7.13.2010

Pick a pear

I was spending some quality time with my fabric stash the other day and lamenting how there just isn't enough time in the day (or week or year) for me to sew through it all. The time had come for me to share some of those favorite prints that I've been storing, so that others (you) can enjoy them too.

So, today I am announcing the arrival of Retro Mama pattern kits! Available now:

Hope Valley in Orange and Orchid (thank you, Denyse, for making me love this color combination)

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Retro Ruler (this was my number one best selling pincushion, and I love these fabrics as much today as I did when I first discovered them)

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I am also selling the sample pincushions from these photos. I don't have immediate plans to make more pears, so if you want a pincushion, now is the time to grab it!

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Included in each kit is

*6 designer 100% cotton fabrics to make one pear
*Wool blend felt for leaf and stem
*3 colors of embroidery floss

Remember, the pattern is sold separately!

All the fabrics and materials are hand cut by me, and to minimize waste they are not shipped with extra packaging materials. The kits will arrive in the cute bundle pictured above, with some baker's twine wrapped around it that you can use for crafting or packages. I also ship these kits internationally. More kit prints will be available soon.

I'd love to hear from you--if you have a request for specific fabrics please leave a comment!

AND to make things interesting, as well as reward those of you who made it to the end of this post...If you leave a comment or vote for a new fabric kit, you will be entered to win your choice of one of the pincushion kits above. I'll randomly choose TWO winners on Monday, July 19 to receive a kit so please make sure there is a way to contact you by entering an e-mail address with your name when you leave a comment. One entry per person please.

P.S. The winners will also receive a copy of my Plush Pear Trio PDF sewing pattern :)

Good luck!
Kim

100 comments:

  1. I really like the Hope Vally one!

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  2. I love the Hope Valley fabrics! But they are all adorable... I think a kit for the tea cozy would be great also!!!

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  3. Hope Valley is my pick. You do such nice work!

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  4. I love that Retro Ruler print. So cute! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  5. The retro ruler print is one of my favorites too!! Thank you for sharing.

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  6. You are the undisputed queen of the pear pincushions and kits are a fabulous idea - I'd like to say I prefer one or the other but I love Hope Valley TO DEATH - but I have to say that Recess is a line I came too late to quilting to really be able to buy properly so I think the tape measure pear is the fabbest for me now. Looking forward to punctuation coming out over here in the UK later this year though. I'm waffling on now. Lynne, you can stop talking. Lovely giveaway!

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  7. those pears are so cut,and i love all of the fabrics!!

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  8. I just love the simple packaging! No waste and still cute. Hmmm, I can never pick a favorite fabric, love them all!

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  9. Oooooh, Retro Ruler (I loooove polka dots!)
    Emma
    :)
    (the-j-team@hotmail.co.uk)

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  10. What a great Idea!
    I like the color combination and the pears, and to be honest I'd like the day to have 48 hours to sew all those wonderful things!

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  11. The Hope Valley one is really cute. I love the color combo

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  12. How can a teacher NOT love Retro Ruler. All of your work is so lovely and so inspiring. ~Kelly

    unDeniably Domestic

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  13. they are such cute pin cushions, and your fabric choices are perfect!

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  14. I love the retro ruler...those fabrics are great!

    Jill
    coraannedesigns@gmail.com

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  15. the fabric choices are just great! but i think i prefer the retro ruler

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  16. Witout a doubt Hope Valley :) Love the colors.

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  17. I love the Retro Ruler fabric.

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  18. It is so hard to choose between the two, they are both so lovely but Retro Ruler it is! Good luck with your kits!

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  19. I really like the Hope Valley kit!

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  20. Retro Ruler is fabulous!
    anne(dot)dagny(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. I love, LOVE the Retro Ruler (who doesn't???) and really want to make your egg in it... sometime before next Easter... ahem...

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  22. Aqua and red is my favorite color combination ever. Retro Ruler rocks@ Thanks for the draw, would love it! Cheers, HeatherB.

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  23. Beautiful kits, what a great idea! I love the Retro Ruler!

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  24. My vote is for the Retro Ruler kit - such fun colors! (khohnstreiter@gmail.com)

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  25. This is really hard. I love them both. I think that Retro Ruler has won out though.

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  26. Love your pincushions! The kits are a terrific idea.

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  27. The pears are tooo cute. Hope Valley is so wonderful! I'd love to sew a whole fall wardrobe for my DD from it! I felt wool pears and so have quite a soft spot for them!

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  28. Great idea these packs! I love both colour combinations, but the Hope Valley looks so yummy!

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  29. Those fabric combos are both so lovely, I have no idea how I would decide between them!! :)

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  30. The retro ruler one has always been a favorite of mine.

    :)

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  31. I have a retro ruler pear by you but why have I never seen the hope valley one before? Love it.

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  32. I started quilting after the recess line became hard to get, but love it!

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  33. I love the pear pin cushion! I'd love to see a kit with the cherry fabric shown on your etsy site. My mom loves anything cherries as it reminds her of my grandfather. I'd also love to see an elephant kit using the fun bright Heather bailey fabrics from the Pop garden lines. I love the prints and colors.

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  34. This is just to wonderful. My eyes drink in the orange and orchid in Hope Valley.
    A while back my two d-i-l's claimed Orange to be one of the decorating choices. I poo-poo-ed that answer until I found ORANGE is the NEWEST color. I see it everywhere.
    And have come to see it's attraction.

    Love your Pears.

    Hugs & ♥♥♥s,
    Gerry

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  35. Thank you for the suggestions! It's like we're communicating telepathically, or perhaps some of you are psychic--I had aqua and red kits sitting on my cutting table waiting for afternoon light to photograph (check my shop for these, just listed!) and cherries are on my to do list.

