Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Seams Unlikely - Nancy Zieman blog tour!

***UPDATE*** Congratulations to "sewquik"!  You are the winner of my giveaway!  Please contact me with your mail address!

 Who inspired you?  The question involves thoughtful reflection into your own journey of those who have stepped into your life, even just for a moment.

Nancy Zieman is probably the most well known face in the world of educational sewing through public broadcasting.  She's been the inspiration for many a sewer to take that leap, try something new, give it a go and be creative.  For over thirty years, she's been teaching us steps in a creative process, always encouraging her viewers with those reassuring words..."the choice is yours."

So when I heard that she was writing an autobiography, titled "Seams Unlikely," I was most certainly intrigued.  Here is an opportunity to meet the very talented woman behind the camera and learn even more about her vision and how she fulfilled her dreams.

It's a story about an incredible journey through physical challenges and honesty that comes from the heart.  When Nancy explains her experiences, you can easily see that this is a woman with unbreakable spirit.  As I soaked in the stories of her childhood and upbringing, I found a kinship in her heartwarming reflections.  She has such a humble nature at telling about an extraordinarily difficult physical journey.  Her story really enlightened me to understand this woman and her true character.  

What I found most inspiring is that Nancy didn't have to establish herself by changing who she is deep inside.  She faced many barriers in developing a woman owned business in an era that was still stereotyped against believing they can succeed.  And she leapt over these obstacles always learning, growing and developing.  All this while dealing with substantial physical challenges which would cause most to give up.  And all this while maintaining integrity, grace and balance.

I confirmed a belief that I have felt since first watching Nancy on TV.  She is the real thing, a genuine character of strong faith with a will to succeed, not just for her products or even her educational instruction, but also in life.  And her story tells it all so beautifully.

Would you like to receive your own copy of Seams Unlikely?  I received an additional copy to give away to one lucky reader of my blog.  Simply become a follower and leave a comment about someone who inspired you for your chance to win (US residents only, please).  I'll draw a name at the end of this blog tour on February 18th, so be sure that you're settings include the ability for me to reply/contact you!

Nancy is also giving away 20 more copies of her book!  Leave a comment on her February 4th blog posting http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/blog-tour/seams-unlikely-book/ for your chance to win your own copy!  And be sure to stop by these participating blogs in this special tour:

February 4 Nancy Zieman http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/blog-tour/seams-unlikely-book/
February 5 Eileen Roche http://dzgns.com/blog/
February 5 Pat Sloan http://patsloan.typepad.com/
February 6 Melissa Stramel http://melissaslilaclane.blogspot.com
February 6 The Long Ladies http://www.mariemadelinestudio.typepad.com/
February 6 Tori Thompson http://totallystitchin.net
February 7 Amy Barickman http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/
February 7 Melissa Mora http://mellysews.com
February 8 Shari Butler http://www.doohikeydesignstudio.com/blog/
February 8 Vicki Christensen http://www.sewinspiredblog.com/
February 9 Carolina Moore http://alwaysexpectmoore.com
February 9 Kate Mclvor https://theconfidentstitch.squarespace.com
February 10 Amy Ellis http://amyscreativeside.com/
February 10 Melissa Mortenson http://www.polkadotchair.com
February 11 Ilene Miller http://happyvalleyprimitives.blogspot.com/
February 11 Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/
February 11 Rachael Pannepacker http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/
February 12 Bill Gardner http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/
February 12 Elizabeth Evans http://www.simplesimonandco.com
February 13 Amy Webb http://www.amylouwhosews.com/
February 13 Lindsay Wilkes http://thecottagehome.blogspot.com
February 14 Gertie Hirsch http://www.blogforbettersewing.com
February 14 Veronica Philips http://cloverusa.wordpress.com/
February 15 Jenny Gabriel http://www.sewvacoutletblog.com
February 15 Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.com/
February 16 Frieda Anderson http://friestyle.com/
February 16 Rita Farro http://ritassewfun.blogspot.com
February 17 Cindy Cloward http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/blog/
February 17 Joan Hawley http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/
February 17 Patty Young http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com
February 18 Nancy Zieman http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Take Out Love - A New Pattern Release!

Wow...2014 is already starting off fast!  I've been working on three new pattern designs and now have the latest one ready for you!  Celebrate Valentine's Day for your special someone with a handmade 'take out' container filled with sentiments inside these
beautiful fabric fortune cookies!

