Marcy’s Musings

Hi, there! One of my customers asked if Amanda or I was ever going to put some knitting patterns on the website. Since we don’t have the software to make knitting patterns, we thought we’d simply point you in the direction of some good ones. So without further ado:

Spotlight: Knitting

Knitting Paradise Knitting and Crochet Forum offers a free weekly knitting newsletter. The newsletter covers hand knitting, machine knitting, and crochet. Newsletter subscribers will also have access to a message board where they can get knitting lessons, free patterns, and the opportunity to chat with fellow knitters.

All Free Knitting - This site also offers a free newsletter as well as free knitting patterns. Patterns include afghans and blankets, gifts, holiday projects, children’s knits, and felted knits.

Free Knit Patterns.com - This site offers a free pattern of the day as well as a searchable database. If you’d simply like to browse, a menu offers patterns in wearables, special occasions, children’s corner, home decor, and afghans and throws.

Knitting Pattern Central – This site features an instruction directory, a knitting tutorial, and links to knitting patterns in more than fifty categories. They also include patterns that combine knitting and crochet.

Knitting on the Net - Barbara Breiter’s Knitting on the Net site features patterns for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters. Categories include dolls and toys, purses, bookmarks, slippers, scarves, mittens, afghans, ponchos, and hats.

I hope this helps!

Marcy’s Musings

We had a fun and successful virtual launch party for Stitch Me Deadly on Facebook on February 1. There were lots of trivia questions involved. And there was a poll on readers’ opinion about which guy I should date! The majority came down on Ted’s side, but I’m still making up my mind. I’m not ready to commit to anyone yet after that whole “left at the altar” debacle, and I’m not sure either one of the guys are ready for a serious relationship either. But, I have to admit, I am in an enviable position!

Also, Stitch Me Deadly is getting some fantastic reviews. Thank you all so much for your kindness and support! Here is a sampling of the reviews:

Amanda Lee’s deft use of her small-town cast keeps the intelligently crafted story line fresh. – Harstan – Barnes & Noble

There’s not much to say except I loved the book. I enjoyed the first book in the series…the second was even better. – Julie J. Cayemberg – Amazon.com

Amanda Lee’s deft use of her small-town cast keeps the intelligently crafted story line fresh as Marcy works her inquiry finding one viable suspect after another. – Harriet Klausner, #1 Amazon Reviewer

STITCH ME DEADLY is a well thought out, free flowing story that captures your attention and keeps you interested from beginning to end. – Kathy Fisher, The Romance Readers Connection

Sometimes, the characters in cozies take more of a center stage than the mystery plot itself. Stitch Me Deadly is a fine balance of both; terrific characters that are easy to relate to and a well constructed plot. – Kaye of Pudgy Penguin Perusals

Site Spotlight: All Needlecrafts

Since All Needlecrafts is having a February needlepoint sale, I thought I should clue you guys in while there’s still time to take advantage of it! All Needlecrafts has both painted canvases and needlepoint kits on sale. Their online store also sells cross stitch, punchneedle and sashiko stitching patterns as well as yarn, fabric, floss and thread.

Oh, and don’t forget, next Monday is Valentine’s Day!

Marcy’s Musings

Hi, there! I’m so excited about the upcoming release of Stitch Me Deadly.  In honor of the event, Gayle’s daughter Lianna made a wonderful trailer for the book.

Project Spotlight:

If you’ll recall, in our last issue of Sew Deadly, Gayle was going to attempt to recreate my new pattern on a tote bag. Just looking at the photo at the left, her recreation is cute, but has a big flower instead of the bunny…. Gayle, what’s up with that?

GT: In my defense, Marcy, I put the bunny on the bag. But since I didn’t have the actual cross-stitch grid on which to work, it was really hard to keep my lines straight; and I wasn’t satisfied with the bunny’s appearance at all. So, I got the seam ripper and ripped enough of the bunny out to be able to put this huge applique flower over the rest. Hey, it’s the right color!

