Our kids attend a local preschool two full days a week. I tell you, it’s good for all parties involved.

They each have two teachers and I think the world of them. During a fall with so much transition, it has been wonderful to know that these teachers are a steady presence and that they learned the little ins and outs of our kids quickly. We’d just moved back from San Diego but my husband was still traveling there every week to finish up a work assignment, our house wasn’t quite finished yet so we were living at my parents’ house (bless you, Mom and Dad) and 95% of our belongings were elsewhere. Because preschool started September 1st, it meant a 40 minute commute twice a week to Kansas City get them there. I became very good at killing a day in Kansas City. (Thanks for the free WiFi, Panera!)

Long story short, these teachers were an essential piece of the puzzle in our move. The kids LOVE this preschool (so do we), so it was a mostly uneventful transition. But there were moments where I could tell that the hectic stuff was getting to them. Thankfully, we’re back to ‘normal’ (whatever that is!) and our 40 minute commute is now a mere four minutes door to door. It’s pretty sweet.

With kids of my own in ‘school’, I find myself on the flip side of teaching. In the short 7 years that I taught, I think I got over 20 coffee mugs. They were all cute and whatnot but…fun fact… I don’t drink coffee. Ha!

I knew I wanted to make something for them for Christmas and picked the Zippy Strippy bag pattern from Atkinson Designs (I found mine at Pink Chalk). The pattern includes directions for three sizes and I made the medium size. It’s super easy and fast to make these. And, I could stand in the button section of the store picking buttons for hours. Don’t tell me that hasn’t happened to you, too.

The kids each took turns sitting on my lap as I sewed these together. Graham loves to put his hands on top of mine, thinking that he’s pushing the fabric through. There was a draft of sorts once I had them all done. I let the kids pick which one each teacher would get. It was funny watching them decide!

Will they be used for makeup? Car essentials? Who knows. I’ll tell you what my kids think they are…..

M&M holders.

Not a bad idea, really.

Today I am sharing three quilts that were made in the summer of 2011. I have not shared them until now because, honestly, I didn’t know how I was going to sum up my thoughts enough to be able to write about them.

These are comfort quilts, made for a friend and her two young children. Sarah is a friend, our family photographer and, most recently, the photographer behind my pattern covers. She and I met when we taught at the same middle school. We were paired together for our school’s SSR reading program and each morning she’d sit in my classroom reading a novel. It was my first year of teaching and her last before leaving to stay home. She taught art and every. single. kid. LOVED her.

Though it was eight years ago when we met and neither of us are teaching anymore, we have remained friends and see each other for photography sessions. My husband and I have amazing images of our kids thanks to her. I call her “the kid whisperer” because she can get them to ham it up and captures their sassy personalities so well.

Sarah is just one of those people that is simply cool. Kind, caring, creative, faithful, friendly, loyal and funny. Think of the nicest person you know. Then double it and you’ve got Sarah.

Sarah’s husband lost a very long, nine year battle with cancer last summer. It was heartbreaking to hear her updates. They are one of the most faithful families I know and they never once lost hope that a miracle would happen. It was in those final weeks that I started these quilts. There were a lot of late nights spent sewing and thinking about them (and a whole lot of KLOVE on the radio). It was by far the most intense and somber sewing I have ever done. I had the quilts for her kids done and was working on hers when I heard the update that he had passed away.

All of the quilts are roughly 60×60 so that they can be big enough to cuddle under for many years, not just now when they are so young. I pieced the kids’ names into the backs of the quilts and I hope they like having something with their very own name on it. The one for her son (pictured first) is my own improvisational layout. The one for her daughter (pictured second) is the Strips and Stripes design from Malka Dubrawsky’s book Fresh Quilting. I made it from Art Gallery solids.

I finished two of them (for her kids) in June but knew that the third, the one for Sarah, needed a little something that I couldn’t do. There is a verse that is special to her and I asked my friend Angela Walters if she could quilt the verse into Sarah’s quilt. Having met Sarah before and knowing her for just a few hours, she immediately agreed. She actually proposed the idea of quilting the verse so that it would read correctly from the back of the quilt. I thought it was an incredible idea. Angela has written a post about how she did the quilting, because it was quite the process. You can read it here.

The verse reads: ““Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7)

You can see a bit more of it in this image, especially if you click on the image and zoom in:

Sarah’s quilt is made from my Seeing Squares quilt pattern, made in shot cottons and modified a bit by adding a row to the smallest size. Since I’d pieced the kids’ names into the back of theirs, I wanted to do something similar for Sarah’s. I didn’t have to think very long about it before deciding on the word: Loved.

———

I think about their sweet family every day. Through it all, they have handled everything with an incredible amount of grace and faith. It is difficult to know the right thing to say to her, so I could only think of one thing to do. I could sew for them.

