tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-299100352024-03-05T02:41:39.164-05:00Wendi GratzI make things that make people smile. . . and you can too!Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.comBlogger609125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-51032364238611447832013-04-03T08:30:00.000-04:002013-04-03T08:30:03.577-04:00How to Turn a Quilt Block into a PIllow<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ROKiIk9I-6GQ7V4gqMhDUApfzatFSs_AG_KQTXI6SAX7YQCXrp5ZAsQ6Kh_neUSCihn6UyI2VqZvCxK0NR-PzB7DeN45RKD2CDGNr0MpI1pHleXJXhqW2kVavlUnDCyKMWLr/s1600/monster+pillow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="monster pillow" border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ROKiIk9I-6GQ7V4gqMhDUApfzatFSs_AG_KQTXI6SAX7YQCXrp5ZAsQ6Kh_neUSCihn6UyI2VqZvCxK0NR-PzB7DeN45RKD2CDGNr0MpI1pHleXJXhqW2kVavlUnDCyKMWLr/s320/monster+pillow.JPG" title="monster pillow" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hug me.</td></tr>
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So. Let's say you really like the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/scary-squares-monster-quilt-pattern" target="_blank">Scary Squares monster quilt pattern</a>, but you've never made a quilt before and your kind of freaked out about making the whole thing.<br />
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Start with one block. You can make one single block, right? Of course you can! And you can turn it into a fun pillow. Here's how.<br />
<h3>
Make a quilt block.</h3>
Any block from any pattern.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCVehSQuFjrAsv4U85-SC-xmg9I8ZpKnQdcjrz8oCI7KCNRhMbOHT0hwiZXB2WuPqkNh8QsXwKN2l_ua2PPBelo1MF4sDSyPZ-e4htBfR6SYPBlVeihRatwZb-pN9WSDZ4qHb/s1600/01+basic+block.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Step 1 - make the block" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCVehSQuFjrAsv4U85-SC-xmg9I8ZpKnQdcjrz8oCI7KCNRhMbOHT0hwiZXB2WuPqkNh8QsXwKN2l_ua2PPBelo1MF4sDSyPZ-e4htBfR6SYPBlVeihRatwZb-pN9WSDZ4qHb/s320/01+basic+block.JPG" title="Step 1 - make the block" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey! Are you trying to frame me?</td></tr>
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You could always enlarge the pattern so it fits on the pillow form you want to cover - but I think it's more fun to add some framing, so I made the block exactly as the pattern specified. It's a 10 1/2 inch square.<br />
<h3>
Add frames</h3>
My pillow form is 18" square. That means I need the pillow front to be 18 1/2" square. (The extra 1/2" gives me 1/4" seam allowance on all sides.)<br />
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My block is 10 1/2" square. That means it will finish at 10" square when I take up the seam allowances. So I need to add 4 inches on each side of the block.<br />
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I could add 4" frames all the way around, but I want a narrow frame inside a slightly wider frame. So I'm going to add a 1" frame all the way around, and then a 3" frame all the way around that. That will add up to the 4" frame all around.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3VRzlSdwUqJLvZYiSBM0grpKojJ1Donmd-r90IbvDsIPHndz8lmFtR32xHciG38v5lufloiKsnDMoOAfUiA7ZQXZVDupTBpfkfH0O4H9uiPyvgiXoAG87QGCj1MUbnwUCnSZ/s1600/02+skinny+sides.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Step 2 - add side strips" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3VRzlSdwUqJLvZYiSBM0grpKojJ1Donmd-r90IbvDsIPHndz8lmFtR32xHciG38v5lufloiKsnDMoOAfUiA7ZQXZVDupTBpfkfH0O4H9uiPyvgiXoAG87QGCj1MUbnwUCnSZ/s320/02+skinny+sides.JPG" title="Step 2 - add side strips" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start with the sides.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cut strips 1 1/2" wide. (Remember - if you want a 1" frame you need to cut your strips 1 1/2" so seam allowance is included.) Sew a strip to each side of your block. Press them flat.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaQFaM2Rw2UeUiCGIkWbZzH7qperyH1q4E5GLRKZB6c65PYIG8yxPthCdZ5l-R0G0M95rURRMidStzNDj-PH5xf5eD9I2_ihhyphenhyphenvumMSaMRpycmNzCGbk2ikpz8HZPqova0RNo/s1600/03+skinny+finished.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Step 3 - finish the inner frame" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaQFaM2Rw2UeUiCGIkWbZzH7qperyH1q4E5GLRKZB6c65PYIG8yxPthCdZ5l-R0G0M95rURRMidStzNDj-PH5xf5eD9I2_ihhyphenhyphenvumMSaMRpycmNzCGbk2ikpz8HZPqova0RNo/s320/03+skinny+finished.JPG" title="Step 3 - finish the inner frame" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add strips to the top and bottom.</td></tr>
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Sew strips to the top and bottom. Press them flat.<br />
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The inner frame is done.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSed69sWtukZnjaO0UeWeo5WM_cCphYDWe8P1ddTxZ695x5n-IOgZ6_Ups8euaMzocIRZf-mn0y7BNpReFgJfuOxv6vPYcnJuW1jdoWLRGrPG5ual82zbsyKmeyIlevMyT-Z7/s1600/04+wide+sides.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Step 4 - repeat for the outer frame" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSed69sWtukZnjaO0UeWeo5WM_cCphYDWe8P1ddTxZ695x5n-IOgZ6_Ups8euaMzocIRZf-mn0y7BNpReFgJfuOxv6vPYcnJuW1jdoWLRGrPG5ual82zbsyKmeyIlevMyT-Z7/s320/04+wide+sides.JPG" title="Step 4 - repeat for the outer frame" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repeat for the outer frame</td></tr>
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Do the same thing for the outer frame, but use 3 1/2" strips for a 3" frame.<br />
<h3>
Make the pillow back</h3>
I like using zippers on my pillow covers so I can take them off for washing. You can add the zipper to the side seam where the front is sewn to the back, but I think that sometimes distorts the look of the pillow. I prefer to add it to the middle of the pillow back.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwOwjbrIDBQ-hkmrf_IhK-xNubhRkPrve_aFYeiZQ6AxY_Endy3uTZ2XTeyrfBOP4e5426PA_KE6IvX9dD-hXN7K0I8aJ3jKv60vcQz4S0Lw4_-qdzQKBgrEgI7VAvMorkcsn/s1600/05+zippered+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Make the pillow back." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwOwjbrIDBQ-hkmrf_IhK-xNubhRkPrve_aFYeiZQ6AxY_Endy3uTZ2XTeyrfBOP4e5426PA_KE6IvX9dD-hXN7K0I8aJ3jKv60vcQz4S0Lw4_-qdzQKBgrEgI7VAvMorkcsn/s320/05+zippered+back.JPG" title="Make the pillow back." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You don't have to use two different fabrics. I just ran out of the green jellybeans. :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sew two pieces of fabric together to make an 18 1/2" square. The seam doesn't have to go exactly in the middle. Just middle-ish. Use at least 1/2" seam allowance so you have enough fabric to reach under the zipper when you stitch it in place.<br />
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Insert a zipper into the seam using this tutorial.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/08/video-how-to-sew-zipper-in-seam.html" target="_blank"><i>How to add a zipper to a seam.</i></a></div>
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Unzip the zipper at least part way. Don't forget to do this or you'll be very sad! Sew the pillow front to the pillow back, right sides together, using 1/4" seam allowance.<br />
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Turn it right side out through the zipper opening. Slip your pillow form into the cover. Zip it up and toss it onto a chair.<br />
