Suzy’s Sack Pattern WINNER!

 

Genee Davis please contact me as you are the random number generator’s selected winner!

 

Watch for another giveaway…or maybe two later this week!

Enjoy your day….zippity do dah (yep still singing!)

Zippity Do Dah! Zippity Yay!

….my oh my it’s a wonderful day!

My episode on Pieced Hexies is available starting today on The Quilt Show.

For those who are not members you can click here for a special offer!

 

 

 

I will be posting the Suzy’s Sack pattern & fabric winner later today…..but for not I am just gonna sing a bit with breakfast.

Zippity Do Dah…..

Pieced Hexie Star WINNIE

July’s star name is WINNIE!

For no other reason then I like it.  

Having a long unusual first name myself I am drawn to such names that can be shortened into cute nicknames, either with a masculine edge or the other direction so fluffy and girly.

My given name is Michaelene.   My immediate family calls me Mike.  It wasn’t until Paul entered my life and I began to work in an office setting that the nickname Mickey was born.

So when I think of an odd name I like I think of Winifred.   Either Freddie or Winnie for nicknames!

Ok that was a strange reason to name July Winnie I concur but well it’s the truth.  LOL.

So I give you Winnie!

And isn’t she a dynamo.  I love using neutrals in those 50/50 hexies to give an illusion of openness like a snowflake or doily.

As always you can find the free PDF pattern for Winnie on my sidebar.

Now in the next few weeks I will be unveiling a brand new website.  We haven’t decided to keep the side bar on the blog which will be embedded into the website or go with a separate page of PDF patterns.  So don’t fret if the bar goes away…the patterns never will.

I promise.

Enjoy!

p.s. A big Thank You to Maggie my wonderful stunt sewer for this sample of Winnie!

Let’s do a Giveaway!

Honestly I had this great idea back in early May that I would do a “Christmas in July” giveaway theme for the blog in well…July.

I ordered a bunch of patterns that I have been wanting and a book (that will be later this month) in doubles with the grand plan that I would make the pattern and blog about it and give away a brand new pattern (and maybe some fabric) to a lucky reader.  

A win-win for both as I would finally make time to make all those little items I see and wish I had when out teaching or going to shows.

Then May madness hit Chez Depre and in mid June I was informed of the wish to step up my book deadline by two months. 

So I am sorry that my “made items” will not accompany my giveaway blogs (there will be at least 5!) in July…but I think you will give me a pass.

So here is Giveaway #1.

It’s this just the cutest little sack pattern. 

And how perfect for hexies on the run.

The pattern is Suzy’s Sack by This & That by Sherri K. Falls. 

You can find her website here.

 

 

 

 

I’m adding two FQs of fabric to get you started.

I perused Sherri’s website and even though it is after July 4th there is still 24 hours to Bastille Day and so I wish to share this lovely pattern she has too.

 

It is called Liberty Lane! 

 

 

 

 

So leave a comment below telling me what treasure you would store in your Suzy’s Sack and I will use a random number generator on Monday morn to pull a winner!

And yes you too can say hexies. 

Enjoy,

p.s This is what I had to deal with when trying to take the picture for today’s blog.  Someone thinks every time I touch the camera it’s all about her.

My friend Wendy Butler Berns

I have known Wendy for many many years.   She used to reside in the Chicagoland area and then she ran north behind the cheddar curtain like my dear son and now lives just outside the Madison Wisconsin area.

Wendy and I have had our paths cross earlier this year when we were taping episodes for this upcoming season of The Quilt Show. 

(hint: my episode will be airing on July 15th!)

Wendy is also one of the original educators on the Craftsy site.  

So I asked her to give some insight into her classes and this was our exchange.

Wendy, What topics do your Craftsy courses cover? My  "Free Motion Quilting and More" course covers everything you need to get started with machine quilting!  Preparing the quilt for quilting, creating a sample for use with the walking foot and one for the darning foot.  I also cover my tips on threads and needles.  The course has proven to be very successful for students ready to jump into machine quilting.  My course "Pictorial Quilts with Machine Applique" covers my detailed steps for creating pictorial quilts starting from a line drawing or photograph.  The outline follows my book "Photo Album Quilts" which is now out of print.  Students are enjoying experimenting with original design using my machine applique process.  The third course is "Art Quilting 101".. I love to encourage students to jump in and experiment with the spontaneity of working small.   We explore embellishing with threads, fusible designs and adding 3-D texture to our pieces... lots of inspirational ideas.

I also wandered to Wendy’s website to see what she has been up to.  I have seen this quilt in person and of course it is a favorite.

….and then I visited her pattern page.

 

Yep. this one won me over immediately.

 

 

Check out Wendy, for a Craftsy class, a great pattern or to teach/lecture for your guild.  She is a great person so spend some time with!

Enjoy your day,

I’m a tea drinker!

 

 

No I haven’t given up my coffee habit.  The Keurig still churns out a few cups a day here.

But over the last few years I have begun to drink more and more tea.

I blame Paul.

 

 

And this awesome and quaint loose tea shop in Glen Falls, NY. 

It is called SensibiliTeas.   And if you click on the name you will go right to the website.  My friend Donna runs the shop (and she quilts!  she is awesome too).

They just moved into a new location and Donna has posted these pics on the Tea Shop’s facebook page.  If you ask me it screams sit down let me poor you a cup and let’s chat.  Someday I promise myself I well see it in person.

Now this piece of info might shake Donna to the core…but well…we make a lot of the loose tea as cold iced tea throughout the year.   Some of the teas she actually gives instructions to do so but we are brave and run rampant in our exploration and play with her wonderful blends.

shhhhh…..We have even been known to really go crazy and toss a little bit of blackberry tea into the remaining raspberry tea for our own blend.

Anyway if you are tea drinker and even if your not in the Glen Falls, NY area check out the website.  It is so full of special blends you won’t know where to start. I have so help for you about that in a bit.

I have also found the “Other Cool Uses for Teas” page (click on the About Tea tab) really interesting.

Oh and Paul and I recommend the following:

Caribbean Cooler (excellent iced!)

Mango Green

White Pear

Birthday Wishes (I love this hot when I need some cheer)

and the Chez Depre all time favorite : APRICOT ALLURE  (both hot and cold…all year round…all the time!)

Tea and Quilting….a match made in heaven!

 

Enjoy your day!

Who is this dog?

 

 

 

I just had the bejeezus scared out of me and witnessed a miracle at the same time. 

 

 

 

On our afternoon walk Molly and I encountered four bike riding kids.  They whizzed past us from behind and I heard them coming so we moved over to the side of the sidewalk and stood still. 

Not a peep from Molly (oh my!). 

 

 

We rounded the corner and we were face to face with a Doberman Pincher pup out for a stroll with his human too.  We walked right by...there was no time to "get out of the way" and nada from Molly.  She even looked back at the dog a good 15 feet past and said nothing. 

 

 

A few blocks later I decided to head back home by cutting thru an alley.   We were halfway down the alley when I hear a chain jingle behind me and turn to see a full grown Boxer heading toward Molly.  I screamed just as he literally leaped over her and turned getting down on his fore legs in a let's play stance.  And to my surprise Molly attempted to do this also.  But I was already dragging her in via the leash and scooping her up in my arms.  The Boxer's owner ran out into the alley and the dog immediately ran to her.  She apologized again and again and said her dog loved to play and she hoped we were ok.  We were.  

 

I walked a few houses with Molly in my arms.  Then put her down.  We walked home. 

She never even cried.

 

Who is this dog?!?