D Whynn Designs

Pattern Winners ** At Last **

Sorry about taking so long.  It seems that I have had a rather unpleasant reaction to something I've eaten last weekend, or perhaps it was all the paint and chemicals I've been in. Whatever the case, I've been operating this week in one very slow gear.

I really enjoyed reading what others were working on for the holidays. I cut two bags out last weekend and haven't touched them since.

Pattern winners are Chris who has been knitting up a storm and Shelly who has already made 7, yep that's s-e-v-e-n, bags for gift giving.

I've sent you both an email. Send me your address and I'll get this in the mail to you on Monday.

Thanks to all who commented -- and to you The Sister, I got you - you're on the list! Ho! Ho! Ho!

EDITED TO ADD:  Chris, the email I sent you was returned as Undeliverable. Please email me at INFO AT DWhynnDOT Com.

FINALLY - Two New Patterns & A Giveaway

I'm actually too embarrassed to admit to how long these patterns have been in the works. They have always been at the top of the list but it seems like for the past several months something else has come along that has been even higher on the Get It Done list.

First off the press is the Take the Steps Table Runner pattern. I designed this over the summer right after my local quilt shop got in all these fun summery batiks. Not the Christmas ones on the pattern cover, but the fruit ones shown below.

This would be a great project for a beginner or a quick and easy project for an experienced quilter.

This project takes 6 fat quarters and some yardage for the borders, backing and binding.

I have some Figgy Pudding Christmas fabric buried in my stash that I *hope* to have on my table this holiday season.

Next pattern is the Lella Bag, named after my daughter whose name is not Lella.

I designed this bag way back in June and even blogged about it at that time.  In fact, I'm still carrying that gray one on the cover of the pattern even though it surely is time for a new bag for myself.

The pattern contains full size pattern pieces and full color photos and diagrams.

My daughter finally just got her Lella Bag a couple of weeks ago. Her argument "how could the bag even be named after her if she DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ONE".  She won hands down and I let her have the pick of all that Amy Butler Love fabric.

I wanted this one out of the Simple Abundance fabric.  Love that fabric.

 

But I gave this bag away to a charity event at the local elementary school.

The patterns are available in my Etsy shop.

About that GiveAway. Since I'm still doing the Happy Dance about crossing these two big items off my list, I thought I'd share my joy by giving away TWO sets of the new patterns.

Easy enough to win -- leave a comment telling me about your holiday project list and if most of the items on your list  are for gift giving or for holiday decorating for yourself. I'll pick two winners on Monday, November 16, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Two more patterns on my To Do list. Goal set to have them written and out the door in 2009.

Next up is the Kid's Drawing Bag that I blogged about way back here.  Shouldn't be too hard since it's already in a rough draft state.

Tutorial: Holiday Napkin Rings

Creating these holiday napkin rings is a piece of cake.  It's a fast and easy project that uses just scraps of fabric and some Fast 2 Fuse stiff interfacing.

Decide on a holiday shape that you would like to use.  I drew a tree (triangle and a rectangle for the stem). For the star, I used the draw feature on Word - drew a star, sized it to the size I wanted and then printed the pattern.  There are tons of free clip art patterns available on the internet.

Supplies Needed:

• Fast 2 Fuse (This is a stiff interfacing available at your sewing or quilting store.)
• Scraps of Fabric
• Thread
• Fabric Glue

For the tree, cut a strip of brown fabric 1-1/2" x 11" long and a rectangle of green fabric 4" x 11" long.

Sew the brown strip to the green fabric (so you have a brown stem).

Cut the fabric in half vertically. You will now have two 5-1/2" pieces.

Cut a piece of Fast 2 Fuse 5-1/2" x 5-1/2"

Fuse your tree fabric to both sides of the Fast 2 Fuse. Try to line the seam between the brown and green up on the front and back.

Add some quilting to the fabric rectangle. I just did a little free motion quilting in green thread on the tree and gold thread on the star.

Use your pattern to cut out your holiday shape. For the tree line up the stem on the brown fabric and the tree on the green.

For the ring cut a piece of Fast 2 Fuse 1-1/2" x 7".  Cut 2 strips of fabric the same measurement.  Fuse the fabric to both sides of your interfacing. 

Trim this strip to a final measurement of 1" x 6".

Set your sewing machine to stitch a satin stitch (small zig zag stitch) and stitch around the outside edge of your holiday shape and all four sides of your ring strip.

Use a dot of Fray Check or Fray Block on any edges that look like they may ravel.  Quick Tip: If any of your white Fast 2 Fuse is showing through your satin stitching, just touch it up with a Sharpie marker.

Form the ring shape into a circle overlapping the edges by about a 1/2" or so.  Zig zag the overlap to form a ring.  It is a bit tricky to get the ring under the presser foot but remember no one will see this join as your shape will cover it.

Use fabric glue to attach the shape to the ring over the join area.  Let dry.  I used a clothes pin to hold the shape to the ring while the glue was drying.

