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Yeah, it's October and it's only 2 more days until my new Innova longarm arrives. Getting ready for a new longarm has set off a flurry of organizing and purging. This past weekend I pulled out the Go! Cutter and cut up 8 charity quilt kits from my stash. Those kits will go to my Mom and some friends to make very fast quilts and it feels good to have 30+ yards of fabric out of my stash.

I've also decided to sell my Singer Featherweight sewing machine. I bought it a few years ago, cleaned it up, changed the belt and replaced the power cord. It sews like a dream. I just don't use it like I thought I would. If you know anyone who has been looking for a good Featherweight you can check out this Centennial model on eBay.

I have so much news this month so I want to jump right in.

Fall Activities!

<div align="center"><a href="http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/cross-the-drunkards-path-quilt-along/" title="Cross the Drunkard’s Path Quilt Along"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15207024787_3e6fc963c5_m.jpg" alt="Cross the Drunkard’s Path Quilt Along" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Ever since doing the HSTeria Quilt Along this past summer I've been pondering making a Drunkard's Path quilt. I got the opportunity a few weeks ago when I was asked to make a small quilt for a sample for Paula Nadelstern's new line of fabric. I loved making the blocks so much that I wanted to make more.

The Cross Drunkard's Path Quilt Along was born! Join in at any time, make any project you want. Get all of the details here.

<div align="center"><a href="http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/contests/" title="Fall Festival Giveaway"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15206791439_8d73c79e19_m.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="vicki welsh giveaway" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

What's better than 6 days of hand dyed fabric giveaways? Multiple blogs having giveaways! Read all about the Fall Festival Giveaway here and visit the blog every day October 13 - 18 to enter. Link up your own giveaway (or giveaways on the October 13 post).

Black Gradient

Navajo Gradient

Rolling Fog

Black Shades

Shop News!

The big news this month is that BLACK IS BACK! Dharma Trading discontinued the very best back dye mix last year. No other black mix worked for me so I've been working for over a year to develop a new Black. I finally have it and it's in the shop. I've also restocked 2 of my favorite gradient to coordinate with Black. Here are the links to all of them:

Black Gradient
Navajo Gradient
Rolling Fog Gradient
Black Shades Pack

Adriatic

Prismatic Spring

New Growth

Don't like the dark colors? How about something bright! Introducing the newest Gradient called Prismatic Spring with 2 coordinating Shades Packs: Adriatic (blue) and New Growth (green).

I'm on Facebook!

Actually I've had a Facebook account for a long time but I didn't use it. Now I have a Facebook page for my business. If you've been a Facebook friend on my personal page you will likely find yourself unfriended. Please don't take it personally, I'm moving all of my creative talk to my Facebook Page so I can use my personal page for communication with my family and friends. I hope you will visit me on my new page!

Stash Management Tip

Here's my tip: MOVE IT OUT.

I love collecting fabric and I love having fabric to choose from when I want to start a project. I do not like being overwhelmed by my fabric and that's the state I've been in recently. It really stifles creativity.

I mostly use my hand dyed fabrics now so my commercial fabric stash is just taking up space. Maybe you mostly sew with batiks now and your repro collection is neglected. Whatever, we all have fabric that we don't love as much as we used to.

It's OK! But don't hang on to the fabric thinking about the money that went into it. That fabric can be loved and can be used now.....by someone else.

For me the answer was to pull out the Go! Cutter and cut up 8 easy charity quilt kits. You don't even need a die cutter. Just cut stacks of rectangles and squares. Some people love to sew but hate to cut. They will be thrilled to have your kits.
I moved out over 30 yards of fabric and I now have space to store my expanding collection of hand dyed fabrics. The best part is that once these kits are sewn up I can make more!

Clear out your tired fabrics (or other craft supplies), give them to someone who will use them now and give yourself space to grow creatively.

Customer Gallery

Have you made anything from fabrics that you have purchased from me? If so, you have an opportunity to win your own personal 25% discount code on non-sale items for shopping in my shop! I have a Flickr group for customers to share photos of completed projects made with my fabrics. You are welcome to share any projects in process as well but only completed projects are entered into the drawing. Each month I draw a winner from the entries for that month. The winner receives a personal 90-day 25% discount for shop purchases.The winner will be announced here in the newsletter each month. You can see all of the customer projects in the Flickr Group. All other entries for the month will receive a 30-day 15% discount!

I have 2 great projects to share this month!

This beautiful autumnal wall hanging was made by Ronda Eckenrode of Elizabeth City, NC. She made the pumpkins on this wall hanging with the Wildfire Shades pack. Rhonda wins a 25% shop discount that is good for 3 months!

Edythe Putz of Grass Valley, CA made this beautiful wall hanging with the Sultry Moon kit. Edythe wins a 15% shop discount good for one month!
aBe sure to check out the other great projects submitted by customers and add yours for a chance to win the discount next month.

I'm Sponsoring

Check out these projects that I'm sponsoring this year.

Fat Quarter Drawing

Each month I draw the email names of 5 current newsletter subscribers and post them here. As a subscriber you are automatically entered. If your email name is listed below Email me with your name and address and I will send you a free fat quarter of hand dyed fabric. I will not be sending any notification beyond this so if you miss it you miss the free fabric. You also must contact me from the listed email address.

The winners of this month's free fat quarters are:

jemostek@_____.com

sarcasticquilter@_____.com

rosyquilter@_____.com

johannegibson@_____.net

bdair@_____.rr.com

Inspiration

Today I have some awesome eye candy. Most of us have learned how to do free-motion embroidery using Solvy or some other dissolvable foundation. Australian artist Meredith Woolnough has taken that skill to a new level with her nature study embroideries. She even has a video on her profile page showing exactly how she makes them. Grab a tasty beverage and relax while you check out her gallery.

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