Something About Nothing

It's time for Sew Mama Sew's big giveaway again! This year EVERYONE is a winner on my blog because I have two giveaways. The first giveaway is a pdf pattern for EVERYBODY, and the other is for ONE very lucky winner. The first giveaway is my Garland Galore pattern . Click on the link  to be taken to Craftsy where you will be able to download the pdf pattern for all three garland patterns for FREE .  (You will need to sign up for Craftsy, which is free, if you are not already a member)  The second half of the giveaway is a stack of 18 - 7" squares of beautiful fabrics and a package of binding so that you can create your own basic garland using my Garland Galore pattern . (Clarification:  Some of the fabrics are 7" x 14"  strips because I was too lazy to cut them) So EVERYONE is a winner today just by clicking the links to get your free pattern, and then leave a comment telling me what your favorite spring flower is below and you will be ent...

I forgot to draw winners earlier in the week!   I don't know where my head has been.   Please forgive my absentmindedness!   I asked my girls to draw some random winners for me and here they are:   Katherine McNeese Leslie Tucker Jenison Susan  - Susan Parker jdprkr@pacbell.net Julie Sandy  -  Sandy in the UK Congratulations winners! I have sent out emails and hope to get some addresses so that I can mail out these beautiful pieces before I chop them up for myself. Thanks to everyone for entering!   I love sharing my joy! BUT WAIT!   Don't go away sad,  I just thought of something I can give everyone  to celebrate my Blogiversary! For the next week you can download my  Garland pattern over at Craftsy for FREE! Enjoy!

Halloween is just around the corner and I decided I needed a new Halloween decoration. After playing around with some drawings I decided these ghostly images would make a great door or hallway decoration. One of the best parts of the pattern cannot be photographed - at least not without a more expensive camera!  The ghosts are made using a glow-in-the-dark fabric. They look very cool glowing in the dark!  I've written up a pattern and am selling it on Craftsy in my pattern shop.  I am also selling a second banner in my etsy shop.   Have you ever made anything using glow-in-the-dark fabric?

Congratulations!  "On what?," you ask?   I don't know - you tell me. Just pick a reason and celebrate. Maybe it's your birthday?  Or you're getting married, Or you just want to celebrate the summer,  any occasion will do! Whatever you are celebrating you will want to run over to my Etsy shop and have a look at ordering these new party decorations I have just added.  There are banners for birthdays, graduations, weddings or whatever you would like to celebrate as I can customize banners JUST FOR YOU! Once you are ready to make a purchase send me an email, or leave your email address in the comments section here and I will give you your own personal coupon code good for 10% OFF!   The coupon offer is good through June 15th.

My second child graduated from college last week and we had a party for her in the neighbor's yard. I decorated with this paper garland and star flowers . Lots of good food. . .  and wonderful people. And of course we had a quilt for everyone to sign: Happy Graduation baby girl!

Have you checked out  Craftsy ? They have been around about a year and (in their words) are ". . .  dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters."   Craftsy has a lot of great free stuff as well as great items for a fee.  They offer online courses, workshops, patterns, projects, a blog and great craft deals too.  I love the Craftsy deals on fabrics.   I am currently taking a class in painting pictorial quilts and have enjoyed all the great information I am learning.  I love that I can take the class at my own pace - which has been very slow as of late - and I can take it again and again because I now own the course. Recently I decided to join the  Craftsy's Pattern community.  I am selling two of my patterns which I have sold at retreats and a local quilt shop.   I love that Quilters, Sewers, Knitters, Crocheters, Jewelry makers and all crafters can list pdf patterns to give away or sell. ...

1) Finish sewing this. . . I've actually finished sewing the insides of this quilt and just need to add the borders.  Or 2) Sew this: A sample for my new pattern so I can finally photograph the covershot and get the pattern published! Or 3) Weed in the garden so I can plant this years crop of tomatoes: Or 4) Blog. Oops I guess blogging won this time. What to do next?

I attended and taught at my first quilt retreat last week and had a great time.  So much fun that I kept forgetting to take pictures!  Here are a few I did manage to take. . . Sandy and I stayed with our friend Sylvia and we took advantage of the beautiful weather by taking a very long walk up the "hill." This is my new buddy Peaty. He is very handsome! We had trunk shows during the lunch hours that were very inspiring.  I forgot to take pictures while Flora was showing her quilts.  This photo actually looks like Bonnie is saying "Oh My!" The new fabric company Riley Blake Designs came the next day and showed their fabrics as well as a trunk show of their quilter's past projects. Sandy took a fun class from Flora where she learned a slick way of making these diamonds. Sandy also taught three classes.  Sylvia taught a class called "Mended Hearts" She also taught us strip poker! Here are the strippers. . . We bet with strips of fabric and the high car...

I've been a bit absent in the blogsphere because I've been busy shopping as well as making presents for Christmas and some of those gifts are for people who read my blog.  I wouldn't want to give away any secrets.  However, I just finished one project I can actually share because it's for me and I already gave it to myself so it's no longer a secret! I think I may have to make more of these for other holidays.  Perhaps even one to replace the cardboard Happy Birthday sign that has been hanging in my kitchen for the past 5 years.  If anyone is interested in learning how to make one of these I can write up a tutorial and post it here.  They make up very quickly.  Just drop me a line and let me know.