We had a Snowball Dance recently at school and I was the photo booth photographer! It was a blast. I had ideas for the backdrop and C [above with the white hat] came through! She made this simple but gorgeously effective backdrop from ribbons that she bought from Michael's. She tied ribbon to dowels and we hung them from the ceiling. I loved it. I made up the moustache on a stick from my templates from the Halloween blog hop. So fun. C and her family were so awesome to photograph too! Thanks, C, for the great backdrop and frame. Big A had to get in on the action too!
For Valentine's Day, I made fans and taped them to my background for a fun effect.
It is really quite simple, inexpensive and easy to make simple backdrops. Give it a try and have some fun!
The awesome folks at Martingale & Co. just sent over the cover for my new book, "Sew Merry and Bright." I love it!
With each publication, there's a lot of people in the background who provide support or wonderful products that inspire me to design these projects and to write these books. Fabric companies like Henry Glass Fabrics, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Michael Miller Fabrics, Moda Fabrics and Adornit are make beautiful products. Aurifil makes equally lovely threads and Kindred Quilts provides me with much great friendship and support.
I just posted this new challenge in the Inspired Workroom on Facebook. Join us there won't you? I love mini artwork and I thought it would be fun to pick a favorite word to stitch on a hoop. There are a few other little things in the challenge but you'll have to join us there.
Meanwhile, my latest patterns, Modern Quilt Sampler and Happy Days are officially available. My local quilt shop, Kindred Quilts, has a few left. Call them, they'll gladly do mail order. Here's how the patterns look.
At the bottom, you scratch off the code like you would with a lottery ticket and go to the website to download the pattern.
Last week on Creative Mojo, my buddy, Mark Lipinski, asked me why I chose to publish patterns this way. Others have commented here that they may not be able to get the pattern. It is no different from a printed pattern in that a quilt shop can send it to you. This is something that works for me on many levels. I have a lot of commitments and other things that are going on in the background. It is one step between my self-publishing again and going all digital. Neither of the previous options were viable at this time for me and I was able to keep the quilt shops in the loop. I hope that you enjoy these patterns and more that I have planned in the future.
I started a group on Facebook called Inspiration Workroom because I was getting bored with the mundane. Anyone is invited to join and you can be a lurker or you can participated in the challenges. Our first challenge is up next week and I can't wait to see what the members have done.
The other day I bought some little frames from Michael's and I made up this little stitchery. Cute, right? I'm stitching a second one. If you're out of ideas, run over to Michael's and buy a couple of these little frames and stitch away.
I used Aurifil wool and a swatch of fabric. So lovely. What are you making for Valentine's Day?
I love little flowers and I think that they make great embellishments or quick gifts. You can use up some long pieces of scraps for these lovelies.
The great thing about them is that you can use any kind of fabric and make them in any size. Want to make some?
The first thing that you do is tear a piece that's across the selvage and about 1 1/2" wide.
Cut a slit at one end and pull the opposite end through.
Pull the end all the way through. This will form the center of the rosette.
Start wrapping the fabric around this rosette center by folding the strip in half lengthwise as you go along.
Twist the strip around every once in a while. Sometimes the raw edges will face the top of the flower and other times, the folded edge will face the top. You can add dabs of glue to hold things in place every few turns. [above, the folded edge is up and below, the raw edges are facing the top of the flower].
Continue in this fashion until you reach the end or until you are satisfied with the fullness of your flower. Glue the end down. If you wish, you can glue a piece of felt to the back of the rosette in order to hold things together.
Do you make your own greeting cards? It's fun. For this card, all you need is some thread, a needle and some cardstock. I used some yummy Aurifil thread and cut out a heart shape in a piece of cardstock. Using a needle, poke holes all around the outside of the heart cutout.
Cut out the heart only for a second piece of cardstock. Do not poke the holes around the heart cutout.
Stitch random stitches all around the heart shape. When you are finished, glue the two pieces of card stock together. Make sure that the heart shapes overlap nicely.
Trim the card and you have a card or tag depending upon the size that you made your project.
