Bloomsday weekend and Quilts!

This weekend is bloomsday here in Spokane Washington.  This is a huge race...over 50,000 people will run or walk it and it is 7.46 miles (12 kilometers)! We love doing it.  This is the starting flag and it was shown at our quilt show meeting (washington state quilters) yesterday.  It is so pretty!

This comes from a raffle quilt at the quilt meeting....soooo lovely....I love embroidery!

Who doesn't like butterflies?

What sweet roses!  It is so romantic.  I need to finish my own pink romantic quilt...just needs the borders on and quilted....I have a grace frame so I can machine quilt my quilts.... what a wonderful tool that has been and much cheaper than a longarm.  When I design all the time, it is sometimes hard to get my own personal items done....my daughter is wanting a dress hemmed so I better get to it before she outgrows it!

Proud to be American freebie

This is a pattern freebie for you!  This is my own design....just click the image and save.  It is a jpg file so you should be able to reduce it to the size you like.  I make these in 4" x 4" stitcheries.  Let me give you some of my tips for stitcheries.  I use a square of muslin that is several inches bigger than the design on all sides.  I cut out the same size piece of fusible webbing.  Iron the webbing on the back side of muslin.  I have a light box, but you can also use a window in the day time.  I transfer all the design onto the muslin with a blue disappearing marker (love this item).  I even transfer the square around the design.  I back-stitch all the design using my choice of colors....when white is appropriate I usually change it to lt. gray so you can see it on the muslin.  The dots on the design are french-knots.  After stitching, I cut out 1/4" away from outer square shape...all the way around. I then rinse off the blue markings and let dry.  Now it is ready for fabric border to be sewed on.....make it into a pillow, framed, or whatever you like. 

And the winner is......

The crafty crow!!! She is the winner of the patriotic giveaway!  Thanks to all the entered and shared info on their blogs!!!  I am feeling under the weather today...come back tommorrow for a special freebie ( I want everyone who entered to get a little something!).  I promise to post it tommorow!!!!

Lovery Spokane, my kind a town!

I love Spokane because it is not too small and not too big.  This is the clock tower in Riverfront park, which is right downtown....with our beautiful river and falls.

These crows were just waiting for a photo op!

This is also in the park, the 100 year old carrousel...the caged off area is part of the huge fountain that kids can get into when it is warm and play.

This is my Lucky....he is BIG.  People think he is part bobcat because of his size.  To me he is a gentle giant. He is 3 years old, but still a big baby!
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Tommorow is the drawing for the giveaway!

BIG PATRIOTIC PATTERN AND COLLAGE SHEET GIVEAWAY!!!

Get ready to show your patriotic spirit!  I am having a big Americana giveaway....the winner will get all 6 of these patterns and collage sheets emailed in pdf form....instantly!  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post.....but if you link me to your blog...by mentioning the giveaway, you get five chances to win!  I will do a totally random drawing, my daughter really gets into that, on Tuesday April 27th!  Tell your pals and I can't wait to send these!

Marie Antoinette tags

I don't know if Marie was truly bad or good, historians have many different thoughts...but I love the magical queenly image she represents.  Watch the movie "Marie Antoinette" with Kirsten Dunst...it is truly eye candy.   I love watching it when designing, but the end is sad :(
This collage sheet that I created (including the watercolor artwork) is on sale on my instant printables.  It is only .99 cents!  This sale is for a limited time (a week). 

Lovely French goodies

Check out this lovely blog with lots of French goodies: Aged Vintage papier. 

Look at these pretty tags, so elegant!

Find this on her etsy. Beautiful work Amy!

Let's here it for the "Red, White, and Blue"!

Here are my new large Patriotic flash cards.  Available on etsy.  The words you get are: Happy, 4th, of, july, stars, and, stripes, patriotic, freedom, U.S.A., Flag, and 1776. Each one comes with a lovely definition and number. They measure: 7 5/8" x 3 1/4".  This is a digital offering....You can print them over and over. 

