What the?

So, all of a sudden it's Christmas? My mother was right--don't blink. I've been busy getting ready for Christmas while working my tootsies off at school. I'm happy to report that I've finished my Christmas sewing, and I'm a doctoral candidate. finally! and finally!

I made peek-a-boo bags for everyone on my Christmas list. These pouches are highly addictive and after some pattern finagling, pretty darn quick! They measure about 9 X 10 flat, with a vinyl window. I made tissue holders with the leftover fabrics--that's what you see inside the bags here.

I also made a few stockings using a fabulous free pattern from fabricworm; I will throw in a pic of my favorite one--bras and pink polka dots.

One for Mom and the other for her sister, my Aunt Bunnie (being sisters, I had to make them exactly alike, don't you think?)

One for my Aunt Maureen and the other for my boss Sonya--both dog lovers (click on the pic, this print is too cute!)

One for my sister Jen and the other for me!

a matching stocking for Jen--she's going to get a kick out of this!!

HaPpY HoLiDaYs!

May the coming year be full of happiness, laughter, prosperity, balance, and plenty of Chinese takeout!

UPDATE: I will be doing a tutorial for a bag similar to this over at Madame Samm's http://www.sewwequilt.com/ on February 8th!

winner!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:3Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Here's the random number generator--I hope it stays visible on the post! At any rate, #3 is our winner

sweet limes said...3

Tried to use the coupon but it said it could only be used for the software. :(

November 13, 2011 10:02 PM 

My Memories Software Giveaway

My Memories Giveaway: Free Digital Scrapbooking Software

I have something very special to share with all of you today! Liz Gardner at My Memories has asked me to host a giveaway. My Memories is giving away their actual scrapbook software to one of my lucky readers! If you want a chance to win, here's a few ways to enter:

1) Go to www.mymemories.com and pick out your favorite paper pack or layout--then comment here.

2) Follow my blog.
3) Send a friend over to comment.

4) Check out My Memories on Facebook and let me know you've visited/liked them.
5) Use the Coupon Codes Below to get a $10 Credit in the My Memories Store

If you do any or all of these, let me know in the comment section below! Each one counts as an entry, so you have five ways to win! 

Make sure to leave a way for me to contact you-- leave your email in the form of:
you (at) mail (dot) com. Winner will be notified by email on November 20.

My Memories Suite is simply amazing! I have tried it out and used it to create various digital scrapbook pages. If you've been around much, you know how much I love to change my blog banner. In the past it took me a lot of time, now it takes half the time. To say I'm thrilled is an understatement!

Here's the first page I made after about 15 minutes of working with this software--that's user friendly!

Liz is going to sweeten the deal for all of us...

"And as a special for ALL of your readers, we give you your very own coupon code (STMMMS16810) that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!"

Please note that you must buy the software to receive the bonus $10 for the store.

Okay, so simply copy this : STMMMS16810 and go pick out the scrap pack you love and enter it in the promo code box at checkout! You can literally walk away with scrap packs for FREE! 
You do NOT have to buy the software to grab the $10 code for the scrap packs. You can also use their scrap packs in your own editting software. 
Now that I have an account, I receive newsletters with new information as well as links for free pages. Seriously, I downloaded 9 new freebies today--there are tons!

Want to learn more about My Memories Suite, the #1-rated scrapbooking software you can win?

Create in minutes:
Fast, and easy to use. Simple enough for beginners, yet powerful for serious scrapbookers.
Not just looks:
Take your scrapbooks beyond traditional photo albums with interactive features.

Go ahead, show off!

Your extended family will appreciate receiving the latest pictures without either one of you having to leave the house!

Once you have made your My Memories scrapbook album, you want to share your creation with others, right?  Print your pages and share them as a traditional scrapbook-or use the one-click share option to turn your album into professionally-printed and hardbound book. 

You're not out of options yet...Take advantage of a full suite of sharing options and turn your scrapbook into a movie to watch on a DVD-or view on an iPod. My Memories Suite allows you to share an interactive album on a disc (DVD or CD) that will automatically play on a computer (PC or Mac). Viewers can interact with your scrapbook by clicking on video, playing narration or navigating through your scrapbook like a website. You can even place in web links for them to visit or embed hidden files like Grandma's secret cookie recipe.

With My Memories Suite you can even create and share professionally printed and bound calendars, send greeting cards to all your friends, create blog headers and buttons, make posters or trading cards for your son's soccer team, share your scrapbook on your Facebook page-all with the click of a button. 

