Sewing with Oilcloth Blog Tour Day 3!!

Happy Sewing with Oilcloth Blog Tour Day 3 to you all! We've needed to switch things up a little this week. I'll be filling in for Sew Mama Sew today, while they await their copies of the book. (Silly shipping company!!)

In a perfect world an 80 year old tree won’t have dropped on my home on Saturday, I would have internet, and this post would have already been up this morning. I am sorry for the delay, I hate making you all wait.

Today, I wanted to share a few things I did to keep organized and on schedule while I wrote this book. (Of course we can't for get the giveaway! See below for the details.)

MY MOOD BOARD

I used this louvered door in my studio as my Sewing with Oilcloth mood board for months. It helped me keep track of which projects I had finished and which ones needed doing. It also helped me create a balance with fabrics prints and colors. I wanted this book to be a very pretty book with lots of bright and interesting colors.

As I look at it now I see that a few samples changed in the end. One reason for the changes was the editing process. I had the pleasure of working with a great team of editors at Wiley. Some of the these talented ladies tweaked my copy and some the patterns themselves. We also had a team of testers give some of the patterns a go, and we then made any necessary changes.

A few projects changed fabrics because we received new prints in. I wanted to show you all the latest and greatest designer laminates and my new favorite oilcloth in the book. I know how easy it is to fall in love with a fabric, and you will be able to come to the Oilcloth Addict shop and buy exactly what you saw in the book.

MY TRUSTY FILE SUITCASE!

If you were to see me in a coffee shop, library or book store between November 2010 and April 2011, you would have seen me with my trusty Mac Book Pro and this file folder. Within the folders I kept copies of swatches, patterns and print outs for each project.

I also kept any photos that inspired that particular project. Sometimes it was a magazine layout with a great color combination, or a cool hand bag with a great flap. You never know where you’ll find inspiration. It’s fun to take a bit of this and bit of that to create something fresh and new.

I hope you all enjoyed this silly little peak behind the scenes.

Now let’s talk giveaway! I would love to give you a free copy of my book and some free fabric!!! The book is filled with projects for all three of the following fabrics. Please leave a comment and let me know if you want 2 yards of oilcloth, 2 yards of laminated cotton, or 2 yards of chalk cloth.

Happy Sewing,
Kelly

We're still here...

As you all know, Hurricane Irene was a mighty storm that raged her way up the East Coast. On her way out of Richmond, she decided to drop a tree on our home and the Oilcloth Addict/Modern June studio. My family and I are totally and completely fine! Totally numb on Sunday, and filled with anxiety and tears on Monday. This morning finds me hopeful one minute and filled with butterflies the next.

Cute boys on the studio roof!

Thanks to the big burly men at Altman Contracting, LLC. we are feeling much better! They worked a full 12 hour day getting the tree off our house and then covered it with a big tarp (in the dark) so last nights shower wouldn't do more damage to our ailing roof and attic.

Thankfully the tree didn't come through the studio roof, and that the trees root ball didn't damage the shed where we store most of our material. What a relief!

Soo... What's next? I guess we go back to work today, thanks to Kathie!! I'm kind of a mess but she'll come in and cut and wrap up your orders. She'll have to take them to her house to print shipping labels until our internet services are back. This should only cause a slight delay for you all.

I hope my fellow East Coast peeps are all well and have power ASAP!

xoxox,
Kelly

Sewing with Oilcloth Blog Tour

Well the time has come. It's time to share my book with you all! I've gathered up some of the best bloggers in the country and asked them to us what they think of the book! The Sewing with Oilcloth Blog Tour starts on Monday.

The party has already started over at Wiley Crafts, where they're taking entries now for a free book and enough fabric to make the book's Farmer's Market Tote. (Free pattern available at Amazon)

Monday, August 29: Wiley Craft
Tuesday, August 30: Crafty Pod
Wednesday, August 31: Sew Mama, Sew
Thursday, September 1: MADE
Friday, September 2: Craft

Monday, September 5: True Up and Craft Gossip
Tuesday, September 6: Oilcloth International
Wednesday, September 7: Average Jane Craft
Thursday, September 8: Prudent Baby
Friday, September 9: Craft Sanity

I am so excited to see what you all think!! If you are in Richmond this weekend and Irene doesn't hit you hard, I hope to see you at Feathernesters for the Book Release Party.

