Waechter's Blog

Our New Blog!

2010-09-17T13:23:00.003-04:00

We've moved blog spots and we're very excited about our new home . We have great things in store and can't wait to share them with you.

Visit our new blog here:
http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/wp-waec/

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Waechter's Fine Fabrics Featured on WLOS Craft Corner

2010-08-06T13:31:00.002-04:00

Waechter's Fine Fabrics has been featured in two Craft Corner segments on WLOS News 13. You can view these at the WLOS website along with printable directions for these wearable art ideas.

Embellishing Children's Clothing with Elizabeth George
July 19, 2010

Handbag Embellishment with Laura Casey
August 2, 2010

Our Constant Favorite: Silk Burlap

2010-07-09T13:12:00.006-04:00

As soon as we got this amazing silk burlap in, we knew it would be an instant success! All three colors: Ivory, Oatmeal and Charcoal are great choices.

Many of you have called asking about it after the great article on finishing techniques done by Mary Ray. You can find the article here.
Mary Ray also used the ribbed silk and linen blend that we carry in a multitude of colors.

A super lightweight and beautiful fabric - you can layer it and wear it year round.
Find the fabric on our website -
Charcoal
Ivory
Oatmeal

Make a great shell, tunic or dress out of these fabrics and have a lightweight - cooler summer!

Beginning to Sew? Book it!

2010-07-03T15:43:00.007-04:00

Everyone of the sewing guys and gals I know that has a passion for the needle and thread has a shelf (or 4) of sewing books.
As summer sewing students stroll in, I started thinking about my favorite reference and resource books. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Let's start with the basics - I am just loving The Dressmaker's Technique Bible.
It says it's a complete guide to fashion sewing, and it isn't kidding. An updated reference book for anyone learning to make garments, it is tailored for the sewing gal.

With pictures, drawings and detailed understandable instructions, this is the cover-all-your-bases book that is my go to reference. Hardback + spiral bound, it's a sturdy and user-friendly read.

Next up: Sandra Betzina's More Fabric Savy.
If you have a question about a fabric, what is it, what's it good for, how should I use it, wash it, dry it, stitch it, hem it - etc. - Ms. Betzina covers it! This book has fabulous pictures, great explanations and even tells you what type of needle to use. She gives great tips and is extremely clear. Ah - what did I do before I had this book?! (Oh yeah - I had ugly finishes and never changed my needle).

Looking for an embellishment book?
I recommend Customizing Cool Clothes - from dull to divine in 30 projects
This one has some fantastic ideas. I like it because the techniques can be adapted to really fit your style, personality - or wardrobe. From sewing on appliques to inserting grommets and using leather, feathers or sequins, this book has a lot to offer and teach.

The last book I'm going to mention is Fine Embellishment Techniques.
Whenever I look through this book, I am transported to the ateliers of the past, dreaming and getting a glimpse of what it must have been like to hand bead couture gowns and embroider gloves. This book offers sophisticated and timeless ideas and techniques to create a beautiful project.

There are so many more amazing reference, resource and inspiration books. Browse them all on our website.
Happy Sewing!

A Summer For Shirtings

2010-06-11T10:56:00.009-04:00

I love a good shirting in summer. Cool, crisp, and classy, you can make so many things and look stylish in the humidity and heat.

Cottons shown left to right are available online:
#14499, 14500, 14466, 14501, and 6124

My favorite thing to make out of cotton shirting is actually a dress. Is there anything more comfortable than a classic shirt-dress? Belt it, wear a vest over it, tie a scarf around your waist, neck or drape one over your shoulders. Make button-up sleeves, or go sleeveless. Unleash your creativity!

Make a blouse, slip-dress, tunic, or wrap dress. Use a pattern from your stash or try any number of our independent designer patterns.

These beautiful cottons are easy to care for and wear wonderfully. Take it from me, I have several of Waechter's designer cotton shirtings in my wardrobe.

All of the patterns above would work beautifully with cotton shirtings.
Patterns in the top picture starting in the bottom left corner and continuing clockwise:
Favorite things Prairie Girl, Schoolhouse Tunic #13946, Colette Sencha Blouse #14176, Decades of Style Siren Sundress #10490, Favorite Things Nighty Night Slips #10656, Colette Parfait Dress #14180, and in the center -Amy Butler's The Liverpool Tunic #13290

Everything here is available online: www.waechters.com

Summer Projects

2010-05-22T15:20:00.005-04:00

Waechterette, Linda, was putting together a cheerful little thing today and it looked so fun I thought we should share!

She's making a Sleep Over Quilt for her granddaughter full of bright pinks and flowers. I just love the trim she picked out:

Here's a picture of the one we have in the store -all rolled up, with handles and pocket. It's ready for toothbrush, Mr. Bear and giggles.

And here's a picture of it starting to be unrolled:

Does it get any better than a handmade quilt of her very own to take to friends and grandparents? I think that would keep some homesickness at bay when lights-out roll around.

This project can be as gussied up or simple as you choose to make it. If your granddaughter, niece, daughter or godchild is starting to get interested in sewing, this would be a great project to work on together.

To see more about the pattern click here.

Do you have a great summer project you're working on? Tell us about it!

Have a great week and a beautiful end of May!

Wearable Art -Waechter's Way

2010-04-29T11:39:00.003-04:00

Have you always wanted to add your special signature to the clothes you make? Would you like to learn techniques for special details on couture fashions? If so, you'll want to have a front row seat for "Wearable Art...Waechter's Way" on Saturday, May 1 at 11 a.m. The presentation is free. However, space is limited, so call today to reserve a place for you and your friends.

We have had a blast giving demos and mini-classes about once a season here at Waechters. We're doing a artsy fun and fiber-y day filled with some of our very own favorite fiber artists:

Laura will introduce considerations for wearable art,
Karen will share how she jazzes up jackets,
Elizabeth will show how she combines fabrics, trims and creative details for children clothing
& Julie will present a fun and flirty scarf with silks and ribbons.

P.S. Did you know that Waechter's Fine Fabrics is again sponsoring the Wearable Art category at the Asheville Quilt Guild's Annual Quilt Show, August 6-8, at the NC Arboretum. Anyone may submit an entry in the show and the wearable art entries are not required to be quilted. The top three winners will receive fabulous gift certificates from Waechter's. For information and to download the entry form, visit AQG's website: www.ashevillequiltguild.org The deadline to submit an entry form is June 15.

We hope to see you there!

Heaven

2010-04-15T13:12:00.004-04:00

We love rolling the dupioni onto boards. We pile it in a chair and the sun filters down from the skylight and we just drool. We thought you might like a little eye candy too.

Silk dupioni just glows - I have a theory that every young gal who takes up sewing goes through a stage where they have eyes only for this glorious stuff. You can wash it to make it lose some of its stiffness -even after detergent - silk dupioni retains its sheen and luminescence.

Elinor Peace Bailey

2010-04-08T14:41:00.014-04:00

We had the amazing, talented, and just a down-right-hoot - Elinor Peace Bailey in the store for a wonderful teaching session a few weeks ago and we thought we'd share some pictures and a first rate account of the experience by our very own Laura Casey.

Here are her words:

"It started Monday night, as soon as I saw the turquoise & black striped leggings coming down the escalator I knew Elinor Peace Bailey had arrived -complete with a bright new red hair color all over her head -Kool-Aid red. She topped it off with a gold and black velvet beanie. We got the dolls in the car - two huge suitcases of them and a little travel bag for Elinor, what does a girl need but her dolls! It was late, she was tired, a bit of rain ... she headed for bed.

Tuesday - better known as Asheville Quilt Guild Day when it's the 3rd Tuesday of the month. She and her dolls were off to the Folk Art Center for our monthly meeting. Elinor Peace Bailey was FABULOUS -she recited poetry, sang and we all laughed with her and her dolls. Every minute was a delight. I rushed home to get the table set -my quilting bee, The WeeBees, planned to entertain her over dinner - delight in her presence and enjoy the evening. Thank goodness it was a pot luck! Quilters are good cooks if you can get them pried away from their sewing machines, but with Elinor in town -that wasn't a problem!

We toasted to friendship, brought every doll to show and tell and wore doll pins, it was a fantastic evening for all of us.

Wednesday, Saint Patrick's Day, and the first workshop of the week. Elinor was in bilious green from head to toe and ready to go as we headed down the mountain at 8:30 am. She had her dolls in tow and I scampered off to pick up her patterns from Waechters where they had been flying out the door all month! After delivering the patterns to her class, I went off to the gym to work off the feast from the night before! Elinor arrived home a tired puppy. A nice quiet dinner was in order so we went to The Stoney Knob, a great restaurant, full of unique charm, just like Elinor. Stoney Knob's lamb shanks are amazing and one of EPB's favorites.

Thursday was the next full workshop day for Elinor. The sewing areas were ready and students had their patterns and fabrics ready to go. Joyce, our fearless Waechters leader, introduced Elinor with a flourish and EPB took over and was in her element ... she's just amazing! I must mention that Elinor was a vision of orange, complete with a fabulous new beanie. I have her beanie pattern and I think I'll whip one up, if nothing else, just to adorn my studio.

Elinor painted each doll face, she just called out the doll name, which she knew by the bald/faceless head sitting in front of her and the maker would arrive to determine the color of the eyes and to sit and talk with Elinor as she effortlessly sketched a unique face for each doll.

In the midst of all this fun, Elinor allowed us to interview her for SewWOW, designed a dress for SewWOW, and managed to buy lots of our new Kaffe Fasset rayon prints. Her favorite was #14127.

Friday, our first day to sleep in. We had a little breakfast, and then off to shop and do! We headed to the River Arts District, full of working studios. We bought flower bouquets from the button florist and talked with many textile artists who have etsy stores - Elinor Peace Bailey was immediately recognized and embraced. She's a legend, truly. We also toured some of the older neighborhoods in Asheville with gracious homes and B&Bs full of color and landscaping. To complete her Asheville experience, we had lunch at 12 Bones. Pulled pork sandwiches, jalapeno grits, buttered green beans and tall glasses of water. We were almost ready for the airport. Our last stop was to pick up some book binding materials for EPB's handmade journals. We stopped at Bookworks, where they recognized her right away. A finishing touch of a full and wonderful week. Elinor is a delight in every way, gracious from head to toe. To learn more about her, visit her website: www.epbdolls.com"

Laura Casey's very own masterpiece from the doll class

Colette Patterns and Anna Maria Horner Voiles!

2010-04-02T16:17:00.008-04:00

I've been waiting and dreaming and hoping and at last - they are here! We have 7 new patterns by the talented Sarai Mitnick who is the mastermind behind Colette Patterns. As we all know - women of every size and flavor are talented, beautiful and sparkly - which is why we love Colette patterns. Sarai creates great patterns that are incredibly well made for sizes 0 (33" bust) to 18 (46" bust). I mean very well made and with great instructions -and coming from a pattern drafter, that is high high praise. All of the different versions of these patterns that I have seen fit and flatter. The patterns lend themselves to many different fabric interpretations which leads me to Miss Anna Maria Horner...

We have 4 of her beautiful lightweight, airy and silky smooth voiles and I'm telling you - combine them with the different colors of linen/silk ribbed fabric we keep in stock and you will dazzle! In particular might I suggest the Macaron dress with voile on top and linen/silk rib on bottom?

Or how about the Beignet Skirt in a Japanese Cotton or a twill with voile-covered do-it-yourself buttons and narrow belt.

Anna Maria Horner voiles are great for children's clothing as well of course! I am also thinking of making a soft and light sarong for beach days -or secret swimming hole moments. I love the pink one with buildings and willowy trees.

And a ribbed silk/linen:

Happy dreaming, combining, and sewing!
-Sarahbeth

Gals Watch Out!

2010-03-19T17:44:00.005-04:00

We have a brand new sewing pattern line for the younger, or younger feeling woman. We've picked up Kwik Sew Patterns because of their simple lines, fresh look, and easy to sew patterns. We're carrying around 16 of our favorite patterns and we would love to hear what you think!

There are a couple of patterns for the pre-teen included as well. We were just tickled to death to have had so many gals in our sewing summer camp and thought they too could use a couple of patterns to try.

Next up will be a few beautiful patterns from the independent pattern designer Colette. I have long loved her vintage-modern style and can't wait to get them in .... especially that skirt pattern!

