Fall International Quilt Market is almost here! I love Quilt Market and am looking forward to the trip to Houston next week. And I’m especially excited because I have a new fabric collection debuting with Quilting Treasures and wanted to give you a sneak peak at them. “Bee Yourself” features 12 blocks of happy “bee-isms” along with coordinating fabrics.

When I started designing a fabric collection all about bees, the first thing I thought of after I got past the fuzzy bee itself was “Quilting Bee” and then “Sewing Bee”. After these popped into my head, it formed the whole concept of the collection. I thought of many more bees to incorporate as I created the illustrations for the blocks, including “Honey Bee”, “Worker Bee”, “Spelling Bee”, “Queen Bee”, “Bee in a Bonnet”, “Fashion Bee”, “Just Bee Cause”, “Busy Bee”, “Bee Mine”, and the title bee, “Bee Yourself”. In “beeing” yourself, you can be any bee you want to be.

It was really fun to create all these bees. The ideas just kept coming and I have an almost endless list of more “bees”. My brother and sister-in-law jumped in with suggestions of their favorite bee-isms. I am thrilled with how the collection turned out and am now sewing and quilting several bee projects for Quilt Market.

The fabrics will be ready to ship to the stores in December, a good time to snuggle up with a sewing or quilting bee and become a busy bee during the cold weather. (Ok, I quit with the bee-isms!)

I will be posting some free patterns here shortly with fun ways to use “Bee Yourself”. Quilting Treasures will also have some free project patterns available on their website when the fabrics are out. I will update you when all the patterns are available.

If you are attending Quilt Market, which is open to the trade only, I want to invite you to attend my Schoolhouse event on Saturday afternoon at 4:55 in room 362D. I will be presenting some great ideas and there will be a free gift for everyone. I hope to see some of you there.

I will also be in Gutermann of America’s booth (#537) a bunch of the time and would love to meet you so please stop by. Some “Bee Yourself” projects will be in their booth as well as in Quilting Treasures’ booth (#1056).

Have a great day and “bee yourself”!

Phyllis

I love all things related to sewing and quilting! My mother taught me to sew at a very early age on an old Singer sewing machine (it wasn’t THAT old  with the foot petal operation although my grandmother had one). I have my mother’s tins filled with old buttons, etc, a bunch of vintage fabric scraps and her doll pin cushion, all of which I cherish. I used my love of sewing to create a fabric design using my favorite sewing notions  interpreted with a bit of whimsy that I showed you in my last post.

Periwinkle Blue Sewing Notions iPhone 4 Case by phyllisdobbs

Yellow Sewing Notions Laptop Sleeve by phyllisdobbs

Pink Sewing Notions iPad Case by phyllisdobbs

Orange Sewing Notions iPhone Case iPhone 5 Cover by phyllisdobbs

I will be busy sewing and quilting this weekend, getting ready for Quilt Market with my new fabric collection (sneak peek coming soon), a Schoolhouse event and new patterns that I will be posting here. Enjoy your quilting and sewing and remember how its “Sew Fun”!

Phyllis

I love fabrics and I love designing fabrics almost as much as I enjoy eating. That says a lot as I love all food groups! This has been a busy year with fabric design for me. My “Celebrate” fabric collection by Quilting Treasures will help create a cheerful birthday celebration. My newest collection will debut at Quilt Market at the end of the month that will be quite the “buzz”! A sneak preview will be coming very shortly.

In addition, I have fabrics in the Cranston Village V.I.P. line this year with more coming for this line as well with some really great colors.

“Sewing Notions” is a fun design for anyone who loves to sew or quilt. I thought of all the handy items that I frequently use while sewing and threw them into this fabric design. I took a little liberty when designing – my sewing machine does not really have polka dots.

The other 3 fabrics in V.I.P.’s line are “Bird Patch“, “Coffee Cups” and “Texting Lingo”.

