A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

My sponsor, Contemporary Cloth, 

has a wonderful offer for this weekend's Giveaway! 

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Contemporary Cloth began for owner Sondra, as a way to provide a resource for interesting, contemporary, modern, and retro-look textiles for home or office, at reasonable prices.The fabrics she offers can be used in art quilts, wearable art, wall art, interior design projects, crafts, mixed media, book arts, etc. They have a worldwide customer base that has inspired them to continue on that path. In the shop you'll find a large variety of quilting & home dec fabrics, bold cottons, Yuwa Japanese Fabrics, notions, magazines & books and more.

We invite you to sign up for the Contemporary Cloth email newsletter on the website, so you can stay up to date with their new arrivals and sales. You can visit and follow them at on their various social media sites --

* Shop * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest *

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We hope you enjoy visiting Contemporary Cloth!!  

For this weekend's Giveaway, Contemporary Cloth is offering a Three Half Yard Bundle of Yuwa Kei Japanese Fabrics!  These Japanese fabric prints have such sweet and dreamy details, are 100% cotton, and include a 1/2 yard of each Kei Cotorienne, Oasis in Cream, this Yellow with Birds, and this Brown Bunny & Moon print!

In addition,  Contemporary Cloth is offering a special discount to my readers for 20% off ALL orders (excluding New Arrivals and Coming Soon Categories)!!  Use discount code :  ThanksMaureen - on orders placed today through Wednesday, January 23rd! 

Aren't these sweet?!

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

1.Simply add a comment to this post! If you'd like, you can share with us what sewing project you're working on right now? I shared what I've been up to late last night, HERE! (one entry)
2. Follow Contemporary Cloth's facebook page, OR sign up to receive the Newsletter on their website. Just let me know that you follow them, by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry)

3. Followers of Maureen Cracknell Handmade get an additional entry, too! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional 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)

Please, enter now through Monday, January 21st. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name in a new 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!!! 

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

 

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  From 808 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #20 -- Deb, who said...

Thanks for the chance, Maureen! These fabrics would be amazing for a VERY overdue baby quilt I should be working on right now. I've been working on some bee blocks this week and put together a baby quilt top yesterday. I feel like I've been productive lately, which is a good thing. 

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!

Recently Made : :

Today I decided to stop the house tour and spare us all of an overload of dining room pictures and share some of the things that have been made recently in my new sewing room!

First up, a new Fox Pillow -- this one with a fabric fox and linen combo!!



It's an 18" sq and I do love the linen for this project. It is my contribution for a Woodland themed nursery in the works!!



He or she, hmn? looks very formal in our vintage chair, don't you think?!



I also have a couple of new things for my etsy shop!



A Three Little Birds Pillow. This one was made for Simply Handmade Magazine's Sewing issue for Fall 2012.



Made with one of my favorites -- Summerlove by Pat Bravo! You can find this little pillow available in my etsy shop  here!



I decided to turn a dress I had started for Haila into an apron for my etsy, as well. Originally this was going to be a Summer dress for my girl. She picked out the sweet pink and Yuwa fabrics herself and we were both excited! As time went on we both changed our minds and agreed this week that it would make a sweet half apron for tea parties, pretend play, and dress up for a little girl who loves pink and horses!



It's completely reversible and I do love that ruffle and those swirly stitch details!



I'm off to work on more orders!! Happy sewing! ♥,  Maureen

Back to it : :

Last night I finally changed that broken needle and got back to it! My finger is still sore, my pride -- possibly a little sorer! But when there's so much sewing to be done, it's best to just dive right back in, with projects that are both simple and familiar.

Remember that Summerlove Spring Bird Pillow? I made another and it was just a quick and rewarding as that first one. I do love simple sewing projects!







Next, I started another Charlotte Apron Dress for my little girl. My only rule was wanting to use some of my new Robert Kaufman Essex Linen as the main dress fabric, and then I let her choose the rest. She did amazing!! I thought she would go in a completely different direction, so she really showed me! First choosing two of my Yuwa fabrics that she has loved since the day they arrived here, then two coordinating Pure Element Solids, and finally the soft pink flannel. She did so, so good!!



Since this was my second go at this dress pattern, I wanted to have a little fun by adding in a few extra little somethings along the way. First, I added a sweet little stitch to the apron ruffle detail with some of my Auriful Lana Wool thread in this pretty coral color.



and then I tried another new stitch on my Janome -- This great little loop-dee-loop stitch, I love it!



Last night I finished up the skirt, but before I move on to the bodice today I have birthday crowns to make!!

How about you, what are working on this week?? I'd love to hear about it! ♥ Maureen 

p.s. My Charlotte Apron Pattern Dress Giveaway continues HERE!!

Bee Blocks & New Fabric : :

I finished up my two March bee blocks yesterday!! These are for the do. Good Stitches Love Circle. March hostess Natalie chose improv chevrons in turquoise, robin’s egg blues, orange-yellows, and greys -- a fabulous color combination if you ask me!! We were assigned to use the Improv Chevron tutorial created by Six White Horses and I just love the end result!  This great block design paired with a Natalie's beautiful color palette is perfection!



I did struggle with my first block in the beginning. I pieced together my center just fine and then I got a bit lost and just couldn't get that full angle in the side pieces? I stepped away for a few hours, realized that I was just majorly over thinking the whole process, and when I returned it was a piece of cake. The second one came together so fast and beautifully!



I really like the brighter tones in this block. I added in my favorite Bryant Park print, the top fabric on the left and I think it's so pretty!



This afternoon I'm leaving for four days, with no sewing! Can you believe it? Otherwise, I think I would keep going with these blocks, a quilt of these would be amazing!! I think I may have found my next scraps quilt plan?



Besides, the last thing I need is another project to start right now. I hope to return with some new energy to finish up all my unfinished projects. There are several that are so close!



I have a desk full of new fabrics & materials, projects, and future giveaways waiting for my return, as well.



Just check out these wonderful stacks of fabric! I had myself a bit of a shopping spree recently with some of my extra birthday crown $$! :) I took advantage of the special sales happening at Form & Fabric, Modern Fabric Studio, and the Grand Opening sale Julie had for her new eCommerce site for her shop, The Intrepid Thread!



These Yuwa Prints are some of my favorites right now, aren't they sweet?



Most of all, I am loving all things Art Gallery right now! Which makes me extra excited about tomorrow's Giveaway!! Here's a peek!

♥ Maureen