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Finished!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEEDNUegRYKdFY__VWOjgT-TtEsfpjx4VU7aVvgkUh7MUan-lfEy9FpLsEBDmzCnI1-V7ni3PATPHh6jpmIvWviLffgrnetoaFpD0c8QVbD7rFWvN9fVmCk5tT_nTCYv4Dz73/s1600/monster+pillow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="finished monster pillow" border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEEDNUegRYKdFY__VWOjgT-TtEsfpjx4VU7aVvgkUh7MUan-lfEy9FpLsEBDmzCnI1-V7ni3PATPHh6jpmIvWviLffgrnetoaFpD0c8QVbD7rFWvN9fVmCk5tT_nTCYv4Dz73/s320/monster+pillow.JPG" title="finished monster pillow" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I knew you could do it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Happy sewing!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnCl6cLhYz5GAUc8xMa6og5a27zL2Rx7cEk3tMH75HS-qz0BACBeEl4EtPV8Ca2OVrExvUoX7PtCevvdW48zIZ_UgK6bMxgn-x0b2XTtg0Y1jCA5d20onPy1hEWCPLShj7kof/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnCl6cLhYz5GAUc8xMa6og5a27zL2Rx7cEk3tMH75HS-qz0BACBeEl4EtPV8Ca2OVrExvUoX7PtCevvdW48zIZ_UgK6bMxgn-x0b2XTtg0Y1jCA5d20onPy1hEWCPLShj7kof/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-43306605709236481132013-04-02T08:30:00.000-04:002013-04-02T08:30:02.193-04:00Video - How to Put Together the Layers for Machine Applique<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAAQFsA7rGyaOJkBQsgGnQ97rGul8AVdolWuChtuKyFrFgKrCFVGEygZz5gz6wo6iMWgjLDDoloEwjKMoPS8p0ZlRYK3yJYQzAieAKKB5-rPHBVXMJ7ceF5zouY3lQdBG2Kur/s1600/monster+pillow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="monster pillow" border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAAQFsA7rGyaOJkBQsgGnQ97rGul8AVdolWuChtuKyFrFgKrCFVGEygZz5gz6wo6iMWgjLDDoloEwjKMoPS8p0ZlRYK3yJYQzAieAKKB5-rPHBVXMJ7ceF5zouY3lQdBG2Kur/s320/monster+pillow.JPG" title="monster pillow" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hug me.</td></tr>
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Tomorrow I'm going to show you how to make this monster pillow from one of the blocks in the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/scary-squares-monster-quilt-pattern" target="_blank">Scary Squares monster quilt pattern</a>. Today I'm going to use the block as an example to give you some general guidelines for assembling the layers in any machine applique pattern. Ready? It's really easy.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xxF-UVS85X0" width="500"></iframe></div>
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See? Now you can use these guidelines with any of my machine applique patterns - or to work up your own! Want to make a machine applique pillow using one of the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/mini-monsters-embroidery-pattern" target="_blank">Mini Monsters embroidery patterns</a> to toss on the bed with your Scary Squares quilt? <i>You can totally do that!</i> It's great getting extra mileage out of your pattern purchases, isn't it? :-)<br />
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Happy sewing!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-38324723457013918282013-04-01T14:30:00.000-04:002013-04-01T14:30:01.805-04:00Show & Tell Winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmzKGe4XbJG2YeK-_k0HhWkF4QB5qe_PM1wIdp_LfQ0C3V37Ukz3qLW265aRaBsB1ApWH2Yav0Q1BvhAnl0e_gQhf9EIVOORVTe0ssU5sa7RDAL07AkOZlTqjg7OB4fyTwflb/s1600/8546950736_a61f567718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmzKGe4XbJG2YeK-_k0HhWkF4QB5qe_PM1wIdp_LfQ0C3V37Ukz3qLW265aRaBsB1ApWH2Yav0Q1BvhAnl0e_gQhf9EIVOORVTe0ssU5sa7RDAL07AkOZlTqjg7OB4fyTwflb/s320/8546950736_a61f567718.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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The winner for this month's gift certificate is Lethargic Lass! <i>Love that name. :-)</i><br />
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Congratulations! She made a fabulous <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/franklin-the-fat-cat-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Franklin the Fat Cat</a>. And I love how she photographed him plopped in front of the computer screen - just like a real cat seeking attention and sick of you working. :-)<i><br /></i><br />
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How do you enter for next month's drawing? Send a picture of something you made with a Shiny Happy World pattern. Easy peasy! I load it into the month's Show & Tell Album on Facebook so everyone can "like" what you made and tell you how awesome you are. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447054078698392.1073741825.106650112738792&type=1" target="_blank">Here's the album for March</a> if you haven't seen the awesomeness yet. I draw a winner at the end of the month. This is the first time I ever got #1 back at random.org. Exciting!<br />
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I'm also running an extra contest for March and April - just for people who enter projects made with the new <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/category/monsters" target="_blank">Monster Horde patterns</a>. <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/03/show-tell-and-contest.html" target="_blank">Get the details here</a>.<br />
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It's April and there's a new empty album waiting for you all to fill it. I can't wait to see what you're making!<br />
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Happy stitching!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-91447403904602144912013-04-01T09:30:00.000-04:002013-04-01T09:30:00.565-04:00SALE! 20% Off All Embroidery Patterns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7z7UIlX00a0B3DEdAIdhPl6ExXodUgY_kc_V0j8tM90IbifZtTIvZUNvK1kbfJ2Jn7WkAtgmi3pVkBy3HgQKSkk1fx_I8GUZjBdoNZ5Rt5jpbSJqype6mOxGvhB-TgmjJGsUP/s1600/hearts+image+for+cover+1000+px.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7z7UIlX00a0B3DEdAIdhPl6ExXodUgY_kc_V0j8tM90IbifZtTIvZUNvK1kbfJ2Jn7WkAtgmi3pVkBy3HgQKSkk1fx_I8GUZjBdoNZ5Rt5jpbSJqype6mOxGvhB-TgmjJGsUP/s320/hearts+image+for+cover+1000+px.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
It's a new week - and a new month. Happy April everyone!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;">This week's sale is on all embroidery patterns.</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/category/embroidery-patterns" target="_blank">Find them here.</a></div>
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Use code <b><span style="color: purple;">STITCHY</span></b> for <b><span style="color: purple;">20% off</span></b>.</div>
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Sale ends Friday 4/5 at midnight EST.</div>
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Happy Monday!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-82093507087341471192013-03-31T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-31T06:00:01.180-04:00Happy Easter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6m1Kdouhz8Mns6JIKTxylxlSW8cAZ6wXsA1UxetbJbqNYmfY_fPOy3obVrR3wvt96pS-E1IWlHtARpKK0DwGEJPcIarOAkPErOxDwCZWkYwLdDZPpLXg40RmFPqJCBnoQdHN/s1600/Easter+bunny+image+for+cover+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6m1Kdouhz8Mns6JIKTxylxlSW8cAZ6wXsA1UxetbJbqNYmfY_fPOy3obVrR3wvt96pS-E1IWlHtARpKK0DwGEJPcIarOAkPErOxDwCZWkYwLdDZPpLXg40RmFPqJCBnoQdHN/s400/Easter+bunny+image+for+cover+1000+px.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-44259419263738073792013-03-29T08:00:00.000-04:002013-03-30T09:59:27.892-04:00Stitch Your Kids<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hf5koRRX_mJqY6EWHE0Y8p5wbAw7xFmNJVMIjmsuY8qI8T2IUnCaXySEHiIDh0hoJQo8eQGijkT2ZBBVvMau5dyK9PhuN-NgPJuCAnkZzKKhSZVafOo_GH6bJTdT9MbS1T1C/s1600/kids+for+cover+2+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kiddie Cameos - embroidery pattern to stich 30 customizable kids" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hf5koRRX_mJqY6EWHE0Y8p5wbAw7xFmNJVMIjmsuY8qI8T2IUnCaXySEHiIDh0hoJQo8eQGijkT2ZBBVvMau5dyK9PhuN-NgPJuCAnkZzKKhSZVafOo_GH6bJTdT9MbS1T1C/s320/kids+for+cover+2+1000+px.JPG" title="Kiddie Cameos - embroidery pattern to stich 30 customizable kids" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiddie Cameos embroidery pattern</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yes - YOUR kids. There are 30 different kids to
choose from in this pattern - boys and girls with all kinds of different hairstyles.
Customize them with your little one's hair color, choose their favorite
color for their shirt - and you're good to go.<br />
<br />
Boy with a buzz cut? Check.<br />
<br />
Girl with high pigtails? Check.<br />
<br />
Girl with low pigtails? Check.<br />
<br />
Boy with shaggy hair and wild cowlicks? Check.<br />
<br />
Girl with a bob? Check.<br />
<br />
Boy who never willingly removes his baseball cap? Check.<br />
<br />
Curly hair, straight hair, long hair, short hair, neat hair, messy hair - they're all there. <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/kiddie-cameos-embroidery-pattern" target="_blank">Click through to the pattern listing to see all the kids included in the pattern</a>. I hope you find your own kid in this bunch!<br />
<br />
These are sized to fit <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/pendant-frames" target="_blank">the new oval pendants I've just added to the shop</a>.
