Busy, Busy, Busy

OK, I know it's the wee hours of the morning (top o' the morning to you!) but I have a zillion things on my mind and needed to get up and start doing them. Sipping my coffee (yes, with creamer) and on a roll. Don't you love it when you can get up early and have those bonus hours in your day?

Anyway, I'm updating my Etsy site and adding a few Fall and Winter items. After all, it is time to think about fall sewing! I have a new quilt that I'm working on for Fall market, it's applique and I'm actually doing needle turn applique for a change. I generally do quick fuse but I love the look of needle turn. I'm using freezer paper and it's really fun. Have you ever done needle turn applique and if so, how do you do it?

I just got the latest 4 X 4 back from the printer-
It's called 4 X 4- Winter. Has 4 designs and projects. It's the last 4 X 4 for a while since I have other things to finish for market.

I'm excited to do some fall sewing for myself. A long time ago, I had a great pattern for a 5 foot scarecrow that stands alone and remember that pumpkin pattern I did in 1998? Well, I think I'm going to make them again and put them on my porch for Fall. Some patterns are just classics. I have such fun making the fabric pumpkins also. I make a lot of them from quilt batting and chenille and then paint them with different shades of orange. I add coffee to the paint and it gives the pumpkins a great aged look. I use real wood stems- grape vine painstakingly cut by my husband, and that's not fun either as they are very sticky when you cut them! Fortunately, they dry well! I know it's not hot here yet but I'm already looking forward to Fall.

Don't forget to enter the drawing for the quilt by Saturday night.

Too Busy To Blog?

Sounds silly I know but it's true. I've just been too busy to blog recently. I finished working on fabric line #4 just in time to start a minor remodel. Lines #2 and #3 release dates have been pushed back until Fall now. We have been working on my studio and what a job it turned out to be. It's like moving all over again. Everything had to be hauled out and once it was done and ready to be filled, I just couldn't bring everything back in. Lots of it had to be sorted, filed and sadly, mostly tossed out. I guess it's my Spring Cleaning. It feels good though. Someone told me once that you spend your first 40 years collecting "stuff" and you spend the next 40 getting rid of it all. Hence, I am in the later 40 years!

I am having Corpal Tunnel surgery on my left hand next month and I'm determined to get all these things done before then. I already started working on designs for fabric line #5 so I'm anxious to finish those before the surgery. This past week everyone in my family has also been down with the flu (including me) so I am definitely challenged on time.

Here's a picture of my newest 4 x 4 pattern (4 Designs X 4 Projects). It's called #390 4 X 4 -Flowers. This week for a drawing, I'll offer one of each of the 4 x 4's to a single winner.

To enter-
Email me at PGPeddler@aol.com by next Saturday midnight 3/19/2011.
Put "Flowers" in the subject line.
Add your complete mailing address in the body of the email.

Next week, we'll have a drawing for something special. Stay tuned!

Beautiful Almost Spring Sunday

Well, maybe not Spring yet, but it is pretty nice today. The snow is almost gone and no snow in our future. That ground hog really knows his stuff, doesn't he?

I'm almost done with the two newest 4 X 4- one called "Flowers" and the other is called "With Love". Each of the patterns includes 4 designs X 4 projects. They are really fun to make and small little simple projects. These are pictures from "4 X 4 Flowers"-


I am down to photography now and then off to the printer with them. I love it when a new design gets to that point. These pictures are from "4 X 4 With Love"- I know, also flowers. What can I say, I'm in a flower mood I guess. I'll post the full pictures when they are finished. I have a few more designs to do eventually and not flowers either, in the 4 X 4 series but first I am working on another line of fabric.

I usually lock myself in my studio for a few days when I initially work on fabric but I haven't had the chance this time around. I've been trying to help out with my two grandsons lately as their momma has been so busy. They are so fun and I have really enjoyed all of the nana time together.
I'm feeling a fabric designing lock down coming this afternoon in the studio but I thought I'd make a challenge today first.

Do you know how many years I've been in business? hint- the answer is on the website somewhere!

If so, email me at PGPeddler@aol.com before next Saturday at midnight. Put "Years" in the subject. Put the answer in the email with your name and mailing address. I will draw one name from the correct answers. The winner will receive a new tapestry craft bag (filled with lots of zippered compartments for storage). I purchased a few of these to use for drawings. They are so cool!

By the way, we have recently updated the entire website with new, clearer pictures. We also added a few more patterns. There's new craft patterns pictured also. Take a look when you get a chance!
Now, off to lock the door!