting are important.

#3. Become more Fit. It always makes my top five!

#2. Spend more time with family and friends. Fortunately for me family and friends love to sew.

#1. Keep God # 1. Need I say more.

See you soon, Marcia

Ten days until Christmas.

2011-12-15T05:17:00.000-08:00

Ten days until Christmas. I’m almost done with the shopping and am near the end of sewing for Christmas. This is the year of the Pillowcase…for family, friends, co-workers, and as Secret Santa. It’s a fun way to choose fabric you think the recipient will like, and then do what you love to do… SEW! Dee, Nancy, and I had a pillowcase marathon on Sunday night. The TV was tuned to “Santa Clause”, hot apple cider was brewing on the stovetop, and the iron was constantly in use. We wrapped our pillowcases with care, trimming the packages with ribbon, bows, and labels. Ah…don’t you love those wrapped presents, ready to go, tucked in your closet? Now about the baking …I think I’ll just make a quick trip to the bakery.

We moved our shop into the new addition last week. So pardon our mess as we reorganize. I love the space…and the natural light is perfect for checking the colors of fabric. Our classroom will be in the former location of the fabric and the lighting is great. So join us for a class or “Sewing with Jude”. We will have open sew on Sunday afternoons after the New Year. Check our website for details.

We have some great Christmas stocking stuffers for the sewist and quilter including “Fuse and Gather”, a Nancy Zieman product that makes gathering a breeze; Clover’s “Wonder Clips”, a great alternative to pins when sewing binding to a quilt; and Frixion markers, a bold marking ink that removes completely with heat. The markers come in a variety of colors.

No one panic. There are still ten more days before Christmas…plenty of time.

Marcia

A change in weather........

2011-12-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

A change in weather…cloudy, blustery, and snow in the forecast… a prelude to winter. The next few weeks will fly by for everyone. Shopping, holiday parties, and baking will fill our schedules. Some of us will be quilting into the wee hours in hopes of having our gifts wrapped before Christmas. And although I complain about the lack of time, I really do my best work under pressure. So I have high hopes for Christmas.

I love to sew flannels in winter. The fabrics feel “good” and I think I smell crispness of winter when sewing with them. Add some hot apple cider and a cookie and all is right with the world.

New flannels and some spring fabrics have arrived to our store. Our home page looks great featuring “Dear Stella” fabric. Dee and I are so happy with our website thanks to Courtney. Many of you met Courtney last year. She was married in August and moved to Springfield, Missouri but still manages our website.

This Saturday, December 3, from 10 am – 4pm Jude is instructing us on making “The Oh Henry Quilt” by Creative Solutions. It’s a great pattern for large focus prints. And the quilt can be made quickly for a Christmas present.

TGIF is next Friday, December 9 from 5-9 pm. Join us for food, conversation, and sewing. We will be making the “Catalina Swing” bag from Pink Sand Beach Design. More information is on our website. www.ilovesewingonline.com

“Make and Take” weekend is from Friday, December 9 through Sunday, December 11. Projects include the Shannon Cowl, Cell phone bag, bread basket liners, draw string bags, and eye glass case. Check our calendar for times. These projects are under $15.00 and make great gifts. {http://www.ilovesewingonline.com/module/class.htm?classId=12620 }

Marcia

Thanksgiving is in sight...

2011-11-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

Veteran’s Day has past and Thanksgiving is in sight. For many of us, Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday. Maybe it’s the great food but more likely it’s time spent with family and friends. We start on the pies first thing in the morning watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Are there bands or cloggers from Nebraska in the parade? After the feast, there is the walk around the neighborhood, the card game, left over turkey sandwiches, and a car ride in the evening to see the first Christmas lights.

It’s a Beck tradition to save Friday after Thanksgiving for Nebraska football. The Cornhuskers and Hawkeyes will meet in Lincoln for the first Heroes Rivalry game. Even though I’m both a University of Nebraska graduate and a University of Iowa graduate, I’ll be pulling for the Cornhuskers. Other staff members of I Love Sewing, LLC spend Friday shopping and shopping and shopping…so we will be closed on both Thursday, November 24^th and Friday, November 25^th. We will reopen with regular hours (9am – 5pm) on Saturday, November 26^th.

If you need a break away from home and from shopping, join us on Sunday, November 27^th from 1 – 4pm for the “Screen Play” Tote bag class. Check our website or call our store for additional information. www.ilovesewingonline.com

New fabrics, patterns, and projects were ordered at the Houston Quilt Market and are now starting to arrive to the store. On the horizon is our move into the new addition. We hope to be settled in by the end of the year. Come in for a sneak peak.

Have a safe Thanksgiving.