But, of course, like any embroidery pattern you can enlarge or reduce
them to be any size you like. Grandma would probably love a necklace
with her grandkids on it - but Grandpa might like a larger framed image
he can hang on the wall. :-)<br />
<br />
And they're easy! Unless you go crazy with the French knots for a curly-haired kid (which, admittedly, is a really fun thing to do) most of these will stitch up in <i>way</i> less than an hour. On a scale of three thinbles - this pattern's a two.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_gWyInQcbkzmRa1ABeiAaTDDZOPDmmlnvlHWJFqz-AC590zAX6h1-Cr_iqcr3sF2Ms8mw9iGvdkxkJWm7Gt_SrbYOF4YKroCACqn66fT5DyQxok4Hb-qpQdXkXO_-lbRd7gE/s1600/embroidery+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_gWyInQcbkzmRa1ABeiAaTDDZOPDmmlnvlHWJFqz-AC590zAX6h1-Cr_iqcr3sF2Ms8mw9iGvdkxkJWm7Gt_SrbYOF4YKroCACqn66fT5DyQxok4Hb-qpQdXkXO_-lbRd7gE/s1600/embroidery+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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But back to those pendants. . .<br />
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They're really easy to use and have a nice, clean finish. Want to see how they go together?<br />
<br />
<b>Step 1</b><br />
Stitch your image. Right now the only pattern especially designed for these frames are the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/kiddie-cameos-embroidery-pattern" target="_blank">Kiddie Cameos</a>, but I'll also be adding more patterns to the shop in the coming weeks. On deck are alphabet patterns, flowers, zodiac images, and dingbats. If you have an idea for a theme let me know! I'm happy to consider anything. :-) And, of course, you can enlarge or reduce the size of any image in any pattern to fit any frame. <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2012/02/ask-wendi-enlarging-and-reducing.html" target="_blank">There's a tutorial right here showing you how!</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>Step 2</b><br />
Center your image in the frame.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8zySnyXYvKTKWLNlEVZLbCdD2qlvWgPbHVOHe6VBtPqT7UA_vCvzt0bVAXMgqX4zdro8SwB5lWOIL-OyP-RfIXtyd_IlNIBGWEOfjqPSmUs7dyA4X-ZN6B6gWUk7dWS9csMp/s1600/01+center+in+frame+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="step 1 - stitching centered in frame" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8zySnyXYvKTKWLNlEVZLbCdD2qlvWgPbHVOHe6VBtPqT7UA_vCvzt0bVAXMgqX4zdro8SwB5lWOIL-OyP-RfIXtyd_IlNIBGWEOfjqPSmUs7dyA4X-ZN6B6gWUk7dWS9csMp/s320/01+center+in+frame+1000+px.JPG" title="step 1 - stitching centered in frame" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's already looking pretty fancy. :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Back it with the domed insert, with the curve of the dome pushing the image up, ever so slightly through the frame. This is what it will look like from the back.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18seJTYKRV64g9SGGNAI9N16JJxQE2JWJWmmOerP_9m6mSt9a2eccD6nmkDtau67m21FKzqRNfbHSGZLh0b1N6-2SIxQb3CTDzR02yEBnxvORvya3_jHJ3BxgYjPDKur4RrZs/s1600/02+dome+from+back+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pendant step 2 - view of domed insert from the back" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18seJTYKRV64g9SGGNAI9N16JJxQE2JWJWmmOerP_9m6mSt9a2eccD6nmkDtau67m21FKzqRNfbHSGZLh0b1N6-2SIxQb3CTDzR02yEBnxvORvya3_jHJ3BxgYjPDKur4RrZs/s320/02+dome+from+back+1000+px.JPG" title="pendant step 2 - view of domed insert from the back" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The insert should be dome side down here - like a shallow bowl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The domed insert makes a nice little dip in the back - the perfect place to tuck the raw edges of your fabric.<br />
<br />
<b>Step 3</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHzlhv5Pig1IaTpkyWsvhqrdZDtZuLe6IsHQidjHc9vbWsXOHQFe5SKcJOgbfxysaJHfXaNuucidkI1uZvI9l8rET3dy8f_ojVYENU77k4-swgVgQACkyxyIWavCgF07pubdn/s1600/03+trim+away+excess+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pendant frame step 3 - trim away excess fabric" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHzlhv5Pig1IaTpkyWsvhqrdZDtZuLe6IsHQidjHc9vbWsXOHQFe5SKcJOgbfxysaJHfXaNuucidkI1uZvI9l8rET3dy8f_ojVYENU77k4-swgVgQACkyxyIWavCgF07pubdn/s320/03+trim+away+excess+1000+px.JPG" title="pendant frame step 3 - trim away excess fabric" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I leave roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch all the way around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Trim away most of the excess fabric. Not too close!<br />
<br />
<b>Step 4</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_R8RN24c8KdEchkZUhbY7oCThV5LqfP0gz-Np6J2Q07b4QIuEfF74efog18G2_EEOusIfYSLwRL9FXGFKeHOVlinmajr02Dvx0vyvgl4HK4QP3l-80vaJlLZBLGJYOCxDTa8/s1600/04+flat+back+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pendant frame step 4 - put on the flat back" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_R8RN24c8KdEchkZUhbY7oCThV5LqfP0gz-Np6J2Q07b4QIuEfF74efog18G2_EEOusIfYSLwRL9FXGFKeHOVlinmajr02Dvx0vyvgl4HK4QP3l-80vaJlLZBLGJYOCxDTa8/s320/04+flat+back+1000+px.JPG" title="pendant frame step 4 - put on the flat back" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice and neat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fold the edges of the fabric into the little well, then cover it up with the flat back piece. Fold the three little tabs over the backing to hold it in place. <br />
<br />
<b>Done!</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMr_7xwsB14jjYgqJF-If4mCSo7yVvC0Atu5Rhx11hPJdAKkwQN8226eNRXKztNW8_E-uwpnz40rpVggPa12zboUWFBkvG6dWV2RH5hUO3Etvmw4QF8YyOG7rQZahDvsXbcWm/s1600/05+finished+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pendant frame with embroidery - finished" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMr_7xwsB14jjYgqJF-If4mCSo7yVvC0Atu5Rhx11hPJdAKkwQN8226eNRXKztNW8_E-uwpnz40rpVggPa12zboUWFBkvG6dWV2RH5hUO3Etvmw4QF8YyOG7rQZahDvsXbcWm/s320/05+finished+1000+px.JPG" title="pendant frame with embroidery - finished" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she a cutie? This could be your kid!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mother's Day is a little more than a month away - plenty of time to stitch some of these up for your favorite moms and grandmas - and for yourself, of course. :-)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/kiddie-cameos-embroidery-pattern" target="_blank">Get the Kiddie Cameos embroidery pattern here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/pendant-frames" target="_blank">Get the pendant frames here</a>.<br />
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And don't forget to share photos of your work! I can't wait to meet all your kids! <a href="mailto:blockhead@wendigratz.com" target="_blank">Email them to me</a> or post them to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shinyhappyworld" target="_blank">Shiny Happy World Facebook wall</a>.<br />
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Happy stitching!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-52656877326128663012013-03-28T08:30:00.000-04:002013-03-28T08:30:00.442-04:00This Could Be You!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfPrSahfFxOkFHCObLPthtVdguLbtZUw8MJ9pjuopD67J-tf9CNhK3jQeOCYayzPM4NFOZKrQNkKGnmLUkvZQe0FW8Tgf03wE9WRbcT6dYvynBLdrzJ2PcgC610oBSoWIlOpO/s1600/marchcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfPrSahfFxOkFHCObLPthtVdguLbtZUw8MJ9pjuopD67J-tf9CNhK3jQeOCYayzPM4NFOZKrQNkKGnmLUkvZQe0FW8Tgf03wE9WRbcT6dYvynBLdrzJ2PcgC610oBSoWIlOpO/s320/marchcollage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Have you made something recently with a Shiny Happy World pattern? Have you sent me a photo so I can do a happy dance and then post it to the Facebook album for everyone to ooh and aah over? (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447054078698392.1073741825.106650112738792&type=3" target="_blank">Go look!</a> That collage up there has only some of the awesome projects from this month!)<br />
<br />
Why not?<br />
<br />
Did you know that everyone who sends me a photo has a chance to win a gift certificate to the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Shiny Happy World shop</a>? They do! <br />
<br />
And this month and next I'm having <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/03/show-tell-and-contest.html" target="_blank">an extra special drawing</a> - just for newly made monsters from the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/category/monsters" target="_blank">Monster Horde pattern collection</a>.<br />
<br />
So if you've made something - don't be shy! We're a friendly bunch here. <a href="mailto:blockhead@wendigratz.com" target="_blank">Send me a photo</a> and brag a little! <br />
<br />
Happy sewing!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvMRlNi2SHFmV3tpc8pVL-Gokwvg-I3s1bGuS1TPifIC-EGhhBUVhpFbUwQgR4ni7wQejM3Jj0WMZ0o52Jpawcuf2vDaFCWKV1ZWNISlOe5IYxYFEvUBzoXnMI0lp3zIZND_J/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvMRlNi2SHFmV3tpc8pVL-Gokwvg-I3s1bGuS1TPifIC-EGhhBUVhpFbUwQgR4ni7wQejM3Jj0WMZ0o52Jpawcuf2vDaFCWKV1ZWNISlOe5IYxYFEvUBzoXnMI0lp3zIZND_J/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-30600799869794272012013-03-27T08:30:00.000-04:002013-03-27T08:30:01.274-04:00Video - Joining Quilt Blocks and Nesting the Seams<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pBJkxabOwJ0" width="500"></iframe></div>
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When you're joining rows of quilt blocks together, the seam allowances at the corners can get pretty bulky. You can't eliminate that bulk altogether, but you can minimize it - spread it out a bit - and that's what I show you how to do in this video.<br />
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See all the quilt lessons <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/p/quilting-school.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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That star block I'm working on is one of the blocks in the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/starry-night-quilt-block-of-the-month-pattern" target="_blank">Starry Night Quilt</a>.<br />
<br />
Happy quilting!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-43674332719953315882013-03-26T10:30:00.000-04:002013-03-30T09:35:09.868-04:00Free Pattern - Flora the felt bird<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcgTks-uXBo1HsSboBDSVhtxiXgDx8p58bddubbAKRtpX55kk0vOQY1rDPGODf75_GIJL4k7wxAlov2EOPEFXgOR_puyVNBW6wWSE3RZARE1u-FydKMV6ATNBbOClX3ZnqOoE/s1600/finished+flora+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcgTks-uXBo1HsSboBDSVhtxiXgDx8p58bddubbAKRtpX55kk0vOQY1rDPGODf75_GIJL4k7wxAlov2EOPEFXgOR_puyVNBW6wWSE3RZARE1u-FydKMV6ATNBbOClX3ZnqOoE/s320/finished+flora+1000+px.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This little felt bird was such a delight to make! Seriously - I loved every minute of it. I want to make a whole flock of them in rainbow colors! And now you can make her too. <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2013/03/flora-the-spring-bird/" target="_blank">The pattern is free over at Sew, Mama, Sew!</a><br />
<br />
You do all the embroidery first - that makes it really easy to transfer the pattern and stitch. I highly recommend using <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/sulky-sticky-fabri-solvy" target="_blank">The Magical Embroidery Stuff</a> for this - and <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/03/why-right-stabilizer-is-like-good-bra.html" target="_blank">it's on sale this week</a>!<br />
