Monthly Finale & WINNER!!!!

WOW!!! What a fun time I've had sewing along with you all this month!!!

Because of your generous participation, we have 60 COVERS & 3 Preemie Fitted Diapers to send to Children In Families in Cambodia!!!

YOU ALL ROCK!!!!

Thank you so much for your participation!

For those of you not on facebook, here's a recap of all the covers contributed to October's Monthly Project.

8 Covers from Kelly in CO

3 Covers from Uli in GA

5 Covers from Melissa in IA

4 Covers + 3 Diapers from Kat in FL

9 Covers from Katy in PA

31 Covers from ME in TN!

And the winner of our monthly project prize pack of goodies from Riley Blake and Izzy & Ivy Designs drawn by my trusty assistant....

 This pack of sewing goodness is yours...

KAT in FL!!!!!

Congratulations Kat!!! Thanks so much for sewing along! Please email me to confirm your shipping address for me to get your prize on the way!

Thanks again for all the great participation!

More fun and more prizes planned for November, hope you'll jump in!

And hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween! Off to dress my crew!

The Cutting Edge Ruler

I was recently one of the very lucky winners during The Cutting Edge Ruler blog hop and I love this thing so much, when she asked me to share what I thought about it with you, I had no problem!

I had been looking at rulers for awhile now, needing a larger size, so when I saw the blog hop giveaway going on, I jumped right on board! :) I also found some fun new blogs to follow too!

The rulers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, 5 squares, 4 rectangles and a yard stick. I chose the 6.5" x 24.5" which is so helpful for cutting full lengths of fabric! I had been using a 4" x 12" before, so you can image how much easier and more accurate this new ruler makes my cutting!

Here's the cool thing about the Cutting Edge Ruler that sets it apart from the others on the market...it sharpens your rotary cutter blade WHILE you are cutting! Yep! It has a diamond carbide edge along one side of the ruler that serves as a sharpener each time you cut using that side.

I've only been using mine for about a week, so I'll have to get back to you on how it extends the life of my blades. However, I can already say my blade is skipping much less since starting to use this ruler. I'm excited about the prospects, cause those blades are expensive!!!

While the special sharpening edge is a super cool feature that had me saying "Why didn't I think of that?" since it makes perfectly practical sense, not to mention delights this multi-tasking mama, the other thing I am absolutely LOVING about this ruler is the non-skid frosting!!!

No more crooked cuts and wasted fabric because my ruler slid!And you can still see through it to align the pattern of your fabric.

A big THANKS to the lovely Pat Sloan

 and Victoria of Bumble Beans Inc. whose delightfully quilty blog I won on!

Oh and just so you know, it's not all business with these incredible ladies....check out how they use their gifts and talents to give back in a BIG WAY!!! You can help too!

Thanks again ladies! I'm loving my ruler and love what you do for others too!

Pattern Review - Ben & Mia Pants by Lily Bird Studio

I recently had the privilege of testing one of the newest patterns from Lily Bird Studio, the Ben & Mia Pants. The pattern has just released for sale in her etsy pattern shop, so I wanted to share with you all!

These pants turned out so perfect! The unique style, the great fit and I LOVE the accent the piping offers! This was my first time ever making my own piping and it was so fun and easy to sew!

Plus, this feature makes the design possibilities for these gender neutral pants endless! This pattern offers 3 different pant options and is a great pattern for a novice seamstress, sure to be a sewing confidence builder. The experienced seamstress will enjoy the added details of the optional belt loops, binding trim and coordinating waistband. The detailed instructions and full color photos make this pattern fun and easy to put together. It probably took me as long to decide which fabric to use for the trim as it did to put the pants together! :)

My lil' fella kept coming to my sewing room to see if they were ready and was delighted when I finally said "Yes!". :)

So if you are looking for a great pants pattern for the fall/winter months, I absolutely recommend the Ben & Mia Pants from Lily Bird Studio! I can't wait to make another pair!

And if you hadn't heard, Lily Bird Studio is one of the newest designers at Create HOPE Designs!

Make sure to check out her contributions to the $5 pattern collection to support children in need!

Happy Sewing!

Pattern: Lily Bird Studio - Ben & Mia Pants

Fabric: Corduroy for pants and Traffic Jam Airplanes by Allison Jane Smith for trim

Note to Self: MUST SHIP COVERS TODAY!

source

REMEMBER!!!

Today is the last day to ship your monthly project Preemie Covers if you want them to count for the monthly project giveaway!

Can't wait to see everyone's contributions and give this amazing bundle away to one of you!

 

Universal Craft Blog Directory

Have you heard??? 

There is a new craft blog directory in the works striving to be the biggest list of crafty bloggers out there! I've just added Hopeful Threads to the list and there are LOADS of other crafty blogs already listed for you to get lost looking through!

Have fun!
And thanks Rie for kicking of the collaboration!

