Shop Small @ Crimson Tate

November 27, 20132 Comments

This Saturday, November 30, is American Express’s SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! We welcome you to come shop locally on Mass Ave! How much fun to keep it local? Or loco, if you’re silly like us. If you are an American Express Card holder, you can register your card and get $10 back for spending $10 at Crimson Tate. To register your card to shop with us, go here.

Even if you’re not an American Express member, you can take advantage of the holiday hoopla that will be happening on Mass! Crimson Tate will have SWAG bags being given to the first 10 shoppers through the door that will be filled with sewing goodness and offers from local businesses on the street! Participating in the SWAG BAG giveaway are Silver in the City, The Best Chocolate in Town, Nurture, City Dogs, Global Gifts, Handmade Promenade, Stout’s Shoes, Chatham Home, Indy Reads Books, and more!

Get down here on Saturday! We’ll be happy to receive you!

How To Make A WISH LIST @ CrimsonTate.com

November 15, 2013Leave a comment

Here’s a photo tutorial on how to create your wishlist at crimsontate.com!! Please don’t hesitate to email us if you have questions on how to accomplish this!

First things first. You’ll need to register for an account at crimsontate.com

Once you’ve registered, you’ll see that you can create a wishlist. If you’ve already registered, login and head over to MY ACCOUNT.

Click on MY WISH LISTS: (note, it doesn’t change color so it doesn’t necessarily look like a link) This is what you’ll see. Click the black bar that says NEW WISH LIST.

Only you and whomever you choose to share your Wish List with will be able to see what you’ve been dreaming of at crimsontate.com. You’ll create a name and password for the Wish List. If you’d like different people to buy or see what projects you’re working on, create multiple Wish Lists based on projects. For example: Mail Sack Wish List would have all of the components that I want to create a new mail sack bag. Another Wish List might be an array of Harriet Headbands I’ve been dreaming of, so I’ll create a separate Wish List for that. You decide. Should all of your dreams live together in one list? Or do you want to create separate lists based on projects, and quantities?

We find that giving a description to your gift-givers will help them understand your obsessions er I mean, desires.

This is what it will look like once you’ve saved your Wish List.

Now it’s time to browse around crimsontate.com and gather all of the items you’re dreaming of. Here we headed to Melody Miller fabric. Select a specific quantity and ADD TO WISH LIST.

Don’t forget about all the other players that go into projects such as thread, patterns, seam rippers. Notions make great gifts.

You can select specific quantities that you’ll need.

Once you’ve filled up your Wish List basket, head to MY ACCOUNT and click on MY WISH LISTS and select the specific list you want to send out into the world.

Here you can edit quantities or take away items you’ve decided are for later.

Click ADD INVITEE and start adding names and email addresses of the loves you’d like to share your Wish List with.

Here’s the gang I’m adding to my list. At this point, you can send it to everyone by clicking SEND MAIL TO ALL or you can re-send the email individually by clicking on the teeny tiny envelope.

So. What happens next? I’m curious about what the INVITEE will receive. They will get an email that looks like this.

And when they click on the link, they’ll be taken to a screen at crimsontate.com that asks them for your super special Wish List Password.

When they enter the PASSWORD they’ll then be able to see your list. With your super nice note. They can make their purchases from this screen, clicking BUY NOW button to right of product. They can also decide what quantity they will purchase the item. If you need continuous yardage, you might caution your INVITEES that it would be most helpful for you if they buy fabric to buy all quantity requested.

Once they click on their cart, they can proceed with the checkout and purchase your items there.

Questions? Comments? Concerns?! Email us modernquilter@crimsontate.com and we’ll answer your techy questions or help you decide what projects might be best for your sewing ability. Happy Holidays, friends!!

Tula Pink’s Acacia is LIVING Downtown Indianapolis

September 27, 2013October 2, 20138 Comments

I’ll tell ya. Remember when I drank the Kool-Aid at the Portland Quilt Market Spring 2013 and I said “I finally get why so many people are obsessed with Tula Pink!” If you don’t remember, you can read about it here. (I was able to capture some good photos while there, I think it’s worth taking a look at). Well. Two days ago the child of that Kool-Aid-induced-decision-making-funtime showed up. Twenty-five bolts of Tula Pink’s newest line called Acacia is here. Yesterday we (David, Melissa, and I) spent a goodly amount of the day cutting, folding, bundling, kitting, petting these newest fabrics. I took WAY too many photos of the collection and have been thinking WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH ALL OF THESE PHOTOS?! But I couldn’t stop. So, here is a lil’ photographic journey of the bundles and kits we’ve put together. I’ll meet you at the bottom momentarily.