Marcia and Dee

2011-10-28T05:02:00.000-07:00

It’s happening again…we go from Halloween to Christmas with minimal thought of Thanksgiving. Already the retail stores are in full Christmas mode…trees and trim, layaway plans, and “coupons” to use at the store every weekend. This year I’m going to continue to celebrate fall, harvest, and Thanksgiving. It’s to beautiful to stop appreciating the tall colorful grasses, the leaf colors, and the crispness of the morning and evening. And Nebraska football keeps us grounded into fall. Each football Saturday is an opportunity to share some chili, hotdogs, salsa, caramel apples any fall favorite food of choice.

Dee and I rode Amtrak to Denver last weekend to celebrate the grand opening of La Momo Mae’s Bakery in Longmont, Colorado. The bakery is owned by a high school classmate of Dee’s. She was truly surprised to see us. The trip to Longmont resulted in an excursion to the YMCA Camp of the Rockies in Estes Park, home of many family vacations in the Beck Family. And of course, we visited many quilt shops in the Denver area. We left Omaha on Amtrak at 12:30 am and arrived into Denver at about 8:00 am. Both Dee and I slept fairly well in the coach area where the seats stretched into recliners. We returned from Denver at 9:00 pm and arrived into Omaha around 7:00 am. We slept in a “roomette” where the chairs turned into beds. It was a great weekend!

I Love Sewing’s November and December classes and events are posted on our website. http://www.ilovesewingonline.com/

We hope to see you soon.
Marcia

{Nebraska Memorial Stadium}

Thanksgiving Table Runner

{La Momo Maes}

2011-10-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Fall Joy

It’s been a while since our last blog but Dee and I are still sewing and quilting. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers over the last few months. We miss our mother but know her life continues with God.

Every October I’m reminded why fall is my favorite time of year. And that seems especially true this October. The Colors are brilliant and intense. Who doesn’t like stomping on leaves? We have sedum in our backyard and butterflies have been congregating on the plants for the past few weeks. Our New England Asters are reaching new heights but blooming beautifully. Penny, our dog, loves the butterflies and the bees. A big pumpkin is at the top of my shopping list. It’s handy to have template material around for carving the pumpkin!

If you have stopped by our shop you have noticed our building project. We plan to move into the additional space in December. Dee and I have been very happy with the quality of work on the building. All of the craftsmen have been extremely careful in keeping the premises clean and respecting everyone who have come through our doors.

Take Care, Marcia

2011-07-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about your dog, but our dog Penny, is so happy to hear the end of the fireworks. Our neighborhood was really into the Independence Day activities, lighting the sky for a 10 night period. Penny finally retreated to the closet, occasionally peaking her head outside. But then, I can’t feel too sorry for her, considering her wonderful life. She loves her fenced in backyard with a flower garden to traipse through, an occasional rabbit to chase, squirrels who constantly tease her, and an abundance of birds.

More and more fabrics are being labeled “organic”. But what does “organic” fabric mean? Organic cotton is derived from non-genetically modified plants and grown without any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. The National Organic Program, a division of the USDA, determines the practices allowed by the farmer, certifying the label. Also the fabrics are certified by GTOS, Global Organic Textile Standard, requiring low – impact dyes and a functional waste water treatment plan. Dee and I think Organic Cotton feels and sews great...especially for children.

Check out our new Organic Cottons by Timeless Treasures and Robert Kaufman.

http://www.ilovesewingonline.com/shop/Fabric/Organic-Cotton.htm

2011-06-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

It’s been a year since I Love Sewing, LLC has opened its doors to anyone who loves fabric. WE have been overwhelmed with all of the community support for our store. Thank you… Thank you.

College World Series is in full swing, kids are at sports camps, and 4-H Country Fairs are on our calendars. Bring in 4-H identification until July 18^th and receive 10% all items in our store. We just saw a great quilt made by a 4-H’er ready for the fair. Youth equates to creativity! And genetics is a big factor too. Thank you to all grandmothers and mothers who help the children sew and quilt.

TGIF is on Friday, July 8, 2011 from 5-9pm. It’s a lot of fun to paper piece so join us for “Christmas Star” wall hanging from Kate Mitchell Quilts. We will precut this 36”x36” quilt with Stonehenge Holiday fabrics.

Hope to see you soon,

Dee and Marcia

"Christmas Star" Paper piecing by Kate Mitchell Quilts

Boyscout Quilt

Baseball Fabric

2011-06-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

Spring has slipped by and Summer is coming in with thunderstorms, humidity and some heat. Dee and I spent Memorial Day in Minden, Nebraska just like all of our Memorial Days. The story of honoring all of the armed force veterans is never old and all of us are truly grateful for the servicemen and women who guard and protect our freedoms. The U.S Flag waved proudly in the various cemeteries and on the city streets!!!

New fabrics and patterns are arriving into our shop. The May Spring Market was a treasure chest of great ideas. Creativity has no limits…maybe only a shortage of time. It is difficult to determine a trend but there is definitely a return to solids in quilts.

We are having a BARN BURNER event next week. We hope to see you soon!

