Just a Reminder

Today is our big day and your chance to see a little bit of the Louisa bag in action with Anna Griffin on HSN.  The kits will be selling during the noon hour, eastern time.  You can read a bit more about this exciting opportunity here.

Edit to add: You can watch the video here!

That's Our Pattern!

You may have noticed things have been a bit quiet around here, part of the reason is that we've been busy working on this:

It may look like just another Louisa bag to you, but this one was made especially for a kit that will be sold on HSN, by Anna Griffin, containing our printed pattern and her Fleur Rouge fabric!

Needless to say, we're pretty darn excited about this one.  If you're an HSN watching type of person, the kits will be available on Wednesday Thursday, September 13 at noon EST.

Just a few other quick notes for today, our giveaway is still open for a couple more days, so there's still time to enter.  And the discount code {LABORDAY2012} is still good in our shop too, if there's a pattern you've been wanting to pick up.  Hope you have a happy weekend!

Unedited and Sewing Like Crazy

This is how you might find me sewing this weekend {and that's an unedited photo...whew, I'm either feeling brave or exhausted!}.  This little girl wants to be right there while I work, just like her brother!  And I'm working with these fabrics:

on another Louisa bag. I'll be posting more details as I have a chance, it's not a secret project...just an urgent one!

So, if this blog is a little quiet {my mom will still be blogging though!}, you'll know where I am...sitting at a sewing machine with a baby strapped to me {or something like that!}.

Are you having a relaxing or productive weekend {or maybe both?!}?

More Louisa Bags {Made by You!}

My mom and I have been working on getting all our patterns out, and here are a couple Lousia bags from our pattern testers!

by Sandie at Crazy 'Bout Quilts

by Hafza of Hook 'n Needle Creations

Oh, and because I forgot to show it before, Hafza has also made the Anne handbag!  I really think I need one out of Ruby now:

As always, if you've made one of our bags, I'd love to share it here!  Please e-mail us at office{at}cloverandviolet{dot}com!  Also, we'd love for you to add your projects to our Flickr group!

Pattern Release :: the Louisa bag

Just added to the shop is our newest pattern: the Louisa bag!  Made with a Vintage Modern Layer Cake {with plenty of extra fabric left too!} and some Ruby yardage {I adore those tiny sherbet and aqua dots!}.

This is seriously my new favorite bag, I use it every day {we decided to make two, the aqua one is mine, and the sherbet one is my moms!}.

By using layer cake pieces, we were able to cut the patchwork portion a little larger than our other patterns, which is great for showing off some bigger prints {like that pretty floral!}.

And a big thank you to Sandie at Crazy 'Bout Quilts for her detailed pattern reviewing!  It's been a great week so far, and I'm really looking forward to a lazy weekend {read: no pattern writing for a couple days!}.

What on Earth?

This morning when I got up {after a nearly sleepless night because poor Norah has a diaper rash...} I sat down to play with Norah, drink my coffee {is it okay to brag that my darling husband makes coffee every morning before I get out of bed?}, and check my e-mail.  Shockingly, there were lots of pattern sales receipts!  At first I thought maybe something had malfunctioned...but no, we really just sold a bunch of patterns, this morning!  What?

Interestingly, these patterns were sold on Craftsy...so I hopped over to see if I could find out what happened, but no luck.  However, as the morning continued, our Sophie beach bag climbed to the #1 trending quilting pattern!  What?

So, like any excited school girl pattern designer, I took a screen shot.  And there you have it:

This is super exciting!  My mom and I work really hard to design new, pretty, and purposeful bag patterns, and it's so exciting to see one of our patterns sell really well {at least for the day, but hopefully it will be a new trend!}.  Oh, and if you happen to know how our pattern got such sudden attention...do let me know!
 
Edit to add: Thanks Jackie for letting us know about the newsletter, and thanks Craftsy for the feature, you can see it here.

Pattern Release {the Charlotte bag}

Available here!

