Weekend Regatta

Red, white and blue.
Gentle waves to sail across.

Soft blue yachts for the backing.

Washed and folded ready for a little one.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

Another To Add To Your List

Lots of great sites for online shopping were shared in the last post. Thank you ladies, you've helped to expand my list of stores to visit. I found one, while doing a search for a particular fabric a couple of days ago, The Old Country Store in PA. Terrific, fast service, and a great range of fabrics, and all under $8.00 a yard with the majority at only $7.40. A nice change from the normal $9.00 a yard. So if you'd like your fingers to do the walking check it out, and have your credit card ready.

Happy Shopping.
Linda

Where Do You ?

It seems that we all buy fabrics that make our heart sing, whether it's a newer line or perhaps not so new. It was interesting reading all your comments. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.
As I have a pile of quilt tops that need finishing and no photo's to show, I thought I'd pick your brains with another question today.
I'm not surrounded by loads of quality brick and mortar quilt stores. There are a number scattered throughout Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas, but nothing that is handy, add to that, that I still haven't gotten my drivers license. So I tend to do the majority of my fabric shopping online. Which is probably a good thing after reading some of yesterdays comments. I don't get pulled by beautiful fabric displays pulling at my heart strings or my purse strings.
I'm going to list a couple of online stores that I frequent, but I'd also love to know what your favorite store or stores are.
http://www.marshalldrygoods.com/ This is where I purchased my Dick and Jane fabric. I tend to buy my basics here. You can't beat $3.99 for 1st quality quilting fabrics.

http://www.zandsfabrics.com/ Always a fun place to shop and great customer service.

http://www.fabricsquareshop.com/shop/ Pre-cuts only here, no yardage.

http://nancyrinkdesigns.com/thread.html This is where I buy my Aurifil thread from, at only $7.95 a spool and $1.75 for shipping.


Thank you for taking the time to answer this question, you may just be adding to my online list of favorite stores to shop at.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Baby Dick & Jane Bento

Another baby quilt. I'm having so much fun working with the bright colors. It's a real step out of my box and I'm enjoying every moment. Dick and Jane fabric, perfect for a little one.
Washed and folded ready to be put with the others.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

P.S. I'm interested to know if, when you purchase your fabrics, do you tend to lean towards the new releases or do you just go with what makes your heart sing?

Georgie

I'm sure you remember this gorgeous giraffe. She/He is now finished ready for a little one to snuggle under or play on.
I love the bright colors in this quilt. I've dubbed him/her Georgie.

If you're interested in the free pattern, you can find it here.

Now it's time to get back to Dick and Jane.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

Am I There Yet?

This little cartoon pic tells exactly how I feel.

What a weekend, the move went well except for the fact that we didn't have a phone line until Monday afternoon. Once we finally got the computer hooked up we discovered we had a fried monitor. It was left too long in a hot truck. How amazing everything looks now, with a new screen. Please forgive me for not replying to your comments from the last two posts. I returned to over 200 emails and 450 posts to read.
Today will see my sewing room completely organised. I ran out of puff yesterday, but the rest of the house is done, all the boxes are gone and everything is in it's new place. So hopefully that will mean I can get back to my neglected sewing machine.
I have several baby quilts in various stages that need to be finished, then it's on to the bags.
Thank you for all your lovely comments on the previous quilts and your wishes for a smooth move.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Baby #3

I'm sure I'm still unpacking, so while I'm doing that, do you remember these two quilts?
Both made from 1 charm pack.

Well here's number 3 from that same charm pack. A sweet soft green.
All washed and crinkly.

Folded ready to be packed.

Now ready to be unpacked. So that's it, these three baby quilts were made from 1 charm pack, nothing like squeezing it out.
Happy Stitching.

Linda

A Box Full Of Blessings

Today I had planned on showing you the third baby quilt that had it's binding attached earlier this week, but plans change. The reason for a different post.... the most amazing parcel arrived on my door step yesterday morning and I didn't feel that waiting until Monday was the thing to do.
Do you see that little puss In The Corner sticker attached to the tissue paper?
Look what was inside the tissue. An adorable terry toweling bib.

And a cute pair of purple corduroy overalls and a white long sleeved T. This grand baby is being spoilt even before she arrives.

Under those adorable baby items was this bundle of joy.

Hmm a pretty needle case.

Now please click on this photo so you can see the most exquisite stitching and such a heart warming verse.

With a lovely piece of soft blue felt for my needles, just perfect.

Twizzlers, yum, more quilting candy, a lovely panel with Scripture, a sweet bookmark card with one of my most favorite sayings, not sure if I can mail this on to someone else. A huge bar of aromatherapy soap and a sweet knitted washer, and a beautiful book that I'm sure will keep be happy for hours.

Now I'm sure you're all wondering who the lovely lady was that sent me this box of goodness.

Christine from A Simple Quilter was the giver of this amazing parcel. I signed up for her PIF a few months ago, and she wrote me the other day to say it was on it's way, that she was hesitant as she didn't think her parcel was perfect, but it was given with a giving heart. Let me just say that anything that has as much thought as this parcel is pure perfection in my book. Thank you so much Christine, you have touched my heart in a way that's hard to describe.

Today I'm at the new house waiting for the gas to be turned on and doing a little unpacking in the kitchen. I'll be without Internet connection today. So please excuse me if I don't reply to your comments until early next week.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

Primary Color play

You may need your sunglassess for this one. The second of the three baby quilts, fresh out of the dryer. Another charm pack quilt, Color play the fabric range.
Lots and lots of quilting to give it a nice wrinkly effect.

All folded ready to be packed.
Number three tomorrow.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

Baby Wonderland

Even though I've had my head in boxes for over a week, I took a little time on Monday to sew bindings on three new quilts. I still need to keep my hands busy at the end of these exhausting days
Baby Wonderland, made from charms, quick and easy, with simple triple straight line quilting.

