Local Girl Scouts Learn New Tips and Tricks at Mary Jo's

This past weekend the Girl Scouts of Peaks to Piedmont joined Mary Jo’s for a specialized beginner class designed to inspire the love of sewing in younger generations.

During the first class session, the girls learned sewing basics while creating their own pillowcases. The hope is to expose these young girls to a set of skills that has been on the decline for the past two decades, and in doing so foster a hobby or talent they can be proud of. It has been too long since a Girl Scout was able to sew her own badge onto her sash.

These classes, the first of their kind at Mary Jo’s, are part of a new trend that is sweeping across the nation. Aimee Griffin, Mary Jo’s Sewing Director, said the store’s traditionally older clientele, is now being joined by clients in their teens, 20s and 30s. The trend isn’t stopping there.

“We had a full class of young ladies anxious to create their own pillowcase, and a few moms who decided to stay and learn,” said Jessica Trimmer, Mary Jo’s class instructor who worked with the Girl Scouts. “Every girl, and mom, in attendance not only learned how to use their machines, but also completed their first pillowcase.” 

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is one of 112 councils across the nation that offers the Girl Scout program to girls ages 5-17. With service centers and shops in Asheville, Gastonia, Hickory and the Triad area, as well as a satellite shop in Winston-Salem, GSCP2P serves nearly 24,000 girls and adults.

Next month’s installment of classes is on Thursday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 9. Girl Scouts of all ages are encouraged to join. For more information about the Girl Scouts and registering for Mary Jo’s classes visit www.girlscoutsp2p.org.

Stitch Craft Create Live Discount Admission Coupon

Stitch Craft Create Live is the ultimate craft event! Take part in this two-day extravaganza jam-packed with workshops in sewing, paper crafts, jewelry making and full day of art journaling. With dozens of workshops available, you are sure to find one that's right for you.

Join Mary Jo's Cloth Store and other exhibitors for this amazing craft event on Friday, Oct. 25,  from 10 am to 6 pm or Saturday, Oct. 26, from 9 am to 5 pm! To find out more about Stitch Craft Create Live, you can visit their website at Stitchcraftcreatelive.com.

To claim your discount coupon, simply click, save and print the voucher below, or register online by using special code 'CHARVEN13'.

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

Halloween Goodies From our Friends at Baby Lock

Time to Bring the Sewing Machines out of Storage

Sewing makes a comeback among a younger generation

For generations the art of sewing has been handed down from family member to family member. Over the past several decades, the time honored tradition of a mother passing her sewing machine to her daughter has almost disappeared entirely. This skill, which was common among most grandmothers, suffered a decline during the later part of the 20^th century.

Things are changing. Aimee Griffin, Mary Jo’s Cloth Store’s Sewing Director, said the store’s traditional older clientele are now being joined by clients in their teens, 20s and 30s.

Makinzy and Andrea.

During Mary Jo’s inaugural holiday event earlier this month, 9-year-old Makinzy accompanied by her grandmother Jeanette, saved her money to buy her first sewing machine. 

Excited about making her purchase, Makinzy saved $100, just enough for the BL9 Baby Lock machine. The entire team at Mary Jo’s was so taken with this little girl’s enthusiasm for sewing that they presented her with a $500 machine instead.

‘The look on her face was priceless,’ said Andrea, the Mary Jo’s team member who sold Makinzy her machine. ‘To have someone that young and excited about sewing, it is inspiring to us!’

A lot of young mothers now want to learn how to sew clothes and make curtains or quilts for their families. Whether it has been spurned on by Pinterest (an online website which features multiple do-it-yourself projects), or by the national economic climate, an increased interest in sewing is evident.

Starting this weekend, Mary Jo’s and the Girl Scouts Peaks to Piedmont organization are partnering together to launch a series of sewing classes specifically tailored to the Girl Scouts. The hope is to inspire younger girls with a passion for sewing and creating. It has been too long since a Girl Scout was able to sew her own badge onto her sash.

Check back for more information on the Girl Scouts and their classes. Also if you are interested in signing up for a class the online schedule can be found at maryjos.com/sewing-class-schedule.

Being Strong Never Goes Out of Style

At Mary Jo’s we believe being strong never goes out of style, and that is why we are partnering with Cancer Services during the month of October to help our community take a stand against breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women this year alone. 

This month, and always, we are so grateful for Betsy Cordell, a member of our crazy wonderful Mary Jo's family. She is one exceptional lady, and it is horrible to think that she could have been taken from us by breast cancer. Today we are happy to announce Betsy is cancer free!

Betsy Cordell, Mary Jo's Team Member

In honor of Besty and other women like her, Mary Jo’s is going ‘pink’ by donating a proceed of all sales on Saturday, Oct. 19, to Gaston County’s Cancer Services.

Cancer Services, formerly Gaston County Cancer Society, is a local United Way Agency established in 1977. The Mission of Cancer Services of Gaston County, Inc. is to serve the community by actively promoting healthy lifestyles and to provide support and services needed by people living with cancer. All contributions are used to provide programs and services for Gaston County residents.

All of the Mary Jo’s breast cancer awareness fabric can be located at maryjos.com/fabrics when you click ‘Main Floor’, then ‘Browse by Fabric Style’ and finally select ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’.

Project Pink (Baum/Windham)
$8.99/ Yard/Row
Color: Project Pink 36407 - 2 (Baum/Windham)
Width: 45''
Repeat: V-'' x H-''
100% Cotton
Fabric is available online for purchase at : http://whirly.it/SradH1

Project Pink (Baum/Windham)
$8.99/ Yard/Row

Color: Project Pink 36406 - 1 (Baum/Windham)

Width: 45''
Repeat: V-'' x H-''
100% Cotton
Fabric is available online for purchase at :http://whirly.it/2zQzVc

Project Pink (Baum/Windham)
$8.99/ Yard/Row

Color: Project Pink 36406 - 1 (Baum Textiles)

Width: 45''
Repeat: V-'' x H-''
100% Cotton
Fabric is available online for purchase at :http://whirly.it/T1eiqO

Project Pink (Baum/Windham)
$8.99/ Yard/Row

Color: Project Pink 36406 - 1 (Baum/Windham)

Width: 45''
Repeat: V-'' x H-''
100% Cotton

Fabric is available online for purchase at : http://whirly.it/aMqGqt