Scrap Chat : :

Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to offer up some of my fabric scraps to those ordering felt during my sale. A win, win for sure! But once I had the day's orders all laid out and I began sorting through my scraps, I became completely overwhelmed!

What's too small? What's too big? Should I press them? They're kind of wrinkled from being shoved in my drawer! Should I square them up so they look nice and neat?

My goodness, I was seriously stressing out over this?! In the end, I ended up with these answers --
I will send a variety of sizes, I will square them up a little, and I will definitely press them!



Back when I was avoiding packing for the BIG move into our new home, I started making these Simple Color Totes, with my Simply Color Layer Cake. I love, love the idea of organizing my scraps by color! I accomplished four before I had run out of my procrastination time, and I still plan to finish out that rainbow eventually!





The majority of my scraps presently dwell in the large bottom drawer of my most favorite dresser, stuffed to the brim! Which is why I'm happy, thrilled actually, to offer some up!



So, when I saw that my friend Alia had ordered, creator of this beautiful, felt needle book of mine, I decided to send her a nice variety!



A little improv scattering of scraps for another order!



And, when Mara asked so sweetly for orange and purple scraps, if I could please, I was happy to share!



One day I will eventually get around to beginning that second scraps quilt!



But with each new sewing day, comes more and MORE scraps than I could ever imagine using all on my own!

So today, I'm asking all of you -- What do you keep? What do you consider useful scraps? Do you keep your selvages, as well? And, how do you store your own scraps?

I'll continue sending out my scraps with all the Wool Blend Felt orders I receive during my sale, and I may even use your super helpful answers to offer up some fabric scrap bundles in my Etsy shop at some point, as well!

As always, thanks so much taking the time to stop by!   ♥, 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, the most pleasant shopping experience, and 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 Moda Jelly Roll of the Simply Color Collection by V and Co! 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, March 4th. 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!

Wishing a wonderful weekend to all!!!
  
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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! 

 

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  From 1,693 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #1607 --  ✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾, who said...

What a pretty jelly roll! I bought the chevrons in all the colors and love them!

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 Stash Fabrics is an online store for fresh, modern fabric. They carry many of our favorite designer fabrics, including Riley Blake, Art Gallery, Free Spirit, Cloud9, Moda, and many more! They ship within 24 hours of any order and offer FREE shipping on all orders over $50 in the US, and discounts to those purchasing internationally. We invite you to visit Stash at their --

 SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  TWITTER
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting the Stash Fabrics sites!! 

For this weekend's Fabric Giveaway Stash Fabrics is offering this lovely Layer Cake of V and Co.'s Simply Color Fabric Collection for Moda. This Layer Cake includes 42 - 10" square cuts of this gorgeous, colorful collection. It's perfect for quilting or any other fun patchwork project!

 You can find the full Simply Color collection available in the Stash Fabric shop 
in yardage, FQ's, and in a variety of cuts and bundles right HERE!!

Enter to win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post. I'd love to know what you'd like to use this layer cake for? (one entry)
2. Follow Stash Fabrics on facebook, their blog, or sign up to receive their Newsletter. Just let me know that you did 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... (one optional entry)  

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday morning, November 19th. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog, I always try to have that up by 9 am EST! Sorry I was late -- I completely forgot!!
 
* 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 so that I can contact you should you win!
                                        

Good Luck everyone!!! Have a great weekend! 
We'll be in our first HOME by Monday, can't wait!! 

* * * * *  UPDATE  * * * * *

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

 

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  From 1,446 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #1398 --  Carla who said...
I follow your blog via my RSS reader. Thanks for the opportunity!


Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!

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Some Happy Sewing : :

Yesterday was possibly the worst sewing day I have ever had to date. Nothing was going my way, and it only got worse as the day went on! I kept having to step away and when I would return, the silly mistakes and frustration would just continue. Blah! So, let's forget about that for now and focus on some happy sewing news, k?

I finished two more Simple Color Tote baskets for my rainbow of fabric scraps. These make me happy!!



I was so excited to receive so many comments when I first shared these, thank you! Fun and practical sewing is my absolute favorite, so these are nothing but a pleasure to make! If today's sewing road is just as bumpy, I plan to just stop and make more of these!

They are hanging and waiting to be filled, but I'm saving the fabric scrap sorting for the kids! Hopefully I convince at least one of them that it will be a fun game...he he



This new aqua tote is my very favorite! A little aqua over-load perhaps, with my chair and that door as a backdrop?!



And, this just happens to be the mug I'm drinking my coffee in today. Clearly I enjoy this color! This mug and the rest of the set, inspired my last Blogger Bundle for Pink Castle Fabrics, Sweet Summer Dreams. Today, Brenda listed my newest selection of fabrics - my "For the Boys Blogger Bundle". This new bundle is inspired by the room I hope to create for my boys in our new house, with colors that I also know my husband likes. With all the "girly sewing" I do and see, I thought it would be a nice change to put together a collection of fabrics the boys in my life would appreciate. I hope to use it to create something for them....for once!
(Oh, and all PCF pre-cut bundles are 20% with code : PRECUT20 this week only!)