As for my favorite pattern in the Kwik Sew - that would have to be pattern # 3624. I'm seeing it as a great layering piece for chilly Spring nights in a great drapey stretch jersey. I'm also seeing it in a wool sweater knit for fall, but if Joyce gets the better of me - I may have to do it in this fabric as well...

Kwik Sew Pattern # 3624

Ah well -maybe I'll make all three! Happy Sewing!
-Sarahbeth

Lets Talk Interfacing...

2009-11-11T14:51:00.005-05:00

Interfacings can be puzzling. Why do you use them, how to you use them and which one do you pick? So I set out to pick the brains of the quite knowledgeable Waechterettes.

French Fuse

It's the long standing joke that if you ask us all the same question you'll get 8 different answers. Because sewing is an art as well as a skill, all of our answers reflect what we love to sew and the way we inject our style into our skill.

Here's what was said:

Judith -our resident perfectionist: I've never found a fusible that doesn't bubble a little. Bubbling interfacing drives me crazy so I prefer to use silk organza. Pre-Shrink it, we always carry black and white in the store. There is virtually no weight added and I find it to be the perfect amount of stabilizing for most projects. It is very important to use interfacing for fabrics that may stretch out of shape.

Elizabeth -our detail maven: Honestly, I use sew-ins and one main reason is because I have a junky iron and have had problems with fusibles moving around after completing a garment. I use the light weight and medium sew-ins and love them. Basting the interfacings in means that they won't move around. I will admit that I tried my hand at the fusible cotton lawn on a organdy shirt and it receives high, high marks because it provided enough weight while still maintaining the transparency.

Elaine -quilter and tailor: I use a woven fusible or French Fuse for cotton garments. I love the weight of a fusible for waistbands. Of course, if I'm doing tailoring I use the old fallback: Hair Canvas. Waechter's has a fusible Hair Canvas that is great.

Karen -artist and free spirit: French Fuse all the way. Use it on light weight sewing projects, linen, rayon, and even on some silk. It's fast, quick and easy.

Laura Casey -color and coordinating genius, purse queen: French Fuse for dressmaking. I always have 3 yards of it in my sewing studio in both black and white. It's easy and adds no weight to a fabric. I like the fusible because it allows me to just deal with the one piece of fabric after it's been ironed on. Of course, I prefer a heavier interfacing for purse making, but it has to be iron on no matter what. Quick and easy.

Linda -technique guru: I use batiste cotton or organza. I will use 505 spray to temporarily attach it. I use those interfacings so that it won't add heft to a fabric. Use interfacing to give a piece body or support.

Sarahbeth -wild child: I love a good shirt. There's nothing better than a men's shirt made with feminine wiles, but I can't stand a droopy collar. The crisper the better. Sew in wovens give firm support. Also - I love a lightweight knit. There is a fusible nude color tricot interfacing that is to die for use it on featherweight knits.

Joyce -our heirloom sewing queen: I love the fusible cotton lawn. Use it on voile, liberty and other lightweight cottons. It has a wonderful weight and drape. Perfect for heirloom sewing and lightweight pretty things.

Find all of these interfacings on our interfacing page at http://www.waechters.com/

A Quiet Afternoon in the Sewing Room...

2009-09-24T10:10:00.008-04:00

Well we all know we just can't keep Laura Casey from sewing, creating and dreaming! Here's her latest fun project: Perennial Pajama Pants!!! Inspired by the new fantastic flannels that we are receiving for winter, she couldn't help but take an old favorite pattern and give it a twist.

Flannel:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=HEIRLOOM-12757&Category_Code=NewProd

Sign up for her Perennial Pant Class to receive one on one help and fantastic ideas about how to make this pattern sing for you. Tuesday October 13th 10-2.

In the mean time - enjoy these photos and some Laura Casey sewin' comments:

"After seeing the great flannel's Waechter's got in - I NEEDED some... so 2 & 1/2 yds -cut washed and thrown in the dryer - and it didn't shrink and inch - not one!"
"We all know this is my favorite pattern - so after using it to bits -I've done myself the favor of copying it onto tracing paper ... nice and sturdy."

"I love using pattern weights - I can lay out all the pieces and make sure they fit without pinning and re-pinning - it saves so much time - just move and go!"

"I always use 1 1/4" elastic -for every pant garment - and I don't care what color it is either - no one sees it once it's in. Also I like to put my elastic in as Lois Hinse patterns show - it's neat and gives a more professional look."

This is a detail of the Perennial Pant Darts - I love the look in flannel!

Beautiful September

2009-09-04T15:45:00.011-04:00

I think of September as one of those perfect months - and not just because it happens to be my birthday month. Nope - I just love September because of the gorgeous bright blue skies, cool mornings and nights and fantastic stylish outfit possibilities that go with it!

I caught Ms. Joyce wearing a simply decadent cowl shift dress and walking her dog into the village to hand deliver a potted orchid. Now I ask you, can it get any better? I just had to steal her picture...

Then there's our display queen - Ms. Laura - who hit the nail on the head when she put together this collection of jackets - just in time for jacket season:

What's that, you want to see the details up close?

I can't wait to get my hands on the silk velvet I bought and make a fantastic fall jacket. If velvet's not your style - how about our brand new faux Persian lamb? It's soft and will keep you stylish and warm throughout the winds of autumn...

Happy September,

-Sarahbeth and the Waechterettes

Paper Doll Wonderland Part 2!

2009-09-03T15:31:00.017-04:00

You've waited - you've watched - and been oh so patient! Here's part 2 of the Paper Doll Wonderland.

So we've got our great dolls all ready and we've got our great paperdoll clothes fabric:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=FINE-COT-12003&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Now what?

Loosely cut out the clothing you'll want. Leave the tabs on or cut them off - we did some of both. We choose not to make the shoes but you easily can following these same steps:

Now give your dresses a little backing - with some woven fusible interfacing (fusible only on one side this time). Use your iron and fuse it to the wrong side of your dress:

Then back your dresses with a lightweight fabric - use something that doesn't have a print so that it doesn't show through - Joyce used a cotton/lurex shimmery number. Her theory is - if you're going to give that little girl in your life some fun, fabulous frivolity - might as well make it shimmer and shine!

Okay - now get out your thin elastic and tack it with a few stitches on either side of the middle of your clothes - do the same to the shoes if you have chosen to make them too.

So it will look like this:

Here are the finished fronts of our dresses - I love the look of the tabs:

And here are the backs of our dollies with their dresses on:

And of-course - what you've really been waiting for - here are the girls in their pretty dresses from the front!!!

Enjoy! Be sure to check out our next Sew WOW issue where the dollie dress -complete with hidden pocket and dolls makes its debut!!!

From all of us here at Waechters - happy sewing!

Laura's Lucy Skirt

2009-07-31T17:21:00.009-04:00

Well you know our Laura Casey - she can't resist a bright colored print and a cute project. She tackled this girl's skirt and headband pattern by Bananafana in a day and gave us some pointers. We just had to show you her finished piece! Does it get much stinkin' cuter?

Fabric = Sandi Henderson Dahlia:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SandiHenderson-11814&Category_Code=FINE-COT

Trim = Pink Rick Rack:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Trims-9046-RickRack&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

and Wired Satin Stripe Berry Ribbon:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=HEIRLOOM-TRIM-12227&Category_Code=Trims

Laura says:

"I made it in no time - it only has 3 pieces!"

"I used my favorite notion: Steam-a-Seam - this thing is just great! I used to think it was just one more thing to buy, but it really makes my life easier. The hem just flies when I use this notion. "

"If you have an edge foot -use it. It makes hemming anything close easy -making you look oh so good!"

"I had just a great time - got to use all my fun trim ideas, and I made 2 in an afternoon!"

Everything is Coming up Poppies

2009-07-30T15:53:00.009-04:00

Do you ever need a little design inspiration? Well I do - and sometimes playing in my fabric stash will do the trick, or taking a walk and looking at all the designs of nature fit the bill. Last week I saw a gorgeous lone poppy, and I started thinking...

Here are some dynamic color combinations that one lone flower had me dream up:

The fabric shown under the ribbon is a hand painted Silk Chiffon with Chiffon petals:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=SIL-12563&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

The ribbon is actually called Poppies:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Ribbon-12188&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

This red purple cross dyed silk dupioni is just beautiful:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=DUP-5121&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

and ribbon:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Ribbon-12193&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

And who doesn't need a deep red and black cross dyed dupioni in their stash?

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=DUP-7120&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

Yarn:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Yarn-12184&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

Oh my, of course - the most poppy-inspired ribbons I have ever seen. The top five are hand dyed gorgeous hues. The bottom ribbon is a sweet woven field of pink poppies.

Ribbons from top to bottom:

1.Hand dyed silk velvet in color Hot Flash:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Trim-10067-RibbonSilkVelvet&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

2. Hand dyed silk ribbon in Hot Flash

3. Hand dyed silk ribbon in American Beauty:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Trims-5221-Ribbon&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

4.Hand dyed silk ribbon in China Doll:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=Trims-0978-Ribbon&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

5. Woven Ribbon with Pink Poppies:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=TRIM-10445&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

Last but not least - you need buttons to go with your vision of poppies - so here are a few that I just love that fit the bill:

Top to bottom:

1 & 2. Plastic Button with Brown Squiggles:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=PLA-6922-10798&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

3. Art Deco Resin Flower in Brown and Grey:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=PLA-12216&Product_Count=&Category_Code =

and 4. Art Deco Resin Flower in Ecru:

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=PLA-12215

I hope you found plenty of inspiration to keep you going during these dog days of summer.

Happy Dreaming and Sewing!

Paper Doll Wonderland Part 1

2009-07-10T17:10:00.021-04:00

It doesn't get much cuter than this fabric. When I saw this vintage paper doll and coordinating outfit fabric - I couldn't wait to get out my scissors and go to town!

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=FINE-COT-12005&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Can't you just see an outfit made out of this fabric - with a doll size pocket and dollie in it. Well - we did and we're sewing it up as we speak. But I'm getting ahead of myself, first, let me share our first fabric doll project. What's better for little gals than a bunch of fabric paper dolls that don't rip. Better yet, you can wash them off when they have tea party crumpet stains.

I cut around 4 dollies - using different poses:

Adhere transweb onto the back of each doll:

Cut out the dollie from the transweb. You can cut closely as the dollies will now be put onto a heavy interfacing that will stabilize them. Take the paper backing off transwebed back of dollie and adhere timtex or a heavy interfacing.

We're now going to cover the back of each of our dolls with a pretty backing fabric (we used black polka dot). Iron transweb onto the back of each backing fabric. Now adhere the backing to the back of the timtex - the back of your dolls.

After all that ironing comes the fun part - cut them out! You can cut as close to the line as you like.

Small scissors are great for this.

Our dollies are coming to life!

Now stitch around the gals as close to the cut edge as you dare. We used smoke invisible thread on top (and of course a regular bobbin of white thread).

Meet sisters Emma Grace, twins: Alma and Lucy and their good friend Caroline:

and just so they know who they are - we've labeled them:

Is there anything more stinkin' cute than these little gals! Well stay tuned - you haven't seen their dresses and shoes yet... that's part 2 of our Paper Doll Wonderland!

http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSS&Product_Code=FINE-COT-12003&Product_Count=&Category_Code

Happy sewing, dreaming, creating! From all of us here at Waechter's Fine Fabrics -

Summer Sewing Classes

2009-05-13T11:46:00.015-04:00

Where does the time go when you're having fun? I just realized it has been almost 2 months since my last blog....we have been busy settling into our new home after our whirlwind move at the end of February. New fabrics for sewing a summer wardrobe have been arriving daily...my staff have been planning new sample garments as well as selecting fabrics for their summer fashions. To help you with your sewing projects, we have many new classes on the calendar from now through September. You will find a class calendar on our home page, just click on the class title and the description will pop up on the screen.

Our teachers and students are enjoying our new classroom with more space and privacy and it will soon be even larger. One of the most popular classes is Pants That Fit....we are now teaching this in 3 sessions to give students more time devoted to fitting their muslin and then constructing their new altered pants pattern in their fashion fabric. We also offer a Create a Master Pattern class and a Get Fit Clinic. And coming up in late August, you can learn how to design, cut and sew a lining for an unlined jacket pattern...great addition to your fall wardrobe.