EB Aware

This past weekend we had to make a trip to the local Children's Hospital ER with our youngest. She struggles with symptoms of asthma that are triggered during cold season, and was having her first battle of the new season. Thankfully all was fine. However, while I felt she needed immediate attention, I never feared that all wouldn't end fine. I knew that the ER was just about 25 minutes away, and staffed with very caring and helpful people. I knew that they have on hand any medications she might need and would administer such as needed. Additionally, they would try and offer both of us a comfortable, warm and clean room to wait in, along with providing nourishment and entertainment. I never had fear that they couldn't fix whatever the issue was once determined. Not once. Even if it required a hospital stay, I was sure that our sweet girl would receive whatever medical care she needed to get us merrily on our way again. All the while, I was able to provide her physical security and comfort through kisses, hugs, rocking, patting, rubbing her back and even playing silly games. The 4 hours passed pretty quickly and indeed, she was properly treated and we were on our way. 

Why do I share this with you?

To ask you to consider the alternative.

This week is EB Awareness Week. "Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic skin disease that causes the skin to be so fragile that the slightest friction can cause severe blistering–inside and outside the body. Today there is no cure. Severe forms of EB cause patients to live with constant pain and scarring. The worst forms of EB lead to eventual disfigurement, disability, and often early death." from Debra.org

I have followed the overwhelmingly touching and amazing stories of several families living with EB for awhile now. It's heartbreaking to consider that not only do they NOT have the convenience and privilege I described above to take their child to the doctor, get answers and treatment and move on, they can not easily provide the physical comfort that helps both parent and child cope with pain and illness. I have wept and prayed for these families over and over, but today wanted to do more and so I share this with you all in honor of the bravest of brave children and families fighting the battle of EB. 


Take a minute to learn more. Show these families they are not alone and that their voice is most definitely being heard and changing the world of medicine forever!
And, if you feel led to support financially, it's as simple as a text...

You can learn more about Tripp and his incredible mommy on her blog, "EB"ing a Mommy. There is also a facebook page here.
Until there is a CURE!!!

 

Sewing Essential - SNAPS

I use a lot of snaps in my sewing projects, and while I never thought it necessary before owning a press, I have grown to love the convenience and finish that snaps provide.

   

You've seen me use them most recently on the monthly project preemie covers.

I also use snaps regularly for things like bibs,

 Cloth Pads

  Bags and Pouches

as well as clothing.

Snaps are a very kid-friendly option for clothing!

I buy ALL my snaps from Assunta Store.

Assunta offers high quality and well known KAM snaps in every color available! Plus they carry custom colors, engraved and shaped snaps for an even extra touch.

I have always received A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. customer service plus super quick and often FREE shipping! And their prices can't be beat!

Additionally, you can get all the tools you need for applying the snaps whether you prefer a professional snap press or the hand held pliers.

Plus, Assunta offers a LOAD of other sewing notions as well including....

Size Labels

Marking Pens

and Elastics to name a few.

AND, THE BEST PART....the store supports Little Flower Projects!

 A hospice care home loving the tiniest and sickest orphans of China.

I'm not sharing this to intro a giveaway or because they have paid or even asked me to. Truth is, they have no idea I'm posting this. Truth also is, I believe in their products, have purchased them myself for years and even more, I believe in the work they do! If my purchases support that work in even a small way, then I get to be a part, and that is a blessing!

Stitches N' Giggles Gift Certificate WINNER!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!! To Stitches N' Giggles for providing this fun, gift certificate giveaway!

The lucky winner of the $20 Gift Certificate is comment #11 The Twisted Sister!

Congratulations!

Please check your email (or spam) for a message from me so I can put you in contact with Stitches N' Giggles so you can start shopping!

Thank you all for participating!
Please remember to check out our sponsors and affiliates anytime you are in the market for fabric and sewing supplies and show your support for Hopeful Threads.

DON'T FORGET!!! Still time to enter our Monthly Project Giveaway sponsored by Riley Blake and Izzy & Ivy and valued at nearly $125!!!

A Bushel of CUTE!!!!

Seriously folks, if it weren't for having a couple of weeks of sleepless nights with sick and cranky little ones, these would certainly have me wishing for a tiny bundle! ;) 

It just doesn't get any cuter!

These tiny covers have turned out so sweet, I hope they are just as useful for our friends caring for the precious preemies they were specially made for.

I couldn't help but to take a ridiculous number of photos, so humor me for a minute and take a look at a few. Thanks! :)

**ONE NOTE!**

If you are using the template I linked to at the beginning of the month, I did want to mention one thing for those of you using SNAPS for the closure. The picture on the template page only shows a single snap on each side of the tabs for closure, but the template has multiple snaps as shown here...

Because I was in "batch sewing mode" I made the mistake of marking all of my covers with the multiple snap placement spots which are not necessary on such a small cover, so my covers all have an extra dot like this...

We'll just call it my signature. ;)

Also, if you want to add an overlapping snap on one tab as I did, I had to place the socket part in between the second and third mark that I had made to get it to align in the appropriate place, as you can see here with the marks peeking out on the sides.

Otherwise everything lined up beautifully and made for a very sweet little cover!

I love how the front dips down just a bit to allow for the umbilical cord too.

I ended up with a bushel basket of 31 covers for my contribution to the monthly project!

I've also heard from the first of you whose covers are on their way to me....I can't wait to share them when they arrive! Remember, if you plan to send covers (and enter the AWESOME monthly project giveaway!!!) You have one week left! The covers must be mailed by this Friday, October 28th to be able to arrive in time before my friend travels.

Email me if you have any questions and thanks for your continued enthusiasm and support of the outreach of Hopeful Threads!

Join us and share YOUR creativity!