This pic is in the software. After you finish making your scrapbook, click on one of these and  the rest is done for you! yes, that easy!

My Memories is a lot of fun to play with and hey, this is your chance to score one free!

One good bag deserves another!

I was itching to make something the other day so I started (and finished) this beauty, another Grand Revival Flea Market bag. Perfect for fall and available for purchase here:


Made with Coquette by Art Gallery Fabrics.
outer: flower bed in blush
sides: mod rings in slate
inner: Feminine Flair in Pear

lovely! click for a closeup.

4 pockets and a key fob. this bag rocks.

While digging through myriad bins for some fabric recently, I came across an alarming number of Lakehouse fatties. I put them all together and I think I might just hop on the Across the Sea QAL bus hosted by Ellison Lane Quilts and Fairy Face Designs.  

springy, yes, but by the time I actually finish...

Kona in Lemon for the background fabric and two choices for binding.

Here's what it will look like: (both images from Ellison Lane Quilts blog)

front. 

back

Goodbye my friend!

My friend Tina is moving next week. She's my walking buddy--at least 15 miles per week we strut our stuff down the country roads and through the golf course. Oh, sad day to lose my walking buddy and yoga instructor in one shot. I asked if she wanted a going away gift and she decided that my bag, in different colors, would be just right for her.

My bag came from Vicki at Accio Fabric! She had made it to test a pattern, and I thoughtfully reminded her that she hadn't given me a birthday gift. We don't exchange gifts so this was my way of extending a means for her to give me the bag before I outright stole it. She acquiesced ♥  BTW, she is a finalist in the Riley Blake contest so go vote for her UPSY DAISY quilt! You can see all the finalists and vote here: http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/contest/ or here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riley-Blake-Designs/217428743660

The pattern is Grand Revival's Flea Market Bag. It has 2 sizes and a few strap/closure options. The one I made is about 12.5 X 12.5:

The bag on the left is mine; Tina rummaged through my fabric stash until she decided on Kaffe Fassett's Lotus, Lakehouse dots, and Kona in stone (interior) for her bag.

I added a key fob (yes!) and lots of pockets for stashing. Then, a sentiment so that she would be reminded every time she went in her purse (the bright spot is the sun):

Putting the money where your mouth is...

You KNOW I'm Irish, right? That means I'm LUCKY. And MOUTHY. IF you put those two together, what do you get?

You get me, entering an Accuquilt Go! Baby cutter giveaway on Made With Love with the following:

♥Duff said...22

I am a f♥ll♥wer! And I'm ready to win one of these puppies!! If I were to be so stinkin' lucky, I'd do cartwheels for Circles, tumbler, and drunkard’s path dies! Yes, cartwheels on a youtube video. promise!! :O)

AUGUST 8, 2011 7:59 PM 

So thanks again! and here it is (p.s., the cheer is "idiot!"):

OH My!

Miss Jennifer over at Ellison Lane Quilts is highlighting me over on her blog today, the first of many in the "Follower Spotlight." So if you'd like to up your odds at winning Duffy Trivial Pursuit, feel free to take a look. Of course, that's just a game. If you want to win residential rights to the spare room you'll need to make killer margaritas and agree to hot tub excursions at all hours as I prattle on about my nonexistent love life. OH, makes the highlight so much more inviting, doesn't it?

Kidding aside, Jennifer is a talented modern sewist and a powerful force on the blog scene--she's got tips, tricks, giveaways, tutorials, the best swaps on the planet, and a passion for things that are close to her heart. See how easy it is to like this chick?!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Hello, friends and followers!

I would like to welcome you

to a Wantobe Quilters Campaign over at www.sewwequilt.com

 They are having quilting supplies to giveaway 5 x a week for the next 11 weeks!

The campaign began Aug 1st and runs till Oct 29th.

Supplies that will have you quilting

before you know it…From sewing machines to irons, to die cutters,

to mats, to rotary cutters, sewing baskets, scissors, batting, needles,

rolled sewing machine bags, patterns, books, magazines…everything

you could imagine to assist you in being a NEW Quilter.

A Wantobe Quilter is someone who has no quilting tools, has never quilted.