We love to add our own personal style to the clothes we create. With that in mind,

we have some great classes in store for you....guest designer/teacher Mary Ray will be teaching a Rectangle Skirt that is shaped with darts, tucks, pleats or gathers...the choice is yours. She also has a "ton" of ideas for adding details to the waist and hems. This exciting class will happen on Thursday and Friday, June 22 & 23.

Laura Casey will be teaching a small hand bag for "the woman on the go." You will want to create several of these hand bags for gifts besides one for yourself! Her "Go To" Bag class takes place on Fri, May 29 and Tues, Sept. 29.

How about a "Flirty Shirty" to go with your new bag? Begin with a man's dress shirt, snip here and there, and then stir in some new fabrics, buttons and imagination! Julie Simpson will show you the many possibilities tucked in her bag of sewing tricks on Thursday, June 11.

Fabric Origami: On Sunday afternoon, June 14, Elizabeth George will show you a unique method of using stiffened fabric to create a small gift box or hand bag, a style similar to the art of origami, the Japanese art of folding paper. You will want to make several of these boxes and bags.

These are just a few of the new class offerings and I will tell you about others at another time. If you are interested in learning to sew or brush up on construction or embellishment techniques, and don't see a class that meets your needs, please let us know.

You are invited to celebrate our GRAND RE-OPENING on Friday & Saturday, June 5 & 6 in our new location in Biltmore Village. We have planned a mini-sewing expo with free sewing demonstrations by our Waechter's experts, trunk shows displayed on mannequins throughout the store, sewing machine & serger demos ....all with door prizes and refreshments! You will find a schedule of events at http://www.waechters.com/ Bring your friends.....We open at 10 a.m. and close at 5:30pm on Friday and 5pm on Saturday.

Sew creatively,

Joyce

Our New Home

2009-03-09T15:00:00.013-04:00

Finally, after a hectic three weeks, I can catch my breath. We have packed up and moved to a new location in Asheville. Once we signed the new lease, my staff and I started packing whenever we had a few moments. After working in our former location without heat and hot water since mid-November, we were ready to leave our old digs!

On Sunday, March 1st, staff members, their husbands, sons and friends were set to begin moving bolts and bolts of fabric. We awoke that morning with snowflakes in the air. Did my team wait to see what the weather was going to do? Absolutely not! They converged on the shop hours ahead of schedule and started a caravan of SUVs and station wagons loaded to the hilt with bolts of silk, linen, cotton, wools, interfacings, Irish toweling and a few other things we could not pack in boxes.

After several trips, back and forth, we finished moving the fabric...and not a minute too soon. In the beginning, the snow was beautiful, large floating flakes that melted as they touched our nose or the ground. As the day grew colder and the wind picked up, the streets were slushy and those who lived on the mountain tops were concerned about icy roads. Laura had made two large pots of chili which really hit the spot before everyone started heading home.

Then, Monday morning, the moving company was to arrive at 8 a.m. to move the boxes and fixtures....however, we had icy streets, schools and many businesses were closed with more snow and rain predicted. So much for our carefully laid plans. The movers finally showed up around 2 and worked until 9 pm that evening. Our carpenter was also busy building new walls and fabric fixtures.

A very talented guy, Jack, designed the floor plan for our new space. We have a great new wall for our designer patterns, another larger wall for notions, a special corner for children's fabrics and lots and lots of mannequins - 50+ children and adults - dressed in our fabulous samples throughout the store. The fabrics are so beautiful in this wonderful space.

In just 5 days, we were ready to open in our new location - 9-D Reed Street - in a large brick warehouse built in 1921. The original Waechter's Silk Shop opened its doors on March 6, 1929 in downtown Asheville. Saturday, we celebrated our 80th Anniversary in our new store. It was a beautiful day, sunshine and spring temps in the upper 70s. Customers, new and returning, came from all over WNC to check out our new home.

But it was not without incident. When I walked into the store that morning, I could smell gas! The gas company came and thought the problem had been fixed; but then had to return later in the day. At 6 pm we were told to leave the building, don't think that doesn't make your heart do flip flops! Finally, this afternoon (Monday), the gas problem is fixed and all is well.

Our new home is still a work in progress as we are nestling in. We will have it altogether in a short while. So what if we cannot not find the remote to the stereo today...we found the internet connector that was missing for a few days... and we still have to have a couple more wall spaces to be built. I have a great staff who are working as fast as they canto bring it all to fruition. What more could I ask for!

You wonder how Abby's adjusting to the new store? At the beginning of the week, she was somewhat nervous, having problems settling in. However, today, she seems more relaxed and 'at home,' probably because I am a little more relaxed and have some time to spend at my desk and computer. Abby also has more living space here at the new store, her doggie bed is no longer under my desk.

Please visit our new home....we would love to see you and show you around our new store. We look forward to seeing you soon.

It's sew fine,

Joyce

We're Moving!

2009-02-25T14:58:00.004-05:00

We are so excited!!!....we have found a wonderful warehouse space in Biltmore Village behind J.Crew - 9-D Reed Street. We will have a much larger space for all our beautiful fine fabrics, buttons, trims, patterns....and a space dedicated for classes and workshops...and office space for our staff, the Waechterettes.

We are moving next week, so Waechter's Silk Shop will be closed from Monday, March 2 to Friday, March 6.

On Saturday, March 7, we will re-open at 9-D Reed Street at 10 a.m. to celebrate Waechter's 80th Anniversary...George Waechter opened his store on March 6, 1929, in the Grove Archade - the first retail store in the Grove Arcade.

Be sure to visit our new home between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.on Saturday, March 7. We will have door prizes and refreshments to celebrate our 80th Anniversay. Our popular silk dupioni, all 40 colors, will be on sale at 20% off through March 31 while store supplies last.

Bring your friends to the party!

See you on March 7,
Joyce

Kayla Kennington...Modular Designs

2009-02-02T15:55:00.009-05:00

Kayla Kennington is one of our favorite pattern designers. Kayla has been creating one-of-a-kind silk clothing and showpieces for galleries, individual clients and shows for over 30 years. She won the "Crème de la Crème" Award in the Bernina Fashion Show in 2001 with the "Butterfly Coat," and again in 2002 with the "Fire Blossom Phoenix," and received the Bernina Hall of Fame Award in 2003.

Her pattern company, Modular Design for Couture Artwear, translates her more subtle couture garment designs into a fabulous pattern collection. One of my all-time favorite patterns is Kayla's Paris Evening Coat. This uses her unique signature seaming style, a roll-hem & multi-stitch zig-zag seaming connection. It is awesome and adds a beautiful detail to a garment. Instructions for the technique are included in her patterns. You can also find tips on this technique on her website http://www.kaylakennington.com/sewing_tips.html w.kaylakennington.com/sewing_tips.html

Kayla includes many illustrations in her patterns, addressing the abilities of both beginner and skilled sewers. Kayla’s patterns have no facings, no zippers, and no buttonholes, and lots of creative potential. What can be easier than that!

Another favorite pattern is Kayla's Perennial Pants, an easy construction pant without side seams. The soft elastic waist with two or three pleats give a comfortable and roomy fit, but stylish look for casual wear in cotton or linen or silk for evening.

Kwan Yin Kimono: Modular Design Garment, made with various sized rectangles is Kayla's newest pattern. You will love the loose fitting style for a new spring look. You will find these patterns and more by Kayla on our website: http://www.waechters.com/

Well, it looks like more winter weather ahead...it's snowing now, a good evening to relax, sit and sew!

Happy Sewing,
Joyce

Linda and Louise Will Return to Asheville

2009-01-26T13:50:00.007-05:00

Kung Hee Fat Choy!

May you have good luck and prosperity in the New Year!

Today, January 26, is an incredibly auspicious day....not only is today the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Ox but there was a New Moon Eclipse this morning, an event that happens only twice a year! We look forward to many exciting new beginnings.....

One of the exciting events this year is that Waechter's Silk Shop will be hosting Linda Lee and Louise Cutting's Sit & Sew Retreat on November 1-4. This is an amazing 3 days of sewing with two fabulous pattern designers and teachers who contribute regularly to Threads and who have collaborated on a new pattern line, SHAPES.

After arrival on Sunday evening, there will be a social gathering to meet your teachers and "classmates" you will be treated to a cocktail party at our shop while viewing the trunk shows from Linda's The Sewing Workshop Pattern Collection and Louise's The Cutting Line Design Pattern Collection.

During the Retreat, you will be working on a pattern(s) of your choice from The Sewing Workshop and/or The Cutting Lines Design with pattern adjustments and fitting help from Linda and Louise as well as fabric consultation. They will be demonstrating easy and time-saving sewing techniques such as fine finishing skills, hemming techniques, mitered corner techniques, proper pinning and pressing skills and sew much more!

Not only is the Retreat a fun learning opportunity, but you will also make new friends who share your passion for sewing beautiful garments. Check the home page on our website for further details and registration information for this fun fall fashion event in Asheville, NC!

Sew long for now,

Joyce

P.S.

This is one of the latest Shapes patterns by Linda Lee and Louise Cutting: Crazy Eight Top, a slightly trapezoidal rectangle folds like origami to create a simple one-piece top. The overlapping back falls in soft folds, the front hangs nice and straight.

It's a New Year!

2009-01-02T15:45:00.014-05:00

Well, here we are in the New Year! Everyone is busy scurrying around making room for new fabric that will be arriving in the days ahead. In fact, we have our first box of fabric for 2009 waiting to be opened. We all love opening these packages to see what gorgeous fabrics are inside to set our creative juices flowing…a celebration of fabric!

We have new schedule of classes that will be starting the week of January 12. There is a line-up of classes in heirloom sewing including a studio class where anyone who has taken a class in smocking may come and share their work with other “smockers” as well as receive advice from Betsy Sherman, our expert in heirloom sewing.

We also have fitting classes with Susan Stowell and fashion sewing classes taught by Karen Bennett and Elizabeth Searle. Karen will be offering an adult beginning sewing class on Thursdays and an evening sewing class on Monday evenings. Elizabeth will also be offering technique sewing class and a youth sewing camp for young girls on Saturdays in March. These are only a few of the many classes that you will find on the Calendar of Events on our website – http://www.waechters.com/

Earlier this week, Karen mentored several young girls who wanted to learn how to sew. They brought their mother’s sewing machine, picked out their fabrics and Karen had them ‘stitching up a storm' in no time.

Their first project was a pillow case with three coordinated fabrics. Here are Audrey, Kelleigh and Jenna showing off their colorful pillow cases in beautiful cotton fabrics in pinks and greens.

At the close of the second day, Kelleigh, Audrey and Jenna modeled their skirts. Audrey had made her skirt project for a young friend. She even began sewing a second skirt before the class was over. Note the hot pink pom-pom trim on Kelliegh's and Audrey's skirts. Jenna chose a retro trim in greens, blues and browns to add zing to her brown and green polka dots. I believe these girls have the makings of "fashionistas." Well done. girls!

Saturday, I ran away with my friend, Jan, to a wonderful needlepoint shop in Rockhill, SC....Two's Company Needlepoint. Jane, the owner, has a large, full service store with four finishers. We hit it off from the start as we share the same belief of personal attention to customers' needs and prompt customer service. If you are a person who enjoys needlepoint, yarns and fibers, Rockhill is about 20-30 minutes south of Charlotte, you will find the shop at 352 E. Main Street. Phone# 301/327-2967. website: http://www.twoscompany.com/

Until next time, happy sewing,
Joyce

I am ready for Christmas!

2008-12-17T14:46:00.021-05:00

Christmas shopping is done and most of the presents have been sent in the mail. What fun it is to sew and shop for the two grandchildren. Now I am thinking about sewing for the New Year. One of my all-time favorite fabrics is this gorgeous ribbed silk blend...

55% Silk & 45% Linen

Plum, Green Tea, Wedgewood, Deep Earth, Spun Honey, Organic Chocolate…the names are just as wonderful as the colors! We also have it in black and natural. The textured vertical lines in this fabric looks best in a loose-fitting garment without darts and few seams. This fabric would be great in one of the new patterns from Shapes. ..the Plus One Tunic, Twos Company Tunic, 3-Fold Vest, High Five Jacket and the Six Sense Skirt.

