Mad Tea Party Giveaway Winner

I hope everyone had a lovely time tea party hopping.. I know I did!

A HUGE thank you to V. at A Fanciful Twist for making the magic happen. If you've never visited her blog, you really should. Her photos are fantastical.

------------------

And according to random.org, the winner is: Megan V. from Running Stitch!!

I am always so grateful for all the comments and visitors during these blog events... I wish I could have a giveaway every single day.

Thank you to everyone who stops by, feel free to say hello whenever you like!

XOXO, Whimsical Road

Mad Tea Party!

Ahhh.... we're having a MAD tea party today on Whimsical Road. We were cordially invited by A Fanciful Twist... and we're SO excited.

We'll be updating throughout the afternoon with photos and commentary about the affair...

Here's a little preview:

Oh dear, how did THAT get in there?

Curiouser and Curiouser...

************

Stay tuned for a GIVEAWAY, it's just a little farther down

the rabbit hole...

Oh, my. That looks delicious, but I can't eat that!

Maybe just a nibble of this while I wait for tea:

****************

Imagine this! Someone dropped these things. Would you like to have them? Just leave a comment for me, and I'll choose someone when the party is over (and I plan to party until Sunday at midnight!).

*****************

Another one! In the Lovelace China, no less. What do we do?

The cakes are done, and we have no tea!

Lemon glaze with a sprinkle of pink.. to put the rose in your cheeks and a twinkle in your eye....

"Why is a raven like a writing desk" you ask? I think that would be easier to puzzle out than finding a tea cup in this place...

A Winner + Another Chance To Win Something

The giveaway is now over, and thanks to Random.org, the winner is #7

Congrats, Paige!

And a big thank you to everyone who entered.

-----------------

For those of you who didn't win, never fear! I am participating in A Fanciful Twists 2nd Annual Mad Tea Party on June 27th (this coming Saturday) and I will be doing yet ANOTHER giveaway.. only this time it will be a bit different. So make a note, and come on over!

Giveaway Time!

I am giving away another shirred dress to one lucky winner, just in time for the 4th of July!

This one is a bit longer than the last, it's 16 inches long (not including adjustable straps),

and will fit a wide range of sizes from 18m - 4T (or any child with a chest measurement 18"-23".

(My husband tried on my very first top... he's kinda skinny, but it fit, LMAO... just to give you an idea of the wide range of sizing... and he said "hey, it's kind of comfortable" Wish I had a pic of that, but I digress.)

Although this IS decidedly a U.S. themed item, I will post internationally to anyone who is interested.

All you have to do is leave a comment below. Just make sure your e-mail is available on your blogger profile so I can contact you.

One winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, June 23rd.

xoxo, Whimsical Road

Upcoming Giveaway and Something to Drool Over.

Just a quick note... I'll be hosting another giveaway

Friday, June 19th- Tues, June 23rd.

Stop by then to see what I'm giving away, and enter to win.

---------------------------------------

p.s. Stop on over to I Love Baby Quilts to see the winner of my last dress in action!

While you are there, check out the *AMAZING* hand-sewn quilts she makes

(Yes, I said HAND-sewn. As in, no machine. By hand.)

You have got to see the Heather Ross blocks she is working on right now....go, go, go.

New Dresses and the Bashakill

A new shirred dress in Amy Butler. I was worried about how this would come out, but I think it's actually lovely.

Also, a sweet little 4th of July dress (in a not-so-sweet picture, ack):

This weekend, we went on a drive through the Bashakill freshwater wetlands. These photos don't do the place justice.. there are waterfalls, birds, turtles, and great fishing. The Catskill Mountains are in the background. So peaceful and special.

Afterwards, we went to the Drive-In theater :) Must be summer!

I'm the Winner!

I wanted to share with you the goodies I got in the mail recently, my prize from Jenny at thecreekhouse as part of the SMS giveaway:

I LOVE the little pouch and key wristlet. I've already filled the bag up with all my stuffs. Thanks, Jenny!

Go check out her blog, and the super sweet Heather Ross baby dress she made!

Quilty Goodness

So.. I finished sewing all the rows for my very first quilt. I still need to press them all and sew them together, so please excuse the uneven and wrinkly looking photo. I promise to take a better pic when it is all finished.

One problem... it's WAY more pink that I pictured in my head. I mean... REALLY pink. For some reason I thought the yellow and purple/blue would play a larger role, lol.

