It’s been a busy week of new additions!  It seems like everyone has something new to introduce this time of year!

We’ll start with the Beautiful Bargello from LAM Designs.  This colorful wall quilt finishes at 40” X 42” and makes up in as little as one weekend.  Use any color and coordinate with any décor!

New from Black Cat Creations is the Homemade Jelly pattern.  Use up those jelly rolls on this gorgeous quilt finishing at 92” X 92”.  Lay out those coordinating colors and start stitchin’.

The Quilt Branch has introduced Star Galaxy 6.  This lap quilt finishes at 50” X 63” and gives you the opportunity to get rid of some of those half yard cuts!

Vanilla House Designs has introduced yet another awesome apron, School Girl Apron.  Yet another way to make cooking more fun!

MH Designs has come out with two new paper piecing designs.  Spring Sampler finishes at 10 ¾” X 12 ½” and lets you enjoy the first signs of spring! 

The Watermelon Table Mat brings with it the first taste of summer.

I’ll be trying to bring you a few new patterns each week to wet your appetite!  Keep a look out for them!

Free project download ~ “Gift-T-bags”
from Thistledown & co.
This fast & easy project upcycles ordinary t-shirt sleeves into fun, earth-friendly little gift bags. Decorate for any occasion. Perfect for the upcoming Holidays. Enjoy!

At Quilt Market Thistledown & co. introduced our new line of Earthknit™ patterns that upcycles leftover cotton quilt batting into fabulous, thrifty new-found yarn. 3 great patterns to play with. “Earth diva” and “eco-purse: for the fashionista in you and “eco-pillow” for home decor. Help save the planet while you have fun making these new projects. 

Karen & I have just returned from Quilt Market where the Earthknits patterns were very well received along with the 2 new quilt patterns “Chocolate Chips” and “Spin Cycle”. Market was very busy and filled with excitement. There were lots of other new earth-friendly products shown, such as the Mountain Mist eco-friendly batting and fiberfill and the new Warm & Safe batting form the Warm Company. There were many first time buyers at Market and naturally loads of gorgeous new fabric introductions such as Mark Lipinski’s “Katmandu” for Troy Inc. Michael Miller, Moda and Lakehouse had some gorgeous offerings as well as so many others. Also of note, Marcus Bros. beautiful “Surf and Sand” fabric collection would be perfect for my “Serenity” quilt pattern, check it out. Enjoy your creative endeavors and as a gift to you I have a free earth-friendly holiday project for you to download. It’s easy and quick and lots of fun.
Please note it is copyrighted and limited to personal use or for classes, not for reprint.
Enjoy the Holiday Season,
Linda Zokan
Thistledown & co
 

With the holidays fast approaching, we’ve all begun to think about our decorating. I love decorating for this time of year! I have found the most adorable patterns for some of my wall hangings this year. The Wooden Bear has come out with a pattern for every season. The other great thing about these patterns is that you can use mostly scraps and clear out that stash a little! Here we go!

For Halloween, I am just in love with the hanging and straddling witch patterns.

 She is going to be so cute hanging next to some of those fake cobwebs! The Frankie patternlet will make my pillows and towels blend right in too.

And then for Thanksgiving, The Hanging and Straddling Scarecrow patterns top the list.

There’s also this adorable turkey as well as the patternlets to match!

For Christmas don’t miss out on Santa. He hangs around with the best of them.

Then of course you have the snowmen. Who can resist?

Mix it up with the patternlets and you’ve got everything you need this year!

For even farther down the road, check out their other patterns here. There’s something for St. Patty’s day, Easter, Spring, Summer. My decorating just got a whole lot easier!

Lazies, I’d like to introduce you to the newest Lazy Girl, the Miranda Day Bag, available this October.

Miranda Day Bag pattern from Lazy Girl Designs.

Details: Miranda Day Bag pattern
Available – October 2007
Item – LGD123
Finished Size - 12″ x 10″ x 6″ (width/height/depth)
Bag-E-Bottom Size D, LGD503 (also fits Summer Tote, Newport Tote)
Choose fabric handles, shoulder straps, or use fashion handles.
 

