WINNERS!!

Hey Everyone!

Thanks so much for participating in the bag question giveaway. So many of you had some great questions, but there were two that I thought were outstanding. I particularly like the way that one of them was phrased, so I picked it, even though many of you asked a version of the same question.

Here are the lucky winners:

Erin Stewart Hill said:

I love creating bags and cannot wait to buy your book!

I have 2 questions:

1. What is the best interfacing formula for a bag? Do you prefer to use a stiffer interfacing such as Decor Bond, or do you prefer to use multiple layers of a lighter weight interfacing?

2. When creating a bag with more body, what is the best way to decrease bulk in the seams?

November 15, 2010 1:34 PM

I love how Erin asked about a "stabilizer formula"...there is one I actually use and will happily share it with you. Many of you asked this very same question, so it is certainly one that many people need an answer for.

Alexandra said:

I'd love to see suggestions for customizing the interior. I usually find that I love a bag exterior but the inside is lacking. How do I add pockets, or a divider, or maybe a zipper compartment, a place for my keys? Or can I transform this bag easily into a laptop bag? Or with a few changes can it become a diaper bag?

November 16, 2010 11:47 AM

This is a great question, and one that is often asked. While adding a zippered pocket may take a little more time, it is definitely doable. Other types of pockets are a snap to add to a lining and I will answer this one when I compile all the questions and formulate my answers in the next week or two.

Congrats, ladies! Please contact me with your mailing address so I can get your Media Frenzy book out to you as soon as possible.

As for all of the questions asked, you all certainly gave me some food for thought as I finish up the new book's manuscript. I plan on addressing many of the things you asked there, but wait....you won't have to wait until next year when that book comes out, as I plan on grouping like questions together and answering them here on the blog as a sort of "Bags 101" for your reference! It will take me a week or two to accomplish this, so hang with me on that.

WINNERS!! and the NEXT GIVEAWAY!!

Hey Everyone,

Thanks so much for the lovely comments! We did have fun at market and all of the new stuff went over very well. There is a lot of eye candy at market...so to those of you who have never been, I hope you get the opportunity to go sometime. It is a great show filled with inspiration!

We have a couple of winners here for the first giveaway, courtesy of random.org. They are:

#9: Sarah

It looks like so much fun!!! I'd love a chance to win! thanks :)

Submitted November 10, 2010 3:27 PM

#67: Sarah and Jane

You are one creative, savvy designer whom my daughter and I adore. We just love your designs!!! So far, we are enjoying sewing from your Sew Serendipity book, but look forward to trying our sewing efforts with your new adorable tunics. Thanks.

Submitted November 11, 2010 7:51 AM

#9 Sarah, I have your email address, so I will be contacting you. #67 Sarah and Jane....Just use this link with your mailing information and I will get your patterns out to you as soon as possible.

Wow! I guess random.org really likes "Sarahs" this time. Congratulations, winners!

NOW, stay tuned. If you did not win here, you have another opportunity, starting today!

This giveaway is going to be a little different. I am currently in the final stages of submitting the manuscript for my NEXT hard cover book, which will be all about BAGS!! I am looking to gather questions (really good ones) from customers regarding making bags. If you have had a burning question (or questions), now is the time to ask. I will use these submissions as a way to build my tips and techniques throughout the book. I thought this would be a great way to get your feedback.

What do you get out of the deal? Well, the BEST TWO questions (my judgment here) submitted will win a copy of my newest self-published bag book, called Media Frenzy! It is a soft cover 28 page book that is dedicated to bags for digital devices such as eReaders, iPads, cameras, and GPS navigators. There is also a pattern for a snappy wallet and camera strap. It is packed with great photos and illustrations in addition to detailed instructions.

Remember, you have to submit a question (or questions) SPECIFIC to bags......The giveaway starts today and will run until Thursday evening at 11:59 PM CST.

Winners will be announced next weekend.....thanks for participating and Happy Sewing!

UPDATE (11/19/2010): It will be a few more days before I can work on the Q&A so keep the questions coming. As long as you get them in before I post the results, your questions will be considered for the giveaway.

Fall Market Post and GIVEAWAY!!

Hey Everyone!

I can hardly believe it has been a month since my last post! The last few weeks have been packed full of activity, of which I hope to share with you partly in this post and the next one as well. We had a great market showing off the new stuff and getting together with friends that we only get to see twice a year. We had some added fun this year due to market being over Halloween and I just love to wear costumes! I never really get to so anytime the opportunity presents itself, I seize it. Since I was signing copies of the book in our booth as well as several other places during market (Checker, F+W, and Moda), I decided to dress as a queen for Halloween. No queen should be without her throne, so I had one made especially for this market by the fabulous j.caroline! Check this thing out....she did a fantastic job. A huge shout-out to my friend Caroline and thanks again for making this so much fun!

Here we are together on the last day of market.

And what queen would want to be without her king? Okay, he wouldn't actually dress up as a king, but he is one anyway (in my heart!). He is such a tremendous help at market and it isn't any secret that he is a way better salesman than me.....I don't feel the least bit jealous about that, either! Here we are...notice that I did coordinate his clothing to go with mine....I HAD to do something....he draws the line on silly costumes!

Here are some shots of the booth for your enjoyment from various days of the market, along with what I wore for each day:

On day 1, I wore a skirt from the new Fashion Formula Skirts mini-book (remember, no pattern pieces required on that one) paired with a variation on the Catherine Coat (made from Japanese linen border print by Echino).

The second day of market was Halloween, so those photos are above. Here are some shots of day 3 at market. I had a great opportunity to shoot a video with my good friends from QuiltHome.com. We talked about the new designs and had a lot of fun in the process. Just ignore those bare feet....I always seem to choose shoes that are not the best for walking around at market, but they always look good (when I am actually wearing them.....) I am wearing the new Priscilla Tunic in these shots.

We received some great news over market. I learned from my publisher (F+W Media) that my book is now in its second printing! Yipee!! We have just a few left and when we run out, we won't have any more until January. If you are thinking about ordering a signed copy (first edition) as a Christmas gift, don't delay!

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY.....Starting right now and going through 11:59pm CST on Friday, November 12th, I will be giving away one copy each of the Fashion Formula Skirts mini book and the Priscilla Tunic pattern to TWO lucky winners. Please submit only one comment per person. I am saving copies of Media Frenzy for the NEXT giveaway which will take place shortly after this one closes.

Hope you all are doing well and getting ready for the holidays....hard to believe they are just around the corner!

Happy Sewing!!