The Community Sampler Grand Finale GIVEAWAY!

Each Friday, throughout the Community Sampler sew-along community event that Sharon Holland and I have hosted together, we lined up a new, special Giveaway with one of our amazing, participating sponsors! If you happened to miss the launch of our Community Sampler you can follow this link for all the info to make your own Community Sampler anytime!

Art Gallery Fabrics  *  Aurifil  *  Bloc_Loc Rulers  *  Fat Quarter Shop  *  Omnigrid  *  Lady Belle Fabric  *  Dritz  *  Hobbs Batting

Today's Community Sampler Grand Finale Giveaway sponsors are Art Gallery Fabrics, Aurifil Thread, Hobbs Quilt Batting & Maureen Cracknell!

Art Gallery Fabrics was started in 2004. Since then creativity, beauty, and design have been their passions, and to this day they have not changed, bringing a chic and modern perspective to the quilting industry. When it comes to designing a fabric collection AGF always keeps originality and uniqueness on the top of their list. AGF has the pleasure of working with a talented fabric designers who create enticing color palettes and artful, intricate prints that make collections that are one of a kind. Art Gallery designs modern fabrics that keep up with ongoing trends and at the same time it encourages customers to use new colors and patterns so they venture out of their usual comfort zone. Art Gallery Fabrics believes strongly in the quality of the fabric and that is transcended in their superior thread count and fine weave. This makes their premium cotton as soft and smooth you can get. You really feel the difference with just one touch!

Be sure to follow Art Gallery Fabrics on their --

Blog  *  Facebook *  Instagram  * Pinterest  *  YouTube

For the Finale Giveaway, Art Gallery Fabrics is offering TWO gorgeous ten-piece fat quarter bundles with prints from various AGF designers!

Aurifil is a wonderful thread company dedicated to developing amazing, new products based on quality and solutions. Established in 1983, Aurifil is an accomplished Italian company based near Milano, with a full- grown experience in producing superior quality threads for professional and domestic quilters. The company headquarters is the ground where new ideas generate original items, always more refined and advanced, to provide assistance to all the quilting needs through a wide range of threads in several weights & accessories. Aurifil's success is based on developing projects carefully, always looking for high quality and great style, with a commitment to create contemporary products that will appeal to everyone!

Aurifil.com  *  Instagram  *  Facebook  *  We hope you enjoy visiting Aurifil!

For the Finale Giveaway, Aurifil is offering the lucky winner the Maureen Cracknell Bohemian Garden Aurifil Thread Collection! This hand-selected set of threads includes TWELVE large colorful spools of Aurifil thread, in 50wt 100% cotton, in colors chosen to coordinate with my Art Gallery Fabric collections!

Hobbs Quilt Batting has manufactured high-quality batting for hobbyist, commercial, art and show quilters since 1978. They're proud to come from a family of quilters and are committed to providing the same quality Hobbs batting that provide to their own family of quilters. At Hobbs Batting, they never forget that quilts are gifts from the heart - an expression of love, commitment and caring for a specific recipient - or an expression of artistry and skill - artistry and that's submitted and judged in quilt shows and events around the word - or both! At Hobbs they're committed to doing their part to enhance our #JoyofQuilting!

Hobbsbatting.com  *  Blog  *  Instagram  *  Facebook  *  We hope you visiting Hobbs Quilt Batting!

For the Finale Giveaway, Hobbs is offering the lucky winner a generous $100's worth of Hobbs Batting!Queen size package of their Tuscany Silk batting! Both Sharon and I LOVE using Hobbs Tuscany Silk batting that is soft and drapes like no other batting. The luxurious feel is ideal for quilts, with it's natural ability to breath, making it an excellent choice for airy, lightweight quilts and coverlets!

Maureen Cracknell is a self-taught artist living in beautiful Potter County, Pennsylvania, a proud wife and mother, Art Gallery Fabrics designer since 2014, Crafty Instructor, Aurifil thread designer, Janome girl, and blogger here at Maureen Cracknell Handmade where you'll find lots of sewing + quilting inspiration! I love having you visit me here, receiving a comment is even better - so please do both often!

Blog  *  Instagram  *  Facebook  *  Bloglovin'  We hope you enjoy following along!

