Show & Share

I love to hear from people who have used my patterns and designs and are happy with them. I heard from Donna M., from Claremore, OK, on Tuesday. She had this to say:

Hi JoAnn,

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed both patterns.  The E-book layout is delightful.  I love the vibrant colors and also the clean lines & understandable organized instructions.  The tips are a pleasant surprise & so helpful.  It makes you want to dive right into sewing.  I can hardly wait for your next pattern!

Thank you,

Donna M.

Last night, I received pictures of her creations using my "Out & About Zippered Wristlet" pattern. These are great!! Donna told me that she made them for her four granddaughters and is filling them with treats for Easter. I love the candy colors and and the cute holiday print. I know Donna's grandduaghters will love them, too!

Thanks for sharing, Donna!!

Can Fabric Be "Delicious"?

I say "Why, yes, it can!" Today, I got a package from a wonderful Etsy seller -- Kerri at SewDeerlyLoved -- just full of yummy, fun and charming fabrics. (I LOVE getting things in the mail.) Checks and florals are some of my favorites. And let's not forget polka dots -- they cheer me up! I'm not sure what I'll be making with them yet, but they are a welcome, spring-time addition to my ever-growing stash!!

You Can Make This!

I am so happy to have my patterns available now through YouCanMakeThis.com!! Sisters Kim Christopherson & Kris Thurgood of the DIY Dish offer designers/patternmakers a bright and cheerful showcase to highlight fun and creative patterns.

More patterns to come!!

Show & Share

It's so much fun to see customer's creations!! Bonnie N. sent me a picture of her "Button Basket" project. I love her fabric choices and the fabric flower punctuates it perfectly! There are so many uses for these little baskets. They're great for organizing any little stash that needs controlling. They're quick and easy to make, requiring only basic sewing skills. Stitch up a whole bunch!

Thanks for sharing, Bonnie!

Button Basket Pattern Ready!!

Seedlings Sewing Patterns newest pattern -- Button Basket -- is ready!! This little charmer keeps all your teeny tiny things together in one spot. They are quick and easy to make, so you can make a bunch. Great as gifts, too!! The pattern also includes the "Happy Puffy Flowers" pattern so you can embellish the basket -- or anything you like!!

Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

This is a quick-and-easy skirt to make. It is sized for a 9-month-old with a 17" waist. You can customize it to the size you need by determing the waist measurement you need and the length you want and adjusting the main rectangle accordingly. This one is paired with a dollar-store snap-crotch t-shirt with a machine embroidered lady bug applique and neckline bow added to it. A quick and cheap outfit that doesn't look it at all!!

Ruffle Skirt:

Materials:

One 7.75” X 35” rectangle of printed cotton for skirt

Two 3” X 35” strips of coordinating printed cotton for ruffle

1/2 yard of 1/2" elastic

• 1: Edge finish all edges of rectangle by serging, pinking, or zig-zag edge-stitching.
• 2: With right sides together, stitch short ends of rectangle together using a ½” seam allowance.
• 3: Press down 1” around top edge and press up ¾” around bottom edge.
• 4: Topstitch bottom edge in place ½” from fold.
• 5: Topstitch around top edge 1/8” from fold. Topstitch again ¾” from fold, forming the casing. Leave 2” unstitched for elastic insertion.
• 6: With right sides together, stitch the ruffle strips together at the short ends, using a ¼” seam allowance.
• 7: Edge-finish both long edges of the ruffle by serging, using a narrow, rolled hem foot on a conventional sewing machine or serger or by pressing the edges into a narrow hem and topstitching.
• 8: Run 2 rows of gathering stitches around the ruffle ¾” from edge. Gather ruffle to same width as hem edge of skirt. Distribute ruffle evenly. 
• 9: Place gathering stitches of ruffle on top of topstitching at hem edge of skirt and topstitch ruffle in place, using a zig-zag stitch.
• 10: Insert elastic in casing. Overlap the end 1” and stitch together. Topstitch casing closed.

