Now - on to what you are waiting for... our lucky winner is #108, VickiT!!
Congratulations, Vicki! Look for an e-mail from me soon.
Only one more week 'til the big day....are you ready? I know I'm not!
Merry Christmas, every one!
Showing posts with label giveaways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giveaways. Show all posts
12.18.2011
giveaway winner!
Wow - thank you so much to everyone who entered my little giveaway last week. I'm overwhelmed at the response! I loved, loved, loved reading all of your "favorite things" posts.
Now - on to what you are waiting for... our lucky winner is #108, VickiT!!
Congratulations, Vicki! Look for an e-mail from me soon.
Only one more week 'til the big day....are you ready? I know I'm not!
Merry Christmas, every one!
Now - on to what you are waiting for... our lucky winner is #108, VickiT!!
Congratulations, Vicki! Look for an e-mail from me soon.
Only one more week 'til the big day....are you ready? I know I'm not!
Merry Christmas, every one!
12.09.2011
party time!
**comments closed***
The holidays are quickly approaching and parties are filling up our nights. But how about a party where you don't have to dress up, you don't have to drive anywhere, you don't need a babysitter, and you don't have to clean your house?!
Welcome to that party!!!
Quilting Gallery is celebrating their 4th anniversary, and Michele is hosting a fabulous Blog Party to celebrate. Every blog that is in the party is hosting a giveaway...and, rumor has it, there are over 240+ participating blogs. That's a lot of prizes!!
So, here's my little giveaway. It's a small bundle of things I received at Sewing Summit, passed on to you, my fabulous readers.
First is a Robert Kaufman Kona charm square pack (dark palette)...
(You can see all the colors in this palette by clicking here.)
...a "Stella" dress pattern by the fabulous Izzy and Ivy Designs...
...and a Quilter'sBlock-A-Day Calendar Companion CD.
One winner will receive all three of these items.
To enter the giveaway...
(1) Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about holiday parties. (1 entry)
(2) Follow Stitching by Starlight, and leave a comment telling me that you do. (1 entry)
US entries only, please, limit two entries per person. Giveaway ends Dec 17, 2011.
The full list of blogs will be available tonight, just a little after midnight. Be sure to visit the Quilting Gallery blog to visit see a list of all the giveaways!
Happy Hopping!
The holidays are quickly approaching and parties are filling up our nights. But how about a party where you don't have to dress up, you don't have to drive anywhere, you don't need a babysitter, and you don't have to clean your house?!
Welcome to that party!!!
Quilting Gallery is celebrating their 4th anniversary, and Michele is hosting a fabulous Blog Party to celebrate. Every blog that is in the party is hosting a giveaway...and, rumor has it, there are over 240+ participating blogs. That's a lot of prizes!!
So, here's my little giveaway. It's a small bundle of things I received at Sewing Summit, passed on to you, my fabulous readers.
First is a Robert Kaufman Kona charm square pack (dark palette)...
...a "Stella" dress pattern by the fabulous Izzy and Ivy Designs...
...and a Quilter'sBlock-A-Day Calendar Companion CD.
One winner will receive all three of these items.
To enter the giveaway...
(1) Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about holiday parties. (1 entry)
(2) Follow Stitching by Starlight, and leave a comment telling me that you do. (1 entry)
US entries only, please, limit two entries per person. Giveaway ends Dec 17, 2011.
The full list of blogs will be available tonight, just a little after midnight. Be sure to visit the Quilting Gallery blog to visit see a list of all the giveaways!
Happy Hopping!
11.14.2011
tote bag and a giveaway
***comments and giveaway closed***
A few weeks ago, Trish from Two Peas in a Pod Designs asked if I would review a new online sewing class that she has put together. It was for a tote bag and I jumped at the chance. I'm so in love with making pouches and bags right now that I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by.
I've never taken an online sewing class, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I've always been just fine with written instructions, so I was curious how the videos would help...or, honestly, if they would help. Boy, did they ever!
I dug up some Kaffe Fassett fabric I had purchased recently and got to work. The class is broken up into three video segments, which came in really handy for me. With life being what it is right now, I needed something that I could break into smaller pieces. The bag itself probably took only a couple hours (minus the time I spent ripping seams because I didn't follow instructions!) but I can only sew for 30-45 minutes at a time here lately, so being able to break it up was a lifesaver.
