Rag Doll - Monthly Project FINALE!

 YAY! They are all finished and dressed! 

And I'm just thrilled with how they turned out! Slightly imperfect, as am I, but perfectly loveable! ;)

 These little sweeties will be heading to China with Annabelle's Wish to bring smiles to little ones there waiting for their forever families. I hope their cuddles help fill the gap just a bit while they wait.

 June project to be announced tomorrow.....oh boy! You won't want to miss it!

Gonna be FUN...as always! ;)

Thankful

 

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A $4 Appeal (WINNER ANNOUNCED!)

UPDATE: Thank you for your support of this family and their adoption efforts!!! The winner of the Shabby Apple dress from our $4 Appeal is.....

Just gave $12.00. Already gave 20 to their puzzle fundraiser but I know every little bit helps!! elyselroberts@hotmail.com Thanks, Elyse

May 30, 2011 1:59 PM

Anonymous said... 3

Sorry here is the chipin#dfbcc46478d1b8ec -Elyse  

Congratulations Elyse! I've just sent you an email to get your address for shipping!!!! You can still contribute to the chip-in here.
Blessings!


A short time ago I was privileged to win an amazing Shabby Apple Dress from one of the blogs I follow. The dress I won was the stunning Spanish Steps valued at $86. Needless to say I was giddy excited!!! I mean if you know anything about Shabby Apple dresses, you know how incredibly fabulous they are! Not to mention, Shabby Apple is a business with a heart, and a big part of what they do involves helping women worldwide...read more about it!

Source: Shabby Apple

Anyway, I've been following an adoption journey that has been quite miraculous to say the least. The happy ending to this excruciating journey has just occurred. I am so thrilled for this family and for this precious boy! But I'm still waiting, like many to hear how the miracle happened.

So how do Shabby Apple dresses and this adoption story connect???

Before the brilliant and passionate adoptive mother will share the end of this amazing story, she has a request. She wants to see the remaining funds for a family preparing to travel and bring home their 2 adoptive sons fully provided for. Near $20,000. A pretty significant chunk of change. BUT......she has broken this down to be only $4 per hit she is getting on her blog each day. $4. Now that's doable. That just means my kids and I skip a Sonic "happy hour" treat once this month. But that wasn't enough to settle with me.

So, here's my $4 appeal. My gorgeous Shabby Apple, Spanish Steps dress can be one of yours. When I asked myself what I had of value that I could offer for these sweet boys, this is what repeatedly kept coming to my mind. The dress still has the tags attached and is a size XL or Ladies 14/16. You can read more about sizing here.

What I ask for you to get your name in the draw for this fabulous dress is to head over to the chip-in here, make at least a $4 donation, and comment on this post with your donation receipt #. That's it. Then you're in. Want to donate more than $4? GREAT! You can have an entry in this dress giveaway for EVERY $4 donation you chip in! (ex. $40 = 10 entries!)
I will allow comments until Wednesday, June 1st at which time I will randomly select a winner and post their names here on the Hopeful Threads blog. PLEASE, PLEASE make sure I have an email address to contact you with in your comment if your email is not enabled on your profile. I will ship the dress anywhere in the US promptly, once the winner confirms their address.

Thank you in advance for joining me in making a HUGE difference in such a small way! Someone is going to look gorgeous in this dress!

Dressin' My Dollies!

The final step to have my sweet rag dolls ready to pass on to their new homes... getting them dressed. Well, great thing is, MODKID offers a free dress pattern for these little cuties! Yep! Just print the handy little template off on cardstock and you're ready to zoom around it with your rotary cutter...carefully of course! Those rotary blade injuries can be pretty bad!

 Double your fabric over to cut both pieces at once. And, if your piece of fabric allows it, I suggest having the grain line or stretch of your fabric going up and down your dress. The ones I cut this way were easier to sew for me. 

 Since MODKID generously sent me some knit remnants from their fabric line when they sent those extra panels I gave away here, all of my girls will be dressed in style!

 Side note...if you've never sewn doll clothes, hems can be a bit tedious since they are so tiny. Since the dresses are recommended to be made out of a stretchy fabric like knits....they won't fit over the doll's head if you use regular cotton wovens....it isn't necessary to finish the edges. I chose to sew the side seams and shoulders and leave the edges raw. You could even leave the shoulders unsewn and tie them...I didn't think about this until after mine were all sewn, but I think that would look really cute!

