{lbg studio}

pinterest challenge / michelle patterns...

2012-05-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

Michelle and Bryanne at Michelle Patterns are hosting a sewing challenge this week and asked if I'd like to work on a project to share with you. The challenge involves choosing a sewing related project that I've pinned on Pinterest and creating it. Below, I've posted the pin that inspired me as well as photos of my project. If you'd like to join in, head over here for more details. There's also a great giveaway that participants can enter so now's the time sew something you've spotted on Pinterest and loved!

Other bloggers sharing projects: Anna @Urban Stitches, Patrice @Pink Patrice Boutique Tara @Sew Tara, and Alli @B.Yazoo Michelle @Michelle Patterns

Ok, so on to my 'pin' and project. I'm on a triangle kick at the moment, which may have started by some of the awesome triangle print fabrics floating around like this one and this one. I wanted a throw pillow for my new Ikea chair so that's what I decided to make, based on these awesome pillows I pinned.

My Pinterest inspiration by ara jane of you know what i love? ...

Source: flickr.com via Vanessa / lbgstudio on Pinterest

My pillow...

I chose my color scheme from fabric I used to make another throw pillow for the sofa and used Kona solids. I laid out my 16 blocks randomly {sorta wishing now I'd had a plan but oh well} and did a solid colored envelope back in case I got tired of triangles ;) The pillow form I used is 16" by 16" and is nice and full. . .think I got it at Joann's. I used the method below to create my blocks. Super easy. Once I had my pillow top complete, I basted it to batting and muslin and did simple straight line quilting. 1/4" seams throughout the project.

sew mama sew giveaway day may 2012 . . .

2012-05-21T08:51:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day almost snuck past me this go around but I got a bit of time to spend behind the sewing machine so all is well. I love bags of all kinds and decided to make a set of 2 coordinating pouches to give to one of you. I'm also throwing in a copy of my Convertible Clutch sewing pattern.

pouch details: fabric by leah duncan - maya collection | suede accents on both bags | envelope clutch pattern by anna/noodlehead | small zip pouch- inspired by something I saw at the Gap

*blogger only numbers comments 1-200 before starting over at 1 again. annoying. so, just in case anyone wonders, this comment is actually comment #217 :)

~~Ok! Now on to the giveaway...~~ Giveaway is now closed!!

~~giveaway ends Friday, May 25th~~
~~one entry per person, please~~
~~please, please, please include an email address in your comment!~~
~~giveaway is open to anyone, world - wide~~
~~winner will be chosen randomly and will be contacted shortly thereafter~~

~~To enter, simply leave a comment below sharing your favorite thing to shop for :)~~

~~For {1} additional, totally optional entry, become a follower of this blog and leave a separate comment below. Good luck and make sure to check out all the giveaways going on this week!~~

southern fabric - sponsor highlight/giveaway...

2012-05-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'd like to welcome and introduce my newest sponsor, Southern Fabric! Southern Fabric is an online shop offering all sorts of fabric goodness, including a wide variety of pre-cuts as well as sewing patterns and more. They've been in business for over 7 years and specialize in customer service.

A few of my favorite items from Southern Fabric...

clockwise: salt air charm pack | sofia carry-all | bella solids charm pack | vintage modern houndstooth in aqua

Southern Fabric is giving away this super cute Vintage Modern charm pack by Bonnie and Camille / Moda Fabrics to one of you! To enter, simply check out their store and leave a comment below with your favorite item. They are also generously offering my readers a discount code good for 10% off your purchase through Thursday, May 24th, 2012. Enter 'lbgstudio10' at checkout.

Details: Giveaway is closed!

~~one entry per person, please~~
~~giveaway is open to all readers world-wide~~
~~make sure that I have a way to contact you - including your email address in your comment would be best!~~
giveaway is open til 10pm cst Thursday, May 24th
~~winner will be drawn randomly~~

For a bonus entry, "like" Southern Fabric on Facebook and leave a separate comment letting me know.

vsco cam + instagram...