And here's my bag!
I'm so tickled with how this turned out!! The bag has boxed corners - a must for me - as well as interior pockets and a snap! This was the first time I put in a snap and it was...forgive me...a snap! I'm not sure why they intimated me so much before. I love the tie-front, too. I'm not one for big bows, so the little tie is perfect for adding just the right amount of contrast and detail to make this bag really pop.
The handle length (about a 14-inch drop) is perfect and I've carried this bag every day since finishing. It's big enough to hold my laptop, yet the pockets mean I can keep up with things such as my phone and car keys very easily. Love!!
On top of wonderful step-by-step written instructions, Trish's videos highlight a lot of tips and tricks that were very helpful. I used my iPad to watch the videos, so I had them right beside me at the sewing table, but you would probably do just fine to watch the video a time or two and then follow the written instructions. Everything is very clear and simple.
And now, to celebrate....Trish is allowing me to give away two free classes!
Leave a comment here to enter, and I will pick two lucky winners at random next week. Comments will be open until midnight on Monday, November 21st (EST) and I will announce the winners next Tuesday.
And for those who don't want to wait - go check out the class now. You can purchase one through PayPal and get started right away!
Happy Sewing!
A few weeks ago, Trish from Two Peas in a Pod Designs asked if I would review a new online sewing class that she has put together. It was for a tote bag and I jumped at the chance. I'm so in love with making pouches and bags right now that I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by.
I've never taken an online sewing class, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I've always been just fine with written instructions, so I was curious how the videos would help...or, honestly, if they would help. Boy, did they ever!
I dug up some Kaffe Fassett fabric I had purchased recently and got to work. The class is broken up into three video segments, which came in really handy for me. With life being what it is right now, I needed something that I could break into smaller pieces. The bag itself probably took only a couple hours (minus the time I spent ripping seams because I didn't follow instructions!) but I can only sew for 30-45 minutes at a time here lately, so being able to break it up was a lifesaver.
And here's my bag!
I'm so tickled with how this turned out!! The bag has boxed corners - a must for me - as well as interior pockets and a snap! This was the first time I put in a snap and it was...forgive me...a snap! I'm not sure why they intimated me so much before. I love the tie-front, too. I'm not one for big bows, so the little tie is perfect for adding just the right amount of contrast and detail to make this bag really pop.
The handle length (about a 14-inch drop) is perfect and I've carried this bag every day since finishing. It's big enough to hold my laptop, yet the pockets mean I can keep up with things such as my phone and car keys very easily. Love!!
On top of wonderful step-by-step written instructions, Trish's videos highlight a lot of tips and tricks that were very helpful. I used my iPad to watch the videos, so I had them right beside me at the sewing table, but you would probably do just fine to watch the video a time or two and then follow the written instructions. Everything is very clear and simple.
And now, to celebrate....Trish is allowing me to give away two free classes!
Leave a comment here to enter, and I will pick two lucky winners at random next week. Comments will be open until midnight on Monday, November 21st (EST) and I will announce the winners next Tuesday.
And for those who don't want to wait - go check out the class now. You can purchase one through PayPal and get started right away!
Happy Sewing!
10.03.2011
Giveaway Winners
Hi everyone.
My apologies for not getting these up individually, but time is at a premium these days. My first mid-term in Biostatistics is tomorrow and, to say the least I'm a little freaked out. Couldn't even sleep last night...which means tonight will be fun. Benadryl, anyone??
On to the winners!!
The winner from Giveaway #8 (with Darci from Stitches and Scissors) is.... Amorette!!
The winner from Giveaway #9 (with Lee from Freshly Pieced) is.... Jill!!
The winner from Giveaway #10 (with Rita from Red Pepper Quilts) is... Kristen!!
Congrats to all three - look for an e-mail from me, soon.
Thanks to everyone for playing along. I had a great time getting to know the other bloggers, and I hope you did too.
