Something New : :

This morning, after a busy, beautiful, fun, exhausting long weekend, our regular routine returns. The weather's warm and cloudy and I do love Spring mornings like this, when it's so quiet and dim. After a few long days where much-needed yard work replaced any chance of sewing time, and since I'm still waiting on the backing and binding fabrics to arrive so I can finish up my new Diamond Crisscross quilt, this morning feels like the perfect time to begin something new. A few years ago, around this very same time, I put together a bundle of soft grays, blues, corals, yellows, and aquas called Sweet Summer Dreams. These fabrics became the quilt I made to share my very first quilt-as-you-go tutorial and is one of my most favorite color combinations and quilts to date.



This morning I can't get these same colors out of my head. Pretty little piles left on my desk from the kids crafting are inspiring me to start pulling fabrics in this color palette once again!



Plus, for once everything's all nice and organized! That never lasts too long in this room!



I'll be back to share what I come up with soon!

Happy quilt planning & sewing to you! ♥ Maureen

New Projects : :

A little more than a week ago I shared my plans for the Atlanta Sewing Retreat I was attending. Most of which were projects I needed to finish up by this week. I was happy and excited about making each of them, but once in Atlanta, I realized that a sewing retreat would not be the best place for tutorial writing, with step by step picture taking. Yes, day one at the retreat, I definitely had a "what was I thinking?" moment with the projects I had brought along. I needed something much more relaxed and easy -- a quilt for ME sounded like the perfect idea!

So, I finally dove into my own Sweet Summer Dreams blogger bundle and got to work! Want to see?

Thank you Holly and Ara Jane for the pictures!

Since I've been home, my pretty stack of quilt blocks has gone untouched, but that's alright! I've been busy working my way through those projects that didn't get any love in Atlanta, and I'm so excited to share them (along with some amazing giveaways) throughout this week!



And of course, now that I'm home and back in my studio, I'm never short on help and company!

My Helper -- joining me super early to help me top-stitch!



My Lily -- happy to be the first one to try out the new picnic quilt!



My Fabric Folder -- (oh, that iron burn on my mat drives me crazy!)



My Artist -- always up to something amazing and inspiring!

It's been a busy few days playing catch up, with lots of early morning sewing, which I'm quite beginning to like! It's definitely not a bad way to start off the day, that's for sure!

And now, its going to be a busy week here -- including a new Riley Blake Design Team project, my first Art Gallery Fabrics Fat Quarter Gang project, with some AMAZING Fabric Giveaways, and even a little sewing stash make-over that I started as soon as I got home!



Yes, it's going to be a good week! I hope you do join me!! ♥ Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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My sponsor, Pink Castle Fabrics, has a wonderful offer 
for this weekend's Giveaway!

 

Pink Castle Fabrics is an online fabric shop full of Modern Designer and fun Japanese Fabrics,
owned by Brenda, a busy mother and quilter. Brenda is the president and founder of
the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild and blogs at Just A Bit Frayed.

You can check out Pink Castle Fabrics at their  website * etsy shop * facebook * blog * Newsletter

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We hope you enjoy visiting their sites!!  

For this weekend's Giveaway, Pink Castle Fabrics is offering my custom Blogger Bundle, Sweet Summer Dreams. This fabric bundle was chosen by me, just for Brenda's shop, and includes 15 fat quarters in Navy, Aqua Blue, Gray, Coral Pink, and Summer-y Yellow. These fabrics are sweet, Summer-y, and make wonderful Stash Builders!

Pink Castle Fabrics has a giant section of stash building fabrics, in addition to a new Stash Stack Club Subscription! For more information and sign-ups on how to stash with Brenda and Jeni, head on over to Pink Castle Fabrics! As a Thank You for those of you interested in joining the Stash Stack Club, Brenda is offering a coupon code -- FOUNDER10 for 10% off your first month! And, she also has all of her stash builders 15% off this weekend with code STASH15!!!

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Enter to Win!

Here's how,

1. Simply add a comment to this post. After reorganizing my own stash this week I realized I am seriously lacking both true and dark blues and purple. What color are you desperately needing to add to your own stash? (one entry)
2. Sign up to receive The Pink Castle Fabrics Newsletter. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry)
3. Followers of Maureen Cracknell Handmade get an additional entry, too! Whether you follow me here or on Facebook, just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry)

Please enter now through Monday morning, July 1st. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this blog post. I usually try to have that up by 8 am EST! And, decided that there wasn't really a need for me to create a new post each Monday dedicated to announcing the winner. I hope you don't mind!! :)

* 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!!! 