2012-05-14T14:31:00.000-05:00

I've had an Instagram account for a while now {username: lbgstudio / on the web} but it wasn't until recently that I really started using it more. When I discovered the VSCO Cam iphone app, I fell in love. Not just with their phone app, but their blog, and presets for Lightroom-seriously lusting after those! I now use both phone apps together and I guess I'm sort of addicted. VSCO Cam allows you to really fine tune photos {exposure, fill light, contrast, fade, etc} which I love and their film filters are gorgeous. I take photos using VSCO Cam, crop them to a square aspect ratio using my iPhone, and then upload them to Instagram to share; sometimes adding another filter or my favorite Instagram feature, tilt shift.

I've also been playing along with Clickin Mom's Glimpse project. You don't have to be a member to join up...just use your smart phone to take your themed photos, upload them via Instagram, and tag them #cmglimpse. If any of you are on Instagram, leave me your username in the comments so I can look you up!

vsco cam app / .99
instagram app / free

mother's day 2012

2012-05-13T20:47:00.000-05:00

kcwc spring 2012 {part 2} . . .

2012-04-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

I finished up 2 more things for Kids Clothes Week Challenge. I stuck to using knits and came up with 2 summer tops for the kiddo. One was super easy while the other was a bit of a challenge and I definitely see an 80's vibe going on. The jean cut off shorts aren't exactly a sewing project but solved the problem of my kiddo having too many pairs of jeans that either fit in the waist but are too short in length or are huge in the waist but the right length. So frustrating. Seriously, these are size 18 mth jeans and the child is 4 years old. Crazy.

notes: fabric / used women's tops from Old Navy's clearance racks for both shirts below.

t-shirt pattern/ made by rae's flashback skinny tee -
left the neckline, hem, and sleeves unfinished a la flashdance. Used my serger instead of sewing machine.

tank pattern/ lil blue boo's racerback tunic/dress -
I left off the skirt part to make a top instead of dress since I didn't have enough fabric otherwise. Adding on the armhole and neck binding was kinda tough for me, mostly because the fabric was so thin and probably not as stretchy as it needed to be. Oh well! I think it turned out pretty well other than being a bit lopsided. Used serger. Added a little pocket to the front for fun.

kcwc spring 2012. . .

2012-04-26T21:53:00.000-05:00

I decided to put off a few things this week so I could participate in Elsie Marley's Kid's Clothes Week Challenge. Make sure to stop by the Flickr pool because there is some serious creativity going on over there! I started the week not really knowing what I wanted to make. I bought the Flashback Skinny Tee pattern but didn't have fabric I liked for it. I then spotted this dress via Pinterest and decided to make my own version. Obviously I didn't quite pull it off but I have a pretty good idea of what changes to make for my next version. I'll definitely make it less full so it doesn't read "night gown" and I'll use a wider binding. Maybe I'll call this one a swim suit cover up. Oh, and let me just say that it's been absolutely depressing trying to find cool knit fabrics locally. I'd be smart to plan ahead next time! Anyways, I hope to make a few more things before the week is over...

fabric: yellow gingham knit from hancock's - this fabric is super soft!
pattern notes: used the warhol dress pattern as a starting point but made a lot of changes to it. cut fabric on the bias. cut 2 inch wide strips for the binding. gathered front and back of dress. one regular strap and one tie strap. used a twin needle for the first time...very cool!

weekend update...

2012-04-15T14:53:00.000-05:00

Hoping everyone is having a good weekend! My weekend so far:

I finished up the 6th day of Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 workout. I'm not sure I'll survive the next level. Fingers are crossed! Have any of you made it through one of her workout dvd's with great results?? I could use some more motivation. Seriously. I barely made it through level 1 in one piece and will be starting level 2 tomorrow. I'm scared...