Finished project to post soon! :)

HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

Perspective

Check out how one blogger is using what she has, where she is to make a difference...

Old Red Barn Co.

 

 

Because it matters.

Our Winner Is...

Wow! Thank you all so much for visiting my blog and playing along in our giveaway fun! My children and I read every comment with much interest....many made us laugh and a few even made us cry. We are so very touched to learn of how each of you sew to bless others! And we agree with many of you that the reward of gifting is just as special as the blessing of receiving it. Thank you for taking your time to encourage our hearts this way!

Now, with no further delay.....the winner of our Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day prize is....

camelama said... 73

What a great giveaway!! :) I love making useful things for friends - whatever it is they need. Bags, tea towels, hot pads, placemats, you name it. I love to know that my gift is getting *used*. 

Congratulations! An email will be on it's way to you to get your address to ship your goodies.
 
Blessings and happy sewing to all!

Rag Dolls In the Works - STUFFING!

**If you are here for the final day of the Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway, scroll down to the next post!**

I'm beginning to wrap up this months project around here and all my little rag dolls are now stuffed! And whew! That was quite a job! I have always admired those that can make such adorable plushies, but I don't think I fall into the catagory....no, I'm sure I don't after this bunch of pig-tailed cuties! :) Stuffing is a lot of work! And other than just a few simple toys for the kids, this is the first stuffies I've made, and certainly the first time I've done so many at once. Probably wouldn't have been so tiring if there were just a few I suppose. Nonetheless, these little cuties are all stuffed and ready to be stitched closed.

 I used some basic fiber-fil from JoAnn's and a wooden dowel to get it into the points of the pigtails and the long, narrow arms and legs. Maybe there's a better "tool" for this, but this seemed to do the job well. However, if you have a handy way for stuffing, please, please share! I'd love to learn!

 Next step...getting them dressed! I'll share another freebie for that in an upcoming post. I think they are going to be well worth the work when all done. And I imagine they will make some little girls very happy! They sure make me smile!

Anyone else have any plushies for giveaway progress to share? I'm still trying to decide where these will be best donated, so I'd love to hear your ideas on that too!

Happy Stuffing!!! ;)

Linked at:

May Giveaway Day!!!

Click the image to see the master list of giveaway contributors!

Oh Boy!!! OH BOY!!! It's that time again! And this year we are super excited to not only be hunting for giveaway treasures in the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day, but to be hosting as well!

I have recently become addicted to Charm Squares and am trying to develop the habit of automatically grooming all of my scraps from my sewing projects into these delightful 4 inch blocks. 

 Charm Squares are perfect for a variety of projects...especially when the work of cutting is already done for you! You can use them for quilts, clothing, bags, you name it!

 As you can see, my collection is growing rapidly!

So much so, I'm going to giveaway 100 different squares!

That's right 100 Charm Squares!!!

 PLUS...yes, more fun! I love using personalized labels in my sewing, so I'm going to share some of the great labels I've acquired with you too!

Aren't they cute???

Now, to get entered.
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU THAT PLAYED ALONG!

Since the idea behind Hopeful Threads is sewing/creating for others, leave a comment saying what you like to sew/create best for others. That's it!

(If your comment doesn't tell us this, then it of course doesn't count and will be removed.)

ONE ENTRY PER PERSON

US Shipping Only

Giveaway runs through Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

I'll choose the winner with the handy random # generator and announce them here Thursday, May 26th.

**Make sure I have a way to reach you if you are the winner! Please leave an email if there isn't one enabled in your profile!**

Winner has 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be selected so we can make sure and ship by May 30th as requested by Sew, Mama, Sew.

If you are new to Hopeful Threads, welcome! There are many ways to keep up with the fun around here, blog follower, FeedBurner/email and facebook, so I hope you'll stick around! I look forward to getting to know you!

Questions? Email me!

 

Thanks for visiting and keeping it fun! :)

GOOD LUCK!

Are you a crafty blogger?

If so, I thought you might enjoy checking out this link up of crafty blogs! Hopeful Threads just linked there! Spreading the fun!!!!

Winners! Winners! Bo Binners!!!!

You know you want to sing along! :)

Ok, ok, let's get right to it! The winner of the Whimsy Couture sewing e-books is......lucky #7...

leah c. said...

My granddaughters would look great in the Capri ruffle pants and the bubble skirt :) Leah, watch your email for a message! Congratulations and hope you enjoy the patterns!

