A Holiday Giveaway & Discount

It's Labor Day in the US, and since we are off celebrating, we thought we'd spread a little bit of the celebration your way!

We're giving away one of Jennie's Design Challenge Bundles!  It was so much fun creating a project with these fabrics and we thought one of you might like to play with them too {you can find the Bedside Trio here & here, but the options are endless!}.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment letting us know your favorite thing about Labor Day, or if you're not in the US, then a favorite thing about a holiday unique to your country!  The giveaway closes Monday, September 10, at 11:59pm and we'll draw a random winner.

In the meantime, we're also offering a special discount to our shop:

Just use the code LABORDAY2012 to get 20% off your order {please note, this discount is only available in our shop, not Etsy or any other retailer}.

Have a great day!

Get Out the Craft Books

It's been a long time coming, but I finally finished a project I've been working on for several months {note: it didn't take several months to complete...just sat around that long!}.  And I finished it just in time for Craft Book Month at Craft Buds.  I seriously love craft books, even if I don't make anything from most of them, I love pouring over the pages and imagining what I'm going to make!  So, continue reading for all the details of the month long craft book celebration {read carefully...there are some amazing prizes involved!}.

Back-to-school season means its time to hit the books. Craft books, that is! We love craft books for their inspiration, stunning photography and crisp, glossy pages. Hard covers or soft, we just love craft books, and we know you do, too!

All month long in September, our friends at Craft Buds will celebrate sewing, quilting and all kinds of craft books by shining the spotlight on new releases, interviewing authors and editors who make the magic happen and giving you a chance to win.

Blog Hop

Week One

Sunday 9/2: Hopeful Threads / The Jolly Jabber
Monday 9/3: Stitchery Dickory Dock / Me Sew Crazy
Tuesday 9/4: Olive & Ollie / Sew Sweetness
Wednesday 9/5: Fabric Seeds / The Busy Bean
Thursday 9/6: CraftFoxes / Stitched In Color
Friday 9/7: Katie's Korner / A Prairie Sunrise

Week Two
Sunday 9/9: Sweet Diesel Designs / missknitta's studio
Monday 9/10: Sew Tara / Clover and Violet <--That's me!
Tuesday 9/11: Sew Fantastic / amylouwho
Wednesday 9/12: Projektownia Jednoiglec / Two More Seconds
Thursday 9/13: Ellison Lane Quilts / Don't Call Me Betsy
Friday 9/14: Live a Colorful Life / LRstitched

Week Three
Sunday 9/16: Fairy Face Designs / Canoe Ridge Creations
Monday 9/17: Inspire Me Grey / Freshly Pieced
Tuesday 9/18: Lindsay Sews / The Cute Life
Wednesday 9/19: The Littlest Thistle / Sew Crafty Jess
Thursday 9/20: Urban Stitches / imagine gnats
Friday 9/21: Sew Bittersweet Designs / The Plaid Scottie

Week Four

Link up your craft book project at Craft Buds from Sept 23-30 from your blog or Flickr account, and enter to win prizes. Winners will be announced on Monday, October, 1!

To participate in the month-long contest, just link up any project you've made from a pattern in a craft book. That easy! You'll tell us a little about the book, the project, how you personalized it, etc.

Rules:

1) One entry per person.

2) Your craft book project must have been completed in 2012.

3) Create a new blog post or Flickr photo (dated September 1, 2012 or later) and link back to Craft Buds/Craft Book Month in your post or photo description.

No time to create a project? This month, just follow Craft Buds and comment to win some new craft books and lots of giveaways! We'll also have expert Q-and-As to show you what it takes to write a craft book, from the initial idea to the layout, photography and the actual printed product.

To help kick off the Craft Book Month contest in style, Fat Quarter Shop is helping us celebrate with a big giveaway! One winner will take home a $100 gift certificate to shop for some new fabric, craft books and notions.

Ten winners will get a new craft book to help work out that creativity! This is the perfect excuse to make that project you've had your eye one, but haven't carved out the time for.

Fat Quarter Shop is giving away 1 copy each of Quilts from the House of Tula Pink by Tula Pink, Sewing ModKid Style by Patty Young, Skip the Borders by Julie Herman, Stop Go Quilt Sew by Angela Yosten and Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkison.

Craft Buds is giving away 1 copy each of Modern Basics by Amy Ellis, Reinvention by Maya Donenfeld, We Make Dolls! by Jenny Doh, New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry by Margot Potter and More Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making by Chris Franchetti Michaels.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win! The kickoff giveaway ends Wednesday, 9/5 at 11:59 ET, when we'll randomly choose 11 winners. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a Hoot Pattern {Giveaway}

Happy Monday everyone!  I cannot believe the weekend is over so quickly!  So, let's start this week off with a giveaway!  My blogging friend Jenelle, whom I met during Embroidery 101, has opened a pattern shop {find it here: Crafsty & Meylah}.  Her first offering, this adorable owl embroidery pdf pattern:

I've been meaning to make some new pillow covers for my house, so this one is on the list now {I'm thinking Vintage Modern for Norah's room!}.

