giveaway day, sewing

Spring 2012 Giveaway!

Nicole Markelz

Happy Giveaway Day and welcome to Nicole at Home!

For this giveaway, I’m going to keep it simple (for me, and for you!).  In the past, I have made items to give away, but what I lack in time I make up for in sewing supplies.  Let’s be honest, I have purchased way more patterns and fabric than I can possible use, so why not give some of them away to someone who might have a chance at enjoying them?!  (And, as a bonus, I won’t feel so guilty seeing these unused patterns in my pattern drawer!)

Up for grabs are two Amy Butler handbag patterns, the Madison and the Kimberly.  Opened, pondered, and vaguely planned for, but never actually used.  They are lovely and project-inspiring, no?

In the comments, please give some advice on how you make time for sewing OR some good ideas for sewing with kids.  Or both!  I will give both bag patterns away to a randomly selected someone.  Please make sure there is contact information in your response, or I won’t be able to let you know of your win!

(If you’d like to return to the list of Giveaways, click here)

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Published by Nicole Markelz

129 thoughts on “Spring 2012 Giveaway!”

  3. Sewing is a reward for getting the dishes done. Actually sewing is a great way to get away from all the rushing around we do. Just tell yourself you can sew for one hour a day, it's fun to do small projects , like purses or bags.

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  4. I sew at the kitchen table not 20 feet from our livingroom. When my grandson was a baby, set the playpen up in the kitchen with toys and sew and sing to him. At six now I sew when he is in school and when he is home. He ask me the other day to teach him. So, I told him first he has to master cutting with his scissors and sat him at the table with me. Him with scraps and those blunt nose school scissors that barely cut fabrics. He did it awhile and said he would work on it later. I hope it helps.

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  6. My daughter made her first quilt with me by sitting in my lap and her hands placed on top mine at age 6. We pieced a jelly roll strip next to another in order to create an easy quilt to make that she is still proud of many years later!

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  7. Oh gosh, I love those patterns!! I have had an interest in teaching my niece to sew for a long time. She just turned 9 and I'm really starting to teach her. I wish someone had taught me to sew when I was young. I always wanted to learn. It's always easier to learn from someone than it is a book. I wish I had tips about it, but basically my niece is excited to learn, so I don't have to think of “fun” ways to try and entice her.

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  9. I don't have kids yet, which I think makes balancing sewing time easier! I just try and get everything else done as quickly as possible. Lovely patterns, Thanks for the chance to win!

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  10. For me, I don't have to worry about making time for sewing, it is more about having energy. It's really hard to see my stuff all set up and waiting for me and knowing I can't sew if I want to see my friend's the next day. I hate not being well! I need to get into hand sewing more.

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  11. Write down a list of things to do at night, for the following day. Check them off–you'll get more done than by just keeping it in your head.

    let the kids play with scraps–they can draw designs on paper and then you iron the drawing on to fabric & make something for them. Let them arrange colored scrap blocks and then you sew them together. You could do a small tied quilt and show them how to tie the ties.

    trilliumcreates AT gmail DOT com

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  12. Oh, those bags are cute! Thanks for the chance…I think that making time for sewing is about balance and putting a little “me” time in your life…I don't follow that advice always but I think it's important to!

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  17. Sometimes I have to sew in the evening, after people are in bed. And my son is just now wanting to sew…so that means figuring out how to teach him too. =0P

    Thanks for a chance to win.

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  19. Oh yes, her patterns are awesome! Sometimes my quilting mom and I set up sewing machines together and take a whole weekend day just sewing. It's bliss, and you get a lot done. Dad does the cooking, yay!

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  20. I taught my 6yo how to sew by hand and she is really enjoying it. She also loves watching me use the machine so we sit across from each other over the dining room table and work on our respective projects. I just hope she continues enjoying it through the summer!

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  21. I only sew with kids 😀 I usually give the almost 6 year old his own project to work on, like a simple bag pattern to trace and cut, or an educational skills activity book. The 3 year old usually will be happy with sheets of paper that have a persons outline on them and crayons to draw her own pretty outfits. After they get bored of those things, I put on PBS for them and they get to watch a show.

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  24. oh– I have seen the pattern on the right sewn up and really like it 🙂

    I have other crafty things for my daughter to do in my sewing room while I sew– a variety of things to color and draw with and coloring books and pads, Bendaroos, Gak, stickers– that kind of stuff 🙂

    Desi
    weeshareblog@gmail.com

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  25. Very cute patterns indeed 🙂
    Here's what I do. I have trained my daughter to only want Daddy to help her get to bed at night. That way I can sew and make other stuff while he gets her bath, bedtime stories, jammies, magic water (i.e. fiber supplements) and songs. Sometimes it's nice to be the second-chair parent 😉

    http://mysticmandy.blogspot.com

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  26. I set up a little table in my sewing area. My kids can only work there when I'm sewing. The older one gets to cut from magazines & sometimes fabric snippets. The 2 year old gets to color with markers…even is she DOES need a bath afterwards.

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  29. Try scheduling it. Kids have soccer – and it gets scheduled. You should schedule yours, too. Just make a rule Thursday nights, you have sewing from x o'clock til y o'clock and refuse to accept other engagements or priority bumps.

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  30. My three year old has taken charge of the speed pedal. For straight sems etc., I can have her help by pressing the foot while I sew. I just give her cues like slow, steady, stop etc. She has to follow or she doesnt get to help.

    I wish I was better at finding time to sew also. I am tired late in the day plus that is when my hubby and I can visit. I think about waking up eary and making time but the siren call of my pillow is very strong. good luck!

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  34. WOW…I need the advice. I have 3 kids (pregnant with #4), and my oldest is homeschooled (kindergarten). So my children are almost always here. We have a sewing group at church on Tuesdays, and I don't go as often as I want to, but we gather together, and have something for the kids to do while the moms (and grandmoms) sew for a couple hours. At home, I try to keep them busy with something, or let them watch with me and push the pedal every once in a while.
    spondah(at)aol(dot)com

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  35. Since I stay at home I have time for sewing – sometime I make a lot and sometime it is good just making plans in the head……… Love blogging for getting inspiration. My daughter was 7 when she started sewing – and she likes it still 14 years later 🙂 Love that.

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  38. Because I don't have a craft room, I have to get my machine out and set it up on the (unused) dining room table (I'd love to turn that room into a craft room, but that's been vetoed by my loving husband). Anyway, I get it out and block out an hour every day until I finish my project. It does get a bit unsightly (cutting board, ironing board), so it's good motivation to finish! Thanks for the nice giveaway.

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  40. I love Amy Butler patterns! When my kids were very young, I just sewed with them playing at my feet or while they were watching their favourite DVDs. I also sewed while they were sleeping, LOL.

    Now that they're a little older, I sew while they're at school and kindergarten or I set up my machine at the dining table so that they can sit and craft with me while I sew. 🙂

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  41. To make time for sewing (or doing anything), I try not to look at the whole project, but at what I can accomplish in 15 minutes, or 30 minutes at a time. I'm not always successful at this mindset, but when I am, I can get actually complete a project without getting stressed. Thanks for the chance to win the pretty patterns.

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  43. Let the housework go a bit. If you skip one session of vacuuming, you will get it all the next time. Thanks for the chance to win such cute patterns!

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  45. Sewing time is my “me time”. I try to break my project down into a few sessions and spend about an hour or so at a time working on them. I usually get up before the rest of the house, so early morning works well for me.

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  48. I can't really help you, because I started sewing after my last child was driving. Now that I have an empty nest, I see all the time! Thanks for the giveaway! I love Amy butler patterns.

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