Grab a cuppa because this is a mix of news around the blogs, gossip and leads to resources.

Pam Kellog of Kitty and Me Designs has worked out the DMC colours for this months Take it Further challenge colour scheme

Leslie from Pinyon Creek Stitching is aiming to establish a crazy quilt association. Read her post on the topic as many of the points she makes  is what is needed to raise the profile and promote crazy quilting.

Lisa Call of Contemporary Texitle Art has an interesting interview with artist coach Alyson Stanfield of ArtBizBlog about her new book I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion. Better still you can listen to the 12-14 minutes long podcast and stitch (I love podcasts!)

If you are interested in Slow cloth and the cultural aspects of textiles Lainie of Red Thread Studio pointed to some podcasts over on the Maiwa site. I have not listened to them all but I did delve into the excerpts from Kismet, Ajrakh and he Fish of Knowledge which was recorded at the Maiwa Symposium in October last year. Its good and food for thought as you stitch

Mimi Kirchner, of Doll has written a great tutorial on a dainty little felt rose

Meggiecat pointed readers to this information on making a Rosette

Also discovered via Meggiecat is a new blog on the block titled Spoonflower which describes itself as serving Internet-savvy crafters, creative folks who sew and quilt. What Stephen and Kim Fraser appear to do is to take digital files and print on fabric.

Yesterday on Mindtracks I pointed to Ponoko is a new online service that I think many readers here will be interested in too. It is not got a direct textiles application but if you are a crafter who designs things this site may be for you.

You design the product and submit the eps files to Ponoko and they laser cut them for you. Rather than print on demand its a ‘make on demand’ service. You can also sell your products form their site via your own shop front. For more information have a look at the Make and sell section of the site and they have blog you can follow too. Check out their product of the week.

My thanks goes to Allie for dropping me an email and giving me the link.

Added later:

I just tossed a pair of Jerry’s undies out the door. I was folding the washing and discovered a scorpion - not nice. My hand just brushed past it when I noticed the sudden movement. I carefully took the garment it was sitting on - a pair of Jerry’s undies and tossed it and the garment out the door. (I don’t like killing things) All I can say I am pleased Jerry did not attempt to wear them this morning. What a place to be bitten!