2011-04-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

Wow…we had a great shop hop! Because it was our first year we definitely had the jitters. But quiltists seem to always be of the friendly and nice persuasion as proven again at the shop hop. We hope to see you on April 30, 2011 with your NIFS bag for the fifth Saturday. We will be starting our Beginner Quilt of the Month block that day. It consists of twelve 12 inch classic quilt blocks with templates that can be cut with the rotary cutter or scissors. The cost for the each block is $6.50. A sashing, outer border, and binding kit will be available for purchase after January 1, 2012.

“Three Little Pigs” Huff and Puff fabric from Timeless Treasures has arrived into our shop. So now it’s a decision between, Seuss, Spot, Hungry Dinosaur, and Three Little Pigs? See you soon!

Nebraska State Shop Hop 2011

2011-04-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

Nebraska State Shop Hop 2011 is coming to a close. This is I Love Sewing’s first year in the shop hop and it’s been a blast. We have made many new sewing and quilting friends and have had the opportunity to learn a lot from everyone who has visited our shop. The charms from the various stores are great!!! If you have questions about what is a “Shop Hop”, give us a call at 402.727.7869. It ends on Sunday, April 10^th at 5:00 pm.

New fabrics are arriving to our store. So take a look at the “Fifi & Fido” collection from Anna Griffin. Andover’s “Spot” and Kaufman’s “All About Seuss” are precious. New patterns include the “Clothespin” Apron and “Soft Scarf” with Anna Marie Horner’s cotton voile.

2011-03-24T05:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, I don’t like to dust. But this morning I looked at the kitchen china closet and seeing excessive dust I found the dust cloth. I am particularly attracted to teapots in the cabinet and my collection is varied. I have teapots from favorite vacation spots and teapots given to me as gifts. I love my Scotland teapot with its national flower, the Thistle. Can you believe a Thistle, basically outlawed in our farm fields, is the national flower of Scotland! The artwork is very detailed with each tiny Thistle appearing very wispy. A teapot set from Germany has an Asian feel to it. And my Humpty Dumpty teapot and tea cups are perfectly painted in pastel yellow, green, blue, and ivory. In fact, all of the teapots I collect seem very detailed and precise except for one, painted and glazed by Nancy at a Girl Scout meeting. My teapot collection is really no different than my favorite fabrics in the store. I like precision and detail. I love florals. And of course, I think baby nursery fabrics are so perfect…But I am attracted to the abstract and free form, similar to my teapot from Nancy.

New Fabrics are arriving into our shop. Free Spirit Anna Marie Horner’s “Innocent Crush” and Denyse Schmidt’s “Greenfield Hill” are outstanding. We hope to see you at the Nebraska Shop Hop from March 31-April 10, 2011.

Check our website for extended hours. http://www.ilovesewingonline.com/

Pre-Spring..

2011-03-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

It’s Pre-Spring…Dee and I traveled to Minden, Ne last week. The car trip takes us along the Platte. The fields were full of Snow Geese, Canadian Geese, and Sandhill Cranes. The fields were plowed, just waiting for spring planting. But the calendar says March and so one warm, sunny day leads into a cold, snowy day. Minden is special to us. It’s the home of our grandparents and parents and the resting place for most of our family. Driving around the city square evokes wonderful memories of our childhood. The building that housed our grandfather's dental office is now a tanning/tattoo salon. Dress shops, city cafes, five and dime stores, and pharmacies have been replaced with antique shops, fitness spas, and various city/country offices. The courthouse is still majestic… we must plan a trip next December to see the Christmas lights.

We slowly drive by our grandparents’ houses. The houses look the same on the outside. But decades have past and so the insides are probably very different. I think it is okay not to go inside and instead hold onto my childhood memories…standing on the kitchen table to have hand-me down dresses pinned and hemmed, playing grandma’s organ, running down the stairs into the basement to play “store”, and sitting around the large dining room table for Sunday dinner with my aunts and uncles and older cousins.

Dee and I feel very fortunate to have known our Grandmothers into our adult years. Both of us attribute our love to sewing to our grandmothers. We never saw them without sewing, knitting, or crocheting projects. They encouraged us to do whatever we enjoyed. And so we say thank you and we love you.

Join us at I Love Sewing this Friday for TGIF. We will be using Textured Magic for a fun Tote Bag. Quilting 101 continues on Saturday. And Shop Hop is just around the corner.

2011 Shop Hop Bags

TGIF Tote Texture Magic Bag

Quilting 101

New Fabric: Celia by Benartex

I Love Sewing is now on Facebook & Only 42 Days Till Shop Hop!

2011-02-17T10:42:00.000-08:00

The Shop Hop bags have arrived! Nebraska Shop Hop is from March 31 – April 10, 2011. There are more prizes than ever for participants. So save some time, grab your sewing friends and reconnect with this great state of Nebraska. The sand hill cranes will be in our state during Shop Hop…. What a sight!

