Merry Christmas! & New Patterns!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

everyone! 

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday time! It's been a pretty relaxing, yet busy week around here. Christmas was fun, and the kids love what they got! I love that they are playing with everything we got them! I think it helps that we kept it simple. This year was the first year that we really had the kids buy gifts for each other. Hunter had a "store" at school, where they could bring in some money and get gifts for people. He had a budget for each person and had to stay within it. I thought that was a nice way to help them learn about money, and staying in a budget. (One thing I really want to work on next year.) :) I decided it would be fun if they all got gifts for each other. Jackson had the hardest time not being able to buy himself something too. I really looked forward to them opening their gifts from each other, realizing how nice it is to give, and that we don't always have to receive. I'm not sure how well that lesson was learned, but sure was fun anyway. :)

The hubby and I also celebrated our 7th anniversary this week! I love him so much, and am so grateful he is in my life! I think we need to get married on a different day though. We kind of forgot it was our anniversary until the day before. It always gets buried in the busyness of the holidays, or everyone is out of town and we can't find a babysitter. I think one year we didn't do anything until the middle of January. We definitely need to make some kind of adjustment.

Otherwise, I did not get all the gifts made that I was hoping too. Christmas snuck up on me from out of nowhere, and I hope no one is offended. I did make Mabel two dolls. She loves them! They were a lot easier to make than I thought they would be. I've also been working hard on some swap items. I'll share those next year after they are received. ;) AND in my not-so-spare time I've been working on some patterns. Because that's what I do instead of having a life. :)

I have been having a lot of trouble with my Phone Pillow Pattern, and it was getting rather frustrating. I decided that I might as well totally rewrite it, and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out! The dimensions of the phone pillow are a lot smaller, more compact, and a lot nicer. I love it! It is perfect for your smartphone, mp3 player, iPod, etc.

It also now includes cutting instructions, and a template, for a tablet sized pillow. It actually isn't much larger than the old phone pillow size, and is greatly improved upon.

They can hold your device vertical or horizontal.

Holds your device at the perfect angle for reading (like reading patterns as you sew), or recipes in the kitchen (I'm SO excited to use my Kindle with the new Cook'n app that recently came out. I love this program on my computer, and am so excited to have it more portable for while I cook!), or for watching movies, etc. The same goes for the phone pillow. Love them! I think I need five. :)

These definitely make awesome gifts! And now that they are smaller, they probably are a lot more ship-friendly as well. :) Please DO NOT SELL pillows you make ONLINE. This pattern is for PERSONAL USE Only. However, I don't mind if you sell them at local craft fairs, or any in-person selling.

If you do sell them, or share them online, please include in the description, "Made with from blank pages... pattern by Diane Bohn". Thank you!

You can find the pattern on Craftsy or Etsy.

If you've already bought the pattern, go to the site where you purchased it from, and re-download the pattern. You'll automatically have the updated version without having to pay for it again! Hooray! :)



I also made up some really fun just because... love notes. They are a digital file with 10 different sayings and a blank card. Just print, cut, and fold. The cutting lines are dark enough to see, but light enough that you won't see them if your cutting is off. They have a heart on the back where you can sign your name, or just leave a little love.

Leave one on the breakfast tray when you deliver breakfast in bed, slip one into a lunchbox, purse, briefcase, backpack, locker, book, etc. Send one in the mail, use as place setting cards, leave one behind at the the end of a dinner date, for an extra good waiter, etc. The possibilities are endless!

These are meant to be quick and easy, but you can also use paper punches, rounded corner punches, use scrapbook paper, markers, etc. to embellish them and spruce them up. They are only limited by your imagination. :) I'll be making a pattern for a little carrying pouch in the new year. That way you will always have one conveniently nearby.

I have a bunch of other sayings I want to make up for these as well.

I've already started using them. Such a fun and simple way to brighten someone's day.

Why do you want to buy a bunch of words on paper? I've formatted these so when you print them at 100%, or No Scale, they will all finish at the same exact size! There is no outer boarder to that needs to be trimmed. Super fast and fuss free.

