Larger Bags Listed and a Video to go With!

By popular request, I've finally gotten around to adding larger zipper bags to the shops. There will be more to come. I've been super busy in the studio stitching and designing new embroidery designs. I've also added a video to help with making the larger bags since they are slightly different than the smaller ones to make. Also, you won't find the "mom" bag in any of the shops yet. It's hiding to make it's appearance as a weekend freebie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yH7L7Snags&ab_channel=IntheHoopBySher

Do you like free embroidery designs and tutorials?

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March Is National Craft Month!

 
I'm so excited to find out that March is National Craft Month! What a good month to be in. Easter is in March this year, as is my 39th birthday (again). It's going to be a good month!

Since it's the first day of National Craft Month I thought it would be a perfect time to release my newest pattern with is quite different from all the others. I've created a super big pattern, at a super big value. My gift, treat, and favor bags have been my biggest sellers at all the shops I sell them from. It's been that way since I first released the Halloween bags back in September and had continued with their popularity with every holiday or occasion I've added since. I thought it would be a good idea to combine them all into one big pattern that included them all, and make it a great price to boot! Now there is a bag for every occasion possible. The pattern is available in my Etsy shop and at my Craftsy shop.

If you are new to my blog, be sure to click my facebook graphic at the upper right so you can get your free applique patterns and mini graphic kit.

I hope you are looking as forward to National Craft Month as I am! Let the crafting begin!

Mug Rug Madness

I have a new designing addiction. I love making mug rugs! They are fun, quick, and so easy. Above are four PDF patterns that I created which are available in my Craftsy and Etsy shops. I have two others that I can't show you because the designs were purchased from me by a very popular publishing company. When they are published I'll be sure to send you the links.

Mug Rugs - Too Fun!

Have you ever made mug rugs? They are so much fun! I thought I'd make a couple so I can list the patterns in my shops, but now I can't stop. All this hand applique I've been doing is nice, but machine applique is so quick. 

I have come to a couple of realizations while making these. First, the more you machine applique, the easier it gets and your skills improve very quickly. Second, the soft minty colors are so pretty and make a nice final product, however, they photograph like crap. And thirdly, I'm going to have to get online and order some more bobbins and another bobbin holder.

Oh yah, Punnkie helped me make them...

It's A Gingerbread Christmas!

Since I mentioned that I've been on a major creative streak a couple of my friends have asked me to share some pictures. We'll you asked, and now I shall show!

Remember last year that I came up with the idea to have a Sweet Shop Theme for my dining room? It was cute too. The tree was decorated with nothing but candy and cookie ornaments. Surrounding my tree was a lot of peppermint and other sweets, real and fake. Last year I came up with all the ornaments which are on my blog as free tutorials (link at the top). I also designed the tree skirt and the stockings. 

I took it a step further this year with the addition of the gingerbread girl recipe holder, new ornaments, napkin rings, a tree topper, and a garland. 

So I can't wait to see my dining room this year! And of course I'll post pictures!

You can make all these items yourself because all these patterns are available at my Etsy Shop, Website, and Craftsy Pattern Shop.

On Creative Overload!

I've been on creative overload for the past couple weeks and I can't stop!

I found some old contracts (from publishing companies) from my designing days, and as I was reading them, I noticed that I had signed allowing them first rights. That means that I still own ALL rights to my patterns that I created for them. I'm just giving them the right to publish my project before I publish it anywhere else. So I'll be creating those items and releasing them in the future. I did get one finished earlier today and released it. It's the cute little gingerbread recipe holder you see above. It was in a Christmas book that was published in 2003.

I'm also mid-stream on another pattern that will be listed later this week. I also took some time to sew for myself when I made Ollie the Owl from my friend Heather's pattern (post below).

And it doesn't stop there. I've created a couple new graphic sets the past couple weeks. Just over the last few days I listed a whole bunch of Premade Etsy Banner, Avatar, and Graphic Sets which will be customized for my customer. That's something new for my shop.

So tomorrow it's back to work and my creativity must come to a slow-down. But I'm not going to stop!

Thank You Pattern Testers

I want to say a big THANK YOU to my pattern testers! These five ladies took the time out from their busy schedules to test my most recent pattern which is now available on my website, at Craftsy, and in my Etsy shop (links at the right). The pattern is for three different drawstring bags that can be made in three different sizes. The smallest is perfect for a small gift, party favor, or treat bag. The largest would hold a nice sized gift. Below are their versions of my pattern. Be sure to stop by the blogs and shops of these talented ladies.

 LeAnn from Pasque Flower Creations

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

Blog: http://www.pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower

Kim from Tall Giraffe

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TallGiraffe

Sarah from DeMoss Designs

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/demossdesigns

Blog: http://www.demossdesigns.blogspot.com

Val from Valerie Daisy

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/valeriedaisy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ShopValeriedaisy

 

Alexis from Hugs and Stitches

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HugsandStitches

FREEBIE - Foldover Gift Cards

It's time for another blog freebie! I thought it would be a great way to introduce my new line of printables to my Etsy shop and my website. Many of you have already purchased my planners and lists, which have been there since I first opened my shop and website.

These are my foldover gift cards. They come two on a sheet, are blank on the inside, and are the smaller size for attaching to a gift or to hang from a gift bag. They measure 3 1/4 x 4 inches when folded. They are just big enough to slip a shopping gift card inside. I give you both PDF & JPEG files. The JPEG makes it super easy to adjust the size as needed if so desired.

I thought the handmade theme would be perfect for my blogging friends since most of you are crafty. And who doesn't love pets? I also included the envelope template.

