NSM: Fabric Gift Card Giveaway from Fabric Mart

The final gift card giveaway for this month is from Fabric Mart...

I don't even have to tell y'all how much I love Fabric Mart...it would just be redundant. Honestly about 90% of my fabric collection is from Fabric Mart - so that's shelves and shelves of fabric I've purchased from them.

Why you may ask? 

Let me count the reasons for you:
First - reasonable prices
Second - amazing sales
Third - awesome selection of high quality fabrics
Fourth - fantastic customer service both online and instore

Is that enough for you?  Do you need more?  Okay I'm stopping there because honestly I love Fabric Mart and hopefully you do too.

A few outfits ~

My TNT shirt

The first Katie dress

A pair of wide legged pants with tuxedo stripe

A glen plaid wool vest

This is just from the last couple of months...and I'm sure there will be more before the winter is over! 

Now that the fashion show is over, I know you wanna know what the gift card offer is, right?! Well for the National Sewing Month Celebration, Fabric Mart is offering one lucky winner a $50 gift card.

How do you win this gift card?
1. You must leave a comment in the box below. Remember only comments left on this post on blogger will be acceptable for the giveaway. Comments left anywhere else will NOT be eligible.

2. You must leave the comment by Thursday, October 4th by 11:59pm EST. 

3. All comments must be signed - if you use "Unknown" to comment you have to leave your name or email address.

4. Fabric Mart only ships to the US, Canada and Australia - so please only leave a comment if you're eligible to have goods shipped to you.

All of these rules MUST be followed to be eligible to win the gift card. A winner will be announced on Friday, October 5th.  You will have until Wednesday, October 10th to send me an email.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will pick another winner.  Also, please refer to the rules that were stated in the initial post for National Sewing Month.

This is the last giveaway celebrating National Sewing Month. Ready, set, comment and Good Luck!

HAPPY NATIONAL SEWING MONTH!

Winner of The Smugglers Daughter Gift Card

Folks I'm up relatively early this morning cause I have a hot project on the sewing machine!  I've pulled a winner for The Smuggler's Daughter $100 gift card. BTW, you had a one in 116 chance of winning...and that winner is:

#7 - CarlaF in Atlanta

Carla - Congratulations!  Please send me your email address or DM it to me on Instagram and I will get it to Susan at The Smuggler's Daughter.

There is one more gift card giveaway tomorrow from Fabric Mart! So check back then because the giveaway time frame is shorter this week. Sunday through Thursday with the winner announced on Friday, October 5th.

Happy National Sewing Month!

Tomorrow is the Deadline

If you haven't entered the giveaway for the $100 gift card from Smugglers Daughter - you have one more day!  The drawing closes at 11:59pm EST tomorrow evening.

As a reminder here are the rules...

1. You must leave a comment on the original post ONLY. Remember only comments left on that post on blogger will be acceptable for the giveaway. Comments left anywhere else, such as bloglovin' will NOT be eligible.

2. You must tell me in the comments about one fabric you saw on Susan's site that you would use your gift card on.

3. All comments must be signed - if you use "Unknown" to comment you have to leave your name or email address.

4. Please leave the comment by tomorrow, September 28th by 11:59pm EST. 

All of the rules MUST be followed to be eligible to win the gift card. A winner will be announced on Saturday, September 29th.  You will have until Saturday, October 6th to send me an email.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will pick another winner.  Also, please refer to the additional rules that were stated in the initial post for National Sewing Month.

Good Luck!

Happy National Sewing Month!

NSM: Fabric Gift Card Giveaway from Smugglers Daughter

I've been buying fabric from Susan at Smugglers Daughter since 2014. My first experience was with a piece she generously gave me and I made this dress...

I met her in person at Sew Expo in 2016.  It was great to spend some time with her.  My next garment was this skirt...

I've bought fabric from Smugglers Daughter that I used to make scarves for Christmas gifts. I've bought denim and this amazing cut out pleather that's back on my to sew list this fall. Susan has such interesting fabrics and I always find something I just have to have on her site.

To continue our celebration of National Sewing Month, Smugglers Daughter is offering the next gift card. Susan is generously offering a $100 gift card to one lucky winner.

