31 October 2016

Sunday Stash

This week I got a wonderful bundle of fabrics from Janum fabrics.  My most favorite, the stunning metallic bundle of Luster from Zen Chic.
Luster fabrics with Aurifil (left to right) 2021, 6072, 2600, 6736, 4241
Inspired by last weeks Sunday Stash to take a picture like this, it doesn't look as good as My Go-Go Life's though :)
I just love the metallics in this!
In the same package was her Tuesday deal's from Instagram, which are really good, you should check it out.
On the left the Cat's Meow and of course I just had to get a charm pack of Handmade.  She also always includes the cutest buttons in your package.
I showed off my new Aurifil threads last week, along with a giveaway, it's still going on till Monday night.
Linking to Sunday Stash episode #200

24 October 2016

Fall Thread Giveaway!

Hello Everyone,
Fall is my least favorite season, is it warm is it cold, sunny or rainy, please just make up your mind weather and do it!
But I do love the changing of the colors on the leaves, I'm not a big brown fan, but watching the leaves change colors is so fun and pretty.  Were I live we aren't there just yet, in fact I had to go up to the monasteries and even there only found 2 trees who leaves were going all pretty.
Behind our house looking down at Rousanou Monastery.
See the trees haven't changed just yet.  But I made these 3 pouches out of fabric that I received free from Moda, Courtyard by 3 Sisters, it's not my normal type of fabric and I looked at it and was like, ugh... but it sure does make pretty fall leaves.

For a giveaway I would like to give to you one of these pouches, a #sewillustrated pincushion, a charm pack of "Courtyard" fabric along with some Aurifil thread and gold ribbon!  Yippee, if the fabric doesn't thrill you the thread should, hahaha!
Fall Giveaway!
A Large 50wt. spool in color Moonshine 6724 and 2 smaller spools in #2370 and #4173
The exterior leaf
And the interior spelled motif of Thankful and Blessed
Are all done with this gorgeous and wonderful to work with Aurifil Brillo Gold thread!  I wish I could send some of this to you but no way am I letting it out of my greedy little hands!
The Silver is #800 and the Gold is #739
I did recently get my Aurifil thread order in from my favorite European source Busy Needle, Elita the owner is wonderful to work with, plus I think her prices are good!
Isn't that the cutest sticker, if you want one on your box just ask Elita!
This time around I was in desperate need of some neutral thread colors.
UhOh all out of Aurifil neutral colors, very hard to ignore all of the pretty colors.
Inside my box, I think I did a good job of just picking mostly neutrals, oh okay I had to get some color, I'm working on a long term EPP project that just needed those soft blues and pinks along with a brighter red and of course I will be quilting it with my favorite variegated thread #4660 in 12 wt.

2600 is my all time favorite neutral, it works with all colors as a soft grey, but with a nice sheen.
I also like 2021 it is white but not bright white or a yellow white, it is also very good.
New to me this time around were these guys.
New Aurifil thread colors
#6722 Sea Biscuit is a cross between the 2021 that I spoke of earlier and 2026, it's not as yellow meringue as the 2026 so I think it's a keeper.  Now as you can see from the number AND name 6724 and 6725 are very similar, they are a brownish grey color, not sure if I like them or not, the 6724 moonshine (that I am giving away) has a nice sheen to it, that reminds me of my favorite 2600, the 6725 moondust is more flat. Jedi 6736 is a dark grey blue color it's alright I will see how it looks when sewing up darker colors.
Did you read all of that, good job, enter below in the Rafflecopter for your chance to win some Aurifil plus the rest of the goodies in the picture.
The first one is mandatory but the other's are not, if you do stop by these shop's tell them Mara says Hi! And in case you are wondering why I want to say Hello to the Fat Quarter Shop, read last weeks blog post about how awesome they are.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3 Fall Pouches
  Linking to Elm Street Quilts Bag It Event.
And Sunday Stash.

16 October 2016

Why you should get the Sew Sampler Box!

In the beginning of September I was really lucky to have won Fat Quarter Shop's September Sew Sampler Box. But I said to myself, "I can't accept this, they would have to mail it all the way to Greece and that would be very expensive" (it's not by the way, keep reading :)
All of the Sew Sampler goodies (Aurifil threads are my own :)

 So I thought it would be a better idea for them to send it to a sewing gal who just lost everything in the Louisiana floods a horrible tragedy, not only loosing mementos like photographs and the memories of her home.  But her brand new car, brand new sewing machine and  her recently organized fabric stash.

The Floods took it all and she became homeless.  I asked the Fat Quarter Shop if they would be so kind as to send my September Sew Sampler box to her instead, to bring a small smile to her face.  And not only did they send the Sew Sampler box but they sent so much more!! Melody told me "We’re going to put together a little something extra for Margaret" lol, yes I see a little something extra.
All of the wonderful items sent from the Fat Quarter Shop
Wow, Fat Quarter Shop, you are so amazingly generous, it still brings tears to my eyes, and I'm not even the one who received all of these goodies, but I know that she really appreciates everything, Thank you so much!.  But then they also sent me my  box!! WHAT! WOW! 
I put immediate use to everything inside.
Making a pouch using this free tutorial.
Just changed the back to using 2.5" strips for the top and bottom of the bag and a 4.5" strip of linen in the middle.
And a Sew Travel Bag using Elm Street Quilts free tutorial
The only change I made to the tutorial is to bind it instead of sewing around and flipping it.  I have found when sewing with vinyl it is better and easier to bind it

SO why should you sign up for the Fat Quarter Shop's Sew Sampler Box, first it is a reasonable price of $24.95 a month the one time sign up fee is .99 cents and shipping well if you live in the States it's a no brainer, hurry up and sign up, what the f**k are you waiting for, only $4.95, Canada is pretty reasonable as well at $12 and then for us International's I thought for sure it would be like $25 to mail but it's ONLY $16 so again not bad at all, taking the total of the box up to $40.95 a month, and let me tell you you WANT everything in the box!  I am the kind of gal who can only purchase what I need, but there is of course so much more that I want, but never buy, well here you go, FQS as made it easy for you and is sending you the stuff you really wanted, but had a hard time actually purchasing, like this month's October box (you have till the 20th to sign up for) they have already shared this sneak peek.
All the heart eyes, they are going to send the Handmade Bonnie & Camille Embroidery Floss Collection.  I have had this in my I would love to have imaginary shopping cart since I say it come out at Spring Market with Lecien Cosmo threads.
So sign up today, you won't be disappointed, in the last box they sent over $50 dollars worth of supplies which makes up for even the cost of International shipping.
And I have already used everything in the September box, yes even the seam ripper (hehe) can't wait for my October box!!
I love and have used everything in the September box!
 Linking up my finished bags to Elm Street Quilts Bag It Challenge.
And Sunday Stash (it's been a long time since I have joined in).