alittlesweetness

Vintage Market featured on Violette Field Threads + fabric giveaway!

I'm so honored and thrilled to have my new fabric collection, Vintage Market, featured over on the beautiful Violette Field Threads blog as part of their Fabric Love series!  I've admired Violette Fields Threads' unique, classy, vintage modern pattern styles for a few years now and absolutely love the little outfits they've created using my Vintage Market fabric collection. 

I'm 100% totally and completely smitten with the Kate dress using my Navy Stripe Border print.

Sigh....

I sincerely want this dress for my daughter, so crossing fingers I can get one made!  Isn't that just the sweetest thing?!  LOVE!

And check out these darling little ruffle shorts.....also a part of the Kate PDF pattern

(to clarify, the tops are not part of the Vintage Market fabric collection...although very adorable!! )

Those pom-poms! 

Loving this sweet little kite too!

Violette Fields Threads is doing a GIVEAWAY for 4 YARDS of Vintage Market fabric on their blog! Please stop by and enter and make something adorable this summer!  I know I can't wait to get a chance to test out some patterns myself.

Thank you Violette Threads for making such beautiful items to feature on your blog!  I love it all so much! 

If you haven't gotten your Vintage Market fabric yet, check out Etsy, Hawthorne Threads, Fat Quarter Shop, Fabric Worm and check your local fabric shops!  If it's not at your local fabric shop, request it and they may just order it!   

Hope you're all having a wonderful summer!

Tasha

 

a Little Red giveaway + quilt tutorial (giveaway is now closed)

I know this is so long overdue, but I've had a few requests for this recently, so I figured it would be useful for perhaps a couple more of you out there.  

 

This is a quilt I made for Spring Market 2013 for my Little Red Riding Hood line and it's so simple and fun!  The finished quilt is approx. 46.5" x 52.5".  Perfect baby or toddler size.  

  Here's a tutorial for anyone who might be interested:

Needed Materials:

(64) 5" charm squares - (a Little Red charm pack has 24 pieces)  I cut my squares from yardage.  If you like any fussy cut squares, you'll need to get a fat quarter (or 2 or 3 if you want different colors) 

1 yard Little Red Riding Hood border print - I used the red

1/2 yard pink scallops for inner border

1/2 yard white floral for binding

2 3/4 yards backing of your choice

52" x 60" cotton batting 

 

Cutting Instructions: (read all instructions first)

*Take Little Red Border print and cut the LR image portion of the fabric away from the polka dot portion of the fabric on the line that seperates the two areas.  You'll have a polka dot piece and a LR border piece.

  

*Using a ruler, measure 7" down from the top of the image border strip and trim away the bottom exess fabric.  Your border strip should measure 7" wide.  Take notice that there is equal white space above the row of flowers on the top and below the text on the bottom so that it's evenly spaced/centered on the quilt. 

 

The below photos shows a measurement of 7" wide.  

*Take the polka dot piece, (not re-pictured, sorry!) cut (6) 4.5" strips.  You should cut horizontally with the longer side of the fabric.  After removing the border portion of the fabric, one side will be 36" and the other side will be about 33".  Cut so that your strips are 36".  You will have extra polka dot fabric.  You can use this to make more 5" squares.  This is how I got my polka dot squares since I didn't use a charm pack.

*Take inner border fabric (pink scallops) and cut (4) 2.5" WOF (width of fabric) strips

 *Take binding fabric (white floral) and cut (6) 2.5 WOF strips (not pictured either!)

Quilt Assembly:

*Always use a 1/4" seam allowance

*With 5" squares, and RTS, sew together a row of 8.  Make 8 rows. 

*Sew together 6 rows.  Sew together 2 rows.  Keep them seperate so that you have 2 patchwork pieces.

*Now join the sections as shown below:

3 pieces layed out:

3 pieces sewn together:

*Add inner border by adding side borders first, then top and bottom:

Inner borders added:

* Sew together the 6 polka dot border strips to make 4 outer border strips:

 Add top and bottom borders first, then side borders:

 

Your top is now complete!  Make a quilt sandwich with batting and backing.  Quilt as desired. 

*Make a binding by sewing end to end the 6 binding strips so that you have one long continuous strip.  Iron in half lengthwise.  Use your favorite binding method to complete your quilt.  I have a simple tutorial in my sidebar for making a patchwork quilt that will also show the binding.   I also follow Red Pepper Quilts binding tutorial for joining the ends together and it helped me alot!

Here's the finished quilt!

 

*Edit*  THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Thank you!!

Now, here's the fun part....I'm giving away a kit to make this sweet little quilt!  The only thing you'll need to get is the batting!  

