We're Off!

 I woke up to snow this morning and will sleep where it's warm tonight. Yes, it's time to leave for Houston. When we went to Kansas City, we packed two super crew pickups. Now we're fitting an entire booth into my car! Oh my goodness, there's hardly room to breathe.

 See that empty seat on the right? That's where my cousin's suitcase goes. Hopefully it's not TOO big or we'll be riding on the roof.

 I'm feeling guilty and sad for leaving so I made berry pie and sticky cinnamon rolls.

So hard to leave those three cute faces. Wish me luck!

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20

Love,

xoxo

Giveaway and the Last New Pattern!

I am having a fun giveaway on facebook -- check it out to win!

The last new pattern this season is Lollipops and Gumdrops for Dolls. This pattern matches Lollipops and Gumdrops for Girls and though I don't have too many pictures, it is an absolutely adorable pattern.

As a side note, the 15" doll dress makes an adorable blouse for the American Girl or other 18" doll. And yes, the pattern includes a dress for each view for both sizes of doll -- 15" and 18".

Thank you so much to my pattern tester, Kristi Richmond. You were awesome Kristi!

Make sure to visit facebook and etsy. The pattern is only $6 in download form or you could WIN it!!!

Love,

xoxo

Lollipops and Gumdrops Dress for Girls

Whoo-wee! I have almost finished showing all the new patterns and I'm tired just from looking at them. Lollipops and Gumdrops was actually the first pattern I designed this season. I wanted something EASY because of my work with beginning 4-H girls. I also wanted something with good VALUE. So this pattern is two dresses in one pattern.

 Despite being two different looks, the patterns are very similar.

 One is a pleated and collared sundress.

 The other is ruffled and drop shoulder style. And both go together quickly.

 Many thanks two  my three patterns testers: Kristi Richmond (who by the way has six children and still made time to test TWO of my patterns!)

 Mary Grace McNamara. Visit her at Hooked On Needles Isn't Grace adorable?

And also Kathya Briggs who you can visit at her etsy shop.

 This pattern is NOW AVAILABLE through my etsy shop.

 As with all of these new patterns, you can find them in my etsy shop. I have decided to temporarily (maybe???) reduce the prices on all my patterns. In general, epatterns are now $6 except the outfits for girls which are $8. Paper patterns are $8 except the outfits for girls which are $11. This is a 20% + savings. I'm testing it out to see if sales go way up with new prices.

 I had such a perfect July day to take these pictures so I'm including a few more.

Love,

xoxo

Jennifer Chiaverini Giveaway: the Giving Quilt

Coming October 30, 2012!

At Elm Creek Manor, the week after Thanksgiving is "Quiltsgiving," a time to commence a season of generosity. From near and far, quilters and aspiring quilters—a librarian, a teacher, a college student, and a quilt shop clerk among them—gather for a special winter session of quilt camp to make quilts for Project Linus.

Each quilter, ever mindful that many of her neighbors, friends, and family members are struggling through difficult times, uses her creative gifts to alleviate their collective burden. As the week unfolds, the quilters respond to Sylvia's provocative question in ways as varied as the life experiences that drew them to Elm Creek Manor. Love and comfort are sewn into the warm, bright, beautiful quilts they stitch, and their stories collectively consider the strength of human connection, and its rich rewards.

Featuring not only well-loved characters but intriguing newcomers, The Giving Quilt will remind us all: Giving from the heart blesses the giver as much as the recipient, and while giving may not always be easy, it is always worthwhile.

Would you like to win a copy of this book? I received an advanced copy of this book to review and now you can have it too. Go ahead and leave a comment before Thursday, October 25 and I will choose one winner.

Love,

xoxo

Oops! Book Correction.

The book has two little errors. Now, as it is, your quilts will come out fine. BUT you will have made too many blocks! Augg! If you have purchased the book, please e-mail me your address and I'll send you this postcard with the corrections. My e-mail is on the side bar. So sorry!

Love,

xoxo

Four Seasons Cross Stich Pattern

 So happy to introduce a new cross stitch pattern today! This is the Four Seasons Cross Stitch and has a flower representing each season of the year. The four seasons are highlighted by flowers and grasses, changing shades as the seasons progress in this simple but elegant design.

Instructions for mounting on canvas are included with the cross stitch pattern, which gives the traditional cross stitch a modern feeling.

Love,

xoxo

Chasing Rainbows Quilt Pattern

Really, really high on my favorite patterns this season, here is the Chasing Rainbows Quilt!

