A Love Patchwork & Quilting GIVEAWAY : :

Today and possibly tomorrow I need to take a sick day. I'm having a very strange flare related to my autoimmune issues and had to have an unexpected procedure leaving me sore and pretty drained these past couple of days. No fun, but... I have some good news!

I happen to have on hand a few extra copies of the first THREE issues of the new gorgeous, monthly magazine, Love Patchwork & Quilting to give away!!!



The creators of Mollie Makes recently launched this beautiful magazine, sharing the best of modern quilting, with super inspiring projects & photographs, amazing interviews & articles, plus a FREE gift with every issue! Yes, my giveaway includes the cute little bonus attached to each cover — an ornament kit, a Tula Pink quilt insert, and some adorable heart pins!!



The first issue features one of my favorite sewing projects, and in the brand new Issue 4, you'll see my Butterfly Quilt on the cover with the pattern inside!! You can get a wonderful peek inside Issue 4 on Lynne's blog here!





Enter to win! 

Here's how,

 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Love Patchwork & Quilting on Facebook or on Instagram! 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 like to add that as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, January 27th!! 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!
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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

From 1,345 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #603 --   * Happy Cottage Quilter *
   

Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly! 

: : thank you : :

More and more, I feel like this has turned into such a great place for me, because of all of you. I look forward to getting your comments, to see how many people have visited -- I rely on it to keep me from quitting, to give me confidence, and to keep me creating. I thank you all for that!

 Portrait of Moi -- by my Jacob

And, yesterday two fellow blogger surprised me and were so very kind to share a few of my handmade item's and one (Patty) really made my day. I'd love for you to have a look : : 

*My Life Under the Bus*
*Christie Cottage*

Thank you, friends, for joining me here. ~ Maureen

Just a few things : :

Since it is dark and rainy today and the pictures I took of my newest little craft are not so wonderful, I decided to share a little News. Just a few fun, little things that are happening around the web with me and some of the handmade things you may have seen me share here.

First --- Hooray!!! I am one of the lucky three winners of the Simple Softies book giveaway that was going on over at chunkychooky. I was thrilled beyond words, since I am not one to ever win anything!

If you want one for yourself this new book will join the others in stores from the 28th of June. I just LOVE these sort of books! You may have seen the other books in this series called Softies and More Softies. I have made a few of them in the past --- they have been played with, so they certainly do not look brand new. Here are a couple that I actually could find : :

And a little softie fairy I made from my own design for Haila's bedroom door, long before I started this blog to share what I do. I've always loved the light in this picture. So pretty.

I'll be sure to share the new softies I make, with my new book right here. I was so pleased on Monday when I saw that my blog had reached over 10,000 visitors since the end of January when I added the web tracker. I love sharing the crafts I make so pretty please keep coming back! And, be sure to visit Cathy at chunkychooky, too. --- She is really inspiring me right now with her pillows, embroideries, and I love, love that she too makes eco-friendly children's toys for, as she calls them, little treehuggers. : )

Second --- Yay! I was included in a treasury for the first time. It's never happened to me before, since as you know, my shop is always empty. I'd love for you to check it out and please feel free to leave a kind comment.

Third --- Woot! While knitting last night and visiting my most favorite blogs, I stopped over at Stitched In Color and noticed that she is using my family tree pillow in the bottom right picture for her inspiration mosaic she is doing for a swap on flickr. 

I am not part of the swap, but I was SO inspired by the group Rachel put together. One by one I was checking out the pictures that make up this mosaic until I got to the last one and then noticed it was mine! Be sure to visit her whenever you may be lacking inspiration.

Wishing you all a lovely day! ~ Maureen

Pom Pom Pillows : :

I put a little of my new fabrics to use on my first pillow using large pom pom fringe, in a cool avocado green color. The fabric is from Anna Maria's Garden Party Collection --- Guest of Honor in gold and Up All Night in green.

I keep telling myself that "the next time I make something, I am going to start making at least two..." so I'll have one for my etsy or to giveaway (which is more likely.) I just never seem to remember when I begin that next thing?

These paper flowers, in case you're wondering, were a gift from my super crafty friend, Cynthia Taylor. 

Haila, helping out her Mama : : I just love her little feet and painted toes in this picture. I also love how this fabric full of perfect little squares, lends it's self so unbelievably well for making perfectly square pillows (with no need for measuring : ).

The kitchen towel I bought at the Art Star Craft Bazaar was actually a gift for Cynthia - which she, of course, made even better by turning it into a wonderful pom pom pillow of her own. I love it! As usual, great work Cynthia and thank you so very much for letting me share here!

