Whats New with Amy Butler and a contest to boot

Check out Amy’s new line of Sweet Life Bags. This is her second set of bags. The new line of bags are constructed with August Fields fabric. Click on the photo to the left to get a slide show of the new products she is offering. When Amy designed these bags, she thought of the crafter; the knitter, the quilter and sewer. She implemented extra pockets, channels, stronger and longer straps for carrying comfort. The collection consists of

Dew Drop Sling, oval shaped with a long needle and cellphone pocket on the outside, two larger zippered pockets on the inside to hold yarn and other essentials. It has a wide shoulder strap for a more comfortable feel.

Diana Sling which is a modern, playful bag. It has roomy spaces, as she has created a zippered center pocket. There are several tool channels and a cellphone zippered pocket. The bottom has an expanded panel with a soft comfortable shoulder strap.

The Pearl bag is is very stylish and practical. One side of the bag has three pleated pockets. There is a zippered inner pocket allowing for more than one project, thus organization. I can see using this bag as everyday use, not just for those crafty days.

Check out her other Sweet Life bags, the Hampton and Sanibel.

I can’t wait for Amy’s new field bag and tote. I “love” her bags and have almost everyone that she has designed, including her free project ones.

I like her mini dress tunic & top pattern. It sure will be a hit with the younger set and will be prefect for the upcoming season.

 

Amy is coming out with her first CD software program. It runs on Windows XP, Vista and MAC systems running Windows program (woo hoo). There are 22 projects with 9 bonus projects. You can make the projects as designed OR you can customize her projects with a program using the software tools. Just think of the possibilities of her bags you can design to your liking. She has included in the CD clear step-by-step instructions for each skill leveled sewer. And if help is needed, you can contact the Electric Quilt support team. Now all I have to do is make sure my MAC is running the windows program! Click the photo to the left to view a slide show of projects.

Now to move on to the contest. I have more to share, but I will post more tomorrow on “What’s New with Amy”.

The Mid Mod Contest runs from June 1st through September 15th. To see rules click on the photo to the left. This contest marks the one year anniversary of Amy’s Rowan Midwest Modern fabric line.

All you need to do is make a project using Amy’s Midwest Modern fabric. The project can be one of Amy’s patterns, one of your favorites or an original item you have created.

There will be 10 winners announced and Amy is putting together a Flickr account for all entries from her website. The winning entries will receive fat quarters from Amy’s line, Midwest Modern, a signed copy of Amy’s software and a great selection of her newest sewing patterns.

So time to get stitching. I’ll have to figure out what fabric and item I wish to enter into the contest.

Happy Stitching!

CPSIA – Let our voices be heard

Congress passed a bill last summer that was designed to protect children from toys containing lead and phthalates. Know as  the Consumer Product Safety Imporovement Act (CPSIA), it was suppose to go into effect this year, but has been extended until February 10, 2010. With this bill, it affects may people who handcrafts and sells toys, clothing and other items for children under the age of 12. The bill that congress passed, requires expensive testing that we, small businesses and crafters cannot afford.

Read and learn more about this act here. If you purchase items from a crafter or you are a crafter and will be affected by this legislation, there are a couple of online petitions that you can check out. Please consider signing and forwarding on to other friends who would like to get involved.

Let your legislation know how you feel about this bill.

LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD.

Happy Hour EmbLibrary – This weekend only ending May 17th 2009

This week-end, until Sunday, May 17th, EmbLibrary is having “Happy Hour”. If you are not a member of EmbLibrary you are not aware of what “Happy Hour” is. This is were you can receive machine embroidery designs at half off from their normal price. This includes design packs. So take advantage of filling up your shopping cart with designs, add the special code, Nifty50, and see the prices drop before your eyes.

With this particular week-end Happy Hour there is a bonus. After you have placed your order, go to your order history. There you will see a folder titled something like VIP, these are the five free designs, which I’ve posted above.

So stop by and check out this week’s new designs and sale items <sale is certain designs for a dollar a piece, the Nifty50 code does not apply to these items, only regularly priced items>. Maybe there might be a design that you wanted to purchase in a previous week, but didn’t, now you can take advantage of the “Happy Hour” and get those 5 free designs. And as a reminder, pick up the free designs and check out their 17 cent designs for the month of May.

