Introducing: My Stars from Kansas City Star Books

I'm so excited to be a part of a new publishing imprint from Kansas City Star Books, called My Stars.  

The My Stars imprint will focus on bringing a modern aesthetic to the Kansas City Star tradition. I've been working hard behind the scenes on a new pattern for the very first book, available this September. The book is a compilation that includes all new designs by many quilters you already know and love.  

You can read all about the authors on the brand new website, http://mystarsblog.com/.  Stay tuned for an interview with yours truly in the coming weeks.

xxA

Goodbye Google Reader

I've been in denial since Google announced they would be shutting down Google Reader. It's been part of my daily routine for-ev-er! I thought for sure they would come out with something that would take it's place or at least act as a bridge to a new service? Nope. 

Now is the time to find a new reader if you haven't already. They really are shutting it down July 1st. That's less than a week away. Even if you try a new service and don't like it, at least move all your data over. It's easy, I promise.

I've been trying out both Feedly and Bloglovin' and they are both pretty good and getting better all the time. If I'm reading from my laptop, I really like the way Bloglovin' looks. A lot of crafty bloggers and quilt bloggers are recommending this one.

On my phone I love the Feedly app with it's different layouts, custom features and speed!

*Craft Buds has a great blog post walking you through some of the different options. 

*There is one clear choice for Monica at Happy Zombie. Find out which service she chose. I bet her post makes you smile.

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Liberty, London and Love

Recently my husband went on a business trip to London. Of course my first thought was, Liberty!! As any fabric loving wife would do, I mentioned the store before he left. Knowing that he wouldn't have time. His business trips are always jam packed with work and travel. But what could it hurt?

Liberty

One day while he was gone he shared this teaser photo of the Liberty store in London. I held my breath and my heart started racing.

Not only did he go to Liberty, but it turns out he spent two miles walking, two trips shopping, all while carrying all of his travel gear. He's so sweet to me. Some of you might remember his Cincinnati trip to Sewn Studio? I think this was kind of like that.

Two "fuchsia" shopping bags full. Swoon! They didn't fit in his luggage and he had to carry them  all over London and all the way home.

Patchwork bundles, ready to go.

Some favorites. He even thought to buy a few solids.

I have never owned any Liberty fabric, not even a scrap. I am so excited!! It's an instant collection. Some of the pieces are big enough for garment sewing. I think I'm just going to pet it for awhile because I'm too overwhelmed to do anything else.

Ps There was so many good scrap tips on my last post that I'm working on a follow up. Thank you all so much for your thoughtful responses!!

Scraps: How small is too small?

Making Steam Punk blocks is a messy business. My scraps have scraps at this point. There is a scrap heap collecting on my work table. I'm finishing up the last of my blocks and trying to clean up. It's such a mess. I tried sorting out the usable bits. The large pieces were the easiest. Now I have a lot of leftover weird little curvy pieces. I tried throwing them out and I'm resisting because the fabric is so pretty. For some of the pieces, its the very last piece of that print.

Do I smile and say, "Yay! I used up every last bit of that. Let's go fabric shopping!!"

Or do I say, "Oh man, that's the very last piece. I love that one and it goes with everything. I wonder if I can still find it online. Let's go fabric shopping!!"  : )

Even my daughter was looking through the scrap pile pulling out treasures. She'd hold up each one for me to see, "This one is so pretty Mama!"

I set her up at the kitchen table with markers, glue, paper and fabric scraps and showed her how she can make little people with them. She made one and claimed that it wasn't that fun. LOL!! Oh well, can't win them all kid. I love what she made and put it up on my bulletin board. I had to resist the urge to stop doing dishes and make a few myself.

So I'm wondering, 1) how small is too small for scraps you save and 2) what do you do with the littlest pieces?

Heather Ross, You Are My Sister

Image via Heather Ross

Mark your calendars for June 30th!  Heather Ross has organized a benefit for her sister, a local resident who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Join Heather for an evening at Harts Fabric in Santa Cruz, Ca. Events will include a live action, raffle, door prizes and much more. Word is that Heather herself will be the emcee for the auction and the raffle.

Local or not, there are many ways to contribute. Prizes have been donated by Denyse Schmidt, Amy Butler, Lotta Jansdotter, and Martha Stewart, to name a few. Tickets are on sale now. Read this post on Heather's blog for more details.