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Our mom has not been posting recently because she is really unwell. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you!
Quilters’ take on summer fun!
Posted by: malke.y on: May 31, 2011
The date for our next car trip will be June 22. We will meet at Sew Materialistic at 9:00 am.
We are sure to have a great time visiting Mouse Creek Quilts, Stitch n’ Sew Center, and A.C. Moore Crafts!
Yummy lunch is included, please call for the menu. The cost of the trip is $25, which includes lunch, a drink and snacks.
Limited space available, so call soon!
Take care,
Malke
Bits and pieces of me
Posted by: malke.y on: May 18, 2011
- In: Musings | Tips
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I was asked a while ago if I would be willing to be interviewed for an article on Jewish Women in Business and here are excerpts of some of my answers:
What inspired you to create your business? I had just moved into a new house in a new neighborhood and was in between having babies; and a friend of mine who also sewed a lot approached me and asked if I would like to open a sewing store in my basement, foolishly, I agreed.
Were there any areas where you discovered tricks to cut costs? If so, where and how? I started giving classes so that I could save on the cost of a teacher, even though teaching is not my favorite thing to do. We also are more careful in our ordering pattern. We order to restock sold notions but order new fabrics not more than once a month. We also moved from a store front bck to my house so tha I could cut down in the rent and other commercial obligations.
Have you encountered any challenges specifically relating to your being an Orthodox Jewish women business owner? Not so much challenges as venues that I cannot participate in because I choose to be orthodox.
If so, how did/do you deal with the challenge? I do not participate in the many shabbos venues for quilters.
What advice can you offer other Orthodox Jewish Women entrepreneurs? Realize that being a woman today is not what will make or break a business. Being orthodox puts many restrictions on you but you can compensate by working harder and manuvering around the system. Know your business inside and out, network, and most importantly, take some business courses.
How do you maintain a work-life balance, juggling the roles of a business owner and mother? Although any job outside of the home is stressful, if your goal is to work for pleasure because you love what youre doing, you can manage. I love to run my business most of the time. I have also been given the golden opportunity to work with my children. They were always with me when they were small and when they got old enough, the girls work for me, either full or part time, and the boys help with stock when they could leave yeshiva.
Upcoming Events
Posted by: malke.y on: May 15, 2011
- In: Challenge | Musings
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We’ll be going Thursday, May 26 to the American Folk Art Museum at 45 West 53rd Street in Manhattan. There is an admission fee and we’re planning to be there for the 1:00 tour. We’ll be meeting at the Avenue J train station (Q train) to be able to visit B & J fabrics before the museum. You must call to register.
Another thing on our agenda will be a UFO Day. No, you don’t actually have to finish an object, but you do have to bring in UNUSED FABRIC OBJECTS. You can bring in as many fabrics as you want to trade- you know… the ones you have no idea why you bought in the first place! Or just leftovers from other projects you don’t want to use again (or eve think about again!). Fat quarters is the minimum size & 1 yard pieces is the maximum, but you can bring in as many first quality pieces as you wish. If you are interested, please email me! sewmaterialistic@yahoo.com
Take care,
Malke
Challenge Accepted!
Posted by: malke.y on: February 21, 2011
- In: Challenge | Tips
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Our challenge quilts are due soon and I am pretty excited about it because quite a lot of people bought the challenge fabric. Remember: they are due the begining of March.
More UFOs Landing!
Posted by: malke.y on: February 3, 2011
- In: Challenge | Musings
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Sew Materialistic SALE!
Posted by: malke.y on: January 24, 2011
- In: Musings | Tips
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For those of you who live nearby or are coming to NY to visit- don’t miss out on our STORE-WIDE sale! We are putting every item in stock at a 35% discount!!! (when paying with cash, 30% when with a credit card… not including already discounted items)
Come in and stock up on notions and browse through our fabrics for great finds! This sale is really not to be missed and I’m not just saying that because it is my store :-)
UFO Spotting
Posted by: malke.y on: January 19, 2011
- In: Challenge | Tips
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Join our new “Finish-a-Work-in-Progress” challenge. It’s relatively easy: register your UFOs (UnFinished Object) by emailing info@sewmaterialistic.com or in person, check in with us your progress every 6 weeks, and when each project is completed, show-and-tell to receive a gift of fat quarters. The one who finishes the most UFOs by the end of the year 2011, receives a gift certificate. Remember, there are consequences for those who don’t finish… Let the race begin!
