Monday 25 September 2017

Christmas Caroling Row Along Winners

Thank you to everyone who supported me with my contribution to the Christmas Caroling Row Along.


I had such a good time preparing and creating in the lead up to my release of "Once In Royal David's City" and I hope you enjoyed it too.

The feedback was incredible, and even though my thoughts had been to give designing a rest for a while, this renewed my love of sharing my, sometimes crazy, ideas and patterns with you.

 As mentioned in my last post, this row is still available but is no longer free. You can download it as a PDF file instantly for just $6.50 USD which is about $8.00 AUD both HERE at Payhip and HERE at my Craftsy store, whichever is more convenient for you.....I try to make it as easy as I can!
During my pattern release, there were a few competitions....did you enter?  The winners have been drawn by Marian and notified  and here they are:

CONGRATULATIONS 

June Tailor
3 Cotton Press Cloths (3 Winners)

Nancy L
Kathy H
Carol K


Northcott 
2 yd Fat Quarter Bundle
Marti M
Calibre Art
8×8 Rotating Mat
Karen T
Contessa PT
Lisa L
Allison CB
Maryellen M
Thank you to all who entered, I wish I could have something for everyone, and also to the sponsors for their wonderful prizes.  Remember, the fun isn't over yet....there is still a couple of weeks left to gather up some more rows and enter some more competitions!  Head back to THIS POST to find the links to all the remaining bloggers who'd love to share their gifts with you.  There's four more new ones tomorrow and more to come.

In the meantime, I'm heading off to my sewing room to finish off a new quilt for my husband.  He informs me that I need to make him his own 'special' quilt with dozers and diggers and such and I'd promised him when we got married, 13 years ago!
I started yesterday.....well, you can't rush these things!

xox sugary hugs :o)


Wednesday 20 September 2017

Computer meltdown for FNSI....

Yep, that's right!  My darn computer decided to throw a hissy fit and I couldn't get it to go after a recent Windows update.  Don't know what happened but that little wheel just kept a-spinning and took me nowhere.
So instead of getting frustrated after I turned it off and restarted it again and again, I turned it off one more time, walked away and left it for a day or two.  It seems it must have been as frazzled as I had been in the anticipation of it starting because after rebooting and going through the whole 'updating your computer....do not turn off' saga, it's finally back to normal! Phew!
Don't you just LOOOOOOVE technology? hmmmmmmmm.

So, last Friday was our monthly FNSI and mine started at my best friend Dianne's house.  This year, when we get together, we've been working on our Natalie Bird's Homespun BOM  - Foxley Village, practising new techniques and learning off one another....it's been fab.  Here's our progress on block 4...or is it 5???

 It's always loads of fun when you can 'actually' FNSI with someone else 'in the real' so we make the most of it as it doesn't happen often enough.
I did make some progress that evening on the Christmas Caroling Row a Long block too with some of the stitchery completed and I think it really finishes it off nicely.
I'll show you the rest by the end of the week and I'll hopefully have it finished over the weekend, although we are going for dinner at the Cowboys Leagues Club to watch our favourite football team hopefully make their way to the finals!

PLEASE NOTE  though, that the FREE download of the row will close 8pm  Friday Night (AEST time - which is around the early hours of the morning of Friday in the US...compare your time zone HERE).
After that I'll take it down temporarily and add the finishing instructions to make it into a Christmas wall hanging. I'll add it back to both Craftsy and Payhip but after Friday it will no longer be free, so if you haven't downloaded your copy, head back to THIS POST to get your link to the 'Once in Royal David's City' FREE Christmas Caroling Row-a-long download.


Now I haven't mentioned what this month's prize is for one lucky, random FNSI'er...so here it is......
....a mini charm pack of Lecien 'Radiant Girl' and a Craft Keeper for your threads, ribbon or even a key ring or necklace charm!  I hope you like them?

I can't leave you waiting any longer.....I've consulted Mr RNG and he's come up with ....


....the lovely lady who was working on this gorgeous Michelle Ridgeway design (and it just so happens it's a 'W'...how freaky is it that Mr RNG picked this one out????)

