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To Market, To Market, To Market I Go!

May 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’m sew excited to be headed to Quilt Market this weekend! Last time I went to Market was the Spring after I opened Sewtropolis and it was, conveniently, being held at the Convention Center in Minneapolis.

Back then I had no idea what to expect or what to do!  I asked my friend Jennifer to go with me – back then she was my moral support and I brought her everywhere with me.  When we walked into the Hall both of us just stood there not knowing where to begin!  There was SO MUCH to see!!  There were rows and rows and rows of fabric and patterns, books and notions!   There was so much to see that I could spent two days walking up and down the isles – just trying to take it all in.  Little did I know that the ‘show’ is just part of what Quilt Market is all about!  They actually have CLASSES!!!

So this weekend I’m spending 3 whole days at Market and I’ve signed up for all the classes time will allow me to take!  I will also be on the hunt for the coolest stuff to bring back!  I wish I could take everyone, but unfortunately some of you have to work.  So, I will be doing the next best thing: updating Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pintrest and the Blog.  I encourage  you to follow along and let me know what you want to see at Sewtropolis!  Have a favorite designer?  Let me know who it is and I’ll do my best to see what they have at Market after all this is where most will be ‘revealing’ their newest lines!

Personally I’m on a mission to meet Tula Pink the master mind behind the “Prince Charming” line of fabric!  She has a new line coming out at Market:  Birds & Bees.  I’ll bet it has Birds and Bees…. hidden in Flowers and Trees.

See you at Market!

This year I am planning on staying the whole weekend so that I can attend the Schoolhouse Series.  I’m hoping to learn the latest and greatest so that I can bring them back to you!   I’m considering this a interactive trip – my plan is to tweet, blog and update Facebook and Pintrest with all that is going on at Market.  Want to join in?  Then be sure to follow me and let me know what you want me to see!  I’m not shy when it comes to taking pictures!

 

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Looking Back at a Grand Opening!

May 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This past Sunday we celebrated our Grand Re-opening in the new location.  When I look back at the past few months I can’t believe we were able to get the new store up and running as quickly as we did.  In fact, when I look back it’s hard to imagine just how far I’ve come since opening Sewtropolis over 2 years ago!

I started out with just an idea and a deep desire to do what I loved!  Back when I first opened  I did everything myself from teaching classes to ‘manning’ the shop 6 days a week!  I eventually met a couple of women who wanted to be a part of what I was doing and offered to help me out by working a day or two.  That help has now grown to four women including 2 other single moms!

Laura, Harriette, Nikol, Alyssa and Avery (Raina – not pictured)

Laura watching the show!

Harriette manning the cutting table

Avery greeting each customer with a totebag.

To each her own… shoe

Looking back I see that I had already outgrown the old space and that I now have enough momentum behind me to grow into the new space!  I am excited to watch my business grow, but even more excited to share it with all of you!

 

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Ibsen Festival

April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A couple of days ago I talked about going on a roadtrip with my girlfriends.  Our destination: Lanesboro, Minnesota to enjoy shopping, dinner and a play.  I had never even heard of Lanesboro, but I definitely want to go back.  We stayed in a B&B above the Lanesbro Art Center – it was so enormous and wonderful!

The part I enjoyed the most was visiting the Lanesbro Commonweal Theatre to see Pillars of Society by Henrik Ibsen.  The play runs till June and I encourage everyone to see it.  Before the play though we walked around the theatre and explored all the wonderful displays.

Open up the mailbox and you’ll see a drive-in theater.

Peek in the birdhouse and you’ll see a poker game in progress (I always knew those Chickadees were up to something)

Along one wall there are a series of glass jars.

As you get closer you can see that the jars are filled with all kinds of trinkets, each chosen by those who contributed to the theater.

Like these bikes….

Or this Baby grand piano and chandelier - lit up nonetheless.

