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Hidden Treasures AUCTION!

The next Hidden Treasures auction is scheduled to begin this Friday, June 1st!

Click the image above to find out  more. 

Do you have a handmade gift you can offer for the auction? Then be sure to email the auction coordinator, Amy, and let her know! hiddentreasuresauction@gmail.com  She'll be delighted to hear from you and it's sure to be a blessing on both sides!

Here's a little peek at something I'm offering...

 You'll have to check out the auction Friday to see the rest! ;)

Sewing Essential - Even Feed Foot

I have recently fallen in love with a new foot for my sewing machine. It's the Even Feed Foot or Walking Foot as it is more commonly know. 

It's one of those things I knew I needed for a while, but just finally ordered it.

Truth is, it really wasn't that expensive and I'm wondering why on earth I took so long to get it! Having sewn with it for a few months now, it has definitely, and very quickly made it's way to my "sewing essentials" list!

Most commonly thought of for quilting....and is partly why I bought it since it was one of the excuses...I mean obstacles I had to starting my first quilt. I'm slowly removing these thanks to some friendly nudging and overwhelming inspiration. :) This foot makes sewing multiple layers and thick fabrics a breeze!

Here I'm working with a cotton print, a plush Killington Flannel and a layer of thick cotton chenille and it doesn't even slow down. 

I must admit though....the appearance of this foot alone was quite intimidating to me. 

I left it in the package for quite some time after it arrived.

Finally, with the help of my mechanically gifted husband and You Tube, it was attached to my machine. And it's really easy to do too I might add.

That one little screw right there in the center is all it is. Can you believe I let that hold me back? Me either!

Not only does it glide over thick layers without bunching or shifting the fabrics, it's a dream for sewing laminated fabric, oilcloth and vinyl which are often "sticky" to sew.

Oh, and attaching ruffles....must easier with an Even Feed Foot too since it will easily  move over the gathers. 

If you are considering an Even Feed Foot, be sure to check your sewing machine manual to determine if your machine requires a specific one, some do. It's also as easy as googling your model # too. If you have a Janome, which is what I primarily sew with, you can learn more on their "Accessories" page here. I have to say too, when I first attached mine I had some questions and called their customer service line. The person...yes PERSON that answered was most knowledgeable and helpful and when she didn't feel certain of one of my questions, had another representative call me back who was not only prompt but also very knowledgeable of the product and of sewing in general. They were both a pleasure to work with and I am thankful for their help!

I love learning ways and tools that help me in my creative process! The more I sew, the more I want to sew! And who knows....this handy foot may end up helping me with that first quilting project yet!

So, if you sew multi layers, thick or laminated fabrics, you'll want to add an Even Feed Foot to your sewing essentials list too! For other items that I personally find useful and/or essential in my sewing room, search "sewing essentials" in the sidebar.

Create something new today! And have fun doing it!

Kristy

Remember

Today we pause to remember and be grateful.

What great caregivers are those that give of themselves daily.

SMS WINNER!!!

And our SMS Winner of these lovely fat quarters is....

Entry #480brenda

 

Congratulations!!!! 

 Winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond and claim their prize.

Thank you all for playing along!

Have a lovely weekend!

Care 4 Caregivers Opportunity...at home

I'm a very blessed Mama. 

I truly have 5 of the greatest kids on the planet....and I'm not even exaggerating! :)

My two oldest daughters are amazing people. 

They are giving, and nurturing and a huge help in our home. 

They are natural caregivers to their younger siblings....even when it's hard, as caring for little brothers and mischievous toddlers can be. 

We've had a seasonal cold that has taken it's turn with each of us the past couple of weeks, even getting a hold of me, and we all know it's never good when Mama gets sick! My girls have stepped it up and given me the extra time I needed to rest on my sick days and I have been most grateful for their sweet attitudes and care. 

It dawned on me that they were fully deserving of my Care 4 Caregivers recognition this week!

 I saw the perfect tutorial for these fabric bookmarks over at Zaaberry and since they are both avid readers, I thought this would be a perfect little token to say "thanks". 

 The best part is it has a little pocket to add a personal note. I found these precious cards at Kind Over Matter. If you've never visited, she has a HUGE collection of inspirational and encouraging printables that she offers free. I have used several and they always bring a smile!

I think my girls are going to love them!

