Fancy Some Art Shopping in Paris?
Because I’m here, in Paris! And I have 3 prints hanging in Les Salles du Louvre! It’s a huge gallery space, right next to the Louvre where over 800 artists and Galleries are displaying their art in the Salon D’Art International Art show this weekend.
I’m represented by the Mona Youssef Gallery:
If you ever get a chance to meet Mona, you’ll find she’s the warmest, kindest person, and I’m ever so grateful she chose to represent me in this event!
We managed to get in ahead of the crowd to quickly get my photos hung on the wall.
I like to imagine that there’s only a wall separating my photos from the Mona Lisa!
This place is huge, and gorgeous! I can’t wait for the Vernissage tonight. It’s a fancy dress, private viewing party for the serious art buyers.
Xoxo!
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
Okay my dears, I’m finally getting to drawing the winner of Penny’s new book, The Paper Pieced Home.
I snagged my trusty random number generator, and out of 85 comments….
Number 70 wins!
Congratulations to Kathleen, who said:
“Oh, I sew want to make the couch!! Thanks for the opportunity to win!”
The Paper Pieced Home Blog Tour
Oh . My . Word .
Have you gotten your paws on this super charming book yet?
Penny Layman, has completely outdone herself. Seriously.
The Paper-Pieced Home: Quilting a Household One Block at a Time, Interweave/F+W is a literal mecca of fun, retro, mouthwatering goodness for anyone who loves, or who has ever wanted to try foundation paper piecing.
Ok, i just went through and counted 40, 40 amazingly cute blocks and 8 juicy projects which instantly beg you to make them once you take a peek inside…
Am i right?! A viewfinder? I just died. And yes. I think my bathroom does in fact need a claw foot tub bathmat.
Aw man, you’re killing me Penny!
So when I was invited to be a part of this blog tour, I knew immediately that i needed to make the pair of potholders…
Oh yes, fried egg on a skillet, you will be mine!…or my mom’s, cause she kinda needs some new ones. Either way, I couldn’t wait to get started!
Oh hai itty bitty pan handle! You’re just the cutest!
I found the best chickens for the back. They totally crack me up!
And since I was having so much fun with the first potholder, I had to make the retro pot pot holder too.
Oh chickens, you make me laugh. Even though i totally sewed you all on crooked and had to applique a new piece on top.
This was a really fun project. You need to try it!
And I can’t forget the requisite back shot..
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The best part about being in the blog tour is that I get to give away one copy of Penny’s awesome sauce book to one lucky winner! This is open to anyone anywhere, worldwide. All you need to do is leave me a comment saying which adorable project or block you’d make if you won. I’ll draw a winner in the next few days!
Comments Closed! Winner will be announced shortly!
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In the meantime, be sure to check out the rest of The Paper Pieced Home Blog tour!
3/16 McCall’s Quilting / Sewing Machine Block
3/17 Love of Quilting / Review
3/17 Sandi Sawa Hazlewood of Crafty Planner / Watering Can Block
3/18 Quilty Pleasure (Quiltmaker blog) / Review
3/18 Imagine Gnats / Rotary Phone Block
3/20 Verykerryberry / Lion Block
3/21 Artisania / Cast-Iron Skillet Block
3/23 Where the Orchids Grow / Lamp Block
3/24 Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt / Layer Cake Block
3/24 House on Hill Road / Oven Mitt Block
3/24 Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced / BBQ Grill Block
3/26 Pink Penguin / Allie-Gator Block
3/26 A Happy Stitch / Giraffe Block
3/27 Bijou Lovely / Jar Block
3/27 Two Little Banshees / Saucepan Block
3/27 Charise Creates / Espresso Mug Block
3/30 Karen Lewis Textiles / Couch Block
3/31 Poppyprint / Clawfoot Tub Block
3/31 One Shabby Chick / Stack of Books Block
3/31 During Quiet Time / Sleeveless Dress Block
4/06 Pat Sloan The Voice of Quilting / Author Podcast Interview
Thanks for stopping by!
A New Shop Section for EU Customers!
Happy New Year everyone, I truly hope 2015 brings you so much happiness!
What’s making me happy right now is my solution to this whole VAT Moss, Vatmess situation for us online digital goods stores.
There is a lot of reading and researching to be done these days over this new EU taxation situation, and when I went to the source, and saw this flow chart, it became clear to me that I can continue selling to my customers in the EU by offering emailed PDF pattern files, instead of instant download patterns.
