Something to say...

There's been a lot of negativity in the world of craft blogs lately.

After many failed attempts at blog posts addressing the sources of negativity I've settled with this:

My mom has an expression that if you look for the bad in people, you will find it.

As much as I hate it when she has directed this expression my way, I have to admit that I think it is good advice.

In light of these last few days and recent events around the world, perhaps before we speak out and look for the bad in people, we can all remember (because I am guilty of this, too) that there are enough bad things out there that we can't control.

So I won't point fingers, but instead will point out that:

Sewing is a hobby and it's supposed to be fun (peaceful and meditative, even).

(Carry on).

XO,

Rhea

Getting ready for the show and the SALE!!!

Busy bees at Alewives Fabrics, I tell you, busy bees...

Just a quickie to let you know that we're all busy here at the shop getting ready for Maine Quilts and cutting, cutting, cutting, prepping, prepping, prepping and all that jazz.

It's the one show we do each year and it takes a lot of prep work from our small little staff of five and kicks off a very busy month of August for us.

We're like worker bees in a fabric-store hive doing our busy bee dance and wiggling our little bee-hinds.

It's fun, I like it ;-)

And if we're getting ready for the Quilt Show, that means we are also getting ready for our annual Midsummer's Clearance Sale!

This year, the sale will start on Thursday, August 4th and end on Sunday, August 7th.

All fabrics in the classroom will be $3 per half yard (must be purchased in half yard increments, i.e., half yard, whole yard, one and a half yards, etc.) and there will also be various kits and patterns and books and notions on sale in the classroom, too.

This year we are also putting some of our samples up for sale: it will be a great time to score a deal on a Christmas gift of two...

And we cannot leave out our internet customers and get away with it, can we?

(No, no, no...)

I'm so excited to hold our very first "Online Midsummer's Clearance Sale" from Thursday, August 11th through Sunday, August 15th.

Our online customers will get their very own selection of sale fabrics, kits, patterns and more.

A phenomenal selection, if I do say so, myself... the locals will be jealous and they're gonna give me a hard time, mark my words!

Details on the online sale to follow when we have ironed out the wrinkles.























In other news and in all seriousness, I am so sad about Amy Winehouse's death.

I cannot believe it and I don't know what else to say.

I'm just so, so sad and I think the world is going to miss out on the music she would have made.

I will miss hearing her beautiful, soulful voice.

She was very talented.

Take care of yourselves and each other, wherever you are.

If you want someone to commiserate with, I'm your gal.

XO,

Rhea

Sarah Jane Sudios Children at Play

We've been anxiously waiting for this line to arrive at the shop, and it is finally, finally here and up in the shop!

Say hello to "Children at Play" by Sarah Jane Studios:



































































Look for fat quarter bundles and other assorted goodies very soon!

XO,

Rhea

Craft Swap photos

Here they are...

We didn't take too. too many pictures this time because we had a hard time locating batteries for the camera and there's of course no picture of the linen bunting that I made for the Craft Swap, but I will get a picture of it up here one of these days: it went home with my little sister!

Enjoy!

XO,

Rhea

Echo by Lotta Jansdotter

I knew I had a serious textile addiction when a few years ago, despite having an entire fabric store at my disposal, I broke down after a whole five minutes of inner turmoil and bought a bag of scraps from Lotta's studio, and when they arrived proceeded to clutch them to my chest like Gollum hoarding the one ring to rule them all...

The good news is that Lotta Jansdotter has teamed up with Windham Fabrics to make her amazing designs accessible to the masses in the form of 20 delicious quilting weight cottons.

Alewives Fabrics will, of course, be carrying the entire collection.

The bad news is the release date is not until November 1st.

So sorry, my little chick peas, but good things come to those who wait (or so they tell me...).

XO,

Rhea

Quite the coup...

So, I am exhausted on this Friday afternoon, but very pleased with all the new things that have been arriving at the shop lately.

First of all, I am in love with the new hand-screened fabrics from Umbrella Prints (my friends Amy and Carly in Australia design and print these fabrics all on their own). I showed you their quilting weight prints in my last post, but since then the hand-screens have arrived.























My heart will always belong to hand-screened prints. In another life I did a brief stint as a graphic designer, and these days most designing is all computer, computer, computer, but a couple of years in a row I hand-screened my own Christmas cards and I loved every minute of it.

There is something deeply, deeply personal about hand-screening and I think that shows in these fabrics of Amy and Carly's. They are really something special and I am so proud to be carrying them.
























And the second squeal-inducing goodie to arrive at the shop this week came in just this afternoon in a benign enough looking box that I neglected to open for a few hours.

When I finally did open up the box I was (pleasantly) shocked to see our order of Anna Maria Horner Needleworks pearl cottons and embroidery floss had arrived.

Apparently, there was a bit of a flub-dub at Westminster because I had been told we wouldn't get these in until September, but, hey, I ain't complainin'!























And so they are out in the shop and up on the site and for sale, my friends, but I bet they will sell out very, very, quickly.

Enjoy all these new goodies and please do take a moment to check out everything in the new fabrics section, because a LOT of stuff has been arriving lately.

(Keeps us on our toes...)
























In other news, I am excited for tomorrow night: I have a date with my sister to make our projects for the Craft Swap coming up on Friday night!

I hope you have a great weekend, too!

XO,

Rhea

Better late than never...

Did you notice that we finally have a section for new fabrics on the website?

If you are one of the customers who suggested we do this, thank you, thank you, thank you!

(It was a really good idea).








































There is some jaw-some stuff in there these days.

Have a look-see!

XO,

Rhea

Happy Fourth

Hey all,























Would you go off with me on the Fourth?

I'd go off with you on the Fourth...*blush*

Ollie and Reuben and I are headed to Sprucehead for some much needed R&R.

Lobsters and fireworks and the beach and the Fourth.

I tell you I cannot wait.

I'll be back on Tuesday...

Whatever and wherever you are, enjoy the weekend and stay safe!

XO,

Rhea