Luna Sol

I recently got a Fat Eighth bundle of the lovely Luna Sol from the designer Felice Regina
OMG!  I just love this fabric, the colors are fantastic, the little bunnies are cute.

Aurifil (left to right) 2255, 1133, 2120, 2805, 6738, 2510 Variegated 4658, 4663, 3840, 4660

I immediately had to make a project from them, so I decided to try out Sonic Stitches one hour basket hack, the Eliza Basket with Foundation Paper Pieced geese.  And also Karen's Orange Peel Pincushion, both are free tutorials (links will take you to a new page, so click away)

First for some fussy cutting 

I used all 19 prints when making the Orange Peel Pincushion

The little blue bunnies hopping is my favorite print and I used that on the back.

The reason the pincushion isn't filled is that I was going to mail it as a gift, so it's flat :)

I couldn't leave the back side plain, and had to use my favorite designer, Alison Glass!

The basket is of course filled with Rainbow goodies from AG!

I did keep the original One Hour Basket, corner cutting dimensions of 3", 

instead of the Eliza Basket 2.5" suggestion.

My FQ's fit better in the 3" boxed corners, but this did make the flying geese go right to 

the edge of the basket, but I still love it and plan on making more.

Do you need to pick up some Luna Sol, Janum sells them in F8 (what I got, but wish I had gotten more) 

Also FQ bundles, 1/2 yard and 1 yard bundles.

She also has the matching Aurifil Thread small box available.

Also @iamlunasol Is doing a giveaway in regards to her Kick Starter for some Enamel pins

So be sure to go check that out.

Linking to Sunday Stash

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

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.

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).

Low Volume Deal

It's been awhile since I have participated in Sunday Stash, has stash been coming in, YES, have I blogged about it, NO, bad blogger...

Today though I just have to share with you a really, really good deal!  And you have to act fast.
Sew Me A Song (all my links open in new windows, so click away) is having a shipping deal, $12 International!  $2.50 US and $9.00 Canada, ends today March 22, Sunday!  She can fit in 10 yards to a Flat Rate Envelope.
She has some really cute bundles, like the Texting While Sewing Encouraged.

But here is a really fantastic and fun swap, Simple Sew is doing a Fat Eighth Swap, you send as many F8's as you want and she will swap them out for different ones, so here is what I did, I ordered my fabric from Sew Me A Song, go to Shirley's blog for a discount code of 25% and since shipping International was so cheap, I just had everything sent here.  When it arrives I will cut out 6 Fat Eights and keep a Fat Quarter for myself, I ordered 4 different 1 yard fabrics, (well technically I ordered 10 yards, but some are for other things, hehe, got to fill up that package) so I will be sending Shirley 24 Fat Eights and I will get 24 F8's back!

This is what 24 F8's look like!

This is already in my stash!

 Of course if you want you could always just say order 4 half yards and have them shipped directly to Shirley for only $2.50 and she will do the cutting for you and send you the 4 you purchased plus 12 different Fat Eights or you can do it how ever you want, but it is a good deal and I love good deals!

Be sure to head over to Flickr to see what other members are contributing, you might see something you just have to have and will want to join in on the fun.

Go here to sign up!

Read what Low Volume means here!
Linking to Sunday Stash.

Love From Canada

Look at this lovely package that arrived from Kristel at Wipgirl.

look scratch and sniff nail wraps, cool, hey!

I am very excited about this package you see she sent it as a secret and didn't tell me she sent it till the middle of October, she mailed it on September 12th.  It didn't come and I was so worried that her handmade gift had gotten lost.
With some yummy strawberry prints

Beautiful sweet strawberry prints, the one on the right is linen, love it!

and 55 - 5" charms of ALL DIFFERENT text prints, so awesome!  I can't even take a picture of each one individually there are so so many and did I say that they are all different!

Kristel also remembered the kids,

and totally adorable gifts for the kids, my son loves his zombie (that's what he is calling it) lego light, and Katerina is going around with her "hedgehog mou" (my hedgehog).  The text mooseage was for Nik too, but I really like it so I will be stealing that.

yeah, I have that kind of humor.

Kristel also remembered that Hot Tamales were my favorite candy and was so sweet to include them in the package also some candy for the kids, but I couldn't find them for the picture.
Thank you Kristel!  I am so glad this package was not lost and just took the sea route here taking 9 weeks instead of the air route that Emmaline's bags new hardware took, these big guys also arrived on the same day and she mailed them out on November 14th, taking only 8 days to get here.