They can enter on M-W-F to win...they leave a comment and my name of my blog...

over at Sew We Quilt. ( Check their Saturday posts for recaps of the week,

the giveaways are FABULOUS)

http://www.sewwequilt.com/2011/08/saturdays-are-our-sponsor-daysrecap-of.html

http://www.sewwequilt.com/2011/08/wantobe-quilter-sponsor-day-recap-of.html 

Even if you are already part of this community you can win

quilting stuff too…Tuesdays and Thursdays are days for us.

( that is Quilters) we have supplies but we can win and better ones..

All you have to do is give me your name and phone number 

and email sew I can submit this to the organizer, because if you win

anything I can win something too. 

Be my follower and a follower

over at www.sewwequilt.com That is all! There are over 53 Sponsors involved.

I am pretty excited to be part of this, sew should you.

I love being a QUILTER! 

P.S. You will not be eligible to win anything if you do not register

with me (or with any blogger where you see this message)


See that cute orange gadget on the sidebar? If ever you need a quick link to this awesome promotion, just click and you'll be instantly transported!


Let's win some GOODIES!

Hey! Are clotheslines your thing? Jeannie over at "Life on the (Clothes) Line" profiles bloggers and their clothesline on a regular basis, along with household tips & tricks, and family tales & recipes. This week, she's asked me to talk about my love affair with clotheslines so if you want, feel free to swing by and say hi!

Life on the (Clothes) Line

Old fashioned wisdom in a modern era.

Thanks, Jeannie, for featuring me this week!

The I-almost-missed-your-birthday apron

My Aunt Pat's birthday is coming up. I was all set to start making her a retro apron this weekend until I realized at about 10pm last night that her birthday is this Saturday. Yes, I pulled out the fabric and went to work!

I made this pattern once before so I knew it was child's play until the bias binding neckline.

The pattern is "My Mom's Favorite Apron" from Sew Simple Patterns (click on the title for a nice big photo). See how cute that is when it's on your body?

Of course it's reversible! 

Fabrics:

Red = Let's Play (Plaid with floral red) for Benartex

Blue = Hankie Club by Whister Studios Style (mini dots blue) for Windham Fabrics

By 1:30am the last thing I wanted to do was hand stitch bias binding, so I utilized a fast & fabulous method from Accio Fabric! (If Vicki would just upload a freaking tutorial I could link straight to it! hint! hint!)

Check out these results--a perfect seam on one side and cute top stitching on the reverse. 

Well, this beauty was done by 2am and at the post office by 8:30 (this is when the postal worker told me that it wouldn't go out until 4 pm and my lip curled as I growled at her). Thankfully, it is scheduled to arrive on Saturday! Happy Birthday Aunt Pat!

For anyone who would like to enter the giveaway going on right now, click here. If you're already a follower of Mary Lou's, that counts too!

Two Birds One Stone

You've all heard the adage, Two Birds, One Stone. Well here's a quilty giveaway that's sure to make you see double:

Mary Lou Weidman (click on her name for a wallop of inspiration!) is an amazing quilter, teacher, cook, author, gardener, and all-around-great gal! i follow her blog and am never disappointed--there is so much inspiration! If you've ever needed to give your creative juices a jump start, her blog is the place to do it.

Blogger deleted her blog a short while ago and so she's got a new URL for your reader: http://marylouweidman-marylou.blogspot.com/

so, HERE'S THE DOUBLE GIVEAWAY:

Mary Lou is giving away a purse on her blog and I am giving away these items TO ANYONE WHO IS A MARY LOU FOLLOWER:

(It's a Tammy Tadd-themed giveaway)

75-page project book! Here is a sampling of projects:

Market bag, lunch bag,  & Arm Candy handbag

Cherry Cherry Cheesecake quilt, Half Baked Apron, & Casserole dish

fall/winter 2009 magazine with Tammy's shop as a top store

2 patterns--free-pieced or foundation -pieced squares quilt and a  market apron.

TO ENTER:
1. GO TO MARY LOU'S BLOG AND BECOME A FOLLOWER; LEAVE A COMMENT TO WIN HER GIVEAWAY!
2. COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE A COMMENT THAT YOU'RE A MARY LOU FOLLOWER TO WIN MY GIVEAWAY!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
BLOG ABOUT EITHER ONE OR BOTH GIVEAWAYS AND LEAVE 5 EXTRA COMMENTS FOR 5 EXTRA CHANCES! (In other words, put a link on your blog to Mary Lou's URL, or my URL, or both--and that is worth 5 extra chances total, no matter which option you choose)

This giveaway will run until  midnight CST on July 16!