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

\0/ \0/   J*E*A*N*E*T*T*E   \0/ \0/


I'll get your prize off in the mail very soon.  Thank you to everyone who FNSI'ed along with us and if you're contemplating joining in next month but still sitting on the sidelines, pop back to THIS POST  and see what the ladies did, or go over to THIS PAGE to read about how FNSI works.  Don't be shy, we have loads of fun, and you could be our next FNSI winner!

Until next time,
xox Sugary hugs :o)

Tuesday 12 September 2017

It's my turn for Christmas Caroling...

Welcome to day three of the 3rd Annual Row A-Long, hosted by Marian at Seams to Be Sew.



 This 6-week event  features 42 bloggers bringing their interpretation of their favourite Christmas Carols in a  row and offers you the chance to download a copy of each pattern, so you can make your own for FREE. 

The row along started on September 5th, finishes up on the tenth of October 2017 and a number of bloggers from all around the world will feature each Tuesday and Thursday. There's lots of giveaways each day so make sure you check into each one to see what giveaway is on offer, and to download the patterns! (The schedule is towards the end of this post).
Northcott Fabrics is the main sponsor of this row a-long and generously provided some fabrics to each blogger to use to sew their row.  I however, was a little late in coordinating my fabrics, and didn't order in time but funnily enough, the fabric I had purchased and decided would be 'perfect' for the night sky in my row is in fact, a Northcott fabric!   Just goes to show.
Calibre-Arts
Northcott are sponsoring a weekly giveaway all throughout the Row A-Long, as is Calibre Art.  Click HERE for more information on these giveaways and the all-important links to enter. (however, I'm featuring the links at the bottom of this post as well, just so you don't forget!)
I was invited earlier this year to participate in this Row A-Long and I just couldn't say no.  Choosing a Christmas Carol to feature wasn't too hard either, as a picture popped into my head as soon as I read through the list......"Once in Royal David's City" was the one that 'spoke' to me.  I pictured the 3 wise men riding their camels over the hills on their way to visit Mary and Joseph with their newly born son, Jesus in a barn complete with animals, under the light of the brightest star, guiding them to their destination.
I love the way the Northcott fabric makes the night sky look so much brighter.  This beautiful blue starry fabric is from Northcott's  Magic of Christmas range SKU 21701-44 (if you were looking at ordering some for your own row). 

Not a big applique designer, I did find the smaller pieces a bit challenging, however I did try to invent an easier way for myself by taking three plastic loose leaf sleeves and trimming off the reinforced edges and the bottom edge.  That way I could open them out at the fold, tape them together to form a plastic cover for my row. 

 Once taped, I placed the plastic sheet over my design, traced the design onto the plastic with a black sharpie pen, making sure to mark the registration points (corners) on the 'map'.  I then used this 'map' to ensure I had the correct placement for each of my applique pieces on the background before I fused them.  Worked a treat! 
Another tip I have is making sure you place each of the applique pieces in individually marked bags for each section of the row.  This made it much easier to keep them together and find them again.
With such fiddly pieces, I did find it stitched better on the machine using smaller blanket stitch.  
Now I still have a bit of stitchery embellishment to go, but I'll show that on my blog as the week goes on.  I've decided I'll make mine as a wall hanging ready for Christmas, so I've got the borders done already, using scraps of the fabric within the row.
You can download my pattern at either Payhip or Craftsy at the following links: 

                                   PAYHIP:  Once In Royal David's City Row

                                CRAFTSY:   Once In Royal David's City Row

I decided to offer it at both of them as there have been issues of sites crashing with overloaded downloads, so I'm hoping this will make it less frustrating for you.  Please note, my pattern is free to download, but if you feel inclined, as a thank you why not donate a couple of dollars to the charity of your choice, whether it be a hurricane support fund, earthquake fund, cancer fund or some other fund, we're all needing a little help, and if we can help one another, that's awesome!


