Winners!

I have three menfolk in the family, and each of them pulled one name from the 126 (!) entries. And the three lucky winners are...

Sewing Geek

Chantelle

and

Becca A (she doesn't have a blog)
Becca A, I don't have your email address. Please contact me at ann "at" gorgeousfabrics "dot" com. Thanks!

If you're interested,"Cancer, Chemo and What I Wore - Part 4" was the top post, followed by the other CC&WIW posts, and the Project Runway finale party.

Congratulations, ladies, and thanks to everyone for playing!

Happy sewing!

Giveaway Drawing is Today!

Don't forget to get your entry in if you want to take part in the fabric giveaway. My kids will pull three lucky names from the hat this afternoon. So if you want to be entered to win one of the boxes of goodies, put your comment Here on This Post. I'll be closing comments/entries at 3:00 PM Eastern today.

Good luck!

Fabric Giveaway, Kittens!

It's another giveaway kids! This time, three lucky folks will get a grab-box full of fabrics. Most of these cuts are around a yard. Some are more, some are less. These are headers and samples of fabrics that have sold out at Gorgeous Fabrics. Rather than having them go to a landfill, let's put them to good use by people who love fabrics! All of them are usable for things like tops, skirts (okay, in some cases, mini-skirts maybe), handbag linings... use your skills and imagination! There are silks, knits, wools, cottons and other things. All I ask is that you pay for shipping, which will be by USPS Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box. Postage is $14.50 within the US. For international postage rates, check out This Page at the USPS site.

So the big question, of course is, how do you enter to win? Two things. First - stroke my ego and tell me what your favorite post is on my blog. Second (and most important) - put your email in the comments section. Do yourself a favor and enter your email address in the format yourname "at" xyz "dot" com. That way any bots that search the net for email addresses can't pick you up easily. On Friday afternoon, May 7, I'll have my kids draw three winners from a hat. These are nice fabrics, so have fun with it.

Good luck and happy sewing!

Winners in the Leather Giveaway!

We have winners, kids! They are:

Marie
(schroeder1987....)

and

VTMartha

Congratulations to both of you! I'll send you an email so I can get your leather scraps sent out.

Thanks to all for playing. There's going to be one more giveaway, probably later this week or next.

Thanks for playing!

Goodness Gracious - Another Giveaway!

Hold your breath, kittens - this is a good one! I'm doing spring cleaning and moving all my personal stash up to the classroom/studio. I haven't got any room in my little sewing room at home. In doing so, I came across a box full of leather scraps! Did you know that I used to own a company that made accessories and handbags? These are the detritus fabulous scraps from prototypes and production bags, as well as a few pieces that are left from some personal projects I made. There are lambskin pieces, cowhide, chamois, Mongolian lamb, goat, suede, metallic and lots of others. Pieces are small, but useful for trims or accent pieces.

For this giveaway, there are two lots of between 12 and 15 pieces. The second picture has more large pieces than the first, so I'll swap pieces between the two to make them more even. The only thing I ask is that you pick up the cost of priority mail postage. Flat rate, medium box is $10.70 (sorry - they just raised the rates) for US delivery. See The USPS Website for international rates.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment with your email in the format, abc "at" xyz "dot" com. I'll put all the names in a hat on Monday and have my sons draw two winners.
Good luck and happy sewing!

And the Winner is....

Man, my desk is a mess!

So we took all the names and put them in my oldest son's hat. Then my youngest son pulled one name at random and without peeking from said hat and that name is...


Drum roll please.....


Gigi!

Congratulations Gigi! I'll get the furs out to you later this week. Thanks to everyone for participating. I wish I had lots more furs to give away!

Happy furrierring... or whatever.

Fur Drawing Today!

Don't forget, if you want the fur scraps, Put a Comment on this Post before 2:00 PM EDT today. This afternoon I'll put all the entries in a hat and have one of my sons draw the winner.

Good luck!

Fur Giveaway, Poodles!

04-07 ETA Okay, comments are closed. My son will pull the winning name from a hat and I'll announce the winner later this afternoon. Good luck!!!!

Edited to add pictures...

And to add that the giveaway is for all the fur pieces in one lot...

A friend of mine gave me a bag full of fur trims that she inherited from her mother or aunt. I honestly won't use them, so I'd rather have them go to someone who will. The pieces are mostly collars and cuffs taken from vintage coats and hats. There's mink, Persian lamb, rabbit, some faux furs and (this one is actually really cute) skunk. The pieces are pretty small, but they would be useful for trims, handbags or accent pieces. They are all in natural (i.e. brown or black or gray) tones.

I only ask that you pay for the actual postage to send them to you. If you want them, just put a comment on this post with your email in the format xxx "at" yyy "dot" zzz format (so the bots don't pick you up). I'll draw the winner from the entries on Wednesday, April 7.

