Style Arc Pattern GIVE AWAY

Ever since I heard about Style Arc, a new AUSTRALIAN pattern company, I have been stalking their website .... I've been drooling over their designs, but really saying inside my head that "No, I already have too many patterns..." ....well, after my recent rather horrible toile of a jacket for the RTW Sew Along - which I chose from a Burda Magazine because it really was the only suitable jacket pattern I had and I was determined to NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER PATTERN........ well, I had a change of heart and went along to join Style Arc as a member - after all, it seemed the patriotic thing to do!!

I ordered the Sara Jacket pattern as my free pattern with my membership and I also received a cute little gift in my parcel! I plan to make a toile of the Sara Jacket this weekend. I have been emailing Chloe from Style Arc and chit chatting in general about patterns and such, and she kindly sent me another Sara Jacket Pattern as a gift for a giveaway! WOW!

So, if you'd like to be in running to win this great SIZE 10 SARA JACKET Pattern from Style Arc. This is what you must do.....

1. Go to the Style Arc Website and have a look at their designs. While you are there - enter your email address to receive their newsletter. Then leave a comment here on this blog and tell me your favourite design. 
2. To increase your chances of winning you can also:
3. "LIKE" the STYLE ARC Facebook page - just leave another comment here that you did that.
4. Post about this giveaway on your blog - providing a link back to this page - and leave a another comment here to say that you did that ....
5. Please remember to leave your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if you win. Alternatively you can privately email your contact details to me via info@handmadesewing.com.au

SIZE 10:  Please check this page for details on how they size their patterns.
This pattern is for experienced sewers, they provide brief step by step instructions, but if you check out Sherry's Jacket Sew Along - you'll get very detailed instructions for a jacket of this style.
Good luck!!! Winner will be drawn on May1st, 2011.
ETA: Everyone welcome to enter - a global give away!

 

Libby Dress

Kate Dress

Terry Tie Cardi

Just a Kiss AND Aloha!

The clever clever Miss Nikki has released a new purse pattern .... who can't say "No" to a little kiss??
Here is mine in Anna Maria Horner fabric ....

And there are just the cutest little purse feet on her back side ....

Check those clasps - KISSING!

The frame is 200mm - super cute for a special little evening purse.

And look what I found on my doorstep this week ..... well actually I had to go to the Post Office to collect, but this makes a nicer photo ..... ( I have actually swept this since the photo in case the clean police are out there watching me!!)


All the way from the lovely Miss Shannon (Mushy Wear) in HAWAII ...... a box of gorgeousness in Purple Splendour ......
You know how people say - "I never win anything - not even at the Chook Raffle" ...... well .... my number certainly came up this time - I won it on her recent giveaway!!!!!   YAY!!!!!  Here is my daughter eagerly opening the exciting parcel ...

A gorgeous beach towell - which will be very well used .... and Chocolate Macadamia Nuts, a lovely lovely HANDMADE purple linen bag that Shannon made - already has been put to good use! Sweet Onion Macadamia nuts - haven't tried them yet, After Sun lotion and pineapple shaped Playing Cards .... such a wonderful range of goodies - thank you so much ...... and go and visit her blog - she is a super stylish clever girl!!

 And speaking of super stylish clever girls - head on over to Western Australia - right this very minute ..... the gorgeous Miss Carolyn is having a giveaway .... Good Luck!  Kiss Kiss!!

And the winner is ...

Entries from the Living Smart Festival and those left on this post were combined and Sweet Pea drew this one as the winner .... Congratulations Wendy - please contact me with your contact details .... (and a quick correction ... my name is Gay not Gail!) and your prize will be on it's way!
Thanks everyone!

100 Posts + GIVEAWAY + Festival Report

and sew it seams that this is my 100th Post!!

It's been a great little journey so far - I've "met" some great sewing gals and have enjoyed sharing my sewing adventures and learning about yours.

