by Sherri Sylvester | Jun 10, 2014
Today I get to introduce you to the ninth Canadian Online Fabric Store in our series – Country Clothesline! I found Sylvia’s shop at the Toronto Creativ Festival this spring and I’m really excited that she agreed to be featured here. Sylvia is even giving away some country fabric goodness (scroll down for the giveaway if you can’t wait!).
When my friends and I spotted Sylvia’s booth at the show we immediately went over to check it out. I have not seen a store online as yet with her style of selection. She has fine-tuned country goodness using vintage and modern florals down to perfection! If you love the new trendy florals or are always collecting vintage sheets at the thrift store you are in for a treat. Her stock even has a few very modern surprises if you take a look for them! As a bonus, Sylvia is lovely as well and it was so nice to get to meet her.
I asked Sylvia to write up a little bit about herself and her shop and here is what she had to say:
“I love flowers – roses, lilacs, daisies, simple wildflowers…
I have been quilting for years and had trouble finding a good selection of the fresh, country inspired floral fabrics that I love. So seeing a niche in the marketplace and with my years of experience in retail, hospitality and customer service I’ve created Country Clothesline. I want to offer quilters and sewers this unique Collection of floraly, vintagy, countryish, cute, pretty and just plain fun fabrics for their personal sewing and quilting projects. I don’t buy full lines of fabric from my suppliers but prefer to just choose the fabrics that really speak to me. That is also how I decide on the fabrics I use when I am making a quilt or a pillowcase – the ones that feel right together end up together. I truly hope that the Country Clothesline Collection of fabrics will speak to all the creative sewers out there and you’ll love these fabrics as much as I do!”
I love meeting the online shop owners, even if it is only over the interweb. I find it is really fun to know what they are like and how it reflects in their online store front. I asked Sylvia a few questions to find out a bit more.
Thread Riding Hood: What inspired you to start Country Clothesline?
Sylvia: The inspiration behind Country Clothesline really comes from our little farmhouse in Prince Edward County where the constant breeze makes all that I hang on our clothesline dance in the sun overlooking the green fields. So simple, yet so beautiful 🙂
Thread Riding Hood: What is your favorite type of sewing project?
Sylvia: My favourite sewing project is when I have the time to sit down and do the hand-quilting on a gift that I am making for someone special. I love the effect of a quilt that has been hand-quilted. These quilts just feel different, softer, cozier, each stitch really is an extension of the quilter. Here is a close up of one of the squares from a charm quilt I made for my daughter for her 13th birthday – it is hand-quilted with various size hearts. (certainly not perfect stitching – but full of love nonetheless)
Thread Riding Hood: What is something coming up in the near future that you are especially excited about?
Sylvia: As far as what I am excited about in the near future for Country Clothesline, to be honest, because the business is so new, I just really want to improve upon what I have so far. With each customer interaction I learn a little more about how to provide better service, how to make the website work for my customer better, etc. And on top of that I am excited to be adding some quilt and pillowcase kits and some exciting patterns to the store as well. Lots to do and lots to look forward to!
Doesn’t it sound amazing?! I think I need to find myself a clothesline and a breeze. Not to mention a country farmhouse… though I suppose a pretty floral quilt will do! Sylvia has more than enough options to select from! Here are a few of my favorites…
So, you want to get some of this lovely fabric for yourself?! Sylvia is giving away a lovely 6 fat quarter bundle of 100% quilting cotton in reds and pinks! This “Dots & Checks” bundle is made from quality quilting fabrics by Riley Blake and Freespirit. Sylvia writes, “Some images that this group evokes for me are: picnics, farmhouse tablecloths, little girls dresses and elements of a country patchwork quilt.” I couldn’t agree more!
This giveaway is open to everyone, internationally from today until midnight on Monday evening, June 16th. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email address!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now that you have met Sylvia and signed up for the giveaway, head on over to visit Country Clothesline! I’ve selected a few more gorgeous florals from her shop for you to start with…
by Sherri Sylvester | May 30, 2014
So, you’ve all been waiting for the grand reveal?! Who will participate in the Frolic with Fabric Spot Challenge? Before we get to the winners, there’s a lovely surprise for everyone! Karen has applied a discount to the entire Frolic fabric collection, so we can all be winners (and get the fabric we’ve been eyeing since Tuesday!).
