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An unexpected treasure – a wonderful metal dress form.

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Sometimes the unexpected happens – you find something that you didn’t know you were looking for until you see it! Look at this fabulous dress form I found in, of all places, Tuesday Morning.  I was shopping with my friend Brenda Pinnick for unique items to craft with when I spotted this dress form.  Its perfect for displaying aprons (I have several patterns mentally designed so I could “justify” buying it!)

A few months ago, I scoured the internet looking for the perfect dress form to display aprons and found a wicker one that I liked.  Now my wicker gal has a little sister joining her in my studio.

The only downside is that I was at the beach and had to convince my husband that I could pack around it for our trip home – not an easy task with either the convincing or the packing! I know its not the typical beach purchase, but a treasure is a treasure!

Please check back for a Halloween apron that I’m working on as well as for some other special arts and crafts that were created while beaching.

Phyllis

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Meow Meow! Whimsy cats on products

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“Meow Meow” says the cat to all you cat lovers!  The cats with ‘tude from my Meow Meow fabric collection are on products in my

Zazzle store, starting with “The Master”, a cat who knows he’s the boss (but aren’t they all!).

The Master Cat Tee Shirt
The Master Cat Tee Shirt by phyllisdobbs
Find other Cat T-Shirts at zazzle.com
The Master Cat Mouse Pad
The Master Cat Mouse Pad by phyllisdobbs
View other Cat Mousepads at Zazzle.com

I am working on creating products with all 10 of the whimsical cats fron this collection and will add them to my store for a delightful and fun assortment to make you smile.

The attitudes were all inspired by own cat, who definitely has the ‘tude.

Meow,

Phyllis

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Color, Couleur, Colore, Kleur – Whatever the language, Color rules!

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Wow, just imagine – no color!  Think of fall without the oranges, golds, and yellows of falling leaves, spring without the pinks, purples, oranges and yellows of flowers, and summer without the green grass and leaves. What would the sky be without blue or the seas without the turquoises and greens?

I am a color junkie with all of my art and fabrics created with vibrant colors.  I love color and will buy something I really don’t need, just because I love the color. I paint rooms too frequently because its exciting to change colors (some of my rooms have enough layers of paint for it to qualify as insulation).

My close friend Brenda Pinnick has a passion for color and has founded Brenda Pinnick Color U in which she teaches workshops on color as well as offering color consulting. Brenda Pinnick

Its available for everyone from an individual who wants to know more about color and palettes (such as a quilter, sewer, crafter or decorator) or manufacturers who wants to give their product lines a “wow” with color. Also, retail business can have Brenda’s workshops conducted in their stores as well as learn how to use color in their businesses to increase sales.

Since its almost autumn, I want to show you one of Brenda’s palettes that she created for autumn  Isn’t it absolutely the most fantastic combination of colors!

Brenda is definitely qualified as a color expert as an award-winning graduate of the prestigious portfolio school, Creative Circus.  There she studied in-depth color theory as well as continuing to work and study color since. So if you want any advise on color or the psychology of color, then Brenda is the go-to person!

Have a wonderful colorful day! (I’m not trying to brain-wash you, just color-wash you!)

Phyllis

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Woof Woof – Dog Bone It! Dog Patterns

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“Doggie Lingo” and “Dog Bones” are two whimsy and fun patterns in “It’s A Dog’s LIfe“, my fabric collection by Quilting Treasures.  These patterns are now available on several products in my Zazzle store. These men’s ties are great for dog lovers, they will also be a perfect gift for a veterinarian or others who work with animals as well as for people who work with children to bring tons of giggles from little ones. The ties are available in both “dog lingo words” and in “dog bones”, both in vibrant, fun colors, with additional color selections.

They coordinate with all the other products available with the individual dogs featured in “It’s A Dog’s Life” collection – Quilt Lover Dog, Chef Dog, Beach Dog, Angel Dog, Garderner Dog and the others.

Here’s to your dog – woof, woof!

Phyllis

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Lions, Giraffes & Snakes Oh MY – Lifesize knitted animals

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These jungle animals are huge and colorful …. and knitted.  One of the most fun exhibits I’ve seen, this was the booth for Lion Brand Yarns at the winter Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) trade show.  (I know, the show was in January, but I just found them in my camera).  What else can I say – the pictures tell the story.

Everything – flowers, blades of grass and the rugs were all made of yarn. The animals were all so cute! It was definitely an exhibit with the “awe” factor.

Have a “roaring” fun day.

Phyllis

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“Keep it Green” ecology art on new products.

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Keep It Green” art is a fun and whimsical way to show your love of the earth and in protecting it.  The elements of earth are incorporated into this art, with the sky, stars, seas, and forests all represented in borders that surround the earth.  A small blue whale adds a charming touch to the seas. The image is available on products in my Zazzle store.

