Love Tutorials? This is the Blog for You!

I have a new sister blog - Totally Tutorials. You may have noticed the button on my sidebar.

 

This has been a long standing blog with many followers which offers new tutorials daily. It was set up and run for years by Dotty of Dottyral who has several shops on Etsy, as well as her own website and blog. Dotty has so many things on her plate, that she decided to pass the Totally Tutorials Blog on to someone willing to keep it running. I am so excited that person is me! 

Be sure to visit Totally Tutorials and check out the amazing variety of free tutorials posted. You will also be able to submit tutorials which will be seen by many people, and will link back to your blog.  There is also an exciting Exchange Program - Free Supplies for Tutorials, which I hope to reinstate on the blog soon.

Hooray for Tutes!

52 Week Challenge - Week 52

Yes, it is the last week of the 52 week challenge of 2011.

 I will show a collage of some of the projects that we have finished this year a little further down in the post.  But first, a few words about my 52nd project.

This artwork was done by my daughter when she was in the 3rd grade (in 1984).  I kept it rolled up until this last week, intending someday to frame it.  Well, someday finally came. The delight of surprising my daughter with it this Christmas was worth the wait.  She didn't remember making this piece, and thoroughly enjoyed discovering all the details.  It looks perfect hanging in her daughter's (my granddaughter) bedroom.

Now on to the challenge. 

When I issued a challenge a year ago to finish at least one project per week in 2011 and post it to my blog, I didn't realize how difficult it would be.  But somehow I did it!  I am so thankful to have completed all 52 weeks.  

I am even MORE thankful for those of you who have joined the challenge during the last 12 months, and shared your creations here.  I hope that you have enjoyed it too.

Here is a small sampling of projects that we've completed this year.

Congratulations to all of us!

You can see all of the projects week by week here.  In the meantime, be sure and leave a link for your final project for 2011 below, and...

Let's get busy,

Treasured Tuesday

Treasuries are so much fun! I love to feature some of the ones my shop has been included in, and the people who created them.

First up this week is Cindy from EarthMotherMosaics . In addition to having a dad who made beautiful wood furniture, and a mom who sewed all her clothes, Cindy grew up near a town filled with artists, which helped shape she is today as a contemporary abstract mosaic artist. Her mosaics are made with small scrap pieces of stained glass,recycled mirror, broken dishes,mugs, discarded wine and beer bottles, pieces of jewelry, buttons, seashells, rocks and stones, and even microwave plates on occasion. Here is a framed mirror available in her shop.

Retro Mosaic Stained Glass Crescent Moon Butterfly Frame with Mirror

And here is the beautiful treasury she made:

StudioCKH is a children's book author studying to be an illustrator at the renowned Rhode Island School of Design. She loves to dabble in many art forms like prints, note cards, jewelry, quilting, and various other crafts such as the hand painted ornament shown below.

Hand Painted Glass Ornament - Green and Gold Shimmer

The collection of coasters treasury she made is lots of fun.

Lori Bragg of FabricatedFamily is a native Floridian and a freelance fiction writer who writes short stories in the form of invented biographies, children's books, and stories told in unique formats. In addition to her written work, Lori offers handmade art and vintage items. 

Fabricated Family--A Comedy of Victorian Biographies

Below is the intriguing treasury she made.


Susan Williams of SusanWilliamsDesigns also lives in Florida, and makes cool guitar pick jewelry and more for the rock star in all of us. The guitar pick zipper pulls below are an example of her work.

Guitar Pick Zipper Pull

And here is the colorful treasury she curated.


If you see something that you like in any of these treasuries, just click on the picture to take you to the shop. Thank you to all four shops for including something of mine in their wonderful treasuries.

Block of the Month Club

Now that the 52 week challenge is almost over, it is time to think about what I want to do in 2012. One of the projects I have in mind is a block of the month club. 

