Happy New Year!

A new year has just begun and I would like to thank all of you for your support this year as you’ve browsed my website, made purchases online and at quilt shows, and read my newsletter and blog!  I love bringing the traditional and Bali fabrics to you and sharing our love for quilting and sewing.  I hope this year will not only be good to Batiks by Design, but to all of you.  I hope that your dreams will come true and your hopes will be realized.  The best to all of you.

At the top of this blog entry, you will see our version of Twilight, a pattern designed by Sheryl Mycroft.  This version was sewn and quilted by Roxanne Ferguson of Mayfield, KY, a wonderful friend and quilter.  We picked out the fabrics together and she worked her magic!  She is calling the quilt “Twilight in Bali”.  All of the fabrics used are Bali’s from either Hoffman or Timeless Treasures.  I’ll be putting the list of the exact fabrics used in my online store in the next day or so. 

As January gets underway, we are participating in another Fab Shop Hop!  You can win The Perfect Caddy, Bernina, or Brother Sewing Machine!  The FabShop Hop is from January 1-31, 2008 and you can register to participate at http://www.fabshophop.com/hopmain.asp.  The Fab Shop Hop will award The Perfect Caddy, a Bernina, and Brother Sewing Machine as their three Grand Prizes in the January! Visit your soon to be favorite online independent quilt and fabric websites and become eligible to win thousands of dollars in prizes!  Registration has already begun for the shopping tour that takes you across North America in your PJ’s.  Join in the fun with the online FabShop Hop – January 1-31, 2008.  The FabShop Hop Bunny will guide you from site to site to hop and shop, and when you get there, find another bunny hidden somewhere on the site. Click on the bunny, sign in to show you’ve been there and continue on your journey.

Here’s How It Works:
Read the guidelines at https://www.fabshophop.com/hopmain.asp then click on “List of Shops” on the top menu underneath the FabShop Hop tab. On that page, you will find a list of all the shops participating in the FabShopHop. At each site you visit, look around and find the yellow bunny that says ‘youfoundit’ with January dates — click on the bunny, and a prize registration page will come up — fill in your email address and click on the “register for prizes” button. This sends a message to our database that you registered for prizes at that site. You will receive a Thank You message and an email confirmation that you have registered at that site. You can then continue shopping at that site or go back to the home page for that site and continue on the Hop.

Prize winners are selected in a RANDOM drawing from among all eligible entries.

http://www.fabshophop.com/rules.asp

Join the fun today!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, sharing it with my family, my parents, several cousins, and friends.  We hope your holiday was just as wonderful.  I’m ready to start some new projects, and of course, finish a few of the old ones!  How about you?

You can contact Patti at patti@batiksbydesign.com or call at 866-447-9211.

Happy New Year!

Patti

It’s cold outside!

 

Let’s go to Bali!!  Well, we aren’t really going to Bali, although I’ve been there several times and just love it.  It’s beautiful, the people are wonderful (well, except for the hawkers), and there are many places to see, wonderful beaches, great shopping, and fantastic places to eat.  Yes, I do love Bali and the fabrics produced there.  What I had in mind is to show you some of the wonderful Bali batik fabrics we’ve added to the site in the last few weeks. 

‘Tis the season for Christmas trees and Bali 607 Green is perfect for any project that needs a little bit of pine needles.   I’m thinking about using it as the background for our Poinsettia pattern.  Wouldn’t it be perfect?  We have several colors that would make perfect flowers for my project, including Bali 511 Garnet, Bali 545 Flamingo, and Bali 515 Wine.  And lots of great greens.  Just take a look.

 We love the Diane’s Garden pattern and bought some Balis with that in mind.  What do you think about Bali 573 Pommegranate, Bali 593 Amethyst, and Bali 598 Mango?  Bali 600 Hydrangea is perfect too.  As are several others.  Check them out.  We’ve included many of them in our Diane’s Garden Kit.  The kit includes the pattern and the flower fabrics.  You add the sashing and border fabrics, plus the black fabric and fusible web.

