sewtakeahike

Spring Fever

 

We keep getting glimpses of spring here in the Fort Collins area and it's a welcome change. In a short few weeks, the hummingbirds will be back at my house whizzing around looking for their feeders. In fact, last year they came back mid-April, which is their normal time to return, and a week later we had a huge snowstorm. I have no idea how they survived the 20 degree nightly temps for a few days and the feet of snow we got, but they did! They are hearty little guys!

In anticipation of spring, Kerry and I have just released a new Sew-Ichigo pattern set called "Spring Fever".

 

 

In the set you will find a chaffinch, a hummingbird, a swan, a tall and short tulip, and a spring chick. You can buy the patterns as singles, or as a set. Kerry has done a nice pattern background post on her blog here if you are interested! 

Happy Spring to you!

xo, Penny

 

The Paper Pieced Home blog tour!

 

Good (Mon)day to you! I hope you all had a great weekend. The weekend here was full of bike rides, sewing and I had the good fortune to take a class with Carolyn Friedlander yesterday in our very own Loveland.

 

 

We even managed to have a picnic with Carolyn thanks to Joelle's forethought and organization! It was the perfect day for a picnic!

It's no secret that hand sewing is not my favorite. However, after taking Carolyn's excellent class and learning a few basic hand applique techniques from her, my confidence has grown, which has made my heart grow a bit fonder. It's a miracle!!

I'm also very excited to share with you all that today is the first day of a fantastic line up for a blog tour for my book The Paper Pieced Home.

Thank you to the one and only Tommy at F&W who works miracles on a daily basis and set the tour up. xoxo!

Before we begin, have you all seen this? THE Mark Lipinksi reviewed my book a few months ago (you have to scroll down a bit)! And he liked it!!

And then make sure and check out this interview and post my friend Angela wrote up (thank you Ang!)! Make sure and hop over to her post and leave a comment now! She is giving away a copy of my book! And then have you checked out her book A Quilter's Mixology? ::Bonus! It's on sale for about $20 right now if you don't have your copy yet. I'm just sayin::

Anyway, I'll be doing a project out of it soon, it's a fab book!

Ok, so on to the tour!

Today, we start out at McCall's Quilting blog. They have done an excellent version of my sewing machine block! You'll want to make sure and head over there to check it out and leave a comment on their post, they have three copies of my book to give away.

 

 

 

The Paper-Pieced Home

Blog Tour Schedule 

3/16       McCall’s Quilting / Sewing Machine Block

3/17       Love of Quilting / Review

3/17       Sandi Sawa Hazlewood  of Crafty Planner / Watering Can Block

3/18       Quilty Pleasure (Quiltmaker blog) / Review

3/18       Imagine Gnats / Rotary Phone Block

3/20       Verykerryberry / Lion Block

3/21       Artisania / Cast-Iron Skillet Block

3/23       Where the Orchids Grow / Lamp Block

3/24       Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt / Layer Cake Block

3/24       House on Hill Road / Oven Mitt Block

3/24       Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced / BBQ Grill Block

3/26       Pink Penguin / Allie-Gator Block

3/26       A Happy Stitch / Giraffe Block

3/27       Bijou Lovely / Jar Block

3/27       Two Little Banshees / Saucepan Block

3/27       Charise Creates / Espresso Mug Block

3/30       Karen Lewis Textiles / Couch Block

3/31       Poppyprint / Clawfoot Tub Block

3/31       One Shabby Chick / Stack of Books Block

3/31       During Quiet Time / Sleeveless Dress Block

4/06       Pat Sloan The Voice of Quilting / Author Podcast Interview

 

I'm so excited to see the blocks everyone makes!!!

xo,

Penny

 

 

Happenings...

 

 

 

I can't believe it. My book is finally out and I had my first book signing. I am still waffling between periods of disbelief and pure excitement. I mean, I never would have thought even 5 years ago that I would have authored a book.

It was an honor for me, having my first signing at favorite fabric shop here in Fort Collins, Mama Said Sew/Jukebox Quilts. The Fort Collins MQG showed up in full force (including my friend Maggie from the Front Range MQG, thanks Maggie for the awesome surprise! and L-man even made an appearance!), and they were all so encouraging and genuinely excited for me. I am so grateful to have this quilting community!

 

(Barbara, Susan, me, Maggie at the signing)

 

Interweave did an amazing job capturing my style from the fonts they used to the page layout. I am so blessed to work with them!

 

Which brings me to my next topic, a paper piecing interview I'm doing over at Crafty Planner. She is doing a Learn More, Sew More series on paper piecing this month and you'll want to make sure and click on over to read it and leave a comment on her post to enter a drawing for a copy of my book The Paper Pieced Home!

 

And congratulations to Ruth, the winner of the P&B Colorweave Medley fq set! I've sent you an email!

 

One last thing, I'm super excited to announce a Bundle Up sale FabricCadabra is having and a blog hop bundle giveaway they are hosting!

 

First, FabricCadabra has 20% off all bundles from today through Jan 26.

Secondly, they are having a bundle giveaway hop. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win this fq set of Follie by Lotta Jansdotter.

 

 

Then make sure and leave a comment on Nicole's blog Modernhandcraft for a chance to win a Priory Square bundle,

and

on Erica's blog Kitchentablequilting for a chance to win a specially curated Winter Warm Up bundle she put together available only at FabricCadabra!

Lastenia and Mayka, the sister duo behind FabricCadabra are super fun, energetic partners. If you'd like an extra chance to win the Follie bundle, go and follow FabricCadabra on their Facebook and Instagram then come back and leave another comment for me on this post that you're following them and you'll be entered into the drawing twice!

Good luck everyone and Happy Monday!

xo, Penny

 

Black Friday Sew-Ichigo sale

 

Happy day after Thanksgiving everyone!

To say thank you for your support this last year, Kerry and I have put our Sew-Ichigo patterns on sale 25% off from black Friday through cyber Monday.

Our Craftsy and Etsy patterns already have the discount applied, so no need for a discount code there.

If you purchase from our Sew-Ichigo shop, use the code: blackfriday at checkout for the 25% discount.

 

Also, here are two other shops that are having some great sales:

FabricCadabra is offering 10% off everything in their store when you use the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY10!!

 

AND

The Fat Quarter Shop

 

Happy shopping!

xo, Penny

VAT goes global

 

Until this morning, I had never heard of VAT (Value-Added Tax). Maybe you hadn't either until just now. From what I have gathered, VAT is a European tax that until the end of 2014, has only affected Europe.

But as of 2015, the new VAT laws have been rewritten and in effect will affect anyone with online PDF sales (as many crafters do!) to European countries that have a VAT.

So if you fall into that category, you might want to give these links a read:

Rachel Andrew's The horrible implications of the EU/VAT "Place of Supply" change

 

and

 

Words that Change the World's New EU VAT rules change the game for digital business

If you've been prepping for VAT in your business, please do leave a comment and tell me what you've been doing!

To be quite honest, I'm not quite sure how this will affect the (European) sales of sewtakeahike and sew-ichigo pdf patterns short term and long term....