Just For You Book & GIVEAWAY : :

Long ago I was invited to contribute a project for the new book Just for You: Selfish Sewing Projects from Your Favorite Sew Can She Bloggers: 24 Simply Stylish Projects by authors Sarah Markos and Caroline Fairbanks-Critchfield of SewCanShe. Over the years the SewCanShe blog has so kindly featured many of my own tutorials and I was thrilled to have been asked. To celebrate it's release there's a fun blog hop happening all month long, featuring all the book contributors, including a sneak peek of each project, with lots of chances to win your very own copy of Just for You! This is my very first book contribution, so it's all very exciting!



The book is a collection of "selfish sewing" projects from bags & totes to skirts & tops to scarves & aprons and more, all designed by many of your favorite bloggers! The projects are arranged into twelve chapters, one chapter for each month, so you can sew along with the book throughout the year. In October, you'll find my project for a Pretty Pocket Apron!



This apron is made using just five fat quarters of fabric, a denim linen, my favorite English Garden Serene print by Bari J, Art Gallery Fabrics Flumes in Citron and PE solid Nocturnal, with several scrappy bits for the colorful pocket applique!



Today, Stash Books is offering a copy of Just For You to one of my readers!

Enter to win!  

Here's how,  

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)
2. My followers get a second entry whether you follow here, on Instagram or Facebook! Just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do so, I've added sharing as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 3 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, November 24th! The winner will be picked 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. U.S. winner will receive a hard cover book, International winner will receive the eBook version! 

In addition to this chance to win, Caroline is also giving away Just For You plus fabric for four projects! Enter HERE and be sure to click through the blog hop to see the other project previews from the book!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From 339 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #159 --   * Linda Nelson *  Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly!   

A Modern Bee GIVEAWAY : :

Today is my stop on the Modern Bee Book Tour! Which means I have another wonderful Giveaway to share with all of you!!

I personally love the story behind this book -- Author Lindsay Conner has taken the work of her quilting bee, including 11 very talented partners, and has turned their collective work into a beautiful, new book! 



Rather than sharing a review today, and over-using the word LOVE, I chose to make & share a quilt block from one of the 13 quilt patterns included inside! The June quilt -- Stacked Windmills by Jeni Baker, made with Domino Dots, Juliana Horner's Rosette and a little Denyse Schmidt, both from Joann Fabric's Premium Quilting Cotton collections.



One glimpse of this block pattern and I knew it would make a wonderful addition to my Making Rows quilt in progress, so I got to work! Plus, this block is perfect for mastering those HST's, half-square triangles, and shares with you Jeni's super, quick method for making four at a time!





I'm currently thinking it might be the perfect innermost block in the middle row of my quilt, possibly set on point? I just love how it turned out!



To see more peeks inside this wonderful, new book be sure to check out the other stops on the Modern Bee Blog Tour : : 

 
Monday - 10/7:  Sew Mama Sew + Stash Books
Tuesday - 10/8: SewCraftyJess + Sew Sweetness
Wednesday - 10/9: Ellison Lane + Diary of a Quilter

Thursday - 10/10: Katie’s Korner + Pat Sloan
Friday - 10/11: Fat Quarter Shop + imagine gnats
Saturday - 10/12: Quilting is My Therapy + Hot Pink Stitches
Monday - 10/14: Live a Colorful Life + Craft Gossip
Tuesday - 10/15: SewCanShe + Maureen Cracknell Handmade (Me!) 

Wednesday - 10/16: Craftsy + Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores

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How would you like a chance to win a copy of Modern Bee for yourself?

Here's how,

-- Simply leave a comment under this post! I'd love to read about your own quilting bee, or a favorite quilt or sewing project you've made! (one entry)

Enter now through Friday, October 18th! We'll choose one random winner to receive a copy of the book, and if the winner lives outside of the U.S., they'll receive a copy of the e-book!

* 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!              

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

   From 381 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 
Comment #184 --   * Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures *   

Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly!   

Ruby Star Wrapping Button~Down Shirt Bag : :

Today is my stop on the Ruby Star Wrap-Along!

I chose to make the Button-Down Shirt Bag -- a smart, simple, and seriously quick sewing project!!