I Love sewing, LLC is now on Facebook. So be sure to become our friend. We are in the process of adding pages. We plan to keep a calendar of upcoming events, a photo album of past events, and even some helpful tips. Let us know what you would like to see on our Facebook page.

Sunday Runners is scheduled this Sunday from 12-5pm. It looks like a great project. Dee and I really love Avery, the fabric used from Fine Lines. It is perfect for Mother’s Day.

Click here : http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Love-Sewing/199552623394223#!/pages/I-Love-Sewing/199552623394223?sk=wall

Shop Hop countdown…..54 days and counting!

2011-02-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

Finally, a sunny day!!! The weather forecast for the next ten days looks great with a major warm up. Everyone who visits our shop has been busy….quilting or weddings, babies, birthdays, Mother’s Day, and graduation. Thank you for sharing your finished products with us. We are very happy to see your handiwork. Sharing ideas leads to new ideas…no different in quilting and handiwork than in science and technology.

Mark your calendars for the Nebraska Shop Hop from March 31 through April 10th. Shop hop bags and binders will be in the store around February 18th. The theme is Charming Nebraska!

By popular demand the Schlep Bag is back for TGIF, this Friday evening from 5:00-9:00pm. You bring the fabric and we provide some instruction and a light supper. You will go home with a fun bag that fits any need. Call us for fabric instructions at 727-7869.

Our Sunday Runner Club meets on Sundays, February 19 from noon to 5:00pm. The project is “Polka Dot Piecrust”, page 22 from “Let’s Do Lunch” book by Atkinson Design. Like always, the kit is “Ready 2 Sew” (pre-cut) and yes, we have lunch. Call us and reserve a spot.

Stay tune for the Shop Hop countdown…..54 days and counting!

Fabric for the PIECRUST Table Runner will be different in class.

Snow Day Part 3

2011-02-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

Great! American Patchworking & Quilting, April 2011came in the mail today in time for some serious study during another snow day. I peruse my quilting magazines intensely, from cover to cover enjoying the photos, colors, stitches, and layout and design. I love the articles. And this is the only printed publication where ads are read with zeal. Once more I am inspired to continue on in my quilting journey. The publishers of quilting magazines really know how to win an audience. This month’s edition features Laundry Basket Quilts’ Edyta Sitar. Besides being a great artist and quiltist she has wonderful tips about quilting:

1. “Never put an unfinished quilt away”
2. “Mix and match your fabrics”
3. “Help your community”
4. “Appreciate every opportunity to create”

I’m taking Edyta’s advice. I plan to work on some unfinished projects today and appreciate the opportunity to create….a great way to spend a snow day.

P.S. Join us for AccuClub!

“Garden Delight” February 5th from 10am-4pm.

Snow day part 2

2011-01-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Last week was fun watching the snow accumulate and staying inside. The problem is most of us can’t stay inside… We venture out into the snow with gloves, hat, and boots and walk carefully through messy parking lots. We try to avoid rubbing against our dirty cars and wait patiently for the defrost and heater to kick in. Children are shuttled to school, 8-5 work continues, and groceries are bought. And we mentally count down the weeks until spring...

But there is still something magical about snow. Our dog Penny bounds into the snow and does a perimeter check around the back yard. She comes inside and giving a quick shake and bounds outside again. She burrows her nose in the snow and slowly lifts her head and smiles. She loves the snow. And Abby, the other dog of the household (she’s thirteen years old) doesn’t seem to mind the snow. Sure, it is hard to keep her footing but it feels good to sit down in snow and with arthritic bones. And Abby forces us to go out in the snow to help her in and yes a quick through of a ball of Penny.

Winter will be done and spring ushered in within the next three months. My New Year’s Resolution is to follow my dogs’ leads and appreciate each season for what it is…

Marcia

Happy Snow Day!!!

2011-01-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

School is cancelled, groceries bought, and Dee and Nancy are busy planning their Snow Day. Nancy plans to Finish Jenny Beyer’s “Australian Outback” and Dee is working on Art Gallery’s Girly Girl “Cotton Candy”. As for me, I plan to complete the piecing of my first Quilts for Valor quilt. I love the “Let Freedom Ring” fabric of Timeless Treasures and their downloadable pattern makes it a perfect project for Accuquilt. I have really enjoyed this project. I know so many families whose loved ones are stationed throughout the world protecting our freedom. Thank you. Andover’s Quilts for Valor fabric is due into our store in April. January class schedule is posted for I Love Sewing. Check our website www.ilovesewingonline.com for dates and times. The T-shirt quilt is beautiful. What a great way to spend a Saturday. The Sunday Runners are deviating from table runners to the shopping tote in the Let’s Do Lunch book. The bag looks great in batiks. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T11:53:00.000-08:00

Everyone at I love Sewing wish you a Very Merry Christmas. We are closed on December 24th and December 25th but reopen on December 26th with a Winter Blast Sale.

Enjoy!!!