Before I announce a most fabulous giveaway to celebrate this momentous occasion, I'll fill you in on the Living Smart Festival from last weekend.

What did I wear?

I still had quite a few of the pant bits and pieces from this project, and I added fabric from daughter's outgrown Pumpkin Patch pants, I also used her satin belt for a strip within the other gores.

I made a Simplicity 2364 top from a superfine knit from Martin & Savage. I cut a 10 for the top as others had noted it was on the bigger side. It's a nice top, but next time round I would bring the front fold up a little higher. I'm not crazy about the skirt - it was a fun quick project for this whole recycling theme .....


Here is my friend Nicole, who was a fantastic help and a PR whizz! Here is our open air workshop area ....
Situated right behind us was the stage ... yes ... live music .... yes ... bongo drums ... I didn't know whether to talk about sewing or to teach a Zumba class!
The music was certainly loud and very distracting, but I had a small interested crowd .... the overall atmosphere of the festival was great!
Here is another quick project I didn't get the chance to blog about previously ... take one old cardi ....
and make a beret .... too easy!
Well, you've been a very patient audience and without further ado... it is my pleasure to announce a giveaway in conjunction with those at the Festival who entered on the day, you all have a chance to win this......

• The latest Threads mag (I accidentally received 2)
• A Nicole Mallalieu Day Bag Pattern - very versatile - very easy - very good!
• A Project Runway Brand Spanking New Sewing Case
• 2 pkts quality interfacing - one is a woven lightweight the other a lovely Soft Lite Weft
• 1 pkt Jeans needles - size 80 - not easy to buy - yet a versatile everyday needle (as recommended by Bernina)
• and finally a cute as a button PINK tape measure in a cute as a button little tin

Phew! Open to everyone - a GLOBAL GIVEAWAY!!!

I'll draw the winner NEXT Tuesday 21st September. Just leave on comment on this post - anything you like - and if you win you'll need to email me quick smart or I'll re draw!
Good Luck!

and the winner is .....

Image: Hudson Valley Wine Goddess

Thankyou to those who entered my giveaway,
There can only be one winner
I used Random.org to determine the winner
I don't know how to insert the image of the actual little random widget
But anyway
With further ado

Congratulations to entry No. 9

Beck!

beck said...

Hi again, I've just noticed all your amazing labels on the sidebar...you've been a busy girl! Please count me in for your giveaway, fingers crossed! x

I will be in contact Beck!

Wiksten-made Tulip Skirt

Inspiration! This time from Nikkishell. I was so glad that I had this magazine, time to make a tulip skirt for Sweet Pea.
There are a few pattern corrections to be aware of - go to Wiksten-made.
I had some lovely Cotton Sateen given to me by the lovely Miss Alice - she made a very cute Retro 50s dress from this ..... and there was enough for the tulip ....
It's a very easy pattern to sew - great for beginners - the front tie belt aids to pull it in if the waist isn't exactly snug. Sweet Pea is 12 - I cut a Small - the waist is being pulled in by the ties.
I am tempted to make one for myself, except I have legs like a front row forward - but I'll give it a go, and make it a little longer - though I expect I'll lose the Tulip effect .... we'll see....
Now, would you like to win a $80 voucher for some lighting of your choice from Buyster? Then get thee to my previous post and leave a comment ...... go on ...... now!

Speaking of Tulips, Nikki is making a kiddies Tulip Dress Pattern - and she's having a giveaway - go there and enter ..... after you've entered mine of course .....

Help for Haiti - The Selfish Seamstress has a very funny range of Sewing Products for sale - read her post about how she is helping the people of Haiti. While you're there check out her sewing - she's very talented and super stylish!

And one more ..... there's alot of generosity around - Grosgrain has an interesting piece of jewellery to giveaway - got to be in it win it!

