My Dear Friend Angus

I have a dear, little friend named Angus.  He is one of those "good people" who makes you feel happy just being with him. He is very smart and has many interests like Dr. Who and fish. I was lucky to spend some time yesterday with him and his mum, Jen, who is one of my favorite sewing buddies. When I got to their workshop yesterday, Angus surprised me with this marvelous, "mechanical" card that he had created just for me!! You can see in the first picture that there are two small areas in the upper corners that say "Pull". Well, what a surprise is waiting for you when you do that!! A SECOND picture drops out right into your lap!! So at first, you think you are getting this really great card with a spectacular picture ON it, but then you soon realize that you got TWO pictures because another one is IN it!! How lucky am I to have a special friend like Angus? Very lucky, indeed!!

 

 

 

Thank you, Angus!!

 

Fit For A Queen!

Last Spring, when I was working on my new book -- "Sweet Stitches" -- I was working on the Regally Radiant Birthday Crown project and had to run to the craft store for some supplies. Keep in mind I was working on a crown (see below).

While I was walking from my car to the front door of the store, I saw something pink on the ground a little way ahead. When I bent down to get a closer look, I was so pleasantly surprised to see that it was, of all things, a CROWN! Granted, it is WAY smaller than the one I was working on -- Barbie-sized, maybe?? -- but I took it as a sign that the Universe and I were on the same page. I keep it on my desk near my computer and it always makes me smile. I consider it my good luck charm for my new book's success.
Happy stitching!!

I've Been Freshly Launched!!

I stumbled upon a call for submissions to "LaunchHER" a while back and submitted information about Garden of Daisies Embroidery. I was THRILLED to receive an email the other day that I had been chosen to be "Freshly Launched".  The idea behind this is to give a boost to women in business as detailed in their mission statement:

 

LaunchHER provides the boost that women owned brands need by featuring new and fresh companies as well as providing social media consulting, branding, business development and legal services to start-ups.

 

Kara Jensen Zitnick, president of LaunchHER, is an attorney with an appreciation for womens' creative entrepreneurial spirit.
 
Kara lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband and 2 young sons. Her love of crafting and handmade began at the tender age of 4 when her grandmother taught her the fine art of crochet. After being forced to participate in 4-H, she begrudgingly learned how to sew from her other grandmother and immediately began designing her younger sister a new wardrobe. Kara has moved on from creating garments using scraps of fabric from her mom’s fabric stash, but her love of design is stronger than ever.

After nearly 10 years of litigation in both state and federal court, Kara decided to follow her passion of assisting women entrepreneurs. As a practicing attorney, she recognizes the importance of starting any business venture off on the right foot from a legal perspective, which means protecting the creative work that flows from a business’s name, logo, brand and tagline are of the utmost importance from the start. A seasoned business-owner in the handmade sector, Kara acknowledges that legal costs can be a barrier to launching a business. As such, her firm provides flat-fee legal representation and business coaching to those starting their own small businesses. Flat-fee services include business formation, trademark and copyright.

In her free moments, you will find Kara in the kitchen baking confectionery treats for her friends and family, on a family bike ride around the many area-lakes, or conducting science experiments with her husband and boys.

 

Thank you, Kara, for all you do!!

 

 

 

 

Flower From Favorite Family Members

When I'm down in my basement sewing room, it's hard to hear the doorbell upstairs but when Emmie, my dog, barks like a maniac, I know it rang. A few days ago, she did just that so I ran up, peeked through the peep hole (had a hard time seeing who was there because my Christmas wreath is still up...oops) and saw a gentleman holding a beautiful basket of flowers. They were from my sweet sister-in-law, Corinne and her charming husband, Ken, in honor of me publishing my first book. Beautiful daisies -- so fitting for my business!! Thank you, guys!! You made my day!!

It's A Book!!!

I have been waiting nearly a year to be able to say these words: "It's a book!!" It's been a creative journey unlike any other and it's been a blast!

 

To see my book ready and available online is like no other feeling I've had before...except maybe when I had my kids! I know...a little weird. :) My passion is sewing and machine embroidery. For me, sharing that passion is as much fun as doing it. Being able to share it through a published book is amazing!!

 

Over the past few years, I've been a frequent contributor to Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine. Editor & publisher Eileen Roche, managing editor Denise Holguin, and acquisitions editor Christine Doyle saw enough value in my work to contract with me to be one of the first authors of their new series of creative machine embroidery books.

 

So... here it is:

"Sweet Stitches: Boutique-style Machine Embroidery for the Little Ones in Your Life"

 

 

 

From their website:

 

"Little girls have a unique affection for all things pretty, especially when that something pretty is made just for her. And the little girl in your life will giggle with delight when she sees what you've made for her from Sweet Stitches.

 

Inside this book by JoAnn Connolly, you'll learn to make eight oh-so pretty projects including a name banner for her room, a monogrammed pillow fit for a princess, and an embellished birthday crown for her special day. Watch her eyes light up when you give her the delightful flower headband, and see her jump up and down at the sight of her stylish new pajamas. Each project includes complete step-by-step instructions with photographs and all the embroidery design files you need—including one appliqué alphabet and one stitched alphabet!"

 

Happy stitching!!

Jo  :)

 

 

Backtracking A Bit

I had an article in the previous (Dec/Nov 2012) issue of Designs in Machine Magazine -- "Chic Chandeliers". The project was for glitzy, glimmery felt holiday decorations that look like-- you guessed it -- chandeliers. I hadn't seen my copy yet when I received an email congratulating me for having made the cover of the magazine. I was thrilled beyond belief and couldn't wait to see it myself.

 

Then...a few days later, I received a large, flat cardboard package and couldn't remember ordering anything big and flat. When I opened it, it was a "my" cover, blown up and mounted on art board, suitable for framing. My managing editor, Denise Holguin thought to do this and it was just the most fun, unexpected, amazing gift ever!

 

 

We've just started house hunting and my basement sewing room (2x4 studs and a cement floor) won't do it justice, so it is being "saved", to be the first decorating piece to go in my new studio. I can't wait to hang it up!!

 

Back To Blogging!

It's been nearly a year since I last posted. In that year, I've learned that I'm not great (good...but not great) at multi-tasking, so posting had to take a back seat to other endeavors. I do, however, have a few wonderful reasons for being away from the blog. For about 7 years now, I've been a contributing writer to

 Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine.

Starting with their current issue -- January/February 2013,

I actually have my own "column"  with them --

"4" x 4" & Fabulous!"!! In each issue, I'll present a project that will offer BIG results from one of your smallest hoops -- the 4" x 4" hoop. Just because your machine may not include the industry's biggest hoops doesn't mean you can't get a LOT of bang for your small-hoop buck!!

"Happy Hearts Pillow" is this month's project and you can get the embroidery files

**FREE** on the Designs web site.

"Happy Hearts Pillow"

4" x 4" & Fabulous!
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In addition, for a good part of the year, I was working on my first book (!). Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine has just begun their sewing/craft book division and contracted with me to be one of their first authors. My book is due out later this month and I couldn't be more excited!! It's a project-based machine embroidery book for stitchers who love to create boutique-style items for little girls. Here are a few hints at what's included:

 

 When I have more info about my book's launch, I'll post it here. I promise to try to be a good, consistent and informative blogger -- I just LOVE sharing my passion for sewing and embroidery!! So stay tuned!!

Happy Stitching!!

Jo  :)