Stitched in Color

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Hear ye, hear ye

I have announcements today!

Announcement no. 1

Lucas in patchwork

Lucas!

  Lucas has arrived!

A sweet little boy was born late summer to some good friends.   Thankfully there was no rush on his birthday gift (at the time I was all craft show all the time), since we figured Lucas would not be reading it anytime real soon.  I hope mama likes it!

wrapped around canvas

When I show fabric wall art, you often ask how it's done.  This time I'm remembering to tell you!  I start with a blank stretched canvas in the desired size and then make a fabric work about 2" larger than the canvas in each direction.  Then I wrap the fabric around the frame...

how I do my fabric wall art

And staple it at the back, pulling the fabric taught.  No, I don't actually "stretch" the fabrics for fear of distorting and weakening seams.  Brandon helps me by staple gunning the folded under edges at back.  It's simple and super fast!  Last of all, we (that would be Brandon) hammer in a hanging strip.  Ta da!

Announcement no. 2

value added button 240I'm super excited to announce that the Value Added quilt-along starts in less than 2 weeks!  I've teamed up with Leila of Where the Orchids Grow, Amy of Badskirt and Jolene of Blue Elephant Stitches to create a very informative values-oriented quilt-along.  Not those kind of values... color values.  You know, lights, darks and medium tones?  Well, if you don't know, you will!

We're starting off with a week of values education, followed by an assortment of free quilt tutorials.  Each of us has cooked up a special values concoction to share with you.  So, get those fabrics ready!  Value quilts are very scrap-friendly.  You could definitely make do so long as you have plenty of dark and light fabrics.   It's all about contrast!  So, prepare to challenge yourself!  The fun starts October 22nd.

Announcement no. 3

do. Good Stitches button
do. Good Stitches has been keeping me busy.  The larger our charity bee becomes, the more (sometimes tricky) admin tasks I have running behind the scenes.  It's amazing that there are now over 200 sewists working together to make quilts for charities the world over via our Flickr organization.  And, really, that deserves a celebration, don't you think?

I'm working on an end-of-the-year event to celebrate the work of do. Good Stitches, honoring all the many roles in our bee, as well as encouraging the finishing of any lingering quilt tops.  Even if you're not in the bee, you can help us out with some awards voting when the time comes.  I hope to make headway on all the details this weekend (in between hedging... blech.  At least it's hedging to prep for house painting!  Thanks for your well wishes. The painting is really going to happen!).

and one Final Announcement

I'm really pleased that yesterday's conversation was so productive and even-toned.  See, we can talk about tricky stuff!  Good job all!  I really learned a lot about the topic posed as well as other important tidbits that you all brought up.  So, thanks so much for your honest opinions. 

I've decided not to take on the ambassador role because I like the balance I've already struck and think it best to stay the current course.  That said, I have more to share in terms of disclosure on giveaways, contests and free fabric - things I didn't realize were important to share, but that I have no desire to hide.  While this isn't important to everyone, I figure I can write a general disclosure kind of post and link back to it at opportune times.  That way, I'm covering my bases wherever your interests lie. 

Thanks again for helping me along this path.  Your insight is truly prized!

xo, Rachel