Little Bits of This & That

Summer time....

Summer seems to finally be here in Minnesota. The sun has been shining, the kids are almost out of school and Market is over. Market was held in beautiful Pittsburgh and it was fun to see old friends and meet new ones.

I have many new patterns that were shown at Market and I will be sharing them with you over then next few weeks.

The first thing I want to share is that I have a new Christmas book called Holly Jolly that features the new Moda Christmas fabric lines.

I really enjoy designing quilts for the Holidays...nothing better than a warm quilt on a cold winter night. There is 18 projects that include quilts, table runners, pillows and some little gift items.

 

 So there you have it..all the pages in the book...what do you think?

Leave me a comment today because on June 2nd I will drawn two names and the winners will receive their own copy of Holly Jolly!

 

Very Merry winner.....

We have arrived home from Portland...tired but happy. Busy times but it was alot of fun to see everyone and all the fabulous booths. The city of Portland is a fun place to visit and I think my favorite thing was all the roses bushes, HUGE roses bushes, that grow around the city.

The Rhododendron plants were also crazy huge (well, compared to what we can grow here) and beautiful!

I did remember to take a couple of pictures of my booth this time...

They aren't the best because I used my phone but at least I got a couple.

I will post next week about all the new small patterns that I now have available for you. If you want a peek at them, you can check them out on the Checker Distributors web-site. (This is a wholesale site for shop owners but you can see all the new patterns there...I will post some links soon on retail sites.) SHOP OWNERS..please note the price on them has been corrected. They had the price listed at first as $12.00 retail but have fixed them to the REAL PRICE of $5.00. I freaked out when I saw this because I don't want you to think my prices jumped up like the gas prices!

All the new patterns will be on my site soon. Just waiting for my lady to upload them.

Now...for the winner of the Very Merry book.

The winner is Debbie B who said:

I love the BOM Charming and Quaint. You have certainly been hard at work.

Thank you all for all the nice comments you left about the new patterns.I really appreciate all your kind words. 

If you have done the last Mystery I would love to have a picture of it to share on my blog. Please send/email the picture by May 30th so I can post them. I will also be having a prize for one of the quilter's who shares with us.

More new stuff coming soon! Also, you follow me to can see what I am up to on Instagram. I am actually getting good at using that app!

Never enough bags...

I confess that I am a major bag lady...I love bags! One of my newest designs is the Sew Dowtown bag.

I love the front pocket which is perfect for papers, patterns, my kindle or an ipad. There is inside pockets for keys, cell phone, lip gloss or any small things you want to easily find. It is made with stiff interfacing like Peltex so that the bag stands up and holds it shape well. (I like to use the fusible kind to make the assembly go quicker.) And there is velcro in the handle to hold them together.

They are perfect for some of my take-along knitting projects. I love having knitting ready to go in bags that I can just grab as I run out the door and know I have everything together to work on it.

I added a little crocheted flower to this one~

Love yellow and gray together~

This one is made with fabric that a very good friend shared with me because I feel in love with it but of course it was sold out...isn't she a great friend! I do think I need to make a flower to go on it and I love the cute yellow lining with the polka dots.

Another new pattern I have is the Suzy's Sack.

I have to whip up a few extra of these to hang from the handles of my Sew Downtown bags. I love this little bag to hold my cell phone, car keys and anything else I need for on the go.

Because these are some of my newest patterns I think I should do a give-away, so leave me a comment on this post and I will draw a winner on Valentines day. If you are the lucky winnre you will receive a copy of each new bag pattern!

I also wanted to share with you the book I used to make my good friend some slippers~

I had someone ask me which book I used and of course I couldn't find it then but now here it is. There are alot of great felted projects in it. Here are the finshed slippers I made~

I think they turned out great even though I used a front loading washing machine. I did throw a couple of dryer balls in the washer and I think they helped alot.

This weekend I will be working on knitting up a hat. I am taking a class on how to design hats and I have alot of homework to do. I will share pictures next week.

What will you be working on this weekend?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Holly Taylor Holiday.....

I read the other day that there is about 100 days until Christmas....really? Where has this year gone? Where has all my time for sewing, knitting and creating gifts gone to? I had such high goals for making tons of gifts this year. I do have several projects done but not as many as I would like. I think I better get going on them! How about you? Are you looking for some fun holiday sewing? If you are, then hop on over to the Holly Taylor blog (designers of the fabulous Holly Taylor fabrics for Moda). All you have to do is leave them a comment telling them what your 3 favorite past Holly Taylor Christmas fabric lines are and you will be entered to win a Fat 1/4 bundle and my Christmas Spirit book.

There are two chances to win so hop on over there and leave your comment today because the contest ends on Monday!

Here are a few more pictures from the book~

There is even more projects in the book......so go leave your comment right away. Chances are good that you could be sent an nice big stack of fabric and a book to go with it!

 

 

And the winners are......

Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments about the new "Season's" stitchery pattern. I'm so glad to know that you like it. Season's is one of those things I did that I thought...well, people will either like it or not...and I have to say YAY! You do like it!

 

And to not make you wait any longer...the winners are~

Cindy K. who said:

Very cute - and being from Minnesota I can totally relate!

Karen who said:

Very cute, they will be fun to stitch up. All together on the quilt they are so adorable. Thanks for the great giveaway and the chance to win. Karen

And

Viv said:

These are so cute...Love the quilt!! Great giveaway...Hope to win!!

Ladies, please send me your snail-mail addresses and I will pop the notecards/patterns in the mail to you!

Thanks so much for all your sweet comments...I really appreciate it!

~Sherri

Seasons.....

One of my favorite things about living in Minnesota is the changing of the seasons. This year it seems like we have had a way to loooonnnggg winter, and not sure yet if we are having a spring but hoping for a warm and sunny summer. The seasons are beautiful even if they can be a little un-predicable sometimes. So to celebrate the seasons, I have something new for you!

 

For Spring Market, I drew up 6 embroidery patterns of different seasonal designs. I had the designs printed onto note cards with the pattern and envelopes also enclosed. I think they turned out pretty cute! Here is how they look when they are stitched up......

Here is how it works....purchase the note cards at your local quilt shop and stitch up the patterns. When you are done stitching, you can download the complimentary finishing pattern here on my blog or on my web-site (It should be on there shortly if it's not already there) and stitch up the blocks. The pattern has been set up at a block-of-month....making it easy to sew a block or two when you have a little time to sew. Then quilt, bind and enjoy!

 Download the finishing Seasons Pattern here.

The embroidery patterns also look wonderful stitched up into towels, pillows or even bags. Let your imagination go crazy with the all the possibilities for these cute designs!

Since the note cards are new for spring and we are still hoping for spring (yes, I know it's June!).....I am going to give away 3 complete set of the 6 note cards to 3 lucky people. So leave me a comment here on the blog and you will be entered in the give-away! I will draw for the winners on Monday, June 4th.

See ya Monday~ Sherri

I'm a cover girl!

Not me actually but my project is! Have you had a chance to check out the lastest issue of Quilts & More?

 

Look in the upper right corner and you will find my little Patchwork Pouch! I love this little bag.

 
I use mine for just about everything from make-up to game pieces. One of the sweet ladies that works for Better Homes and Garden told me she made 12 for Christmas gifts~Crazy! But you go girl!

I do have an extra copy of the magazine. So if you would like to leave me a comment here on the blog, I will I draw a winner and pop the magazine in the mail to you. I will draw the winner on this friday.

Good luck to you and I hope you enjoy all the wonderful projects this magazine has for you!

~Sherri

 

 

Simple Things....

With spring still a month or two away...I like to work on projects that are perky and fun to brighten the cold winter days. So to celebrate the coming spring-time, I have a new pattern called "Simple Things"!

 
With four separate embroidery patterns, you can use it as a quick block-of-the-month. Makes it easier to just throw the embroidery pattern you are working on in a bag and take with you on the go.

 

 
 
 
Since it's my newest pattern and I would love you to have a copy of "Simple Things"......Please leave me a comment here on the blog and I will draw 3 winners on Sunday February 20th!

Good luck to you and thanks for reading my blog!

~Sherri

 

Northern Solitude

Finally finished the Northern Solitude book for the spring fabric line by Holly Taylor! 11 fun projects for spring and summer. There is 3 bags in the book-love them!There is even a cute pincushion. Hope you enjoy!!

      

This is the cover quilt. Check out the pretty lady in the frame! That is my Grandma Daisy, she was one of my best friends! She sewed and knitted all the time. I was lucky to receive her wonderful, very old singer sewing machine.

     Pillow with covered buttons-of course! I am hooked on covered buttons!!

 
The Lunch Thyme Sack!

The Pretty Pincushion. 

Market Day tote

  Tiny Tote to organize your stuff in the Market Day tote! Fast and fun to make!

Bountiful Baskets table runner.

                   Spring Time Blessings table topper! There is even more projects the book. Be sure to check it out. It will be ready shortly! Big thanks to Bob and Cindy Shilda from Robert Photography for doing such a great job with the pictures!!

~New Stuff~

You have to check out this bag!

  

I designed this bag for Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage in North St. Paul, Minnesota. For 2008, she hosted the Unruly Girls Club  and asked me to design patterns for the club. This bag was the last pattern I did for her. I used Paisley Party fabric by Terry Atkinson. I just love these fabrics! Since it is getting cold here and there is snow on the ground, the fabrics remind me of summer sunshine !

    

Of course, after I sent the bag to Roseann, I thought of another good idea for it to add a bit of flare.
This pattern will be available soon and I think when it is ready, I will add this bit of flare to it and you can add it to your bag if you like.I will keep you posted to when it will be available. Be sure to check back often, as I will be posting more new and fun ideas!