Sally's Fabric in Mesa Arizona is closing

Another sewing center is coming to an end. So many of our stores have closed now. Sewing is a dieing art slowing the wheel of do it yourself. Once that wheel stops it will become an elite hobby. One that will be afforded by those with high end budgets.
If you live in the area you might just think to add some staples to your supplies.

batting
zipper
thread
needles
netting for dish scrubbers
transfer paper
pins
It is like a sale for your pantry. Just call it being supplied. Now there may not be a lot of competition for the hard times are upon so many.

1235 East Main Street (Main & Stapley)

Mesa, AZ 85203

480-833-7201

After over 40 years in business Sally's Fabrics is being forced to close its doors.  It is definitely not what we wanted, as we love all our customers and have enjoyed working with all of you, but we have no other options.  As a result of this close we will be putting the entire store on sale.   The official close of business will be December 3rd. We thank all of our employees and customers for their support over the years and are very sad to see the store go.

Beginning October 31, 2011 the ENTIRE store will be on sale (excluding machines) for 25%

We will be closing at 5pm on 10/31

As of that date all VIP accumulations will cease.

No Gift cards will be issued.

There will be no holds on any fabric at all.

We will continue to service machines up to the last week of November.  Any machines not picked up by December 3rd will be donated unless there has been arrangements made to pick them up the week of Dec. 5-9.  After that the doors will be locked and the building vacant. 

We will make every effort to contact as many people as we can to insure that this does not happen. 

Kaye will continue to take business and service machines. 

If you would like to continue business with her please send an email to info@sallysfabrics.com.

I will forward your info to Kaye for her database.

If you have any concerns about your Pfaff machines that you have purchased from us please understand that Pfaff continues to provide warranties through the nearest Pfaff dealer.  After we are closed your Pfaff Dealer for this territory would be Mulqueen's.

As for education information on machines our instructor Carol will be continuing to teach one on one and she will be taking over our Adults You Can Make It classes.  If you need her contact info please send an email to info@sallysfabrics.com.

If you are interested in Quilting by Lisa you may email her at lisaslongarm@yahoo.com

For comments, concerns and questions you may continue to email us at info@sallysfabrics.com.  We will try to address any of your issues as quickly and accurately as possible. 

Thank you again for your long standing support of Sally's Fabrics.  It has been a wonderful adventur

Creating for charity

We often discount our talent as artist. Recently I had an invitation to attend an event for the Immune Deficiency Foundation. They are holding a silent auction asked for donations. The colors of the organization are white black and green. Yesterday I spent most of the day search the bead on hand for just the right green.

 Under the bead boards is the top that I will ware for the main event, Zebra is the theme.
the motto...
When you hear hoof beats think Zebra
Often Doctors only think horses and when the process they use lends no results nothing else is done. IDF is trying to teach the medical profession to think outside the box. Many times those of us who have Immune disorders go undiagnosed because we are blown off when the doctors do not think outside the box.

The one on the right is a keeper for me. the others are to use in the auction. The findings are yet to set out.


Laying out the beads and working your design is a must. Setting everything out before you begin to string makes good practice.
Enjoy your gifts and remember that your talent can be a real resource. Often if we do not sell we discount doing art. Well there is a vestment as rich as the dollar in giving in support of a good cause.

Blankets for preemies
bags for soldgers
quilts for the child centers
Lap quilts for the elders
jewelry for fund raisers, teachers gift and such
Earrings for a friend just to cheer them up.

Happy crafting!

Sewing up a few things...

 

 Several weeks ago my daughter asked specifically for this dress to be created. She loved the dress she saw it in a cartoon and loved it.

 Large skirt or slack hook and eyes are on the choker and the cuffs.

 
 Also started were two dresses for myself. The pattern on the left is just below. A scrap with the custom necklace.  Below is the other dress (pattern) on the right. both dresses are fully lined, shier fabrics with slip fabric underneath as the lining.

 

 This looks so much better on. The Zipper is done in an invisible zipper technique. Hook and eye. Not perfect but acceptable to me.

Lining is sewn to side seams in skirts. 

Hand hemmed with delicate single thread picked up on each pick up.

 All of the back of my sons old quilt was removed to replace the backing.

 The ironing board cover was replaced.

Black and White Photography

click to enlarge any image

In our master suite we have a very ethnic Native American 1800's theme. My anniversary wedding dress is on the wall and the beautiful doll I was gifted with on my dresser.

 It has been a dream to accomplish black and whites for the master bath. This was no easy task for my photo software would not allow me to print back and white. I had to locate the image in the files and then print to color and then use the canon to copy to image to black and white sizing it to frame.
The images above the tub are to the left my sons story to the right my daughters. The talking stick above my family in an image of listening to one another. Speaking and being heard.

 First sight in Russia, father and daughter, mother an daughter. Dedication to Christ Jesus as the head, two year old joy where others hated the 'two's'. Rock-a-roo the favorite toy. The delight and tenderness of training my child in ways of thought and purpose. The corner "o.k. fine", not a defiant but just the matter of fact dealing with the feeling of consequence. The dear old love/hate "in the corner" time.

