New book reveal and our BIGGEST SALE ever!

I've hinted of a new book in the works on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but at last I am thrilled to show you the fruits of our labor! Emalee and I collaborated on this new pattern pack published by STASH Books. It is called MODKID Summer Fun, and as the title teases, it is packed full of fun things to make for your 18" dolls!

Order your autographed copy HERE today!

I am so excited about this new project! And so are Sophie and Sydney, as they ended up with tons of new clothes and accessories for their American Girl Dolls, while we made and perfected prototypes. :)

Here are some more pictures to whet your appetite:

Aren't they adorable?! Get your signed copy today HERE!

*** PATTERN SALE!!! ***

While you're visiting our website don't forget to browse our newest sale! As the title of my post hinted, it's the BIGGEST SALE we've ever had! Select patterns have been placed at 30% and 50% off!!

Click HERE to browse our pattern sale.

This SALE expires on February 17th, 2014, so hurry up and stock up before they are all gone!

What's new?

WOW, it's been nearly 6 weeks since I blogged! This Summer has proven to be one of the busiest Summers I've had in a long time (if ever). Lots of new exciting projects coming up which, as it usually goes, I have to keep hush-hush until it's all said & done.

But I did want to keep you abreast of some of the stuff that's been keeping us busy for the past few weeks.

On the PDF pattern front, we are working on a few new designs, and we just released a new pattern yesterday. It's called the JOSIE Retro A-line dress.

Josie is a sweet A-line dress with retro styling. It features a center gore with wrap-around tabs and adorable cap sleeves. With only 5 pattern pieces to cut, this dress will be an easy sew, so you can make it over and over again in all your favorite designer fabrics!

At the moment you can buy JOSIE (along with all of our other e-patterns) here:

• Our Etsy Store
• You Can Make This
• Craftsy

Here's some wonderful pictures I received from my tester, Debbie Clifton. This gives you a clearer idea of the fit and construction. It has adorable button-back tabs for a more fitted look and sweet cap sleeves. How perfect is this for back-to-school wardrobe? I know, I know... they just got out of school, but it's never too early to start planing ahead, right?

On the PAPER CRAFTING front, I have been creating lots and lots of new shapes for my Silhouette store. My most popular, by far, have been these fun and colorful cupcake wrappers shown below. And I can't lie... I do love that in order to photograph them well, we need to get some of these amazing cupcakes from Sugar Mama Bakery here at the studio. It does sweeten our day quite a bit. ;)

Can I just say...YUM!

On the PUBLISHING front... oh boy, where do I even begin!? I am in the middle of signing contracts for not one, but two (yes, 2!) books to be published in 2014. Sorry that I can't reveal anything more on that, but just trust me when I say it's exciting and NEW for us, so I hope you all will be just as excited about them.

We have also been working on LOTS and LOTS of projects for different magazines. In addition to the quarterly SCRAP LAB projects for American Patchwork & Quilting (a new one will be out on August 13th!), we are also busy designing projects for Modern Quilts Unlimited. Actually, we will be featured THREE times on MQU this year, including a studio tour later this year! Stay tuned.

Currently, we have a quilt in the current issue of QUILTY Magazine (a Fons & Porter publication):

And a table runner in the current issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited:

On the FABRIC FRONT, a little birdie told me that Just My Type is shipping in just a couple of weeks, so we have been busy creating projects for the fabric launch. Check your favorite store and see if they have Just My Type on pre-order. I hear it's selling out FAST!!

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my blog reveal last month! I am thrilled that you love it as much as I do. :)

OK, that is it for now!! PHEW. Like I said above, LOTS and LOTS more exciting projects coming up soon... new patterns, new fabric, new magazine projects, books and paper crafting items, so STAY TUNED!

2013 Scrap Lab #1

Who doesn't like playing with scraps and seeing what awesome creation they can come up with? Last year I was honored to be asked to be a lead designer in a feature column called SCRAP LAB, in the magazine Quilts and More (a Better Homes and Gardens publication). For the next four issues of Quilts and More, I will be working closely with the amazing Carrie Nelson, of Miss Rosie's Quilts, and choosing a guest star each time to create fun projects using different scraps of fabric.