My plan is to post a block (or two) once a month, with directions on how to make it. I would also like to feature various projects along the way that can be made with the blocks, starting with simple one block projects, up to using all the blocks in a sampler quilt.

The blocks that I make will be made with cotton solids from the kona and bella lines by Moda and Robert Kaufman. I will be offering BOM kits in my fabric shop with pre-cut pieces, patterns, and project ideas. Of course if you like, you can also use fabrics you have on hand, and just follow along on this blog.  You can make your blocks in a rainbow of colors as I will be, or stick to two or three colors if you prefer.

I am looking forward to this new adventure, and hope that you will join me to make a few (or all) of the blocks.

This should be fun!

Happy Sewing ♥

Thankful Sunday

I am thankful that our Saviour was born, and that we celebrate his birth on this day.

I pray that your Christmas is full of thankfulness, love, and peace.

Sky Watch

Isn't the sky amazing!  It is different every day, every hour sometimes.

My plan is to take a picture of the sky every day for a year.  I have a page on my blog for those of you who are interested in checking out this photo journal.  I started the journal on 12/12/2011, and if all goes well, I will finish on 12/12/12. 

Here's a video of The Afters - Light up the Sky for you to watch.  It doesn't have a lot to do with this project (other than its name), but I hope that you will enjoy it just the same.

52 Week Challenge - Week 51

One week to go!

I made another baby quilt for a new child my daughter's family is fostering. This little one is only six weeks old, very tiny, and very cute. I appliqued her name on the front of the quilt. She got to sleep under it for the first time this past weekend.

I used a rose kona cotton solid, and batik charms from Timeless Treasures

What have you been working on this week?
Leave a link below, I would love to see it.

Treasured Tuesday

Treasuries are fun, both to make and to look at. They remind me of quilts in the way that they are laid out in rows and columns, and in the way that the individual items colors and designs blend to make up a more beautiful whole. 

Here are some of the lovely treasuries my shop has been included in recently, and a little about the curators who made them.

First up is a husband and wife team from TinyGoatStudios.  This is the Tangerine beauty they made:

This couple from Seattle, Washington makes bracelets, earrings, rings, and necklaces like the one pictured below. They also like little goats (hence their shop name).

Hot Pink Flower Necklace, Resin Flower Necklace on Hot Pink Background

"A Little Something for the Holidays" was curated by another husband and wife shop in Wisconsin - CircleANaturals. They offer natural and organic bed and bath products, as well as antiques, gemstones, and greeting cards with scenes of their life on a farm.

Making Hay Photo Card

Here is the festive treasury they made:


Pam Peterson from CocobytheLake made this pretty treasury:

Pam has been creating quilts, and doing long arm quilting since 2002. Each quilt is her own original design, or a unique interpretation of an existing quilt design, and all are custom quilted by her. Her shop offers 3D kaleidoscope ornaments, art quilts, and gorgeous bed quilts like the one pictured below.

Red and Purple Stars All Around

The last treasury for this Tuesday is from 3Pearls who loves to draw, paint, sew, bead, collage, embroider, quilt, knit and crochet. She says that she tends to get a little obsessed with whatever her current medium is. Her shop has unique handmade jewelry like the beautiful bracelet pictured. 

Crocheted Bead Bracelet

Here is the treasury she curated:

If you see something that you like in any of these treasuries, just click on the picture to take you to the shop.

Thank you to all four shops for including something of mine in their wonderful treasuries.

I Appreciate U

Those of you who have purchased from my fabric shop may be familiar with the I Appreciate You program that rewarded dollars spent with a gift certificate to my shop.  

Due to changes in Etsy (like  shop names, inability to print individual customer histories, and plan for multiple shops to be listed under one account) I have had to discontinue this program for now.  I am truly sorry about this because I enjoy rewarding my faithful customers in this manner. It was just getting too difficult to keep track of points.

