Compiling For Sale...

Kathy Schmitz Table Banners Set

I spent part of the day assembling sets from my vast collections of kits and patterns. This is a twelve pattern/fabric set of kits for sweet table mats. I've stitched all of these and they're ready to assemble into a seasonal quilt, so the ground fabric is missing from the kits, along with the small appliques (in color) for each one. If I were to do this set again, I'd plan to embroider or applique' the missing elements. 

I'm going through all my patterns, kits and fabrics, and pulling those things I know I'll never finish. I'll offer these for sale soon, and whatever isn't sold ahead of time will go with me to the Purge & Splurge event in June at Primitive Gatherings. I'm going to have some great deals!

Primitive Gatherings - Twilight Gatherings BOM 12 kits/Fabric

Case in point...These quilt blocks were all part of the Primitive Gatherings Wool Box subscription. I have all twelve kits, including wools for each block. I also purchased the flannel that is the ground fabric for each block, and another 4.75 yards to use for finishing.

When all twelve kits had been distributed through the Wool Boxes, anyone who wanted to complete the quilt to king size needed to purchase the kits and patterns for the large center block and vine-laden borders. I chose not to do that for a few reasons. Mainly, we no longer have a king size bed, and I decided not to spend the extra money for something that would have to hang on the wall when it was complete. I chose to stick with a finished size more conducive to either my farmhouse bed or the queen size one.

You can see the kit was dated 2018, and truthfully, I haven't gone back to it since stitching the first block (minus some wool circles) and setting up the second block. I've not determined that with light and dark dogs, as well as two cats who love to sleep on my bed, I'm going to offer this kit (at a nice discount) to someone who'd really enjoy making it.

I'm pulling and photographing more, and will plan to make everything available to my blog, Facebook and Instagram friends first. If you see anything you'd like, just shoot me an email and I can message you the prices, including shipping.

Today is craft day in Portage, so I really need to get rolling. Enjoy your weekend, and I'll tell you all about mine on Monday. Gotta run...

Yesterday's Finishes...

Brynwood Needleworks - DnD Shop Hop Crossbody Bag

 

I completed two custom Shop Hop Crossbody Bags yesterday. This one is a Dungeons & Dragons themed bag, and is already on its way to a new home. (Of course, I'll do more by special order.) The DnD insignia was machine embroidered.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Mouse Shop Hop Crossbody Bag

 

My second Shop Hop Crossbody Bag uses a Mickey Mouse licensed fabric. I don't advertise licensed fabric items, however, I'm happy to create special orders for those who want them. Understand that these items, made with licensed fabrics, are legally created as long as you understand that the end product is not officially licensed by the company owning the original copyright. 

 

The rights to the license exist between the fabric manufacturer and the licensing company. According to US Copyright law, that does not extend to the end user of the fabric, and selling of the products are allowed by the maker as long as they do not represent the item as sanctioned by the original company. (Thought I'd clarify for those with inquiring minds.)

This sweetie is also already spoken for, and will go to its new home along with a second item I'm working on now. It's so much fun!!

 

Of course, I have the pattern for this bag available in my Etsy Shop if you'd like to make your own. Just click HERE and select "Brynwood Patterns" section to learn more.

Thanks to all who sent kind messages about our beautiful Bella. She's already getting around easier, and we see a full recovery in her future. We're sure resting easier in that knowledge. 

 

Have a great weekend, friends. 

A Little Side Project...

This is my latest commission. I've had this pattern for a while, but was so immersed in wallets that I hadn't made one yet. I'll be making it for a client this weekend.

The pattern is The Bia Bag by Maria Wallin. Her patterns can be found at www.NotOnlyQuilts.com, but there's good news about this particular one. It's FREE! You can download it on Craftsy's website. Just click on THIS LINK to get your own copy. Aren't you glad I like to share?

I have all the supplies on hand, including the handles which have been in inventory for many, many moons. What? I've been waiting for just the right project! I'm looking forward to making this one, and once I've finished "#1", there will likely be more.

Handsome has two concerts this weekend. I'll miss the one today, but will be in his cheering section on Sunday. I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend. I'll show you my completed bag on Monday.

My Gift For The Exchange...

 Tomorrow night is our guild Christmas party. I finished my gift for

our exchange on Saturday afternoon, and I snapped a few pictures

before I wrapped it up. I'm delighted with the way it turned out.

If you've visited for any time at all, you'll recognize my favorite home dec

 fabric on the outside. I used it when I created my sewing machine covers, my

studio wall organizer and a number of other totes and gifts. I embellished it

 with vintage crocheted lace and printed twill tape stating "stitched with love".

 

I chose the lavender floral fabric, then picked coordinating tan and soft 

gold fabrics. I added a zippered pocket, with another pocket behind it, wool 

tabs will hold needles and pins, and a divided pocket for stowing pens,

scissors, rotary cutters, or anything else one might choose to tuck into them.

 I'm going to gift it empty, but I wanted you to see how there are actually 

two compartments on the left side. The soft periwinkle bow is actually 

functional, too. It opens above the pocket compartment to secure a pair of 

scissors. Otherwise, it's perfectly content to be beautiful eye candy.

