Daisy Janie

giveaway winners & a question for you.

Thank you to everyone who entered Daisy Janie's giveaway last week (as part of the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day). My question for entry was whether you had purchased organic fabrics previously and why or why not. Here's what the winners said - 

#53 - Melissa, who said:
"I have not yet bought organic fabric, mainly because I have been having trouble finding places to buy it. I'd love to use it though, instead of conventional fabric!"

#495 - Holly, who said:
"Yes, I have bought organic fabrics! The more I hear about the way fabrics are made, the more I dedicate myself to buying only organic or second-hand."

To my surprise, for those who haven't purchased organic fabric before, as many of you said it was due to cost as it was due to your local quilt shop not offering organic fabrics for sale. There were a few other reasons folks offered, which, when considered in conjunction with the first 2 reasons, paints a larger picture (although the sample is not quite random enough to get unskewed data).

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Speaking up about organic fabric.
In the next few weeks, I will begin presenting some posts here to give you more food for thought on the topic of organic fabric. Why is it more expensive? What makes it organic? What's the big whoop if I'm not eating it?

What would you like to know?
If you have questions you'd like me to address, I will do my best - leave a comment or send an email (link above).

I am not an expert on all-things organic, but I read A LOT, daily, and I try to synthesize everything I read to make the most informed choices I can. Maybe it will be of some benefit to you as well!

wishing you a rosy weekend!

Late post indeed for a Friday before a 3-day weekend. Is anyone still out there?

I've had some crazy computer issues the past 2 days, where I was unable to log into my user profile. Don't know exactly what caused the issue, but Dell tech support was PHENOMENAL in getting me back where I needed to be in a timely manner - including overnighting discs to me that were critical in the fix. I was tres impressed, esp with how my tech support guy kept tabs on me so we wouldn't have to start from scratch with the case should we have been disconnected. (We were on the phone so long yesterday that he had to take a break to get a glass of water! bah!) He even said he'd call me on Tuesday of next week to make sure everything was okay before closing the incident. A tiny bit of my faith was restored in Big Fat Daddy Companies today. Tiny, I said. Tiny.

So, given all that, I will pick a winner for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day over the weekend and have something to share on Tuesday. Thanks for your understanding!

Enjoy your weekend! Remember to thank a soldier for your freedom.
xo
Jan

2 works in progress | a website and a duvet cover.

WIP #1: daisyjanie.com website
For the past month or so, I've been working here & there on updating my website, daisyjanie.com - screenshot above. Since I first created daisyjanie.com - back in 2005! - I've gone through a lot of changes, both style-based and product-based. Heck, back then, we used to walk 10 miles to school small, like-minded businesses linked to one another to maximize search engine optimization. How funny is that?! "I really like your website. Do you wanna exchange links?"

Except for a few short months in the 1st year, I have always done all of my own coding and programming for the website's html pages as well as the ecommerce shop. But just like everything with technology, there's always a better, faster way to do things from year-to-year, and daisyjanie.com became outmoded. Not necessarily from what you could see on your screen; it was primarily all the code that runs in the background that makes it GO!

I'm happy to say that I just completed Phase I of Project Website Revamp! I converted the entire daisyjanie.com website from tables, rows and columns (dinosaurs) to div tags and css. Again, it may not look different to you b/c I maintained a very similar layout, but it was a TON of work behind the scenes. TON! Made even more challenging by the fact that my copy of Dreamweaver is from 1999. [ahem] I used web developer forums for troubleshooting, and I also LOVE w3schools online web tutorials. Free, very easy to comprehend and you can try stuff out! I encourage you to try their tutorials, if you'd like to garner a better understanding of how html and css work.

Take a peek at daisyjanie.com and lemme know what you think! There is a very cool slideshow on the main page that will give you a very tactile impression of Shades of Grey in a visual format! I also made some style changes to the Daisy Janie blog to make it more consistent with the website.

Project Website Revamp, Phase II is now underway (ecommerce). If you don't see me tweeting or blogging for awhile, you'll know where I am (saaaaaavvvveeeee meeeee.....)

WIP #2: duvet cover.
In between frustrations and elations with the website revamp, I've been working on this queen-sized duvet cover. For a pattern. Yes, a real pattern! That will be for sale on the website - when Phase II is complete! p.s. is it redundant to say "duvet cover"?

