Winter Sparklers & Holiday Winners!

There's a shop in the town where I live that is so inspiring. Heartstrings is a wonderful shop full of vintage gifts and their window display just sparkles! I took this the other night during our Christmas Parade. It was so magical with all of the holiday lights in the town and in the parade.

I've been having fun shopping with Little A. He loves to walk down the street and sing Jingle Bells. So off-key and yet oh so cute. Adults walking by often join in and start singing [off-key as well] with him. Thankfully I did my shopping in November. It is crazy out there.

Speaking of gifts, you didn't think that I forgot about our little contest did you? First, the technicalities. Two little judges drew slips of paper from the e-mails that were received. Then they continued to draw some more so I am including few mini-bundles for three other contestants. Drum roll please.

The winners are:

Ursula Anvil - Cool Girls Quilt book

Mary Zilg - Large bundle of fabric

Kelly Willis - Large bundle of fabric

Michelle Benton [?], sugar creek stuff - Mini-bundle of fabric

Karen Weir -Mini-bundle of fabric

Monique Harris - Mini-bundle of fabric

Please e-mail me your snail mail and I will post the items to you. Thanks so much for reading and entering the contest.

I'm In A Holiday Mood & Giveaways Too!

Yippee! Today is publication day for Sew Sentimental. It's not just a scrapbooking book. There are some great projects for you to make as gifts. For the book, I designed one large quilt and one little quilt, some pillows, a growth chart and a fabric envelope. Check it out!

Presenting, the Here, Birdie, Birdie Tote Bag. Yes, I finally got around to finishing it. I have the template posted on my website. Just click the link on the right. Now, the pattern itself is another story. It may be the end of the week before I get to it. I used some fabric from my new fabric line, Gardenia. Sorry for the poor photo. It is ugly outside and my model, Little A, won't cooperate. He thinks that it is funny that Mommy wants him to pose. Little does he know that that's him on the cover of Sew Sentimental!

Plus, we had a minor castrophe last Thursday. My very expensive and very relatively new Maytag washer had one very major hissy fit. There had been problems with this machine and they've discontinued it. I think that is what made Maytag, Maytag no more. So we decided to buy a new one. We now have one wonderful [keep my fingers crossed] Whirlpool machine. Please don't tell me that you've had problems with yours. I don't think that my hubby can handle it!
I suddenly find myself in a holiday mood! Let's have a little giveaway. I have two bundles of my newest line, Gardenia. Plus, I have one copy of Cool Girls Quilt to give away too. Gee, I feel like Santa! E-mail me all through Sunday and I will draw three names Sunday night. Good luck!

I made this tree skirt for a book and for once, I have used a design for myself. I bought the sparkly reindeer ornament when I was in Toronto a couple of months ago. I'm in love with it! As you can see, I don't really decorate in "traditional" colors. Then again, what is traditional? I don't eat turkey at holidays either. For some reason, I am really turned off by turkey. This year, when my family came for a visit, they ate turkey and I ate scallops.

Here's another freebie. I was playing around with the dots from my Funky Fabrics line and ended up making this fun little holiday pillow. It is so easy that no real pattern is required. Just cut a 15" x 16" piece of fabric for the front and back. Then make 15 - 2 1/4" yo-yos. I used the highly addictive Clover yo-yo makers. Arrange and pin them onto the pillow front. Cut out a stump, fuse in place and zigzag around with coordinating thread. With right sides together, sew the pillow front and pillow back together. Leave an opening for turning along the bottom of the pillow. Voila!

Special Gifts

This year has had many ups and downs but overall I have felt blessed. It is a gift to be able to design and I am grateful for your passion for all that I do! Thank you! I hope that you enjoy making this stocking! Click here for the pattern.


Speaking of special gifts, I received this beautiful handmade pincushion and label a little while ago from Lucy Locket. Isn't this gorgeous? It came in a plastic bag and I haven't removed it because I am afraid of getting it dirty. It sits right in my work area and I look at it whenever I am there. Thank you, Lucy Locket!

OMG! It's December!