I can’t wait to try the book Bodacious Quilts.  I found this at Quilt Market and fell in love with it.  Eight Bodacious projects to get you started on an unlimited number of layouts – all from one block. Step by step instructions – even a beginning quilter can be very successful!  We would love to see what you do with this block!

It’s cold here today and I’m going to make a nice hot cup of tea and go back to work on my latest project – the Pumpkin table-round for my sister.  Yes, I’m a little behind.  It was supposed to be for Thanksgiving . . .  Better get busy or I won’t get the Snowmen table-round done for my mom (she loves snowmen, like me!).  How many days left before Christmas?

Have a blessed holiday season.

Patti Oakley

www.batiksbydesign.com

Great Gift Ideas for the Holidays!

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here, which means the holidays are here!  We have some ideas for holiday gifts to make for the loved ones in your life – or to give to your favorite quilting friends.

Purses are SO in this year!  We’ve gathered a number of patterns to help you make one for every occasion.  Our most popular pattern is the Zip ‘n Go Tote.  With 6 outside pockets and a zippered large pocket, this is one great purse.  The Charm Party Tote is another great option.  Grab a stack of 5 inch squares and a yard of a pretty matching fabric and you will have a bag in no time!   The Sophisticated Purse-O-Nality bag is a totally awesome purse that I can’t wait to try.  I just bought the pattern at Quilt Market in Houston.  Won’t it look fantastic in some of our traditional batik design fabrics?  Another great option is the Quilter’s Rucksack pattern from Bethany Reynolds.  I’ve been looking for a great backpack pattern and I think this is it!  It’s supposed to be comfortable, practical, and fun to make!  I hope so, because I’m hoping to try this one too.  Can I make all of these before the holidays?!  The Easy on the Back Bag is designed to help reduce stress on the back, shoulders, and neck. It works too! I love this design.  I’ve worn out at least 2 of these bags that I’ve purchased already made.  Won’t it be fun to be able to make it in fabrics that you just love instead of the plain colors available in store.  One last purse pattern I’m going to suggest is the Diva Essntial Designer Bag.  This bag is just cute!  And it looks easy to make too. 

There’s always some great seasonal patterns to buy.  We love Poinsettia.  This way you can give a poinsettia that won’t die within a few months of Christmas.  I’ve seen them growing in Bali on the sides of the mountains and they are 5 or 6 feet tall!  Snowmen (pictured above) is another easy and fun pattern that you can display throughout the winter season.  I made this recently and it was just as Diane says, addictive!  I can’t wait to try another one of her patterns.

Some favorite quilt patterns include Argyle Blues designed by my friend Rochelle Martin of Cottage Quilt Designs.  She designed it specifically for my fabric, but I know it will look fabulous in any fabrics.  It is quick and easy!  She’s revised the pattern to include sizes from throw to king.  For the man in your life, we suggest Stash Box.  More than one man has admired this quilt in our booth at quilt shows!  Soliah, a new pattern designed by Sheryl Mycroft, is just beautiful.  She suggests using acrylic templates for the Drunkard’s Path blocks and says her method is simple and easy.  I know we sold a lot of this pattern in Houston.

We have many more exciting and new things in our online store.  I’ve added all of the new traditional design batiks that we received earlier in the week and many new Balis and patterns.  Come by and check them out. 

Happy Quilting!

Patti

Batiks by Design

New Kits! Great Presents!!

Wow!  As a first time attendee of both Quilt Market and Festival in Houston, Texas recently, I was amazed by both entities.  Now that I’m back, I’ve been adding new Bali fabrics and a few patterns and kits.  I’m expecting my shipment of new traditional design batiks tomorrow, so be on the lookout of those online!

