Happy Happy Day, Quilt Day That Is...

Quilting is a longtime tradition in our culture. Modern quilters are inspired by nature, colors, prints, patterns and history. If you are a quilter you can hardly pass a pile of fabric and not think what your big imagination and sweet skill set could create. We recently had a call for quilters, and we had a great response. To all of you who submitted, know that you will see your quilt in upcoming articles. Thank-you for sharing, we love to see what all of you amazing quilters are up to! However today we are going to feature an organization that is all about giving the quilts they create.
They are the non-profit organization called Bright Hopes.
Here is their story...
Deborah Fischer had a dream, Quilt Giving.
Deborah’s Story: My mother, Eileen, taught me to sew on her portable (like an elephant is portable) Kenmore sewing machine when I was young. I have always loved to make things. Anything. But sewing was always one of my favorites. I sewed dolls, clothes, bags, but never a quilt. My mother was the one who made the quilts. Back then she cut the patterns out of sand paper, traced around them on the fabric, added the seam allowance, and then cut the pieces out with scissors. In 2002, Deborah writes “I was fortunate enough to be accepted for a 3 month artist residency in Wisconsin. I brought a quilt with me that was made by my husband’s aunt for our wedding. I was living in a strange town, in a strange house, with other artists I didn’t know. Putting that quilt on the bed made it feel like home. After doing a lot of thinking on the 17 hour drive home, I asked my mother, “Hey Mom, do you want to make some quilts to donate?” If putting our wedding quilt on a bed in Wisconsin could make it feel like home, then: What would happen if we made quilts for people who had no permanent home at all? Maybe a bright, beautiful quilt could give them a piece of home, a sense of place, to carry with them wherever they go. And so it went. My mother asked the nicest people she could find to join us. No sewing experience necessary, they just needed to be nice. And, since I had never made a quilt before, I fumpfed around, bought some quilting fabric, figured out how to use a rotary cutter, and started making one-of-a-kind quilt kits to be assembled by our fabulous members.”

If you would like to learn more or be inspired to give to your community,click and go to BrightHopes.org there is no time like the present. Some folks need a little extra in these hard times. Gather up some friends and start a group of givers in your town or city. Your community and the recipient of your loving work will be most appreciative. Be the change you would like to see. It starts with YOU. Thanks to Deborah Fischer for being a most inspiring Quilter and member of our Quilting community.

Mary Jo's always has a great SALE selection and our regularly priced items are always less than other fabric stores. Top quality and in a store that is 32, 00 square feet. We have most everything you would want, log onto our website for great deals or stop into our store in the newly remodeled shopping center in Gastonia, North Carolina.
We would love to hear from you, what are you creating? Send us an email today and thanks in advance.

End of Summer Sale...

Summer is drawing to a close. The kids are going back to school and the older ones are heading off to college. What will you do with a bit more time on your hands? Well, at Mary Jo's we are celebrating a YOU moment. We have our everyday low prices on the stock quilting fabrics these can be found on the website at Fabrics, "The Main Floor". Yes, you could go to a "Quilt Store" but you will pay 2 or 3 dollars more per yard, depending upon the fabric you are purchasing. We do have all of the historic prints you have come to love as well as the popular lines by Marcus Fabrics and true beauties by popular designers. We also have over 100 items on our SALE page. Many are newly posted. We stock a wide variety of glittery sequins, brightly colored cottons, muted modern prints and some heavier fabrics that could become a new slipcover, table cloth or some really cool pillows. Take a minute and click on the "What's Hot", we have plenty of other choices all on sale.

Have a look at the Fabric section of the website, we are constantly updating and posting fabric online. We have all of your favorites and some you did not even know you could live without. The cool thing about online shopping is no driving, parking or gasoline costs and you can shop in your own home! We also have a button on the website "Ask Mary Jo". This is a special feature that lets you ask a question and know that you will typically receive an answer within 24 hours, Monday-Saturday. We are there to help you find what you need in the quantity and time frame that you need it. You can also call the store, someone is there Monday through Saturday to help you.

For all of you college parents & grandparents we have many of the University & State College fabrics available. How fun for your son or daughter to have a quilt, comforter, laundry sack or??? use your imagination even more special because it was made by someone who loves them. Certainly a much appreciated part of a care package.

The end of summer is also the start of Drama, Theatre, Ballet and other performing arts programs. We have all of the Glitter, Tulle, Velvet, Brocade, Animal Prints and shiny reflective fabric you will need for costumes and set design. Shop here first you will be happy you did.

