Sunday Stash & Giveaway Winner!

A funny thing happened early last week..... One of my Melbourne MQG friends posted in our FB group that Spotlight was stocking some gorgeous Cloud 9 canvas.  And said canvas was from the Koi range by Rashida Coleman-Hale!  What is funny?  Well, when I receive my Spotlight catalogues in the mail, I usually don't need anything, so I just throw them in the bin (gasp!). So on this day, I had to go rummaging through my garbage bin to find the catalogue!  And when I did, I knew I would be hot-footing it down to Spotlight on Wednesday, when the sale began.....

I was there right on opening time, and whizzed down to the canvas section, and found these delightful pretties!  I promptly purchased the three prints on the right, and then exited the store.  That same afternoon, I pulled out my 241 Tote pattern pieces, and got started on my new handbag.

And by Friday afternoon, I'd made not only one, but two!  I changed a couple of things.  You see, these are my 6th and 7th 241 totes, so I am learning each time what works and what doesn't.  This time around, I added a zipper pocket to the outside that has plenty of room in it.  Although I love the look of the two little zip pockets on the original pattern, they aren't really that useful!  I have also enlarged the pattern, to around 110% when printing it out.  You'll see further down in the post a comparison photo with my original bag.  And lastly, I'm using the 640 fusible interfacing from Spotlight, which is a little more sturdier than others I've used.  Gives the bag much more body and strength.

And just for your amusement, I took this shot and shared it on IG so everyone could see just how big this yummy bag is!

Size comparison!  The top bag is the first I made, and as you can tell, is a little floppy due to a thin interfacing.  Can you also tell I have a thing for Rashida's fabric designs??  :)

And just in the interest's of honesty.....I actually went back to Spotlight on Friday - mainly to get more interfacing - but also to see if they had the Koi print for my Mum.  I found a couple of other prints too.  So - I grabbed myself the dragonfly and grey crosses too.....

If you're looking for some lovely quality canvas, then you should pop in to Spotlight (if you're in AUS) and check them out!

NOW - on to the giveaway from last week!  Thank you to everyone who entered for the chance to win a mystery pack of fabric from my stash!  With over 200 entries, it was really interesting to see who everyone's favourite designers and colour were.  But as always, there has to be one winner - and thankfully, Rafflecopter chooses for me!

A big congratulations to Suesewstoo!  I shall email you shortly and get your postal address.  Then send a mysterious little something out to you!

Thanks again everyone! 

xxx

The Bonnie & Camille Charm Along WINNERS!

WOW!  I have been completely blown away by the amazing projects everyone has been working on with their Bonnie & Camille charm squares!  It once again cements the fact that 5" squares have a whole lot more value than they are given credit for!  If you haven't already checked out all of the linked up projects, pop over to the linky HERE and have a browse!  Thank you to everyone who participated and especially to the 28 people who have linked up.  You all put yourselves in the running for the fabulous prizes!  Unfortunately, there can only be TEN winners!  Which is pretty good!!!!

So without further ado, here are all the winners (as chosen by random.org):

The lovely Camille Roskelley has offered FIVE lucky participants their choice of ONE PDF pattern from her amazing range - including a couple of stunning new patterns!

FIVE winners of patterns are:

Missy Mack

Michelle Hickson

Tootle Jayne

Kristi Kuhne

Joanna King

A $50 voucher to spend on the amazing range of Quilter's Solids at The Oz Material Girls.  

(Part of voucher is to cover postage costs).

ONE winner of $50 voucher is:

Anna Cromie

Live Love Sew has kindly donated a Scrumptious Layer Cake AND a copy of her X's & O's quilt pattern!

ONE winner of Live Love Sew prize is:

Kate (Manic Mumdays)

$50 Voucher AND a Miss Kate Layer Cake!

ONE winner of Fifi's prize is:

Claire Scott

Machine embroidered Towel, hand towel & face washer set, made to order, kindly donated by one of our charm swap members - Meg Pease.

ONE winner of Meg Pease's prize is:

Sue Sews Too

A SIX MONTH subscription to Make Modern Magazine! Please note: You will receive access to the next three Make Modern issues published after you subscribe. If you subscribe after Issue 1 is published on 1 September, you will receive Issue 2 onwards

ONE winner of Make Modern subscription is: 

Melanie Sim

Congratulations to everyone on their amazing projects!  You are truly all amazing and winners in my eyes - and thankfully it was not up to me to choose!!!!  I will be in touch in the next couple of days to organise your prizes!