I'm not a pink kind of girl to begin with. I chose these fabrics because:

1.) They are 30's repro Aunt Grace prints, and I LOVE that entire line... and these were the last available.

2.) They were on sale (and I didn't want to go all out for my FIRST quilt.)

The binding will be in the purple/blue.. as well as most of the backing. I love the bunny's on the yellow.. and I love the process so far. Next time, I will select my fabrics a little more carefully.. (Amy Butler, here I come!)

xoxo,

Whimsical Road

Shirred and Unshirred.

Just a quick post today. I finished two new dresses.

The first one gave me a heck of a time, sewing the bodice was a challenge for me and this dress hung unfinished for several weeks before I went back and tried again. I also could NOT get a decent picture of the dress, no matter what I tried. :( In the end, I think it turned out quite nice, and would be perfect for a summer birthday party. The dress is a girls size 3.

Close up of the bodice detail:

And the second, a new shirred top... already in the shop. (I really need to work on my photography)

June is Sewing Machine Month at Sew, Mama, Sew and they have asked their blog readers to answer some questions about the sewing machines they use. They plan to make the info available as a resource for those looking to buy a new machine.

First.. here's a look at my pimped out with temporary tatoos machine!!:

Yeah, baby! 14 whole stitches!

What brand and model do you have?

I have a Brother LX-3125.

How long have you had it?

Three months.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

I paid around $79.00

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?

I sew handbags, children's clothing, and quilting.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I sew every day. I wear the heck out of it. Haven't broken a single needle yet!

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

I like my machine. I am taking quilting classes, and the machines they use are fancy computerized models. They are nice, but very pricey... and I feel more hands-on with my basic model.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

I like that this machine is light and a cinch to thread.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

Well, I drove MYSELF nuts in the beginning before I learned to start everything with the needle in the down position (inserted into the fabric), otherwise the fabric bunches up and gets stuck... but that was my fault, not the machine.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!

I don't know if this is a great story or not, but my main crafting focus used to be crochet (amigurumi, Japanese style). One day I was looking around blogland and Flickr and noticed all the great Japanese fabrics everyone was using. I had sewn a few times when I was younger, and so I convinced myself that I NEEDED a machine. I didn't want to overspend, just in case it ended up collecting dust in a corner. Now I have spent 4 times as much on fabric than I initially spent on the machine!

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

I would recommend this machine to others who might not want to spend too much, and still get something that works well.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

For me, I don't really need all the fancy stitches (they are fun, I know, I just don't NEED them). This machine only has 14 stitches. I just want something that works consistently, smoothly, and won't break down.

Do you have a dream machine?

I would love to have a really, really old vintage Singer... just to play with. :)

xoxo, Whimsical Road

Giveaway Winner!

We have a winner! Random.org says the lucky entry is: #98

Congrats I Love Baby Quilts! I was thrilled to see that she was also a Toy Society participant.

Thank you to all who entered. I appreciate everyone who came to take a look, and all the kind comments. I had so much fun with this giveaway that I am planning another for 4th of July :)

xoxo, Whimsical Road

My First Quilting Class

I attended my first quilting class yesterday afternoon... and I had a great time! I learned a few new terms and how to "properly" square up my fabrics. :)

The quilt is a simple rail type pattern, here is a preview of the fabrics I chose:

The fabrics are 1930's reproduction Aunt Grace prints by Judie Rothermel for Marcus Brothers. The blue one reminds me of my gramma and the "housecoats" she used to wear.

I also picked up some Amy Butler, which will soon be shirred tops for the shop.

For anyone interested, there is still time to enter my SMS Giveaway... about 6 more hours to go! See my post below for details. Winner will be announced tomorrow!

xoxo, Whimsical Road

Giveaway Time!

Today's the day for the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway!

I'm giving away one Sweet Tweet's shirred top.

This item will fit anywhere from 12-18 Months up to a 4T... however please measure for an accurate fit. Chest measurements should fall between 18" and 24".

The length is 13", and the straps are adjustable.

Enter to win by becoming a follower of my blog and leaving a comment below.

Winner will be chosen at random, and entries will close Sunday, May 31st at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. Please make sure that your e-mail is available on your Blogger profile so I can contact the winner!

Good Luck!

xoxo Whimsical Road

P.S. International entries are welcome :)

Giveaway Day!

I will be participating in the Sew, Mama, Sew! May Giveaway Day on May 27th. Entries will begin Wednesday, May 27th at 9 a.m. eastern time and end Sunday, May 31st at midnight.