How do you win this gift card?
1. You must leave a comment below. Remember only comments left on this post on blogger will be acceptable for the giveaway. Comments left anywhere else will NOT be eligible.

2. You must tell me in the comments about one fabric you saw on Susan's site that you would use your gift card on.

3. All comments must be signed - if you use "Unknown" to comment you have to leave your name or email address.

4. Please leave the comment by Friday, September 28th by 11:59pm EST. 

All of these rules MUST be followed to be eligible to win the gift card. A winner will be announced on Saturday, September 29th.  You will have until Saturday, October 6th to send me an email.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will pick another winner.  Also, please refer to the additional rules that were stated in the initial post for National Sewing Month.

Ready, set, comment and Good Luck!

Happy National Sewing Month!

Today's Winners Are...

The winners of the gift cards are ~

First the winner of the $50 gift card from Sewing Studio is:

#54 - tackyscab

Next the winner of the $50 gift card from Emmaonesock is:

#64 - Graca

Congratulations to the winners!  Please send me an email at cnorman underscore 98 at yahoo dot com with the subject line: Gift Card Winner.  I will connect you with the owners of the fabric store so you can claim your prize.

One note though ~

I had to check three numbers for the Sewing Studio gift card because all of the instructions weren't followed.  So please remember to follow ALL of the rules if you want to win!

Next gift card will be up on Monday, September 24th!

HAPPY NATIONAL SEWING MONTH!

One More Day...

Just want to remind everyone that there are two gift cards being given away tomorrow!  You have until 11:59pm EST tonight to enter one or both of the giveaways.

The first gift card is from Sewing Studio and she is offering a $50 gift card to one lucky winner. The post is here with the rules for entering the giveaway. As of right now there are only 66 people entered so you have a 1 in 66 chance of winning! Me personally I would be jumping on this because her fabric selection is amazing.

The second gift card this week is from Emmaonesock. Linda is also offering a $50 gift card to one lucky winner. If you're interested in entering this giveaway, click the link for this post. As of now, you have a 1 in 126 chance of winning!

I need to remind everyone, that you MUST follow the rules because I'm removing entries that don't. 
-   If you post as unknown, please leave a name or your comment is removed.
-   If it calls for you to leave a IG name and you don't your comment is removed.

If you're not sure, I would go back to the post you left a comment on and check to make sure it's still there. If I've removed it, please leave another comment following the rules.

Finally, we're more than halfway through the month and there are only two gift card giveaways left. Stay tuned for the next two Mondays to see what they are!

Winners will be announced tomorrow!

HAPPY NATIONAL SEWING MONTH!

NSM: Fabric Gift Card Giveaway Emmaonesock

Emmaonesock has a carefully curated online fabric shop of high quality fabrics. I've purchased many pieces from Linda, who owns Emmaonesock, over the years. I love her customer service and how she ships her fabrics.  I've watched her business grow from two people (her and her husband) to the bustling small business it is now!

My latest make using Emmaonesock fabric is a sleeveless shirtdress from McCalls 7470 in an embroidered seersucker...

I love Linda's selection because it combines the necessary fabric we need in our day-to-day lives ~ rayon knits, denims and shirtings with beautiful and unusual prints, designer pieces and to die for wools.

But you have to be fast if you find something you love on Linda's site, because she has a cadre of devoted followers buying fabrics as soon as they're listed on the site.

To help celebrate National Sewing Month, Linda is offering a $50 gift card to one lucky winner.

How do you win this gift card?
1. You must leave a comment in the box below. Remember only comments left on this post on blogger will be acceptable for the giveaway. Comments left anywhere else will NOT be eligible.

2. Please leave the comment by Friday, September 21st by 11:59pm EST. 

All of these rules MUST be followed to be eligible to win the gift card. A winner will be announced on Saturday, September 22nd.  You will have until Saturday, September 29th to send me an email.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will pick another winner.  Also, please refer to the rules that were stated in the initial post for National Sewing Month.

Ready, set, comment and Good Luck!

Happy National Sewing Month!

