Cinderberry Stitches

Orphan finds a home

Feeling pretty chirpy today! I knew I could count on you to come up with some fascinating ideas!  There is still plenty of time to enter the competition to win your very own set of Tail Feathers patterns...here are a few suggestions to get the creative mind thinking, I wonder how many more you can come up with?

Tweety Pie
Bewitching Birdies
Tree Top Tails
Tweethearts
Totaly Tweet
Twitterpated
Rock-a-bye-Birdie

While on the subjects of birds again, do you remember back to here when I stitched a lone bird on a scrap of fabric (which then sat in the corner of the studio until I had a spare minute)  You will be happy to know the orphan has found a new home in Isabelle's wardrobe and is getting lots of lovin'



Gorgeous fabric is from the Fresh Cut range by Heather Bailey - which has been looking at me from my fabric stash for quite some time now.



Looking forward to hearing more Tweet-tastic ideas for the feathered friends!  I am hoping of spend a little time today sketching a new idea that keeps popping into my head.

Til then,
Natalie X
 

Twitter & competition time

There is just so much to tell you all, I am getting excited - the pattern layouts are almost finished and I have spent more hours since we chatted last drawing the final designs for the Tail Feathers.  I have just finished drawing the transfer sheets and applique templates.

Transfer sheets you ask?  Yes, Tail Feathers will be released with iron on transfers for anyone who wants to start stitching as soon as possible.  Of course if you are like me and don't mind tracing, the pattern will also come with a design sheet too.

Ahhhh...the best of both worlds!

After looking at birds every day for the last few months I have finally joined Twitter, the 'fastest growing phenomena on the internet', if you would like to follow me just click the icon on the top right of your screen.  I wonder what you are doing today?

Now it's been a while since I had a competition, so would you like to be one of the first to win a copy of Tail Feathers BOM.... and - would you like to name one of the designs?

Well, with a prize like that it does require a little work from you.  Leave a comment on this post with a name suggestion for one of the Tail Feathers stitchery designs.  To double your chance of winning....follow me on Twitter and your name goes in the hat twice. 

One lucky winner will be drawn next Saturday, can't wait to see what you come up with!

Have fun

Natalie X   

Pattern writing

There is a pattern writing blitz on in my studio, I have been working late into the night carefully typing notes and drawing diagrams to go in to the ten patterns in the Tail Feathers series.  Although it is not the prettiest part of the designing process I love seeing the pattern process in the final stages...after all, I am already thinking of the next new designs to create and can't wait until this quilt hits to stores so I can get back to the machine.

Here is a glimpse of the first proof which gets read, re-read, changed & tweeked until I am happy with the layout and contents.

Not to mention sorting through the graph paper, double checking measurements and calculations, more diagrams and sketches

Then there is the detailed list of thread colors and stitch type used for each design, from leaves to the bird baths and spots in trees.

After working late last night I moved my sketch pad off the studio floor and found this, it appears someone around here has lost a tail feather.........it's possibly from the night owl but I can't be sure.

This week I will be busy with the final steps in the writing process and the most important - drawing all those sketches and stitchery designs you have seen over the last few months.  I think there may be a few more late nights

Till then
Natalie x

Magazine deadline

Last post I mentioned a magazine deadline I was working on to design a project inspired by Tail Feathers and I am so excited right now I could almost burst....Why? I love it.  It is so hard not to just blab and pop a picture up for you all to see, but that would be very, very naughty.

For now you will just have to settle with another little peek but I guess it is better to see a little bit than nothing at all, right?

 

You will just have to believe me when I tell you it really is YummY

The next few days I will be pattern writing and drawing before taking some last minute photos of the newest sweetie - and fingers crossed it looks like I will make the deadline with a little time to spare (big huge smile!)

Have you ever wondered the following? Do you stab with your needle or weave it and how small are your stitches?  if you have pop over to the Sewing - FAQ's page for some more details!

Till then
Natalie x

Do you share my addiction?

I have been sewing up a storm or a small city this week and I am very pleased the borders are completed.  Now I am addicted to scrappy log cabins and this is why...

Do you share my addiction?

I love these log cabin so much I have been thinking of some other wonderful ideas and with a few sweet rolls spare I am sure I can have a lot more fun yet - if only we didn't have to sleep...think of all that spare time

So what's next?  I am now waiting patiently (not really) for backing fabric to arrive but in the meantime I have had a few projects to get working on and a magazine deadline to meet.  My mission this week is to design a project inspired by the Tail Feathers journey, that means I have been playing with more gorgeous fabric and of course loving every minute......promise to take a picture for you and share in the next few days 

What's new? I have also added a new page to the blog called Sewing - FAQ's for some time now I have wanted to have a section where I can answer some of the questions I receive via email so I hope you will enjoy.

Til then
Natalie x