Embroidery Floss Overload

A year and a half ago, I had the privilege to work with three other women, stitching projects for Jenny Hart's latest book, Embroidered Effects. Aside from the honor of being asked to participate, and the fun of working with such insanely talented stitchers, one of the really fun perks was receiving a designer's pack of embroidery floss from Presencia to use for stitching the projects.


This brick of embroidery floss - every color in the Prescencia family - arrived on my doorstep and literally made me cry a little as I opened it. Somehow in the midst of my floss freakout, I had the wherewithal to grab my camera and snap some pictures before I demolished the brick and set to work stitching.


Remember that feeling you had when you got a new box of crayons - especially if you were lucky enough to get the 64-count box? That immense feeling of possibility you had when you pulled back the lid and saw all the pristine colors neatly organized and ready for creating ... that was magic, right? That's exactly how I felt when I opened this package of embroidery floss. I was overwhelmed by an intense feeling of gratitude and an immediate need to create. It was awesome. Looking at the pictures brings all that emotion right back, and I'm so glad I snapped them. Enjoy! See more on my Flickr set, and zoom in for optimal floss freakout.

Embroidered Effects Winner!

Wowza! Thanks for all the great comments! It was so much fun to go through and read about all the different games everyone likes to play. It reminded me how much I enjoy playing games, and that I really need to establish a game night around here. It's too much fun!

I think I'll need to check out this Bananagrams game so many people mentioned. I was surprised that a couple of my favorites didn't make it on to the list. Balderdash, anyone!? How about Mastermind? Surely someone wants to come over and play a round of the Welcome Back Kotter game with me? (Up Your Nose With A Rubbe Hose!) Or how about the E.T. board game?

Thanks to everyone who entered. I wish I had a copy of the book for all of you! It's a truly fantastic embroidery book, though, so I highly recommend grabbing a copy for yourself and a friend. Enjoy!

And the winner is .....
Mollie! Please shoot me an email at averagejanecrafter at gmail dot com with your mailing address so I can get the book out to you!

Crack! Bam! Flower! Win a book!

Remember when I told you a few weeks ago to be on the lookout for a freebie pattern from the Embroidered Effects book by Jenny Hart? Well, it was up last Friday over on CRAFT. I would have mentioned it sooner if we werent' hit with shingles, flu, deadlines and general mayhem over here.

I'm especially excited, because the pattern is of one of the projects I stitched for the book: a Mah Jong table cloth. My mom has been playing Mah Jong for ages, and always wanted me to learn. Finally, about 9 years ago, we were stuck out at a friend's house on a holiday weekend and I had nothing to do. I reluctantly sat down at the table with her friends and learned to play.

They had to pry me away from the table more than five hours later. It was that fun and that addictive.

Now, I'm not talking about the Mah Jong some of you may be familiar with on the computer where you click and match tiles. We're talking the real deal, four-player Mah Jong. I've been told it's like Gin Rummy, but I don't play Gin Rummy, so I can't say for sure. All I know is that it's a blast, and it's the kind of game you can get wrapped up in and play for hours.

Which explains why, despite my mother giving me my own Mah Jong set 8 years ago, I haven't gotten to play much. Once you have kids, chunks of hours at a time to play a game vaporize. But I still love the game and wish I had more friends my age to play with me (hint, hint, friends)


I've been hoping Jenny would do a Mah Jong pattern at some point (turns out she's a big Mah Jong player, too) and was thrilled beyond thrilled when she told me that the first project I'd be stitching for the book would be a Mah Jong table cloth. How rad is that!? I love that the majority of the deisgn is created to rest on top of the table and frames the tile holders - so cool!

Sadly, the photo stylist for the book must not have known much about Mah Jong, as the picture was set up like the computer tile matching game. Ah well!

So, you can scurry over on to CRAFT and download the free Mah Jong pattern for yourself. IF you don't feel like making a table cloth, they would be great for napkins, tea towels, coin purses (for the betting Mah Jong players) and more. The designs are gorgeous - enjoy! And go learn how to play Mah Jong if you don't already know!

This is my son, modeling one of the other projects I stitched for the book - a robot control panel t-shirt! hehehe! When I put it on him, he couldn't stop running around saying (in a robot voice), "I am a robot! I will destroy you! I am a robot!"