Up above on the ceiling there are all these ‘tools’ from work to play, and attached to each piece is a set of wings, which I was told were replicas, carved and cast from various regional birds and bats.

Unfortunately I didn’t remember to take pictures of the other sections of the ceiling before we left.  Next time!

Needless to say it was a fun weekend and I can’t wait to go back – hopefully this summer with a bike so that I can explore the area via the miles and miles of bike trails.

Thanks Jen, Harriett and Pat for inviting me!

 

 

 

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Road Trip to Pyrex Heaven

April 18, 2012 By 3 Comments

Over the weekend I went on a little road trip with my friend Jennifer, her sister and mom.  Our destination:   Lanesbro in order to see a play – more on that later.

On the way down and back we stopped to do some antiquing I found quite a few things:  some I brought home, some I left at the store.  Here are  just a few things I left at the store:

A creepy, life sized doll completely made of cloth with a angry scowl on her face…. or maybe that’s just over plucked eyebrows.  I do have to say I love how her hair is done, but not enough to want to bring her home.

Loads of vintage hats, gloves and purses.  I loved these hats, they were all so colorful sitting on this shelf, remnants of a past era when it was very fashionable to wear a hat.  Not so fashionable anymore, but who knows, maybe it’s a look that may be on it’s way back.  Until then I’ll enjoy visiting them.

A basket full of Pez dispensers.  Was it Seinfeld that collected Pez dispensers?  Do they even sell Pez candies anymore?

 

A ceramic peach, sitting on a plate.   It stayed, enough said.  (If you laughed for a good 5 minutes then you got just as much enjoyment from it was we did).

Heaven.  I didn’t bring home everything – but I did bring home …..

A set of 4 bowls and three serving dishes – one divided – in my favorite color: Turquoise.

I am putting these bowls away for now, if I don’t one by one they will be destroyed by my two boys who have systematically destroyed pretty much everything I own.   I only have a couple of years before they move out, in the meantime I’ll work on building a nice display for them in the dream kitchen they’ve inspired me to build.

 

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A Revealing Invitation

April 16, 2012 By 2 Comments

We’ve been in our new location for about 2 weeks now and I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying it.   Everyday for the past 2 weeks time has literally flown by!   Today the store was closed, but I still went there to grab a few things and found myself just sitting behind the counter, enjoying everything that Sewtropolis has become.

If you haven’t stopped by since our move, I encourage you to make the time this Thursday night as the businesses of 48th & Chicago will be having a Spring Ladies Night event.  It starts at 4p and there will be so much going on including:  10% off all merchandise at Sewtropolis;  hair, makeup and skin consultations from our neighbors at Rue 48.  Spark Clinic will have chair massages and yoga classes, Pepitos is offering Two-for-One margaritas and if that isn’t enough to entice you to come out, the Minneapolis Modern Quilters will be having their April quilt challenge reveal.

All the quilters have been busy making quilts from recycled materials – myself included.  We started this challenge in January so I’m expecting there to be lots of beautiful quilts being revealed.  The meeting starts at 6:30 so stop in, grab yourself a beverage and appetizer (provided by Turtle Bread) and make your way to our Party Room to enjoy the show.

Did I mention that I love our new location?

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I’m Back!

April 9, 2012 By 2 Comments

A couple of months ago I lost access to my blog!  I was so bumbed because one of my goals this year was to blog more.  It turned out to be a blessing in disguise,  because even though WordPress came out with a ‘fix’ I had already given the ‘go’ on re-doing my whole website – something that I wanted to do long before the bug.  If you’re here – chances are you’ve seen the new improvements!!  Don’t you love them?  Everything in one handy spot!  There are still a few kinks to iron out, but we’ll get there!  I’m just so happy with the new look of the website, I feel it better reflects what Sewtropolis is:  a fun, creative sewing studio and fabric store!

