Ringing in the New Year Right - Giveaway 2

Patty Boyd at Patty’s Stitches is today’s featured blogger. (That's Patty in the background!) I have to say that I find her stuff just amazing, especially those gorgeous smocked dresses. Patty says that she has loved crafting since she was a little girl. She can remember making potholders with one of those kits that most children have. Her babysitter taught her how to knit one night while she was staying with her. Knitting is something that she would love to learn more about.

When Patty was about 18-19 years old she got her first sewing machine; but was about 22 years old when her friend, Jane, taught her so much about basic sewing. She says that she will be eternally grateful to her. Jane is a perfectionist in her sewing and taught Patty things that she would have never learned from a book. A couple of years later, she bought a book about hand-smocking and shared it with Jane. Little did they know that they would end up making so many smocked dresses for their girls. I love that sweet story of friendship.

Patty loves sewing, smocking baby clothes, monogramming, and most types of needlework. Lately she says that she has been almost addicted to hand-embroidering tea towels. She loves the old-fashioned ones that remind me of my childhood. I am excited to be featuring one of these in today’s giveaway!

Patty is such a fantastic lady. When I asked her to share some personal things about herself, she said, “first and foremost, I am a Christian. My daily walk with God is the most important thing I will ever do. My family is very important to me and I always want to keep them happy”. Now that is an example I want to follow.
Patty is blessed with a wonderful husband, Terry, and they have two grown children, Julie and Clint. Julie and our son-in-law Chris have blessed them with two wonderful grandchildren, Kirsten and Bailey. Their son, Clint, is in college at MTSU and they all look forward to his visits home.
She loves her home and since her grandchildren are getting too old for the type of clothes she makes, her interest has turned somewhat to projects for her home. She works full time and sews and crafts in her “spare time”. How does she do it?

Like all of us, she says that she sometimes has a tendency to take on too much and let herself get too stressed. One of her new year’s resolutions is to try to slow down a bit and enjoy her family more. Terry enjoys fly fishing and Patty likes to go with him. Sometimes she fishes, too, but most of the time she just takes some needlework and relaxes and watches him fish. Patty enjoys reading blogs about decorating, sewing and cooking. She has a new love for anything vintage and cottage style.

Patty says that her favorite part of the job is seeing the joy on someone’s face when they love what she has made for them. I think that goes for all of us! Patty always has a booth at the Regions craft fair, now known as the Artisans of the Cumberland. She doesn’t have anything specific planned for the New Year, but is continuing with her sewing and keeping all of her options open. I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with!

When you leave your comment today, you are entering to win the pictured ruffled apron and the cupcake embroidered tea towel. That apron is adorable! I love those ruffles! If you love cupcakes, and I know many of you do after yesterday, this tea towel is perfect for you. I like the vintage look of the stitching.
Remember that 8:00 tonight is the deadline to enter. Best of luck to you all and thank you for stopping by!