Remember this “Happy Hour” sale ends Sunday, May 17th 11:59 pm, Central Standard Time.

SewforLess.com Giveaway – Fantastic Flora from OESD

Sewforless.com has stuff overflowing in their “free stuff box”. So they are starting to share the love. The embroidery love.

Check out the rules here, then head over and post your entries. That’s right, entries, there is no limit on how many entries or comments you post. You have until May 20, 2009, around 10 AM, to get your entries in.

Check out OESD Crafter’s Collection #853 – Fantastic Flora. This package of designs can be sewn out on any item you deem and then sold. Look at the elegant swirls, leaves, flowers and paisley designs.

Check out sewforless.com and enter to win this package that regularly sells for $129.99. 

I will be posting more SewforLess.com Giveaways in the future as well as possible sales they are having.

Get chatting….

Metro Thread Mother’s Day Sale until May 11th

 Do I need to say more visit here.

KWIK SEW CLUTCH – Free download

Looking for a quick and easy clutch to sew?

Jump over to Kwik Sew for their free downloadable clutch.

I’ve made several of these clutches as gifts for family members. It is such a simple, straightforward pattern. I would say it only takes under 2 hours to complete. Even a beginner can follow the easy instructions without questions.

The pattern only calls for 3/8 yards of fabric, lining and interfacing. You can embellish the pattern by adding piping, decorative trim or even machine embroidery. The clutches made, used upholstery fabric that I had in my stash. You can go from elegant to plain Jane on this clutch depending on the type of fabrics you use.

I use the smaller clutch as a make-up bag for my huge purse. You can even use the smaller clutch for toiletries when going away for the week-end. Even though the pattern doesn’t call for pockets, it is easy to make small thin pockets to slip a credit card, ID, even a slim pocket for a cell phone. If you want to make one for make-up or toiletries, you can make little holders for items like mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, or a pocket with a Velcro closure, so the items don’t fall out all over.

Well, tomorrow time to pull out the zebra cotton print fabric, promised to make one for a friend, as a belated birthday gift.

Go check out the instructions on this trouble-free clutch.

MIA

Sorry I’ve been “Missing in Action”. Gonna try and get back on target, but I have a lot of things going on lately. Have to get my head back on….

I am retiring from my job of 31 years on June 26th. Nice b-day present, even though my b-day is on the 10th!

Even though my last day is the 26th, my actual last day of working in the office is around May 28th, give or take a day in the event that I want to take a vacation day between now and the 28th.

The whole month of June, I will be relaxing using up all my vacation time. Hmmm what can I be doing? I would like to be traveling and visit a few friends in the surrounding states, but I would also love to go to some states I’ve never been to before. And I would like to be traveling ALONE! with the exception of taking my pup, Maggie, with me.

So I have to plan ahead, see who I can visit and in between, get some additional items cared for. Need to address some health issues <nothing life threatening>, retirement planning <finalize>, re-finance the homestead, maybe paint the homestead <LOL> and finally look for a part or full time job. As I am still a young lady, I would like to still be in the work force.

So you say why are you retiring if you plan to go back to work. Lets just say the company has changed in such a way, that lots of employees aren’t happy and our contract expires on the 26th. There are going to be many changes that will effect us, so I’m grabbing what I can and start a new chapter in life. Its going to be strange filling out applications and sending in resumes, I mean 31 years what do you put down, lol. I have some places to go to, so at least I have and idea.

My husband dropped the bomb on me Monday. He indicated to me he wanted out of his job. As his place gets more stressful on a daily basis. Sure the last few times he asked if he could do it I was fine with it, but now <shaking head – thanks dear for killing me>. He is aware of me retiring, but this was my glory and now you’ve damped my spirits cause I was expecting you to be bringing home the bacon. I basically said do what you have to do, but I would prefer you get your important surgery done prior to leaving. So has he done anything since Monday? Nada! So how important was it for him to drop this bomb. Who knows.

Well time to run and start typing up some more training material. I  am suppose to be replaced and train someone, but haven’t gotten any confirmation. I will indicate, I am going to send in a resume to a hiring agent for my company to hire me back as a contracted employee. But I’m gonna check out other avenues as well.

