The "Birthday Club" and a New Pattern for March!

I mentioned in a previous post I am working on a new Halloween table runner pattern, and it's finally getting to the finishing stages where I can show some pictures.  The runner is approximately 18"x30", just right for a table or hutch, and it depicts some cute Halloween characters, jack-o-lanterns and spooky old houses!

I'm making the model from wool craft felt, which is a wool/rayon blend, and I think it would also look wonderful in hand-dyed wool, maybe even with recycled wool for a more primitive twist if you want?

The pattern will be ready soon and I've already got the wool felt ordered so you can get a kit in case you don't want to drive around to all the fabric stores trying to find supplies.  The kit will contain all the wool craft felt you need to complete the project, and all you'll need is embroidery floss and freezer paper.  I'll send out a blog update when the pattern and kits are ready and I'll post more detailed pictures of the mat in the next few days.

If you're not already a member of my Birthday Club, I hope you'll join! You'll receive a WHOPPING 25% OFF ALL PATTERNS AND KITS DURING YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH!  Plus, a winner is drawn each month from all Club Members with a birthday that month, and the winner receives their choice of a free pattern from my website!  It's easy to join and costs you absolutely nothing--it's just my way of saying "thank you" to all my friends.  If you don't want to use the Birthday Club link above, just email me your name, address and birthday month and I'll get you enrolled.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, since the Birthday Club didn't get started until March, I'll still honor all January and February birthday babies with the same 25% discount and a chance to win a pattern. That means that three January, February and March birthday babies will win!  Don't worry, I'll send all Birthday Club members an email about their 25% discounts during their birthday month.

KITS ARE READY NEXT WEEK!!  As a reminder, kits will be ready for shipping next week for "Snow Days", the 14" candle mat.  The kits contain all the wool blend felt (a wool/rayon blend) you need--all you have to add is freezer paper and embroidery floss. They are $23.95 without the pattern (includes shipping) or $27.95 with the pattern included, which gives you a good discount on the pattern. You can pre-order by clicking here or on the photo below:

"Snow Days" (14" Candle Mat Pattern)

 (Click on the Image for More Information) 

Another kit that will be available for shipping next week is "Halloween Jacks", a cute 15" candle mat that is also made from wool or wool felt.  I recently released this pattern and the kit is now ready.  It contains all the wool felt (a wool/rayon blend) that you need to make your own candle mat--just add embroidery floss and freezer paper! This kit is also $23.95 without the pattern (includes shipping) or $27.95 with the pattern included.  Be sure to order now to be included in my first shipment:

"Halloween Jacks" (15" Candle Mat Pattern)

(Click on the Image for More Information) 

That's it for now.  Please never hesitate to leave a comment or email me if you want to chat or have a question.  I love hearing from all of you!  In the meantime, Happy Stitchin'!  xoxo--Melanie

The Liebster Blog Award!

Yaaaay!  I received a note that I have been awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Lynda Hall of Primitive Pieces by Lynda. Lynda is a wonderful designer whose friendly and creative spirit is reflected in her beautiful quilts and other projects.  Please grab a cup of coffee and check out her patterns at primitivepiecesbylynda.blogspot.com and www.primitivepiecesbylynda.com. Thank you Lynda!

The Liebster Blog Award is given to bloggers who inspire and motivate and have less than 200 followers.  It takes its name from the German words meaning "beloved", "dearest" or "favorite".  I truly hope I inspire and motivate you to "get stitchin'!"  As the saying goes, So much fabric; so little time!  Don't you sometimes feel that way?

According to the tradition of the Liebster award, I must now pass it on to five bloggers who I believe motivate and inspire others.  To accept the award, you must:

1. Link back to the person who gave you the award and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers who you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on those 5 blogs to let them know they have been offered this award.