Please don't email me or comment saying nasty things about fur - I'm just the messenger and I won't respond to them or post any bad comments.

Here's a picture with the skunk in the center. The big brown piece below it is mink.

There's also a piece of nude colored pigsuede. It makes a great lining for handbags.

Happy trimming!

Come and Get It, Kittens!

Free (that woke you up) to a good home:

Exhibit A: Athena adjustable dress form. You can see her in many of my projects, but now I have four all together and even I don't need that many. Here's a picture of her in one of my projects: She's adustable from 32 inch bust to 38 inch, with waist from 26 to somthing I can't remember, and hips that go from 28 to something like 38. There is one piece missing, an attachment to allow you to mark a hem. She's well used and well loved, but hey the price is right. Here's a picture of her in action:

Exhibit B: A well used, well loved, but still usable gridded rotary cutting mat. It measures 36 inches by 52 inches, so it's bigger than most JoAnn cutting tables, but it's perfect for most dining room tables. It has seen a lot of use, but it has lots more in it. And again, you can't beat the price

Now, here's the rub. If you want either or both of these, you can have them. The only thing is, you have to come and pick them up before this Saturday, June 20. If you want them, and you can do that, send an email to Ann "at" gorgeousfabrics "dot" com. First come, first served. They are both great tools and lord knows I've used them lots. Now it's time for someone else to get the benefit.

Both are spoken for. Thanks!

Oh, and anyone who wants to come visit from Australia, my design studio is always open to you. It's summer here in New England, and I love to show folks around Boston!
Happy sewing!

Come and Get It!

I have a big box of fabrics waiting to be picked up and taken to a good home! Free for the asking, it's got a bunch of fabrics in 1-2 yard lengths. Most of them are headers and remnants of fabrics that are sold out over at Gorgeous Fabrics. There are knits, a couple of stretch and non stretch cottons in about 1/2 yard lengths, a wool or two, some lamé, some silk. In most cases there's enough for a tank or tee, maybe a skirt in the wools, and the cottons and silks are good for quilters.

And hey, you can't beat the price! The catch is that you have to pick them up. I'm happy to give them away, but you have to come get them this week.

Now, how do you get your grubby little paws on, er, land these lovelies? Simple! Send an email to ann "at" gorgeousfabrics "dot" com. That's it. No trivia to answer, no "mother may I", just let me know you want 'em and that you can get them before the weekend and they are yours!

All gone folks. Thank you!

The Burda is all cut out. I spent today tidying up after the sale, so I'll get to work on it tonight. Does anyone know where in the Boston area I can get Kwik Sew patterns? I want one in particular, but since Fabric Place closed, the nearest dealer I know of is Martin's House of Cloth in Manchester, NH. I don't really want to truck up Route 3 if I can avoid it. If anyone knows of a closer source, I'd much appreciate it.

Happy sewing!

Clean Up!

Before I could start on the Burda, I needed to clean up after the dance dresses. Honestly, it looked like a bomb filled with sequins had exploded in my sewing studio, and in my sewing room at home. Today I spent the afternoon packing away the extra dance fabric for the next time (next time?), and once I got started, it was hard to stop.

So for readers in the Boston area, I have a couple of goodies to give away over the next few days. First up is this Consew Coverstitch/Serger:

It runs and has all the accessories except the itty bitty screwdriver for the needles. My son used that for a science project and I haven't seen it since. I think I used it four times and decided I needed an industrial. I don't need two CS machines, but I do need space. It's not a great machine, but it's worth every penny. Because it's free! Yep, free to a good home. Heck, free to a mediocre or rotten home. I just need the space. The caveat is that you have to pick it up. So if you would like it and can pick it up this week, send me an email (ann "at" gorgeousfabrics "dot" com) and it's yours.

Over the next day or so I'll put up a bunch of stash fabrics (they're fabulous, trust me) and notions, so keep an eye out.

Happy sewing!

Gone Kittens, sorry, and thanks!

It's Another Giveaway, Poppets!

I'm culling the herd, to quote Gigi. I have more patterns than I will ever need, use or want. So it's time to clear out some space. All of these are unused and still in factory folds, and they are free to a good home. All I ask is that you pay actual shipping. Shipping will be by USPS first class mail or Priority Mail. Your choice. There's a lotta patterns here. Pick out any or all that you like. All of them are in the size 12-14 size range.

