Pre-Holiday Sampling + a Pattern Sale!

Hey y'all! First off, I just wanted to say that the reason I haven't been blogging much lately is that my computer crashed the week before Sewing Summit and I still haven't been able to get it fixed. I wrote my last couple of blog posts using Alex's old laptop that is so slow (and the space bar doesn't work properly) that I want to gouge my eyeballs out every time I use it! I seriously have so much to share with you guys, I have been sewing up a storm lately, plus I want to share some pictures from my Sewing Summit class; I'm still getting pictures from my students over Instagram as they work to finish their pillows and it is awesome!

This is just a quick post because, seriously, I can't stand to type on this computer for long, but I wanted to do a little something special! With Chrismakkah and the holidays just around the corner, I know that many people are already starting to look at making gifts and things for their homes. I've already begun on a couple of gifts and have more plans that I will, hopefully, be able to execute in time. To get everyone in the holiday crafting mood I am offering up a little discount on all of my downloadable PDF patterns. How does that sound?

For my Etsy shop the coupon code to get 15% off (downloadable patterns only, please do not use on finished items such as quilts) is: HOLIDAY2013. Now unfortunately, Craftsy does not have a way to accept coupon codes, however, if you wish to purchase from my Craftsy shop rather than my Etsy shop please send my an email after you purchase including both the email you use for your Paypal account and your Craftsy screen name and I will refund you 15% through Paypal. The coupon code/refund policy are in effect for two months (two whole months!!) and will expire on December 18, 2013.

Here is just a sampling of the patterns you can purchase:

Nordic Christmas! This is the cover from the "series" where you can buy all three patterns together at a discounted price, however you can buy them individually too. And don't forget about the tutorial for turning one of the blocks from Ornament Sampler into a finished ornament!

Orion! Seriously, I am still pretty much in love with this quilt. I know it's not cool to think one of your own patterns is awesome, but seriously, this quilt makes me smile every time I see it! And don't forget, that the paper pieced arrows (all templates included in the pattern) can be used on their own and built out to create a cool pillow, or to form a portion of another motif.

Itching to be Stitching! This pattern is still one of the most popular in my shops. It was originally designed when I was asked to be the first guest designer for The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery; after it went out of print with the folks over there, I revamped and re-released it. It gives me no end of pleasure to see people stitching this little guy up and hanging it in their craft room/studio space.

There are a few more patterns available in my both my Etsy and Craftsy shops, but I won't inundate you with any more pictures for now. Don't forget the code for the Etsy shop is: HOLIDAY2013

I can't wait to see what everyone stitches up for the holidays - let's hope it's a good one!

Orion Star

Hey y'all! First off I just want to say a big thank you to all of the people who have already purchased a copy of my Orion quilt pattern - you guys totally rock my world! On the first day alone, you guys managed to get it trending at #3 on Craftsy. I can not thank you guys enough and really can't wait to start seeing versions of the quilt popping up!

In the pattern, in the extras section, I mention enlarging one star portion and turning it into a baby quilt. Well, I decided to do just that on Friday and this little quilt was born.

Orion Star measures approximately 40" square and features prints from Denyse Schmidt's Chicopee, Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow, Oliver + S' City Weekend, and Laurie Wisbrun's Tufted Tweets. I just love the colours so much!

The backing features Kona Ash, a repeat of the print from Chicopee, and a print from Tula Pink's Parisville. The binding is from Lizzy House's Outfoxed and is the same print that I used for the interior of my Art Student Tote (I also have it in the yellow colourway) - just love those little triangles!

I love those little birdies in Tufted Tweets - they are way too cute! I quilted this one using a light grey cotton (almost an exact match to Kona Ash) using straight lines that form different sized rectangles. I finished this quilt in one day, other than hand sewing the back of the binding, and am super-happy with the way this turned out!

Since there are no little girls in my life right now or being born anytime soon (at least that I know of), I've decided to put this little quilt up in my Etsy shop - I really hope that it finds a good home!

Once again a thank you to everyone who has purchased the Orion pattern, and to those too who have left me some many wonderful comments here, on Flickr, on Facebook, and on Instagram - you guys are awesome!

Mine Shaft - A New Quilt Pattern

Hey all! I'm so excited to be sharing a new quilt pattern with you today! Mine Shaft is my first independent release PDF quilt pattern and I am really hoping that you love it!

Mine Shaft was dreamed up last year because I really wanted to use this Tula Pink Parisville fabric I had; in the process I decided that you might like a pattern too!

This pattern includes instructions for making five different sizes of my original Mine Shaft quilt - these sizes are 48x48", 48x60", 64x84", 80x96", and 96x108"! Mine Shaft is a fun and modern pattern - it is fat quarter friendly, utilizes larger prints well, and includes good negative space for decorative quilting. This pattern includes diagrams as well as to-the-point instructions.

The PDF pattern can be purchased from either my Etsy or Craftsy shops and, of course, I'm here to answer any questions you might have!

Since this quilt has only been shown in one picture here before (in my Quilts at the Creek post) I think I'll show a few more pictures; since I've taken lots of pictures of it, it is now going into the rotation for Alex and I!

Quilt on the grass in the park near our house...

A little close-up...

The back using some Parisville, Kona Medium Grey, and Kona Snow...

And here is the special Parisville label that Tula herself sent me when I told her I was making this quilt! Isn't it great? Love my Tula hairspray can!

I really, really hope that y'all like this pattern! If you have any suggestions or corrections please let me know! And if you do make this quilt, it'd be really super-fun if you'd add it to the Flickr group! You can find the PDF pattern in the Craftsy shop here and in the Etsy shop here!

The Geese Have Landed!

So you remember those snaps I shared a couple of weeks ago of a new quilt I was working on? You know, before my machine decided to conk out on me? Well, now that I have my machine back, the quilt is done - woot! Wanna see?

"The Geese Have Landed" features a variety of prints from Tula Pink's Prince Charming and one from Plume, a variety of prints from Joel Dewberry including Modern Meadow and Aviary, two Patty Young prints (one from Flora & Fauna and one from Sanctuary), and four solids. Actually technically six solids if you count the background and binding fabric which is Kona Coal and the backing (which I'll get to in a sec).

This quilt was relatively simple as it features alternating lines of geese blocks (made using the no-waste method I outlined in my Geesey-McNinePatch tutorial but on a larger scale) but I think the colours and placement of the geese blocks really adds visual interest and keeps the eye moving.

Y'all know how much I adore my Tula Pink-girl and her Prince Charming collection was really the jumping off point for the selection of the fabrics for this quilt; I also love pairing her fabrics with greys (especially Coal as you've seen in Get Stacked!) as it seems to make the colours pop even more and creates a dramatic and modern effect.

The backing solid is Kona Medium Grey and I used the Champion Ribbon print from Lizzy House's Red Letter Day (which is out-of-print - so sad) to break it up and add some colour! My little label is down there too surrounded by a scrap from Prince Charming. The quilts finishes at approximately 40x40" and the batting is 100% unbleached cotton.

I used Gutermann cotton thread in a variegated green that shifts from emerald to turquoise to a mint green/white for the quilting - very pretty! I don't usually use variegated threads but I fell in love with this one at the shop and could not stop staring at it so I got it! I believe the colour is called Bahama Ocean. I did somewhat straight lines for the quilting - sort of let my walking foot do it's own thing without going crazy.

I've decided to put this little quilt up for sale in my Etsy shop! You can find the listing here: The Geese Have Landed!