The kiddo and I took a little road trip yesterday to visit with friends we don't get to see often enough. We had dinner at a restaurant that overlooks Lake Guntersville and it was beautiful. Aside from the fact that I managed to break my shoe within minutes of getting to the restaurant and having to walk around shoeless in public, it was a great night.

Tonight I plan on trying my hand at dyeing some fabric. I've been inspired by some pretty things I've seen on Pinterest.

If any of you are looking for a last minute crafty weekend project, head over to Keyka Lou Patterns. Michelle is celebrating her 4th year in business and all patterns are on sale for only $5 for a limited time. Head over here to stock up!

Also, I've got a coupon code to share with you! As I've mentioned before, I joined a photography forum {Clickin Moms} a while back and have found it to be an amazing resource for all things photography related. Whether you just want to take better photos of your kids, improve your skills in product/blog photography, or hope to start your own photography business, Clickin Moms is a great place to learn.

If you'd like to check it out, use coupon code: FRIEND for 10% off any standard subscription {new members only}.

*disclaimer: affiliate links have been used in this post :)

keyka lou's padded camera pouch...

2012-03-31T12:58:00.000-05:00

Just finished up another project on my to do list: Keyka Lou's Padded Camera Pouch. My mum is coming to visit next month and so I made her one for her camera. She travels a good bit so I thought this might come in handy for her. It should have enough room for her camera plus charger, etc. This pattern is quite brilliant! The pouch turns out really sturdy and padded so I think makes a great home for cameras and other gadgets that need protection.

I used Washi Triangles in Beige for the outer pouch. I am crazy in love with this print so you'll be seeing more of it in other projects I'm working on. I chose a black/white herringbone print for the lining. Not sure where I got it since I've had it for a while.

Hope everyone had a fun and productive weekend!!

figgy's ayashe pattern

2012-03-29T21:00:00.000-05:00

So...I'd actually kind of forgotten that I needed to take photos of the Figgy's Ayashe top I made a few months ago. I kept hoping I'd get the skirt done first but that hasn't happened just yet. Unfortunately, because I didn't have tons of fabric, I ended up making the top a size smaller than the kiddo really needed. I only had enough for a size 2/3 and while it fits now, it won't for much longer. When I saw Anna's post sharing the Ayashe outfits she made for her girls I was reminded I needed to whip the camera out before the top I made was outgrown.

I really, really love how this turned out! All the little details in the pattern add up to a 'store bought' looking garment. It was challenging for me as I've generally stuck to super simple patterns when it comes to sewing clothing but I learned lots during this project and look forward to making a short sleeved summer version. The pattern includes several different options which I think is cool.

*fabric: Liberty of London {voile, I'm guessing} which my friend Lyann brought back from a trip to England.

*instead of threading elastic through casings for the sleeves, I just sewed a few rows of elastic thread.

Anyone working on any fun projects at the moment? Me, I'm still trying to get my stuff together for taxes. Schedule C, I hate you. I am squeezing a bit of sewing in here and there: working on one of these camera pouches for my mum and just got some fabric in the mail to make sofa throw pillow covers.

business cards and car wrecks...

2012-03-05T20:16:00.000-06:00

So I finally got around to designing some new business cards and had them printed up. I'm pretty excited about them! I used a canvas texture for the background so they kind of look like fabric. I also found a fun collection of sewing themed Photoshop brushes and used 2 of those in the design. Overall pretty simple.

stitch photoshop brushes
canvas textures
kraft paper

Not cool in any way, shape, or form: getting rear-ended today on my way to pick up the kiddo. I'm fine other than a bit of soreness and a new paranoia about driving. I also miss my car already and am not looking forward to weeks without it. It got pretty banged up but it held up well considering it's a compact car and was hit by a big pickup truck. Hoping the rest of the week is accident free!

the little things...