 

That's it! You are ready to roll up your napkin and set a festive holiday table.

(This is an idea I thought up for some fast and easy projects for my local quilt shop. Feel free to make as many as you wish and share it with others.)

 
 

 

  
 
 
 

October, Really?

So for whatever reason, I realize it has been approximately six weeks since I last posted and the last thing I leave up here is a photo of a big, ugly, long-legged spider. I should certainly be eligible for the How To Turn Away Any Traffic Your Blog Might Attract award for that one. 

What happened to September?  Seriously?

And the exact same thing is happening to October.  Gone before I know it.

The Hubby and I did take a little road trip the first part of October in honor of his birthday and our anniversary.

Afternoons looked much like this:

And the first morning the sun rose like this:

There was time for knitting -- I hadn't picked up the needles in eons.

And the second morning looked something like this:

There was plenty of good food and good drink. Beach time. Relaxing time. A stop at the cupcake bakery for a chocolate peanut butter birthday cupcake.

A view from the restaurant something like this:

What would one expect from morning three but this:

But as all good road trips go, it was over in a flash and back to reality before you now it.

I've have been working on tons of projects, loads of gorgeous new fabircs, a Christmas tutorial for a quick project which I'll be sharing this week, and new patterns that are a heartbeat away from being printed.

No more long term spider pictures.  I promise.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The Thrill of Finishing . . .

. . . . a project by the deadline is many. 

First of all, exactly that - the project is FINISHED and you made the deadline.

Second, the gift of time. Suddenly it seems like you have so much free time since every one of your waking thoughts and actions are not consumed by I've got to get that done.

Third of all, I always clean up my machine area, put away the presser feet, clean up the threads, change the needle, oil the machine if it needs it as well as my cutting table area. Put away fabrics and scraps, put away all the rulers, pencils, markers and pins.

And Best of All, is getting to start a new project. This recently finished deadline project sort of just appeared so I do have some half finished projects on the backburner but I'm also excited about allowing myself to start something new - the thrill of cutting into some brand new fabric and sitting down at a clean machine and sewing area.  Only to promptly mess it all up again but you know the feeling.

On a slightly different story, I also needed a photo of myself by the last day of August. One of my children who shall remain nameless (the SON) has a real eye for photography and a nice camera as well so I asked him -- weeks in advance. Sure, he says. The last day rolls around and no picture. He wants to take it at this time and I want it taken at that time and so on until I say NEVERMIND, I'LL GET YOUR SISTER TO TAKE IT.

So I ask the Sister to please, just take my picture. Her response is a massive, giant, shoulder shaking SIGH as if I had just asked her to come up with an alternative fuel source and oh, by the way, can you do something to jump start the economy as well.

Said sister and I head down to the cross walk for the photo shoot and all the while I'm starting to work up to a Mother Rant. Now my kids are 18 and 20 so by this time in ilfe I've pretty much perfected the Mother Rant. I don't call on it too much but if I need it I can work up a doozy.

Something along the lines of ........ rarely ask for ANYTHING. . . . if it were for either of YOU TWO. . . .make it a PRIORITY. . . . IF I could do it MYSELF. . . . .

So now we are in the midst of the dysfunctional of all photo shoots ---- "You aren't smiling ----- I AM TOO smiling." ..... "You look mad -------- I AM MAD." ......... "Your hair is blowing-----------JUST TAKE THE PICTURE." .....

For some reason I glance to the right and there, in the sea grapes is this:

 

This is the largest, most colorful most awazingly creepy spider I have ever seen. We start looking around and there are at least, AT LEAST 12 of these guys hanging around. They are as big as my palm. The picture does not do them justice.

All of a sudden the photo shoot turns into a RUSH job because it is kind of creepy posing next to all those creatures. As I'm forcing a smile I keep thinking of them crawling on over . . . .

We head home and I download at least 30 some odd most lousy to ridiculous to a few mediocre photos of me and then get on to the important stuff like Googling the spider.

He is a banana spider. He is not agressive but will bite if he feels threatened. They are the largest non-tartula spider. The North American banana spider is not venomous but the South American banana spider bite is poisonous. If they feel threatened, they will bounce so voilently that their webs will shake --- and they are huge beautiful webs.

Since my fascinating spider run-in on Sunday, I find myself thinking about them all the time. We've had a ton of thunder, lightening and rain all week and I keep wondering if my spiders are okay . . . .

Fifth grade science report on The Banana Spider brought to you by Google.

We'll skip the results of the photo shoot - the spiders are way more fascinating.

My sewing machine is clean and I've got new fabric to cut!

No Doubt About It, It's A Small World

I'm not going to write a post about the subject of Copyright. There are many excellent articles and blog posts out there on this topic.

What I am going to write about is using my patterns to make products to sell for your personal and financial gain.

To me, the design process is a very personal one. It starts with an idea in my head, my idea; a vision, my vision; then a sketch, then figuring out if it's possible to make it work, not only for me but for others.  Prototypes, numerous ones that hit the trash.  Yes, that's fabric, batting, threads and time in the trash because it's just not quite right.  Often many times.