<br />
The embroidery is all easy - just three of the most basic stitches. <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/01/embroidery-how-to-backstitch.html" target="_blank">Backstitch</a>. <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/02/embroidery-how-to-stitch-lazy-daisy.html" target="_blank">Lazy Daisy</a>. <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/02/embroidery-how-to-stitch-french-knot.html" target="_blank">French knot</a>.<br />
<br />
See where it ranks on my new 123 thimble difficulty ranking scale?<br />
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After you embroider it's all <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-how-to-whipstitch-felt.html" target="_blank">easy whipstitch to sew her together</a>. She's about 4 inches tall when finished - the perfect size to sit on my desk blinking peacefully at me while I work. :-)<br />
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<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/wool-felt" target="_blank">Buy my favorite felt here</a>. (Flora uses less than one sheet of peacock felt.)<br />
<br />
Read more about working with felt <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/search/label/felt" target="_blank">in these posts</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2013/03/flora-the-spring-bird/" target="_blank">Get the free Flora pattern here</a>.<br />
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Happy stitching!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-1992087922773880442013-03-26T08:30:00.000-04:002013-03-26T08:30:02.679-04:00Video - How to Attach Limbs to a Felt Softie<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6j3sUC0ChLs" width="500"></iframe></div>
<br />
Howdy everyone! This is the last video in the little felt mini-series I've been running. In this one I show you how to attach limbs to your softie. I demonstrate it with an arm, but you could use the same technique to attach a beak, antennae, tentacles - anything that might be growing out of your softie.<br />
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You can also use <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-ladder-stitch-invisible-way-to.html" target="_blank">ladder stitch</a> to attach things like this, but I like the look of the whipstitch here.<br />
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Here are the links to <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/search/label/felt" target="_blank">other posts about working with felt</a>. These are some of the most helpful. . .<br />
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<a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2012/02/ask-wendi-embroidering-on-felt.html" target="_blank">FAQ About Working with Felt</a><br />
<a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/02/felt-for-sale-in-shop-and-video-showing.html" target="_blank">Intro to Working with Felt</a><br />
<a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-how-to-whipstitch-felt.html" target="_blank">How to Whipstitch Felt</a><br />
<a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-give-your-softies-flat-feet-and.html" target="_blank">How to Attach Flat Bottoms to Felt Softies</a><br />
<br />
And, of course, you can <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/wool-felt" target="_blank">buy my favorite felt here</a>.<br />
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The little guy I've been working on in this series is an Oddball. You can <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/oddballs-felt-softie-pattern" target="_blank">find his pattern here</a>.<br />
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There's a free felt pattern coming later today. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-67247361902353527652013-03-25T08:00:00.000-04:002013-03-31T14:01:47.603-04:00Why the Right Stabilizer is Like a Good Bra :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When it comes to embroidery, the thread is like the gorgeous silk blouse hanging in your closet. It's pretty. It's colorful. It's touchable. It's lovely.<br />
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But try wearing that silk blouse without the right undergarment and - unless you're a very lucky woman - the results will be. . . not so lovely. :-)<br />
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Stabilizers are the undergarments of the embroidery world.<br />
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Different outfits require different undergarments. Sometimes a little chemise or a slip are all you want. Sometimes you need a supportive bra. Some outfits call for head-to-toe Spanx. :-) It all depends on what you're wearing and the look you're trying to achieve.<br />
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Same with stabilizers, so here's a little overview of which stabilizers serve what purpose.<br />
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Let's start with my favorite, shall we?<br />
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It's Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy - which is quite an unwieldy mouthful. I call it <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/sulky-sticky-fabri-solvy" target="_blank">The Magical Embroidery Stuff</a>. It's my everyday bra - good for just about any situation. :-)<br />
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It's a pattern transfer and stabilizer all in one - <i>and</i> you can print directly on it, which is awesome for all of us who use a lot of digital patterns. I recorded a whole <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2012/03/new-video-and-magical-new-embroidery.html" target="_blank">video showing it in action and what's so great about it</a>, but here's how I use it. . .<br />
<ul>
<li>To transfer a pattern to <i>any</i> fabric. That includes fleece, felt, and dark colors - all the tricky little buggers.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>To stabilize stretchy fabric for stitching. That's mostly T-shirts, but could be any stretchy fabric. </li>
</ul>
It's my go-to stabilizer. I'll tell you right now - I rarely use anything else. But I admit it's a little pricey. It costs a little bit more than $1 a sheet. I'm totally ok with spending that - just like I'm happy to spend $40 on a bra that's well made, won't fall apart in the wash, fits right, doesn't pinch, doesn't itch, and will work under almost everything I wear. Heck - I'd happily pay $100 if I could find all that.<br />
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But maybe you want some less expensive (though also less all-purpose) alternatives?<br />
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<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/solky-totally-stable" target="_blank">Sulky Totally Stable</a> is great for stabilizing stretchy knits and only costs $5 for a pack. You can <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-embroider-stretchy-fabrics.html" target="_blank">see it in use in this video</a>.<br />
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This is the girdle of the bunch - all about control and not really meant to be seen. <br />
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You'll need to transfer the pattern separately (<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/sulky-iron-on-transfer-pens" target="_blank">these</a> work well on light and medium colored shirts) - this is a stabilizer only. It goes on the inside of the shirt. You stitch right through it and then tear away the excess after you're done stitching. It works very well and I used it on lots of T-shirts before I fell hard for The Magical Embroidery Stuff.<br />
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<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/sulky-solvy" target="_blank">Sulky Solvy</a> is technically a stabilizer, but I've always used it for pattern transfers. (It's also a great deal at $5 a pack.) Like a slip under a sheer skirt, this can help you with tricky fabrics.<br />
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It's a clear film - not sticky. You can easily trace your design onto it, then hoop it right over the surface of your fabric. You stitch through it, then rinse it away. I used it on all dark-colored T-shirts (in combination with the Sulky Totally Stable) and also on fleece and felt if I didn't want to use iron-on transfer pens. You can <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-transfer-embroidery-patterns.html" target="_blank">see it in use in this video</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/printable-freezer-paper-sheets" target="_blank">Printable Freezer Paper</a> is new to me - and this one does replace my Magical Embroidery Stuff sometimes. It's like a chemise or tank that you can wear under your most casual clothes instead of a bra. You're not asking it for much - it just makes your day a little more comfortable. :-) I use this for my machine applique technique (Woo hoo! No more tracing patterns!) and also for cutting out felt pieces that don't require any embroidery. Easy. Fast. Accurate. And no tracing! You can see it in a video <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/02/felt-for-sale-in-shop-and-video-showing.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I'm also throwing hoops into the list. I don't think they're what most people think of when they talk about stabilizers, but they certainly stabilize your work and improve the look of your stitching. I can't imagine stitching without them - does that make them the underpants of the embroidery world? :-)<br />
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So there you have it! A rundown of all my favorite stabilizers - and probably too much information about my underwear. :-)<br />
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Happy stitching!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-52846407221504161492013-03-22T09:11:00.000-04:002013-03-22T09:11:07.601-04:00Cupcakes! Or, Why There's No Pattern Today :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Hi everyone! Happy Friday!<br />
<br />
I had planned to have a new pattern today, but I didn't quite finish it. I spent a little more time than usual doing Mom stuff this week - and it was terrific. Seriously! My 10 year old daughter used a blow torch for the first time. :-) Read on.<br />
<br />
Jo has a dream of opening a bakery when she's 17. She talks about it <i>all the time </i>- what she'll serve, what it will look like, what kind of music she'll play. She wants to have cheesecake, cookies, and other basic sweet bakery stuff - but she mostly wants to sell cupcakes. So she practices making cupcakes a lot. :-)<br />
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There's actually a limit to how many cupcakes I can eat, so any gathering of people is an opportunity for her to try her wares on them. This week we had two - back to back.<br />
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On Wednesday her homeschool group had a celebration of the vernal equinox and everyone brought spring-inspired food. Jo tried out her new mini cupcake pan and made sunshine cupcakes. . .<br />