The sayings in this set: 

thank you

Thank You,

hello

Happy Birthday

sorry

Merry Christmas

i love you

I love you because...

just because

and a blank card - with the heart on the back.

When I make the new sets I'll adjust this one to everyday sayings, make a special occasions/holiday sayings, a positive sayings set, and I had an idea for another set as well. If you have sayings you want, let me know! If I use it, and you're the first to tell me, I'll send you a free copy of the file. :)

You can find it on Etsy and Craftsy

Doing after Christmas online sales? Don't forget to shop through Ebates and save big! :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

and a Happy New Year!! :)

A Winner! and a Christmas List

Thank you, everyone who entered my Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway! (I emailed the winner and have heard back from her already.) I had so much fun reading all your Christmas list items. I'm so happy for all of you who get to spend the holidays with family! :) I also witsh that I could help grant your wishes! I would love to send you all rulers and fabric, and sewing machines! If only, right?! I'll cross my fingers that Santa will be good to you this year. ;)


Talking about Christmas lists, and since my hubby hasn't done any Christmas shopping for me yet, here is my Christmas list. Though I'm sure I won't receive any of it. My husband says I have expensive taste, and he's probably right. oops. ;)


Non-fun, really want item:
I want a new kitchen table! I want one that seats 8, has butterfly leaves (so I don't have to find a place to store them when not using them - very important feature. VERY important.), and 8 nice chairs to go with it. A dark finish would be nice. Either black or brown - but not a red brown. We have a hand-me-down table, which I'm so grateful for, two bar stools and a folding chair. lol. :) We'll get one someday, and until then... sorry everyone that we don't invite you over for dinner! ;)

Really fun, really want item: :D
I would love a SewEzi table. WITH the light table insert. I first saw this table over at Pile of Fabric when Alyssa did a review for it. I asked her the other day and she still loves it. I think about it every time I free motion quilt something, and dream about it when I paper piece. ;) One day... (too many one days. oh well, that's ok.) :)

Some smaller(? - ha!) wants:
I've been really good at not purchasing fabric this year. (and I really want to destash a lot of what I have.) BUT there are two lines that I am going crazy for that I would LOVE to have.
Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander

and True Colors by Anna Maria Horner

 

This would mix in perfectly with my Good Folks that I will be using for our bed quilt. among other things. :)

I would like both in 1 yard bundles, please! ha! (yes... expensive taste.) ok, 1/2 yards are fine too. I told my hubby I have some cued in my Etsy cart. ;)

Oh, and one last thing that has been on my wish list since summer...

 A Wacom Intuos Tablet. It would make so many things I want to do so much easier... and make so many more things possible. :) Oh to dream, it's a wonderful thing. :)

smaller items:
a nice pair of black flats that I can wear to church, and elsewhere.
a nice full size tripod for our dSLR, (you know, to make it easier to do tutorials and videos and such) :)

and the free stuff: 
as many of you listed, my other wish would be to have LOTS of time to quilt, sew, and finish my patterns, and blog! I have LOTS of patterns in the works, or ones that I want to make. Time for that would be nice. 

AND to be able to go to the MQG meeting in January. I was going to go to the Central Florida Guild meeting last week, but there was a last minute thing at work and Neil couldn't get it off. and I couldn't go. I would be lying to say I didn't cry. lol. I've been wanting to go to a meeting, and be with other quilters, for years!

So there are two freeby things there... crossing my fingers. :) I'm sure I won't get any of this though. Neil likes to buy me things he likes, and ignores my sewing wishlist every year... he doesn't understand. And that's ok. :)

Now to go bake some cookies to giveaway. :)
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Something to make you laugh...

My sister shared this with me yesterday and it made me laugh so hard! My kids became very concerned for me. I guess I don't laugh hard very often. :)

Here's How Crazy Long German Words are Made

There is a short article and a video. The video is in German, so if you don't speak German, but underneath the video it explains what is going on. Read through the entire article before watching, and I'm sure you'll get a good laugh out of it too. :)

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! :) 

Happy Friday!!

p.s. Craftsy sale heads up: 

Still haven't found the perfect present for the crafter in your life? Stuff their stockings with fabric and yarn from Craftsy! From Friday, December 13 - Monday, December 16, designer yarn is on sale up to 80% off and designer fabric is up to 65% off. Order by 12/16 to guarantee delivery by 12/24...sorry, this is only for US residents. Hurry over to Craftsy! This sale expires on 12/16 at midnight MT.

