FAQ Friday

Welcome to FAQ Friday.  This is where you will find answers to questions concerning my projects, patterns, and other things you may wonder about.    You can ask questions in the comment box or email them to me and I will select random topics each week to reply to here.  If you want a link back to your website or blog just ask.  I'll try and let you know if your question has been selected earlier in the week, or just check back here Friday for the answers if you're shy (tee hee) and don't want to post an email address.  Before asking a question, check here first to see if it's already been addressed. OK, that's it!  Here are this week's picks: 

Q.  I love your mini quilts. When in the process do you do the embroidery? On the muslin before the square is cut? After the top is pieced? Or does it matter? You've inspired me.  Linda N.

A.  Thank you Linda!  I tend to do things off the cuff as I'm going along, but I think the best advice is to do the embroidery first.  Make sure you stamp or draw your design on a piece of cloth that is larger than your embroidery hoop so it can be stretched taught as you work.   Press it from behind to remove any wrinkles, and don't forget to include a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around before cutting it to the desired size. 

Q.  Do you sell the items on your website or patterns to make them?  I am interested in purchasing the Mixed Bag, and several other items I saw. Thanks, Melonie.

A.  Hi Melonie, I used to make and sell things on my sister website, scrap.happy, but I found that managing another site on top of my PatternBee biz, took more time than I had to devote to it properly.  For now, the few items I still make can be found in the Etsy shop I share with my daughter Grace.  The bags and other items I've shown on my blog were made without patterns, (unless noted) and at this time, I have no plans to design and sell patterns for them.

Q.  I have really enjoyed reading all your posts & looking at your photos! Such colorful creativity! So many great links too. I'm curious about the swaps you do, how do you find out about them - do you use swapbot at all? Thanks so much. Smiles, DianeM :)

A.  Thank you Diane, I'm happy you're enjoying my little corner of crafty blogland!  Swaps are fun but totally random with me. I've never used swapbot, or join groups anymore.  I've had to find a balance by setting priorities and time limits for certain things, and tend to connect with blog pals individually if there's a shared interest in something.

I can't beleive this week is drawing to a close already, it seemed to go by too fast, but I think I got most of the things done that I wanted to do.  Poor Miss Ginger woke up with a sore throat first thing Monday morning, thwarting our field-trip plans to visit the OG.  By Wednesday though, she was feeling better and we were able to hook up with friends a couple times this week.  My gal-pal Missy, (who sells this wonderful fiber-wrapped felted handmade soap), has a very cute  'new addition'  to her family.  One of her alpaca's had a baby (called a "cria") ten days ago, and we saw it for the first time yesterday.  I forgot my camera, but I couldn't get a better picture than the one she sent me of little Neopolitan here, napping with his face to the sun.   She had a few baby chicks hatch out too, they were so cute.   Talking and thinking about all this reminds me that the new PatternBee "Signs of Spring" bonus transfer, is up on the website now, inspired by all the hatchlings and early flowers.  I'm looking forward to a little garden action this weekend.  We're all set for an afternoon delivery of top soil today.  Can't wait to dig in the dirt now!  (It takes so little to entertain me sometimes.)