Autumn is Quilting Weather...

Chilly Autumn nights are here, so it must be time to start all of your holiday quilting projects.
There are so many different approaches to quilting but I think we would all agree that the most important is to be prepared. Cut once, measure twice, have all of your pieces ready in advance and of course a neat and tidy work area (well, we should all have something to aim for!). At Mary Jo’s Cloth Store we carry all of your old favorites and some great new fabrics in many patterns, colors and different holiday and seasonal themes. We even have some on our sale page and when you think about our low prices to start with, you know the sale price is dirt cheap.

Today we are featuring a master quilter, Anita Grossman Solomon who is the author of the popular books, Make It Simpler series “Paper Piecing” and “Perfect Blocks in Minutes”. She has also appeared on HGTV's "Simply Quilts". Anita has created a system that is easy, organized and can help you to create a perfect quilt, every time! Sounds like a dream? Don’t worry easy never sounded so good.
I was cruising around on her website www.makeitsimpler.com and was impressed with the knowledge she so freely shares and easy links to purchase her books. This is what she had to say about “Paper Piecing”.
The following is an interview featured on Electricquilt.com...
“Q: Congratulations, Anita! You're just written your first book, about a new pinless, "fold and sew" foundation technique you developed. How would you describe your technique to our readers?
A: It's simplified paper-piecing, but it's not paper piecing as you know it. It's sort of hand-piecing, with a sewing machine, over a paper foundation. An entire 6" block pattern is meant to be photocopied from the book onto translucent vellum. Most significantly, rather than cutting up the pattern into sub-units, it's scored instead along pre-printed lines.
Piece the block without sewing through allowances. Since you never cut the foundation apart, it doesn't have to be put back together. Just refold and sew the subunits together along the printed seam lines. Every intersection and point should be perfectly matched because they were never cut apart.

Anita's Faux Card Trick quilt. Can you believe each block was pieced on ONE foundation? Hint: Anita used squares, rectangles and triangles. Pieced by Anita and machine quilted and finished by Janice E. Petre of Sinking Spring, PA
Because of this new technique, it's possible to design and construct blocks in new ways. I've 'done' a Faux Card Trick that can be pieced, continuously, on one foundation. I've never seen the block done on less than three foundations.

Another block, Jan's Star (named for my fabulous C&T editor, Jan Grigsby) is an asymmetrical star ensconced in an attic window setting. It's unusual because the setting is formed when one of its two seams are sewn. A perfect 45 degree angle is created. It's uncanny.”
To read more of this interview click here..

Wow, so much more is on the site so take the time to log on to Anita's site and surf around to find some tricks that will make quilting easier and more efficient. Think about all of the quilts and smaller quilt project you could create between now and Christmas. Think about this, great gifts and cozy bedding just in time for cold, dark and rainy, snowy days.

Now is the time to get crackin’ on your upcoming projects so take a minute and log onto www.maryjos.com today. Better yet if you have time or are in Gastonia you could stop by and take a cruise through our 32,000 sq. ft store for not only inspiration but a rummage through the sale bins. We also have stacks and stacks of fat quarters just waiting to be turned into something absolutely fantastic.
Happy Holiday’s. Yes it is early, but not so far away.

Fabric, Facebook, Our Blog and You...

