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Monday, August 31, 2015

Monday Morning Savings....with a Guest Blogger


This weeks Monday Morning Savings is being guest hosted by Jacquelynne Steves. Jacquelynne and I met over social media and her amazing talent just grabbed my attention. She is an artist, fabric designer, pattern designer and author of The Art of Home. (a fabulous free EMagazine) She's here to tell you about her free BOM......

CozyAfternoonBOMButtonRect600pixels

First, I’d like to thank Sandy for allowing me to “visit” with you all today! I hope that this is a bit like having a giant tea party… Everyone go grab a cup of your favorite beverage for our “get together” here today… I’ll wait…

teacup art- Jacquelynne Steves_

Are you back?? Great! Let’s chat!

We have been working on a project over at my blog that I thought you might like- It’s a FREE Block of the Month and it has a teacup theme. Doesn’t that sound cozy? In fact, the name of the BOM is Cozy Afternoon, because when I was designing it, I was thinking about cozy days spent wrapped in a quilt, sipping tea, and just relaxing with some hand sewing or perhaps flipping through a favorite magazine or reading a lovely book (Jane Austen, anyone??)

Binding Cozy Afternoon- Jacquelynne Steves_

There is a little something for everyone with these blocks- the patterns include options for just piecing, applique, and simple hand embroidery, so you can choose your favorite technique… Here is the same block shown all 3 ways… they all look very different, but so pretty :) I really had fun choosing the different fabrics for each technique. (Yes- I made 3 of these quilts!) Do you have a favorite?

Block 4 Cozy Afternoon BOM

Participants from all over the world have been sending me photos of their blocks. That is my very favorite part of hosting my free BOM’s- seeing what everyone creates with the pattern! It’s always so interesting to see how different fabrics and techniques can totally change the look of a block!

Cozy Afternoon blocks

Darlee from Quiltstrings is making 2 different quilts with this pattern. The blocks in the front of this photo show the pattern as I designed it. In the back, however, you will see that she got creative, made the blocks in various red fabrics and used maple leafs as her applique motifs- she is making the Maple Leaf quilt for a special someone and thought that they would really like that:

Darlee1edited

Another photo of Darlee's creative maple leaf blocks:

Darlee-Twitter

Hmmm.... is your creativity humming along now?? What kind of blocks can you make with the Cozy Afternoon pattern?

You can also click here for more ideas about color palettes for this quilt.

Cozy Afternoon Free BOM- Jacquelynne Steves- Different Colorways

Did I mention that this is a FREE Block of the Month? And you get instructions for all 3 techniques (just piecing, applique, and embroidery.) We have already started, but it’s not too late to jump in and start stitching! The patterns have lots of step by step diagrams, so this is a wonderful project whether you are a beginning or seasoned quilter. For example, you will learn my “Birthday Cake” technique for making striped corners on your blocks:

Birthday Cake Unit- Cozy Afternoon BOM

When you sign up, you will receive all of the previous blocks, so you can get started right away! I would love to have you join us!! Just click here to get started. In all, you will receive all 5 block patterns, plus the instructions to make the quilt shown below.

CozyAfternoon_FreeBlockoftheMonth_JacquelynneSteves

And to add to the fun, we are having giveaways and we post photos of participants’ progress on my Facebook page and on our group Pinterest page. LINKS. As I mentioned- seeing everyone’s work is my favorite part of this super-fun event, and a lot of people have said that it is their favorite part as well!

And speaking of fun- Let’s have a giveaway here on Sandy’s blog! TWO lucky winners will receive this delightful digital pattern pack.

Giveaway for UpstairsHobbyRoom- Cozy Afternoon Free BOM

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I hope you will stop by, and invite your friends!! I can’t wait to “meet” you all and see your fabulous projects! Thanks again to Sandy for “having me over” today!!

CozyAfternoonSignUpButton

xx Happy Stitching! xx
Jacquelynne


And a few Sales Reminders....

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Mini Sunday Fun-Day......

I have been doing so many things lately, and loosing track of WIPs and such 
So I have come up with a plan
An online friend, Christine, over at Stitch All The Things has a weekly linky party called



Stitch ALL The Things

So on Sundays from now on I am going to make my list of what I'd like to see accomplished for the week and post it, a mini Sunday Fun-Day post....
to keep myself on task and organized and accountable to any of you who may ask....lol
and Tuesdays I'll link up!!

If you feel the same way,
click on the above graphic or Stitch All The Things link above
to jump over and grab Christine's button and look around.

My To-Do List

  1. Continue building the Missing U blocks. I need to make 5 green blocks this week using up, I hope my green scrap bin!! 
  2. Continue working on my Gridlock (name is a work in progress) I'm aiming for 6 blocks a week, that's one row, to get this done before Christmas. (Thinking of doing a BOM starting in Oct. Anyone interested should leave a comment and click follow on the FB group page) this would be one of the blocks!
  3. Continue piecing another one of my secret projects...to be revealed 
  4. Cut the white hexies (1372, 3/4") for a WIP I started back around May of 2014. This is a definite Work In Progress........What was I thinking........
  5. Continue sewing the hexies into Triple Diamonds. 25 of 39 together!!
     