Do you remember your first project? I never took Home Economics in high school because we didn't have room in the class. Too many girls so I ended up taking metal shop and woodworking.
We had just moved to New Jersey and I couldn't work. I wandered into the local quilt shop because I was so bored with the lack of the hustle and bustle of the city life. I was hesitant but I wanted to make this quilt that they had on display. Susan, the maker of the sample, was working that day. I think that she thought I was a bit off of my rocker because I wanted to make this by hand. I didn't know any other way because I didn't have a machine. I bought some fabric and started to make several of the blocks by hand!
I found a few of the blocks a while ago. I look at them with amazement. I think that my piecing technique was much neater then. I don't have the patience now.
It was fun to look back. Do you remember your first project?
xo, L
p.s. Yes, I know that I am an overachiever. I didn't go for basic squares for my first sewing project.
The publication of this pattern is really a happy day for me. For a long time a lot of life things have been sucking up a lot of my energy and consequently, aside from magazine and book work, I neglected to
explore the next step for my designs. Then, Rebecca from Patterns Gone Digital, and I chatted. It was a good fit for me and here we are. This is the first pattern that I have designed for Patterns Gone Digital and I hope that there will be many more.
The patterns are available in the quilt shops and are sold like an iTunes card. You buy the placard and take it home. Once you're home, you will then scratch off the code and download the pattern.
Are you a matchy-matchy sort? I don't think that I am! In fact when I was selecting fabric for my last few projects, I found myself trying to use as many different fabrics in the applique as possible. I find that this method results in a quilt that has depth and many layers of discovery.
As I was selecting the fabric, I'd ask myself if there was another pink in the same color range but perhaps had a different print or scale to it. What sort of questions do you ask yourself as you are selecting fabrics for your quilts?
I have been quite busy. It always happens to be around the time when everyone else is enjoying a holiday or vacation time! I have popped into Facebook and started up "Inspiration Workroom" which is a group that anyone can join for inspiration obviously. There will be challenges too [though you don't have to participate for everyone one to be part of the group]. Join us, won't you? I will try to coordinate things between here and there. At some point, you'd think I'd figure out how to link one to the other.
It's not like I had nothing to do. I had just designed and made a couple of quilts and thought something challenging and outside the box would be great. I ask questions, people have show and tell, and we all have fun!
Here's what we've done so far. We've chosen a word for the year and mine is "daring" because I want to do more [yes, even more than what I do now!]. What is your work for the year?
Here I challenged the members to take a photo of a flower but in some unusual way. Cell phone photos are ok.
Try scribbling words that describe you or your life.
Why not make something for yourself? This scarf is easy, peasy and oh so cute!
Sharing family heirlooms. I asked members to show family heirlooms. My aunt made this for me when I was little.
I love greeting cards. The clever and creative ones impress me the most. I especially love pop up cards. This deer one was my business greeting card last year. I designed and made a few of them.
Many of you know that I designed 3-D cards way before Hallmark ever made them popular. That was another lifetime but I still enjoy them. I thought that I'd share some that I got this year.
My boys love cards too and I try to get them one each year.
Don't tell my hubby but he first captured my heart with a simple and modest greeting card that had a very cute saying on it. After all these years he still knows how to capture my heart. I am not hard to please. Just a beautiful card will do.
Sometimes life throws you a curveball or two. You do your best to catch them and throw them back.
Sometimes a curveball sets you off on another tangent. You do your best to go along and steer it to where you want it.
I've been away from here for a while because I had a couple of curves thrown at me in the past few weeks and I am doing my best to catch them, throw them and steer them in directions that I know will take me to a good place.
Some curves I can talk about and for others, the time is not right just yet.
My grandmother passed away very suddenly and we went to Canada to say goodbye. She was a strong woman and I admired her work ethic. I lived with her for a few years when I was young and then again when I was in university. I don't know if she really knew it but she was a role model to me. I've been lucky in my life because I've had many female role models and from each, I've inherited a good but different characteristic. From this grandmother, I was blessed with the gifts of perseverance and strength. I had already acknowledged this and dedicated my latest book [publication date: July 2012] to her.