Top row, L to R: Simplicity 3745 dresses; Simplicity 4237 pants, skirt and gauchos; Simplicity 3631 SewStylish Wardrobe; Simplicity 3959 coats and capes
Middle row, L to R: Burda 2969 out of print jacket, vest and pants; Simplicity 4044 Retro wardrobe (taken); Simplicity 4087 skirts (taken); Simplicity 3867 SewStylish top, dress, jacket and shorts
Bottom row L to R: Simplicity 5259 skirts and pants; Simplicity 4632 Dress, top, cropped pants and pants; Kwik Sew 3187 men's jackets (sizes S-XXL); Vogue 7540 Claire Shaeffer couture dress.

Top row L to R: Simplicity 4074 dress, top, skirt; Simplicity 4099 coat, jacket, pants, skirt; Burda 8192 out of print I think, coat, jacket, top pants; Kwik Sew 2600 bathing suits (all sizes)
Middle row L to R: Vogue 8020 dresses (taken); Vogue 7463 handbags; Kwik Sew 2927 tops (all sizes); Butterick 3084 capes
Bottom row L to R: Simplicity 4500 Threads Collection jacket, top, skirt, pants; Vogue 642 Patricia Underwood Hats; Vogue 8127 skirts; Butterick 4849 "Duro" dresses

Top row L to R: Vogue 2907 Alice + Olivia pants; Vogue 8140 handbags; Vogue 7881 Claire Shaeffer couture pants
Bottom row L to R: Vogue 2756 jacket, top, dress, skirt, pants; Vogue 2625 Vogue Michael Kors dresses.

If you want them, send an email to ann -at- gorgeousfabrics -dot- com to arrange shipping and payment. I'll cross them off as they are taken. Have fun and happy sewing!

Next Up, and Last Call for Handbag Fabrics

The Mojo, she is back! My next project is on the tracing table:

HotPatterns' Tie Me Down shirt. I'm going to make it without the tie. And I;m going to make it from

This Tessuti Stretch Cotton Shirting. The challenge will be finding the right buttons. Stay tuned!

Also, today is the last call for Boston-area folks who would like either or both of the Handbag Fabric Giveaway lots. If I don't get any takers by this afternoon, I'll put them up on Craigslist. So if you make handbags and want really good fabrics, grab them. You can't beat the price!

Happy sewing!

Yet Another Giveaway, Kittens!

It's spring, and that means that it is time to clean out my basement. So for those in the greater Boston area, here's a deal that any crafter will simply love! I have several bolts of pre-interfaced wools that are leftover from my handbag manufacturing days. There are two lots. They are all very high quality wools interfaced to canvas backing. They are perfect for making handbags (of course), totes and reusable shoppers. And best of all? They are free to a good home.

The caveat is the same as the last time. You have to pick them up. I'll put them in a box, but the farthest I'll schlep them is to my back deck. The quantities range between 2 and 10 yards. I don't have exact numbers but for the price, you can't beat that bargain!

To lay claim to one, send an email to ann "at" gorgeousfabrics "dot" com with your contact info (email). I'll send you directions to pick them up, and the first two lucky ducks will get some fab fabrics for free!

The green on the back side of the fabric is the interfacing (canvas)
First Lot contains the following fabrics:





The second lot contains these:





They are all way more gorgeous than the camera can show, and they would cost you a bloody fortune to buy. So if you are a handbag makin' maven, come on down!

Calling All Boston Area Sewists - Free Fabric!

Well, that didn't take long. The fabric stash is pared, for now. I'll probably be putting more out there later, but for now, the fabric is claimed. Thanks all!

Thanks to Assorted Notions, I have decided to to a fabric stash purge. So guess what? That means freebies for anyone who wants them. I have a humongous boxload of fabrics that I want out of my house. You think your stash has gone out of control? Ask Phyllis what my sewing room looks like. It reminds me of the verse from the old Allan Sherman song (sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic):

Although the fire was raging
Harry stood by his machine
And when the firemen broke in
They discovered him between
A pile of roasted Dacron
And some french fried gabardine.
His cloth goes marching on!

Yah, that's me. So my purge is some lucky person's gain. I'll put a picture up later, but here's a sampling of what is in the box:

• White denim
• White/black 4 way stretch border print nylon/lycra
• Black stretch lace
• Blue guipire lace
• Gold hammered silk
• Goldenrod 4-ply silk crepe
• Earth tones silk boucle
• Heathered green Modal rayon jersey

And lots, lots more. It's all good stuff, but the reality is that I'm just not going to sew it up in this lifetime or any other. So you want it? It's yours for the taking.

There is a catch. You gotta take the whole box. And you have to come pick it up. I am not lugging that beast to the post office or anywhere farther than my back deck. So if you are in the Boston metro area, and you want some fine fabric for free, leave me a comment with your contact info (I moderate all comments, so it won't show up) and I'll get in touch with you to arrange pickup. If there are no takers by this evening, I'm going to put it all on CraigsList

Happy sewing!