In the first installment of Scrap Lab, we chose to work with the awesome Julie Herman, of Jaybird Quilts, and my newest fabric collection, Textured Basics. I was thrilled to see the super cool projects those two designers came up with... and even more thrilled when I saw the cover featuring our pillow design in the top right corner!! Wooohooo!

The Summer 2013 issue of Quilts and More is available NOW in news stands and features adorable projects by Carrie, Julie and yours truly. You can even find Julie's table setting pattern for free online HERE!

If you would like to try your hand at sewing up one of our Scrap Lab projects, we are offering a FABRIC KIT, so you can make any of the projects featured in the magazine!

The Scrap Lab Kit includes:

• 1/2 yard of Natural Texture
• Fat Eighth of the 6 fabric prints shown from above Textured Basics

It sells for $15.00 including shipping within the US.
(Magazine not included)

Want to win a free copy of this magazine? Leave us a comment below and we will draw a winner this Friday, May 10th. Best of luck!!

Not Quite Hexies
Updated: scroll to the bottom and see how you can win a copy of the magazine!

If you haven't gotten the latest issue of Generation Q magazine, run to the stores and pick it up. It is seriously jam-packed with awesome goodness. I was excited to design a quilt, using my newest fabric line, Textured Basics, for this issue and check it out... it came out so cool!

You can download a FREE tutorial and make one for yourself here.

Updated! We've just received our comp copies of this issue and would like to give away a copy to a special blog reader. Leave us a comment below (and a way to contact you if you win). Winner will be chosen on Friday, March 8th. Good luck! 

NEW UPDATE: Random.org picked comment #2 as the winner, which is you, Melissa Kirk! CONGRATS! Send us your mailing addy and we'll get you a copy of this GenQ mag.

Introducing: Sew Red
Win your own copy... see end of post


... and exhale! Phew, I feel like I've been holding my breath for months! I'm so excited to finally be able to tell you about this exciting project I am honored to be a part of. Sew Red is finally out in the world, just in time for American Heart Month, and I couldn't be prouder!



I met Laura Zander, creator of Sew Red, a follow-up book to Knit Red, at Spring Quilt Market 2012 in Kansas City. I have to thank the amazing Nancy Jewell, of Westminster Fibers, for making the introduction. I'll never forget it... she said, "Do you like the color red?" I chuckled because anyone who knows me knows that red is my favorite color. I said, "Like it? I love it! As a matter of fact, my company logo is red and so are all of our marketing materials!" I pulled out a red Modkid pen from my purse and handed it to her. After she was convinced that I was indeed a fan of the color red, she proceeded to explain the project, a book filled with sewing and quilting projects in honor of women's heart health. She had me at "women's heart health", which has always been a personal cause for me, having had a grandmother fall victim to heart disease many years ago.

As if I wasn't already convinced, Laura then started rattling off a list of the other designers who would be involved. This list sounded like a who's who in the fabric and sewing world! Amy Butler, Nancy Zieman, Denyse Schmidt, Kaffe Fasset, Ty Pennington, Aneela Hoey, Tula Pink, Kaari Meng... and the list goes on and on. I thought to myself, "Am I worthy?"

Laura asked me to design a project using mostly red fabrics (that wouldn't be a problem for me) and add a blurb about how women's heart health is important to me. I knew I had to tell my grandma's story!

My maternal grandmother, known as Mama Alicia to all who loved her, died of a heart attack in 1979. We all lived in Costa Rica at the time and there was no easy way to “call 911” like we do here in the States. She collapsed on the street while walking back from church. A neighbor called the local hospital but they didn’t have a driver for the ambulance at the time. Then they called a taxi cab but the driver did not want to be responsible for her. Finally, they reached a family member but by the time they got there it was too late. The story was incredibly sad and made my mother rethink the way she eats and lives. My mother is now in her late 60s and goes to the gym every day and follows a gluten-free and dairy-free diet. She is healthier than most young people I know. To this day, my mother has been quite an inspiration to her children and grand children.

