Making quilted mats!!!

I made these four 12 inch mats today. Each front has the same fabrics, but not all the centers are the same. Each one has a different back. The fronts are Halloween colors and each reverses to a fall fabric. You will be able to get two seasons from these mats! Click on the pictures for close-ups of the detail of my work.

FRONT W/Orange Center

BACK

FRONT W/Orange Center

BACK

FRONT W/Pumpkin/Crow Center

BACK

FRONT W/Black Center

BACK

FRONT CLOSE-UP WITH A SKYLINE BHR CANDLE

I've been sewing mats like crazy for my artfire shop and my consignment shop and have many more planned. Last week I made these two new ones. These are approximately 15 inch and make a lovely addition to any table. Match them up with a tall candle, candy dish or plant and you have an awesome centerpiece.

FRONT


BACK

These 15 inch mats have sweet pumpkins and witches and bats (in the orange fabric) for Halloween and reverse to fall fabric. The second one is perfect for a Thanksgiving table.

FRONT

BACK

~~They're Here~~BHR Coasters~~

As many of you know I am the proud #1 FAN of blockheadradio.com.

I've been working on the design of these coasters for about 2 weeks now. Thanks to the graphic genius of Annette, AKA HuckleberryArts over at Blockheadrodradio.com getting the graphic(s) on a regular size sheet of paper for me. Thanks Annette!

From that, I was able to print the graphics on paper backed material and TA-DA! You can find them in my artfire shop with FREE shipping! Perfect as a hot mat under that BHR Brew Ha Ha cup of coffee in the morning! You have a choice of colored notes on black background OR black notes on white background. Both are quilted in black with a "block" decorative stitch.

BHR coasters not your cup of tea? Please note that I have many material choices for coasters and would love to do a custom set for you, just contact me at icanquilt@aol.com

~~I WON~~

OMG ~~

I returned from a crap load of errands this afternoon to find a wonderful surprise!

Oh geeze, I best begin at the beginning. As most of you know, I am the #1 fan of blockheadradio.com. Well, last Friday, there was a giveaway from blockheadradio, but as usual you had to be listening and call in to win. The give away was a new blockheadradio (BHR) candle that my friend, Marie Bressler, over at http://skylinecandle.com/ created for BHR's morning Brew Ha Ha Show, as she is also a great fan. (Who isn't?) I LUV LUV candles. Sew....I listened all day, (whilst sewing and puting) except for a brief trip to the grocery store. Finally, that evening, Rod was taking the third caller and WOOTS, it was ME!

Sew, my surprise this afternoon is this gorgeous candle from Sky. Hazelnut is my favorite flavor of coffee and this candle smells SEW WONDERFUL. It looks good enough to eat. Judge for yourself, take a look at this pic. I really hate to light it. I think I have to create a special candle mat for it!

MMMM....
Marie has a whole line of wonderful candles at her website, check it out. I would recommend you start with the BHR candle. WOOTS!

~Pay it forward~ with the Blockhead Radio Charity Sampler Box

These are trying times. I have always said that no matter what you are going through or what struggles you have there is always someone that is going through worse. Sometimes I pinch myself that I am blessed in many ways. Yes, I have had many a challenge over the years, but I have always had the strength to persevere. I heard somewhere that “everyone has a story, don’t judge until you have heard it.”

Giving back or the newer phrase “paying it forward” is something that many of us strive to do. Whether it’s helping your local community or going more global, every dollar combined with more dollars can add up quickly.

As an artist, I am thrilled to be able to pay it forward with the new BHR charity sampler box. This gives me the chance to give back to artists that are less fortunate than I am. It’s a simple thing, really. I have a wonderful stash of fabric that I have been fortunate enough to collect over a few years. It sits there and begs to be made into something lovely. All it requires is a little bit of thought and time on my part to come up with something that will work for the BHR sampler box. I encourage all of you to read more about this awesome cause and then decide what you, as a crafter, could put together for this wonderful cause. Even if you can only submit one or two items….remember…. it all adds up.

I decided to make drink coasters in sets of 4 for the sampler box. They were made with lots of love and from the heart. Here are my first 6 sets going out in the mail to our BHR charity sampler box co-coordinator, the awesome Lily Wrey (whom I lovingly call sweetlips) aka, TulipsTreasureBox.

Please remember that one day it may be you (God forbid), that has a tragedy and may need a little bit of help. As Blockhead Radio’s biggest fan, I thank you in advance. I am sew proud to be a member of this artisan community. A community that is bigger than any corporation and where love is widespread.

Visit the Blockhead Radio Charity Sampler Box's website.

Many Hugs,
Cindy
aka SewHappyDesigns

I SEW Love a Challenge

Be Sure to join the Blockhead Radio Artisan Challenge!!!

All you Artisans out there make a note of this date: March 23rd.

The Artisans Challenge is Back!!

Some may remember... some may be hearing about it for the first time! Come on over at Blockhead Radio to hear more about the launch of this cool weekly contest. You will find some really great music by indie artists :) there too. Formerly known as the Etsy Challenge (the name was changed to protect the innocent...) and then renamed as the Artisan's Challenge because there are soooo many great venues out there for selling handmade.... and then the whole shebang came crumbling down. It was feared that the challenge would never be heard from again.

Yes, the Artisan's Challenge is being dug up from the depths of the internet graveyard! For those who may have never heard of the Artisan's Challenge, let me tell ya what it's all about. There are 12 different categories with 60 different artisans every week (5 submissions in each category). The winner's of the categories from the previous week then face off in a weekly challenge!So head on over, read the rules and enter your submissions now! You'll be notified when it's your week in the challenge. Then its up to you to tell your friends... your family... your neighbors... the people in the checkout line at the grocery store... to go vote for you in the

Artisan's Challenge!!
What's in it for you? Besides lots of people seeing your item when they vote?? Besides FREE publicity for your shop??? Besides all the fun????It just so happens that the winner of the weekly challenge will now win a audio commercial with a banner to play the entire following week on Blockhead Radio! That's even MORE FREE publicity for your shop!Remember, it's ANY selling venue! Entries are being accepted now so hurry and get your submission in. The winner is decided by you, sew be sure you vote. I hope you will find me there a time or two with some items from SewHappyDesigns, if you do, please can I have your vote?

OH...ONE MORE THING... blog about it. I'll make it easy on ya (because I'm nice like that)... just copy and paste this blog, post it, and Let Witchy of The Copper Cauldron know you did! You'll be entered for a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to The Copper Cauldron. Visit the Copper Cauldron here!! Last date to enter will be March 22nd. Winner will be selected by a random number generator. One entry per blog.

Hey...Advertise Your Shop!!

Wanna know where you can get a great advertising deal? Click on over to blockheadradio.com and hit that advertising info button. Trust me, it's not expensive and you will get sew much for your money!

Oh yeah, and there is an awesome contest going there too....If blockheadradio sells (50) 5,000 impression ads from now until March 15, 2009 Rod is gonna do a utube video dressed in a tutu and his Florida flip-flops....well worth seeing. Get over there today....we all wanna see Rod's version of The Nutcracker Ballet!

Ya think he will look anything like this???





Nutcracker ballet...ouch..but hey...they look sew happy and sew in touch with their feminine side....

Spotlight on.....Me?

Oh...the bright lights, the glamor, the sequin dress, the tiara...my future is just sew bright! Thanks to blockheadradio!

What am I talking about? Take a look here!

AND, check THIS OUT! WOOTS!