Giveaway winner

Is I alluded to vaguely in my last post,I have been doing some conjuring with a layer cake, weaving some magic, so to speak. I decided I needed a little someone to help me. With some felt, a vague idea and a lot of hocus pocus, may I introduce to you my supremely talented assistant. Think I might call him Boris. What do you think?

Ha, I need some encouragement here. My husband says he looks evil, my daughter that he's dead!! I won't be offended if you agree - I am no softie maker! Can't say I was aiming for the evil dead look, but if that's how it is ... 

 
Anyhoo, Boris has arrived just in time to help me draw my giveaway. Thank you for your wonderfully encouraging comments about my debut project. The randomly chosen winner of a copy of the 10th Birthday Celebration Edition of Australian Homespun is:

Bec Clarke who said...
Oh if I don't win I may have to splash out and buy one. I love the look of those projects

3 November 2010 18:43

Congratulations Bec, I will be in touch! There were many of you who were keen to find retailers of Australian Homespun near you. Here is a listing of overseas distributors. Click on the image to make it bigger if you have trouble reading it. I hope this helps my overseas friends. Homespun is a great publication. Definitely worth the search!

So how did Boris bunny fit all those comments in his hat? Well, that would be magic wouldn't it?! In fact, even fitting his legs in his hat is a challenge!

He has another trick up his sleeve. Check back tomorrow for another 'magical' announcement. In the meantime, I will leave you with this teaser! Now, where's that champagne?

Have a great weekend, Bloom x

Pinch me!

Another chapter in what is fast becoming the book, "How my blog changed my life"! It is 8 months since I first noticed an email from Catherine Sanchez in my inbox. In case you are not in the know, she is the esteemed editor of Australian Homespun. She asked, "Would you be interested in creating a project for our magazine"? I answered, "Oh my! Are you kidding me? I'll give it my best shot". Catherine: "Could you make me a sewing machine cover"? Bloom (aside): "Yikes, how on earth will I do that"? Bloom, faking confidence: "Sure Catherine, I'll give it my best shot"!

The 10th Birthday Celebration Edition of Homespun hit the newsstands this week, and with it my very first project, a sewing machine cover, entitled 'Beyond Measure':

You can pinch me now!

I decided to use a linen/cotton blend, which was perhaps a mistake as it looks a bit crinkled. But it does combine really well with almost any fabric range.

Having all the confidence of an L-plater in Pitt Street, I made the cover twice, once in 'Hope Valley' by Denyse Schmidt for Freespirit, and again in 'Martinique' by 3 Sisters for Moda.

Round pearl buttons and dark floss with 'Hope Valley' ...

... flower pearl buttons and ecru floss with 'Martinique':

I made these using 5" charm squares. The cute twill 'measuring tape' came from Hatched & Patched.

There will be a follow up project in January, which has a sewing mat, thread keeper & pincushion to match.

There are some great projects from other bloggers in this special issue of Homespun, including a gorgeous 'cathedral window' cushion from Lisa at A Spoonful of Sugar, the sweetest appliquéd tea towels from Janelle, a very cute 'mouse house' from Rosie Quinlan, and a special feature on Corrie of Retromummy and Kellie of Don't Look Now. Wow, I am in amazing company, huh!

To celebrate my Homespun debut, I have a copy of the 10th Birthday Celebration Edition of Homespun to give away. Leave a comment on this post, and I will draw a winner over a glass of champagne on Friday evening!

SEWN giveaway winner announced!

Thank you so much to all of you who entered my giveaway. I really appreciated the thoughtful comments you all made, and hope to get around to answering some of those curly questions about a Australia for you! As much as I would love to send each of you something special, there is only one prize. My trusty Random Integer Generator came up with the magic number: Commenter #124 was:

Anonymous said...

My children and I love to read Mem Fox books...especially Koala Lou...this it what I think of when I think of Australia. Brina blrohloff@aoldotcom

JUNE 3, 2009 11:37 AM 

Congratulations Brina! Please contact me with your address details, and the bag will be winging it's way to you very soon!

My very best wishes to Sarah whose SEWN website motivated this giveaway, and many others. SEWN will come online sometime between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, depending on where you are in the world. Bring it on Sarah - can't wait!

Chill the champagne, SEWN is about to launch ... so roll on up for a giveaway

An innovative new site for sewers called SEWN will be launched in early June 2009. This site promises to be fantastic, with forums, online advice, free patterns, tools, interviews, tutorials, and an online buy & sell area!

To join in the celebration of the launch of SEWN, I have joined the the Blog Party Giveaway and I am giving away this:

In honour of the fact that SEWN has talented Aussie girl Sarah Fielke at the helm, please leave a comment & tell me something that comes to your mind when you think of Australia - something you love (or hate?!) about my country, or for overseas visitors, a question you've always wanted to know but haven't had an Aussie on hand to ask! Just any random reflection about Australia that you feel like sharing. 

My giveaway will be drawn at 8pm on Monday 8th June, 2009.

Please ensure I am able to contact you if you win!

The bag is made from Amy Butler's 'Midwest Modern' fabrics and the pattern is called 'Fat Quarter Bag' by Melly & Me.

The side panels of the bag are in an Urban Chiks '1974' spot, and form a cute little pleat.

I have used bag rings & magnetic clasps from Nicole Mallalieu Design for this bag. I can strongly recommend Nicole's business - really high quality product & fast service.

So comment away, and please support Sarah with the launch of the SEWN website. There are giveaway opportunities galore, here and here, to celebrate.

Giveaway winner

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway. It has been great fun reading your comments & my list of blogs to read is even longer now! I would love to have made each & every one of you something special, but of course, there can only be one winner. My trusty random number generator has come up with comment #98:

By my calculation, this corresponds to: edward and lilly who said... I'm in Brisbane, Australia and giving makes me happy. The sight of your bags makes me happy too, they're fabulous! FEBRUARY 18, 2009 6:19 PM Congratulations to Rebecca of Edward & Lilly who makes the most delightful stitched creations with linen. Be sure to go over & visit her - but no naughty comments about her winning & you not!

Rebecca is also making 'Bushfire Bunnies' for children who have lost their toys in the Victorian bushfires. For every $20 donated to Red Cross on her community fundraising page, she has pledged to make a very cute bunny like this:

What a brilliant initiative! If you are keen to support the Bushfire Appeal in this way, you will need to be quick as Rebecca is fast approaching her $500 target. Details here.

Thank you girls! The giveaway has been lots of fun. Will have to do it all again soon!

Give them away Bloom!

Awww, do I have to?! I've yet to make a Frilly Dilly bag that I haven't loved, and these are no exception. But give them away I must! Here is the deal for my giveaway: 1. The winner will choose one of the two bags I have made. 2. The remaining bag will be auctioned on eBay, with the proceeds to be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire appeal. 3. The giveaway winner will be chosen at random, 4pm, Saturday 21st February. To enter, please leave a comment on this post, telling me where in the world you live and one thing that makes you happy! Choice #1 - Winter Frilly Dilly, made from reproduction fabrics, The Old Sturbridge Village Collection by Judie Rothermel.

Choice #2: Spring Frilly Dilly, lots of spots, stripes & checks, including a very cute Woodland Bloom print by Lila Tueller. The photos are not very good as it is a grey & miserable day here. I will replace them when the light is better. Something that makes me happy? Fresh flowers ... preferably in a clean house!