Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day
UPDATE: PRIZE-ELIGIBLE COMMENTS ARE NOW CONCLUDED
Winners announced in this post. Congrats Janet, Sparrow, and Leigh!
Welcome to everyone visiting for the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day extravaganza! My name is Jamie and I live with my family in Eastern CT, on a 13-acre homestead that we have named Terrabyte Farm. Three years ago we ditched suburban life and moved to the country. We have three children, a dog, two cats, and a whole barnyard full of animals. We raise our own meat, vegetables, and fruit using a combination of old-fashioned wisdom and modern technology. In addition to being a mother and a farmer, I LOVE to create things. I would love for you to check out some of my creations, and maybe even stop back by when you have more time. I blog not only about sewing, but also about everything related to having a modern homestead and raising and preserving your own food. I am also on Flickr and Pinterest, in both places as terrabytefarm. (If you are impatient, just scroll down to the bottom of the post for the giveaway details, go on, I don’t mind 
)
As a way to introduce myself, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite projects from 2011.
In the quilting category, it was hard to pick, but my favorite is my Denyse Schmidt picnic quilt. I made this quilt this summer and it came with us everywhere; from soccer practice, to the park, to the beach and beyond. It was made using mainly the Picnic and Fairgrounds line from her DS Quilts label for Joann Fabrics. To see all the quilts I made this year, click here.
I really love sewing things for the home, everything from pillows to placemats to napkins. By far, my favorite piece of 2011 was this house play mat. I made it with my daughter, who “designed” a house for every member of our immediate family. I raw-edge appliquéd the pieces and quilted it up. Many hours have been spent playing with this mat, “visiting” all of our cousins and grandparents. To see the rest of the items I made for house and home, click here.
My favorite piece in the bags/pouches category was also really hard to pick. I had so many projects that I really loved. It is so fun to make something that only takes a few hours and is so useful. I helped my sister make this pouch when she was visiting for Thanksgiving. She had seen this pouch that I had made the month before and keep all of my hand-sewing supplies in and wanted one of her own. I love it! For more bags and pouches from 2011, visit my set here.
I also made some outfits this past year, primarily for my daughter. This one was her “Fair Dress”. Unfortunately, the weekend of our local county fair was the same weekend Hurricane Irene came through our state, so we weren’t able to go. But, she still gets plenty of use out of this dress. To see all of my other garments from 2011, click here.
Finally, I make a number of fiber related projects with the wool from our sheep. My favorite from this category was an easy choice. During our week-long power outage from the hurricane, I spun yarn that I had dyed and then knit it into a scarf based on a tutorial from the Purl Bee. I entered this scarf in the Celebrate Color event hosted by Rachel at Stitched in Color, and to my amazement, it took first place for the Yarn category in the month of September. For the rest of my wooly works, click here.
But, without question, the most significant piece I completed this year was this Unicorn Sampler. I started it in 1998 and it had been 90% finished for the last ten years. I finally finished it this fall, during a month when I had my first real health scare, a lump in my breast that turned out to be benign, thankfully. If you are interested, you can read all about it here.
Have you made it this far? Are you ready to see the prize? This past May was the first time I participated in this event. You can read all about my prize from last time here, and all about the winners here. I was pretty blown away by the response and I really enjoyed participating.
This time the winner of this giveaway will receive the following bundle of goodies. The fabrics are from my stash, a combination of quilting cottons, linen, and home dec fabrics, over 2+ yards. They are in my favorite color range, nice warm tones and by some of my favorite designers. Many have been washed with Method-free detergent, and we do have pets, but are non-smoking. The wool and felt are from our sheep, all hand dyed and hand felted by me. They would be perfect for lots of different craft projects. The notions were all given to me by my sister who works as a marketing assistant at Dyno Merchandise, the US distributor for Singer notions (I know, BEST job ever!) There is an assortment of needles, pins, notions, and a FQ organizer. For more specifics, just click on each picture.
HOW DO YOU WIN THIS PRIZE??
- All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me about a favorite project that YOU completed in 2011. Please feel free to include a link to it if you have a post about it or a picture up on Flickr. If you didn’t make/complete anything in 2011, what would you like to complete in 2012? Any lingering WIP that you finally feel ready to finish?
- Comments will close at 8pm EST on December 16th.
- I will happily ship internationally.
- I will use the Random Number Generator to pick a winner.
- I will contact the winner by 9am EST on December 17th to work out the shipping details.
- Please make sure that if you are a no-reply blogger that you leave me your email address in your comment, otherwise I won’t know how to contact you.
UPDATE: PRIZE-ELIGIBLE COMMENTS ARE NOW CONCLUDED
I completed Christmas dresses ahead of time!
jmclean at mts dot net
Good for you! I hope that they are well loved!