2012-03-03T13:49:00.000-06:00

We were under severe weather/tornado watches and warnings all day yesterday. Lucky for us it never got bad in our area. During the day it was hot, sunny, and very windy and we eventually got some rain and thunder last night. I had my camera out to photograph some stuff for the shop and happened to notice the kiddo hanging out in front of an open window. Oh, and she was wearing her new favorite hat. I just had to snap a few photos of her. There was no posing (not that she would actually pose if I asked!) or anything...just her enjoying the wind.

what the ups man brought. . .

2012-02-28T08:30:00.000-06:00

I mentioned in my last post that I was eagerly anticipating a package from UPS. It must have been my lucky day because the delivery guy showed up early. I finally did it...I upgraded my camera. I'd been going back and forth on it for a while. My old camera was lacking some functions that I was beginning to really notice and I'm happy with my collection of lenses so I just went ahead and took the plunge. I love this thing and am really looking forward to shooting with it.

Now, money doesn't exactly grow on trees at my house so to be able to get a camera that had the features I wanted within my budget meant I had to be on the look out for a deal. And I found one! This camera is actually a refurbished model I bought from a fellow member on Clickin Moms. I wanted to share with you {in case anyone out there is looking to get a camera on a budget} a few places to look for refurbished/used cameras. Something to keep in mind when buying used...shutters on digital cameras have a "life expectancy" meaning that they will eventually wear out. Depending on the model, shutters can last anywhere from 50,000 clicks/actuations to 200K for high end models. Shutters can be replaced but may not be worth the expense for an entry level camera. So, it might be a good idea to ask if the seller is able to determine how many "clicks" the camera has so you have an idea of how much use it has left.

KEH Camera - used cameras/lenses with ratings - 6 month warranty

Adorama - used cameras/lenses with ratings - 90 day warranty

Canon Refurbished Cameras / Loyalty Program - using the Loyalty Program, you can get 20% off a refurb model

Also, many photography forums have buy/sells sections. I received a newsletter from Clickin Moms today and there's a code for a free trial membership if you want to check that out.

Of course, I have to make my camera a strap cover! I'm using some of that awesome Washi fabric by Rashida Coleman Hale. I'll be making a few extra for the shop too :)

happy birthday, baby

2012-02-22T12:44:00.000-06:00

dress: old navy

My little one turned 4 yesterday. Our birthdays are only a few days apart so we get to celebrate together which I love. We've had a fun week so far and I had to squeeze in a mini "photo shoot" to document the occasion. I captured what Syd loves doing most...reading. Like mother, like daughter. In other news, I got myself a little something for my birthday and might just die of anticipation. I keep looking out of the window in hopes of spotting the UPS man. . . hurry up, dude.

sewing summit - 2012

2012-02-15T21:33:00.000-06:00

So....big news! I'm going to Utah this October!! I got an email a few weeks back from the organizers of the Sewing Summit and they asked if I wanted to come teach a photography class. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I said yes. I can't wait for this awesome weekend to get here and hope to see lots of you there. Early registration starts in early March so keep an eye out for that.

Along with the excitement of the Sewing Summit, I also decided to finally get started on re-decorating my daughter's room and the living room. Not much else is getting done at the moment because of that. It's going to be a lot of work but I think the end result will be worth it. The logistics alone of getting furniture from Ikea-Atlanta to my house which is 2 hours away are slowly driving me insane. Or maybe that's the paint fumes....

app - shakeitphoto

row 1 and 2 - been spending a lot of time at whole foods lately. The tuesday night pizza special {super large 3 topping for $10.99!} is awesome as is the tzatziki I found. You won't win any fresh breathe awards but it is so, so good with tortilla chips.

row 3 - I did the crafty mom walk of shame when I left Target with those Toy Story Valentines. I had big plans that just never panned out. There's always next year, right? / I bought a new gadget for my camera! I've been wanting a wireless shutter release for ages and finally found one compatible with my Canon Rebel XS. Now, I had my doubts when I received the package in the mail, but so far so good!