We love our customers and we are here to help. Do you need something special ordered or some extra advice on how to do something? On the phone, in the store and on the web. Log on or stop by soon. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you. Do you have a project, story or an event to share? Please email us a few pics and the details, you could be the next blog story.

Thanks for shopping at Mary Jo's Cloth Store and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

Steampunk Cool, Fabric Off The Rack & On The Wall...

Our Home Decor department is filled to full with incredibly beautiful and inexpensive fabric choices. Mary Jo's Cloth beats the prices of those "Chain Home Decor" shops. We have many of the patterns, weaves, weights and fabric manufacturers but here is the difference imagine paying 18-20 dollars per yard, instead of 38-45 dollars? The savings are substantial, the quality is top notch and the possibilities are endless. So if you are looking for some Drapery, Upholstery, Bedding, Pillow or Shade fabric, this collection is for you. Think of what you could do with the money you are going to save?

We are lucky to receive emails & photos of our customers imaginative creations. Just the other day our inbox had a clever project from a gal in Virginia.

"Hello!

How much financial and marital trouble would I be in if I lived in Charlotte? Being the crafty gal I am, I would say a LOT. Because I would live in Mary Jo's. So be very glad I'm a resident of Fredericksburg, Virginia as I'm sure no one would want to open up a store to find a squatter, no matter how charming the DIY tent was. Instead, I save my pennies for trips to see my parents so I can show up at Mary Jo's armed with a list and a ridiculous crafty vision that sometimes turns out to be something fabulous!Which brings me to my latest and greatest ridiculous scheme and wonderful Mary Jo's purchase. I thought I would share a few pictures. For three years we've been staring at a very large and empty wall in our living room trying to decide what the heck to do with it without spending a small fortune. Thanks so some AMAZING fabric I found in your fine establishment, my wall is no longer bare and my living room looks awesome. Well, at least I think it looks awesome which is great because I'm the one who lives here!

To read the how to and full story, one can check out my bloggy blog: anothercrafyday.

Thanks again for being so full of amazing prints. Mary Jo's is truly the place to find anything and everything and I can't wait to see you on my next trip!

--
Meghan A. Berney

Thanks Miss Meghan.
You must have so much fun with your creative home projects. Life is short, keep decorating and blogging!

Do you have a project to share? Quilts, Clothes, Costumes, Weddings, Parties, College Dorm Room or Home Decor? We would love to see what you are doing with all of your Mary Jo Cloth, please send us your projects. Happy Summer!

Modern Quilts & A Summer Fabric Sale...

Modern, bright, cheerful and spare design. This about sums up the newest wave in quilt design, although we have been enjoying "modern" since the turn of the last century! The colors and simplicity seem to be drawn from the Amish. The colors and subjects are everyday. Many of our favorites are the quilts designed by Denyse Schmidt. She has a company in Bridgeport, Ct. Her designs are colorful some feature spare patterns from nature, others feel somewhat like the Gee Bend gals interpretations of quilt deign. Sometime ago Denyse had a book published that is worth a look. Even if only for sheer inspiration.
Denyse Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects By Denyse Schmidt, Bethany Lyttle - Chronicle Books In "Denyse Schmidt Quilts," the ultimate resource for the home quilter, Schmidt reveals the secrets behind her most popular designs. Thirty projects range from the simple to the challenging, from patchwork slippers and aprons to tote bags and pillows to her beloved quilt patterns, offering something for every level of quilter. Schmidt reviews the fundamentals of quilting and provides easy-to-follow instructions, patterns, sewing tips, and an artful approach to design basics. With engaging wisdom and beautiful step-by-step color photography throughout, "Denyse Schmidt Quilts" will inspire beginning and skilled crafters alike to embrace this age-old tradition with a new and modern twist.
We are also inspired by the quilting avatars from Gee Bend. This particular group of folks were ahead of their time. One fun and interesting they did was to use old denim and other found fabrics mixed with vibrant colored fabric. These quilts are a treat and every bit as modern today as the day they were created. Good modern quilting inspiration is all around. "Google" "Modern Quilts", and click on the images. You will not only be absolutely inspired but also delighted and enchanted. Life is a big bowl of Arty Beauty. Sew, create and add to the bounty. The world can never have enough.
Mary Jo's Cloth always has well over 100 choices on the SALE page. We also carry many of the lines you may be looking for at the best price. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please click on the Ask Mary Jo icon on the upper right side of the webpage, and send us a note. We will do our best to get you the fabric or other information you are seeking.
Enjoy these lovely summer days, and when it rains, work on one of your many quilting projects. Life is short, fill your hours with everything that you love.
Do you have a quilt or project to share? Please send an email, with a brief description and a photo or two. You could be our next featured article.