This is by far my quickest and easiest project to complete.  The larger container has a beautiful heart cutwork opening that is encased with beadwork and a tinsel garland around the brim.  The smaller container has closure flaps that interlock and a frayed heart complete with a rusty arrow.  And finally, each fortune cookie is trimmed out with beads, and I've included lots of fortune cookie sayings with the pattern.

Find this new pattern along with all of my other designs in my Etsy shop and on www.Patternmart.com.  And, of course, if you purchase from my blog, you'll save a little cash!  Have fun creating!


Thursday, January 2, 2014

Meet the Faces of Handmade...And a Special Coupon for You!

How important is Handmade to you?  With over one million shops on the Etsy venue, it's becoming more difficult to distinguish between a seller that singularly crafts their product verses a seller that uses a manufacturing process to pump out volumes of the same item.  How do you know?

Meet your shop owner!  Etsy is now requiring all shops to put together an "About" page which introduces buyers to the shop owner, their processes and history.  Become educated and support the small business owners who create for you the one-of-a-kind beautiful items that won't be found anywhere else!

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy has come together to introduce you to their shops, the artistans AND a nice bit of savings!  Check out all of our partipating shops and find a special coupon code at each shop while you meet the talented artist behind the creations:



https://www.etsy.com/shop/WickedlyCreative/about/

I'm running a very special coupon code for this promotion...15% off your purchase of $15 or more!  Hope you stop in and "meet" me through my About page, and find my coupon there!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

A Gift for You!

Can you believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away?  I finished up my shopping yesterday, and while it will be a lean giving season for us, we are making the best of it.  I plan to wrap up every little thing so that there is still that excitement from a certain tween girl that says, "yep, I'm still a kid!"  And we'll have a decadent baking session going on this weekend...Yum!

In the spirit of giving, I am including a beautiful handmade fabric gift bag with every purchase of $10 or more (excluding shipping and epatterns) from my shop.  This offer is good from today through December 21st.  I've been making these fabric gift bags for my craft shows for years now, and sometimes I just get lost in creating something beautiful surrounding a gorgeous applique, and embellishing with festive trim.  

I hope you'll come on over and check out my shop and take advantage of my gift to you!  Happy Holidays!


Monday, October 28, 2013

Stitchin' to Celebrate!

It's time for a Winter Celebration with the Old Farmhouse Gathering team on Etsy!  I've been having fun creating several new items for you as well as adding some more favorites in my shop.

This little Santa ornament came together so beautifully, that I'm actually creating several to offer this time.  Such a great little gift for that coworker or hostess this season!

And this happy Snowman doll has lots of details and features that every collector would love!

There's much more to see in this wonderful celebration, so I hope you check out all of these 100% handmade items!

Have a great day!

Friday, September 27, 2013

No Waist Line Worries with my newest ePattern!

It's that special time of year when candy corns are plentiful and a scoopful here and there will make your dentist smile and your weigh scale moan! Did you know that if you grow them, they'll produce the most bountiful crop ever, AND they are also diet friendly?  Have some fun with my latest primitive epattern release...a Candy Corn Tree! 

This is a fun and quick project that can be stitched up in an afternoon. This pattern has lots of step by step photos to guide you through the completion of a great decor piece that can be enjoyed all during the fall season.  Pattern includes full size templates as well as detailed instructions and size variations for a stunning visual effect in this three dimensional centerpiece display. 

Find my latest epattern on my blog for a special low price, or in my Etsy and Patternmart shops as instant downloads!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Fall Frolic Fun!


It's time for a celebration on the Old Farmhouse Gathering team!  Our team never ceases to amaze with all new, never seen handmade items for the season!  This year, I spent some time in my wool cabinet and created these beautiful pieces for you!


  I hope you'll stop in here and check out all of the new items!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Meet I.C. Flakes...My latest epattern!!!

 Meet I.C. Flakes, a cute little primitive snowman ornament pattern that you can whip up in quick time!  I've had this little guy in my head for quite a while now and think he turned out so well!  This ornament epattern has detailed instructions with lots of photo illustrations and full sized patterns.  He sports some fun features like a grubbyed up carrot nose for you to create and is mostly hand stitched, which makes for a great portable stitchin' project.  Plus, he's such an easy and fast ornament to make for gifts or those upcoming holiday craft shows!  Yep, they'll be here before you know it! 

He's now available as an instant download in my Etsy shop and also in my shop at Patternmart.com.  And, of course, you may purchase him here on my blog for a special low price.  Check out all of my other epatterns here on my blog for even more savings!  If purchasing epatterns from my blog, I'll be emailing those to your Paypal email address within 24 hours.  Happy stitchin'!
  


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Christmas In July Sale!

