May I Have Your Attention, Please!!!

This is a call to all Gals crafty:

It is my pleasure to announce that

Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 6:00pm

Alewives Fabrics will be hosting it's first annual

Craft Swap!!!

What's a Craft Swap?

A Craft Swap is exactly like a Yankee Swap.

Except it's different.

In a Yankee Swap, you exchange Christmas presents.

In a Craft Swap, you exchange crafts.

And I'm not talking just any ol' thing that you've slapped together, either.

I'm talking about your BEST CHEESE.

And your Crafts for said Craft Swap needn't even be of the "fabric" variety.

Know how to knit?

I would KILL for a pair of gorgeous socks.

Is it possible that you paint?

I would trample my own Mother for a one of a kind work of art.

Is your beadwork blossoming?

I would wear lycra if it meant I could have a gorgeous bracelet.

No matter what your poison, this is a chance for you to show off your talent...

And go home with something fabulous and new.

Who doesn't like all things fabulous and new?

(I DO!!!)

So, get creative, Ladies!

Unleash your inner Martha...

Really think outside of the box and out-do yourselves!

Why?

Because we live in Maine and it's the middle of the Winter.

That's why!!!

Remember, the Craft Swap is FREE

But you need to call and sign up so that we know what we are dealing with.

We will be exchanging crafts IN PERSON

and we are exchanging FINISHED CRAFTS, (not craft supplies).

The most important rule about Craft Swap?

You DON'T tell ANYONE what you are making.

The second most important rule about Fight Club ... I mean Craft Swap?

You DON'T tell ANYONE what you are making.

Capiche?

And if you're still confused about just exactly what a Craft Swap is...

...and what exactly I mean when I say your BEST CHEESE...

Here are some links for you to follow:

Try here,

and definitely here.

And speaking of Cheese, we will be serving Wine and Cheese at the Craft Swap, so come feeling nibbly.

Any questions?

Just call me at the store or shoot me an e-mail!

Vroom, vroom, ladies!

LET THE CRAFTING BEGIN!!!

xoxo,

Rhea

Kiss a couple hours of your life Buh-Bye...

...because you are going to spend them being Obama-con'd!!!

Make it Work!!!

(Have Fun!!!)

XOXO

Rhea

Sending Someone Off in Style

Well, for any of you out there who don't already know, our own Sue Johnson (who has worked here for the last 12 years) has retired.

This past Thursday the 15th was her last day and of course, we had to send her off in style!

If you don't know Sue, she is the one in the pictures wearing a Periwinkle shirt, looking very beatific. We held a surprise party for her in the classroom and it was quite the "shindig." There were flowers, champagne, cake and a few tears. But Sue is not completely gone from our lives: she will still be here teaching certain classes from time to time.

If you see her around town, congratulate her!







We'll miss you, Sue!!!

Just So

Just so everybody knows that Reuben was not neglected over the Holidays (LIZ!!!), here are some pictures of his Floor Pillow (and new red collar, too!).

Just so nobody thinks I slaved for hours piecing those triangles, you should know that Reuben's pillow was made of a pre-pieced Moda fabric that we carry at the store.

Just so no one accuses me of being a total work-a-holic, I am sitting home all day today in my sweats and catching up on my blog-reading (and writing) and watching lots of good HGTV and wondering if 10:12 am is too early for lunch.

Just so you know, it is REALLY cold today. Channel 6 says that there is going to be a high of 7 degrees today, but with the wind chill it's going to feel like -20 degrees below, so don't go out there!!!

Just so you don't miss it, the Oliver+S trunk show and our sale on children's fabrics and Oliver+S patterns ends on Monday. We've got some great Heather Ross prints in there, as well as the most soft and luxurious baby-wale corduroy I have ever come across.

And that's all she wrote!!!

See you again soon,

XOXO,

Rhea

The Trunk Show

Ahhh, success.

Here are some shots from the Oliver+S Trunk Show, which arrived safe and sound on Tuesday afternoon (Thanks, Erin!). I think they look like a million bucks, too, but they look even better in person. I'm jonesin' to make the Sunday Brunch Skirt and Jacket so that's next on my list.