The entire organic Frolic collection available from Fabric Spot will be discounted by 20% from May 30th (today) until June 30th, 2014. WOW, 20% off! Thanks so much Karen! Click here or below to see Fabric Spot’s Frolic collection. (The discount will not show on the Fabric Spot website, but will be applied when you check out.)
And on to the winners! Oh my goodness, this post is later than I had planned because I had such a hard time deciding who should win! You all are amazing, thank you for entering! In the end it was so difficult to decide that I put the top 10 entries into the “random.org hat” and pulled out these four.
- Sarah – The Crazy Tailor from Alberta, Canada – Blue Bundle
- Cyndi – The Nosy Pepper from Ohio, USA – Blue Bundle
- Carla – Carla’s Creations from Ontario, Canada – Pink Bundle
- Laura – Seams Sew Laura from Ontario, Canada – Pink Bundle
Sarah, Stacey, Carla and Laura please watch your email! We are sending out your confirmation and need your addresses so we can send you your bundles. We will also be sending you a few instructions as to how to complete the challenge.
Again, to everyone who entered, thanks so much for putting your name in the hat! Karen and I are so excited to see the challengers projects. Remember, you can sew-along if you’d like and post a link on the Fabric Spot or Thread Riding Hood Facebook pages. Or you can let us know by commenting about your Frolic project at the end of June when we post the winners. We’d love to see everyone dressed, accessorized and snuggled under organic Frolic goodness. I can’t wait!
by Sherri Sylvester | May 28, 2014
Today we have a special treat! Alanna from Fridays Off Fabric Shop is here to tell us about a Toronto-based event that sounds really fun. I thought you’d all like to know about it, so I asked her if she would write up a little guest post and she has kindly agreed. If you can’t get there, make sure you check out her online shop. She’s got lots of fabric goodness for you to stash!
Got any plans for the weekend? If the answer is no, you might want to check out The Post Market in Toronto’s East end.
Hi! I am Alanna and I’m stoked to be guest posting here today. I own an online fabric shop called Fridays Off and I have have an event to share with y’all! 🙂
This weekend (May 31 & June 1) I will be crawling out from behind my laptop and setting up shop at The Post Market – a Toronto-based market featuring a curated group of talented vendors selling all things vintage, handmade and new.
I’ll be there (1075 Queen Street East in Toronto) from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday cutting yardage from my beautiful inventory of premium quality modern fabrics. I will also be stocked with fat quarters and half metre bundles as well as a few handmade items 🙂
In addition to yours truly there will be many other amazing vendors such as vintage clothing finds from Violet Crown Vintage, super hot custom wood furniture by Camstruction, cheeky note cards from Write it Forward, textiles and housewares from Cambie Design and lots more.
If you have been eyeing something in my shop but have been reluctant to click the mouse come out on the weekend and see it (and touch it) for yourself. Be inspired!
I hope to see you there!
So – do you think you will make it out? (And a big thanks to Alanna for letting us know about the event!)
by Sherri Sylvester | May 27, 2014
Good Tuesday to you all. I’m excited to share Thread Riding Hood’s first ever Fabric Challenge with you today! Fabric Spot and I have teamed up to give away 4 delicious organic bundles. Yes, I said 4 of you can qualify for the challenge, Hooray!
Ever since I met Karen last year she has been a promoter of organic fabrics. They are better for the environment and for our bodies, because the plants used to make the fabric are grown without pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified seeds. Just think how much better you and your (grand) kids feel without all that next to your skin! She stocks the largest organic fabric collection available online in Canada, including lots of organic solids to go with your organic prints.
She has recently stocked the birch collection “Frolic” (organic of course!) in both the pink and blue colourways. Check it out! I love the “hidden” animals and the flying whale might just be my favorite. Perfect for some summer sewing!
