Zakka Along 2.0 :: Patchwork, Please kicked off!!

I can't begin to tell you how much I have been looking forward to this! The Zakka Along finally kicked off with Penny's awesome variation of bellpepper coasters, the very first project in the zakka along!! I feel that it was just a few weeks ago when Lindsey kindly contacted me to bring up the idea of zakka along through my book, Patchwork, Please!. This, in fact, happened about a half year ago! You can imagine how thrilled I must have been, but I guess I was more nervous than excited at first. I wasn't sure if enough people will like the projects in the book enough to participate in it, and if my instructions are clear enough for everyone to follow through, and if anyone would be willing to be a contributor for my book's zakka-along. But knowing how fun and successful the first zakka along Lindsey hosted was, I had such a great feeling that this zakka along has a lot of potential for people to have lots of fun if I let Lindsey and Debbie take a lead in this event!

Lindsey and Debbie are such amazing hosts! They have been working very hard behind the scene even before the book came out. I can't thank them enough for their willingness to do this and their absolutely awesome organizing skills!!

I am sure you've already read the detail about the zakka along. Not sure what it is all about yet? Then you should check out here for details! It's not too late to join in! There are TONS of prizes from lots of great sponsors every singe week starting this week through the first week of October, not to mention great prizes waiting at the very end!!! Here is a schedule of the Zakka along!

June 3: Penny | Sew Take a Hike :: Bell Pepper Coasters
June 10: Maureen | MC Handmade :: B,L,D Towels
June 17: Anna | Noodlehead :: Lettered Tea Cozy + Pouch
June 24: Angela | Cut to Pieces :: Polka Dot Cafe Apron
July 1: Lynne | Lily’s Quilts :: Diamond Patchwork Placemat
July 8: Lindsey | LRstitched :: Yum Yum Apple Bib
July 15: Sukie | Don’t Ya Know :: Dino-Mite Hat
July 22: Jennifer | Ellison Lane :: Book for Baby Quilt
July 29: Krista | Poppyprint :: My Scrappy Box
August 5: Kerry | Very Kerry Berry :: Swedish Bloom Time Quilt
August 12: Tamiko | Patchwork Notes :: You’ve Got Mail Wall Pocket
August 19: Monica | Happy Zombie :: Happy Hexagon Trivet
August 26: Krista | Spotted Stone Studio :: Piece of Cake Shopping Bag
Sept 2: Lori | Bee in My Bonnet :: Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch
Sept 9: Amy | During Quiet TIme :: Vintage Pencil Case
Sept 16: Svetlana | SOTAK Handmade :: I love My Ipad Quilted Cover
Sept 23: Amber | One Shabby Chick :: Handy Market Tote
Sept 30: Deb | A Quilter’s Table :: Sweet Trips Embroidery Pouch
Oct 7: Leila | Where the Orchids Grow :: Prettified Pincushion

I have been a big fan of every one of these 19 creative people, so I was absolutely over the moon about them agreeing to be contributors! Thank you so much every one of you and all of you who are sewing along! There is nothing like seeing everyone's work made from my book really. It almost drives me nuts every time I see it!

If you've made bellcoasters, don't forget to link up here over at Lindsey's blog for your chance to win the $25 gift card to Fort Worth Fabric Studio and a crib-sized package Legacy™ by Pellon® 100% Bleached Cotton Batting. And certainly, do check out Penny's great tips for altering the coaster pattern to make a hot pad! (LOVE the idea, don't you?!) While you are there, you'll definitely want to leave a comment for your chance to win some yummy prizes :)

Once again, thank you to all of you who are sewing along through my book! My fingers are crossed that it will be so much fun for you!!


On a personal note, I may be MIA quite often during the sew long is taking place, because I am due July 6th :) I've decided to follow a traditional way here, which is to move in with parents, give birth at a hospital close to their house, spend a month or so with parents and the baby, and come back to my home. Now I have been going back and forth between my apartment (in Tokyo) and my parents' (in Gunma - 2.5 hours train ride one way) for my check ups. Sometime next week, I will move in with my parents so no more traveling but seeing Joe for only weekends :(  I'll miss him terribly, but hopefully I am making the right decision for the baby and myself. Because of this, my little etsy shop will be closed for a few months starting in a week! (I've noticed a lot of people who are sewing along have shopped at my shop to get ready for the zakka along - thank you so much!!!)

Hope your week started off nicely! Mine did most definitely :)