row 4 - I am not a fan of painting but those green walls had to go. My house has these weird textured walls and they take forever to paint. Boo. I bought Olympic brand low-voc paint...yeah, it still smells really bad and gives me a headache. Big thumbs down. I will opt for a different brand should I ever paint another room.

row 5 - I'm on book 2 of the Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin. Good stuff...anyone else reading these? / The kiddo just started Therapeutic Listening. It requires those really huge headphones in the photo and I think she looks like a little DJ when she wears them :)

crochet - kid's cowl

2012-01-30T14:11:00.000-06:00

I've been doing a little crochet here and there. If I ever upgrade from the plastic Walmart bag I've been using to store my yarn/hooks, I hope to start taking crochet projects on the road with me. I spend a fair amount of time in waiting rooms while my daughter does her speech, OT, and PT sessions and figure that crocheting would be a better use of my "free" time than surfing the web via iPhone. Anywho, I wanted to make a cowl for my for my kiddo after seeing this and this on Pinterest. Unfortunately, as it goes with most things I make for the little stinker, she ran screaming from it when I attempted putting the cowl on her. Sigh. So, it will be passed along to a friend instead. I did manage to get a few photos when I bribed her with an episode of Bubble Guppies. This kid will do anything for a Bubble Guppy fix. The shirt she's wearing is a Figgy's Ayashe blouse I made using a Liberty print. I haven't started the skirt yet so I'll save the scoop on the pattern until that's done!

In case anyone else wants to whip one of these {quick and easy even for someone like me, who only sort of knows how to crochet}, here's what you need:

- The Bella Warmer crochet pattern by The Velvet Acorn - includes 2 sizes and how to add a cute pom pom tie which I skipped because I was lazy :)

-Lion Brand Wool-ease Thick and Quick yarn in Fisherman {got mine at Hobby Lobby}

-Lion Brand Hometown in Monterey Lime and New Orleans French Berry {Walmart}

I'm really loving mixing neutrals with pops of bright colors, hence the stripes. Skip the stripes and you have an even faster project.

One last thing...remember this bag??? Well, I've got a pattern in the works. It will include lots of extras like tips on sewing with leather/suede and working with metal zippers, etc. I'm excited to say the least and can't wait to get it finished.

better late than never. . .

2012-01-18T22:47:00.000-06:00

I'm kinda behind in getting this post up but absolutely had to share this awesome handmade gift I received for Christmas from my cool friend, Amy. See, she knows me quite well. She knows that I really want to be organized and more efficient and being so very thoughtful, made and sent these gorgeous goodies. The pincushion/organizer fits nicely right in front of my sewing machine. Amy also sent along some pattern weights which are new to me but fun to play with. I spared you the chaos of my sewing room and photographed these lovelies in a better place. A clean place....lol.

I'm also sharing a little photo tip today! I was in a hurry to get the photos above taken and couldn't wait for the sun to cooperate with me. I pretty much only have one window that works for me when it comes to taking photos and the sun was glaring through it at the time. So, I used the translucent part of my 5 in 1 reflector to diffuse the harsh direct sunlight/shadows coming through my window. This reflector is just about the handiest thing ever. I usually use the white reflector side to help brighten things up {especially when taking photos of the kiddo} but the diffuser is really useful as well. I've tried taping white tissue paper to this window before, which works; but takes a lot more time and effort. Seriously, if you've got an extra $9 burning a hole in your pocket and need a little help when it comes to your photography, grab one of these! There are several different brands and sizes available but I find the one I have to be a good size...I can hold it with one hand if need be and shoot with the other.

before:

after:

valentine's day freebie

2012-01-11T23:16:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling kind of bleh about sewing at the moment so I've been playing around with Photoshop instead. I'm learning lots through trial and error :) Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I came up with some wallet-sized card templates and digital scrapbook paper for anyone that wants to make their own photo cards or other Valentine's Day themed projects.