Here At Mary Jo's Cloth Store we always have a great time putting together articles for our Sewing/Design blog. In the past 15 months we have covered everything from quilting to the latest in sewing trends as well as historic patterns and the history of fabric. We are always excited to share our Seasonal and Holiday Fabric Collections. We also delight in featuring special "crafty" sewing projects that are not only easy but beautiful and fun to do with fellow sewing friends. Sharing various quilt shows with our readers from around the country is always fun and interesting. We also love to feature our talented customers who have taken the time to send us their projects and their thoughts on fabric, sewing and the business of sewing. We are lucky to have so many readers in our Mary Jo Cloth Community who log on and read these articles. We thank-you.
So now, here is the deal, we would love some feed-back from you.
What would you like to learn more about? Do you have a business or hobby you would like to share with us? We would love nothing more than featuring you and your business or projects in an article on the blog or on our community page.
At Mary Jo's the more we know about you the better we can understand not only what you would be interested in learning more about, but also what your fabric needs are. So take a moment, send us an email and give us some good old fashioned friendly feedback.
Recently we have added weekly postings on Facebook. We post the current blog article, special announcements and fabric sales! It is easy to be a fan of Mary Jo's on Facebook. If you do not have a Facebook account it is super simple to sign-up for one and remember, chances are your friends, family and neighbors already have an account, so tap into the online community of Facebook and Mary Jo's Cloth Store. We look forward to hearing your comments, thoughts and feedback. Send an email today. Thanks in advance. KDB, Blog Editor.
Featured Sale Item: A fab Paisley in Autumn colors, it is only $3.50 per yard. At 54" I can imagine Curtains, Tablecloths or maybe even an elegant Duvet Cover. What will you create? You can locate this fabric by clicking on "Special Editions" (our code words for SALE) click to Items 73-90 it is featured in the center of the second row.

Vote: Mary Jo's, "Seven Wonders of Gaston County"...

Hey, all you Mary Jo's Cloth Store Fans...
Our local newspaper "The Gaston Gazette" is creating a list (by way of an online vote ) for the "Seven Wonders of Gaston County". Mary Jo's is on the short list of choices, for one of the Seven Wonders! We are asking you to log onto the Gaston Gazette website and vote for Mary Jo's Cloth Store. We thank-you in advance.
Happy Sewing!

Autumn, A Time For Quilts and Quilt Shows...

Friday was a crisp Autumn Day at the Common Ground Fair in rural Maine. One large tented area was devoted to Quilting and Home Arts. My heart sang with the colors, designs and textures of these lovely quilts and I adored the shining, smiling faces of their creators. This is not your typical country fair, it features organic and recycled everything from Vegetables to Home Goods. Looking at the quilts and other fabrics I was reminded that during the other "Great Depression" women were very clever about finding fabric that had other uses before it was cut and stitched into a warm quilt. These very quilts were not only fun to make but a wonderful addition to a cold winters night! Think about shirts, blouses, dresses and even pieces of old table cloths that could be incorporated into a quilt, today. Sometimes it is not what you don't have but what you do with what you do have!
This particular show featured Quilts with 3-D style flowers, patterns reminiscent of Granny's Quilts of yore and also some made with fabric from old flour sacks. I particularly liked a few that had the feeling of stained glass and multi colored quilts that featured with silhouette's of kitties. All homespun and beautifully done. A long honored tradition continues with quilters today, groups of women help each other cut, piece and then quilt the piece together. This wonderful and often necessary hobby gave them a chance to visit, catch up on the comings and goings of friends and family and always netted the result of a warm and cherished quilt for someones bed.
Quilt shows are featured in most regions of America this time of year. Check your local newspaper or just google "quilt shows" and type in your state. You will be amazed at the amount of quilt shows going on in your home state in the months of October and November.
Mary Jo's Cloth Store continues to be a great source for inexpensive and high quality quilting fabric. Log onto the website or stop into the store today. Don't forget to click onto the special editions section. In Mary Jo's language, "Special Edition" really means SALE!
Life is short, get together with your friends and quilt to your hearts content!

Let's Do The Polka, Dots That Is...