Check out the store’s blog for the first UFOs to be submitted! www.sewmaterialistic.blogspot.com
Good luck! 
2011 Quilt Challenge
Posted by: malke.y on: January 7, 2011
2011 Quilt Challenge Guidelines:
Deadline for entries: Sunday, March 27
1) Purchase our challenge packet which includes:
*This fat quarter
2) Create a wall hanging using a recognizable piece of challenge fabric plus fabrics of your own choice.
3) The finished quilt cannot be larger than 24” x 24”.
4) The quilt must be made of three layers top, batting, and backing. The three layers should be attached in some way ie. tying, quilting etc.
5) All quilts must have a sleeve and paper label pinned to the quilt. The label should include your name, phone number, or/and address.
6) Your name should not appear anywhere on the front of the quilt.
7) The quilt must have a title and artists’ statement. Please type approximately 50 words.
8) The quilt must be delivered to SEW MATERIALISTIC by 6:00 on March 27. Quilts will be on display from March 28- May 1.
9) The public is invited to vote for the favorite entry (once a day) until March 18. The winner of the $72 and $36 gift cards will be announced May 2. The exhibit will be closed on May 1.
10) Please pick up your quilt between May 1- 8. We can make arrangements for return shipping.
Quilt Challenge Fabric
Wedding Planning
Posted by: malke.y on: January 5, 2011
I’m taking off a day from work today with 2 of my daughters to go to Manhattan to find material for Blima’s wedding. She wants the color purple for all the family and I’m happy to report if you don’t already know that purple is a hot color this season. I think I’m too old to actually wear all purple (I’ll feel like a huge grape) but a shade of it will work for me. I usually provide dresses for all the grandgirls and I’m happy to report that was already taken care of! We are now trying to decide if all the guys should wear purple ties (or socks— just joking) or just buttoneers. They seem to be balking at the buttoneers, but I’ll just threaten them a little more. 
Happy New Year!
Posted by: malke.y on: January 3, 2011
- In: Musings | Tips
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I remember watching an old Johnny Carson show when he said, everyone loves talking about their illness as much as everyone else hates to listen- so I am not going there. Suffice it to say, for now, I am back and hope to be for a long time. Health and happiness to everyone in this year of 2011 and 5771.
XOXOX’s
Posted by: malke.y on: December 29, 2010
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
It’s so funny how something as trivial as a hug can mean so much. On Sunday I went to work for the first time in a while and was happily given hugs by some of my dear quilting friends. Thank you all for the lift!
Chanukah Extravaganza
Posted by: malke.y on: December 9, 2010
- In: Musings
- 3 Comments
We recently had our annual Hanukah party and it certainly was easier for me this year. No one let me do anything, no cooking, no preparing, no clean up! That’s the way to do it. All my kids that live in NY and NJ came with their kids and we had a very full house. I am now broke again because I give each one of my grandchildren $8 and there are more and more of them every year, thank G-d.
Mazal Tov!! For all of you that know my daughter, Blima [and for those of you who don't, too bad on you], she got engaged Wed. night. He went the whole hog and hired a violinist and asked her on one knee. She is very happy and plans to get married in early March. That just means that the mother, moi, has to start getting busy making her gown because I’ve made them for all my other daughters and she wants one, too. Dumb me.
Scrap Happy :-)
Posted by: malke.y on: December 6, 2010
I’m happily playing with my postcards and will post the new ones. I do have a confession to make though- I have become obsessed! I am making a large quilt that needs 1/4″ square triangles, lots of them. Since I can’t do much more than sit in my lounge chair (I’m doing so well…), I sat yesterday cutting off all the dog ears. I had this nice huge pile on my work surface and they were all green. I started handling them and was struck with the idea of making some snippet postcards, too. as I’m playing, my husband is cleaning the kitchen and brings me 2 handfuls of scraps from the floor and asks me what to do with them. I begged him to save me from myself and he should throw everything out right away so I don’t have to agonize about how small a piece I should save. Let’s face it: it is getting ridiculous! How small to YOU keep? And better yet, for how long and do you really every use it all up????