In other news, I have a Three Little Birds pillow project in the newest issue of Simply Handmade Magazine's Sewing issue for Fall 2012. This is one of my all time favorite pillow designs!



I still remember the day I received my Summerlove bundle. It is such a gorgeous collection! I wanted to use it right away, but only a little because I loved it so much! This pillow is the design that emerged. I've made six of them now, and just listed this one in my shop!



And finally, be sure to take a peek at this weekend's Fabric Giveaway offering from Cotton Blossom Farms! A gorgeous bundle that will certainly make for some happy sewing!!

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Simple Color Totes : :

Since sharing my Sewing Room Before post, I have been thinking a lot about simple storage solutions.
In my current space, I have a pretty large closet for how small my room is, which holds all my fabric and felt scraps, my large stack of felt sheets, and boxes of vintage notions. The truth is, it's usually a complete mess! I also have a hallway that continues past my room that leads only to the attic, where you can almost always find a pile of new pillow forms and batting. With my new room being so open, with no closets or hidden hallways, having a plan for the items that I'm used to tucking away is something I really want to figure out now.

First on my list -- fabric scrap storage!



After playing around with a few prints from my Simply Color Layer Cake for my Quilted Fox Pillow, I was inspired to use one of the prints, in the eight different colorways included in the Layer Cake, to help me sort my scraps by color.



I've used this method of fabric scrap separating in the past with mason jars, but now that I sew everyday... Well, I'm sure you can imagine how many scraps I acquire throughout my days. It's a little crazy! And the fabric hoarder, pinner, & scrap-happy project enthusiast in me, has a really hard time letting go of even the littlest fabric bit.



In case you're wondering, I did not use a specific pattern or tutorial for making these totes. I just used what I know from making my lined tote bags, adapting them to be boxier with little side handles. I actually forgot to write down what I was doing when I made my first one. I did remember with my second, and now I think they will come together much easier and faster. I really do want them to all be the same. These first two are a little off in size, but you can see that they make a pretty generous landing spot for fabric scraps.



I just have six more to go, in these great Simply Color - colors... And, then I'll have to take a look at what other fabric scrap tote colors I'll need, and at what prints in my stash will work best for finishing the job. I have to say, these 10" layer cake squares worked perfectly for this project!



My plan is to have them lined up along the bottom of a shelf, possibly my new shelf if they'll fit? I probably should have measured that first, hmn? It's a good thing I also like the idea of having them hanging around?! What do you think??



I'm so excited to be able to share all these little projects while we wait to move. The feedback you all left me on my last post, and all the sweet comments congratulating us, has been so helpful and has meant so much! THANK YOU!!

Alright, time to make some scraps!! ♥,  Maureen 

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Put A Fox On It : :

Wow everyone!! I have to first THANK YOU all today for being so sweet and supportive in light of our HOME news!! I am a nervous ball of emotions, as you can imagine. I can't wait to share all the details, photos, and decorating ideas as this all plays out. Right now we're looking at closing sometime within the next 6-8 weeks, so I'm going to be super busy...but still sewing all the while, maybe with a few decorating inspiration posts, too?! It's going to be fun, I promise.

So yes, this post is inspired by the silly genius that is Portlandia's Put A Bird On It! That hilarious video actually became a running joke around here between my husband and I. Well that, and the amount of pillows we have! It's ridiculous, and I love it! I am certain that my crazy pillow making will never stop, it's true, and putting birds on things is likely to continue, as well. But today is all about cute little fox things! Want to see?!

It's been quite a while since I made a fox pillow. I love simple applique projects, especially when making pillows, and this adorable fox design is always a fun one for me to make! 



I actually chose an image from my fox pillow making for the front of one of my new mini Moo business cards!



It's one of my favorite fox pillow pictures ever and now it lives on about 300 of these cute, little cards!



On the back is just a list of my sites and contact email. I do plan to share a post sometime soon including what I had ordered a few weeks back to prepare for making, selling, and blogging full time. I was so bad about carrying and giving out my business info before. But not anymore! It really helps to have cards that you love and that represent you well!



While in fox making mode, I decided to make my very first quilted version. Reaching for a few prints from my Simply Color Layer Cake from Southern Fabrics. I love the bright colors and leafy designs in this collection by V and Co., and have been wanting to make something combining blues and orange for a while, so this was perfect!



I added my felt fox applique to the pillow front, and backed it with a layer of soft batting.



I think it turned out cute?! Haila and Jacob both love it, so that made me happy. It's always nice to find things to make that work for both boys and girls. I'm hoping someone will snatch this up from my little etsy shop! SOLD, woohoo!



The back is finished with more blues and orange, in some of my favorite Full Moon Polka-dot from Moona and a little more Simply Color.



So, that's the extent of me "putting a fox on it" for now. Today, I'm off to work on a new, very special quilt top. More on that soon, but first -- I had to make one of these! I just couldn't stop myself!!

LOL!! Happy Thursday, friends! ♥  Maureen 

p.s...my HUGE Willow Giveaway continues HERE today! And, I have a new custom bundle Giveaway beginning early tomorrow, around 7-ish (est)!! Don't forget!

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