Craftsy 80% Off Yarn Flash Sale through 12/16
Craftsy 65% Off Fabric Flash Sale through 12/16

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

I finished and hung my Advent Calendar!

pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.

I cut this fabric out maybe three years ago? But only started sewing it a few weeks ago. I'm so happy to finally have it finished! I think if I made another one now, I would use different fabrics, but this one is bright and colorful, and that's fun! :) (most fabrics are Robert Kaufman, white is Kona White.) Just so you are aware, sewing on the numbers took SO long! I tried to get it finished by the first, and totally could have, except for all those numbers. You could probably sew them on/attach them differently, and it would be a very fast project.

In the sashing I quilted a spiral design, which I think has the perfect feel for Christmas! 

My quilting leaves much to be desired, but for not practicing very much, I'm quite pleased with it. :)

Now to tell you what not to do:

When I sewed the pocket panels, I only sewed a 3/8" seam, when I was supposed to sew a 3/4" seam = you can't see very much of the back of the pocket. :( I knew as I was sewing them that it had to be wrong, but I didn't want to get up and go in the other room to check, so I just kept sewing. lol. A lazy mistake. So if you're lazy like me, don't do it. :)

I also don't know how all my pinks and reds got in the center. I think when I laid it out to arrange the colors I had the numbers fabric on top. It looked really good to me! So either I messed up by arranging based on the wrong fabrics, OR they just got mixed up in the shuffle of ironing and sewing the numbers on. I don't know. I am still happy with it though, so not a big deal. Just something to mention: Arrange block placement by the front pocket fabric!

Now to find some goodies to fill it with! Mostly I want to make laminated cards to keep in the pockets, each one with a service project, scripture, song, story, etc to do. I enjoy bringing in the Christmas Spirit with giving and serving rather than just candy and gifts. Though those are fun too. ;)

Oh, and talking about giving... If you are still looking online to do your holiday shopping, don't forget to use Ebates.com! Ignore my "sales pitch" voice, because I really honestly do love shopping with Ebates. (I always get so paraoid that I sound like a salesman). I've been using Ebates for years! They have a list of available coupon codes for each merchant, as well as cash back percentages. I've saved a ton when shopping at Fabric.com, Old Navy (today Old Navy is having a 35% off sale + 2% cash back - sometimes it's more!), Puma - my husbands favorite, they have Overstock, Hancock Fabric, tons of clothing stores, Walmart, Target, Amazon, Groupon, etc. I wouldn't tell you about it if I didn't love it myself! Plus, you get $5 when you sign up and make a qualifying purchase. If you're going to shop online anyway... ;)

Ok, I hope you are all having a wonderful week!!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! ends tomorrow night.

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day 2013

I am all giveaways lately! There are a few blog events that I LOVE participating in. Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Days are one of them! I'm a few days late joining the party, but I can still add my blog to the long list of participating giveaways, so here I am! :) You can find more giveaways HERE (for supplies) and HERE (for handmade items).

If you are new to my blog, Welcome!! :) I hope you'll stop and stay a while! We recently moved to Florida, and it's been an adventure (and caused things to be a bit slow on the blog). So here's a little bit of what I've shared in the past:

Tutorials: 
(as well as more that you can see on my sidebar)

Friendship Mug Rug tutorial

you know, like the friendship bracelets. :)

and one of my first tutorials,

Paper Name Mobiles

 and a few favorite projects:

 

Today I'm offering up a fabric and pattern bundle! The winner will pick 3 patterns of your choice, including my new My ABC's: Numbers and Punctuation pattern! :)

 You can find all the patterns to choose from in my Craftsy Store or Etsy Shop.

For the fabric, I have this out of print Origins charm pack by Basic Grey. I LOVE these prints!

To enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!! (whether you celebrate or not!) :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!! (whether you celebrate or not!) :)

Thanks for stopping by!

#nonstopChristmassewing at the Beach!

I LOVE Christmas time! I love the spirit of love and giving that fills the air through out the world! Whether one believes in Christ, or in something else, there is a stronger sense of kindness, friendship, love and giving. It warms my soul. :)

It's a little different living in Florida though. Usually that "warmth" is in strong contrast to the cold winter air that blows around outside. Not so much this year. Yeah, it was 85 degrees outside yesterday. Being the non-local locals that we are, we took full advantage of that and went to the beach! again. (we also went the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was heaven! I think the ocean is warmer than Bear Lake is in August! (that's where we'd go every summer in Utah.)) I would be lieing if I said I didn't enjoy it.

 I even blogged about it!! If you are interested you can see loads of pictures over on my family blog here. Maybe the photos will help warm you up! heehee. ;)

Anyway, besides adjusting to this new type of Christmas, and going to the beach, the beginning of December always hits with a mad dash to get everything sewn up! I LOVE making handmade gifts, and always want to make more than I could ever possibly accomplish in a month. But I try nonetheless. Over on Instagram and started a hashtag for people to share all their Christmas sewing too. It's fun to be involved and see what everyone is working on! If you are doing Christmas sewing, tag your pictures with #nonstopChristmassewing and play along! :)

I've been trying to finish up my advent calendar that I cut out about 3 years ago! It's been on my to-do list forever, and I'm sure you've been sick of seeing pictures of it in the ziplock bag, if you have been following my blog for a while. lol. :D Anyway, I finally completed the top (the applique numbers took forever!) and since we were going to the beach... I brought it with me to take a picture. My hubby is the BEST EVER for helping me out!!What a stud!

The sashing is white, I had the camera setting on a weird setting and it didn't turn out how I'd hoped. But anyway, here it is all together! I kind of really messed up making it, but oh well. I'll share more when it's totally finished. :)

And because I never did share a finished photo of Mabel's quilt, I brought that along too. I so love this quilt! Mabel loves it too. I'll get some more pictures another time too... but I have been wanted to share it for a month or so now, so here it is! :)

Quilt is made of Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane collection. The white shashing is Kona white. It measures about 60" x 65"? (I don't remember. oops.) The back is a pink minky dot. I quilted flowers all over it, which means I do need to take more pictures of it. :)

To add a little Christmas cheer, Neil and I watched this short Christmas video last night. I thought it was really cute.

Tonight is also the yearly Christmas devotional, at 6 pm MST. You can watch it online here, or on Facebook. Or on The Mormon Channel. It's a few Christmas messages with loads of beautiful music by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir! They are amazing!

Wishing you all a beautiful Christmas season!!

and as always, happy sewing!! I hope to see you on IG. ;)

Numbers & Punctuations and Blogging!

I have so many things I want to blog about... but I feel like I'm running around with my head cut off as it is. I really need to learn to simplify! Anyone have any tricks? ;) Either way, here I am stopping in to say hi! I'm still alive. :)

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway last week! It was SO much fun reading all your birthday wishes! I would gladly celebrate with many of you. ;) I did pick a winner, but stalled in announcing who it is because I wanted to finish up another pattern to make available for the pattern pool. :)

Yep, I FINALLY finished the

My ABCs: Numbers & Punctuations 

an alphabet paper piecing pattern

 

 

I started this at the beginning of this year, but for some reason didn't finish compiling the pattern. Well, here it is! :) 

I started making a cute little counting fabric book. Here are my pages so far:

 It will go up to ten. I fussy cut all the "pictures" for the pages and look forward to putting it together. This would work well to embroider or applique pictures too. (another pattern added to the list.) :)


About the Pattern:

This pattern includes 24 pages! 53 patterns total!
:: 4 pages of instructions and diagrams for using this specific pattern
:: 2 sets of the numbers 0-9. One set with E and one set without E.
:: 2 sets of punctuation marks. 14 different characters in the set without E, 19 characters in the set with E.