This pattern is intermediate level but only because of bias edges and lots of piecing. The instructions are very clear and if you take your time and are careful with cutting and seam allowance, you will find it goes together very easily!

The quilt is 60" x 80" which is a nice twin size. But it also makes a great cover for the end of the bed on a full or queen size bed. In addition you can use it as a throw or wall hanging. And by using rainbow colors, it really makes a statement.

This quilt was quilted by Kristi Hawkins. To contact her, please call (785)626-3044.

The Chasing Rainbows quilt was inspired by the doll quilt in my book, A Year of Making Life Beautiful. If rainbows aren't your thing, it would be lovely in a soft color scheme that gradually moves only a few colors. It's also a wonderful quilt to make with a friend by sharing your stash.

You can purchase the quilt at $2 off in my etsy shop for a limited time. I'm happy to report that the pdf patterns are up and running but still on sale! So if you purchase the epattern, you will receive it within 24 hours (usually much faster).

Love,

xoxo

Sunny Days Shorts Set for Dolls

You knew this was coming! Yes I ALWAYS make a matching outfit for the 18" dolls. My girls just love to match their dolls.

 This is another beginner level pattern (yay!). Now depending on which type of doll you have, you may have to adjust the Velcro in the back. It fits snugly on an American Girl and Bitty Baby. The 15" Gotz doll (above) is thinner so the Velcro just had to be moved a little bit. Still, if you're used to the American Girl fit, it's pretty much just like that.

 I love how much the doll outfits are like the girl's outfits! Thank you so much to pattern tester Katie Seest. For a limited time, you can get this pattern at $2 off in my Etsy shop. The $2 off is already included in the price, no coupon needed. It is available in both paper pattern and e-pattern. All of the doll e-patterns do not require piecing the pages, just print and you're ready to sew.

Love,

xoxo

Sunny Days Shorts Set for Girls

I'm so happy to introduce you to one of my favorite patterns this season. This is a fun, fun, fun outfit for girls in sizes 2T-10. It's called the Sunny Days Shorts Set and I was blessed to be able to photograph it at Sylvan Lake in beautiful South Dakota while we were on vacation.

 This is a true beginner level pattern. Not motivated beginner. Not advanced beginner. In fact, all of my outfits this season are beginner or advanced beginner level at least as an option. This is because I am the 4-H sewing leader here and I love helping the girls, ages 7-12, learn to sew something for the first time. I realized that even advanced beginner is too challenging for them at first. My ultimate goal is to help anyone, child or adult, who wants to sew to learn to do it. I strive for clear instructions and helpful graphics throughout the patterns.

 This is such a BEAUTIFUL lake. And the girls were so cooperative. It was their first time to go to a beach so they were just thrilled.

 For a limited time, this pattern is on sale! The paper pattern is $12 instead of $13.95 and the e-pattern is $8 instead of $10. Just visit my etsy shop.

 This pattern would not have been possible with my pattern testers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Katie Seest and Tiffany Bohland.

Love,

xoxo

the Kindness Bag

I love naming bags and this one is no exception. I wanted a pattern that would allow me to give back to my community. So 10% of all proceeds, right off the top, not my cost, are donated to the Victory House and Hope House for troubled teens.

 This is such a fun pattern and was inspired by a trip I took last January to Las Vegas. My sister absolutely fell in love with a bag which I believe was Chanel. It was many hundreds of dollars.

the purse my sister fell in love with

So the likeness is not bad, right? I added a zippered inside pocket and a chain handle. The larger size makes a nice smallish messenger bag. The small size is 8" x 10" and the large is 10" x 13".

 Thank you to my pattern tester Christy Acheson who did a fabulous job making the bag. Do you see her piping? You choose the skill level on this bag by whether or not you add the piping. With piping, the bag is intermediate level and without it is advanced beginner. The pink bag in the cover photo is without piping. Either way, there are detailed instructions to get you to your finished purse!

 Emilie had a lot of fun modeling for me. Boy was I leery of that lipstick next to a white purse!

 So this is the Kindness Bag. I hope you love it as much as I do. For a limited time, you can order it at $2 off per pattern. It is already priced down in my Etsy shop. The paper pattern is just $8 and the e-pattern is just $6! Shops, you can get in on this savings too. Just e-mail me a copy of your resale license and I will send you a code to use in my Etsy shop for wholesale pricing.

Love,

xoxo