Ruby Star Wrapping : : Creating Packaging to Reuse, Regive, and Relove, is the brand new book by the lovely and adorable Melody Miller and Allison Tannery. My friend Sukie is hosting a Wrap-Along, invited me to join in, and I'm so glad she did!

This book is full of fun and thoughtful ideas! Each teaching you through step-by-step instructions how to create amazing, thrifty, easy-to-make unique and beautiful projects for gift giving that are really special and lovely! And what's really, really awesome -- it shows you how to do just that by re-purposing and recycling many items that we all already have or have access to!



I decided right away to use a button-down shirt I bought a few years ago, that never fit me right, but I loved the details and decided to hold onto it in case I ever became a tall, thin, modelesque woman -- yeah right!



I actually plan to make two bags out of the shirt I'm re-purposing! This first one is for my daughter and she loves it! I used a heavier ticking fabric for the lining, to add some sturdiness since the shirt I chose is a very thin cotton. For the bag straps, I decided to keep with the up-cycling theme of this project, using one of the belts that came with a pair of the boys cargo pants from the Gap or Old Navy. It worked great!!



I think it turned out super cute and it's definitely the quickest bag I have ever made!!







You can find all the details, prize info, and the list of blogger's participating in the Wrap-Along in Sukies post right here! You can pick up the Ruby Star Wrapping book at Roostbooks, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Random House.

Be sure to add your own Ruby Star Wrapping projects to the Flickr Group! And, don't forget to link up your Wrap-Along projects at Amy's blog for a chance to win great prizes -- You can link up right HERE!

Thanks again, Amy, for having me on the Ruby Star Wrap-Along! For more great ideas, be sure to check out the rest of the blog stops : :

11.7.12 - Anna of noodlehead

11.9.12 - Amanda of A Crafty Fox

11.12.12 - Elizabeth of Oh, Fransson!

11.14.12 - Brooke of Pitter Putter Stitch

11.16.12 - Erin of Two More Seconds

11.19.12 - Jennifer of BettyCrockerAss

11.21.12 - Rochelle of Lucky Lucille

11.23.12 - Sukie of Sukie - don't you know who I am?

11.26.12 - Elizabeth of Don't Call Me Betsy

11.28.12 - Gina and crew of Bolt Neighborhood

11.30.12 - Ellen of the Long Thread

12.3.12 - Katie of Swim, Bike Quilt

12.5.12 - Faith of Fresh Lemon Quilts

12.7.12 - Lee of Freshly Pieced

12.10.12 - Maureen of Maureen Cracknell Handmade

12.12.12 - Sara of Sew Sweetness

12.14.12 - Colleen of The Busy Bean

12.17.12 - Amy of Diary of a Quilter

12.19.12 - Monica of The Happy Zombie

Sew Mama Sew! is also participating in our Wrap-Along by hosting a Ruby Star Contest! They are sharing all the details right HERE today!

So... get those Button-Down Shirt Bags made and join in the fun to win some fantastic prizes!!!





And finally, I have some BIG NEWS to share : Tomorrow I'll be back with an AMAZING GIVEAWAY Event that I am a part of! I'm so, so excited about this one -- you all know how much I love a good Giveaway!! If you can't wait until tomorrow -- visit my friends Rachael &  Lindsay today! ♥,  Maureen

For the Kiddos : :

There certainly hasn't been enough sewing/crafting time happening with the kids this Summer! How about for you? Usually, crafting together as a family is a huge part of our Summer, so I'm pretty bummed about it! But don't feel too bad, I think I'm the only one! I had so many things I wanted to make with them, that's just not happening. The main reason being this weather! It's just too nice hot to be inside. So, today I thought it would be good to share the couple of projects we actually did work on together before too much time passes.

Have you seen the book Sewing School? It's full of simple sewing projects for children to make. We've used it to help guide us through a couple different projects in the past (here), and it was really helpful. This time, in the early morning a couple of weeks ago, Jacob joined me in the sewing room and had decided on following a pattern in this book from start to finish.

It was fun to watch, to lend a hand when he needed it, and to have that chance for just the two of us to work together on our own projects.

