A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

My sponsor, Contemporary Cloth, 

has a wonderful offer for this week's Giveaway! 

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Contemporary Cloth began for owner Sondra, as a way to provide a resource for interesting, contemporary, modern, and retro-look textiles for home or office, at reasonable prices.The fabrics she offers can be used in art quilts, wearable art, wall art, interior design projects, crafts, mixed media, book arts, etc. They have a worldwide customer base that has inspired them to continue on that path. In the shop you'll find a large variety of quilting & home dec fabrics, bold cottons, Yuwa Japanese Fabrics, notions, magazines & books and more.

We invite you to sign up for the Contemporary Cloth email newsletter on the website, so you can stay up to date with their new arrivals and sales. You can visit and follow them at on their various social media sites --

* Shop * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest *

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We hope you enjoy visiting Contemporary Cloth!!  

For this weekend's Giveaway, Contemporary Cloth is offering a gorgeous, 1/2 YARD bundle of Anna Maria Horner's three Field Study Linen Parenthetical feather prints, AND the winner will also choose three 1/2 YARD cuts of Robert Kaufman's colorful Essex Linen Fabrics!!!

You can find these lovely AMH Field Study Linens available HERE and the RK Essex Linens right HERE!

In addition,  Contemporary Cloth is offering a special discount to my readers for 25% off ALL orders! Use discount code :  ThanksMaureen on orders placed now thru Wednesday, September 4th!  Clearance Categories are also included (selected Yuwa Japanese textiles, organic fabrics, fabric stamps and stencils, destash books and more!!

AND

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

1. Simply add a comment to this post! If you'd like, you can share with us what you'd stitch up with these beautfil linen fabrics? (one entry) 
2. Follow the Contemporary Cloth Blog, Facebook page, OR sign up to receive the Newsletter on their website. Just let me know that you follow them, by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry)

3. Followers of Maureen Cracknell Handmade get an additional entry, too! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry) 

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (one optional entry)

Please enter now thru Monday, September 2nd. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you, should you win! Please check to make sure you can be contacted!

Wishing a wonderful weekend to all!!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

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From 1,430 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

    Comment #1,047 --   *  Heather A *   

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!  

Butterfly Quilt Finishing : :

I just finished up the binding on my butterfly quilt and took some pretty pictures as I worked! I know exactly where I'm going to take this quilt for picture taking, hopefully the weather holds out today!

This Gray & Pink combo had me wanting to break out my Rock & Romance stash!



The prettiest bobbin I've ever wound, it's Aurifil Variegated from the Tula Pink Collection!



My first attempt at wavy quilting, I thought the movement would be a pretty compliment to the Butterfly theme!



Scrappy Binding in various shades of pink!



Backed in one big, gorgeous piece of Loulouthi Clippings by Anna Maria Horner!



I hope to share this new, finished quilt on Monday!! Be sure to stop back tomorrow for a beautiful Giveaway offer from Contemporary Cloth! And, have yourself a lovely day!!   ♥   Maureen

Felty Things : :

There's something about the imminent Fall weather that makes sewing with felt so soothing to me. I love it! Each year around this time, I feel this strong pull shifting my crafty mind to sewing projects of all kinds using colorful, cozy wool blend fiber. See!











Handmade goodness galore, there is just so much to make with felt! Plus you know I'm always busy making my Birthday Crowns!

SO, I thought I'd have a little felt sale in my etsy shop now that the kids are back in school in case you have some felty-sewing-crafty ideas of your own! Just use coupon code "FELT20OFF" to receive the 20% discount on any felt purchase!


Here's a look at the colors I carry!





I will also be including your choice of either a fabric scrap pack or felt scrap pack with each order!! Just specify which you'd prefer in the comment section when you order!





And, be sure to check out my Pinterest board "Just For Felt," which includes many of my own felt projects and a growing list of great felt-y inspiration!!   ♥  Maureen

Indie Symmetry Quilt : :

It's the first day back to school for my kids, I can hardly believe Summer vacation is already over! I never handle these big events well so, I'm extra grateful to have saved this new quilt to share here today rather than trying to fit blogging into our busy day yesterday. I needed something exciting to blog about!



