Happy [belated] Halloween!

I am still sorting through all my Quilt Market photos, so I thought I'd post my Halloween pics so there wouldn't be such an empty lull on the blog. Oh, and I also owe you all the 2nd sneak peek of my book. It's all coming this week, I promise. But for now... here is our little freak show...

Sydney was a Fairy Devil or Devil Fairy (it fit her personality oh so well!)



Sophie was Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter's girlfriend)



Jon and I went as The Walking Dead...



I even spent a few minutes playing with Photoshop to create this nifty screen saver for Jon. It fooled a few into thinking it was real! mwa-ha-ha-haaaaa



If you want to use the above photo as your screen-saver, just click on the image, which will take you to Flickr, and download the largest size.

Exciting things!

There's so much going on right now at MODKID HQ that I can barely keep up. Let's see...

Exciting Thing #1:

We got new signage at the studio. It was such a thrilling experience to see it finally come to life like this. We got a big, big, BIG logo in the front window...







And a smaller door sign...



If you squint you can see Sydney supervising from the inside... heeheee!



It was a proud moment for all of us.

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Exciting Thing #2:

We are having a 2nd Open House and this time it includes a SAMPLE SALE!! We heard it repeatedly last time we opened our doors: are you selling any of your sewn samples? Last time we weren't prepared, but this time we are and boy, do we have some goodies for you! Lots and lots of finished product that we've accumulated over the years... girls clothing, pillows, women's garments, purses... something for everyone!

MODKID SAMPLE SALE
Friday, August 5 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm

MODKID HQ

109 W. Monroe St.

Bloomington, IL 61701

If you're in the area and plan to attend, please RSVP on our FaceBook event so we can plan for enough food and drinks for everyone. Yes, folks, we'll have snacks and libations!





Disclaimer: the above photos were taken a few weeks back and do not represent the exact selection of items available for sale.

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Exciting Thing #3

We randomly selected three winners from last week's blog contest. Each one of these lucky ladies will receive a ribbon sampler especially selected by us.

#79
Robin said...

My niece is an American Girl Doll fan so I think I'd like to make her a couple of those ADORABLE doll outfits. Thanks for the chance to win!

#1

Fiona said...

It all looks so beautiful! That wall colour is amazing and works really well with your new line.

#98
Marsi said...

Beautiful! I love making handbags and messenger bags for kids as gifts, so that fabric & ribbon would work perfect. Congratulations on your on going success.

CONGRATULATIONS, ladies!! Please email us at info@modkiboutique.com with your mailing info to claim your prize.

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Exciting Thing #4:

If you were not selected to win the ribbon samplers, don't get discouraged... there is another chance to win! I was featured on Where Women Create last Friday as part of my involvement in The Creative Connection Event and I am giving away a MODKID Sewing Pattern Bundle to one lucky reader. So, pop on over there and leave a comment for another chance at winning some MODKID goodies.

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Exciting Thing #5:

And speaking of The Creative Connection Event, we received yet another bundle of crafty goodness from another one of our dear sponsors. The wonderful folks at Prym-Dritz Consumer USA, just sent over a large box of sewing notions to give away at my classes. Check this out:



This is just the top layer of the large box! There are large snap-on grommets (the same ones we use in the Sun & Surf Tote), rotary cutters, rulers and self-healing mats galore!



I have so many donated items now that EVERY student will be able to walk away with a free goodie or two from our wonderful sponsors! YAY!

So, in case you missed it before click here to read more about the Sun & Surf Tote class and here for the French Window Pillow class. Register soon because these classes fill up fast and there's limited enrollment!

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Exciting Thing #6:

We're getting über organized. Just because the outside of our studio looks pretty and the design areas are fun and colorful, it doesn't mean that the warehouse can't be all of those too. Jon's been keeping himself super busy the past few weeks organizing our warehouse and I think he's done a fantastic job of it. He says it's not finished, but I think it looks blog-worthy so far, dontcha think?



Check out all those colorful, yummy ribbons sitting pretty on this shelf...



Lots and lots and lotsa boxed patterns on these shelves...



Assembled patterns ready to go out are right here, front and center...



So, that's it for our exciting things this week!

Exciting things coming up? A massive sewing pattern reveal next week. A new licensed product reveal either this week or next. And some awesome magazine features in August and September. Stay tuned!!!

xoxo,
patty

***Edited to add...***

Exciting Thing #7:
The amazing John Adams (a.k.a. Quilt Dad) informed me in the blog comments yesterday that I am also featured in Issue #6 of Fatquarterly!! WOOHOO! I read the article last night and it is fantastic... so much information there on sewing with knits and shirtings, plus everything you ever needed to know about Grand Bazaar fabric and ribbons (broken down per design!). There are also lots of other designer features and some fantastic quilt and pillow patterns included in this issue. It's well worth the money to subscribe... so go, get it NOW! :)

Summertime

... and the living is easy.

You know you've been slacking on your social media when out of town relatives start asking what's going on because you haven't updated the blog in weeks! Ooops, sorry, everyone! But you know how it is... kids out of school, work, work and more work, then some fun stuff mixed in here and there.

