Stitches from the Garden

 Stitches from the Garden is almost here! Just in time for all things spring.  

Last spring I moved my studio to a room with windows looking out onto our backyard.  Watching all of the green leaves pop out and the buds opening up, I was inspired to design this book.  

I wanted to share my love for painting in this book too.  With a happy heart, I set out to paint little nature scenes along with some of my favorite garden quotes.

Original painting included in the book.

 The process of designing projects for the finished embroidery pieces usually starts with a rough sketch.  Keeping the theme of a garden sketch book, I have included these project sketches in the book as well.  I hope you enjoy seeing the process and inspiration that created this book!

Sketch of a project idea

Pincushion project

Pre-orders are available HERE with a mid June ship date.

Published by the fabulous Martingale.  80 pages. $24.99

One Stitch at a Time

One Stitch at a Time One Stitch at a Time Subscription is now available!  Every month you will receive a new embroidery design emailed directly to you.  These designs may be used to embellish anything you  can think of - pincushions, sachets, pillows, ornaments... let your imagination have fun with them.   $2.00 a month - no sign up fees and no minimum month commitment! The designs will vary in size and theme from month  to month. The average size is about 3"- 6".  Some months I will show what they look like  stitched in different color ways - This one, Home Sweet Nest (#1 June 2016), I  stitched using Cosmo Seasons floss. Cosmo Seasons floss #8041 DMC floss I also stitched the same design using DMC floss then  finished it with a little color, quilting, and a frame. How you decide to use the embroidery  design is up to you!  The subscription is for the design only.  There aren't any finishing patterns included,  just lots of ideas. Are you Ready! Sign up HERE by May 31st to receive the first  design which will be emailed June 1st. This will be fun! Kathy *PayPal is having issues accepting International orders, but my  Esty shop will take them. On Etsy this item is listed as an annual subscription for $24 a year. SHOP ETSY HERE

Moda All in a Row - my turn : )

All in a Row - Martingale

Thank you for hopping over to my post!  I chose to make a row celebrating winter and all the fun that comes with a snowy day.  This row is a combination of pieced blocks and an embroidery portrait of one of my oldest friends.

I hope you like it!

All in a Row - Winter Friends

I'm sharing my Blog Hop day with the beautiful and talented Camille Roskelley.  The row she designed is fun and bright with lots of star points which I love! 

All in a Row - Twinkle by Camille Roskelley

I used fabric from my new line called Count Your Blessings (in shops May 2016) to offer another look for Camille's row.  

All in a Row - Twinkle designed by Camille Roskelley using my fabrics - Count Your Blessings

Moda - Count Your Blessings

My new line, Count Your Blessings, has a sweet panel I'm stitching up into a wall hanging pattern.  I can't wait to see it quilted and finished.  I think I'll hang it in my studio to remind myself everyday to count my blessings. 

PRIZES!

Leave me a comment naming one of your blessings and I will draw 3 winners at random to win a copy of this lovely book!  The drawing is February 1st.  I will email the winners.

All in a Row!

Moda All-Stars All in a Row!

This was a fun book to work on.  We each designed one row celebrating all of the seasons and Lissa Alexander designed blender rows to help you mix and match your favorite rows.  

Martingale published this beauty with so many beautiful color pictures - drool worthy : )

To get a peek at all of the rows and designers we are having a Blog Hop!  It starts on January 18th.

We are paired up two by two - double the fun! 

Oh Happy Day!  There will be prizes too!  Follow along!
Martingale.com
All royalties for this book will be donated to No Kid Hungry.  A charitable organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger

Blog Hope schedule - 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
18-Jan	Brenda Riddle	Carrie Nelson
	http://brendariddle.blogspot.com/	http://blog.modafabrics.com/
19-Jan	Corey Yoder	Janet  Clare
	http://www.littlemissshabby.com/	http://janetclare.co.uk/blog/
20-Jan	Me & My Sister	Barbara Brackman
	http://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com/blog/	http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/
21-Jan	Pat Sloan	Edyta Sitar
	http://blog.patsloan.com/	http://laundrybasketquilts.com/
22-Jan	Camille Roskelley	Kathy Schmitz
	https://www.instagram.com/thimbleblossoms/	http://kathyschmitzstudio.blogspot.com/
23-Jan	Sweetwater	Blackbird Designs
	http://www.thesweetwaterco.com/?page_id=8853	http://blackbird-designs.blogspot.com/
24-Jan	Anne Sutton	Laurie Simpson
	http://bunnyhillblog.com/	http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
25-Jan	Lisa Bongean	Joanna Figueroa
	http://lisabongean.com/	http://figtreequilts.typepad.com/
26-Jan	Betsy Chutchian	Jen Kingwell
	http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/	http://jenkingwelldesigns.blogspot.com/
27-Jan	Kate Spain	Sandy Gervais
	http://katespain.com/	http://piecesfrommyheart.net/
28-Jan	Kaari Meng	Kansas Troubles
	https://www.frenchgeneral.com/	http://www.ktquilts.com/

My Little Patterns

Little, Little, Little!  Anything tiny has my attention!  I don't know what it is about miniature things, but I've always loved them.  I just finished up 4 new little quilt patterns each measuring about 16" x 19".  They were so much fun to do and the piecing was pretty quick. The little embroidery pieces measure just 3" square.
The first one is called My Little Garden.  There are 12 embroidery images all with a garden theme including a cat with a birdie friend...

