Itchin' to get stitchin'

Hey- hi! Remember how I said I'd be back with photos? Here I am! With photos! Yay!

Ever since my friend Carmen showed me her Amy Butler Birdie Sling bag, I've been wanting to make one. really badly. Carmen's version is so cool- with a patchwork bag body and black velvet straps. I've been wandering around the shop for weeks coming up with different versions of my Birdie Sling. Here's what I think I've settled on (for today anyway):

This one will be for the shop, so I want to make another one that I can use Right Away (rather than borrowing it from the shop when I want to use it)! Kinda dorky to make 2 bags, but, a girl has needs. This girl needs a Birdie Sling in gray and metallic Lecien fabric to show off this spring!

Next up is my current favorite shop display. It's bright! fresh! fun! And it has Wee Wonderful's Big Footed Bunny and Space Man, and Melly N' Me's Binkie and Magoo Monkey, all sittin' on the top shelf. I'm pretty sure they party it up after the shop is closed and dark. That monkey looks like Trouble.

And, last, but most certainly not least- it's our longarm! Mom and I both wish we could have it painted bright yellow. That would be rockin'.

That's a table runner I'm finishing up tomorrow.

And that's it for today, kids! We're off to see Slumdog Millionaire. I'm excited, as we don't really get foreign movies at the theatres here in our rural area very often. And I'm gettin' popcorn. for sure.

Huh?

Have I really not updated this blog since December? Oh my- I'm so sorry. I really truly have been thinking about it alot- gotta update! gotta update! Here's what happens though kids... I sit down to write something, and I sit there and sit there, and I write a couple sentences, and then I go back and edit, and edit some more, until I've been sitting there for ages and have only produced one teensy little boring sentence! I've decided to Get Over It. So here we are. I'll try not to be too boring, or too whatever...

So today, I want to tell you some Big News. It's kinda under wraps (but not really)- we got a long arm here at the shop! It's an APQS Millennium! I love the idea of finishing a quilt top and being able to quilt it right away and get it hung up in the shop- all like... voila! a new sample! But, oh my. There is a learning curve. This is one big machine. I'm not very good at it yet. I really give a huge shout out to my long arm quilting friends who've rocked our quilts over the last 3 1/2 years. Seriously girls- Kay (Kay Capps-Cross of Spring Grove, MN), Bobbi (Hugs and Stitches Quilting in West Salem, WI) and Carol (Carol Copsey of LaCrosse, ,WI)- you are amazing! You've always made our quilts look fantastic, and I knew talent and skill went into it, but NOW, I really know what you do! I hope I can be a teensy bit as good as you are someday!

I'll post pictures of the long arm soon. In the meantime, hugs to you my friends!!! Now, go sew something. Or something!

Sue Spargo Workshop

We were excited to welcome Sue Spargo back for her third workshop at Yellow Bird Art, in October. We had a wonderful time making Sue's new Barrel Bag (the pattern isn't out yet, but look for it in the next month or two). The classroom was full of laughter and learning.

Deb and her Barrel Bag in progress.

Student work.
Carissa's bag.

The classroom.

Sue with her trunkshow.

Sue will be back next year, October 3 & 4. We'll be doing her Altered Textile Workshop. Students will applique some of the block ahead of time and then Sue will work with us to embellish with layers and teach about the use of ribbons, fabrics, velvets and wools to make each piece completely unique. The workshop is sure to be a great time and it's filling fast!

Quilts! Quilts! and MORE Quilts!

OH my goodness... do we ever have a ton of quilts! With 3+ years of making shop samples under our belts, we've accumulated quite a collection of quilts! Too many, in fact! That's why we're having a silent quilt auction this Sunday, 12/14/08. Bidding begins at 1pm and ends at 3pm. If you're interested in placing a bid on any of the quilts or quilt tops in the photos, give us a call at 563-538-4350 and describe the quilt (or quilts) you're interested in- we'll give you more information and let you know what the minimum bid is. We're also having a fun holiday open house at the same time- you just can't beat holiday cookies and hot cider on a cold day.

The Mary Engelbreit top, Friends are Flowers in the Garden of Life, is a top only- that means it still needs batting, backing, quilting and binding.

The black/red/cream christmas quilt is a top.

The red and blue quilt is a top.

This purple/lavender oriental print quilt is really gorgeous- I'll be sad to see it go bye-bye.

This quilt, Super Stars, is quilted McTavish style in the cream background. Oh man, is it ever cool.

This one is a top.

Another top.

Oh, Desert Stars- you are so pretty.

Coming up in the next post- 2008 Sue Spargo workshop pictures!

We love spring! And art quilts too!

We're back! Sorry about the long blog absence, dearies! We had the best of intentions for updating the blog more often, but, well... you know how that goes, right? May has been a time of reconnection in many areas as we say hello again to old friends: the sweet old rose outside my door that was saved from a friend's about-to-be-demolished-yard last summer is starting to come back with an abundance of burgundy leaves; the dear customer who's come back to town to enjoy another wonderful summer on the river; finding new life for old pattern favorites with gorgeous new fabrics. Stop in sometime and say hello!

This spring we were excited to display a selection of art quilts by our very talented friend, Carissa Brudos. Carissa finds time to create wonderful, textural art quilts, while working full time as an elementary school art teacher. Here are some of our favorites:



Carissa begins each piece with an original acrylic painting on canvas. She then cuts around the painted image and collages it onto the cotton background. The backgrounds are often layered with various fabrics and the entire piece is then heavily stitched.

She very generously suprised us with a gift of a Yellow Bird piece. It is SO gorgeous, and makes us happy every time we see it hanging in the shop!

Isn't she amazing? Thanks Carissa!