A Joint Effort

Inspired by the recent sewing efforts of Colette's daughters, I decided to get my daughter into a little project .... it ended up a joint effort - we made a sweet little drawstring dress to wear over swimmers up to the beach .... I drafted the pattern - front and back the same - and just traced a similar style dress she already had .....
I really like this Bernina clear foot - #34 - it's great for beginners to see exactly where they are sewing and they can use the middle red line to line up where to stitch - in this case I wanted her to sew along the top part of the overlocking ...
I attached some Satin Bias Binding around the armhole edges ....
We used some Cotton Herringbone Ribbon / Tape to thread through the casing at the top which then becomes the ties at the shoulders.
Fabric from the stash - Spotlight I think. Cool and happy - she was really impressed with how quickly this came together - about an hour all up - yes, a joint effort! Thanks Colette for the inspiration!
Now, recently my own motivation was definitely waning. I don't know why .... I'm on holidays .... nowhere to be .... nothing awaiting a deadline .... all the time in the world and a thousand projects just waiting to get off the ground. Yet I slumped into a pathetic and miserable nothingness - I was even watching Dr Phil and Judge Judy ...... eek!

Anyway, hopefully I've turned the corner and having done some sewing with Sweet Pea, I whipped up a little dress for moi! Firstly, as I was using a knit fabric, I wound some woolly nylon onto my bobbin. I learnt about this doing a workshop with Pam Kerr as part of the Australian Sewing Guild - are you a member? It's really worth looking into - the Guild is a treasure trove of knowledge and skills .... Anyway, the woolly nylon needs a little help to ensure that you don't wind it too tightly - you simply hold it in between the tension guides - you just manually adjust the tension - not really loose just not super tight ....
This is woolly nylon ....
Another thing I recently learnt about at the Palmer Pletsch Workshop I did was an overlocking thread by Mettler called Metrolene - it's super fine - just lovely - not bulky - you can hardly see it on your seam edges - but is still easy enough to thread and handle.

So, back to the dress. I made up another BWOF 04/08 116 Dress - this time I decreased the length of the front V neckline, as shown below - the red asterisk is where the new point is for end of the CF gathering, you can see the old asterisk in pencil. I also took out a small dart since I was gathering up a much larger piece.
I used this lovely fabric from Marting & Savage 94% Poly 6% Spandex.
And here it is, pictured at Bondi Beach (well, at the front car park). We went to Sydney to see Circus Oz - it was excellent - highly recommend it! As well, did you know CityRail has a Sunday special for families? Each member can travel all day for $2.50 each - bus, train and ferry - I think the area allowed is from Wollongong to the Hunter Valley - bargain!

I'm happy with the neckline alteration - this is a great dress. The last time I made this dress I forgot about the armhole binding piece and simply attached the sleeve and then did the underarm seam and side seam as one ... this time I made a point of putting in the sleeve as instructed - but no way! The sleeve was too large - a mystery to me - so I did the same as before and it's fine.
Psst .... have you entered my giveaway? Entries close this SUNDAY 24th January.

Bleaching Denim and a GIVEAWAY

Do this

Dip it in this
Get some of this ready to neutralise
take a little nap, and you get this

Bleached denim all ready for some more cushion backs.

What about the giveaway? I hear you ask ....... Well .......... you could win ......
a voucher for $80 to spend on lighting of your choice at Buyster. Whether you sew by hand or machine we all know that good lighting can make all the difference. The Buyster people have a fabulous range of lighting for all sorts of needs. Could you use $80 to spend on a new light?
Here's the deal:

1. Competition is open to Australian residents only - sorry!
2. To be eligible to win you must be a Follower of this blog, if you're not already one go to the right hand side bar and become one.
3. Then just leave a comment - anything you like really. Edited to add: Anonymous comments probably not a good idea - I won't be able to track you down if you win!
4. If you also have a blog, you can get an extra entry if you post about this giveaway on your blog - just leave a 2nd comment to say that you've linked me.
5. Easy! A random entry will be deemed the winner on Sunday 24th January, 2010.
6. Good Luck!

Finally, how cute is this little vinyl sticker from etsy! - Lindsey T put me on to it.