Ready to be packed up. The second is having a quick tumble around the dryer.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

Busy, Busy

Almost a week since I last ventured near my blog. I may have been quiet but I've been extremely busy. These pretties were such a refreshing break from my work. A sweet parcel from Lisa and Sarah.

A tiny little box filled to the brim with buttons and floss, a gorgeous peach and yellow fat quarter, and a very clever note book (which is already being used) and such a sweet card designed by Sarah.
Thank you so much Lisa and Sarah for your thoughtfulness and your creativity.
Another parcel arrived last week.

I needed to wait and pick it up from the post office. (I must do something about getting a drivers license)
I had plans of hanging this in my sewing room.

But I think it's far too pretty, it needs to be seen by anyone who comes into our home, so I think it will hang in the living room.

This little sweetie was also included in the parcel, isn't she adorable?

Any ideas as to who the maker may be? She's a far away friend, but one that I treasure immensely. This sweet parcel came all the way from Sweden, from my dear friend Stina. Thank you so much Stina, I simply adore the parcel you sent.
Please excuse any mess you may see on my floor, I'm surrounded by packing boxes. Believe it or not we're moving this weekend. We/I decided we needed to be closer to Hollie and the baby when she arrives. Hopefully this will be our last move for a very long time.
And if that wasn't enough to keep me busy I've been putting the final touches on the next pattern. It should be going out to the testers this week.

Happy Stitching.

Now Finished and Available

My second pattern "Daintree" is now finished and available from my Etsy store. Inspiration for the name and the colors I chose to make this bag up in, came from the beautiful Daintree Rain forest, in Queensland, Australia. http://www.daintreerainforest.com/.

As a thank you for all the lovely and encouraging comments I'm giving away a copy of the pattern, and the Random number generator picked #4 from the comments from this post.

Congratulations Carrie, I'll send you an email for your mailing details.

So many of us who are venturing into pattern writing and designing are referring to Elizabeth Hartman's of Oh Fransson blog post about copyright. If you have a moment take a look here, it's very informative, whether your a designer or a consumer.

Thanks again to my super Stitching Diva's, your copy of the pattern will be mailed this week.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Merry Monday

A special thank you to Stephanie for agreeing to co-host this swap with me. It's been a fun experience, and one I'm sure we'll repeat in the future.

Thank you also, to all the swappers who participated in this swap to make it a success. A special thanks to those who kept in contact with both Stephanie and I throughout the swap. Keeping us up to date, on progress with your items being made, giving us little sneak peeks, mailing your packages and letting us know when you received your packages. These emails are an important part of having a well run swap. Thanks also to those of you who regularly made comments on both blogs on our "Merry Monday" posts.

It was a joy to see so many of you do an excited post about the items you received. It was also a pleasure to see that "most" of you followed the guidelines of the swap, and went above and beyond what was asked to be included in your parcels that you sent. A few unfortunately didn't, and left their partners more than disappointed. It's unfortunate but, Stephanie and I now have a bad swappers list.

Stephanie and I have enjoyed co-hosting this swap together, and we plan on bringing you more swaps in the future. We've decided that "invitation only" swaps are the way to go. It helps to control the numbers of swappers, and hopefully ensures a fun experience for all those involved and quality gifts being swapped. We've both learnt many things through this swap. Some that will remain, others that may change, that I'm sure you'll discover in future swaps that we host, either together or individually.

It's unfortunate, thoughtless and extremely selfish when a swapper doesn't follow through. I spent time (that I could have been creating in my sewing room) last weekend trying to get in contact with a swapper (Kelly) in Australia who felt she didn't need to send an item to her partner. We never want one of our swappers to miss out because someone else has been thoughtless. Whether it's the hostess or an angel who steps in all our swappers WILL receive a parcel.

Some things to think about before you say yes to the next swap.

• Our swaps are international, so that means added expense with postage. When you commit to an international swap, you commit to mailing without whinging about the cost involved.


• Guidelines are always included eg: items that need to be included in the parcel. If you are unable to follow through, or don't have the skills, please don't commit.


• Guidelines are included about contacting your hostess with emails. If you've never run a swap before you'd be surprised at how many hours go into making sure it runs smoothly. Contact is an important part of a smoothly run swap.


• Regularly updated blog, (yours). This helps your swap partner get to know your likes and dislikes, and also let's your hostess know that you're still alive and kicking.


• Make a point to read your hostess's swap posts. These posts take time to prepare, and give you information specifically about the swap you are involved in.


• Leave a comment on the swap post occasionally so your swap hostess knows your still involved.


• Read your partner's blog so you get to know what her tastes are.


• Be polite and don't delay in blogging about the gift you've received. Within a week of receiving your parcel. This is one thing that I've noticed with the Christmas in July swap the very unexcited posts and distant photo's of the gifts that have been received, by just a handful of swappers. Regardless of whether the gift/gifts are totally to your taste, someone has gone to the trouble to make something that they hope you will enjoy. Imagine their hurt if you don't show any enthusiasm.


• Be polite and send a thank you to your partner to let her know that you've received her parcel.


• If something unexpected happens that is going to delay your mailing, let your hostess know so she can work with you and let your partner know.


• Quality outweighs the number of swaps you're involved in. It's easy to commit to every swap that's going on, but it's much more difficult to send quality gifts if your mind is occupied with "How am I going to get all these swaps done on time" Learn to say no.

I know when reading all these things, it may seem like a lot of rules and regulations, and that's not the point that Stephanie and I want bring. More that, a smooth, fun swap needs everyone to be involved.

I hope you'll join us on our next swap in 2010, until then.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

P.S. Please hop on over to Stephanie's blog and read her final thoughts.