And what's even better - if the one free pattern isn't enough for you - you can win the entire book right here! The fine folks at Chronicle Books have given me an extra copy of Embroidered Effects to share with you fine folks! Just leave a comment on this post, telling me what your favorite game to play is, and I'll draw a winner at random on Tuesday, October 20 and will post the winner on Wednesday, Oct 21. Enjoy, and spread the word!

Communicrafting Wrap-Up!

Me gettin' chatty with awesome embroidery visitors! Picture from Jenny Hart.

Thanks to all the Austin folks who came out to the Communicrafting event at AMOA last week. We had an incredible turnout (200-300 people!) I had such a blast doing quickie embroidery demos and seeing loads of people get that little twinkle in their eyes when they saw that embroidery was something fun and simple and totally within their reach.

These two kiddos didn't want to stop stitching! They closed the place down!

There was an adorable mother/daughter pair who picked up hoops and sat down and started stitching together, and left with extra floss and their designs so they could continue stitching at home. There were also two adorable kiddos who came up close to the end of the evening and took to stitching like nobody's business. They closed the event down and didn't want to give up their needles! They went home with enough floss to finish their projects, and an excitement for embroidery that made me positively giddy.

It was her first time to pick up a needle and stitch, and she did a fantastic job! She made the most perfect tiny lazy daisies on the flower!

I also got to see some of my awesome embroidery students from my classes at the Stitch Lab sewing studio. I was tickled to hear that they were all stitching or dreaming up new projects to stitch. One student has already emailed pictures of projects she completed within a week of taking the class, and another - who was in the mother/child class on Mother's Day weekend - told me that her daughter has been stitching bookmarks as gifts for her friends. How fun is that!?

If you've been itchin' to get in to one of my embroidery classes, now is your chance. The new Stitch Lab schedule will go out tomorrow to the Stitch Lab email list (more than 1,000 people). For my oh-so-special blog readers, I'll give you a sneak peek at the dates and will get priority enrollment for you so you can be sure to grab a spot. Just email me at averagejanecrafter at gmail dot com with "I wanna stitch!" in the subject line, and I'll get you all fixed up.

This is Jordan from Sublime Stitching. When you order from the Sublime Stitching Web site, Jordan's the pro who packs up your order and ships it out & handles all the order info. Plus, he's super nice! (picture from Jenny Hart)

Teaching embroidery is truly one of my all-time favorite things to do. I love sharing all the tips and tricks on everything from various ways to transfer images to fabric to where to find the best linens on which to stitch. The classes aren't just about learning stitches, but give you all the fundamental information and confidence you need to leave and keep stitching right after class is over. I get such joy hearing from so many students who reveal that they've been bitten by the embroidery bug in my classes and can't stop stitching. That's the kind of habit I love spreading! Join in on the fun!

Community and Crafting - My two favorite things!

Austin folks - come see me and a great group of very cool Austin crafty folks this Thursday at the Austin Museum of Art for the first-ever Communicrafting event. The event is hosted by Jenny Hart and the Sublime Stitching crew to celebrate the two new Sublime Stitching releases from Chronicle Books (The Bib Kit and the Stitchable Stationery Kit)

Along with Jenny and the Sublime crew, I'll be there doing small embroidery demos. Also doing her craft thing will be Kathie Sever of Future Craft Collective with cool projects for kids. Leslie Bonnell from the Stitch Lab will also be on hand, sharing her infinite wisdom. And more!

I love events like this because it's a great chance to get out and mingle, meet knew folks, learn new things and celebrate the thriving craft community here in Austin. You need to be there! Please come by and say hi, take a few stitches and learn great stuff from some really special folks.

Check out the Facebook event page for more information to and RSVP to show that you'll be there with all the cool, fun kids. See you there!

Sublime Stitching Review Part 3: Stitchable Stationery and Giveaway!

Day One, I introduced you to the new Sublime Stitching Journal. Day Two was the adorable Bib Kit (which, by the way, is part of our Friday CRAFT pattern podcast - you can get two of the designs from the kit for free!) and today I'm sharing my favorite new Sublime Stitching products - the Stitchable Stationery.