In other news, we got a fresh coat of snow yesterday and everything looks clean and white. We've got a new Plow-Man (Ollie's friend Mike) whom I do believe was born to push snow around so come and admire his beautiful work as well (What? I get excited by these things!).

And of course, enjoy the Trunk Show pictures!!!

See you again soon,

XOXO

Rhea

P.S. The kiddies (and I!) have been having a great time cutting out the Paper Dolls and yes, that is an Amy Butler dress in with the Oliver+S clothes. I figured she was the "Mom" taking her kid out for a stroll... or something like that. Um, anyways.... yeah. Gotta go!!!

Comedy of Errors

Good Morning,

If you are looking for pictures of the Oliver+S Trunk Show I'm so sorry to announce that you're going to have to wait a little bit longer.

Want to hear the story behind the story? (It has a Happy Ending, by the way...)

This is why I think Alewives (or maybe just my life in general) would be great fodder for a Reality Show, so here goes:

Yesterday I arrive at the store bright and early to intercept the UPS guy whom I had assumed would be delivering the Oliver+S Trunk Show. Well, we all know what happens when you assume something, right? (If you don't know, I'll tell you when you're older...)

ANYhow, the UPS guy? Never came. Consequently the Oliver+S Trunk Show never came.

BUT... the story doesn't end there.

I put in a call to the Oliver+S Studios and a little while later I get a call from Miss Liesl Gibson herself (who, for the record, is SUPER nice and a pleasure to get a phone call from... even about a missing Trunk Show). She apologizes all over the place and tells me that after some investigating on her part, she has found out that the Trunk Show hasn't yet been sent from it's previous location at The Bobbin's Nest Studio. With the craziness of the Holidays the shipping of the Trunk Show was completely forgotten.

Now, THAT I can understand . I'm just climbing out from under the Holiday/Inventory/Rearranging craziness myself (and frankly, I was thrilled that the Trunk Show wasn't in " shipping purgatory" somewhere...).

The story still doesn't end there...

Miss Erin, the owner of the Bobbin's Nest Studio gives me a call and apologizes for not having sent the Trunk Show and tells me that she is overnight-ing the Trunk Show to me. Then we end up talking about the craziness of the Holidays and that leads to talking about the craziness of owning a shop in general. Well, long story short, I do believe that Miss Erin is a kindred spirit and she has made a friend for life and it sounds like we have VERY similar shops. She even keeps a Shop Blog (just like someone else I know!)

Which leads me to ask the obvious question:

Erin, where IS your shop, anyhow?

And Miss Erin tells me that the Bobbin's Nest Studio is located in Santa Clara, California.

Oh. My. Gosh.

You cannot possibly get ANY further away from Damariscotta Mills, Maine than that.

This is one well traveled Trunk Show. Coast to Coast in one day (hopefully).

So, props to you, Erin, for going above and beyond to get me that Trunk Show in a timely manner (I appreciate it sooo much!) and thank you Liesl for helping out, too and hopefully we can all meet up at Quilt Market in Pittsburgh this Spring and have a glass of wine together while we laugh about the whole thing.

In the meantime, those Trunk Show pix are on the way!

Thanks to all involved and we'll see you soon!

XOXO

Rhea

Don't you forget about me...

Just when you thought I was gone for good, like the Phoenix, I have risen from the ashes.

I should be relaxing right now after the rearrange-a-thon that we have just had over the last 4 days but the store looks so dang good I just can't help myself. I'm riding the wave of euphoria that only rearranging (successfully!) can bring.

If you are one of the people who came by while we were "closed," I'm so sorry. Please come back and see us in all our glory.

If you were one of the people who came by while we were "open," I'm so sorry. Please come back and see us in our full glory.

I'll take pictures but in the meantime guess what's happening on Monday...

That's right, it's the Oliver+S Trunk Show. You don't wanna miss this one, kids.

More later!

XOXO

Rhea