Courtesy masks

A huge order of 18 adult-sized fabric courtesy masks and 3 child-sized mask for a good friend of mine

Like so many people during the covid-19 crisis, I was laid off in March. Unlike so many – I haven’t been making sourdough bread (yet!) but I have been making courtesy masks. I started off with a number of different possible patterns – trying five different ones out, and finally settling on two patterns that I merged together and altered to give more room between my lips and the fabric.

This was the best design for both my housemate and myself, and I had a good supply of round elastic cord for ear-loops. I also tried ties, but ultimately with long hair… I hated them for me. Others seem to like them which is awesome though, and they’re definitely more adjustable for a variety of faces/heads.

Once I made five for her (two shaped, and three of the pleated style which she also really liked) and five for myself (all shaped) I posted them on Facebook and I had a friend ask if I’d be willing to make some for her as well… and then another… and another… and another…

Fabric shopping in YYC and YEG

Fabricland on Gateway in Edmonton

I’ve posted a few photos from various fabric shopping trips over the past few weeks on my Instagram account, and I have a few more to share from different places. Most of these I’ve reviewed before, so I’m mostly sharing photos today… (YEG – Edmonton, YYC – Calgary)

Creative Stitches & Crafting Alive 2016

I only got a few things at the 2013 Creative Stitches show

I’ve written in the past about the Creative Stitches & Crafting Alive trade show… in the past I really enjoyed the show, but over time it became less about sewing, and more about scrapbooking. Originally there were a number of free-to-attend classes and workshops, along with a few paid all or half-day classes… then it seemed to move to free “classes” that weren’t much more than sales pitches, and more paid classes. The vendors also seemed to shift away from the good out-of-town fabric and notion stores I adored (Gala Fabrics from Victoria, Great Notion Supply from Abbotsfort/Surrey, etc) and had more of the regular “women’s show” trade show vendors… less interesting to me.

So for several years I haven’t bothered to attend.

All the same… there is a class on redwork at the Calgary show this time around, as well as a few others, and I thought I’d share it to my local readers.

Grandmother’s fabric sale 2016

The main area with tables of fabric – and a LOT of people!

In my earlier post I mentioned the grandmother’s fabric sale… well it’s almost here! For all of my local Calgary friends who have asked me to remind them when this sale is coming up – consider this your reminder!

This year the sale takes place at the Woodcliff United Church, 5010 Spruce Dr SW, Calgary, AB.  It starts 3:00 p.m. on April 15 (running until 7:30 p.m.) and repeats on April 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

My tips:

• Bring lots of re-useable shopping bags
• Bring a partner to shop with – one of you can stand in to pay while the other shops.
• Leave the coffee cup, etc in the car – you’ll need both hands free to shop, and it gets really crowded in the church.
• 

  Poster for the event (direct link)

  Be prepared to stand in line for a while, and to park far away – wear good shoes!

• Likewise, consider what you’re wearing… it can be cold in line outside, and then gets really hot in the crowded church.
• Pay attention to what you really want, and go to those areas first. Magazines, patterns, etc are USUALLY (but not always)  upstairs, while everything else is downstairs – there are usually different rooms for quilting, notions, yarn/knitting, crafting, and fancy fabrics, as well as a separate room where they have full bolts of fabric.
• Have fun, and know you’re spending money building your fabric/yarn stash for a great cause!

Read more about previous sales here.

The line up to get into the Grandmother’s Fabric Sale on a previous year – Friday at 4:00 p.m.

 

Raid your fabric stash!

Just part of the line up to get into the 2015 Grandmother’s fabric sale

It’s nearly time for the Ujamaa Grandma’s annual fabric and yarn sale again! They’re taking fabric, notions, patterns, yarn, knitting needles, etc… all leading up to the sale with funds going to the grandmother’s cause.

If you’re in Calgary, drop off your unused stash at the Woodcliff United Church, 5010 Spruce Dr SW, on April 13 & 14, 2016 between 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Want to learn more about the sale? Check out my previous posts here.