All you have to do is download to your computer, print, and cut out. I even give you cutting guides. I did find that the easiest thing to do was to fold the sheet in half along the left edge of the card, then cut along the edges with a rotary cutter or Exacto knife. Enjoy!

You can pick your files at 4-Shared or at my website.

Yay for Summer!

Summer is definitely here. We've been in the 90's and the sun is shining. We have the pool open, lots of flowers are in full bloom, and it just feels like summer!

I'm also still on that mad creative streak. Since my pattern shops have been doing so well I've been doing a lot of pattern designing the past few months. After I bought my computer, I came to discover that my graphic shops have been terribly neglected. I've been having so much fun on my new (speedy fast) computer designing graphic and clipart sets. In the past few days I've added six new sets to my shops.

I even freshened up my blog topper using images from my two new sets, Crafting Fun, and Painting Party. Both sets can be found at my website (instant downloads), and at my Etsy shop.

I hope you like the picture above. It was taken from flowers in our yard. That particular flower bush (or whatever you call it) blooms more flowers every year.

Top Sellers & Top Secret

 Since I haven't been blogging so much that must mean I'm locked away in my new craft room creating. That's exactly what I've been doing! As you can see in the photo above, Punkie is supervising the situation just as she always does.

 I'm excited to announce two new patterns. My most recent is this sewing machine cover. It's a cute way hide the sewing machine when not in use. It's available on Etsy, but it's also available on my website and at Craftsy they have instant downloads. No waiting for the files to be emailed.

 Another exciting thing is that my Hanging File Folder Organizer has been on Craftsy's 20 Top Seller List for sewing patterns the past two weeks. The past few days it's been fluctuating between number 9 and number 11. I think people really like the instant downloads there.

Now on to the "Top Secret" part of my post. It was so fun to spend today in my craft room doing personal things. I made a few little surprises for some special people in my life. They all read my blog daily so I can't share right now. I'll post some pics later.

Next "Top Secret" item are two new patterns I've recently completed. I can't show them because the photos and manuscripts have been submitted to magazines. Until (and if) they are published, I must keep them under tight wraps. 

So that's what I've been up to. What about you?

Applique Templates

I'm really excited to add a new section to my Etsy shop! I'm now selling applique templates. I got the idea when I was designing my "Mom Cave" quilt for my sewing room, which I'll show you in a future post. Stitching the detail on those little scraps of fabric is so addicting. I've got a nice selection to start but look for lots more in the future because I have a basket full of them that just need to be stitched. I started with my graphic and clipart kits, then added PDF patterns, and I figure these tie it all together nicely.

If you want to take a peek, you can click on the link above or in my menu at the top of this page.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

FREE Gift! Celebrating Love!

Today we celebrated my incredibly awesome husband's birthday, next week we celebrate our wedding anniversary, and in one month, Valentine's Day! What better time to offer my blog friends a free graphic mini-kit? I created an add on to go with my "Love Is In The Air" graphic/clipart kit. It's my free gift to you in the celebration of LOVE! There are many ways to use these images. You can use them for your digital scrapbooking, card making, and crafting. If you don't do any of that, you can use them for your address labels. Just enjoy them!

You can pick them up on the freebie page at my website HERE, or at 4-Shared HERE.

Introducing PDF Patterns!

Today I'm introducing my first four sewing patterns to my Esty Shop. For those who don't know, I've been designing craft and sewing patterns for over 20 years. Up until now I've only sold them to magazine and book publishing companies. I've decided that I'd also like to start selling them myself so here are the first four with many yet to come. I was going to wait until early next year to launch the patterns but since I have some Christmas ones I thought I should get them out there now.

You have probably noticed that I've been MIA with my blog and this is why. So now that I've listed them I can take a deep breath and relax a little. NOT! Now I've now decided that I also need a website. Does it ever end?

The Day You Were Born

*NEW IN MY SHOP*

OK, I'm uber excited about this! While Brian and I were in Florida a few weeks ago visiting my parents we went to this little tourist spot called Tarpon Springs. It's a Greek community where they are known for their sponge docks. They also have these cute little gift shops and restaurants. While I was in one of the gift shops I came across some little paperback books that were all about the year you were born. I thought, "What a brilliant idea for some greeting cards or photo gifts" I went home and began working on these.

They are available in my Etsy Shop & Artfire Shop. Although, there is a better selection at the Etsy shop at the time of this posting. I have several different styles to choose from.

All I need is a high quality digital photo, along with the person's name and birthday. I put it together and send it off in a high quality (5 x 7) JPEG that simply needs printed on home printer or uploaded to a photo processing center. I know what I'll be putting in birthday cards or Christmas cards this year!

Sorry about not getting an exciting model.

What Timing!

Since my flight to Florida last weekend was so late I had 6 1/2 hours to sit in the airport. I used that time wisely. I got out the laptop and put the finishing touches on my latest kit. It's called Health and Fitness and it is a two part set. And this could not have come at a better time because it was when I returned home from my trip that I had a very RUDE wake up call on my weight issues. Not only did I have to buy new summer clothes but the needle on the scale is going in the wrong direction! At first I thought my scale must be broken. It must be! But it did cross my mind that perhaps my diet isn't working very well. So, I turned that into a positive and got my butt on that elliptical we have in the hobby room. My husband uses it 4 to 5 times a week. Now, so will I! I will report back here with my progress. And yes, there WILL be progress!

So enough time about me. Here are my two newest kits that are available in my Etsy shop here and here. I think I can see some use for these images in my future.

Cats & Dogs

I just posted two new items to my ETSY shop and I think they are amongst my favorites!