Road trip anyone?

The other day I overheard a customer asking Dolores how many bolts of fabric we had in the store.

Her reply?

Over 10,000.

Far too many for us to get every one on line--and here's Ollie guarding recently delivered boxes holding even MORE bolts.

If you haven't been to our store in Mexico, Missouri, lately be sure to allow extra hours when you come for a visit.

For example, you'll want plenty of time to enjoy the Civil War section. We have numerous bolts sorted by color, several of our newest arrivals grouped by designer, and we even have one entire platform dedicated to the prolific Jo Morton. At the farthest end of this section you'll find a rainbow of blenders as well as the first two quilts in our Civil War series: Civil War Tribute and Civil War Chronicles.

In the center section you'll find colorful batiks, sale items, and plenty of Wind & Willow mixes to tempt your tummy. There's a shopping cart filled with bargain fats ($1.50 each), remnant bundles, discounted patterns and trims, as well as a variety of flavored coffees we'll be glad to grind on site.

When you stroll on over to the left side of the main floor you'll be dazzled by Japanese fabrics, cheerful 1930's reproductions, and eye-popping brights. This is also our area for modern prints, seasonal offerings, and child-centered lines. And scattered throughout the store you'll see books, candles, kits, and fat quarters galore.

Looking for Whimsicals? We have a large selection nestled in the hallway downstairs. Can't live without Kansas Troubles? Sneak a peek at our varied collection as you head upstairs.

Not a fan of stairs? No worries! Our elevator may not be the fastest, but it will get you to the second floor with no worries. Once you reach the heights you can browse through our plaids, homespuns, hand-dyed wools, and stitchery items.

So, what are you waiting for? You know you want to come. Clear your calendar, gather your friends, and head down the highway straight to our door. We can't wait to see you! Come enjoy a visit to simpler times.

Signature Block Swap starting!

Have you ever participated in a block swap? Do you like signature quilts? Join us in our first signature block swap hosted by Homestead Hearth!

We thought it'd be a lot of fun to exchange signature blocks with our customers and to let them exchange with each other too. When we saw Jo Morton's new book, Vintage Journey, we knew it was time to make this all happen.





So, here's the scoop: It's really easy to participate. You need Jo's book. Then, you need to pick among the four aged muslins we have selected as backgrounds. To make the quilt as shown with 64 blocks, you need 1 yard total of background fabric. You can pick just one of our 4 choices, use two of them or use a 1/4 yard of all four. This aged muslin we have selected is not just regular muslin you might have at home. It's specially dyed and has an old, worn look, perfect for this quilt. Here's where you can buy it: http://www.homesteadhearth.com/main.php?sortby=alpha&category=Fabrics&sc=1800s+Prints+-+Aged+Muslin

Be sure to note in the comments section or by a separate email how many blocks you hope to make so we can make sure everyone is in the same ballpark.

The prints for the blocks need to be Jo Morton 1800s reproduction prints you have purchased from Homestead Hearth. They can be old treasures or fabrics you purchase now.

What do we want in terms of signature? We'd love to know your name, city and state or country. The blocks are super easy so you can make lots in no time at all.

You need to mail your blocks to us by July 31. We plan to swap and mail back out on August 15.

Finishing kits to put your blocks together similar to the original quilt will be available from Homestead Hearth.

There's no charge to participate--just purchase your aged muslin from us and make sure to use fabrics you've bought from us. We will ship your blocks back to you using the US Postal Service and charge you for the return shipping or we can send them along with your finishing kit.

Feel free to discuss or ask questions in the comments.