The hard part was limiting my choice to just five, but here they are:

• Tammy Burks of Skip to my Ewe at http://skiptomyewe.blogspot.com.  This is a beautiful blog with some incredible photographs - be sure to check out her older posts.
• Annette Schwerdt of Confounded Concoctions at at confoundedconcoctions.blogspot.com.  Annette is a talented artist and I can't resist her work (I happen to own four pieces and counting!) 
• Faye at Cabin Creek Designs at http://www.cabincreekdesigns.blogspot.com.  What beautiful rug hooking designs and colors!
• Kathy at http://pennylaneprimitives.blogspot.com does wonderful candle mats and other projects.
• Jan at the Goos Nest at http://goosnest.blogspot.com has beautiful wool applique patterns!  Be sure to also check the link to her website for hooked rug patterns and supplies.

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I promised you an update on a new Halloween table runner I'm working on.  It's a nice size, just about 18"x30" (perfect for a table or hutch), and can be done in wool or wool felt applique. You know I love applique and I hope you do too. The table runner is a great carry-along project, because once you get the pieces cut, it easily tucks away and goes with you anywhere. Some people take a book on trips or planes, but I take applique!The Halloween table runner has spooky old houses, jack-o-lanterns and Halloween cats.  All the pieces are attached to the background with either a simple blanket stitch or a running stitch, both of which are illustrated in the pattern.  I'll post some pictures next week and hope to have the design finished and ready for printing very soon.  Don't worry--even if you've never done wool applique before, you're going to find my applique patterns are suited for beginners or experienced stitchers!

KITS ARE COMING!  The wool felt is ordered and I'll offer kits for the Halloween table runner and for the Snow Days and Halloween Jacks candle mats.

The kits will be available in about a week and will contain all the wool felt needed to complete the project so you're not running all over town looking for felt (unless you want to, of course!).  I'll post an update when the kits are ready.

Well, I'm back to the drawing board.  Have a great week, and in the meantime, Happy Stitchin'!  --xoxo Melanie

Announcing the American Pie Birthday Club!

If you're not already a member of my Birthday Club, I hope you'll join! You'll receive a WHOPPING 25% OFF ALL PATTERNS AND KITS DURING YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH!  Plus, a winner is drawn each month from all Club Members with a birthday that month, and the winner receives their choice of a free pattern from my website!  It's sooooo easy to join and costs you absolutely nothing--it's just my way of saying "thank you" to all my friends and faithful followers.

Since I'm getting started a little late this year, I'll honor all January and February birthday babies with the same 25% discount and a chance to win a pattern.  That means that three January, February and March birthday babies will win!  Just click here to become a member!

On another note, I just got word I've been awarded the Liebster Blog award! 

It's a wonderful award that's given to blogs that inspire and motivate, and I'm so pleased to receive it.  I'll be handing the award on to five other blogs that I find inspirational, so check back tomorrow for the full story and some great blogs I know you are going to enjoy!

More tomorrow on a new Halloween table runner I'm working on, as well as updates on kits that will be ready soon for the "Halloween Jacks" and "Snow Days" patterns that I recently released.  The kits will contain all the wool blend felt you need to complete these candle mats  All you add is embroidery floss!

See you tomorrow, and in the meantime, Happy Stitchin'!  -- xoxo Melanie

And the winner is . . .

It's time to give away a free copy of my new "Snow Days" pattern that will be available in fabric stores soon!  The winner is Gayle, and I will be contacting her by email with the good news.  Gayle must be a very busy lady, because I see she has three blogs that I'm happily re-posting so you can follow her travels, The Middle Sister, Wool Snippets and Utah Rug and Fiber Guild.  Congratulations Gayle, and please send pictures of your finished "Snow Days" candle mat so we can all see your finished project!

For all you un-winners, don't despair!  There will be a March contest for a brand new Halloween table runner pattern that made it off my drawing board and into my stitching basket.  I am sooooo excited about this pattern and I think you will like it too!

Sorry for the short post today, but I've been up since 4:00am and there's still not enough time to get everything finished today.  Have a great week, and in the meantime, Happy Stitchin'!  xoxo--Melanie