January Project FINALE!

Our first project for 2013 is coming to a close and I have to thank you all for making it another great success! The bag donations are beginning to roll in and they look AMAZING! 

There are over 60 bags photographed in our group album! I can't wait to deliver these, I know they are going to be such a blessing!

I intend to deliver them the second week of February, so that should give plenty of time for shipping. Be sure and see if your items can ship Priority Mail Flat Rate, as that is often times the cheapest route. I will post on facebook and under your picture in the group album once I pick up the bags so you will know when I have received yours. 

Also, if you've not yet entered our current Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway, it's the last day to do so! Scroll down a couple of posts and enter! If you've sewn along this month, you are eligible for a BONUS ENTRY too! :) Winner announced tomorrow!

Additionally, since once again you all have been incredible and inspiring and helped me to "Deliver Love" to someone who could use a little extra, by participating in this month's project, I have a little gift from my stash that I will be sending to one of you that have added your picture(s) to our project album. I will choose the winner for this gift tomorrow as well. 

I can't tell you all how very grateful I am to sew with you each month!

Remember, Every Stitch Matters!

And be sure to stop back tomorrow to find out what February's project is!!!!

SOOOOO EXCITED to share this one! Plenty more sewing fun ahead for sure!

Until then...

FUN Flannel PJ Shorts!

 Vintage + Modern = Totally FUN!!! 

When I asked the kids what kind of PJs they wanted this year, my oldest requested flannel shorts. I grabbed this vintage pattern from my stash and immediately remembered this pin, that had inspired me to have a little fun making these more than just plain pjs. And fun I had making these!

Each pair individually and uniquely embellished with a variety of trims I had tucked in my stash. 

I LOVE working with trims!!! 

Each of my girls got froggie ones like this in time for Christmas. :)

And of course some of my favorite sewing labels to add that final touch!

 And since I was on a roll, I made these 4 pair for each of my volley ball playing nieces.

Hope they like them as much as my girls do theirs! 

Hope you are having some FUN sewing times too!

A SPECIAL Fat Quarter Shop Fabric Collection & GIVEAWAY!!!

I am soooooooo very excited to get to share this post with you!

First, because this is a very special fabric collection. It's called Happy Town.

This adorable collection was specially designed by Jaquelynne Steves of The Noble Wife to serve a greater purpose. This collection was designed to help support the beautiful and growing outreach of Quilts for Kids! LOVE IT! 

I love the collection with it's soft, playful colors and characters, but I especially LOVE seeing those in our creative community using their gifts and talents to give back naturally. SO INSPIRING!

You can read more about this collection and the heart behind it in the latest "Designer Tidbits" post at the Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber.  

One of my favorite pieces in this collection is this precious panel....just look how fun!

And these sweet critters can't be beat either...

There are also some perfect blenders and prints little boys will love too!

You can see the entire collection at the Fat Quarter Shop here.

Now for the cherry on top!

You have the chance to win an amazing Fat Quarter Bundle of this fabulous collection! And I'll go ahead and tell you....it's gonna be PERFECT for our February Project!  :) Just a little hint there...

Simply follow the Rafflecopter prompts below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to all eligible. Read the "Giveaways" page at the top of the blog for further details regarding giveaways at Hopeful Threads. Winner will be announced and emailed Friday, February 1st, 2013 and given 48 hours to respond and claim prize before alternate winner is selected.

THANK YOU Mrs. Steves for this beautiful and meaningful fabric collection to sew with!

THANK YOU Fat Quarter Shop for providing this generous and inspiring giveaway!

THANK YOU all for being a part of the community and outreach of Hopeful Threads!

GOOD LUCK! 

Pattern Review - Aivilo Fold Over Purse by Aivilo Charlotte Designs for Create H.O.P.E. Designs

 I'm very excited to share with you the newest pattern contribution to the Create H.O.P.E. Designs collection, the Aivilo Fold Over Purse by Aivilo Charlotte Designs.

 This is such a unique purse pattern, and a quick and fun project to sew too!

The purse itself is almost "sack" like, with optional inner pockets. 

The adorable ruffly edge is designed to fold over to close the purse and give it this perfectly pleasing purse look with no fuss at all. Love it! 

This one was made as part of our January 2013 "Bag It Up!" Project, but my daughter loved it so much, I imagine it won't be long before I'm making another! :)

Fact is, this sweet bag was so easy to put together with all of the step-by-step instructions and photographs provided, I had it finished in a single naptime from start to complete! NICE!

SUMMARY

Sewing Experience Level: Beginner

Size Range: N/A

Special Techniques: Ruffling for trim.