Tick, tock...that handmade project rocks, so why not plan ahead AND save some bread!  That's right, Happy Valley Primitives is having a Christmas in July sale for all of my Christmas themed instant downloadable patterns available on Patternmart:

http://www.patternmart.com/patterns/search/section/All/Happy+Valley+Primitives/All/All/


Looking for something already finished for you?  I'm also having a sale on any purchase over $50.00 in my Etsy shop!  But hurry...these prices are only available through July 31st!



Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Red Poppy

Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to stand alone in the crowd.  This red poppy rose up through the pale pink cohorts of it's new home to showcase a stunning brilliance of difference.  I feel that way sometimes...not the brilliant part, but the aspect of standing up and being different.

It's not easy to be the one that says "I will no longer be a part of this."   To stand up and be unlike the rest.  To allow the experience and all that encompasses it to leave my life.

And then to move on.  To love those who are with me; who connect and relate together and want to be there.  To live life with more happiness and less walking on eggshells.  With heartfelt commitment to those spoken promises to one another.  To try with all of my heart to move on.  It's hard, but has to be done.

This is the first year I've seen this poppy in bloom.  A new beginning to it's home, showcasing a chance to stand alone.  The outsider was always in there amongst the pale toned crowd, waiting for the right moment to be an original.  It just took a new day to discover just how colorfully individual it would be.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

You know it's hot when...



A friend sent me these pictures and I had to share.  We're seeing a scorching 75-80 degrees here today.  Ha!

Remember, this is where most folks come to year round to baste in the cool rain 'til we rust.  Now that's a Northwest tan!





I'm working on some new raggedy dolls and should have them listed this week.  Little ones that are just perfect for an accent shelf or small space to decorate.  Oh, and we're preparing for our garage sale this weekend as well.  Time to purge a whole lot of 'stuff'!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the Music!


That song is stuck in my head as we see yet ANOTHER gorgeous day here in the northwest!  Time to join in the fun at the Old Farmhouse Gathering!  Come celebrate summer with us as we launch over 120 new handmade creations for you!  We have a lot of new artists showcasing their best primitive talents!  So turn on some music, kick up some new moves, and then come check out all of the summer fun!

https://www.etsy.com/search?q=sfcofg&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Summer's Delights...and a Sneak Peek!

With the beautiful summer-like weather we've been having, it's no surprise that spirits are up here at home.  It can be a bit fickle though.  Matt's love for fishing had him out prepping the boat for it's first seasonal launch last night, only to see the rain clouds commence before he could peel out of the driveway.  "Sweetness" melts in the rain ya know...

The garden is planted, and our solar fence is keeping the deer away for now.  Little plastic teepees carefully covet those precious tomatoes, as the nights can still get chilly here.  The flower beds are getting trimmed and weeded, one by one.  I'm even planning for an upcoming garage sale in just a few weeks.  And, oh yes...BBQ season is here! Yum!

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy is about to launch a new summer celebration.  Here's a sneak peek at one of my latest creations, which will be featured in the celebration that will start Monday, May 20th.  I have one project left to get finished up by tomorrow, so I'm off to stitch!  Have a great day!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Scrapping some more frayed edges!

Happy Monday!  It's certainly showing signs of summer here.  Temps are in the low 70's, and even the house doesn't feel so cold!  I thought I'd share my latest completed frayed edge project...a scrap busting pillow cover.  If you need to use up some flannel scraps and have a LOT of time, this is a fun project!  I used up nearly all of the scraps left over from my rectangle quilt to make just one pillow cover!

The finished cover fits a 16" pillow form.  For this project, I cut 2 1/2" squares of the patterned and solid flannel fabrics, a total of 484 squares to cut!  Each doubled up square was stitched into rows of 11 squares across, and then 11 rows in height were stiched to make up the front.  This means you will use up 242 squares to make one side.  Remember, the seams are 1/2" and are on the right side as you sew.  No batting is needed for this project, so, there is no quilting of the squares to do either!



I did exactly the same to the back, except that I only stitched 5 rows together and then made a separate piece that was 6 rows stitched together.  Between these two pieces, I sewed in a hidden zipper, which, after that was completed, made the two back sections into one piece.  Then I stitched the two large squares together around the perimeter, clipped the exposed seams at about 1/4" intervals, washed and dried the piece and it was FINALLY done!


Since flannel can be such a 'shifty' material when sewn, these frayed edge projects are just so wonderful to make up.  If your sewing isn't the straightest, or maybe you're just starting to quilt, a project like this produces a great result, hiding away any imperfections in those fluffed up ragged seams.  Have fun creating!