Karen from Fabric Spot will be sending 4 challengers one fat quarter bundle of Frolic each. Two pink bundles and two blue bundles in total. The challengers will sew something using each fabric in the bundle, photograph it and then I will post the finished projects here at the end of the month. I’m so excited to see what everyone will come up with!
Here are the details: (due to shipping time, this contest is open to Canadian and US readers only)
- Comment on this post between today and Thursday night (May 29th) following the directions below.
- I will chose, email and post the winners on the blog this Friday. Karen will ship the bundles as soon as she receives everyone’s address.
- The challengers find the bundles in the mail (Yay!) and use only the fat quarter bundle fabric to sew their creation. They can add whatever other embellishments they wish to their project.
- Contestants post their project photos on their blog, Flickr site or (not-private) Facebook page by June 27th with links to Fabric Spot and Thread Riding Hood. Thankfully projects get finished more quickly with a deadline right?!
- Here’s the fun part for me – I get to post project photos here on June 30th with links to the challenger’s original posted photos! Maybe the challengers will even give us a little write-up on their process. (hint, hint?!)
To qualify for a chance to win (*entries closed), make one comment below that includes the following four things: 1)What city/town you live in. 2) Which bundle you would use – pink or blue. 3) What you would make with the fabric. 4) A link to a photographed previous project you have created. (By commenting you agree that if you are chosen, you will complete and photograph your project by June 27th so we can post them all in time, Thank you!)
Have fun! See you on Friday to find out who wins.
by Sherri Sylvester | May 20, 2014
I am so inspired to stitch up some summer clothes right now. My husband and I just went through our closet this past weekend and donated the things we haven’t worn in a while. I think I was in a generous mood and may have de-cluttered a bit too much! I am not upset though, because now I have room to hang a few new things I can sew for myself!
Since Daryl from Fabric Spark is providing us a discount this week (scroll down for the code) I thought it would be fun to pair a few summer patterns I’ve been eyeing with some of her fabrics. Of course, she’s got canvas weight fabric for totes and quilting cotton and patterns available too – so don’t limit yourself to clothing! (PS. I just found out that she sells some of the patterns on my to-do list as well! One-stop shopping, hooray!)
April Rhodes – the Staple Dress |
Art Gallery – Beekeeper Coral |
Kaffe Fassett – Belle Epoch Yellow |
I’ve been eyeing the popular April Rhodes Staple Dress for about a year now. I’m going to have to finally give in and buy it. Daryl had the same idea as I did and labeled both of these fabrics as possibilities for adult clothing. Great minds think alike!
imagine gnats – Alder Skirt |
AMH – Raindrops Pop in Candy |
Zen Chic – Wind Flower Dark Blue |
The Alder Skirt pattern from Imagine Gnats was released last week. The front pleat and pocket detail are perfect for some trendy pattern matching. I need more skirts in my wardrobe, now that my girls are old enough that I can wear one without fearing indecency!
Wiksten Tank |
Essex Yarn Dyed Linen/Cotton |
Alexander Henry – Rashida Skin |
I’ve had the Wiksten tank on my list for so long I don’t even remember when I added it. I suppose it is going to eventually be made?! I’d love one in the yarn dyed Essex, or a little bolder maybe in animal print with a colour-blocked back yoke.
Thanks to Daryl, we can all head on over to Fabric Spark to get $5 off any fabric order over $25.00! Use the code “Threadbucks” to get your discount until May 28th, 2014. Happy Summer sewing!
by Sherri Sylvester | May 19, 2014
Happy Victoria Day to all of you Canadians! We have had a great day with rain, sun, lots of garage cleaning and some ice cream all mixed together. It feels great to clean up and get rid of things we aren’t using anymore. And a day off is never a bad thing either.
I started attending the Creativ Festival last year. It’s a great place to find new fabric, and as a huge bonus – I get to meet some of my favorite Canadian Online Fabric store owners there as well. Hopefully you are ready for lots of fabric photos today! (And check out what I bought last year too. I should really use that stuff up!)