For the Finale Giveaway, the lucky winner will receive this 20-piece Fat Quarter bundle from my brand new Art Gallery Fabrics collection, Flower Child!




WOW!!! This Grand Finale Community Giveaway is quite the prize! Sharon and I send a BIG Thank You to all of the sponsors who have generously offered their products in our Grand Finale Giveaway and to all of the wonderful sponsors that offered amazing prizes throughout the Community Sampler sew-along!

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)
2. Visit and follow the participating sponsors! 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! If you follow here, on Instagram, or on Facebook just let me know 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 Instagram, tweet, Facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry)

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, June 11th at 4pm EST! The winner will be picked next week 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! 

In addition, be sure to stop by my Instagram for a chance to win our Community Sampler Instagram Grand Finale Giveaway that includes the Sharon Holland Signature FQ Bundle, Sharon's Color Story Aurifil thread collection, TWO Art Gallery Fabrics 10-piece fabric bundles, and $100 worth of Hobbs Batting prize pack! How cool is that -- TWO chances to win two amazing prize packages!



A BIG thanks to all who joined the Community Sampler sew-along and to those who entered our Finale Giveaway! The lucky , random winner of this blog prize package is commenter, Beach Quilter! Congratulations!! Please check your email for a message from me!  xo Maureen  

A Community Sampler Giveaway with Aurifil Threads!

Community Sampler sew-along community event that Sharon Holland and I are hosting together, we've lined up a new, special Giveaway with one of our amazing, participating sponsors! If you happened to miss the launch of our Community Sampler you can follow this link for all the info and can join us anytime - it's never too late to jump in!



Today's featured Community Sampler Giveaway sponsor is Aurifil Threads!



Aurifil is a wonderful thread company dedicated to developing amazing, new products based on quality and solutions. Established in 1983, Aurifil is an accomplished Italian company based near Milano, with a full- grown experience in producing superior quality threads for professional and domestic quilters. The company headquarters is the ground where new ideas generate original items, always more refined and advanced, to provide assistance to all the quilting needs through a wide range of threads in several weights & accessories. Aurifil's success is based on developing projects carefully, always looking for high quality and great style, with a commitment to create contemporary products that will appeal to everyone!

*  Aurifil.com  *  Aurifil on Facebook  *  Aurifil on Instagram

We hope you enjoy visiting Aurifil!

For this week's Giveaway Aurifil is offering one winner here and one winner on Instagram the Maureen Cracknell Bohemian Garden Aurifil Thread Collection! This hand-selected set of threads includes TEN colorful spools of Aurifil thread, in 50wt 100% cotton, in colors chosen to coordinate with my Art Gallery Fabric collections!



You can find the small and large spool Bohemian Garden thread collections available on Amazon, Checker Distributers, and Red Rock Threads!

Enter to win!

Here's how,

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Aurifil on Facebook and/or Instagram! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3.

Sharon's and my followers get a third entry! If you follow here, on Instagram, or on Facebook just let me know 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've added 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, March 12th! The winner will be picked next week 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! 

A BIG thanks to all of you who are joining the Community Sampler sew-along and to those who entered our Giveaway! This week's lucky winner is commenter, Ali! Congratulations!! Please check your email for a message from me! xo Maureen

Love Story Sewing : :

When I sat down to sew Wednesday morning, after the kids were all off to school, I was a little bit overwhelmed by everything I had been waiting to make now that I finally had the time. Where should I start? There is just so much to do! Other than stitching up my weekly Sewcial Bee Sampler blocks, preparing my Soulful booth for this past Spring Quilt Market and filling the Etsy order that come through each day, I haven't been sewing much these past several weeks. I've been dealing with severe and relentless autoimmune issues for months now and I've been so centered on designing, which is exactly where my focus needed to be when I was blessed with a little time to work during our busy Summer days. But now I have time, hours to create without interruption and I'm overcome with possibilities. And so, I decided to start with the most exciting task at hand -- Love Story sewing!



I won't be showing Love Story at Fall Quilt Market, I have a brand new collection due out in March to debut (hooray!) but I still need to make as many strike off samples as I can for the November LookBook. It's so exciting to sew with these little pieces of fabric! It's both exhilarating and hugely rewarding. Holding months of hard work in your hands feels like another dream fulfilled. I eased into my checklist, beginning with a couple of drawstring bags inspired by this tutorial by Svetlana of s.o.t.a.k. handmade. One with red pompoms from the Target dollar section and one in my favorite herringbone qayg. I love them both!