Let’s Meet Miranda
Miranda is the perfect girl to tag along for your day on the go. This moderate sized, yet roomy tote doubles as your personal assistant, offering up to 10 inside pockets to keep everything organized. The main compartment comfortably holds large items such as file folders and magazines. Fusible interfacing gives Miranda wonderful body and posture. Miranda is also ideal for fabrics with large scale prints.

What The Heck Is A Day Bag?
I field test each of my designs to see what I think, discover any issues, make changes, all that good stuff. Miranda and I made several outings together. As we were getting acquainted, I decided the best thing she could do for me was be a companion for a day on the go.

Well, I took Miranda with me on a day trip to see a friend. My hubster Michael was driving, so I had three hours in the passenger seat each way. Woohoo – I could catch-up on a few things while he drove.

‘Pockets in the round’.

I loaded Miranda with my work notes, file folders, magazines, sketch pad, novel, chocolate, and two bottles of water. I also transferred all of my goodies from my purse to the 10 ’pockets in the round’ surrounding the lining of the bag. Not only did everything fit, but Miranda stood open and at attention on the floor of the car by my feet for the whole trip. She was the perfect companion. I worked out of her the whole way. Everything I needed was visible and accessible. Easy in, easy out.

Detail of quilted panels stitched,
then top stitched at front center of Miranda.

She’s A Stand-Up Gal
I used a fusible interfacing against the cover and the lining to make Miranda stand tall all on her own. The panel construction for the cover creates a spine, like I-beams creating a hidden skeletal structure of support. The cover is constructed of eight panels. The panels are one layer of fabric and batting quilted together, then cut to size. I used a 1/2″ seam allowance, then opened and pressed the seams flat. Top stitching next to the seams adds more structural integrity along with a charming finishing detail.

I highly recommend the fusible interfacing for added support. Don’t worry about the interfacing adding bulk to the seams. It is trimmed short of the seams where it isn’t needed.

I think Miranda will be perfect for your next adventure. Whether she’s at your feet on a long flight, on the passenger seat while you run errands, or by your side while on the go.

Enjoy!
Joan

Vanilla House Designs has recently released six new patterns.  These patterns add to their funky and modern collection.  Included are three new aprons, a pillow sleeve, a funky new oven mitt, and a new way to do laundry! 

The Kids’ Four Corners Apron pattern allows your child to be just like Mom!  This apron mirrors the popular Four Corners Pattern in three pint sizes.  Small fits 18 Months to 3 years, Medium for 4-6 Years, and Large for 7-8 Years.  These Aprons are a must have for Mom’s little helper in the kitchen!  I can’t wait to see how my two year old daughter looks in it!  Maybe it will be one less outfit we ruin!

The Friday Night Apron is totally modern with a halter top and a figure fitting style.  It cuts down in the middle and veers up to wrap around your neck.  Incredibly cute!!  It’s in a style that looks great with the newer, brighter fabrics out these days as well as the more traditionally darker colors.   It is just that versatile! The apron fits sizes 4-14 comfortably, but for the larger girls, there are directions on the Vanilla House website for increasing the size of the pattern.

The Sunday Dinner Apron gives you the modern feel of a figure fitting style with a little more traditional cut.  This apron has more of a wrap around look to the top.  It still curves in to fit the waist, but the top is more covered than the Friday Night version.  This apron also looks great with varied fabric options! 

The French Laundry set gives you a new option to the way you launder your fine apparel.  The set comes with a cute pattern for a convenient bag on a hanger to hold your items and a funky padded hanger.  I’m always excited about anything that makes me a little more organized.  I can’t wait to try this out! The padded hanger has two available sizes: adult and child.

It’s A Wrap allows you to cover new pillow forms and also gives you a way to refresh those tired pillows that are too comfortable to get rid of.  (You know, the ones we hide behind the couch when we know company is coming!)  This pattern looks great with any fabric combination and comes off easily to throw it in the wash!  A must have with children around!   The pillow wrap comes with two different variations of the pattern.  Give those old decorations new life!  It’s also a great way to easily change up your color schemes at home!

 The Fish in the Oven mitt is just adorable.  You’ll instantly have a great conversation piece for those dinner or, in my case, barbeque parties or just a fun tool in the kitchen!  It comes in little fish sizes for women and big fish sizes for men.  It’s recommended that you use use Insulbrite thermal fleece and custom bias trim binding.  It’s just too cute to miss out on!