I look forward to seeing some of you finish your projects, and of course, as always, will be on the hunt for more fabulous charm square ideas!

Winner Winner - Tokyo Dinner!

I know, I know - It's supposed to be winner, winner, chicken dinner - but I couldn't help myself!  You see, whilst this post is popping up on my FB page, your inbox or wherever else you read my posts - I'm in the air on my way to Tokyo!  I am currently sitting here on the computer at home, having just finished my lunch after a last minute dash to my son's high school to - ahemmm - sort out some "stuff".  Kids.  Anyway - I digress!  My suitcase is sort of packed, the house is sort of clean, I have written a plethora of phone numbers and instructions on the fridge for the kids and the husband.  I've weighed my suitcase, then edited it heavily.  It's still rather hefty though.  I'm blaming all the stuff I'm taking over for my Tokyo BFF and her kids AND a couple of realllly heavy magazines for Alyce!

I've booked my excess baggage for my return, and went and exchanged the cash my Mum gave me yesterday to purchase her fabric.  I've transferred money to my credit card to pay for the fabric I will be purchasing for myself.  I think I've got the fabric funds sorted....

Japan must be very excited about my impending arrival, because they've scheduled a SUPER TYPHOON in my honour!  Woohooo!  Ummmmm.......

I think I'm prepared.  I hope I'm prepared.  Nine days away from my family, in a foreign country.  I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't nervous.

Soooooo - I'll see you on the flip side!  Be sure to follow me on Instagram - because something else I've pre-arranged is portable wi-fi!  I'm gonna instagram the s*it out of Tokyo!  And you know I'm going to have some of the most epic Sunday Stash posts in history when I return......

Back to the winners......  Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my little giveaway for a copy of my Charm Dash Pattern!  Random.org tells me the winners are:

Check your inbox ladies!  There's a little old pattern awaiting your attention!

And to everyone who has already purchased my pattern - THANK YOU!  I seriously want to email you all individually to say how much I love you and your faith in my ability!  I look forward to seeing a whole bunch of Charm Dash quilts popping up!

Have a fabulous week everyone! xxx

Kate Spain Charm-along Winners!

I'm so sad to see the charm-along ending today!  But I'm so very excited to see all of the UH-mazing projects that were linked up!  You seriously have to go and check out each and every one of them.  The way one set of 5" squares can be turned in to so very many different things is inspiring!  You can find them all on the linky HERE.

But for now - feast your eyes on the seven fabulous winners, who were all chosen by Random.org (because I basically could not choose a favourite - it would be like asking me who my favourite child was!?!?).  Here we go.....

1. Gina Coetzer

A $50 Voucher OR a Kate Spain Solstice Jelly Roll from fabricgarden.com.au

2.  Sandie Beach

Mystery Bundle from Gnomeangel.com

3.  Jayne Maddern


$20 Voucher to spend at Patternsonly.com

4.  Jenny Doyle

FQ bundle of Daisies 'n such from katequilts.com

5.  Handmade By Susie

12 FQ Solids bundle from kelliottmagic.com

6.  Chrissy Deacon

MerlyLou Designs Spring Cushion Pattern & Woollen Felt Kit

AND....... Drum Roll..........

A little pressie from Kate Spain herself!

7. Tina Fledderus

I want to do a HUGE shout out to all the wonderful charm swappers who not only took part in the charm swap (both here and the US, cos I know we had some Americans joining us!) but also jumped in and used their charms!  It has been so lovely knowing that the swap was the catalyst for creativity, and for some - a reason to start sewing again!  I have loved each and every part of it!

Another HUGE shout out to all the fabulous Aussie sponsors - please go and check out their businesses!

And also a big shout out to Kate Spain!  Kate (and Pete) has answered many an email from me, and has always been fabulous in her replies and sharing of information!  You are very generous, and I appreciate the time you have taken to be involved!  Mwah!

Ok - where to from here?  Tomorrow...........

Be sure to be around technology mid morning...... Sign ups for the next Aussie Charm Swap will open!

See you then!

Almost Wordless W.I.P. Wednesday & A Winner

247 x 4.5" blocks all sewn together with I think only a handful of points sacrificed.  I'm one very proud human being right now.

 

I got it up to a single bed size.  Just need to baste, quilt and bind.

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced - You can too!

P.S.  The winner of Cornelia's "Every Which Way" pattern is - 

Thanks to everyone who entered!  I shall email you in a tic Quilting Momma!