Pattern Format: PDF

Materials Used: The outer print is a light weight home dec. fabric and is lined with a regular cotton.

Personal Notes: Quick and fun to sew! Unique, easy to use bag that would be perfect for any age just by changing the fabrics you use. 

Find all of the fabulous $5 patterns in the Create H.O.P.E. Designs collection here!

Bags! Bags! Bags!!!

Have you checked out our project album for the January Project yet???

We are rapidly approaching our goal with lots of gorgeous bags being sewn!

THANK YOU!!!

 My latest additions, once again all created from the home dec. samples provided by Contemporary Cloth. They have been perfect for this project! 

Still plenty of time to sew along, and we'd love to have you a part!

Details here.

Happy MLK Jr. Day!

from pinterest

Baggin' It Up!

Here are some of the bags I've finished so far. 

All of these were made from Home Dec. samples donated by Contemporary Cloth. The larger cuts made for perfectly sized bags and the smaller I've used as pockets. An ideal upcycle if you ask me! :)

The fabrics are nice and sturdy making durable bags, and I love the beautiful prints. 

Hoping to finish a few more soon and get them all packed with goodies. 

How's your sewing going?

Remember, there's still plenty of time to participate and help us reach our goal of at least 50 bags donated this month. 

See this post for all the details and THANKS for being a part!

Dear do. Good Stitchers,

I've struggled for hours with how to adequately express my gratitude, and I'm not sure this will come close to fully captivating it, but hopefully will at least provide a glimpse. 

Today, our Little Man received a gift from the Trust Circle of do. Good Stitches. 

A beautiful gift.

A gift of love, handmade by a beautiful and giving group of talented stitchers. 

I had been watching this gorgeous quilt come together on my friend Melissa's (Sew BitterSweet Designs) page and just loved it!!! I had NO IDEA when commenting on the cute fabrics that this would be showing up on my doorstep! I had followed the making of many of the donation quilts, but didn't even know at the time how the different circles of the group worked and that they regularly send quilts to children in foster care.

Melissa shared in her note sent with the quilt that the Trust Circle of do.Good Stitches donates all of their quilts to children in foster care. November was her first month as the quilter for their group and she chose boy colors because, with a little girl in her home, she never gets to do boy projects. :) Neither of us knowing at this point that the week before Christmas our family would receive the very special surprise and blessing of a new foster baby. 

A tiny, precious boy.

Today couldn't have been a more appropriate day for this creative comfort to arrive either.

We spent our day at the Children's hospital, with lots of appointments and poking about. 

No fun.

To top it all, the weather here is dreadfully dreary and wet and doesn't add a bit of cheer to a difficult day.

Then.

Then we pull into our carport, all worn out and there sits a box.

A box with this amazing gift in it. 

A box full of so much more than gorgeous fabric beautifully stitched together. 

A box that reminds me of all the amazing people that care.

A box that shows how much this sweet boy matters.

A box that lifted this tired mama's heart and truly made us feel wrapped in love as we snuggled into the sofa for a cozy and peaceful evening. 

The colors, the prints, the pattern, the stitching....all PERFECT!

(ummmm....not to mention that the Wonky Log Cabin is one of my absolute favorite quilt patterns!)

Thank you do. Good Stitches.

A very, very special thank you to the 10 ladies of the Trust Circle.

Your gift has blessed me as a mama and I know will always be cherished by this sweet boy. I hope one day I am able to share with him the very special story of his very special quilt and the beautiful friends that made it for him. 

I wish I could hug each of you! What a blessing you are!

Learn more about the touching and meaningful work of do. Good Stitches here.

Mid-Month Reminder & GIVEAWAY from Contemporary Cloth!!!

I can't believe it's already here, but it sure is!

It's time for the Mid-Month Reminder for our January Project. How's your progress???

Mine is coming together slowly but surely. :)

As a special little nudge to keep us sewing along as we strive to reach our goal of 50 bags donated this month, Contemporary Cloth is offering a gift certificate GIVEAWAY for 2 of you!!!

That's right, 2 of you who are sewing along with us this month in support of our January Project to show compassion to the homeless in our community have the chance to win a Gift Certificate to shop for your favorite fabrics at Contemporary Cloth!

Simply follow the Rafflecopter prompts below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
All who are sewing along are eligible to win! Winners will be announced 1/21/13 and given 48 hours to respond and claim prize or alternate(s) will be chosen.

GET THE JANUARY 2013 PROJECT DETAILS HERE!

Thank you Contemporary Cloth for your continued and generous support of our sewing projects and outreach at Hopeful Threads!
Good Luck to all!