 As well as our son and father first sight, son and mother first sight in Russia. Dedication as for her, wonderful two's. "Rock-a-roo momma rock-a-roo" the nap time refusal. So dear to my heart and memory. The corner "but mom..."

 Then and now. The speed of lightening flashed through enumerated days.

 It all began when two people fell in love and decided after 16 years to share that love.

Above first sight sister met brother at the airport. Sister is three and new baby brother is 10 months. Daddy at the track with the little ones.

Our master suite is the story...Our Story. All my memories seem to fade to black and white. The moments are rich in tones hues of vibrant golden love encompassed brighter than any color. Best left images to black and white that it be the richness of our hearts and spirit of each moment shown.

Winding Embroidery Thread

 

Click on any image to enlarge.

 Last week all the old projects came out to play.

Sorting through them and getting them set to stitch should I get my knee replacement this summer.

It is good to get them available at any rate. A great way to pass the time at the allergist when we go to get our weekly shots

The old towel was my Mothers. It is my hope to restore it.

 My Sweet MILove drew out the crewel work years ago. One day this will also get created.

 The last of the thread needed to get spun onto cards. Now this is the cool part. Years ago my husband saw me doing this by hand. He vanished for a while only to return with a wonderful invention. This was some 15+ years ago. Lable each card with the maker and number, color. Then have at it. Sort by number.

 This is his creation. It has ball bearings.

Winding Embroidery Thread

How to make a cover for CPAP Machine

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious health issue. With so many folks now using CPAP machines to protect their hearts many face unforeseen problems.

The Benefits of Heated Humidification and CPAP are many but a problem occurs with condensation.

Condensation is a real issue with my CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. When the room temperature is cooler than the air flowing in the tube condensation occurs.

 Most knits come in a yardage that is a tube with two edges on the fold. Using the both folds of 3 1/2 yards the casing was cut. Now you can make several sections, I made two. Making more that one long section is my suggestion. they will be much easier to turn out.

 Three inches wide was the cut.

 Simply baste stitch the length. No need to make a fine or small width stitch. This snuggy will need little strength given it's purpose.

 Yet the setting is for fine knit stitch one the ends once turned.

Make the turn much deeper than needed so it is easier to grip.

Sew and turn.

 Clip

The knit stitch will give it the stretch you will need to removed it for laundry once in a while

 By making it a very long sections of tubing it will gather. 

This will create a much more insulated effect.

Mine is made to match my bedroom decor.

I found the ones on the market  do not match my room.

They are not made very well at all, and are shorter than this, thus not as much of an insulator.

If you would like to special order one leave me a comment.

Pay Pal excepted. Medical equipment

Steelers, pontiacs and fire. A quilt for my boy

 One all the squares were cut and the strips laid out one the cutting table the process was in full swing.

 Now the last Pontiac was made at the end of last year. They one day will be collected, as even now many of the large engine ones are prized with drivers.

 A hot iron is a MUST

 Make sure to press all seams in same direction. This is so important for the finished top. By starting out with a mat and rotary cutter the job is well done. I used a 7 inch quilt square rule. The finished block will be 6 inches once the seams are taken into account.

 Now my boy loves the Steelers. Searching I found the backing for the quilt. We watched the Supper Bowl and although his team lost he still loves them. The other team just played a much better game. This coming from a 9 year old. The fabrics must all be washed before any cutting.

 By using the large clips and clamps the quilt can be rolled up to begin the quilting. Now I do not profess to be a skilled and perfected artist of quilts. My son needed a new quilt. His birthday is in the beginning of March.

 Sitting with a child ill with the flu the blocks were quilted together with a running stitch. Now I used button thread. I had to use pliers every three stitches all the way through the project. My hands were not strong enough to pull the threads. Skilled quilters would roll over in their hoops! This is for a BOY! My son is so hard on things. This was also what I had. Using what you have on hand is a good thing. It may lack a bit of perfection but it to me is a wise use of resources. The last of the black blocks done the binding began

 Now the binding also was something I had. It was discovered at a garage sale of a sewing store that had closed its doors. $.10 cents a package. I have just about every color and several of them. The quilt took three of them.

 By stitching the binding to the front I was able to fudge the places where the backing came just a bit narrow.

 Stitch just right on the fold line. Then turn and press flat open. Then turn over the edge. Now see this is not a Perfect job gals. My boy has a blanket.

 Then fold and hand stitch the back binding so as to have a nice finished edge that does not show on the front of the quilt.

I began the binding on the back early in the evening and got around 5/8 of it done by midnight.

My son sat and watched me do it. He was so appreciative. He said that he wants to learn how to sew.

I have always wished my daughter would show interest who knew that it would be my son who wants to learn.

Just a simple whip stitch

Tip here

allways use the thread as it comes off of the spool

It has a warp and if you do otherwise your thread will tangle.