Our New Babies

 Have you ever seen bottle fed calves? Aren't they cute?

 I'm still having issues with Blogger. Now not only can I not comment, I am also having huge problems uploading pictures. I finally put these on a picasa web album and got them here that way. Any help?

Happy Memorial Day!
Love,

xoxo

The Winner!

Well, the votes were pretty split. I was going to go back, count them and make a pie chart, but then that seemed like a colossal waste of time. Smile! Roughly half of those who embroider prefer PDFs and half prefer an iron-on transfer. Most of those who prefer one way had never heard of the other way. And only about 1/3 of you don't embroider at all.

So . . . I have a lot of ideas, but I'll probably try to do both ways if I can figure out how. We'll see!

Oh you're still here. Well, I guess that means we need to pick a winner. Give me a moment while I consult random.org.

I'm back and the lucky winner is #263:
vanilla bean said...


I actually like the iron ons....but washable-off ink WOULD be amazing!!
May 24, 2011 12:30 PM

Okay Vanilla Bean, I hope you come check here, because my blogger account is having issues at the moment and I can't leave a comment on your blog! Which brings me to another discussion, all of you who are no-comment bloggers, please change it! You just have to go to your profile and click show e-mail. I respond to all comments, unless I can't! And I hope the rest of you didn't have trouble posting comments as this blogger thing seems to be affecting many more than me.

Love,

xoxo

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

Hooray, it's giveaway week from Sew Mama Sew! For those of you who stop by Lilac Lane often, welcome back! For those of you who are new here, welcome to Lilac Lane! You've reached the home of fabric and pattern designer Melissa Stramel. My first two patterns have just been released and are published by QuiltWoman.com. My fabric will be out soon (fallish?) with Andover fabrics! I'm am absolutely thrilled about that and can hardly believe it every time I think about it.

Anyway, on to the good stuff you all are here for.

Up for grabs today is, uh, you probably guessed it:

 1 copy of my Bountiful pattern, which includes instructions for a grocery bag, lunch bag and gift bag.

 1 copy of the Joy bag pattern, a purse in two sizes with lots of options.

1 box of 10 of my HoneySweet notecards, blank inside so you can write sweet greetings of your own.

AND your very own made up Joy bag, actually my prototype, so it's not exactly like the finished one in the pattern, but still -- the prototype!

Now how do you sign up to win this bounty of Joy? (aren't I clever) Well, it's a little different than my normal:

I really love embroidery. It's a life-long love for me. And I've designed several yet unreleased embroidery patterns. So I'd like to know do you like embroidery? If so, do you like the pdf patterns? Do you like the iron-on patterns? And if you have any knowledge of how those can be printed with wash-off-able ink, I will be forever indebted to you.

The contest is open from now until midnight CST on Wednesday, May 25. Good luck! To enter just leave ONE comment addressing my embroidery question. Multiple entries will be deleted.

Serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

Love,

xoxo

A Dozen Quilters

A Dozen Quilters benefits Dress a Girl Around the World this month. What a great cause! I made this pillowcase up really quickly, and I'm no girl, but it needed a model. Will be great for an older child, I think.

Speaking of girls, have you ever seen anything so cute as this:

 Todd will absolutely kill me for putting his picture on here, but come on. Tomorrow is dance recital day and the little girls had a chance to dance with daddy. (Don't you love the one flying through the background?) This is the most adorable dance! Plus they were supposed to wear floofy dresses, so they get to wear their Easter dresses yet again.

Here's Anna's class. She's in the center back.

And here's Emilie!

Oh and only one Joy Bag left at my Etsy shop. Get it while it's hot!
Love,

xoxo

Etsy Reopen

I had just a few leftover patterns after all the giveaways and family and whatnot. I listed them on my etsy page. Just $9 plus $1 for shipping.

Love,

xoxo

My Bag Went to Market without Me

But how cool!

Here it is in Lori Holt's booth with Riley Blake. Thank you to Freda's Hive for the picture -- you're the best Nanette!

Love,

xoxo

You Can Still Win!

You still have time -- the last drawing for my two patterns is still going on at Burgundy Buttons! Enter until Saturday!
Love,

xoxo

Wow

Look what just came to my door:

And now it hits me. I have a pattern. I have TWO patterns. Thank you to everyone who likes it and I can't wait to see them start showing up on the Lilac Lane flickr page. This is quite a moment -- elation and awe at the same time. I just can't believe this finally happened! Just wait until the fabric comes.

Love,

xoxo

Ahh Summer

Well it may not be official yet. It may not even be warm yet. (a balmy 50 degrees today) But it's summertime because school's out! That probably means big changes for me mostly. ha ha You are free to use this picture on your blogs if you like.

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Genesis 8:22

Love,

xoxo

VACATION

We've been on vacation in Branson, by way of Castle Rock, the Cosmosphere, Wichita, Fantastic Caverns and Precious Moments Village. Here's our story in pictures.

Love,

xoxo

Giveaway Time

Updated again 5/10/11
Go to Skye Reeve fabrics. With any purchase, you are entered to win a $50 gift certificate at the end of this month along with BOTH of my patterns!!!!

Updated! Check it out.
You knew it was coming, right? My little Bountiful pattern and Joy Bag pattern are going on a blog tour. How exciting for them!

Here's the lowdown:
You have until tomorrow to enter the giveaway at the Fat Quarterly.
Christie at a Lemon Squeezy Home is also giving away a set today.
Crafterhours has a set too!
My friend Jenny from Cut. Sew. Iron. Repeat. is giving the patterns away tomorrow (Tuesday.)
Leisel of Brown Paper Packages is giving them away on Wednesday.
Saturday, visit Burgundy Buttons for your chance to win!

And, I am taking a little bloggy break and will see you next week. Enjoy the giveaways!

 

Of course, if you can't wait, visit QuiltWoman.com to purchase your own copy: have it mailed to you like a traditional pattern or download it now!

Love,

xoxo

Happy Mother's Day!

To my mama, who is mostly responsible for my creativity, Happy Mother's Day! That handsome fella on the right is my dad.

I used no fabric this week, (I KNOW!) so my totals are the same as last week.

I love you Mom!

Love,

xoxo

Bountiful from the Beginning

So we don't leave Bountiful out, here are the shots of her when she was just a quick bag for me.

 Oh my goodness! I think my kids have grown 6 inches this year! Way back at the start of preschool, I asked the teacher if I could make the girls some bags for the year. She (the teacher) requires everyone to get paper bags each time at the grocery store and they use those to bring home their work. But I really dislike paper bags for groceries, so I made these exactly the same size as a paper grocery bag. Let me tell you, these bags are still in great shape. They've even been washed a few times because of glitter, glue, and other essentials of preschool.

Their teacher liked them so well that she requested a couple for their school auction. I heard they brought quite a bit of money. Maybe next year I can distribute the patterns to the moms. :)

Love,

xoxo