Bellagio has a line of designer clothing, Planet, that is made in this fabric. A similar style would be this Spice ‘n Style pattern by Batik Butik. The Sewing Workshop's Plaza Jacket and Pants would also be suitable as the jacket is loose-fitting with straight seams and the pants do not have a side seam. Also, The Sewing Workshop Pattern -- Elle Shirt & Pant would be another great style. The hip-length shirt is loose-fitting and features a stand-up overlapping collar, mitered corner side slits, and dropped shoulders.

I am also thinking about Lois Cutting-Cutting Lines Designs Anything But Ordinary Jacket. This is also a very loose fitting, high-hip length style. The cropped jacket is bulk-free with a cut-on front facing. It has a standing collar, center-back seam and vent with bar tack at the break point. The drop shoulder sleeve is full-length. The side seam has vents at hemline.

Of course, LaFred has the smart Athena Blouse which would make a great jacket over a dress. A short sleeved blouse with unique square armholes, pleated sleeve hem and wing collar would be dynamite. The pattern includes a narrow collar and choice of front opening styles - straight or asymmetrical.

Loes Hinse's Tunic Blouse is a classic style with side slits and a four-button front closure.

Now that I have several ideas in mind, I need to decide which style and color will coordinate with my other ideas for a new spring wardrobe.

Happy sewing!

Joyce

Holiday Gift Ideas

2008-11-24T14:34:00.013-05:00

Christmas is only 4 weeks away! Does it seem to you that the days are passing by more quickly as the years go by?!! Perhaps it is a sign of being busy....our staff has been very busy getting ready for the holidays, Laura has decorated our store windows so beautifully. Everyone is sewing gifts or at least planning to sew a gift or two.

The Yo-Yo clown in Indygo's Clownin' Around pattern is an adorable soft toy for a young child. The yo-yos can be easily sewn using the Clover yo-yo makers - one large and one extra large. A white tube sock, some bits of felt and yarn, and voila--it is ready to sit under the tree on Christmas morning!

Another fun gift idea, is Amy Butler's GumDrop Pillow or Ottoman. Elizabeth made hers as a 16" ottoman using 2 yards of fabric, plus about 3.5 pounds of fiberfil. This would be great for a a young adult on your list and you would have fun making it!

We have many wonderful patterns for bags, totes, and pin cushions and the perfect fabric to make that special gift. We also have adorable kits from ArtGirlz for making necklaces and bracelts using felted balls and metal charms -- there is also a holiday elf and a decorated Christmas tree. If you need to write a note to those far away, we have a beautiful selection of "vintage" holiday season note cards. AND we have an assortment of ready-made rayon batik scarves that would be the perfect hostess gift!

For a gift that keeps on giving, consider registering your favorite young girl for the Holiday Sewing Camp that Karen will be teaching on December 29 and 30 from 11 -4pm. The class is open for girls age 8 and over....the registration fee is $60 plus supplies. Call Waechters at 252-2131 to register.

The first shipment of Jane Sassaman fabrics have arrived...these are a heavier cotton weight--similar to oxford cotton. Any one would be perfect for bags, totes, pillows or other decorator items.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Joyce

Winter Visions of Wool Coats

2008-11-19T14:35:00.012-05:00

The blustery winter winds hit Asheville this week. Abby and I have shortened our walks as neither of us like the cold blowing in our face. I have dug out my winter wardrobe and I am sure Abby’s fur coat is thicker! We have some absolutely gorgeous woolens in the shop that would make a wonderful new winter coat or jacket. Here are some ideas I have been thinking about....

This Akasha Gemini Coat would be lovely in a wool melton which is one of my favorite fabrics. One of its best features is that you do not need to line it. We carry many colors in stock..purple and coral are two great colors. With bound seams the coat could be reversible. And why not create graphic appliquéd designs using several colors of wool melton for the deep yoke in front and back? This coat is narrower at the bust, flaring gently to the hemline….a great coat for all body shapes.

The Akasha Coat is a flattering straight coat that is designed in two styles. One has a hood, great for those below freezing days and nights...or make it with a notched collar. It suits all body shapes with lots of room for creative fabric selections and embellishments. . I can envision this coat in a double fused wool….we have several selections -- charcoal, a grey and winter white, 2 shades of blue or burgundy and bronze.

Akasha's Trilogy is a pattern to inspire your artistic side of sewing. The jacket has many different fabrics spliced together presenting a stained glass effect with bias binding that defines the shapes. I imagine choosing several different woolens or wool blends in solid colors mixed with tweeds, plaids, and checks - all in one color such as grey -- or combining grey, brown and black. A lining of a luscious silk charmeuse or silk dupioni would set the right mood. The pattern includes a shirt -- a feather-weight soft wool would be wonderful....or you could make a coat using a wool and cashmere blend. There is no limit to the possibilities!

Button, button who’s got the buttons…..check out What’s New on our website to see the most recent additions to our fine buttons for your sewing pleasure. We also have some absolutely beautiful new rayon batiks. There's more -- 6” appliqué scissors, 4” double curved embroidery scissors, 8" knife edge serrated scissors from Gingher and many other types of scissors – any would make a great present for someone who loves to sew!
Happy Sewing,
Joyce

A Successfull Sit and Sew Retreat

2008-11-14T13:46:00.010-05:00

Linda Lee of The Sewing Workshop and Louise Cutting of Cutting Line Designs breezed into Asheville the end of October for a Sit and Sew Retreat with 27 women from different parts of the country. And oh, what a swell time we had….patterns and fabrics were flying all over the hotel ballroom, sewing machines were humming away and everyone was clammering for consultation time with Linda and Louise. We even made time for a field trip to Bellagio’s to “examine” their fabulous art to wear and evenings were spent socializing, eating and shopping! Everyone agreed that this was another successful Retreat and best of all…..Linda and Louise will be returning in 2009. The dates are November 1-3…why not give yourself a gift (or put it first on your wish list!)….sign up today for the 2009 Sit and Sew Retreat at http://www.waechters.com/

Linda and Louise shared their collaborative Shapes patterns via a trunk show of samples constructed in different weights and types of fabrics—soft, crisp, casual and elegant. Check out our Gallery for samples that we have made up using some of the Shapes patterns….for instance-

Plus One Tunic is asymmetrical. The collar is open on one side and there is a flange on one side of the garment. We made our version from an open weave cotton blend that drapes easily. You could use regular linen, rayon batik or any soft fabric. We love this tunic as it has a lot of style in a simple garment.

Two’s Company Tunic is shown here in a double layer of woven striped linen. We cut the under layer on the opposite grain to the upper layer so that the stripes run on opposite axis. The sides tie on this tunic to hold it closed. Slip this tunic over your head and add a nice necklace and you have a finished look with little thought.

Three Fold Vest has two long rectangles cleverly crisscrossed in front and back. A V-shaped insert detail holds the back together. This easy but high-style vest looks great made in light to med-weight fabrics in knits or wovens and looks great with a t-shirt.

Shapes High Five jacket is a great wardrobe builder. Make it in a neutral and wear it with tons of different things. It looks great over a skirt or pants. High Five is beautiful in fancy silks for evening or linen.

Six Sense Skirt has architectural lines and an easy fit. We made ours from a firm cotton. This skirt would be equally good in silk dupioni or linen. Six Sense goes together quickly. We all love this skirt and some of our favorite customers are raving about it.

Thinking ahead to the Holidays…one of my favorite fabrics is Burmese silk. This cloth is woven in the villages of Burma. You may find slight irregularities in the weave. We like to think of these not as flaws, but rather a testament to its authenticity. Since this is handwoven, the color batches may vary slightly and there will be shrinkage with the first washing. Some pieces may also contain cotton or rayon. Before using, we recommend pre-washing in cold water without detergents to set the dyes.

Speaking of details….a new Gallery “Details That Inspire” will soon be appearing on our website (http://www.waechters.com/). Featured will be close-up photos of embellishments – bindings, pipings, ruching, rouleau, closures, etc---that are intended to spark your imagination for creating a garment that speaks of your personality and style. Check it out. I would love to have your feedback.

Coming soon! Any day now we will be receiving bolts of fabulous cotton fabric designed by Jane Sassaman, well-known in the quilting world for her Art Deco fabric and quilt designs. Her new fabric designs really blew me away! We just love her art deco design decorator fabrics for bags and pillows and the fashion fabric for jackets, skirts and tunics and you will too!

Happy Sewing for the Holidays,
Joyce

Fall in the Mountains

2008-10-03T14:32:00.011-04:00

Fall is definitely here in the mountains - overnight temperature in the 40s, leaves are turning they're magnificinet yellows, oranges and reds, and beautiful clear, crisp days! Abby and I are enjoying our weekend nature walks knowing that it won't be long before the trails will be blanketed in snow.

Speaking of Fall....we have many great fall fabrics in the shop now. Rayon Batiks that coordinate with gorgeous Silk Noil, Brussels Washer, and linen fabrics such as Italian linen, cross-dye and double weave. Check our website for a selection of fall prints by Liberty of London, Westminster Fibers by designers Kaffe Fasset, Tina Givens, and Amy Butler; reproductions of William Morris prints; and wonderful Japanese cotton prints. Cotton voile and handerchief linen is fabulous for shirts and blouses. This "show-stopper" rayon matelasse glowingly speaks Autumn to me....

I see a fabulous Fall jacket in The Sewing Workshop's Onde Jacket--

We are busily preparing for our four day workshop with Linda Lee of Sewing Workshop and Louise Cutting of Cutting Line Designs. They will be here working with thirty ladies to improve their fit or technique skills. We have all kinds of festivities planned from cocktail parties, catered dinners, to a Yes I am from Texas, Chili dinner. I can't give up my roots. It is such a fun event. My whole staff is involved in planning, executing, and hosting for four days. If anyone is interested we have a waiting list and occasionally get cancellations. The event starts October 26 with a cocktail party and runs through October 29. Best of all that week is usually peak season for leaf color in the area. So yes fall is upon us and showing us her glamorous cloak.
Happy Sewing Joyce

Summer's Here & Am I Glad

2008-06-13T14:52:00.002-04:00

I love summer for many reasons. The first of which is I adore warm weather and sitting on my front porch. It is so nice to have the summer breeze blowing on your skin. This summer for me is very special as I have a granddaughter to sew for. Her name is Raine and she is one month old. However she already has four handmade garments. That is with no advance notice that she would be a girl. I have a few more plans on the table in various states of started. We have so many fun things in our heirloom assortments for sewing for a child. I had the joy of sewing for my grandson until he was too old to wear my creations. However, there is nothing like sewing for a girl. I will admit that sewing for a boy made me push the boundaries of my creativity. I had to learn to digitize on my embroidery software. I created piped insets for the first time on his linen romper. I couched twine on a jacket, and I monogrammed his shirts. It was all a great joy. Sewing for a girl just is the best. You don't have to even open your eyes in the morning and the ideas for a girl come pouring into your brain. I am currently plotting a dress with fish, a dotted romper, and a Christmas dress.

The latest Creative Needle Magazine just arrived this week and we have two Liberty and silk dresses featured. Each dress has a matching purse that Laura designed the pattern for. She not only made the bags to match the dresses, but she made four more bags that were shot in the center fold of this issue. You can buy any of these items as kits. We are very excited that Creative Needle loved our dresses and purses enough to use them as two articles.

Linen and cotton continue to pour into the store. We have received several new heavier weight cottons that can be used for upholstery or jackets. The prints on these cottons are designer prints and one is prettier than the next. I think the one I like the best is whichever one I am looking at, since I continuously change my mind.

We also have new collections from Tina Givens and Amy Butler. Both of these designers are now with the same company as Kaffe Fassett. Several of Kaffe's latest prints have arrived.

Several new ribbons and trims came in. We have hand dyed silk velvet ribbon. We have many new ribbons and some ruffled trims. I am making tee shirts so I can add the ruffled trim to the neck and sleeves. They will be really cute.

We thank all of our internet customers for their orders. The internet business just keeps booming and we are ever so grateful. We now have Elizabeth working full time to keep the orders moving out the door. She is the best and very efficient. Those of you who ordered from us know how efficient she is.

We continue to plot new samples for the gallery. Our dressmakers have a stack of things to complete. Hopefully, you will see several of them shortly on the gallery.

It won't be long before wools start to arrive for fall. If you like to get a head start on the season we should have several new wools arrive in July. I will keep you posted.

