sewtakeahike

let's talk shop

I'm adding a few new items to my shop as I can,

like these folded patchwork hotpads

Here's to a Prosperous and Happy New Year!

~Penny

bag & iron

I just love linen.  And the colors gray and mustard together.

I've had the japanese magazine that has a pic of this bag in it sitting on my desk for oh, 2 months now, constantly reminding me I wanted to make this bag.  I think the linen works fabulous with the morning call and echino fabrics, don't you?

(I'm contemplating selling it though, how many bags can I actually use?  email me if you're interested....)  yeah, that didn't last long.  I'm keeping it. :)

AND!!!!

I took your advice:

and so far, so good!  I'm hoping this one won't have to sustain the injuries that my last iron had to.  I'm going to be really careful.  I'm serious.

Happy New Year to you all!

~Penny

Merry Christmas!

 

{how to} more for less fabric purchases

my most recent fabric purchase.  There's 11 yards of fabric there and I paid a whopping $46 and some change for it (which included shipping).  That comes to about $4.20/yard.  And if you're up on the price of designer fabrics, you know that much fabric plus shipping could easily cost over $100.

 

I admit it.  I'm a fabric-a-holic.  And currently my 10 step program is not working for me.   I've recently had a couple of questions about where I purchase fabrics, so today, I thought I'd share a few secrets on how *you too*, can become a fabric-a-holic and buy more fabric, for less!

Let's get started!

Some of the places I purchase the most from are the clearance sections of:

• fabric.com
• equilter
• fabricshack
• fatquartershop
• sewmamasew

Most of the time I'm pleasantly surprised at the fabric choices that are available on clearance.

And a few other tips:

• I shop a lot of etsy sellers as well. I can often find newer fabric lines here for $8 or less per yard if I'm hankering for a certain fabric and just cannot wait for a sale. 
• One of my favorite places lately is definitely fabric.com. They offer free shipping for any order over $35, which is awesome.  Oftentimes shipping can cost 10-18% of your fabric purchase!  So if someone offers free shipping, that's a significant savings.  The way I look at it then (which might be somewhat twisted), is if for instance I place an order on Monday, and then that same site that offered free shipping comes out with some fab sale on Tuesday, I don't have to feel guilty that I ordered on Monday, I'll just place another order (is that bad?).
• Before I place an order on any site, I always do google searches for "coupon code for (insert fabric shop name here)". That's how I got that stack of fabric in the photo for $4.20/yard. They were already on clearance, I found a coupon code for 30% off my order, and there was free shipping.
• And one more thing, sign up for the newsletters from the fabric sites you visit. Often times there are "secret" sale codes they offer only in their newsletters.

Now that I've offered up some of my secret tips, tell me, what are yours?  Please do share, I'd love to hear!

~Penny

my one and only

for the last 7 or 8 years.  But now it's not heating up like it used to and has developed a leaky problem.  I don't know that it's the iron's fault though, really.  It's been dropped a number of times and put back together. 

My question is, what iron do you use?  Do you like it?  What are it's advantages or disadvantages in your opinion? 

Inquiring minds need to know........ irons are important in my little world!