We call this one above the Amelia colorway. Pretty pinks turning coral. We call the one above the Pauline colorway with its unexpected color combinations that work together seamlessly.We call this dominantly purple bundle the Bernice colorway. All good Bernices claim purple as their favorite color.

We have kits of the Peaks & Valleys Quilt which I thought was the best quilt at the show. We put them in cute lil’ plastic zipper bags that our friend Ashley at Nurture gave us. She’s trying to purge. It seems we are always trying to hoard.

Here’s what the quilt looks like:

And of course we have the English paper piecing kit she created called Diamonds in the Sky.

It seems we are now officially armed with enough beautiful fabric to make some pretty spectacular things. I’ve got to get to work on my Peaks and Valleys quilt!

If receiving Tula’s fabric wasn’t enough, on Tuesday we’ll receive Birch Organic’s Fort Firefly and Alexander Henry’s Ghastlie Christmas fabric. YOU GUYS! It’s go time.

See you downtown, soon!

xoxo

Heather

Lotta Jansdotter’s Newest Fabrics Were Announced

September 25, 2013Leave a comment

Windham Fabrics just announced Sylvia and mormor, Lotta’s newest collections scheduled to be in stores in February. We’re kinda like a Lotta Jansdotter mecca here in Indiana.

Read more about her new collection here on Windham’s blog:

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a01156fbc60f3970c019aff8238f1970d

We may or may not be working on our own Sylvia quilt RIGHT NOW. Did we get a lil’ advanced yardage?! Shhhh. We can’t say until October 1st. We gave a blood oath to our buddies at Windham. Hold on.

xoxo

Heather

Ohhh Voile. You’re Such a Pretty Girl.

September 12, 20132 Comments

VOILE-La! Another Substrate To Add To Your Repertoire.

OMG! Have you seen the lil’ Boston Terriers in voile? Can you get any cuter than this? It’s ridiculously amazing what Japanese manufacturer Kokka has come up with in this sweet new design. I’m so curious about who is going to make a dress from these teeny pups! Or who is going to sew a set of infinity scarves to give as presents to their friends? Who is going to start a Boston Terrier gang?! Who wants pajama pants in grapefruit colored terriers? All I know is that it’s begging to be made into something great.

100% cotton and 100% cute, this voile fabric is soft, sturdy, and waiting for its forever home.

You’ve seen Rashida Coleman-Hale’s Koi voile, right?

The Way of the Flowers in Jewel. Organic cotton voile. Beauty.

What is this voile, you say? Voile a lightweight fabric that has sheer qualities to it. Because of its lightweight nature, voile is best used in situations where it can shine, move, and drape like dresses, curtains, or scarves. Having said this, a voile quilt is not out of the question. I’ve witnessed the beauty of a voile quilt with wool batting. Luxurious. Let us not be afraid to mix substrates when constructing new projects. Add another tool to toolbox, kids. These lightweight cottons will inspire. (Don’t forget about the hand drawn kitties in voile, too.)

De-Stash Bash :: Sewing for a Cause!!

September 6, 20134 Comments

It’s time to DE-STASH! And let’s give to our community while we’re at it. Crimson Tate is partnering with our dear friend and fabric rep Laurie Voggenthaler to present DE-STASH BASH. The gang of Crimson Tate and Laurie have cut through our years of stash building and assembled kits to create pillowcases for members of our own community at the Wheeler Mission Center for Women and Children.

How can you get involved? Here are the deets:

WHO: You and all your sewy pals are encouraged to participate.
WHAT: Sewing pillowcases to be donated to the Wheeler Mission Center for Women and Children.
HOW: Come to Crimson Tate and make a $12 donation to Wheeler Mission CWC to receive a pillowcase kit. Each kit includes three coordinating fabrics and a pillowcase pattern. OR Use fabrics from your own stash and make a suggested donation of $12 when dropping off the pillowcase.
WHEN: Return your completed pillowcase donation to Crimson Tate by Tuesday, October 1st.
NOW WHAT: Then, join us Friday evening October 4 to celebrate your generosity.