Fireworks, Fun and Lots of Great Fabric...

Bang! Another Fourth of July is just days away. Always a fun day, filled with friends, parades, BBQ's and great fireworks. If you hurry, you have just enough time to stitch up a great shirt, tablecloth or dress. We have a Red, White and Blue fabric collection that can fill the bill. Check out our collection at www.maryjos.com.
Gardening is a part of summertime that just cannot be beat. Sunflowers are showing up along with Roses, Daisies and Delphiniums. Vegetable gardens and the Farmers Markets are filled with beautiful produce of many colors. All waiting to be picked and brought indoors. Wouldn't it be great to be able to have the colors of Summertime, year round? Well, we may have a solution for you. Did you know that Mary Jo's Cloth Store has aisles (in the Store) and pages (on our website) of Garden inspired fabrics? You could bring the outside in. Curtains, Pillows, Bedspreads & Tablecloths come to mind. These are the easiest ways to spread some warmth on the coldest winter day! We also have a good selection of nature inspired upholstery fabric. All weights and patterns. Home decorating can be a magic and fun thing! We also have a nice collection of warm and sunny colors as companions to some of these amazing prints.
So today, whether you are inspired by Stars and Stripes or Summers abundant Bounty, we not only have what you are looking for, but at a price no-one else can beat. We carry top brand fabric at the lowest prices, not seconds or over runs.
Do you have a project to share? We would love to see your fine and inspired work. Drop us an email today, with a photo and a short description. You may be one of our next articles.


Just a side note, did you know that we have a Facebook page? If your are a Facebooker, please look up Mary Jo's Cloth Store and "Like" us. You will get extra notices about sales and the like.

Mary Jo's Cloth Store will be closed on the 4th of July, however our website will be open as always 24-7 , 365 days a year.

Inspired, In Love & Into Decorating...

"I up and made dining room curtains and they might just be my favorite things in the whole darn house."
Oh, do you remember being young, in love, starting your family and being inspired by all of the possibilities that life and home design had to offer? Mmmm what a magic moment in time. A wonderful young couple came into Mary Jo's Cloth Store the other day. They were on a mission, Drapery Fabric. Simple, but at the same time the choices we offer can be overwhelming. They eventually found a print that they fell in love with. She writes on her blog that she could of found it somewhere else for 40 dollars per yard instead at Mary Jo's she paid 12.99 a yard. She was excited for her great bargain, but really fell in love with the print, and colors. She did a lovely job with her curtains. Simple straight stitching, on her new Brother Sewing Machine and hardware and rings from Target and she was good to go. These lovely curtains look like a million dollars. Oh, Young House Love, is truly a wonderful thing. Sherry and John thanks for your great story and good luck in your Young Love House and Life together.
Keep up the great work as you architect your lives, your home and your future.

Here is their story, click on the link to check out her Young House Love Blog. Her blog is filled with her chic yet homespun brand of excitement and passion and her own special tips and tricks on achieving "Home Perfection".
Here’s how it all went down. We already mentioned snagging this deeply discounted curtain fabric from a local fabric outlet called U-Fab (for anyone looking for it by name, it’s “Robert Allen’s Khanjali Peacock” so googling that hopefully turns up some of your own). It was fancy schmancy designer fabric that I’d been in love with forever, but it was marked down to $12.99 a yard (as opposed to the original cost of $40+ a yard!) thanks to a bit of an irregularity in the fabric (a white stripe that ran down one side, which I knew I could work around).

Since I wanted two 90-ish inch panels for either side of the big picture window in the dining room I calculated that five yards would do the trick, which factored out to $32 a panel (still not dirt cheap but a whole lot cheaper than the regular price of that fabric, which would have run me $100 a panel). Score.