2011 was a big one around here. Both personally, as we spent the year soaking up all that San Diego had to offer before moving back to Kansas City, and professionally, as it was the year I officially launched my pattern business. The business has grown by leaps and bounds since its start in February and I am excited to see what 2012 holds.

In looking back at completed projects, I am SO glad to see that the number of quilts and other projects sewn for my family and friends outnumbers those made for my business. That has been a goal for me… to not let the pattern business take over my sewing world so much that I loose sight of why I love sewing in the first place. Let’s hope that continues in the new year!

I am also incredibly thankful for the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild. Without that guild, I would not have finished (or even started!) a few of these quilts. I love the inspiration and motivation that our group provides!

Thank goodness for the handy dandy treasure that is the Flickr mosaic! Quilts made in 2011 (all but one bee quilt is shown!). If you haven’t read a blog post about one of these, hang with me. I’m working on catching up!

1. Zigzagged, 2. No Prints Allowed Challenge, 3. Seeing Squares- large quilt size, 4. Seeing Squares- baby quilt, 5. Oliver’s Zig Zag, 6. Wonderland Christmas Tree Skirt, 7. Wonderland Christmas Tree Skirt, 8. Table Runner, 9. Seeing Squares for Sarah, 10. Abbie’s Bright Stripes, 11. NICU Quilt, 12. Seeing Squares in Silk, 13. Wonky Little Houses, 14. Two quilts in Robert Kaufman booth, 15. Habitat Challenge Quilt

And sewn projects!

1. Sleepover Pajamas, Oliver + S, 2. Popover Dress, 3. Zippy Strippy bags, 4. Jumprope Dress, 5. Popover Dress, 6. Doll sleeping bags, 7. Stockings for the Kyrie Foundation, 8. Doll sized PJs!, 9. Christmas Stockings, 10. Oliver + S Sleepover Pajamas, 11. Bucket Hats from Oliver + S, 12. Cover Up Sewing Machine Cover, 13. Claire’s pillowcase, 14. Alex’s pillowcase

It is so much fun seeing everything in one place. It helps with the “what have I actually accomplished this year?” reflecting that we like to do around here. Love it!

As the clock ticks closer and closer to Christmas Day, I wanted to share a little Christmas-Sewing-Family-Handmade Gift Giving story that sums up my feelings about this time of year.

We are blessed to have large extended families that we celebrate with each year. This year, in an attempt to simplify things a bit and refocus, we asked each of our aunts and uncles to forgo purchasing a gift for our two kids. While celebrating at my aunt and uncle’s house on Sunday, my Aunt JoAnn handed each of my kids a gift bag and (looking at me) said, “This is not a gift. It’s a keepsake.” I was inwardly laughing, thinking that she’d found some clever loophole in our ‘no gifts, please’ request. Then I saw what was inside.

She and my uncle had given our kids the stuffed ornaments in the photo above. These aren’t just any ornaments mind you. They are ornaments I made for them with my own mom when I was three – just about my daughter’s age. I stuffed them and my mom stitched them closed. Then we gave them to my aunt and uncle and they’ve been decorating their tree ever since.

My aunt and I both explained to Eleanor how the ornaments were made and I could tell that she thought it was pretty special. She’s been “helping” me sew a lot lately and even said, “Maybe someday I can ask for my own sewing machine!” Graham is a little bit young for the history lesson, but he was quite excited to know that there was an ornament on the tree that he could touch without being told “No, Graham!”

To know that these will now be a part of our Christmas tree is a wonderful feeling. I love the whole circle of Christmas, family, giving, sewing and passing it all on.

I’m quite confident that no other gift could top that one.

(I know you’re reading this, Aunt JoAnn. Quit crying. You too, mom.)

I’ll leave you with my favorite photo from this season (so far!). Our kids whispering wishes to Ginger, our Elf on the Shelf.  (Yes. Totally on their own, my red headed/strawberry blonde children named their Elf Ginger. We think it’s funny, too.) It was the first time she’d dared to be in a place where they could potentially reach her. I love the expressions on each of their faces. So full of wonder!

To all of you, Merry Christmas.

Earlier this fall I learned that Kelly, a newish friend who photographed  my Zigzagged pattern, was organizing a HUGE fundraiser for the Kyrie Foundation. The Kyrie Foundation raises awareness and funds for research for pediatric brain cancers.

The event, Fishing for a Cure, was an art and gift auction in the Crossroads Art District here in Kansas City. She was in the market for some sponsors and silent auction items. She and I schemed up a auction-able set of Sleigh Bells Stockings. These are the stockings I made. A very quick photo was taken on the mantle before delivering them to Kelly, who was working day and night to prepare for the big event.

Her hard work paid off, though.

They raised $26,000 that night. Completely amazing.