First Friday in October, Crimson Tate will feature

Your cutie-tootie pillowcases lining the cultural trail (weather permitting).
A very VERY important chili cook-off competition between me (Heather) and my sister Tana. We need the public to decide once and for all WHO MAKES THE BETTER CHILI?!
Beer. Beer. Beer. YESSSS!!!
Celebrate on Mass Ave with Harvest of the Arts and other retailers and restaurants featuring local artists.

WHY: Our dear friend Laurie Voggenthaler came to us with an idea of how she could clear out leftovers in her stash AND make a difference. 100% of your donation goes to the Wheeler Mission Center for Women and Children. What a lovely way to touch lives as we head toward the holiday season. And how wonderful that we can hand them not only a generous stack of pillowcases but also cash to support existing programs. This is gonna be good.

Get down here and gather-up some stash (or get to digging through your own)! And get to sewing. We’re excited to see what you will create.

Is that Liberty of London Lifestyle cotton in that kit?! Why yes it is. We’re not holding back the good stuff in the kits we’ve created!!

Hello Friend. Hello Double Gauze.

August 28, 2013Leave a comment

Have you met double gauze fabric yet? Let me introduce you.

Japanese artist Naomi Ito has designed a luscious line of fabrics using the name Nani Iro. What you see here is a sub straight of 100% cotton called double gauze. Double gauze is just that, two layers of gauze that are intermittently woven together on the loom creating a light, lofty essence to the drape of the fabric.

Gauze is more loosely woven therefore breathes easily. One layer of gauze, however, is not enough for most of us to construct a dress unless we’re interested in creating a scene. The Nani Iro double gauze is the perfect solution for a lightweight garment that has a little bit of hang and movement. It’s super soft and buttery when sewn. You’ll want your world to made from this magic fabric.

In the store we have a great example of a Washi Dress made from double gauze. Many of you have witnessed it when you’ve visited. Of course, I can’t find a photo of it right now but will amend my post once I have one to show you. It’s fabulous. And it’s time to start making some simple clothes. I know what you’re thinking “I’m a quilter. I’m not a garment sewer.”

The truth is, with simple patterns like the Washi Dress or the Staple Dress, you don’t need a lot of experience in garment construction to give it a go and have success. It’s time, yo. It’s time.

Karen LePage is COMING HERE TONIGHT!!!

August 16, 2013Leave a comment

Tonight at Crimson Tate we welcome KAREN LEPAGE 6-8 PM!!

The author of Sewing for Boys is hanging out tonight at Crimson Tate, giggling, sewing, answering questions, and have a jolly good time! We hope you’ll join us TONIGHT and meet one of the dearest people we know.

Get down here and giggle with our girl @onegirlcircus !! We love her!!!

BIG BIRTHDAY SALE @ CRIMSONTATE!

July 24, 2013Leave a comment

We’re TWO Years Old!

Holy holy! We’re two years old. Can you imagine? It’s such an exciting time. Do you remember the first month we were open? We started with 20 bolts of fabric, two book cases, and a song and dance saying “it’s only gonna get better!!” And here we are two years later, nearly 1000 bolts of fabric and an AMAZING webstore. Still today, we say “it’s only gonna get better!!”

Here’s a photo of our space three months after we opened.

But this time, it isn’t just me that’s saying it.

The past two years wouldn’t have been possible with out my faithful sidekicks David and Melissa. Nor without the help in transporting of all the diet cokes random strangers will bring or the kindness of my parents, Jack and Cathy, our AMAZING IT GUY who overwhelms and surprises me often, my deary-lou Jamie who makes dinner most nights and has adjusted to eating that dinner at 9:30 PM, our KFC & DJ for their consistency in working toward our vision, our dear friends at Silver in the City, plus the countless others who play with us on Mass Ave. Obviously, the list can go on and on.

Get down to 845 Massachusetts Avenue and celebrate!! We’re open SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!! If you can’t make it down, you can now shop 24 hours a day at crimsontate.com. Wooowee!!

Thank you as always for the comraderie and friendship.

Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! It’s time to CELEBRATE!