These templates/papers were created in Photoshop CS5 and should work with recent versions of PSE as well. They're high res files {300 dpi} for printing but can be easily resized for web use. I tried to design the card templates with die cutting in mind so you should have some wiggle room for that if you go that route. Also, the card templates are fully layered, contain clipping masks, and are easy to customize. . . you can change colors/text/etc.

Download card templates/papers here:

I Heart You Card
Happy Valentine's Day Card
XOXO Card

Red/White Hearts Paper
Pink/White Hearts Paper

Fonts are not included but can be found:
Bebas Neue
Impact Label Reversed

If you're looking for a photo printing company, Mpix offers die cut wallet photos!

Terms of Use:

Please do not sell or claim these files as your own.
Please do not share the actual files-direct people to this post so they can download the files.
Personal use and limited commercial use only. Photographers may use these files to create printed items or flattened files for their clients.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me :)

holiday wishes and other bits of info

2011-12-23T12:09:00.000-06:00

Above is the Christmas card I sent out this year and I wanted to share it with all of you! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and that you get to spend some quality time with loved ones. I'm going to take a bit of a break and probably won't post again until after the new year. The last few weeks have been insane {busted water heater, flooded laundry room, car wreck. . . eek!} and I really look forward to some down time. Can't wait to see what the new year brings!

Just for fun - a little behind-the-scenes action. The whole process of getting a decent photo to put on a Christmas card didn't go exactly how I planned. When the leaves first started to change color, I had grand plans of doing a styled photo shoot in a pretty location with lots of trees and piles of leaves. Yeah, that didn't happen. In a moment of desperation, I grabbed the hat and cardigan out of the closet, threw them on the kiddo {she still had her pj pants on}, taped a piece of white foam core board to the fridge as a backdrop, and hoped for the best.

The unedited outtakes. . .

{window light/white reflector / lens sigma 30mm 1.4 / settings: 30mm - iso 400 - 1/80 - f/3.2}

A few announcements:

-The winner of the Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders book giveaway is Anita / Comment #44. Congrats! I'll be contacting you in just a bit :)

-If you're needing some last minute gifts or hope to do some sewing over the weekend, make sure to stop by KeykaLou Patterns. She is retiring 16 of her patterns on 1/1/12 and they are on sale for only $3 til then.

-I'm having a little sale too! My 2 in 1 Bag pattern is only $6 through this weekend only. Merry Christmas!

fabric-by-fabric one yard wonders book: a sneak peak and a giveaway

2011-12-19T09:47:00.001-06:00

I recently received a copy of Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins in the mail from Storey Publishing {more on that later}. This book is huge! It contains 101 sewing projects {106 if you purchase your book at Barnes and Noble} organized by fabric type...everything from cottons to oilcloth and everything in between. You'll also find useful information about the various fabric types available and how best to work with them. The book includes illustrated instructions, cutting layouts, pattern pieces, and all projects use just a single yard of fabric! If you're into sewing at all, you'll definitely want to add this book to your Christmas wish list.

I was contacted by the authors several months ago and asked if I'd like to contribute a project to the book to be included in the Barnes and Noble bonus section. Of course I said yes! I was more than thrilled to be a part of this awesome book. There's my project below...a meal planning organizer with tips to make it using laminated cotton/oil cloth.

How would you like to have your own copy of Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders?? Storey Publishing is generously offering up a copy to one of you!

The fine print. . . Giveaway is now closed!

