Don't feel blue... I've got some happy news!

Feeling "blue?"

Here's some happy news for your Monday... 

 The annual Mid-Summer's Clearance Sale (for local, in-store customers only) begins this Friday August 3rd and runs through Sunday August 5th.  

The online version of the Sale (for our online customers only) begins next week and runs Friday August 10 and runs through Sunday, August 12th.

 How will the 2 Mid-Summer's Clearance Sales work this year? We're keeping things easy: 20% off pretty much everything (sale doesn't include clearance items, food, long-arm quilting services, and you may not redeem gift certificates during the sale... you know the drill!).  We've never done our Midsummer's Clearance Sale this way, and we've never had a 3-day 20% off sale before, so I can't wait to see how this goes...

 Denyse Schmidt is coming to visit in just a couple of weeks!  There are literally a couple of spaces left in her classes, but even if you aren't taking a class, you can hobnob with Denyse at the SEAM meeting on Saturday, August 18th.  We'll be doing a book-signing, meet and greet, and a fabric launch party for her new line, Chicopee!

 We are back from our annual pilgrimage to the Augusta Civic Center for Maine Quilts.  The shop is a huge mess.  Hopefully we get it all put back together in time for everyone to mess it up again at the sale (nothing says a successful sale like a messy shop!).

And if, despite all this happy news, you are STILL feeling "blue" it's probably because...

 Ollie and I went for an ultrasound on Wednesday.  All is well with the baby, I am 5+ months along and we are having a BOY!  I see more Quick Change Trousers in my future!

XO,

Rhea

Cherry Christmas by Aneela Hoey is here!

    

I don't normally get too jazzed for Christmas prints, but I was giddy as a school girl waiting for the new collection from Aneela Hoey to arrive.

The irony was that when they finally did arrive, Shawna and I were so busy in the shop it was two whole days before we actually busted into the boxes and prepped the new fabrics for sale.

That's 48 whole hours of being taunted by the fabulous yardage we knew was right there amongst that cardboard, just a box-cutter away.

But no, we were (quote/unquote) "good" and we waited until our (quote/unquote) "chores" were done before tearing into the boxes.

I love them even more in person. 

You can find all the Cherry Christmas yardage on our website right here.

Guess the Lil' Flip Flop (nickname for the baby) has one more pair of quick change trousers in the smallest size coming his/her way.

Now I just have to decide which prints to use together, but I am up to that task!

XO,

Rhea

Fabric giveaway on Stumbles and Stitches

We're giving away a brand new bundle of Christmas fabrics on Jenny and Angels "Stumbles & Stitches" blog.

You have until Sunday to enter the giveaway, but if you just can't wait that long we have listed the bundles in the shop here.

 

I named this bundle of kitschy Christmas fat quarters after my step-grandmother, Ardeth.

She was a hot ticket and had an amazing collection of vintage 50's and 60's ornaments... the kind I trample people to get to these days.

And Ardeth was an amazing quilter.

So, Ardeth, wherever  you are... this fat quarter bundle is in your honor!

Thank you very much, Jenny and Angel for inviting us over to your blog and for hosting another great year of Christmas in July.

XO,

Rhea

"The Birds and the Bees" make a "Cameo" appearance at Alewives Fabrics!

Two new collections have arrived at Alewives Fabrics this past week:  

"The Birds and the Bees" by Miss Tula Pink and also Amy Butler's newest collection, called "Cameo."

I was pleasantly surprised as I arranged the bolts on the shelf to find that they play quite nicely together!

What do you think?

Lots of mix-y/match-y potential, yes?

You can view them in all their glory on our "new fabrics" page.

Enjoy!

XO,

Rhea

PS

Did you see that some of these fabrics are available as voiles and laminates, too?!?

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July!  

Ollie, Reuben and I are off to Sprucehead with some friends for the next couple of days...

The shop will be closed on Wednesday.

Stay safe and have a wonderful holiday!

XO,

Rhea

Nani Iro 2012

When we first started carrying Japanese designer Naomi Ito's "Nani Iro" line here at Alewives, I knew I was absolutely smitten, but I didn't know how our customers would feel about the price.

My business associate (Mom) and I decided it was best to tread lightly:  we bought 4 or 5 bolts.

They sold out lickety-split and though we were able to re-order many of the fabrics, it took a minimum of 2 months for our reorders to arrive (still does, matter of fact).

 

 

Turns out or customers didn't mind the price of the Nani Iro's at all; but the wait for the Nani Iro's?

Now that they minded!

So, the next time we ordered we upped the ante.

We ordered a dozen new bolts.

(I bet you can guess where I am going with this...)

 

 

Nani Iro fabrics continue to be one of our best sellers, and when we saw the depth and breadth of the 2012 collection, we threw all thoughts of a (quote/unquote) "budget" out the window and ordered with abandon.

 Looking at these images of the 2012 collection, I'm sure you can see why.

 You can find all of the Nani Iro fabrics we have in stock on our Nani Iro page, right here.

What do you think, did we buy enough?

XO,

Rhea

PS...

Some of the 2012 fabrics have already sold out.

BUT...

the gorgeous brushed cottons that Amanda blogged about are back in stock and we have quite a bit to go around.

(We're learning to order enough of these things, and learning that sometimes, you just have to be patient and hurry up and wait!)