Saturday, January 12, 2013

The Big Four-Oh Giveaway, Day 4: Stitchy Kit

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
–Norman MacEwan

I don't think I've finished a project on a deadline since my sister got married in July of 2010 and I made a quilt for her as a gift for her wedding shower. Today is no exception. My giveaway for today is not ready. I've been sewing all day, ignoring the chores {guilt-free, I might add. It's my birthday. I'll sew if I want to} and I still only have unassembled pieces to show you. But we'll get to that in a minute. It's my birthday and you have to indulge me by listening to the back story.

When Lori Holt released her adorable Stitchy Kit pattern in early December, I ordered it the same day. I always take some hand work with me when I go someplace I know I'll have to wait and I thought this would be the cutest thing to have to carry my supplies. When the pattern arrived in the mail, I took it straight to the super secret Christmas present stash without even opening the mailing envelope, which took an amazing amount of restraint. When I did open the envelope to put the pattern in my stocking {which is very large and takes some creativity to fill; socks and underwear usually fit the bill, but this was much more fun}, it was wrapped in some cute tissue paper, which was a fun surprise and made all of my earlier self-control unnecessary.

Since Christmas, I've been thinking about what kinds of fabrics I wanted to use to make my Stitchy Kit. In the end, I decided that I wanted to do something rainbow-y because I love stuff in rainbow order. When I saw the pillow that Amy over at Diary of a Quilter made using the Indie fabric line, I knew it would be a perfect fit. I loved the way the fabrics looked together. I also decided that a Stitchy Kit would be a really fun thing to give away and I could kill two birds with one stone if I orderd ½-yard cuts of the Indie fabrics {see also, Indie Fat Quarter Bundle Giveaway}. I ordered my fabric two weeks ago and it was all here by last Monday. I washed and pressed fabric for days and in between washing and pressing, I worked on the embroidery for the pincushion of this adorable kit. Last night, I cut most of the fabrics out and this morning, I started sewing. I've got lots of pieces together ready for assembly and nothing else to fill in for this last day of my giveaways, so I'm going with it. I love how it is coming out so far and think it will be awesome when it is done. And I promise to have it done by the time I draw the winner.

Without further ado, then, I give you today's prize, a Stitchy Kit for keeping all of your hand sewing supplies in one place, good for traveling, or to put over the arm of a chair or couch while you stitch.

Stitchy Kit includes:
• Cover with inside pockets and pincushion
• Scissor Cozy
• Drawstring Bag for supplies or floss
• Needle Book

Note: this stitchy kit will not include the covered tape measure, unless I change my mind.

UPDATE: I've almost got the Stitchy Kit finished. Pictured below are two partial Stitchy Kits. One is for me and one is for the giveaway, but I wanted you to see both the outside and inside of the kit, as well as the needle book. I'm not quite finished yet. There will be a little patchwork drawstring bag, which will complete the kit {I opted not to do a covered measuring tape because I don't use a measuring tape that frequently}, but I wanted you to have a better idea of the giveaway, in case you didn't enter because I just posted a bunch of random parts.

The Fine Print:
• To enter this giveaway, leave a comment telling me your favorite birthday memory. Or just leave a comment. Whichever.
• You can enter each day's giveaway only once.
• Non-blogging/non-Google users and international entrants are welcome.
• If you do not have a Google account, use the name/url {url optional} commenting option and make sure you leave your e-mail in your comment in the following format: address (at) domain name (dot) com.
• Comments with no contact information will be deleted.
• Google account users: not sure if your contact information will be attached to your comment? Click here:


• Duplicate comments will be deleted. Comment moderation is on, so don't panic when your comment doesn't show up. I'm notified of new comments and will approve them periodically each day, after which they'll show up on the post.
• The giveaway will close at 10:00 pm {MST} on Friday, January 18th. Winner will be chosen by random drawing and notified by e-mail and announced here by noon on January 19th.

Good luck!

The Big Four-Oh Giveaway Directory
Quilter's Care Package
Chocolate Sundae Batik Fat Quarter Bundle
Indie Fat Quarter Bundle

This giveaway is now closed.
Winners can be found here.

34 comments:

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Happy Birthday!! I would sing, but I don't want to hurt your ears. :-D Love the rainbow Stitchy Kit! Very fun! Thank you for the chance!

Richard Healey said...

My favorite birthday memory would be as a little kid with a party in the back yard and Ice cream. Just simple and little kids nothing exciting.

Carin@Ullhärvan said...

Happy birthday to you!
One birthday I remember is when I turned 20 and was working 200 kms away from home. My mother and grandmother came to visit me. We all had our birthdays in August, we turned 20,40 and 70 that year. We had just lost my grandfather, so it was a bit emotional. But we had a great day that I always will remember! My grandmother passed away 2 years ago at the age of 98. And I do miss her!
Anyway, I hope you are having a great day!

Brenda said...

Love this kit. How very useful. I don't have a special birthday memory. It tends to get overlooked.

tpott said...

Well aren't you a busy little bee on your birthday. Happy, happy birthday, by the way. What I great idea, I don't know a quilter or stitcher who wouldn't love this, especially the colors you've picked, great choices. Hope you had a wonderful birthday! ;-> Toni Anne

Paulette said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope you're having a really, really good one!

I have a lot of nice birthday memories, but the simple ones are the most meaningful. Like the time my dad surprised me at work with a beautiful bouquet of gladiolas fresh from his garden and took me to lunch.

barbara woods said...

My hubby buying me a sewing machine . changed everything . thanks

regan said...