Fall cleaning
Posted by: malke.y on: November 21, 2010
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
I’ve been trying to keep up with a ‘block of the month’ group, but so far I haven’t been too successful. Instead of making one of each block, I thought I would be real bright and make 2, so I would have 2 more quilts to give to the grandkids [since I don't think I will ever really catch up]. Only problem: I misplaced everything in the mess of a sewing room I have. I started cleaning last week hoping that I’d find everything soon since the meeting is next Sunday. I read somewhere that one should beware of a quilter that is cleaning her room; it means she is planning to move out! I found the bag in the second to the last corner. When I excitedly showed my husband, he commented: “does this mean you aren’t going to clean your room anymore?” RIGHT! Guess what I’ll be doing all night tonight? Show you both finished projects the end of December.
Congrats to our new winner!
Posted by: malke.y on: November 8, 2010
Congratulations to Silky P. for winning our October Monthly Raffle!
Thank you everyone who participated!
Our Monthly Raffle with Mendel and Zelde
Posted by: malke.y on: October 14, 2010
- In: Musings | Pictures | Tips
- 2 Comments
Our Monthly Raffle is finally back! The prize is a $5 gift card to my store, Sew Materialistic, or a $5 coupon off your next purchase online @ www.sewmaterialistic.com. In order to enter please post a comment, ”like” the page, and suggest our Facebook page to a friend. Thanks!
I used to hear my husband laughing hysterically everytime he went to bathroom. He was reading this book: Anthology of Jewish Humor… That’s why I made the quilt: to remember that going to the bathroom CAN be funny!
Here is the rest of the story:
I started creating this Mendel & Zelda quilt waaay back in 1992, though I didn’t finish it until 2002. The story is copied from Anthology of Jewish Humor and handwritten on the quilt. Pictures are from The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco. Edges of the couples were finished with puff paint done by my son’s friend’s mother, a professional “yarmulka” artist (she decorated Jewish little boy’s skullcaps). I spent $10 for her steady hand, beautiful work and no headache for me!
And in case you were curious about my husband and my sense of humor, here is an exerpt from the book: enjoy!
What is a landlord? A bore! He asks you one question all the time-rent! What is rent? A fine you pay for being poor. What is poverty? Dirt-on the surface. What is riches? More dirt-under the surface. Everybody wants money. Money! What is money? A disease we like to catch but not spread.
“Did you marry me or hire me?” asked Zelde.
“I stole you, now I have to pay the penalty.”
What is love? A conquest. What is marriage? An inquest. Don’t worry, your father was no fool. He made believe he didn’t see us run away. We felt romantic and he got off cheap.
-
- Mendel & Zelda Quilt
Finally here are Moooooore quilts
Posted by: malke.y on: October 14, 2010
Thank G-d I’ve been busy with work, so haven’t been able to post much… But, when my daughter was in town recently she made me take lots of pictures of quilts I have done over the years- so here is the start of it. These are two quilts I made during my obsession phase with cows- don’t worry that phase is long over! (I won’t mention that I’m in to King Kong now, though!)
"Home Home on the Range" I made it in 1994, but didn't get the binding done until '95- procrastination: the name of the game!
I Never Saw A Purple Cow (1992)
Congrats to our first WINNER!
Posted by: malke.y on: October 3, 2010
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
Congratulations to the winner Sew Materialistic’s First Monthly Raffle, Christine Hansen!
Please check back soon for our October Raffle!
From remission to my new mission: get healthy!
Posted by: malke.y on: September 26, 2010
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
Unfortunately not good news from the drs and not feeling too well nowadays. So, please bear with me with my sporadic posts and replies… 
Hope to be next time!
Conspiracy to make me sleep?
Posted by: malke.y on: September 13, 2010
Its funny how I always thought one sewing machine was enough and never understood the need to have more than one. That was before I became a quilter and find deep satisfaction in my work.
Well to get to the point. my Pfaff is on the fritz, I lost the pedal to my new Bernina, and I can’t figure out the bobbin of my new featherweight. I was ready to punch someone out today! Good thing it was a dreary rainy day and I went to sleep instead and only dreamed of quilts.
