Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Come Celebrate with Me!!!

Last October I began my journey of building my own website from the ground up! It was a long process full of triumph and frustration, and after almost a year it is finally finished!!! I am SO excited!

On Monday I announced my new website to my Newsletter subscribers, and after working through any last minute kinks, it seems to be running smoothly and I want to share it with you too!!

But before I invite you over, I want to walk you through a little tour (I'm not adding pictures.... but instead links so you can click over and see for yourself!)


Let The Tour Begin!

Home Page:

This does look somewhat familiar to my old site, but better. My favorite part: Thanks for my great customers and their awesome feedback and comments! While I do try my hardest to make the best patterns I can, "you don't have to take my word for it"... you can go ahead and take someone elses! I know I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you sharing your own opinions about my patterns with your friends. So here's a huge hug and high five of appreciation!    
 

Creative Gallery:
Selling and showing off my patterns is fine, but what I really LOVE is seeing what you make with them! I am so thrilled to showcase the projects and blocks you have made with my patterns in the Creative Gallery, so everyone can see! A huge shout out to everyone for letting me showcase their beautiful projects!!

How the page works: Simply click on the name of a pattern, and it will open up to showcase the projects made with that pattern!
 
It's fun to scroll through them all!! PLUS it's a great place for inspiration and ideas! You can also follow the link at the top to send me your project photos so I can add them to the gallery too!!
Another place where you can take a peek at people's projects is on the individual product pages! I have linked this product page to the Celestial Star pattern. If you scroll down the page just under the description you will see where it says, "See what others are making"  and if there are more than 4 images, you can click to the right or left of the image row to scroll through to see all of the projects! (Hover over the outer edge of the first or last image and little arrows will appear that you can click on to scroll.)


Other features on the Product Page:

To the right of the main image there are Categories and Tags. You can click on these to find more patterns that fit the different descriptions. Want some more ideas of what patterns make Perfect Mini Quilts? Click on that tag! Or what if you are looking for a star
pattern? These are a great way to help you find just what you are looking for! (These are suggestions only, and other patterns might also fit these descriptions that are not labeled under the category you're looking in, so keep them in mind as you look around.)

Another great place to refine your search is under the images, next to the description tab is a tab that says "Additional Information". That tab gives you all the details about the pattern: Blocks sizes, what's included, Please Read notes that are important to know for a particular pattern, Fabric requirements - where applicable, etc. It's a good place to look if you want to know what you are buying!
 
Under this same tab you'll notice that you can click on the different block sizes. This is fabulous if you are looking for a specific size block for your project! 12 inch is the most common, but sizes range from anywhere from 3 inch to 24 inch! And the Bundled means that you can purchase multiple sizes in one listing - which saves you money if you want the variety for different projects down the road! Clicking on these shows you all the patterns in that available size or with the specific feature.
 
You'll notice there is one more tab: Reviews.

If you have used any of my patterns, and feel so inclined, I invite you to leave your own review of the pattern so others can know what you think! It would be most appreciated! (While of course I hope that it'll be a good review, I am more than happy to discuss any issues or concerns that you have with any of my patterns so I can help resolve any problems you might have had. I always want you to have a positive experience, and am happy to help you do so!)
Another thing I'm excited about is the new option of Gift Cards!!! Now you can get your favorite quilter exactly what they want, even if you don't know exactly what they want! There are varying amounts available and you can always purchase more than one to get the dollar amount you want to gift!
 
Please note: Coupons do not apply to gift cards. The purchaser is more than welcome to use coupons when checkout out with his or her gift card, but they cannot be double couponed (is that a word??). Sorry for the inconvenience - just make sure they sign up for my newsletter so they can get the best coupons to use!
 
I know some of you have been waiting for this feature!! and here it is! With this purchase I will import all of your previous From Blank Pages pattern purchases into your account so you can have access to all of them in one place forever! (Patterns purchased on sites not listed are not available for this.)
 
If you know that you've only purchased patterns from my old shop, or from my Etsy shop, or Craftsy, then you can purchase those individual imports. Or you can purchase the bundle and I will search all sites for you to make sure you have all of your patterns!