The kit comes with six 5X7" note cards that are printed with adorable embroidery designs on nice, heavy paper. There are also coordinating envelopes, embroidery floss and two needles.


I have had more fun with this kit than I'd expected I would. The cards aren't pre-punched, so I thought it would be frustrating to have to punch the holes myself. It was quite the opposite. Punching the holes with the included needles took 5 minutes for the simplest designs, and just under 10 for the more complicated ones. Here's my tip: Lay the card on the arm of your chair or couch and quickly punch each hole. You don't have to take the needle all the way through this way, and it makes things go muuuuuch quicker. I didn't have any problems with needle marks on my chair, but you might want to test one or two punches just to make sure this will work for you.


Stitching on the cards was also a breeze. The paper is nice and thick, and once you've punched your holes, it's a dream to stitch on. I also like that, since the stitch dots are already marked on the pattern, your stitches end up looking super even and clean. It's strangely satisfying.


The accompanying envelopes are also adorable. They come in a variety of muted colors (white, yellow, beige-ish) and have little stitching designs on them.


And, of course, since this is a Chronicle Books product, the packaging is impeccable. The folder in which the stationery is stored is actually stitched across the top and bottom. Cards and envelopes are in one side, and floss and needles are on the other side. The folder is sturdy enough that you could reuse it once you've stitched and sent all your cards.

As I was tweeting about stitching these cards at my son's tee ball game last week, someone asked if stitching on cards wasn't something I could do on my own, and did I feel the kit was worth the money. To this, I answered, "Yes and Yes." There are loads of tutorials around on the web for hand-stitching on paper cards. It's certainly a project anyone can tackle. I also think, though, that this kit is great because it gets you stitching within moments of opening it. I have stitching-on-paper tutorials bookmarked, and designs in my head ... but I've still never jumped on the project. This took some of that guesswork and planning out of the process so I could just get to stitchin'. Plus, I really like how the dots are already on the design, giving a very clean look to the stitching. Lastly, because it comes with the supplies needed to stitch (and brief instruction on using the back stitch to complete all the designs) I think it would make a great gift.


In short, there's room for both. These sweet little projects could absolutely get you even more inspired to tackle the project on your own.

Finally! The giveaway part! I have two things up for grabs:

1. A Sublime Stitching Stitchable Stationery Kit - thanks to the Sublime Stitching gang
2. A hand-stitched card from the kit - stitched by me, with some kind of witty, crafty message inside and mailed to you! Who doesn't love getting *real* mail, right? I've stitched a card that I'll mail to one lucky winner. You can cut it in half and toss the side with the message, or keep the whole thing in hopes that some day I'll be "famous" (ha!) Whatever you choose.

To enter: Leave a comment on this post and tell me when was the last time you sent an actual hand-crafted card (stitched, collage, painted - whatever!) in the mail to someone, and why you might be inspired to send one out soon. I'll close comments at 9AM CST on Thursday, May 7th and will notify winners here on the blog by Monday, May 11th. Enjoy, and pass it on to friends! :)

Sublime Stitching Review Part 2: Bib Kit

So I told you about the rad Sublime Stitching journal, and now it's on to the freaking adorable bib kit. The kit comes with two blank baby bibs, six reusable iron-on transfers, five skeins of embroidery floss, a needle and an instruction booklet.

The most noticeable thing about this kit is the packaging. Chronicle Books has book design and packaging down to a perfect art. The bib kit comes in a sweet box with a ribbon handle and would be perfect to hand off to a friend as a baby gift. (I mean, really, what better gift is there to give than a craft kit or craft class? Teach 'em to fish and all that, right!?)

Next up, the designs and the instruction booklet. I'm not going to give sneak peeks of all the designs, but I will say that they are some of my favorite Sublime Stitching designs I've seen. They are all pretty gender-neutral, and they are all sweet and clever (think snails, happy fruit and owls) The best part is that you can use the designs on any kind of project - not just bibs. For the most part, they aren't even exclusively baby or feeding related. The instruction book that comes in the kit is incredibly extensive for its size. It covers all the embroidery basics and five stitches that will totally have you covered for all the designs in the set.