We put together some new kits for Quilt Festival that we think you’ll love, so we are adding them to the site.  They sold really well for us in Houston.  First, we kitted Snowmen (shown above – isn’t he cute!) from Details by Diane.  I made the sample and really had fun making it.  Like Diane has told me, it is addictive!  I can’t wait to try some of her other patterns and I think I’ll make Pumpkins for my sister for Thanksgiving and the Sunflowers for a dear friend in Georgia.  I’ll be sure to put a picture on here to show you how I did!

We also have kits for Hokey Pokey, a great pattern that is fun to make with our blue and white traditional fabrics.  We have some great flower fabrics in a kit for Diane’s Garden.  You just need to add the sashing and borders, plus the black fabric for the background.  We added a new pattern and kit called Winter Friends. 

Our “old” kits are still selling well.  Check out Stash Box, our best seller both online and at shows.  It is just a beautiful, rich looking quilt.  A great gift for the man in your life too.  We are also kitting it in our blues.  It should be online soon.  Our second best seller is Argyle Blues.  The kit makes the throw size and is quick and easy to piece.  With large open spaces you can show off and do some fancy quilting (or have someone else do it)!  The pattern now has sizes from throw to king.

Happy Quilting!

Patti Oakley

Batiks by Design

www.batiksbydesign.com

A Busy Two Months!

I knew I hadn’t added anything to my blog in a while, but I didn’t realize it had been 2 months!  Things have been busy, but not THAT busy.  August was spent preparing for the AQS Nashville Show, which was a great success.  We had lots of people stop by with positive comments on our fabrics and had positive feedback from Pepper Cory, the editor of Fabric Trends Magazine.  We returned from Nashville to start working towards Houston and The International Quilt Festival and surgery for me.  I had a full hysterectomy and I’m recovering faster than expected, but that means I usually try to do too much and am sorry for it the next day.  It’s hard to take it easy when you have a business to run!

Yesterday, I walked to the mailbox (which is a fairly long walk down our long driveway) and retrieved the mail.  As I walked back I looked through to see what was there and the latest issue of Quilter’s Newsletter had arrived.  I paged through it and came upon fabrics from Batiks by Design!  I had contacted them after talking to the editor of QuiltMaker magazine (their sister magazine) in Paducah and Barbara Fieldler was very interested in placing samples of my fabrics in their Fabric Focus section of an upcoming issue.  I had sent the fabrics so long ago, I had all but forgotten about it – and there they were!  Check out the November 2007 issue on page 76, plus their web extra at http://qnm.com/webextras/feature321/!  I feel like my fabrics have been given a “seal of approval”! 

We’re getting ready for The International Quilt Festival in Houston and will also attend Quilt Market, the Quilt Show for quilt store owners!  It will be a long trip from Murray to Houston, but one that I’m looking forward to very much.  If you are in Houston for the show, please stop by and say hello.  Our booth number is 1549/51.  My doctor says I’ll be fine by then, but I’m taking two friends to help since I know it will be busy.  Rochelle Martin and Peggy Welchert are both quilt designers and Peggy also teaches!

Thank you for all of your support during this first year of my business.  Yes, it will be one year on October 2nd!  It’s hard to believe, but I love what I’m doing and hope that it continues to grow.  I’ve learned so much and know I still have a long way to go.  I couldn’t do it without all of you.

Happy Quilting!

Patti

An Exciting Week!

Last week was difficult because we were forced to get rid of my buddy, Maddie, a dachshund who was my shadow.  I miss her a lot.  She was such a sweetheart.  But this week we have aquired a 10 week old dachshund male puppy named Joey and a 2 to 3 year old Heinz 57 mutt named Sadie.  They are both sweet and adorable and are slowly worming their way into our hearts.  I’ve attached a picture of the two of them together.  They’ve become the best of friends and play and sleep together.  Sadie is slowly relaxing (we got her from the Humane Society and don’t know her background) and the two of them rumble.  Sadie seems to understand the Joey is very little and is very gentle with him – for the most part.  I still miss Maddie, though.

