HEAVENLY GIVEAWAY

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You remember this little teaser don't you?
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Of course you do!  So set your eyes on this Heavenly Giveaway from Heavenly Hostess.  This halter apron, made from my Summer Soiree is stunningly fashionable, retro modern and so well made that it feels more like a party dress.  It's REVERSIBLE! Flattering and fabulous...AND it can be yours!
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Cynthia Wadell, creator of Heavenly Hostess aprons has an fierce passion for encouraging others to serve.  I know many of you are so gifted and use those gifts to bless others, while some of you may wonder or not even realize what talents you do possess.  We would love to hear your thoughts on how;
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*you use your gifts everyday to impact others
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*you would love to bless someone in your life

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*possibly someone in your life has blessed you in a way that might have seemed small at the time, but actually made a huge impact in your life
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*what holds you back from reaching out in a positive way to others.

Cynthia and I will pick one story to win this beautiful halter apron, a retail value of $85.00.  Keep in mind, your story does not have to be related to serving food.  There are many gifts and many ways to bless others.

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"God has given each of us special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings."    1 Peter 4:10

I believe hospitality starts with an attitude of the heart.  It's an act of doing something to help another, whether it's just stopping to really listen, an encouraging word or the ability to make someone feel comfortable.

Hospitality shouldn't become an artform or it loses it's true meaning. 

With that said, I know some of us creative types would rather bestow our blessings while looking our best whenever possible, right?  So please share your thoughts and be sure to go over to Heavenly Hostess to see the abundance of other aprons and beautiful gifts they offer.  And speaking of gifts, this giveaway will make a great Mother's Day gift as well.  I'll keep the comments open for a couple of weeks to give you plenty of time to put fingers to the keypad (instead of pen to paper, get it?)  Oh, and sorry to those of you that were coveting those awesome potholders.  Those are mine, but I know where you can get some just like those.

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On another note, I hope your Easter or Passover was full of color and love.  We broke the mold this year and celebrated Easter at Jennifer's new house. 

 Wow, us girls sure were workin the pattern overload, weren't we? 
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As usual, I had so many other things to share with you, but not today.  I've got to get back to painting for my next fabric line.  Yup, lots of hand painting!

HAPPY EASTER TO MY PEEPS

As we are clearing out Tim's moms house, this is one of the many things we brought back with us.  It is her artwork from when she was a young girl!  She has a birthday coming up this month...she will be 85!  I must admit, I was so very tempted to put some writing on the empty basket for you.  Something simple like Happy Easter.  Then I thought that Char left it just like that and so will I.  I'll just have to tell you.  Happy Easter.

I am also giving you all a heads up.  I am about to post a rather awesome giveaway this week.  You won't want to miss this one!

We are off to hide the Easter Eggs for the grandkids and squeeze the stuffins out of them.  May you all have a wonderful day and see you back here very soon! 

A MIDNIGHT POST

Right now I am furious with Blogger.  I have wasted hours today and this evening just trying to do a simple post.  Haven't been able to get any pictures to download properly or at all.  Now at bedtime a totally different way to download images suddenly appeared.  So what kind of post was worth me pulling my hair out, you ask?  Nothing that important really.  It's out of pure stubborness that I  finally have 4 images to show you.   Oh, I did have some entertaining stories, but right now that would be like trying to tell a joke in the middle of an argument.  Not tonight dears.

Jennifer was on a trip she won last week with Missy.  Both of them worked with me before they took off to make millions with Stella and Dot jewelry.  Well, Missy pulled out a makeup bag and a jewelry bag made out of my fabrics.  Jennifer sent me pics from her iPhone with instructions to get to Stein Mart.  Sure enough I not only found these makeup bags (the one hanging to the left is a folded up version), but curling iron and flat iron bags!  What I couldn't find is that jewelry bag in the second photo.  The lady at Stein Mart thinks they sold out.  Well, yeah!  It was just a fun product find that I blissfully wanted to share with you all. 

Then, have you seen this tut for a lingerie caddie from Sew4Home?  It's made out of Woodland Delight fabrics.  Don't they do an amazing job? I could see this used in a craft room, too.

And finally, Sew4Home did a post to remind people about the free downloadable pattern I have on my blog. 

Well, there you have it.  I really had more to share, but it's past my bedtime and I don't want to push my luck. One wrong move and POOF, I could lose it all.  O, that would not be pretty, trust me.  Is anyone else having fits with Blogger?  Please say it's not just me.

IT'S A COLORFUL RAINY DAY

Sew4Home just posted this interview.  Didn't they make me look good?   Just sayin, that's not what I look like today!  It's quite gloomy and rainy outside.  I'm dressed in a gray sweatsuit and no makeup. 

 Spring agrees with me for so many reasons.  Birds, butterflies, flowers, colors; all being orchestrated into a magnificant repeat performance.  Just in the last week there are sneak peaks of anticipation popping up around the yard.  The crocus have come and gone in the blink of an eye, but I managed to capture the beauty. 

  

Sure is putting me in an artsy mood.  Hmmm...

SHOW + TELL DIAPER BAGS AND MAGAZINES

One of my friends emailed to show me some Kalencom Diaper bags she was carrying in her store.  Out of curiousity I got on the Kalencom website and was a bit confused because the bag she showed me wasn't on their website.  So I did a bit of research and look what I came up with!  I found 17 diaper bags and Midi bags using my fabrics.  I don't know if that's all, but I was very happy.  Pretty cool huh?  I have to wonder what I'd do if I spotted someone with one over their shoulder.  I'm pretty sure I'd make a fool out of myself.  I put large images of each bag in Flickr.  Thanks Kalencom!

