Haila's Fox : :

This past week we had such a houseful, but on Saturday for just an hour or so, Haila and I found ourselves a little stretch of sewing time. A promise was made that we'd sew over Thanksgiving break, and this was our big chance!

First I asked her to choose from my pile of random quilt blocks what would be the center of a new quilted pillow. She opted for a little fabric fox appliqued onto a light gray PE solid. She's always loved my fox pillows and was thrilled for this chance to make one of her very own. She decided right away to surround little fox with pretty flowers, so that's what she did!











I really love this pillow - the colors, those sweet florals, and my girl's effortful stitching. It's always so fun watching her work, understanding each step with such delight, it's exciting to see!

As long as she keep requesting these sewing sessions, I will happily oblige. It's a pleasure!

♡  Maureen

this week's sewing time

It's the last week of Summer vacation and so, since Monday, I've only been taking the sewing time I need to fill my etsy orders, which happens to be alot more than I realized when I took time to sketch my feather Sunday night. Oops! Ever so often I receive an inquiry for this Train Pillow set through my little shop. I don't offer this set as a regular listing simply because even though I really do love making these pillows, I wouldn't want to make them more than just once a month or so. I figure if someone stumbles upon my design through Pinterest or a Google search and takes the time to reach out to me, well then the time it takes for me to make these for the recipient will be time well spent!



For all of my fabric applique pillows I love to use ThermoWeb's iron-on fabric adhesive HeatnBond Lite! To create each pillow I first prepare each fabric by fusing on the adhesive, sketching my applique train shapes right onto the paper side of the HeatnBond, cut out my shapes, iron them onto to neutral shades of solid fabric, in this case Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Elements in Light Gray & Ash. Using a light blue shade of cotton Aurifil 50wt and my satin stitch, I simply stitch around each shape to finish. It's fairly time consuming, but so worth it! These steps create such an adorable, well-made pillow!



The back of each pillow in this set is finished in a bright aqua Amy Butler geometric print, with a little colorful touch of binding on each in Patchwork Plaid by Michael Miller!

Besides this order, I'm a Birthday Crown factory! I'm turning out so many of these, I rarely take the time to photograph them anymore. However this colorful set in my celebration style matched too perfectly with the Moda fabrics I used in this newest set of Train Pillows not to snap and share!



Now that these are done, this afternoon I promised one last sewing session to my girl. We're making a tote bag, which I'll be sure to share soon!

♥ Maureen

A Train Pillow Set in Moda : :

I recently received a very, very generous surprise box from Moda Fabrics, filled to the brim with up-coming collections in Moda's much loved, classic pre-cut bundles, folded perfectly & wrapped in ribbon!

A beautiful sight!



Inside I found a Fat Eighth bundle of Amy Ellis' first collection for Moda, Modern Neutrals, a bundle of Fancy by Lily Ashbury, one of Lella Boutique's Into the Woods, Bonnie & Camille's Miss Kate, Lauren & Jessy Jung's Pedal Pushers, A Field Guide by Janet Clare, and a colorful Layer Cake of April Rosenthal's Best. Day. Ever!





It was a challenge to undo each neatly tied bundle, but I knew these colorful prints would make an adorable Train Pillow Set, which I had an Etsy shop order for, so I jumped in! Using ThermoWeb's iron-on fabric adhesive HeatnBond Lite, I prepared each fabric by fusing on the adhesive, sketching my applique train shapes right onto the paper side of the HeatnBond, cut out my shapes, and ironed them onto to neutral shades of RJR Cotton Supreme Solids. Using a white, cotton Aurifil 50wt and my satin stitch I simply sewed around each shape to finish. It's fairly time consuming, but so worth it!









The back of each pillow is finished with a print from Ellen Luckett Baker's Quilt Blocks fabric collection for Moda, with a little colorful touch of binding on each in Patchwork Plaid by Michael Miller!



In the Summer weeks ahead I'll be sharing more of what becomes of each of these new Moda collections! I've even promised to share with Haila!

Happy Monday!   ♥ Maureen

New Fabric & Plans : :

Today seems like the perfect day to share my newest fabric deliveries and plans. Since I've so been busy making birthday crowns and not much else!



The same day Spring weather finally arrived to my part of PA this lovely & fresh Meadow collection showed up at my door via Art Gallery Fabrics! This collection is by artist Leah Duncan, a gorgeous follow-up to her Tule collection! I'm such a huge fan of Leah's work and cannot wait to turn these beauties into a quilt. At first glace a simple triangle patchwork quilt came to mind, maybe another go at this pattern, hmn?



Prompted by my recent Storybook collection giveaway, I couldn't resist stashing my two favorite prints in the ultra-soft brushed cotton option from Crafter's Vision. These hot air balloon prints will be the backs to two crib size quilts I hope to make this month. Baby quilts aren't something I ever make, but I have an idea that a sweet crib size quilt will be just perfect for, stay tuned!





I was recently invited to receive and play around with this beautiful, Lipari bundle of handwoven Oakshott Cottons! These will certainly become more flying geese units!





My sponsor Cloud9 Fabrics sent me two bundles of their new organic, quilter's weight Enchanted collection By Michelle Engel Bencsko. One to turn into something quilty and one to giveaway once I do! I hope to make my little sister a quick, quilted tote bag before she leaves for Hawaii on Friday!



How about you, have you stashed anything good lately?

