Brick House Fabrics wants to wish all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukka, a Wonderful Winter Solstice, and as some say Festivus for the rest of us…LOL
MONDAY- December 26, 2011
Last week the season snowed us under… we did not have time to blog at all! Between the demands of the season and the business, there was just no time left over to write!
Excuses, excuses you say! Alright, we will be making up for it this week!
Last Sunday, around 7 pm a small creature wandered out of the shop… when I went to see what it was, it whisked back into it again. It then returned, and we managed to get it into the bathroom, off of the old entry way from the barn. We popped a bucket over it, slid some cardboard under that, and lifted the whole, preparing to keep him trapped until we could find a happy home for it, as it was about 10 degrees out. While moving it, the little creature escaped via the spout on the bucket. It was a small flying squirrel!
We had never seen one before, it was very cute- with small ears, and big bulgy eyes! But, it could not live in the shop!
The next morning I called the vet, who told me to call the Chewonki Foundation, in Wiscasset. They have a bat mobile, and are known for helping out with animals. While it turned out they do not deal with flying squirrels, they did direct me to someone who does. We got a Have-a-Heart trap, the smallest there was. I was doubtful, as flying squirrels are known for getting through very small spaces. After wrestling with the contraption we got it set up in the shop, and baited with peanut butter. (And you wondered why I did not have time to write!)
Around 6 pm the trap had been sprung, but there wasn’t anything in it! We rebaited it, and hoped. In the morning, it was still unsprung. So, we baited it again, this time with apple, as we were worried about its lack of water. This time, we did see the squirrel in the cage, eating. When we went to get him, again, he had escaped! The cage grid was 1″ x 1/2″, just not small enough!
The next morning, we are surprised to see him wandering around the shop at 10 AM. This was not normal. I could get fairly close to him, got some bird seed, and put it down for him, with a small plastic container at the ready. He went for the food, I popped the plastic container over him, slid cardboard under, and then slowly rotated the whole, to pop a top on it! The top and container were then taped shut, holes were popped in for breathing, water dropped in for drinking, and then we called the lady who was going to take him!
We drove to Wiscasset to drop him off. She had a bird cage all set up for him. This was Wednesday. Having just called the lady, we are glad to report that he is doing fine, and will be ready to be released out of doors in March.
Being allergic to almost everything that smells we do not have a tree. We have fake ivy swags, strung with antique stands of silver balls which were my grandmother’s. These get decorated, every year the theme is different. But, my Cartapesta angels are my favorite ornaments!
CARTAPESTA ANGEL
Like everywhere else the weather here in Maine has just been odd for us. There has been an occasional snowfall, but then there has been a lot of warm weather. It has just not felt like a Maine December. But, on Thursday evening we finally got a dusting of snow, which helped! While some melted off, at least we knew Santa could make it to town!
This year the family wanted roast of beef for the big holiday meal. We started with a plated hors d’oeuvre of brie, with figs in port, and crackers, which we ate while the roast rested, before being carved. One daughter-in-law brought the makings for pop-overs, I made the traditional Christmas salad, and there was steamed pudding with hard sauce for desert.
The recipe for the figs in port is in
Sewing Notions, Recipes, Miscellaneous.
FIGS in PORT
ready to be used
The salad we will get up this week.
LISTED: Schumacher Greeff fabrics- destash
Last week, while rearranging fabric, three small pieces of Schumcher Greeff fabrics came to light. These are small pieces, enough for a couple of cushions. They came in flat folded, and are priced to move. See them in either Schumacher fabrics, new fabrics, or discount fabrics.
Other things we will be getting done this week… the new French fabrics will be up and on the site! Several of these are Provence prints, some are documentary… all are unique!
TUESDAY- December 27, 2011
As many of you know, I garden. And in Maine, any plant that will stretch the growing season is something we want. One of the earliest perennials is the primrose Primula vulgaris. This starts blooming while snow is still on the ground, and continuous for a full six weeks! Tough, hardy, with no problems! The most common form is a pale soft yellow.
PRIMULA VULGARIS
Last year I discovered that there were other color forms, one being Primula vugaris ssb. sibthorpii. And I wrote an article about this that one can read in
SEWING NOTIONS, Maine Musings, entitled
Primula Vulgaris, ssp Sibthorpii- a tale of plant lust.