Coupons do not apply to Past Purchase Access.
 

Ok, I just have 3 more things I want to share with you!!!

After you have created an account and purchased a pattern, or a few, there is an awesome downloads section in your account!! Here you can see all of your patterns in one place and download them any time you need! Isn't this great?! It makes it so much easier to use your patterns as you don't have to keep track of those cumbersome emails! Yay!

Here is what my downloads page looks like. ;)

 
You can see that it shows every product I've ever purchased ;) and the download link is right there!! No more searching through emails or clicking through orders to see what you have.



Another thing is the awesome search bar at the top of the page!!

As you start typing your search term it will automatically bring up matching listings to what you are typing! The more you type the more it will narrow down the results. But how cool is this right?! Makes it so easy to find just what you're looking for!
 


 




And last of all, and something I didn't share in my newsletter, is the News page (you can always find the link at the bottom of the page if you want to find it later). Here I'll be sharing tips, tutorials, and other info and resources that have to do with my patterns and my website! It'll be a good place to visit every now and then to see what's new and what's going on! I already have already shared a great resource that hopefully you'll find helpful there, so be sure to check it out!



 


So what do you think? How did you like the tour? How do you like the site?! I hope you'll spend a few minutes looking around!!

And if you happen to find some patterns you'd like to get along the way, I want you to enjoy a little savings as a Thank You from me to you for celebrating this little (big to me) achievement with me!!


Use code: CELEBRATE
and save 25% OFF your entire order!!
(excludes gift cards and Past Purchase Access)
Expires Sept. 30th, 2017


I hope you enjoyed the tour! And I hope you enjoy the new site! It's hear to stay for the long haul and I hope it will become a great resource for you in your quilting adventures! Thanks for sharing this moment with me!


Until next time, have a wonderful week! and



Happy Quilting & Happy Creating!

Monday, September 18, 2017

Christmas Caroling Row Along: A Midnight Clear


Thank you for stopping by today! I am so excited to share with you my Christmas Caroling Row, as part of the Christmas Caroling Row Along hosted by the amazing Marian of Seams to be Sew!



After I share with you my row, I have some awesome giveaways that you won't want to miss!! So don't forget to keep scrolling!



A Midnight Clear

I designed my row from the Christmas Song, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. A song I've always loved, and which also lended itself greatly to being able to design something that I love (and after living in flat North Dakota for 9 months now, I am also greatly missing...) mountains, forests and beautiful crisp winter skies!


Measures 12 inch x 36 inch
The entire row is foundation paper pieced.


If you have never paper pieced before, or even if you have, you can view my video tutorials for how I paper piece, how I use my cutting templates (which are a tremendous help - especially with a pattern of this size), and more tips on my YouTube channel HERE!


This pattern is packed full of instructions, diagrams, pattern templates, cutting templates (for easy fussy cutting, easier piecing, and minimal fabric waste!), and lots of coloring pages to help you plan your block just right before you cut into your precious fabrics!


Here is my row

I decided to make my block a little playful and added some villages to the mountains along with a little nature and animals. I've been having a lot of fun with fussy cutting lately, which is fun for adding images, as well as getting your lines and textures (like in the trees to line up)!


Northcott was so kind to send each of the designers some fabrics, and can I just tell you how nice they are to work with?!! I received the whitish print that I used for the snow, a similar green that I used in the trees, the medium blue in the sky, and a fun snowflake print that I'm going to put on the back when I quilt this!

Aren't these beautiful?!!



You can download the pattern in my shop, HERE.
OR get it on Craftsy HERE!
It will be FREE until Tues September 26th, so be sure to grab it now!


 

Check out the other designers and their rows that have also been released today, and don't forget to enter their giveaways!


You can find the full schedule HERE. Please note, all patterns are FREE for the first week only! Though some designers will be keeping theirs free indefinitely, not all will be, so don't miss out!


 3 Giveaways:
Enter all 3! Please read the giveaway guidelines at the very end of this post. 



 

 $50.00 Gift Certificate 

Shipping is worldwide! so everyone can enter!
 You can read more about this prize HERE.