Make and Take

2010-12-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

“Make and Take” was great fun with many completed Christmas gifts. All that is needed is the wrapping. You know, it’s very easy to be so busy with family plans, cooking, and gift planning that the little things of this season are missed. Dee and I turned off the TV last night and replaced it with the Christmas CD’s of Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Elvis Presley, and Harry Connick, Jr. And suddenly the Christmas cards and notes were easier to write, the menu for Christmas dinner started to gel, and sleep seemed more restful. This season is full of sensory overload so it’s imperative that each of us reclaim time for what is important to us. Maybe it’s to reflect on Christmas’ past and rekindle their memories and traditions. Why have we stopped making Oyster Stew on Christmas Eve and what happened to our card games with our cousins? Maybe it’s time to wander to the piano and play Christmas hymns and songs with fingers that haven’t touched the piano keyboard in years. A Christmas Eve church service really doesn’t sound so implausible. The dishes can wait. Poor Penny, my Airedale, is patiently waiting for the walk that hasn’t happened since before Thanksgiving. Cold fresh air with hats, gloves, and boots actually sounds nice. So everyone, dig down deep and find what brings Joy to you in this Christmas season. And make it a priority.

Marcia and Dee

2010-12-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

Well, the Huskers went down in defeat but Husker football is like quilting…it’s the journey and it continues next fall in the Big Ten!!! I hope you can join us this weekend for Take and Make projects. Maybe we can solve some of your Christmas dilemmas with a jewelry bag, cowl scarf, or pillowcase. Nancy is busy. Finals week is next week at UNL. She is excited for a break, not to shop or socialize (well maybe a little), but to sew. What is she sewing…I have no idea. She says a handbag…and a quilt… and some placemats… and a cuddle blanket…and the list goes on and on. For Nancy, these three weeks of break will be full of cutting, piecing, ripping, squaring, and hopefully binding. But you know she is just looking forward to an outlet for her creative energy. There are really no mandates in sewing…no required dates to turn into projects…no worries of A’s, B’s C’s… Instead there are as many do over’s as you want, as many deviations from the patterns to make something your own, and infinite number of color, contrast, texture, size of fabrics to explore outside any rules or instructions. And what Nancy doesn’t get done in these three weeks will be waiting patiently for her whether this winter, spring, summer, or next fall. When she picks up an unfinished project new ideas will spring up and those creative juices will flow again!!! That is really what it is all about!!!

2010-11-30T11:37:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. Yes, the Huskers (and Dee, Nancy, and I) are off to Dallas for the Big XII Championship game. Mendi and Courtney will be able to help you with any sewing and quilting needs this week. New fabrics are arriving so visit our online store for a preview or better yet, come on in and see and feel the new arrivals.

An update on classes… We had three Begin Sew classes this fall and all of the students completed their strip pillows. Gail and Dee are awesome Teachers!!! New Begin Sew classes will be forming this January. If you know anyone interested in reconnecting with their sewing machine or any non sewists interested in sewing please have them give us a call. That’s our mission.

We have also been busy with Shannon Cuddle Strip Classes, TGIF Sew, and Sunday Runners. TGIF Sew meets the second Friday of the month. Past project s include, Jesse bag, schlep bag, PJ bottoms, Four Corner Aprons, and the Atkinson Design Cash and Carry Purse (with a zipper). The Sunday Runners club meets the fourth Sunday of the month. Ready to Sew projects for the club are from “Let’s Do Lunch” book. Our goal for both TGIF and Sunday Runners is to complete the project at class time. But don’t despair; “Stitchin’ Sundays” (the third Sunday of the month) is an overflow time to finish any incomplete project. We know a non hurried journey is as important as the completed project!!!

Please join us in our classroom this January. Gail is a great teacher. Besides coaching us through the projects, she has a wealth of information and talent she willingly shares with each student!!!

Visit our store December 11-12 for Make and Take. Machines will be set to go to make Jewelry Bags, Pillow Case, and Cuddle Cowl. More information will follow on our web site.

GO HUSKERS!!!

2010-11-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

Dee and I are huge Husker fans. It runs in the family with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and children alumni of University of Nebraska. And our love for the Huskers isn’t limited to athletics. Academics rock as far as we are concerned. To stay on top in athletics and academics the university system is constantly evolving, implementing new technology and programs. Nebraskans benefit. University of Nebraska Medical Center is recognized as one of the top educational, research, and patient care centers in the country. Our agricultural, geological, and engineering programs have benefited the world. And of course we are home of the International Quilt Studies Center.

Quilting and sewing are also in constant change. We no longer just sew from Simplicity and McCall’s patterns, pinning the pattern pieces to the fabric and using our “good” fabric shears to carefully cut the fabric. Patterns are packaged in all sizes and shapes and are easily found on the Internet, DVD, TV, and You-Tube. Rotary cutters, rotary rulers, and plastic templates clutter our sewing areas. Remember your first sewing machine with the zig zag stitch and now look at your machine, 700 + stitches computer generated and a stitch regulator. Machine appliqué and embroidery can be done on your sewing machine in a matter of minutes.

