Fun Friday Giveaway!
September 21, 2012 Here she is ... my sort of self-portrait.
I love it. It's happy, fun, bright, pretty, a perfect combination of embroidery, patchwork, hand quilting ... ad libbing. Fun fun fun.
But I have a question for you. Do you do this too - buy pretty little things like a jar of white buttons ...
yards of lace ...
and novelty trim ...
just because you like them? And then you put them somewhere in your sewing space, either as decoration or in a drawer or box? And then never use them?
I do ... or rather did. But blogland has inspired me to new heights and made me realize that I'm tired of buying pretty things and then never using them. So I turned over a new leaf with this quilt and broke out of that rut!
I discovered the tape trim fit perfectly on top of the lace so I added it to a few squares. I fussy cut 1-2 because it is 2012.
And then 4-5 because maybe that's how old I am ... maybe. ;)
Here are my pretty buttons ...
That's right.
I went all crazy and sacrificed EIGHT of 'em! LOL!
I had a few fabric squares left over and I didn't want to waste them. But I already had the main part of this quilt and the first border added.
So I stitched up the teacup, pieced it together with the leftovers and added the afterthought panel to the bottom!
And then I thought it would look pretty if I added a run of lace.
I'm not usually a red girl but this quilt was begging for red binding.
Perfect, right?
This project started with me wanting to embroider some designs from "Little Stitches". I had no idea it was going to look like this. Funny what happens when you let yourself play.
And you know, Aneela's book has so many designs you could easily do something similiar to what I did with different themes - children at play (girl &/or boy), Christmas, domesticity, crafting, transportation, animals, flora, seasons, toys, pets ...
Thanks Aneela, couldn't have done this without you!
Now without further ado, I have a "Little" giveaway today.
C&T Publishing is kindly offering one of you a copy of "Little Stitches", the book that inspired my project. If the winner is a US resident, you will receive a hard copy. If the winner is NOT a US resident, you'll be sent an eBook.
To enter this giveaway, leave me a comment with your favorite winter crafting activity. Comments will close Sunday, September 23 at 9:00 pm PST and I'll announce the winner Monday morning.
Good luck everyone!
And have a great weekend too.
PS: And also happy first day of Autumn!
Reader Comments (220)
Your little quilt is gorgeous and it has been fun watching it come together.
Favourite winter activity is crochet. It is so portable and something you can just pull out to work on while watching TV or even as a passenger in the car.
You make always pretty things from pretty patterns with your special personal touch. Barbara from italy
I love binding quilts as they keep you warm as you hand stitch the binding down.
My favourite winter craft is tapestry & cross-stitch - my own designs. I can curl up on the couch under a blanket and stitch away :)
Kristyne, Loved watching the progression of this little self portrait. I love the idea, and may try my hand at doing my own little self portrait. Very inspiring.
Wintertime is magical in many ways, and it is so comforting to be very creative during this time. I would have to say quilting, crocheting, and embroidering all through winter is a most favorite thing to do. Just being productively crafty with everything is fabulous!
And you are not alone in coveting little pretty things. It took courage to break out and use them! haha
My favorite winter activity is reading fun blogs like this to keep my creative juices flowing. You really are inspiring in your pictures and words!
Your little quilt is b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l !!! Inspiration, certainly to use my coveted collections! And love Aneela's "Little Stitches". I just finished a baby blanket for my new grand niece using her Sherbet Pips fabric with pink trees and little girls on swings. Cuter than cute Moda fabric! As winter approaches I dream of sewing Christmas quilts.
I love to knit in Winter - I have 4 grandkids so have to make 4 jumpers each year. Love your little quilt and I would love the chance to win the book. Thanks
Just love your pretty mini quilt! A lovely combination of all things beautiful.
My favourite winter project would have to be quilting - but not just in winter- all year long!! Thanks for the chance. Therese.
You mini is gorgeous. I use the first half of winter to desperately craft Christmas presents and then have a rather bad habit of using the second half of winter (after Christmas) to sign up to all of the wonderful quilt alongs that appear - and that then sees me through the rest of the year :)
I adore your little quilt. Every day when I check your blog I feel inspired to snuggle up on the sofa and stitch away in the evenings. Now it is cooler it is just perfect for creating special gifts for Christmas time. x
Life is too short to buy things for a rainy day. Friend of mine did that and then lost everything in a housefire. Use them before somebody else does.
Knitting is probably my favourite winter craft, mainly clothes for my little girl, but also toys for her and for gifts for others.
My favorite winter craft is making things from last years Christmas cards--boxes, bookmarks bowls, etc. After Christmas, I do a lot more needlework such as cross-stitch and embroidery.
Favorite activity ANYTIME is patchwork and quilting. Last winter I knitted socks. This winter I'll be re-learning or practicing hand embroider! Hope I win but I'm ordering your book even if I don't win!
I love this quilt! I also am guilty of buying little 'treasures' and then not using them, so your quilt is very inspirational! In the fall I turn to knitting scarves by the fireplace...so comfy and cozy!
Cool mini quilt :) i've talk about you on my blog... And how you have inspired me to make some embroidery... ;)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Josée
Bouclenoire(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi, love the little quilt, so cute. Living in the hot part of Australia, I save my bindings for winter. I get to snuggle under a quilt and finish the binding at the same time. I love adding to the back label, that "this quilt has been tested for snuggleness and passed sucessfully".
Great job! My aunt had been telling me the same thing! Use your 'pretty' things. Eventually you get to a day and wonder why you never used them. So enjoy them and make your things better by including the things you bought because you LOVE them!!
By the way... how was your debut at Rumple Quilt Skins? I was in the province but could not make it. I was hoping for a post on the evening!!!
Happy Autumn! If that were any cuter, I might cry!!!
