My Patterns
New Look, Instant Downloads & a Discount!
Have you seen the new look over on my main webpage? Cynthia of Webwurkz did an absolutely amazing job with the updates that I needed.
The biggest part of the update is to my Patterns page. When you click on it now, it takes you to a page that shows you all of my current patterns.
When you click on each pattern, you’ll find a pattern description, photos and a box where you can click to order the paper pattern or the pdf pattern. AND, when you purchase the pdf pattern there, you get it instantly! No waiting around for me to email the pattern. Gotta love instant gratification, right?
American Quilt Retailer: January 2012
Squeee! A copy of the latest issue of American Quilt Retailer arrived at my door just a few hours ago and guess what I found inside?
Did you guess yet?
Fishsticks Designs patterns!
Want to see?
It’s in the center spread . . . in a really exciting article that editor, Susan Fuquay, wrote all about the trend towards sewing for the guys in our lives. Of course, that’s exciting because my patterns were featured, but it’s also exciting because it means that designers and manufacturers are designing for little (and big) boys!
Wait! I have more for you! Becky at AQR was so sweet to send me pdf versions of the full article so you can see the whole thing and read for yourself! How cool is that? Here’s Page 1, and here’s Page 2.
The Everyday Camp Shirt!
Introducing the Everyday Camp Shirt! Every little boy needs a closet full of camp shirts, and this camp shirt is sure to make him very happy! This is a perfect everyday top that you can sew up with those amazing cotton quilting fabrics that are available in your local quilt shop or your favorite online fabric store.
The Everyday Camp Shirt has a comfortable fit through the body and a square hemline. It’s perfect for leaving un-tucked on busy little boys. You get to choose whether to finish the top with buttons or metal snaps.
You can sew this shirt with or without the yoke to give you multiple looks from one pattern, and my testers say that my method for attaching the collar is “brilliant”. It will give you a nice, clean, finished look, and it’s really easy!
The PDF version of The Everyday Camp Shirt is available now at Fishsticks Designs at Etsy and The Fabric Fairy. Paper patterns will be available at retailers including Fat Quarter Shop and Sew Baby in the next few days!
(I know it’s winter and this is a short-sleeve pattern. What was I thinking, you ask? You know, it does look adorable over a long-sleeve knit shirt . . . like the Charlie Tee pattern.)
The Emmy is Retiring
It’s always a little sad saying good-bye. The Emmy Top & Dress was my very first pattern, and it’s a great pattern that is well-loved by many. It is time now, though, to send it into retirement to make way for more fun things to come!
You’ll be able to purchase the Emmy in PDF format at The Fabric Fairy and at Fishsticks Designs at Etsy through the end of December. Paper patterns will be available from retailers until they run out. If it’s a pattern that is on your list, be sure to grab it while you can!
Building My First Market Booth
I’m home from my first Quilt Market! I had a great time, met some wonderful people and heard some incredibly positive things about my patterns! I couldn’t possibly have asked for a better first Market experience! I have a few things that I’d like to share over the next couple of days, but since putting together my booth is where I spent the majority of my waking hours over the last few months, we’ll start with that.
When I arrived at the Convention Center in Houston on Thursday afternoon, this is what the booth looked like:
We happen to have quite the collection of vintage apple crates around our house. (We use them in almost every room for storage and display.) Those crates inspired the apple orchard theme of my booth. They were perfect for displaying my dress forms, hiding boxes and adding some character!
I went back and forth for a bit between using real apples or handmade apples. In the end, though, I loved using the handmade apples that were sewn for my booth by a few of my wonderful online and local friends. My 13-year-old daughter, Samantha, is quite the accomplished knitter (Have I mentioned that before?), and she did a beautiful job on the dozen and a half apples that decorated the two apple trees that Ray built for me.
A custom-built mini-picnic table from One Plank at A Time here in Dallas and a few pictures for the “walls” featuring my favorite little models rounded out the theme.
A few hours of putting it all together (and a little running around in Houston to gather a few things that I had overlooked), and it was all done!
The Mama & Baby Bag
Searching for the perfect diaper bag for mama and baby? Having a bag that is fun, fashionable and functional for both you and your new addition makes life so much easier in those first few years! I designed this bag do that and more! I think it’s the perfect size for moms who use cloth diapers or disposables—not too big, not too small. I even included patterns and instructions for a waterproof zippered wetbag and a changing pad with a hidden waterproof layer.
The outside front of the Mama & Baby Bag features two elasticized pockets and two flat pockets for those things that you need close at hand. On the back side, you’ll find a large zippered pocket to keep important documents and records safely contained. Just below the strap, a side pocket holds mom’s cell phone within quick reach. The tie-on strap easily adjusts to exactly the right length, from shoulder bag length, to stroller bag, to messenger bag. The strap is designed to be worn folded in half over the shoulder or unfolded for comfortable wear when worn across the body.
Inside, a divider separates mom’s things from baby’s. Mom’s side features a divided pocket with compartments for a pen or pencil, business cards and notes. On baby’s side, you’ll find three elasticized pockets to separate diapers, wipes and changing pad.
This pattern will be available in pdf format in my Etsy store on Wednesday, 10/19. The paper version will be available after Quilt Market on 11/2.