Now.....to just sneak them inside their books when they aren't looking!

Simple. Sweet.

Kristy

Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop WINNER!!!

So much crazy giveaway fun going on in blog land this week, hope you are having a blast with it!

It's time to announce the winner of the 5-pack pattern bundle from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop and the lucky person is.....

Entry #93Heidi K.

 

Congratulations!!! 

 Hope you enjoy your awesome prize!

Please respond to the email sent within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Thanks to all for playing along and a BIG THANKS to Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop for providing this generous giveaway!

 

Don't forget to scroll down to the next post and enter the SMS giveaway if you haven't yet. 

Have a great day!

Kristy

 

Gratitude Giveaway!

I am so incredibly grateful for the online sewing community and the friends I've made here!

Today, I'd like to offer a special giveaway with that in mind. 

I am giving away a fat quarter bundle of these 3 Just Dreamy prints. 

Just Dreamy was one of the first Riley Blake collections and I love it!

These matching pieces for my girls are just a few of the things I've made from this beautiful fabric line. You are going to love it too, I know!

To make it fun and easy to enter, just follow the handy Rafflecopter prompts below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'll announce the winner of this giveaway Saturday, the 26th. All other details regarding giveaways at Hopeful Threads can be found on the "Giveaways" page at the top of the blog.

Oh, and to answer my question...

+source+

 

 

I am TOTALLY Piglet! :)

I also have a pattern bundle giveaway going on here from one of our lovely sponsors, so be sure to enter it too! It closes on the 24th. 

 Thanks for dropping by! 

Thanks to Sew, Mama, Sew for hosting this fun event!

Have a great week visiting all the giveaway blogs and good luck to you!

Kristy

Counting Blessings

There are so many things in life that can cast doubt, sadness or even at times hopelessness that make it even more important to pause and absorb the special moments. 

Today, that's what I'd like to do.

This week I received a remarkable gift. A gift that has left me feeling inspired, humbled and overwhelmingly blessed. A gift from the heart of a friend. 

A gift that she poured herself into.....for me.

While I wish I could take credit for this beautiful creation, the gifted artist behind this one of a kind piece is my friend Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs. 

Isn't it amazing???!!!

I absolutely love it! It inspires me to want to create even more!

If someone had asked me what I would have wanted a wall hanging like this to look like, I wouldn't have known how to tell them that this is exactly it. I love everything about it! The colors, the fabric prints, the chevron design, the backing...

And most importantly, the meaning behind it. 

Melissa chose to send this to me as her way of participating in this month's project of Care 4 Caregivers. To recognize me as a caregiver that has influenced her life. 

That leaves me humble, grateful and speechless.

 Look how it matches a little plaque I already had hanging in my room...

  It makes me so happy every time I look at it!

And it has proudly found the perfect home in my sewing studio....

 ...right above where I work!

I've been collecting a bunch of different sized embroidery hoops and I'm thinking I may finally fill each with favorite fabric prints I find to scattered around it. But for now, I think it's perfect just as it is!

This gift is a reminder to me of the "Why?" behind Hopeful Threads.

Sewing projects, pattern reviews, giveaways....they're all fun and I love sharing them with each of you...but the relationships within in this community are priceless to me! And I continue to be blessed by these relationships, whether it be precious Chinese nannies that share enthusiastic gratitude for the bibs we sent for the children in their care or like-minded (and creatively talented!) friends who encourage me daily. 

Thank you all for being a part of Hopeful Threads and a part of my life. 

Thank you Melissa for this touching gift. I will cherish it always.

Kristy

Let's help Danny!!!

Hopeful Threads friends, take a minute to read this message from Danny and see how you can help in a simple but BIG way by offering your gift and love of sewing....good stuff!!!  

"I am looking for donations of 24 drawstring totes for boys and 40 zipper pouches for girls. 

 Random? 

Not really. 

Since I was a teenager, I've been helping with a program called Royal Family Kids Camp. This is a camp for youngsters in the foster care system here in America. These children are neglected. Abused. Abandoned. Lost. RFKC strives to mend those wounds by providing a week of fun, comfort and love. I had the opportunity to attend RFKC as an adult leader and the experiences changed my life. We played games and sang songs and ate three meals a day and had a birthday party for all the kiddos with presents; presents they took home, and for some of them, these presents became their only possessions. We hugged. We cried. We laughed. We talked. My only job for the entire week was to love on these kids. It was by far the easiest and the most mentally and physically exhausting thing I have ever done in my life. 