Back to work – this is a busy month in preparing for the International Quilt Market in Houston in 3 weeks where I will also be conducting a Schoolhouse event.  More to come shortly on that.

Phyllis

I am delighted to be a part of the Kool Tak Fabulously-Fall Blog Hop sponsored by Crafty KT.  With fall around the corner, I decided to make a pumpkin felt pillow. There are 12 of us in the hop, so hop to see all the really “Kool” projects.

Crafty KT is also offering a giveaway of an assortment of Kool Tak products. See the details below on the products in this giveaway as well as how to enter to win.

This 9″ square pumpkin pillow is a no-sew project, except for a few simple embroidery stitches, and is very easy to make.

Materials needed:

• Felt – dark green, light green and orange (National Nonwovens felt).
• Dark orange 6-strand embroidery floss (Sullivans)
• Kool Tak™ 1 Layer Perfect Tool
• Kool Tak™ 1 Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets (Earth Tones)
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape ¼ x ¼ x 1/32” thick
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape 3/16 x 1/16 thick by 1.6 yards
• Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape 2 ½ x 27 yards
• Batting or fiberfil
• Embroidery needle

Instructions:

1. Divide the 6 strands of embroidery floss and use 3 strands. Sew long running stitches for the vertical “pumpkin lines”.  (See the finished pillow – I forgot to stitch the lines until after step 4.  Its a lot easier to stitch before the adhesive tape is added!)

2. Cut the felt:  dark green – 2 pieces 9″ square; light green – 1 piece 6″ square; orange – a 4″ x 4″pumpkin (download Pumpkin applique pattern ).  From the dark green, cut a stem for the pumpkin.

3.  Use the Premium EXTREME tape on backside of the pumpkin to attach it to the light green piece of felt. After adhering strips of the tape on the back of the pumpkin, trim the edges to align with the pumpkin.

4.  Remove the paper backing from the tape and use the Layer Perfect tool to align the pumpkin onto the light green felt. Place some of the Premium Extreme tape to the back of the pumpkin stem and trim to match the stem. Remove the paper backing and adhere the stem above the pumpkin center.

5.  Attach strips of the 1/16″ Clear Foam Tape 1/2″ from the edge of the green felt, forming a square going around the pumpkin.  Remove the liner from the tape and rub the gold Shiny Transfer Foil Sheet over the adhesive tape. Repeat to foil the foam tape square with the gold surface.

6.  Attach the Premium Extreme tape to the back of the light green square. Remove paper backing and adhere the light green square centered to one of the dark green squares.

7.  Adhere a 1/4″ foam clear adhesive pad to the dark green square at the corners of the light green piece and half way between the corners. Remove the liner pieces from the foam squares and rub the gold Shiny Transfer Foil Sheet over the squares.

8.  Align the dark green pumpkin pillow top to the remaining green felt square and pin around 3 sides. Sew edges with a running stitch using 3 strands of the floss. Leave the 4th side open. Fill the pillow with fiberfil then finish sewing the pillow closed.

Click on the blue Designer Crafts button in my sidebar to hop back and forward to other blogs with fabulous projects in this hop!

And be sure to sign up for the Crafty KT newsletter to be entered for the giveaway $70 in Kool Tak products including:

• Kool Tak™ 1 Layer Perfect (Use it for centering, piercing, and edge stitching) Tool
• Kool Tak™ 1 Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets (Earth Tones)
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape ¼ x ¼ x 1/32” thick
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape 3/16 x 1/16 thick by 1.6 yards
• Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME 2 ½ x 27 yards
• *the giveaway is open only to the mainland residents of the US

Thanks for visiting and enjoy hopping to all the other crafty fall projects.

Phyllis

I love my new fused glass piece, sprinkled leaves and a ladybug. I recently took another class in fused glass with a friend just for the fun of it. The night of the class, I was really tired and not feeling creative, but then an idea of nature with leaves popped into my mind and then I forgot that I was tired. I’m really happy with how it turned out.