Starts September 19, 2017 / Ends September 26, 2017









1 FQ bundle, 2 yards total fabric 
from Northcott
Fabrics are from an assortment of different collections, valued at $20.



Shipping is worldwide! so everyone can enter!
 You can read more about this prize and see the fabrics  HERE.

Starts September 19, 2017 / Ends September 26, 2017









Calibre Art 18x24 Mat
from Calibre Arts
Value $59.99



Shipping via Amazon, USA Only
You can read more about this giveaway HERE. 

Starts September 19, 2017 / Ends September September 20, 2017



Thank you so much for stopping by! Best of luck on the giveaways! And I hope you enjoy the pattern!! 

I can't wait to see what you make! You can share your project with me on my website HERE, or if you are on instagram, use #fbpAMidnightClear and #fbpPatterns and I'll be sure to see it! You can also join my Facebook group HERE!


Happy Quilting & Happy Creating!!









Rules and Guidelines For Giveaways
Please take the time to read it.

1. Giveaways offered by sponsors are assigned to the various bloggers for their featured day.
2. There are no prior announcements on who is doing which sponsor except to the sponsor themselves.
3. You'll have to visit the blog or the featured blog to enter the giveaways.
4. Not all giveaways can be entered at Seams To Be Sew.
5. I will start announcing winners on September 12, 2017, and finish announcing winners on October 12, 2017.
6. In most cases, the blog where you won at also will announce their winners.
7. You must give a valid email address when you enter the giveaways, any email returned to me, loses the ability to win automatically.
8. With the exception of Show and Tell Day, all giveaways run for approximately one week.
9. You are given 3 days to answer the email, if you do not answer within 3 days a new winner will be drawn. Check those spam/junk mail folders, you may miss that winning email if you don't do so because there are no exceptions to this rule.
10. If you are notified that you are a winner, in most cases, you will need to provide your name, address, city, state, zip code, country, telephone number, and email address.
11. In some cases, you will be asked to comment on the blog to enter the giveaway... do the right thing and thank them for the time it took to create the pattern, thank them for the pattern and...
12. Thank the sponsor by buying their products for the giveaways. This helps them continue to offer great prizes for these types of events. You can also comment on their social media pages. Even if you don't win, letting them know you love their products is a huge incentive and they really do love hearing from you.
13. No purchase whatsoever is necessary.
14. You must be 18+ in order to win a gift.
15. You are responsible for claiming and paying any tax owed on the value of any gift that you win. Prizes valued at $500.00 should be claimed.
16. All winners are chosen at random.
17. All winners will be announced on the blogs via the Rafflecopter entry form and/or post by the blogger at the site where they won and here at Seams To Be Sew. All winners must allow for their first name and first initial of their last name to be announced on this blog.
18. Odds of Winning a prize are based on a total number of rafflecopter entries during each week and in total for all giveaways.
19. This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.
20. Participating bloggers may enter any of the giveaways.
21. The word giveaways in the rules and guidelines are also known as sweepstakes.
22. Most of the giveaways are international shipping this year in some cases, you will be asked to pay for shipping your giveaways.
23. I am not rich and I do not ask sponsors for money, they provide prizes only.
24. If they shipped the prize to me, you will be asked to pay for shipping. All giveaways will be shipped that are in my home within 48 hours of my having heard from you.
25. An invoice will be sent to you via Paypal, and shipping will take place via Paypal, so your Paypal email will be needed to send the invoice. You will receive a tracking number except for overseas shipments. All shipping will either be first class which averages out at 2.77 to 4.00 up to 13 ounces. Paypal fees are added to that amount to cover that fee. All fabric bundles from Michael Miller, Hoffman, and Moda will be shipped via Priority Mail to protect the fabric itself.
Please note, every effort is made to protect the prizes. They go into a plastic bin when I receive them, and it is covered by an air tight cover. I have a dog in my home and I have a smoker in my home, so I do everything possible to protect the prizes.

Most companies are very good about getting prizes off to customers quickly also, but some companies are overseas, so please allow all sponsors a 2-week time period before you report to me that you still haven't received your prize. When the company is overseas, it can take 6 weeks to 90 days for an item to also arrive.