The Which Way Out Jacket
I’ve heard rumors that it’s getting cold somewhere, and your little ones need some bundling! My Which Way Out Jacket is designed to keep them all warm and cozy. (Here in Dallas, it’s still in the 80s, but winter will come eventually!) This hooded jacket uses two layers of fabric and with the right zipper, it is completely reversible for two looks in one.
One of the things that I love about sewing outerwear for my children is that you get a lot of wear for your sewing time! Unlike tees and pants that get worn one day and thrown into the wash until laundry day, jackets are worn every time your little one is out of the house in the cooler months and because they don’t tend to get dirty as quickly, they spend a lot less time in the hamper.
In sizes 12 months to 5T, the Which Way Out Jacket features roomy pockets and fold-up cuffs. For extra insulation, you can add a hidden layer of cotton flannel or thin quilted batting, or you can turn your Hooded Jacket into a windbreaker and raincoat by using PUL (polyurethane laminate) as the outer layer.
The PDF version of this pattern will be available on Wednesday, 10/19, along with one other pattern that I’ll be blogging about later today. The paper versions of these patterns will be available after Quilt Market on 11/2.
30 Days to Market!
Shhhh . . . Don’t tell my kids that I’m showing you this picture! One of our house rules is that the dining room must stay neat and clean at all times. It’s the first room that you see when you walk into my house, and I figure that if your first impression is one of a tidy home, maybe you’ll overlook any mess that you see in the rest of the house! I just had to take this picture, though, because it occurred to me as I walked through the dining room this morning, that this is a picture of my life at the moment. The back half of the table is covered with dress forms waiting to be dressed for Quilt Market (which, if you’re counting down with me, is only a month away!) The front half of the table is covered with 50 pounds of tomatoes waiting to be canned and Allen’s homeschool books. Sewing, cooking and schooling . . . and more sewing! Don’t feel bad for me, though! I love sewing (and cooking and homeschooling), and I’m really excited about Quilt Market (and a little bit terrified, too. Am I allowed to say that?) I could use an extra me, though. If you happen to know where I can get one of those, I’d be thrilled!
I have a few fun things to share with you over the next week or so, including two new patterns and a couple of tutorials! I’m really excited about a tutorial that I put together especially for those of you who are football fans. You’ll be able to see it on Friday on one of my very favorite sewing blogs!
On the homefront, I have a few things to share. First of all, I have to share some great pictures of my oldest son, Sean, from a few weeks ago. He’s a senior in high school this year and was chosen as one of the finalists for homecoming king. Isn’t he adorable? (As a side note, the homecoming parade took place on my birthday, and I was so wrapped up in taking pictures, that I almost didn’t notice when the whole group of homecoming king and queen nominees yelled, “Happy Birthday!” to me from the parade! How sweet is that?)
On a bittersweet note, we took a week off to travel to West Virginia last week when Ray’s Great Aunt Hazel passed away at 94. Aunt Hazel, who you can see in the picture below with Charlie last June, was one of my favorite people. She was a beautiful example of a Godly woman, active and full of life, showing people the Jesus that she loved by just being who she was. Most of all, though, she was always laughing or making someone else laugh. She will be very much missed by all of her family and friends but remembered with great joy.
Watered with Love: A Layette for Create Hope Designs
Have you been over to the Create Hope Designs Store yet? The Create Hope designers have created a selection of lovely pdf sewing patterns that are available for only $5 each. All of the profits made go directly to China Little Flower Orphanage to assist in the wonderful things that they do day in and day out.
My contribution to Create Hope is The Watered with Love Layette Set. This new layette is designed for simple, comfortable dressing in those early newborn days. Included in this pattern are a cotton knit snap-shoulder raglan gown and top in both short and long-sleeves. The long-sleeve version has those great fold-up cuffs that keep baby from scratching himself. (They’re really easy to do! Once you sew one, you just might find yourself adding them to all of your newborn sewing!) The pattern also includes a simple knotted hat. All patterns are sized from newborn through 6-9 months.
The name of this pattern has a really special meaning. I really wanted the name to reflect the selfless way that the caregivers at China Little Flower give to the orphans entrusted to their care. They pour an unbelievable amount of love into those tiny souls. Like beautiful fields of wildflowers are watered with spring showers, these little flowers are watered with their love.
Happy Birthday to Me!
I haven’t been checking in here as much lately as I like because I’ve been so crazy busy preparing for my first Quilt Market! It’s only six weeks away now, and I still have so much to do! I have to slow down just a little today, though, because it happens to be my birthday, and I want to celebrate another year full of blessings. Whew! What a year it’s been!
How about a little sale so you can celebrate with me? For the next 24 hours (through 7 a. m. central tomorrow morning) you can use the code BDAYSALE for 41% off on PDF patterns at Fishsticks Designs at Etsy. (Can you guess how old I am today?) You can also use the same code for 30% off of paper patterns in my main store: Fishsticks Designs.
I’ll do my best to keep restocking my Etsy store all day, but what’s in my main store is all there is for this sale.
Looking forward to what exciting things are in store for me in the year ahead! Bonnie
