A Back to School GIVEAWAY : :

There's nothing better than fresh, new art supplies!! With "Back to School" happening in just a few weeks here, and already starting in other places, I'm excited today to share a special Stubby Pencil Studio Giveaway -- Just in time for all you busy, sewing Mama's & Papa's to check out their amazing "green" options for your school supply shopping needs! 

  

 

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Stubby Pencil Studio offers a wide selection of art and craft supplies for children that are not only high quality and affordable, but also eco friendly and fun for kids!

In their words, "Stubby Pencil Studio offers eco friendly craft supplies like crayons made from soy - not petroleum; stationery, greeting cards, sketchbooks and journals made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper - not virgin trees; pencils made from sustainably harvested wood and recycled newspapers - not dying forests. You'll also find unique eco friendly gifts, non-toxic toys, classic games, do-it-yourself kits, reusable bags, party decor and favors, and many other fun and creative eco products for kids."

  

You can check out Stubby Pencil Studio at their --

 WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * BLOG * NEWSLETTER

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We hope you enjoy visiting their sites!! 

For this special giveaway, Stubby Pencil Studio is generously offering to one winner an eco bamboo supply box filled with creative goodies!

The prize includes -- Glue Sticks, Crayon Rocks, Pencil Sharpener, Washable Markers, Cedar Pencils, Clipper Jr Pencils, Erasers, Scissors, Triangular Colored Pencils, Prang Crayons, Eco Highlighter Pencils, and more! All stored in a bamboo supply box.… A Value of more than $75!

In addition, Stubby Pencil Studio is offering 15% off for all MCH Readers! Use discount code SAVE4SCHOOL and receive 15% off orders thru 8/31!

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Enter to Win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Stubby Pencil Studio on facebook. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry)
3. My followers get a third entry! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, on Instagram, or on Facebook, 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... (one optional entry) 
 
That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, August 12th. 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 new, school year to all!!!

p.s. I'll be back later today or in the morning with my newest quilt finish! See you then!!   ♥ Maureen

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

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From 562 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

    Comment #224 --   *  Heidi Staples  *  

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!  

 

New Storage : :

One afternoon during the long Memorial Day weekend, we spent some time together moving things around in my sewing room and did some major organizing of all our art supplies. Since we moved here in November,  my sewing room has worked great as a shared craft space for the kids, but soon with the the four of us together each day, it was time to do some shuffling around. I have a few more things yet to figure out and then I plan to share what we've done!

The amount of colored pencils we've acquired alone since we moved is pretty astounding, but I don't worry -- with my crew, they'll be useful!



I had things looking pretty tidy, and then as usual, just as soon as everything was nice and neat the kids got everything out again! This happens in your house too, I assume?

Later that day I stopped in at our local thrift shop to pick up these beautiful, large wooden spools I had left behind on my last visit. Perfect for quilt binding, right?!



While I was there I spotted this piece right away! It had just come into the shop and was something I was looking for, for years!! It had a great price and my friend who owns the shop was willing to give me an even better deal. But still, it was a lot of money to spend on a random Sunday, after telling Kevin that I was running to the store and then the thrift shop to pick up a few $3 spools.

I'm excited to share, that with the encouragement of my Instagram friends and a husband who understands that I would be kicking myself, and him, forever if I had passed on it -- I brought it home! And, I love it!!

Kevin even cleaned it all up for me, he's the best!!

Can you tell how huge it is? It's really, really big!



Since, I swapped out the knobs with these pretty, white porcelain knobs from the 20's, and filled each of the label areas with a bright, fabric/washi tape tag.







I'm so happy with it, it's such a special piece! Each of the drawers is made with extra large dovetails and it's got such a great handmade look. I think it's a good fit here!





I'm curious, are you all interested in thrifting and collecting, as well? I bet that's another thing most of us have in common! If so, I might just have to share more of my finds here throughout the Summer! Feel free to share your own favorite pieces for storage, I love seeing creative uses for thrift finds! How about collections, do you have any??  I love chatting about this stuff just as much as I love chatting about sewing!!

And, if you would like to listen to me do that for a few minutes, I was a guest this past Monday on the American Patchwork & Quilting Radio Show with Pat Sloan. I was really nervous, but it was a lot of fun! I'd love for you to listen if you get the chance!   ♥,  Maureen

Quilted Artist Roll-up : :

This past weekend I finally added my applique to an actual stitched up project! While searching back for the original photo I realized just how long she's been literally hanging around my studio just waiting to become something. Well, now she finally is!



Inspired by the Easter basket of goodies Stubby Pencil Studio is offering in this weeks special giveaway, I imagined how nice it would be to fill my own children's baskets this year with nothing but new art supplies and some handmade artists roll-ups made by Mama!



I recently picked up these awesome twig colored pencils and right away thought they deserved a special tin or holder for my daughter to carry them around in. Aren't they wonderful!?



I selected a Domestic Bliss print to match the bright colors of the pencils and a Half Moon Modern scissor fabric to keep with the craft theme. I added a layer of my favorite batting to add that softness and to make sure that nothing my little artist carries would break as this is surely to be slung around quite a bit!



I stitched in extra wide supply slots, to hold these twig pencils nicely, with room for more supplies!



When not in use, I think the addition of my little hanging girl applique will be a fun thing for my girl to roll up and tuck away!



To finish it off, I added an extra long fabric strap to wrap around and keep the roll-up nice and snug. In hindsight I would have added a simple elastic loop like Rachel did here.



Good thing I have two more to make to see just what will work best for my little artists!!

How about you, are you planning on making any Easter gifts? 

Be sure to enter my Stubby Pencil Studio Easter Giveaway right here!!