Left to Right: Alison Glass for Andover – Feathers, Erin Michael for Moda – Dots, Lizzy House for Andover – Red Letter Day Pearl Bracelet, Parson Gray for Free Spirit – 7 Wonders in Clouds, Black Stretch Denim, Suling Wang for Eugene Textiles – Flannel
I started my shopping at Len’s Mill Store booth. Since the Spring show is significantly smaller than the Fall one, this booth takes over the entire width of the far end of the show. Lots of shelves and lots of fabric! They have a mix of modern quilting cottons and less expensive prints as well. My only regret is spending half of my day’s budget, leaving very little to cover the cost of fabrics from my favorite online shops. I won’t be doing that again!
Top to Bottom: Kona Cotton Black, October Afternoon for Riley Blake: Seaside, Whistler Studios for Windham – Strawberry Picnic, Cosmo Textile Company (cosmo-tex.co.jp), SEI for Robert Kaufmann, Field Notes
Next up was Sew Sisters. They have a booth at the front entrance to the show each year I have been there. With lots of fat quarters and 1/2 metre cuts ready for sale, I found quite a few favorites.
I got to meet Alana from Friday’s Off again. She has stocked Lizzy House’s newest line Catnap and I have had my eye on some for a few months now. Here she’s cutting a Union Jack panel. Apparently they are selling fast!
Next on the list, I went over to say “hi” to Karen from Fabric Spot. Karen told me about Creativ Festival last year and I am so glad she did! I was looking for some Heather Ross Briar Rose prints at her shop and picked up the popular Strawberry in Pink. It’s on my cutting table right now, I’m making a dress for my oldest! I’m also proud to have Fabric Spot as the newest Thread Riding Hood sponsor – thanks so much Karen!
I am super excited to say that I met Sylvia at Creativ as well. She owns a new Canadian online fabric shop called Country Clothesline (pinned to the Canadian Online Fabric Store list). I was in floral heaven over at her booth. The prints are gorgeous, and she sells finished products as well! My oldest is so happy with the Martha Negley Dahlia print I bought for her. (The pink version is no longer on her website, but the lime version is here.)
Left to Right: Martha Negley for Rowan – Dahlia, Heather Ross for Windham – Briar Rose Strawberry in Pink, Lizzy House for Andover – Catnap in Cat Dream
I was very excited to meet Daryl from Fabric Spark. She was running her booth with her sisters, and I have to say that they are all a lot of fun to work with. I had such a hard time trying to decide which fabric to get from her booth. Especially after going through her entire online stock trying to decide what to choose for the Thread Riding Hood fat quarter bundle!
In the end I picked up some Art Gallery Honey House Sunflower I’ve had my eye on. I don’t know what it is intended for yet, but it’s so pretty! I also got a fat quarter of Beaded Colourband from Mark Hordyszynski. I think it might be destined for a little framed coin purse I’m hoping to make soon.
Left to Right: Thread Riding Hood Fat Quarter Bundle, Beaded Colourband from Mark Hordyszynski, Art Gallery Honey House Sunflower
Speaking of the framed coin purse – I found a shop called Quilt a Bag that specializes in bag hardware, straps, frames and patterns. There were so many amazing things in this store. A lot of it was zakka inspired and super-cute. If I am ever out their way I will be sure to stop by their location again. I have a feeling I’m going to need another frame once I finish the first coin purse!
And that’s it! It took two loads in my washer to pre-wash everything and I’ve already cut into quite a few of the fabrics. I’m going to have issues with the Catnap, though – because both girls like it and I’ve only got 1/2 metre! Got any fat quarter project ideas for me?
As a summary, the Creativ Festival is a feast more for the “traditional” fabric quilter than for the modern fabric lover. Though, I am pleased to say that there are a growing number of booths with modern fabric, even if most of their other stock is traditional. I think it is definitely worth going. It’s so much fun to browse the books and notions booths as well as the fabric. And it’s nice to be able to see it in person – instead of browsing online! What do you think?
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