I haven't been able to start stitching on the bibs yet (though I will be soon, I have a baby gift set I need to get working on) and I'm wondering if I'll need stabilizer. They are terry cloth bibs, so I'm not sure how much they will stretch. We'll see - I'll report back with any tips on that.

All in all, it's an adorable kit with some fab new designs. It would be a great baby shower gift, or a gift to yourself if you are expecting. Why, when we are pregnant, do we forget that we need to do something for ourselves and not just the baby? Get the kit, have fun stitching, and end up with something the kiddo can use ... doesn't get better than that.

Next up, I'll be talking about my favorite new Sublime Stitching product: The Stitchable Stationery. I'll also have a wee giveaway with it, so stick around!

The beauty of the backside

Sublime Stitching has just released some dandy little treats in the last couple of weeks, and I am in luuuuhhhv. I'm going to do some quick reviews of these new products in the next couple of days, so stitck around.
First up, I love this adorable pony journal. It's a perfect size for tossing in a purse or bag and carrying around, ready to capture any inspiration or random thoughts you may have. The front cover is a fantastic piece of Jenny's embroidery. Even better, the back cover is the back of the embroidery work. I love this so much, because it's kinda messy and there are knots galore.

I remember when I took a class from Jenny Hart a few years ago and how stunned - and liberated - I was to hear that she knots on the back of her work. (knotting is typically a big no-no among tradtional embroiderers) Somehow, this one revelation released my fear of imperfection and gave me new found motivation to get stitching.

Now when I'm teaching embroidery, I tell the students of learning about knotting with Jenny and proudly show off the backs of my embroidery - knots and all. I taught a class last week and had this journal with me, and was thrilled that I could finally also show the back of Jenny's work.

There is something darn liberating about seeing "imperfections" in the work of someone you admire. Actually, I don't think they are imperfections at all. I can appreciate that, ages ago, there was great pride taken in having the back of your embroidery match as closely as possible the front of your embroidery work. I understand that, in very few cases, knots in the back of your work may show through on the front side, and thus should be avoided. However, what I scoff at is the idea that knotting is simply "not allowed" in embroidery.

When I'm teaching embroidery, I want the students to feel comfortable stitching, and to leave class with no reservations about continuing to stitch on their own. Breaking down some of the "expectations" of embroidery can help them accomplish that. It gets them stitching faster and easier and helps them be more successful. In turn, they are more eager and willing to continuing stitching after the class.

How often has fear of imperfection stopped you from trying or completing a craft? It's time to cut that fear out! There's fun to be had in imperfection - embrace it, and you'll see what I mean. And that's what I love about this journal - aside from being incredibly practical with lined, blank and grid paper inside - the front cover reminds you how gorgeous and fun embroidery is, and the back cover reminds you to toss your preconceived notions of perfection out the window and get to stitchin'. That's a big, important lesson for such a small notebook, huh? ENJOY!

Next up - the Sublime Stitching Bib Kit, and I'll wrap things up with the Stitchable Stationery and the limited-edition canvas tote and ... a little giveaway. Stay tuned!

I know reindeer and stockings are not what you have on your mind right now ....

But you do realize we are just a little more than six months from the winter holiday frenzy, right? And in the world of make-your-own-gifts, that officially puts us in the category of needing to start at least thinking about what gifts we are going to make or buy. I've toyed with the idea of a laid back blog series to make an entirely handmade holiday possible (meaning, starting like .... yesterday so you can get it done), but I haven't quite decided if I'm gonna go there or not. As much as I adore making things for folks, chances are high that I won't be able to craft something for everyone, so I'll have to start looking for handmade things or things from independent designers to buy.

I know, I know! How can I even be thinking about this right now!? Honestly, I'm not ... or I wasn't until a few things came across my radar and it struck me: Huh ... these could work as Christmas gifts, and you know what ... it might not be a bad idea to start thinking about those kinds of things .... and *poof* a blog post is born. (what ... you thought there was a more formal routine to it? heh!)

So here are a few things to consider - if not for holiday gifts, than just fun gifts for you or your friends for any ole occasion. Enjoy!