Lady Bug machine embroidery applique design is available at

Garden of Daisies Embroidery.

http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/items.php?did=63544&pid=136711

Sweet Valentines Sale at OPW

Garden of Daisies is part of OPW's 3-Day Sweet Valentine's Sale.
Over 70 vendors are each offering one set at 75% Off!!

3 Days Only -- 2/3, 2/4 & 2/5

Garden of Daisies is offering "Heart Banner" just in time for Valentine's Day. This in-the-hoop project makes a quick-and-easy holiday decoration or gift.

You have to shop from the special "sale" page for great savings:
http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/items.php?did=137311&pid=137561

See all vendors' specials here:
http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/collections.php?id=OPWV

Happy stitching!!
JoAnn  :)

Seedlings Sewing Patterns are at Craftsy!!

Seedlings Sewing Patterns are now available through Craftsy!! Craftsy also offers lots of great online classes and workshops and a showcase for you to "show and share" your projects. Check it out!!

I Wouldn't, But...

My 21-year-old daughter has three tattoos. I admit that when I saw the first one, I was devestated. I felt somehow that my baby was marred forever...which in some ways is true. It was no easier with the subsequent two and if she ever chooses to get another (more than one?), I'm pretty sure of how I will react. That being said, those tattoos and her choice to get them, are a part of who she is -- a sweet, funny, sunny, independent, expressive and 'bohemian' young woman. If she had been around in the 70s, she would have been a quintessential hippie. I love her more than I can say -- tattoos and all. If she had to get them, the one thing I can be thankful for is that the artist was magnificently talented and from a purely "art" perspective, the art itself is lovely.  :)
So, okay...I wouldn't...but if...just if...I were to get a tattoo, this would be it:

It is on the cover of one of the books in my vast collection of vintage sewing books.

It is only 1 1/2" high and 5/8" wide.

Here is the full cover of the book:

It is called "Essentials of Sewing", written by Rosamond C. Cook in 1924. I love my vintage sewing books. I especially love the illustrations. The books inspire me in so many ways, but this is one way I never expected. I'm pretty sure I won't follow through, but I did make the mistake of telling a few people, including my daughter, about this illustration and what I thought it could be used as. I have to admit though, as a 54 year-old mom of two grown, young women, the thought of it makes me smile just a little.

CraftGossip.com

CraftGossip.com featured "Happy Puffy Flowers" FREE pattern today!!
Thank you, CraftGossip!!

Button Basket...Coming Soon!!

I've been working on my next Seedlings Sewing Patterns and have to put on the finishing touches. This little basket is great for buttons and other notions. It's perfect for countertops, desktops and bureaus to corral all the little doodads that collect there. Color coordinate it to your decor -- the possibilities are endless!! The Happy Puffy Flower embellishment is a FREE pattern!! Click photo to get your copy!!

New "Kindertote" Pattern

I've uploaded my newest pattern -- Kindertote. It's a great way to use up sewing room stash fabric, scraps and fat quarteres. It makes a great gift for little ones who love to "put stuff in stuff", as my girls did when they were little. It also makes a great "canvas" for machine embroidery or other embellishments. My "Happy Puffy Flowers" would look great...and the pattern is FREE!!

Seedlings Sewing Patterns

It's taken me a while, but I've finally been able to launch my new line of patterns. Seedlings Sewing Patterns have been developed with the creative sewer in mind. I hope that they become a starting point for the user's own creativity. I've included a FREE pattern just to get things rolling. I will be adding more as they are completed.
Here are pictures of the pattern covers.

This is SEW much fun!!

Welcome!

I’ve spent so much time following wonderfully creative blogs that I’ve decided to dust off my own and try my hand at it. I love sitting with a cup of coffee and hopping from one blog to the next and I‘m always amazed and inspired by what I find. I’m an embroiderer who makes my living designing and writing about embroidery. I've owned Garden of Daisies Embroidery for about 13 years now. I'm excited, too, to announce that I'm just about ready to launch a line of patterns -- Seedlings Sewing Patterns. I'll keep you posted about the launch date.

So please keep my blog in mind. It will take a little while to get some real content going and hopefully, I’ll post things you’ll find worth reading.
Happy Stitching!!
Jo