Thanks to all that participated and spread the word, and a very special thanks to Whimsy Couture for sharing your amazing patterns with us! AND, for those who didn't win, Whimsy Couture has ALL their sewing e-books 20% off Today! WOW! Don't miss it!

 Here are a few pics of the Whimsy Couture A-line Tunic I finished this week for a very special little girl! I added a ruffle and used the same Riley Blake "Just Dreamy" fabric as I did for the skirt I posted about earlier this week. I was very pleased with how it turned out!

 And, I just received these adorable little "Handmade" tags in the mail and couldn't resist adding one! So cute!!!

Also, I never heard from the first winner I drew for the MODKID Doll Panels, soooooo....the new winners are...comment Number 8...

More Kids 4 Me said...

How cute!! Wonder if I could make these??? I'd share with my two sweeties! And Number 7...

felicia said...

I would love to make these for the gift closet at my son's school. They have a place where children that aren't as fortunate or who's parents have fallen on hard times can go pick out a gift on their birthday. I'll be emailing to two of you also!

Have a great weekend!

May Giveaway Day with Sew,Mama,Sew!

In case it weren't obvious, I LOVE SEWING and just about anything sewing related! Yep! I know, kind of a shocker huh??? ;) Well, the only thing better than fabric, sewing and textile delight-fulness is when it is FREE! That's why we knew we had to participate in the Sew, Mama, Sew May Giveaway Day this year!!! All the fun kicks off Monday, May 23, so there is still time for you to get in on the giveaway fun or at least make sure to mark your calendar to get in on the getting entered fun! I can guarantee I'll be checking out the goodies! 

The Hopeful Threads giveaway will post Monday morning, May 23 you won't want to miss it! I invite you to come back then to get entered. Make sure to share the fun with all your creative friends too!

YAY! For FREE Fabric and Sewing Goodies!!!

Rag Doll In the Works - Snipping & Turning

Progress continues on our little doll friends. They've all been cut, sewn, snipped and turned, whew! I must admit, I'm not so crazy about the turning of tiny tube like parts, lol! Next step... STUFFING!

How about you? Anyone else sewing these little cuties this month? Or another stuffie/plushie/lovey to cheer someone? If so, would love to have you share a link in the comments or add a pic to our Flickr album. We'd love to see your goodies!

Giveaway Share!

Looking for some FREE FABRIC??? Had to share this great giveaway FULL of fabric and prizes! Go enter and good luck! :) Click the pic of the Bella Solids above or here to go straight to it!

Also, if you've never heard of Craft Buds, that's where I heard of this great giveaway, so check them out too! :) They have a link to all kind of creative giveaways every week! FUN!!!

Riley Blake + Serendipity Studio = DREAMY SKIRT!

Since there is only so much I can blog about when it comes to cutting and sewing the outline of our little rag dolls, ;)  thought I'd share a little something I made this weekend. It's kind of an early birthday present I suppose. I had purchased the Serendipity Studio Fashion Formula Skirts booklet because I knew it was perfect for my oldest daughter! Her birthday is next month, so I thought I'd make her a new skirt. Well, because they have learned to love the arrival of the mailman as much as I do, :) she saw the pattern and immediately went nuts! And since I'm one of those that rarely buys fabric with a specific project in mind, but rather buys it because I love it and know the project for it will come later....she went fabric shopping in my stash. She came up with this line by Riley Blake, Just Dreamy, and it really worked perfectly for this skirt!

She choose the "Trixie" skirt from the booklet which has several beautiful skirts with multiple variations, making for quite a selection! I imagine she will want at least one of each style before we are finished though!

She couldn't wait to wear it and I think she looks so beautiful in it! It suits her style and personality perfectly! And nothing makes me happier than to see her truly love something I've made for her! Fun times!

Rag Dolls In the Works - Cutting & Sewing

 Ok, so here we go with some Monthly Project progress! These are the first steps of getting these sweet dolls made, cutting and sewing. Ummmmm.... and let me just suggest, these little handy instructions printed right on the panel, yea, read those BEFORE you start! Kind of why they are there, and they really do make the whole process easier. Just take it from me! ;)

 Once you have your dolls roughly cut, align the front and the back and pin in place.

 Then, you are ready to sew. Don't forget to leave the opening for turning.

 Clip around all curves and corners. This will help smooth the outline of the dolls once turned.

...to be continued...

We're on a roll! Gonna have a pile of these adorable plushies before you know it!

Have you entered our current Whimsy Couture Giveaway?