Saturday, December 27, 2014

Gathering Ideas for 2015 and Glancing Back at 2014

I've begun a to do list for 2015's patterns, and your ideas could really help me choose the best projects to focus on. What types of projects do you want to sew during the coming year. Mug rugs? Wall hangings? Table toppers? Quilts to snuggle in? Something altogether different? What themes appeal to you? Cats have already been suggested, but some others of you may also want something specific.

Do you have a preference for applique, paper foundation piecing, or traditional piecing? Is there a new technique you'd like to learn?

The more you tell me, the more I can streamline my work and create designs that you want to see.

I've put together a quick review of the patterns that were published during this past year. I make so many that it's sometimes hard to remember exactly what has and has not been done in the past. I find that reviewing helps me to see the gaps in what could or should be.

It truly has been a very productive year. I was surprised that I've made 35 patterns! Some go much more quickly than others, but it averages out to one new design completed every ten days. That's a lot of sewing, but I have loved every minute of it!

I organized the patterns in several categories.

 Fifteen Mug Rugs:
Somehow I managed to miss a couple of them in the photo collage below. I will make more mug rugs next year, but I doubt that there will be as many as there were this year. Is there anything special you'd like to see in these quick, but practical, mini quilts?



 Two Lap Quilts:
I made only two of these this year. I'd like to remake the Snowball Fight quilt in quilting fabrics if I have time, but I'm not sure about whether or not I'll make others. What do you think? Is there a special lap quilt, baby quilt, or other small quilt that you'd really like to make?

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Twelve Quilt Along Blocks:
My goodness, but "Home" was a delight! So much fun, but very labor intensive, too. I am considering another quilt along or maybe even two, but whatever I create next year will be on a much smaller scale. What are your thoughts about quilt alongs?


Five Table Toppers and Runners:
I love making these because I use them so much in my own home. I do plan more for the next year. Shall I limit myself to seasonal or holiday themes or shall I try for more general designs. I don't know. You'll have to help me out on this.


One Tooth Fairy Pillow:


 Or was it a mug rug?



This was probably the most fun of my projects this year. I love sewing for children, but it's hard to come up with unique ideas. Can you suggest something else?

Free Patterns:
In addition to the new patterns, I added three of the older ones to my group of free patterns. I do intend to add more this coming year.



Thank you for being part of this wonderful year of stitching!

I'm making my list and checking it twice!
With your help next year will be even more exciting and fun.


6 comments:

  1. I love your designs and have purchased several - with quite a few on my "wish list". Looking forward to journeying 2015 with you. I love wall hangings and table toppers - I use both frequestly for gifts. Love easy quilts - again for gift giving. Character-wise, it's penguins for me :) Have a blessed New Year, Karen.

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    1. Thank you, Edi. I'm always thrilled when someone likes my little designs. I hope you'll find something wonderful to sew next year.

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  2. Oh gosh, I have SOOOOOOOOO many of your patterns, mug rugs and table runners on my wish list. I just love so many of them. I would love to see more pieced patterns for mug rugs and other things. Of course, if I were to buy all those on my wish list, I'd have no time for anything new you might post this year. lol

    I've also been concerned you might be another one who was going to stop selling with all the VAT stuff happening. I wondered if I was going to need to buy all those I want before that point.

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    1. Vicki, you made my day. I try so hard to make my patterns as perfect as I can, so saying you like "many" of them gives me such a sense of accomplishment.

      You mentioned pieced patterns. Are you referring to the mug rugs that have paper foundation pieced backgrounds or applique pieces, or did you mean more patterns with traditional piecing?

      I haven't heard anything about changes, so I'm assuming anything happening with the VAT won't affect US sellers. If I found that I had to pay extra taxes on my sales, I would be much more likely to raise my prices a few cents on the newer patterns than to stop selling. My little business is much about more playing with fabrics than about earning profits. Not to worry. There should be no hurry at all to spend a bundle on patterns that will only take up space.

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  3. Your tooth fairy projects are perfectly darling! Are these your own pattern? You've had a lovely, productive 2014! Here's to a productive and Happy New Year! :)

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    1. So glad you like the tooth fairy pillow. Yes, it is my own pattern. I agree - a productive and happy New Year would be lovely. Happy New Year to you, too.

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