New Spoonflower Swatches Are Here!

My new swatches arrived this morning.  Something like 37 swatches.  I was thrilled and took the opportunity to photograph outside in the natural lighting.  I did have issues with my vine coordinates though.  The repeat didn't set up like I was hoping, so I will have to work on that before photographing and posting. They are all available at spoonflower and I will be gradually listing them on etsy as well.  I would love to hear your feedback on my designs, just shoot me an email. Enjoy!
coveredbydesign at hotmail.com

A day full of hats and submissions.

It has been a crazy crazy week for me.  I have been sick for several weeks, and when I finally went to the doctor I found out it was allergies.  I have been mostly deaf for this whole time, not so fun.  I have never had allergies and definitely not to this extent but am now on zyrtec, which at the moment isn't helping much. My hubby took leave for the week to do some house projects to get the house ready for sale so when the Air Force makes a retirement decision we are ready to list it.  It was also my daughters 8th birthday which we spent at the Brandywine zoo, it was beautiful.  I have been catching up on some custom sewing this week as well. Friday I made the decision that I would submit both my Generations Apron Pattern and a version of my Kitchenaid Mixer Pattern for the new One Yard Wonders Book Due out Fall of 2011.  The deadline is today.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute; it wasn't like I was lazy either I just have this fear of leaving my comfort zone.  I am very afraid of failure and get easily let down.  I am the kind of person who needs to be perfect at everything, keep everyone happy and somehow find time for myself.  1 am last night I got the Generations pattern done and submitted, except for a few photos that I had to submit today because hotmail was not being nice.  Then today I arranged a 1 yard version of my Pleated Kitchenaid Stand Mixer pattern and got it all submitted.  When I sent the last photo I had this panic of needing to jump into cyber space and fetch my submission back; what if they get it and laugh and how bad it is, what if I am not as good as I think I am?  I know I am my toughest critic, its hard to move past that.  My day was spent with many hats; wife, mama, doggie doormama, chef, maid ,barber, drycleaner, dishwasher, waitress, computer programmer, seamstress, designer, photographer,student, teacher, bartender and so on. It reminded me of the song "Hats" by Amy Grant from the Hearts in Motion album.

One of my highlights this week was being awarded the Sunshine Blog Award, that meant a lot!  And tonight I made myself a pitcher of rum runner, heavy on the rum.  Of course I was nice enough to share some with my husband so I didn't drink an entire pitcher;-)  
So I am guessing you are getting bored already, so I will end this with some pics fun pics. Have a great and productive week!

The Sunshine Blog Award

Wow is all I can say this morning.  I went to see if I had any new comments on my blog this morning and low and behold there was a message from Kris from Kristopher K Design.  She is awarding me the Sunshine Blog Award for my blog being one she loves to read! Thank you so much Kris! I can't even begin to express my gratitude and happiness.  This definitely is the sunshine for me this morning.  Right now my blog has been sporadic, kind of like my life and it is great to know there are readers who love it. Here is a little bit about the award and how it works.  I am not sure where it originated but if you do a search there are many from all around the country who have received this award.  

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blog world.
The rules for accepting this award are:-
Put the logo on your blog or within your post. (right click on the logo and save it to your computer)
Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award. 

Now to pass it on to the bloggers I love and follow, although it was tough chosing only 12. Everyone has been such and inspiration in one way or another.  These are in random order.

~*~Mrs. Mama Hen for her wonderful recipes and life inspirations and journey as a military spouse.

~*~Olabelhe for her beautiful patterns and dress inspirations

~*~Hazelnuts for many sewing and life laughs and inspirations

~*~The Handmade Dress for beautiful dresses and of course the baby goats!

~*~Calico Prairie for being a great friend and inspiration.

~*~Indietutes for wonderful tutorials that inspire creations

~*~The Scientific Seamstress for wonderful patterns and tutorials

~*~Pink Penguin lots of tutorials and fabric inspirations

~*~My Fairytale Frocks for patterns many from olabelhe, the handmade dress and the scientific seamstress and beautiful fabric.

~*~Goosegirl Sews for beautiful sewing creations and wonderful sewing inspiration to all! 

~*~Sew Fantastic for sewing and craft inspirations
~*~Buttercupity fabric need I say more;-)

A big thanks to all those bloggers out there who inspire, create and share with others!  Love ya! 

My final project for the Dress making and design class!

