Wednesday, October 28, 2009

My Very First Giveaway!

I mentioned a few posts ago that I wanted to do a giveaway in honour of the readers who have been with me for awhile and all of the new people who found my blog via Amy’s Blogger’s Quilt Festival (everyone can enter though). Well the day is finally here – welcome to my first giveaway!

I’m so excited to be doing this! I’ve won a few giveaways in the past and I love the anticipation of waiting for your goodies to appear in the mail. Actually I recently won a giveaway from Fig Tree & Co. hosted by Pink Chalk Studios, here’s what I won.

It’s a copy of Fresh Vintage, Fig Tree & Co’s quarterly pattern magazine. It includes patterns, book reviews, recipes and more. I really love it and might need to get a subscription; you can read about it here. I absolutely love Fig Tree so this was the perfect thing for me to win! Joanna (owner of Fig Tree) actually stopped by my blog in August and left a comment on Madeleine the Monkey because I used fabrics from the Mill House Inn collection in her construction, isn’t that sweet?

Okay, now on to the giveaway! There is a bit of a story that goes along with the making of this item, but I think I’ll show it to you first! How does that sound? Good? Okay!

It’s a scarflette! Sorry about the picture, but I had to take it of myself using the timer on my camera and a chair (don’t ask, it was quite a production). I like the idea of scarflette’s because they don’t bunch up under your jacket like a normal scarf, they’re lighter and smaller to wear when it’s chilly (but not freezing), and because they button (or at least this one does) you don’t need to worry about it shifting or gaping too much at the neck. This is the first scarflette I’ve ever made and I designed the pattern myself. The materials are a tweedy wool, quilting cotton, the floral is a cotton lawn (not Liberty, but still really nice), and the button (I think) is a plastic resin but it looks like wood. It’s backed with a soft, heavier weight cotton in chocolate brown with a white circle design. I’m kinda proud of myself I must admit.

Do you want to hear my story now? Okay, so I finished a quilt top on Saturday/Sunday morning and then decided to get going on the scarflette. The idea had been churning in my head for awhile, but I wanted to get the quilt top done first. Everything was going good until I got to sewing the last piece of cotton to the length of my scarf; I got about 2 inches into it and then my sewing machine JUST STOPPED!

You’re going to need a little background info here: I had a Singer Stylist 513 that I absolutely loved, but unfortunately the Singer Stylists suffer from belt and gear rot and while sewing the cushion covers for our living room one of the gears inside the machine disintegrated. I was devastated, and wasn’t able to get it fixed (that’s another story). I then borrowed one of my Grandmother’s Kenmore sewing machines from the 70s, but really hated it. I mentioned (in this post) that my Mum was contemplating buying me a new sewing machine for my birthday, but instead my Grandparents ended up getting me a Singer Stylist 514 (they thought it was the same model as my 513). I only got it two weeks ago and hadn’t had a chance to even blog about it yet, but it’s broken too! I’m so upset. I’m going to look at a Janome RX 18S tonight that is a really good price and seems to be in good condition (does anyone have this machine? What do you think?). My Mum offered to buy it for me as my Christmas present. I’ll be kind of sad to not get any presents on Christmas, but at least I’ll have a (good quality) working sewing machine.

Basically I ended up having to hand sew the last two pieces and the backing onto the scarflette, but now it’s done, so yay! If you’d like to see pictures of the scarflette a little bigger or close-up, check them out on my Flickr. Okay, so here’s what you need to do:

Anyone can enter; you don’t need to be a follower of my blog or anything like that - although it would be nice ;)

Leave a comment on this post with anything you like – although if it’s complimentary that would be nice too! Oh, and if you don’t mind, I think it would be neat to see where everyone lives, so leave your city and state/province/etc in the comments (if this makes you uncomfortable, don’t worry about it).

The giveaway is also open internationally, I don’t mind shipping anywhere.

The giveaway will be open for one week and I will announce the winner either next Wednesday or Thursday.

Good luck everyone! Please come back again to see who the winner is, and hopefully whoever that person is will supply me with a photo of them wearing the scarflette when they receive it.


*The giveaway is now closed*

34 comments:

  1. What a lovely scarf!

    :)

    Columbus, Ohio
    USA

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  3. Ladies and Gentlemen,
    I saw this scarf in the works, and let me tell you, it is amazing!

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  4. I love your scarflette! What a generous giveaway. I hope you're making one for yourself too.

    Sorry about all of the sewing machine drama! I hope you get that figured out soon.

    Katie B
    (Alabama)

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  5. I found this blog (and, consequently, this giveaway) via erica-knits' Twitter. I like the button - I'm now convinced that every scarf (tiny or no) should have a button!

