Zoo Inspired Animal Patches

We had a special destination for our spring break trip this year: Alabama to meet our new niece!

This is the first girl in our family.  Seriously...no matter which way you look...Boy! Boy! Boy! Boy!  There are 11 all together...and now this sweet girl.

Here she is in an ATA lamb onesie.  It is such a sweet design for newborns!



While we were down south, we got to visit the Birmingham Zoo! I grew up in Birmingham so visiting this zoo is always a trip down memory lane for me.  The train ride hasn't changed a bit! Although monkey island is no more...there are lots of new and improved exhibits. And I think the sea lions can still soak innocent bystanders so all is good.

It was great to see our boys enjoy the zoo. 


And I enjoyed taking pictures of some animal prints...



I am toying around with the idea of doing some big animal print pictures on a wall in one of the boys' rooms or in the playroom. Any favorites?


Once I was back home and in design mode again I started sketching some animal designs.  First up...some adorable animal patches.  I love how all of the animals are outgrowing (or eating!) the patch they are on!  But I also love the splash of color the patch provides. 


Although I was thinking more zoo animals when I created these...I think I might switch my design gear towards SEC  (thanks for the suggestions!)...how about a tiger patch and/or gator patch in the near future?  Any other animal patch requests?

Oh...and I have some more animals coming your way too!  The next round will be a little more rounded and pastel for possible baby items...but with a modernish twist.  That probably makes no sense...but that is my best description for now...stay tuned. :)

PS...the animal designs are now available for sale! Check out ATA Website or ATA Etsy Store!

New 4th of July Designs

With Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Olympics, and Elections right around the corner, it is a perfect time for some Patriotic Designs!

Check out the latest Red, White, and Blue designs below:



Sometimes seeing the designs without the fabric lets your imagination see the design differently...so here are the designs with stitches only.



We have 2 SALE coupons right now:

www.allthingsapplique.com:
Use MAY30 at checkout to receive 30% off of your entire purchase!

www.etsy.com/allthingsapplique
Use MAY25 at checkout to receive 25% off of your entire purchase!

Both of these coupon codes expire May 31, 2012 so hurry on over to our website or Etsy and start shopping now!

Where have I been?

I know I sort of disappeared for a couple of months so I thought I would give you a quick recap on all that has been going on...

In January my husband accepted an offer for a new job in North Carolina with a start date of early summer.

In February we frantically did as many house projects as possible to get it ready for the market.  We painted the dining room and living room and half bathroom...mulched the yard...decluttered and loaded up a POD full of junk stuff we could live without for several months...

Our house officially hit the market on a Thursday and we were under contract the following Monday. 

I was thrilled and shocked all at the same time!  But then panic set in and I realized we needed to find a place to live because we agreed to a closing date of April 30...just 6 weeks away!

In March, we traveled to North Carolina, found a house, and made an offer. We countered back and forth and reached an agreement.  However, before the Sellers officially signed the contract, they received a better offer and rescinded the agreement we had made by e-mail.  I was devastated and pretty panicked.  Time was running out.

In late March, we made another trip.  Found another house.  Made an offer.  Countered back and forth.  Had an agreement.  Got a signed contract.  Woo hoo!  Had the inspection.  Got approved for mortgage.  Appraisal looks good.  Everything moving right along...

Fast forward to the week before we move.  We are packing and trying to get everything ready for moving day when I get a call from our Realtor.  I could tell something was wrong the minute I heard her voice.

She told us the Seller did not intend to go forward with closing.  After several days back and forth (including a letter from our attorney) it was clear we were not going to be moving into the house we thought.  So the movers came and loaded all of our belongings onto a truck and we went to North Carolina one more time to find a place to live. 

We signed a 3 month lease on a townhouse/apartment and are getting settled.  But it has truly been a roller coaster...and not the fun kind.  On the bright side...I am still thankful that the selling process went as well as it did.  If I had to choose which side of the process to have problems - the buying or the selling - I would choose the buying.  And through all of this my boys have taught me tons.  While I worried about where we would sleep and what our new home would be like...the boys never once doubted that there would be a safe and cozy place for them to go night-night with their stuffed animals and blankets and they thought the entire moving process was a fantastic adventure.  Oh to have the faith of a child...a good lesson for sure.

So that is where we are and why I have been out of touch.  Hope you will continue to follow All Things Applique...during this absence I have had lots of fun design ideas swirling around in my head. 

Thanks for reading...