Lots of XXXOOO,

Heather + the gang

What’s on sale?! Liberty of London, Echino, Erin McMorris, Parson Gray, Birch Organic, Monaluna Organic, Lotta Jansdotter, Denyse Schmidt, Anna Maria Horner, RJR Solids, Melody Miller, Amy Butler, Carrie Bloomston, Heather Ross ———-> oh wait! The ENTIRE STORE is on sale!!!!

USING THE CODES:

At the crimsontate.com checkout, you’ll be asked to enter a discount code. Only one of the codes (happybirthdayct or newsies) will work. You’ll need to decide which code is appropriate for your cart. Everything in the store is 25% off with the code happybirthdayct except for the newest collections from Heather Ross, Amy Butler, and Carrie Bloomston (Such Designs).

If you want to use both codes, you’ll need to have two separate transactions in order to benefit from both codes, just make sure you separate the items. Shop often. We don’t mind. But unfortunately, we can’t apply both codes to one cart. We won’t be able to go back and manually change that code for you. Sorry! So filler up TWICE! Or three times, for good measure.

IN STORE PICK-UP:

We super love that you’ve chosen in-store pick-up! Please give us 24 hours to pull your fabrics, notions, and goodies. We look forward to seeing you in 24 hours Downtown Indianapolis. By then, we’ll have your goods ready to go. If you won’t be able to make it downtown for over a week, let us know so we can keep your goods organized and not front and center. We’d rather not shuffle ’em around too much. Give us an estimate of when you’ll be in and we’ll bring your purchases out from their secret hiding place. I mean, they’re precious, right?!

Quilt CAMP!! Quilt Camp!! A boom-chicka-boom!!

July 18, 20132 Comments

Holy CATS! I cannot tell you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE camp in all of its varieties. Everyone should be a camper and then when you’re too old to be a camper, you need to be a camp counselor and when you’re too old to be a camp counselor, you need to send your kids to camp. And when you have the opportunity, you need to go to QUILT CAMP! Sewing and camping combined?! YESSSSSSSS!!!!! Camp Tecumseh YMCA in Brookston, Indiana hosts an adult quilt camp six or seven times a year and in fact is the very place that I learned to quilt along side of my mother a few moons ago. In my twenties, I was a camp counselor, adventure trip leader, and outdoor educator at Camp T. Actually, some campers and staffers don’t know my real name, they know me by my camp name — Heli. Heliotrope was my camping pseudonym.

Crimson Tate :: Modern Quilter was honored to be the 24-hour camp store at this July’s UFO — UnFinished Object camp. Historically the July camp is without distraction of organized projects, classes, or even camp store but the Quilt Queen Emeritus Beth Wright was recently in the store Downtown Indianapolis and decided it was time to have Crimson Tate man the camp store and teach a class on Modern Quilting.

Here’s a look in at the pop-up shop we constructed for the five day quilt camp. You can shop the camp quilt store 24 hours a day. It’s what we all dream of! We took the new Amy Butler Stash Belle collection with us knowing this gang would love to have first dibs on Amy’s newest line.

We spent time sewing, chatting, eating, hiking around camp, and making new friends. A hayride resulted in a lil’ jaunt across the suspension bridge over Richard G. Marsh lake.

It was such a great few days helping my friend Andrea make her FIRST QUILT EVER!!!

Right? She’s a rockstar. I love that she jumped into the Hexy Sexy Love quilt by Amy Butler using Denyse Schmidt’s Shelburne Falls fabrics! SO GOOD!!!! Here she is with her prize from the week.

And of course, our David was a charmer and a champion sewer. He sewed together the back of a GINORMOUS quilt and matched the pattern perfectly, like he does.

Hanging out at camp reminded me of so many great memories from pulling pranks on other cabins, sneaking out at night to go on a pizza run, finding life-long friends, and being thoroughly exhausted and totally understood. I secretly wish I could live there forever. Being an instructor and getting to chill at camp did my soul extra good. Thank you Beth, Sarah, Christine, and the gang for making it such a great experience.

Mark your calendars!! We’ll back in action for next year’s June Quilt Camp @ Camp Tecumseh. We want OOOOODLES of our friends to join us where the Wabash River meets the Tippecanoe. Noonway, lovelies. Noonway.

Heather Givans

Artist, Designer, Maker, Seeker of Fun and Kindness