KS-1519 My Little Garden

 My Little Home has 12 embroidery images about all things heart and home

 

 

 

KS-1520 My Little Home

 

 

 

 

 

My Little Stitches has 12 embroidery designs showing my love of the needle and thread

KS-1521 My Little Stitches

My Little Year - January through December through pictures!

KS-1522 My Little Year

Once you've embroidered all of these little cuties once I'm sure you'll want to do it again, right?
In each of the above patterns there is also a pattern to make the combined quiltlet My Favorite Little Things. (measures 28" x 36"). 

My Favorite Little Things

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Do one or do all four?  These patterns are ready as PDF digital downloads now or put your order in for the first shipment of paper patterns scheduled to go out mid October.
For my friends in other Countries these patterns may be purchased as PDF digital downloads from my Etsy Shop.

For my favorite shops that might be interested in carrying these patterns, but aren't sure you have time to do the embroidery....I have a little something just for you on my website.  "Cheater" embroidery blocks will be available to you for your shop sample.  Click HERE for more info.

MODA'S BLOG TAKEOVER - CRYSTAL BALL FLASHFORWARD

Hi!  My name is Kathy, Kathryn when I'm in trouble.  I'm 12 years old and it's 1972.  I've been trying to see my future in a crystal ball and today I finally made it!  I see 2015!  I have MEN as sons!  MEN with facial hair!  I have a husband (giggle).  Things are looking good for me!  And what about my dream of being an illustrator and writing books like Murvery's Pet Shop....

Rough draft Murvery's Pet Shop - circa 1972

 Or The Cat and Mrs. Cary "retold in picures by Kathy"

Excerpts from The Cat and Mrs. Cary

The picture is getting clearer.....yes...I see lots of pencils and Sharpies.....and ......and..... dishes and laundry?  What?  And what about those boxes and boxes of fabric and patterns?  Oh!  Look at that sewing machine!  It's nothing like Mom's sweet black Singer or Grandma's treadle.  I wonder if my grown up me still has the quilt I made years ago when I was 10?

I see lots of drawing and painting stuff....and they're all MINE! No sharing with Bonnie!  Speaking of Bonnie... I just finished these family portraits. Want to see?

Family portrait 1972

 It looks like when I'm an o-o-o-l-l-l-l-d-d-d-d lady I'll get to draw and paint and embroider all day if I want to!   I get to create fun stuff all day long! Like these.....

Friendship KS-1512 - one of 8 printed fabric patterns

Spring has Sprung KS-1509 - one of four seasonal patterns

Look at all of this cool fabric -
Oh my gosh!  I think that's my married name right there on the selvage!  Schmitz?!  Hey I picked strawberries this summer with a boy named Steve Schmitz..... he was so cute!  You don't suppose.....

Sturbridge - delivers to shops in July 2015

I see lots of quilts too.  It looks like the 4-H sewing paid off!

Olde Towne KS-1501

Publik House -KS-1502

Now for the fun part! Leave a comment and you'll be entered in a drawing to WIN an ORIGINAL water color painting! 
This napping cat painting measures a petite 4" x 7".
The winner will be announced and notified on May Day- the  1st of May.
UPDATE • thank you all for taking the time to leave a comment!  The winner of the little water color painting is Carrie P. and she has been notified.
Thanks! 

  
  BLOG HOP SAVINGS!  Hop on over to Kathy's SHOP and enter the coupon code SPRUNG when checking out to save 10% off your total purchase! 
This coupon code is available through the end of the month - April 30, 2015

I have one more message coming through....... tomorrow, April 29th, hop over to these blogs to see who's taken them over!
April Rosenthal
Blackbird Designs 
Me & My Sister
Acorn Quilt & Gift Company  
Kate Spain  

What's that?.....I hear Mom calling.  Something about hanging the clothes on the line.  Gotta go!

MODA BLOG TAKEOVER!

This should be entertaining!  Moda designer's blogs are being taken over starting today!  

Hop over to -

Amy Ellis

Bunny Hill
Pat Sloan

Primitive Gathering    

Fig Tree

I have a funny feeling that someone is going to take over my blog too....

check back tomorrow!
Who knows...maybe you'll win an original watercolor painting!