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Yellow cake, pale orange starbursts of buttercream frosting with a sprinkling of red sugar.<br />
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She also made bird's nest cupcakes. . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelUgTsmCvPtOJGZo1R0EvA3zam3701xlFScBr9S3mVQixpqT_Sf0ITmOUoK7EEqob2CyeJSFNsrQZfpto-9F7U2a0z3Lc-_DgwdFWFMNJvgcrsSnkC_Fk0QX4ua5RmWns5jVh/s1600/bird+nest+cupcakes+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelUgTsmCvPtOJGZo1R0EvA3zam3701xlFScBr9S3mVQixpqT_Sf0ITmOUoK7EEqob2CyeJSFNsrQZfpto-9F7U2a0z3Lc-_DgwdFWFMNJvgcrsSnkC_Fk0QX4ua5RmWns5jVh/s320/bird+nest+cupcakes+1000+px.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yellow cake (tinted green) with threads of green frosting, topped with speckled jellybeans.<br />
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But last night was the big night. My husband and I host a live trivia game once a month at our favorite local restaurant and Jo baked two kinds of cupcakes for the crowd. She had a box out for donations for some new baking supplies and a big stack of comment cards for tasters to fill out.<br />
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She made Grasshopper Cupcakes. . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cLyMzLjsZogbZYMesTgfCT8Dl4sDVi8-9PbfFJBebwfiHV2dS3oZWEkyX2orbME7FZv43dwz1nl0WLpSO9qCYNRJKovgZgDKiVcnRZy9ySiKp_3kc2Z-wkuidEDVkMG6ZQtH/s1600/grasshopper+cupcake+1000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cLyMzLjsZogbZYMesTgfCT8Dl4sDVi8-9PbfFJBebwfiHV2dS3oZWEkyX2orbME7FZv43dwz1nl0WLpSO9qCYNRJKovgZgDKiVcnRZy9ySiKp_3kc2Z-wkuidEDVkMG6ZQtH/s320/grasshopper+cupcake+1000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Devil's food cake with mint buttercream frosting, mini chocolate chip sprinkles and an Andes thin mint stuck in the top. She's been enjoying Girl Scout thin mint cookies lately - so that was the inspiration for this one.<br />
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She made a few mini versions of these too - and called them Crickets. :-) <br />
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She also made Lemon Meringue Cupcakes - my favorite of the evening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt-hWAF0yEvrPIefA-HsQVMyk_nqEA71I_bSij7cjcs87QjnO65QO1htigG2OwAfnPlmO4P1bllr213Yy2EGHFIGSijp3QOz86F9xEt2jHykt2QOdyN5SFFTdxvIidlRmNloq/s1600/lemon+meringue+cupcake+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt-hWAF0yEvrPIefA-HsQVMyk_nqEA71I_bSij7cjcs87QjnO65QO1htigG2OwAfnPlmO4P1bllr213Yy2EGHFIGSijp3QOz86F9xEt2jHykt2QOdyN5SFFTdxvIidlRmNloq/s320/lemon+meringue+cupcake+1000+px.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lemon cake with meringue frosting. See how the ridges of the frosting are all toasty? That's where the blow torch came in. :-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJb5E8eXj5YA2M47gHxdEjY6795inSdK6ZWjYHReh8AYjEGB9oi5y6nTt1YvD6E64q4BMbPFmZBAnWOIagLOSbS0Omx4cAxRiajac98tahO5aSQXRinA8jHe6367Z7REJz_QK/s1600/Jo+with+blow+torch+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJb5E8eXj5YA2M47gHxdEjY6795inSdK6ZWjYHReh8AYjEGB9oi5y6nTt1YvD6E64q4BMbPFmZBAnWOIagLOSbS0Omx4cAxRiajac98tahO5aSQXRinA8jHe6367Z7REJz_QK/s320/Jo+with+blow+torch+1000+px.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last time she made these <a href="http://www.jgeciglass.com/" target="_blank">a friend</a> suggested toasting the frosting - and gave her a blow torch! This was her first time trying it out. :-)<br />
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Awesome!<br />
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She spent the evening grinning from ear to ear, reading the comment cards and planning what flavors to bring next month. I think s'more cupcakes are on the menu. She wants to use that torch again!<br />
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So that's why there's no pattern this week. But look for two next week! A free one over at <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/" target="_blank">Sew, Mama, Sew</a> and something special here on Friday.<br />
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Have a great weekend everyone!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfQ6jnddHlrwIvfh9gtauJPILrIN_lwwSk37pcCrAPBitftiNuh6fVgMmPn7KMcllRrP3COa_9y2JePFVB1mpmuKijuSzvCaMZ8SneyV437Rs3IUd2ynyh4KRRniZVIDesqj5/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfQ6jnddHlrwIvfh9gtauJPILrIN_lwwSk37pcCrAPBitftiNuh6fVgMmPn7KMcllRrP3COa_9y2JePFVB1mpmuKijuSzvCaMZ8SneyV437Rs3IUd2ynyh4KRRniZVIDesqj5/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-60672892958330142992013-03-21T09:03:00.000-04:002013-03-24T14:57:07.145-04:00Show & Tell - a Herd of Huggable Elephants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYkGmouLNk5j-Ifg77gK1I5zuY6sk60CIEonIfqJI6PfPWSzzBtmJGXlctach_S8nJDLDcXN-Cnz_XQlyUXy50Xuq8VZGnJl1EPw4wjIPHUVay97vPe-YjnToSpxiHgEGZLt_/s1600/polly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYkGmouLNk5j-Ifg77gK1I5zuY6sk60CIEonIfqJI6PfPWSzzBtmJGXlctach_S8nJDLDcXN-Cnz_XQlyUXy50Xuq8VZGnJl1EPw4wjIPHUVay97vPe-YjnToSpxiHgEGZLt_/s320/polly.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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The <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=43190&c=ib&aff=43190" target="_blank">Six Months of Softies Club</a> launched less than a week ago - and three people have already sent me photos of their finished elephants!</div>
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This first one is from <a href="http://whileshenaps.typepad.com/whileshenaps/" target="_blank">Abby Glassenberg</a> (who is one of the other designers in the Six Months of Softies group). She named hers Polly and I love the little bow she added to one ear. <a href="http://whileshenaps.typepad.com/whileshenaps/2013/03/elephant-softie-from-six-months-of-softies.html" target="_blank">Click here to see more photos and read about the project</a>.</div>
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Abby writes. . .</div>
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<i>I'm finding it incredibly enjoyable to sew these one by one, and I've
already learned a smart trick for neatly attaching footpads from Wendi's
pattern. </i></div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2sZ53JVfS4yT4h4M97PXmaMItDru-EFbmivsAPczLPjDcTEdwAxNFSdIx_BownBzHZDdd5P6Mr2IowzejkpjSOwuzs6BuJQ-X0ftkDlBqOh_BRQqjv_5FQEKZpxmlWR7sZPn/s1600/Nap+and+Jo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2sZ53JVfS4yT4h4M97PXmaMItDru-EFbmivsAPczLPjDcTEdwAxNFSdIx_BownBzHZDdd5P6Mr2IowzejkpjSOwuzs6BuJQ-X0ftkDlBqOh_BRQqjv_5FQEKZpxmlWR7sZPn/s320/Nap+and+Jo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rachel made the elephant and the mouse - all in shades of pink. So cute! <a href="http://crafting365days.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/six-months-of-softies.html" target="_blank">She blogged about them here</a>.</div>
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Rachel writes. . .</div>
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<i>I signed up for <a href="http://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/2013/03/15/six-months-of-softies-come-join-the-fun/#more-14485">this</a> yesterday and couldn't wait for the pattern to
arrive, so I was very excited to find it in my inbox. I got straight to
it and found it very easy to make and the instructions were very clear
with bonus video tutorials to help if you were having difficulties. I am
so glad I signed up for this sew along.</i></div>
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To anyone thinking of signing up I say DO IT I'm sure you won't regret it making these two was so much fun!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23FXdPZWaxzEFclVSZrrp04nIBiZzj3pHZXP-WQmOc7RdYPLsflzDt8-iMiwkLh8h-nrxbuf3Uk8AT7OkfpMaAa0MOWzZ_3EXe85crg6Bia6C0uFrX_bWHLpBOctmVWj7xmnB/s1600/elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23FXdPZWaxzEFclVSZrrp04nIBiZzj3pHZXP-WQmOc7RdYPLsflzDt8-iMiwkLh8h-nrxbuf3Uk8AT7OkfpMaAa0MOWzZ_3EXe85crg6Bia6C0uFrX_bWHLpBOctmVWj7xmnB/s320/elephant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And finally - Naomi made this sweetie in light grey fleece. I love the subtle stripey texture in the heathered fleece - and she looks so cuddly!<br />
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Want to make your own? <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=43190&c=ib&aff=43190" target="_blank">Join Six Months of Softies!</a> The elephant and mouse are just the first of six brand new patterns to come - all exclusive to club members.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMIcr5-I45ZyAB-9lpxGfk2FwWDlEKDl_sj9W94LvRdZMqish16emMxdEuRk5aN3jyG3J6QQ4iEzQgUnh1bfgGLWDRUG5h4cF69IRY1NDiqCfhffW2FxJnYhs-DQN1rmOMORI/s1600/softies+1+collage+1000+px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMIcr5-I45ZyAB-9lpxGfk2FwWDlEKDl_sj9W94LvRdZMqish16emMxdEuRk5aN3jyG3J6QQ4iEzQgUnh1bfgGLWDRUG5h4cF69IRY1NDiqCfhffW2FxJnYhs-DQN1rmOMORI/s320/softies+1+collage+1000+px.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've seen what's coming for two of those question marks and I can't wait to make them myself! <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=43190&c=ib&aff=43190" target="_blank">Join the club</a> and sew them with me! :-)<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqlov17YEbN4C9KpGp2cJ8vV-uVL-3LKxmkkxR1WmMuap6EQf1iuPk17KZ2x1PWQqRMNuEGSsdqOnN6ckOU7H4P8BQnvFkNNSbDfwY-3hugeyujcHKS2nehLPXcfs9GQN3k30/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqlov17YEbN4C9KpGp2cJ8vV-uVL-3LKxmkkxR1WmMuap6EQf1iuPk17KZ2x1PWQqRMNuEGSsdqOnN6ckOU7H4P8BQnvFkNNSbDfwY-3hugeyujcHKS2nehLPXcfs9GQN3k30/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-73289980597770534082013-03-20T08:53:00.003-04:002013-03-24T15:05:57.328-04:00The One Quilting Supply I Can't Live Without<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGeGjrOLATr18PrKp05ieYIi_uWQurUx2-54XxGPcamLHWf8bgaTjs74qwvbTkwMzmCbTzFh4PnETz-kvN4howIOC81DYmqtPa0gpWHFB6ibXw-0vOVlEE9ihfP7uA9fEEFk6/s1600/buttonholes+close+crinkles+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGeGjrOLATr18PrKp05ieYIi_uWQurUx2-54XxGPcamLHWf8bgaTjs74qwvbTkwMzmCbTzFh4PnETz-kvN4howIOC81DYmqtPa0gpWHFB6ibXw-0vOVlEE9ihfP7uA9fEEFk6/s400/buttonholes+close+crinkles+1000+px.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Batting. Good quality batting.</div>
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You don't want to mess around here. You probably just spent a couple hundred dollars on fabric and a good bit of your time making a beautiful quilt top. You're about to put it all together and finish the quilt. You need good batting.</div>
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I've gotten a lot of questions lately asking for batting recommendations. Luckily - that's an easy question for me to answer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBeQ9DE6Y-CLXhstqR5OvfYTvy1b-yo0YcMnZWAs32fOB7Xc1Es7_uYvAgeEDhDIBYGXNw8ruPCC1er7gSqPj8N71swuPBFqBPPivaFnYMIx1hCNtqkK93F8cIP43quKTQQTD/s1600/wn-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBeQ9DE6Y-CLXhstqR5OvfYTvy1b-yo0YcMnZWAs32fOB7Xc1Es7_uYvAgeEDhDIBYGXNw8ruPCC1er7gSqPj8N71swuPBFqBPPivaFnYMIx1hCNtqkK93F8cIP43quKTQQTD/s1600/wn-big.jpg" /></a></div>
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Warm & Natural 100% cotton batting.<br />
