Showing posts with label Decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Decorating. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Free Pleated Ruffle Mini-Workshop

Join Susan Woodcock AKA Home Dec Gal for a free Pleated Ruffle Mini-Workshop, Saturday, December 14, from 10:00 - 11:00 am. Learn how to add pleated ruffle details to your home decorating projects, and see a hands-on demo of how to make a variety of styles including knife edge, boxed, and pick-up boxed ruffles.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Tailored Linen Table Runner

Turkey, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, table décor…. 

What?  TABLE DÉCOR! 

Don’t worry!  You still have time to make beautiful linens for your holiday table.

Sign up today for the “Table Setting” class with Sindy Burgess on Monday, November 4, 2013 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and learn how to make a tablecloth, placemats and napkins. 

Create the perfect look for your dining table from the wide variety of fabrics available at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store.  Turn your table into an elegant affair with velvet, silk and fringe or create a fun, conversation-starter by using quilt fabrics printed with just about theme from food to football.

One of the most popular trends in home décor is to use burlap or linen for table linens.  The woven texture and solid colors give a neutral background for dishes, candles and floral designs. Add antique china and it’s romantic,  pottery and wooden bowls it’s natural and earthy or set the table with square, white plates and platters and it will be chic and modern.

Above is a little inspiration we found online at Facebook.com/OnSuttonPlace.
Here is a simple table runner that you can create with linen, or a linen blend fabric. It features a box pleated ruffle with button details that you will enjoy all year long, not just at Thanksgiving. Use this to decorate your dinning table or buffet, with our without a tablecloth.

Sewing step-by-step:
Measure across your table and add 8 inches.  This is the length you will cut the main piece of the table runner by 16 inches wide (includes seam and hem allowances). 

For the pleated ruffle on each end, cut two pieces 26 inches by 8 inches. 

 1. Sew a doubled ½ inch hem along the edge of one long side and both short sides of the ruffle pieces. 

 2. To create the pleats, fold under 2” on each end and press. Then mark the center and measure 4 inches from the center on each side and fold the fabric to meet in the center, creating a box pleat and press. The ruffle will be 12 inches across.  

3. Place the ruffle pieces face down and centered on each end and pin in place.  Fold the extra fabric on each side over, and then back and pin in place.  
4. Sew the ruffle to the table runner and then serge the raw edges.  
5. Turn the ruffles right sides out and press.  Fold a doubled 1-inch hem down each side of the table runner and sew. 
6. Make 4 covered buttons (or use purchased pearl or wooden buttons) and sew to the center of the pleat on each end.  



Thursday, October 10, 2013

Mary Jo’s Spooktacular Halloween Costume Contest

Do you have a DIY Halloween costume this year that is to die for? Enter it in our Mary Jo’s Halloween Costume Contest and secure your bragging rights as the best homemade costume maker in town!

Enter your costume creation into one of these three categories: infant/toddler 0-6, youth/teen 7-16 and adult for those 17 and up. Remember they all have to be handmade costumes in order to win.

Submissions must be sent to maryjocloth@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, to register. Please include your name and the title of your costume in the email. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, it is up to the public to vote for a winner by liking their favorite costume on Mary Jo’s Facebook page. Voting will run until Friday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m.  

The costume with the most likes will be crowned the winner, and awarded a $50 Mary Jo’s gift card.

Remember, if you are looking for a little inspiration we have all the fabric a costume designer needs!

Just like this sweetest scarecrow we have ever seen!  Good thing we have the perfect Tulle to make it: http://whirly.it/TCqnr2

The Perfect Gift for Your Super Hero and Princess

Just in time for Halloween, the cutest costumes around! These do-it-yourself fabric cutouts are the perfect hassle-free way to create the ultimate Halloween memories with your superhero or princess.

Riley Blake, the designer behind the costumes, is an innovative fabric manufacturer based out of Utah.
 Inspired by local and international artists, they design fabric lines with vintage sensibilities and modern attitude.  Their fabric reflects an elegant feel for color, vibrant but with restraint, resulting in versatile prints for quilting, clothing or home décor. 

Riley Blake Designs colorful fabrics include cottons, flannels, sparkle cottons, organic cotton, knits, dreamy, and laminates in a range of designer and basic prints.  Their coordinating “Sew Together” line consists of a bevy of complementary buttons, ric-rac, ribbons and lace, project kits and panels, zippers by the yard, and crocheted flowers. 

Next time you come in for a visit at Mary Jo’s be sure to check out these one of a kind Riley Blake creations for yourself!  


P3561-Super Hero Cape Panel
$9.59 / Yard/Row

Color:Super Hero Cape Panel-P3561-Blue
Width: 45"''
Repeat: V0'' x H0''
100% Cotton

Fabric available for purchase at: http://whirly.it/ekIU4Y


P3564-Princess Cape Panel
$9.59 / Yard/Row

Color: Princess Cape Panel-P3561-Yellow 
Width: 45"''
Repeat: V0'' x H0''
100% Cotton

Fabric available for purchase at: http://whirly.it/zJJHBi

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Home Decor Demos Launch this Week at Mary Jo's


We are happy to introduce, Susan Woodcock, owner of HomeDecGal.com, a how-to sewing and decorating resource. Susan will be presenting FREE mini-workshops in our store every second Saturday of the month.  Look for Susan in the home décor department starting at 10:00 am. 

            Caption: French Pleat (left), Goblet Pleat (center) and Euro Pleat (right)

On Saturday, Oct. 12, Susan will display samples of the three most popular drapery pleat styles; French, Goblet and Euro pleats, and demonstrate how to sew and hand-tack each pleat to achieve a beautiful, finished drapery heading.


Take a peek inside any decorating magazine and you will see draperies used more often than any other window treatment.  Why?  Drapery panels look wonderful on almost any window and can be purely decorative or functional; offering light control, privacy and insulation. 

At Mary Jo’s you can select the perfect fabric, lining, trims and hardware to create your own drapery panels, and remember to join Susan on Saturday, Oct. 12, to learn how to add decorative pleats for a professional-looking finish.