I will keep the actual giveaway item a surprise until the opening day for entries.

Be sure to come back then to see what I am offering!

xoxo, Whimsical Road

Pink Lemonade Pinafore

Another new pinnie, in pink with white daisies and a lemon yellow lining. Totally reversible:

I keep finding homes for these before I can even list them in the shop. So... I'm working on a whole batch to list all at once, hopefully before the end of the week. This one is 18-24 months.

xoxo,

Whimsical Road

Pinafores

A new line coming for the shop: Pinafores! They are reversible, with a snap on each strap. This one is 18-24 months, and already has a new home :)

xoxo,

Whimsical Road

Toy Society Drop, plus new Stash

New Toy Society drop.. a little calico kitty. My sweetie and I were visiting someone in the hospital, and he suggested we take a toy to the pediatric ward. We left it with one of the nurses to find him a new home. The pattern came from Cherryskin's blog.

---------

Speaking of my sweetie.. he had a rare day off of work yesterday. In the afternoon, he took me to a quilting store that I've been wanting to visit for months, and while we were there, he signed us up for a 6 week quilting class!! He loved all the japanese and asian themed fabrics (his hobby is japanese gardening), and said the classes would be something we could do together... I was shocked. Next weekend, we are going to pick out the fabrics for our projects. *swoon*

Of course, while we were there, I picked up some new stash...

9 x 11 remnants, .25 cents each:

There's some Moda in here, plus Heather Ross mermaids...

And Joel Dewberry (40 5 x5 squares that I ordered from Ebay, they arrived yesterday, yay!):

Mother's Day Gift

I made this bag, card wallet, and key holder for my Mom for Mother's Day. There is a zippered pocket and magnetic clasp on the inside. The lining is in muslin, but the pocket lining is in the blue and red floral. Don't tell her, though, because she hasn't recieved it yet :).. I just couldn't wait to post, because I think it turned out pretty nicely, if I do say so myself. I just hope it doesn't get too wrinkled in the mail.

Color Blockage

Confession:
I have a very difficult time picking fabric combinations. I scan the bolts in the material shop and find THE perfect main fabric for my next project.. but then it all falls apart. I cannot pick coordinating patterns or colors to save my life.

I'm always drawn to blue.. no matter how hard I try to match that pink and green floral, I always end up back in the blue section. I've tried scanning fabric websites and printing out eye catching fabric combos (like a cheat sheet of ideas).. then trying to mimic the styles and colors when I go to purchase fabrics. Nope. I always come home with single yards of novelty prints with nothing to match them, or blue tones.

I think I get overwhelmed with all the color and prints. I think maybe I just don't have the knack. How am I ever going to make my first quilt if I can't coordinate fabrics? :b

Anyone else have this problem? Like writer's block for seamstresses....

Freedom @ Whimsical Road

(p.s.) Photos coming soon of a new bag, key keepers, and wallets.. AFTER they arrive at thier destinations. Happy Mother's Day!

New coffee cozy in Robert Kaufman Sweet Tooth cupcake fabric. These are pretty adjustable due to the elastic and button, and even fit cold plastic cups.

I also made several two-pocket wallets (pattern from Bend The Rules Sewing). Shown below in the sushi fabric and a blue and brown floral... but I also made several using the cupcake fabric.

I also finally caved in and bought a snap setting tool, and believe me... it's SO much better than the hammer setting method. I cracked so many of the pearl snaps that way, ruining the whole wallet. With the new tool, I haven't cracked a single one. The brand I bought was the Dritz Snap-A-Plier from Joann Fabrics.... make sure you get the correct tool for the size snaps you wish to use.

Sushi Wristlet (love, love, love how this came out):
The interior is a lime green with white dots.

Skully Wristlet:

Interior lining of Skully Wristlet... with a pirate theme!

Close up of the pirate fabric...ARRG!



Blue and black, the iso on this photo is off.. the fabric is not quite this bright.

Interior lining... light blue with tiny black dots.

New Japanese Knot wristlet in brown, teal, and white. I like these little bags so much, they are great for running to the store... the bag stays securely on my wrist and I don't have to worry about a lugging a big purse or losing a little wallet.

A new purse, in spring blues and greens. I added a pin-back fabric flower, which is a little hard to see in this picture, but it's on the left corner...

And I made a crafty little pin cushion for myself. I was tired of loose pins and my old pin cushion was much too small. This one is made from a little garlic jar, stuffed with fabric scraps, and a piece of ric rac.. super simple.