Tap, Tap, Tap... is this thing on? (Free Quilt Pattern)

 Hey Everyone,

Bet you thought I disappeared, huh? Well, I didn't, I just had a 12 year detour into shop ownership... it's crazy... and with the advent of Instagram blogging went by the wayside. I posted 4500+ posts on Instagram and kind of gave up the blog... it was so much easier just to post a picture and run. But the last couple of months it has been on my mind to start blogging again. I was reluctant though. I was afraid I wouldn't find anything to say... my perfectionist tendencies would put a burden on me of posting nearly daily like I used to and it would add one more thing to my plate... but I have decided it is okay to just post when there is something to say. Or just for fun... whatever. We will see how it goes... if it doesn't go, no harm, no foul :)

Did you know I sell Liberty now? And Tilda? and that is about all I sell... I have a subscription box service and send out happy little packages every month with Liberty in them... that's all I want to say about the shop though. I am video taping a little class for the free pattern that is on Tilda's website that makes that sweet little flower block above. I love teaching more than anything else that I do. When I started the shop that was my goal... to design and teach. There hasn't been enough time for that in a very long time. I am hoping to change that this year. Do you want to keep me accountable? 

The Tree block below is one of our new BOMs that starts in January. You have probably heard me say all quilts need a house and a tree :)

What are your goals for 2023 that do not have to do with weight or fitness? Please, comment and let me know.

The hubby and I are about to pack up the house and leave California... it's too peopley here :) I can't wait to have a bigger house where I can actually have a white wall with nothing on it ... I know that is a funny goal huh? There is literally not a single wall in my house that doesn't have a piece of furniture against it... it is so crazy. I need a blank wall for pictures and to put my design wall up :) 

I will be back soon-ish... with more :)

Are you ready to sew every day?

 Hi Everyone,

It is time to start a tiny habit of sewing for 5 minutes every day. Are we going to be perfect? No, but we are going to create a habit that sustains us through the "I don't feel like it" times.

First assignment is to pick a specific time each day when you have 5 minutes to sew. I gave lots more info and encouragement in the email I sent today. If you want to sign up for my emails you can do that here.

Pick a tiny quilt block or simple one that you really love and it can be your go to when you don't have anything else to sew or when the big project feels daunting. 

I am giving away prizes as well but you have to read the email to find out how to enter. You can find the email text here.

 See you tomorrow for the first day of the rest of our lives :)

 

#Sew365Project

 Hey Everyone,

I know you thought I had perished ;) Actually, I just have been posting so much on Instagram and Facebook that my poor blog has been neglected. 

I am here today because it is the best place to host a page all about the new project I am working on.

 A few years ago I was so burned out that my sewjo was good and gone. I was so tired from work and not feeling well that I thought I would never get my passion for sewing and quilting back. It took a sew along that created a habit to get me back into the groove. Now I have even more creativity and passion for it than ever and I want to share that feeling with you.

 

Starting on the 1st of January I will be making a tiny habit of sewing 5 minutes a day. I picked a little primitive house quilt block that I designed to be my main focus for the year. I will make one each day that I don't have anything else to sew. 

This is the little block I will be making. I designed this mini quilt out of it. It is a simple little block and I have a tutorial video for making it here. 

I also have created a downloadable PDF that you can purchase for a small charge in my shop here. But the point of this is not to make my little house quilt :) It is for you to pick something small that you can create every day that you don't have something else to sew. This will get you to your machine or needle and thread every day. I consider it a part of my self care to do this one thing that brings me so much happiness every day.

 

I plan to give myself grace on this year long journey. The business takes so much time and I know there will be days when I don't even have 5 minutes but making the habit will insure that I have that itch and drive to do it as soon as I can. 

 

I am going to sidetrack for a second. As a few of you know I lost 160 lbs in the last couple years and part of what did that was creating the habit of exercising every day. I made a habit of exercising each morning at a certain time (making sure that you do it at a certain time is a huge part of making a habit) now when I am not exercising at 7am I am itchy to do it. Even on planned rest days I still have the urge to do it. We want to do that with our creativity too.

 

So tell me, would you like to join with me in making a little something every day? 

 

I will post ideas for you every week or two and you can always come here or the Facebook group to get motivation. I will come up with some fun tiny time commitment things to give you ideas. But I encourage you to find something you love that only takes a couple minutes. Pick a time of day when you usually have a minute or 5 and start a habit that will feed your soul.

