Sew Graceful~Behind the Seams

Sew Graceful Fabrics-Patterns & Books Now 20% Off

It has been quite some time since I have posted to my blog.  Life has been busy--which is a good thing!  Starting today all patterns and books will be 20% off--all of the time.  Items have already been discounted so no coupon code is needed.  When I get down to the "last one" of a pattern that will not be reordered, an additional discount will apply.  With the tough economic times, hopefully this discount will help you to start a new project that you have been unable to start.  I will continue to be listing both new books and gently used/vintage books that I feel may be of interest to my customers.  The week is halfway over and the weekend is right around the corner!  Enjoy your day!

$1.00 Deal of the Day at Sew Graceful --Monday, July 1st

Good Morning Everyone!  I am ringing in July with a $1.00 Deal of the Day.   It could be a fat quarter, buttons, yo-yos, or some other crafting or sewing item.  Perhaps even a vintage hanky.  There are limited quantities and please, only ONE $1.00 Deal of the Day per customer per order.  One "Deal of the Day" will be listed daily and is only good for 24 hours...so get it while you can.  Today's $1.00 Deal of the Day" is....you'll have to visit my website to see.  I will give a hint though...it is a fat quarter.

Are Fabric Manufacturer's Changing Their Printing Habits?

I have been seeing a lot of information and reading a lot of forum posts from other quilt shops and designers regarding manufacturers and the quantities of fabric they are printing.  It appears that many manufacturers may be changing the system used for manufacturing fabric. 

What do I mean by that?  It appears that many manufacturers are changing the quantities of fabric manufactured and/or the number of reprints of a particular collection.  Some manufacturers are doing large first prints.  Even if the collection is popular and the first printing sells out at quilt markets and with pre-orders, many are not reprinting.  Some manufacturers are doing smaller first prints and determine if they will do additional printings based on how well the first printing sells.  In many cases, fabric collections are selling out and unavailable even before those quilt designs using a particular fabric collection appear in the quilt magazines (which may be 3-4 months after the fabric is actually released) leaving many quilt shops and designers without enough fabric to kit the quilt.

What does that mean to me?  First, it means that I have to pre-order fabrics well in advance with no guarantee that I will receive all of the fabrics in my pre-order.  Case in point---I pre-ordered the Mary Rose Paris collection well in advance.  I still have not received one bolt from the collection.  Robert Kaufman is no longer carrying Quilt Gate fabrics...so this means having to buy large quantities directly from Quilt Gate which for a smaller business (like mine) may mean having to discontinue carrying Quilt Gate fabrics.  The Chelsea Manor collection is another example.  I still have not received all fabrics from my pre-order and it is already discontinued.  I just received this collection a couple of months ago.  Second, it means that I may only be able to get one shipment of any fabric collection and not be able to reorder because the manufacturer may only do one printing regardless of popularity.

What does this mean to you?  Do to the current economic conditions, it appears that manufacturers may not want to have product sitting in their warehouse.  This means that in many cases I will not be able to get entire collections, even if pre-ordered, or that once sold out I will not be able to re-stock.  This means that once a fabric/collection is sold out...I may be forced to move on to new collections even if a collection is popular.  So if you see a fabric you need/like, particularly for a quilt, I wouldn't wait too long or it may be sold out (not only with me but with other quilt shops also).  Also, if making a quilt, you may consider ordering a little more than you actually need.  There are so many requests from quilters who finally start their quilt, miscut, and then can't find the fabric any more because the fabric has been discontinued.  When I cut quilt kits, I try to add about 1/4 yard more than the directions call for just in case of a miscut. 

Luckily, there are some manufacturers, like Free Spirit, that still seem to be stocking and reprinting the popular collections making reordering possible.

I hope this information helps so that you understand what appears to be going on in the manufacturing end which then affects the availability of fabric on my end.

I'd love to know what you think!  Leave a comment between Wednesday, June 10th and midnight EST Wednesday, June 17th for a chance to win a $5.00 gift certificate towards a purchase my online store, Sew Graceful.  One gift certificate will be awarded.  

Sew Graceful-Discounts on Fabrics & Patterns Keeping Quilting & Sewing Affordable

Hello Everyone.  It is a rainy Saturday in my area.  I guess that is good for me because it forces me to remain inside instead of in my garden.  Over the past couple of months I have been thinking about making changes to my business and after quite a bit of deliberation, I've decided to go ahead with my changes. 

For those of you who have visited my website, you may have noticed the "Wholesale" tab.  I have decided to discontinue the wholesale portion of my website.  Instead, I have decided to discount fabrics, kits, notions, & patterns to everyone, all the time.  The discounts will vary depending on the item.  However, new releases will be discounted 20%.  All patterns & books will be discounted 20% or more.  Kits, pre-cuts, & notions will also be discounted; however, the discounts on these items will vary.  Discounts on Special Buys or discontinued fabrics will vary.