These kids age out of the program at 12 years. 

This summer, we are joining forces with a new camp geared toward teenagers; a new camp that will give these kids and others a chance to experience the love and acceptance we strive for with RFKC. Teen Reach Adventure Camp (aka TRAC) is a three day single gender camp for kids ages 12-15 providing a fun-filled, outdoors experience with safe loving adults to help provide an experience that brings hope and encouragement to these hurting teens. 

 Every child who attends RFKC with us gets a quilt handmade by some generous donors in and around the Valley (where I live). We would like to do something similar for the TRAC kids and have come up with a few small items that we really feel will make a difference. The kids attending these camps come with next to nothing. We give them clothes and toiletries, and since the TRAC kids are teenagers, we've decided to make them bags to hold their toiletries. 

This is where you come in. 

We have 20 boys attending camp this summer and we would like a drawstring bag for each of them. These bags should be fairly simple, made with manly/teen appropriate fabrics. Since this is a camp, outdoorsy fabrics are fine. Please no halloween (or any holiday for that matter), skulls, choo-choo trains, teddy bears, etc. We want these to be age appropriate and uplifting. The lovely Kat over at Mummas Time to Create has posted a recent tutorial for making drawstring bags that are the PERFECT size. You can find it here. When you make your bags, please leave the handles off. 

We have 40 girls attending camp this summer. For them, we would like a simple zipper pouch measuring about 7"x 9" finished. Again, these should be simple: just one fabric for the outside and one for the inside. We want these to be special and unique, but also uniform so the girls can all feel their gifts are equally lovely. Remember, fabrics should be age appropriate (teenagers). Here are a couple tutorials for basic zipper pouches: See Kate Sew Skip to My Lou 

Think camp. Plaid. Green and yellow are the colors of TRAC, if you want to go that route. Modern. Fun. Things teenagers would like.

If you are willing to donate one or more of these items, please let me know. I need all the items by Monday, June 18th in order to get them to the campers on time. Also, please help me spread the word and get all these campers their bags. Blog about it. Facebook it. Share wherever you are willing and link back here so donors can let me know in the comments that they are going to help. Thank you all so very much for your consideration!"

 

Jump over to Danny's blog here and let her know you are IN!

Thank you Danny for making us aware of this special need and allowing us the opportunity to be a part!

Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop GIVEAWAY!!!

 Check out this exciting giveaway from Peek-a-Boo pattern shop!

One lucky winner will receive a pattern bundle of their 5...yes FIVE...favorite Peek-a-Boo patterns! There are sooooo many to choose from too! I shared my latest, the Evelyn dress yesterday. And how about this precious Annie Petal Dress??? CUTE!!!

She has loads of sweet summery dresses for your little girls! 

And don't worry....she's got your boys covered too!

I'm loving these Pier 49 Convertible Pants...

Don't they just make you want to dig your toes in the sand??? :)

So, want to get entered for this fabulous pattern bundle prize? Just follow the handy Rafflecopter prompts and you're all set!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prize patterns will be provided in PDF format. Giveaway open to all who are eligible. Winner announced and emailed Thursday, May 24th, 2012.

+++PLUS!+++ Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop is offering you a discount during the giveaway! Use code "hopeful15" to receive 15% off her already low pattern prices!!!

Have fun scrolling through all the great patterns!

And THANKS Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop! What a generous prize and what ADORABLE patterns you have! :)

Good luck all!

Kristy 

Pattern Review - Evelyn Dress by Peek-A-Boo Patterns

This is the Evelyn Dress by Peek-a-Boo Patterns. It's another that has been on my "Must Sew" list far too long! This is a quick dress to sew and the pattern provides lots of photos to help you along the way. I do recommend some basic sewing experience as the pattern includes ruffling, bias tape and sleeve sewing. The pattern comes in PDF format and is sized for 18 months - 8 years. It can also be sewn as a swing top....which I imagine very cute with some little leggings! :)

Let me share some of the fun to sew features with you...

My favorite part is the inset ruffle on the front of the dress! This is so much fun to make and adds such a uniquely sweet finish to the dress. 