For this pattern, I started with a layout / design FIRST, instead of winging a quilt as I go and taking notes I'm not able to interpret 1 month later. Not smart, Jan. Can't wait to share!

What are you working on?

May Giveaway Day | enter to win Daisy Janie organic fabric

above: bolts of Shades of Grey ~ yardage available at these fabulous retailers
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May is proving to be a lucky month for Daisy Janie fabric fans - today is the 3rd giveaway we're offering in as many weeks! This one is part of the annual Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day - check the full list of participants offering giveaways over yonder.

Let's get to it then!

This giveaway is for 1 fat quarter bundle of all 6 designs in the Shades of Grey organic fabric collection by Daisy Janie and 1 pack of Geo Grand Charm Squares.

To enter -
Leave a comment on this post as to whether you have or have not purchased organic fabrics, and why or why not. Your feedback is most appreciated!

Giveway ends on Wednesday, 5/25 at 8pm EST.

• 2 winners will be chosen by a random number generator (1 for each item)
• 1 entry per person. Dupes will be deleted.
• Open to US residents  only - sorry, not shipping International this time.
• Fabric not to be resold!
• Winners will be announced on Thursday, 5/26.

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!

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below: Geo Grand Charm Squares ~ available here

a few quilts featured at the American Folk Art Museum.

my sister Linda and me at Lincoln Center. (who's younger?)

Earlier this week, I joined my sister and her MIL and SIL for a trip to NYC to enjoy a taping of The View. Even though I don't watch the show, I always love spending time with my sister and tooling around NYC! The show was pretty great. Daniel Radcliffe (hellooooo Harry Potter!) and John Laroquette were guests, the audience warm-up comedian who taught us how to clap and revved us up btw takes was hilarious (check out The Tom Kelly Show), plus we each rec'd $700 in gifts - (which is where those crazy zebra bags came from in the pic above). But, the highlight of the day for me was ending up on Columbus Ave and stumbling upon the American Folk Art Museum.

Celebrating the year of the quilt, the museum had a bunch of exhibitions going on. The one we viewed was Super Stars, which "highlights the dazzling diversity of this variable pattern in more than one hundred years of quilt artistry." I was fixated on the one below, only to find out that it was from Berks County PA - where I live! How cool!

Above: Examining every handstitched stitch. Can I get any closer? I did NOT know Linda was getting me in these pics. Caught in the act!

I look at quilts like I view any art on a wall: I get a big picture, then I get up as close to it as I possibly can to see every detailed stroke or stitch, then back away slowly.... slowly....slowly to see how all those strokes and stitches become the piece from a distance. Seeing how the elements make-up the whole. I blur my eyes and refocus them to see what comes into clarity first. Art is just amazing!!! I marvel at all of it!!

My sis was taking pics with her phone - sorry for the blur! These two are silks and velvets with incredible embroidery. Gah!

The 9/11 National Tribute Quilt. 30 feet wide. 3466 squares. With a name on every square. Very hard to look at, and even harder to look away.  

We ended the day here, at Magnolia Bakery. myohmyohmy. If I could open a new business tomorrow, this would be it. Charm, charm, charm, yum, yum, yum.

fat quarter bundle winner & where to find next giveaway!

As I'm typing this, my neighbors are having some landscaping redone. The Rose of Sharon and tall hemlock that creates a semi-solid background on my 'gated' pictures (as seen above) are now mostly gone. Poo! Must look around the yard for other sneaky spots! This quilt is the Greydations quilt published in Quilter's World in April.

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On to the winner!
And it was #89, Debbie, who said:
"I would definitely use them in a quilt, most likely all together. I'd like to try a monochromatic quilt with a 'pop' of color. Love these fabrics!"

Thanks, Debbie, and all who entered with such fabuloso ideas!!

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If you'd like other opportunities to win some Shades of Grey fabrics, here are 2 other giveaways:

1. Two Peas in a Pod - ends Sunday, 5/22. I answered a Q & A for Miss Trish over there!
2. Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day - starts Monday, 5/23. I'll be hosting another giveaway for this yearly event.