Have a great day and be keeping you informed on what I’m up to.

Creative Machine Embroidery WIN BIG – Last few days to enter

SEW SIMPLE Magazine

You have until Saturday, May 9th to enter a drawing to receive the latest issue of Sew Simple magazine.

Seven people will be randomly picked to receive this item.

You are only allowed to enter once during this week and sorry I am late in posting.

Mail your full name and address to info@cmemage.com subject line Sew Simple.

Quiltmakers Quilting & Embroidery – June giveaway

During the week of June 1st, enter to win the latest issue of Quiltmakers Quilting and Embroidery magazine.

There will be 5 winners for this “WIN BIG” item from Creative Machine Embroidery Magazine.

To enter, email your full name and address to info@cmemag.com with the subject line Q&E.

The Sewphisticated Stitcher

The last “WIN BIG” item for May and June is a package of Madera Rayon Smart Spools, Stabilizer and Organ needles provided by The Sewhisticated Stitcher.

This “WIN BIG” prize is valued at over $95.00.

There will be two winners, that will be picked on May 15th and June 15th.

Email your entry to winbig@ilovethread.com. There is no indication if you should put anything in the subject area nor does it state only one entry or you can enter as many times as you wish.

EmbLibrary Customer Appreciation Sale, New Freebies and 17 Cent Designs

This week at EmbLibrary they are having a FAB Customer Appreication Sale.

There are 4 coupons that you can use on separate purchases to get maximum savings on embroidery designs. Please be advised that only one coupon can be used per order. You have to make sure that you put the appropriate code in the box and click on “Apply Code” in order to activate.

This sale ends Tuesday, May 12th at 11:59 pm, Central Time.

Buy 10 designs for 10 bucks – you can’t go wrong there! Take your pick of any design, find all the ones that are costly. Put in your shopping basked enter the code GiveMe10 and see the prices drop!

Single designs save 60%. Put single designs in your shopping cart. When you are ready to check out, enter code SINGLE60 and each regular priced designs will be discounted! 

 

Buy one design pack, get the second one free – we know how we like our design packs. No matter how many design packs you want, enter into your shopping basket, enter BOGO4U and if you buy 4, the two will be free, buy 6, 3 free and so on.

$5 off a $10 order – cannot be used with first coupon. Add designs or packs to your shopping basket until the total is $10 or more. Enter code TAKE5 and your order is discounted $5 bucks.

Don’t forget to check out their new items for this week and the “TWEET” for the week. You can apply “TWEET” to one of these coupons, prefer single design coupon for a savings of 60% off the dollar price.

 

 

 

Don’t forget to get May’s 17 cent designs. There is a total of 4 different designs, but all designs stem around the one I posted here. If you already collected their hummingbirds, this is another one you must have.

 

Finally we have the monthly May free designs.

Pop on over and collect them before the end of the month!

ALLBRANDS Savings online purchases – expires May 15 2009

Hi All -

Just a quick post to inform you sewing enthusants that AllBrands is having a savings on online purchases until May 15, 2009. There are restrictions on selected items and you can view which items they may be here.

I noticed when I clicked to their site I entered in for a Weekly AllBrands Gift Giveaway, featuring a 25 Dollar Gift Card. You can only enter once a week. So click on the site above to get your entry in.

Getting back to the online purchases. You can save up to $500 on your next purchase using the coupon codes during checkout.

$5 off on purchase of $25 or more                              shop5

$10 off on purchase of $199 or more                        shop10

$25 off on purchase of $499 or more                       shop25

$50 off on purchase of $999 or more                       shop50

$100 off on purchase of $1999 or more                  shop100

$150 off on purchase of $2999 or more                  shop150

$250 off on purchase of $4999 or more                 shop250

$500 off on purchase of $9999 or more                shop500

So check out their site to see if anything interests you. I know I am looking at a Fast Frame 12 x 14 Jumbo Single Hoop for my Brother PR600. It has been reduced to $99 and with the $5 off, that could easily pay for part of the shipping.

Sew get shopping and check out AllBrands to see what they might have in store for you.