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It is - hands down - the best batting I've ever used. Every once in a while the place I shop runs out and I <i>need</i> a batting right away so I buy another brand and it's <i>always</i> terribly disappointing.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here's what's so awesome about it. . .</b></span><br />
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<b>It doesn't beard.</b> That's when the fibers of the batting start to migrate out the front of your quilt. It looks <i>awful</i> and there's no way to fix it once it starts. :-(<br />
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<b>It's the perfect weight</b> - not too heavy, not too light.<br />
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<b>It's beautiful for hand <i>or</i> machine quilting. </b>That's important to me because I like to do both. (Heads-up! I'll be doing a whole week of hand-quilting videos in April!)<b><br /></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fk_Klw6x-ipTQ2RKe17Y37Rvk6Kk34r4Rl8tsDt0QOnDXkq84MMUpcjyyhj0rLEEWNh2LwAQV7cqSikOE0ZdjiXx1WUgP_y8iijUt1HZEbexhS6we5PNIUmXamY9BdKF-Adx/s1600/finished+quilt+flat+white+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fk_Klw6x-ipTQ2RKe17Y37Rvk6Kk34r4Rl8tsDt0QOnDXkq84MMUpcjyyhj0rLEEWNh2LwAQV7cqSikOE0ZdjiXx1WUgP_y8iijUt1HZEbexhS6we5PNIUmXamY9BdKF-Adx/s320/finished+quilt+flat+white+background.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<b>You can quilt up to 10" apart.</b> This is really important to me for the style of quilts I design. (See <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/scary-squares-monster-quilt-pattern" target="_blank">the monster quilt</a>? The basic blocks are 10 inch squares. I did that on purpose!) Lots of battings have to be quilted 2-4" apart.<br />
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<b>The amount of shrinkage is perfect.</b> See the crinkly <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/buttonholes-quilt-pattern" target="_blank">Buttonholes quilt</a> at the top? That's exactly the amount of crinkle I like. Quilt your quilt without pre-shrinking the batting. Bind it and toss it in the washer and dryer. When it comes out it will be perfect. <br />
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<b>It doesn't shed cotton.</b> I'm lazy and often leave the batting hanging out around the edges of my quilt while I do the quilting. Some battings will shed cotton fibers all over outside of the quilt while I work - which means I have to painstakingly remove them with masking tape when I'm all done. That doesn't happen with Warm & Natural.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>It holds up to lots of machine washing and drying.</b> I've had some of my quilts for many years now - and I use them. That means they've been washed and dried many, many, many times. The ones with Warm & Natural look like new - no shifting or bunching at all.<br />
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So there you go! Lots of independent quilt shops carry Warm & Natural. As far as big box stores go, the Joann's by me only carries it in crib and king size (?) but Hancock's carries all the sizes. It also comes on a roll so you can buy yardage, but I usually get the precut battings in bags - just because it's easier for me to store.<br />
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One more thing - they're not paying me for this post. I'd be happy to be a paid spokesperson - but I'm just an enthusiastic fan. :-)<br />
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Happy quilting!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1c5zuHAMHBovBn0be1TLH7GGwcy-YicKGkmhzNUa3X_pvlMarUbE-tSRKljbCWbPVyoUr2SveLGn5I_KgH6KsZfjysTOJJ3f8HhEMc_7_dS2vMGa0hh7-6Hmvdp9Rm4TK5ZX/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1c5zuHAMHBovBn0be1TLH7GGwcy-YicKGkmhzNUa3X_pvlMarUbE-tSRKljbCWbPVyoUr2SveLGn5I_KgH6KsZfjysTOJJ3f8HhEMc_7_dS2vMGa0hh7-6Hmvdp9Rm4TK5ZX/s1600/avatar+with+hat+etsy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-14661046722530798722013-03-19T08:46:00.000-04:002013-03-25T11:43:50.487-04:00How to Give Your Softies Flat Feet and Flat Bottoms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is Napolean and Josephine - the first pattern in the <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=43190&c=ib&aff=43190" target="_blank">Six Months of Softies </a>Club that just launched last week.<br />
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Like any self-respecting elephant, Josephine has nice flat feet at the bottom of her trunk-like legs. She also has a flat bottom that helps her sit nicely.<br />
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Napolean has a flat bottom too. See?<br />
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<a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/franklin-the-fat-cat-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Franklin the Fat Cat</a>, <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/the-eggheads-softies-pattern" target="_blank">the Eggheads</a> and <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/oddballs-felt-softie-pattern" target="_blank">the Oddballs</a> also have flat feet and/or bottoms. You might be a little daunted at sewing a flat bottom to what is essentially a tube of fabric - but it's really not that tricky.<br />
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There are two techniques - one for use with larger pieces going through the sewing machine, the other for smaller, hand sewn felt softies. I've got a photo tutorial for the first one and a video for the second one - because the second method involves faith and I know some of you won't believe it until you see it. :-)<br />
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<b>With the Sewing Machine</b><br />
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Cut your round foot and sew your leg or body into a tube. Do not freak out when you think about putting them together. We're going to break it up into sections and take it one section at a time.<br />
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Fold the round part in half and put a pin in the fold at each side. Open it up. Fold it in half the other way, so the pins match up, and put pins in the two new folds. You've divided the circle into perfect fourths without using a protractor. :-)<br />
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Now we'll divide the leg into fourths. Fold it in half so the seam is at one fold. Put a pin in the opposite fold. Now refold it so the pin and the seam match up and put two pins in the new folds. See? Perfect fourths - no measuring.<br />
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Put the two pieces together, matching pins.<br />
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Now take it just one quadrant at a time, fitting the curve of the round piece to the edge of the tube. Add more pins as needed. Fleece (like I'm using in this photo) is a dream to do this with. The fleece just stretches right into the curve and doesn't need many pins. Non-stretchy fabrics might need a few more. I like to divide the quadrant in half and put in a pin. Then if it needs more, divide each half in half and put in a pin. Keep going until you feel like it's all held together neatly - then run the thing through the sewing machine. I like to sew with the flat part down so I can see (and control) the excess fabric in the tube.<br />
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<b>Hand Sewing</b><br />
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For smaller, hand sewn felt softies it's even easier - but you do need to have faith in your pattern designer. It looks like there's NO WAY this the little round bit will fit on the tube - but it will. I show you the whole process in one shot from start to finish.<br />
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See? It fits right on there- almost like I used math or something to calculate the exact size needed. Which is exactly what I did - and then I tested it a couple of times to make sure I did that math right. :-)<br />
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Ready? Go give your softies some flat feet and cute sittable bottoms. :-)<br />
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Happy sewing!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-43441560625349881782013-03-18T10:15:00.002-04:002013-03-18T10:15:38.949-04:00SALE! Regular Softie Patterns 20% Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Monday everyone!<br />
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All regular softie patterns are on sale this week - including the new ones from the Monster Horde collection!<br />
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1. <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/category/sale" target="_blank">Find all the patterns here</a>.<br />
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2. Use code <span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CUDDLY</b></span></span> for <span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>20% off</b></span></span>.<br />
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3. Make something fun and huggable. :-)<br />
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Sale ends at midnight EST on Friday 3/22.<br />
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Have a great week everyone!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-77179682371066998122013-03-15T08:30:00.000-04:002013-03-24T14:57:07.157-04:00Announcing - Six Months of Softies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love designing patterns for you all to make. And mostly I'm pretty happy doing that all on my own, in my PJs surrounded by my family and my dog - and with the kitchen nearby. But sometimes it's nice to play with someone else. :-)<br />
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I follow a lot of other toy designers online. I read their blogs, buy from their shops, chat with them on Twitter, and have <a href="http://pinterest.com/wendi_gratz/softie-goodness/" target="_blank">a Pinterest board full of inspirational pins</a>. Earlier this year I decided to invite a few of them for a playdate. A six month playdate where we share patterns, learn each others favorite tips and tricks, find out what our favorite tools are, where to find the best supplies, etc.<br />
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Even more exciting than sharing information with each other - I wanted to introduce them to YOU. I know you like to make softies. I love what you make with my patterns! I know you're hungry for more information - and more patterns - but sometimes it's hard finding just what you're looking for in the sea of stuff available online. So I decided to make some personal introductions. :-) <br />
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I invited five designers whose work I admire to participate - and they said yes! And so Six Months of Softies was born - an exclusive club for people who love to (or want to learn to) make softies. You can <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=43190&c=ib&aff=43190" target="_blank">get all the details here</a> - but here it is in a nutshell. For $50 you get to join the club. There's no secret handshake or decoder ring - though that would be awesome. What you <i>do</i> get is an email every month with a brand new exclusive pattern from a different designer - plus tips and tricks and additional info from that designer. <b>At the end of the six months you'll have a bundle of new patterns - and a bunch of new skills.</b><br />