This Summer we've decided not to enroll the girls in a Summer camp, so they've just been spending a lot of QT at MODKID HQ. It's not as bad as it sounds, though. Jon built them a little playroom in the back. It has books, a flat screen TV, a Wii game console with a ton of games and an art table. They go back & forth between reading, drawing and playing most of the day. Then at 3 p.m. every day (weather permitting) we go for a walk around the center square and visit all of our downtown neighbor stores. They've all gotten to know the girls quite well! ;) We usually end up coming back with some sort of trinket... or a smoothie!

Then every once in a while, we take little day trips here & there to break up the monotony...















On the work front, I do have some fun announcements coming up, but have just been waiting to tie some loose ends before I can reveal everything. So stay tuned, everyone! And have a fantastic Summer!!!

SURTEX 2011
(or why I love my husband more than words can describe)

... because he flew the red eye from Salt Lake City to New York City, got off the plane and took a cab straight to the Javits Center where he proceeded to turn this...



... into this! All by himself! Yes.



Then he eventually checked into our hotel and rested until I arrived later that evening. After about 4 hours of sleep, we got up the next morning and headed back to the convention center to start Day 1 of 3 of the Surtex art licensing show. (Click on that link to read more about it if you're not sure what the show is). After having done Quilt Market booths for 3 years this was a bit of a culture shock for me, but all in all I think (hope) we nailed it.

Here are a few close up shots of our booth...



My Zazzle mugs....



My art portfolios (these took me days and days and days to make so I'm mighty proud of them).



A cool Kalencom bag we managed to grab a sample of right before the show. Jon actually walked through the streets of New York all by himself carrying this bag the night before the show! Yup. I love him.



And our sign (which I completely forgot to print before we left so I had to print it quickly at the business center).



Jon did manage to get this one picture of me in the booth...



And he captured this one of me and The Perfect Bookmark. LOL! Oh, and a better view of my Vogs.



I'm deep into Surtex follow-up as we speak so there's nothing yet to report. But rest assured that as soon as something super exciting happens, you'll be the first to know. :)

Have a great LONG weekend, everyone! xoxo

Like a time lapse movie...

This past weekend I slept like 40 hours total. Seriously, I wanted so badly to hang out and catch up with friends and family but I just kept falling asleep every moment I could... on the couch, on the bed, I even fell asleep on the floor while the kids played video games and I clutched a big fluffy pillow. I guess I was overdue for some R&R since for the last month or so I've averaged like 3 hours a night (or less on some nights!)

When I replay the sequence of events that happened in the past 2 weeks, it sorta feels like one of those time-lapse movies. Ya know what mean?

• May 10th - Jon, Emalee and I drove to Chicago then flew to Salt Lake City
• May 11th - First day of Quilt Market set-up





• May 12th - More booth set up
• Schoolhouse -- I met up with The Dancing Kyokos



Well, they didn't really dance but they did look amazing in their own versions of the Kyoko Misses', didn't they?! From left to right, Julie Herman (Jaybird Quilts), Kristin Link (Sew Mama Sew), me, Melanie Thornton (Above All Fabrics), Traci Butler (Hip Fabrics), Kelsea (Stash Quilts) and Mary Abreu (InTown Quilters). Not pictured, Emalee Grambo. I am forever thankful to all you lovely ladies for making my Kyoko Fashion Show a reality! It was by far the funnest schoolhouse session I've ever had. :)

• Sample Spree (yes, we actually did it!) Ahh, there's Emalee in her Kyoko!



• May 13th -- Day 1 of Quilt Market





• I was interviewed by Daria Muirhead of Boutique Café



• Then by Heidi Porth of Quilt Home



• Then by Pat Sloan of American Patchwork & Quilting (yes, 3 interviews in the same day! I guess everyone got wind that I was leaving early...)



I was also surprised by Kathy Miller & team with a big box of cupcakes (not all for me) to celebrate my birthday and also Christine's (we both had our 40th in May!). YUM!



• That evening we had our Michael Miller Fabrics sales meeting in which I had to recreate my Schoolhouse talk but without the aid of my Dancing Kyokos so it wasn't nearly as fun. After dinner, Jon flew across the country to NY to set up our Surtex booth the next day.

• May 14th - half day of Quilt Market for me because I flew to NYC that afternoon to exhibit at the Surtex licensing show for the following 3 days.

• The SHY Girls (Sweet Hot Yams) and other sweet friends surprised me for my birthday and brought me a Mocha Coconut (they even had them make it the way I like it -- on ice, not blended) and a Birthday Pop. Love my girls!!



Like I said before, I flew to NYC that afternoon and the rest of the story I will save for another post, but for now I'll leave you with a few more pics of my booth at Quilt Market. This time we went simple with a single booth and no hard walls, but still saturated with color and pattern. :)











A million thanks to my lovely assistant, Emalee, who sewed about 95% of the items you see in my booth and also to my sweet mom and dear friend Valerie who made some awesome purses and accessories to add the finishing touch to our display!