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Thanks to Kim at True Up and Melanie at A Sewing Journal for writing about my latest organic fabric collection ~ Tilly ~ on their blogs already! Those ladies are faaaaast.

I didn't mean to make anyone cry with my post about my mom and Tilly on Friday, but I sure rec'd a lot of emails from women in tears! I knew you'd be able to relate in all the most sweet & sentimental ways! Love you guys!

new organic fabric collection from Daisy Janie | Tilly.

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by to take a look at Daisy Janie's newest collection, Tilly! See more detail of Tilly on the Daisy Janie website.

Retailers: Please email your interest - pre-ordering will be set-up next week.

About Tilly
This collection is very personal for me, and I feel compelled to make a semi-conversational introduction, "Everyone, please meet Tilly. Tilly, please meet everyone." Let me tell you a little bit about her: Tilly is not a shy damsel by any means; she certainly won't shirk out of the spotlight if offered, but she'll be cool & confident in the background if that's where you need her. She is a sophisticated high-flyer with an endearing playful side. She exudes charm and is quite a colorful character, yet she takes on a quiet, warm comfort when her surroundings call for it. Influences came from childhood memories of roses growing on a trellis (where I would make mudpies), a bed of mums planted for my first 4-H project and the comfort of a sofa with the coolest (1970s) flowers quilted into the upholstery. Simple as that! Hope you like it!

Details
Available in October 2011, this group of 8 fabrics in 2 colorways (dawn and dusk) represents a *new* quilters' basic base cloth for Daisy Janie's organic fabric collections - and, (squeee!), an MSRP of $14.50/yard...a cost savings of $2.00/yard! Being able to bring you a lower pricepoint on my organic cotton fabrics is something I'm very excited and proud of, especially as conventional cotton has skyrocketed and all cotton goods are trending upward everday.

What's the difference?
The quality of this new quilters' basic cloth will be as fantastic as ever - soft, supple and ready for so many projects. A slightly lighter yarn to match what you already love about your favorite quilters' cotton fabrics!

What's the same?
All Daisy Janie's organic fabrics will always be high quality, 100% GOTS-certified from planted seed to packaged bolt. That means the fiber, fabric, printing & packaging are ALL GOTS certified. Daisy Janie will always go the full 9 yards to bring to market an organic fabric that is as eco-friendly and non-toxic as possible.

Inspiration
This collection was inspired by and is dedicated to my mom, Mary Ann (aka Mumsy). From an early age, she showed me by example just how wonderful the world of making and creating can be! I remember padding along behind her in fabric stores (she might have been shopping for applique fabric as seen here in my 3rd grade picture); or going along with her to cake decorating and ceramics classes; or going to orchards to pick fruit to can and freeze. She did it all, and I was along for the ride with every little bit of DIY she undertook seeping into my soul. To say she has influenced my career choice would be putting it mildly. I am very lucky to have been by her side all those years; the always-be-willing-to-experiment, invincible & hard-working spirit she instilled in me is my greatest asset.

These days, she is very much the 'wind beneath my wings'. She listens, cheers me on, dusts off my knees, helps me see things from a different perspective - she's even been known to pack fabric in boxes! 

In the spirit of her unwavering support, I created this collection Tilly. Tilly was a kite that my brothers had before I was even born. They wanted to see how high they could get it to fly, and they needed tails for support and balance on a crazy windy day. My mom found as many fabric scraps as she could, and they carefully tied them onto the string. As they coaxed the kite slowly into the air, my mom cheered the kite on, "C'mon Tilly! You can do it, Tilly! Go, Tilly, go!" The story of how high that kite sailed is legendary in my house; it was just a speck in the sky. Sometimes all it takes is a little support & some kind words to get you on your way!

Thanks, Mumsy, for demonstrating your passion all these years and for your loving encouragement each and every day!

giveaway alert | fat quarter bundle of Shades of Grey.

It's about time I offered up some Shades of Grey fabrics! Hooha! These pretty Greybies (grey + babies = ...) would like to be shipped off to someone who will love them up and make something marvelous with them. They told me they're not shelf-sitters - they want to be put into action!

This giveaway is for 1 fat quarter bundle of all 6 designs in the Shades of Grey organic fabric collection by Daisy Janie.