Have you checked the notions we carry at I Love Sewing, LLC? Dee looks for notions to increase accuracy and save time. Our newest ruler from Creative Grids is a 3 ½ x 12 inch Quick Trim Ruler with easily readable 1/8 inch and ¼ inch incremental markings. It draws circles up to 22 inches and trims points from half-square triangle and flying geese unit.

We all love our quilts, embroidered towels, crocheted scarves, and knitted blankets our mothers and grandmothers lovingly handmade for us. I know our children and grandchildren will feel the same way about our machine made quilts and embroidery as they share them with their children.

Threadology

2010-11-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

At the end of September Dee and I ventured to St. George, Utah to go back to school.
Oh, No….Homework, Projects, Exams…can we do it??? Fortunately Superior thread’s Certified School of Threadology focused on creativity, instruction with a lot of fun, and open book exams using a manual, thread, fabric, and sewing machine. We both mastered our projects and received our Doctorate in Threadology.

So what do you learn at a Threadology course??? Never be afraid to adjust your top tension!!!! How many times have we heard the tension is “automatically set” so don’t touch it. Do you really believe your machine knows exactly what fabric you are using? Finally, we let go of this myth after several sewing exercises involving adjusting the top tension. What did we learn?...different tensions for different threads…Metallic’s, Glitters, Razzle Dazzle, 40 weight cottons, 50 weight polys, 12 weight variegated, etc…and variations from the different thread companies…Also, not all Egyptian cottons threads are the same. In fact Egyptian does not necessarily mean the cotton is grown in Egypt. Needle selection affects the outcome of the stitch. Choose the right needle for the thread type. How the tread comes off the spool plays a role in being successful with specialty thread. And we learn so much more…So quiz us when you stop at the store. We really do like thread!!! That’s why we have a spool in our name!

Marcia

P.S. St. George, Utah is beautiful. It reminded us of Sedona, Arizona. Zion National park is within one hour drive. They have no winter. And best of all it is a town of 80,000 with 8 quilt shops. Lunch breaks included visits to the quilt shops. By the way, Superior Thread is the home of Texture Magic. We had a great time playing with that product.

October

2010-10-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

October has been a beautiful month…sunny days with moderate temperatures, cool evenings, bountiful leaves turning brilliant colors, corn and bean crops being harvested unimpeded by rain, and a heart Husker football team (let’s not talk about Texas).

Nebraska’s quilt guilds are busy with meetings, shows, and retreats. Recently a quilt guild spent their weekend at Calvin Crest where they sewed and quilted into the wee hours of the night working on individual projects. There was no formalized instruction. Instead the retreaters shared their projects, techniques, and sewing secrets with each other. I know my best ideas have come from my sewing friends. I am thankful sewists believe in sharing ideas. These ideas can become big timesavers. And that’s why I Love Sewing’s classroom becomes “Stitchin’s Sundays” the fourth Sunday of the month from 12-5pm. Bring your sewing machine and enjoy the afternoon. Let’s share some ideas and techniques.

Or join Jude on the fourth Saturday morning of the month for individualized instruction on any project you have in mind. Jude is an awesome teacher with a wealth of knowledge and creativity. She helped Dee and me upholster formal dining room table chairs and then we moved onto bar stools.

Speaking of new ideas, we are carrying patterns for new designer, Jerrilyn. We met Jerrilyn at the Superior School of Threadology. Jerri has sewn all of her life and has been busy with family and careers. Finally, she is able to devote most of her time to her passion, creating with fabric. Follower her blog at http://jerisew.blogspot.com/ .

Take a moment to enjoy the fall. Try a new technique. Share ideas with friends. And keep on sewing.

2010-10-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

Oops. It happened again. Dee is off to the football game and Zac says “I suppose we are going early so we can check out a quilt store.” She can’t help it. A magnet draws her to quilt stores when on road trips. In fact I’m pretty certain some of her trips are designed around quilt stores. She’ll say “Let’s go to KC to look at furniture” but invariably no furniture Is bought and instead she has visited every quilt store between home and KC. Or maybe “We should go to a Broncos” football game but it’s really code for seeking out quilt stores west of Lincoln. Dee reminds me of my trips to quilt stores disguised as outings to enjoy the beautiful weather. You are not alone when family members doubt your reason for some road trips. You know, I really don’t think Zac minds going to quilt stores. He knows the quilts will end up at his house and he really does love and cherish them. After all, his Mom made them!!!