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The clubhouse opens today - and since this whole thing was my idea I'm contributing the first pattern. :-)<br />
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Meet Napolean and Josephine - a very large elephant and a very tiny mouse.<br />
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The elephant is a very huggable 10 inches tall (and just as broad). She's made of cuddly polar fleece and is very easy to sew up. Expect to spend an afternoon on her.<br />
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The mouse is just under 3 inches tall. He points his nose up in the air to make himself seem taller, but it doesn't really work. He's all hand sewn from felt - a project perfect for toting around in your purse or working on while you watch TV. Expect to spend a couple of evenings working on him. <br />
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<a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=43190&c=ib&aff=43190" target="_blank">Sign up for Six Months of Softies now</a> and their pattern will pop into your inbox within 24 hours - along with tips and tricks for making them.<br />
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Have a great weekend everyone! Hope to see you around the clubhouse!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-60044338890193896052013-03-14T08:14:00.001-04:002013-03-14T08:16:14.162-04:00Show & Tell - Scary Squares Wedding Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Janice has been hard at work making a <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/scary-squares-monster-quilt-pattern" target="_blank">Scary Squares quilt</a> for her daughter's awesome-sounding monster-themed wedding. Yes - a monster-themed wedding! Take a look at the terrific Save the Date cards. . .<br />
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Look how she changed one of the blocks to look like the right hand monster on the card.<br />
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Cute, no? And she keeps going! I love how she played with the blocks to make them her own!<br />
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I LOVE the hair added to this guy!<br />
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And look! She cut printed colorful eyeballs from some fun eyeball fabric to make the eyes on this guy. And added eyes to the tips of the antennae!<br />
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Instead of the knotted hair on this one she used loops of ribbon, catching both ends of the ribbon in the stitching.<br />
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And there are more! Check out the rest of the blocks (and the rest of the Show & Tell photos for the month so far) right <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447054078698392.1073741825.106650112738792&type=1" target="_blank">here</a>. And remember - I'm drawing a gift certificate at the end of the month for one lucky Show & Tell contributor - and one at the end of April from all the Monster Horde contributors in March and April. <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/03/show-tell-and-contest.html" target="_blank">Details here</a>.<br />
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Want to make your own Scary Squares quilt? <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/scary-squares-monster-quilt-pattern" target="_blank">Get the pattern right here</a>. And play with it!<br />
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Happy sewing!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-45937360043225041632013-03-13T08:30:00.000-04:002013-03-13T08:30:02.615-04:00New Starry Night Quilt Block - The Black Hole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDRDGm7HUo7xd9BeL1rCBYk0iKFLCqihnoEhtR324DxUG6nSbbcEMiTBREM-IIPvG7_ejLQcjNutzI0NeNpoSC1ROLjj9PQEqxBTi97pk_eNEI83xyOGXktezMEkreAg8GtX5/s1600/finished+block+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDRDGm7HUo7xd9BeL1rCBYk0iKFLCqihnoEhtR324DxUG6nSbbcEMiTBREM-IIPvG7_ejLQcjNutzI0NeNpoSC1ROLjj9PQEqxBTi97pk_eNEI83xyOGXktezMEkreAg8GtX5/s320/finished+block+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's block #3 in the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/starry-night-quilt-block-of-the-month-pattern" target="_blank">Starry Night Block of the Month Club</a>! A Black Hole!<br />
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This one's my favorite so far - I love the vibrant colors!<br />
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The Black Hole is a bit bigger than the other blocks so far - the finished block is a full 16 1/2 inches. It's a bit more complicated too. I replaced the solid center block of a traditional Sawtooth Star with a pieced center square forming the black hole. It's still all easy squares and half-square triangles.<br />
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Speaking of half-square triangles. . . someone asked me if I could make up a cheat sheet showing how to make those blocks so she would have a printed reference when she was away from her computer and at her sewing machine. What a great idea! I made up a one-page handy-dandy cheat sheet and added a link to download it right in <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2013/01/video-how-to-make-half-square-triangle.html" target="_blank">the post with the video showing in more detail how to sew a half-square triangle block</a>. You can download it <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7iB6O6UK7z1ZUxNelBlTzllb1k/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Want to get it on the star-making action? You'll get an email every
month with a new star block pattern - each adding just a bit more
complexity. At the end of twelve months you'll be a star-making expert -
and you'll have enough blocks to join together into a twin-sized quilt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQs6JWLf0USiJyOQDidQCgINo1VhEc-6Il7j2YUElMKWiglTe6cwRWREAWK9X5vJpPx4kemAhmHAK91gIizI796RCzZH3zJMyFlawMtH2gSI3GpjemsoHzWLdKsdqqNMrTcoBh/s1600/starry+night+cover+3+1000+px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQs6JWLf0USiJyOQDidQCgINo1VhEc-6Il7j2YUElMKWiglTe6cwRWREAWK9X5vJpPx4kemAhmHAK91gIizI796RCzZH3zJMyFlawMtH2gSI3GpjemsoHzWLdKsdqqNMrTcoBh/s320/starry+night+cover+3+1000+px.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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This shows the three stars we have so far. Nine more to go! Next up - a Neutron Star. <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/starry-night-quilt-block-of-the-month-pattern" target="_blank">Sign up here!</a><br />
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Happy quilting!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-42473207499129801282013-03-12T08:00:00.000-04:002013-03-25T11:34:59.232-04:00Video - How to Whipstitch Felt<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GwCp-_V-SiA" width="500"></iframe></div>
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I've already got <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAykcosWod4" target="_blank">a video showing the basics of how to whipstitch</a>. It's a great way to sew up a stuffing opening in a softie, and that's what I demonstrate in the original.<br />
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When you're working with felt, the basic mechanics of how to whipstitch are the same. But felt is a little different than regular fabric - it's thicker and you don't have to turn the edges under. These make it a delightful fabric to work with (especially <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/wool-felt" target="_blank">wool felt</a>) but they also mean that there are a couple of new things to think about when you whipstitch on it. That's what I show you in this video.<br />
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Happy sewing!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-1547829861348298812013-03-11T09:30:00.000-04:002013-03-11T17:14:54.978-04:00Snippiness on Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhl7lUr1YssCWplk4Pi2I93NCsmD150XEkyl-tDRO2WV72iS9OnaS-b7bcFxiS7bRRfOZcjGsw0EAYR25T-G21UiaBGr-CrSio7bbW-12AbHgCETGrEPSfrrrZkJojaaVVWps/s1600/polkadot+set+1000+px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhl7lUr1YssCWplk4Pi2I93NCsmD150XEkyl-tDRO2WV72iS9OnaS-b7bcFxiS7bRRfOZcjGsw0EAYR25T-G21UiaBGr-CrSio7bbW-12AbHgCETGrEPSfrrrZkJojaaVVWps/s320/polkadot+set+1000+px.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All scissors are 20% off this week. That's the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/polkadot-scissors" target="_blank">super-cute-and-springtime-fresh polkadot scissors</a> in the top photo. (These would be cute in an Easter basket for a little stitcher.)<br />
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The <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/teeny-tiny-scissors" target="_blank">itty-bitty-fit-in-an-Altoids-tin-but-have-big-finger-holes scissors</a>. (These are what I carry in my purse in an <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/itty-bitty-stitch-kit" target="_blank">Itty Bitty Stitch Kit</a>.) <br />
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<br />
<strike>And the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/kitty-snips-scissors" target="_blank">incredibly-cute-but-almost-sold-out-and-I-can't-get-anymore-so-get-them-now kitty snips</a>.</strike><br />
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<i>Update: Sorry - the kitty snips are all sold out. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7c0ad0zJ2LjpGlrg32isLpreKeg6E7571BMgmobVrmzyem7a8AHRinqMm7H7t_GLgsjBwsp2RvGsJIRH24sIN_ujrOvsp_wUp_d3gw26XAOfPCxpXib9uADcugwT2QaFwi2D/s1600/cat+scissors+group+1000+px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7c0ad0zJ2LjpGlrg32isLpreKeg6E7571BMgmobVrmzyem7a8AHRinqMm7H7t_GLgsjBwsp2RvGsJIRH24sIN_ujrOvsp_wUp_d3gw26XAOfPCxpXib9uADcugwT2QaFwi2D/s320/cat+scissors+group+1000+px.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Find them all <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/category/sale" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Use code <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>SNIPPY</b></span> for 20% off.<br />
<br />
Sale ends at midnight EST on Friday 3/15.<br />
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Have a great week everyone!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-72392830306211094582013-03-08T08:30:00.000-05:002013-03-24T14:50:33.141-04:00Free Pattern - Easter Eggstras :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4df4TN1NdlLGgjRQfpg_JawVRW_Hyi9NDfXmtOpMgnZlejPmMghpfuTlK4uIMyP9VLQZoI5u6YLo4XFH-gnrPpeSSrddLj-kDXiRFtk8eqIVMlwZalgak8VfA4lLUgav_Fkz/s1600/easter+eggstras+cover+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4df4TN1NdlLGgjRQfpg_JawVRW_Hyi9NDfXmtOpMgnZlejPmMghpfuTlK4uIMyP9VLQZoI5u6YLo4XFH-gnrPpeSSrddLj-kDXiRFtk8eqIVMlwZalgak8VfA4lLUgav_Fkz/s320/easter+eggstras+cover+1000+px.JPG" width="218" /></a></div>
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Free pattern coming on Monday - especially for newsletter subscribers. Are you on The List? <a href="http://eepurl.com/byYH9" target="_blank">Sign up here!</a><br />