Tomorrow is another day… hope it is a great one for you!
“Oh, Oh, It’s Magic, Y’know”— Cheerios and Chips, that is!
Posted by: malke.y on: September 12, 2010
Everyone thinks (and hopes!) they are different and unique. We all want to feel that we maybe are a little bit different than the next guy. So, I was sitting and eating my brunch at work, which I very often do, and a young girl of about 11 said she also eats Cheerios with chocolate chips. Now imagine my utter suprise! I always thought only my kids and I did that! And here was a perfect stranger saying she loved to eat her Cheerios with chocolate chips! Maybe she was stolen at birth?
Holocaust Quilt/ RAFFLE
Posted by: malke.y on: September 3, 2010
- In: Musings | Pictures
- 10 Comments
The front of my Holocaust Quilt
Back of my Holocaust Quilt
When I finished the holocaust quilt, and put in the last stitch, I sat back and announced that I finally finished my life’s work. my youngest daughter was sitting there and said quite innocently, “I thought we were your life’s work!”
How true, they all are, and I thank G-d for them everyday. But this quilt is important to me, too, because it tells the story of my mother’s family during the Holocaust. As a religious Jew, who lost most of my family during that time, the naysayers (deniers, revisionists etc) hit a very sensitive cord in me.
How could someone say it all never happened when just from one family so many perished? But the point of the quilt is not about the loss but, rather, how many of us survive today to prove that we are still here and the master race is no longer. (read more about the Holocaust quilt).
Post Office Update
Posted by: malke.y on: August 30, 2010
Shocking! I actually found a pleasant post office in Brooklyn! When I googled the post office in my area, the reviews were unanimous: the worst post office ever. I had practically given up hope on finding someone nice in a p.o. when I found this one. They agreed to hand stamp all my post cards without charging an extra fee, unheard of cooperation!! THANK YOU, whoever you are!
More Quilted Fabric Post Cards
Posted by: malke.y on: August 25, 2010
Quilted Fabric Post Cards
Quilted Fabric Post Cards
Quilted Fabric Post Cards
Quilted Fabric Post Cards
Quilted Fabric Post Cards
Laid up
Posted by: malke.y on: August 19, 2010
Thank G-d I got a clean bill of health for my cancer, but not a week later I am laid up in the hospital with an IV drip I got an infection in my arm and cellulitis to boot…
Hope to be home in a couple of days, though, and I’ll try to post more then.
Positive or Negative…
Posted by: malke.y on: August 19, 2010
My daughter, Blima, made this lap quilt as a wedding gift for her best friend. Her friend loves flowers and hearts, so Blima used every flower and heart fabric she could find. It is a positive/negative quilt. If you want more info about how to make it, you can email Blima at info@sew-materialistic.com.
Positive/Negative Flower and Heart Quilt
Passing on the love
Posted by: malke.y on: August 15, 2010
- In: Pictures
- 2 Comments
- L’s quilt
- CB’s quilt
I took the quilts home to finish quilting in Brooklyn and kept getting phone calls when I was going to be done. They get them back within the week…
Didn’t they do a great job?!
Unearthly Outing
Posted by: malke.y on: August 6, 2010
I recently went on a tour of Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn and had a great time! The tour guide, yes- tour guide(!), said the cemetary was the second biggest attraction in the 1800s in NY. My friend and I had been planning to go for 8 years and we finally made it. We were totally entertained and in awe of the place, we are even planning on going back for part 2 tour. Suprisingly enough, there were about 30 people on the tour. We’re not the only nuts!
If you are in NY, try to make it for a tour. Great trip!