Happy sewing!  ♥  Maureen

Some Very Sweet Sewing : :

As my children grow and their favorite colors and interests change, I'm so grateful to have little nieces who are much younger than my own kids to do some sweet sewing for. By sweet, I mean with fabrics that are designed so perfectly for nursery decorating, those early pastel-y years that I love and miss so much!



By request from my most favorite little voice, I recently stitched up this set of pillows. One quilted and made in my favorite Fort Firefly prints from Sew Fine Fabrics to match those pretty princess flower crowns I made a few weeks back!







A second special personalized pillow to match, that I've recently decided to offer again in my etsy shop!







And since I have plans for more sweet sewing in the weeks ahead, I recently stashed a fat quarter bundle of Art Gallery Fabric's brand new nursery collection Littlest! This collection is so adorable, full of gorgeous floral prints and cute little bunnies in minty greens, soft greys, and peachy pinks!





A layer cake precut of Kate & Birdie's brushed cotton collection for little ones, Storybook, arrived in my mail box the other day, as well! This collection is so dreamy and whimsical, it's going to make a super cute & comfy baby quilt!!





Gathering images of these pillows and newly stashed fabrics to share here this morning reminded me of this forgotten quilt work in progress! I think it's about time I add this sweet project back onto my quilt making schedule, don't you think?!



Happy sewing!  ♥ Maureen 

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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My sponsor Cotton Blossom Farm Fabrics is a real working family farm where the fabric business is a family business that grew out of a love for beautiful, fun designer fabrics. They started their little venture on Etsy, where they still maintain their shop, and have now grown to their own website, as well. Their fabric family -- Cathy, Robin, and Heath, enjoy picking out beautiful, new collections each season, including basics, solids and fun fabrics like chenille, flannel and fleece. The goal of Cotton Blossom Farm is to provide the highest quality fabric, with a pleasant shopping experience, and some of the best customer service on the web!

Website * Etsy Shop * Facebook * Twitter

 

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 We hope you enjoy visiting their sites!! 

For this weekend's giveaway Cotton Blossom Farm Fabrics is offering a Jelly Roll of the Wishes collection by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics! This Jelly Roll includes all 40 prints cut into 2.5" strips of fabric, all rolled up and tied in a cute ribbon! 

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Enter to Win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Cotton Blossom Farm Fabrics on Facebook. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)

3. Followers of Maureen Cracknell Handmade get an additional entry, too! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, on Facebook, etc... 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 Google, Tweet, Facebook, Pin, blog post, etc... (optional extra entry)

Please enter now through Monday, January 27th. Random.org 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!
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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

From 1,992 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #1828 --   * Stephanie @ Quarter Incher  *
   

Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly! 

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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My sponsor Fabric Fly is an online fabric shop full of fresh designer fabrics! They carry a wonderful variety of quilting cottons, including yardage & pre-cuts, flannels, & scrap packs! They offer fast shipping and great customer service!!

We invite you to check out their --

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

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We hope you enjoy visiting Fabric Fly!!  

 
For this week's Fabric Giveaway Fabric Fly is offering a Jelly Roll of Bonnie and Camille's newest amazing fabric line April Showers! As you probably know this line has not yet been released, the full collection is expected to arrive at Fabric Fly sometime in March,  but they were able to snatch up an early release of a few pre cuts! This Jelly Roll pre-cut includes an assortment of all 40 of the colorful prints that make up the April Showers Collection! 

How kind of them to offer one right here to one of my lucky readers!! 



In addition, please be sure to check out Fabric Fly's Year End Inventory Reduction Sale that happens to begin today -- Friday, December 20th through the end of the year! Prices will be already marked down on both their website (www.FabricFly.com) and in their Etsy Shop (www.FabricFlyShop.etsy.com)!!

Enter to win!

Here's how,   

1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Fabric Fly on Facebook, Instagram, or sign up to receive their newsletter! 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, 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)
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 Monday, December 22nd. The winner will be chosen by Random and I will announce their name on Monday, at the bottom of this post, here on the blog! 

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

From 1,482 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #596 --   * Christine S *
   

Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly! 

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!  

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  

My sponsor Crafter's Vision is an online shop dedicated to amazing customer service! Owned and operated by Lisa Spaulding, Crafter's Vision was born out of a desire to offer an online shop full of wonderful products with great customer service. Crafter's Vision has grown to carry over 800 fabrics, thousands of beautiful ribbons, and so much more, providing their outstanding customer service, loyal customer discounts, & FREE shipping on all orders over $30 here in the US!!

They carry many of our favorite designer fabrics, including Art Gallery Fabrics, Denyse Schmidt, Riley Blake Fabrics, Michael Miller Fabrics, Robert Kaufman, Aurifil Threads and many more!!

We invite you to visit Crafter's Vision at their --

 SHOP  *  FACEBOOK  *  BLOG  *  PINTEREST
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting their sites!! 

For this week's Fabric Giveaway, Crafter's Vision is giving away a very generous bundle including Moda’s beautiful new line Modern Roses! This bundle will include SEVEN - One Yard pieces of each Modern Roses print, plus a One Yard cut of Freespirit's Slate Grey Solid, AND a  spool of my favorite Aurifil Thread in a coordinating Sterling Grey 50wt! WOW!!

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Enter to win!

Here's how,   

1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! I'd love to know what you'd stitch up with these pretties? I see a beautiful throw quilt and a few pillowcases! (one entry)
2. Follow Crafter's Vision on Facebook! 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, 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)
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, instagram, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, November 18th. The winner will be chosen by 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!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

   From 1,301 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #1,075 --   *  kitkabbit  *   

Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly!