Shakespeare's Garden Sweet Bag

I have a new teaching piece that will debut at A Stitcher's Gathering in Phoenix next week. Lots of stitches and simple finishing, but with lots of tassels. It's on Bittersweet linen by Lakeside, what a beautiful color! Quotes relating to flowers and gardens from the plays of Shakespeare on the back.

Madeira Tin Sewing Set Teaching Schedule

I have posted photos of the Madeira Tin project previously as I prepared to teach it for the Magnolia Sampler Guild in metro Atlanta. I have had several emails asking if I am teaching this again. My schedule for this class follows:
June 2 at Attic Needlework in the Phoenix, AZ area
October 17 & 18, 2008 at the "Fall Fling" held at Sea Mist Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC (for more details and registration information, go to www.crossstitchpals.com/convention.html) Click on 2008 Class Info.
September 2009 for the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild in the Dallas/Ft Worth/TX area.

Martha's Sewing Basket clarification

I've gotten lots of emails from you about my upcoming plans for Martha's Sewing Basket. Thanks for your interest. The Little Pocket pictured was a special design that I did for the Magnolia Sampler Guild program about Martha Washington (where we had a costumed speaker). I've decided to expand on this idea and release several pieces for the basket. These pieces will be released commercially (through shops) later this year, as a "club type" release. I haven't worked out the details yet. The actual basket is a Longaberger Oval Spring basket that was introduced in March and is on sale through today. The liner that I will be releasing the pattern for is this basket. However, you may design your own liner for any other type of basket or shaker box if you wish.
I will have more information next week about the pocket and how that will be available. Just stay tuned for more updates, but if you want to purchase a basket on sale, then contact your Longaberger representative, or if you don't have one, you can email me, but sale ends tonight. I will be checking my email until 11pm EST, or you may call me (check my website for phone number) www.fancywork.net

Pictures of the "Martha Sewing Basket and Pocket"

A quick post before I leave for Paducah...Many of you asked for a picture of the "Martha" basket and liner, so here they are. I lined the basket with fabric from the Old Virginia Calicos collection by Quilting Treasures (one fabric for the main lining and several scrap for the pieced border). I ordered mine from an online quilt shop. I'll post that info next week when I return. I plan to use various prints from this collection as I make other items for the basket. I'll update the blog as I begin working on them. I will post later in May if the "Martha's Little Pocket" will be available. But don't worry, there will be plenty of items to fill your basket. The Longaberger basket is on sale April 19-30, after that regular price. The one in the picture is warm brown.

I am currently in Cleveland, Ohio for my oldest son's senior recital (He a trombone performance major at Cleveland Institute of Music) and I just checked my email. I learned some information that I wanted to pass on. For those of you who are members of Magnolia Sampler Guild, you know we had a special program on Martha Washington this past Thursday, along with a costumed visit from Martha herself! I designed a special piece to commemorate this program (I'll post a picture when I return home) that was a gift to all who attended. I plan to design more pieces to accompany the "pocket". Anyway, I sized this pocket to hang on the new Longaberger Oval Spring basket (I also made a liner for the basket to match the pocket finishing fabric). The email I received informed me of a Longaberger sale on this basket from today until April 30. The basket is regularly priced at $50 and is on sale for $29 (plus shipping and handling). If you're interested please email me and I'll send you information about ordering the basket. I hope I post pictures on Tuesday before I leave again on Wednesday for Paducah, KY for the quilt festival.

The Madeira Tin Project

I finished the Madeira Tin Project a couple of weeks ago, but forgot to post the finished pictures. I taught 2 classes for Magnolia Sampler Guild. The tote bag is made from the "jelly roll" strips that came with the tin.

Finally have photography done on the "Liberty" version of The Little Sewing Box.