You’ve spent all that time crafting a totally personal, unique, handmade gift. So why not wrap it up in one-of-a kind handsewn gift wrap too? Or if you didn’t quite have time for handmade gifts this year, this is a quick way to spiff up that present with just a touch of handmade care. Not to mention, it’s a great way to recycle paper grocery bags and other paper around the house.

Let your creativity run wild and try whipping up some custom stitched gift wrap with instructions at our Stitched Holiday Wrapping tutorial.

As the shopping days left till Christmas wane, we are still finding more decorations to put up and trying to finish those last handmade gifts, not to mention scrambling to get in our online shopping before the shipping deadlines. If you feel like we do, and don’t have an extra moment to dream up the perfect gift, consider some suggestions.

1 - Amy Butler Softwares : $29.29 : for the techie sewist
With over 22 fun projects & patterns in Amy’s modern style, we find this pretty irresistable.

2 - Kaffe Fassett’s Quilt Romance : $24.95 : for the book snob sewist
This is Kaffe’s newest book, with breathtaking photos and quilt patterns that will go straight to that must-do list.

3 – Kinkame European Taupe II Quilt Kit : $55.10 : for the world-travelled sewist
Soft colors to pacify any room with this wall-hanging sized quilt kit including fabric and pattern.

4 - Sweet Harmony Handbag Pattern : $12.95 : for the trendy sewist
The latest and greatest bag pattern from Amy Butler, best of all, this bag definitely won’t have that “home crafts” look (you know what we mean).

5 – Mother Earth & Her Children Puzzle : $18.95 : for the game-loving sewist
This puzzle is based on the award-winning quilt that will amaze long after the puzzle is finished.

6 – Rouenneries Jelly Roll : $35 : for every sewist
French General’s Rouenneries fabric collection has pleased young and old alike. Here we have every print in a sweet little bundle.

7 – Paper Dollies : $16 : for the young-at-heart (or just young!) sewist
Just because you’re grown up doesn’t mean you can’t play with toys on Christmas morning!

8 – Liberty Of London Tana Lawn : $36/yard : for the sophisticated sewist
For someone who won’t indulge on themselves but should, 2 yards of a Liberty print can become a runway worthy blouse or skirt.

My mom has a rule: no shopping for yourself before Christmas. I haven’t quite adopted that rule myself, and with stuff like this around, how could I?

Just remember, orders must be placed by Sunday, December 20 to arrive by Christmas Eve with Priority Shipping.

There’s so much to be excited about lately, you’d think we would hit overload, but not possible.  Just like it’s always possible to love another friend or another child, there is always enough love in our hearts for more fabric.  Like Nicey Jane.  Check out this sweet little slideshow Heather Bailey put together to show off her new line, then check out the complete collection here.

Winter is not being wishy washy this year. Way to be loud and proud, Winter.  So I am trying to get as close as I safely can to the fireplace in the classroom at the shop.  It’s not all bad; things are feeling especially Christmasy and it’s a good excuse for homemade soup!

Last week at our Creative Guild meeting Kathy provided some hot liquid comfort of the savory sort.  As is always promised at these meetings, we’d like to share her secret recipe right here.

Kathy’s homemade chicken soup has long been a family favorite, and the secret is in the dumplings.  After boiling a chicken, shredding it and adding it back to the broth along with carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, and other favorite veggies, the true magic commences with the addition of the dumplings…

Dumplings for Chicken Soup

For a pot of soup feeding more than 4 people, double this recipe. You may find you need to make another batch the next day to add to the leftover soup!

bring to a boil:
1 cup milk
1/2 cube butter

dump into milk mixture all at once:
1/2 cup flour
1 scant tsp salt

Stir vigorously until a ball forms in center of pan.  Remove from heat and add, one at a time, 2 eggs, beating each one in individually.  Drop by teaspoonfuls into hot soup, scraping batter off spoon with index finder.  Do not boil. Heat for 20 minutes.

This week we celebrate the official launch of the Suppose web shop with free shipping!  Just choose FREE USPS Priority Mail as your shipping option at checkout.

You could say we’ve been in beta mode for a little while, but now we are full steam ahead.  All of the fabric in our brick & mortar store is available online, from the oilcloth & laminates to Christmas prints and everything in between. Plus the ric rac. Oh the ric rac!

Not to mention, many of our favorite books and patterns.  Free shipping will end Sunday. Have fun shopping, and don’t forget to show us what you make with your purchase in our photo pool!

{Free shipping has ended, but stay tuned for more great deals.}