Just leave me a comment telling me who you would make this quilt for!  If you'd like 2 entries, just leave me another sweet comment!  ;)  (2 entries per person please)

*Giveaway will be open for a few days, (about Mar. 27th/28th) then I'll post a winner by Friday, Mar 28th.

Thanks for playing along!

Tasha

winner!

Hello my sweet friends!!  Thank you so much for your comments...  You have again made me blush and feel so loved!  It gives me great enthusiasm going into market and I appreciate it so much.  I really wish I could send fabric to each of you!!  THANK YOU!!

And now....

My winner is KATHLEEN O'GRADY!  Who said...

Your fabric is sooo cute! I would love to make some little girl dresses and a quilt, a pillow would be adorable and a tote with some sweet embroidery. Oh, I could go on and on. Thanks for the chance to win! 

Kathleen, Please contact me here on my blog and let me know how to contact you!

In other news....

I've been getting some hexies all ready for market because I get to teach a little mini class at the Riley Blake booth on Friday at 3:00!  It's just 45 min. so please stop by to join me if you happen to be hanging around.  :)  I'm really excited even though this will be my first time ever teaching a sewing related class!  I'd love to see you there! 

I probably won't get a chance to be back here next week since I leave Wednesday for market and won't be back until Sunday night.  I can't wait to have more to share with you after that!

Thanks again for all of the sweet comments and your constant support.  :)

*Remember I'm on instagram as tashanoel1 where you can see more of what I'm up to than what I get a chance to post here on the blog. 

Tasha

countdown...+ a giveaway (giveaway closed)

I've just completed a couple of quilts for market, which is coming up sooner than I can say 'Little Red Riding Hood'.  It's in just 11 days and I leave in an even shorter 9!  eeek and yay!!  I'm very excited and at the same time wondering/hoping if I'll be ready.  Crossing my fingers over here. 

I've made a simple patchwork incorporating my border print, which I'll have a tutorial for on my blog shortly after market.  

I used Little Scallops in aqua for the backing...

And Little Floral in white for the binding....it's so cute!

The chevron quilt is a free project download from the Riley Blake website and I super love this one!

It's the first time I've made something with so many half square triangles and I really enjoyed the process actually!  Simple and fun.   

For my backing I used Little Floral in Gray and for my binding I used Little Scallops in Aqua...

I have to credit a couple talented gals for my nearly perfect borders and bindings.  Taking Camille's fabulous Craftsy Class has helped me get my borders from being wavy.  Time well spent doing it her way....no more wavy's for me!  And Rita, from Red Pepper Quilts has a wonderful binding tutorial that shows how to join the ends/tails with a bias cut.  (If you look closely you can see the bias seam in the photo below.)  My bindings are waaay super better and I love it!!  I LOOOOVE that my borders and bindings are so much prettier thanks to Camille and Rita.  Don't you just love learning new things?!?!  I do.  :)

And on that note, I think I recall saying something in my last post about a little giveaway!  Yep, I just checked and I did. ;)  And it's a good thing, because it's just what I'll need to keep a smile on my face this week. 

So I have a lovely fat quarter bundle I would love to send off to someone!  Just leave me a comment and tell me what you want to make this summer.  I'm already thinking about it and have a couple must's on my mind already!!  Feel free to leave up to 3 comments if you've ever purchased from me and/or left me comments before.  :)

I'll see you back here on Friday morning (May 10th) to announce the winner and I'll send it off before I leave for market.

Meanwhile, this is where I'll be hanging out....and trust me, it doesn't look so pretty right now.

Thank you ALL for everything!  All the support, friendship and encouragement means a lot.

Hugs...

Tasha

Giveaway winner + shop news!

Hello wonderful fabricy friends!!  Thanks so much for playing along in my giveaway!  It's truly so fun for me and I appreciate every single comment!  I've read most of them and I swear I'll finish them up.  Such a treat for me!

I used random.org to find my winner, but it did need a little tweaking.  I'm kind of a stickler on the rules of the game, so I'm very sorry, but rule breakers don't get to win.  As much as I appreciate your desire to win, there are others that do abide by the rules, so most importantly I need to be fair to them! 

And sooooo, the winner is.....

Verena who said...

Oh how I would love to win this!!!!!
Just a couple hours ago, I sat together with my sweet quilter friend Cathy. She wants to make a quilt for the arrival of my surprise baby girl in May. She had asked me if there is any fabric I would like to choose and my instant answer was: The Simple Life by you!!!! I have been eying it since it launched, not knowing that we would expect another baby girl! and I have been following your insta since I discovered you beautiful line. Cathy is an awesomely ( you might know her book: pretty in patchwork, doll quilts) talented quilter and I am sure she would create something magical Thanks for the chance to win!

