Handmade Holiday!

Don't forget....this Sunday December 5th

whatever else you have going on this weekend,

be sure to dial "Franklin Mill Store" into

that GPS of yours.....cuz we've got major

crafty holiday spirit goin' on... AND it's contagious!

Lot's of clever folks selling beautiful

handmade items...

 

 PLUS a super special guest:

our friend Jen Lopez from Sew Fun

 

... and don't forget all the other fabulous

 

things we have here to help make your

 

holidays merry and bright.

 

Peace!

mary

They came, they sewed, they conquered........

......I know, super corny, but conquer they did!

The Girl Scout Troop 72212 from Medfield came in ready

to learn and earn (ouch!).  

 First, they chose super fun fabrics....

Then, guided by our fearless sewing teacher, Joan McAnulty,

everyone walked through the steps:

cutting, pinning and sewing on a machine......

.....creating a fabulous bag.....

...and, earning their sewing badges.

Conquerors!!!!

Hope to see you all soon!

 

Mary

Taking stock...

Snapped some pics of "my pond" - the one I pass daily on my way to the mill, about a 20 minute drive.  My morning routine is scarily like something out of the movie Brazil: Get in car, drive purposefully to neighborhood drive-thru coffee joint - cliff bar and fruit sitting on passenger seat awaiting completion of "optimum" breakfast food grouping.  Gulp, gulp...nibble, munch....repeat.....drive, etc.
I confess:
I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON, so this ritual is done in a semi-trance state (no, I do not talk on the phone while
I'm doing this!).  By the time I reach the pond (about 15 minutes into the drive) my brain is starting to engage.  I usually pause here to take a quick, but to me important, glance at the "world".  It clears my mind and helps me start the day with a fresh slate......at least I try.
The lily pads and loose strife have taken over the pond and I know it's not long before the leaves on the surrounding trees start their color changes.  It's all good - but the prospect of winter does take my breath away (it's all good, it's all good, it's all good...) 
The last 5 minutes are usually spent singing at the top of my lungs to something on my cd player...gettin' my self "in gear" for a day at the mill....  


So...what's happening?  

Cute little dresses by Patti's students and Nancy K.  So easy to make - just pick a fabulous fabric, trim, buttons....voila!  No one else will have one like it.

Of course, lots of super fabrics have been coming into the store.  Here are a few of my faves:

Opal Owl by Tina Givens...adorable!

Peace group from Michael Miller:

Sweet new knits from Michael Miller too...

 Mad Men (and women)...

Our friend Flora was so enamored with this Michael Miller flower print, she's making a gorgeous Vintage Vogue dress for her birthday soiree.  The vintage inspiration came from this Timeless Treasures print which reminded her of the show "Mad Men".  Hey, the muse is everywhere.....  Happy Birthday Flora!!!


Another gorgeous wool applique by Nancy K:

We're trying to talk her into giving another workshop...what do you think???

Just a small taste of new Brandon Mably, Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs designs:

super snazz!!!



And the knitters are knitting up a storm...


Maureen has socks, scarves, shawls going like crazy.  Here's her first pair of socks ever:

woohooooo! way to go Maureen.

Kirsten is working on this cute top by Norah Gaughan using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Lite.

 

 

So many more things I should share,

but I've run out of steam.

Create and enjoy!

Mary

Spring Quilt Market

Just back from Quilt Market in Minneapolis... fabulous trip (except for the missing one of our flights part), great weather, lovely people and of course...LOTS of great new fabrics!


 One of our first exciting encounters was at the Oliver + S booth.  We introduced ourselves,  gushed over their new patterns and then learned that Liesl has a fabric line!   It's put out by Moda AND... drum roll please - the line includes some gorgeous knits!!!  It won't be out until fall though...but don't worry,  I'll shout out loud as soon as it arrives in the store.

Next....... Tina Givens had an adorable display of her new fabric collection: "Opal Owl".  She talked to me about her latest patterns and explained the improvements made to them, which I was happy to hear.  The previous patterns were a bit lacking in direction.  Looking forward to trying out the new ones.

Anna Maria Horner........

 ... as lovely as she appears to be on her blog (drats!).  Here she is signing a copy of her new book "Seams to Me".  Again, I gushed about her fabric - especially the voile.  Everyone is at odds about the pronunciation of this...English: voyl; French: vwahl.  I say "vwahl"- not to be super snobby french, but because I also say "twahl" for toile and this makes sense to me.
 

