Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Free Pattern Day!




Hello Ladies and Gents,

Hope you had a wicked good Labor Day.

Myself, I had the "quintissential" Labor Day in Maine experience: meaning lobsters with the family, a visit to the ocean, a visit to the lake and GORGEOUS weather. The store was open, too, and I had a lovely weekend as far as that goes. I am so (I repeat: SO) happy that August is over. Now is my favorite time of year, from September straight on through until Christmas. I literally feel 10 pounds lighter.

In fact, I am in such a good mood as of two days ago that I have a present for you all...

How about a FREE vinyl grocery tote pattern? Would you like that?

My New Year's Resolution was to use fewer plastic bags, and now that it's September I thought I should get right on that. We had this iron-on vinyl at the store that kept calling to me. I thought, geez, I should really DO something with that, and one night at sewing lounge I started messing around and the vinyl grocery tote was born. I wrote up the pattern, took a few pictures, and voila! Instant free pattern for you.

Now, I CANNOT STAND the expression "Go Green," so I'll refrain from using it here. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the environment and the idea behind the expression, I just think the expression itself is probably the most over-used saying of the last few years. If I hear someone say "Go Green!" one more time... but I digress. I need hardly point out that a vinyl grocery tote is an EXCELLENT way to use fewer plastic bags in STYLE. All you need are two coordinating fabrics, 2 1/2 yards of twill tape for the handles and 2 1/2 yards of iron-on vinyl, ALL of which we carry at the store.

Iron-on vinyl is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. We carry some Moda fabric at the store that already has the vinyl adhered to it and it always sells out really fast, so it's totally neat to be able to "vinyl-ize" ANY fabric you want. I made the example totes out of Heather Bailey's new "Pop Garden" fabrics.

To get your free pattern just drop by the store. And don't feel like you have to limit their use to JUST grocery toting. They would also make great diaper bags, toy bags, book totes, beach bags, fabric bags (wink, wink...) Puh-lenty of uses. I'm going to make up a smaller verison in Halloween fabrics for a Trick-or-Treat bag, too. And there are big plans to give these away for Christmas presents.

Also, there is a HUGE choice to make concerning these bags: A decision of such monumental proportions that it could alter the course of your life forever, so for Heaven's sake choose wisely. You must choose between "Matte" vinyl and "Glossy" vinyl.

I think there is great potential for a personality analysis based on whether people choose matte or glossy. For me, it depends on the fabric I'm using and the mood I'm in, but I mostly prefer the matte (This is definitely consistent with my no-nonsense, managerial personality). But Rina, she HAD to have the glossy (being French, she likes every little bit of bling-bling that she can get her hands on). So far, the matte and glossy vinyl have been neck and neck in terms of popularity. Just when I think one is going to edge the other out, there is a come-back. It is forever cracking me up.

What more could you possibly want in a fabric store? Gorgeous fabrics, free pattern AND personality analysis to boot...

So, come on in and get analyzed and I'll see you there.

Happy September!

XOXO

Rhea

6 comments:

Kathy from Southern NH said...

You should make up a kit... we pay for postage and material and you throw in the pattern for those of us who can't make it up to Maine!

By the way I've started the rugs from the books I bought this summer. I love it! Keep up the great blog!

Debi said...

What a great bag, I love the fabrics. I would love to come up to Maine, but it would be a long drive from Texas! I am inviting you to participate in a Fall into Fall Quilters Blog giveaway that I am hosting. Come on over and check it out.

Philigry said...

your bags are beautiful! love them.
this is my favorite time of year too!
i will have to try the binding by hand. I am a terrible hand stitcher, but I will try it because i love the way the binding looks on a quilt. Perhaps some time away before i start my next one!
Don't you just love the weather we are having?

Rhea Butler said...

Today is particularly amazing!
I even busted out my crock pot and made some veggie soup to freeze and have this winter.

By the way, a knitting gal like you should have nooo problem picking up the knack of hand binding.

mel said...

I found your site through Bluebird Baby and love it. I have just begun taking sewing classes and hope that by the time I have my own little one in February I'll be able to make some things at least for Baby.

Does your store have an online shopping site? If so, do you think you'll put up the pattern for this bag there for those of us in love with Maine, but not living in Maine?

Thanks for the blog!

Rhea Butler said...

Hi Mel!

We are currently constructing an online store that is going to be AMAZING and when that happens I'm pretty sure we will have the Free Pattern up as a pdf download. I could probably figure out some way to do it here, but I am not a very computer-y kind of gal. Thanks so much for your kind words and congratulations on your first little one!