Sunday Thanks

A very BIG thank you to everyone who has popped in over the past week and taken the time to leave me a comment and enter my 500 Giveaway!  I will never cease to be amazed at the beautiful feedback I receive and the smile it brings to my face!  The winners were drawn via Rafflecopter earlier today and they were:

International - Vera

Australian - Christine M.

Facebook - Merryn

I shall endeavour to get a little parcel in the mail for each of you during this coming week. 

I have had such a lovely weekend at home (No work!!!), catching up with the in-laws last night and friends today - and in between, managed to get the latest month's block whipped up from The Fat Quarter Shop's Mystery Block of The Month program.....

Such a happy little block!  I think I have mentioned in previous posts, I didn't really think the BOM was going to do much for me, in terms of style, but I'm really enjoying making up these little blocks.  Using fabric I would never normally choose, and blocks I would not think to make!  Only a couple more blocks to go and I will have another quilt top ready to rumble!

And on that note - I have a few days at home this week, and I am going to desperately try and get two quilts finished.  One that has been basted and rolled up ready to quilt for a few weeks now (economy block quilt) and the other that requires a backing to be finished so I can complete it (Waterfront Park quilt).  Life is just getting in the way these days!!!

That's it for this Sunday night.  Just a little thank you and a happy little block - that's all you need sometimes!  Ni-night! xxx

The Cushion For Christmas Blog Hop Winners Edition!

Firstly, I want to throw out a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who not only participated in the blog hop, but also just popped in and commented leaving your encouragement for everyone involved and also letting me know that you were inspired to get your cushion making skills happening!  If there was one thing I wished to gain from this experience, it was to see all you creative peeps becoming even more creative (who thought that was even possible?) and sharing said creativeness with the rest of the world!  In total, there were more than 70 cushions made and shared between the Flickr Group, emails and the linky!  That's amazing!  I'm so proud of you all!

But having said that…… I now have to pick a favourite.  As I have explained before, it's like being told to choose your favourite child (which for interest's sake THIS WEEK is Lochie!  The eldest received a bevy of awards for his efforts in year 9.  Ssshhhhh, I didn't choose ok?).  Given I clearly have no problem choosing my favourite children  on a weekly basis, surely I can choose my favourite cushion yes?  No.  I threw it open to the other fabulous bloggers who all worked very hard to help bring you this blog hop, and they helped make it more difficult by all choosing different ones!  But……. This is the conclusion I came to:

The winner of a $50 voucher to the Fat Quarter Shop, for having the most votes for Favourite Cushion is……..

Mary Emmens!  Congratulations Mary, your gorgeous Snowy, Pebbles and Pete are fabulous!

Fat Quarter Shop - $50 Voucher!

Now on to the winners chosen for all our amazing runners up prizes……..

Congrats to Kathy for this gorgeous Waterfront Park cushion!  You have won a bundle of fabric from Polka Dot Tea Fabrics!

Polka Dot Tea - Fabric Bundle!

And to Amy with this fab "Xmas Tree" low volume cushion.  You have won a $25 gift voucher to The Intrepid Thread!

Intrepid Thread - $25 Voucher!

This darling mermaid cushion by Good Golly Ginger was especially chosen to be one of the winners by my mermaid adoring five year old Chloe.  Apparently I now have to make her one!  Congrats to you Katie, you've won your choice of three paper piecing patterns from Quiet Play!

Quiet Play - Winner's choice of 3 Paper Piecing Patterns!

Erin from Missy Mac Creations!  You've won yourself a $20 voucher to Patternsonly.com!

Patterns Only - $20 Voucher

Jan from Sew Surprising made quite a few awesome cushions!  This Pinterest one was a winner!  You've won a $20 voucher to The Oz Material Girls!

The Oz Material Girls - $20 Voucher

And last but certainly not very least is……

This super cute steering wheel cushion by Alisa at A stitch in Between!  Congrats!  You've won a fabulous pattern from Blossom Heart Quilts!

Blossom Heart Quilts - Ornamental Quilt Pattern!

Aren't they all amazing?  I truly wish I had enough prizes to give everyone something!  To those who have won, I shall forward your email addresses to the sponsors so you can receive your goodies ASAP.  

Once again - thank you ALL so much!  I was so very nervous hosting my first ever blog hop, and even though it was in the middle of the most busiest time of the year, I have enjoyed every single moment of it!  Seeing all the wonderful cushions shared by my favourite bloggers and all of YOU has put a big smile on my dial and kept my spirits high!

So to everyone - I wish you a very Merry Christmas and I hope that all of the lucky recipients of your cushions are just as impressed as I!

xxxx