    I hope to add kits for my other patterns soon!

    Thanks for all the input :)

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  36. I snagged a pear up! I've been wanting a darling pin cushion. Would love to win a kit so I can try making my own!

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  37. I can totally relate about so much fabric, so little time! I love them all but if you make me choose one it would be the Hope Valley combo.

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  38. SO cute! Thanks for sharing your goods!

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  39. Your kits have very cute fabric. I would like to see one out of the Frolic line.

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  40. I have made one of your Pears using your patterns and gave them away as gifts.. These are awesome.. I LOVE the Retro Ruler.. Such cool prints..

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  41. I love them both...how can one choose?! I think I'm leaning toward the retro ruler.

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  42. I really admire Hope Valley.
    Hope I win so I can make heaps and give to friends. Thanks for the opportunity to win one :)

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  43. shoot...love them both! How is a girl to decide? ;)

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  44. Retro Ruler is my fave...that fabric with the rulers...I think I would fight for it!! :) Fun giveaway, thanks!

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  45. Hope valley just edges it in the lead for me-looks like a ripe blush pear!

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  46. I love all of your patterns! I'd be happy with either.

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  47. Hi Kim, I love the Retro Ruler print, 'cause it's colorful and fun. And the pear pincushions are so delicious. So nice of you to share them.

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  48. Both kits are adorable...the Retro Ruler one would definiely be a hit for a favorite teacher!!! Keep up the good work.

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  49. I love these! Especially the retro ruler one.

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  50. Hi Kim, I love "retro ruler" and making one of your pears would be fun & an abstract learning tool in my kinder class!

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  51. Okay so I'm having some trouble with the commenting :) I like the Retro Ruler and I vote for Fandango by Kate Spain for a new fabric kit.
    teri_stillwell@msn.com

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  52. Oh, who can choose just one?! Well, if I must... Hope Valley.
    Thanks for a fun giveaway. I have lovedx3 making your pears! The kits are just a great idea!

    Megan
    fredandmegan93 at gmail dot com

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  53. I love the retro ruler one! so cute!

    chowflora@hotmail.com

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  54. I love coming to your blog page. You have so much inspiration here! I love your fabric color choices!
    (sweetangels1974@yahoo.com)

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  55. I love the retro ruler. And I thought you said you couldnt get that kind of fabric anymore?!
    lindsayronae@gmail.com

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  56. Those are so cute! Love the Hope Valley one!

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  57. I couldn't possibly choose which one I like best - it's the pears that make them so deliciously cute for me!

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  58. these are really cute! the second one in blues is my fav!

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  59. Love the color combinations. The kits are great addition. Thanks for the giveaway

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  60. love both pears, each of them is special. I wish Tilly and Tommy came as a kit...I know its a simple kit to make up, but that's just what a beginning sewer like me needs...the pear is a bit intimidating!

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  61. What a cute pear! Love them both, however, my business is called Clementine, so anything with ORANGE grabs my attention! Just stumbled upon your blog from atticgals... You have an amazing site and love the name retro mama. Totally cute!

    Jenny D

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  62. Hi! I definitely like the orange and orchid fabric pack. I must admit, that was a colorway of Hope Valley that I wasn't sure I liked, but it looks so nice in the pin cushion, I might just have to buy some!

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  63. I used your pear pattern to teach a whole class of 6th grade girls to sew basic hand stitching. :) Love your color combinations. (Katie countesskatie@yahoo.com)

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  64. Love the Retro Ruler colour combo.
    Alison

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  65. I love them both! But I think Retro Ruler alittle more!

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  66. Hope Valley! I love the plum colors paired with the orange!

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  67. both are beautiful!! the ruler print is one of my fav fabrics too! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  68. Oh, I love both equally! I love the colors of the Hope Valley and the ruler print in the other package. Deciding for me would cause me less angst.

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  69. I love the retro ruler print. And I would so love to win the give away of the pear ( ofcourse who wouldn't LOL) it is my birthday the 20th :)

    Alette

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  70. Thank you for all the suggestions--I love the idea of kits for my other patterns.

    How cool that my pattern was used to teach a class full of girls hand sewing--you are a brave one, but I bet it was a blast!

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  71. Retro ruler - fantastic - love it. Your kits are a wonderful idea.

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  72. Both pear kits are awesome! I wish I had vision to give pack suggestions but I can't match fabrics to same my life! I do wish for a new pattern that could use all the dick and jane fabric that I see floating around. I love the vintage prints that remind me of my moms childhood books.

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  73. I really like the Hope Valley fabrics but both are pretty cool :) Thanks for a fab giveaway :)

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  74. The Hope Valley is divine!! How do you manage to get your pears so perfect??

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  75. I'm on a pin cushion making kick right now and I've always loved these pears! Thanks for the kits!

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  76. I love the retro ruler print! These are adorable. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.

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  77. Loving the retro ruler!

    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    mamacitamb @ gmail . com

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  78. Retro Ruler is definitely my fave...and love the pear pincushions!!

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  79. Love them both but if I had to pick, I love the Retro Ruler more! Love the kits - everything coordinates!!

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  80. I love the retro ruler print best (I am a school teacher), but both are so cute.

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  81. Love the Retro Ruler kit - it's great and I'd love to stitch the pincushion. Thanks for your generosity.

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  82. Love your cute pears! Retro Ruler is my fave! :)

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  83. Love making Stella and Stewarts, on to elephants and pears next. Enjoy your patterns so very much. The vintage ruler rocks...go 70's my favourite era!!!!

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  84. I like the Retro Ruler. So cute.

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  85. Hope Valley - the colours remind me of sunset.

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