Here’s a closer look at that chart:
This phrase had me breathing such a sigh of relief: “Merely communicating by email and sending attachments does not constitute Digital Services”
So, I have created a new section in my Etsy Store especially for EU customers. These listings are for PDF files which will be emailed once your payment has gone through. This being said, if you live in the EU, please do not buy from any of my instant download stores. Please, please buy only the EU items in my Etsy store.
I’m just so relieved to have decided upon this solution here’s a discount code for everyone to use – EUHAPPY (until Jan 31)
Interestingly, this chart also states that if you only sell e services through a third party platform or marketplace and not through your own website, then the new VAT rules do not apply to you. I would consider, Etsy, Craftsy, and Big Cartel third party platforms, and I am tempted to not even worry about this whole VAT issue. But, just to be on the safe side, I’m sticking with the EU Patterns section in my Etsy Shop for now.
Thanks everyone!
Paint My Machine Portraits
How I adore painting these days….
After quite the hiatus (recovering from debilitating vertigo is a serious exercise in patience), I finally picked up the paintbrush again and have been happily completing portrait commissions.
Come find me on instagram: Artisania if you’d like one of your own. They’re $40 for a 9″ x 12″ original watercolour portrait, on heavyweight watercolour paper. Price includes shipping. You get the original, I retain the rights to create prints etc.
And speaking of prints… I’ve created a store over at society6 where you can purchase art prints, cell phone cases, pillows, wall clocks, tote bags, greeting cards etc. with many of the paint my machine portraits I’ve done this past year.
Click on this link and receive Free Shipping and $5 off everything in my shop! Or share this link with your friends and family who have no idea what to get you for Christmas *wink wink* This offer expires at midnight Dec 14th.
Check this stuff out!
I couldn’t resist ordering a t-shirt for myself… well technically it’s from my hubby…
Thanks so much for hanging around and reading my blog after all this time. I am very active on instagram – Artisania. For a long time my creative outlet turned to photography, since looking at screens and watching my hands moving were strong triggers for my world to start spinning. I mastered the art of 10 second editing on my phone. Vertigo is no walk in the park. I’m really trying to get back to designing patterns as well. My very very patient editor at Quiltmaker has been asking for new designs for awhile now and boy, I’d forgotten how much focus and patience that requires, eep! I’ve started a few designs for the magazine and I have so many cool ideas in my brain for patterns to feature in my various shops.
And when did it become winter already? Seriously people, this year flew by, didn’t it?
Quick and Easy Halloween Patterns
So I’ve realized that while I’ve been keeping you up to speed with the new designs of mine being published in Quiltmaker, I’ve kind of forgotten to sometimes mention all of the patterns hanging out in my pattern shop! Geez Louise!
With October 31st fast approaching, I thought you might be looking for a quick and quirky Halloween project to spruce up your place, or to give as a fun and unique hostess gift. And it just so happens that I have some really fun designs lurking in my Instant download shop.
These guys are all a part of the Halloween Quilt of Awesomeness pattern.
They are 8″ x 10″ portrait patterns that would make the most darling kid sized treat bags, or a fun pillow for your front room!
Carl Frankenstein’s flower would be the most fantastic wall hanging or baby quilt for any little tyke born at the end of October. He’s a generous 24″ block, and believe it or not Carl Frankenstein’s flower is a great learning pattern for complete beginners.
If you’re hankerin’ for a new challenge, and could use a boost in your quilting skill set, why not give these guys a try?
I’ve got a series of video tutorials which show every step of my process from prepping my station, cutting the fabric and how to work your way through the pattern.
If photo tutorials are more your speed, I’ve got one of those too.
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I AM trying to get the rest of the Halloween patterns up for sale, I really am! I dunno, maybe we’ll have Volta make a Christmas appearance, and give Santa a run for his money?
Happy Sewing!
Hey hey
Yes! I’m alive and well!
And slowly getting back into the swing of things design and sewing related.
Sorry I’ve been away for so long. Life got more than a little crazy and overwhelming this year. If you haven’t already, you can also follow me on instagram, where posting daily tidbits is quite a bit easier than composing blog posts.
Thank-you so much for checking in on this little blog of mine. It’s so warming to know so many of you are still interested in what’s happening around these parts! As usual I’ve missed blogging on so many cool and fun things, and I intend to get somewhat caught up soon!
Until then, here are some shots I took yesterday while trying to remember how to use my dslr.
