March 26, 2013 Today the lovely and talented Lori Holt of the empire known as Bee in My Bonnet is sharing her thoughts on S is for Stitch. Seriously, this gal is a prolific pattern designer, blogger, fabric designer with Riley Blake, stitcher, template creator ... row-a-long-er ... what doesn't she do?!
And it seems her daughter is following in her mother's footsteps ... you have GOT to see what she's making!
March 25, 2013 Hello Everyone! I hope you're enjoying my book tour and entering all the giveaways for a chance to win a copy. ;) Here again is the list of blogs where you can enter:
Stash Books
Cluck Cluck Sew
Crazy Mom Quilts
nanaCompany
Bunny Hill Designs (today)
Still to come:
Bee in My Bonnet - March 26
A Quilting Life - March 27
Pretty by Hand - March 28
So what would you do it you've had the privilege of knowing one of the quilting industries leading ladies? You know, someone who designs incredible quilts and things of patchwork, applique AND embroidery? Oh, and also happens to be a MODA fabric designer?
If you're me, you ask her if maybe she might want to review your book. And if you're super lucky - as it seems I am - she will say yes!
But beyond her obvious talents, Anne Sutton is one of the nicest people I know. Straight up - I'm honoured that Anne is a fan of my book. Hop on over to her blog and see what she has to say!
March 22, 2013 
Amy of nanaCompany is ... hmmm ... how could I possibly describe her? Well, for starters, she's my dear friend. I think that's my favorite thing about her. ;)
But she also writes the most beautiful blog. Her creations and posts are pure delight. I couldn't have been more excited when she agreed to participate in this tour for S is for Stitch ... 'cause in my opinion that girl doesn't make stitches with a needle & thread, she makes nothing short of magic.
March 21, 2013 Amanda Jean - of Crazy Mom Quilts fame - has a few things to say about S is for Stitch. You have GOT to see how she's incorporated a cute little song from what just so happens to be my favorite sitcom into a work of embroidery with a design from my book! Stroke.of.genius LOL!
AND she's got her kids stitching from the book too? There are no words for me ... just the biggest possible grin.
I've been a huge Amanda Jean fan since ... forever, it seems ... and I'm constantly inspired by her talent. If you don't know Amanda Jean, you're in for a treat. :)
March 20, 2013 My cute friend Allison of the equally cute blog Cluck Cluck Sew is up today. Pop over and say hi ... and remember to enter her giveaway for a copy of my book ...
March 19, 2013 Hey y'all! Hop on over to the Stash Books blog, written by my friend Allison. She's got a few things to share with you about my book ... and you can enter her giveaway for a copy of S is for Stitch!
March 18, 2013 Hello Everyone! Tomorrow is the start of a very fun two weeks for me ... and hopefully you too. I have somehow managed to sweet-talk, beg, bribe round up a handful of my all-time favorite blogger friends to share their thoughts about my book "S is for Stitch".
I've been a huge fan of these gals - some even before I started my own blog - and they make for a very talented and creative crew. I'm dying to see what they all have up their sleeves. I already know what a few of them are doing and I can hardly stand the waiting!
Here's the amazing lineup:
Allison Rosen @ stashbooksblog.com - March 19
Allison Harris @ cluckclucksew.com - March 20
Amanda Jean Nyberg @ crazymomquilts.blogspot.ca - March 21
Amy Sinibaldi @ nanacompany.typepad.com - March 22
Anne Sutton @ bunnyhillblog.com - March 25
Lori Holt @ beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.ca - March 26
Sherri McConnell @ aquiltinglife.com - March 27
Me! @ prettybyhand.com - March 28
At each of these blogs you can enter a giveaway for a copy of my book - 8 chances in all! The giveaways close on Thursday, April 4th and the winners will be announced shortly after.
Good luck everyone! And enjoy.
March 15, 2013 or in this case, one block shy of a bonus row for a quilt
make lemonade
or in this case, an embroidered signature block!
I'm supposed to be doing this anyways, thanks to Hester's inspiration on this antique beauty I saw at Quilt Market last year.
Hope life doesn't serve you any lemons this weekend. But if it does, just remember that lemonade is ... well, it's delicious.
Cheers!
March 14, 2013 At long last I can show you what I turned this pattern into ...
Cute, eh? (If I do say so myself.)
My now 10 year old certainly thinks so ... especially because I used her favorite colours and fabrics.
And I couldn't be happier about that.
Now she has (another) little pouch to store all her ... stuff.
Hey Natalie, my cute little Aussie friend, thanks for designing such a sweet little stitchery!
March 13, 2013 Remember these placemats I made for Valentine's Day?
And my daughters liked them so much they wanted to use them as wall hangings instead of placemats?
Well, I guess I was so keen on the idea of having nice new placemats, I went and made another batch.
The plan was to make them "less nice" so we wouldn't be as worried about wrecking them with spaghetti stains and such.
So no embroidery this time. And I used this cute "ticker tape" method of patchwork where you apply fusible web to the back of fabric scraps, trim them to size, press them in place ... very much a make.it.up.as.you.go.along sort of thing.
And then you secure all the bits in place with your choice of machine applique stitch.
I used this small zigzag stitch for a "Made in China" look in an effort to make them "less nice" ... I don't think it worked 'cause I actually like these ones more than the originals!
Clearly I have a thing for monograms ...
And I finished them off with ricrac and a little lace tab.
My husband is so thrilled to finally - after all these years of being married to a pink-loving quilter - have his very own pink, patchwork, monogrammed, laced & ricraced placemat.
What a lucky guy! LOL!
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