Quilters of The Night Kitchen
Posted by: malke.y on: July 13, 2010
| I went to a quilting retreat last week on the 5. I think it’s the best kind, the one that I get to spend a day with friends who enjoy the same interest, quilting, even if we do come from very different backgrounds. We are the Quilters of the Night Kitchen. Yesterday we were able to put together 3 soldier quilts that the Brooklyn Quilters Guild collects to give out to veterans. We all worked fast and almost finished all 3 tops. food, music, talk, and quilting-who could ask for anything more? a great time was had by all. |
Repurposed Dress Shirt
Posted by: malke.y on: July 12, 2010
- In: Pictures
- 2 Comments
The recycler has struck again! This time it’s a shirt she made for Tully out of one of her old ones. I still can’t figure out how she did the sizing, but I guess if there is a will there is a way. And he’s so cute it doesn’t matter what he has on anyway… I’m an unbiased granma you realize
- Repurposed Shirt
“A shirt I made for T. out of a shirt of mine that I hardly ever wore. I copied the basic shape from a shirt of his, though since I cut it a wee bit too short I had to add the “onsie” bit to it. Now the problem is that the white from the onsie shows up over his pants when he moves too much, so I made him a belt and hopefully that will do the trick.”
Repurposed Shirt Collar
“My next mistake, though it ended up giving more character to the shirt, was that I cut the collar too short for the neck hole… I had to add the piece with the button that you see. But I do like the way it came out! However, life would be so much easier with out having to constantly fix mistakes! Do it right the first time!!”
Repurposed Shirt- Modeled
Recycled Denim Skirt
Posted by: malke.y on: July 2, 2010
My daughter is the original recycler- this is a project she made from an old recycled denim skirt:
Denim Skirt Bag Front
“This is the bag I made out of the top of a denim skirt that needed to be desperately thrown out. I had cut it off the skirt a few years ago and only now finally made s/t with it, so I was a bit limited with the size and all.”
Denim Skirt Bag Back
“All the outside pockets can be used; the back one I use for my cell phone. The handle is nylon webbing attached to a padded strap from a laptop bag- but covered with cotton velvet and topstitched with a decorative stitch (I only have about 4 of them on my machine :-/)”
Denim Skirt Bag Inside
“Inside I used a loose weave cotton (I had bought for a wrap, but didn’t work out) lined with a waterproof nylon fabric for the four pockets- all different sizes, two with velcro closures. The top closure is with two size #5 zippers, opening from the center, so the fly of the skirt/bag can still be opened (for no other reason, except I thought it would be cool!)”
Reinventing denim clothing is very popular and I hope you readers out there will share one of your projects, too!!
New Quilter’s Guild in Brooklyn NY
Posted by: malke.y on: June 13, 2010
I think I’ve mentioned it before but I’m going to throw it out again, maybe this time someone will catch it. Anyone interested in starting a guild? Meeting to be held on a weeknight instead of on Saturdays. I know there are a lot of Sabbath observers in Brooklyn that are also quilters. Would someone like to get the ball rolling? We can use the store as a stepping off point. Email me please.
Quilters of the Night Kitchen Meeting
Posted by: malke.y on: June 7, 2010
This past Friday we had a meeting of “quilters of the night kitchen”, a group of 9 ladies that get together once a month to catch up on their quilting and life stories. For those of you that belong to a group, I’m sure you can understand the high I feel every time we meet. I love these ladies and cherish their friendship even though we all come from different backgrounds, in the end we are all women who have a common bond, and thats our quilting.
Thank you,
Malke
Quilting: The Life of the Quilter!
Posted by: malke.y on: May 24, 2010
I’ve been keeping myself busy doing nothing for almost 2 weeks and have finally pulled myself out of the funk and started quilting again! It’s so funny that for the last week all I wanted to do is vegetate and sleep, and this week I’m so hyped up, I’m not sleeping at all! That means I have all this time to QUILT. I worked on 2 3rd baby quilts (if you want to know more, just email me) and on some projects I’m taking classes for.
I’m making a selvage tote bag that I’ve always wanted to try and a new technique for me, portraits. I think I’m more comfortable with the selvage bag than the portraits but im still working away, which is the point, isn’t it? To challenge yourself and hone your skills,
’till next time.
Malke
My Quilt Store & I (AKA Me and My Quilt Store)
Posted by: malke.y on: May 10, 2010
Hi all.
Everyone tells me that they think owning a quilt shop is the ideal job for a quilter, and it is (not to make any of you jealous). I love most of my customers. The give and take, and the friendships I hold very dear. I love shopping for new notions (even though I’m not a gadget person), and being the first to hear about the new stuff available.
