Taking some time to tidy things up.

Many of you have noticed that my store-front is now closed.  I have tried to remove all of the front page links but I am sure I did not get all of them.  Don't worry it's not forever and if there is something that you really need just drop me a note and I will make it possible for you to purchase the files. 

Basically it works this way.. I have one month until my kids start back to lessons ( yep, we homeschool) and during that time I will be getting them ready and revamping the store front with new files, links, hints and tips as well as getting my longarm business up and running all while continuing my embrodiery/monogram.  But to do all  that I need to close the store- front to make the changes easy to accomplish. I will still be blogging here and there is a good chance that I will have some cool freebies in the coming days so do check back so you can see the progress!

Oh gads!  I woke up this morning with a start remembering that I had not picked a winner for the Halloween Fabric giveaway!   Then I had to find the hat.. pulled out the bunny... put in the numbers.. and picked number

4*

That makes Deb the winner of the cute pack of Halloween scraps!

*I actually used the Random Number generator but for some reason  it will not cut and paste into my post.. and the bunny is so much cuter anyway!

I have some class

I am a saver.... like  magpie I have  hard time getting rid of stuff let alone not collecting more and from this I have a rather large stash of scrap fabric.. I have a certain way I store it that we will talk about later but for now just knowing that I can make lots and lots of holiday gifts from that stash is really comforting.

This project comes from the "strip bin" and while I would like to say in made  a real dent in that in you really can't tell I used any and I will have to make trivets for my whole county at this rate.  But look at those colors!.. happy huh?  I like the pop of the black on the colors but if you wanted something that more blended  a soft grey does the trick. 

I will be teaching a class in how to make these this Fall. I  will be teaching the the foundation skills that will move us on to making baskets and purses.. very cool.. yes?  But from that process the students will get really neat trivets, placemats and coasters all from their scrap baskets!

Want to take the class?  If you are in the Chattanooga area I will be teaching it this fall and would love to meet you!  I will be teaching at Chattanooga Sewing  (423) 899-3664 , call them a reserve your spot!

A wee bit overblown...

No need to gasp... I know it's over blown.. and beyond the pale but oh how I do love it!  I happen to have two cameras and while I had made a strap for my trusty Fuji my Cannon was still looking pretty lean and plain so I went the whole nine yards and used some Texture Magic and made this cha-cha camera strap from some of my favorite leftovers of the vintage sheets I used to make the curtains in my office.

The center part of the strap is runched using the Texture Magic and a simple running stitch and the sides are all full and fancy due to using my ruffling attachment for my machine.  I am pondering whipping up a pattern for this.. what say you?? 

I am pretty sure my husband will never be able to use my camera again!

Go Me!

Well I will admit that I obviously did not know what I was getting into since I thought that it might take an hour.. maybe two to get it all folded, bolted and stored back... Ha!

ALL DAY LONG PEOPLE...ALL DAY!

It's done and it looks pretty dang good if I do say so myself.  Where a week ago it looked like THIS  today it's looking a lot leaner, meaner and a lot more organized!

Top shelf  - clothing fabric, most on homemade fabric bolts made from foam core board

Second Shelf - baskets full of sizable scraps and fat quarters sorted by color. ( the other container is all Kaffe Fassette fabrics since I LUV them so much!)

Third Shelf - vintage sheets, muslin and quilt yardage

Fourth- Felt and novelty/freaky fabrics

Fifth shelf- (mostly unseen) large containers with batting and other odd ball items.

Not bad huh???

and YES... I got rid of that UGLY light fixture.  The one I got is school-house style, very simple to the point of plain but a nice relief from the stained glass monster!

Scraptastic!

You didn't think I forgot did you? 

One of the best parts about being a designer is playing with lots of fabric but there comes a time when a studio hits a critical mass and you must admit that some of your fabric needs a new home!

So what I have decided to do is after each new collection is " in the bag", the scraps will also  go" in the bag"  and then that bag will go to a lucky reader!  If I have a huge amount of usable scrap of some really great fabrics I might also put a couple scrap grab bags in the shop for sale. 

The first Fresh Thread Scraptastic bag is filled with some really great Halloween fabrics all used in my soon to be released  collection.  The bag is full of  a few partial jelly roll strips, some small yardage ( less than Fat quarter size) and other sundry bits from 5 different fabrics.   If you are a scrap quilter this will be heaven!

Want a shot at winning it?

If so leave a comment making sure that I have a way to contact you and I will pick some time mid-next week!

And since I am such a tease I will leave you with a little peeky shot of the third wall hanging  in the Halloween triptych collection!

With Love from Dee

I just LOVE it when you all send me photos of what you have been doing with my designs and even better when you let me post it up!  Dee was so gracious as to let me see and share what she did with my LOVE design for the jumbo hoop.

Want some love yourself?   Well it's on sale now for less than the price of a Happy Meal.. so come and get it! ( click on the link to the right)

Thanks Dee! It looks... LOVERLY!