Mine was a doll that was for halloween that didnt turn out to be a witch but an adorable dolly:)
That sounds like a happy problem, I often try to go for cute, but end up kind of witchy
I would like to make my first quilt next year!
You can do it!!!!
My favorite project this year was a purple mobius scarf that I knit for myself – my first knit project after a long hiatus. It was a big experiment but came out better than I imagined.
Thanks for the generous giveaway.
ab3belote at gmail dot com
Sounds beautiful, what an interesting project!
My favourite was a diamond quilt I made for my Oma
ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com
I think I saw it on your blog. You have some lovely quilts, your rag quilt is especially lovely.
My favorite thing I finished in 2011 was a scrappy king-size bear paw quilt for a good friend of mine who loves bears. I was planning to give it to him later in the weekend, but he was complaining about being cold so I just went out to the car, gathered it up, and handed it to him. He waxes poetic about the bears on the backing, then goes, “No, this is yours; I’ll find something else.” And I went “No, it’s yours.”
And boy, it’s so gratifying to give people things when their faces look like his did. *grin* He wore the quilt around his shoulders like a cape for the rest of the weekend. And this is a grown man we’re talking about here. *grin*
Thanks for the opportunity to win your awesome present package!
sarita0818 at comcast dot net
Sarita,
I love a good story, and that my friend, is pure awesome. What a sweet friend you are. My two favorite moments are dropping off a box of surprise goodies at the PO and giving someone an unexpected gift. I looked at your quilt, that is some seriously nice work. You are a very, very, extra good friend.
My favorite project was actually two projects. For Halloween, I made Luke Skywalker and Yoda costumes for my nephews, and they turned out fabulous! They were so thrilled, and so was I- I’m an even bigger Star Wars nerd than they are. That project was pue joy!
Oh man, that sounds great, I hope you got lots of pictures!
I just completed my first knitting project, fingerless mitts! Thank you for the chance to win!
Susan
Nice! I love your slippers, fingers crossed, I would love to win them!
I completed a couple of granny square table runners while on maternity leave this June. They are in my favourite purple tones, though i had a boy
Purple is perfect for a boy! Regal, honorable, true! Congrats on your new baby!
Wow – what beautiful projects! I love your house mat
You certainly sound like you keep yourself busy!
My favourite (finished!) projects from this year are a couple of cushions that have really made our living room happier
I now just need to finish the many other projects I’ve started and haven’t finished!
So nice! Nothing perks up a room like new cushions. Mine are always being pilfered away by my kids for nests and forts, so I can never really have enough! Thank you for your kind words about the may, it was super fun.
I made a skirt in blue corduroy, with white piping and *an invisible zipper*. It was tough, but totally worth it – I love it, and it fits like a glove. I was so proud when it was done. Thanks for the give away!
I took at peep at your blog and saw it! Very lovely, the piping is perfect. I hope you get oodles of compliments when you wear it.
Fabulous giveaway! It’s really hard for me to choose one favorite project since I just got back into sewing this year after not sewing for fifteen years! I love everything I made! Guess my favorite would be my daughter’s Christmas dress – she looks darling in it. Thanks for the chance.
That is a happy problem to have
I hope your little girl loves her dress, I bet she looks adorable!
Hello, I just taught myself to knit in the round using circular needles and have almost finished my first project – a hat. And it actually looks like it will fit someone’s head! I’m excited. Thanks for the chance to win. Linda
I use circular needles exclusively, even for flat projects. They are the best! You can finish it up!!
I have only recently taken up sewing and as yet do not have any finished projects to show you
I have a WIP here http://velvetbarnacle.blogspot.com/2011/12/floating-legs.html that I’d really really love to finish though!
Thanks for the chance to win such a lovely prize! Your completed quilts are very inspiring.
Thank you for your kind words, I made those elves last year and now they are a pair of pillows! You can do it, sometimes overcoming inertia is the hardest part of a project (that and finding time, which there is never, ever enough of).
i don’t think this counts as a favorite project but i finished my thesis and now have more crafting time
Thanks for the chance to win.
Congrats. Been there, done that. I prefer sewing
The only things I’ve made this year were two sunhats for my expected twins. After their arrival I’ve been a bit busy but I’m anxious to get creating again in the new year!
Yes, I can imagine that twins would keep you plenty busy
Creating a baby and making her diapers
Great work on making a baby! My experience has shown that the third time is the charm
Homemade diapers are the best, we are going to have to finally retire the set we are using after three kiddos.
I actually have two faves. One was a disappering 9-patch baby quilt in pinks, greens, and browns. It was pretty much my first modern style project.