This happened at the end of the Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Parade and I apologize for the time it has taken me to announce the winners. First up, we have the grand prize winner, Julie Little of Roy, Utah. Congratulations!!
Next, we have the winners of my book giveaways. Please e-mail me and give me your details. The box is on the right sidebar. If you don't claim the prize within one week, you're out of luck. I reserve the right to use the book in another giveaway or pick a second name.
The winners are:
1. Row By Row Seasonal Gifts & Jolly Stuff
Kari said...Nice books! Thank you for a giveaway. My favorite part of the holidays is just feeling upbeat and happy to be with my family. I think most people just seem to be nicer and happier during the holidays.
4:04 PM
2. Sew The Perfect Gifts
pinsandneedles said...I really love chevrons and your pillow is perfect. My husband was born in Norway so we love to celebrate all the Scandinavian traditions at Christmas.Thanks for a chance to win any of those fabulous books.
8:38 AM
3. Jelly Babies
paulette said...This blog hop has been incredible!! Thanks so much for the pillow pattern...can you guess what everyone will be getting this Christmas? Thanks also for the chance to win your Give Away! Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Paulette
9:37 AM
4. Everyday Handmade
SewLindaAnn said...Love Actually is one of my fave movies year round! I never get sick of it. Nice idea getting together with a friend to make little gifts. Those books are awesome, I only have 1 of them (your pincushion on cover). Have a great weekend and thank you for sharing.
10:48 AM
5. Out Of the Box with Easy Blocks
Lisa Marie said...My extended family is in several different states and we aren't able to get together often, so my favorite part of the holidays is when we all get together. I love giving quilts as gifts at this gathering, and we always have delicious food.
11:43 AM
xo, L
p.s. I apologize for all of the weird spacing in the post today. I have tried to fix it but it hasn't corrected itself yet!
I love my family and I especially love these little boys. My mom came with my sister and her family to visit us. I had these three boys to myself for a day and it was crazy, funny and did I say crazy? One of my Thanksgiving traditions is to take a photograph of the boys at the holidays. I try and try and well, I try. Eventually I get a pretty good shot! Eventually!
Sadly, they had to go home a day early because of a family emergency. I have extended the book giveaways until next Sunday. I just can't focus on it right now. Let your friends know and good luck!
Today is the last day to enter the Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party Giveaway! Check out the details here. Also, my book giveaways are open until midnight tonight! Details here.
I hope that you are enjoying your holiday weekend!
Thank you for the awesome comments! I am truly grateful and I do read them all! There's still time to comment for the book giveaways. Go here and leave me a message. There's a few great titles that Leisure Arts and Martingale sent along for me to give away to you! Plus, don't forget to send in your answers to Henry Glass for the grand prize giveaway!
Last year I made silhouette of the boys and framed them for place settings. This year I decided to change it up. I bought these easels at Wal-mart, painted them and stuck my son's photos to the canvas. So darling!
My little origami artist has started filling up the branches with snowflakes. He's got his Lego guys guarding his glittered houses too!
It is our last day of the Henry Glass Jolly Holiday Party! We hope that you've been inspired and have had lots of fun! Thank to all of the designers for their wonderful posts and to you for following along! Remember that there's some special gifts to be won. The rules can be found here. Remember to collect all of the secret words and e-mail it to the address listed in the directions on the Henry Glass blog from the 20-26th to be entered in the Jolly Holiday Party giveaway. I was told what the grand prize will be and it is fabulous!
I share the party hostess duties with Chelsea of Pink Fig Design today so hop over there to see what she's up to.
Now to my Q & A's. Many of my holiday stories have been well documented already. You should start here for some fun and inspiration. Otherwise, stick around here for some more storytelling!
1. What is your favorite holiday food?
I don't eat a lot of sweets but I do love butter tarts! [My secret word, btw!]
