Material Girl: A Quick Look at ESST Fabrics

I've had a thing for fabric for a long time: from exploring the meticulously organized drawers in my grandmother's sewing room as a young girl, to starting to sew around age 11 and choosing bright patterns from bolts in the now-long-gone local fabric store, to traveling with my mom in the 90s and bringing back yardage as souvenirs from places like Tahiti, Grenada and Antigua.

Now, thanks to the internet, patterns and prints beyond my wildest dreams are just a click away.  My favorite place to "get lost" is in the fabric shops of fellow team members.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Coriander in Blue at BeeSquareFabrics.

Bright Red Crysanthemum and Phoenix at EllaHound.

Ocean Zinnia Path at FabricsByTheSea.

My current obsession is a set of Pastel Dye Sticks by Pentel that let you apply vivid color directly onto fabric. Once your design is complete, you simply cover it with a sheet of paper and iron over it to set the dyes. It's the perfect way to add the personal touch to your work and my favorite way to make handmade gifts even more special.



With wedding season coming up, I see a few sets of pillowcases and hand towels sewn from unexpected prints with complimentary hand drawn embellishments in my crafting future.

An Idea by Fabric Samples

Shelia from Fabric Samples has a fun idea to share.

Try using Designer Fabric Samples with grommet holes on a drapery rod pole. If you thread them back and forth, they can become a valence, a café curtain, or a half curtain. Some of these samples are gorgeous and could be used alone as a wall hanging on a metal rod. This idea would be great behind a bed, as a faux headboard.

Another fun idea is to attach them to each other with a belt to make a skirt.



These fabric samples come in a variety of color lots and coordinated pattern lots as well. The most fun ones are the 8” wide x 18” long; but, the 12” x 15” are great too.

Shelia at Fabric Samples is full of great ideas for her samples, but would love to hear about more ideas of how to use them. Please leave a comment to share your idea.

Introducing the ETSY Supplies Street Team: Fabric Stash2

This is the next in my series about the wonderful peeps of Team ESST. Today's topic is:

Fabric Stash 2 is just recreating her shop (formerly "Fabric Stash"), but it promises to be a super shop!

If you'd like to find older posts in this series, search for the tag ESST members.

Introducing the ETSY Supplies Street Team: Fabricsamples

This is the next in my series about the wonderful peeps of Team ESST. Today's topic is:

Fabricsamples has wonderful, elegant fabrics that you simply will not find anywhere else unless you have contacts in the fabric trade or are a wholesale purchaser. She has toile, velvet and chenille, florals, designer samples, wholesale packs, and vintage fabrics. This is a wonderful resource for the bag maker, the decorator, or anyone else who wants excellent, unusual fabric in small lots.

FabricSamples is currently having sales, as she says here:
**FRESH NEW IDEA: PERFECT GIFT FOR THE FABRIC LOVER: WRAP IN FABRIC AND RIBBON WITH TRIM this HOLIDAY SEASON!**

***10% OFF my any NON SALE ITEMS, when you Buy 4 or more Designer Fabric Samples. 15% OFF when you Buy 10 or more Designer Fabric Samples. I will send you a refund through Paypal after you pay! This is a limited time offer.*****

I have Reduced the Price of numerous items in this Etsy Store.
**PLEASE use the word SALE or REDUCED to find my Sale and Reduced Items in this store. I simply don't have enough sections!*** Fabric has nineteen sales, so go lavish some love on her shop!

If you'd like to find older posts in this series, search for the tag ESST members.

Fabric Blog

There are many fabric sellers on Etsy, and some particularly wonderful ones that are part of the Etsy Supply Street Team. But where to read about all fabric all the time? Try True Up!

Kim of True Up keeps all of us crafty sewers up to date on the latest fabrics - what is coming out, when it will be in stores and what the latest trends are too. She throws some vintage goodness in to drool over too! Enjoy her Swatch of the Week, and Sale Alert Sunday features, as well as interviews with designers and retailers (like me!)

Did you see something on her blog and just have to have it? Try searching for it in one of our Etsy shops!

Gift wrap idea - Fabric!

I just love this idea from Sheila at Fabric Samples...

Use fabric to wrap your Holiday gifts, then reuse to make your fabric crafts!!
Search Etsy with terms Team ESST + fabric. Or visit to one of our fabric shops directly:

http://beesquarefabrics.etsy.com
http://fabricstash.etsy.com
http://fabricstash2.etsy.com
http://kimonomomo.etsy.com
http://EllaHound.etsy.com
http://FabricSamples.etsy.com
http://samplescrap.etsy.com

THEN use this fantastic ribbon to tie up your fabric wrapped packages!!
Search Etsy with terms Team ESST + ribbon


posted by Diane of Bee Square Fabrics

Handcrafted Holidays - Reusable Shopping Bags

Looking for something to craft and give for gifts this holiday season? Why not try to knit, crochet, or sew some reusable shopping bags. Curbly has 35 free patterns listed on their blog. They have featured 18 options for sewers, 9 for knitters, and 8 for crocheters.

Now that you know what to make, you'll need to know where to buy your supplies. There are many yarn and fabric sellers that are part of the Etsy Supply Street team, all willing to answer any questions and assist you in any way they can.

To get started, just find the pattern you'd like to try and get shopping!

Team ESST Fabric sellers:
beesquarefabrics.etsy.com
EllaHound.etsy.com
FabricSamples.etsy.com
fabricstash.etsy.com
fabricstash2.etsy.com
kimonomomo.etsy.com
tliss.etsy.com
samplescrap.etsy.com

Team ESST Yarn sellers:
BPyarns.etsy.com
ButtonsBanglesandWee.etsy.com



Written by Diane of Bee Square Fabrics

New at Bee Square Fabrics - summer sale!

Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom is on sale for $6.00/ yard. They are going fast, so get them while they last!

Also on sale:
Zazu by Tina Givens for $6.00/ yard (30% off)
Kokka's Trefle collection for $10.60/ yard (35% off)
Chestnut Hill by Joel Dewberry $4.80/ yard (now 50% off)
Come Quilt with Me $4.50/ yard (50% off)
as well as select Japanese prints for 30% off.!

Sale ends August 15th, 2008

View all SALE fabrics at Bee Square Fabrics.