2012 (and a sale!)

1. Hans and Greta, 2. Happy Valentine's Day!, 3. patchwork potholder, 4. paper pieced house, 5. mini pear pincushion, 6. Doxie, 7. fabric house ornament no. 2, 8. cover girl, 9. elephant softies, 10. Ruthie Bear, 11. mini apple pincushion, 12. 12 houses, 13. Hans  

Looking back on my (sadly, few) photos from 2012 it seems that it was the year of the house for me. And Hans. And doxies. And felt. Lots and lots of felt (you should see how much I have now!). I had some amazing opportunities come my way this past year (and at least one that I will share with you shortly), that kept me quiet and hunkered down hard at work. But, I hope to spend more time with you in the coming year, because chatting with crafty friends here is one of my favorite things.

For one of my biggest accomplishments last year I have you to thank, as more felt came into and left my little room than I ever could have expected. I love helping to find just the right colors for your projects and I’m so excited that in the coming year I will be able to offer even more felt, both in new colors, and, for the first time, yardage!

So, as a thank you, I am having a New Year’s sale on everything in my Etsy shop. Use the code NEWYEAR20 for 20% off your order through January 3. I am quite low on pear, cherry, and espresso felt, but I expect to be restocked in 2-3 weeks. Please go ahead and order the colors that you would like, and if any of your colors end up being backordered, I will give you your options after checkout. Sorry, I will not have new 6x6 sets until my new shipment of felt arrives!

Thanks again for a wonderful year, and Happy 2013!

Stay warm (or cool, as the case may be),
 

twelve cottages of Christmas

A new holiday season, a new batch of fabric house ornaments! I've just added 12 little cottages to my shop, and this is the only batch that I will make this year, so once they are gone, they're gone! All of the houses have been sold. Thank you!  (if you are feeling crafty, see my house ornament tutorial for making your own)

house no. 2

house no. 3

house no. 100

Happy shopping and/or stitching!

random goodies and a preview

I made a few goodies for Blend Fabrics at Quilt Market...unfortunately the only day I had to take photos was crummy, but I wanted to show you my Ruthie Bear anyway because I loved how she turned out. The fabrics are from Anna Griffin's new Juliet line and the photos do not do justice to the gorgeousness of these creamy neutral prints.

and the random: working on my elephant mobile for Make It Yourself magazine

FYI: felt stacks are back in the shop!

And coming soon to the shop: a batch of fabric house ornaments

Reminder and Make It Yourself info

A reminder that I'm running a sale this week through Oct. 14! Use the code FALL20 at my Etsy shop for 20% everything, and patterns on my blog are pre-discounted.

Second, several international folks have asked me where they could purchase Make It Yourself, so I wanted to let you know that it is available in digital format through Zinio(link on my sidebar!). For those in the US, I have also found the magazine at Barnes and Noble and JoAnn stores, and I believe it has also been seen at Walmart.  If you've found it elsewhere, I'd love it if you would let me know in the comments!

Fall Sale at Retro Mama

It's that time of year again...time to get started on those holiday projects! If only there was some convenient way to stock up on sewing patterns and felt.....

OK! Here you go:

 

Use the code FALL20 to save 20% off all PDF sewing patterns, felt, and sewing kits in my Etsy shop through Sunday, October 14. Patterns on my blog are pre-discounted, no code necessary. (If you want to purchase more than one pattern, though, I recommend using my Etsy shop!)

Happy shopping and stitching!

Make It Yourself Magazine

Please forgive me if I seem a bit...err...flighty today. I just got a copy of the brand spankin' new Make It Yourself magazine, and lookie at the cover!

I have two projects in the debut issue of the magazine. First, I altered my house ornament pattern so it could be made with charm squares (yay!). the other project I designed specifically for Make It Yourself. It's a sweet circus-y elephant nursery mobile, mostly made with felt. It has bunting, stars, and balancing balls, and it's paired with a wonderful quilt by Theresa Porter of meanderingthread.

There are soooo many gorgeous projects in this magazine, I think you should run out and buy one right away. It will be available on newstands until December 31 and I believe I may have left one or two copies out there... (I found mine at Barnes and Noble, but my local JoAnn did not have it, FYI)

Happy Stitching!

Hans

It's taken awhile...but I'm finally ready to introduce you to Hans!

He's a sweet little guy who likes shooting marbles, climbing trees, and the occasional jaunt into the woods with his sister, Greta. Don't worry, he always remembers to keep breadcrumbs in his pockets!

He's got corduroy shorts, suspenders, and a cute cowlick too. I recommend my Hans doll PDF sewing pattern for experienced beginner stitchers and beyond (I don't recommend him as your very first sewing project, but if you've already stitched up a couple simple patterns I think you'll have no problem with Hans! And as always, you are welcome to ask questions if you need help as you're stitching along).

All the felt colors used for Hans can be found in my shop (chestnut for his hair, cherry and marshmallow for the sneakers, and curry for buttons). It's quite possible that Hans is my favorite pattern so far, but then again, I always think that about my latest pattern!

(Greta pattern can be found here)

Happy Stitching,

playing with food

I've got something fun to unveil very soon...but until then, I'll tempt you with some pretty pears and apples

These are the smaller versions of my pear pincushion and apple pincushion patterns, with the larger sized leaves. The apple is made with School Picnic by Sarah Jane and the pear with polka dots by American Jane (out of print, sorry!). I will let you know the moment I find a new polka dot print that is *just* the right shade of green!

I hope you've had a lovely summer (or winter, as the case may be) and that you'll have a fruitful new season of stitching!

first time for everything

I have never attempted paper piecing. Before now.

I'd always admired the look of paper pieced blocks, but the process seemed too much trouble, all that folding and holding things up to the light and dulling your needles on paper, ripping the paper off the fabric, etc., etc., etc. Essentially, I am a very lazy busy gal. So I'm thinking, there has to be a lazier quicker way to do this. Or at least a method that is a little less mind-straining.

Then, my husband asked me if there was anything more I could do with my fabric house pattern, and of course I couldn't resist the challenge.

I couldn't even be bothered to buy freezer paper.

But I think it turned out pretty well.

My favorite part might be the rick rack on the roof. Or perhaps the chimney? No, it has to be the peek-a-boo number on the door. That's it.

I'm already planning changes for the next house. I'm sure (famous last words) I could squeeze in some smaller details (rounded door? window shade? doorknob??) without having too many meltdowns. Or make the house a little smaller (it's 9" x 9", I'm thinking something more potholder sized?).

How about you? Have you learned any new techniques lately?

housekeeping

Things are going to look a little different around here...please excuse any funny goings-on or broken link-thingies for the next few days!

To help distract you from the dust, I'll leave you with a few photos of samples I made for spring Market for Blend Fabrics

Spring Promise by Ana Davis

Molokai by Jessica Swift

Magic Garden by Sabine Reinhart

Tinsel by Maude Asbury

And, in case you missed last week's Zakka Style Sew Along...Lindsay of LRstitched blogged my patchwork potholder pattern from the book. If you want to sew along, make sure you take a look at my circular binding tutorial!

Happy Stitching!

Kim