Mardi Gras Time! Applique embroidery designs

March 8th is Mardi Gras time!  (2011)

 I love this time of year, and it brings back some fun memories of living in New Orleans as a child. 
Dad used to have a ladder, with a little seat on top we'd bring to parades.  I'd sit up on the seat, yelling "Throw me sumthin Mista!"
Although Mardi Gras parades aren't really thought of as "innocent"... we always made it a family affair. 

We would dance in the streets with the bands, chase beads and doubloons.  Mom always wanted us to soak up the culture.  I remember King Cakes in Elementary school, and at Blue Birds.

To celebrate this time, here's two sweet Mardi Gras designs.  Stitch one up just for fun. In true cajun fashion, I've added some lagniappe. (Type in code lagniappe for an extra $1 off when you order.)
  
"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez"

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

New Coupon Codes Are up on the site

New Coupon codes are now available on the site. They are only good until 1-31-2011, so take a look.

Valentine's Day is coming!! What wonderful things are you stitching up? I have new designs that can be used as pencil toppers or hair pretties, with instructions included. Also Valentine stuffies! Put something fun in their box this year.

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

New SALE!

Hooray! I recently celebrated my 170th sale. I'd really like to hit 200 by Christmas... and reward you for helping me. So here we go! I'm going to increase for a limited time, the number of free designs you can earn as follows:

• Buy 3, Get 1 Free


• Buy 5, Get 2 Free


• Buy 7, Get 3 Free


• Buy 9, get 5 Free

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Turkey Applique SALE!

I love this little guy! So before you stuff yourself this week-- stitch up some fun.

Intro priced this week only for $1.50 on the website.

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

60 % off sale!

I've been really trying to build my feedback and #'s on etsy, so 10 sales ago I posted a 50 % at 50 sale. It was a great success!

So.... Yep. Till we get to 70, as long as you buy 2 or more designs, you will be refunded 60% of your purchase price!

Wow. That's about all I can say..... wow.

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

New Designs

Couple of new designs up- I've been very busy preparing for TMUMC Fall on the Mound!

Stop by and say hi! http://keepsmeinstitches.etsy.com/

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Drill team design now available

I've been working on some shirts and other things for the Plano Williams High School Cheyannes. One of the problems with creating drill team spirit wear, is the lack of drill team designs readily available.

After finishing the design, I decided to offer it on my website. If you are interested in customizing this to match your own drill team uniform, please contact me.

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

It's Greek to Me...

Thought you might like a glimpse of the new font. Bring back any college memories???

Seemes like with soccer practice, RE, school and other activities, we haven't had time to breathe around here. This one should be ready in two sizes by next week :-)

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

White Robots Can't Dance...

Robots.





They can do many things-- rhythm is not in their nature.



Coming soon, hopefully this week. I'm trying him with glitter fabric for a Disco ball head!



MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

New! Applique Girls are Weird Font

One of my favorite fonts, personally- now available as applique for your sewing machine!

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

keepsmeinstitches.com

Comes in three sizes of lowercase letters: 3" (fits 4x4 hoops) 4" and 5".

Some letters (like J, l, k) are taller.

Download it instantly with your payment! PLUS... Special sale through Labor Day, all fonts are $5!

Tiny Tiger Toes (Geaux Tigers!)

If there's one thing I'm learning, it's never underestimate what people are looking for...




A while back I had digitized some tiny pawprints for Plano Senior High (Wildcats) ribbon. WHo knew others would be looking?



These tiny pawprints look great walking up a ribbon, accenting a bib, or on the bottom of a tiny shoe!

Each pawprint measures only .5" across, and the design also comes with a single.

http://keepsmeinstitches.com/




MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Letter D available today - come n get it!

Thank you guys, for being patient during my absence. I was saying goodbye to a family member who will be missed and remembered.

FREE Letter D is available today on the site.

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Giraffe Monogram letters

Looks like I need to be away from the computer to tend to some family matters. I don't want my regulars to be disappointed, so I'll go ahead and put up the letters for the next 3 days, all at once. A 3-fer!

So download 'em now while they are free. I'll return to your regularly scheduled 1 a day on Tuesday. Thanks!

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Along came a spider...

A new spider !

Applique for the 5 x 7 hoop. Cut as you go in the hoop.

http://keepsmeinstitches.com


MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Letter E is up!

Okay giraffe font followers, letter E went up just after midnight. (What on earth was I doing up at that hour????)

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Letter N Free today

Letter N of the Giraffe Monogram Embroidery font is available now until midnight. Get it now while it's FREE!

One letter is released each day (free for one day) then the whole set will be available at a discount. Miss one? The newsletter sign up coupon is good until 8/20 and will get you one additional letter free.

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

You say Cheyenne, and I say Chey-Annes!

I've been working with the Chey-Anne booster club on some spirit wear for the Chey-Annes parents, and in particular their logo. The Chey-Annes are the high kicking award winning drill team for Williams High School in Plano Texas.
It's Plano's oldest high school so they've had their logo a while. Last year, their spirit shirts showed the traditional logo of the Chey-Anne puffy sleeve girl.
The puffy shirt figure has been around for a while as a silhouette, so I wanted to see if we could leave the outline, but make her uniform look more like the girls current uniforms, shown here:













Never mess with tradition, right? So, treading lightly... I came up with the following:

It's a subtle change, but it shows the new gauntlets, while keeping the shape and similar outline.

They are off for approval, so we'll see. Too far?
Let me know what you think!


MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Free Monogram Giraffe Font

Today's free letter is A!

One letter a day will be offered FREE, before you can buy the whole set. Visit each day, and you can have the whole set FREE!

Letters are 3.75" tall and in fill pattern of giraffe spots with outline.

http://keepsmeinstitches.com/

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Girls Rule - ?

Someone was looking for this design, so I digitized it as pre-work. Hmmm... wonder what it's going on???

MaryKay is slowly trying to dig herself out from under a mountain if fabric, one tutorial at a time.

Halloween Designs Get one Free!

I've been working on some new appliques for the upcoming Halloween season. Something not too scary, just a little fun!

All are done in stitch as you go applique, with minimal overlap stitches.

As a special for those who are readers of the blog, just write the word "blog reader" with your payment and when you buy 2, I'll send you the other one free!

They are up now in the Etsy shop!