This week’s new designer is none other than Donna Babylon of More Splash Than Cash. Brand new, is the Roommates design pattern line which offers everything one would need to have a stylish new room scheme. I don’t know about you, but I love items in a room that coordinate. These ideas are the perfect starter for a new dorm room, a new nursery, well, the possibilities are endless. Take a look at these patterns that work together to create a whole new room that will leave everyone in awe!

BEDROOM IDEAS:

Blissful Box Pillow Sham (an excellent decorators touch!) Serenity Pillow Sham (definite pizzazz!), Classic Roman Shade (everyone’s favorite window treatment), Suite Retreat Curtains (oh simplicity), Dreamy Duvet Cover (sew easy to make), Lazy Daze Quilt (a perfect accessory), Peaceful Accent Pillows (instant color and texture!)

NURSERY IDEAS:

Cuddle Me Quilt (the basic foundation), Double Your Pleasure Valance (crisp pleats and covered buttons), Scallop Valance (super easy to make), Peek-a-Boo Crib Skirt (graceful curves and elegant tassels), Sleepy Time Bumpers and Crib Sheet (soft and comfy!) Sweet Cherub Diaper Stacker and Tote (a must have for any nursery)

Be sure to check out the full line of accessories brought to us by More Splash Than Cash! In the meantime, have a little fun with your new home decorating techniques!

-Christy

Carol Hopkins, owner of Carol Hopkins Designs, a company specializing in Civil War Legacies and Vintage Legacies quilt patterns for reproduction fabrics is featured in the “Ask the Experts” column on the Marcus Fabrics webpage this month. In an article about creating with reproduction fabrics, she writes about fabrics found in old quilts and how to work with reproduction fabrics to achieve quilts with a similar look and feel.

Fabrics used in the classic quilts featured in Carol’s 32 patterns are 18th and 19th century reproductions. Her quilts range in size from wall hangings and doll quilts to napping and bed-sized quilts with 2″ to 6″ blocks. Her most recent pattern, Tribute to Judie, uses 550 different reproduction fabrics in 3 inch star blocks.

Carol Hopkins complete line of Quilt Patterns can be found at QuiltersWarehouse.

I’ve been dying to play with the new smocking products from Clover Needlecraft. Small sewing projects, such as the Wonder Wallet, can be a great way to test out a new technique. I decided to showcase a little smocking on the cover of this Wonder Wallet.

Wonder Wallet with smocking detail on cover.
Fabrics are City Girl by Benartex.

Clover Smocking Products
I talked about the new smocking products from Clover Needlecraft in a recent blog post here.

Getting Started
I loved this yummy green fabric and I paired it with the Diamond Design smocking product. I used four of the six strands of embroidery floss, in a luscious cream color to coordinate with the fabric. I used one of the Clover needles and their new needle threader for this project.

Here is the fabric before smocking.

Diamond Design smocking product
from Clover Needlecraft.

Here is the fabric after smocking.

Pleat Management
I needed to trim around the smocking detail in order to incorporate it into my Wonder Wallet project. Due to the gathered fabric at the center of this piece, the fabric did not lie flat. So I arranged the pleats a bit, pinned the corners to my ironing board to hold everything in place, then pressed the whole thing every so lightly with a hot iron.

Tape Instead of Pins
It’s hard to tell in the photo below, but I put a piece of clear tape above and below the smocking. I used the tape to help keep things manageable while sewing along the cut edges. Click on the photo to enlarge and see the tape. I left the tape in place while I sewed this into to cover piece of the wallet. As an alternative, you could also turn under the edges and topstitch the smocked detail onto a finished item.

Smocked detail trimmed for Wonder Wallet project.

Final Thoughts
I like how this project turned out. I smocked a small piece of fabric, then incorporated it into the rest of the project. I found the smocking product easy to use and I’ll look for ways to use it again in my designs.

What do you think? Have you tried smocking or the new Clover smocking products? Do you think there is a place in your sewing repertoire for a little smocking? Post a comment and tell me about it.

Enjoy!
Joan Hawley
Lazy Girl Designs

Our Cutting Mat Cleaner has earned
the “Today’s Creative Home Arts” Seal of Approval.
Here’s how it happened.

About six months ago we were approached by “Today’s Creative Home Arts” and asked if we wanted to have our cutting mat cleaner included in their product testing program. So what did we have to do? We were told to send one mat cleaner to 500 members of the “Creative Home Arts Club”. If 60% would respond positively we were to receive the “Creative Home Arts” seal of approval. As we were certain we could reach this goal, off went 500 cutting mat cleaners.

If your not familiar with our Cutting Mat Cleaner, it is a gadget which effectively prolongs the life of your cutting mat. With a stroke it removes the lint and fibers that stay behind when fleece, batting, or other soft fabrics are being cut with a rotary cutter. Then to clean, simply just rinse it off.

A few weeks ago the results were in: an astounding 92% approval rate guaranteed their “Seal of Approval” which each cutting mat cleaner now shows on its packaging.

You can find our Cutting Mat Cleaner at leading quilt stores or purchase online today…..Try it out – it works!

With kind regards,
Ursula Riegel
Designs to Share with You

Daisy & Dell: Quilt Designs and More is our featured new designer, all brought to you by the designs of Pat Bruce. These patterns feature anything you can imagine…piecing, fusible and hand appliqué, embroidery, stitchery and most anything else that will bring a smile to your face! Check out some of these patterns!

Bearly Awake:

Whip up this kid-friendly blanket for your little in no time! It is sure to become a nap time favorite!

Finished size 51” x 51”

Bitsy Baby Hanger:

Aren’t these hangers adorable! Hang up your little one’s favorite styles on these hanger covers and top them off with a little style of their own…embroidery, ribbon, buttons, beads…your choice!

Daisy’s Garden: The Daisies

These fun, bright, expressive flowers are great for anything! Make them as a gift for someone or use them to brighten your own room! An excellent way to express yourself and super easy to make. Sizes vary.

Pretty ‘N Pink

I love this pattern and what’s best is that you can use any fabric, even scraps! The scallops make this a unique quilt that is sure to be a favorite among many! Finished size 61” x 69 ½”

Be sure to check out the whole line by Daisy & Dell!

Christy

Can’t find anything to wear??? I have that problem all the time?
Find your new fashion wardrobe with Downie Designs, by Kathy Downie!From collared jackets to shawls to reversible vests, the possibilities are endless! Mix and match your favorite colors or stick with a solid theme for even more options.

Try these on for size…

Jackets:

Basic Princess Jacket

Fat Quarters Jacket

Open Style Shawl Jacket

Reversible Trapunto Jacket

Tropical Sunset Jacket

Vests:

Quilted Blocks Vest

Reversible Quilted Vest

Enjoy the new look of your wardrobe!

Christy