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Sea Dreams

Before I jump into the newsletter I want to apologize for it being 3 days late. When you live in a rural area your internet options are few and you are periodically without. That's what happened this week. Of course it doesn't hurt any of us to take an occasional internet break! I got wallpaper removed in a bathroom while I was away from the computer so it wasn't lost time unless you factor in that I made the stupid decision to hang the wallpaper in the first place 16 years ago.

I am back now and jumping into projects for the New Year. Sea Dreams, shown at right, is one of the last projects that I finished in 2014. It was a great way to end the year.

Shop News!

Here's what didn't happen this week while I was away from the internet.....I didn't get the new fabrics uploaded! Check the shop next week. There will be new shibori!

This sweatshirt was one of my fun dyeing projects for December. It's a sweatshirt that I dyed for my niece and she loved it!

What's Going On

The big news for the month are the new link up that I have set up for 2015. Check out these on the blog. I hope one of them will fit something you have as a goal for 2015!

<div align="center"><a href="http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/big-dream-project/" title="Big Dream Project"><img src="http://www.typepad.com/services/asset/6a00d8341c1b7353ef01b7c729f81d970b-200pi" alt="Big Dream Project" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

The Big Dream project is all about finally jumping in to make that project that you want to do "some day". That day is now! We are going to take that project and break it into little steps so that it's not so daunting. Posts will start next week.

<div align="center"><a href="http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/working-in-a-series/" title="Working In A Series"><img src="http://www.typepad.com/services/asset/6a00d8341c1b7353ef01b7c729eb22970b-200pi" alt="Working In A Series" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Here's the first link up post for Working In a Series. You define your own series and we will use the link up to encourage each other through the year.

<div align="center"><a href="http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/ufo-busting-2015/" title="UFO Busting 2015"><img src="http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/photos/miscellanous/ufo-busting.jpg" alt="UFO Busting 2015" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Here's the first link up post for UFO Busting.

Tip - Dealing with UFO's

In the first UFO link up I shared some tips for analyzing your stash of UFO projects. I'm not going to repeat it all here but you can read the whole post on the blog. I do want to repeat the most important message:

I know it's hard to get rid of a "perfectly good project" but remember that we quilt to make ourselves happy. Maybe buying the fabric made you happy but the project hasn't. Maybe the project was for a class and you learned the technique but found out it's not quite your thing. Don't let it hang over you any more. Give yourself permission to simply get rid of all of the UFOs that don't make you happy anymore! Throw it away if that's the only option. Clearing it out will be a very freeing gesture to creative self.

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!

This month's featured customer quilt is a real treat for me because it's in "my" colors. I love warm reds, oranges and yellows and I love this quilt.

Wanda Hansen blogs from Illinois at Exuberant Color. I have been following Wanda's blog for several years and have learned so much from her. She has totally mastered the use of value in designing her quilts. If you do not follow her yet, I highly recommend her blog as a daily read.

Wanda wins the 25% 3-month discount. Be 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:

smukke13@_____.com

sstone002@_____.rr.com

fearlenehimes@_____.net

edwardspolly5@_____.com

ldtreetop@_____.com

Inspiration

All of us in the US and Canada are enjoying some true winter weather this week. I thought we needed an antidote and found it in Flowerwork by photographer Sarah Illenberger. Flowerwork is a beautiful series of photographs of flowers arranged on a black background to look like fireworks. She also has a fun photographic kaleidoscope that you cam play with.
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