Not only is the owl an adorable, original design, the pattern is very clearly written with plenty of diagrams.

Jenelle also includes directions for making the embroidered owl into pillow cover, which is a great way to incorporate some quilting with embroidery, without having to make an entire quilt.

Now for the fun part, would you like to win a copy of this adorable pdf pattern?  Perfect, because we're giving one away.  Just leave a comment letting us know your favorite embroidery stitch, or why you'd like to learn to embroider, if you haven't started yet.  Entries are open through Sunday, September 2nd, and then we'll draw a winner.  Please make sure that your e-mail address is in your profile or that you add it to your comment, so we can send you the pattern if you win!

Happy Stitching!

New{ish} to Blogging & a Request for Help

All new{ish} bloggers {and anyone who want to grow their blog}, I'm guest posting today over at Plum and June!  I know a lot of bloggers will say "it's not about numbers", and that's mostly true.  I personally struggle with comparing my blog to others, wondering why they're growing faster...etc...but my sometimes jealousy aside...

If you're just starting out blogging, it can be difficult to find a way to reach other bloggers and get them to visit you!  So, I'm offering five suggestions for expanding your blogging reach.

Whether or not you want a million readers, chances are, if you're blogging, you're hoping someone will read!  So, check out my suggestions for getting those readers here.

Oh, and while you're there, leave a comment to be entered to win this premade blog design {with customization, of course!}:

Oh, and one more thing, my friend Danny {remember our Kindle cover/scarf swap?} could use a hand for a good cause:

She's helping organize a camp for teens and is collecting pillowcases to give as gifts! She's specifically looking for pillowcases that are 20" x 20", you can read more details here.

If you're interested in helping out, head over to her blog and look into participating.  I know there's lots of amazing generosity out there, so I hope we can all help her out!

Oh, and to sweeten the deal...I'm going to give away a custom jelly roll from my stash, kind of like this one:

Thanks for your help!

Summertime Adventures :: On the Go Linky

Update: Winner drawn at Random is #10!

This is the last linky of our series, projects you can make on the road!  That way, if you're out camping, on long road trips, or just vacationing away from home, you can still bring a little sewing with you.

Link up any on the go you have made {no time limit} to inspire the rest of us with your creativity {projects do not need to be made from the tutorials from this blog...but they can be!}! If you used a pattern or tutorial, please be sure to include a link to it too {one link per person, per linky, please!}. This linky will be open for a week, then we'll draw a winner for a charm pack of Little Apples by Aneela Hoey for Moda. I cannot wait to see your ideas!

Summertime Adventures :: Projects For Kids

Eidt to add: Winner has been chosen, entry #6!

Last week we looked at On the Go projects, and let me tell you, there were a few great ideas!  This week, we'd love to see your projects for or to make with kids!  Our featured tutorials were:

Link up any on the go you have made {no time limit} to inspire the rest of us with your creativity {projects do not need to be made from the tutorials from this blog...but they can be!}! If you used a pattern or tutorial, please be sure to include a link to it too {one link per person, please!}. This linky will be open for a week, then we'll draw a winner for a custom cut charm pack of Magic Garden by Sabine Reinhart for Blend Fabrics. I cannot wait to see your ideas!

Giveaway Day is Here

Welcome everyone! It's Giveaway Day over at Sew, Mama, Sew, and because everyone loves a giveaway, we're joining the fun. If you're new here, we'd love it if you take a look around {and maybe even decide to stay and follow along!}. And for all our faithful readers {and friends!}, thank you for making this blog fun and exciting all year long. We really couldn't keep it up without you!

We thought we'd change things up a bit and give away a bag this time!  Just leave a comment on this post about what you're most looking forward to for summer and you'll be entered to win the Lizzy bag pictured above!

You have until May 25th, 5pm PDT to enter and then we'll chose a random winner.  Please make sure we have some way of contacting you, if your e-mail isn't in your profile, please leave it in your comment {read here about how to add it to your profile!}.  This giveaway is open internationally too.  Good luck!

Pay It Forward {Round 2}

Last year, I signed up for a Pay It Forward...I am a little embarrassed to say that I completely forgot about it until Kelly contacted me for my address to send my handmade goodies.  She sent me this cute fabric basket {and a few other goodies that I didn't take pictures of...sorry!}:

Photo by Kelly {A Plain Path}

Although she made it within the year deadline, my packages were a little late, but here they are:

For Chaos, Crafts & Love

For From the Walpole Woods

For The Purple Turtle Quilts

Perhaps you noticed that this is round two?  I signed up for another pay it forward...so, I'm asking three of you to sign up too...here are the details, please read the rules carefully before signing up!


1. I will make a crafty gift for each of the first three people to comment on this post. This little gift is a surprise, and will arrive to you anytime within the next 365 days.


2. To sign up to pay it forward, you need to commit to the project yourself... so you can pay it forward too! Just post this, or something similar on your blog so others can get involved.