Please contact me ASAP because you don't have a link or contact info!  If anyone knows Verena, let her know!!  Thanks!  If I can't get a response pretty soon, I'll choose another winner. 

As for SHOP NEWS:

I've added just a couple little things and wanted to share!

My little Reading girl from The Simple Life is now available in an 8X10 print for framing. 

 

I've also added the embroidery pattern for Feeding the Chicks, which you can find here!  I haven't stitched her up, but I had a few requests so there she is! :) 

Here she is below...

I'll continue adding things to the shop that match The Simple Life.  If you're waiting or wanting a particular thing (pattern or artwork!) from that fabric line, let me know and I'll hurry it up on that!  ;) 

Meanwhile, I'm happy to offer 20% off your entire order in my Etsy shop for at least a couple days into next week (Jan 22nd sounds good!) just to say thanks for playing along and making me smile.  Simply enter coupon code HAPPY20 during checkout and it will automatically deduct 20% from your total order.

One tiny last thing...thanks for helping me with the name of that block!  I think I had the most people say it was Shoo Fly!  I'll get a little tutorial done soon!  ;) 

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Tasha

a simple little quilt + a giveaway.... (closed!)

**Giveaway is closed!**  Thanks for playing!

One of the quilts I made for fall quilt market was inspired by a quilt that belonged to my grandma.  It's a little different in it's shape, but very similar.  (I just simply made squares where there were rectangles.)  A super simple block to make and I've seen this block before, problem is....I don't know what it's called.  Help!?!?  If you know, please share.  :)  Meanwhile, I call it The Simple Life quilt.  So creative, I know.  (huge wink!) ;)

I like how soft and delicate this one turned out, with lots of white...

but bursts of red....

I really like Miss Strawberry here...

and the chicks being fed right here. 

I did a patchwork border....

and used the Simple Floral in red for the backing. 

I really loved making this simple little quilt! 

If you'd like to know how to make the block, let me know and I'll do a little tutorial.  If you know what this block name is, please share!  :) 

To enter to WIN A FAT QUARTER BUNDLE, please leave me a comment, telling me what you'd like to make with it! 

For extra entries:

*if you've ever purchased from my Etsy shop!

*if you've ever commented here before

For a total of 3 possible entries!!  Giveaway will end Thursday night....late!  I'll reveal the winner on Friday, Jan 18th!

 

WIP + a winner!

 Yep, I'm super late, but.....

THANK YOU so much for all of your wonderful comments!!!  I soooooooo needed to hear it all!!!  SO, today I'm choosing 2 winners instead of just 1.  I really want to send all of you some fabric!!  I DO, I DO!  :)  You are all so super sweet to me and I sincerely appreciate every little speck of it!!!

Okay...

First pick by the Random Generator was....#142 

Stina who said ...

Ahhh... Just coming home from pain rehab... And learnt...:0) you have to take time for just YOURSELF... Book in time for just you.. No others allowed...listen to a relaxing CD or some nice music... Make it cosy and just RELAX... Every day!!!! Remember to be NICE to yourself..you are the most important person in your life...:0) good luck and start relaxing..it's what I need to do!!! :0)) and sew in between..lol... And I have to say... You have the prettiest fabric ever!!!! :0)

The second pick by the Random Generator is #36...

c.teasley who said....

I can't wait to get my hands on your sweet little fabric. To make my life simple, which just came to me the last couple of years, I decided not to take things so seriously. My mother in law, a wonderful lady, told me over 30 years ago, "it won't matter in a year from now." How I wished I had taken that advice then.

You two, if you see this, please contact me!  :)

So, I've been a bit busy-er these last couple days than I thought I would be, especially since the kids went back to school yesterday!  A few loose ends I guess with new schools and figuring out daily schedules.  Now I've got a lot on my plate right now with work in additon to family.  It's perfect timing for me to be reading all of your wonderful thoughts, words of wisdom and ideas for simplifying life!  It sure gets crazy sometimes and it's great to be reassured to take time out to breathe and enjoy, and not feel bad when some things don't get done as quickly or at all!! 

I've been really trying lately to not compare myself to all of the amazing talent I see online.  So many darling projects, beautiful homes, amazing designers,  yummy food to make!....  which I LOVE seeing and it helps motivate and inspire me in my own life.  I think alot of it is so great, but I've had to not let it get me down if I don't accomplish the same things as quickly or at all.  I'm kinda slow sometimes.  (oh ya, you already knew that!)  With 5 kids, ages 3 - 15, it gets tricky (and sticky!) around here.  Attending to what the teens want and need and then making sure the little ones get the attention they deserve and need and want, it's a balancing act in itself.  Let alone the managing of the home and family life and everything under the sun that goes along with that.  Jeepers!  A girl can only cook, clean, play with kids, work and do errands so fast!!  I love sewing and crafting, decorating, shopping and doing absolutley nothing productive sometimes, but it's hard to get around to that!  Isn't it?  I literally loved reading every single comment about taking time out, keeping things simple.  Not just where and when we are able, but also making it a point to stop ourselves and do that thing that helps us be better!  Again, thank you so much for the great advice and wonderful ideas.  Keeps it all in perspective! :)

Okay, enough of that!