Where does the time go? I can't get over the fact that Christmas is only a few weeks away. I had so much to do for business this weekend but since I had visitors, nothing was accomplished. Not a problem. I took our cousins, Helen and Angie, from Australia shopping at Short Hills Mall. It's nice to watch other people shop. If you have ever been to this mall, you'd understand. Let's just say that Tiffany's, Anthropologie and Jimmy Choo were the stops along the way. We had loads of fun and it was great getting to know them. Of course, they think that it is cold here. Oh, yes, it is veeeery cold here in the good ol' USA. I won't tell them that there was a foot of snow in Canada. They'll have to see it for themselves when they go up there in January.

We sat down on Sunday afternoon and made these sparkly little gems. It was all fun and messy and I suppose that I should have let them use washable paint. Instead, I gave them shimmery-really-tough-to-remove-even-with-nail-polish-remover ink. Hey, no pain, no gain. The ink along with using Martha Stewart's fabulous glitter, gave us sparkly and colorful ornaments.

It's so easy. Buy some plain glass ornaments and drop some ink into them. Add a load of glitter and swirl around. Place a cotton ball at the open end while you are swishing the ink around inside so that it minimalizes the leakage of the ink and prevents it from getting all over you. Let them dry and there you have some oh so sparkly tree ornaments!

Happy Thanksgiving

... from our family to yours.

Who Knew?

Who knew that changing computers would be such a painful experience? No one told me! I am still in the middle of using the old one and the new one. It's been a bummer but I am able to update a bit here and there now. Here's some more Quilt Market news.

Here I am just before my Schoolhouse Presentation. Trying really hard to look like a domestic goddess and not really achieving the look I think! I was a nervous wreck. I don't have a problem with public speaking when it is about something else besides me. I used to do it all of the time in the pharmaceutical industry. However, when you want me to start talking about myself and what inspires me, I freeze about 24 hours before the presentation. When I get going, then I'm fine. It doesn't help that I don't sleep in hotel rooms either. I was one lucky designer though. I had a great audience [and a full house!] and I had a few familiar faces in the crowd. It was actually quite fun.

I threw the spotlight back onto my audience. These pictures show my view of the presentation. Didn't my audience look great? All smiley and happy and I was very pleased because I had the first presentation of the day.

I'll bet that these ladies and gentlemen never thought that I'd take a pic of them!

When I arrived at my stopover in Atlanta, I met these crazy and wonderful women from Byrd's Nest Quilting [http://www.byrdsnestquiltshop.com] in Florida. The invited me to share their van and then to dinner that night. So generous and such a great bunch of gals. To top it all off, some of these ladies attended my Schoolhouse Presentation for moral support! Isn't that awesome! That's why I love the people in this industry! Thanks ladies!

Back row: Kathy Byrd [owner], Sherri, me, Kathy
Seated: Karen, Sandi, Melanie, Barbara
[Photo credit: Sandi Makowski]

On Saturday morning, I met these wonderful ladies from Watkinsville, GA. They own Dragonfly Quilt Shop [http://www.dragonflyquiltshop.com/]. They're such enthusiastic ladies and love New Noel. For those of you lucky enough to get to their store, they have a trunk show of their own of my New Noel book. Run and check it out!!

I still have a couple of important pieces to post but I'll get back to it shortly. I am going to see Mickey Mouse tomorrow! I can't wait!

Knit Pillow Templates

Just a note to those who wanted the letter templates for the knit pillow. Please go to my web site here.

I am in the middle of a computer change and I only had time to sit and figure out how to customize my blog yesterday so bear with me!!

Drum Roll Please

Well, this has been an interesting adventure. I confirmed and discovered a few things along the way. First, I have way many more "readers" of my web site updates than I do on my blog at this time. I expected that because I had neglected my blog for a very long time. That's ok. I am working on that. This brings me to discovery #2. I had fun posting on other blogs and in the process, I won a beautiful handmade pincushion from this lovely lady, http://lucylocketrecycledherpocket.blogspot.com Third, and very important, I came away very inspired by all of the new blogs and projects that I viewed over the course of the week. Fourth, my computer is about to explode any second now. I can't even open the pics of the drawing slips because my hard drive is full. So, you will have to trust me on this one. I will post the pics of the slips later.