The tale of the poor spider…

2010-10-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

The tale of the poor spider…Okay, not as original as Charlotte’s Web but the story is as follows: Nancy says she is collecting a spider, dead or alive, for her Biology 103 lab Class at UNL. So I ask what type of spider…just a spider…and so we are in search of the perfect spider. Right now we are surrounded with spiders made out of pipe cleaners, beads, plastics, and imprinted in fabric. Should it be large, small, black, brown, and please don’t tell me what happens to the poor spider once it makes it to your lab. Dee is carefully placing a small black spider (about 3/8 inch diameter excluding its legs) into a paper cup. But no, she will not suffocate the spider with saran wrap. Instead, she is gently covering the paper cup with a light weight interfacing… And Wonder Tape to hold the interfacing in place. And now Dee is placing another spider into another paper cup with the light weight interfacing and wonder Tape. Why, another spider…Dee suggests Nancy provides spiders for the entire lab group. How will these poor spiders be transported to Lincoln? Of course, the cups will be placed into a standard size muffin tin so the ride won’t be bumpy. Is it a full moon….or is Halloween just a little bit overdone?

Race for the Cure

2010-10-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

“It Takes a Village” has swept across our country as we dedicated October as Breast Cancer Awareness month. It was evidenced on Sunday when 19,500 Midwestern of all ages, sizes, and shapes converged at the Omaha Civic Auditorium to “race for the Cure”. A big thanks to I Love Sewing, LLC Sew Pink Team. We had a great time. Many of us carried our Take a Make cell phone bags using the Fight Like a Girl fabric from Windham. The 5K walk (about 3 miles) headed north from the Civic by the Creighton soccer field and into a beautiful neighborhood. High school cheer teams encouraged us as we walked. Besides the satisfaction of completing the walk, we were rewarded with donuts, cookies, popcorn, cereal, yogurt, and lots of congratulations from the bystanders and the participants. This was definitely a crowd to “people watch”. The common theme amongst all was JOY….whether in honoring a survivor or remembering a family member or friend who succumbed to Brest cancer. Top off the Joy with Love and Determination and this fight will eventually be won!

Our Fight Like a Girl Fabric

Dee, Nancy, and Marcia

2010-09-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

Another Husker victory and now onto the Big X11 conference. It seems like the stars are aligned for the Huskers. We aren’t supposed to look forward but October 17th Texas game is asterisked on my calendar. Have you visited Redoutaroundtheworld.com. It’s worth a look and register to win free tickets to the game. In the meantime, I’m going to start on some Husker flannel robes for my nephews for Christmas.

Marcia and I have been in school and are overwhelmed with information on thread. WE are in St. George, Utah at The Superior Thread School of Threadology. Finally, a class that has immediate application! St. George is in the southwest part of Utah near the entrance of Zion National Park. It’s breathtaking to see the National Park at this time of year. So much of our fabric appears to be inspired by the natural beauty of our surroundings. Take a closer look at Northcott’s Stonehenge line called “Colorado”.

We will see you this weekend.
Dee

2010-09-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Hi! Dee and I are welcoming Fall with open arms. We love the cooler evenings and the crisp mornings. A calming routine develops at this time of year as daylight shortens. Even Penny and Abby (our dogs) are ready for a pre bedtime nap instead of a romp in the yard. And there is more time to read and sew as summer fades.

We are attending the Superior Thread School of Threadology in St. George, Utah this week Some of those pesky thread questions may finally be answered after this three day course. We have our notebooks and pens ready to go as well as our sewing basket and sewing machine. And we are driving through some of the most beautiful areas of the country to reach St. George. So next weekend we will be ready for a pop quiz from you about threads.

Also next weekend Sew Pink represents I Love Sewing at the Komen Race for the Cure. The Komen shirts are in the store. I’m hoping to win the Ford Fiesta shown on the Komen Race for the Cure website. It’s a brilliant shade of pink, don’t you think!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. And P. S., don’t forget Vintage Notions Club meets for its first meeting on Monday at 1:00 pm.
Marica

More Pictures From Quilt Market!

2010-07-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Marcia posing with Anna Marie Horner. Notice the Little Folks Empire Dress in the back~

Hey Hope Valley!

Cute booth!

Rainy Days Quilt Pattern at the Quilted Fish Pattern Booth.

The perfect men's quilt pattern at the Quilted Fish Pattern Booth. Also the cute lanyard pattern we made so we won't lose our keys!

Moroccan Tile made of Stone Henge in all its glory.

Poppy!

We'll be carrying P&B's Sing A Song

Designer Patricia Bravo posing with Art Gallery's Filligree. Such a fresh line!

P&B Homecoming. Just in!

One Bizillion B.C. Cutest dinosaur fabric ever!

Le Poulet. Just in!

Texture Magic and patterns anyone? Annie, pictured here, is the texture magic pattern designer.

Fall Quilt Market in Minneapolis!

2010-07-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Quilt Market was in Minneapolis this year and I am happy to report it was a success. We order some yummy fabric and some of it is just starting to arrive!
There was an unbelievable amount of beautiful fabrics, cool patterns and neat new notions that caught our attention.
We made new friends in quilt shop owners across the country and are excited to keep in touch with them as I Love Sewing shop continues to grow.
We visited and chatted with Barbara Brunson, the designer and owner of Vanilla House Designs who was releasing some new patterns that we had to have! We have already had to place reorders on the Off-Sides Apron and the little girl dress patterns!