This is Cynthia's sweet 3 year old little Miss Sophie, all cuddled up to their new pillow. So adorable!

I am so thrilled I have a friend, in this little town of ours, who very recently started sewing, too. It makes it so much more fun to have someone to geek out over fabric and talk sewing projects with. Thank you Cynthia!

Works of Art : :

My works of art -- Jacob, Kaiden, and Haila --- A local newspaper is doing a story about my work and an art exhibit I am working on putting together to showcase artists from the town (and surrounding areas) I grew up in, Coudersport, Pa. I did my best to get a picture of my three little one's with some of the items I have made for them and others hanging around the house. As use to getting their picture taken as they are, it's not easy getting three kiddos to look at you, all happy, all at once.
While I was in Philadelphia this past weekend, we visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I took many pictures of the pieces that spoke to me, I planning on sharing some throughout the week. The first one that really grabbed me was Mary Ellison Embroidering, an oil on canvas, dated from 1877, by Mary Cassatt.
With all the stitching I have been doing lately and all the hand embroidered items I love seeing around the web - as old as this painting may be, it seems more relevant, to me, than ever.
I love feeling a connection to work as old as this, through the crafts I am learning today. Timeless and priceless.

Pillow Poof : :

My friend Cynthia surprised me yesterday with the most wonderful gift - this awesome pillow/ottoman/stool (that she calls a poof - which I completely love). She recently started sewing(too) and has taken as much of a liking for all things Amy Butler, as I have for all things Anna Maria Horner. To get started, she ordered herself some of Amy's fabulous fabrics and the gum drops pillow pattern. Cynthia insists that they are easy to make, but I haven't given it a shot yet. She made a few (that I will share pics of soon) in different sizes for her home. As simple or difficult as they may be to make, they certainly are dramatic and look amazing! They are large, comfy, and such a cool design! We are loving ours!!!They are perfect for sitting on : :
Perfect for standing on : :
Add of course --- perfect for jumping on....and off : :
Thank you Cynthia --- you are the best!!!

Hello : :

It's been a while since I made a new regular doll. The owls, dollhouses, and other random creature requests have been keeping me very busy these days. I love making them, but this little one has been waiting to become who she is since back when I first began sewing again, so I am so happy to have her finished. Keeping with the sewing theme, I made her a little removable patchwork skirt.
I finished her up a few days ago, along with a little "Hello Garland" - that ended up being too perfect, since she will be heading out to a new store that will be carrying my items : :
Hello Bluebird in West Reading, Pa. I am so excited that my handmade's will be sitting along side some of my other favorite Indie Artists and Bloggers, Daisy Janie, Bird and Little Bird, and many others. The store is so happy, beautiful, and full of carefully selected items that are handmade and eco-friendly. Hello Bluebird will also be participating in the upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philly.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~photo by Daisy Janie~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can see more of Hello Bluebird here at Daisy Janie, at the website, on facebook, and if you are in the area ~ you should definitely drop in!

Happy creating and Happy Easter all!

My Fabulous Friend : :

This post is to show off some of the work of my dearest friend, Cynthia Taylor. She is warm and friendly and amazingly creative and inspiring. She is the great friend who kindly listens to me ramble about all my ideas. The friend who I have to show everything I make first. The friend that loves to feed me (I know, I'm lucky). And, I happen to love her - as much as I love her kind ears, her great taste, and delicious food! Well, almost. I just completely adore her and her family (and her house!) Maybe one day I'll get a chance to photograph and share Cynthia's home here. But for now, it will just be a few of this other creative mama's newest creations.

This lovely star mobile, that makes me SO happy : :
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And this shelf, that she built all by her self! It's based on a shelf design from Pottery Barn, that usually retails for hundreds. But, because Cynthia is awesome and wonderfully frugal - she built it for around $100. And, it only took her 2 hours! Now, come on - that's just AMAZING!! I just love it and the whole idea of it. Love, Love, Love...
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Cynthia ~ you rock!

Ann Wood : : You're So Cool

I first found Ann Wood a few years ago while flipping through the wonderful pages of, the now out of print, Mary Engelbreil's Home Companion. I was drawn into her story by the beautifully detailed photographs of her birds and now check out her blog pretty regularly. Last week she decided too bless her fans and followers with an epic tutorial on how to create one of her amazing paper mache boats!

I am picking up the last of the supplies that I didn't already have this week, and am going to have some fun with the kiddos, making these boats to hang in the play room. I hope some of you become a fan of Ann Wood and spend a little time making one of these awesome boats with your little one(s).