This Primitive Flag pattern is fun and easy! The flag has 3 dimensional stars and it says "America" above the lines of "My country tis of thee". There are firecrackers and 2 stars that say "Stars and stripes". The letters and saying are included in pattern, just print on cardstock. The firecrackers are made with fabric & sticks...just gluing. Show your Patriotic Spirit!! Available on my etsy.

This SET OF TAGS WILL GET YOU READY FOR MEMORIALD DAY, FLAG DAY, AND 4TH OF JULY. THERE IS - Stars and stripes with 2 children, Happy 4th of July, Land of the free with lil betsy ross, "Will you go off with me on the 4th" firecracker, Old Glory with flag, and Patriotic with cherub and flag....plus sayings... Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, 1776, and Some gave all, all gave some.  This is a digital offering.  Available on my etsy. 

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We had a beautiful warm weekend...painted our livingroom and enjoyed the patio!  Hope you had a great weekend too!

Mother's day collage sheet gift tags

Mother's day is coming!  My mom passed away 12 years ago, but I always think of her.  She is still a huge influence in my life.  Whenever I make a hard decision, I think of what she would say. It guides me well.  She would love her grand daughter and would have been crafting with me.  I try to tell my daughter how wonderful she was...now my daughter has lots of stories to connect with her.  My mom would always win a red geranium at church for the mom with the most children....I buy one everyyear and enjoy it all summer long.

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Squeak! Mice pin cushions!

Here is a sneak peek at my new mice pin cushion pattern.  They are super easy & quick to make up....would be good for craft shows and gifts.  They have glitter noses and eyes, but could be made with button eyes and painted nose.  I made them is retro colors, but I think I will make some Prim ones too! Let me know if you like them and if you think I should make other styles. 

Lovely Marie and New large flash cards

I just wanted to show you my painting of Marie Antoinette and her cake.  It is a mixed media collage piece.  Her eyes are huge, at first I thought I better make them smaller, but then I thought that I would just go with it this time.  She is pretty cool in person.  She is on my etsy. 
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I also made some new flash cards....The words are: Happy, Mother's, Father's, day, birthday, to, you, celebrate, congratulaions, graduate, inspire, and remember. Each one comes with a lovely definition and number. They measure: 7 5/8" x 3 1/4".  These are great for your decor, tuck in a BIG card, MAKE AS TAGS, glue onto ribbon to make a banner saying, great for scrapbooking, altered art, and much more.  They are also on etsy.  These are a uprint item...email to you. 
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On another note....My sister and I went to a great show called Funky junk antique show.  It was fab!  We really enjoyed it...so many cool and awesome things.  I got bingo cards, an old chick card, old quilt pieces, a kids magazine from 1955, fabric, and photos.....so fun!

Hand stamped PARIS ribbon trim

This is some new fabric ribbon, hand stamped with paris, crowns, birds, and more!  I made the spools they are on too....I had a blast.  Each spool comes with a pretty pin to hold the ribbon in place.  For more details: see yellow spool or blue spool.

Mannequin dress form pin cushions

These mannequins are made from my Mannequin pattern #193....in these pictures I changed it up a little bit.  In the top photo I added a simple gathered piece of light fabric.  It has no hem and was just a large rectangle, gathered at the top.  I also added a stamped crown tag.  ***The top mannequin is still available by the way (29.99 plus shipping) contact me if you are interested. ***

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In the bottom photo I added a rusty piece of metal with the word imagine (paper) to the bust....with some moss around the top.  I took a piece of an old quilt that was all torn up and made her a little skirt.  The base is some rusty metal piece I found while taking a walk near railroad tracks.  I love to reuse found objects!

My Mannequin pattern can be found on my Website, Patternmart, and Etsy.

A JOYFUL HAPPY EASTER TO YOU!

Happy Easter everyone...it is a beautiful day here in Washington State!  We won't need an umbrella today.  Last night my daughter and I made rice krispie eggs that we dipped in melted milk chocolate and then added sprinkles to the chocolate end.  I also added peanut butter to the marshmellow mixture, because everything is better with peanut butter!  We also watched "The 10 Commandments" ...one of my favs!  I love the queen of Egypt, she is something else!