What's new??

Since I'm on a QUEST to convince ALL quilters it's OK TO APPLIQUE (has a nice ring to it....)... I put together a Learn to Applique KIT... woot woot!!!

The kit includes a BONUS pattern and the fabric to make it... plus fusible, thread, my learn to applique book. The book is a super teaching tool as it walks you through step by step the way I do my fusible applique. It's my workshop in a book!

http://patsloan.biz/learntoappliquebeginnerskit.aspx

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Sand Hut is awesome!

This is such an amazing and useful fabric! This is very similar to Sandcastle for those of you that loved that until it went away. I got the natural as we can DYE IT!!! OH MY!! The colors are endless.. just you, your washing machine and a package of rit dye!    The fabric is 58" wide (woot!) and has a quilty texture. When you wash it the texture crinkles up like it's already quilted.

FABULOUS for Bags, the base of a table runner or place mat, PERFECT for embroidery by machine or hand, I even made a jacket out of it once.

http://patsloan.biz/sandhutfabricnaturalsoldin12yardincrements.aspx

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Some other kit love...

Check out the sale on a few of my other kits.. pick one up.. like my all time favorite quote quilt! So how is your fun factor? Good? Need to make a quilt for a gift.... make someone smile with this one!
http://patsloan.biz/kits.aspx

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Death by Quilting- The Challenge

The Death by Quilting challenge has been AWESOME so far! We have weapons hitting their targets right and left. There are still a few players in the game... read the blog to see what has been going on... and it's funny... really funny... so if you are at work don't laugh TOO loud!

Are you tough enough and brave enough to enter the competition next time? Stay tuned for a date in late May for round 2.....  if YOU can handle this EXTREME Quilting challenge.. I dare you!

http://www.deathbyquilting.com/

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Arabella's Secret Garden SeW AloNG!

A Secret Garden -  70" x 70" quilt.

The Secret Garden SeW AloNG! starts on Saturday April 11! A perfect project to start over the holiday weekend. I will do a post on Saturday giving all the details, so be sure you check it!

ps - if you want to pre-order a kit I'm taking more names. Fabric will be in after the 20th sometime, then I'll email you when the kit is ready to ship.  send me a note to pat@patsloan.com

http://patsloan.biz/asecretgardenquiltpattern.aspx

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Up Coming Trips, will I see you there?

First I'm SUPER excited to tell you that my 2010 cruise is final and it's WAY different than the others! We decided to change it up as the Port of Baltimore Maryland now has more cruises and they look so fabulous! 

We will be sailing in the summer on Royal Caribbean (such first class!). My idea is to offer a summer cruise so you could bring your WHOLE family, what cool thing for a family to do!  We are going up the coast to visit New England and Canada, which means we are seeing the Historic East coast in all it's summer glory.

A lot of people have told me they wanted to try cruising but didn't want to have to fly to Florida, so for those on the east coast you can DRIVE to port! If you are close enough you can drive to port the morning we sail. If you want to come a day early, the marvelous city of Baltimore is home to so much history. It's a wonderful place where you can walk the town, see a ball game, visit the museums, even see Baltimore Album quilts!

Cruise Dates are June 18-26 2010.
Sew Many Places is my travel agency. They have the itinerary at their website. And the BEST thing is that you can start a payment plan NOW for the trip! Call the office and they will set up a monthly payment so by the time we leave next year your vacation is paid for, it's fabulous!
http://www.sewmanyplaces.com/tours/canada_0610.html

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Apr 17-19, 2009 - Rosemont, Illinois

Group - Quilt Festival Chicago - Demo George sewing machine in APQS booth
website http://quilts.com/home/

Apr 28-29, 2009 - Glouster, Virginia

Group -  River County Quilters
website - email me pat@patsloan.com

May 13 - 17, 2009 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaia

Group - TRADE SHOW - Demo George sewing machine in APQS booth
Website - http://www.quilts.com/home/

July 24 - 26, 2009 - Long Beach, California

Group - Quilt Festival Long Beach - Demo George sewing machine in APQS booth
website http://quilts.com/home/

July 30 - Aug 2, 2009 - Hershey, Pennsylvania

Group - Quilt Odyssey (10th Anniversary show!) - Demo George sewing machine in APQS booth
website http://www.quiltodyssey.com/

So where ELSE will I be?? Check my workshop page at the website!

http://patsloan.typepad.com/quiltershome/workshops.html

PS - I'm working on my 2010 events too... send me a note if you want to get on my schedule!