Whether or not you read the above, the rules for giveaways are in place to protect everyone. I do not want to hear you didn't read them, they will be posted on my blog daily during each featured day. There is no excuse for not reading them.



Friday, September 1, 2017

#QuiltsForHarvey

After watching the devastation in Texas last weekend, which is still continuing, from Hurricane Harvey, I couldn't sit and do nothing any longer. If you follow me on Instagram and Facebook you've probably seen my posts.

After contacting many people and joining forces with Melinda (@mel_is_a_swapaholic), I wanted to create this blog post as a reference post for anyone who is looking for ways to donate to those affected by Harvey.


MONETARY DONATIONS

First I want to say that probably the most urgent thing they need right now, besides water, is money. Money to help provide the resources that are most needed for food and water, or to meet other needs.

Starting a few days ago, through this Sunday, Sept. 3rd, 100% of my pattern sales will be donated to those affected by Harvey! So hop over to my shop and grab some patterns while you donate to a good cause!!

If you are on Instagram, you can also check out #patternsforHarvey and check out the other designers who are donating their sales, or a percentage of their sales, to Harvey. Though I think some are today only, so pay attention to that.

You can also donate to the Red Cross or LDS Philanthropies, where 100% of the donations go to helping those in need. There are many other organizations you can donate to as well, but be sure to be careful to make sure that 100% of the donations truly go to the cause you are donating to!

FINISHED QUILTS

If you have finished quilts that you would like to donate, here are a few different places that are accepting quilts and will be delivering quilts to those in need:


Quilt Haus

You can find them on Facebook, and here is their original call for help, in case you aren't on Facebook,

HURRICANE HARVEY RESPONSE: #HarveyHelp
Our wonderful charity quilting group, HUGS, , has always responded quickly and effectively to urgent needs in our region. We supplied literally HUNDREDS of quilts and blankets to evacuees and victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Bastrop fires, etc.
We are now setting up a response to the continuing devastation on the Texas coast, from Corpus to Rockport, and continuing to the heart-wrenching developments in Houston.
WANT TO HELP? (PLEASE??!!) We are accepting donations of fabric, quilt tops, orphan blocks, backing fabric, batting, gently used quilts, and even cash donations to supply as many quilts as we can, as quickly as we can, to those displaced and suffering from this disaster. We also welcome ALL long-arm quilters familiar with HandiQuilter machines to use our machines in the shop to quilt the tops we have. Quilt binders will be needed, too! As well as people willing to machine wash the finished quilts and add a HUGS label to them. All efforts and contributions will be enormously appreciated.
We ask that you please consider giving of your time, talent, and treasure to help those who are so adversely affected by this historic event. Our classroom and HQ machines will be available for HARVEY HELP from Monday - Thursday this week for anyone who wants to donate their time to this worthy effort. Thank you, from our hearts. Warm and comforting HUGS to all.
#HarveyHelp
EDITED TO ADD: The instant, widespread, and heartfelt responses to this post bring me to tears... quilters **and TEXANS** are such amazing human beings!

You can find updates in their facebook group, and just today they posted that they have already distributed 32 blankets and quilts so far and have 12 more ready to go. Plus many other that are in the progress.

You can mail your quilts to:
Quilt Haus
Attn: #HarveyHelp
651 N Business IH-35
Ste 510
New Braunfels, TX 78130




Sew Special Quilts

Sew Special Quilts is on Instagram and on Facebook. You can find their website HERE.
 They are a quilt shop, with locations in San Antonio and Katy, TX.

They are collecting pillow cases and quilts to donate.

Sew Special Quilts
21800 Katy Freeway Ste. 100
Katy, TX 77449


Quilters Candy Box

You can find them on Instagram (@quilterscandybox), and their website HERE.
They are accepting finished quilts and will donate them where needed.

Please contact me for their address at this time.. :)


CraftHope

You can find them on Facebook, and here is their event that they created for Harvey,

Details 

When Hurricane Katrina hit and people were being sent to Austin I was one of the first people to show up at the Convention Center to help them. I quickly joined the Red Cross and worked nonstop with them for weeks. I had to do something. This was pre-Craft Hope and I felt helpless.