COLORING IN THE LINES

I love the look of coloring in the areas of my embroidery pieces, but I've never had a lot of success with crayons.  I thought I would try painting the designs with watercolors on paper and having them printed on nice cotton fabric and I really like the way they turned out!  I have 8 new patterns with the colored fabric included - no tracing the embroidery pattern or coloring with crayon - it's all done for you!  Just stitch! 
The other thing I wanted to do was incorporate quotes and short sayings that I've always loved.  Here is an example of one of the new patterns called Friendship, I hope you like it.  To see all of the patterns click HERE.

This is the piece of fabric that comes in the pattern

Here is a close up of the stitched design

Receive a 10% discount by using the coupon code SPRUNG through my website (for the month of April 2015 only).  SHOP NOW.

*Just a note, thread is not included with the patterns.  I like to use Sulky® 12 wt thread, but 2 strands of DMC works too, it just makes a bit thicker of a line.

Buttermilk Basin Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome!  Thank you so much for taking a moment to stop by and see what I've been up to!

For as long as I can remember I have ADORED anything tiny.  When I was trying to come up with a project for this blog hop I thought it would be fun to think little.  Every well decorated tree has it's own lovely tree skirt to finish it off and I thought it would be fun to make a little tree skirt for a little tree!

wool tree skirt

SUPPLIES:
1. A small artificial tree (mine is about 14" tall)
*It came with the base wrapped in burlap which I removed to reveal a "rustic" wooden base.

2. Wool -
     black - about 12" x 12"
     gold - 2" x 6"
     green - 4" x 6"
     red - 2" x 4" 

3. Pinking shears and small sharp scissors

4. Fusible web
*I used Soft Fuse®

 

fusible web

5. A white, or light, marking tool.
6. A dinner plate for a template
*or something round between 10 1/2" - 11 1/2"
7. Thread to match the wool - gold, red and green
8. Floss to match the gold wool

LET'S GET STARTED!
Place the dinner place on the black wool and trace around it with the light marking tool -

Cut out the circle using the pinking shears -

Fold the circle into quarters and snip off the folded point about 1/2" from point then unfold-

Fold the circle in half and cut along the fold from the edge to the center on ONE side.  Trim the snipped whole to a circle if needed -

Trace 12 holly leaves, 5 stars and 18 berries onto the paper side of the fusible web.
Iron the pieces to the appropriate wool color using a hot dry iron -

Cut out the shapes.

Peel off the paper backing.

Arrange on the black circle.

Press to adhere the shapes to the wool.  This is more of a temporary hold.

Using matching thread whip stitch the pieces in place.

For the red berries double the thread and make a French knot (wrapping the needle 3 times, in the center of the circle.

Using 3 strands of the gold floss make two lines of running stitches around the edge of the skirt.


If you really want to get into it how about wrapping some tiny presents!  Or find a little train to run around the base of the tree.  The possibilities are endless! I would love to see pictures of what creative ideas you come up with.

Click HERE for the mini Christmas Tree Skirt pattern.

Now it's time to bake up some Snickerdoodles!  These were my boys favorites (and mine too).

For a printable copy of the recipe click HERE.

I wish I could make this a scratch and sniff for you!

Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Make sure you hop over to Crabapple Hill tomorrow!  I can't wait to see what darling thing she has in store for us!

Chalkboard Doodle

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope 2014 was a wonderful year for you and your family.  

 

Blog Hop

                                        

Oh goody!  I get to participate in Buttermilk Basin's Holiday Blog Hop again this year!  It starts December 1st with Quilts by Cheri.
I already know what recipe I'm going to offer - Snickerdoodles!  They are my son Tom's favorite and since he just moved back to Oregon from Boston last weekend I'm going to make them for him.
I do have to admit I wasn't one of those Mom's that baked fresh cookies for my kids very often.  I usually picked up a pack of Oreos or something.  One time I decided to actually bake cookies for them and when they came home from school and saw warm, soft cookies on the cooling rack they said, "We didn't know cookies could be made at home!".  How sad is that!  hahaha


Here is a list of all of the participating blogs -
Dec 1 * Quilts by Cheri
Dec 2 * Plumcute Designs
Dec 3 * Gail Pan Designs
Dec 4 * The Woolen Willow
Dec 5 * Ali Strebel Designs
Dec 6 * Cardiff Farms
Dec 7 * Blackberry Primitives
Dec 8 * Wooden Spool Designs
Dec 9 * Heartspun Quilts
Dec 10 * Notforgotten Farm
ME!  Dec 11 * Kathy Schmitz
Dec 12 * Crabapple Hill
Dec 13 * Primitive Gatherings
Dec 14 * Buttermilk Basin