We had a lot of traffic through our site during the month of July with our sale and The FabShopHop.  Thank you to all of you who visited.  Remember, we’ll be glad to send you samples if you want to see and touch the fabric before buying.  Just send me an email to patti@batiksbydesign.com and I’ll get them out in the mail to you.  I’m getting so much more “professional” with my samples and have ordered cards where I can write the SKU number and let you know if the fabric has borders or not.  Much better than the stickers I started with!  Hey, I’m new to this and learning more and more every day – thanks for putting up with me.  Also, if you have any suggestions or comments for me, please pass them on to me.  I would love to her from you.

 I’ve also added my  first kit to my store.  I kitted the Argyle Blues pattern.  I think it is a wonderful, easy pattern and I just love it.  I hope you do too.  I used the same fabrics that are in the cover picture – and the pictures on my website.  The kit is available at http://estore.websitepros.com/1572400/Categories.bok?category=Kits.  Take a look!

I keep finding patterns that I love and I know you will love them too.  I have ordered patterns from Details by Diane.  Her site is http://www.detailsbydiane.com/products.php?pg=1.  I should have the patterns by early next week and will get them up on the website.  I’ll also have them in Nashville at the AQS Show.  If you are attending, I hope you’ll stop by and say hello!

Pray for rain for us.  We are SO dry. 

Patti

Quilt Gallery

What a busy week!  I’ve been ordering patterns and fabrics to make sure that I have enough for the AQS Nashville Show.  My booth will be twice as big and I still don’t know how I’ll fit it all in there!!  Today my husband, Gary and I were working on a case to hold my patterns at the show.  We’re half way there!  Actually he’s doing the work, I’m just the help, but that’s ok.  I hope some of you will be attending the show and will stop by and say hello at least.  Hopefully you’ll come by to see the fabrics and buy some as well!  We think they are wonderful and know you’ll love them as well.

For the quilt show – and my website – I’ve been having some wonderful friends make sample quilts, wallhangings, and table runners and they have turned out better than I could have imagined.  A great BIG thank you to all of you who have helped me out.  I couldn’t do it without you and value your friendship and advice.  I have put several of the pictures in my online store in place of the pattern picture.  I hope this will help you visualize the pattern using our fabrics.  I have also added them to our Quilt Gallery.  Go and take a look.  I know you’ll find something you’ll love!

I’m getting ready to ship my next order from Indonesia.  I may wait until after the quilt show so that I’ll have a better idea of what is really selling.  I know which batik designs I really love, but it is always fun to see what you love!  If you have a favorite or two, email me and tell me what they are.  I always love to hear from customers!  My address is:  patti@batiksbydesign.com .  Tell me what you think of the new quilts in the Quilt Gallery as well.

Have a great week.  I hope you’ve had some of this cooler weather that we’ve had.  It’s been beautiful outside.  We still need a lot of rain, but Gary’s garden is producing with just a little watering.  We’re enjoying his corn (he grows the best!), green beans, tomatoes, and cucumers.  Oh yeah, and lots and lots of squash!

Patti

Quilt Kits

I’ve been having some quilts made using the patterns on my site and my beautiful batik fabrics.  They are turning out better than I could have dreamed!  As soon as I get them finished, I’ll be putting pictures of them online.  I’m thinking of putting together some kits for my quilt patterns.  What do you think?  Which patterns would you like to see put into kits? 

I know that I’m going to do a kit for Argyle Blues, a new quilt that was designed by Cottage Quilt Designs.  It is in the picture above.  It is a beautiful, but simple quilt.  You can see another picture of it on my website at www.batiksbydesign.com .  Let me know what you think of it.

Keep quilting,

Patti

20% off sale!

Hey, if you’ve been waiting to buy batiks from Batiks by Design, now is your chance to buy them and save money at the same time!  We are having a 20% off sale through the end of July.  We hope you’ll stop by and shop!

If you have any suggestions about our website, please contact us at info@batiksbydesign.com and let us know.  We always appreciate feedback from our customers.

Until next time,

Patti

Here’s a picture of Batik Stars