* * * * *  UPDATE  * * * * *

Thank you to all who entered and to Pink Castle Fabrics
for sponsoring this past weekend's Giveaway!! 

 

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  From 1,234 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner of Pink Castle Fabric's giveaway offering of the Sweet Summer Dreams 15 Fat Quater Blogger Bundle is...

Comment #783 -- Helen who said...

Lacking blues too!! They all seem to be teal or aqua shades...

Congratulations Helen!!! I will be in touch shortly!

This week is going to be a very busy Giveaway week for me! I have new Riley Blake Giveaway beginning this Wednesday morning, and another with Art Gallery Fabrics on Friday -- so be sure to stop back!!

A Weekend Retreat : :

This morning I'm leaving very early on a road trip to Georgia! In Atlanta, I will be meeting up with several sewing blogger friends for a long weekend sewing retreat. I am so nervous and excited, and today I thought I would share quickly what I plan to work on while I'm gone!

For that long car ride -- a little knitting! These lovely skeins are from Loop, a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law Anne. It's about time I put these in action! I'm thinking a scarf like this one might be pretty for Fall.



As far as fabrics go, I have so much packed!

Some Art Gallery Fabrics -- LillyBelle for my very first Fat Quarter Gang project! And, some Rhapsodia too, even though I don't have a plan for those just yet!



Some Riley Blake Fabrics -- The brand new collections Seaside, for my next Design Team Project, and some Willow for my project later in the Summer! I love the yellow, gray, and pale aqua combo. These are so pretty!



I hope to start a new quilt with these! My Sweet Summer Dreams Bundle for Pink Castle Fabrics and my very favorite Lillybelle print in both colorways. I love these colors so much right now!!



My Zakka Style project for later this Summer, as part of the Zakka Style Sew-Along!



Yes, I think that should be plenty to keep my busy during our little Sew-cation! And, if you're a local to Atlanta, we'd love for you to join the group of us by meeting up with us at Whipstitch on Saturday morning, June 23rd. We'll be there around 10 am on Saturday, shop and then we plan to have lunch next door. Everyone gets 10% off that morning in-store at Whipstitch, we would love to see you then! 

I can't wait to get sewing with my friends, and to come back home with some wonderful new memories and pictures to share here with all of you! They are surely to be happier than this oh-so-sad shot I snapped of Lily while I was packing -- she knows I'm leaving and she's not liking it.



Alright, either that or she's thinking, "Really?! You're taking that much stuff?! Well, you see that bag Rachael made you out of Rashida's Washi Fabrics behind me, I guess I better lay on it now while I still can."



Oh yes, that was it! No worries, me and my stuff will be back soon! Until then, I have a new Fabric Giveaway beginning this Friday morning with Canton Village Quilt Works, here's a peek!! Be sure to stop back and to have yourself a lovely weekend, too!!  ♥ Maureen

Sweet Summer Dreams : :

Today is the end of the school year here and in just a few hours our Summer will begin! I'm not sure yet how my sewing time will change, I am sure it will, and I plan to adapt as quickly as I can! Yes, I've already begun my sewing plans for Summer...

When Brenda asked me to put together a custom bundle for her shop, Pink Castle Fabrics, I knew it had to be Summery, beachy, vintage-y, yet very colorful.

I've been loving the color coral again this year, so that was an obvious first color choice, but once I thought of my favorite West Elm mugs it all came together quickly. The hardest part was making those cuts, I don't think a bundle of 20 fabrics is what Brenda had in mind. I asked my facebook friends for their opinions on naming this bundle, which was really wonderful. There were so many good ones! We finally decided on Sweet Summer Dreams -- a bundle of 12 fat quarters in soft grays, blues, corals, yellows, and aquas -- available right here! I hope you like it!!



One thing we really need for this Summer is a new beach/picnic blanket. Enter Seaside, the new collection by October Afternoon for Riley Blake. Aren't these prints adorable?! I think they'll be just perfect, combined with some yellow, chevron laminate, for our blanket and my next Design Team project!



Arriving with these fabrics was a bit of happy mail for me!



A little mention of my blog in the newest issue of Where Woman Create -- woohoo!



On Monday, we all agreed that we are ready for Summer days.







and for me...some Summer sewing!

Are you looking forward to any new Summer sewing or craft projects? I'd love to hear! ♥ Maureen 

p.s. Here's a peek a tomorrow's Fabric Giveaway!