  6. Complete the remodel of my ironing board. Or more truthfully, remind my husband to drill and bolt the counter top to the ironing board base, lol!! This is going to make such a great difference. I have already started to iron on the counter I have in my hobby room (covered with batting and cotton fabric, and my pressed blocks are so much crisper. Guess it holds more heat and sets everything better.
    Well that's my list for my week, not sure how realistic it but I'm sure going to try!!

    How about you??

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Double Duty Day

Double Duty Items

I was struggling the other week when I was trying to follow a pattern while I was sewing. The book kept following over and shutting, it was driving me nuts. I was trying to think of a way to have the book sit and be readable, when I remembered something I had purchased on sale and put in my gift closet. (Yes, I have a gift closet. Just part of my cloths closet, but I buy things when I find a sale to keep for baby showers, and bridal showers....and some of the things I sew end up in there till I gift them :)
Anyway I had bought a cookbook holder, thinking it would make a great shower gift and forgotten all about it....but Double Duty.....It works great behind my sewing machine to keep my pattern books open and visible. I can also put my iPad or iPhone on it too.
Looks like I'll need to keep my eyes open for another one for the gift closet, this ones mine! lol

CookBook Holder

ScrapBooking Paper Holder
 I use these to sort and hold my WIPs. I work on more than one project at a time, so these are amazing at keeping me organized!!

What I've Been Up To:

I shared on Monday about the Emmaline Bags Retreat Bag pattern, and was contacted by Vicki about the variation that Clover&Violet came up with adding a divider to the original pattern!! I love how the quilting community shares and gives!!! So of course I had to check it out, and try this version!!

This is before the frame went in! I love it just like this too! The size is great and the shape is lovely!!

 But adding the wire frame just makes it so much easier to get things in and out!! It gives the top of the bag a firm shape, holding the top open.
Don't forget there is a discount code for the Internal Wire Frames from Emmaline Bags in the pages tabs above, if you want to try this amazing pouch yourself.
 Some Emmaline Bling!!! love these pulls!! What can I say, I'm a Canadian girl!!
 An addition to the Poolside Tote I made a little while ago!!
One Christmas Present completed!!

And a little more progress on my Diamond Grid (working name)

I have another question for you too!! 

Well a repeat of the previous question: How many would be interested in a series of One Block patterns for minis/quilts? Starting in October? I have heard from a few and all positive so far, 
thank you!!! 
The set up: The pattern above would be included in the series, but because of the size I made it (10") and the way I grouped the paper pieced areas, this prints on 2 legal sized pages per block and needs to be taped together. 
The Question:Would you prefer a smaller block and/or change the grouping if I can so there would be no taping of pattern pieces, but you would have to sew more units together.?? The above is three units per block. 



Monday, August 24, 2015

#102 Monday Morning Savings



Use Coupon code "CHRISTMAS"

Fabric Please! is making room for new Christmas stock that is arriving any day now! 
Save 15% off all in-stock Christmas fabric and pre-cuts!  
Found here...





 This Months Kona Stash Builder 10% savings is on the Sahara spectrum
and there is always new fabrics arriving advertised on the right side of the home page

and  Mad About Patchwork's 
use "HEATWAVE" 
to save 20% on selected fabrics
Summer Sale has been extended to Aug 31






August Special
 Can't have enough clips...love them!!
I am starting to use these instead of pins where ever I can. 
and a new sale...
Hurry.....Limited Quantities









Love it when my Zipit zippers come too...great zippers, fun colours....I'll be needing to place another order soon....and I'll be using the code below when I do.
Use Code 
"upstairshobbyroom"
  to save 15% on your orders





Janelle has amazing bag patterns and bag hardware 
Use savings code "SAVE15" 
to save 15% off orders of $100 or more, worldwide
Also every emailed invoice now has
 a time sensitive 10% coupon code included (some conditions apply)

*Edited*
 Add some bling with this savings code
 "TAG20" 
to save 20% on Large "Handmade" Hanging Tags


 And a special savings code good until Aug 31
"HOBBYFRAMES10"
saves you 10% of the Internal Wire Frames used in the Retreat Bag

I had this on my list of "To Do" projects for a while now and finally got around to sewing 2 on
Saturday. I know they won't be my last!

The pattern is well written, and easy to follow (even though I missed adding the one type of interfacing to the external bag pieces, oops) You know the part of the pattern where the designer says...read all the instructions before starting the pattern?? Ya, I didn't, lol! but the bags are still perfect. It's a great size and I love the shape, even before I added the internal frame.



The great thing about adding the frame, it gives the top of the bag stability, so it will stay open when you are using it. (Janelle added a tip to the pattern about glueing the rubber ends on so they don't come off in the casing. I would do that the day before, or at least a few hours, so the glue has time to dry. Mine kept popping off, but I was able to feel them and get them back in place. So just my tip to save you some time!)


 There are also two inside pockets






And of course you have to add some of Emmaline Bag Bling!!

If you haven't tried the pattern or it has been on your list of projects to try, nows the time! Take advantage of the discount code "HOBBYFRAMES10" and
click here to go and download your own free Retreat Bag pattern.