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The pattern will be for the removable bunny ears and teeny tiny Easter egg you see in the photo up there. I made them to fit <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/oddballs-felt-softie-pattern" target="_blank">The Oddballs</a> - but guess what? They fit all kinds of things!<br />
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In a completely unscientific test, Jo and I tried them on almost all the softies in the enormous pile on her bed. (Seriously. I don't know how she can sleep in there!) They fit tons of random teddy bears and softies - including her old American Girl dolls. Look at Ivy in her cute bunny ears!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEjBzY5CmYsSYH5-hmGlUGrrPEZ2NIhG0xUNYwlpdFb92P7rS8TmfPb-RI1XGix8-uaPTDqXT-zMBpdjJgkJ1uzaIYpR3ni_oWgqX6650qu28gBBCFwJDDS2NqbtAHquIvVIb/s1600/Ivy+with+headband+1000+px.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEjBzY5CmYsSYH5-hmGlUGrrPEZ2NIhG0xUNYwlpdFb92P7rS8TmfPb-RI1XGix8-uaPTDqXT-zMBpdjJgkJ1uzaIYpR3ni_oWgqX6650qu28gBBCFwJDDS2NqbtAHquIvVIb/s320/Ivy+with+headband+1000+px.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ignore the red splotches on her face. Jo was obsessed with diseases for a while and stuck clay dots all over Ivy's face to give her smallpox. FYI - red modeling clay <i>will</i> stain the skin of American Girl dolls. <br />
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And here's the egg in Ivy's hands. It's tiny - just 2 inches tall.<br />
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Wouldn't it be so pretty to stitch up a bunch of eggs
and pile them in a teeny tiny basket? I include a blank egg pattern
along with the fancy one so you can try your hand at designing your own
fancy pattern. Fun!<br />
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So even if you're not interested in making any <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/oddballs-felt-softie-pattern" target="_blank">Oddballs</a> - download the free pattern and make bunny ears and eggs for some small friend - or for yourself. :-)<br />
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The pattern will be in the newsletter that goes out at 8 am EST on Monday morning - so <a href="http://eepurl.com/byYH9" target="_blank">get on the list</a> before then if you want it! And please pass this on to any friends who might be interested. Thanks!<br />
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Have a great weekend everyone! Make something that makes you happy!<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-60288644717907934342013-03-07T08:00:00.000-05:002013-03-07T13:49:00.633-05:00Show & Tell and a Contest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Congratulations to Janice! I drew her name from everyone who sent in Show & Tell photos last month and she wins a gift certificate to the <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Shiny Happy World Shop</a>. Did you all see <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=442364229167377&set=a.433768033360330.93530.106650112738792&type=3&theater" target="_blank">the fabulous Beast Bags she made</a> as wedding favors for the kids coming to her daughter's wedding? So. Much. Fun!<br />
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Want in on the action? Send me a photo of something you made with a Shiny Happy World pattern. I'll post it to the Facebook album for the month and draw a winner at the end of March.<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Monster-Making Madness</b></span></span><br />
But wait - there's more! I'm going to do a special drawing at the end of April - just from the photos of items made from <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/category/monsters" target="_blank">the new Monster Horde pattern collection</a>. We'll call it Monster-Making Madness.<br />
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Do you have a bad habit of buying a pattern and then letting it sit. . . and sit. . . and sit? Yeah - me too. I'm always impressed by those of you who buy a pattern and <i>make it right away</i>. Lots of you bought Monster patterns during the release last week (thanks!) - and <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>I can't wait to see what you make!</b></span> So. . . I'm going to give you a little nudge to get you started right away. :-) You could win a gift certificate to buy even more patterns! (Or tools or supplies. Your choice.)<br />
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Also - if you have any questions that come up while you're making your monsters - ask! I'll answer them in blog posts over the next couple of months to help all of you with your monster-making. I've already got a couple of videos recorded and other posts planned but I'm eager to hear what else you want help with.<br />
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So. Make your monsters! <a href="mailto:blockhead@wendigratz.com" target="_blank">Send me your photos!</a> Enter to win a gift certificate!<br />
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I'll draw a gift certificate winner from all photos (non-monster too) submitted for March, another for all photos submitted for April, and another one from all <i>Monster-Making Madness</i> photos submitted for both months. So monster entries get two chances to win!<br />
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One more thing - if you're making the quilt I know you may not be done by the end of April. Send photos of finished blocks! Really - I can't wait to see them!<br />
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<i>Update - Someone asked if free patterns count. Of course they do! You can <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html" target="_blank">find most of them right here</a>. </i><br />
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Let the Madness begin!<br />
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Happy stitching!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-47918582667677955882013-03-06T08:35:00.003-05:002013-03-24T14:50:33.103-04:00Bunnies (and Other Easter-ish Things)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Easter is March 31 this year. Have you made a bunny yet? I have a ton of Easter-ish patterns - including a bunch of freebies. Here's a quick round-up. . .<br />
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There is, of course, the Bartholomew Bunny softie pattern - made up there in the first photo from a vintage sheet. So pretty and soft! You can <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/bunny-softie-sewing-pattern-pdf" target="_blank">get the pattern here</a>.<br />
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If you want something that sews up even faster, try the DIY Bunny Kits. Warning - there are only a couple of these left in the shop and I won't get a reorder in time for the holiday. If you want one - don't dawdle! <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/bunny-kit" target="_blank">Get it now</a>.<br />
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Perhaps you'd like to sew a treat for a bunny, instead of the bunny itself?<br />
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This Carrot Full o' Candy is easy to sew - and the pattern's free! <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/03/carrot-full-o-candy-free-pattern.html" target="_blank">Get it here</a>.<br />
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Maybe you like embroidery more than sewing? Stitch up <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/share-hares-bunny-embroidery-pattern-pdf" target="_blank">these friendly bunnies</a>.<br />
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Or these <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/03/little-chick-with-big-feet-embroidery.html" target="_blank">Little Chicks with Big Feet</a>. These are especially fun for kids to color and stitch - and the pattern's free.<br />
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Maybe you fancy getting felty? <br />
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Stitch up <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2012/03/free-pattern-embroidered-felt-easter.html" target="_blank">this pretty egg</a>! The pattern is free and the complex design is a dream to transfer with <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/sulky-sticky-fabri-solvy" target="_blank">The Magical Embroidery Stuff</a>. You know it works on <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/wool-felt" target="_blank">felt</a> too, right?<br />
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Or <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-felt-hen-pattern-holiday-ornaments.html" target="_blank">these felt hens</a>. It's another free pattern. With a heavy filler they make great pattern weights, but with plastic pellets they're perfect little pocket pals/Easter basket treats.<br />
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Of course, Easter basket treats don't have to be Easter-ish - anything small and fun is a good treat. Kids love these easy snakes - <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/03/snake-charmers-free-pattern.html" target="_blank">get the free pattern here</a>.<br />
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And <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/blockheads-beanbag-sewing-pattern-pdf" target="_blank">these Blockhead beanbags</a> are really fun to play with after the egg hunt is over.<br />
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So - are you ready for some springtime sewing? Have fun!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29910035.post-2108234152348827442013-03-05T10:19:00.000-05:002013-03-25T11:39:33.748-04:00Video - How to Blanket Stitch with NO KNOTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You all liked Floyd - with his bunny slippers, his teddy bear, and his blankie. But you have to blanket stitch around the edge of the blankie and several of you reminded me that I haven't done a video for that yet (even though you've been asking very nicely).<br />
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Done!<br />
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Not only do I show you how to blanket stitch - I show you how to do it without any knots. No knots! So it looks perfectly perfect everywhere! And for those who are <i>really</i> obsessed with perfection, I show you how to mark the fabric before stitching so all your stitches are perfectly spaced.<br />
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Here's the video. . .<br />
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I show this on felt because I'm currently obsessed with felt, but you can use the same technique on fleece if you like.<br />
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Ready? Go blanket stitch something! <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/oddballs-felt-softie-pattern" target="_blank">Here's the Floyd pattern</a> if you want to start with his blankie. :-) And <a href="http://shinyhappyworld.bigcartel.com/product/wool-felt" target="_blank">here's some felt</a> if you have a different project in mind. <br />
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Happy stitching!<br />
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Best,<br />
Wendi<br />
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<br />Hi! I'm Wendi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06627414595010167147noreply@blogger.com2