He did a great job! Teaching him the basics during our Sewing Buttons 101 craft, really has given him the tools he needs to do this type of project almost completely on his own. And, he even has plans (weather permitting) to make more as gifts. Aren't they cute?!

Another project that we really had fun with are these fork pompoms!



We've made these several times (here and here), and this time we combined fuzzy, wool yarn and Divine Twine to make a colorful strand of garland, and even used one pompom to make a sweet flower!



If you're looking for a fun and easy craft to do with your own children or grandchildren, this is it!

I also finished up another Train Pillow Cover Set, as an etsy order, that I have to share! I've had my shop closed most of this Summer, and it certainly feels strange to not be busy making all those crowns and pillows like I was. Hopefully, I'll be plenty busy this Fall, when my shop is open, and I give my all to making this sewing gig my full time job!!



For now, I'm going to keep hoping for a nice two-day stretch of rain to happen sometime this Summer! One for a full day of crafting together, and the second to clean up our mess!!

Zakka Style Sew-Along : :

Last week I signed on to be a part of a Zakka Style Book Along and I am very excited!! Rashida’s book is so completely lovely and jammed packed full of the most beautiful projects! Have you ordered your copy yet?

Amy and Lindsey have put together a sew along/blog hop that will include 24 fabulous bloggers and you! I really hope you join in!! There are 24 projects in the book and the group of us will be sewing right through it from start to finish!

The sew along starts Monday, April 2nd with the first project in the book and will continue through Monday, September 10th with a new project  introduced each Monday. Each blogger will sew a different project and will be sharing their finished project and inspiration each week!

The Schedule : :

• April 2nd :: Zig Zag Tote with Sew Fantastic 
• April 9th :: The House Pouch with During Quiet Time
• April 16th :: Zakka Pincushion with Pink Penguin
• April 23rd :: Sewing Kit with Monkey Do
• April 30th :: Patchwork Pencil Case with VeryKerryBerry
• May 7th :: Itty Bitty Quilt Block Magnets with Little Bluebell
• May 14th :: Raincloud Mug Rug with Quilt Dad
• May 21st :: Zakka Block Quilt with I like Orange
• May 28th :: Stem Messenger Bag with Sew Sweetness
• June 4th :: Zip Organizer with Spotted Stone
• June 11th :: Orchard Path Tweed Pouch with Don’t Call Me Betsy
• June 18th :: Happy Couple Handwarmers with A Cuppa and a Catchup

• June 25th :: Patchwork Potholder with Sew Take a Hike
• July 2nd :: Water Bottle Holder with One Shabby Chick
• July 9th :: Elephant Bookmark with Cut to Pieces
• July 16th :: Patchwork Ribbon with {House} of A la Mode
• July 23rd :: Delightful Linen Bag with Sukie
• July 30th :: Bread Basket with Patchwork Notes

• August 6th :: Sweet Sugar Cookie Sack with BettyCrockerAss
• August 13th :: Little Pocket Pillowcase with Freshly Pieced
• August 2oth :: Sweet Memories Photo Frame with Noodlehead
• August 27th :: Pleated Coin Purse with Shape Moth
• September 3rd :: Happy Garland Message Board with Maureen Cracknell Handmade
• September 10th :: Nesting Boxes with From the Blue Chair

I made my week bold, because I wanted you all to laugh at just how predictable I am!! Me...Happy Garland...YES! Of course!!

Be sure to keep an eye on Lindsey’s blog for more details. You'll need a copy of the book to participate. While we will be sharing tips, hints, inspiration & ideas,  we won’t be sharing the  patterns or any templates.

Check your local book store or Library for a copy of Zakka Style, or Lindsey has so kindly compiled a list of some places you can purchase it online and it also comes in e-book form.

E-book:

• C&T Publishing
• Google Play
• Diesel E-Book

Paperback Book:

• Signed Copy directly from Rashida!
• Amazon
• Amazon UK
• Sew Mama Sew
• Overstock
• Barnes & Noble
• Create for Less

There will be some lovely prizes offered each week! We are so thankful to have the support of : :

If you are interested in participating as a sponsor please email Amy, thank you!

Feel free to join in the flickr group and be sure to grab a button!