To enter -
Leave a comment on this post with a project idea for these fabrics. Would you use them together, individually, mix them with other fabrics or not? Stuff like that! Share as much or as little as you like. Knowing what you might do with them helps me get to know you better, and what kinds of things you're really making as opposed to what I imagine folks are making. Gives me some perspective!

Giveway ends on Sunday, 5/15 at 8pm EST. Thank you for entering!

• 1 winner will be chosen by a random number generator.
• 1 entry per person.
• Fabric not to be resold!
• Winner will be announced on Monday, 5/16, when I will also share when & where the next giveway will be!

quilt block project, video post part II.

Thank you for your patience in waiting for this follow-up to the first part of this project post, as well as your interest. I had quite a few emails the past couple months inquiring about it - muchly appreciated!! (If you get through all 4 mins of the video post, I double thank you!! Ha! Not heading off to Hollywood anytime soon - I think I'll stick to fabric design!)

Details of Project:

• Two charm square sets, cut from Daisy Janie's Geo Grand fabrics, will be divided amongst 10 volunteers who would like to make a quilt block.
• Each person will receive eight 5" squares and create a single quilt block.
• Any style and size of your finished block is great!
• You may use white fabric with your Geo Grand squares to complete your block.
• All the blocks will be pieced together with a white sash and made into a completed quilt.

What will happen to the quilt?

• The quilt will be donated to Project Linus, a non-profit organization which accepts new blankets and quilts for children who are seriously ill or traumatized and need the kind of comfort, warmth and love a blanket can provide. They've given almost 4 million blankets to children to date!

Why are you doing this?

• First, I am so appreciative of your support for Daisy Janie's organic fabrics, the fact that you pop into my blog regularly and all the incredible comments you leave. This is a more tangible way of reaching out to you and finding a way we can work together on a warm-fuzzy project - that doesn't put any of us out too much in terms of time or money. I know you all have such big hearts!
• Secondly, I know there are a lot of talented quilters out there, and I get a lot of my inspiration from what you create!! I am anxious to see what you'll come up with and just what can be done with these charm packs (how far do they really go anyway...).

Showcasing you and me.

• I'd like to showcase not only what my fabrics look like with your creative hand to guide them but also what YOU can do with 8 squares of modern fabric.
• Ideally, I would love to work with quilters who have a blog where they can post a tutorial and/or images of their individual block. Edited to add: A blog is not necessary to participate. If you have one and post your block, I will be happy to share on my blog.
• Once all the blocks are sent back, I will create a post here, linking to and acknowledging everyone who created a block for this project - sharing your work with my readers and letting them be as inspired as I am!

How can I put my name in the hat?

• Leave a comment between now and next Wednesday at 3pm.
• Tell me why you'd like to participate, if you're an experienced or newbie quilter (all are welcome!) and if you have a blog (links are great).
• I will review the submissions and most likely draw random names.
• Fabric squares will be sent out at the end of next week, and blocks will need to be returned by June 15th.

Thank you again! I hope this works!!!!!

Charm Square sets are available at Contemporary Cloth and on the Daisy Janie website.

here's what's coming up.

International Quilt Market is coming up later this week, and after a long deliberation about whether or not to exhibit, I opted to utilize Daisy Janie's resources in other ways this season. Since most of you reading wouldn't have been attending anyway, I thought we could have some fun here instead! How about it?! Here's what I have planned:

• Wednesday, 5/11: Follow-up video to the quilt block project from earlier this year. I'll be asking some of you to participate in a block-sewing bee of sorts. 
• Thursday, 5/12: Shades of Grey fat quarter giveaway! (There will be others coming up on other blogs in the next few weeks, too.)
• Friday, 5/13: Preview of my next collection: Tilly!! I am beyond excited about this next group, and I can't wait to share!

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If you ask me, the freshly washed and neatly folded stacks of fabric that hold the promise of a lovingly handmade item are as exhilarating to see as the finished project itself.

And once I start cutting, those soft, fluffy nubbin selvages are practically irresistable! If I'm on the phone, I'll stand there playing with them the entire time: pick 'em up, let 'em drop, pick 'em up, let 'em drop.. roll 'em, fold 'em... you get the idea! (Please tell me I'm not alone.)