Happy Birthday! I hope it was awesome! :o)

And for the life of me, I can't think of a 'favorite' birthday, as they are usually unremarkable! We stopped doing birthdays way back about 25 years ago.....so we really just go out for a nice dinner to mark the occasion. I know....boring, right!?! But I believe my last couple of bdays were spent quilting all day, and then dinner out.....so pretty good in my book! :o)

I've known gals that have 'Birthday Weeks' and they mean it! And you'd better go along with it, or else, too! Sheesh! Their poor husbands! lol


Christine M said...

My favourite birthday memory would be on one of my husband's birthdays. He proposed to me! He thought he'd give himself an extra present! LOL! Happy birthday Elizabeth.

Gill said...

I hope you're enjoying your birthday celebrations as much as we are! Thanks for another fabulous giveaway!

hueisei said...

My favorite birthday memory was the one I spent with my boyfriend ( now my hubby) in Koh SaMui Thailand :D

Martina said...

How lovely! The kit looks just great! Happy birthday to you! Be very much blessed and enjoy your day.
I remember my birthday as a child. My favourite cake always was the Black forset cake. It has alot of whipping cream and cherries in it. So on my 10th birthday we went on a little hike into to forest and had the birthday celebration there. And my mom just brought this cake in her backbag with it. Wow, I don't know who she managed to do this but this was such a sign of love for me
which I never forgot.

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Happy Birthday happy birthday! My fav birthday memory would be having a Bert & Ernie cake with the icing all textured like them - it was a great day!! I wore pigtails in my hair too :) I loved having pigtails!!

Pauline G said...

Happy birthday! We have 3 family birthdays in one week in October so we all celebrate together which creates lots if fun and present giving.

Mommarock said...

I come from a family of 7 children it was a special thing that my parents would take the birthday child out to dinner by them self to a place of their choice on their birthday. For some reason I chose Red Lobster because I knew my dad loved Lobster, (I hate seafood) and my parents never get out to dinner. We got there and I was searching the menu for hamburgers.. LOL.

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I remember when I turned 18 I had arrive at Tech school 2 days earlier so I didn't know anyone. I went bought a cake and some ice cream and sat in the court yard of the dorms, anyone that walked by would stop to talk and ask about the cake. I would tell them it was my birthday ( got wishes back ) then they would sit and have cake and ice cream with me. (total opposite from the year before) By the end of the cake and ice cream I knew just about everyone in the dorms. :D

Unknown said...

Happy birthday from New Zealand, my favourite birthday is when I turned 50. My children organised three days of fun that included a party, a lunch out, and pampering at the hairdressers. I was so spoilt.

Karens Quilts, Crows and Cardinals said...

Elizabeth -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

Woohoo... and again, 40 is not so bad... (I think I've said that for the last ? 11 ? years ; )

My favorite birthday memory was when I turned 12 -- my parents got me an Irish Setter "Rookie" for my birthday. A perfect childhood memory. Rookie lived another 10 years after I got her... She was my best friend through my tough teenage years.

Thanks for the memory.
Happy Birthday.
Karen

Bente-I like to QuiltBlog said...

Congratulations dear Elizabeth, I hope that you had a great day.
Hugs
Bente
PS.I love your WIP, looks great!

Shay said...

Happy Birthday E ! Hope your day was as fabulous as you are.

My last birthday was pretty memorable. I spent it in Hawaii. That's not one I'll forget in a hurry.

coley said...

A few years ago. Hubby took me to dinner and brought a gift with him. It was a willow tree figurine. A mom, dad and a little baby. It was his way of telling me he was ready to start our family.

Happy birthday!

Joyce Hoile said...

My favorite birthday memory is my presents wrapped in tissue paper. My mom used regular wrapping paper for Christmas and other people's birthdays, but for my sisters and myself, they were always wrapped in pretty,colored or sparkly tissue paper.

hafza said...

Happy Birthday,Elizabeth! Thank you for sharing the great giveaway...I love embroidery and stitching!

Kathy H said...

Happy birthday to you. My favorite birthday memory was when my son brought his singing friends from college and they sang a concert in my living room.

quiltmom anna said...

My favorite birthday memory- having homemade fish and chips and chocolate cake with carmel icing at 16. My favorite adult memory - the day my husband gave me my elna sewing machine- it was a total surprise.
Happy Happy Birthday.
What a lovely stitchery kit you are creating for your winner.
Warmest regards,
Anna

Janice said...

My favorite birthday memory was the tear my husband gave me my first microwave. Long story but needless to say was a memorable day. I love the stitch dry kit and appreciate your giveaways..

Deanna said...

Congratulations on a terrific sewing day--guilt free, too. My most memorable birthday was 16--somehow my parents managed to keep a surprise party with about 100 people there a secret--I must have been a little oblivious.

Anonymous said...

That is beautiful! I love the colors.

Quiet Quilter said...

Congratulations on a milestone birthday..

One year my children (teenagers all, I think), and my husband took over the chores on my birthday...I did not have to lift a finger..I loved every minute of my "time-out" day.

Amy said...

I really can't recall my best birthday. All of them fit in the same category. I am happy to turn a year older! This finished beautifully, thanks again for the generous giveaways! Hope your 40th was your best!

retdairyqueen said...

What a gorgeous generous prize

Stacy said...

Happy Birthday!

Terry@ a quilting blog said...

What a sweet (and very generous) giveaway...thanks for the chance :)

quiltma said...

I just love the stitchy kit. It would be great for my take-a-longs