Snuggle Me!

This wonderful gift is perfect to make for any favorite child--especially a little grandchild! It is made from two washcloths with adorable critters and lots of little silky ribbons to play with. You can put a design on one side or two-it's up to you. We can't decide which critter is our favorite. Today I think I love the monkey best!

Jeanne created it for her newest grandbaby, Roco, and he loved it. It's the type of gift you can make in a weekend. It's totally machine washable and only gets softer with time.

Check out our website for Snuggle Me and our other new patterns. They're ready to order!

Ready to post new patterns

Jeanne is working with our great web mistress (Thanks Annie of In a Pickle Design!) to get the four new patterns up on our web site. I think you'll like them. I gave you two sneak peaks with her applique and the rooster that is shown next door to this post. I think everything will be posted on the site by Wednesday. I'll let you all know!

And over coffee this morning Jeanne started wondering if we should make the web site a different shade of red. Barn red and a homespun look is what we were going for when we started the site. But we're thinking about a brighter red and more white. What do you think???

Where do the new ideas come from?

So I've been stitching on the Christmas project. Jeanne is finishing getting printed instructions ready to pack up and mail out mid week. We have written the patterns, drawn the grids that tell where to place things, taken photos, gone to the printer and done all the usual promotional things to let people know we have new patterns. Next will be a mass mailing to previous customers and, hopefully, we will get some orders to fill. That is the life of a small design company.

And we love it. (At least most days!)

But then comes that early morning cup of coffee where we look at each other and ask "So what next?" Usually it's followed by a mad dash for the ideas folders we each have. It requires about two cups of coffee and maybe a bakery delight to get the creative juices flowing. First we talk about what we wanted to make last time but didn't. Then we talk about what we think is the next hottest thing. Then we decide if we love that next hottest thing. And-if the answer is a unanimous YES-we play around with that idea and try to make it ours. Because only then can we put a Lasting Treasure twist on an idea and make it feel just right for you.

What do you think the next "hottest" thing will be???? Anyone, anyone???

4 new patterns

Jeanne has been working on 4 new patterns. They will be posted on our web site in about 2 weeks. In the meantime we are working with various distributors and quilt shops to get samples out to them. I'm almost finished with the Christmas pattern. I like it more and more but Jeanne needs to try to make some adjustments in font size before we are ready for the last part of it.

Got you wondering about it, don't I?

My task for this week will be to finish Christmas and start on some marketing projects for the new patterns. We hope to have new pictures ready to post mid week. See you then!

What are you working on? We hope it's something cute...maybe our Sophie?

Tickets to Spain

Tuesday was spent going back and forth with United as I tried to book the infamous trip to Spain. I finally achieved success at what we think is a good price. But it was hard and took talking to people. The best was when they wanted to charge us an extra $25 a ticket to have a person make the booking when THEIR web site had a problem. No-I don't think so. Thank you very much!

It takes 4 flights to make it to Valencia Spain. But that's ok because there is family, fun and adventure at the other end. Kind of like the pot of gold I think!

Now what project will I take with me on the long plane rides? And, since the adventure included Jeanne and our Mom, it really means 3 projects because there's no way they aren't going to want to stitch too. Hmmmmm...... we leave September 23 so there is plenty of time to plan.

Learning how to do machine applique!

Jeanne is learning the art of applique on a new project. I stopped over for coffee yesterday and she had the sewing machine out, piles of little scraps of brightly colored fabrics sitting around, and more bobbins than I knew she had! She is working on the proto-types of a pattern that is inspired by something that her little grandson brought with him from Spain. It's funny to realize that other countries have different ideas about what makes a great toy for a little baby.

Besides the adorable ideas that Jeanne is developing, it's been fun to watch her discover machine applique. I don't personally like doing it too much. So I told her if she wanted to make what she was describing, she was the one who had to figure out how to make it all work. And so she did!

Pretty amazing for a little sister to take that kind of a challenge and rub her big sister's nose in it! All I've done is feed her fabric and say "I love this one...I like this idea...who knew this guy would be that cute?" It's been fun to watch her creative juices simmer and erupt with 4 adorable patterns! Now she just needs to write the patterns and our 3rd quarter designs are ready to offer to the world! Fun!

New week?

Last week was long. I spent 3 days in Atlanta, finished writing 3 patterns, edited the last 5 chapters of my book, helped video a wedding, brain-stormed with Jeanne on 2 new patterns, and studied my Spanish. Oh yes, must not forget I finished knitting a pair of socks (I have them on tonight), and continued stitching a new Christmas redwork wall-hanging. I am tired. We accomplished a great deal.

Jeanne just sent me a sneak peek at the new pattern she has been working on. There will be 4 parts to it. It is an applique design and really turned out cute. She has been digging into my fabric stash and has made some wonderful fabric choices. I am very excited to see them tomorrow when I stop for coffee.

And, did I mention that 3 of our new 2010 patterns have been picked up by one of the biggest quilt pattern distributors? That was sweet.

I hope you had a good week but are not as pooped out as I am. Time for bed...