- Sublime Stitching has their handmade goods on sale for 50% off their original price. They have a gorgeous Mexican style tea towel (embroidered using their Day of the Dead patterns) and an awesome journal that sports their Om Sweet Om patterns. I've seen the journal in person and it is beautiful, but what's really cool about these gifts is that they are hand-stitched by artisans in India as part of a fair-trade relationship. Check them out - at under $10 a piece, they are beyond a steal of a deal.

- Sublime Stitching has also added some new items to their blanks section. How fun would a family of coordinating stitched boxer shorts be on Christmas morning? Well, then, you better order some and get ta stitchin'!

- OK, if you know me or have read my blog for any length of time, you know I am not a knitter, but because I love all things crafty, and because I have a soft spot for Austin crafters, I'm uber excited about Vickie Howell's new book, Knit Aid. If you're a knitter, you probably already have a copy and have been loving it. Am I right? If not, you should check out Vickie's video tour of the book - it looks so cool! It's practical, beautiful and compact .... and under $10. Sakes alive, folks - how often do you find awesome gifts for under $10? And if you have the book or want to purchase more copies, you can meet Vickie this weekend at BookPeople for a book signing and Stitch n Bitch. Here's what we sent out in the Stitch Lab Newsletter today: Come in out of the summer heat for a Stitch n Bitch session and book signing for Vickie's latest book, Knit Aid: A Learn it, Fix it, Finish it Guide for Knitters on the Go! She'll be at Book People on South Lamar at 3pm this Saturday the 14th. Come for the book, stay for the knitting time!

- Schedule a class to make a gift. Let's face it, sometimes you need the motivation of a class to get you to set aside the time, money and energy to complete a project. We hear folks at the Stitch Lab say it over and over again, "I'm so glad I finally took this class, I've been wanting to get this done, but just wouldn't make the time on my own." Something about plunking down the cashola and writing an obligation on your calendar just lets the project become a priority. Why not sign up for a class to make something you can give away? Then you get to have the fun of the class, and you leave with a gift for someone else? Pretty dandy, huh?


One class I've been dying to take is Jennifer Perkin's Charm Bracelet Class. I was supposed to take it this month, but some unforeseen financial disasters have sucked my disposable income activities dry. (next time ... next time!) She's also doing a couple of other classes that looks fabulous. So think about it, for around $10 an hour, you get to chat with a superfun craft celebrity, pick up a new skill and leave with something you can give as a gift (or keep for yourself - no one has to know!) The classes are coming up in the next week or two, so jump in now if they still have spots open!

- Speaking of classes, of course, you need to also check out the Stitch Lab schedule and sign up for the newsletter list. I'm actually teaching some hand embroidery classes this summer, and there are a couple of spots open in the August class. I'm thinking of adding a weekday daytime class, too, so if you are interested in that email us and let us know. Anne Marie Beard is back with her awesome handbag classes, too. One of our star student (what's up, Peg!) took a handbag class and has been cranking out bags for all her friends! How fun is that!?

So if you are planning waaaaaay in advance for the winter holidays, or if you just want some great gifts on hand for that next unexpected birthday, don't say you didn't have a clue what to get.

A little stitchy gift

Today, my daughter and I headed down to Wimberly with my parents for my cousin's daughter's birthday (how many family members did I just pack into that sentence?). I didn't have time to go out and buy a gift, and my cousin and her family live very simply and are about to move overseas, so I knew they wouldn't want any bulky toys or heavy books. I also didn't have time to sew or stitch anything for her.

So what was I to do?


I ended up putting together a little stitch bag for her. She's turning seven, so I thought it could be just right for her. I grabbed some felt and stamped several pieces with Sublime Stitching designs. I pulled out several colors of floss and tied them together, and added a small wooden hoop and little scissors (or - as I like to call them - Snippy McSnipersons). I also cut a small rectangle of felt an stuck three embroidery needles in there. I tucked everything in the drawstring bag I made in my Beginning I Sewing class, and - poof - the gift was ready.

She loved it. She immediately hooped up a design and chose a color of floss. I helped her thread the needle and showed her the backstitch. Before I knew it, she'd stitched half the design. It was fantastic! So much fun! A new stitcher is born ....

More on the CRAFT Release Party tomorrow!

Did somebody say, "door prizes?"

