Monthly Project Finale!

January's project comes to a close and here's what we have to offer Annabelle's Wish for the sweet babies they care for!

From Kristy (Me!)

From Pam @ Threading My Way

From Sarah @ Fabric Seeds

From Lana @ Elfqueenof5

From Bonnie @ Fishsticks Designs

From Melissa

From Sunni @ Love Affair

From Jodi

From Kelly

From Garilyn @ It's Time to Sew!

Ready to get packed and shipped!!!

There are still a few covers yet to arrive and be added to our box before shipping, but I have been delighted and encouraged by your enthusiastic response and support! THANK YOU!

Make sure you stop by tomorrow to see what we'll be up to for February....it's going to be a FUN and FULL month!!!

Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway WINNER!!!

WOAH!!!!!!!!!!! 

Ya'll love this amazing Sweet Lush fabric as much as I do huh????

You had some great ideas of how to sew it up too!

Here's what our winner thought it would look best as...

Was this the pattern you chose???

Well, if you are...

6blessings said... 1

"I think the Sweet Lush fabric would look cute made into an Evelyn Dress by Peek-A-Boo Patterns."

...then your number was the one Random.org selected and you are the lucky winner of this gorgeous fat quarter bundle, so you'll get to give it a try! 

Congratulations!!!

Thank you for the OVERWHELMING response to this giveaway! I'm so glad you liked it and welcome all the new followers it lead our way! Hope you'll stick around for all the upcoming fun planned and jump in with what we are doing around Hopeful Threads!

A HUGE thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for your continued support of Hopeful Threads and providing us with such gorgeous inspiration to sew and create!

Keep on! Because every stitch matters!!!

Fat Quarter Shop GIVEAWAY! - Sweet LUSH!

Did you know that the Fat Quarter Shop was the very first, "official" sponsor of Hopeful Threads? Yep! I can still remember how warm and enthusiastic Kimberly was about helping and I am still so very grateful for their continued support!

 Aside from having one of the most amazing selections of fabric and patterns on-line, they offer incredible customer service and are just plain nice folks! 

I am very proud to wear their badge on my sidebar!

If you have been around the sewing/quilting blog world for long, you are well aware of their generosity with giveaways. And today it's our turn!!! The lovely Fat Quarter Shop is offering one of you this absolutely GORGEOUS bundle of the new Patty Young collection, Sweet Lush...

<Huge Sigh!>

Isn't that gorgeous!?!?!?

I can already imagine some of the prettiest pieces for spring for my girls using this collection! It's perfectly feminine without being too "girly" in my opinion. 

If you'd like to get your name in for a chance to win this bundle of 15 fat quarters here's what you need to do....
COMMENTS CLOSED - WINNER POST TO FOLLOW. THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT INTEREST AND ENTRIES IN THIS GIVEAWAY!

Visit the patterns page over at the Fat Quarter Shop and leave a comment here as to which pattern, other than the ones I've chosen, you think would be perfect for this Sweet Lush fabric!

Me, I think it would be super sweet for my girls sewn up in The Party Frock

or this Daisy Girl Backpack

And for me....this Short & Sassy Pleated Handbag

...and not just because the name describes me! ;)

***EXTRA ENTRIES***

For those who want to increase your odds, here are a few options for extra entries AFTER the first comment with your pattern choice.

Extra Entry 1 - Follow Fat Quarter Shop via your preference of blog, facebook, twitter, newsletter, and/or pinterest and leave a separate comment with how you follow.

Extra Entry 2 - Follow Hopeful Threads via your preference of blog, facebook, email, and/or pinterest and leave a separate comment with how you follow.

Extra Entry 3 - SHARE! Blog, tweet, facebook post, pin it....however you'd like, tell your friends and leave a separate comment with your sharing link.

So, you can get up to 4 entries!

Giveaway Open Worldwide!

Winner randomly selected and announced here Monday, January 30th.

Please make sure I can reach you via your comment. If I can't reach you, another winner will be selected. Winner has 48 hours to respond or alternate winner will be selected. 

HAVE FUN looking around and GOOD LUCK!

COMMENTS CLOSED - WINNER POST TO FOLLOW. THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT INTEREST AND ENTRIES IN THIS GIVEAWAY!

Getting to know.... World of Charity Stitching

Have you heard of World of Charity Stitching? If not, I'd like to take a minute to introduce you to this lovely group of stitchers using their gifts and talents to love on others! They are doing some really great things and touching a lot of lives through their creations!

Here's a short Q&A interview to give you a glimpse. 

Q: When did World of Charity Stitching begin and what was the inspiration behind it?
A: The group was started in 2007 as an offshoot of another charity stitching group.  Initially we were a cross stitching and quilting group, but we have evolved and now produce hand made gifts for children and seniors, including quilts, totes, cards, stuffed animals and much more.

Q: What are some of the projects WOCS has completed?
A: We have over the years delivered numerous quilts to various charities in the USA and the UK.  Currently we support Favor House, Ronald McDonald House, and Century Care Center in Florida and Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane.  Last year we delivered 29 quilts, 49 therapy pillows, 37 wheelchair/walker bags, 66 totes, and 68 other hand made gift items.