However, before I post the winners [yes, I am stalling ;)] I will post a new tote bag project up soon [relative term depending upon when my new computer is up and running and probably after I return from the International Quilt Market next week]. For those of you who are going to be there, I won't have a booth but I will be giving a Schoolhouse Presentation on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Room 372B. I hope to see you there!

I also got a little carried away during the drawing. Big A and Little A, the officials who officiated the drawing wanted to draw some more names. Who can argue with a 6-year old and a 4-year old? Therefore, we will have a few extra winners of mini-bundles of fat quarters [4 fat quarters]. I really shouldn't be so mean because I am absolutely horrible at holiday time when I want to know what I'm getting! Lets go throught the technical stuff first. I printed the comments from the blogs and the e-mail addies from those who e-mailed and folded all of the slips. Last names are deleted to protect the innocent. Then, I [well, Big A] put them all in a dish. I had no input after this point except to stop the name drawing. Big A drew the first name and Little A drew the second name for the two fat quarter bundles. The winners are:

amy [ACK! Those fabrics are GORGEOUS! ...]
and
Patricia, who's originally from Madrid and who e-mailed me [Love the pillow & the fabrics]

For the mini-bundles:

Debora and Deb from Watkinsville, Georgia
Jodi [Oh! Your new fabrics look soooo pretty!]
Shawn [What gorgeous fabrics.]
Christy [Looks like you've got a few new readers, including me!]

I hope that this is ok with all of you. I have the new computer. All of my business stuff needs to be downloaded, updated and whatever this weekend. I put the references there just so there wouldn't be any mix-ups. Thanks for entering. I hope to have some exciting stuff for you from Houston! I am excited! No chores, eating out and hanging with creative friends. Can't wait.

So send me your snail mail and I will post them as soon as I can.

Catching Up - Updated

Update: With this fabric giveaway, I thought that I'd better update this post instead of adding on. I wanted you to see this cute little bolster pillow that I made. The "knit" pillow was so much fun to make. Easy peasy. I couldn't forget about my knitting friends so the template for the letters will be posted this week. You can applique the letters onto a tote if you don't want to make a felted pillow.

I have been regrouping myself these past few weeks. Catching up with everything has been both overwhelming and invigorating. What better way to start things fresh than to have a giveaway? I have two fat quarter bundles of my "Funky Flowers" line to give away.

All you have to do is say hello here or e-mail me at lindalumdebonoatattdotcom and I will pick two names in some random fashion to be determined later. I am prepping for the Quilt Market in Houston and will be busy in the next week and a bit so lets have the drawing on the 19th.

Stay tuned for free patterns and new previews. I have some of my new stuff on my web site at http://www.lindalumdebono.com and I'm all stoked about my new books and fabrics. Meanwhile, take a peek at one of the new publications, Tot Stuff, over at Cheryl's blog [http://http//www.livinginamaterialworld.blogspot.com]. Looks so cool doesn't it? I can't wait to get my copy.

I'm an alien

September marked my "anniversary" of becoming an alien. One could interpret that many ways but it was 12 years ago that I quit my pharmaceutical job in Toronto and moved to New Jersey to become an alien of the United States. What should I do to mark this special occasion? Why, publish some books and design new fabric, of course!

This month all in the quilt industry are working hard because the International Quilt Market is coming fast. Some will also stay on and work the even more frenzied International Quilt Festival. I will be giving a Schoolhouse Presentation for Martingale & Co. at Quilt Market. I'll be looking forward to catching up with old friends and seeing new things. I can't wait!! No housework, cooking or chores. That's a real vacation.

Let's Celebrate!

Today I am totally happy! I received my advance copy of "Cool Girls Quilt" and it is fabulous if I may say so myself. Martingale & Co. did a great job and I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with them. Plus, they sent me this beautiful bouquet of flowers to celebrate the occasion. It felt like Christmas! Check it out.

The book will be available in October and I cannot wait! Squee! The projects are fun and funky. You'll be able to make many of them for yourself, your family and your friends in a jiffy. The holidays are coming sooner than you think!