When it is finally "right", more samples are made, photographed each step of the way. There's downloading and Photoshopping and then hours of writing, reviewing, critiquing and rewriting.  Finally the printing, the folding, the bagging - the paper, the cardstock, the ink and once again, the time.

Most designers state right on the pattern how you can use their designs.  Mine states "For Personal Use Only" and then "Questions? Comments? Email me". And then right there on the pattern is a working email address.

I purposely left my usage statement pretty broad based - because I'm willing to talk. Tell me how you want to use it, where you want to sell it - I'm willing to listen.

So my advice to you is if you like a designer's pattern, and believe it would provide business opportunities for you, ASK the designer first.

Because that very same internet that provides exposure for you to sell your handmade goods made from my design is the very same internet that I'm surfing on at Oh Dark Thirty in The Morning on what is already panning out to be a not such a great day. And when I come across MY designs without giving credit where credit is due and without permission, then I find it does nothing for my not such a great mood anyhow.

You wouldn't come to my house and take one of my kids and claim them as yours, so please don't claim my designs as yours.

Ask. Email me. We can chat.

More Postal Love

Actually, I think this was delivered by the Drop and Run UPS man.

Authentic by Sweetwater for Moda. 

I have been waiting for this stuff since photos first started appearing during the spring quilt show.  I'm happy to report that it is just as gorgeous in the real as it is in the photos.  I've already designed three tote bags, a table runner, a bag and of course, there will have to be a journal, would make a great quilt . . . . . .

Yardage isn't available yet but you can bet as soon as it is my order will be placed.  I've got lots of sewing to do!

How About Lunch?

Since there is no getting around the fact that school started here during the first part of August, I thought it would be a great time to whip up a few new Not So Brown Bag Insulated Lunch Bags.

It's been a while since I've made any of these and I had forgotten how much fun they are to whip up. Don't take too long, nothing very difficult, a little quilting, a little piecing, a little assembly and a great way to combine lots of pretty fabrics.

These probably won't stop me from whining about how HOT it was on the playground today since we are back to school in the Beginning of August, but at least there are some pretty lunch bags for August.

Practically as Exciting as Winning the Lottery

Well, probably not the Lottery, but still pretty exciting.

Yesterday, mixed amongst the bills and junk mail was this:

Yep, a package for me.  Now you have to admit that is pretty exciting.  Double exciting since it was my "Back to School" week and I had been whining and triple exciting because I knew what was in it.

My very own Notetaker designed by Candy of Candied Fabrics.

I came across Candy's blog a few months back during one of those evenings of blog hopping.  Candy is a very talented quilt artist. She makes art quilts, 3-dimensional works of art, bags, journals AND she dyes all her own fabric.  She has an exceptional way of blending colors and design to make a truly beautiful work of art.

A while back Candy made a large quantity of Notetakers containing Eco-friendly notebooks for a trunk show.  Turns out she had a few left, listed them in her Etsy shop and I was lucky enough to snag one  before they are gone.

I haven't sketched in mine yet.  It's kind of like getting new fabric -- I have to look at it for a while before I can bring myself to cutting it to it!  It's the perfect size to fit in my bag and take it where ever I go for those moments of inspiration!

If you are looking for a gift for someone or a gift for yourself, think about one of these!

Oh, and not only does Candy dye all her own fabric (that still blows me away), she also goes camping -- in a tent ---- in the wild --- without any potties -- did I mention it was in a tent? -- for 8 days.  I'm in awe. 

Someday I may like to try dying some fabric, but the tent camping -- in the wild -- I'll leave that to Candy.

We Interrupt This Blog . . .

. . . . for a brief moment of whining

Okay, then. 

And what's with all the whining you may (or may not) be asking.

Simply because I have to go back to work tomorrow, as in back to school back to work.  It's not the back to work that bothers me so much as the fact that "back to school", to me, means the end of summer - fall is on the way.  How can this possibly be the end of summer when it is only August THIRD. Only three days into August.  We should still have a whole month of long and lazy summer days.

They are forever changing the school calendar around down here. With all the problems in education, constantly switching the calendar around doesn't seem like it's doing much to help the real problems. It is what it is, though, and tomorrow it's back to work in the Middle of the Summer.

Aside from the whining, I've been working on all kinds of projects. Last week we did a big kick-off for Christmas at the quilt shop including all kinds of demos and classes. 

I made these fabric covered take-out food container gift boxes.  What fun!

I don't remember where I originally saw these on the internet so I'm not able to give credit where credit is due.  I did find these super directions at J Caroline Creative and followed those to make my boxes. They are quite pretty and were a lot of fun.  A nice crafty break from the usual.

I even covered some in some Halloween fabrics for those special Trick or Treat gifts for loved ones. No photos, but they were cute.

Have a nice Monday everyone! You know where I'll be!