Kitting Up & Making Ready!

I cut up bolts of fabric yesterday!

This definitely took a new rotary blade, and something interesting to listen to while doing it because though not real exciting when the fabric is just Essex Linen (in natural - it may have been more fun if it were colors!)

What was all of this mundane cutting about?

All of the exciting kits that are headed to Egypt and Ireland with me on a quick turn around after my Vietnam trip.

I leave for NYC on May 31st! 

What you see here is 120 kits in the making.  Oh boy!

When calculating just how many days I'd have after Vietnam to get these ducks in a row - I thought my time was best put to use in the couple of days before I head out Sunday, than wait for jet lag and brain fog to leave me when I return.

It feels like everything is happening all at once!

But bonus of all bonuses - After cutting squares, there is just enough margin left that I can get some 2'' strips - and I've already got ideas flowing for a project to use them.

I love the feel of the Essex cotton/linen blend.  It's wonderful for hand stitched embroidery - the texture of the "natural" with its flecks gives such a terrific homespun feel.

I'm stacking up those strips from the margins and they will percolate until I am sure just what I want to do.

Printing on the Sulky Stick n' Stitch!

I run about 6 copies through my laser jet at a time.  You can use an inkjet too, but laser jet doesn't rub off on my fingers while stitching. And it is cheaper on ink when printing 120!

For my Egypt/Ireland travelers I am trying to minimize luggage weight as much as possible so I am doing all of the trimming, peeling sticking so that I can hand out kits with no muss/no fuss since they will only be bringing their chosen thread color in 12 wt or embroidery floss, a needle threader, a thimble (if they use one) and a small pair of thread snips.

I don't find that I even need an embroidery hoop when stitching through the Stick n' Stitch - it adds enough body that my stitching doesn't draw up the fabric.

40 in the bag!

I'm waiting for the needles to arrive - and they'll be added to this kit for the Egypt group when I get them.

Cat In The Flowers -

I love how this little stitchery turned out - and I'm glad that we'll be doing it in Vietnam, Egypt, Poland and Italy!

There are still a few spaces available in our Italy/Tuscany tour in September!  It's going to be a phenomenal trip.  Why not join us, and bring a friend?

Printouts on Stick n' Stitch for our Ireland peeps, group 1 & 2!

(That's 80 people!)

Cairdeas!

Pronounced somewhere between “gorgeous” and “car chase,” Cairdeas means “friendship” and it's perfect for the friendships we are building, and memories we are making while traveling the Emerald Isle!

I may not have time to do the trimming, peeling and sticking of these 80 kits before leaving for Vietnam, but I am this much further ahead today than I was yesterday morning.

Sometimes it's all about the behind-the-scenes grunt work so we can have fun with the projects in the near future!

I've had many ask if I will be making these little stitcheries available in PDF form for the public, and the answer is yes!  Stay tuned - it may not happen until July - we'll see what it takes to get my wits about me with all of this crisscrossing of the globe travel.

And now - what you've all been waiting for!  It's Gift-Away drawing time!

Happy Friday, quilty friends!  Let's get this drawing underway!

We had 5738 entries!  Thank you so much for loving Sugar Grove as much as I do!  I can't wait to see your blocks in progress and watch as your quilts come together!

I am drawing for two winners who will each receive a Sugar Grove pattern from me, and a Roy G Biv color roll from  Cotton to Quilts!

Perfect colors to enhance your scrap stash!

Who is entry 4595?

Vicki Bartels!

Who is 377?

Vicki Harvey!

Isn't that interesting? Two Vicki's!

Ladies please check your email inboxes for your notification mails containing your pattern.  Please reply to those mails with your mailing address so I can pass them on to Cotton To Quilts who will be getting your fabric rolls out to you.

Check your spam/promotions folders if you don't see my mail!

Introductory Pricing!  This pattern is already marked 25% off - no coupon needed!  Price reduction good through 4/30/23.

(In reality it will end before I board my flight at JFK for Vietnam so don't wait until the last minute!)

You'll find it in both the Quiltville Store and the Quiltville Etsy Pattern Shop.

Today?  Still tying up loose ends.

This includes a double duty appointment day for both the Chiropractor and a Mammogram.

Have you scheduled yours?  It's important!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

It’s FRIDAY! Enjoy!

⁣

Vintage quilt found in Alabama.