Because of the discounts I have decided eliminate selling fractional yardage...kind of.  I will set up a category in the Pre-Cuts section where you can order 1/4 yard or 1/2 yard increments; however, these cuts will not be discounted.  You will need to order the number of fractional cuts you want and upon checkout make sure to include a comment in the notes section as to which fabrics you want as either 1/4  or 1/2 yard cuts.  I will continue to offer fat quarter sets & will add 1/2 yard sets also.

I will also be adding some vintage/estate textiles and handmade items as well as fabrics found on my buying trips. 

For newsletter subscribers...you will still receive the newsletter, but I will no longer be issuing special codes for discounts.  Instead, I will send out a newsletter every Sunday with new arrivals.

I am busy discounting and hope to complete the process during this weekend.  I still have hundreds of new arrivals not listed yet so look for new additions on Sunday!

Please note:  Since I started discounting, fabrics are selling quickly and in larger quantities.  So....if you like a fabric, particularly those in limited quantities, I wouldn't wait too long to order.

If you have any questions, please contact me at sewgraceful@earthlink.net.

Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!

Join me for Another MMP Pink Friday--Theme of the Week "Keeping it Green"

 

Join me and other participating MMP boutiques for another Pink Friday...online shopping with a twist.  Having been an environmental toxicologist, the theme of reduce, reuse, recycle is definitely near and dear to my heart. 

This week's theme goes hand-and-hand with the upcoming Earth Day celebration.  Antique and vintage dealers live this theme daily. Many of our mothers and grandmothers lived this theme when they turned old scraps of fabric--good pieces of fabric from worn out clothes or drapes-- into quilts, dolls, or anything else they could think of.  My dad & mom grew up during the Great Depression and as they always say..."Throwing things away was not an option.  You made do...passed clothing down from an older child to a younger one, made shorts out of long pants that had grown too short...because you just didn't have the money to run out and buy something new."

 Today; however, there is yet another twist on the green theme.  Individuals are finding ways to repurpose old textiles and paper ephemera with some exciting results. 

Whether you like old porcelain, textiles, or paper ephemera...this Pink Friday theme will have you "Keeping it Green".

This Friday at Sew Graceful all Pink Friday items will be discounted 20%.  So stop in for a visit.  While you are at it...visit the other Pink Friday participating boutiques.  Shopping from your chair with a warm cup of tea...it doesn't get better than this!

Picnic in Paris Quilt Kit is Now in Stock at Sew Graceful

I have been working during the holiday to create some quilt kits for those of you who either don't want to pick out their own fabrics or don't have the time.  The Picnic in Paris Quilt Kit is now in stock.  The picture of the actual quilt from the quilt pattern does not do this quilt justice.  The kit comes with the pattern and all fabrics needed to create the quilt top (including borders and binding).  You will need to purchase additional yardage of your choice to complete the back. 

Sew Graceful--Porcelain & China Special!

 From having two antique shops and a gift shop...I have to admit (other than textiles of all types, ribbons, paper...) I love porcelain & china.  In order to make more room for fabric, textiles, and special handmade items, I had decided a while back to discontinue carrying porcelain & china.  I have been reluctant to totally discontinue offering these items because many of my customers have purchased just porcelain and china from me.  But in order to bring my business more in line with my vision of offering more handcrafted items, fabrics, notions, textiles, vintage textiles, etc, I have made a New Year's resolution to discontinue the porcelains and china.

This will not be easy for me (heavy sigh!!) and it will probably not happen over night.  You see...I have boxes of porcelain and china items.  I can't seem to pass up a good deal when I go to an antique auction or estate sale.  Look for newly listed porcelain & china items to appear at sale prices in the WHAT'S NEW category for the first week.  After that, they will be moved to the LAST ONE! category.  All items in the COTTAGE HOME category will ultimately be moved to the LAST ONE! category also.

Congratulations to the Sew Graceful $10 gift certificate winner!

I can't believe Christmas is already over!  Congratulations goes out to Charlene W. who won the Sew Graceful "Countdown to Christmas"  Week #3 $10 gift certificate!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased items from Sew Graceful this year!  Look for more updates, specials, and contests for the new year!

Congratulations to the "Countdown to Christmas" Week 2 Winners!

I'm so happy to announce this week's Sew Graceful "Countdown to Christmas"  winners!

Tammy P. won the $10 gift certificate for a future Sew Graceful purchase. 

Paunpimon won the Newsletter Subscriber Ornament. 

Thank you to everyone who has made purchases!  Your continued support, particularly in these economic times, is truly appreciated.  I am truly blessed to have such wonderful customers!

Congratulations to Our Week #1 $10 Gift Certificate Winner

Congratulations goes out to Patricia B., winner of the Sew Graceful "Countdown to Christmas" Week #1 $10 Gift Certificate!!!