~~-you will need a US mailing address to be eligible to win~~
~~-please make sure that I have a way to contact you should you be chosen the winner!~~
~~-leave a comment telling me your sewing/crafting goals are for next year!~~
~~-for an optional extra entry, become a follower of this blog and leave me a comment letting me know. If~~
~~already follow along, that's fine too!~~
~~-winner will be chosen via random.org~~
~~-GIVEAWAY ends Thursday, December 22nd at 10pm cst or thereabouts~~

For more book photos/info/author interviews/giveaways, etc check out the Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard

Wonders Blog Tour and Facebook Page:

12/12/2011 Becka's Project Journal
12/13/2011 Craft Buds
12/14/2011 Patch Work Duck Designs
12/15/2011 A Spoonful of Sugar
12/15/2011 Nifty Kidstuff
12/15/2011 Becka's Project Journal
12/16/2011 Nom Nom Nom Nom
12/16/2011 Quaint and Quirky
12/17/2011 ikatbag
12/17/2011 Two Brown Birds
12/18/2011 Sharon Sews
12/19/2011 LBG Studio
12/19/2011 Carolina Fair Designs
12/19/2011 Under Construction
12/20/2011 Little Blue Cottage
12/21/2011 Craftzine
12/21/2011 Neuroses Galore
12/21/2011 Emily Steffen
12/22/2011 Jenna Lou Loves You
12/23/2011 Spincushion
12/27/2011 One Inch World
12/28/2011 Sew Sew Etc.
January ‘12 Lu Lu Carter
January ’12 Fiberosity
January ’12 Zuhause
January ’12 Obsessively Stiching

sms giveaway day winner

2011-12-17T21:30:00.000-06:00

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by to enter my SMS Giveaway Day giveaway. And thank you for all the awesome book and movie suggestions! Looks like I definitely need to re-read Pride and Prejudice. Pretty sure that book was mentioned most. Ok, now on to the good stuff. . .

I'll be email you shortly, Kelly. Congrats! Hope you enjoy the cowl and bag. Many of you mentioned interest in a tutorial for the clutch. . . I'll see what I can do about that in the next month or two. Also, just in case anyone was curious and didn't see the link in the giveaway post: I used a pattern by Artsy Crochet called "Leah Infinity Scarf" to crochet the cowl.

sew,mama,sew giveaway day 2011!!!

2011-12-12T10:37:00.002-06:00

Giveaway is now closed! Winner announced here!

It's that time again. . . gotta love Giveaway Day! If this is new to you, make sure to stop by the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog and check out all the other giveaways going on. Some changes have been made to how this all works this year but I think you'll find it will be easier to participate.

I've made two items to giveaway today. . .

-a super cozy, fuzzy, and warm cowl in light grey with a white contrast stripe. The cowl is long enough to be worn several ways and is made from a really soft alpaca/acrylic blend yarn. It's machine washable to boot. Though I would suggest laying flat to dry.

-a pretty fold over zip clutch made using my current favorite fabric and I experimented by adding a metal zip and suede corners. It is full lined with grey duck cloth. I'm seriously in love with it and plan to make another for myself!

{pattern used for cowl: leah infinity scarf by artsy crochet}

Giveaway Details: Giveaway is now closed!

~~one entry per person~~
~~please leave one comment telling me your favorite book {or movie if you don't read}. I'm always on the look out for new stuff to read!~~
~~winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org~~
~~make sure I have a way to contact you in case you are the winner. if you are a 'no-reply comment' blogger, leave your email addy in the comment!~~
~~giveaway ends Friday, Dec 16th at 5 pm pst~~
~~winner will be announced/contacted Saturday, Dec 17th~~
~~due to the weight of the items the giveaway is open to US residents only. Sorry :(~~

Thanks and good luck!!

cold hands, warm hearts swap 2011

2011-12-08T09:00:00.002-06:00

I signed up for a fun swap in October and received goodies from my swap partner this week! The theme of the swap was Cold Hands, Warm Hearts and was hosted by much love, illy and sandy a la mode. The participants shared a little about themselves with their partners and then got to work on shopping for some cozy gloves and other fun stuff to send in the mail. Keep an eye out for this swap next year because you should definitely sign up....lots of fun.

