It’s totally not too late to get your very own Sewing Buddy! Round 2 of matching is going on NOW. Skip on over to the original post and leave a comment to join in the fun!  I’ll close out Round 2 Sunday, August 1 and send out matches next Monday.

When I originally put out the Sewing Goals 2010 survey, I guess I knew that folks felt inspired by seeing what others accomplish in their sewing–that seems natural.  I don’t think I was at all surprised to see how many of the responses indicated that having someone to keep us accountable would help most of us stay on track and meet our goals.  So putting together the Sewing Buddy Project made sense: like a pen pal, but with sewing!

Reading the emails and comments and responses, though, has been so much funner than I expected, for reals.  I am SO enjoying seeing how excited y’all are and watching as Buddies get started with this new project–I’m hearing about how much you guys have in common, and how invigorated you feel, and how many of you don’t know ANYONE near you who sews, so this is a whole new thing for you.  I had no idea that so many of us were sewing in isolation!  Sewing Buddies to the rescue!

Now that Round 1 has all been matched up, it’s time to get to know one another.  I think some basic background info is necessary, like where you grew up and how you like your eggs cooked.  Y’know, the essentials.  And then some sewing background: how long, how often, what type, what techniques you use to disguise your stash so your kids/spouse/folks/neighbors won’t think it’s taking over the house.  Right now, we’re not even really setting goals, not yet.  Step One is really about doing a lap and finding some handholds in common.

I’ve developed a PDF guide for Sewing Buddies to use with one another as a jumping off point.  Do I think you ought to rely on this as the sole way to introduce yourselves?  Heck, no!  In fact, I’ve already seen some of you jump in with both feet and send emails with some or all of this info (which I think is really awesome) and others who have given totally different details and asked one another questions (also awesome).  I think that I benefit from some structure, though, and I want to make sure that if you, too, like a framework, that you have one right at hand.

I should mention: I’m working on some Sewing Buddy quizzes for down the road, and I can’t promise I won’t ask you questions about one another.  There will almost certainly be prizes.  Just putting that out there.

So off you go, my stitching darlings!  Meet your new best sewing friend, and I’ll see you soon with ideas of where to go next!

My publisher asked me if I would put together a mini-movie trailer for my new book, which will be out in a month (eek!).  It was SUPER fun, way more fun than I anticipated.  Our oldest helped me film and edit it (and had some very strong opinions about what looked best), and we got some hysterical out-takes that will almost certainly show up in the behind-the-scenes, day-in-the-life video we’re working on now.

I am SO excited that the book is nearly out, and working feverishly on putting together a blog tour and local appearances and a window display of the projects from the book.  I hope y’all love it as much as I loved writing it–I know every dorky author says that, but this book was such a labor of love for me, and I can’t wait to see it in the hands of new stitchers and watch them blossom into amazing, confident folks with needles in their hands.

Hooray for sewing buddies!  This project is growing rapidly, and I have to say, I am delighted to see it!  The first round of Sewing Buddies have been matched with one another, and Round 2 are receiving their confirmation emails as we speak.  There’s still time to sign up and join us for 2010!  Leave a comment and let me know you want to participate, and refer to the original post for more details.

Coming this week:  suggestions to help you Buddies get to know one another, project ideas for pairs, and a QUIZ!  Hooray!

He already dropped off a giant package for us:

It’s because he loves us so much.  Inside that giant wrapped package?  ALL our Christmas and holiday prints, just for you!  Cottons, flannels, corduroy, patterns, embroidery, kids’ items, trim.  All wrapped up and ready to be relished and loved.

I’m feeling like a handmade Christmas this year.  If you are, too, the bad news is we’d better get started.  The good news is Santa brought us all the best stuff to sew with!

Now, he left very specific instructions.  The tag says, “Do Not Open Until July 25th.”  So, we haven’t.  But on July 25th?  It’s ON, baby.  At 2 pm this coming Sunday, come down to the shop to join us for cocoa and cider, holiday tunes a la Kenny & Dolly, and the Grand Unwrapping of this fabulous gift!  All purchases of Christmas fabric between 2 pm and 5 pm are 10% off, so what better time to get your holiday craft started?

Not an Atlanta local, you say?  Trapped at home with a summer cold and can’t make it to the shop?  Away at the beach but already have Christmas on your mind?  NO worries!  All these fabulous fabrics will be listed in the online shop at 2 pm, as soon as our gift has been unwrapped.  Discount for you, too, between 2 and 5: just use code SANTA10 at checkout!

STILL need a nudge?  Keep your eyes on our classes page for our Christmas Camp: a FULL WEEKEND of Christmas sewing in October, just in time to really hunker down and get the job done.  Sign up for our newsletter to get the info first, and happy stitching!

When Lizzy House’s new collection Castle Peeps was released, I ordered the entire thing for the shop sight-unseen–after Lizzy Dish and Red Letter Day, I didn’t need to see it to know it would be fabulous.  And boy, is it ever!

Very few collections have sold so quickly or with so much excitement.  So when Lizzy invited me to create a project for Castle Peeps Summer Camp, I felt like I’d been invited to sit at the cool kids’ lunch table.

Introducing the Castle Peeps Travel Play Set! Soft toys made from Castle Peeps fabrics, complete with a travel pouch to take them along wherever you go.  Includes a keep (reversible, should you change sides halfway through the action), a village (to defend or maraud, depending on your mood), and plenty of peeps of varying persuasions (all in triptych, so you get three for the price of one).  Everything is machine washable, soft (so it’s great no matter how old your kids are, and it grows with them), and folds flat (thanks to the velcro closures).  This project is a breeze to make, and my children couldn’t wait–truly, literally COULD NOT WAIT to play with it.  Since it’s Fairy Tale Week at their preschool, it was a chore to convince them Mommy needed to have the toy today.  Good thing I’m bigger (for now).

I think my favorite part about this project, other than how easy it is to make and how quickly it sews up, is how adaptable it is.  Does your kid need phalanx after phalanx of peeps, but won’t really use the castle?  That’s fine–just make dozens of little men and leave the rest alone.  Do you have three kids and need three castles, so they can war against one another?  The elements of the project each take a fat quarter or less, so it’s a snap to make multiples!  Make it all in one colorway for a matched set, or make a little out of each colorway to mix it up–your choice.  Download the PDF instructions to make one–or many!–of these beauties for your own house!

Happy stitching, everyone!

Additional download: Tower/Village Roof Pattern Piece