Hello Justine

I have been in need of inspiration of late. So what better way to get inspiration than to do a little shop hop? One of my favorite places in NJ is Angelfire Studios [www.angelfirestudios.com] in Warren. Justine, the owner, is a funky mama and her daughter is oh so cute!!! The little one will escort you to the door when you are finished your purchases. Adorable! Justine has been making some cool felted stuff and I think that she has become obsessed [in a good way, of course]! She believes that it is because she is an Aries. I totally get it because I am that way and I am an Aries too!

Unbelievable

I have had one of those unbelievable summers. Unforgettable but forgettable. I just came back from Toronto and back from being bedside at another gravely ill relative. Then there was the funeral. Yes, this has been the year of four funerals and a wedding. I think that I now qualify to be a funeral director. I'm good overall except for being so very tired. All of this travelling back and forth to Canada has wiped me out. Six trips in five months has really thrown my body and mind out of whack. I really need a vacation now. London, Spain or France sound great right now. At least I need some fiber inspiration right?

Well, here's some yummy fiber-related stuff. I needed a distraction when I was in Toronto and stopped in at the local knit shop, Village Yarns [www.villageyarns.com]. The shop is filled with inspiring fibers and samples and the staff are oh so friendly. Patrick, the bundle of energy who works there, designed this simple but funky shrug. I am knitting my shrug in a beautiful chocolate color in the fabulous Fleece Artist Kid Silk. Thanks for the inspiration Patrick! [Photo credits: Patrick Madden]

Another Preview

These previews are coming so fast. I worked really hard on all of these projects in the last year and I am so excited to see them finally in production. I contributed 5 designs to this publication and it should be available this month. I love the other projects by the other designers too.

This fun and funky new publication [Martingale/That Patchwork Place] will make its debut in October. There are lots of great designs that your crafty friends will swoon over. They are many little designs that include a tote bag, pincushion, pillow, coasters, and six quilts. The little projects are really quick and you be able to make them in no time. I hope that you like them too.

Sew Exciting!

Here's the first of three previews. This is my first scrapbooking book and it should be available in December. It is available from Martingale/That Patchwork Place. I am going to be doing a Schoolhouse Presentation at Quilt Market in Houston. I'll have the details soon.

Thanks

Thanks to Liesl [http://disdressed.blogspot.com] for inspiring me to do this. The photo doesn't do it justice. [It has been gloomy here the past few days]. She made a wonderful miniquilt a while back and offered the remnants. I always wanted to make one of these but with life, handwork was pushed to the wayside. I've been working on this for about three nights and will continue to make it longer. I started piecing the hexagons together and got carried away because I was having so much fun. My pieces are more random and Liesl's are beautifully pieced to form little flowers. I will make one of those soon. In making this piece, I realized that I miss handwork. A lot. When I first started quilting, I only did handwork. Then with time constraints and deadlines, I had to find other ways to put the samples out there fast.

Wish You Were Here

The marina here in Pembroke is very relaxing. The water, the clouds, the trees and the entire view is relaxing. There's a terrific marina with a long walkway and a park for kids to play.

Pembroke is situated on the Ottawa River. Across the way is the Province of Quebec. One can just sit at the end of this part of the boardwalk, have a picnic and watch the boats come in and out of the marina. Can you tell that I am getting lazy and not even thinking about work?

That's it for the touristy photos and then onto a few previews soon. I promise.

Around Town

I have been in Pembroke and Toronto, Ontario Canada on and off for the past few months. It has been nice and relaxing [perhaps I am in denial of the looming deadlines and the entire fall season] but we also have a house closing at the end of the month.

I have been wandering around Pembroke these past few days in between some work. Look at these fabulous murals. They're on the buildings in the downtown core. Aren't they marvelous? Of course, there has to be one with hockey.

I love the colors in this one and it's so cool how the artist incorporated it into the side of the building.

Most of the murals show the history of the city. Lumber and forestry are a big part of the history of the city.

I can't imagine the work that went into putting these up. It would have been interesting to watch the entire process.

Some interesting tidbits:

1. I think that the actor Tom Green, ex of Drew Barrymore, was born here.
2. I was not born here.
3. Pembroke is the site of the first street lamp in Canada and the first town to have electric power for commercial use.