Kelly and I decided that four stockings would be a good number, with the understanding that I could easily make one or two more if a larger family placed the winning bid. The pattern comes with three styles but also includes details for how to turn a favorite quilt block into additional styles. I thought that half square triangles would look cute as the fourth stocking.

All of the stockings are made from Moda Cross Weave fabrics. I used GreenBlue, GreenYellow, Wasabi and Apple. (which you can find at Pink Chalk Fabrics and Marmalade Fabrics)

With the stockings from Melissa (a pattern tester) still fresh on my mind, I added some embroidery to the polka dot stocking.

And lined them in some red and white American Jane fabric.

According to Kelly, the stockings raised some great money and went to a new home that night. I’m honored to have been a tiny part in that important evening.

Photo used with permission

The very best thing about writing patterns is seeing what people create from them.

I am working on our own stockings this weekend (because, as we all know, the cobbler’s children have no shoes). I thought I’d settled on my fabric picks, until I saw the photo above posted on Flickr. Kelly picked the most awesome fabrics and I am head over heels crazy for how she added her nephew’s name. Isn’t it cute?

Photo used with permission

Just check out what she did on the back!

Photo used with permission

Did you see the little snowflakes she stitched on it? Talk about an amazing gift!

Lisa, a fellow Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild member, made these stellar stockings. She used dupioni silk and did an amazing job- silk is not easy to sew. (Hint if you decide to try it: before any cutting, fuse the back of your silk to some woven fusible interfacing like Pellon SF101. Nothing should fray on you.) Lisa didn’t use interfacing, so I bow down to her and her mom. They did incredible work.

Lisa added some stitching like Melissa, a tester did. Check out those beautiful stitches!

Debbie made this fantastic tree skirt. Her color choices are fun and non-traditional. I really like the green and the teal together! She’s blogged about her tree skirt here.

Photo used with permission

And those buttons? Are you kidding me? How cool are these!?

 

Photo used with permission

Now… back to my own family’s stockings!

I am officially sewing again! Our house is settled enough to justify some quality time with my sewing machine. I’ve not really sewn in the last month, so it is a very welcome change in my routine.

Alas, the majority of what I am sewing can’t be shared for fear of a recipient seeing a Christmas gift early!

Instead, I’ll share a project from October. Our son, Graham, turned two and I made him a pair of  Sleepover Pajamas from Oliver + S as a gift. I used the Children at Play fabric from Sarah Jane of Michael Miller Fabrics. (fabric found at Fat Quarter Shop) The bicycle print is flannel and the trim is regular quilting cotton. The jammies are at once sweet and cuddly and very “boy.”

The best thing about the pattern (other than the fact that it is so well written and has so many professional finishes) is that the cuffs at the sleeves and pant legs can be let out  and folded down by clipping one little stitch. The photo above is from mid-October and Graham has gone on a growing binge lately. It’s time to snip those threads already!

The Sleepover Pajamas pattern offers an option for adding a ruffle at the collar and cuffs, perfect for a little girl.  I’m going to be spending part of the weekend working on a set of PJs from the pattern for both kids to wear on Christmas Eve.

Those, I could probably show you before Christmas. I’m pretty sure you won’t tell my kids.

The last few weeks have been quiet around here. But for good reason! Two weeks ago we moved into our new house! Fourteen months and four addresses later, we are HOME. And it feels gooooood.

[Why, yes. Graham is, in fact, wearing a princess dress in the photo above.]

The shipping container arrived safely from San Diego and emptied quickly.

The last box has been unloaded from the big pod-o-belongings that survived a year in storage.

Our kids are being super helpful.

Even if that means sitting in a special spot while we move boxes in the garage!

There are empty boxes with which to play.

And new places to record our time in this house. The kids are pointing to the “Moving Day!” heights on the growth chart. (Chart found here. Thank you, Pinterest!) And, yes, I totally let Eleanor dress herself.

The sewing studio, on the other hand…. well… it’s a work in progress. I’ve been unpacking the rest of the house have have yet to sew a single stitch, but hopefully that will change this weekend.

We are excited to be here with our belongings all in one place. And just in time for the holidays, too!

Of all of the things to focus on in starting a business, there is one that is at the top of my list. It’s not logo or website or marketing. It’s not the fabric choices or picking the right commercial printer.

For me, it’s pattern testing.

No one wants to make something from a pattern with errors. Especially not a pattern that they’ve paid good money to purchase. And definitely not an error that is found after cutting into out of print fabric.

I feel incredibly fortunate to know some wonderful and detail oriented women who happen to know how to sew. For the seven patterns I have out now, I’ve used a different combination of people for each. In all, I have twelve people who have tested patterns for me. It’s a magical mix of guild friends from the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild, former teaching friends, everyday friends, moms of friends and my own family members. Women who are new to sewing, women who have sewn for decades and everything in between.