When I wrote people to thank them for their help in getting seeds for the different color forms the secretary of the American Primrose Society wrote back, asking if they could publish my tale, and I said yes.
So, imagine my surprise when, right before Christmas, I received a copy of the APS Quarterly for fall of 2011- and there, in print, was my article!
AMERICAN PRIMROSE SOCIETY QUARTERLY
We are thrilled, and my grandfather who grew primroses, would be pleased as well!
NEW FRENCH FABRICS
For those who have been waiting, we are starting to get the new French fabrics listed. We are importing these directly from the companies in France. They are very different than fabrics that we normally carry! There is a little bit of something for everyone in this first shipment.
First is a new chicken rooster fabric.
This has chickens AND eggs- that is a first for us!
The pattern is embellished with plaid, paisley, and toile flowers.
It is available in purple and blue or a golden tan colorway.
FRENCH CHICKEN FABRIC
with blue and purple plaid, paisley, and toile flowers
FRENCH ROOSTER FABRIC
with golden tan plaid, paisley, and toile flowers
See these in the
Chicken Rooster & Duck Fabric category.
WEDNESDAY- December 28, 2011
Last night the wind really blew! It brought in warm air, the temperature is above 50 degrees F.! The odd winter weather continues! Though the snow is gone, it is supposed to drop 40 degrees, and snow like crazy for four days!
For those who are tired of the weather
we have some fabrics straight from Provence, France!
These will chase away the gloom of winter,
for sure!
PROVENCE, FRANCE OLIVE FABRIC
in blue
This has sprigs of olives with
terminology about olives and olive oil
on a French blue background!
There is a companion fabric as well!
FRENCH OLIVE OIL FABRIC
This French olive oil fabric also has
small vignettes with olives and olive oils on cream,
surrounded by documentary script.
This is different as it is a non-directional print.
Perfect for table cloths!
For those that need something other than blue we also have the olives on creamy beige!
FRENCH OLIVE FABRIC
in beige
All three of these patterns can be found in the
France Italy Fabric category
and also in the
Provence Style,
in the French Decorating category on the right.
Stay tuned… more from Provence tomorrow!
THURSDAY- December 29, 2011
The wind has been howling all day, the temperature did drop. The actual temperature is 10 degrees F. It is cold, without snow!
Continuing with the new French fabrics,
two new patterns have been listed.
The first is all about wine-
from the grape basket to the wine glass
things having to do with wine are shown.
FRENCH WINE FABRIC
with corks, corkscrews, a wine taster, and more!
The wine fabric is lots of fun, with a slightly whimsical look.
Our other French wine fabric,
with labels layered over one another,
is more restrained.
For those who love Provence we imported
a lavender flower fabric.
PROVENCE LAVENDER FABRIC
There are three other French fabrics to list- all three are documentary prints. Two have angels, the other is a music script print. We will be getting them listed as soon as possible.
Other new fabrics that have landed on the doorstep are the tan version of the sand dollar stripe, a reef fabric in blue toile on aqua, and two new toiles that are very Baronial in feel. These will be listed next week, as we want to finish the imported fabrics.
A NEW POSTCARD
We received a some pictures from a workroom in California. As many of you know the mantra around here is:
BUY ENOUGH FABRIC FOR THE PROJECT!
So many fabrics are discontinued without warning it is better to be safe than sorry. Read how J&J Drapery Workroom saved a project!
FRIDAY- December 30, 2011
As we near the end of the week we are almost through listing the new imported fabric. Two of the best have been saved for last! These are an angel print with documentary script. These are interesting as they are double width- a full 3+ yards wide!
THE ENGLISH FRENCH DOCUMENTARY PRINT with ANGELS
is available in a warm beige with cherry pink
The ANGEL DOCUMENT PRINT FABRIC
is also available in cool black, grey, and white
The fabric in the over-all pictures
above is showing
one half the width of the actual fabric!
These are available in the
Angel Fabric category
and in the
Documentary Print category.
There is one more fabric to list, it is a music fabric, also a documentary print. Also coming this weekend is a postcard from away, and, of course- the most sold fabric of the week.
I am now heading out to feed the birds… enjoy this evening!