2. Does your family have a favorite holiday tradition?
We used to travel to Canada for the holidays but weather conditions made that a dicey undertaking. The entire NY Thruway was closed one year. We do have my mom here and that's special and I need to take an official photo every year. This year, the boys wanted some friends to be in the photos too. There are other funny stories that I've written about in the past and you can read all about some other holiday escapades here.
3. Did you love or hate sitting on Santa's lap?
I think that I only sat on Santa's lap once and I loved it. Hard to believe it but I was a very social butterfly and was not shy at all! Although I can't find the photo right now, I remember my orange and powder blue plaid jumper and red tights. Stylish, I know. My son's have not inherited this from me though.
4. Was there a gift that you desperately wanted? Did you get it?
I never wanted much for Christmas as a child. I lived with all of my aunts, uncles, grandparents and great grandparents and whatever we got was special. As an adult, the only gift that I wanted was a Leica camera. Yes, I did get it.
5. What is your favorite holiday movie?
I love all of the traditional movies but I enjoy Love Actually. Who doesn't love seeing Colin Firth during the holidays? Now that would be a lovely present.
6. Favorite holiday song?
I have two! I love, love, love, Darlene Love.
Nothing beats Diana Krall and my boys especially love the last line of the song, "I'm crazy about horses!"
7. Do you make any holiday presents? What do you like to give?
My friends, Colleen and Joanne, and I have a plan this year. We are going to get together once a week to make something small. We figure that by the time Christmas comes along, we'll have a few projects made up for giving. What sort of things are we going to make? I think that we're going to make little zippered pouches.
8. If you could go back in time, when would you say was your most favorite memory?
I love watching my mini-Marthas decorate. They're so funny. I wonder how long their decorating streak will last. I hope that it will be around for a few more years! In the past two days, my little one has been cutting out paper snowflakes with the gusto of a strong wind in a blizzard.
9. Do you prefer a big family gathering at the holidays or a small dinner followed by hot chocolate by the fire?
I like a small intimate time with my family. It's a great time to sit down and enjoy each other. We're so crazy busy the rest of the year and this is our quiet time. We enjoy the day and have lots of fun. During the day we like to talk to all of our relatives around the world.
Don't get me wrong. I do love to get together with my family and friends too during the holidays. I grew up in a large household with my great grandparents, grand parents, aunts and uncles so I've enjoyed large gatherings. When we do get together it is lots of fun but since we get together outside of the holidays, I don't feel as though I have to get together just because it's Christmas. I love watching all of the little cousins play together . Right now, most of the cousins are boys so it is always crazy busy.
10. Do you love a big tree or Charlie Brown tree?
I love Charlie Brown's tree and in that spirit, I have some branches in vases so that the kids can hang up their ornaments and paper snowflakes. The reality is that I love glass ornaments and I buy my kids an ornament every year. We have two trees now and both are fairly robust so that they can hold all of my ornaments.
My project for you is this fun pillow. I tried out different color variations and thought that it would make a great center for a placemat too. You choose. I'd love to see what you do with it! Pattern here and template here.
See, it's cute and simple as a placemat. With the gray/white combination, it's a bit funky and modern.
Here are my giveaways to you. My books are going digital soon on the Leisure Arts APP but they so kindly sent along some of the printed books for you to win!
Martingale sent me a few amazing new books. If you leave a comment here or on Facebook, you might be selected to win a copy of one of these books. That's my pincushion on the cover!
Jelly Babies is such a cute little book! It's great especially if you love the 2 1/2" strips.
Love this one! There are lots of fun designs to make!
Mary Lou Weidman does it again. She and Melanie have written a fun book about easy free-form pieced blocks!
Comment here or on Facebook until midnight of the 26th and tell me your favorite part of the holidays for these drawings. I will select winners for these special treats! If you comment here on the blog and on Facebook, you'll get two entries! Yeah! If after one week of notification there is no reply from the winner, I reserve the right to save the prize for a runner up or to use it in a future giveaway [my choice].
Come back soon, I will be announcing my new pattern venture. I'm starting to get into the holiday spirit too. You'll have to see what sort of diy projects I work on with my boys.