The project I designed is called Sonoma Purse and it's an easy-to-sew pleated bag made from just three fat quarters of fabric:



You can add extra details like the Grand Bazaar ribbon we added to the handle...


Sonoma Purse by Patty Young from Sew Red by Laura Zander, published by Sixth&Spring Books. Photo by Rose Callahan copyright © 2012 by Sixth&Spring Books/Soho Publishing. Used by permission.

Do check out the book. It has 27 projects that range from quilts to garments to accessories designed by the industry's top talent. The book's design is top notch and the photography is outstanding, plus it includes heart-healthy recipes and personal stories from all the designers involved.

And as if that wasn't reason enough to run out and get this book: Jimmy Beans Wool has agreed to contribute a minimum of 5% of their gross profits from the sale of this Stitch Red product to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health in support of The Heart Truth® and women's heart health education and research.

Win your own copy of SEW RED! Leave us a comment below and let us know if and how heart disease has affected your life and what you are doing to live a heart-healthy life. We will pick a winner next Friday, Feb. 22nd, 2013. Please leave a way to contact you if you are the lucky winner. Best of luck to you all!!

Two wonderful features for MODKID = two awesome projects for YOU!

This month we have the utmost pleasure to be featured in two prominent magazines, Australian Homespun and American Patchwork and Quilting. Yes, that is my name in the front cover of Australian Homespun... SQUEAL!



And since both magazines requested we provide their readers with a full fabric kit for making their project, that means that you can now make these awesome projects without having to search the world over for fabrics and notions.

Lets start with this adorable LILY SKIRT featured in Australian Homespun (Kit available here).



It's twirly, ruffly and oh, so sweet! And it even comes with a removable bow so she can also wear it on her hat, purse, backpack or headband. Instructions for this sweet skirt appear on pages 35 - 39 of Vol. 13 No. 10 in Australian Homespun, right after a wonderful bio on myself and history of MODKID. It's really a great read!



You can purchase a full kit with all the fabrics (from Lush) and notions needed to complete this skirt (up to a size 10) here. You can purchase a digital version of the magazine on Zinio or subscribe to it on Amazon. For a physical copy of the magazine check out the following distributors:
In the US: Erica's
In the UK: The Cotton Patch and Manor House Magazines
In New Zealand: Needlecraft
In Singapore:  Car Kit PTE

Now, on to this wonderfully soft knit quilt, called OVER UNDER QUILT, featured in the December 2012 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting (Magazine available in stores NOW! Kit available here.)

 

When the editors at APQ emailed me to ask if we would design a quilt featuring our new Heaven & Helsinki knits, I was so excited because, as some of you now, I LOVE working with knits and have made it a personal goal of mine to educate the world about how easy it is to sew with them (not scary at all!). And, I've also been preaching the virtues of knits for quilting because of our own experience with it. My girls both sleep with knit quilts in their beds... they are so soft and cuddly and feel so comfy against your skin.

Emalee designed this super easy-to-sew basket weave pattern, which APQ titled OVER UNDER, and we are offering a kit of all the fabrics you need to make the quilt top and pieced backing. All you'll need to add is the batting! Magazines are sold separately in news stands across the country. I found my copy at my local Barnes & Noble.



Images used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2012 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that MODKID is now offering worldwide shipping on our website. Up until now, we only shipped internationally for wholesale orders, but now we will ship anywhere and everywhere!