It’s a big responsibility and I am incredibly grateful that they don’t take it lightly. Testing a pattern for me means much more than just looking it over. It means actually making the project. As crazy as it sounds, I’ve learned that that’s not always how patterns are tested.

Each of my patterns has been made by me at least twice (only after I’ve written the directions) and tested (a.k.a. actually made!) by multiple other testers. Each quilt is made in all of the size options. Is this more expensive on my end? Does it take a lot longer for a pattern to be ‘released’? You bet. But it is worth it and it’s something that I will always do.

The thing I love is that they trust me to take their honest feedback. I tell them to give me the nitty gritty. Is there phrasing that doesn’t make sense? An illustration that is needed?  Even things like the layout of the pages and the way the steps are numbered. I know that if one of them says, “It’s probably just me, but….” that it’s NOT just them. It’s an issue that someone else will have, too. One of the women told me, “I am very literal, so I hope you are OK with that.” I am more than OK with that…. that’s exactly what I want.

I am not naive enough to think that there won’t be something that is found down the road. No one who writes patterns wants that phone call or e-mail. But thanks to these women, I feel confident hitting ‘submit’ on the printing orders.

To Melissa, Jaime, Paula, Carla, Mary Anne, Amanda, Carrie, Allison, Krista, Denise, Nancy and my own beautiful mother….. I am beyond grateful. You are each so skilled in so many ways and I feel tremendously fortunate to have your careful eyes and talented hands involved in this business.

Fall Quilt Market was in Houston last weekend and there are so many posts floating around out there showing the wonderful new fabric lines and designs. Reading through your Google Reader is like your own personal market blog tour! I had a handful of pattern samples on display in three different booths: Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Brewer (a distributor) and Moda/United Notions (also a distributor). I made a baby sized Zigzagged quilt out of quilter’s linen for Robert Kaufman  (seen in the middle of the photo above) and loaned them my small sample of Seeing Squares (seen at top right). The Zigzagged quilt was apparently a hit with someone at RK… it has a new post-market owner! I thought that was pretty awesome!

A set of Sleigh Bells Stockings was on display in the United Notions booth. Melissa, a guild friend and an all-star pattern tester, made this very stocking during her test run. I made the other two samples that were elsewhere in the booth but hers was the star! I am infatuated with the embroidery she did on it.

In the Brewer booth, there were samples of Seeing Squares and of the Sleigh Bells Stockings. Both were made from dupioni silk. Brewer asked if I’d mind making some samples from silk. Having never worked with silk, and knowing that it has a reputation for fraying like crazy, I naturally said, “Sure!” Ha! I love how they turned out! The quilt has some great sparkle and Angela’s quilting made the quilt shimmer even more.

Angela and I have talked about doing a team post about tips for sewing/quilting with silk. Stay tuned!

A Market highlight for me was meeting Weeks Ringle. Along with her husband, Bill Kerr, Weeks is one of the masterminds behind Modern Quilt Studio (formerly FunQuilts). Their book Modern Quilt Workshop was one of the first and only modern quilting books out there and my copy is sooooo well loved and worn. Seriously. It’s one of the few books I have where I’ve made almost all of the projects inside. I won a Skype session on Weeks’ blog this summer but haven’t had a chance to cash it in yet. I am very much looking forward to chatting with them once we move into our house and they move into their new house/studio. I will tell you this- she might be tiny, but she is a dynamo! So energetic and friendly!

Another huge highlight was spending time with my pattern buddy, Carrie Bloomston of SUCH Designs. We both started our businesses around the same time and we’ve shared some great laughs, ideas and similar experiences. Her patterns are fantastic. She really has an eye for color and I think her Wonky Houses quilt is going to be on my cutting table very soon! Plus, she’s just plain nice and you can’t get better than that. That’s Carrie (in the stripes) along Kathy Mack and Jessica Levitt at the Modern Quilt Guild Meet Up hosted by the Houston MQG. Kathy is just as wonderful in person as she seems through her blog/store. I can’t say enough great things about her. Jessica was at Market promoting Modern Mix, her new book with Stash. Having read it cover to cover on the plane ride home, I can tell you that it’s AWESOME! I totally nabbed a copy for our future KC MQG guild library.

This display at Art Gallery caught my eye. Check out the color order on the pillow…. it matches the wall exactly! I’ve used the Art Gallery solids and oval elements in several quilts and could use those colors every day and never tire of them.

The fabric line that I am most excited about? A Stitch in Color, Malka Dubrawsky’s debut line with Moda. That bag above? It’s not pieced! It’s a cheater print, meaning it’s yardage that just looks like it’s pieced. Even those quilting lines are printed on it. The whole line is amazing. I would love to make a quilt for our bed with it. Someday!

Next Market (right here in Kansas City, Missouri!) will be much less leisurely for me… I’ll have my first booth! Time to bust out the calendar and plan, plan, plan. It’s a good thing I love making lists!