Now for my WIP!!! 

Speaking of slooow and not worrying and fretting over not getting alot done with my sewing lately....I've managed to make one lonely hexie flower and am brainstorming ideas for a project. 

(Little hands are always nearby...)

I'm hoping it'll turn into something cute!

Happy Weekend!

Tasha

the real deal + a giveaway

It seems it's been ages for me to wait, but I've finally recieved my first real deal batch of The Simple Life!  I have 2 yards of each print and the panels to start sewing things for fall market.

And I can't waaaiit!!!! 

It's so very soft and lovely!  I couldn't be happier with the end result.  Everything looks perfect!

This line is going to be just darling for fall time, with it's vintage style and little country images.

Red colorway

Pink colorway

Aqua colorway

If you would like to have some of The Simple Life, leave me a comment telling me what you do to keep things simple in your life (when things get too crazy!) or if you have a tradition or words of wisdom passed down from someone that helps you get through the busy times...something that helps you relax and enjoy the simple things in life!  Please share, I want to know! 

When I get my bolts here this month, I'll send you either a fat quarter bundle or a couple yards of your choice. 

If you've ever purchased from my my little shop before, you are welcome to a 2nd entry!! 

Giveaway will go through Wednesday, September 5th...that's my kids first day of school. 

(quiet cheer!!...yaaaay!!)  ;)

I'll be so excited to start sewing!!!

I hope you will be too!

Tasha 

winner!

 Sorry about the late 'winner' post.  Yesterday I spent the day around the house with the kids mainly.  I also cleaned out the very messy art/activity drawers, made dinner, cleaned the kitchen....that sort of thing. 

Anyway....this morning I used the Random Generator to choose the winner and this is the result!

April Bishop said...

I just miss the sun... I love spring, when it starts to make an appearance more often. Just looking outside my window at my kids playing in the street with the sun shining down... Perfect spring bliss!

April is a sweet and talented friend from church, so I'm especially happy to see that she was #6!! 

Yay April!  ;)

As always, THANK YOU to everyone who played....it's always fun for me to do this because I get to know more of you.  I love reading your comments and peeking in to your blogs as well...  seeing who you are and what you're up to!

Today, I'll probably do more of the same as yesterday.  I do have a few orders to work on, so that's first on my list. 

After that....hmmm?  what to do next?  what to do next?  don't misunderstand....I have a bazillion things to do!  It's more the deciding what thing is next on importance and then what thing i want to do most and then coming to a conclusion about what order those things end up getting attention.  Then some things end up getting done, other things just get started and others... nothing at all.  Certain things have to get done, where other things are optional.  Even though some of the optional things are still important.  Or more important than other optional things. 

Whew!  Did that make any sense at all?  I think you know what I mean.  :)

(Sorry no pictures!)

Tasha

giveaway winners!

Thanks to everyone who played along in my little giveaway!  It's such a treat for me to be able to share a little something here and there throughout the year.  I'm always so grateful for the support and encouragement I recieve and friends made along the way.  Plus, aren't giveaways just plain fun?  oh ya.  

I thought it would be a cuter post if I had Ava to help me announce the winners!  This is what she did when I gave her the embroidery hoop and asked her to show it to me.  Oh well, you get the idea.  (I hope.)

The 3 WINNERS of my Embroidery Pattern giveaway are:

#12...

Anita said ..

I love them all but I love the angel the best.
Happy holidays!

#29 ...

Melanie said ...

Laundry day - so cute :)

and...

#63...

Kristal said...

Everything is adorable, but since my daughter had a hedgehog for a pet, I'd get the patterns that have a hedgie on them!

Each of those numbers were chosen by me asking my 3 oldest boys to tell me their favorite number! 

I hope you have fun stitching up something sweet for your home or another's.  Either way, ENJOY!

(Anita, Melanie and Krystal...if you see this, please email me at [email protected] since none of you have links). 

I'm not sure I'll get back to the computer anytime soon, so I thought I'd leave you with this adorable little video message, so very appropriate for this time of year.  It's just 2 minutes and you won't be disappointed.  ;)

Click here to watch "The Coat"

As for my shop, it'll be open, but I won't be shipping anything until well into the first week of the new year.  I'll probably check on it here and there and send of patterns, but generally I'll be taking a break. 

Thanks again, for a wonderful year! 

Merry Christmas!

Tasha