I was partnered up with Gina of Acute Designs. Make sure to stop by her blog and check out her latest crafty tutorial! She also has a really cool Etsy shop where you'll find gorgeous jewelry, hair accessories, and pretty things for brides. Gina chose the perfect things to send to me. . . buttons {perfect for a sewing junkie, right?}, pretty earrings from her shop, an amazing coffee mug from Anthropologie along with some of her fav coffee flavors, book plates in a really sweet holder, and the softest convertible mittens in my favorite color. Seriously, how lucky am I?? I'm so glad I signed up for this swap and that I got to make a new blog friend.

handmade holidays giveaway: winner!

2011-11-27T13:37:00.001-06:00

Thank you to everyone for stopping by and entering! Looks like a lot of you have a bunch of sewing to do in the next few weeks. I've got a couple of projects in mind that I'd love to have finished before Christmas. Fingers crossed for all of us :)

Congrats to the winner! I'll be in touch with you shortly. Hope you enjoy the goodies. . .

I really enjoyed reading what all of you were planning on making so I thought I'd share what I have in the works. I finally got the last bit of my fabric in the mail yesterday - I'm ready to get started! I've had some of the stuff below in my stash for a while now and some I recently ordered. The Liberty print {so pretty, right!?} was sent to me by my friend, Lyann; who picked it up in London. The pretty blue cord was a gift from my mum; she brought it from Germany on her last visit. When I spotted the new patterns by Figgy's, I knew I'd found the perfect project for these fabrics. The Liberty print will become the cute top below and the cord will be made into the skirt. And I'm pretty sure I'll have to pick up these boots to complete the look.

The second outfit I'll be making for my kiddo includes an Oliver + S's Ice Cream dress and a coat made using Dear My Kid's Double Breasted Coat pattern. I'm using some really soft Anna Maria Horner voile I received from my sponsor, Modern Fabric Studio for the dress and ordered some straw colored cord from Joann's for the coat. Not sure yet what I'll line the coat with. . .

I'm sure I'll be working on some other stuff as well but I'm really excited about these projects!!

handmade holidays: a giveaway

2011-11-21T09:04:00.002-06:00

Along with two of my fab sponsors, Pinked Fabrics and Gingercake Patterns; I've put together a little giveaway to help out one lucky winner in handmaking some of their gifts this year. Christmas is right around the corner so time is running out. I'm hoping to make a couple of new outfits for my little one. Fingers crossed!

On to the good stuff. . . one winner will receive the following items:

Gingercake Patterns

Your choice of any {3} pdf sewing patterns from Gingercake Patterns.

Seriously cute patterns here, people. I've made several and I've always loved the end result!

Pinked Fabrics

$20 store credit to Pinked Fabrics {store credit does not include international shipping!}

You'll find tons of great fabrics to choose from as well as cool sewing patterns and trims like the chevron twill tape pictured below.

{lbg studio}

A copy of my Convertible Clutch pdf sewing pattern.

{psst. . . a new pattern is in the works. It will be making an appearance early next year!}

Also, my pattern is on sale this week!! Pick it up for $6.50. . . sale ends Saturday, November 26th. The pattern is available via instant download here or in my Etsy shop.

Giveaway details: Closed! I will announce the winner in the morning :)

~~Please leave one comment on this post sharing what you plan on sewing/making to give as gifts this year!~~
~~Make sure to include a way to get in touch with you in case you are the winner. If I can't easily track you down, I'll have to choose another winner.~~
~~Giveaway is open until Saturday, November 26th at 10 pm cst and is open to anyone. *please keep in mind that the $20 store credit to Pinked Fabrics does not cover international shipping~~
~~Winner will be chosen randomly via random.org~~

Also. . .Keyka Lou Patterns, Modern Fabric Studio, and Noodlehead are having great sales this week. Make sure to check those out if you're shopping for fabric/patterns!!!

I wish everyone celebrating this week a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday :)