HAPPY 4TH OF JULY BLOG

Where do I begin?? 😟 I have writer’s block. All the uncertainty and upheaval are overwhelming. I have always been an optimistic and upbeat person, but it’s hard for me to embrace all the chaos and negative things going on right now. It’s all so sad to watch so many different divisions in our population. I find it difficult to sleep at night, I find myself stressed unexpectedly and so concerned for humanity. But I want this newsletter/blog to be a bright spot in your day, a bit of sparkle in the dark. So, I’ll try to pull a rabbit out of a hat here and give you something to smile about.😜

As far as our new house construction and work on the ranch, it’s been hot, hot, hot!! 😡 The new house foundation is growing a great crop of weeds and nothing else. We have been working on the remodel of our little vacation cottage, getting it ready for when the travel season picks up again. Some challenging projects there. We had to remove 2 HUGE trapezoid windows (5ft w X 8 ft h) on the upper half of the west wall. The west wall of the cottage is perched on the edge of a limestone bluff!! That was interesting to say the least. We borrowed scaffolding from our son and engineered the removal. Good thing Christer is an engineer. LOL The pictures say it all:

#1 the start of the set up.  #2 siding removed, rigging set up and attached to the window frame, window detached and bracing ready.  #3 free of the wall & dangling.  #4 almost free of the opening, I’m guiding from below! YIKES.  #5 safely down.  #6 shows the size of the old windows, the water damage being repaired and new framing going in.

The framing for the new windows is complete now and 2 new smaller windows have arrived to be installed. We are still waiting on the 3^rd window, an octagon, to arrive. I’ll post pictures next month. Next is installing the new bathroom upstairs. We are very excited about this project. Once the cottage is finished and ready, then we will be back working on the new house project. Never a shortage of things to do around here!

Meanwhile, back at the quilt shop: as things are starting to move again, we are getting more shipments of new fabrics. Top of that list is the Kona solids that we have been waiting for months for. Solid black arrived this week and the solid white is in transit. It will probably be here next week along with a few other new colors. Fun Christmas and spooky Halloween fabrics (including area 51) are arriving also. A big Texas greeting from Santa on a longhorn is a great start, “Giddy up Santa” from StudioE.

Riley Blake’s “Santa Clause Lane” has a fun retro vibe. The 36” panel has lots of possibilities for a variety of Holiday project. I’m going to cut the blocks all apart and sash them together in a collage. We would love to hear what you would do with it. 😃 Throw pillows, placemats, bags ?????????

Many other new collections are here too, but I’ve already put in too many pictures. LOL 😜 Check FaceBook for new announcements.

I have been asked by several people if I am making masks to sell. So far I have only made them for my family and ourselves and a few close friends. However, with the growing tide of COVID cases and the state mandated requirements for wearing masks in public, I am starting to make masks to sell. They will be here at the shop next week, for those who are interested. They are the same style and the ones we are wearing. I make them from 100% quilting cotton on the outside with a non-woven interfacing fused on the back, 100% cotton jersey knit lining. This combination is an effective, comfortable and breathable combination for a homemade mask. I add jersey knit ties that are easy to adjust for a better fit and stretchy for ease of wearing. I am making 3 different sizes in a variety of fabric prints, both masculine and feminine. Machine wash & dry.  They will retail for $20 each.

 Stay safe y’all and Keep Sewing,

Just a remainder that we are open for regular business with the protocols below in effect. Our new hours are:

We will be closed Saturday July 4^th

Creative Stitcher’s Club : Has been postponed for the rest of the summer. Our leader is experiencing some serious health issues and is too vulnerable to be exposed at this time. An update on Mary. She had a successful surgery this past week and is home recovering. Her prognosis is good. We wish her the very best in recovery. We are looking at possibly starting back up in September. But stayed tuned, it could be later.

Warriors Heart Quilt project. This is a great project, for a fantastic cause. Use up some of your stash, or you can order a kit from the shop. Check out about Warriors Heart on their website.  www.WarriorsHeart.com

I posted this in the newsletter Feb 2016. Has it really been that long?? I’ve started hearing questions about it again and thot it might be time for a refresher and info for those who have never heard of it.

I have been asked many times about an interesting tool we have here at the shop.  It’s called a “Tailor’s Clapper”.   It’s no wonder everyone asks what it is.  Most people have never seen one and information on them is hard to find.  It’s a very important tool used by tailors and dressmakers for centuries, especially in Europe.  When the home sewing movement exploded in the early 1900’s, the clapper sort of fell through the cracks.  Only the “professionals” continued to use them.

Lucky for us, the Clapper is back ! And becoming a popular part of the home sewing vocabulary.  I have been using a clapper for years.  It’s a wonderful tool that gives you professional results.  Let me introduce the “Tailor’s Clapper” and the quilting version, the “Betty B Flat”.

Tailor’s Clapper in front             Betty B Flat in back with handle

I love and use these tools constantly.  (You might have seen them sitting on the ironing table in the classroom).  If you want to achieve a nice flat seam or crease, this is your “go to” tool.  Your seam nesting will be flawless and smooth.  You can crease hems, even denim, and not need to pin at the sewing machine.  You can press a sharp crease in pleats or pant legs (without a shine), in even difficult fabrics.  Once you start using one of these fabulous tools, you will not want to be without it.

To use:

They are used in conjunction with your iron and steam.  Press, steam, and apply the Clapper or Betty B Flat for 10 - 15 seconds.  I usually follow my iron with the Betty B Flat as I am pressing seams or making bindings.  This holds in the heat and steam that sets the crease or flattens your seams without scorching or burning delicate fabrics.  Quilters, do not be afraid of steam.  It is really your friend if you do it right.  It will not stretch out the fabric if you do not move the iron while it is in contact with the fabric.  In fact, it will shrink back any stretching that has occurred.

Give this wonderful old tool a try, I guarantee you will love it.

Compliments of Little Cottage Quilt Shop

14076 State Hwy 16    Medina, Texas,  (830) 589-2502

littlecottagequilts@gmail.com (email)            littlecottagequiltshop.com (website)

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