It was as simple as lining up the end of the fabric with the 90″ mark on my tape measure and then cutting the other edge against the rug at the 0″ inch mark, for a nice straight cut (sure enough, I was left with a nice 90″ long rectangular swatch of fabric).When it comes to the width, I just usually go with the width that it comes right off the bolt (which is wider when you get upholster fabric like this- ours was 57″). But remember it had that defect running along one side of it, so I just cut three inches or so from that side (again I used the edge of the rug to get a straight cut). But I didn’t completely cut off the white part since I knew once I hemmed it, it would be completely invisible (even from the back). You can see the normal white edge that comes on fabric on the right of the swatch below and the irregular white defect on the bottom half of the left edge below:Then I washed both curtain panels so they would be “pre-shrunk” and easy to launder from here on out (one of our main goals is to have as many “washable” surfaces in the kitchen and dining room as possible). Oh but it’s always smartest to preshrink fabric before you cut it, I just knew I only had enough fabric to make two panels of this size so whether I washed or cut it first (or cut and washed it later) I’d end up with the same sized panels in the end. I grabbed them fresh out of the dryer instead of letting them sit there to keep them wrinkle free for the most part.
Next I had to decide between my trusty curtain-making method of using iron-on hem tape or the slightly scary idea of using Oh Brother (my new sewing machine) to attempt to do what I used to use hem tape for. After a decent amount of out-loud debate with myself, I decided to try my hand at sewing curtain panels- just to see if I could do it (but you can find full curtain making tutorials with hem tape here and here). Even without my hem-tape security blanket, I did break out the iron to make a half inch “seam” down one of the short sides of the curtain. It just seems like now whenever I dabble in sewing, I find myself trying to iron instead of pinning – just to see if it’ll work. Am I a rebel or what?The ironed seam definitely stayed put while I dragged the giant fabric swatch back into the kitchen to sew the hem, so I happily skipped the pinning step and even boldly (well, maybe that adjective is a stretch) decided to try another hemming technique that some of you have commented to tell me about in previous I’m-a-shaky-little-sewing-novice posts. I took the ironed seam and folded it over one more time, then I sewed down the seam to create a nice finished looking hem (even from the back). That extra fold hid the raw cut edge of the fabric, if that makes sense. And even with my extra folding step, there was thankfully no pinning required. Sweet.

Whew, lots of work made fun! She does have a knack for home decor and writing about the process. Thanks again Sherry. Lovely. We are happy to have helped.

Are you looking for Drapery Fabric? We have many inspirational choices. Pop onto the website or stop by the store, we promise, you will not be disappointed. Remember, the SALE page is always being updated. Don't miss out, fabric comes and goes very quickly on this section of the website. Log on and take a tour.

Do you have a project to share? We love to see your quilts, clothing, home decor and costumes. Please take a moment and drop us an email with a few photos. We cannot wait to hear from you.

Batiks, Quilting and Summertime...

The weather is warm, the flowers are blooming and in some parts of the country the kids are already celebrating long summer days. It is the time of year for lazy afternoons at the beach, lake or river. Gardening is in full swing and BBQ-ing on the deck on warm evenings. But how about those rainy summer days? According to the Farmers Almanac we are in for a few more than normal. Be prepared, and occupy your time, with a fun sewing project? How about some Tropical Chic?


Bali Batiks from Hoffman fabrics are the perfect weight and are filled with the colors and hot energy of summer. Why not think about piecing together an inspired quilt, a tablecloth or even a super lightweight bedspread? It just could not be easier.
The Bali Batiks are soft and yummy to work with and at 45" wide it allows for plenty of different creative applications and at only 7.49 per yard it is a steal. The 1895 Batiks are hand dyed in such rich and sometimes even vibrant colors. From a subtle seafoam to an electric orange. This series truly is the perfect companion to the texture and pattern rich Bali Batik collection. The width is 45" and the price is 6.59 per yard. Wow.
We are always checking around and the average price of these two specific collections from Hoffman fabric is upwards of $10.00 per yard.
So really the more you buy at Maryjos.com the more you save!
By the way if you are a contesting creative quilter or creator of fine fabric masterpieces, Hoffman Fabrics has a contest. The rules are simple, you must use Hoffman Batiks and Sulky thread. The deadline is July 15th. At Mary Jo's we do not carry the Sulky line of thread, but we sure have a stockpile of the Hoffman Batik fabric collections. If you are interested in reading more about this cash prize contest go to Hoffman fabrics for the full set of rules. You can check out the past winners and plan your own strategy.
If you would like to be inspired, check out these blogs. They are filled with inspiration, good ideas and some great advice. 1. Artistic Quilting. 2.The Curious Quilter. 3. Feathered Fibers.
Do you have a great blog or a new project you would like to share with us? You could be the next article. We always love to hear from you. Email us today. One last item, did you know we are on Facebook? Be a friend and be one of the first to hear all of the latest news on your Facebook Wall.