My apologies for not getting these up individually, but time is at a premium these days. My first mid-term in Biostatistics is tomorrow and, to say the least I'm a little freaked out. Couldn't even sleep last night...which means tonight will be fun. Benadryl, anyone??
On to the winners!!
The winner from Giveaway #8 (with Darci from Stitches and Scissors) is.... Amorette!!
The winner from Giveaway #9 (with Lee from Freshly Pieced) is.... Jill!!
The winner from Giveaway #10 (with Rita from Red Pepper Quilts) is... Kristen!!
Congrats to all three - look for an e-mail from me, soon.
Thanks to everyone for playing along. I had a great time getting to know the other bloggers, and I hope you did too.
9.28.2011
10-for-10 - Grand Finale!! Rita of Red Pepper Quilts
****comments closed****
Here we are - the grand finale. I can't believe we are at 10 today. All of the interviews have been so fun, and today's is no exception. We're starting a little early, as it's already Thursday Down Under, where our next guest lives. It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the amazingly talented, super inspiring, and wonderfully friendly Rita from Red Pepper Quilts.
Ok - time to be honest for a second - I'm still a little giddy over this one. Rita is my idol, my hero, you know... that "holy crow, I can't believe she's talking to little ol' me" person. She's who I want to be when I'm finally a grown-up quilter. She's wonderfully talented and successful, but still willing to help out when people have questions. I've enjoyed getting to know her more over the past few weeks.
I found Rita's blog very early this year - just when I was getting back into quilting after a bit of a inspiration funk. I was instantly mesmerized and immediately became a follower. Her work never ceases to amaze me and I watch for new posts almost like a stalker. And, by the way, if you've not visited her site before, you should go there now. Right now. You can come back here later. Go on....I'll wait. :)
What first struck me about Rita's blog is the completely modern feel of her quilts. Now, I'm not about to try and define "modern" in words - it's just something I feel when I see her quilts. They are breathtaking!
I love her use of white (I'm hooked on white as a background, now) and her fabulous use of bright, fun colors. And I love, love, love her simple, straight-line stitching.
In fact, when I was having trouble with my first go at straight-line quilting, she came to my rescue. With her advice and encouragement, the quilt was finished and off to my grandmother in no time. (Thanks again, Rita!!) Her response to my questions, genuine interest in my situation, and friendly eagerness to help made me a fan for life.
Since then, I've purchased two of her patterns, Alice and Bricks-and-Stones, and nearly finished Alice. Next on my list after these is the Flying Geese pattern.
This one still makes my jaw drop. Simply fabulous.
Oh, and did you know you can buy her quilts - yes, finished quilts. Anyone want to go Christmas shopping??
So now, here she is, ready to talk to you! I love the answers she gave to the interview questions, and I'm sure you will, too. Enjoy!!
**********
If you won $3,000 today and had to spend it today, what would you buy?
If I won $3000 today I would probably want to put it aside for a holiday. As a family we really enjoy traveling and have been fortunate to enjoy holidays in both the USA, Europe and England. We'd love to go again and are hoping to do so within the next 3 years. It's part of the long term plan.
What color scheme or fabric line are you loving right now?
I am really still "stuck" on a fresh color scheme - anything with lots of contrasting white is a feast for my eyes. I have really enjoyed playing around with other colors - to the exclusion of white - but find that I end up coming back to a color scheme that includes white. It just has a classic and timeless feel about it for me.
What is one (sharable) thing from your "bucket list"?
I would love to um ... bungee jump in New Zealand? No just joking! I am terrified of heights. But ... I would like to spend 2 to 3 months living in NYC, just to experience this amazing city as less of a tourist (a pretend local). Yes, that would be amazing!
Is there a sewing technique or quilt block that you would like to try?
I'd love to make a Pickle Dish Quilt with loads of paper pieced arcs and curved piecing. I don't mind paper piecing, in fact I quite enjoy it as there is a rhythm to the process, but it is sewing together those arcs that really puts me off. I have pieced arcs/circles before and I can't say there was much joy in it for me!
What hot trends do you see coming our way?
I see more quilts with only solid fabrics, and a continuation of traditional quilt designs being worked with modern and colorful fabrics. I would love to see more fabric collections with simple designs and each print featuring only 2 to 3 colors - much like Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt.