Whenever a new collection arrives I like the prints themselves to influence so much of what I decide to make, and my Flower Stamp print inspired me straight away!





Simple raw edge applique with navy Aurifil thread from my Bohemian Garden thread set worked perfectly for recreating my flower design. To pair with this Flower Stamped Applique pillow I made a second with a first attempt at a pineapple quilt block inspired QAYG. I love how this pillow duo turned out, especially with this pretty blue AGF denim!





I hope these project have you excited to sew with Love Story!! I am counting down the days and will have many more Love Story projects to share in the days and weeks ahead. I promise to be back Monday with some Soulful sewing!!

Have a great weekend! XX Maureen

A Sewcial Bee Giveaway with Aurifil Thread!

It's Sewcial Bee Giveaway Friday!  

Each Friday, throughout the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along community event that Sharon Holland and I are hosting together, we've lined up a new, special Giveaway with one of our amazing, participating sponsors! If you happened to miss the launch of our Sewcial Bee Sampler you can follow this link for all the info and can join us anytime - it's never too late to jump in!

Today's featured Sewcial Bee sponsor is Aurifil Threads!

Aurifil is a wonderful thread company dedicated to developing amazing, new products based on quality and solutions. Established in 1983, Aurifil is an accomplished Italian company based near Milano, with a full- grown experience in producing superior quality threads for professional and domestic quilters. The company headquarters is the ground where new ideas generate original items, always more refined and advanced, to provide assistance to all the quilting needs through a wide range of threads in several weights & accessories. Aurifil's success is based on developing projects carefully, always looking for high quality and great style, with a commitment to create contemporary products that will appeal to everyone!

Aurifil.com  *  Instagram  *  Facebook  *  We hope you enjoy visiting Aurifil!

For this week's Sewcial Bee Giveaway, Aurifil is offering the lucky winner the Maureen Cracknell Bohemian Garden Aurifil Thread Collection! This hand-selected set of threads includes TEN colorful spools of Aurifil thread, in 50wt 100% cotton, in colors chosen to coordinate with my Art Gallery Fabric collections!

You can find both the small and large spool Bohemian Garden thread collections available on Amazon, Fat Quarter Shop, Checker Distributers, Red Rock Threads, and Pumpkinvine Corner!

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Aurifil on Facebook and/or 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! If you follow here, on Instagram, or on Facebook just let me know 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've added 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, May 22nd! The winner will be picked next week 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! 

A BIG thanks to all of you who are joining the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along and to those who entered our Giveaway! This week's lucky winner is commenter, Kathy! Congratulations, I will email you shortly! ♡ Maureen

A New Favorite Pillow Set : :

I am so excited to finally be able to share these pillows with you - they are a set that I made for my Mom to gift my sister-in-law Anne for Christmas. And they're also my favorite finish from my holiday break sewing! I loved making this heart pillow project so very much that I'm wondering if I should put together a tutorial to share? Let me know if you're interested!



The pattern was completely inspired by my new Love Garden panel print from my Garden Dreamer collection. The large scale print includes a big heart, perfect for raw edge applique! Shown here is the Calm coloring of Love Garden with AGF's denim underneath quilted with Aurifil!



I used my go-to Quick Quilt As You Go to create the entire pillow top combining additional denims, linen, & Aurifil quilting, finishing with denim binding in my favorite color, Cool Foilage!

To include with the heart pillow I made two, big herringbone pillow covers. Again using my Quick Quilt As You Go technique, choosing several matching prints from both Garden Dreamer and Nightfall. I love how these two collections play together!



These herringbone pillows inspired me to finally get all of my collection together - Wild & Free + Fleet & Flourish + Nightfall + Garden Dreamer to start dreaming up a new quilt design that I can make using all of them together! If you have any pattern suggestions, do let me know!



I can't think of a better way to start a new year of quilting than this!  ♡ Maureen  

A Wind Chime Pillow : :

With each new fabric collection comes a new free quilt pattern that works perfectly for the theme and prints that make up the collection, for Garden Dreamer that's my Wind Chime Quilt! This pattern was inspired by thoughts of being in the garden, looking up at the wind chimes and spinners dancing in the breeze. It's a simple pattern and I love the movement of these blocks!