 I even added a gold-tone thimble charm to the zipper pull.

I'm going to be writing a pattern for this organizer. I've adapted

multiple patterns into this one, useful piece. I'll be adding it to my

Craftsy shop this week. I'll let you know when it's posted and available.

The organizer went together quickly, so if you need a last-minute gift,

you might consider making one - or three - of your own. They're a little

like potato chips. No one can have just one. I know I'll be making more.

A Very Good Weekend...

Jessie Wilcox Smith image

A very good weekend, indeed!

I finished writing and proofing my pattern for the Shabby Tote.

I'll be uploading it to Craftsy today.

Jessie Wilcox Smith image

The weather was perfect. Low 80s, breezy with no humidity, so I 

worked in the yard for a while after riding four miles on my bicycle.

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I spent two hours on the telephone talking to a loved one who I've

been missing. I think we caught up on years of events, and I'm sure

we even solved a few of the world's great dilemmas. It was so nice 

to share those few short hours and I hope to do it again very, very 

soon! I think we'll need to make a regular occasion of it.

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After dinner with Handsome (and Tag), I even managed to spend a few

 hours stitching while we watched the Green Bay Packers whomp on 

the Minnesota Vikings. What a fun game! Woot Woot Of course, 

we're Packers fans. Once a Packers fan...always a Packers fan.

Did you have a very good weekend, too?

Tag is very excited to visit with you tomorrow. You're gonna love

what he has planned. I'll finish my stitchery and then start on some

 of my Christmas gifts. I have a fun project list planned this year.

I hope you have a great week. I'll be back on Wednesday! 

Quick Studies...

 I managed to get photos of three of the totes that were created by my

students yesterday. They really caught on fast and made beautiful bags!

 In fact, they said they couldn't wait to go home and make more.

I think I see Christmas gifts in the works!

I'm just finishing writing the pattern for Craftsy and will add it to my online 

shop tomorrow. Kits will be available to purchase by the end of the week. 

Today will be my "catchup" day. Chores are calling my name. (oh, joy!)

R.I.P., Laptop...

 As our dear, old friend, Ray Sommers used to say, "Some days it 

just don't go by the book." Today, my friends, was one of those days.

The day started innocently enough. I went to the studio with the intention of

finishing writing my Summertime Quilt pattern. I loaded my DVD into the

player to upload more photographs, only to find that it wouldn't spool up.

To make matters worse, it wouldn't eject either. I was more than a little

frustrated, so I figured that if I restarted the computer, it would behave.

I was wrong.

I've been pampering this for a few months, hoping to limp along for a few

more months. (Remember when I went to see Genius Ben at the Apple store?)

Nothing I did would eject the DVD, and the computer wouldn't boot because it

was trying to read the DVD. I had a "Catch 22" and I started talking to myself.

 If you ever wonder which keyboard keys get the most use, my six year

old MacBook Pro can help answer that question for you. Let's look a

little closer...E...R...A...S...D...F...C...

 M...K...and we have a winner!...N. Can we have a little applause for

the letter "N"? When the computer was on, this key actually just lit

up, with no indication of which letter it was. This old paralegal doesn't

have to actually look at the keyboard to type, so it didn't slow me down,
but the poor keyboard sure looked ever day of its age. Poor thing.

l-r: 13", 2.9 GH NEW MacBook Pro; 6 yr. old 15" MacBook Pro doorstop.

 Handsome and I packed up the laptop, hoping that it was only ill

and not deceased. I really wanted to transfer the information on it

to a newer model. No luck. No Last Rites. No "Goodbye and Thanks".

It's not "mostly dead"...it's "dead dead". No CPR wouldn't help. Dang! 

So, it was a bittersweet day. I purchased a brand new, smaller, lighter

leaner laptop, but I lost most of what I had on my old sweetheart. All

I'll be able to retrieve is what I managed to save on my last backup...

45 days ago. It's the old, "You ought to know better" story. I'll pull up 

my socks, take a deep breath and just do what I have to do. I'll be fine.

After all, I was able to write this post on my new baby, wasn't I?

My old laptop computer will join the ranks of all our previous Apple
"war horses". I may still contact one more individual who might be able
to retrieve the information on its hard drive, but for now, I'll tuck it into
a safe place and get to work on the newest addition to our stable of Apples.

A Glorious Day In The Studio...

You may find this difficult to believe, but it's true. Even with the news stations warning 

of Tropical Storm Andrea and severe weather, I spent a glorious Thursday in the studio.

I pulled together all my supplies, turned up the lights and began working on a new 

project. I'll be debuting it very soon, but I can tell you that I'm writing a pattern as

 a special request from a blog BFF, and it will be available for sale when finished. 

I'm hoping to have the pattern completed in the next day or so, and I'll share everything

at that time. For now, I'm just sharing a photo of all the supplies that went into the 

creation of my pattern model. If you follow my blog every day, you may recognize all 

of these supplies, but if you only visit occasionally you'll have to wait a while longer.

Today will be spent on the computer as I edit photographs and write pattern copy.

