Friday, March 22, 2013

Stan's the Man!

Do you have any favorite eBay fabric sellers you'd like to share?  I thought I'd let you in on one of my "secret" sources for "vintage" Thimbleberries fabrics--Ideas Unlimited.  I try not to visit too often because they always have fabrics I want, so it can get expensive.  In fact, just in finding the link for you, I was compelled to order three yards of fabric, darn it!  Lucky for me, most of the fabrics are priced under $7 a yard.

I'm terribly tickled at my latest find, though.  I know some of you have followed Thimbleberries for years, right?  Do you remember the Safe Haven BOM with all the bird house blocks?



For years after that BOM came out, I'd hear off and on from people searching for the focus fabric, which was very scarce and was even harder to find because a whopping 3 yards of it were needed for the quilt.

Well, Stan, one of the owners of Ideas Unlimited, must have unearthed a bolt somewhere because when I stopped in last week for a peek at the vintage Thimbleberries fabrics on offer, there it was!  And yes, I had to order four yards.


And oddly enough, at the country store at the quilt show in Yuba City last weekend, I found a set of the patterns--it was meant to be!  Of course, since the patterns first came out, the whole set has been reprinted in one of the Thimbleberries BOM books so they're widely available.

When I opened my fabric package, not only did I find the Safe Haven fabric (and another yard of vintage Thimbleberries), but I found Stan had tucked in an Australian magazine, Machine Embroidery.  What a sweetie, eh?!  There are some very lovely things in this magazine, including a baby's christening-type gown that would surely become an heirloom, but since I don't have an embroidery machine, the magazine isn't much help to me.


So I thought I'd share Stan's bounty.  If you live in the US (or can receive mail here), have an embroidery machine, and think you'd enjoy this magazine, please leave me a comment and I'll draw a winner Saturday night (posted on Sunday's blog post).  And stop by and visit Stan from time to time.  If you're not a Thimbleberries fan, you should know that he also carries vintage Jinny Beyer and some Moda as well.  You just never know what you're going to find there!

10 comments:

Betsy said...

Kim thank you for the chance. I do have an embroidery machine. I actually designed an earth day tee shirt to wear today. Off to check out your favorite seller. Thanks for the link.

Anonymous said...

Oh what a wonderful gift. My husband just surprised me with a new embroidery machine,and all my friends have been telling me about these magazines. I check you out every a.m. (even Sat. knowing your not writing on fri. any more)(OLD HABITS) Well thanks for the chance. Have a GREAT day!

shelley said...

That issue looks like an "oldie", but "goodie". I have been embroidering for over 12 yrs and I do not have that particular issue. Maybe there is something inside that catches your eye? Love adding embroidery to my quilts! Thanks for the chance to win a little treasure.

Diane C said...

I would love to win -- I have an embroidery machine (two years old) but am still learning.

Vicky said...

Love that you're making Safe Haven. It was one of my first quilts, and still one of my favorites! No embroidery machine here ......

Elaine said...

I also am a big Thimbleberries fan; Safe Haven is one of my all time favorite quilts. Just bought a embroidery machine; would love the magazine. Thanks!

Jean said...

I just gotr my embroidery machine and I hate to say it but I am a little afraid of it. Soo I have been reading alot of books, magazines and blogs so now I am ready to go. I do so like all of the Australian magazines and patterns. Thank you for writing a great blog enjoy it emalot

Carolyn Sullivan said...

I do need to start using my embroidery machine more. Maybe that will get me going on it.

Bobbin said...

Thanks so much for sharing the link for the Thimbleberries fabrics. When I started quilting about 10 yrs. ago, that's pretty much all I was interested in. I have some older projects that I haven't finished that I'm sure I'll need some fabric for, and maybe I can find it there.
And thanks for the chance, I love machine embroidery!

Donna said...

I enjoy your blog and I check it often. I too have an embroidery machine but quilting is my passion.