There is something to be said for that tried and true perennial favorite, Polka Dots. What is it that makes it such a favorite? The fact that it is not only fun but that it is also a classic. Think of the versatility of Polka Dot printed fabric. These dots are happily mixed with small printed florals, stripes as well as colored textured fabrics. The trick? Well that is fairly easy. Use colors that are nearly the same or contrasting and wow, you will have a cool finished project on your hands.
It is always a delight and a welcome surprise to see curtains that have a lining of polka dots. Another favorite is the fabric handbag: when you use the polka dots to create a contrasting inside lining it is a delight. These darling dots are also fun used as a lining on the insides of collars, and cuffs. They look great and will add an element of fun to a striped broadcloth shirt. Polka dots are a fun or even swanky choice for that perfect little cocktail dress. Using a rayon or silk fabric that has a black/navy background with cream or white dots can be an elegant interpretation of the polka dot pattern.
Polka Dots and Mini Florals are a popular pairing for those darling (and expensive) little girl dresses. You could have a blast with a pink and green themed outfit for your favorite young lady. Remember, dots are a great pattern for lining the inside of a tote bag. But here is the fun part, every time you drop something into your bag you will certainly be delighted by the sea of polka dots that greet you.
What can you do with this classic dotted beauty? Log onto the website today, we have 121 different types in Mary Jo's online Polka Dot Collection!
When you have finished a truly Polka Dottie Project, photograph it and send it to us. We may feature you on this blog our on our Maryjo.com Community page.
Starting today, the first 50 Customers who order $50.00 (fabric, not including shipping) or more on the website will receive a FREE an OLFA Non Slip Ruler or a similar product from OLFA. Hurry up to receive your free gift.

Vintage, Shake It Up and Have some Fun...

Lets talk about Buttons, Trims and Ribbons. Have you ever thought about incorporating old with new? You could go crazy with the antique buttons, sewn onto curtain valances or used as the artistic focal point on a newly sewn up pillow, duvet or pillowcase. I like to think of the charm of a beautiful Cloth Bag/Tote with a fabulous antique button maybe mixed with a bit of vintage ribbon and trim. You could also trim a skirt with vintage buttons and/or trim. Don't forget home design projects such as a newly upholstered ottoman or hassock, they would be terrific and very special with some vintage trims, tassels or even buttons. Yes, the possibilities are endless.

These past few days I was lucky enough to shop at the mega antique sale in Brimfield, Massachusetts. I was treated to booths filled with vintage and antique ribbons, buttons and loads of trim. It was so fun to think of all of the ways these items could be used with the vintage style and textured fabrics that we carry at Mary Jo's Cloth Store and on our website. We have many fabrics with patterns, colors and textures that seem as if they tumbled out of the fabric mill in 1880, 1930, 1950 and beyond. Do you or someone you know (or maybe even related to) have a vintage collection of Buttons, Ribbons and Trims that you could use in these types of projects? If not, a quick trip to your local Antique mall or Flea Market will yield a beautiful bounty of these items that often times are yours for very little cash.
The trick is to have your components ready for a project like this. First step find the buttons or trim you would like to use. Second, log onto Maryjos.com and cruise around for fabric that enhances the era of your special buttons or trim. Third step, create it and take a photograph. We would love to share your creation with the Mary Jo Cloth Community. We may feature it on this blog or on the website in the Community section.
Get to stitching, we cannot wait to see your beautiful and inspired work.

Summer is Over: Sale, Sale, Sale...

Labor Day is the official "end of summer". Hopefully your summer was packed with fun adventures, family visits and maybe even a few roadtrips. The kids are back at school and the fall schedule is now in place. OK, what to do, now that things are back on track? This is the perfect time of year to plan your upcoming projects.

Re-doing a room or recovering a chair? Stitching up some great Christmas gifts, tablecloths, curtains, Halloween costumes or a few new outfits? Now is the time to cruise around at maryjos.com. We have an amazing selection of fabrics on sale for all of your upcoming projects. Click on the "Special Editions" icon on the homepage, that is code for SALE! We also have an amazing selection of fall inspired fabric in all patterns, textures and colors.
Calicos, Upholstery, cottons, lace, patterns and prints. All beautiful and at amazing prices. Log on today for the very best selection and remember to log on often as we add new items almost everyday.

Did you know we are on facebook.com? Check it out and become a fan. We post not only the most current Mary Jo's Design Blog articles but also specials and new arrivals to the store and the website, check it out you won't be disappointed.