Here's today's teaser for the CRAFT Magazine Release party, and it falls into the Door Prize category. The fabulous folks over at Sublime Stitching (and don't forget, Sublime Stitching's own Jenny Hart will be a special guest at the release party!) have donated some of their brand-spankin' new, insanely adorable Sublime Stitching Postcard Sets. The 5X7 postcards come in sets with three designs and envelopes, and we've got three sets to give away. They are so darn cute! It's gonna be hard to hand them off!

If you aren't in Austin or can't make the party, you can buy your own set of these darlins over at the Sublime Stitching Website.

I'll be giving teasers of our other door prizes from the likes of Naughty Secretary Club, Chronicle Books, the Stitch Lab and more throughout the week. Don't forget to tell your friends, post your RSVP on Facebook and blog about it!

Reminder on the details!
When: Sunday, June 1, 2008 from 1PM to 4PM
Where: The Work*Shop Austin - 2438 West Anderson Lane, Suite C5* Austin, Texas 78757 (next to Terra Toys and Zinger Hardware)
Who: Hosted by me (Average Jane Crafter a.k.a. Rachel Hobson) and Leslie Bonnell of the Stitch Lab sewing studio. Special guests include Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching, and special yummy goodies from Anna Ginsberg of Cookie Madness, and maybe a few other surprises ....
RSVP to averagejanecrafter at gmail dot com or on Facebook (friend me while you're at it!)

Jenny Hart on Craft Sanity - with Sublime Stitching giveaway

The first order of business for today is to direct your attention to the interview with Jenny Hart that just went up over at Craft Sanity. I promise, this isn't turning into a Sublime Stitching wannabe blog, but listening to interviews with Jenny is always a great lesson in inspiration and business savvy.

In addition to the interview, you can also download a sample Sublime Stitching design for personal use, and you can leave a comment about your "wildest embroidery adventure" and enter a drawing for loads of Sublime Stitching goodies.

I'm off to wrap up a post on crafty magazines that I've been -literally- writing for d.a.y.s. Here's to bits and pieces of happy writing and reading mixed in with daily life! woot.

Super fun crafty stuff this weekend in Austin

Quickie afternoon post here for the Austin readers. There are a couple of fun events (and many more, I'm sure - I can just get to these two right now) happening this weekend that I wanted to let you know about. I wrote about them in the Stitch Lab Newsletter today and wanted to stick them on the blog, too, in case the Austin folks aren't on the mailing list (but, really, why the heck aren't you!?) I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make the clothing swap, but I am almost certainly going to Ginger's for the Craft Pad signing. Let me know if you are going, too!

Start your Saturday morning off with the Clothes Swap over at First Samples. Simply bring your clothes that you don't wear any more and swap with everyone else. Coordinator, Tina Sparkles, writes: "If you are interested in recycling and re-fashioning clothes, attending a clothes swap is a good way to start a palette of items to use in your recycling projects. And it is totally FREE!" You can read more about the event and get all the details on what will and will not be accepted over at the Stitch Austin blog.

Here are the details:
Saturday, April 19 from 9AM - 1PM
First Samples - 1101 Music Lane #303

After you hit the clothing swap, make your way up north to visit Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching for a Craft Pad release and signing and Q and A at Ginger's Needlearts. That's right - the one and only Mother of Modern Embroidery will be at Ginger's (a great local needlework store) signing copies of her brand new release from Chronicle Books, the Craft Pad, and will be chatting it up with visitors. So you get to see a great, local needlearts store and hang with Jenny Hart. HELLO!? Why aren't you there yet? You can read more information over on the Sublime Stitching Blog. You can also read my review of the Craft Pad and see a project that I've already stitched from the Craft Pad.

Here are the details:
Saturday, April 19 from 1:30 - 4:00 PM
Ginger's Needlearts - 5322 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78723

Letting you in on a little secret

It was exactly six months ago today that I and a handful of other folks got a personal message from KittyKill on Craftster, asking if we would be interested in participating in a surprise Tea Towel Tour. The surprise was that the towel would replace one that was "lost" earlier in the year, leaving Jenny Hart and her crew seriously disappointed.

I, of course, jumped on the opportunity. I'd missed out on the first tour, and I thought it would be a great treat to get in on this "secret" one. Plus, I'd get to stitch along with several folks whose work I admire greatly, and connect with loads of other embroiderers.

