More newbies!

We already told you about our new kit "A Little Beach" in the last post. Evidently, a lot of you are in the mood for A Little Beach because they're floating outta here! My awesome part-time helper, Carmen, is making them every time she comes in.

Here are the rest of the new goodies we shipped to needlework shops last week. As always, if your favorite shop doesn't have these in stock, please ask them to order for you.

#163 Be Who You Are 

This is a super saying from our friend, Dr. Seuss. It's a pretty large piece, but a really quick stitch. I stitched the model in a couple evenings...and that's with some taking stitches out/returning to computer to change design/redoing sections. And that's why I stitch all of my own original models...designing still occurs during the stitching process!

F140 Autumn, F141 Winter 4 Seasons Flip-it

The Autumn and Winter parts of the 4 Seasons Flip-it series are now available, so that completes the 4 part group. These designs are unusually large for Flip-its, so they're a good value with lots of fun motifs and colorful stitching for each season.

A cool option is to stitch all 4 Seasons together. Just visit our website to get the template, FREE border and complete instructions for combining all 4 parts...super easy and a great year-round project.

http://www.lizziekate.com/2014-4Seasons4uphollow-Instructions.pdf

B47 If We Pray Inspiration Boxer

The final newbie is another Inspiration Boxer with a wonderful saying from Mother Theresa. I have done several of her sayings in this series, and they continue to inspire me. Boxer includes 30 ct. natural line, bonus project "Sow kindness" and embellishments for both projects.

Here's a little Friday bonus...just to see if anyone is still reading! We're building a house...very SLOWLY...but after 3+ months of looking at dirt and a porta potty, we now have some lower level walls and floor.

Pretty exciting stuff! We've never built a house before, so I guess now's the time to learn. We're working with a wonderful, flexible builder and so far, so good. Will keep you posted in pics as we progress. If anyone of you have home-building wisdom to share with us, we'll gladly take it.

Happy Weekend, everyone!

When do you need "A Little Beach"

When? Maybe NOW.... after a long, cold, dreary winter like this one!

OK...so we can't magically transport you to a sandy, warm beach (sure wish we could!) But we can offer some cozy beach-y images in stitches - swim suits optional!

We just shipped some new goodies to shops last week, and this kit is already getting lots of re-orders. Even here in land-locked Kansas, the very idea of a beach warms my heart...and my toes.

A Little Beach kit includes 30 ct. natural (sandy-lookin') linen, chart, antique gold starfish charm and some really pretty "Bahama blue" aqua beads.

This kit is a companion to the other Little kits...A Little Love, A Little Easter (still time for this one before the bunny arrives), A Little Liberty, A Little Christmas and A Little Snow. Check them all out at www.lizziekate.com.

Since I don't have easy access to a nearby beach, I'm trying to remember some beaches I have visited, and maybe choose a favorite. I've been to beaches in the US and outside the US, but probably my favorite beach-y experience was visiting the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Stunning!

And while I'm thinking of Mykonos (hey, my mind is wandering), I recall one of my favorite beach-y scenes in the Bourne Identity movie. My husband and I love the Bourne trilogy of movies, so I gave him the set a couple years ago.

For you Jason Bourne fans...is it Matt Damon, or just the non-stop adventure that makes us watch these again and again? Do you remember the final scene in the Bourne Identity...when Matt miraculously survives his numerous adventures and he returns to surprise his girlfriend Marie at a beach bike shop? Yup, that scene was shot in Mykonos, in the Little Venice area pictured above. 

It's a great romantic end to the movie, and that's how I like my movies to end. Never mind that Marie is shot by an assassin early in the 2nd Bourne movie. OOPS - spoiler!

Want to share your favorite beach/beachy experience? Leave a comment below!

Or maybe you share my affection for Matt Damon and those adrenaline-packed Bourne movies. Leave a comment below!

CONTEST WINNERS!

A week and almost a thousand votes later, we have our winners in the first ever Lizzie*Kate Inspiration Sayings contest!

First, many thanks to all of you for submitting your favorite sayings...then, taking time to read and vote for your favorites from the Top 10. We appreciate you all!

