Who will be the lucky winner of all this loot?!

Spring has ushered in the return of eco-bundles and, wait for it......500 followers on Instagram! I'm so grateful for the continued interest in my natural dye and stitched pursuits. You know I have to celebrate with a giveaway: One fabulous eco-bundled piece of organic poplin, three gorgeous pieces of organic sateen and a copy of A Dyer's Garden by Rita Buchanan, just in time for planting one of your own.

To qualify for the drawing:

1) follow me on Instagram

2) tag a friend or more who you think would like my IG feed. Your friends will get a chance, too!

That's it! Click here to go to my Instagram feed. Winner announced on Monday, May 8th, 2017! Good luck to you and your friends!

You can find these, and more, in the shop.

The shop has just been updated with beautiful Fat Quarters, half yard cuts, eco-bundles and more. Have a look!

Not only have Indigo vats and dye pots been in full swing these past few weeks, but I've also been elbow deep in a total studio overhaul, which is almost complete. When it is, I'd love to share it's transformation with you. I think you're going to like it!

I've sent off the dye kits to the two winners of my Earth Day Giveaway (a portion of one shown above). Congratulations to Mary @maryartspirit from CA and Brooke @gardenvarietycookie from PA! You're both in for some serious fun with natural dyes. I customized each dye instructions booklet because Mary is interested in dying animal proteins, and Brooke is up for dying plant proteins. Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll share on Instagram what they make?

Rebecca's original EPP design in progress, 2017. All of the fabrics shown are naturally dyed organic cotton sateen.

This post has been a long time coming. How might I properly celebrate the many talented, lovely artists who believe in and support my business? How do I thank those who've gone the extra mile, posting pictures of their work using my fabrics? Putting three of them directly in today's spotlight is a start, so on with the show!

Rebecca Bell

My first overseas order came through on a Saturday night. The customer patiently emailed back and forth as we figured out how to send the order through my online shop (which isn't set up for overseas shipping). The patient night owl is Rebecca Bell of @greenandbell, and this original English Paper Piece is one of her own designs. I feel she's used my fabrics to their best advantage. Rebecca's sense of color, shape and form all come together in this exquisite composition. I believe she's still considering a background for this piece, so there may be more to look forward to...hint, hint, Rebecca!

Self-taught, Rebecca has been quilting for four years and discovered her love of EPP after making the Spring Carnival pattern by Katy Jones. Rebecca has been hooked on EPP ever since, and now prefers to design her own patterns. She's drawn towards geometric shapes and curves, as well as improv quilting. Please say hello to her on IG @greenandbell, and enjoy much more of her stunning work!

Trista's HST's bring to mind exquisite antique silk quilts. There's just something about naturally dyed organic cotton sateen that gets me every time!

Trista's string block made with organic cotton sateen from a scrap bundle combined with some of her own commercial cottons (black, gray and white). — Trista's string block made with organic cotton sateen from a scrap bundle combined with some of her own commercial cottons (black, gray and white).

Trista Dufresne

This young woman holds a special place in my heart, as she was the first person to really make me feel a part of the Instagram quilting community. While "meeting" people on social media is fantastic, actually meeting them in person takes the cake, which is how it felt to meet Trista at the 2016 Vermont Quilt Festival! This incredible young woman has faced life challenges with courage and gumption, and quilting has been her creative outlet for over 20 years. She's also the VT Modern Quilt Guild Program Chair, and a Vermont Quilt Festival Volunteer Chair, plus handles their social media.

These string blocks are the most recent pieces Trista has made using my fabrics. I just love the line quality she achieves, allowing her own hand to come through. She's also pretty daring with a rotary cutter, which I might guess is how those gorgeous Half-Square Triangles came to be! To see what might be next for these blocks, follow @trista_deee. You'll like her authentic, heart-filled Vermont life!

A beauty from Kerry Lemon's sketch book, 2016, incorporating a 5" square of naturally dyed fabric. The dots are made with Kerry's own handmade botanical paint. — A beauty from Kerry Lemon's sketch book, 2016, incorporating a 5" square of naturally dyed fabric. The dots are made with Kerry's own handmade botanical paint.

Kerry Lemon

Using my pre-cuts in a most original way, artist Kerry Lemon knocks it out of the park! When she posted these original drawings on fabric and paper, I was speechless. That she thought to use my fabrics in this way filled me with awe and gratitude.

To be so young and accomplished, so sure of her own voice, is truly admirable. This leading lady is a role model with a desire to encourage and applaud artists of all walks. She follows her curious mind where ever it leads, creating stunning public work for generations to enjoy, as well as grand botanical experiments, sumptuous product packaging and larger than life hand painted retail windows, to name a few. Kerry's work is all at once exquisite, lively and enchanting! Visit her website www.kerrylemon.co.uk and follow her IG feed @kerryannelemon. You'll be changed, I promise.

A final word

Since I began my dye business, Instagram has proved to be a most powerful marketing tool, second only to being in-person. To call many of my customers friends is an honor and a joy. Seeing what you're making with my fabrics fills me with a sense of purpose, after all, I lovingly spend days with each and every yard of fabric before they land safely in your hands. Going forward, I'll continue to showcase customers' work - it's all too good not to share! I'm grateful for the ability to meet so many of you, to get to know your stories - where ever you call home - and to participate in our journeys with cloth.

Thank you Kerry, Rebecca and Trista for allowing me to show off your work, and to use your photos. You're all very special to me, and I look forward to seeing what you do next! xo

Stir, Steep, Stitch

500 Instagram Followers Giveaway!