I love shopping for new fabrics (duhhh), but deciding what to get can really be a hard job. Good thing I’m not allowed to shop by myself (I’d buy everything), Blima, my daughter, is always around to slap a hand over my ordering mouth.
I love when I go places, I always bump into customers and they are happy to see me (I have a raging inferiority complex). There is another side to this article, but that’s another story. Today, as I write this on Mother’s Day, I’m being upbeat (and I haven’t taken my happy pills yet!). Every day is Mother’s Day …so have a happy one!
Malke
Last Batch of Postcard Quilts
Posted by: malke.y on: May 2, 2010
Even MORE Postcard Quilts
Posted by: malke.y on: May 2, 2010
Original Quilt Postcard post.
Here’s even more:
I Love NY Postcard Quilt
Central Park Postcard Quilt
Brooklyn Bridge Postcard Quilt
Coney Island Postcard Quilt
Ladybug Postcard Quilt
More Quilt Postcards
Posted by: malke.y on: May 2, 2010
Contemporary Quilts & Postcards from the Home
Posted by: malke.y on: May 2, 2010
- In: Pictures
- 3 Comments
I was awed and inspired by an exhibit I went to in Morristown NJ. I went with a group of ladies and we were treated to a private showing by Jack Walsh, the proud owner of all the quilts. He is a collector of contemporary quilts and it was an eye opener. The exhibit made me want to dabble more in contemporary quilting. I think I’m off to a good start with the post cards I started making and sending out. I’m having so much fun! Check them out!
More to come!
My Store’s Spring/Summer 2010 Newsletter
Posted by: malke.y on: April 25, 2010
Sew Materialistic Newsletter Spring/Summer 2010
Sewing Classes and Quilting Classes are located in our Brooklyn, NY Store at
1131 McDonald Ave Brooklyn New York.
Life Updated (Quilted and Not so Quilted)
Posted by: malke.y on: March 9, 2010
I took a group of ladies; Cecelia, Alzaida, Claudia, and Chava to the Somerset Quilt Show on Friday. We were all tired out after the long day and I think everyone had a good time. For some of the ladies, this was there first show! I’m hoping to schedule another trip for May. If anyone is interested in joining us, please email the store.
My (CENSORED) Burn-Out Entry
Posted by: malke.y on: February 2, 2010
- In: Musings
- 3 Comments
I’m having <CENSORED> [complaining] burn-out. It’s again the time of year for me to start thinking about another newsletter. I came up with the great idea of not sending out a whole newsletter but instead only a postcard with a burning match on it. The idea was nixed by one and all, too bad.
I love my quilting store and I love most of my customers, (I’m sure you are one of them), and thank G-d we are doing pretty good in this economy but I still feel burned-out. In particular, registration for sewing and quilting classes was way down this quarter. Now I’m cheap and don’t go in for spending my hard earned dollars on anything but quilting fabrics for my stash but I’m always curious about new techniques and patterns and therefore try to take classes that interest me and allow me to grow as a quilter.
There are a few diehards that do take all the classes that we offer and it gives me great pleasure to see them growing and enjoying the sheer joy in learning something new. Are we not offering enough new and innovative classes? Should we be offering more detailed work? More fast and easy? I dont know where to go so I dont feel like going anywhere. So there, I’ve said my piece and I feel better [now i have to see if this goes thru my censors](One Word Censored).
The Road to California Quilt Show & Vacation
Posted by: malke.y on: January 19, 2010
I’m on a short vacation of sorts because I’m in L.A. enjoying the sun, in between the rain, and the Road To California quilt show that I try to go to every January. It was great as usual and I was visually overwhelmed by all the colors and quilts. Spent too much money of course but that’s not new.
I spent another great day in downtown at Michael Levine, a not to be missed fabric shop, with a great selection of cottons. I’m going to have to go home and sew fast and furious to use up some of the fabrics I bought.
Journal Quilting: My Life in a Quilt!
Posted by: malke.y on: December 23, 2009
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
I have become intrigued with journal quilting. I’ve done it before and found comfort in putting down my story in quilts. I’ve decided to try my hand at it again and am starting a journal quilt that I hope to add to every week. I’m keeping the blocks down to a 6″ size and making one a week.
