I should be embarrased to show this to you ...

We were having friends over today for an afternoon bbq, and I while I was sitting reading some blogs this morning, I looked over at my coffee, and saw this:



I kinda thought to myself, man, it's a little messy in here. Then I looked around some more ...





I seriously don't know what happened!! This is my dining room people!! It was time for a little (or should I say big) clean up!! So .. here's proof that I spent some time this morning cleaning before our friends came by ...





This is where I put most of it:



Yikes - does your craft room or "dining room" ever get this bad??

Before I realized what a mess the dining room was, I made myself a shirt. It was a really easy pattern called the "megan peasant dress" by Jennifer Paganelli. The pattern gives options for lots of different lengths, and also for different sleeves. I was able to cut the pieces and sew the whole thing together in one night. I still have to cut some threads, but here she is:



Okay ... so now that I have shared, I need to be clear. The rest of my house doesn't look like this!! : )

Pillows are done

Phew .. my pillows are finished. Now I just have to decide which one to send to my partner!! I am leaning towards the one with the boxed patchwork ... but I still haven't decided. Here they are:





The back is the same (pretty much) on both of them:



At first I was going to add a zipper, but then I decided to do an envelope type back because I wanted to add the binding on. I really like the way they look, but I think if I did this again, I would add some buttons on the back so it sat nicer.

Not to brag or anything, but I think I did a pretty good job considering I have never made a pillow before. Start to finish, it goes so fast compared to a quilt, so it was really nice for a change!!

I think I also need to learn how to take better pictures! I totally didn't make the first pillow look pretty, and the bottom of the pillow is flipped under weird. Oh well ... Hope you like it partner!!

... I'm off to watch the hockey game. See you again,
Val

What I am working on now ...

So, now that the sew mama sew giveaway is over, and the parcels are off in the post to the winners - it's time to get back to my pillow swap!! I am actually making two pillows right now. They both have the same fabrics, and now that I am looking at them, they are really similar. What do you think?? Do you like one more than the other??





Here is a close up of the quilting on one of them ...



I really like them - but I have seriously started giving myself anxiety that my partner isn't going to like the one I send her!!

Anyway ... on another note, a couple of weeks back I won a giveaway of my own!! A la mode fabric hosted a giveaway, and the winner got to choose a scrap pack of fabric from Hawthorne Threads. I chose to receive the "fresh" scrap pack. It is spring and all!! Anyway - it showed up yesterday!!! There is a lot of BIG pieces of really great fabric inside!!





I would seriously recommend this purchase!!

Anyway - off to do the backs of my pillows!

val

I think it's time to declare a winner!!!!

First of all ... WOW ... second of all, I think we achieved what I consider "a lot a lot"!!! Which means, I am sending out FQs of all the fabric I showed pictures of.

I knew that I would have more visitors than normal, but my goodness!!! There were 382 comments. I think that calls for a whoop whoop.

Okay - since I know you all really want to know who won, let's get to it.

Comment #202 = handmadehappiness (numbers)

Comment # 185 = karelle (Lecien)

Comment #76 = wenchywoman (Umekomachi)

Now, I used the Random number generator - but I couldn't figure out how to post that here, so you will just have to trust me!! I am also going to have to figure out how to number comments when I do this next time. I had to count each one out like 3 times to make sure I didn't mess up!! The lucky thing was - Karelle and Wenchywoman chose different fabrics, so the third fabric will be going out to handmadehappiness who didn't put a preference. If you all could get back to me with your addresses, I will put your new goodies in the mail.

I will try and send you a message right after I finish this post.

And because a blog post isn't a blog post without a picture, here is a picture of what my 7 year old did when she made toast all by herself!! OOPS. I guess I should have told her that you don't need to put it on a plate.



See you all again soon.
Val

It's giveaway time!!!

Ok ... here we go!!! This is my very first giveaway, so since I am a rookie, I don't want to mess stuff up! I have had a really hard time deciding what to give away, so instead of me deciding = you can decide!! Hello to people visiting for the first time from Sew Mama Sew!!

I have picked three fabric sets, and the winner can pick which fabric set they like the best!! IF there are lots (and I mean a lot a lot), then I will give away more than just one set : ) I have a fat quarter of each fabric to giveaway.

All you need to do to win is become a follower, and then leave a comment telling me which fabric set you like the best! Easy right? Oh yes, and also make sure I have a way to find you. Remember - I am a rookie!!

The first group is Japanese fabric. It says "Umekomachi" on the selvedge. It is a heavier weight fabric, that may be a linen/cotton mix, but I am not 100% sure.



The second set is by Lecein. Really cute, quilting weight cotton fabric:



And the last group is American Jane Patterns (Sandy Klop), again, quilting weight, cotton:



I will ship anywhere, and the giveaway is open until May 20th. Good Luck!!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!!

This is where I got started with discovering blogs ... Sew Mama Sew that is. I participated as a participant in the last giveaway day. I didn't win anything = but that's so okay, as I have been lucky with some wins since then!!

So, I am going to play along this time with a giveaway!!!

I haven't decided what yet - but it will be something that hopefully people will want!!

Come back tomorrow to see what it is!! Or maybe later tonight (I think I will have to post tonight so I don't break the rules :)

Pillow Swap

So, how's it going?? I haven't been around this blog much. I have been busy studying for an exam (blech). I have also been busy stalking other people on their blogs :) AND I have joined up for a pillow swap!! FUN!!

Now that the exam is over (yes!!), I have all sorts of crazy pillow ideas in my head. The hard part is = I have no idea what to do!! It is a blind swap = so you know who your partner is = but they have no idea who is making a pillow for them. Which also means that I have no idea who is making a pillow for me!! See - FUN!!

So ... I made this mosaic of pillows that I love:



Pretty awesome pillows aren't they??

Anyway - then I had to start trying to figure out what to make for my partner. So I have come up with two designs so far:





And I think I am going to use Hope Valley ...



Ack = I have no idea if they will like it !!!!

I know I like it - but that's not the point!! They are supposed to like it!!

I will let you know what I decide ...