I have friends who are still trapped in their homes in Houston as I type this. They are flooded in and have been now for days. I have prayed relentlessly for them and thousands others who are also trapped and/or last their homes already. The videos and photos are the saddest, but we can help. We can do something and that something will matter to someone -- or lots of someones.


Here comes Project 30 :: Quilts for Houston! I'm asking that you spread the word on this one so we can get as many as possible.


Project details:


All items MUST be handmade
Quilts
Crocheted/Knitted Blankets
We need blankets of all sizes - from baby blankets to quilts that will fit an adult or two


Right now there is no deadline on this project. I know quilts are one of the greatest crafting labors of love and you guys have all of the time you need to get them made. I will make sure they get delivered.


I've partnered with one of my friends who is flooded in her house and can't leave. Once the floodwaters recede we will meet up and take them to a local fire department so that the local firemen can donate them for us to families who lost their homes.


There is a delicate system of checks and balances when it comes to natural disasters and donations and I want to guarantee they go to the right folks who need them.


Please join us in making quilts and blankets of all sizes for the victims of that big bully Hurricane Harvey.


Mail them to me at:
1130 Masquerade Dr.
Midlothian, TX
76065
USA



The Linus Connection

You can find their website HERE with info and updates. THIS POST has specific info regarding donations. They are also on Instagram (@thelinusconnection).

They deliver quilts to children only, so something to consider depending on the finished size of your quilt(s) - guidelines for sizes are listed in the image below or on their site, including mailing address.

Here is what you might see going around social media:



 

 Other Quilty Donations

If you don't have finished quilts to donate, but would like to contribute other supplies, quilt blocks, fabric for backing, binding, batting, or money to help pay for shipping costs, AND/OR your TIME there are options for you as well!!

I have teamed up with Melinda (@mel_is_a_swapaholic on Instagram), and you an email us at QuiltsforHarvey{at}gmail{dot}com and let us know what you have and what you are willing to contribute. Please include in the subject line which items you're willing to donate (see the list below). It will help us sort through the emails. :)

Here are all the things we are collecting (mostly Melinda is collecting things, she is seriously AMAZING!!!):
  • Quilt Blocks: any bright colored 10 inch (finished- 10.5 inch unfinished) Half Square Triangle blocks 
  • Orphan quilt blocks
  • Batting
  • Backing fabric
  • Binding fabric
  • Thread
  • Long arm/quilting services*
  • Quilt tops*
  • Partial Quilts
  • Shipping expenses - to get the finished quilts to Texas

Is anyone else who is collecting quilts and blocks? Please let us know. We would love to join forces with you!
 

"Thank you in advance for any and all help. Ive had so many people offer to help. I'm completely overwhelmed!"-Melinda


Most recent update from Mel (8/30/17):
"I've spent several hours taking inventory of everything that people have said they are donating and sending my way. (Still working as I type this out.) We have lots of partial and complete quilt tops as well as multiple blocks coming. We are in need of backing fabric, binding, thread and money to ship the quilts to Texas. If you can donate any fabric, please DM me and I will send you my address. If you cannot send fabric, but would still like to help, you can send money via PayPal to QuiltsforHarvey{at}gmail{dot}com #QuiltsforHarvey"


* I will be coordinating quilt tops with those who offer their quilting services. PLEASE INCLUDE:
  • If donating quilt tops: how many quilt tops you have to donate, and if you have backing and binding fabric to go with it.
  • If donating quilting services: how many quilts you'd be willing to quilt, so we don't send too many your way. 

You can email us at QuiltsForHarvey{at}gmail{dot}com

Monetary donations to help pay for shipping quilts to Texas can be sent to the same address. ("Any money leftover after the quilts have been shipped to their new Texas homes will be sent to local animal shelters that have taken in animals who were abandoned during the floods.")

Thank you!!