What kind of movies do you like and do you have an all-time favorite?
I don't watch much TV and it is rare that I actually make time to go to the movies. Several weeks ago I watched the movie Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman on TV (although I'd missed the start of it). I really enjoyed it and ended up purchasing the DVD. My first Movie DVD! My other all time favorites: Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing.
When you’re faced with a lack of motivation, what do you do to get re-energized?
When looking for inspiration I turn to magazines and books. But I find that the harder I try to find inspiration the less likely I am to succeed. Sometimes it's better to take a step back, go for a walk, take some time out from your normal routine and inspiration will find you.
What one piece of advice would you give a new quilter?
I would tell a newbie quilter to have fun with it; don't sweat the small stuff, the uneven/unmatched seams, none of it matters. All you need is a rotary cutter/mat, a working sewing machine and a bundle of fabric and you are ready to go. As long as you are enjoying what you are doing you're doing it just right! Don't doubt yourself.
What is your favorite finished project to date?
This is a difficult question! I might have to go with the In A Spin Quilt - made with a combination of new and recycled fabrics: http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2010/10/in-spin.html
You have an unplanned evening alone with no responsibilities – what do you do?
I am pretty boring in that I quite enjoy my own company and would be happy to stay home and potter around. I am home on my own most week days during school hours and thoroughly enjoy this quiet time.
**********
Thanks so much, Rita! If you do end up back in the USA, I hope you'll let me know. And, fair warning - if I ever make it to Australia, you'll have to hide your quilts from me! :)
Now, it's on to the giveaway. Today's Heirloom bundle includes a fat eighth of Blockade Blossom, Opal Gold, Marquis Garnet, and Ornate Floral Garnet. The fabrics were generously donated by Cathy at Wondrous Woven Fabrics, so please visit her store and say hello. (Oh - and by the way, Cathy still has Heirloom on sale for $7.99 a yard!!)
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me which of Rita's finished projects is your favorite.
Followers of Rita's blog and/or followers of my blog get up to two optional bonus entries. So leave a separate comment for each blog you follow.
That's three entries per person...one for the giveaway itself, one for following Rita's blog, and one for following my blog. Comments close at 9:00 am EST (USA) on Monday, October 3rd, and I will draw a random winner at that time.
I hope you've enjoyed this series - it's been a lot of fun gathering these questions and getting to know our bloggy friends a little better. Thanks for playing along!!
Here we are - the grand finale. I can't believe we are at 10 today. All of the interviews have been so fun, and today's is no exception. We're starting a little early, as it's already Thursday Down Under, where our next guest lives. It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the amazingly talented, super inspiring, and wonderfully friendly Rita from Red Pepper Quilts.
Ok - time to be honest for a second - I'm still a little giddy over this one. Rita is my idol, my hero, you know... that "holy crow, I can't believe she's talking to little ol' me" person. She's who I want to be when I'm finally a grown-up quilter. She's wonderfully talented and successful, but still willing to help out when people have questions. I've enjoyed getting to know her more over the past few weeks.
I found Rita's blog very early this year - just when I was getting back into quilting after a bit of a inspiration funk. I was instantly mesmerized and immediately became a follower. Her work never ceases to amaze me and I watch for new posts almost like a stalker. And, by the way, if you've not visited her site before, you should go there now. Right now. You can come back here later. Go on....I'll wait. :)
What first struck me about Rita's blog is the completely modern feel of her quilts. Now, I'm not about to try and define "modern" in words - it's just something I feel when I see her quilts. They are breathtaking!
I love her use of white (I'm hooked on white as a background, now) and her fabulous use of bright, fun colors. And I love, love, love her simple, straight-line stitching.
In fact, when I was having trouble with my first go at straight-line quilting, she came to my rescue. With her advice and encouragement, the quilt was finished and off to my grandmother in no time. (Thanks again, Rita!!) Her response to my questions, genuine interest in my situation, and friendly eagerness to help made me a fan for life.
Since then, I've purchased two of her patterns, Alice and Bricks-and-Stones, and nearly finished Alice. Next on my list after these is the Flying Geese pattern.
