Pattern Pyramid COMBINED with Sew Grateful Week Giveaway!

February 5, 2013March 5, 201370 Comments

Oooooooh! Yes, indeed. Pattern Pyramid arrived yesterday from the lovely and talented Amanda at Symon Sez, so exciting! This pattern pyramid was originally started by the charismatic bundle of joy, Anne at Pretty Grievances. It has been quite the world traveller, visiting various continents and countries, enjoying cocktails, romps on the beach, did some shopping and even bought some cute souvenirs for the little pyramids, at home.The Pyramid began with Velosewer, as the first winner. It then went on to The Material Lady and next to Mrs. Mole at Fit for a Queen. After this, Pattern Pyramid enjoyed it’s journey to Tulle and Tweed and straight on to my predecessor, the previously mentioned Symon Sez. Fabulous!

Now, I also wanted to participate in Sew Grateful Week, hosted by My Happy Sewing Place, where bloggers can take the time to thank their readership and other bloggers for their ideas, comments, inspiration, humour, support, shares, insanity, mild profanity and many other things you can think of that put a smile on your face and make you feel loved. So, with both events looming and with the addition of recently hosting a Pay It Forward event on my blog just 5 days ago, I realized I can’t do it all!!! I’m not a machine!!!! :).

So, I decided to combine the two events and I am going to add a gift for Sew Grateful Week to the Pattern Pyramid for the next winner to keep. I racked my brain to try to discover ‘what does an experienced sewist that has everything, need?’ I came up with the answer “I don’t know”. Yes, a long, hard contemplative second that was.

So, I thought since many experienced sewers have so much, and they are constantly trying to just work through their stashes, and also because I am a new sewer, I wanted to give a shout out to other newbies and try to light the fire of sewing and crafting inspiration! So, I chose a book called: I Made it Myself. It is the absolute perfect gift for a brand new sewer. Some of you must have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, younger siblings, neighbours, that you would like to inspire to learn to sew and create. This book includes: a sewing kit, a variety of projects to complete, tonnes of pictures, instructions, a fabric and stitches glossary and templates to use to create a variety of fashion and accessory items. (FYI, on the back it says, suitable for ages 7+ years, and I can see it working all the way up to a teenager, or even older! Hey, we’re all kids at heart).

Ok, now on to the Pattern Pyramid Specs. This is how it arrived, all tan and rested, a lovely globe spanning holiday it’s having, for sure.

Top Row: Small Sizes, Middle Row: Medium to X-Large Sizes, Bottom Row: Plus Sizes

Kitty went in to thoroughly peruse Pattern Pyramid. He investigated, he took his time, but finally, he selected the winning Pattern. Note: Kitty’s tail points directly at the winning pattern selection. Clever Kitty!

Pattern Removed to Keep

To the left is the pattern that I removed to keep for myself. I will sew and eventually blog this item. Stay tuned for that fun!

And below, is the pattern I chose to add back into the Pyramid. It is a top and pants set, and the top has princess seams up the front and back, it is lined and has a front button closure.

Pattern Replaced Back into Pyramid

The pattern was purchased before I had ever sewn anything. I got it home, THEN checked the size….not even close. So, hopefully somebody who is this size will be able to enjoy it. Here is a more detailed breakdown of what is in the Pyramid:

Small Size Patterns: clothing 8-12; bra 32 A,B,C,D

Small Size Patterns: clothing US 8 – 12 (Eur.34-38); bra 32 A to D (Eur.70 B to E)

Medium to X-Large Patterns: US 14 to 22 (Eur. 40 to 48)

Plus Size Patterns: XXL to 6X; 18 to 28 (Eur. 44 to 54)

Plus Size Patterns: XXL to 6X; US 18 to 28 (Eur. 44 to 54)

New Pattern Pyramid

A quick synopsis of the RULES of Pattern Pyramid for those who are not familiar:

Anyone, anywhere can enter the giveaway by posting a comment below by Sunday February 17, 2013.
You must have an active blog.
A winner will be randomly selected and contacted. I will then post (mail) the pyramid to you, plus the Sew Grateful Week gift (I Made It Myself book). Oh, how will Kitty top the last giveaway draw officiating tactics??? He is confident he can. Don’t worry.
The winner will then select a pattern to keep, add a pattern of their own back into the Pyramid and host their own giveaway. They will randomly select another winner and post (mail) the remaining patterns to that person, and etc.

Yippee!! Good luck everybody!! And Thank You to everyone for stopping by my blog to say hi! I AM sew grateful. 🙂 Feel free to follow my blog and/or my facebook page, as well, if you don’t already. And let me know where I can follow yours!

It’s Pay it Forward Time!!

February 1, 2013February 1, 201330 Comments

Most people put this idea out there right at the start of January when everybody is supercharged and makes vows like:

“I will eat healthy and exercise”
“I will love every human I meet”
“I will read more and become proficient in nine languages” –and–
“I will never drink again”.

Then, after a sobering month has gone by, people tend to go back to their set ways. So, I thought this would be the perfect time to spring Pay it Forward on you!!

Last month, I was one of the lucky first five to sign up on the lovely Vivjm’s blog and so now, I am doing my part.

The rules are very simple.

The first five people to post a comment here will receive a handmade gift from me at some point during 2013. You won’t know when and you won’t know what, but I can assure you, it will happen. (I will email you for your snail mail, so it will be private).
As one of the five, you agree to do the same for five other people.

Kitty, of course will help with the hand (paw) made items.

What a wonderful way to meet new folks, as well as a beautiful and simple method to share the love, as they say. So, let’s spread the crafty goodness around so we can feel the genuine excitement of handmade delights delivered right to our mailboxes. Snail mail rocks!

Kitty Picks a Winner!!!! (Eventually…)

January 15, 2013January 15, 201321 Comments

So, the draw has taken place and Kitty has selected a winner! Here is a rundown of how it happened:

Cards were made with the names and favourite sewing/crafting magazines of all 20 participants.
Cards were gathered together and shuffled, supervised by Kitty.
Cards were randomly placed around a bench in a circle, also supervised by Kitty.
Kitty’s job is now to leap off of the bench and land on a card, thereby selecting the winner! Go Kitty!!!
Kitty takes his time, deliberating the best plan of attack
Kitty leaps off the bench, delicately stepping around all cards, not so much as even brushing gently against one. Nice footwork Kitty. Sadly, not the point of the exercise.
Excitement is palpable when Kitty looks like he is going to pick a winner!!!!
Nope, false alarm, Kitty is back up on the bench to peruse life from a higher vantage point.
Kitty ponders where to go next. For many, many, many minutes. Aren’t you glad we didn’t videotape this??
Then, like the skies opening up and letting out the glorious sunshine, Kitty prepares to leap once again!
And then….BAM!!!! Kitty goes for it!! We are fairly confident that this WILL BE an Olympic event at the next Olympics. You heard it here first.
KITTY NAILS IT!!!! He lands with a paw smack down on a card!!
Kitty’s assistant turns over the winning card. Who will it be?? The anticipation is absolutely nerve wracking ……
And the winner is…………………….
Congratulations Lori Harris!!! You are the winning entrant!
Kitty’s work here is done…..Nice work Kitty!
“Big day. Must nap now”

Thank you to everybody who participated! We’ve enjoyed meeting you. There will be more giveaways in the near future, so please be sure to sign up and try your luck again! Kitty looks forward to it.