Little Bits of This & That

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?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Easy Peasy

I have a few patterns that have some gathered strips in them such as Fun & Flirty, Out & About and Gotcha Covered. Even though they may look a little difficult, I am here to tell you that they are easy peasy!

To assemble the gathered strips, all you have to do is run a basting strip along the edges stated in the patterns.

 
Pull up the treads to gather the edges. I like to pull a little on both sides at the same time as I work my way up the strip, straightening as I go.

 

Press your gathered strip to keep the gathers in place. Re-press as needed to get the look you want. Then press your gathered strip to the fusible interfacing, being sure to cover the interfacing with the strip.

 
 
Trim strip to size stated in pattern (this is nice so you don't have to worry about making it perfect) and stitch to other pattern pieces.

 
And that's all there is too it!

Until next time,

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

 

An Extra Special Day....

Not only are we going to announce the winner for our Mistletoe Make & Bake...it's my daughters 17th birthday!

But so you don't have to wait any longer, here they are.....

Winner #1 is~

Janet S ([email protected])

Winner #2 is~

Sharon W ([email protected])

Please e-mail me your addresses and I will pop your big prizes in the mail!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in the hop.We really appreciate all your nice comments and all the time you spent hopping with us!

Today is a pretty big day at our house. My oldest daughter has turned 17! I miss having her little but I am enjoying the wonderful adult she is becoming.

 
Back when she was little, people would tell me it goes by fast...enjoy her while she is little. I have treasured every moment but it sure did go by fast. I would love one more day with her little. She was such a cutie....still is! (I know I'm bias!)

 
To celebrate her birthday, I have gift for you! I made this cute little pincushion for some friends at retreat. So I thought I would share the pattern with you so you can enjoy it too. Quick, easy and perfect for gifts! I love this pincushion!

 
Click here to download your copy of the pattern~Charming Lil Pincushions.

 Thanks again for joining the Blog Hop and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 
Please stop back often....Until next time~Sherri

 

 

Coming Soon!

I am very excited to announce Mistletoe Make & Bake 2010! We have a baker's dozen of designer projects and dozens of cookies recipes for you just in time for the holidays. So get ready to hop through some wonderful blogs, collecting gift-giving projects and yummy cookie recipes perfect for your holiday cookie exchanges!

November 15th-20th, 2010

Here is the line-up~

November 15th

Sherri K. Falls of This & That Patterns 

November 16th

Heidi Kaisand of Chicks & Hen

Monique Dillard of Open Gate Blog

November 17th

Celine Perkins of Perkin's Dry Goods

Patrick Lose of The Latest News from Patrick Lose

Kelly Ann Richardson of Kelly Ann's Quilting

November 18th

Lissa Alexander of Moda Lissa

Julie Stewart of Quilts 4 Julie

November 19th

Roseann Kermes of Rosebud's Cottage

Brenda Riddle of Little Acorns

November 20th

Vickie Eapen of Spun Sugar Quilts

Melisa Morrison of Sweet Home Quilt Co.

November 21st

On the seventh day, we’ll rest. And eat cookies!

 So mark your calendar and get ready for a fun week filled with cookie bliss, wonderful projects and awesome prizes!!

P.S. Please help us spread the word about the hop...we want everyone to join in the fun! So please Tweet, blog or Facebook your friends so that they don't miss the hoppin Holiday fun we have in store for you!

 

Sweet 16!!

Where has the time gone? 16 years ago today, we were blessed with the cutiest little baby girl! Well, she actually looked like Yoda from Star Wars when she was first born. Ashley Kathryn, was born at 6:29 in morning...weighing 6 lbs, 6 oz. and was 19 inches long. It sure seems like that was just days ago, not 16 years. I have really enjoyed every stage with my kids...good and bad. I enjoy having teens and pre-teens but I would love to go back for just a day and hold my babies again. I think mom's always feel that way.

Now our little sweetie is 16 and it's a wonderful day to celebrate!

To celebrate Ashley's birthday...I am giving you the pattern for the Christmas Memories book cover!

 Click here to download the pattern.

And since gifts are a fun part of birthdays....we will be giving away a kit for the Christmas Memories book cover. We will include everything needed to make it and even the book Birchwood Lane that has the pattern in it....so leave a comment to be entered to win!

Drawing will be on November 27th (Black Friday).

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

~Sherri

 

Today is the day....

Today is the day I get to share a project with you, kind of like show and tell. I loved show and tell when I was in school! But since some of you have never been here before, I thought I would share a little about myself with you.

 

I am Sherri Falls and I have been married to my best friend Paul for 18 years...where did the time go? We met at the very first football game of my freshman year in high school, boy that was awhile ago!

We have 3 cute kiddo's, Ashley is going to 16 in 9 days, Sara is 12 and Ryan is 9. We also have 2 English bulldogs, 2 hamsters and 2 tree frogs. Never a dull moment in our house!

I have This & That pattern company. The name seemed to fit because I have always loved to do anything and everything creative. My lastest thing I am learning is knitting....love it! I started designing patterns and books about 5 1/2 years ago when I met Eileen Taylor, designer of the the Holly Taylor fabric line by Moda, when she had asked me to design a quilt when her newest fabric. I have had lots of fun "playing" with her fabrics ever since. And she is one sweet lady!

Here is Eileen and I at fall market in Houston this year....aren't we sexy ladies! We just couldn't resist getting our picture taken in the Me and My Sister booth.

Besides having a love of playing with the Holly Taylor fabrics, I also love to make projects from Moda's charm packs. I have designed a line of patterns called Little Scraps that use charm squares and make a variety of things from bags to note pad covers. Most of them can be done in an afternoon or day. I love projects that are fun, easy, and don't take too much time.

The project that I have for you today is a candle mat/table topper called "Christmas Eve Blessings".

Click Here

 to download and print the PDF of the pattern.

I hope you enjoy the candle mat! Please feel free to post a picture of your finished projects on our Flicker Page. We would love to see your finished projects!

Be sure to leave a comment here today to be entered in a drawing. The goodies the winner will receive is a fat 1/4 bundle of Lakeside Resort fabric (Newest Holly Taylor fabric due in stores in March, but you will get your bundle now!) Plus my 8 newest Little Scrap patterns from fall market.

 

Thanks so much for hopping by today...best of luck to you!
 Also, please subscribe to my blog to stay updated with all the goings on here....more on the way tomorrow..see ya then!