So, if that wasn't enough fun, have you seen This magazine?

Thanks to Christine at Michael Miller, I have now.  Sew Wow offers an upscale and sophisticated approach with awesome photography, ideas, patterns... and it's all online!  And look at this adorable project using my Flights of Fancy fabrics.  Just want to know if that baby is included...should be.  Just saying.  Go over there and see what I mean.

COMPLETED COLLAGES

I finally finished the last collage in the series that I started calling Birds and Butterflies.  I've said it before, I'm not good with creative names.  My goal was to get these done and hung before bedtime last eve.  Bigger still was to clean up the mess I made.  I like all of them for different reasons, but this one in particular because that's how I feel and act most days.

I have been more fed up with Blogger than usual lately so I am test driving their newer version.  I like a few things better, but I have a ways to go before I give a thumbs up. 

Hey, I wanted to show you these adorable pillowcase dresses made by Lucy Jane Studio from my Woodcut Garden (From Woodland Delight).

   

If you have something made using Woodland Delight that you'd like to share or need any inspiration, please check out the Woodland Delight Flickr Group.

Lots of things going on this week with church and family.  My son is having surgery today (in Portland) and Jennifer and Joe are closing on their new (and old) houses today, just for starters.  Oh, Tim and I had our 28th anniversary over the weekend.  But because we've been gone to Michigan with Tim's mom so much, we spent it doing taxes and computer work and cleaning out our closet.  That might not sound exciting, but somehow just the two of us, here together, getting stuff done for ourselves was almost a treat!  

WHILE I'VE BEEN GONE

I have been in and out quite a bit lately. I mentioned that we have moved my mother-in-law into assisted living in Michigan. We are also going up there more often to clean out the house, and sort through years and years of stuff. I know many of you understand and it gives me comfort that we're not alone. Thanks for the emails and kind words.

But I left my collage pile out because I really, REALLY want to finish my collages. Here is the next one in the series. If you missed my last post, they go with these. One more and I will have actually finished a project for myself. They just might have a future in my entry.

.While I have been doing my thing, others have been doing things with my fabrics. Here are just a few for you to enjoy:

Have you seen this great tutorial on Sew4Home? They are one of my favorite home decor blogs (I bet I already told you that. I tend to repeat myself when I'm excited). They used my Woodland Delight fabrics and I can't tell you how badly I NEED THIS myself! Cool, huh?

Above is the Manhattan Soiree quilt using my Summer Soiree fabric for Michael Miller Fabrics in the current issue of Fons&Porter's Easy Quilts magazine. Complete instructions are included. Quilt and design by Marinda Stewart. Go check it out.

Here is another wall hanging version using my Summer Soiree fabric. Free downloadable instructions are available in the Spring 2010 online issue of AllPeopleQuilt.com. Quilt design and pattern by Marinda Stewart.

We are seeing hints of Spring here. Our 28th anniversary is this weekend and I so hope I can finally spend a little time with my man.

STILL JUGGLING AFTER ALL THIS TIME

The knives I'm juggling are getting larger and sharper (see last post), or so it seems some days. Tim has been gone on an extended business trip and somehow I thought I'd get so much done. Yeah, I'm dysfunctional like that. While waiting for my next instructions for the new line I'm working on and avoiding the extensive "To Do List", I decided to chuck it all over the weekend and try my hand at a series of collages. This is a stretch for me. My art is usually detailed and I'm trying to free myself up a bit. I'm half done with the third one, but had to quickly change gears (got my next instructions and that list just doubled). I just wanted to pop in and let you know I'm still alive and here's some proof...

HEY, THAT'S MY FABRIC, HOLLY!

I haven't been blogging or checking out my go to blogs. Doing good remembering to breathe these days. I do receive Google Alerts (if you don't, check it out). So this morning I did a double take and sure enough, Holly Becker of Decor8 bought a couple of my chevron fabric prints and posted about it. I just feel good about that, ya know?

To think that a couple years ago I had 10 people working with me. Because of the economy and changes made by the CPSIA I have downsized considerably. Yup, down to me, myself and I. Jennifer became what I call casual part-time as her Stella and Dot business grew. We cut the cord (whine). It's all good. I'm a proud mama. However, I'm still playing catch-up and finding I can no longer juggle like I used to. I'm dropping a few things. (That's a picture of me above..cute huh?) Wonder what the future holds?

VALENTINE LOVE FOR YOU...FREE WOODLAND DELIGHT QUILT PATTERN

It's finally finished! And in the spirit of all things love and Valentines I decided to give this to you as a free pattern download! (insert bubbly floating hearts). I designed this quilt and the instructions to be easy and fun and very detailed with lots of diagrams. Sure hope you think so. Just go to the sidebar and download the pdf. I made this quilt in the Pink Woodand Delight colorway, but I'd love to see it in the Gray or Brown. Also, I know that Fat Quarter Shop has planned some kits here. I must say, I'm tickled Pink right now! Can't wait to hear what you think!!

While I've been working on the quilt, others have been working on other great Woodland Delight and Summer Soiree projects. Have you seen what Sew4Home has been up to? Here are just a few projects. How fun and free. Go check it all out here.

On another note....I have signed another licensing contract that I am so excited about. You know how it goes...can't really say much yet, but I'm definately doing a happy dance here. Nose deep in designs and planning, every once in awhile I stop and pinch myself. Ouch!! Yep, this is me doing what I wanted to when I grew up.

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Okay, gotta run. I'd love to hear what you think of my valentine's gift to you (more bubbly hearts).