I took a previous class last year, creating a more abstract fused glass piece with greens and blues. I really enjoyed it so I decided to give it another try. Since my business is based on crafting, almost everything I do is “work” related (although I love my work). So I really enjoy crafting just for the fun of it.

I am planning on going back very soon and create some more fused glass – they have the supplies to make the absolutely cutest bugs and I have really been itching to make some.

Happy Crafting,

Phyllis

Its been fun designing and sewing with my new Celebrate fabrics from Quilting Treasures.  I have created this free sewing and quilt pattern (quilting optional) that you can use for sewing a Happy Birthday banner. The banner is 25″ x 35 1/2″ and can be hung on a wall, in a doorway or for a multitude of other uses.  Use it year after year for birthday celebrations. The colors of my Celebrate fabrics are bright and cheerful to add to the festivity and use birthday cakes and cupcakes for design motifs.

Click away to the download page for the quilt birthday banner free pattern.

The fabrics are available through independent quilt shop and stores. While the weather is so hot, its perfect for staying inside and working on new sewing or quilt projects. Other free quilt and sewing patterns created for the Celebrate fabric collection can be found on Quilting Treasures website for download.

Stay cool and keep sewing and quilting!

Phyllis

I love the fresh vegetables of summer, and when I can get them locally grown, its even better. I finally went to a small farmer’s market that is a couple of miles from my house and now I’m going every Saturday. Valleydale Farmers Market (Facebook page)  is a small market in a church parking lot and all of the vegetables and fruit are locally grown – none of that stuff imported from foreign countries that deteriorate in the transit time. I don’t have to look any further as the assortment is so varied, I can get everything I want. I buy okra, cucumbers, green tomatoes, red tomatoes, peaches, peas, butter beans, peppers, squash and corn. One of the vendors has fresh catfish that I want to try.

Kim, a friend of mine who used to live close by, moved about 40 miles away to a farm a couple of years ago. I went to her stand first to visit with her and her children and bought a bunch.  She’s known for her homemade preserves and relishes and its well deserved.

Boozer Farms has the most colorful stand with all the various types of eggplant.  I’m going to try the different varieties of eggplant as well as the squash.

Here are some of the other stalls. I didn’t take as many pictures as I wanted to.  I guess it was because I was getting tired from carrying all my purchases. I had a market basket with me and it was quickly filled and very heavy.

I will have to miss attending this coming Saturday as I’m leaving tomorrow for the Atlanta Gift Market. But you can be sure that I will be there the following Saturday and each one afterwards until it closes at the end of the summer. The peaches are the absolute best and I buy some each week. I’m going to miss having them to munch on after I return home from Atlanta as the ones I bought this week have been eaten already. Bummer, but I will look forward to my next veggie trip!

I am growing some tomatoes and peppers myself in a tiny garden, but it won’t be enough to prevent me from buying more.

Phyllis

Woohoo!  A favorite part of my job is when I receive a box of my fabrics! A just heard the door bell dingdong and went downstairs to see what the UPS guy left. The UPS or FedEx guys are the only ones that ring my doorbell in mid-afternoon, so I knew it had to be one of them.  There sat a huge box that was waaaaaaay too heavy for me to even move. So I looked to see who it was from, then went to get a pair scissors to open it. It was filled with my new fabric collection “Celebrate” from Quilting Treasures.

I can’t wait to get started on more projects using the fabrics! You can see what the fabrics look like plus some free patterns that are available for download from Quilting Treasures in my prior post. The fun colors are great for birthday celebrations for all ages.

Stay cool!

Phyllis

My new fabric collection “Celebrate” from Quilting Treasures is out!  Yea! I’m so excited! The bright colors and cakes and cupcakes are perfect for boys and girls of all ages through at least 120 for birthdays celebrations. I loved playing with the fabrics and designing these free quilt and sewing patterns for you to use! After a previous sneak peek, here is the entire “Celebrate” collection -

The project sheets for a quilted table topper, placemat, large gift bag and a happy birthday banner are available for free pattern download from Quilting Treasures’ website. Just scroll down and you will easily see them with their bright colors.