    (St. John's, Newfoundland)

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  6. It's so lovely! I love the colors, and so perfect for looking trendy yet keeping warm. LOVE IT, GIRL!

    I can't believe that about your sewing machine, but you have great hand-sewing skills, so it still looks FAB!

    I will let the gals in my Etsy Team know about your giveaway!

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  7. Your blog is lovely. Found out about it on etsy and ran right over to check it out. Love the scarf too.

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  8. I adore that scarf and would love to win it!!!!

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  9. What an amazing idea for a scarf! So unique.

    MYSAVIOR.etsy.com
    milagros0114@gmail.com

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  10. I love the scarflette! The button really makes it, I think.

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  11. oh, Kaye, the scarflette is oh so chic!!:):) ure really talented! Sorry about the sewing machines going bonkers though.!
    And I hope i win!

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  12. oh my goodness, what a sweet scarf. and just what i need for a colorado snow, it's been snowing ALL day today. warm hugs, rachel

    englewood, co.

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  13. Well I won't have a proper coat this winter because I refuse to buy a maternity coat for a month but I could have a stylish scarf to keep my neck warm!

    Baltimore, MD

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  14. love the scarflette! love the pattern and design. these would be great- i have scarfs already but this is something i've never owned before. would definitely keep me warm out here in utah! i'm a follower- love your blog.

    Springville, Utah

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  15. I jist did my first giveaway too! It was exciting for sure. Congrats on your first one! :-D

    Maggi Saar
    Adelanto, CA

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  16. hi! very cute scarf, and i am enjoying your blog which i stumbled across just this morning. i'm always glad to find a fellow canadian! i'm from vancouver, bc. i hope it's not too cold there - it's raining here (so a scarflette would be perfect for the chill!)
    -Meg

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  17. aww soo so cute...i love it! its such a darling idea...yay canadians unite!

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  18. WOW that is the most adorable scarflette! And I can't believe its handmade! Its people like you that I'm so jealous of haha...I wish I could come up with unique and creative ideas like that. Thanks for hosting a great giveaway.
    Anyways, good luck to all! :)
    By the way, I'm from Ontario, Canada!

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  19. Oops...forgot the email:
    anna.tran@hotmail.com

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  20. I adore that little button :) Its incredibly cute!
    Congrats on your first giveaway!

    pink_quartz@hotmail.com

    PS: Thanks for the giveaway and I'm so glad that its such a simple entry. No tweets or blog following. Thanks again!

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  21. I feel it...this is the perfect scarflette that I've been looking for in local stores, thrift stores, anywhere and everywhere!
    I love this because I'm a huge fan of anything patchwork :)

    mtritran@yahoo.com

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  22. Ahhh! Sorry, I hope I wasn't being offensive. I didn't mean that blog following is dumb or anything. I just like simplicity and your blog has it :)

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  23. this would make my neck very happy! love it.

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  24. love it - i haven't heard of a scarflette before!!!
    gillwatson@mailbox.co.uk

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  25. um that is SOOO cute!!! Thanks for the chance :) It's getting chilly here in Boise, Idaho...

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  26. That is such a cool scarflette! Perfect for chilly mornings and evenings! Nothing worse than a cold draft down your neck!

    Lara
    Wellington, New Zealand!

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  27. I have never seen something like this--it's adorable AND unique! I love it|

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  28. So glad I stumbled on your lovely lovely blog today, it's always nice to find other blogger out and about on the net!

    Agneta & Sweden

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  29. First, I love anything that ends in "ette"! Those four little letters are like adding glitter to plain ol' cardboard, don't ya think? :) Anyhoo, your scarflette is smart and darling and unique, and you did it!!! With hand stitches, no less, so all the more special! When my beloved Singer died, I was sad. That was the best machine. So, of course I was sorry to hear yours gave out. I am from California.

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  30. What a neat idea. It looks great too. I'm from Wisconsin.

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  31. It's a lovley scarf! And I'm sorry to hear about your sewing machine : ( Hope you end up with a great new one.

    Arabella

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  32. It's a beautiful scarflette!!!!

    Sorry you have suffered so many sewing machine issues. My mom wants to get me a new machine for Christmas too. When she comes over to sew on my machine now she's ready to toss it out the window. Part of me wants a new machine and the other is ok with my machine and it's quirks.

    I do not have a Janome RX 18S but I sure have read lots of good things about! I was looking into that brand as well.

    Oh and I am in Bedford, TX USA.

    HUGS sweet friend!

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  33. That's a pretty scarflette! ♥

    I found you through a comment you made on Sew, Mama, Sew!

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