The weather has calmed down, and even if we get more rain, I'll have a happy day.

Nothing makes me happier than spending time with Handsome and Tag -

or creating something new in the studio. I'll be heading off now...lots to do.

Biscornus...

Biscornu  - stitched by Deb of Artistic Needle

Are you familiar with the term "biscornu"? It's pronounced bis • core' • noo, and it's a French word. It's an eight-sided little cushion that can be made into a pincushion, pin, or perhaps even a little sachet. (You know I love pincushions, right?)

I was first exposed to these little pretties when I happened along The Floss Box (in my "Favorites" on my sidebar here). Not only does Emily stitch them, but she also offers patterns - either free or for a small fee. (They're worth it!) Emily designs the patterns for cross stitch or embroidery, so anyone can make them! I've even seen them on other sites made from wool fabric and they're beautiful.

Sampler Biscornu - stitched by Deb of Artistic Needle

After doing a little online research, I came across these beautiful examples, stitched by Deb of The Artistic Needle. You also know I love samplers right? This one is my favorite!!!

I'm going to have to try my hand at making these. They can be as large or small as I choose, so I can make them into nearly anything my heart desires. Wouldn't they be beautiful gifts?

If you're interested in learning more about these fascinating little gems, Violarium.com (here) has a fabulous tutorial. I'm sure by the end of this week, I'll have at least one to share with you!

I hope you have something new and creative to do this week. If so, I'd love it if you'd share it with me!

She's Got The Cutest Little Baby Face...

Isn't this just the cutest, little Baby Face?

This is a Red Heart leaflet with a 1948 copyright date.

It was a gift from my aunt, who is a prolific knitter.
You can see from this photo that
baby patterns really are timeless.

I'm hoping to spend part of my day with my cousin, Sheree.
She's visiting from California for some quality time with
her dad in Sarasota - and to celebrate her
mom's birthday later this week up near Orlando.
Perhaps photos tomorrow. She's a little camera shy,
unlike this cousin who is really a ham for the shutter.
Reminder:
I'll be drawing the names of the winners for my drawings today.
You have until 6 pm to enter if you haven't yet!
You can just click here to go to the post to sign up.
Winners will be announced tomorrow.
EDITED: 7: 50 pm 2/28/09 - DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED.
Thanks to all who entered.

So, for now, this sweet baby is wishing all of you a sweet Sunday.

Acorn Ornaments...

This is what I've been doing lately. I've been making Acorn Ornaments! Believe me, they're like peanuts...no one can have just one!

I spent the day making a tutorial for you, so now you can make your own acorns. You're really gonna love me, because I also spent some time figuring out how to make it possible for you to download pdf files directly from my blog. No more emailing to request pattern pieces or instructions! I know...I'm the bomb, right?

I'm also going to augment my Flickr album tutorials with pdf instruction sheets, but adding lots of photos (as I did to the Acorn Ornament) makes for large pdf files. I'll keep the Flickr albums up and available because they'll show more detail. (I'm talking about the Rabbit Pincushion and Scissors Bunnies.)

Those instructions sheets will show up in my sidebar, right along with my newest ones, when they're completed. (Expect to see them after the holidays, unless I get all my other projects completed early. A girl can dream, right?)

To find the patterns, just scroll down my left sidebar until you find the BoxNet widget with my patterns listed. Then, just select the one you want - or go ahead and download all of them! - right to your computer. Easy peasy and just for you!

You don't have to sign in or anything to download my patterns, but I'd love it if you'd leave a comment here to let me know that you liked my idea enough to want the instructions...and you'll get your name in the giveaway drawing at the same time!

I'm a little behind in my responses to the newest visitors to my blog. I'm so grateful that you're all so happy with the items I've chosen for the giveaway(s). I promise to get over to visit you just as soon as I can. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better.

Thanks again for all your kind words, thoughts and insights. Your visits mean the world to me!

Oh, I don't want to forget to remind you to scroll down my left sidebar for another reason...I have posted linky buttons to a number of other giveaways now in progress. You're going to want to check out all the wonderful things other bloggers are listing in their drawings, too!

A Vintage Surprise...

Last night at Books a Million with our knitting group, my friend Tammy presented me with a bag of goodies. "For me?", said I. She assured me that it was.

I opened the bag to find pieces of wonderful vintage fabric and three vintage patterns! She knows how I adore such things. Two of the patterns were for aprons. (She hit one out of the park with these!)

McCalls Pattern 1713 (in front) was printed in 1952, and McCalls Pattern 2038 (the one behind it) was printed in 1956! All the apron styles in these two patterns each take less than two yards.

The fabric Tammy gave me had pieces of cotton with blue flowers and colorful teapots, and pieces in yellow and white gingham. There were many others, but these really caught my eye. I looked at Tammy and again asked, "Really? For me?" and she again assured me that they were.

What a wonderful surprise from a good and dear friend. I can't wait to get into the studio to make up an apron or two, and use some of this great fabric in one of my next creations. Thank you, Tammy, from the bottom of my heart for your generosity. And for thinking of me when you saw these things.