MS: It is the right color, and I think it looks good. I’m glad you showed some initiative and fixed the tote instead of just trashing the entire project. I’ve been guilty of that a time or two!

GT: So have I. And I have a number of “unfinished symphonies” in my repertoire as well.

MS: Unfinished symphonies…I like that. You did a good job on the writing. It doesn’t appear you had any trouble with the text at all.

GT: That turned out to be really easy. I took a blue fabric pen and wrote the text onto the bag and then simply embroidered over it. Had I done the bunny that way–rather than try to cross-stitch it–I think it might have turned out a lot better. I should have asked Lianna to draw the bunny for me–she’s really talented in that area.

MS: And in movie making! Tell her I LOVE the book trailer.

GT: I will.

MS: If anyone else has created any of the new projects, please let me know! And please also check out the new website feature, Marcy’s Shop. Talented web designer Steve Matda made it possible for you to actually visit The Seven-Year Stitch! Check out the page, and hover your mouse over objects in the store to link to free projects, Gayle’s Facebook page, embroidery supplies, the Oregon coast, Irish wolfhounds and PetFinder. Please note that some objects have more than one link, so you might have to move your mouse around a bit to find them all. Have fun!

Marcy’s Musings

Hi, guys! And Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who’ll be celebrating next Thursday. I’m looking forward to a week of relaxing, stitching, reading, baking and eating! I’m hoping each of you has your own special blessings to revel in.

The Contest

Have you entered the contest Gayle posted on November 1?  If not, you still have 14 chances to enter! You must be a newsletter subscriber to enter (if you aren’t, simply fill out the form at the top of this page to become one!), and you enter by sending an e-mail to gayle@gayletrent.com with “November Contest” in the subject line. You may enter once per day. On December 1, Gayle will have the site random.org to help her choose a winner. So, you should get your prize in plenty of time for Christmas!

Site Spotlight: Follow the White Bunny

I discovered Follow the White Bunny when Nicole, the blogger, followed Gayle on Twitter and mentioned she loved the concept of The Quick and The Thread. Gayle was later interviewed for Nicole’s blog, and she (and I!) discovered Nicole’s beautiful patterns.

I was hoping to make one of my own to share with you, but I simply couldn’t wait to share these with you! Besides, Nicole is offering this beautiful November special that I don’t want you to miss out on.

So drop by Nicole’s blog and say hello. Tell her Gayle/Amanda and Marcy sent you!

Welcome!

Sorry I’ve been away so long. Gayle has been doing a blog tour, so she has been concentrating on that and working on Killer Sweet Tooth. She has also been celebrating the successful debut of her other novel, The Quick and The  Thread. The book was the #6 bestselling mass market paperback mystery in Barnes & Noble stores nationwide the week of August 3.

Spotlight:

I know it’s a few days late, but check out the Friday the 13th video from CakeWrecks!

Please join me on my blog tour for The Quick and The Thread. Below are this weeks stops along the tour:

July 26, 2010 Monday
Gayle Trent will be chatting with WOW! Women On Writing at The Muffin. One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Amanda Lee’s book!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

July 27, 2010 Tuesday
What type of person has two names? Spies, people in witness protection, movie stars…and writers. Amanda Lee tells us what it’s like to go through life with two personas–one writing mysteries about a cake decorator and the other writing mysteries about an embroiderer.
http://hellorhighwaterwriting.wordpress.com/

July 28, 2010 Wednesday
In her interview today, Amanda Lee (a.k.a. Gayle Trent) tells us that murder isn’t the only thing she has to research for her cozy mysteries. For The Quick and the Thread, the first book in her new embroidery series, the unlikely subject was whales!
http://www.sellingbooks.com

July 29, 2010 Thursday
Amanda Lee is stopping by Mom-e-Centric to tell us about how murder and embroidery make a wonderful mix. She’ll also be giving away a copy of The Quick and the Thread!
http://www.momecentric.com/

July 30, 2010 Friday
Stop by today for an interview with Amanda Lee by fellow mystery writer Christine Verstraete. These two will be sharing some great mystery writing tips!
http://candidcanine.blogspot.com/