The products available include the apron above (aprons aren’t just for cooking but can be used for crafts and gardening as well).  Other items include tees and other clothing, totes, stationery items, stamps, and much more.  There’s even a dog sweater so that your dog can match what you wear as well as help get the message out to Keep it Green!

Check out all the other products to show your support of keeping the earth clean and alive for generations to come as well as to support Mother Earth and Earth Day.

Have a great week and remember to help “Keep It Green”.

Phyllis

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Great place for quilt, sewing, needlework & craft lovers

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If you love reading about crafts with plenty of tutorials, free patterns, information, projects that are being created, and much more on various blogs, then Creating the Hive is for you.  This is a website started for the craft world which includes sewing, quilting and needlework.

You join (free of course), then set up your profile for the type of crafts that interest you.  Also, you can join groups for your favorite crafts, such as Love of Sewing, Fabric Lovers, and Aprons if  you love sewing and quilting.  There are other groups for the many various crafts, such as scrapbooking, Christmas crafts, color, dolls, general crafts and many, many more.

People post their blogs to these groups so that you can have a condensed place to read great blogs, find out about new products, as well as free patterns, and more.  You can post your blogs and if you don’t have a blog, you can write a blog right on this site and have it go to the groups you choose.

Creating the Hive is new, slightly over a month old, but growing rapidly.  You will find your favorite blogs there.

Check creating the hive out and if you join, let me know by following me and I will follow and see what’s going on with you.

Have a great week of sewing, quilting or crafting!

Phyllis

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Sweetheart Ballerinas fabric in Hancock Fabrics stores.

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I knew four of my Sweetheart Ballerina fabrics were going to be in Hancock Fabrics stores.  But while running errands, I ran in Hancock’s to buy some notions I needed and there they were!  Thank goodness for my cell phone so I could take some pictures.  I pulled out the fabrics and took pictures and then I neatly rolled them up and put them back on the shelves.

The black and green prints above are a small cow pattern based on the black spotted cow ballerina in the collection. To see the pink spotted cow fabric (not shown) made into an adorable little girl’s girl dress, please see my prior post. And for a tote bag, made with the 2 pink fabrics above, check out this post.

To see the full collection for “Sweetheart Ballerinas” from V.I.P. by Cranston, please visit my website. And if you are in Hancock’s, please look for them.

Happy sewing and quilting,

Phyllis

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Kick up your Heels and enjoy!

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“Kick up Your Heels!” is the basis of a new collection in my Zazzle store.  The images have a choice of a white, yellow or green background and have a wimsy border and are shown on products ranging from stationery, invitations, aprons, mugs, clothing and many more. Support the attitude and enjoy life with a little kick of the heels!

The back of the invitation is fully customizable so that you can put your information on it.

When I look at this invitation, I see a girls night out! But its all perfect for everyday as well to show a sassy attitude. Why not “Kick Up Your Heels” while doing housework!

I invite you to take a look at these products and kick up YOUR heels!

Phyllis

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Quilting for the dogs (and more)!

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Don’t you love surprises!  Receiving a new book is always wonderful but this one has 3 quilt projects of mine in it.  5-10-15 + Fat Quarters, published by House of White Birches is a beautiful book filled with projects that you can complete with pre-cut fabric bundles.

Now, wouldn’t you just love to make this dog coat for your dog?  It’s made with “It’s A Dog’s Life” fabrics I designed for VIP by Cranston Printworks. (Just a note to tell you that some fabrics of this collection are in some Walmart stores as precuts). The pattern is easy to make so you can have the best dressed dog in the neighborhood.

OK, now that your dog is dressed, you can move onto making a cozy quilted pillow for a favorite child or each of your favorite children, since I’m sure you have more than one. This “chick pillow” is made with a full size pillow so it will fit nicely on a bed. Three pockets to hold little treasures are appliqued with a chick on each pocket. Can’t you just imagine the surprises that can be tucked away in these pockets for safekeeping until the next morning! (no snakes or snails I hope!)

Now its time to move onto some serious quilting and make a table runner for yourself or as a gift. A “Warm Breeze” tablerunner is made with Jim Shore’s Angel Among Us fabrics by Quilting Treasures. I had the good luck to meet Jim Shore a couple of months ago (see my prior post).

Since you have now had a few days of sewing and quilting, take a break, eat some ice cream!

I hope you enjoyed looking at these quilt pictures and I would love to see any that you make with these patterns.  Check out the book and you will be delighted as I was with all the fun projects made with precut 5″ charms, 10″ squares and fat quarters.

Happy sewing!

Phyllis