We've Got Winners! + Follower Giveaway

Some of you might call me a nerd for doing this but I was so excited for the giveaway that I sat at my computer and at 5PM on the dot closed comments on my giveaway posts and selected the winners!

So without further ado (or any ado at all really):

Out of 262 entries the winner of my first giveaway of one custom doll from my shop was:

#214, Appie (since I didn't hear back from Appie in the required time I drew a new winner)

#92, Beth

Congratulations Beth!!!! I've emailed you.

And out of 676 entries the winner of my second giveaway of a gift certificate worth $25 to Fresh Modern Fabric was

#65

Who is:

Congratulations Jessica!!!! I've emailed you.

To all who didn't win: I'm so sorry!!! Better luck next time!

And about next time... I've been so overwhelmed by the number of new followers I've gained in the last week so as a big "thank you" for following I'm going to do a follower giveaway sometime in the next week.  If you follow me through Google Friend Connect you're already entered.  If you follow me through any other way comment on this post telling me and I'll be sure to enter you into the draw.  And thanks for following!!!!!

Don't forget that you can still use the coupon GIVEAWAYDAY for 15% off anything in the shop now through June 1st!

Seeing Stars+ Pinterest Challenge

With all the fun going on between Bloggers Quilt Festival and Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day it's hard to concentrate on getting sewing projects done, but I did sit down at the machine a little this week to get a few things done.

First off is a zip bag I made myself using Elizabeth Hartman's Perfect Zip Bags pattern in view C.

I've had this bag pinned for a while on my "bags to make" board on pinterest and after going through all the giveaway posts and seeing everyone's awesome pouches they were giving away I figured it was time to go ahead and make myself one.

I pulled some natural linen from my stash and a pile of Cape Ann charm squares I have left over from making Anna's quilt and started planning.

The pattern allows for a variation in the bag where you include a 6" square patchwork panel on the bag front-- I wanted to switch it up and include a sawtooth star instead.  Somewhere in my quick calculations I made an error and my star was bigger than I had intended it to be.  I have no idea why I thought that 2" points plus a 4" center would make a 6" star.  It would if the star only had points on one side, but stars have points on BOTH sides, so after I sewed it together I realized that my star was 8" square and not 6" square as the pattern had allowed for.  I added a simple patchwork strip to the back and made the same mistake.  It's also 8 inches wide, but I made it work.

Oh well, you live and you learn.  I also had to make do with a 7" zip instead of the 9" one it called for.  Since this was a "spur of the moment" kind of a thing I wasn't willing to go out to the store to find a new zip.

When I made the bag I omitted a step that I later regretted and then even later went back and fixed.  The pattern says to use a layer of duck canvas between the front and the lining and I suggest you do.  Otherwise your bag looks all frumpy and gross like this:

I went back the next day and took the bag apart and added in the canvas.  It was a really easy step that had great results.  I really shouldn't have omitted it.

After fixing the frumpy problem I'm super happy with how it turned out.  I'm planning on using this bag to carry sewing tools with me when I go to friends' houses to sew.

edit: I'm using this project as my entry for the Pinterest Challenge going on over at Michelle Patterns.  The Challenge is great motivation to go and finally make a project that you've had pinned for awhile.  I might just go and try some tutorials I have pinned as well!

The second thing I got done this week was my May block for Stash Bee.  I'm in hive #2 and this month we made wonky stars.  Once I had the colors and fabrics picked out it was super quick to sew.

I'm sending it and the signature block I made off to its new owner today.  I also included some DS scraps since the block will be late in getting to her since it has to travel all the way to the UK to get to her.

In addition to these two stars I'm also working on some dolls.  One is a custom doll that's for an order in the shop.  The other is just a doll I'm making for fun.  When she's done shell be listed in the shop as a "ready made" doll.

That's it for now!  Good luck for everyone entering the giveaways and for those with submissions in the BQF.  I can't wait to choose the winners for my giveaways on Friday night!

-Stephanie

Bloggers Quilt Festival: Nominate me please!