NSM: Fabric Gift Card Giveaway from Sewing Studio

I chose Sewing Studio for the giveaway because Karleen just bought the Sewing Studio. She purchased it from the previous owner who had a serious illness. I'm not sure how many sewists were aware of the Sewing Studio but as a serious fabricaholic I was. I'd even purchased a piece or two from the former owner.

It's so cool how Karleen has taken the site and grown it. How she's updated the website and changed up the fabric that's for sale. I haven't purchased anything from Karleen yet, but it's coming...it's coming. I just need to sew down a few more pieces in my collection!

If you haven't visited Karleen's site, please surf over and take a look at the amazing pieces of fabric, the patterns and the Manic Monday sales.

For National Sewing Month, Karleen is giving a $50 gift card to one lucky winner.

How do you win this gift card?
1. You must leave a comment in the box below. Remember only comments left on this post on blogger will be acceptable for the giveaway. Comments left anywhere else will NOT be eligible.

2. You must follow Sewing Studio on Instagram. They are known as pdxsewingstudio.  When you leave your comment, leave your Instagram name too so we can verify that you follow them.

3. You must leave the comment by Friday, September 21st by 11:59pm EST. 

All of these rules MUST be followed to be eligible to win the gift card. A winner will be announced on Saturday, September 22nd.  You will have until Saturday, September 29th to send me an email.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will pick another winner.  Also, please refer to the rules that were stated in the initial post for National Sewing Month.

Ready, set, comment and Good Luck!

Happy National Sewing Month!

Winner of the BlackBird Fabrics Gift Card...

Sorry this is so late!  I was out all day with the grandkids and their Mother doing back to school prep!  Yes, I know it's late...but the schools opened lateR in our town this year!

Okay...and the winner is:

#86 Gayle

If you would kindly send me an email at cnorman underscore 98 at yahoo dot com with the subject line "Blackbird Fabrics Gift Card Winner" I will pass your information on to Caroline at Blackbird Fabrics.

Thank you to all who participated. If you didn't win the gift card, I hope you will still take a minute and visit Caroline's online store and shop! There are some great fabrics there!

The next gift card giveaway will be up on Monday! Oh there are two giftcard giveaways this week...so look for them! More chances to win free fabric.

HAPPY NATIONAL SEWING MONTH!

A Visit to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Y'all I'm a museum geek. I love museums and not just for the current exhibition that's showing or interesting the collective sewing community. 

See I love all the extra stuff that's there and of course I want to peruse it all.  Poor Tasha was so kind in putting up with my desire to see a couple of different exhibits. Especially The Armor, some of the rooms in the American Wing, the African American photo exhibit, the Sculpture Area, the Egyptian artifacts and the Temple of Dendur.

First though let's talk about the Heavenly Bodies Exhibit since that's what brought us to the museum. Here are a few photos of the exhibit. Okay honestly here are a lot of pics of the exhibit!

First the garments as you enter the exhibit ~

From the grotto...

From the main area...

The metallic pieces on this dress were stunning!

The jewelry was so detailed and I own a necklace similar to the one on top

Its a necklace of pearls and a cross

The head dress on this piece was astonishing

My favorite piece though was something that is very wearable today ~

I thought this part of the exhibit was meh. I mean the embroidery was amazing and the pieces were very interesting. It was staged well but I didn't fall in love with the garments as I had in other exhibits. These just seemed really out there...very costumey.

It wasn't until we went to the Anna Winter Costume Exhibit portion and saw The Vatican Collection that I was wowed. AND I mean WOWED!

photo care of The Met

The handwork on these garments was astonishing. The jewels and metal pieces used in the pieces were awe-inspiring. The nuns/sisters that worked on these garments were truly artisans sharing the love of their craft with the Popes and Cardinals. Me I'm just a muddler compared to what they accomplished and BY HAND!

After seeing those two sections of the Exhibit, I wanted to see a little more of the museum and Tasha obliged me. So a great big thank you to her for following along behind me! *LOL*

I loved the Arms & Armor Court! It reminds me of the jousting scenes in The Tudors!

One of the portraits in the Portrait Gallery we both admired...

The doorway to The American Wing which housed rooms from several American homes from the 1800s...

