A Dresden Pocket Half Apron { and GIVEAWAY} : :

A Riley Blake Design Team Project!

I'm SO excited to be sharing my newest project as part of the Riley Blake Design Team today!!

A tutorial for a new Half Apron Pattern, using the gorgeous Willow fabric collection by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs!



I used these sweet fabric prints as inspiration to create a Flower Dresden Pocket on each side with a little pleated detail down the center. If you haven't noticed by now...I love both making and wearing aprons! This one is headed to my etsy shop.





I really hope you like this tutorial! My project is up on the Riley Blake blog now, pretty please be sure to stop by and check it out! And, if you do to give this tutorial a try -- be sure to let me know and feel free to join and share a photo in my new Flickr Group or on my Facebook page anytime!!

GREAT NEWS, besides having the honor of guest posting on the Riley Blake Blog as part of the Design Team today, I also get to host a new RBD Fabric Giveaway right here!!!

How does a chance at winning a Fat Quarter Bundle of this entire Willow Collection sound??!!

Well...the sweet folks at Riley Blake are so generously offering a Fat Quarter bundle of the entire Willow Collection to one lucky reader!!! WOW!

You can find Willow available in the shop of my sponsors --

*   Hawthorne Threads   *   Fat Quarter Shop   *

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Enter to Win!

Here's how,

1. Simply add a comment to this post. (one entry) If you want, you can let me know what you think my next tutorial should be??
2. Follow the Riley Blake Blog or facebook page for a second entry. 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! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, 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... (optional extra entry)
 
That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Friday morning, September 14th. 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! 

* * * * *  UPDATE  * * * * *

Thank you to all who entered this past weekend's Giveaway!! 

 

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  From 1,545 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #1,441 -- Learn How To Make Quilts, who said...

simply adorable apron!!

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!

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Tilly Update : :

Remember my Tilly Dresden from back in October? Well, I thought it would be fun to share a little update on this project, since it was one of my very favorites from the year!

Jan, Daisy Janie, had asked me a while back to make a few flower themed items for her Fall Quilt Market booth and of course, I was over-joyed and said, Yes! I received the gorgeous fabrics and got right to work!



My contribution was a large Tilly Dresden Pillow front, Jan finished it off, and I made these Tilly fabric flowers from the scraps. I am still planning a tutorial for these, I promise! It seems like a better suited idea for Spring, don't you think?



Doesn't her booth look fantastic!



Jan took some beautiful photos of the items I made herself, and I'm excited to be able to share. You can see many more of this pillow here and of her other Tilly pillows here. They are all very inspiring!



And, how beautiful is this window shot!? It was nearly impossible for me to choose just one to share today. You can see why for yourself right here.



I'll be having a Tilly giveaway here sometime soon! So be sure to keep an eye out!!

Colorful Christmas News : :

This weekend there wasn't much time for sewing, except for the little bit of time I found late Saturday night to begin one last Christmas sewing project. I had stashed a few more holiday prints last week -- some Colorful Christmas, along with a some Hooty Hoot Jacks. All are Riley Blake, all from The Little Fabric Shop!

I hope to make up a few little bags for my son Jacob with most of these. He is a collector of all sorts of little things and I think he would especially like these Jacks fabrics!



I'm still deciding what to do with my colorful Christmas dresden? I scrapped my original plan and now I am thinking a large floor pillow would be fun to have. I'll be sure to show what this becomes later in the week, or possibly tomorrow!



These little hands will be here for just three weeks! I plan to squeeze and hold and tickle and love on this little girl as much as I can up until that very last moment!! Little hands, there's nothing better!



Did you see the Pink Chalk Studio Handmade with Love Holiday Tutorial contest? About a week ago I discovered it and decided to enter some of my tutorials from the year and guess what?!? I am SO excited that my Holiday Garland Pillow made the top 15!!!



My pillow is in the Deck the Halls category. There are some super great tutorials in the final fifteen, so be sure to check them out! And now it's up to the readers to determine the winner in each category and the grand prize winner. Pretty please take a minute to go vote for your favorites in each of the three category. Voting ends this Wednesday!

Wishing a Happy Monday to all!!!

Half Dresden Pillows : :

Even though I am on vacation, I just can't go without sharing what I've been up to here. It's become such a regular part of my day now, one that I really look forward to, that I just can't help myself!

Friday, the day before we left Pa, I finished up these two pillows for my Aunt. They are gifts for her two best friends that she exchanges gifts with each Christmas. She asked for blues, green, and yellows for both of them, and I hope they are a big hit!



Have any of you stitched up a dresden yet? It's quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do! I have a dream of turning all my stashed Anna Maria Horner fabrics into a dresden quilt just for me.



I striped the other side with coordinating fabrics.



And finished the back off with a couple of blue prints that my Aunt picked from my stash.



How about you, what have you all been working on? I'd love to see!

Dresden Window: :

Just after finishing my extra-large Tilly Dresden, I hung it up on the balcony door of my sewing room. I was just making room for finishing up that owl tote. Then something magical happened...



I stepped back and saw what looked like stained glass work, with how pretty it glowed from the soft light shining through.



My oldest (who's new favorite spot is the sewing room too), was sitting, reading to me, and stopped and said, "Woah!" Which is exactly what I was thinking. I, of course, ran right downstairs and got my camera.



Just looking at it makes me happy. Dresden's really are just completely beautiful!



Perhaps I will make a block or two just to hang in a window?



I hope this makes you happy, too! Wishing a lovely Thursday to all!!

p.s. I will be having a new fabric giveaway happening tomorrow, so please do stop back!