I won 2 of her new Handmade hardware pieces, if you make any type of bags, you should check out Janelle's shop, not only does she make great purse patterns, but she has the best purse supplies EVER!
I'm going to see how this looks with my upcycled jeans suitcase.
Linking to Sunday Stash.
Thank you my Canadian gal pals Kristel and Janelle!

My American Fabric Hoarders and a Giveaway!

I live Internationally, in Greece, and everyone knows that all of the good fabric deals are in America and shipping is crazy.  SO I have some lovely friends that have become my shipping hoarders, Thank you to my awesome quilty buddies that hold on to fabric for me.  When I am in a fabric swap, I always like to "fill up" my package, so I will do my yard or two for the swap and then I ask the swap mama if I can send some more fabric her way so she can load up the package.  This is when I shop at shops that give free shipping so there is no more shipping cost added.  These 3 gals have done this recently for me, Erin of "Sew At Home Mummy" (currently doing a whole Cotton and Steel fabric swaps), Amanda of "What the Bobbin?", she does some really fun swaps (open right now is Round 2 Christmas Brick Swap), and Mel of "Missouri Mel" she does a 1930's continuous fabric swap.
But my Bestest Fabric Hoarder Buddy is Shirley Tener of SIMPLESEW!  Anytime I come across a really, I just can't not buy it fantastic fabric deal, I purchase it and have it sent to Shirley's house.  Now if you are International and don't have a fabric hoarding buddy, you are missing out, get yourself one right away.  Look what Shirley hoarded for me in a recent Southern Fabric $25 Layer Cake deal.

5 Layer Cakes, Weeds, Bee My Honey, Wishes, Color Me Happy and Solstice.
the Kona Jelly roll (Ash) is from Pink Chalk.

Plus 2 Charm Packs, 25th and Pine and New Muslin Mates and my first ever Honeycomb in Simply Style.

To share the love I am giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to Southern Fabrics, who knows when they will have another $25 Layer Cake deal, or you can check out their Tuesday charm pack $2 deals.  Buy whatever you want if you win, use the Rafflecopter widget below.

Do you want to see what else both Shirley and Erin sent me this week, oh yeah I got 2 packages this week.

From Shirley a Big Ass Box, filled with yummy fabric and books.

Pink Chalk was having a big birthday sale so I got my first Voile.

And some Free Spirit Linen, this has an amazing feel, not harsh at all, will definitely be buying Linen from Free Spirit again.

I bought a whole bunch of yardage of this "Rosey" by Tanya Whelan print to add it to some "Country Girls" to make a dress for my daughter, this is a minty blue color and it's almost a perfect match for the blue in Riley Blakes "Country Girls" line.

see the little blue barn, the "Rosey" has more of a green tint to it, but it will do.

Shirley also sent some extra goodies, books, patterns and magazines.

Cording, Clear Plastic (yes I so need this!) and a doo-hickey, (what am I supposed to do with the blue thing Shirley?  I have no idea what it is?)

And even my kids got some fabric!

One of my favorite designers Ann Kelle, mermaids, and girl and boy superheros.

She also sent some other little gifts for my kids, but they didn't want me to take photographs of them.

Oh and this bundle of Rainbow of Riley Blake Chevrons goes perfectly with the bundle of Rainbow Spot On Tiny Dot Robert Kaufman, that Erin sent!

My first Pearl Bracelets Purchase!  Tone on Tone, lovely additions to the stash

Erin packed these items up for me during the recent American Made Brands Solids Swap.

You can still make something for the Farm to Fabric Challenge.

All 50 American Made Brand Solid Colors in Brick Charm form (5"x10")

She also sent me some extras, machine needles, sewing needles, 2 FQ's of Liberty Tana Lawn, and 2 Half Yards of AGF!

Now this is where you can win, you see I made some shorts for my daughter with the Liberty Fabric, but so sad they are to small, you can read about my experience and the book review here.  Good news Erin's daughter is smaller than mine, so this pretty little fabric is now going back to Erin all sewed up.  I would like your vote in the "Shorts on the Line" challenge.

You will need to log in, to "Heart" my shorts and I hope you don't mind doing this, voting continues until 6pm EST on Thursday, August 14th.

I also want your vote on my Singer Sewing Machine Block, this vote is easy, you don't have to sign up for anything and you can vote EVERYDAY!  till August 31st!  (the link for that is on my side bar, you can also add this link to your blog by going here and at the bottom in blue is a "Vote For Me" widget that you can copy, go to layout on your blog and enter it in the "Add a Gadget" HTML code area.  If you DO want to sign up, you can be entered in a contest to win a Singer Iron from Quilting Daily.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vote for the Liberty shorts
Vote for the button jar
Linking to Sunday Stash