Hello followers (new and old)!

I've been stunned by the response to my giveaways for Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day this year, and how many of your have chosen to follow my blog.  I hope you decide to stick around even after all the giveaways are over.

As many of you know in addition to it being giveaway week at Sew Mama Sew the Bloggers Quilt Festival is also in full swing and I have a quilt entered in it this year.  Nominations started today and I would be honored if you remembered my quilt #174 when thinking about nominations for best hand quilted quilt.

I spent close to 7 months finishing the hand quilting on my little leaves quilt I made my sister and would be honored to be included in the nominations for the hand quilting category.

To nominate my quilt please use Amy's Blogger Quilt Festival nomination form and be sure to nominate my quilt #174 in the "Favorite hand quilted quilt" category.

For the story behind my quilt please read my entry post to the festival here and my original post here.

Thanks so much!

And good luck with the giveaways!  I'm looking forward to choosing winners this weekend!

-Stephanie

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway #2

Giveaway is now CLOSED!!!!

I have a giveaway for Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day for a custom doll going on here but I thought since I'm primarily a quilter that I'd host a giveaway for something a quilter wants (and NEEDS!).

For this giveaway I'm giving away a $25 gift card to Fresh Modern Fabric

 Who can't use some more fabric in their lives?

Here are a few things they have in their shop:

To enter just leave me a comment.  If you want you can tell me about your favorite sewing pattern (garment, quilt, bag, or other).

For an additional entry become a follower of my blog (or tell me that you already do)

And for a 3rd entry leave me a comment telling me you went to my Etsy shop and "favorite-ed" it

That's it!  Giveaway closes May 25 at 5 p.m. PST closed! and I'll announce the winner chosen by random draw the next day.

International entries welcome!

p.s. If you're following the Bloggers Quilt Festival please feel free to nominate my Little Leaves quilt #174 in the hand quilting category!

Congratulations to our winner #65, Jessica!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway!

Giveaway is now CLOSED!!!!

Welcome to my giveaway for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!  I've participated in Giveaway Day twice and won lots of things, but this is my first time hosting a giveaway and I'm really excited!

Here's what one lucky winner will win:

One custom made doll made by me!!!!  That's a $45 value! I make all my custom dolls to your exact specifications, so that means that you get to pick either flannel or linen for the body, skin tone, eye color, extra features (pink cheeks, eyelashes, eyebrows, freckles), hair color, texture and style, as well as clothing type!  I'll make it however you want it!

My friend Rebeckah and I just opened an Etsy shop called Clothesline Designs RS where we sell my dolls among other things for kids and moms, so this giveaway is sort of doubling as a "grand opening" giveaway for the shop.

You have three chances to win (and please leave a separate comment for EACH):
-Leave a comment telling me about your favorite childhood toy
-Leave a comment telling me that you're a follower or that you became a follower of my blog
-And leave me a comment telling me you went to my Etsy shop and "favorite-ed" it

That's it!  Giveaway closes May 25 at 5 p.m. PST closed! and I'll announce the winner chosen by random draw the next day.

International entries welcome!

Also, as a thank you for visiting, use the coupon GIVEAWAYDAY for 15% off anything in the shop now through June 1st!

Happy entering and thanks for visiting!

p.s. If you're following the Bloggers Quilt Festival please feel free to nominate my Little Leaves quilt #174 in the hand quilting category!

Congratulations to our winner #214, Appie!

Unfortunately the first person I contacted whose name I drew never got back to me, so I've drawn a new winner.

Congratulations to our winner #92, Beth!

Please contact me ASAP Beth!

Etsy Shop Now Open!

I had grand plans for my 50th blog post, but this is pretty awesome too!  I'd just like to announce that mine and Rebeckah's Etsy Shop is now OPEN!

Please stop by and "favorite" us.  And be sure to come back on Monday for Sew Mama Sew's giveaway day.  I'll be giving away a custom doll from the new shop!

Eeek!  So Excited!!!  Don't forget to visit the shop!