Just stopping in to let you know I finally finished the Charlotte bag pattern!  It's in the shop now!

the Stella bag & Blend Fabric

Have you heard of Blend Fabrics?  They're the licensing division of Anna Griffin {I've known of Anna Griffin for years...thanks to my stationery hoarding loving!}.  So, when we were contacted and asked if we'd like to design some bags with their fabrics, we jumped at the chance {you can learn more about Blend Fabrics at their blog too}!

When the fabrics arrived, we were so pleased with the lovely sheen of them, and the colors, though softer than we often use, are also beautiful.

the Stella diaper bag {pattern coming soon}

Here is our first design: the Stella diaper bag.  This one is more traditional in size than our regular diaper bags, but we thought it would be a great addition to our pattern lineup {didn't my mom do a fabulous job?  When it arrived in the mail for me to photograph I was so impressed!!}.  The fabric line used is Magic Garden by Sabine Reinhart for Blend fabrics {you can find Magic Garden here, here, and here}.

This bag is nice and roomy, and has lots of pockets on the outside {and a couple on the inside too!}, so it is easy to keep everything sorted.

We've put a tie on the side of the bag, so it can be expanded or cinched up, depending on your daily load, that way you don't have to switch bags!

And here's a better shot of it untied, as you can see, there is plenty of room!

We should be releasing the pattern soon, but were too excited to wait any longer to share.  And we have another Blend Fabrics bag in the works too!

the Emma clutch (protoype)

I've been wanting to design a clutch for some time, so the Ruby market tote seemed like a great opportunity to actually do it.  But, before diving in, I thought I'd actually make a prototype...  Using some leftover Simple Abundance and Kona Chinese Red, I came up with this cute little clutch.  I'm actually using it myself right now too, to make sure it's really practical.  There may be a few changes to the final version, but I think you'll love it -  pictures soon!

{Oh, and speaking of the Ruby market tote, I've extended the linky until after the holidays...and everyone who finishes will get a copy of the new pattern for free...otherwise it will be in the shop soon!}

Stash Project: Thoughts (& a winner)

Well, I don't have a stash project for December.  I was going to show Norah's stocking...but, well, it is still a bunch of pieces {my mom actually put part of it together, so at least it has a start}.  Good thing one-month-olds don't realize they don't have a stocking at Christmas.  But, I know some of you might still be finishing up projects, so we'd still love to see your projects.

But, in addition to looking at your wonderful December finishes, I'd like to know, is this a feature you'd like to see continued next year?  Or would you like me to start a new monthly feature {and if so, do you have suggestions?}?  I really look forward to {and value} your input!

And now, on to the winner of last month's post:

So stop by and check out Katie's post on her Mini Xs Quilt!  As announced last month, Katie is going to be receiving a personalized mug rug and some other goodies {that will be started shortly after the New Year...since I don't see myself having time before then!}.

If you've made something out of your stash and would like to share it, we'd love to see.  If you link up your project you'll have a chance to win a copy of our newest pattern: the Anne handbag.  When linking up, please make sure to follow our few simple rules, and visit some of the other great stash projects too! The giveaway will close when the linky closes, on December 31.

Miss Anne

the Anne handbag

I've had several e-mails about this pattern so far...before it was released.  Putting the photo on our blog and shop headers before finishing the pattern turned out to generate quite a few questions regarding availability.  In the future I will try to make sure patterns are available before they're just displayed...

But, it's finally ready now.  The Anne handbag is one of my personal favorites {I use it a lot!}.  Since I'm loving everything ruffled, the ruffle band on the top is the perfect addition.  And the ruffles make me think of Anne of Green Gables's puffed sleeves, and how those little details {or big in her case} can really make a statement!  It is now in the shop here {and here}.

As we work hard to design new and fun bags, are there any styles you'd like to see in the shop soon?

Something New

I've been working on this little embroidery for the last week or so.  It is going to be the top of a Mug Rug for the Mug Rug Swap 5 of Flickr {I know, five already?!}.  I drew this bicycle based off of this photo I'd taken last summer in Washington:

Although I've never really thought of myself as an artist, I am really enjoying drawing and stitching these designs. So much so, that I thought I'd go out on a limb and make this one available in the shop.