The quilted table topper measures 48″ x 48″ and will add a festive accent for birthday celebrations. All you need is a real cake for a perfect centerpiece! And of course, a pile of presents!

Another way to add a splash for a special birthday is with a placemat, sized 18 1/2″ x 13″. The yellow fabric on the right is a pocket to hold silverware or even better, a surprise gift or candy. The old saying is that a small present holds the best gift, like maybe a key to a car!

And for a larger gifts, you can make this large gift bag with a drawstring opening. Think of all the gifts this bag will hold. Its 30″ high and 20″ wide.

And nothing announces a birthday better or makes someone feel more special than a banner. This Happy Birthday banner is 28″ wide and 35 1/2″ tall, with red triangle points at the bottom edge.

Enjoy these fun projects and give them a try to use for many years of birthday celebrations. If you have a hard time choosing which one to make, make them all. They are easy to make. And I would love to see your finished projects!!

I have also designed another project, a small banner that I created for display at the Spring Quilt Market. I just have to finish writing the instructions and then I will post it here for another free pattern.

And while you are thinking of that perfect birthday event, please check out all the products I created in my Zazzle store using the “Celebrate” art to coordinate with the fabrics. I’m adding more products daily.

Lime Green and Blue Happy Birthday Cake Plate by phyllisdobbs

Have a fun day of quilting and sewing. And Happy Birthday to you on your special day!

Phyllis

Today is the last day of the 101010 Project, 10 Women, 10 Businesses, 10 Questions.  I will give my answer to the question in the final series post.

But first, a little information about me and my business:

Business name:  Phyllis Dobbs Art & Design

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Phyllis’ Zazzle store

Phyllis’ Zazzle store for business products

Years in business: 27

A little more:  As an artist, I create art for licensing on products in the textile, gift and home goods industry. In textiles, I have designed fabric collections for 7 years with collections for  Quilting Treasures. I also focus on designing quilt and sewing patterns and have written a new quilt book “Asymmetrical Quilts”.

The Question #8:  Who is that one person you would like to sit and talk with about your business?

Phyllis:

I am in a huge network of people with the same type of business as mine.  So I would go in a different direction. Tony Ford is the one I would love to sit and talk with. I think of him as a tech guru for social media. I have attended several of Tony’s seminars and came away with so much information. He is very up to date with all of it. In today’s world, social media is so important for  business so I would discuss the rapidly changing world of social media and technology and how to use it effectively with my business. I would also like to know how more on how to work with the Panda Slap, which I didn’t know existed until the last seminar I attended of his. (Tony Ford is the COO of ArtFire.com and the Technology Expert for the Craft and Hobby Association, CHA).

My current projects:   I am currently working on a lot of new art for licensing including art for a new fabric line as well as adding more art to products for my Zazzle stores and for products in Little Red Tulip. I also just entered into a collaboration with another quilt designer for a quilt related project.

Thank you for visiting the 101010 Project posts. Below are the other artists and the questions they will be hosting. Please check them out! Thank you for visiting the 101010 Project blog series!

Phyllis

Laure Otero - #1 – Is it necessary for your business to line up with your soul purpose?  What value is there to having that aligned?

Stephanie Guimond - #2 – Do you have a business mentor?  What value does that offer to your experiences as a business owner?

Shari Sherman - #3 – What animal would represent your first year of business.

Robin Norgren - #4 – What business/businesses have you chosen to model your business after?

Dani Keith - #5 – At this moment, what one idea do you need to start executing for your business?

Paula Joerling - #6 – What part of your business have you delegated or put on hold in order to focus your energy more efficiently?

Valerie Weller - #7 – How did you finally decide on the look of your brand?  What did the evolution look like?

Due to life’s twists and turns, this session of the 101010 Project features 8 participants instead of 10.