Well I have finally finished my final project for my dress making and design class.  The outfit is one for my daughter for easter. Initially we were supposed to be attending the White House easter egg roll but alas somebody on base messed up and we didn't get our tickets.  I wanted her to be pretty and frilly but modest at the same point, she can be quite the tomboy when she wants. I saw this design in the Ottobre design magazine, the 2/05 issue and fell in love.  The original pattern was for a linen fabric but I decided to step it up and do something a little bit different with both a cotton print and a poly nylon blend.  Hannah helped me choose the fabrics.  The print is a Debbie Mumm that I had in my stash, it was a good choice because it wasn't just an easter print so she will be able to wear this outfit for many occasions.  And we matched the fabric to the poly nylon with the floral embellishments.  Instead of using velcro I used polyacetal resin snaps, I just don't trust velcro to hold and it always seems to be itchy.  The dragonfly buttons were also a perfect addition to the top.  I was thrilled at how well the zipper turned out!  The pants have an elastic waist and a functional drawstring.  Maybe its just me but I hate non functional drawstrings, kind of defeats the purpose. Anyhow I think my seams turned out beautifully as well.  It helps that I have about the cutest daughter in the world to model too! So here are the pics.  I know you have been just dying to see them all.  And there are lots, she was having fun modeling!

New Fabrics will be available soon

I have been working on filling up my sewing toile collection on spoonflower.  There are some new fun and crazy colors and a couple new coordinate styles as well.  I would love everyone to take a look and let me know what you think.  Just go to my profile www.spoonflower.com/profiles/coveredbydesign and look in my gallery.  I am hoping to have the proofs ordered and the new fabrics for sale within the next couple of weeks.  I have also listed some of the fabrics already available in my etsy shop to get a little more traffic.  I have been working away at getting easter outfits ready for the White House Easter Egg Roll but unfortunately we have all been sick, including me so my sewing has been limited.  Although I am a bit worried as the base has still not given us any more details or information on the easter egg roll.  I will be bummed if it falls through.  I also really need to get Jake's quilt done, on top of other general sewing.  We are still also working away at getting the house ready to sell so when the Air Force makes it's retirement decision for my hubby we can get it right on the market.  I am very ready to be back in Montana with my family.  Recently I have been thinking a lot about the fabric designing and doing some reading, it is a bit depressing.  I love to design the fabric, but it seems if you really want to get somewhere you have to go to a fancy textile design school and frankly I have no desire to move to LA, NYC etc...So for now I will just stick to doing it for myself and the few others who follow my designs.  I am also one outfit away from graduating my dressmaking and design course.  YAY!  Then I need to finish up the graphic design course.  So am I busy?Stressed? Tired?  Yes!  But hey, life could be much worse.  Ok this update was a little spastic but then hey so am I. 

Vegas here I come!

Just a little fyi, I will be on vacation with my mom and sisters until the 22nd.  So my etsy shop will go on vacation as well.  Thanks all!

Kona Goodness from the Sew Fantastic Blog

Wow.  I have really started to realize how many generous people there really are out there.  I have started following a lot of sewing, crafting, fabric and misc. blogs that interest me. Through all the blogs I always find many other delectable blogs that I must follow and with those blogs comes giveaways!  I have had the opportunity to enter many giveaways, most as simple as just entering a comment on the blog or following their blogs. All of the blog writers choose fantastic items to give away!  Seriously fabulous.  Sooo this bring me to tonight.  Its been a cruddy day for me, gloomy and rainy.  I sat down for a break and opened up my blog dashboard to see what was inspiring on the blogs.  Of course when I saw a winner was announced on Terri's blog Sew Fantastic ( www.sew-fantastic.blogspot.com ) I just had to see who the lucky winner was.  161-Christine, well it had to be a different Christine for sure, so I searched the entries and low and behold it was me! Thank you so very much Terri!  I am so excited, Terri's giveaway was for a Giant pack of beautiful Kona® Fat Quarters in the 25 most popular prints.

Colors included are::

Colors included in the Pack:

Honey Dew, Sour Apple, Amethyst, Purple, Butter, Gold, Cornflower, Deep Blue, Carnation, Bright Pink, Maize, Corn Yellow, Robing Egg, Lagoon, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Rich Red, Tomato, Windsor, Tangerine, Earth, Jungle, Mulberry, Charcoal (or Coal) & Teal Blue

 

 

The generosity of everyone is almost overwhelming.  This is not my first win, recently I was also chosen in Lila Tueller's giveaway for 3 patterns of hers.  She has such a beautiful blog and I love her patterns, who could resist entering.  www.lilatuellerdesigns.blogspot.com  So a big thank you to Lila as well.