The Photographs of African Americans in the 40s & 50s ~
I read about this exhibit on the internet and really wanted to see it. It was fascinating. It was like looking at my family's photo albums. However, many of the pictures weren't labelled because the film had been found and developed. So the museum is asking visitors if they know anyone in the pictures to let them know so the pics can be labelled properly.

Finally a few photos from Egyptian Artifacts and The Temple of Dendur. I love this Temple and visit it every time I come to the museum. It also was THE perfect place to take pictures of our me mades.

The Heavenly Bodies and the African American Photographs Exhibits are open to the public until October 8th.

I know this has been a photo heavy blog post but there is so much to see. And of course, I wanted to share as much of my day with you as possible. If you're visiting NYC, I highly recommend that you set aside a day to see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as The American Museum of Natural History. They are both family friendly. Your family will then be more understanding of the hours you need to spend in the Garment District!

BTW, today is the last day for entries for the BlackBird Fabrics Gift Card giveaway. So if you haven't entered yet, go back a couple of posts and leave a comment!  The winner will be announced tomorrow.

Happy National Sewing Month!

Deer & Doe Myosotis - Maximized

After wearing the heck out of my first two versions of this dress, I started dreaming of a maxi version...

Picture taken by the pool surrounding the Temple of Dendur

So I made one. I used this rayon challis from Michael Levine fabrics that I purchased in June 2012. The blog post about it is here! This is the first of the four pieces I've used...why?

I finished this dress about 10 days ago. I wanted to wear it to meet Tasha at The Met. We were seeing The Heavenly Bodies Exhibit. I knew she was wearing a new skirt that she'd made from fabric given to her from my fabric collection.

While we were there we took advantage of the amazing backgrounds the Museum presents and took pictures of our me mades. So please forgive me but this post is picture heavy. Because of that, my review of the Exhibit will be in a separate post.

This was a doorway that was an entrance to 

rooms in The American Wing

Now some details regarding the construction of this version.

Supply List ~
4 yards rayon floral challis 
white rayon piping from Daytona Trimmings
3 - 7/8" white & creme buttons from the button collection

Construction Info ~
Besides adding length, putting the collar back on, making this sleeveless, and adding some piping, those are the changes differentiating this from the other two.

I will say that I did not start out adding piping to the bodice. It happened because when I assembled the front pieces I saw this and could have kicked myself...

It really annoyed me that I didn't single cut the fronts. However, this was the first print I'd used for the dress so I didn't think of it. I would have recut one side but had no more fabric.  While I began with 4 yards of fabric, it was 45" wide so it went fast.

The piping was added to save the front. After I started I realized that it really was needed to give the print some boundaries ~ a place for your eye to rest. I'm glad I took the time to add it. While it definitely added some sewing time, I gained so much in design.

The last construction item I want to mention is I added more fabric to the skirt. Instead of cutting the pattern width for the skirt pattern pieces, I used the fabric width of 45". I debated about adding stabilization to the empire seamline. I went with topstitching instead and will store the dress flat and folded instead of hanging. Hopefully that will prevent any fabric growth. 

Normally I hem the garment right away but I let it hang for two days. I wanted to insure that any growth that would occur could be cut off before hemming the dress.

So yes, I complicated the heck out of a simple to sew dress! Thank goodness it's my last version for the season.

Pictures of the dress in action ~

Obviously I really love the pockets!

Not really thrilled with my collar but I'm living with it

A few pictures of the dress in front of some museum highlights ~ 

In front of the fountains out front

By the Temple of Dendur

Conclusion ~
The best thing about a sewist taking your pictures is the attention to detail. I love the close up shots Tasha took of my dress. This version is bold (very bold) due to my fabric choice. I received quite a few compliments while I was waiting for Tasha to arrive. It also wears differently than the first two. It has the looser fit that's all over the internet not the closer fit my cotton & denim versions have.

I won't make another one of these before next spring though I love the way this style of dress wears. I have a few other things I want to sew and fall is looming. I'm starting to get the urge to sew shirts and jackets again so you know there must be a chill in the air! *LOL*

Tasha - thanks for spending the day with me...it was sooo much fun but most especially thanks for the amazing pictures!

More National Sewing Month blog posts will be up soon!