Q: Do you have a project that was especially meaningful for you? If so which and why?

A: We have filled several quilt requests for specific people who have had major health challenges.

Q: How can others, like me, get involved?
A: We welcome new members to our Yahoo group if they want to stitch, quilt, sew, do crafts, etc. but if not, we welcome donations of quilting supplies, fabrics, books, and of course money to buy supplies and help toward postage.

Now a glimpse at some of their beautiful work...

I hope you'll take time to get to know more about WOCS and perhaps even find out how you can support their efforts! You can find them in all of these convenient places...

World of Charity Stitching BLOG

World of Charity Stitching FACEBOOK PAGE

World of Charity Stitching Yahoo Group

World of Charity Stitching Flickr Photostream

Monthly Project Progress Report!

Well, here they are... 

My finished bloomers for January's Monthly Project.

I ended up with 1-3M, 5-12M and 8-3T. I flubbed up on my other two 3Ts, but had another seamstress agree to contribute this past week, so we should still be all good! I can determine what's still needed when packing everything up, but looks good right now.

There's still a week left for this month's focus, and I've already heard from several of you that your bloomers are on the way. I will be sure to share on facebook each time I have a package arrive and will show our complete pile together once I have them all. It's been so exciting to have you all sewing along this month! Thank you again for your help!

Pattern Review - Sweet Blossom Skirt by Elysium

OH MY GIRLY GOODNESS!!!! 

This has got to be one of the sweetest and most fun patterns I've ever sewn! This fluffy little skirt was made using the Sweet Blossom Skirt pattern by Elysium, and I'm entirely in love!

I used the playful prints of the Hoo's in the Forest fabric collection by Riley Blake.

The panels on this skirt are made using gores. I had never sewn gores before and love the instant, flirty twirl they give the bottom of the skirt! The simple waistband with coordinating, double-sided ruffle are the perfect finishing touches too. 

 At first glance this might seem like a complicated garment to sew, but let me assure you it is not! The pattern is very well written, including plenty of step by step photographs that make the assembly very simple. Certainly a pattern even a beginning seamstress could successfully and enjoyably work with. Not to mention, the end result of this ruffly goodness...

Who could resist!?!?!?

I made this one a tad small for my lil' rolly polly, so I'm just gonna have to sew another! ;) Big sis wants one too, and since it's certainly her style looks I'll be sewing another couple! Luckily that's an advantage of this pattern since it ranges from size 12 months-12 years. I love it when I can sew for more than one of my children from the same pattern!

If you'd like to sew your own Sweet Blossom Skirt, the pattern is available in the Elysium etsy shop.

Just imagine all the twirling ahead!

 Pattern: Sweet Blossom Skirt by Elysium

 Fabric: Hoo's In The Forest by Riley Blake Designs

Yo-Yo... Bring on the Snow!

Not sure if it's cold where you are right now, but around here, it's been a bit FRIGID!!! You know, those days where you don't go to the mailbox without your gloves? Yep! (it actually goes from that to cook-out weather and back in about 2 days time...such is the way of the southeast US!) Well, we decided we should at least do "cold" in style. And that all started with this HUMUNGOUS bag of handmade yo-yos we recently acquired from an estate sale...

I know! Aren't they amazing?! Every size and color you could possibly need and in a variety of delightful vintage fabrics....drool!!!! At first I had no idea what to do with them. I mean the person who made these had made entire bedspreads from them....completely hand-stitched! Talk about amazing...and a bit intimidating! Then....it just kind of happened. Some desperately plain gloves that needed a bit of pizazz and well, the rest is history!

 I made several pair as Christmas gifts with some fun buttons.

 

 And the girls of course needed a pair for themselves too! ;)

 

I've used them for embellishments on several other projects so far and the girls are full of ideas for hair accessories and jewelry, but what do you think? What is something you have either used or seen yo-yos used for that would showcase some of these delightful little creations? Leave me a comment with your suggestions and if you have a link to specific yo-yo projects that could provide us some extra inspiration, I certainly would love that!

And yes, we really are wishing for some SNOW!!! 

If it's gonna be this cold it should at least be fun right?

Sharing at these lovely places:

WELCOME Little Comet Tails!

Please join me in welcoming Little Comet Tails as the newest sponsor at Hopeful Threads! 

You may remember Little Comet Tails from our October 2011 Monthly Project of preemie cloth diaper covers. It was her free preemie template that many of us used to make our tiny covers. Samantha's generosity doesn't stop there! She has a whole section of Freebies! I am so excited to have her join in support of the efforts behind Hopeful Threads! Keep watch for exciting things to come from Little Comet Tails...

In the meantime, you can keep up to date with all things LCT by becoming a facebook fan here

or by following her blog here. (Her blog has some of the most captivating photography!)

And of course, check out her wonderful sewing patterns!

Welcome Little Comet Tails! Very happy to have you here!