When 4 are completed I will put them together as a monthly story, then as a story for the year. Since I sarted my chemo this week, my first block is of course a chemo cocktail. I dont know if I will be able to post weekly, this week has not been a good one for me, but whenever I can, I will try to show the blocks.
A happy holiday to one and all.
Malke
Rain or Shine, Happy or Sad: Life Moves on & the Quilts get Quilting
Posted by: malke.y on: December 8, 2009
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
Sorry for not posting in so long. Life has intruded. My grandson and great nephew both had bar mitzvahs and a grand-daughter became engaged. I get to get busy and make another chupa quilt. This one I’ve been working on for 5 years thinking I had plenty of time. Not any more! I will also be starting another round of chemo and would appreciate it if you all keep me in mind in your prayers.
More Pictures from Our Vermont Quilting Trip
Posted by: malke.y on: November 2, 2009
Sorry for the delay, and it’s been a while, but here are more stuff from our Vermont Quilting Trip!
Our group in Woodstock where we all picked up some very cool fabric.
The Quilting Gang
One of the many covered bridges in Vermont.
Covered Bridge on our Quilting Trip to Vermont
A quilt show in a trunk. This is the background story: while at the Shelburne, Madi became friendly with a perfect stranger who also happened to be a quilter! She took us to see the covered bridge and than showed us the quilts she had in her trunk because she was having a one woman show!
One Woman Quilti Show in Vermont
One of the beautiful quilts at the “Covered Bridge Show”
Covered Bridge Show in Vermont
My Vermont Quilting Trip!
Posted by: malke.y on: October 9, 2009
- In: Pictures
- 4 Comments
(I wrote this last week, but I didn’t post it)
Dear Jane Quilt
Vermont has a thing about Mooses and they were everywhere. Unfortunately we couldn’t stop to take pictures of all of them, but this is me with the “Covered Bridge Moose”.
Vermont Moose on Quilting Trip
I absolutely love Laura Wasilowski’s song about the tomb of the unkown sewer, so I took a picture of one in front of the Shelbourne museum.
Vermont Sewer (Laura Wasilowski) on Quilting Trip
The group photo is of Claudia, Joyce and Madi in the Tala Quilt Shop. You can see how crowded the shelves are. Glad to be home but already planning our next trip.
Quilting Trip Group Photo
Dear Jane Quilts: Here We Come!
Posted by: malke.y on: September 23, 2009
At the store, we started a Dear Jane class. Although we had only six people register, we all became dedicated Janiacs, and we are enjoying every minute of it. I, in particular, took off with those little cute blocks and I am making, or trying to make, two of each in different colorways to make them the same but to look different.
I’ve made quite a few but not nearly all of them. Anywho, we dicided that it would be fun for all of us to go to the Shelburne Museum to see Dear Jane up close and personal. A two day trip to Vermont in the Fall would be fun anyway.
Tell you all a bout it when I get back!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: malke.y on: September 21, 2009
To all my friends and customers I would like to wish a healthy, happy, and productive new year.
Organizing The Quilt Stash
Posted by: malke.y on: September 9, 2009
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
I’ve been very busy since I came home from Cleveland; cleaning my sewing room. I had emptied the whole room out, because I got new shelving, and now I have to put everything back together again. I’m not having much fun because I would rather be quilting but I like revisiting old friends.
How do you organize your room?
How small a piece of fabric do you keep?
I’m afraid to throw anything out; maybe it will be the one I’ll need for some project. My not finished pile is huge. When the room was a mess I didn’t see how many I had, now I’m amazed.
My Store Newsletter & Classes Schedule Fall 2009
Posted by: malke.y on: August 27, 2009
- In: Tips
- Leave a Comment
Quilting in Cleveland (or not)
Posted by: malke.y on: August 24, 2009
- In: Musings
- 2 Comments
I haven’t written much in the blog but have a few words tonight. I’m on vacation in Cleveland and there isn’t much to do, although visiting with my daughter, son-in-law and new baby, tully, is a lot. I carefully packed my one carry on to include my “Dear Jane” project to work on here but to my utter disappointment, I found out I only took the finished blocks with me, not the ones I was going to work on. Oh well, haven’t done any work this whole summer!