 

Here are the hashtags for Instagram #sew365project #sewtofeedmysoul

 

 Sign up for the email list here I won't spam you. I will just email every week or two to keep in touch and tell you when there are prizes to win and how you can join in.

We will get started on Friday (the 1st of January 2021) There will be games and prizes throughout the year. 

Here is a graphic to use on social media to say you are in...

How to build a better BOM!

Hey Everyone,

I know I have a bunch of people that follow me that are in the creative business. I wanted to share this with you. Last year at this time I joined Tribe... well, let me start at the beginning...

I have been pretty quiet about this because for some reason I always feel weird about talking about things like this. I don't want you to think I am trying to sell you something but... since it changed my life and my business for the better I want to tell you about it. You can ignore me if you aren't interested.

Last year I joined a course (movement,cult,party,band of brothers/sisters) called Tribe. I have a business idea that is completely unrelated to quilting and originally I joined to learn how to build a membership around that. But since I already had an audience for the quilting and I wanted to test the formula (see if it really worked like they said it did) I went ahead and launched a quilting membership, on a whim (in a weekend with nothing built yet and nothing to sell). My first offer paid for my Tribe course three times over and I hadn't even set anything up yet. It was a Eureka moment.

 

Click here to register

This course taught me how to build a membership model for the business I already have but also how to start at the beginning and build any business I want this way. It also taught me tons about marketing, growing my business, building my social media following, how to manage a group on social media… so many things.

Anyway, Tribe is only open once a year and it is coming up in a few days. I felt like I owed it to you to tell you about it also I am an affiliate. I only did that because I really believe in and I wanted to be able to share it with everyone… if you want to join I would love to be your source. It is seriously the best thing I have ever done for my business. The marketing strategies, the mindset strategies, the honest to goodness support from every Triber in the group… it is worth pots of gold. I seriously feel like a completely different person since I met and interacted with the people in this course.

Here is my link if you want to watch the free webinars:Click Here (this is an affiliate link) Even just joining the free group... people have launched from what they have learned there... it is so valuable. I hope you will just give the videos a look. If you have any questions I am happy to answer.

New Tilda Challenge with a free Pattern and Prizes

Hey Everyone,

Tomorrow is my Birthday... and I am hosting a new challenge with prizes and thought you might want to get in on the action.

This might look slightly familiar. I updated it with Tilda's new collection Old Rose (which we have in stock) and I am hosting a challenge. If you make it along with me these next couple weeks you have a chance to win a fat eighth bundle of Tilda fabrics and some other fun little bits... as well as bragging rights.

Here are the Rules:

1. You have to sign up here  you will get the pattern when you do.
2. You have to make something with at least one of each of the blocks in it. So one cottage, one house, one tree, and one star block :) Just the top I won't ask that you have it quilted.
3. Post a picture in our Challenge Group on Facebook by December 14th so we can see it or post it on Instagram with the hashtag #IT_TildaChallenge

That's it! Join us on the Facebook page for the video starting today.

Tilda Club and a Challenge with Prizes

Hey Everyone,

It has been a hot minute since I showed up here. I have been doing videos over on my Facebook page and running the Tilda Club USA. Now I am hosting a challenge with prizes and thought you might want to get in on the action.

This might look slightly familiar. I updated it with Tilda's new collection Old Rose (which we have in stock) and I am hosting a challenge. If you make it along with me this week you have a chance to win a fat eighth bundle of Tilda's Summer Collection Lazy Days, a Mini Tilda Kit, and some fun little notions as well as bragging rights.

Here are the Rules:

1. You have to sign up here  you will get the pattern when you do.
2. You have to make the table runner :) Just the top I won't ask that you have it quilted in a week.
3. Post a picture in our Challenge Group on Facebook on Monday October 14th so we can see it or post it on Instagram with the hashtag #IT_TildaChallenge

That's it! Join us on the Facebook page for the videos.

4 Great Resources for Sewing Your Own Wardrobe

Hey Everyone,

Today on Facebook I am starting a series on making and fitting your own clothes.

There are a few great resources I want to share with you here:

First of all there are two wardrobe planners that I love:

1. Seamwork's Free Wardrobe Planner they have a sew along twice a year for building your own wardrobe too.

2. Tina Given's Free Wardrobe Planner she is starting up a wardrobe make along very soon...

3. My Measurements Worksheet which I made specifically for the video series

4. A free basic tank Sorbetto pattern from Colette that we will use in the video series as well.

So grab your freebies and join me on Facebook the next few Tuesdays and Thursdays and let's make some beautiful clothes!