I made this pattern completely compatible with any and all of the My ABC patterns (lowercase, uppercase, and the complete set). In order to do that, there are two different sets of patterns. One with E and one without E.

See how there is that extra piece on the bottom? That piece takes out all the hassle of using letters such as j, g, p, q, and the punctuation marks , ; ( ) all of which extend below the letter line (is there an actual term for that?).  If you are using any of those characters, simply use the pattern pieces with E. If you are not using any of those, use the other pattern and you have one less piece to deal with. The Lowercase only pattern contains the E set. The Uppercase only pattern only has the pattern without E. The Complete set has all of them (uppercase with and without E, and lowercase with and without E = 4 total sets of the alphabet)! The perfect mix and match pattern. And now there are numbers and punctuations to go with them!!


 I was so lucky to have Martha of Weekend Doings test the pattern for me months ago! Thanks Martha! You can see her blog post about it HERE. She said I could share her pictures with you too.

 

 I love them!

(You have to go stop by her blog. It SO great! Her photos are so beautiful, and it's just comfortable. I want to stay and read for hours.) :)


Here is what she said to me in her review email. I hope she doesn't mind. ;)

"Thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to test your new pattern. You have done an amazing job! I have to admit though, when I first printed out the pattern and flipped through the pages I was very intimidated by it. I was like "holy smokes how am I going to do this?"  I don't have much experience with paper piecing. This was actually my second time using a paper piecing pattern (the first one being your Illusion Pattern). Well, it is not complicated at all! The instructions you included with the pattern are very concise and explain very well how the pattern works. The examples are very helpful.

I wish I had had more time. I really wanted to test all of the numbers and punctuation sings. But as you know, sometimes life just gets in the way. I was able to test the question sign, the exclamation point and  the number 5. I pieced the exclamation point and the question sing enlarged at 150%. The number 5 I pieced it at 100%. The end result is stunning. It is amazing to see how they start to take shape piece by piece. I found the pattern to be very accurate. All the pieces of the pattern that I tested consisted of two sections and when the time came to put them together they aligned so perfectly. 

This is a very versatile pattern and I can see myself using it again and again."

I am so honored to have such a kind and positive review! Thank you Martha from the bottom of my heart! And... for all of you who are intimidated by paper piecing, DON'T BE! It's so much fun! :) You can try it out on any of my patterns, and if you have any questions or problems along the way, I'd be more than happy to help you!


Tammie of craftytammie also reviewed the pattern for me. Her numbers are so cute! (I forgot to email her until right now to see if I could share her pictures. I'll blog about them later if she doesn't mind.) :)

Here is what she told me,

"I will be honest with you, I've only paper pieced 4 or 5 blocks, ever. And I was nervous about some of those teensy bits in these numbers. But so far, so good, the only errors have been mine (forgetting to trim, or not using enough fabric to cover the seam allowance) I'm enjoying the process, and they are so stinking cute when they're finished!"

  Everyone always tells me my patterns are so intimidating. lol. I'm SORRY!! ;) I don't mean for them to be. Trust me, you don't have to be intimidated. I'm too lazy to make complicated blocks. Honest. :D And I make the same errors. Thank you Tammie!! (be sure to check out her blog too! She has some, ok a lot of, awesome projects! I've gotten to know her better on Instagram, and I think we're good friends (I think so anyway).  ;) I totally forgot she tested this for me, so when I saw that she did, I was really excited about it. It's fun to remember where I first "met" people. She did find some mistakes with the pattern, but they have all been corrected.


If you are new to paper piecing, you can find a full tutorial on my blog, including Supplies, Cutting, Piecing Block, and finishing. Although the pattern used in the tutorial is not the same, the principles are all the same! You can find the tutorial HERE.

If you are on Instagram, check out my feed right now! I am hosting a giveaway for you and a friend to win a copy of this pattern as well as My ABCs Complete Pattern! I'll pick a winner tomorrow sometime. :) Just tag a friend on my picture, AND repost the picture for an extra chance to win!

My ABCs: Numbers & Punctuations 

can be found on Craftsy and Etsy.

Thank you for supporting small business!

Merry Christmas!