Having this big, beautiful Indie quilt finally finished is honestly the most excitement I've felt since I began quilting! It's almost a King size quilt, measuring in at 90"x104"! It's made in all Indie fabrics, a collection by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics, in a simple symmetrical layout of both large & small, square & rectangle cuts of fabric. When I sketched out the pattern more than a year ago, I was inspired by a few quilts I had seen at my most favorite store, Anthropologie. These Indie fabrics go so well with that colorful, bohemian style!





It's on our bed now, along with my favorite Indie pillow, and a few more cozy layers of bedding that I've been collecting to go with this quilt throughout the year. A work in progress still, but I like how our room is starting to come together.





The quilt top was originally made about a year ago for Pat to use in her Indie promotional ads and video. Then just a few weeks ago I finally pieced together the largest quilt back I've ever seen and shipped both the top and back off to Sew Shabby Quilting, a professional long-arm machine quilting service I was recently introduced to. For this quilt, keeping with it's pattern of squares and rectangles, I chose their Square Dance .01, a perfect pattern match in my opinion! Melissa did such an amazing job!!



The back is finished in the Indie Afro Fusion in Dusk print and the binding is Dynasty in Saffron, my two most favorite fabrics in the collection!





Because of it's large size photographing this one was such a challenge, but we still managed a few fun shots! I'm so grateful for my husband and kids for being so awesome and careful when it came to taking these last photos!

I still have to finish up tutorials for a few of my other quilts, but I'm curious how many of you would be interested in making a quilt this size? And, if taking the time to share the pattern at some point would be a good idea? When it comes to making a quilt this big, I love the large piecing myself, and don't feel disappointed at all with the symmetrical look as opposed to making up a quilt this size block, by block. What do you think?

Wishing you all a wonderful week!  ♥  Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

 

My sponsor the Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly. An avid quilter, Kimberly began her shop as a side business while still working a corporate position, cutting, packing and shipping right out of her house during evenings and weekends. From the very beginning, she was committed to delivering top-notch service for every single order and customer. As the Fat Quarter Shop's reputation grew, Kimberly decided to make it a full-time operation. Her husband Kevin joined her not long after, and with his help, lots of hard work, and a tireless commitment, the store began to grow. Over the past few years a few more people have joined the staff!

As a team, they continue to branch out with the best fabrics, exclusive kits, quilt clubs, BOMs, and more. And they will always be driven by the passion that Kimberly founded the store upon, 
which is always giving you the best products and service! 

SHOP  *  PINTEREST  *  TWITTER  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK

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We hope you enjoy visiting the Fat Quarter Shop's sites!!  

For this week's giveaway the Fat Quarter Shop is offering Fat Quarter Bundle of Sunnyside, the beautiful, new fabric collection by Kate Spain for Moda Fabrics! This giveaway prize includes 40 Fat Quarters of fabric, all folded up perfectly & tied in a cute ribbon!!

You can find Sunnyside newly available at the Fat Quarter Shop in a variety of pre-cut bundles including Fat Quarter bundles, Fat Eighth bundles, Jelly Rolls, Charm Packs, Honeycombs, & Layer Cakes!! Be sure to visit FQS for a closer look at this gorgeous new collection!

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Enter to Win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! Feel free to share what you'd make if you won these 40 Fat Quarters?? (one entry)
2. Follow the Fat Quarter Shop on Facebook! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. My followers get a third entry! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by facebook, instagram, tweet, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry)

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday morning, August 26th. The winner will be chosen at Random and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!
 
* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you win!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

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From 2,134 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

    Comment #592 --   * trillium *   

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!  

InstaSewing Snapshots : :

Throughout this week I've been sharing little peeks on my Instagram of what I've been working on -- new fabric stashing from Stash Modern Fabric for my next Applique Art Quilt, the Butterfly Quilt I'm making for my niece Molly, and my newest quilt finish -- my Indie Symmetry Quilt! I had made this quilt top almost exactly a year ago today and sent it right off to my super talented friend Pat Bravo to use in her photos and video for her Indie Collection. That was such a dream come true collaboration for me! Indie is one of, if not my most favorite fabric collection. I sent it off to Melissa at Sew Shabby Quilting just a couple of weeks ago to work her magic, and now my Indie quilt is home, bound, and is on our bed!!