This one still makes my jaw drop. Simply fabulous.
Oh, and did you know you can buy her quilts - yes, finished quilts. Anyone want to go Christmas shopping??
So now, here she is, ready to talk to you! I love the answers she gave to the interview questions, and I'm sure you will, too. Enjoy!!
**********
If you won $3,000 today and had to spend it today, what would you buy?
If I won $3000 today I would probably want to put it aside for a holiday. As a family we really enjoy traveling and have been fortunate to enjoy holidays in both the USA, Europe and England. We'd love to go again and are hoping to do so within the next 3 years. It's part of the long term plan.
What color scheme or fabric line are you loving right now?
I am really still "stuck" on a fresh color scheme - anything with lots of contrasting white is a feast for my eyes. I have really enjoyed playing around with other colors - to the exclusion of white - but find that I end up coming back to a color scheme that includes white. It just has a classic and timeless feel about it for me.
What is one (sharable) thing from your "bucket list"?
I would love to um ... bungee jump in New Zealand? No just joking! I am terrified of heights. But ... I would like to spend 2 to 3 months living in NYC, just to experience this amazing city as less of a tourist (a pretend local). Yes, that would be amazing!
Is there a sewing technique or quilt block that you would like to try?
I'd love to make a Pickle Dish Quilt with loads of paper pieced arcs and curved piecing. I don't mind paper piecing, in fact I quite enjoy it as there is a rhythm to the process, but it is sewing together those arcs that really puts me off. I have pieced arcs/circles before and I can't say there was much joy in it for me!
What hot trends do you see coming our way?
I see more quilts with only solid fabrics, and a continuation of traditional quilt designs being worked with modern and colorful fabrics. I would love to see more fabric collections with simple designs and each print featuring only 2 to 3 colors - much like Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt.
What kind of movies do you like and do you have an all-time favorite?
I don't watch much TV and it is rare that I actually make time to go to the movies. Several weeks ago I watched the movie Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman on TV (although I'd missed the start of it). I really enjoyed it and ended up purchasing the DVD. My first Movie DVD! My other all time favorites: Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing.
When you’re faced with a lack of motivation, what do you do to get re-energized?
When looking for inspiration I turn to magazines and books. But I find that the harder I try to find inspiration the less likely I am to succeed. Sometimes it's better to take a step back, go for a walk, take some time out from your normal routine and inspiration will find you.
What one piece of advice would you give a new quilter?
I would tell a newbie quilter to have fun with it; don't sweat the small stuff, the uneven/unmatched seams, none of it matters. All you need is a rotary cutter/mat, a working sewing machine and a bundle of fabric and you are ready to go. As long as you are enjoying what you are doing you're doing it just right! Don't doubt yourself.
What is your favorite finished project to date?
This is a difficult question! I might have to go with the In A Spin Quilt - made with a combination of new and recycled fabrics: http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2010/10/in-spin.html
You have an unplanned evening alone with no responsibilities – what do you do?
I am pretty boring in that I quite enjoy my own company and would be happy to stay home and potter around. I am home on my own most week days during school hours and thoroughly enjoy this quiet time.
**********
Thanks so much, Rita! If you do end up back in the USA, I hope you'll let me know. And, fair warning - if I ever make it to Australia, you'll have to hide your quilts from me! :)
Now, it's on to the giveaway. Today's Heirloom bundle includes a fat eighth of Blockade Blossom, Opal Gold, Marquis Garnet, and Ornate Floral Garnet. The fabrics were generously donated by Cathy at Wondrous Woven Fabrics, so please visit her store and say hello. (Oh - and by the way, Cathy still has Heirloom on sale for $7.99 a yard!!)
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me which of Rita's finished projects is your favorite.
Followers of Rita's blog and/or followers of my blog get up to two optional bonus entries. So leave a separate comment for each blog you follow.
That's three entries per person...one for the giveaway itself, one for following Rita's blog, and one for following my blog. Comments close at 9:00 am EST (USA) on Monday, October 3rd, and I will draw a random winner at that time.
I hope you've enjoyed this series - it's been a lot of fun gathering these questions and getting to know our bloggy friends a little better. Thanks for playing along!!
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