Come see us or call us and have Elizabeth send you swatches of anything you are interested in. We know it is hard to buy fabric without touching it.

Happy Summer Sewing. Summer is a great excuse to make something new and cool.
Joyce

Early Spring Summer Sale and Lots of New Arrivals

2008-04-27T09:02:00.003-04:00

We have just loaded up the sale table with tons of fabrics that are 50% to 75% off. Most of these fabrics are perfect for spring - summer fashions. There are silks, rayons, cottons and more. We need more room for all the newest things arriving. We marked down several trims and ribbons. Add them to your collection for the finishing touch on a project.

The last few weeks we have been receiving mountains of goods. We just got a whole new collection from Amy Butler and many new bolts from Kaffe Fassett. Tons of beautiful linens have come through the front door. They look so fresh and cool. We have lots of gorgeous shirtings. Many of you have been requesting cotton with lycra blends. This season we found several in market that were really great prints or solids.

Last week several bold and bright prints came in. With all the major stores showing brights and loads of prints and color you will really like these. We added several new colors of iridescent dupioni silks that are cross dyed and vibrant. We have a huge selection of Liberty lawns. Each one is more gorgeous than the next.

Our seamstresses have been making many new samples. Check out our galleries and see them all for yourself. There are some wonderful ideas for your inspiration. Lots has been happening at Waechter's Silk Shop. Every one of us is working as fast as we can to make the store and our website look fabulous just for all of you. Thanks for checking out what we have. Happy Sewing Joyce

Lots of New Things at Waechters

2008-04-14T17:03:00.002-04:00

Spring fabrics just keeps coming in to the store. We have loads of new cotton and spandex prints and some solids. The prints are a variety of colors. The solids are a glorious red and black. We keep getting new knits in for the spring. There are many more coming from what I found in market. We have solids and prints of all kinds. Most are cotton blends or rayon blends. Eyelet abounds in the store. We have all kinds of patterns on white and we even have a peach eyelet.

I got a little carried away with all the Japanese cottons this year. They are here. We have a group of gorgeous neutrals, we have textured cottons and we have loads of beautiful indygo batiks. We made up a Whistles Blouse from Linda Lee's Sewing Workshop. It is a wonderful combination of four indygos. I even wore it in Vegas market week and people stopped me in the aisles to comment on my top. The blues look so fresh this year.

Several of our pattern lines have new patterns. Check out the website and you will see new patterns from Sewing Workshop, Decades of Style, D'Leas, Louise Cutting, and Saf-T-Pockets. We also have two fabulous new children's lines called Sew Baby and Oliver and S.

This year I took a major stand on cotton shirtings and it is working. I had a retired couple in last week who used to be in the fashion industry. They were both buying more than one shirting to have a local artisan make their summer shirts. Of course we have sold loads of Liberty for shirts. We even shipped a large order to a major tailor in New York to make shirts for a customer. So shirts are definitely happening and we have the inventory to support lots of different styles and colors.

We have also received a lot of new trims and buttons. We are in the process of installing those on the website. Hopefully, they will be completed in the next ten days or so.

We have added a ton of new samples to our gallery. Elizabeth has been very prolific this spring and so has Betsy. Check our the adult and heirloom galleries and you will see their work.

We marked down our sale fabrics further this last week. Many of them are 75 % off. Check it out. They go fast when they get this low.

Hope all of you are enjoying spring. The trees and many of the shrubs are in full bloom in Asheville. Needless to say it could not be more beautiful. Come see for yourself. Happy Sewing. Joyce

Fabric Fabric Fabric and More Coming

2008-02-15T15:22:00.002-05:00

Every day we get more spring fabrics. Last week we received a ton of bolts from one of our favorite vendors. He shipped us many gorgeous linens and cottons. My staff is debating over which piece they are getting for their Valentine from me. Judith even insisted she got a shot at what she wanted before we showed them to one of our regular customes with the same taste.
I can't wait to have some linen pants made as several of the linens are really beefy bottom weights. I love wearing linen pants in the spring.

Of course we had to make room for all the spring receipts so there is a table full of sale bolts in the back. My weekend project is to install the sale onto the website. Never a dull moment.

We had loads of fun Wednesday night at our belated Christmas party. We all dressed up and went to one of the great local restaurants. A good time was had by all the staff and my mother who was celebrating her 88th birthday on the same day.

We continue to receive new samples made up by our talented dressmakers. Check them out on the adult and heirloom galleries. I have a few new ones to install this weekend.

For those of you who knew Sally Hickerson, she is living in San Diego and planning a wedding on Leap Day. She has reconnected to an old flame of many years ago. She sounds ecstatic and all of us are happy for her.

Spring feels like it is right around the corner today. We are having very warm days. It really makes me dream of those tomato red linen pants I have on my wishlist. Hope you get to see all our new fabrics when you stop in or check out the website.

Happy Sewing Joyce

Exciting Arrivals come to Waechter's Silk Shop

2008-01-22T15:07:00.000-05:00

January is so dreary to me. I can't wait until spring. Coming to work always makes me feel different. Here in the store we are receiving beautiful transitional and spring fabrics. We have gotten in new knits that can be worn now and later. Tons of lovely cottons are coming our way from the Westminster stable. That includes Kaffe Fassett and one of his newest designers, Tina Givens. Her prints arrived today and they are just lovely. The staff is fighting over who gets the first cut on many of our new bolts. Batiks came in a few days ago and everyone was moving very fast to find the box cutter and get them opened and received. Some of my staff have huge stashes of batiks that they love so dearly.

The new class schedule is up on the web and we have a handful of new samples to shoot for installation on the gallery. Our talented seamstresses are working hard to get the samples sewn in between their regular customers. Samples have grown to over 200. We continue to add new styles to our collection of samples. Each sample is our interpretation of the patterns we carry. It really helps to see how the patterns look when sewn up. Our customers love the eye candy and inspiration they bring.

We have expanded our selection of special order upholstery silk swatches. We added several new books. These are not on the web. Those of you who can stop by will really enjoy looking at them. We can order enough for the draperies in your house or we can order small amounts for a special occasion jacket. One is more glorious than the next. The girls and I drool when we look at them. We have ordered a wide variety of styles for our special order customers and the quality is great on all of them. It really is a luxury to have such a wonderful resource available. It allows us to expand our offerings in a whole new way without huge space requirements that upholstery demands. Our little store would explode if we tried to cram any more huge bolts into her.

Come see all our new things if you are in the area. For those of you who are not our web installer works many nights to photograph and add new merchandise to the web. We hope you enjoy our labors of love.

Fall is Speeding By

2007-11-23T14:37:00.000-05:00

Fall is speeding by and there is much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving weekend. While I am not great at adding to my blog, it has nothing to do with all the excitement we have had this fall.
Fall has been good to us with increased business in the store and on the internet.

Our fall fabrics are selling through nicely and our internet business is hot hot hot. We love making new friends from all over the country and the world as we ship out the orders each day. We now have a full time person doing our order processing and shipping. Her name is Elizabeth and she is extremely efficient. She is a huge help to me as she keeps up with all the details so I can be less involved and focus on other things.

Our gallery continues to grow. We are now over 200 garments on our two galleries. The dressmakers keep bringing me new things each month. I love to see the patterns made up in the flesh. We have a lot of fun in the store designing the samples. It usually ends up being a team creation.

Mid October the Asheville Quilt Guild hosted Kaffe Fassett in town for two days of workshops and lectures. We helped at his book signing and his classes by providing the merchandise. It was great fun to meet him and Brandon. These two guys could not have more talent and be more
gracious about sharing their knowledge and expertise with all of us. We had the joy of showing Kaffe our children's clothes (made from his fabric) that were featured in Creative Needle. It was a very exciting photo spread and the dresses looked great. He was excited to see his fabrics used in another way. What fun we had for two days. If you ever get the chance to take a class or hear a lecture by Kaffe Fassett, jump at the opportunity. You can learn so much from listening to his point of view.

The next week after Kaffe I was at the Houston Quilt Market shopping for spring fabrics. We found loads of beautiful batiks and cottons. Next spring we will introduce a line of Japanese cottons that we are really thrilled to have. They will arrive at the store in February. One is more beautiful than the next.

November started with our three day workshop sewing with Linda Lee from Sewing Workshop and Louise Cutting from Cutting Line Designs. We held this workshop in a hotel ballroom. Twenty eight women from as far away as California had the joy of sewing with help from our two guest teachers for three days. We had loads of fun with all the things we learned and accomplished. It is always nice to meet our fellow sewing enthusiasts from around the country. Everyone enjoyed it so much that we agreed to do meet again next year at the same time. We are now taking deposits for next year's workshop if you would like to come.

So you can see why fall is racing by. I look forward to sewing this weekend and finishing another sample for the store. Hope you get some time from all your family celebration to complete a project also. Happy Sewing Joyce

Fall Definitely Came to Waechter's Silk Shop

2007-09-22T11:13:00.001-04:00

I am always remiss in blogging. I seem to get wrapped up in the daily things of the store and forget to tell all of you in cyberspace what is going on.

I am working on the fall class schedule and hope to have it done by October 1 or before. You will find all the classes on the web. We plan to do lots of fitting classes for different categories of garments like skirts, tops or jackets. Many of you can easily make simple garments with just a little fitting help and some techniques suggested. Our crack teachers know how to help you make it easy. In fact I had Susan pin a garment on me this week so I can get it finished for a sample. She is a very patient and inventive instructor. Elizabeth is back from three weeks in Italy so you should have fun in her classes hearing all about her adventures. Not to mention she is a very talented teacher.

We are preparing for the Linda and Louise workshop in November. I look forward to that for loads of fun and excitement.

It is soon time for me to go off to Houston for quilt market. Several of our vendors show in that market so I can see them and my family in one swell foop.

I can tell you we are loaded for bear with wools and fall fabrics. Several new patterns have come in from our designers. LaFred has a new Calypso skirt which is really cool. Linda Lee from Sewing Workshop has a new bag pattern that we should receive any minute. Loes Hinse has two new patterns that we just got. Both are tops--The Tuscan Shirt and the V Neck Tunic.

Fabric is coming out our ears. The girls who work here love receiving new goods until they have to find a place for it as we are bursting out at the seams. We have wool coatings in tons of colors. They are great for unlined jackets that are perfect for the suburban life style. We have several new batiks in fall colors. They sell really fast. We also have loads of new knits in the store. Many are solid and then we have several prints. I love knit tees and the new Loes Hinse V Neck Tunic is perfect for our solid and print knits.

We have also received several beautiful new heavy prints that would be lovely in bags. Some of them are jacquarded weaves of beautiful colors and florals. I really hope you have time to check out our galleries. We try to add new samples each month and some of the new fabrics will be made into our new samples.

We continue to send out virtual swatches every month. Hope you enjoy seeing all the new things especially if you can't stop by. I know we are a geographic challenge for many of you. Thanks for helping us have a very successful summer season. We hope to see you all in the fall. Happy Sewing!!! Joyce

Carol Ahles is Here

2007-08-19T12:10:00.001-04:00

Carol Ahles is with us for the next two days. She is teaching four classes in our store and we are so honored to have her with us. We have cleaned and organized and we are ready to learn all kinds of wonderful things from a master of heirloom sewing on the machine.

Fall arrivals are coming in at a fast pace. Linda and Karen are getting cramps in their fingers from all the data entry to receive our new fabrics and buttons. Jennifer has been working lots of hours to get all the fabrics photographed and installed. I have been madly updating the gallery. We are six samples short of 200 samples on both our adult and heirloom galleries. It has been loads of work and everyone has pitched in, but we are so excited to have accomplished all this work in the last several months.

We are madly adding Sewing Workshop and Cutting Line Designs sample to our assortment. We have several, but more is better and we hope to have several more made before the ladies come for our November workshop. It is sold out and has been since July, but we can't wait for all the excitement this fall.

It may be scorching outside, but the assortment of beautiful wools keeps on growing each week. I love wools. They are so rich and luxurious. This fall, wool is projected to be the big news for fashion and fashion sewing. We have every weight from tropical to melton in loads of beautiful colors. I also scored on many bolts of my personal favorite designer whose name I can't say, but it stars wit A and K.

The store looks great. We have only one problem and that is we are running out of space for all the goods rolling in the door. Seems someone I know got a little carried away at market and we have too much fabric. Hope all of you will check out our newest arrivals on the website. They are always on the top of the respective pages. Come see us in the store and look at all our beautiful samples. Before you know it we will be over 200 in the store.