Cuteness We Can't Resist

We're all ga-ga over the new Kokka children's print fabrics. They're 100% cotton upholstery weight fabric and they are seriously too cute. Take a look at this little girl bear... she is so sweet.


And this gingham with little bears picnicking? Adorable!

This one is part of a line called Carmel Town, and it's so funny. The text says things like "A burning hot fried eggs is especially delicious".

We can't wait to make up a little childrens outfit or diaper bag with these. Doncha need some too? We'll have all these Kokka fabrics availabe for sale on our website SOON!

New fabrics... YUM!

We have amazing new japanese fabrics from Kokka in the shop. Amy can't keep her hands off them! We think she's in love.

Here's a sampling of the luciousness...
In the upper left corner is an upholstery weight cotton, then there's a lovely gauzy cotton print by designer Junko Onishi. The blue is linen and it's a gorgous panel by Nani Iro- it would make a great skirt or curtains. And then a cotton sateen print with a lush finish. Oh my!

Here's a close up of another upholstery weight cotton by Junko Onishi. There's a beautiful scattering of silver metallic on the red flower petals. It's delicious. really.

Amy whipped up Cindy Taylor Oates Slouchy Bag pattern in a fun upholstery weight Echino animal print.

In our next post we'll show you some of the Kokka children's novelty print fabrics.

Have a wonderful day!

WOW! We are thrilled with the results of our first ever Quilt Challenge Contest! Last fall we issued a Bird themed challenge to our customers with the goal of helping you to stretch creatively. Each participant was required to purchase a pack of 5 fabrics and had to use some of each fabric in a quilt of their own design. We sold around 40 fabric packs and received 9 completed entries.

Now, let me assure you that the photos don't do the quilts justice. It's been a joy having the quilts hang in the shop for the last month and 1/2.

Without further ado... here are the entries and winners:

"Oriental Beaded Bird" by Mary Borreson of Sparta, WI. Mary won the $150 Viewer's Choice Award.

"Tweet Retreat" by Robin Watson of LaCrosse, WI. Robin won the $150 Bird's Choice Award.

"Three Brown Birds" by Beth Landas of Decorah, IA. Beth won a $75 Viewer's Choice Award.

"Golden Paradise" by Elizabeth McMullen of Richland Center, WI. Elizabeth won a $75 Viewer's Choice Award.

"Feathers, Fowl and Friendships" by Joyce Davis of Desoto, WI.

"Hoot" by Juanita Johnson of Sherman, TX.

"Peggy Rummel" by Robin Harmon of New Albin, IA.

"Tip of the Rooster Tail for the Big Birthday Year" by Marcia Washuta of Boscobel, WI.

"Korean Chickens" by Marilyn Zezulka of New Albin, IA.

Thank you to all of our Challenge participants!

Shop dogs!

We thought you might like to know a little about some additional staff members here at Yellow Bird, Tillie and Diego.

This is Tillie (aka The Little Princess), on Amy's lap. Check out those ears! She loves pina coladas, getting caught in the rain... oops! I mean, food, naps, toys, children and walks. Many of you have been welcomed to Yellow Bird by Tillie- she takes her job as Greeter very seriously (unless is she otherwise occupied by one of her other loves as listed above).

And this is Diego (aka The Beast). He is, without a doubt, one of the cutest dogs we've ever met, and one of the naughiest as well. He doesn't mean to be naughty really, he just gets bored, and well... he can keep himself busy if left to his own devices, but we're usually not pleased with the results. He doesn't have an official job title yet... we're working on crafting one to fit his particular energetic, high energy personality.

They both love treats, and we have a box of milkbones in the classroom. Let us know if you'd like to make a new friend next time you're in!

The Learning Curve

Well, if you read the previous post, you've no doubt formed the opinion that we don't have a clue what on earth we're doing. Well, it's not quite that bad, but we do tend to muck things up a bit as we learn..... Sound like anyone else you know? We've been on a bit of a handbag trip lately - thought you might enjoy seeing one of our new finds. Amy went to quilt market last summer, and found this delightful company called Goody, Goody. They make the most exquisite hand bags! The bags are made of silk with reinforced nylon bottoms and handles. All the bags feature hand crafted silk flowers, and they will just make you melt!

We do have a number of these bags in stock in different styles and colors, so give the shop a jingle if you're interested in giving one of these beauties a new home! You'll find our contact information on our web site http://www.yellowbirdart.com/

On the sew-it-yourself front, our newest love of a bag is Amy Butler's Frenchie Bag. We made up our shop sample in some of Kaffe Fassett's newest fabrics - always a shop favorite! The pattern is easy enough for even beginning beginners - if you can read and sew a relatively consistent seam, you'll be able to master this pattern. You'll find, of course, that you will become addicted to the ease of construction for this pattern, and will be making handbags to match this or that outfit, and naturally one for each of the girlfriends! Again, contact the shop, and we can get a bag kitted up and out in the post for you!

And a lovely new year.....

Well, if you've found our blog and been wondering just what is going on since there hasn't been a post in a month.... All we can say is that time has been not flying, but zooming by. We promise to do better!

That's a photo of the birds at Yellow Bird Art... from left to right: my mom, Angela- in the store visiting- and her dog, Tillie, Barb, Sue, Sandy our assistant manager, and me. Bolts of new Kaffe Fassett fabrics have been arriving in what seems to be a steady stream. Our UPS delivery man, Kim, is beginning to think about taking up quilting, he's here so often!

One of our biggest projects as of late has been working on getting fabrics onto our web site, http://www.yellowbirdart.com/ for purchase. We'll have new Kaffe fabrics, new patterns & kits and some really unique gift items. We have stacks and stacks of more new fabrics to scan and send off for up-loading, so be sure to visit our web site often.