Making our way through the crowd, we spotted Anna Marie Horner at her extravagant booth. She is the designer of Little Folks voile and some cute patterns and books.
On our way out of the convention, we crossed paths with Laura Gunn and Heather Bailey. They are great friends and not to mention we carry Laura's Poppy fabric line and Heather's Nice Jane fabric line. We just had to snap a picture of the two!

Grand Opening Weekend

2010-06-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

We just want to remind you that we are having our
Grand Opening this weekend!

Friday June 18th 10-5

Saturday June 19th 9-5

Sunday June 20th 12-5

Monday June 21st 2-7

We especially want to invite you to request a ticket to our free event of the weekend!

I Love Sewing Symposium
Saturday, June 19th
10am-Noon
Refreshments Following


We are very fortunate to have representatives from the quilt world coming to spend some time with us. And we have a great area to have our Symposium. If you haven't seen the rest of the building at I Love Sewing, you're in for a treat. We have a spacious area, filled with sunlight, that is perfect for our needs. We definitely have room for you to join us! We'd like to have a great turn out so our reps see how strong quilting is in our area. Your free ticket is also good for drawings at the Symposium, and an extra 5% off any purchase (including the Specials) you might make that day and a light lunch. We promise that you'll have an enjoyable time, so please take a moment and fill out our online Request, or give us a call. Spend the morning with us and then go to the Omaha Guild Quilt Show!
	Click Here to Request Tickets We'll hold the ticket for you, so sign up anytime before Friday, June 18th.
If you can't make it on Saturday, stop by any of the days this weekend to sign up for Drawings, have a little snack, enjoy our Specials of the Day and have a look at all the fabrics and samples that we have on display. All fabrics will be 15% off all weekend long (including Monday). We'll also have a Fabric and Notion of the Day (different each day) that will be 20% off that day. We've loved meeting so many of you since we opened. And we'd love to meet more of you that love sewing, quilting, great color and fabrics and a friendly shop that wants to make your sewing experience extra special. Come in and say hi (bring a friend ) and enjoy our new shop with us.

Sewing 101 Class

2010-06-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

We're happy to announce that we had our first Sewing 101 class and it was a great success! We had six beginner sewers that learned about their sewing machine and how to sew a cute accent pillow. They all did great and everyone completed the project during class! Something I always like to see ... taking home a completed project. We're excited about upcoming classes we are working on. And we have a great work area to have classes in. Add a light refreshment, tips and tricks and a few laughs, and you have the makings of a great class!

Getting some serious sew time in. We had some bad weather
moving through, but that did not stop us.

Lora was the first one to get her pillow completed!

Congrats to Kaitlyn, Courtney, Angie, Janelle and Mendi
and Lora (not pictured) on a job well done!

International Quilt Market, Spring 2010

2010-06-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

Display for Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman. We'll be doing
something special with her book and ideas later this year.

Quilt Market is always a fun, exhausting and overwhelming time for those in the quilt and textiles market. Talk about eye candy! There are samples of all the latest, authors and designers are there so you can put a face to a name, and classes are held to teach techniques and trends. I have a ton of photos from Market and I will be adding them to this Post occasionally, so check back and get a glimpse of Market.

Jenny Beyer teaching a class on color and design. What an inspiration!

We're Here for You!

2010-05-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to I Love Sewing's Blog. We're excited to offer a new brick and mortar Quilt Shop to the eastern Nebraska area. And a Web Site and Online Shop, available to you any time you want to relax and spend some time with us!

What happens when two sisters share a craving to promote their excitement and knowledge about sewing? They open a shop, of course. Drs. Dee Beck and Marcia Beck have done a wonderful job in creating I Love Sewing. Located on the east side of Dr. Marcia Beck's Orthodontist building at 2948 N. Clarkson (6 blocks north of the Fremont Medical Center) in Fremont, Nebraska, I think you'll find the shop and it's selections fresh and inspiring.

Over 20 manufacturers are represented, with fabric lines that cover all the styles that you could want:

Antique/Vintage

Batiks

Blenders

Brights

Children

Contemporary

Minkee

Novelty

Seasonal

Solids

Traditional

Our mission is to promote and support all quilters and sewist. With a commitment to supply quality products and up-to-date teaching, the shop will also be an outlet to share and contribute to organizations and non-profits that promote sewing and it's importance.

The shop is now open and we're looking forward to you stopping by. We're open Fridays 10-5, Saturdays 9-5, Sundays 12-5 and Mondays, 2-7. Be sure to visit our website and sign up for our Newsletter. We'll send you an invitation to our GRAND OPENING in mid-June. We look forward to seeing you in the shop and helping you learn and enjoy sewing and quilting with us here, on our Blog. Enjoy!