Giveaway Winners!

Here you go! The winners (yes plural) to my Sew, Mama Sew! Christmas giveaway!

Firstly, using this random number selector I drew the number...

Can you see that? It's the number 4

And number 4 belongs to Alison - so Alison, I'll be contacting you about your prize! Alison mentioned she was keen on dishcloths or the Teacher's Pet pattern - I'll see what I can do!

Then I figured that seeing as I had 193 comments I really should draw another winner. This time the random selector drew number...

113.

This one belongs to Laura of Harvest Lane (next time I'm going to have to figure out how people add numbers to their comments...it wasn't a problem counting to find number 4, but number 113 took a bit longer, and I wanted to do it twice to check I had the right winner!) Laura is in the US and was after some red stitch markers - I'm sure I can accommodate that!

Congratulations winners, I'll be in touch shortly to organise your prizes with you!

Thanks so much to everyone that stopped by, especially all the new visitors to my blog! I hope perhaps some choose to stop by again.

I had a great time visiting so many new and wonderful blogs that I hadn't found before and entering all the giveaways. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Oh, and local Wellingtonian people, completely unrelated, but did you realise that there is a Craft 2.0 on at the Dowse tomorrow? A great chance for last minute Christmas shopping! I'll be there, but not selling Coco Kids things this time, instead I'm helping out on the Craft Cash :)

Bloggers Giveaway Day!

Well, it's Bloggers Giveaway Day according to Sew Mama Sew!

You know what that means? I'm going to give something away!

Now, I couldn't decide what to give away, so here you can choose what you'd like! I'm happy to giveaway any of the knitted items in my 'Items for Sale' tab

Some of the items available to be won

OR

If none of them take your fancy, you can choose a pack of 2 handknitted cotton dishcloths

(they might just be a couple of these ones even)

OR

I've released a couple of series of knitting patterns - you can find more information HERE about my Teacher's Pet dresses and The Little Rascals series. I'm happy to gift the winner a full copy of both for their personal use if that's what you'd like!

OR

Some handmade stitch markers...I wish I had a better picture of ones I've made in the past, but you can let me know what colour you like and I'll custom make a set of 6 just for you :)

OR

I'll make a set of 2 matching bibs - let me know whether they're for a girl or boy (or unisex) and what age approximately and I'll make some specially (and carefully, promise!)

All you have to do is:
Comment on this post letting me know which item you'd like to win, a way to get hold of you (pref. email address) and where in the world you are. I'm happy to post anywhere, though of course, for some countries it won't get there till the New Year.

If you post about my giveaway on your own blog or post the link to my giveaway on Facebook or somewhere else, let me know in the same comment too and I'll give you an extra entry.

I'll close entries on Friday December the 17th at 9pm NZ time and announce the winner (drawn randomly) by 10pm on the 17th NZ time.

I'll have the package ready to post by the 20th! So if the winner is in NZ, the prize may even get there by Christmas!

Time for a new hat

My son has only worn a hat that he inherited from his sister lately - it's been his firm favourite. It looks a bit like a watermelon or strawberry and is incredibly floppy, so much so that I don't know how he knows where he is going most of the time.

Now while he looks gorgeous in whatever, when I was invited to a night of catching up with some lovely playcentre mums I haven't seen for ages as well as learning how to sew a bucket hat (which could possibly replace the 'berry') I jumped at the chance.

The pattern that we were using was this one here by Sew Much Ado - it's fab for someone like me that needs pictures! I didn't use any interfacing, my fabric from Lewis' was quite heavy and so I hoped that would be enough to stop the flop factor.

So - although I cut out my fabric on the tute-night, it wasn't until today that I finally sewed it together.

And it seems to fit both my almost 2 and almost 4 year old just nicely (they both have 49cm heads) You'll have to excuse the just sewn together pics, it really does sit nicely even if the pictures of it on Tim's head look a little crooked. And it's reversible too!

 

It won't be the last hat I make I don't think! Now...to source me some Wiggle fabric, I have one obsessed little boy that's been asking Santa for Wiggly stuff in his stocking and at the moment I have a feeling he might be very disappointed!

A new hobby

Well, here it is - it's official. I'm no longer scared of sewing and using a sewing machine.

In fact I love how quick it is! Here's my new toy (thanks again Christine)

This machine is a bit special actually. It's a Singer Touch-Tronic 2010 and they've never been sold in NZ or Australia...just one of the reasons why the couple of sewing machine servicemen I've visited have said that they won't service it. As well as that, it's made in the US (in 1983), so needed a special transformer. Oh, and I am yet to track down more bobbins for it, they don't appear to sell bobbins that fit it in NZ either. But it's a lovely old machine with fabulous stitches and a self winding bobbin and all that. VERY cool!

Right, onto the sewing...

The first things I attemped were a few bibs (my first ones are the ones on the left) - after these ones though I realised there were a few things I could do to hide where I'd turned them in the right way - and so then I whipped up the ones on the right (which are lined with towelling as well for extra absorbency) and fleece backed. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out!

Oh, and the ones below are actually for Timothy. It's true, for the last 2 years, his best best bibs have been ones with pink handbags on them. I decided it was time he had some slightly more masculine ones (funnily enough, although the blue minky one looked fabulous on him tonight he kept trying to rip it off as he couldn't tuck the bottom of it in under the edge of the table. The red cow ones are modelled on his handbag ones and so he was much happier wearing one of those).

I think I may have bibs sussed now! Thanks too Lisa for the loan of your snap press and all your snaps, and for the demonstration on how to use it Claire :)

Christmas giving

I always struggle at Christmas time to give presents that are meaningful - both for me giving them, as well as the person receiving them (it's not much good giving people presents that you feel good about but that they don't want!).

I'm not sure if my family sees it exactly as a gift but for the last couple of years I've also tried to do something to ensure that I'll be around for many many many more Christmasses. I'm sure there are loads of simple things, but last year I decided to go for a much overdue smear, this year I've just had some moles removed. Who knows what it will be next year, but I reckon if there's something you've been putting off that you should go and do it.

Another thing I would definitely do if I could this Christmas is donate blood. Some of the ads they have played on telly here almost bring me to tears, I suppose just because it highlights the different kinds of people that need blood and blood products - I was a bit surprised from just looking at this that 21% goes to cancer patients.

And here are a few more interesting facts about blood donation...

• 42,000 patients are treated with blood or blood products in New Zealand each year

• Blood only lasts 35 days

• Only 4% of us currently roll up our sleeves and donate

• With each donation you can save up to 3 lives

• NZ requires 3,000 donations each and every week to meet hospital needs

• You can get tea, coffee, juice and chocolate biscuits after every donation!!

Obviously, there are tons of other things you can do at this time of the year for others - have you got anything special planned? There's nothing like the buzz you get when you choose to do something for others that is unexpected and that you don't have to do but choose to do.

Wishing you a relaxing run-up to the crazy Christmas season.

Christmas Pressies?

Still after a few Christmas presents?

I've just popped a few of my pre-knitted items over on my 'Items for Sale' tab with 15% off. Just click on the tab and see if there's anything there that takes your fancy

If you're interested in sets of dishcloths and swifts keep an eye out, I'll be loading more of these shortly as well (or flick me an email and let me know and I'll be in touch)

The Auctions Are Live

Just a follow on from my blog post the other day about the Kate Buntine Foundation auctions over at Woolly Butts - they're live now and postage is free/included for those in Aus and NZ :)

Here's the link