Book Reviews from the girls

I love books!!  When we get new books at the shop, I can't just flip through them real quick.  I have to set them aside and then sneak in the back and sit and look through them, all the while yelling to the girls
"Oh my gosh!!  come look at this one it is so cute"  of course no one gets anything done because they are running back and forth to look.  We just got 6 new books in the shop and each and every one of them is fantastic!!  Call the shop to order yours today!!

First up is Little Stitches by Aneela Hooey. It is grownup playtime!  Choose from over 100 original embroidery designs.  This book is a must if you love to stitch!!

Hexa go go is by Tacha Bruecher.  English paper pieced hexagons are perfect for the modern quilter on the go. Take them along with you anywhere, features modern and traditional designs.

We Love Color by 16 iconic designers.  Some of the biggest names in quilt making have joined Robert Kaufman Fabrics to share a gorgeous variety of quilts made with Kona solids by Robert Kaufman

Modern Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman.  The projects are bold, bright, graphic, and designed to give modern quilters new challenges, and really who doesn't love Elizabeth Hartman?

Modern Minimal by Alissa Haight Carlton.  Quilts are super sleek and ultra modern with these gorgeously graphic designs that use lots of open space to show off the simplicity of the quilting.  Another favorite designer of Material Girls!

Bags Modern Classics by Sue Kim.  Turn your favorite fabrics into a fashion statement,  from chic wristlets to functional carryalls, and everything in between.  Material Girls loves bags and we have given this book to Chris our resident bag maker.

So come check these our they are all awesome and full of fun projects!!  Call us to order 801-495-4290 and we will get your right out to you!!

Nadine

Labor Day Sale

It's time for our annual Labor Day Sale.  We have been busy marking lots of things down!!  Sale starts Friday August 31 and ends Monday September 3.   
Friday only buy 5 get the 6th freeSaturday  only 30% off all patterns (in stock only)   
Monday only 20% off one regular priced item.
But that is not all.....,                                                          
*over 100 bolts have been added to our Clearance $3.00 and up.
*Select kits 20%-50% off
*sale fat quarters $1.00
*sale books $3.00 and up
*sale patterns $1.00 and up
*Jelly rolls, layer cakes, and charm packs 20%-30% off
*all 30's prints 30% off.
Plus we have lots more in store specials!!
See ya soon!!
Nadine & the girls

Pumpkin Tutorial repost

We shared this tutorial with you last year but had such a great response we decided to share it again!!  I hope you enjoy it and make lots of little funky pumpkins.

I made these 3 for the shop 

I know I promised this a while ago but I have had some issues with my camera.  Then the iPod broke at the shop and my camera/phone became the iPod.  So here it is!!  I  love how these turned out,  I bought a set of these pumpkins probably about 15 years ago,  needless to say the fabric was heinous and so I decided to re-create them.  You could make these ANY size you wanted but I did a small, medium and large.  I didn't use traditional fabrics but you could use anything you like.

Step one:  Cut 2 squares the same size.  Large 13" x 15". medium 9" x 11", and small 6" x 9".  I cut the stem in a 2" x 2 1/2"  and then made it stem shaped.

Then fold one of your squares right sides together in half and make a small dart ( this is a tuck in the fabric that starts wider and gets smaller, like a dart in a blouse.)  I started half inch in and went down 3 

inches.  Do this for both front and back of your pumpkin.

Mark it with a pencil and sew on your line.  Trim and press.  Do this for both sides of your pumpkin.

Dart markings

On the top of the pumpkin round off your corners.  Mark them with a pencil.

I just rounded the corners

Now for the stem, there are a couple of ways to do this, on one of my pumpkins I rolled a piece of fabric and glued it on to the top of the pumpkin.  On the others I chose my stem fabric and marked it in a stem shape roughly 2" x 2 1/2".   Sew a quarter inch around your markings, trim excess, and turn and lightly stuff.

My stem shape!

One of my stems

Now pin right sides of pumpkin together sandwiching in the stem at the top of the pumpkin.  Sew all the way around  making sure to catch the entire bottom of the stem in your seam. Leave an opening at the bottom of your pumpkin so that you can stuff it.

Pin stem in between front and back of pumpkin

Trim corners on the top corners only.

This next step will be tricky for some,  (I hope I do okay explaining it to you.)  You are now going to make the bottom of your pumpkin so it will stand up, if you have made purse before this step will be easy for you.  You take the bottom seam and match it to the side seam (like picture A.)  then sew across that and trim (photo B.)

bottom photo A

trim off the excess

This is what the bottom will look like

Turn your pumpkin right side out, stuff tightly with polyfill as tight as you like and whip stitch the bottom closed.