3. You need to have an active blog of your own...{or some other way to post up your PiF info like a flickr, pinterest, or facebook account. Basically you'll need a place to announce your own PiF and to post some pics of the process.}


4. After commenting on this post, post something similar on your blog...so you can spread the pay it forward love. I will email you asking for your mailing address {and the online address where you are posting} so I can get your little treat in the mail. {Please make sure that your email address is visible on your profile or leave it in the comment.}

Well, this Pay it Forward is full, but you can still sign up, just visit here:

So Sew Crafty

Tilda's Twisted Life


Kelsey Sews  -- Full!

Looking forward to some fun!

I {Clara} won!! {and a giveaway}

Not this!

Not this!!

Yes, this is what I won!!!  As I was reading my blogs the other day, I came to Rachel Griffith's blog, ps i quilt, and I saw my name as the winner of this gorgeous stack of fat quarters of Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille for Moda!! I was really in shock and disbelief except when I saw my name and she had linked my name to our blog, then it became a little more real. But, I was still in shock and waited to send my information. So I just continued along.  But then, when my friend Trish of Notes of Sincerity sent me an email telling me that I had won, I knew it was for real.

I am just a little bit excited and thrilled and thankful to both Rachel Griffith and of course,  Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop for her generosity and sponsoring this giveaway!!

Jennie and I also received a layer cake of Vintage Modern a while back to make something with! We have used some of it in a project and here's a sneak peek {we still have a few finishing touches!}:

You may also remember, March is Jennie's birthday month and for her birthday her dad and I surprised her with a fat quarter bundle of none other than Vintage Modern!! Now we both have our own.

So, for all the Vintage Modern going around here, we decided that we can't be selfish and keep it all to ourselves.  We are going to share a charm pack {that we had purchased} from each of us with one of our fabulous readers, that's you!! Just leave us a comment telling us what you may make with yours!! We will come back in about a week from today and draw a winner.  Remember, I didn't think I had a chance to win, but you know how it ended!!

P.S. In the above photos is the little hexagon project I have been working on, it seems like forever, using Ruby, which we also love. I am not sure what it is going to be yet, if you have any suggestions I am open to your ideas. Help!!

Happy Week! {Giveaway!}

Comments closed, winner is Fiona! 

It's that time of year again {I'm getting older, 29 this year!}, and I thought it was about time to have a little giveaway too.  Last year I asked for favorite birthday memories, and I was blown away by the responses.  Some had me laughing out loud {literally} and a few brought me to tears.

So, this year, I'd love to hear your funniest birthday memories.  Leave a comment and next week I'll draw a winner for this little bundle of Sandi Henderson's Secret Garden {and maybe a few more goodies}.

Oh, and if you're a follower, leave a second comment for a bonus entry.  {And if anyone knows how to add numbers back to my comments, that would be much appreciated!}

I'll draw a winner Monday,  April 2nd.  Good luck!

Flutter from.Kat {a giveaway}

Scrappy Quilted Pouch Pattern

Blogging is really an amazing thing, I never imagined I'd have blogging friends all over the place.  Remember my friend Kat?  She shared her cute Onesie Tutu Tutorial back in November to celebrate baby Norah's arrival.  Well, this year she's taken a little bit of a turn with her online shop, and she'll now be selling some of her patterns.  And, because she's so generous, she's offered to give away one of each of her new patterns to a lucky Clover & Violet reader.

Zipper Pouch Pattern

I think these are such cute little patterns, and I've had the chance to look at them too, and they're easy to follow and very well done.  Not to mention, these little, quilty pouches would work great as a companion to any of our bags **wink**!  So, head over to her blog or shop, and learn one thing new about Kat {and follow along if you'd like}, then come back here, leave a comment and you'll be entered into this great little giveaway.  This giveaway will be open until February 3rd at midnight, then the winner will be drawn at random and announced on Monday, February 6th.

P.S. This giveaway is sponsored by Kat!

Stash Project: Thoughts (& a winner)

Well, I don't have a stash project for December.  I was going to show Norah's stocking...but, well, it is still a bunch of pieces {my mom actually put part of it together, so at least it has a start}.  Good thing one-month-olds don't realize they don't have a stocking at Christmas.  But, I know some of you might still be finishing up projects, so we'd still love to see your projects.

But, in addition to looking at your wonderful December finishes, I'd like to know, is this a feature you'd like to see continued next year?  Or would you like me to start a new monthly feature {and if so, do you have suggestions?}?  I really look forward to {and value} your input!

And now, on to the winner of last month's post:

So stop by and check out Katie's post on her Mini Xs Quilt!  As announced last month, Katie is going to be receiving a personalized mug rug and some other goodies {that will be started shortly after the New Year...since I don't see myself having time before then!}.

If you've made something out of your stash and would like to share it, we'd love to see.  If you link up your project you'll have a chance to win a copy of our newest pattern: the Anne handbag.  When linking up, please make sure to follow our few simple rules, and visit some of the other great stash projects too! The giveaway will close when the linky closes, on December 31.