So six months to the day after that first personal message went out from Kitty Kill in Portland, OR, I hand delivered the Secret Tea Towel Tour towel to Jenny and the Sublime Stitching crew. We scheduled the towel to come to me last since I'm here in Austin, and I was able to work with Mary (Sublime Stitching General Manager and all around detail goddess) to get the hand off coordinated.

Visiting the Sublime headquarters was a dream come true, and Jenny, Mary, Jessica and Jordan were very excited to see the towel. Jenny was incredibly touched and examined every last bit of stitched work with sincere appreciation. It was so cool to be able to see her receive it, and I only wish that everyone who worked on the towel could have been there. They all did incredible work.

Jenny was so warm and welcoming and so much fun. She gave me a little tour of the place, showed me some top secret Sublime stuff that's in the works (just when you thought her stuff couldn't get any better ... just hold on.) and even let me visit her studio in her house where I got to see several of my favorite pieces of hers on display. She also showed off some great pieces of work that people have sent her or made for her or that just plain inspire her. It was great to see them all and hear their stories.

What fun! I'm still on an embroidery high, but I've got to pick up the kids. I'll post more pictures soon! :)

And the winner is ....

Um ... WOW! Thanks so much for all the fun, enthusiastic responses to the giveaway. Welcome to all the folks who joined us from the link on the Craftzine blog! I hope you'll hang around past the winner announcement.

It was really interesting to read everyone's responses and hear the faves among you. It was also fun to connect with some friends from the Flickr Embroidery Group (one of my fave places to hang) and from even in the Austin area.

And, yes, the Craft Pad is as good as I went on about - even better. After I posted the review, I kept thinking of other things I could add. Let's just say the folks at Chronicle Books really know what they are doing, and partnered with Jenny Hart's fantastic designs, you end up with the perfect craft book. Not to mention, the book is insanely affordable. I don't think I mentioned that in the initial post. At $12.95, it's an incredible steal. It's so well designed and packaged, and the transfers, which you can use multiple times, will keep you busy for ages. So when it's released later this month, just buy it - you will absolutely not regret it.

Have I made you wait long enough? Oh fine! You know, when the contest started, I figured I'd do something all cute, and have my daughter help me draw a winner. I thought I'd have her write all the names on slips of paper and then jumble them up and draw a name. Uh ... yeah, I doubt she would have had the patience to write almost 140 names ... for sure. So I pulled them into a word document, checked all the necessities and put folks who linked to the contest down twice, numbered the whole bunch and then used a Random Number Generator to pick the winner.

Are you still with me? This giveaway stuff is complicated!

So, without any more stalling, our winner is Anonymous ... who had this to say:
My favorite one so far is the Winter Land. I love the little cuties for Christmas! You are so sweet to be having such a wonderful giveaway. I'm sure whoever receives this book will be thrilled!
plongatbroadmoordotcom

Congrats! I hope you are thrilled! I'll be in touch to coordinate mailing.

Thanks again for all the great responses. Please do stick around for more crafty fun!

New patterns on Sublime Stitching Web site!

Yipeeeeeee!

The embroidery love just keeps on flowing. New patterns are up on the Sublime Stitching web site and -lordy- are they fabulous! Must. Order. Now.

Check out some new artist series patterns from Julie West and Lisa Petrucci.

And then grab hold of your jaw, 'cause it's gonna drop when you lay your eyes on the Forest Friends transfers. HO-LEEE-CRAP. I was thinking I was getting kind of tired of forest animals - they are on just about everything in craftland, and since I have a daughter who is a forest animal freak (her bedroom is a "magical forest" - seriously - with these and this on the walls) I get my fill of little forest critters.

But leave it to Jenny Hart to put her awesome spin on a trend and make it all cool and new and fresh for you. There's a stag in there - that's my daughter's favorite - and a cutie little hedgehog.

And then the Tattoo Alphabet - complete with little extras like daggers and a tattoo-style banner - are super cool. Hooray for new embroidery fun!

I'm off to order now. I might be able to get something done for my daughter in time for her seventh birthday on the first of March .....






(all images from the Sublime Stitching Web site)