Book Release Party!!

The time has finally come!! A time to celebrate the release of my pretty little sewing book, Sewing with Oilcloth. 

When: Sunday, August 28, 3:00 PM

Where: Feathernesters 6118 Lakeside Ave.
Richmond, VA 23228 

I would like to thank you all for your support by having little party at Feathernesters. Marc and Tony will be serving fancy cupcakes and punch, so please come to see all the projects from the book. There will be books for sale in case you haven't pre-ordered your copy.

I am just so tickled about this, please come and help me celebrate.

New Laminated Cottons!!

We are happy to have 4 new prints on the way!! Aren't they going to be great for fall? They should be here by the end of the month, I'll be sure to post links once the arrive.

Sewing with Oilcloth Arrives!

Let me tell you about my day. I got an message from Meghan, the photographer for Sewing with Oilcloth saying that she got a copy of our book. Totally exciting!!! Her kids are squealing with glee because they are there on the pages of a book. Tee hee!!! I love that. So I knew that the books were in Richmond!

So, I spent the rest of the afternoon waiting for Mr. UPS. I swept the porch, I watered all the plants, and I paced the sidewalks. Finally, around 2:30 I heard his big truck pull around the corner. I could have died when he stopped off at a neighbor's house first. Not today? Then he waves to me and gets back in the truck. Definitely not today!!! But he moves up two whole spaces and gives me my boxes. Really? You just had to move the truck 15 feet? Are you messing with me or what?

Mr UPS is thinking, "What could be so important that you have to take my photo?" He was happier for me (with me) once he knew what was inside the boxes!! Yay!!!

I am surprised I didn't cut myself I was shacking as I opened up the box!!!

OMG!!!

I made it for you, I hope you like it!!!

I didn't get just one book, I got a bunch of them!!!

The back was a surprise! Last time I saw the back cover it didn't have a photo. I love it!

Look Mom, it's my name!!!

The wonderful people at Wiley helped make these pretty illustrations and finessed my words so you can make all my projects with ease. They rock!!

Meghan McSweeney took some really lovely photos for you! Aren't they lovely?

I am proud to share my little book trailer with you all. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy a peak at just a few of the projects Sewing with Oilcloth has to offer. The trailer was great fun to make, a real family project. I really hope you all enjoy it!!

The book comes out later this month. If you haven't bought your copy yet, head on over to your favorite bookseller today. Pre-orders are due to ship in just 2 weeks!!!

Amazon

Books-A-Million 

Barnes & Noble 

Indie Bound 

Wiley 

Head over to my Modern June blog for a behind the scene look at making the trailer.

Sewing with Oilcloth Book Tour

My little Sewing with Oilcloth blog tour is starting to come together!!! I am so happy to share a few dates with you, we'll be adding in dates soon. If you know somewhere I should come please let me know, I'll do my best!!!


August:
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011 3:00-5:00 Book Release Party and Signing at Feathernesters in Richmond, VA
Details coming soon!!!

September:
Thursday, September 15 - 5 to 7 - "Meet&Greet with Crafty Author Kelly McCants!" at Sew to Speak in Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, September 17 - 11:00 Country Living Fair Columbus, OhioPresentation on the Main Stage.
Saturday, September 17 - 12:00 Country Living Fair Ohio, Book Signing at Town Hall.
Daily craft demos at our Modern June booth!!!

October:
Saturday October 22nd -- Country Living Fair Atlanta, presentation Time is TBA
Saturday October 22nd -- CLF ATL, book signing Time is TBA
Daily demos at our Modern June booth!!!
October 27-30 Quilt Market, Book Signings Times TBA

Great Idea... Laminated Cotton Art Smock

Photo Credit Sweeter than Sweet

Check out this great art smock that Tricia, Sweeter than Sweet, made for her little cutie! She used the Prudent Baby Art Smock tutorial, it only takes 1/2 yard of laminated cotton and a couple of packages of bias. She used her extra cotton laminate to make a little art mat. What a good mamma!

What a total cutie!!

By the way, there's a fun little art smock in my new book, Sewing with Oilcloth. It's only two more weeks till it's on the shelves. Yay!!