I think for me it is a toss up between quilting and scrapbooking, I tend to go in waves...
I really like your play! What a pretty little quilt! I have a lot of stuff I need to learn to use in play. I like to quilt and crochet in the winter months. Our winters don't get very cold so I kind of continue the same thing all year long. I like the book "Little Stitches" and would really like to win it. Thank you for the great posts you have had about it and what you have made.
I enjoy the seasonal events that we celebrate in the winter......Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, several January birthdays; and those are preceded by autumn which is my favorite time of year. So, more traditional creativity comes out in me for gift giving. Since I've always said I've never met a craft I didn't like, it's difficult to say anyone is my favorite. But I love to fall back on cross-stitch and needlepoint, hand stitching small quilted gifts and crocheting. This book looks so very very inspiring, I can see why you love it!, And, your hand stitched quilt is absolutely beautiful. I love to see conventional hand-stitched quilting!! Tho I do machine quilt, it's not as satisfying to me.
Your self-portrait is adorable. Love that you used your secret stash of goodies to pretty it up. My favorite winter craft is hand quilting and binding. I usually have a big pile of quilts that need bindings and i love to sit on the couch and hand finish them. Cozy and crafting all at once. Have a great weekend.
I LOVE the quilt! It has inspired me to do a "Favorite Things" quilt of my own. I do have bits of odds and ends buttons, ribbons, lace etc that I have collected over the years--and never used--what a wonderful way to use them up! Cannot wait to start! Over the winter months I love to make ornaments for the upcoming holidays....
Linda
mysewwhat.blogspot.com
Your little quilt is really lovely !
To answer your last question, I love knitting and quilting in winter (and also from January 1st to Dec. 31st).
How imaginative! Love your "YOU" quilt! My favourite thing to create in the winter months is a quilt. It lays on my lap and keeps me warm while I hand quilt it.
wow, I love your quilt. I'd love to make an expression of myself like that... chocolate, coffee and crafts for me!!
I love to do all crafts in winter, the season doesn't matter to me - crochet, sewing, embroidery, needlework, felting, candle making, jewellery making, wire work...
Hej!
I love your little quilt! This autumn I make a lot of christmas needlework and I knittng a sweater for myself.
My favorite thing to do in the winter is hand quilting. I am working on a hexagon table topper right now using up scraps. I so enjoy your blog and your sense of humor. Keep on blogging.
So creative and beautiful project. It truly is sweet artwork.
I usually make lots of cards! But this year will add quilting to the list of activities!
I absolutely love your little quilt! It has inspired me to use some of my pretty things and play and be creative! Well done :) I follow your blog regularly and have bought the gorgeous Honeybee bag kit! Can't wait to start...
I like sewing on bindings in the winter. You get to snuggle up nice and cozy and are mere stitches away from finishing
My favorite crafting activity in the winter and any time of the year, is quilting :-) Love the trims that you chose!
Would love to win this little book. I'm such a big fan of both you and Aneela! Love the quilt!
I love your self portrait quilt. I am fixing myself my very own quilting room, a whole 9 by 10 feet. I love it. If I win I am going to make my own self portrait for a happy space on my wall.
When winter comes, I crochet!
I LOVE your adorable self-portrait quilt!
In the winter, I love to knit and crochet. I'm thinking I'd like to spend time doing embroidery this winter though.
Too cute! I live where it's warm most of the year, so I don't have a special winter craft. Although, I do tend to make more wreaths in the fall/winter...
Greetings from a fellow Canadian! Congratulations on your wonderful success with your patterns and your inspirational blog! I too can't wait to check it each day for a new entry! Thanks for encouraging us to do more!
Beautiful! I love all the tiny girly touches. The tape measure lace is so pretty! My favorite winter craft is quilting. I save my bigger quilts for winter. It's so cozy and warm sitting under a big, heavy quilt and quilting it. I save my embroidery projects for summer, because it's more portable for activities like camping or sitting on the back porch :)
Love your little quilt..LOVE small quilts. So inspirational..makes me want to go through all my vintage things and start to create something new. I seem to get more done in the winter..the days seem longer somehow..even though it is the opposite. I usually do smaller projects in the winter evenings that I can do on the couch under a quilt.
How cute!!!! In the winter I love to sit in front of the fire and some hand stitching... with hot chocolate, of course!
Amazing work! I just love your blog! I have just had my third bub 4 weeks ago, so your blog is what I read while feeding my little man Max! Actually I have ordered my copy of Little Stitches last week for my birthday coming up, and can't wait to get it! You have inspired me to try embroidery! We are heading into Summer here in Australia, but I would imagine during Winter my ideal craft would be to curl up on the couch with some embroidery on my lap! We live in a cold part of Australia (Hobart) so that would be just perfect!
Keep doing what you're doing! It makes my day!
xxxx
My favorite winter project used to be needlepointing. However, this year I am finally going to start quilting seriously.
I was grinning reading all you had to say about this cute quilt! I'm about your age, Maybe... ;-)
Only one winter craft activity?! Oh man... I have a plethora of things I love to do ALL year round... LOL... I reckon it would have to be "attempting" to work on the Christmas wreath, in addition to quilting. Hehehehe....
Hopefully this will be the entry for me to win something for a change! I've tried to win so many giveaways... to. no. avail! Oh well....
Again, love that "self-portrait" quilt!
i love to knit and crochet scarves for christmas gifting
I love your new quilt! You are a true artist. I found your blog through The Shabby. Your work is fresh and inspirational. Keep up the good work. My favorite winter activity is baking, after the house is toasty warm (from the oven being on) and smelling great, I love to do handwork (quilting, cross stitch, embroidery, etc.).
I love your quilt. I have to say quilting is my favorite winter activity, but all kinds of sewing and needlework are also enjoyed.