Available here {& here}.

I'll admit I feel a little nervous adding this new section to the shop, but I'm excited too.  I sure didn't expect to ever be creating embroidery patterns!  I hope you like it as much as I do.

A Custom Brooklyn

This is our latest creation, a custom Brooklyn bag for an old friend.  The fabric is Botany by Lauren & Jessi Jung for Moda.  Even though our friend doesn't sew {yet}, she picked out the fabric and arranged the tiles, so hopefully it looks like she'd pictured.

I were going to wait to put the pictures on the blog until she received it, but since I keep forgetting to send it, I thought this might be motivation to get it out in the mail this afternoon.

Good thing my mom helped me get it done because otherwise the fabric would still be sitting in a neat little pile in my sewing room.  I have to say, it's always fun to see the bags made out of a variety of fabrics!  I'm pretty pleased with how this looks!

P.S. I'm linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory!

Stuff, Stuff, & More Stuff

It has been quite the weekend around here. On Friday a dozen movers descended upon our house, packed our stuff up {in a haphazard sort of way} and moved it four doors down to our new house. While it has been rough to move all of a sudden, we are so blessed by how the situation has worked out. Since we were living in rental housing, we were able to move out of our old place and into a new one without much more than being inconvenienced {and it was amazing to spend so much time at my parents' house!}.

Although there is still a lot of cleaning and organizing to do, we're getting settled back in. It sure seems kind of trivial in comparison to the national disasters in New Zealand and Japan {my heart and prayers go out to all who are there or have loved ones there}.

Sorry to change subjects so quickly...but on to a bit brighter subjects. I've joined my first Quilt-A-Long at Lily's Quilts. What I love most about it is that there is an option to make a wall hanging with just one block, or to make the whole six for the quilt. Since I've got a lot going on right now, I'm just going to make one block, and I'm going to use some of the My Happy Garden by Cloud 9 that I purchased back in January {pictured above} and maybe some gray for background. I am excited to get to use it!

I think that about covers it for today {sorry for such a wordy post!}. This week is off to a busy start, so hopefully I will have some more fun things for you later this week.

The Newest One Was Madeline

Buy Now

One of my favorite children's books is Madeline.  So, when I designed this bag for Silas and it turned out so sweet, I thought Madeline would the perfect name.  I first finished the prototype back in November, but the pattern was on the back burner until recently.  But with my mom's help, I've made a second one, taken all the appropriate photos, and typed up the instructions and you can find it in available in our shop for immediate download!

This bag is not only sweet and functional, it even has multiple closure and pocket options for perfect customization.  While it was designed as a diaper bag {I use mine when I drop Silas off at the nursery}, it would make an excellent travel or market bag too.  We hope you love it as much as we do!

Think Spring (& Giveaway)

**Comments are now closed. The winner has been announced here.**

It's been beautiful in Virginia the last few days, and we're starting to feel like spring might arrive soon after all {I know a lot of people are still in the throws of winter...I was in northern New York last winter and completely understand!}. As seasons change so do clothes and handbags, so we thought we'd help someone with the transition.

We're giving away a Brooklyn bag sewing pattern today, along with a Fandango {by Kate Spain for Moda} charm pack and yardage {the print is shown, but I just ordered it today!} to help you make it!

To enter all you need to do is leave a comment and let us know what you're most looking forward to this spring. Here's an example:

I'm most looking forward to spending more time outside with my little boy. I cannot wait to see him run around the yard and really explore the outdoors on his own for the first time!

For a bonus entry, follow our blog and leave a second comment to let us know you do. {You must either have your e-mail in your profile or leave it in your comment to be eligible to win.  Click here for details.} You have until next Monday, February 14, at midnight EDT to enter, and then we'll draw a winner. And, on the 15th will be our next Stash Project link up and giveaway, so make sure you've been using your stash so you can join in the fun. Good luck!

Update: For another chance to win, head over to the Sew Lux Fabric & Gifts blog!