However,  I will still be sending out occasional emails with coupons (so sign up for my email list if you haven't already), and have instituted a new reward program. Send me a photo of a project that you have made using fabrics from my shop, and if I feature your work on this blog, I will send you a coupon code for 15% off.  This coupon can also be used in combination with any sales going on at the time of purchase.

Happy Sewing ♥

These are all available in my shop

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for unexpected gifts.

I received this lovely box of chocolate covered fruit from someone I do work for on a weekly basis. In the five years we've done business, we have never exchanged gifts before, and I wasn't expecting a gift this year. She simply wanted me to know that she appreciated me. 

Aren't these the best kinds of gifts? The ones that come straight from someone's heart, just because they want to bless you. And aren't these the gifts we like to give the most too? The ones without compulsion, or social expectation, but just because we want to show our appreciation to someone.

What is an unexpected gift that you have received?

Customer Appreciation

Renee Roberts of Flapdoodle Bags made this adorable chicken purse from fabrics purchased in my shop.  Renee has a variety of items available for sale like cell phone and eye glass cases, Kindle covers, wallets, checkbook and journal covers, and of course, bags.

I love seeing what my customers make with the fabric they purchase.

 ♥ Happy Sewing

52 Week Challenge - Week 50

This week I made a couple of wool and emery Pincushions.

I felted a snowflake design on top and blanket stitched in wool around the edge.


Only two weeks to go in the 52 week challenge.  It has been a fun and interesting year.  I have a new project in mind for 2012.  (More on that later).

What have you been working on this week?  Leave a link below.

Let's get busy,

Treasured Tuesday

This first treasury is made by Julie Thurston, a member of the Top Treasury Team. Julie has a buyer only account on Etsy. Thank you for including me in your beautiful treasury Julie.

Notforeat is from Rome, Italy. She learned to knit and to crochet when she was young and this passion has remained in her. She likes knitting with original and new wool and yarn, mostly Italian. All her creations are handmade with passion and attention to detail, like the bag pictured below.

Jerimi Paul-Burnside from ThreeCat works in a vets office and is going to vet tech school, with an emphasis in behavior therapy. In addition to making handmade cat toys like the kitty kickstick below, Jerimi designs websites. You can see both for sale in her Etsy shop.

Julia Rubio, from her shop by the same name, is from Barcelona, Spain.  She loves to transform felt, zippers, crayons to make jewelry like the crayon brooch pictured. You will find many more unique and wonderful accessories in her shop.

Thank you all for including me in your lovely treasuries.

Gift Idea - Monthly Fabric Club

Is there someone on your gift list who loves to sew?  It could be your Mom, sister, a quilting friend, or a favorite teacher.  How about a monthly fabric club?  

Click here to find out more about the club

Each month for four months, your gift recipient will receive four fat quarters ( totaling one yard of fabric), from my shop. Some months it will be a selection from a collection of batiks, other months it will be a mix of kona cottons, Westminster, Timeless Treasures, Anthology, or In the Beginning lines. Always a surprise!

You can start the club at anytime.  I get new fabrics in often.

 Of course, you could always treat yourself to this club as well.

♥ Happy Sewing

Thankful Sunday

Today I am thankful for laughter. 

According to Helpguide.org following are some of the benefits of laughter:

Physical Health Benefits: Boosts immunity Lowers stress hormones Decreases pain Relaxes your muscles Prevents heart disease	Mental Health Benefits: Adds joy and zest to life Eases anxiety and fear Relieves stress Improves mood Enhances resilience	Social Benefits: Strengthens relationships Attracts others to us Enhances teamwork Helps defuse conflict Promotes group bonding

God says:
  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance (Proverbs 15:13)
  He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)
  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22)

One of the things that make me laugh are things that children say.  Recently when my daughter told my granddaughter that she loved her to the moon and back, my four year old granddaughter responded that she loved her mom to the front and back.  Another day the same granddaughter explained that she was being especially quiet because her mom was a light sleeper, but that she (herself) slept darker.

What makes you laugh?

Business Journal

Do you keep a journal for your business?

