Well, aren’t I the bad business blogger? I’ve been running around here like a chicken with my head cut off all week preparing for my Open House today. But I failed to mention it here on my blog! Duh.

So anyway. If you are in the area today stop in for cookies, apple cider, and wine. Plus I have in store specials and product demos planned for this afternoon.

 
Another quick project that is perfect for gift giving. This tutorial will guide you through adding a six inch fabric hem to cotton toweling. The toweling is 16″ wide and is available by the yard. It is pre-hemmed on the long edges. (All photos in the following tutorial can be clicked on to make bigger.)

Materials for One Towel

1/2 yd. hemmed cotton toweling

1/2 yd. cotton fabric (enough for 3 finished towels) or a fabric remnant at least 18 x 14 inches

coordinating all-purpose thread

Step One:

Cut two (2) 7″x18″ strips from the cotton print fabric.

Step Two:

 
 
Place toweling and fabric right sides together (RST) matching raw edges. The print fabric should be approximately 1 inch wider on each end.
Sew RST using 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step Three:

 
Press seam allowance toward print fabric.
Press 1/2″ along unfinished edge of print fabric.
 
Fold print fabric RST matching folded edge to seam.
Pin short ends.

Step Four:

Sew short ends using edge of toweling as seam guide.
 
Trim seam allowances and corners to reduce bulk.
Turn right side out and press.

Step Five:

 
Carefully topstitch 1/4″ from seam line from the right side being sure to keep underside flat and straight.
Press and trim threads.

Whew! For a three day work week I’ve been really busy (good busy!) and it has flown by. My blog posting stats have been weak at best recently but this week will have to suffice with a long week in review post before I head out of here for the holiday.

First of all we had our official ribbon cutting here Tuesday afternoon. Many members of the Chamber of Commerce and other local business people came out to show their support. I was so thrilled to have the mayor, Don DeWitte, attend and do the official ribbon cutting with me. As it turns out, it was like old home week for him. He grew up in the house directly behind the store here and spent his youth running this neighborhood!  
Wednesday and today I’ve been doing a lot of what I opened this store to do; teach people to sew. Yesterday I had two return students that made pajama pants with me last week. This week they came in to make the Amy Butler Birdie Bag pattern. We didn’t quite get through the entire thing so they will be coming back next week to finish up.

Today I had a fun morning doing my part to contribute to “Burgess Camp.” My friend Judy has her 5 grandchildren come for a few days every summer and they do all kinds of fun things together. I was thrilled to be able to offer them a morning of crafting fun. We made fish in a bag soaps and some “dragon tear” magnets. (The youngest grandchild informed me that the flattened marbles are actually “REAL!” dragon’s tears! Who knew?)   

Then to wrap up my week Chris, a new sewer and new student, came in to make her first apron. She is a natural! She chose fabrics from the Moda Christmas selection (25% off for the month of July!) to make her sister a cute hostess gift.  So it is official, Chris is the winner of the first Christmas sewing/craft project completed at My Eclectic Mess 2008! Drop the balloons!!!!

So now I am off for the holiday weekend to spend some time with my husband and kids, probably a large amount to be spent lounging in a pool float. Mini-Me is planning to repaint her bedroom (I think this may count as the 8th or 9th time one of the upstairs/kids’ bedrooms have been painted since we moved into this house 11 years ago!) I would really like to have nothing to do with the entire project but I doubt I’ll get so lucky. Did I mention that the room is currently dark brick red?

Someone please pour me an icy cocktail, I’ll be there in a few minutes!