Sewing MODKID Style
Sneak Peek #1

At this time last year, I was getting ready to turn in the first quarter of my book's manuscript, my heart filled to the brim with excitement and trepidation. I knew I loved it, but would my publisher love it? Well, they did! And their words of encouragement fueled me the rest of the way through. The following 6 months we lived and breathed book. And I mean all of us... me, Jon, Emalee, the kids, our friends and our friends' kids. It was definitely a labor of love, with emphasis on the word labor (well, and love too!) :)

The other day, as I lay in bed on a lazy Saturday morning I was awakened by a text from my friend, Mary, telling me that my book was on the Barnes & Noble site (yes, I sleep with my iPhone, don't you?). I couldn't believe it was already up there! I mean, didn't I just start writing this thing? Well, I guess not... it has been a year, actually! I ran downstairs to pull it up on my computer, because my tiny iPhone screen just didn't do it justice and there it was... in all its glory...



WOW! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry or scream, so instead I texted the link to every person I could think of (whether they cared or not!). Then I hopped on Twitter and Facebook and shared the link like one proud mama and her newborn baby.

Then, I waited for the OK from Wiley to blog it because I wanted to tell you all the little details and show you some more images from it. Well, the green light came last Friday and we agreed that I should break up my reveals into 6 installments, because the book will be out in stores exactly 6 months from now.

YAY! So here's the 411:

• The book will be hardcover and spiral-bound (much like the ones you are used to seeing from Anna Maria)
• It will have 160 pages (and yes, I know online it says 144 but we ended up adding an extra 16 pages at the end because I wanted to add a glossary, a resources page and a few more pretty pictures.)
• It will come with full size pattern sheets (no enlarging or taping together!) and detailed instructions for 20 sewing projects that span from accessories, to separates to full ensembles.
• All the illustrations, instructions and patterns were done completely and solely by me, and they are in the exact same style that you are already accustomed to seeing in my sewing patterns.
• The patterns range in sizes from 2T to 10 and styles range from easy and simple (the kind you can do in 1 or 2 hours) to fancy and intricate (in case you want to spend some quality time with your machine).
• The book comes with an in-depth guide on knit fabrics and stretch trims AND it teaches you how to make the projects with your serger or your sewing machine, with loads of tips & tricks along the way.

So, here are a couple of sneak peek photos. Since the book-writing took almost a year and it spanned all seasons of the year, so do the photos, as you'll see. In addition, we were able to take a few family vacations near and far, and used those as an excuse to get some more book photos done (or was it the other way around?!?)







Sewing MODKID Style is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Overstock, Book Depository, Easons, Books-a-Million and Sew Mama Sew. (Retailers: if you have my book on your site, please let me know so we can add you to the list!) A full list of retailers will be available on the WILEY website.

Thanks for taking this little sneak peek tour with me. Stay tuned each month between now and March, 2012, as I will reveal more and more projects from the book. And... thank you all for your support! :)

***UPDATE! A sweet blog reader just informed me that the book is also available in Canada, which reminded me that I had also seen it for sale in Amazon UK. YAY, we're global! :)***

Maggots, giant roaches and eggplant
***UPDATE: My comp copies are here! I'll give 2 copies away... leave a comment to be entered!***

When I started seeing these topics being discussed in my twitter feed I knew there could only be one reason... the April-May 2011 issue of Quilter's Home magazine -- featuring a very candid interview with yours truly -- is finally out in news stands!



I won't spoil the surprise, you're just gonna have to go out and get one. My comp copies haven't come in yet, so I ran out to my local B&N and found it. Since I didn't have anyone with me, I had to brag to the guy at the check out counter... haha... he was just a little confused to say the least.

Here's a sneak peek. I'm on page 80.



And since I'm in a great mood (despite my recent phone troubles) I'll share my other good news: I finished my book! WAHOO!!! It's on the way to the publisher as I write this!!! I've already seen a fabulous preliminary design pass and let me just tell you, those creative folks at Wiley Publishing ROCK! Now it goes into editing and testing, then printing, so we should be seeing it in news stands within 10 - 12 months. Then I'll really have something to brag about with the check out guy at B&N. ;)

***UPDATE: My comp copies are here! I'll give 2 copies away... leave a comment to be entered!***

WWC in da house...

Lemme hear ya say "heeeeeey!"



Get your own autographed copy HERE. Don't forget to let us know who to dedicate it to (even if it's your own name). :) Limited quantities available...