I have been journaling about my business since I opened an online quilt shop in 2007.  It helps me to focus, release my thoughts and feelings, jot down ideas that would otherwise be forgotten, and record milestones and successes (as well as disappointments). 

My journals include drawings, lists, and occasional clippings from magazines.  Generally I write daily  plans, and about what has happened since the last recording.  My journals are not strictly business either.  My business is me, and I am a lot more than business.  So family and church happenings are recorded alongside lists of what I want to accomplish that day.  In fact the lists are usually a combination of business, household, and personal goals.

The first few pages of the journal has a list of the major things I  want to accomplish that year.  The last few pages have growth statistics recorded by date throughout the year measured in sales, hearts earned (an Etsy favoriting measure) blog followers gained, etc.

Throughout the journal, I have certain important passages book-cornered so that I can find them easily for reference.

If you don't already have a business journal, I recommend that you start one.  It only takes a few minutes a day to write, and is highly rewarding and fun.

 What is in your journal? 

52 Week Challenge - Week 49

I was inspired by the lovely doll quilts Karen Griska has in her Etsy shop to make one for my youngest granddaughter this week.

I used the mini tumbler die to cut out the shapes with my accuquilt, and the puppy die for the applique.  Both my older granddaughters had doll quilts made when they were younger.  The eldest got a batik in blues and greens, and the middle got a tinkerbell star quilt.

What have you been working on this week?

You can learn more about the 52 week project here.

Treasury Tuesday

It is once again Treasury Tuesday, when I feature a few of the lovely treasuries my shops have been included in recently, as well as the curators of those treasuries. I hope you reading a little about them, seeing an item from their shop, and of course the treasury that they've created.

First up is Meredith Jordan from WildWomanBeads. Meredith is a jewelry designer; a semi retired psychotherapist; a lifelong gardener; author, photographer, teacher, quilter and knitter. She endeavors to follow the instructions of the Navajo people to always walk in beauty. Meredith offers unique and beautiful jewelry like the necklace pictured below:

Tribal Lampwork Bead "Ancient Writings" Necklace with Hammered Sterling Silver Toggle

And here is the gorgeous treasury she curated:

Carye of CaryeVDPMahoney has been drawing for as long as she can remember. Art was her favorite subject in school; and she majored in Art at University. She has worked as a graphic designer and freelance artist and illustrator. Carye participates in area art shows and sales, does commissioned portraits, illustration and graphic design work in a wide range of media. Ultimately, her goal is to become a book illustrator.Carye's  art is realistic and illustrative in style with a touch of the fantastical. Her subject matter includes animals, people, and nature like the peaceful scene below.

Mother and child in peaceful mountain landscape - Original Mixed Media Art - "Abundance"

Here is the lovely treasury she made:

Next is Serpil from SRPLdesign who lives in Turkey. Serpil makes lovely and unusual accessories like necklaces, fingerless gloves, cuff bracelets, and the scarf pictured below.

Dusty Rose Scarf - Almond

The lovely batik treasury below is her work also:

Last, but definitely not least, is Marge Mills from PersonalDesignz. Marge is a jewelry maker who says that started designing jewelry because of her love for it and has never run out of ideas of what to make. Her goal is to offer top quality merchandise at an affordable price. She uses only the finest quality supplies in her work and tries to design each piece as if she were making it for herself. Check out the pretty pendant below:

Montanta Topaz Marquise Pendant

Not too many people I know are able to resist her delicious treasury:

All of the items in these treasuries are clickable links, so shop away! You can see many more wonderful treasuries on my treasury trove page. 

W.I.P.

This is a twin size blueberry lattice pie quilt in progress.

It is laid out on our guest bed.  The cross pieces aren't in yet, but by setting it out this way the squares are kept in order.  I carry a row at a time to my sewing machine, then the ironing board, then back to lay them on the bed and get the next row.  I am getting some exercise and sewing at the same time, right?

Happy Sewing ♥