The Little Pink Penguin Project
A few months ago I received a message from Krista asking if I wanted to contribute to a group quilt for the very special and newly pregnant Ayumi Mills.
A millisecond later I’d responded with a “Yes, of COURSE I’ll help make a baby quilt!!” Pretty quickly a lovely alphabet quilt was in the works, featuring patterns from the hard to find book Patchwork 318, by Kumiko Fujita. Since we were able to choose which letter and design we’d like to make, I decided to make the P for polka dots, and a pretty pink penguin.
The penguin pattern is my own, and was recently published in the Pretty In Patchwork – Holidays book. I thought adding eyelashes made her so pretty! Just my luck that Ayumi learned that she’s having a girl! I’d been hoarding a fat quarter of Lori Holt’s Sew cherry line for ages, and decided the penguin’s tummy needed to feature it.
Click over to Ayumi’s fabulous post to see the whole quilt!
You should also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of her new amazing book:
Have a wonderful weekend!
To Boston with Love
To Boston with Love display of flags at the Museum of Fine Arts. Photo credit: MFA Boston
The past several weeks have been full of eager anticipation for me, as I watched the brainchild of Berene Campbell take shape and unfold into one heck of an art installation. In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, she initiated the To Boston with Love movement. She, along with the help of Amy Friend and the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild, asked quilters and sewists worldwide to send handmade flags of love, peace and hope to Boston where she initially hoped for maybe a thousand flags to perhaps hang somewhere around Boston for a day.
The response was inspiring. The idea caught like wildfire throughout all the online communities. Instagram – #tobostonwithlove, Flickr, Twitter and a slew of personal and Modern Quilt Guild blogs lit up with the message to make and send healing flags for Boston.
Even though my creative mojo had been derailed for many months, I just had to join in and make at least one flag.
Suddenly, I had the desperate need to bring out my Ruby for the occasion.
Ruby – Vintage singer circa 1923
Even though my Janome would have been much better suited for the curved applique work I wanted to do, she was hopelessly buried in clutter. My Ruby’s simple yet perfect straight stitch would have to do, and I plonked her on my dining room table. I couldn’t find any fusible web around my studio to save my life. Oh well…
Since I was well ahead of the deadline, I thought I’d prep all 16 letters of the phrase “To Boston With Love” just in case.
It’s funny how much you’re capable of doing when you’re motivated…
I wrote inspiring quotes of love and healing on the backside of each flag.
Nearly done…
Here they are strung up together..
It was then, when I learned that the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston had agreed to install and display the flags! They even offered to fly Berene out from Vancouver (with 200 flags in hand from the VMQG and FVMQG) to oversee the installation.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Photo credit: MFA Boston
Amy Friend and Berene Campbell prepping the flags. Photo Credit: MFA Boston
She and Amy then hung over 1700 flags in the Shapiro courtyard in time for the Memorial Day Celebration the MFA had planned.
Photo Credit: MFA Boston
I can’t express how honoured I feel to have some of my handiwork included in the display!
My flags! Photo credit: MFA Boston
The weekend was a huge success with nearly 30,000 people taking in the exhibits at the MFA.
Below is a link to a video the MFA posted on Facebook about the Memorial Day celebration, which shows quite a lot of the flag display.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=815259087150
The flags will be up until July 7, 2013 and will be hung as a recurring yearly exhibit.
The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild Facebook page has been amazing at posting all of the news coverage about Berene’s vision, the exhibit and makers of the flags. I particularly enjoyed the interview Berene gave on the CBC radio program.
Thanks so much for popping by and reading everyone! I have lots of news to catch up with on here, so here’s hoping for another good chunk of free time to post about it all!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Threadbias Sew-a-long
Happy Monday my friends!
So as usual I’m a tad behind in posting fun news and web happenings.
There is a great little sew-a-long over on Threadbias this year, where they are sewing their way through the Pretty in Patchwork Holidays book by John Q Adams.
They kicked off the year sewing my Greetings From Antarctica Pillow patterns, and boy are the pillow and projects so much fun to look through!
Click here to see their Feature Friday post which shows off all the happy penguins and polar bears made so far.
Pretty in Patchwork Holidays, Polar Bear pillow, sewn by Amanda – owner of Threadbias
Last month they made the Holiday Surprise reverse applique pillow, designed by Angela Mitchell, and it looks like March will be all about the Harvest Vine Table Runner, by Jessica Kovach.
It looks like a really fun place to hang out and get inspired!
Happy sewing everyone!
Artisania 