Holocaust Quilt Request
Posted by: malke.y on: August 18, 2009
I feel I could pat myself on the back. A customer just came in to my store and asked where the Holocaust Quilt was. She came in especially to take a picture of it because she said it so much touched a cord in her heart. How’d that make me feel? Great! Only problem is, I gained too much weight to reach my back!
A Wonderful Letter Sent to Me.
Posted by: malke.y on: August 9, 2009
Somebody, who will remain anonymous, sent me this wonderful letter.
“This may not quite qualify as ‘quiltresting’ or as material you would want to share with your readership, but I MUST share it with you!
I just heard about you, ironically, (or perphaps not) from my work colleague. He just called me and we were talking about the fact that my youngest daughter will be leaving for seminary soon and we will be “empty-nesters”. I told him I have taken an interest in quilting and hope that this will help keep me busy while I’m missing my baby!! Who would have guessed that he would be a source for quilting information!! He told me his brother-in-law’s mother (ME!) has a quilt shop in Brooklyn, a website, etc., and he told me about the Holocaust Quilt!! Before I hung up the phone I found the website, the blogs, etc. and I was THRILLED!!
I am the daughter of a Holocaust Survivor (I created a website that you may like to have a look at: http://www.jewsoflatvia.com) and was very interested in seeing the quilt for so many reasons. My mother is an avid quilter who is ALWAYS quilting or crocheting blankets for the Linus Project. I, on the other hand, am a complete novice but have discovered crazy quilts and really want to get started with a sampler. I finally found the pictures of your Holocaust Quilt by scrolling down in your blog and I was totally blown away. It is the most moving and soul-stirring quilt I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing.
So funny and amazingly wonderful how by mentioning a little something to him (which, by the way, while I was saying it I was thinking – now why would he be at all interested in hearing about my foray into quilting!) could lead me to this treasure trove!
As an aside, my older daughter lives in Washington Heights and I already told her about your store. She said she has a cousin (a wonderful artist) and aunt (from her husband’s side) who were interested in learning quilting, so I will definitely send them to your store! I think they live in Queens, but I will definitely pass on the info.
You are a real inspiration and your work is incredible!! Thank you for sharing it with the world!! Absolutely beautiful!”
Me, My Family and The Rain: A Story of Triumph (not really)
Posted by: malke.y on: July 30, 2009
Another not my week story. We went out to eat yesterday and although it looked like rain, my husband said we should walk and we would make it back before the “2 minute” rain. Needless to say, the sky opened up just as we left and G-d left the hose on. We were soaked thru and thru.
I ran home with my daughter and her new husband, my husband went to temple. after i drove my daughter and hubby home, I was so glad to get back home just to be able to change into dry clothes but lo and behold, I didnt have the house keys. I quickly ran back into the car, drove to the temple, waited, soaking wet for half an hour for my husband and finally made it home.
The first thing I did wasn’t change my clothes but look frantically for my keys, which I couldnt find and I thought I lost them [not for the third time] but when I finally went to change there was a jangling in my pocket that turned out to be my KEYS. I’m either getting old [a distinct and not too bad a prospect, considering the alternative] or someone is out to get me. there always is next week.
Air Conditioner Filters Can be DANGEROUS (Specifically, if you’re me)
Posted by: malke.y on: July 29, 2009
Funny Story with My Glasses (wasn’t funny at the time!)
Posted by: malke.y on: July 24, 2009
I wear glasses to see anything, without them, the world is not rosey but blurry. Tuesday night I fell asleep in my lounge chair eating popcorn and listening to a book. I always listen to books from the library when I’m quilting because, besides my kids, they are my loves.
Wednesday morning I got up and couldn’t find my glasses anywhere. I even called my husband to come home because he could see while I could only feel. No luck. I went to work with a very old pair with a very old prescription which made it very hard to read.
I was going to make an appointment to the eye doctor for a new prescription and then new glasses when my husband called me up that he opened a bag of popcorn I had put away in the morning and my glasses were in the bag. I must have fallen asleep and threw off my glasses that landed in the popcorn bag that I sealed in the morning because I didn’t see my glasses. They smelled good-popcorny.