Happy Sewing to all and I hope you are staying cool. Joyce

Wools are Here

2007-07-27T16:07:00.000-04:00

Wools are rolling in every day. I know it is hot outside, but winter always comes. It is time to start thinking what you want to wear for fall. We have beautiful meltons for fall jackets and tons of novelty wools. There are glorious cashmeres and camel hair fabrics that you can swoon over. We received some lovely wool voiles and crepes for dresses and skirts. http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WSS&Category_Code=WOOL

There are also beautiful brocades and dressy novelty fabrics starting to roll in for the holidays. We all get invited to those great holiday parties so start thinking about what you might want to make for them now. I love fall fabrics. They are the richest and most opulent.

We just took a load of markdowns that fill up an eight foot table. All of them are 50% off. Check them out. They are going away quickly. http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WSS&Category_Code=CLFAB

We have been receiving new buttons and trims for fall. I love the new merchandise. It is hard for me to decide what I am making for my own wardrobe. We are getting ready for fall with loads of new samples at the dressmakers. I hope they come in soon so we can put them on the gallery.

Hope you are enjoying summer as much as we are. I am having the most fun plotting all the fall samples. Can't wait for you all to see them.
Happy Sewing, Joyce

Fabulous Nationally Known Teachers at Waechter's

2007-07-08T09:49:00.000-04:00

We have two wonderful events happening this fall at Waechter's. The first is a guest teaching event with Carol Ahles. Carol is one of the premier experts in this country on Heirloom Sewing by machine. Her book "Fine Machine Sewing" is a must have if you ever want to do any Heirloom type sewing.

I have personally taken classes with Carol and she is a fabulous teacher. Her style is organized and efficient while tempered with a lot of patience. I spent two days learning from Carol about five years ago and I enjoyed every minute of it. I wish I had taken her classes before I made the christening gown for my grandson.

Just so you know, heirloom sewing is not limited to children's clothes. It works great on fancy blouses or wonderful lingerie. I wish I had more time to play with these techniques as they really dress up a project.

Carol is teaching four classes over a two day period and you can take one or all. We are thrilled to give our customers a special opportunity to learn from someone with so much acclaim and expertise. Sign up soon as you won't want to get shut out of these classes.

Carol will be with us August 20 and 21st. Check out the link to our website and read all the class explanations. If you have questions you can call and talk to me at 828-252-2131. http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WSS&Category_Code=classes

Our second major event is a three day sewing retreat with Linda Lee and Louise Cutting.
They will be here November 5th through the 8th. This is an open forum sewing workshop to help you with skills, techniques or fitting. Linda and Louise are both incredible technicians. Linda Lee owns Sewing Workshop and is the fashion and business mind of the company. Louise Cutting is the owner of Cutting Line Designs. She too is the business and design brains of her company. There are several special events planned during the workshop. We will be having cocktail parties, dinner parties, trunk shows, and more special guests to name a few. Click on the following link to read more. http://www.waechters.com/PDF/initialLetter.pdf
Spaces are limited for both of these events so do not wait to sign up. Call us at 828-252-2131.

You will not want to miss any of these teachers as they are all experts in their field and it is not an everyday event that we get to have people like this in our store. I am thrilled we have been able to pull off such classes and teacher appearances.

Just wanted to let all of you know what we have been spending tons of time on here at Waechter's Silk Shop. We are incredibly excited to be able to have pulled all this into being and we hope our customers will have a wonderful time learning from great teachers.

Happy Sewing
Joyce

Summer Thoughts

2007-07-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it is the fourth of July in two days. I love the summer so much and almost dread the fourth because once it is here, summer is over in a snap. To validate my fears wools and fall fabrics are coming in the back door --- we don't really have a back door. Our back door is the cute UPS man or chick who lugs the heavy boxes to the back of the store and into the office.

Cashmeres and camel hairs are in our posession. I did not buy a lot of these fabrics as they have a price befitting of their grandeur. We love them none the less. The cashmere comes in vicuna color, black, and rose coral. The camel hair is camel. Fancy that coincidence. We are also starting to get a boat load of the beautiful wools I bought from Anne Klein end cuts. One is more gorgeous than the next. There are several gray pieces and that is supposed to be the fall color of choice. I hope you love them as much as I do. Gorgeous burn outs and velvets are starting to come in. We also got a large shot of new batiks. The girls were fighting over them for sure. However, I did not catch Karen praying to the cashmere this fall. After the last time we caught her doing that, she will make sure to come in early to sneak her prayers with no witness.

We have new patterns from Decades of Style. There is a new skirt, dress and top. One is more adorable than the next. There are some cute vintage looking cottons. Some are solid and some are prints. Their colors are year round. Karen is checking in new trims and buttons. We just received a three inch wide satin ribbon which we have had requests for. I bought bag handles for the first time. They are really gorgeous. I will enjoy seeing if the customers agree.

Japanese cottons rolled in the back door this morning. Those always garner oohs and aahs from my staff. All in all the store is starting to turn into a reflection of fall. It's inevitable but all too soon for me.

New Fashion Closures

2007-06-08T12:14:00.000-04:00

We have received tons of new high fashion closures in the last few weeks. These are showing up all over Europe and are made to be seen. There are giant snaps and giant hooks. They come in antique bronze and antique pewter. They can be used on your latest bag project or down the front of a jacket or dress. We can't wait to see what all that creative juice out there in sewing land will do with them. Send us a picture if you use them. The link above goes to the button page where they all exist for your perusal.

Our Creative Needle features are getting a lot of attention. The dresses are oh so cute and we have sold several kits based on our feature in the magazine. Check out the pages on oour website. http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/PDF/creativeNeedleJune07.pdf The dresses are in the store window so if you live nearby you can drive by any time of the day and see them. All the quilters who come into the store can't believe we used Kaffe Fassett cottons for something other than a quilt. Just goes to show you what happens when you get out of the box.

I recently was given a birthday gift of a "Kreative Kitty." They are a small figurine that is designed to help inspire your creative juices and help you "think outside of the Catbox.". I really try to do all my creating outside the catbox. Hope you enjoy the sentiment, as it made me smile.

Happy sewing! Joyce

Virtual Swatches Feature New Items

2007-06-02T10:45:00.000-04:00

Thanks for your response about seeing new items that come into the store. That is a great opportunity for me to remind everyone to sign up for your preferential areas of interest. Your personal account on our website has several special interest topics. You can add or delete at any time. We are sending out virtual swatches or announcements for new items as they come in. Once you have chosen your areas of interest you will start to receive the virtual swatches that pertain to your area. This could include buttons, patterns, or fabrics in both adult and children's categories. Jennifer is here photographing and installing new items every week. Bless her in your prayers as she has another full time job. So she works many nights and every weekend to keep up with all the new merchandise that we get each week. Once she gets multiple new items in a category installed she sends out a virtual swatch broadcast e-mail to everyone who has included that area of interest on their personal account. This is the best way to be the first group of customers to see real pictures of new items as they arrive in our store.

I am happy to talk about them in my blog, but I know I will not get pictures installed to post on the blog. For some crazy reason, I don't ever get my list of things to do any where near done. I must confess ---so adding pictures to the blog is not likely to happen.

Our classes are available for you to view on the web. Just click onto the classes and workshops link and you will go right to the list of things available for the quarter. However, just to let you know we have a smocking class on June 6 from 10-1 with Betsy. We have a fitting class on June 7. Bring something to get help fitting. We have a children's sundress called Babs on the eighth and on Saturday June 9 we have a Pants class---Fit My Tush. This is one of our most popular classes and once you complete this class you will have a pattern that fits. I can make pants in about two hours. It's not a problem to make three or four pair in a day if you plot out our production. Early next week we have a one day Needle Techniques with Betsy. It has been shortened as we felt we could get the techniques done in one day. Elizabeth will be teaching her Flower Class on June 15. We have another fitting class on June 16.

It's time again for me to start working on the next quarter of classes. Let me know if you have requests. You can e-mail your ideas to info@waechters.com.

This week we got tons of reorder fabric in. We have several new bolts of a variety of colors of brussels washer. We also have a ton of new silk noil in reorder colors. We have been selling and reordering multiple bolts of our white silk seersucker. I added black and it came in with the noils. This lovely sheer silk is perfect for blouses or dressy garments.

Japanese cottons arrived this week. There are four new ones. One is more exciting than the next. It just depends which one I am looking at as to which I love the most. These are great for skirts, jackets or even home dec. The Japanese cottons always have interesting textures mixed under the printed patterns for extra added eye appeal.

Our Creative Needle dresses in the May issue have been selling tons of kits. My best friend is volunteering to come help cut the kits. Don't I have nice friends? They are labor intensive and fortunately, we have lots of orders. We were thrilled with the layout. You can see the actual garments in our window. We made both dresses with Kaffe Fassett fabric. The quilters are shocked at our use of fabric. Of course, they think cotton only goes into a quilt. Well, we fooled them didn't we?

There are probably more things that happened this week, but it is time to go out on the floor and assist a customer. I love being on the floor on Saturdays.

Happy Sewing,
Joyce

Blogging for Information

2007-05-29T13:31:00.000-04:00

I always wonder if what I am writing is useful to all of you who are reading it. I don't have loads of free time on my hands so when I am out of the store I tend to do non related store things. That translates to I don't read a lot of blogs. Maybe I should read more of them, but I doubt that I will get to. So my question to all of you who read our blog is ----What do you want to know about in my blog? Are your interests being met or are we missing the boat? I try to write about the things I think you would like to know about, but maybe I am not focusing on the things you are interested in. Post some comments and let me know what you want to hear about at Waechter's Silk Shop.

For a more fun topic I am sitting and looking at a wall of bolts of the fabric for our Creative Needle dresses. The orders are yet to come, but the magazine has never had more calls from the dealers about a layout as they have had on the one we are in this month. That was a real compliment. We are grateful.

I get excited every day when I walk into the store as we have such beautiful fabrics in the shop. I admit I went a little crazy in the last market and bought some things on top of the receipts I had planned for now so the store is very heavily stocked. If you don't believe me just come see for yourself. The linens alone are enough to make you swoon. I could easily have four or five new outfits from the linen table. The new rayon and rayon blend knits are glorious. Again if all I had was time, I would have at least five or six new t-shirt tops from these knits. They would be fabulous in the wrap dresses that are so popular now. We have the wrap dress pattern back in stock from Stretch and Sew. They had discontinued it just as the Diane Von Furstenburg dresses got hot again, so they had to reprint and bring it back. I only wish they had brought back the figure I had when I first bought those dresses in the early seventies. If wishes were horses-----

We have tons of beautiful silks on hand and some wonderful silk blends. There are some linen and silk blends I can't wait to wear. We also have a ton of glorious silk or silk blend tweeds that are perfect for nice jackets with loads of textural interest.

Kaffe Fassett is coming this fall to speak to the Asheville Quilt Guild and we are adding new prints from him and his stable of designers to prepare for that event. We can't wait to enjoy the creative inspirations of a rock star from the quilting and knitting world.

I am so excited about all that is going on I can hardly stand myself. We are getting great response from our early e-mails for the Linda Lee and Louise Cutting workshops in November. If you want to come, sign up asap. Carol Ahles classes are also filling as we speak and she is such an expert in the field of machine heirloom sewing. It is an honor to have her here.

Hope you are all having loads of creative juices pouring into your projects and enjoying the nice weather. Happy Sewing Joyce

Hello from Waechters.com

2007-05-18T18:13:00.000-04:00

I know you think I have fallen off the blogger planet, but I have not. It has been a hectic spring and blogging did not come up to the top of the list of things to do. I apologize to all you blog fans.
We have tons of new merchandise. That crazy woman who went to market in March got carried away and fabric is floating from the rafters---at least it feels like it. If you are watching the website you know we have lots of new items every week. My website entry person, Jennifer is here many days a week photographing and installing all the new merchandise. Appreciate her, as she has another full time job and works for me in her spare time. I am a lucky girl to have her.

A big part of the spare time in spring has been spent installing our two new galleries. We have over a hundred adult garments that we have made from the patterns we carry. We have about forty more for the children's gallery. We hope you enjoy looking at these garments and we really hope you are inspired by them. Everyone in the store has been involved over the last two years in cranking out these garments. It takes loads of time to get them planned and sewn. My staff have all been very generous with their time in helping to make these garments so look them over. It definitely is a Waechter's TEAM effort. My team is very talented as you will see.