OH, and guess who else will be in da house today?!? You guessed it...



These four lovely ladies will be coming to a retailer near you in the next few days!

OH, and let's not forget the new and improved Kyoko! She's ready to come to your house with a fresh new cover, a new inspiration gallery and a completely re-designed back page with sizing charts and lots more info. Ask your favorite retailer if they have the new MODKID patterns on order!



We're buzzing around like little bees at the MODKID studio today... come join the fun! :)

Hot off the press!

A year and two months ago, Jon and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary in Chicago. We had a few minutes to kill before our dinner reservations so we walked into the Borders on Michigan Avenue to browse. I headed towards the craft/sewing magazine section as I usually do and my eye was caught immediately by a new (to me) magazine... Where Women Create. I couldn't believe how beautiful this thing was! I was completely immersed in the stories and captivated by the gorgeous full spread photos and I remember telling Jon, wouldn't it be great if my studio was featured in this magazine someday? someday.

About 6 months later, while we were vacationing in South Florida, I received an email from Jo Packham (editor and creator of Where Women Create) followed by a super sweet phone call. She said they were going to be in the area in 3 days and would love to shoot my studio. Talk about a turn of events!!! Luckily we were scheduled to fly back that day and I went into frantic studio clean up mode for the next couple days.

The day of the shoot I got hair, nails & toes done and picked up fresh daisies all before noon. I even went shopping for a new outfit that I didn't even end up wearing that day... I must've changed a half a dozen times! The shoot went off without a hitch (I even turned the camera back on them!) and now... eight months later...



I seriously cannot believe it. It's truly a dream come true! To be a part of this gorgeous magazine and share pages with these amazing women... I can't even describe the feeling! And my name even made it to the cover!

I don't want to give away too much so I'll just show some little sneaks. Six glorious pages!







Thank you, thank you, thank you Jo and team for a most amazing experience... I will never forget this and what a wonderful keepsake I now have! :)

I'm starting a little collection... are you?



**We ordered a bunch of copies to autograph and sell at Quilt Market so if you'll be attending, please stop by and get yours. You can also find the magazine in stores like Barnes and Noble, Borders, Michaels, JoAnns & Hobby Lobby. However... if you can't find it locally or just want to get a signed copy from me, let us know. We can put them up on the site as soon as they arrive. :)**

Easter and Estampados

First of all, I want to thank you all SO MUCH for all the wonderful comments regarding our big announcement. Your support and encouragement means a TON to us. It's going to be tough for a while but we're up to the challenge. :)

This morning, while Jon attended his fantasy baseball draft, I took the girls to an Easter Egg Hunt at Sydney's school.



The kids got their sugar fix... and I got my photo fix...





They did a little hula-hooping afterward. I opted out. (hey, someone had to hold the camera!)









And when we got home, I saw a little package at my front door. It was way too small to be fabric and I wasn't expecting any packages from anyone, or so I thought. Well, guess what? I had totally forgotten about this adorable little book, Estampados Padroes, published by a company in Barcelona, Spain. It features almost 500 pages of repeated patterns, including a couple by yours truly.



I came into contact with the editor, Macarena, almost two years ago. Yes, I know what you're thinking... every time I received an email from her my hands would swing to my hips and I'd sing, "Eh, Macarena!" :) Just to give you some perspective, I submitted these designs to them before Andalucia (the fabric) came out, so that's how long it's been in production! I am so thrilled to finally have it in my hands. It is gorgeous!!



Page 38 features a 2-page spread of Flora in the Petal palette and on page 375 you'll see a colorway of Flowery Stripe that never made it into fabric!



Sydney has already declared this her book (because, as she explained, it is Sydney-sized), so I may need to pick up another copy for myself. Let me know if you see this book for sale anywhere. In addition to my designs, I see so many familiar names... the fabulous Tula Pink is featured several times (and I see she beat me to blogging about it). And there are some adorable designs by Carol Eldridge and many, many others! Inspiration galore. :)

HAPPY EASTER, everyone!!