My row is being sponsored by June Taylor and I have been provided some June Taylor  cotton pressing cloths for three lucky winners.  If you're not really familiar with this product, visit HERE for more information.   You could also visit their website to view their many other products. 
To enter, log in to the rafflecopter link below.  Entries will close midnight 19th September, EST   * please note, shipping is anywhere however, shipping must be paid for by the winners.  
Be sure to read through all the giveaway guidelines and rules over HERE.  These are valid for all of the giveaways during the Row-a-Long.




GIVEAWAY #2

Northcott Fabrics

Visit each of the four bloggers featured in the row-a-long today, enter the rafflecopter link below and you will go into the draw to win a Northcott Fabrics fat quarter bundle totalling 2 yards to the value of $20 USD.  
This giveaway will end at midnight on September 19th, EST when a winner will be drawn and notified.   This giveaway is open worldwide and Northcott will ship the prize to you anywhere in the world.


                                                                     GIVEAWAY #3
Calibre Art Rotating Mats
Our final giveaway is from Calibre Arts and they are offering  a 50% discount on an 8 x 8 Rotating Cutting Mat to the value of $29.95 USD.  There are 5 coupon codes you have a chance of winning.   You will have 6 days to use your coupon code.
This is a daily giveaway, it starts on Tuesday, and ends Wednesday Morning.   

 *Please note, if you win, you will be responsible to pay 50 % of the cost of the mat and the shipping for this prize.


That's if from me.....be sure to check out the wonderful bloggers/designers who are participating in the Row-a-Long and leave a comment....believe me, your comments mean the world!   Here is the schedule I promised you at the beginning of this very long post -

The Christmas Caroling Row Along Schedule
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Barbara Dieges
Cynthia’s Creating Ark
The Quilted Snail
Ms. P. Designs USA
                                                        (sponsored by Just Let Me Quilt)
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Cheryl LaPlante
                                            (sponsored by Quilt In Piece)
Morning Glory
Pampered Pettit
Fun Threads
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Show and Tell Day
Bloggers will be announced at a later date
Make sure you pop along and say Hi!  Thank you for joining in on the Row-a-Long with me.  I hope you enjoyed my row and when you do make it, I'd love for you to send me pictures or share a link so that I can feature it on my blog.

xox big sugary hugs :o)

Monday 11 September 2017

Friday Night Sew In sign ups are live

Yep, it's that time again!

Doesn't it come around quickly?

I'll be working on finishing my Christmas Caroling Row a-long Row (that I'm releasing tomorrow!) as a wall hanging and that will be one finish I'll truly have ready for this Christmas.  If you're not sure what I'm talking about, take a look HERE and make sure you pop back tomorrow for my turn in the Row a-long blog hop...I'm so excited!

In the meantime, sign ups are below for our fun-filled Friday Night frat party....break out the bubbly, the chocolate and the stitching in our jammies....we're set for a fabulous Sew-In together....and don't forget, one lucky random winner will take home a lucky door prize that you're just going to love! Can't wait to see what you're going to bring along to the night.
If you're not sure what our FNSI is all about, click on the FNSI tab above to find out more - everyone's welcome.  So, what are you waiting for...join up below and I'll see you there!

xox Sugary hugs :o)





Friday 8 September 2017

Christmas Caroling Row-a-Long

You may have noticed I have recently uploaded a button on my sidebar for the Christmas Caroling Row-a-Long, being hosted by Marian at Seams To Be Sew.

  The Christmas Caroling Row Along is an event hosted each year by Seams To Be Sew and this year, I was privileged to be invited to join in!

While the theme of the Row Along may change each year, the idea remains the same. To participate, and download the free row patterns, you must visit each site in the list below on their featured day. Make sure you pop along and visit.... not only do you get the free row pattern, you can enter giveaways provided by your favourite quilting manufacturers.

There are so many rows this year and they are all amazing, plus lots of giveaways.  Since all the rows are free from so many designers, be kind and leave a comment thanking them.  It will make their day I'm sure!
Here's the schedule:

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Thursday, October 5, 2017

I know I'm  a bit slow in getting started, but I have been putting the finishing touches to my row which will be released next week!  *eek* Just a tad excited!   Here's a sneak preview.......
Now you know where I've been hiding! *wink* 

xox sugary hugs :o)