The La Todera Blog is Moving

Hi everyone!

Just a note to say that you can find the latest La Todera blog posts over at my regular website: 

https://latodera.com/blogs/news

This blog will remain in place, but will no longer be updated.  Thanks for visiting!

As always, blessings and happy sewing!
xoxo Julie

I Heart Strange Flowers!

Good afternoon!

Wow, it's so hard to concentrate on such a sunny, mellow day here in Orlando!  Going to keep this short as I have a whole lot of gardening to catch up on...

Here are a few pics from my porch and yard:

Lifesaver Cactus

Turmeric Plant

Dog Tail Cactus.  We call her 'Medusa.'

Lithops, or 'Living Stone' succulent

Baby pineapple

I have a big crush on this guy. We call him Jerry Garcia!

Macho fern.  We call him Jimmi Hendrix.

Impatiens

Mexican Petunia

Caladium 'Love Everlasting'.  Corny, I know.  And yes, I partly bought them because of the name...

In addition to growing cool plants, I love to study them as well- have you seen the La Todera Pinterest board called Strange Flowers?  It's kind of like a wishlist for my garden and patterns :)

I consider gardening not only good for my mental health, but it is ALWAYS providing my new inspiration for fabric flower, pincushion, and other types of pattern designs.  In fact, I consider plants and flowers a business expense!

Pinwheel Present Pocket- a free project

Hi peeps,
I've gotten quite a few emails about a project I did on Quilting Arts TV- The Pinwheel Present Pocket.  People were looking to get the template and instructions.  What? You can't sew as fast as we made it on the edited TV segment??  Just kidding!

So I've made it easy for you.  Here is the linky-loo.  If you have any trouble, the secret to finding any of the free projects on Quilting Arts is that you have to log in to the site.  Signing up is free and easy if you don't have an account.

Let me know how you like this project!  The Present Pockets whip up so easily.  Great to gussy up a gift card or make that cash gift just a little more special.  They are reusable, so it's the gift that keeps on giving.  Why not make up a bunch to have on hand for those last minute gifts?

Have a blessed day,
Julie

PDF Patterns in the House!! (Ok, in the online store!)

Did you know that U.S. Postal have increased yet again???

That was my last push to convert La Todera patterns available on my website and etsy site to PDF form. No more shipping costs for you, and no more stamp chasing for me!

Truth be told, I've gotten hundreds of requests for PDF patterns from far flung fans around the globe.  Not everyone lives near a quilt shop, and not everyone lives in a place where the postal system is, well, ...trustworthy.

And then there are those, (like me!!) that when they want a pattern, THEY  WANT IT NOW!!

Same patterns in a similar, familiar format, 'cept now you can have instant gratification with an instant download!

Why not treat yourself to a few of the patterns you've been wanting to try?

Get 10% off your order from www.latodera.com 
this week (through 2/2/16) 

with code: INSTANT.

Still prefer the hard copy patterns? You can find the paper patterns in your favorite quilt shop.

Here are a just a few of my favorite quilt shops:

Sewitup.com

The Quilt Asylum

SewMuchFun.com

BellaRoseQuilts.com

'Hand Sewing Only' Pattern List and Discount Code

Anyone for a little hand sewing?  By popular request, here is a complete list of La Todera 'hand sewing only, no sewing machine required' patterns: 

1. Kafflower Brooch  2. Kabloom! Pincushion  3. Dinnerplate Dahlia Brooch  4. Momo Flower Brooch  5. Kanzashi Flower Fascinator  6. Hydrangea Brooch  7. Cream Puff Christmas Trees Pincushions  8. Perfect Pansy Brooch  9. Berry Bunch Brooch  10. Winky Pumpkin Pincushion  11. Pointsettia Brooch
12. Phalaenopsis Brooch  13. Proud Poppy Brooch  14. Full Moon Fabric Medallions  15. Camelia Gigantus Brooch
16. Cactus Flower Pincushion  17. Bling Balls Christmas Ornaments  18. Cymbidium Orchid Brooch
19. Kanzashi Badges

   

What's the big whoop? Welp, these patterns are perfect for take along projects for car trips, vacations, waiting for your kids at sports events, etc. OR, just something to do whilst watching your significant other's favorite TV program (which may or may not be your favorite too... :)  ) These patterns are also for the folks that want to 'sew' stuff, but don't have a sewing machine or the machine is sick in the shop. Then there are the people that just love hand sewing.  (I'm not talking fancy stitches here, people.  I'm talking big running (in and out) stitches.)

Yay for handsewing!  And just to celebrate that concept, we're having a little sale!  Just hop on over to the shop.  Use the code HANDSEWING and get 25% of your entire order, just like that! Shazam! 

(thru March 31, 2015)

Adventures in Fabric Book

Hi Blogland!

I'm just having a love attack about my book,  'Adventures in Fabric.'  I'm absolutely wild about how it came out- the graphic designer and photographer are at the top of their games with this book.  And I'm so happy about the range of projects, the reviews that it's gotten (Publishers Weekly, Mark Lipinski, Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably, Susan Brubaker Knapp (host of Quilting Arts TV,) Australian Homespun Magazine (Jan 2015,) and more!)
Do you have your book yet?  If not, you can order one here- I'll be more than happy to inscribe it for you if you like.
Already have your book?  Would you be kind enough to pop on over to Amazon and leave me a review?
Made any projects?  Please email me at [email protected] so I can toot your horn!!
Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a crafty weekend!!!
I'll leave you with some eye candy from Adventures in Fabric...

Back cover, see Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably reviews :)

Mama and Baby Llamas Project

Harlequin Star Pillow Chair Project

Butterfly Bunting Project

Peacock Pincushion Project

Lavish Lantern Ornaments Project

Plumeria Placemats Project

Susan Brubaker Knapp wearing a Zaftig Zinnia she made from the book :)  Isn't she gorgeous?  She never ages!!

Front cover

Welp, the holidays are over and the rhythms of real life are taking over again...  I'm grateful for the return to routine, actually.  Maybe it's age, maybe it's life changes.  But I'm ready for routine!!

The holidays begat some personal projects.  Personal projects for me usually mean quilts and working from my personal stash of recycled cotton shirts.  Here is the fruit of my labors:

Mapping out a schedule for regular pattern releases for the coming year.  Any requests?  More fabric flowers?  More quilted handbags?  More home decor accessories?  Whadday'all feel like sewing?