More name dropping...

I was chatting with Sandi Henderson about her new line of fabric "Meadow Sweet 2" and her book "Sewing Bits and Pieces" (both fabulous), when a woman came up next to us, offered her hand to Sandi and said: "Hi, I'm Kate Spade" (harumphhhh!)


Before I forget...

There were some lovely quilts at Quilt Market (imagine) - here are a few of my faves:

AMY!
She was the most popular girl, of course.  Her booth was swarming with fans.  She graciously offered to be photographed with one and all, myself included (I'm allergic).   Not surprisingly, she has lots going on: new fabric, new book AND...yarn!  Her new fabric collection "Soul Blossoms" is truly beautiful, my favorite so far.  It won't be out until late summer/fall - something to look forward to.

Last but not least...

My fave, the peeps at Kokka and Echino (dance, dance, dance!)
LOVE Heather Ross' newest collection "Far Far Away 2":

and all the other fabulous, fabulous fabrics....

All in all, Quilt Market was:

SUPERSONIC!!!!

Hope to see you all in the store!

Mary

Drawing In Thread

This past week, I went to the Nancy Crow exhibit at the Fuller Craft Museum.  If you haven't been to the Fuller, it is well worth the trip. As the name states, it's a museum devoted to crafts, a distinction I've always been a bit uncomfortable with - the whole "art vs craft" thing.  Most of their exhibits are devoted to craftmanship of some sort - textile arts, glasswork, ceramics, furniture etc., but the majority are created as works of expression and form rather than function.  Nancy Crow's exhibit is a perfect case in point.  She creates with quilts.  I wasn't very familiar with her work before my visit and my immediate impression was that these were paintings - paintings in fabric.  Unfortunately, they didn't allow photographs, but I purchased the exhibit catalog which has all of her newest pieces along with details of her process.  Click on the links above to learn more about the exhibit and Nancy Crow.

 Another exhibit on my calendar: Drawing In Thread at Mount Ida College.  This exhibit features contemporary, non-traditional embroidery artists.  Should be interesting.  Exhibit ends Sunday May 2nd.

Ok.  Back on planet Mill Store........

A blast from the past rolled into the store the other day.  A quilt with Town of Franklin landmarks made for the bicentennial (1976).  Notice what was playing at the movies that year....JAWS!  and....the Franklin Mill Store is lookin' quite cute too, doncha think?

Handbags everywhere here...

Sarah made this adorable version of the Ellen Medlock Interchangeable Bag using Kaffe Fassett's "Kirman" pattern:

and Dorothy made this little one using the Quilt Plus Petit Purse pattern.  The fabric is "Timber" by Jessica Levitt, and the handles by Inazuma .  Both these bags are super easy to make.

 mignon!

Nancy and I are brushing up on our french these days (plus, I can only say "cute" so many times on this blog).  These felted slippers, designed and made by Nancy may be the last of the felting spree she's been on.....but they are cute aren't they?

(one last cute)

Hush Puppies from Alexander Henry.....

by for now!

Mary

Bounce!

Spring fever's in full bloom

- so many ideas and things

to do, the brain can't keep

up with it all...

Kirsten is working on the gorgeous Ysolda Teague's

Ishbel shawl using Ella Rae Lace Merino.

It will be scrumptious!

Nancy Keyes brought this fab, fab bag into the store Saturday

which I am coveting. She made it with a fabric from one

of our Home Decorating remnant tables.

I LOVE all the little details:

the ribbon, the chartreuse lining, the black & white

wrapped O-rings, the appliqued flowers, the bee...wow!

She's got an Amy Butler "Sweet Harmony" bag in the works.

I'll share when it's completed.



Cub scout craft day...

Franklin Cub Scouts earned their sewing badges by making

tiger (cub) puppets. Pretty crafty group...and VERY willing

to be photographed. Great job guys!

Love this new double sided quilted fabric from

Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler! Make a quick but fabulous

tote bag, or a cute spring jacket!

Also...

luscious laminated fabrics in prints by Amy Butler,

Kaffe Fassett, and Heather Bailey.

Proms, weddings and celebrations are in the air and everyone's

looking for something to wear...


...we have beautiful silks

...and satins

and patterns by Vogue, Butterick and McCalls.



Lastly...

don't forget to pull on your "sneaks" and cheer on those

brave runners in the Boston Marathon monday.



See you in the store and...

Safe bouncing!