August 1, 2010 Sunday
Blue hair, the early bird special, embroidery. Three things grandmas like. Or are they? Amanda Lee tells us about what a fun hobby embroidery can be for all ages and about her young embroiderer who also solves murders in The Quick and the Thread.
http://www.cozychicksblog.com/

Marcy’s Musings

I’m so excited! Romantic Times has named The Quick and The Thread an RT Top Pick!!! And reviewer Pat Cooper gave the book 4 1/2 stars!!! Pat says:

Site Spotlight: Curiosities 808

This site offers a tutorial for embroidered flowers that I really want to try. The flowers are made on felt and tinted with crayon. The blogger says she’s challenging herself to make this project simple and affordable. I can buy the affordable, but the project doesn’t appear simple. But, the flowers are gorgeous! I’m thinking of trying the iris.

In order to see the tutorial blog posts, use the archives to pull up June of 2008 and then follow the posts. The first one is on June 24.

Good luck!

Congratulations to Linda Weaver, winner of the $50 Amazon gift card for pre-ordering The Quick and The Thread. Random.org’s random number generator picked Number 16 from the number of contestants entered, and that number belonged to Linda.

I truly appreciate everyone else who pre-ordered The Quick and The Thread. The book was just named a Romantic Times Top Pick and given 4 1/2 stars.

Please keep in mind that I’m throwing a virtual launch party on Facebook on August 3 where there will be opportunities to win prizes all day long. Join me, won’t you?

Thanks again, everybody, for your support and encouragement!

Marcy’s Musings

Hi, there! Only one more week to enter the pre-order contest for The Quick and The Thread and be entered to win the $50 Amazon gift card. If you pre-order the book, just e-mail Gayle (gayle@gayletrent.com) with your confirmation e-mail or a jpeg of your order form or receipt by midnight on June 30. You don’t have to preorder the book from Amazon. You can order it from any online or brick-and-mortar store.

Thank you to everybody who has entered so far!

There will be plenty more fun and prize giveaways on August 3 at the virtual release party. “Like” the Facebook page, follow Gayle on Twitter or stay tuned to this blog for more details.

Summer Embroidery Spotlight:

If your weather is like our weather, it’s too hot right now to go out and enjoy much of the great outdoors. So why not use this as an excuse to stay inside and get some stitching done? Below are some sites featuring summer embroidery projects:

http://www.dollarstitch.com/home.php?cat=509 - I love the Soda Pop Top Covers or Coasters!

http://www.sulky.com/embroidery/summer_sampler.php - Isn’t the kitten adorable? And how pretty are those flower borders?

http://www.bunnycup.com/viewset.aspx?designset=344 - Cool appliques!

http://www.homeberries.com/summer/ - Freebies!

http://livinglearningandlovingsimply.blogspot.com/2009/06/simple-summer-embroidery-project.html - Wonderful keepsake idea.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/fruity-button-napkins - How cute are these?

http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Features/summer+projects.htm - For those of you who like to knit or crochet.

Have fun and stay cool!

Happy Memorial Day!

As I told you in a recent post, The Quick and The Thread written under the pseudonym Amanda Lee is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com and AmazonUK.com.  To celebrate, I’m having a special contest for the month of June. Anyone who pre-orders The Quick and The Thread from either Amazon or Amazon UK by June 30 will be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

To enter the contest, simply forward a copy of your Amazon confirmation e-mail to gayle@gayletrent.com or send a jpeg of your order. If you choose to pre-order from your local bookseller, please send a jpeg of your receipt with sensitive information blacked out. Be assured your Amazon confirmation is safe. Sensitive information is protected by the customer’s password.

One winner will be drawn from all the e-mail addresses submitted on the morning of July 1, 2010. The winner will be notified by e-mail and will receive an electronic Amazon gift certificate in the amount of $50 US.

Order from Amazon UK at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quick-Thread-Embroidery-Mystery/dp/0451230965/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275316489&sr=8-1.

Or you may order from Amazon using this link:

Good luck!