You may also have heard that we’ve physically moved to a new location!  I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am with our new home!  The building is right on the corner of 48th & Chicago in South Minneapolis.  If you know where Pepito’s & the Parkway Theater are then you know where we are at!   Right now the old yellow awnings of the last tenant (Amazon Books) are still up, but within the next couple of weeks our blue awnings will be up and then it will really feel like home!   (If you’re thinking I might have a thing for old book stores you’re right.  Watch out Barnes & Noble).

When I look back to when I first opened up Sewtropolis 2 1/2 years ago, it’s hard to believe it’s grown from a one-girl shop to what it is today!  There is no way I could have done it without all of you and your love and support of my store!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I also want to give a HUGE special thank you to everyone who helped me with painting, sanding and most importantly the move!

It was done in record time and there is no way I could have done it without all your help!  I also want to thank Rachel Greenhouse for tipping me off about the vacancy.  Rachel has been a God send in so many ways – when I think of all my guardian angels, Rachel is at the top of the list  (getting all the other guardian angels together so that they can network with one another)  and I am SO grateful for her!   Thanks also to Jamie and her team at Propel Business Works and Tim at Mission: Communicate for their hard work on my website!  True professionals!

And now, let’s get sewing!

 

 

 

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Things That Make Me Happy #1: Polar Dash 1/1/2012

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Why Hello there!  The second day of the New Year and my second post in a row!  Watch out I’m on a roll!

Side note:  I just downloaded what I am hoping will be a very useful calendar for 2012.  I bought it because it encompases everything I strive to keep track of in one handy-dandy notebook.  If you’ve read some of my past posts you’ll know that I like to do 30 day challenges – just because.  In this notebook is a 30-day challenge tracker!  Gotta love that!   I’m thinking I’ll add blogging for 30 days in a row as a challenge – because as I noted in yesterdays blog – Blogging makes me happy and I’m all about doing things that make me happy.

Speaking of doing things that make me happy.  Yesterday I ran the Polar Dash with a friend of mine.  Greg and I go to the same church and every year we volunteer for a overnight shift with the Families Moving Forward.  So technically he’s the only person in the world that can claim we’ve slept together in the church (which he does).  Anyway, Greg is a runner and for the past few years he’s invited me to do various runs with him, but every year I’m completely out of shape and unable to walk 5k let alone run one.  Until now!  As you know I’ve been running every other day for the past 15 weeks, so when Greg asked me to do the Polar Dash with him I not only accepted his offer – I did the 10k with him.

Polar Dash 1/1/2012

Polar Dash 1/1/2012

I’m so glad I did.  It was good catching up with Greg (outside of church) and had I not run I would have missed the bald eagle that flew over the crowd of runners as the National Anthem was playing.  It was truly one of the most beautiful and incredible things I’ve ever seen.  Way better than any midnight firework show.

 

 

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4250 miles, 20 years, 600 Likes and 1 Giveaway.

July 16, 2011 By 31 Comments

Hello friends!!  It seems like such a long time since I last posted anything, and in a way I guess it has.  Last week the boys and I went on a very long road trip, a 4250+ mile road trip and it was so much fun!  I have so many pictures to share with you, but I promise I’ll share them in small doses.    We traveled through North Dakota, up into Montana and Glacier National Park.

We stayed a very chilly night in Glacier National Park and then drove down into Kalispell, and into Cour d’Alene, Idaho.  We made it to Seattle for the 4th of July and watched the fireworks over the harbor with my brother.  (who Drew had met for the very first time)  We then drove down to Cannon Beach, OR, where Skilos had the time of her life!!!  I love this picture of her!

 

The next morning we drove into Portland to meet a college friend of mine who I haven’t seen in close to 20 years.  We then made our way to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and finally to Casper, Wyoming where my sister lives.  My nephew and his daughter recently moved there and I got to meet my little grand-niece for the very first time.  (her and I hit it right off!!)