I plan to share a full Indie Quilt post with all the details, just as soon as I can, I promise! For the rest of the week and weekend it's going to be a little quiet here, besides my Fabric Friday Giveaway (it's a BIG one!), while I soak up these last several days of Summer vacation with my family! I can't believe school starts back up here on Tuesday!

Wishing you all a lovely stretch of days!! ♥  Maureen

A Special Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

Today I have a fun Giveaway planned! This time last year when we were buying our first home is when I first discovered the Online Fabric Store, a wonderful place to find all kinds of fabrics & sewing supplies, especially gorgeous Home Decor fabrics. And, I've been dreaming up curtains & covers ever since! By complete coincidence the folks at OFS recently reached out, offering me the opportunity to create a sewing project using any of the fabrics they carry, as well as a $50 Gift Certificate to Giveaway right here!

At the Online Fabric Store you'll find one of the largest inventories of upholstery, drapery, apparel, & industrial fabrics in the United States! They carry only the best and many of my personal favorite Home Decor fabric designers and manufacturing companies -- Thomas Paul, Premier Prints, & Waverly, just to name a few! OFS carries an impressive variety of sewing supplies, quilting fabrics, crafting materials, and SO much more! Plus they offer FREE shipping on all orders $50 or more to the Continental United States!!

Today we invite you all to stop by OFS to have a look around!!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  PINTEREST 
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting the Online Fabric Shop sites!! 

Enter to Win a $50 Gift Certificate to OFS!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! I'd love for you to share a Home Decor sewing project you're hoping to tackle this year or maybe you have a favorite project you've already finished! (one entry)
2. You can "Pin" your favorite fabric at OFS or like the Online Fabric Store on facebook as an optional extra entry. Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. My followers always get an extra entry, too! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Friday, August 23rd!! Winner will be picked at Random and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

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From 1,342 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

    Comment #447 --   * April Shae *    

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!  

An Ant Farm Quilt : :

Last week, on our way out to have dinner at my parents house, we took a drive to take these photos of my finished Ant Farm Quilt, a request & gift for my Nephew Owen. Since we couldn't think of a "hill" to take these photos in front of, we decided to take them at the very top of the prettiest hill around, Dutch Hill. It was windy and the sun was just starting to set, but it was so pretty! You may have already seen the video I shared here on my Instagram, it was a beautiful evening in Potter County!

This quilt came together super quickly, once I finally decided on a pattern! It's made up of scrappy, improv log cabin blocks on both sides, separating the colorful fabrics from the lighter, white, & grays that I used. For the center of the quilt I made four courthouse step blocks, keeping that same color separation. I really love the combination of these two quilt blocks, and have a second quilt all planned out using them once again!



It's quilted using my quilt as you go method, with a gray Aurifil 50wt and straight line quilt stitches spaced about an inch or so apart. In this photo below, with the sun facing the finished quilt, you can really see all those pretty quilt stitches!



One of my favorite things about finished qayg quilts is having that contrast of a heavier, more densely quilted quilt for the front, with the softer, square grid pattern for the quilt back.



Since I made my blocks for this quilt rather large, at an 18" square, I added a simple tie with a pale gray cotton floss to the center of each block, as well.



For the binding I chose a Lizzy House striped fabric from her Hello Pilgrim collection. I love using a small scale striped fabric for binding! The colors in this one worked perfectly with the Backyard Baby fabrics!



Here's that extension table binding trick once again! 




Along with the Backyard Baby prints I used lots of Riley Blake Basics -- their Cotton Dots, Solids, & Ombre Dots. I really put my overflowing scrap drawer to good use on this quilt, as well. That always feels so good!!




I'm tucking this quilt away with the others I've made and are making for my children, nieces, and nephews. I'm hoping to see that pile grow by seven more between now and Christmas! I've already made lots of progress on my Butterfly Quilt -- more on that one soon!!

Happy Monday, friends!  ♥   Maureen