To match the Wind Chime Quilt that will be showcased in my upcoming Garden Dreamer LookBook I made a mini version to finish and share as today's pillow!



The pillow front is made up of four 8.5" wind chime blocks, pieced together and densely quilted with a pretty pale peach 50wt Aurifil thread, finished as a cover to fill with a 16" insert. I'd love to make a second one using a different variety of Garden Dreamer prints. I think the next one needs some Bumble Beez & Buzz!



The pillow back pieces are made up of leftover strips and patchwork squares from my other LookBook projects. As usual, I love it just as much as the front!



My most favorite thing about this pillow has to be the Twinklestar Berry binding! The color choice of this print was influenced by one of my favorite garden perennials, the Pow Wow Wild Berry Echinacea Purple Coneflower. I've already made an extra large roll of this binding to use on my next quilt. It's such a vibrant shade of purple and adds just the right pop to this pillow!



I have so many projects planned for this collection! Come January I'll have a steady stream of Garden Dreamer finishes to share here, but first there's more holiday sewing to finish up, including a new Janome tutorial. I'll be back soon with details, if you liked yesterday's Buffalo Plaid Stocking, I think you'll enjoy this one!

♡ Maureen 

A Night Sky Easy Tote : :

Confession: I've become a little consumed with making these bags. I've already made SIX since Thursday! If you've been following long you'll know it's not in my nature to make the same thing twice, so this is quite an achievement for me! So far I've only photographed two, the first one I blogged at the end of last week and this one for today. The others I'll hold off on sharing one day during the Nightfall Parade I'm planning. I think whomever wins the BIG Giveaway I'm scheming for the finale will receive their prize in one of these handy Nightfall Easy Totes. I just love em'! And, making them apparently!

These are the fabric pairings I had set aside for my first three Easy Totes!



Today's tote features one color from AGF's new line of Crosshatch Textured Denims in Clouded Horizon for the main bag fabric, a Solid Smooth Denim in Wicked Sky for the handles & inner pocket, and it's lined with my very own Moon Stories in Ash print from Nightfall! I love the night-sky theme of this fabric combination!





The lining is my favorite part of this one! I think it's just a really fun match to the classic look of the bag exterior, and I love the combination of colors. The quilting cotton adds a little softness to the very structured, heavier weight of the Crosshatch Textured Denim, and I love that!



To make and attach the handles and to assemble the rest of the bag I used an Aurifil 50wt from my Bohemian Garden thread set in Medium Juniper and it's nearly invisible. It makes for such a beautiful finish!





I'm going to keep working away on my Nightfall Parade plans this afternoon! I'm putting together some new tutorials to go along with the projects I'm making, so we can sew with Nightfall together. I can't wait to show you!

♡ Maureen  

A Denim & Nightfall Easy Tote : :

This morning I stitched up the first of three Easy Tote bags that I decided to make using my favorite new AGF denim, Crosshatch Textured. I paired up each of the three heavyweight denims with a Nightfall quilting cotton print and a lighter weight solid smooth colored denim. This first tote combo includes Crosshatch Texture in Rainy Night, Magical Gust in Fog from Nightfall, and the pretty peach Nextarine Sunrise Solid Smooth!



For this bag pattern I followed a tutorial on the Purl Bee Blog for their Easy, Easier, and Easiest Totes, opting for the "Easy" one that includes French seams, a tote bag lining fabric, a handy pocket, and roomy boxed out bottom. I prefer to finish my bags with a boxed bottom, but mostly chose this Easy version so I could showcase how pretty my Nightfall prints look with this amazing denim!



I stitched my bag together using the dark blue Aurifil 50wt from my Bohemian Garden thread set. While I love the contrast of the navy thread with the soft peach denim, I equally love how this particular shade of blue blends in so perfectly with the Rainy Night denim I used for the main tote bag fabric, it's nearly invisible!





Making and attaching the sweet little pocket to the tote lining was my favorite part of this bag's construction. The tip provided for creasing the lining fabric to ensure a nicely centered pocket made this step easy and fast!





The tutorial author estimates that this bag pattern can be made in just about an hours time and that was right on for me! I'm excited to make two more this afternoon before school's out!



Be sure to let me know if you give these totes a go!

xo Maureen