 Now comes the fun part!  Embellishing!!!   I love to embellish so I tend to go overboard.  You can embellish as little or as much as you like.  I tied several ribbons, and some fun trims we have at the shop and glued one of our fun buttons on it.  Have fun with this and I  promise you won't be able to make just one!!  Below are a few of my finished pumpkins!!  Enjoy!

this is my largest one

my smallest one

Have fun!!

Nadine

Quilts and More projects

Have you seen the new "Quilts and More" magazine? It is one of my favorites!!  It is packed full of Fall projects just waiting to be created by you!  I love everyone of the projects in this issue.   I have to admit I am so ready for Fall that I am just itching to get something started that says FALL.  We have made one of the projects and we are working on a few more.  We have the magazine and kits available at the shop just give us a call.  (801)495-4290

Our version of the hexy mat

close up of the hexes

Enjoy,

Nadine

Sewing room closet

kitchen table

My sewing room closet

Okay, I admit it,  I AM A MESSY SEWER!!!   I have been sewing, designing new patterns, and working at the shop A LOT more.   Then throw in being a wife and a mom and I have to say my house is taking a beating!!  Please don't judge me by this post,  I know we all have some little skeleton lurking in our closets, I am just sharing mine to make me more accountable to clean it up in a hurry!  I am sure if my sisters see this they will for sure be on the phone to the Hoarders show (Sue, Bev put the phone down!).   I don't have a day off from the shop this week but I WILL HAVE THIS CLEANED BY SUNDAY!!!   My hat is off to the working mom that do it all, it ain't easy!  However, I have just found a new cleaning lady that will be helping me with the rest of the house so my sewing room doesn't get this way.    Okay, with that being said I have cooked 2 nights in a row, and finished several projects and the laundry is done!!  So, I have to ask......,  does your sewing room or kitchen table ever look like this?  Leave a post I would love to hear!
Keeping it real!!
Nadine

randomness

Okay, I know this is random, but if you love cupcakes you are gonna thank me for this post!!  I just discovered these and they are DELISH!!  If you try them you are going to be hooked.
Enjoy!

Nadine

a quilt along with Dream Create Quilt

I love all the quilt alongs on blogs.  I always say  " ohhh, I am going to do that" and then I don't get it finished,  but, this time I will be finishing it!  I plan on making four small quilts, one for my cousin in England, and one for me and my two sisters.   Cynthia, (who has been a customer of ours since we opened our doors in 2005,) has just started the Victory Garden on her blog Dream Quilt Create  She and her daughter are the cutest and when her daughter came into the shop to get her fabric, I couldn't quit thinking about it.   We have just re-ordered the pattern so it should be here soon (hopefully Monday).  She chose a mixture of fabrics in florals (mostly Lecien)    I happen to love her choices so I am doing something really similar.     We do have these fabrics in the shop if you want the same ones as her.  So, call the shop and get your pattern and lets get this started!!
Nadine

Tinsel Christmas

Christmas is definitely arriving at Material Girls.  We just received this new line "Tinsel" by Blend fabrics and I see tree skirts, stocking and this cute free pattern on the blend site.  It's time to get those Christmas projects started or at least planned out.  With temp's in the upper 90's it is hard to think that far ahead or that it will ever cooldown but I promise its coming!!
Nadine

Decorating the walls with Fresh Living

If you missed todays segment of "Fresh Living"  link to watch it!  It was a lot of fun as usual Debbie and Casey always make us feel so welcome!!  Thanks Channel 2 and Fresh Living for having us!!
Nadine

Mac the scissor guy

Mac the scissor guy will be back at the shop this saturday, August 11th, from 8 to 2.  $8 a pair.  Bring in any kind of scissor and he can sharpen and fix them.  See you then!!!

Material Girls on Fresh Living

Be sure and tune in tomorrow to Utah's Fresh Living with Debbie Worthen and Casey Scott at 1:00 pm   Material Girls will be showing how to dress up your drab walls with fabric!!
Nadine

a look inside the shop!!

a modern quilt by Pixie Girl Quilts

a modern quilt made by Emily

A cute bed quilt designed by our very own Cathy

a Lori Holt quilt

a cute one from Lori Holt

Gosh, does anyone else feel like this Summer is flying by?  I have been meaning to post pictures of the shop and what we have up on our walls just to keep those of you that don't live close can a peek inside the shop.  I finally got my phone, (which just happens to be my camera too!  I know Lamo!!) figured out so the pictures would send.   So here are just a few shots to share!!
Enjoy!

A pillow made by our cute and talented Kirsten

Storybook Lane by Andover

Okay, I have to admit I am smitten with this line of fabric!!   The designer Kelly Lee Creel has created a darling version of several of your favorite stories Little Red and Gretl, Alice and Goldilocks and put them in to puppets with little carry bags.  Your kids are going to love it!!  When Chris our resident maker of everything came in with them I wanted to sit and play with them.  So Cute!!  We have all of the patterns that go with them and the full line of fabric.  These would make great Christmas presents!!
Nadine