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Linky Love...

I got some Linky Love this last month...Longarm quilters Matt and Bradie Sparrow featured me on their website in Canada, I'm the MARCH Calendar girl... hehe!

http://learn-2-quilt.com/

And Stitchin'Heaven in Tx just gave me a little feature love on April 9.. how cool is that!

http://blog.stitchinheaven.com/blog/

Smooches!!!

 

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Good Book Cafe

I loaded up April and May book options.... and the best part is that this month people are sharing their 'current' read lists at they yahoo group! It's fabulous as lots of new authors are being share. So come join us!

book list
http://patsloan.typepad.com/pat_sloans_corner/good-book_club.html

book club

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pat-Sloan-Good-Book-Cafe/

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Yummy!

this photo speaks for itself! Come see 2 versions of apple dumplings at my Yummy Recipe site!

http://patsloan.typepad.com/pat_sloans_corner/yummy-recipes.html

Calling all Chefs!!!!

Do you love to cook? Love to take Photos? Love to share?  Send me a recipe for the Yummy Recipe page and if I use it I will send you a little 'Fabric goodie bag'.  Send your original recipe and photos to me at pat@patsloan.com

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Season of Grace FREE BOM - Pat and Emilie Richards

--Are you doing the New FREE Block of Month with Emilie Richards and I? Season of Grace is based on her novel "Sister's Choice" and we are having a BLAST!   

This month the block is at my website... and we have a fun new thing to reveal for this BOM (oh LOVE a reveal!) so stay tuned in and be sure to be making your blocks!

And do you want Emilie to sign a copy of "Sisters Choice" for you? Many people have told me they got a copy for their guild library or to raffle at the guild.. excellent door prize and of course a signed copy makes a perfect gift! Email me at pat@patsloan.com.  I will be placing another order next week.

http://patsloan.typepad.com/quiltershome/freepatterns.html

And Emilie's site-

http://www.emilierichards.com/

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SeW AloNG! - I Believe - April Block

 

Our next block is the EASY EASY stocking block!Just look at how sweet and simple this block is!The rest of the blocks are more detailed, so work this month of April to catch up, you know you WANT it done by December. We'll finish up in Sept, then you have all of REST of Sept to set the blocks, Oct, Nov to quilt it or have it done... get crackin!

So EVERYONE make me proud this month and FINISH your monthly block AND SEND me a photo or a link to your photo... you will be in the running for a little prize... woot woot!

Need the pattern? It is a single pattern or it's in my Folksy Favorites book

Click HERE for the single Pattern - http://patsloan.biz/ibelieve.aspx

Click HERE for Folksy Favorite book - http://patsloan.biz/folksyfavoritesbypatsloan.aspx

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Thoughts and a Quote

Establishing goals is all right if you don't let them deprive you of interesting detours. - Doug Larson To be happy, it first takes being comfortable in your own shoes. The rest can work up from there. ―Sophia Bush

Ok... It's spring (well.. let's PRETEND it's spring... as I don't think waking up to 34 degrees is spring.. but I digress).

Let's try again... It's SPRING!! That mean sorting and airing out and starting fresh. It means ORGANIZING!

I've been in my studio location almost a year and well.. it needs some adjustments. I have boxes and boxes of things in the dining room that need sorted and moved to their proper home (or sold or given away).

I have loads of baskets and containers in my studio with the WRONG STUFF in the WRONG PLACE. So that needs fixed.

It's just THAT time again.  So I was chatting on facebook about this and several people really wanted to do a studio/space over haul. I have started Organization 101 write ups/discussions at my Facebook Quilt group. The best part is hearing how others handle THEIR space and storage. AND seeing the photos!  

I also posted my current studio photos and my current dining room storage (yikes!!). So come check it out, join us at facebook and rework YOUR space so it's more efficient, useful and ... well.. pretty!

Link to ME at Facebook- make me your friend
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pat-Sloan/1004154166

My facebook Quilt group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45564533357

twitter - not sure what I'm doing here but feel free to listen in!
http://twitter.com/QuilterPatSloan