Truly, I wouldn't have guessed correctly which sayings would be the most popular in this group, so it was great to have some help. In fact, some of my favorites were at the bottom of the pack (not that there's anything wrong with that!). Time for me to get to work on the Inspiration designs!

THE WINNERS!

* Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. Dr. Seuss

Submitted first by Khristine

* I cannot count my day complete 'til needle, thread and fabric meet. Anonymous

Submitted first by Missy

* No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop's Fables

Submitted first by Carolyn

We have notified the winners by email. We'll mail prizes to these winners, as well as the other Top 10 (whoever submitted them first) as outlined in the earlier contest blog post. 

It's been fun to have your input, and so great to have a LONG list of sayings that inspire you all. They may pop up on future L*K projects.

One saying that was submitted was already on a new (finished) project on my desk, and it will be released in May - great minds think alike! Now it's time for me to work on designs for these winning phrases.

Here's the newest Inspiration Boxer that we shipped to shops earlier this week. This is a lovely saying from Mother Theresa, and I think it really embodies her life and ministry...and a challenge to the rest of us!

Have a great Inspirational weekend!

BLOG CONTEST - Time to Vote!

OH MY GOODNESS!

We were completely overwhelmed by the amazing sayings you all submitted for future Inspiration Boxers! There were so many good and inspiring choices, it was REALLY hard to choose some favorites. Alan and I read submissions over and over until our eyes blurred, so we asked a few friends for help. We combined our fave lists, and their lists, and more lists, and looked at how many times sayings were submitted, and finally narrowed the list to ten.

We already have files of sayings on lots of different topics. It was encouraging to see many sayings that were already on our "future" list. Some of the submitted ideas already appear on L*K Inspiration Boxers and other designs, so that's affirming, too.  It's hard to keep track of all L*K designs, even for us!

MANY THANKS to all of you for submitting your own favorite sayings! We know many of these sayings are special to you for personal reasons, and we appreciate you sharing them with us.

Just because your sayings may not have been selected for the final doesn't mean 1) that we don't love them! 2) that they aren't awesome, special sayings and finally, 3) they may appear on future L*K designs, just not this group of 3 Inspiration Boxers. As we said, many of the sayings were already on our "future" idea list.

With further ado...here's the list! BTW...the first person who submitted a particular saying will receive the prize.

To vote, just click on the survey below. You can vote for your top 3 choices.

Voting will begin today and conclude on Wednesday, March 26 at 11:59PM Central Time. Please, one vote per email address only. Winners will be announced on Friday, March 28 on this blog.

Thanks for helping (and submitting cool sayings!) and voting!

Part 1 Inspiration Contest is CLOSED!

Part 1 is DONE!  The deadline for submission was midnight yesterday, so this portion of the contest is finished. No more saying submissions will be accepted.

Now the real fun/work begins! We'll spend a few days sorting through the HUNDREDS of wonderful suggestions you all sent us. Decisions, decisions...this is going to be tough!

As soon as we select our Top 10 favorites, we'll post them and the voting period will begin. Stay tuned!!!

Meanwhile, back at L*K headquarters, wanted to share with you the lovely SPRING that is happening inside!  

A couple weeks ago I received a mysterious BIG package in the mail. After lots of unwrapping, bubble wrap and styrofoam popcorn, I uncovered a wooden bowl full of potted flower bulbs. Included were instructions on how to water the box and get things growing.

I have a really sunny office window (translation: sometimes cooks unsuspecting plants) so I watered and waited. The growing process was much faster than I anticipated, and a couple weeks later my office looks and smells like springtime!

Many thanks to my thoughtful friend, Judy Whitman, from JBW Designs. She sent me this lovely arrangement as thanks for helping in her booth at the recent Nashville Needlework Market. Judy was unable to attend because of a recent hip replacement, so several designers (and her good friend, Connie) pitched in to help.  

Judy is recovering nicely in sunny Florida now (she escaped from snowy Michigan...smart lady!). I think these spring flowers are the perfect gift. And maybe they have some magical powers, because the high today in Wichita is supposed to be 75 degrees...believe it!  

Have a great week and stay tuned for Part 2 of our Inspiration Saying contest coming soon!