 

After that we made our way into Wall, South Dakota for the last night of our camping vacation.  I was a little sad to have to say good-bye to all my friends and family, but at the same time happy to be getting back to the store and into our daily routines.  I will be sharing more pictures in the coming weeks (I believe I took about 600 of them) and sharing some of the funner details of the trip.

Thanks to Patty and Laura for watching the store for me so I could take a much needed vacation with my boys.

Now onto the 600 likes Facebook!!  Can you believe it?  It seems like just last week that we were celebrating 500 likes on Facebook.  To celebrate 600 likes I’ll be giving away some 6- 1/2 yard cuts of some of the new solids we got in while I was vacationing.  That’s 3 yards of beautiful solid fabric from Moda’s newest line Bella Solids and a few of the FreeSpirit Designer Solids.

 

It’s easy to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below letting us know you follow the store blog.  That’s it – oh, and for extra entries you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, just be sure to leave separate comments below letting us know that.  That’s it; easy peasy.   I’ll leave this open for one week and then on Friday, July 22 I’ll randomly choose a winner using Random.org number generator to pick a winner.

Thanks everyone for being a fan of Sewtropolis!!

 

 

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Swift, Bikes & Quilts

June 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Last night the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Group took a field trip to see the Minnesota Quilt Show at the River Center in St. Paul.  The plan was to meet at a nearby restaurant for a drink and apps before heading over.  Unfortunately, within minutes of reaching St. Paul I knew I was in trouble!

First, there were the bicyclist!  The Nature Valley Bicycle Festival trials was in progress, which  means all the streets I needed to go down were blocked off.  I ended up parking a few blocks away and walking to the restaurant.  Which actually wasn’t so bad.  The rain had stopped and I couldn’t help but snap a few pictures of the women cycling at break neck speed – on wet pavement none-the-less!

Next, as we sat down the bartender had asked if we were headed to the Taylor Swift concert!  Yes, there was a concert right next door at the X-Cel Center!

Third, I was REALLY surprised at the bartender’s reaction when we told him we were headed to the quilt show!  He had no idea there was one in town – or even where it was at!  I swear he looked at us like we were pulling his leg – maybe because we didn’t look like your typical quilter?

Once we reached the River Center even the Quilt show directors tried to direct us to the Taylor Swift concert, okay – so maybe I’m being a little hard on the bartender.

Once inside the quilt show we headed back to look at all the beautiful quilts.  I managed to take over 100 pictures and still didn’t capture them all.  Instead of posting them all at once, I’ll post as many as I can over the next few days.  I’m sure you’ll agree that they are all breath-taking.

 

 

 

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What I Did Last Night

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I’ve been talking about the Unraveled DIY Festival for a while now and last night was the big event.  This was the first year for the event and overall I think the Textile Center did a great job of organizing and promoting the event.

It was held at Rapson Hall on the University of Minnesota campus.  Because of the way my schedule worked out yesterday I was there with plenty of time to spare.   After I set up my table it was time to look around.

This was by no means all the vendors that were there, these are just the vendors who got there as early as I did and grabbed a spot in the ‘hub’ of things.

What I liked about the location was, there was plenty of room for everyone, both vendors and shoppers.  This was the main area, to the right and up the stairs there were more vendors leading all the way outside to a court yard.  Outside they had a band playing, though it did start to rain so I’m not quite sure how long the band played on.

This event coincided with the Surface Designers Conference which is being held in town.  As a part of that there was a fashion show to showcase some of the clothing designers.  This is Joshua B. Homic a young local designer.  I think you’re going to want to watch him because I have a feeling he’s going places.  (sorry for the blurry picture – still trying to figure out the settings on the rebel.)

As I was leaving for the night I noticed colorful knitted afghans and ‘cozies’ wrapped around various objects.  I had forgotten about the planned Yarn Bombing!!  It was like walking out onto a European street (where yarn bombings are very popular) and to know that all those poles, trees and bike racks were staying warm on that gray, rainy evening.

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