A Pantone Christmas

There are so many things I'd like to do to commemorate Christmas, but I simply don't have time to do it all! However, I have started on my Christmas cards! I saw a box of 100 Pantone post cards in a gift shop on the Cape this summer. I knew they were a score, but I didn't have any idea about what I'd do with them. Then, one day inspiration hit, and I decided to use them to make my Christmas cards!

I decided to cut out Christmasy shapes with my Cricut and glue them on to the Pantone cards. I picked out the cards with traditional Christmasy colors like red and green. I pasted red, green, silver and gold metallic pointsettias on them. I also picked out the blues and greys for a wintry theme. I pasted silvery snowflakes on those. I really don't like pink in my Christmas colors, but I decided they would work if I pasted shapes cut out of green glitter paper on them. I am also using light green pantone cards with pink glitter paper shapes. I'm sending them in Paper Source's luxe cream envelopes.

Now, designing folks like you and me know what Pantone is, but not everyone does! I'm not sure everyone I send the card to will "get it," but everyone I know does have internet access, so hopefully they will Google Pantone!

By the way, there is one person who loves orange who is getting a unique card!

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

I'm throwing my quilt in the ring! I've decided to enter "Kimonos in D Prime" in the Bloggers' Quilt Festival. (The name "Kimonos in D Prime" comes from the fact that I used darker versions of the primary colors, red, blue and yellow.) The BQF is a fun way to see what blogging quilters are doing out there in the world. I look forward to more adventures in the world of quilt blogs!

One summer, DH and I went to visit friends up in the NH Lakes region. We stayed at a B&B, Glynn House Inn (which I highly recommend, if you are in the area). During breakfast, I was reading the B&B's brochure which said something about Keepsake Quilting. I asked the owner about it and he said it was the "largest quilt shop in New England"! My husband was sitting behind me. Though I couldn't see him, I could feel his energy draining because he knew once I heard that, we were not leaving New Hampshire without a stop to Keepsake Quilting!

If you've ever been to Keepsake Quilting, you know that there are rocking chairs out front. My husband promptly plopped himself in one and I went inside. I must have spent about 40 minutes in the store. As I was walking to the register, I saw this kimono quilt pattern by Betty Blais of Embellishment Village. I fell in love with those kimonos! Well, I had to shop again for fabric for the kimonos! I went to the register with my purchases. The cashier asked me if I had ever done foundation piecing and advised that the pattern was not for a beginner. I replied no, but "I write code for a living -- it shouldn't be a problem." Famous last words. Another 30 minutes later, I was finished shopping and found my husband and another husband napping outside!

I immediately started working on the quilt when I got home. And boy, was I in for it with this foundation piecing pattern! It took me an entire day to figure out the first block -- the one in the top left corner of in the quilt. As you veterans of foundation piecing know, you are kind of doing it backwards. And, I was trying to make sure the directional fabric went the right way, etc. I had holes in my pattern by the time I was done. I was determined that this quilt was not going to become a UFO, however, so I soldiered on. By the time I got to the 6th or 7th kimono, I had gotten into a rhythm.

I learned that I will never tell anyone that I can do anything just because I write code (Um, did I really say that!!) and that skill does not prepare you for every endeavor you'll attempt! I was surprised that I ended up with darker colors but am very pleased with the result. I dared not put any quilting on those hard-earned kimonos, so I tied it by hand.

Blogging Your Way

I've been saying for way too long now that I am going to get back into blogging. Well, now I've gone and done it. I've signed up for Holly Becker's class, Blogging Your Way. And, if you are wondering, yes, it's the same Holly Becker of decor8 fame!

Holly was in Boston in August at Anthropologie to promote her new book, Decorate. I signed up, but could not go because of my illustration class. Lo and behold, Holly was a keynote speaker at The Creative Connection in St. Paul so I got to meet her there at her book signing anyway! I walked up to her and she said, "Can I give you a hug?" LOL. I suppose I must have had an endearing (or maybe pitiful) look! I told Holly that I have been a reader of hers from way back in her Boston days. I love her blog. Love her new book -- that I got at TCC and had her sign.

I also took a class from Leslie Schewring, who is also a BYW teacher. Leslie's class was all about creating inspiration boards. I created a really nice one. I'll have to post that picture later. Leslie's blog is called A Creative Mint.

Here's hoping BYW gets me back into the swing of things! I am not allowed to say anything about the content of the class, naturally, since people are paying. I will say that I've read the introductory materials and I think it's off to a great start! The first official day is October 14th.

In preparation, I created an avatar (not unlike the one on my blog) using Gravatar and requested an account with Pinterest. I had heard of Pinterest, but not Gravatar. I'm signed up for both now. Off to a great start.

Pitch Slam!

More news from The Creative Connection... I'll be attending! I was chosen (by random selection) to pitch my fabric designs at this year's conference! Can you believe it? As you might imagine, I'm working away on finalizing my designs. I will pitch them in front of five textile design heavyweights: Evie Ashworth, Kathy Miller, Lilla Rogers, Cindy Cloward and Jina Barnery. Round table participants include designers Heather Bailey, Suzy Ultman and Patty Young. You can read about their profiles and the pitch slam for textile designers on The Creative Connection website: Pitch to Become a Fabric Designer

I have met two of the seven mentioned above. Can you guess which two?

The Creative Connection

Hello! It's been sooooo long! The desire to win tickets and hotel accommodations to The Creative Connection has inspired me to write! What is The Creative Connection, you say? It's a 3-day conference in which women from all over the U.S. and Canada convene to craft, cook, sew, and learn how to launch and maintain a creative business. Oh, and apparently, eating cupcakes is a big part, too!

I have been a crafter from a young age, thanks to my mom. I would love to go to the connection to attend the workshops on the business side of being crafty, learn some new crafty skills, see some friends and make some new ones!

Check out The Creative Connection here: The Creative Connection

Mood Fabrics Groupon

Hello!

Thought you might be interested in a Mood Fabrics Groupon:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/mood-fabrics

Spend $15 for $30 worth of merchandise. Of course, I'm BostonSewer, but you know I spend a lot of time in NYC, so I will have plenty of opportunities to use my Groupon!

Vintage Coat

In the spirit of Sandi's coat purchase, I got one of my own! From Modern Millie in the quaint seaside town of Newburyport, I present my Mustard Vintage Coat! I loved the asymmetry of it. The last button at the bottom is missing, but I found it in the pocket! Thankfully, because the buttons are irreplaceable.