Our most exciting accomplishments for the work we have been doing is to have two major events to be hosted this fall by Waechter's. Carol Ahles will be teaching for us August 20 and 21. If you do not know Carol she is one of the leading experts on Fine Machine Sewing and has written a book---which is my bible--- on these techniques. What Carol specializes in is doing heirloom sewing by machine. These techniques are wonderful for sewing heirloom children's garments or for those beautiful girly blouses and lingerie we all love to wear. Carol will be here for two days only. We have waited three years almost to get her on the schedule. I began talking to her about coming to Waechter's before I had signed the contract to buy the business. I love her classes and her teaching style. She is clear, precise, and very well organized. You will not be sorry you have taken these classes. Check them out on our site. http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WSS&Category_Code=CarolAhles

Our next event is a three day workshop with Louise Cutting and Linda Lee. It will be held November 6,7, and 8. We are finalizing all the details this next week but there are only thirty places for this event and I am sure it will sell out quickly. There has been lots of interest.

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is we have had two features in Creative Needle Magazine in the last two issues. Last issue we had our bumble bee dress which is on the front of the website. This month the new issue is just landing with two dresses in the cover article from our team. Betsy has been sewing up a storm to get tons of samples sent to them so we have lots for them to chose from. Luckily, they have liked what we are making and are using it for their articles. We have several items in the next issue also. We will let you be surprised when they come out.

So you see while I am remiss on my blogging we have been very busy. I have yet to see any moss growing under my feet---except for some of the moss in my yard. Enjoy a wonderful summer sewing up a storm of creativity. I will live to blog again. Happy Sewing Joyce

Santa Came to Waechter's

2006-12-12T11:34:00.000-05:00

Santa came Saturday and spent the day at Waechter's. He was here to raise money for charity. We shot photos with our customers, their children or pets and Santa. Great fun was had by all and while we were taking photos and eating cookies we raised $200.00 for the Women's Shelter here in town. Waechter's is a place for women and we strive to serve women in many different ways. Hopefully, the women who benefit from our event will have a better Christmas, because of the people who came and enjoyed holiday cheer with all of the staff.

There was lots of excitement all of Saturday as we broke our holiday sale just in time for Santa's appearance. Local customers got the first shot at the bargains and now we get to share with our web customers. Check out our sale pages. Some things are permanent markdowns and some things run on sale until Christmas like our wools. Happy Holidays.

Back from Market in New York and Houston

2006-11-01T16:41:00.000-05:00

I have just come home from a nine day trip to shop in New York and Houston. The New York show was a debut show for this venue. There were many of our most popular vendors showing their wares for spring. It is always fun to shop for fabric. Along with fabric stores, there were many new up and coming independent designers shopping for the same fabrics. I really hope this show becomes an annual event as it is great fun to be in New York city. When I finished in market I was able to work in some of the local showrooms that were not represented at the show. I also got a chance to do a little shopping in some of the better department stores to see if we saw any new inspirations.

After New York, I was off to Houston to work the Quilt Market. Most of the vendors who do cottons and rayons were at the Houston show. We also were on the hunt for new notions or ideas. I found tons of wonderful cottons and lots of beautiful batiks. We will be receiving them all next spring. We have programmed out the receipts so there are constant new arrivals in every category. I also had the pleasure of meeting Kaffe Fassett. He seems so normal for someone so talented.

As always once we go to market I can't wait for spring receipts to start arriving. January and February are always brightened with the arrival of new soft colors and spring textures or prints. They make winter bearable. Hope you are all enjoying the shift to fall sewing now that the weather is changing. Happy Sewing, Joyce

Mimi Leaves us Tomorrow

2006-10-13T19:21:00.000-04:00

Saturday is a sad day in the life of Waechter's. Our manager, Mimi is moving back to Louisville to be close to her family. She wants to watch her neices and nephews grow up and she plans to be there for all their events.

We are so glad for her, but we will miss her terribly. Mimi, was the glue that held things together for Sally for the last 10 years she owned Waechter's and for two years for me as I became the new owner. Mimi is adored by everyone, here. She is a fabulous worker and great with people. She really knows how to sew, too. She organizes us and keeps up with all kinds of details. We are already looking for a replacement, but I know it will be a hard act to follow.

Luckily, most of our fall merchandise is in for this year and we have completed most of the additions to the website. We only have a few things left to photograph and put up. That hopefully, will get done next week.

After Mimi leaves we have a week to get regrouped and then I will be off to market and quilt market. Fortunately, my family is in Houston so I get to visit them. Then it will be Halloween and before you know it Christmas will be here. It is time to start making all those gifts so we are not up all night before Christmas. Happy fall and Happy Sewing. Joyce

Check out the New Fabric on our Site.

2006-09-22T17:09:00.000-04:00

There are these elves in a house in east Asheville. They are very nice elves as they are the worker elves who install lots of my merchandise on our website. I have been behind on getting all the new fabrics photographed until about three weeks ago. I took two hundred pictures one week and now the elves have lots of things to install. I love going on the site and find they have been working. Many of those fabrics are showing up on the site. I would imagine the elves will not finish for another few days, but you can start finding new things on www.waechters.com.
I have another batch of pictures to take. Hopefully that will get done this next week. Enjoy discovering all the new fall offerings. They are beautiful. I certainly enjoy stroking them as I walk through the store. Have fun and Happy fall. Joyce

Coming to Work is Wonderful!!!!!

2006-09-20T13:41:00.000-04:00

I love to come to work. There are many reasons why I feel that way. I work with a really fabulous bunch of women. They are all good at what they do and they are happy to be here. Not to mention they are fun. I love to open the door each day to my charming vintage store front. I really enjoy all the lovely customers that we have. Many are very interesting and most are fun.

This season I especially love to come to work, because the store is gloriously full of beautful things. I am constantly planning samples for the dressmakers to make. We hang samples in the store so people can see what our patterns and fabrics really look like in a finished project. My mind is running wild with all the possibilities of samples we can make. I have to really censor my creative juices or I will be using up the inventory. Karen is making up shawls and scarves for us to sell this holiday season. We came up with so many beautiful combinations that I had to say stop! We could have done several more with all our lovely velvets, burnouts and silks.

The wools in our inventory are so rich and luscious. It would be easy to make up skirts or tops in 25 or 30 options. We have loads of dupioni colors and Vietnamese Silks. They are incredibly luxurious because of their color and sheen.

The fabrics are so nice that the girls banter over who is going to get to sample each bolt or reroll the ones from tubes to bolts. I love it when they are that excited. So I come back to why I love to come to work. I work with wonderful people and I sell beautiful things. Who wouldn't love to come to work. Joyce

I'm Off to the Fair

2006-09-02T18:48:00.000-04:00

It is about to be Fair Week for me. I am working madly so I can take off a few days and work harder at a volunteer job. I have this crazy idea (given to me by a long heritage in my family) of helping create the Flower and Garden Competitions and Displays at the Mountain State Fair here in North Carolina. I will be spending at least five days on my feet on pavement putting together two flower shows and overseeing their judging. Fortunately, my co-chair and I have helpers from the Buncombe County Master Gardeners.

The part you want to know about all this is about my preparation to take these days off and do community service. I have just completed photographing more than 200 new fabrics and trims to go onto our web. They will be installed next week if all goes well.

We are placing orders for Holiday gift items to arrive the end of the month. They will also go onto the web. Now you can come in and buy a cute holiday gift or hostess gift while shopping for your sewing needs.

I also hope to complete the fourth quarter newsletter in the next few days. It can get posted on the web and will include our newest class roster and all the info of things coming to our store. We will be discussing a few fashion trends we see and have lots of fabrics for. There is no reason you can't be as up to date with your fashion sewing trends as the major fashion stores are showing this season. Check out capes, white blouses, dresses, and lots of things in velvet. We have already sold out some of the colors of velvet we just received this last month. Wools are also disappearing at an alarming rate. It should be an elegant fall.

Have a great week while I am volunteering and happy sewing. Joyce

Caught in the Act

2006-08-30T12:47:00.000-04:00

Waechter's would like to offer thanks to our web hosting company, Hostasaurus, for their recent victory over a group of Russian hackers on an attack against our server. Most of our customers were unaware our website was down for a scant 15 minutes. However, when I noticed the problem I contacted the technical support staff at Hostasaurus and was told they had isolated the attack, protected all information on our server, and offered their apologies for any inconvenience.

I've dealt with many web hosting companies over the last ten years and I can say without a doubt that Hostasaurus is not only the best at the services they provide, but also johnny-on-the-spot when it comes to my calls and the preservation of website security for our customers.

So a warm round of applause, roses on the stage, standing ovation, and curtain close.

Fall Velvets and Wools have Arrived.

2006-08-29T18:25:00.000-04:00

It is still in the eighties this week and feels very like summer. However, the store is loaded for fall with all these beautiful new velvets and wools. Our fall goods are mostly in. The UPS man brought so much yesterday that we almost couldn't walk in the office. It looked like the walls were covered in bolts. We are madly working it into the inventory and putting it out on the floor. One of our newest velvets was not on the floor for twelve hours before the bolt was sold for a wedding dress. It will be beautiful.

We also received all the faux furs. We have leopard, persian lamb in two colors, sheared beaver, crushed rabbit fur, and shearling. Thankfully, not one animal died for the production of these fabrics. They feel and look great even though they are not at all real fur.

The new fall brocades came in and the new fall dupioni colors are here. Amazingly several of them coordinate. The store has never looked better. Come see us and you will find lots of things you will love. We are madly photographing and gettting them prepared to be installed on the web. Unfortunately, for our web customers that process takes longer than I wish it would. We will hopefully have much of it on in the next two weeks. Happy sewing. Joyce

Fall Fabrics Continue to Arrive

2006-08-20T15:56:00.000-04:00

I just returned from a week at the beach. It was a much needed vacation. I did almost nothing except for walks on the beach and some needlepoint and cards. I stuffed myself with shrimp and crab. It was heaven.

Today, I am at the store catching up on the paperwork and getting ready to start back on Monday. We continue to have fall fabrics arriving. More new knits that are perfect for transitional weight garments came in last week. We also received new Vietnamese silks. I am always excited to see them. One is more beautiful than the next.

I have a backlog of new receipts to get on the web. This week my priority will be photographing all the new arrivals and prepping them to be installed. I can't wait to get that done. I will feel a great sense of accomplishment. Plus all you fabricaholics will have more things to oggle.

Our sale goods continue to go away. The pile really looks smaller after not seeing it for a week.
I hope your summer is still as lovely as mine. Enjoy the warm weather. Cold will be here before we know it. Happy Sewing. Joyce

Exotic Fabrics Arrive at Waechters

2006-08-11T16:05:00.000-04:00

Not only did the burnouts arrive and we were oh so excited, but our new evening fabrics arrived. These three fabrics are embellished nettings. They are fabulous. One is olive green with embroidered and beaded dots. One is burgundy with pink 3-D flowers all over and the last is black with multi colored 3-D flowers all over.

I am taking a few days off, because I feel like a burn-out but not a velvet. When I return we will focus on putting all the new fabrics on the web. We are behind with all the new arrivals for fall.

We also continue to get new samples completed each week. They also are very inspiring. Elizabeth just completed an organza jean jacket. This jacket was made from the Grainlines- Lorraine Torrence Jumbalaya Jacket. It is hot. Today, she brought me a sample of the Fajita skirt from LJ Designs. It is a great skirt. We all want to make one. She is also working on our Paris Evening Coat. Hopefully, that will be done in the next week. I can't wait to wear it.

Betsy has completed two white silk christening gowns. They are simple, elegant and washable. We made one trimmed with pink and one with blue. Since they are sheers the soft pastel slips that match the trim really make them almost tinted with color. It is a subtle effect, but very striking.

We continue to receive new things each week. Fall is fast approaching and we have the new fabrics to help create your dream projects. Come by and see the new things or check out the web and see what gets put on in the next few weeks. Happy Sewing. Joyce

It"s Hot and Wools are Selling.