 The cuffed sleeve bands give you the option of continuing to use your coordinating fabrics or you could also finish them with extra wide bias tape.

 The neckline and back opening are also finished with bias tape which provides the perfect tie closure. Soft and adjustable.

This is a very sweet dress that provides lots of creative opportunity!

One thing I think I will do differently the next time I make it, is to clip the seams with pinking shears rather than serging. The serged seams cause the sleeves to pucker a bit under the arm, (the pattern warns about this) and while I'm sure the little one wearing this won't mind, it's something I want to try and smooth out next time. 

I think this will be darling done up in corduroy for the fall months....especially as the swing top....so you might just be seeing this one again! ;)

You can find the pattern in the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop here.

Kristy

Pattern: Evelyn Dress by Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop

Fabric: Tree print/Love U by Deb Strain, polka dot cotton and bias from stash

Care 4 Caregivers....opportunity!

Well, life has presented a specific opportunity for our family to show care for a specific group of caregivers this week....our family physicians! We are blessed to have a group of physicians caring for our family that do a great job, and this past week with all the sickies around our home, we have had a few visits. We have one more (hopefully that's it!) follow up this week, so we've decided to take these as a small token of thanks.

These are little travel tissue holders. They are such a perfect gift! These can be stuck in a purse, backpack, diaper bag...you name it....everyone needs a tissue now and again. And I imagine our friends at the doctor's office know that all too well!

The tutorial I like to use is available here.

Travel Tissue Holders, a quick, practical & easy gift to show Care 4 Caregivers! You can make a bunch out of a couple of fat quarters or even use up a stack of fabric scraps. 

Either way, they are a snap to make and something everyone can use!

How about you? Have you had any opportunities to show Care 4 Caregivers in your life this month? This is the 15th, so there is still half of the month left. Would love to have your share your experiences to inspire and encourage us to keep our eyes open too!

Kristy

Gingersnaps Fabric Boutique WINNER!!!

The lucky winner of the Peak Hour Rolie Polie is

Entry #213bee No response within 48 hours.
New winner selected 5/16/12

Entry #162Kathrynn

Congratulations!

Please check your email for a message from me and respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. 

Thanks for entering and enjoy creating with your lovely fabric!

Thanks to all the entries and remember, Gingersnaps Fabric Boutique is offering all of you that 10% discount through tomorrow, May 15th, just use code "GRANDOPEN" at checkout.

Thanks for your generosity Gingersnaps!

Kristy

Happy Mother's Day!!!

To all you Mothers and Caregivers, hope you have a BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Kristy

With Fabric & Thread Book WINNER!!!

The randomly selected WINNER of this gorgeous book is....

Diann said... 42

Quilts 

Congratulations!!!

Please check your email for a message from me and reply within 48 hours to claim your prize. 

Thank you to all the participated and thanks to Wiley Publishing for providing this wonderful gift!

World Fair Trade Day 2012

Tomorrow...Saturday, May 12th is World Fair Trade Day 2012.

source

 In honor of the day and the people worldwide who focus on supporting fair trade, I wanted to share a bit of information. I hope you will take the time to learn more!

What is Fair Trade?

Fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers. Fair trade organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. (as defined by FINE)

Why does it matter to purchase Fair Trade?

Take a minute to read this short, well written article about the "why" behind Fair Trade.

While every purchase and situation may not offer you the opportunity to choose Fair Trade, it is certainly something worth further consideration. Fair Trade is also a very simple and easy way to make a significant difference in the lives of others globally.

Happy World Fair Trade Day 2012!

Care 4 Caregivers!

So how's your month of May going?

Have you had any opportunities or experiences caring for caregivers?

I'd love to share your stories if so and hope to have some of my own to share soon too.

If you blog about how you have shown Care 4 Caregivers, send me the link to share with Hopeful Threads readers and if you don't blog and want to just send me the story via email, I'll be happy to share it!

Wishing many opportunities to bless & be blessed!

Kristy

Bumbleberries Boutique WINNERS!!!

Congratulations to 

Entry #21Stacy K.

Entry #106Jackie

You are the winners of the pattern bundles from Bumbleberries Boutique!

Please check your email for a message from me and respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. 

 

Thank you all for entering and thank you Bumbleberries Boutique for your generosity! I'm so glad to have learned of your beautiful shop!

Kristy