 

Side Note:

As I put out the call to help, and as I've contacted others to work with them, while my desire to help and give is tremendous, my biggest concern has also been for those who are helping us out on the receiving end of the finished quilts and donation items. Especially since I am not in Texas and able to help directly, I don't feel like it's my place to send a bunch of "work" for someone else to take care of. It's been in the forefront of my mind to consider the time and effort will be needed to make this process smooth and enjoyable. I have no way of knowing what help will be there to help finish quilts, and do not want to overwhelm anyone with more projects than they can possibly handle.

The people, quilts shops, and organizations in Texas have stepped up in tremendous ways to help and donate and be a part of the process. But we must be careful to remember that they also have families and homes, and are also in the midst of the chaos that is going on along the gulf coast at the moment. With that in mind, please consider the following:

In an effort to be as helpful as possible and lessen the burden of those on the receiving end, please try and finish as much as possible your quilts so that we can more evenly distribute the work among us. I know there are some steps that we simply cannot do on our own, and that is why we have each other! Do not let this stop you from donating, but perhaps before you send a huge stack of orphan blocks, or fabric scraps, ask yourself, "could I bring these any closer to a finished quilt before I send them???" and do your best to try! The more we can do, the quicker these groups will be able to finish the quilts and get them in the hands of those who need them! Rather than bombarding them with more WIPs than they can physically and mentally handle.


That being said, if you have things to donate at any level of the process, we ARE asking for them! So please contact us and let us know what you have and we will send you an address to send them to! :)


OTHER RESOURCES

I want to share a few more resources that I have come across to provide aid to any in need! Hopefully this info will find itself in the hands of those who need it:

  • JustServe.org: Do you want to be on the ground helping? Check out Just Serve.org and you can find needs in your area. They have a special link for helping in Houston and the surrounding area. 
  • Please share this information with anyone in our community who needs assistance.
Our church, along with numerous others, currently have a hotline available to submit work orders for specific need requests related to the damages and for cleanup efforts. By calling the hotline number, a volunteer will take down the information you need and create a work order and then attempt to send a volunteer crew out to help. This includes removing carpet, cutting down tree limbs, etc.

Obviously there's still difficulty getting crews into the neighborhood, but this will allow us to start the rebuilding process, and they will come as they are able. The volunteer groups will come from the LDS Mormon Helping Hands, Catholic Charities, Etc.

Hotline numbers:
800-451-1954
844-965-1386
  •  
  • Image may contain: text


Thank you so much for your help! For your huge response to the #QuiltsforHarvey request! And for simply being awesome!! I love this quote, and have been so blessed to witness so many of the helpers step to the call to action to help!! Thank you!! 
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers so many caring people in this world." Fred Rogers 
Thank you for being the helpers!!! 
 

Seams to be Sew: Christmas Caroling Row Along!

I'm so excited to share with you the Christmas Caroling Row Along that Marian of Seams to be Sew has organized and put together! I joined as a designer in the spring wanting to do something fun and new-to-me. I am amazed at all the hard work that Marian has put into this and it's definitely something you won't want to miss!!! The rows that everyone has designed are gorgeous! And the giveaway prizes are, well, I wish I could win them ALL!!!




Please read THIS POST for all the details, rules, and guidelines to the Row Along!


The Christmas Caroling Row Along Schedule




Thursday, September 14, 2017
Barbara Dieges
Cynthia’s Creating Ark
The Quilted Snail
Ms. P. Designs USA
                                                        (sponsored by Just Let Me Quilt)



Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Cheryl LaPlante
                                            (sponsored by Quilt In Piece)
Morning Glory
Pampered Pettit
Fun Threads




Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Show and Tell Day
Bloggers will be announced at a later date


Check out these amazing Sponsors!




As you can see in the schedule, I'll be posting my row and pattern on September 19th. I'm really excited about how it turned out and I hope you'll like it and have as much fun with it as I have!

All of the rows are quite different with a good mix of traditional pieced, applique, and foundation paper piecing methods. Some are more traditional in design and others are more modern, and I think all-in-all, they will make some beautiful and fun Christmas quilts, or even just banners, wall hangings, or table runners, etc.

Be sure to check back, and visit all the other designers to see their amazing rows as well as their giveaways! You won't be disappointed!!