The second one is a Christmas mug rug. I’ve been wanting to make a mug rug all year and finally sat down to do it about a month ago.
Thanks for the chance at the giveaway
Those colors sound great and I love that pattern! Congrats on your mug rug, it is on my to-do list as well.
I have also been busy this year making quilts for my family and friends (10 full size completed) as well as many table toppers/runners, baby quilts, cross-stitch, crochet and knit items. My favorite overall would be the quilt top I machine appliqued from of a kit I purchased several years ago. It will be hand quilted and kept for myself.
Chance to win your wonderful prize…spectacular!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Cathy,
Merry Christmas to you as well. Wow, you are also very prolific! What a gift you must be to your family, I hope they appreciate all of the hand made things you create.
There are several projects that I am thrilled to have completed this year – an afghan and a quilt for my new granddaughter and a large pile of mending for my dear (and frugal) friend Katrin.
You are a treasure, sewing quilts is fun, mending is a true labor of love. Congrats on finishing your afghan.
I didn’t have the chance to create in 2011, but would love to make a quilt, a dress and something for the home in 2012. Maybe using your kit – I would love it.
Good luck with the giveaway, maybe 2012 will be your year indeed!
Hi my favourite project was a little russian doll ornament I made for my almost 3 year old daughter – I had planned that this would be the first I would make for each of my children to hang on our Christmas tree with the best of intentions of doing this every year from now. (Especially now as the fog of looking after an almost 3 and almost 5 and a six year old had finally lifted!). This plan was soon to end as my daughter took her ornament ,wrapped it in purple tissue paper and gave it to my mum for her birthday! So I’ve 12 months to make (and hide!) next years decorations – lovely blog Thanks
I love that story. I understand about that fog, having just emerged from it myself. The crazy part is that you don’t even know you were in it until you emerge. I wish you the best in getting your ornament done for next year and I can tell what a good mama you are b/c your daughter has a generous spirit!
This is a beautiful giveaway! My favourite project of 2011 is definitely a stripey baby blanket I knit for a friend – her healthy son was born at the end of October, and I’m finally travelling to meet him this weekend!
How wonderful, what a generous friend you are! Happy travels, I am sure his family loves the blanket!
I did a table runner swap, it was the largest thing I have ever swapped and I loved it and was really sad but proud to pass it on !
I think that is wonderful! I know what you mean about passing on things like that, hopefully you got something you really love in return.
my favorite project for 2011 was the quilt I made for my Mother In Law it was shades of lilac and purples and had beautiful pansy fabric… she loved it too… Also I made a total of 23 quilts for my charity group and I loved each and everyone..
Wow. Just wow. What a sweet DIL you are, I am sure she loved it! I hope everyone who received one of your quilts loved them, that is serious generosity!
I re-knit a hat for my partner out of a hat I’d made for her father, who passed away this summer.
Noell,
I am sorry for the loss in your family. That is one of the sweetest things I have ever heard. It seriously brought tears to my eyes. You are a loving partner.
My favorite project is the set of place mats I made just a few weeks ago – a practice project I did to make sure I could handle my holiday gift plans!
That is fantastic, I love making table runners and placemats as practice for other projects. Useful and practical all in one!
I’m not sure if I finished anything that I loved in 2011
. But I do most of my sewing as gifts at Christmas, so hopefully the snappy coin purses I am making my nieces will b the best!
I hope they are, that sounds like a cute project!
I love the Vintage Green Strings quilt that I made for my sister and BIL, and I would LOVE to finish up a few more WIPs this coming year!
Hi Sheila!
Yes, I remember seeing your quilt before, it is stunning. I am sure that they love it! Good luck with all of your WIP, hopefully this will be a year filled with finishes for you!
This year i completed my first quilt! (and my second and third!!) I’m hooked! Thanks for the great giveaway and I can’t wait to read more on your blog. I’m jealous…I’m a suburban mom who dreams of homesteading!
Thanks for your kind words! Quilting is completely addictive. It is so much fun and even if the quilt doesn’t come out quite right, it is still something to keep someone warm!
Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance to try to win it!
My favorite projects this year were my two (totally different) baby quilts made for my grandson (born 10/9) and my granddaughter (born 11/10)!
What a sweet grandmother you are! Congrats on the new additions to your family, this must be a joyous holiday season indeed!
My favorite project this year was an owl pillow I made for my daughter.
Super sweet, I hope that she loves her pillow!
My favorite project was a double zippered crossbody bag with a handembroidered wool felt owl. I used felted wool yardage that I had bought at an estate auction. It sold before I even took a picture. I think there may be more like it in my future.
Hi Victoria, too bad you didn’t get a picture. It sounds really cute.
I made several early 1900s blouses in March.
Wow, that sounds fascinating! I imagine that they were quite detailed!
I loved a hat I made for my friend’s 30th birthday. I haven’t posted about it yet, since she just had her birthday, but the pattern is here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hermione-hearts-ron
That is a very thoughtful gift, I hope she loved it! Love the name of that pattern, I may have to try that out!
I knit my first sweater this year – just a teeny size 2 for my daughter, but a major accomplishment for me! Thanks for the chance to win.
susanne(dot)ruder(at)gmail(dot)com
Size does not matter in knitting
I am sure it keeps her warm and toasty!
I think my favorite quilt this year was my kaleidoscope one. I loved the colors and the way it turned out. What a wonderful giveaway and I’m going to look further at your site. Thanks!
Kaleidoscope quilts are so beautiful! Thank you for your kind words, please come back any time!
I made a blue and white quilt for my friend who lost her brother in a car accident. It was the first quilt I ever made by myself. I really admire your lifestyle. Thank you so much for sharing!
Heather,
You are a true friend. I am so sorry for the loss, I am sure that your friend find tremendous comfort from your wonderful handmade goodness. Thank you for the kind words, it is an amazing life.
My fav project in 2011 is http://embendesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/toddler-blazer-pattern-test.html
Tara,
Thank you for putting a very much needed smile on my face just now. Oh my goodness, that is the most dapper and dashing thing I think I have every seen. Now I totally want to make one for my little guy. I can see why it was your favorite!
I made some little felt owls and dish cloths! I have pics on my blog…hootieshappenings(dot)blogspot(dot)com. It was for a PIF-Handmade.
Those owls are adorable! What great work, thanks for sharing.
My favorite project I completed this year was a warm cozy shawl that I knitted for my Mother-in-law who lives in Scotland.
rosebudscott1(at)yahoo(dot)com
What a caring DIL you are! I hope it keep her warm and toasty, I imagine it gets pretty cold in Scotland.
I had a baby
But crafting wise, I made him a lovely sailboat quilt.
What, all you made was a human?
Congrats on your baby, double bonus that you made a quilt to go with him.
I had my first quilt… and I’ll make my second quilt…
Your work is very beautiful. I love the bear pillow, your stitching is really fascinating. The bracelets (?) are also so lovely. What a great idea! Thank you for visiting my blog.
I learnt to crochet this year and made a granny square blanket! I blogged about it here: http://hahamissymoo.blogspot.com/2011/10/granny-square-blanket.html
That is so happy looking! I really need to learn to crochet as well, my house NEEDS a granny square blanket.
I made my first faux chenille blanket for my son. Took longer than I thought it would, but I love the end result
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win such an awesome prize!
Thank you for the kind words. I bet that your blanket is super soft, I am sure that your son loves it!
My favourite project was the Colette Rooibos pattern. I made two, one for summer and one for winter!
They came out great, I especially love the white piping in the red one.
Oh my! Fabulous and fun! I can’t even imagine having my own sheep for wool! Swoon!
Anyways, I think my favorite project this year was a skirt I made from vintage fabric for my baby girl. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Having my own sheep is incredible. Even more so b/c one of my sheep is the sweetest, gentlest, biggest love of a girl you could ever imagine. She comes for cuddles every day and when I get to make things from her well, it is everything you could imagine. What a sweet gift, I am sure she looked adorable in it, good job, mama!
http://raciebaby.blogspot.com/2011/10/tutorial-for-needle-holder.html is my favourite thing this year, it holds all my fixed circular knitting needles where I can see them easily.
Very clever! also, I hate when mine are all bent up from being in their packages, great thinking!
Very clever! also, I hate when mine are all bent up from being in their packages, great thinking!
Wow, what a cool blog to have discovered! So glad to hear that your health scare was okay. Had one of those too and know how scary those can be! And so impressed by your general craftiness!
I’m an academic who routinely dreams of going rogue and turning to the farming and creating life (writing and textile arts). I’ve been knitting for 15 years, but just started sewing seriously this past year. My big accomplishment was a tablerunner I did for a swap: http://shortcookie.blogspot.com/2011/11/running-to-catch-up.html (mine is the one with the trees and houses; the amazing one with the presents on it is the one I received in the swap).
thanks for the chance to participate in this amazing giveaway and to discover your blog!
Welcome, Maggie! Thank you so much for your words of compassion. While I cognitively knew that all would be well, the emotional part was pretty intense. I turned down a career as an academic to lead this life. I still teach one course a year at the local University, which allows me to stay connected, but not entrenched. I have no regrets. Your table runner is so adorable, I love how festive it is and houses and trees are probably my favorite motif. Welcome to my blog, I hope you can back again!