Friday, December 20, 2013

Very Last Minute Gifts

Quick Knit Gifts:
 
Still want to knit a gift for someone?
We have the perfect yarn for a last minute project...
Super Bulky Riviera
absolutely yummy!
Check out this free pattern on Ravelry:

You'll have a gorgeous Luxury Cowl in no time.

Quick Felt Gifts:
 
I'm addicted to cute felt crafts.
Probably because it's so easy to make
something that looks pretty darned good.
Have a family craft night making ornaments,
gift tags...cute little whatevers.
We've got felt and embroidery floss...or you can use glue.
Check out Pinterest if you need some ideas. 
Know someone crafty who needs a gift?
WoolPets Needle Felting Kits are fabulous
and fun.  Each kit comes with wool roving, felting needles
and directions for making adorable felted animals.
We have kits for Foxes, Penguins, Pigs, Owls
and Bluebirds (at the moment).

 Really cool new fabric from Riley Blake:
Union Jack Squares
Each panel has eight unique Union Jack flags.
Amy Smart made a fabulous quilt:
 Look for her Union Jack Crib Quilt tutorial on her Blog:

Of course, there's no time for making quilts,
but there is time to make a few cute bags.
tutorial on the Riley Blake blog.

 Laminated cottons make great totes too.
One of my favorites in the store is this  
Urbanista Retro Photo Camera
print from Michael Miller:
 
No time at all?
Hooray for Gift Cards!

Good luck, keep calm and be happy!
mary



Friday, December 6, 2013

Deck the Halls

The days are short, we've just stuffed ourselves silly with turkey and pies.....
 what a fine time to be rushing about in preparation for
"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"!  Right?

Don't want to shop at the Mall?
Come visit us!

We have great gifts for kids (big and small)
Fabulous stocking stuffers too!

YES, we have burlap!
Looking for ideas?
Check our burlap board on our Pinterest page.

Making last minute-ish gifts?
 We have lots of new fabrics for your projects!
Here are a few:
 "Fox Playground"
Sweet new collection Dena Designs
Make a fun pillowcase for a girl or boy...
or a quick quilt backed with flannel.

PJs for the holidays?
Check out this sweet flannel collection from Riley Blake:
 "A Merry Little Christmas"

My personal fave this year...
"Betty the Yeti" from Robert Kaufman.
All of the flannels we carry are of superior quality.
They have a wonderful weight to them, are soft
and have very little shrinkage when washed.

Kaffe Fassett
Some new designs and more of his classics
Delicious!

No time to create?
A Franklin Mill Store
Gift Certificate is always a great gift!

If you need a reprieve from the madness,
come see us for an "other worldly" holiday experience. 

Cheers!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Wish we could move FMS to this lovely spot.
ah well...but we're bringing a bit of summer to the mill.


We have some absolutely stunning semi sheer cottons
and silk/cottons blends from Italy and France that will
make you feel cool and elegant.




I've been searching for the perfect pattern
for these fabrics and think I've found it in this one
called "Roxanne" from
Victory Patterns:
 
I love this


Also good for flowy summer tops, skirts and
sundresses are these rayon batiks.  They have a beautiful "drape"
with enough body to make you feel secure in your clothes
(you know what I mean...not too super model-ish)
 
Amazingly talented artist and friend of FMS,
Kim Moran Weineck was one of the first in to
check out the much anticipated "Briar Rose"
from Heather Ross.  I think her daughters will be
twirling about in some adorable dresses soon.
If you'd like to learn more about Heather Ross check out
her website and blog:
http://heatherross.squarespace.com/

 YARN!
Just in...
"Johanne" from Plymouth Yarns.
Yummy, hand-dyed, single-ply yarn.  Delicious colors!
This DK weight, soft wool and mohair blend.
bee-u-ti-ful!

New colors in "Gina"
Fabulous, self striping, worsted weight
wool yarn.  If you love Noro's "Kureyon'
you'll love this.

Also from Plymouth:
"Sakkie"
It's a mohair/merino/nylon blend sock yarn.
Cool and comfortable in the summer, and cozy
and warm in the winter.
 It's even machine washable!

We've lots of new things in the store to keep you busy through the summer.
Hope top see you all soon!

Keep Cool!!!!


Friday, March 29, 2013

Yeah..........SPRING!!!!!


 
chirp! 
Aren't these so beautiful?
They're from Joan McAnulty's chickens.
She brought them for inspiration to her Wool Felt Chick
workshop last Saturday, along with some she dyed with silk.


 Joan used some of our silk (of course) but you can use
old silk ties from thrift shops and such.
There are quite a few instructions for this floating about online...
below is a link to Martha Stewart's, but there are others.
Silk Tie Easter Eggs

Although Spring has been PAINSTAKINGLY
slow to come this year (YES it has!) the creative bug
has already infected everyone around here
So, as I stroll about the mill
I'm seein' all kinds of groovy things....

I wandered up to our Home Decorating sewing studio
the other day and who did I see hanging out
on a valance.......hmmmn???
These two cuties pies!

Christine LaFlamme made them.
She has mad sewing skills, including making fabulous
window treatments and heirloom sewing, but her passion is her dollies.
She has an amazing collection of them and has them decked
out in the most exquisite clothing (made by Christine, of course)
Here's a sample of her handiwork:
Christine has a few workshops coming up.
She'll be teaching a series of Home Decorating
themed classes.  For more info check out our
class listing page:


(more advanced)

more eggs.......
Nancy Keyes created this sweet little felt egg bluebird condo.
I'm particularly enamored with the lily of the valley
she embroidered on the back.

Lindell has been busy making fabulous things
with some of the new fabrics coming in. 
Check out this fun pillow she made
(her design) using the new "Sports Fan Cats".
I love it!
She's also making a quilt with the "Super Hero"
collection from Robert Kaufman.
She doesn't like it when I take pics of her work when they're
incomplete, but it will be hanging in the store soon
and y'all can see the real McCoy when you come in!

Here's a quick peek at some of the new fabrics
coming into the mill...

"Doggy Dog"
from Pink Light Design.
 
We're all lovin' the Zig Zags from Riley Blake.
More colors coming too!

"Cool Dots"
from Michael Miller

"Mon Amie"
from Brejer

"London Calling lll"
Very pretty cotton lawn from Robert Kaufman.

Imperial Collection 9
Gorgeous!


There's so much more.....
Hope you'll come in to see us!

Mary