2006-08-07T15:26:00.000-04:00

It is the hottest of summers, but we are checking in wools. The most amazing thing is that we are selling them, also. This is the first summer in a long time when many customers are coming in and looking for wools to get started so early on their fall wardrobes. Some pieces will never make it to the web as they are selling before we can get them photographed and installed.

Karen Bennett works for us part time. Not only is she a wonderful employee, but she is also a member of the South Highlands Craft Guild. Best of all for me, is that Karen likes to think out of the box and she always makes samples that are over the top. We have new wool jackets that Karen has made. She just completed a velvet wrap and a new vest pattern and skirt that are fabulous. Karen loves to add trims and embellishments. If you come this way for fun or business or if you happen to live around here, come see Karen's samples. They are inspiring. Some of them are already on the web in the Classes and Workshops section. The others will be up soon.

Our new fall burnout velvets are in a truck between here and California. They should arrive at any minute. We always look forwar to opening those packages and oohing and ahhing. Burnouts are so beautiful. We also have a wonderful burnout coat being made from Kayla Kennington's Paris Coat. It will be glorious when it is done as it is many shades of red velvet burnout covered in dots. It may not sound so elegant, but anyone who loves red swoons over this fabric. http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=VAV-Reddots-2525&Category_Code=VAV&Product_Count=27 This is the link to see the fabric on-line for those of you who can't come visit. When Elizabeth finishes the sample we will put it on the web.

I had the joy-filled pleasure of meeting Angela from Project Runway this weekend. She was selling her wares at the local craft show at All Soul's. This craft show is the best in town and I always go. It was great fun to meet her. She was lovely and very easy to talk to. Definitely, had that midwest charm and down to earth sensibility. She plans to come check us out next month on her return trip to Asheville. I really think Project Runway is a positive influence to inspire the younger crowd to sew and be creative. We are grateful for all the positive reinforcement of the craft we love.
Hope all of you are cool and enjoying your summer in your sewing room. Joyce and the Waechter's Girls

Half Price Sale and New Arrivals

2006-07-22T14:53:00.000-04:00

Waechter's staff has created a half price sale on all sorts of fabrics. We have cottons, rayons, and linens marked down to half price. It is time to clear out the slow movers from this spring and get ready for our new arrivals. Many of the bolts are on the website. Just click on this link and it will take you directly to our sale items. http://www.fabricsandbuttons.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=CLFAB

We are receiving new fabrics every day. We have several new pieces of knits for fall. Most of them are the perfect weight for all kinds of soft and drapey garments. We have also received several new tropical weight wools and many new silk blend brocades. Our velvets have started arriving, too. Come see what we have or if you don't see it on the website yet you can call us at 828-252-2131. We are always happy to send samples. It always takes time to get the newest receipts photographed and put onto the web. Happy Sewing. Joyce

Linda Lee to Teach at Waechters June 23 and 24.

2006-06-09T13:04:00.000-04:00

Linda Lee will be teaching at Waechter's June 23 and 24. Linda is the owner and designer of Sewing Workshop Patterns. These are some of our most popular patterns. They have a very high fashion look. Linda has a great sense of style. Her patterns are different than anything else on the market. She is an expert seamstress and a super teacher. I have enjoyed taking classes from her in other venues.

Linda will be teaching several different topics. We will have a trunk show. Let Linda advise you to find the patterns that are most flattering to you. She will also give classes on working with silk as well as mastering miters. Her final afternoon and evening class will be a sit and sew where you can get help with any of her patterns. Linda has graciously agreed to stay into the evening to help our students. Check out our website @www.waechters.com to read the details of all her classes. Just click on the classes and worshop section on our main menu and you will find all our classes and a major explanation of Linda Lee's plans for her classes while she is here.

Sign up online or call us at 828-252-2131 and reserve your space today. Come enjoy an expert teacher who is nationally known and recognized. Happy Sewing, Joyce

As the Bolt Turns Or the Silk Worm

2006-06-03T10:46:00.000-04:00

Many things are happening at Waechter's Silk Shop. We are excited about all of them.
We have tons of new summer cottons, linens and beautiful silks. More Vietnamese silks arrive on Monday.

Our Website is growing daily and in the next couple of weeks we will complete our heirloom store within our store website. We have loads of garments out for articles in magazines next spring. That will be wonderful to see our own creations in print. Our children's sewing expert Betsy Sherman has been cranking out the samples all spring. Fortunately, for us two magazines thought our children's samples were as exciting as we did.

Our time at work is improving because we have new office furniture that helps us all be more efficient. We are enjoying our new ergonomic computer stations that help our wrists to stay in peak condition for sewing.

I have mastered the Oxford pant from Loes Hinse. I love this newer silhouette and will be making all my pants from this pattern. Stop by and hopefully I will be wearing them.

Next week is my birthday. How did I get this old so fast. I know many of you know about our birthday advantage club. You join our lifetime club for $25.00 and you get special sales and a birthday week discount. Well since it is my birthday we are giving out a 15% discount for anyone mentioning it is my birthday during next week. Call us and order, or stop by and see our new arrivals. Mention my birthday and get a 15% discount off your purchases. Sale items are included.
Have fun and have a piece of cake and champagne in celebration of my birthday. Better yet have cake and champagne while you are sewing something wonderful. Just one glass of champagne or you have to stop sewing.

Happy Birthday to all my June birthday friends and Happy sewing. Joyce

Summer Fabric Sale

2006-05-16T19:13:00.000-04:00

We have just taken a whole table of spring fabrics and marked them down by 1/3 off. They are perfect for spring. Even though it has been cold around here spring is definitely here and summer is not far behind. Come check out our sale. Most of these fabrics are not on the website so stop by and see what we have. We also have some patterns and trims on sale for 1/2 off. Have a great spring and happy sewing. Joyce

Lots of Spring Fabrics Have Arrived

2006-04-24T15:43:00.000-04:00

I have been remiss in posting new blogs. The days get away from me as I am pushing to get all the new fabric and buttons on the web along with everything else we do each day. I was in Vegas a few weeks ago shopping for fall.
Vegas was a great show and we found lots of beautiful wools and velvets for fall. There were also loads of gorgeous rayons, silks and cottons. Most of our fall goods will arrive in July, August and September.

We have been madly receiving goods for spring since February. There are tons of fabulous pant weight fabrics from linens to cottons. Many are solid with texture or just lovely and smooth. We have a whole rounder of just pant fabrics. There are tons of nice linens, including the fashion forward shades of brown with coordinate small stripes. Many of our linens are cross-dyed. We also have four new linens that are double woven and reversible in two colors.

We continue to receive monthly shipments of Vietnamese silks. They are two tone iridescent and each is glorious. I have made several things out of them for myself as I love them.

We also have loads of fun cotton prints to match the solid pants fabrics. The cottons come in all kind of fun patterns and many different colors. We also get monthly shipments of rayon batiks that would look great over pants or as pants. Rayons are wonderful in Kayla Kennington's Perennial Pant. Everyone at the store loves that pattern and many of us have made them.

Our new newsletter and class list is up for the next 12 weeks. We have lots of exciting new classes planned and loads of new samples that you can see in the store or on the web.

Have fun with your spring sewing. It is a good thing to do on a lovely spring day like today.
Joyce

New Receipts

2006-03-06T12:11:00.000-05:00

We have tons of new receipts coming in this morning. The UPS man blessed us with reorders and new goods. We have several new batiks and six new cottons from Kaffe Fassett and his co-designers. We hope to get them on the web as soon as possible. It takes tons of time to get things prepped to go onto the web. I wish I had fifty hours in a day and the stamina to keep going that long.

Classes are becoming more and more popular. We are excited to see a renewed interest in sewing. More and more young women are coming to us wanting beginning classes. It looks like the beginning of a trend back to creating your own new and exciting fashions.

We have received lots of new and interesting buttons and trims in the last few weeks. They are all on the list to go up on the web. Keep checking it out they will get there soon.

Happy Sewing!
Joyce

It Feels Like Spring

2006-03-02T13:25:00.000-05:00

It is a warmish day in Asheville. The forsythia and daffodils are popping out. I guess I need to go get the crabgrass herbicide. Didn't know you would get gardening info on our site did you? Well it's time to do that, when you see the forsythia blooming.

Yesterday, we got in a major shipment of linens. All of them are cross-dyed and very classic shades of brown, navy and black. Great for three seasons of the year. Some of them have coordinates to make a beautiful top and bottom. One has just a little lurex shot through it and would make a lavish summer jacket or top.

We also are receiving lots of beautiful laser cut trims from France. One is more beautiful than the next. My favorite is the one I am looking at, no matter which I pick up. They are great for trims on pillows and other home-dec projects or they can be glorious on clothes. Any of you who like exotic trims to go on needlepoint projects should check these out.

We have some wonderful samples of adorable Easter dresses for any of you who like to be inspired to make children's clothes. Betsy Sherman does beautiful things for us and we love having her as our children's clothing specialist. She has some super classes to help you make lovely spring things for girls or boys. Check out the pictures on our website under classes and workshops. There are enlarged pictures if you click on the initial thumbnail.

Today the classroom is full of people making kimonos. Some are cotton and others are silk. They are having such fun and their projects are wonderful. One lady is making a glorious kimono to have something beautiful to wear as she makes her husband's breakfast. What a great idea, and
a nice way to start the day.

More and more things are arriving daily. We hope to have them on the web in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, it all takes more time than you can imagine. Oh, to have forty hour workdays. I might get caught up.

Happy sewing. Joyce

Growing Website

2006-02-22T15:42:00.000-05:00

Hello to all,
As I type the buttons are multiplying on the web. We have at least two hundred styles to go up in the next week or so and many of those come in multiple sizes. We are also adding children's fabrics and buttons. The patterns will come soon. Now, we have over one hundred trims on the web and new ones to be added in the next few weeks. Hope you enjoy hanging out in your pajamas and shopping on our website. Don't forget we still have the sale on. There are lots of patterns at 25% off and many fabrics at 25% to 50% off. All our wools are on sale at 25-33% off. Have a great day and lots of happy sewing. Joyce and the Waechterettes

New Arrivals

2006-02-15T10:38:00.000-05:00

Tons of beautiful things are coming in for spring. We just received several bolts from two of our favorite suppliers. One is all designer closeouts and the other is a wonderful importer of fine fabrics from Europe. There are beautiful cottons, printed silk organza, silk matkas and much more.

We also got a shipment of felted fruit from a wonderful artisan who raises her own sheep and felts the wool from them into beautiful things. Come see all the different fruits and vegies. They make great pincushions, or you could just pile them in a big bowl on your table. The peas are my favorite.

Recently, we received a new pattern line called Decades of Style. They are chic and fabulous patterns from the early 1900's on through the fifties. I really like several of them. There are two fabulous evening gowns, and a superb wrap.

Buttons have been coming in every week. One is more slick than the next.

Now I have my work cut out for me to get all these things photoed and put on the web. Please, don't hold your breath. Just come see them and our new carpet.
Happy sewing. It is a glorious spring like day here. Joyce and the Gang.

Morris Prints

2006-02-11T10:28:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,
It is a snowy Saturday morning. We have a techniques class going on this morning. It's all about making buttonholes. Everyone in the class is very excited to lose their fear of this skill.

Most exciting of all our receipts this week is nine styles of William Morris type, print cottons. They arrived just in time for the Arts and Crafts weekend at the Grove Park Inn. That should be a big hit. We hope to get them on the web in the next few weeks.

We are madly working this weekend to add tons of buttons and trims to the web. Soon we will also add all our heirloom-childrens patterns and fabrics. Thanks for all your positive response to the web.

Have a great sewing Saturday. Joyce

New Carpet & New Blog

2006-02-09T13:55:00.000-05:00

Just a note to tell everyone we are so excited. Our remodel that started last spring is finally finished. For four days this week we moved everything in the store and installed new carpet in the store. We also installed new tile in the classroom. I am so excited the classroom will be easy clean. The store looks like a jewel box and I am thrilled. Whew, what a relief to have that behind us.

At the same time Heather our webmistress extraordinare has installed our new blog. We hope you enjoy reading about all the things happening here. Thanks for being our customers.

Our First Blog

2006-02-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the official Waechter's Blog. Here you'll find news and information on a range of subjects of interest to our customers. Please check back often to view new posts or download our blog into your favorite news reader such as RSS Reader.

Wondering what a Blog is? Check out Wikipedia for more information than you'd ever want to know.