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Archive: Contests
November 19, 2009
Book Review, Giveaway + Project: The Sewing Bible By Ruth Singer
The Sewing Bible By Ruth Singer
If you are a crafter who loves to sew or are just starting out this book, The Sewing Bible: A Modern Manual of Practical and Decorative Sewing Techniques by Ruth Singer must be in your crafting library! This hard cover book is like a modern sewing encyclopedia with detailed step-by-step instructions and accompanying photos on techniques for hand and machine sewing. The techniques covered in the book are really extensive such as pin tucks, smocking, hems, adding snaps, princess seams, frills and ruffles, quilting, and embroidery. The close-up photos are great and guide you even better on all the steps. Masterclass techniques, such as mitered corners, help refine your sewing skills. The machine-sewing ones are particularly helpful for me personally as I always need to know if I'm using the right presser foot or not. This book is a sewing companion at it's finest!
The Sewing Bible also comes with 20 beautiful sewing projects. I love the Circular Skirt (p.270), Book Bag (p. 111), and Gathered Scarf (p.220) that can be worn in a variety of ways.
Book Giveaway Time!
Three lucky CRAFT readers will each receive a copy of The Sewing Bible. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Monday, November 23rd. The lucky winners will be announced later on the site. Good luck!
As a special treat, we've got this Stripy Apron project for you! It's a cute apron you can sew up by recycling two men's shirts.
Download the Stripy Apron PDF
(right click and download to your computer)
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 19, 2009 03:30 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests, Sewing |
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November 17, 2009
Me, My Scarf and I Contest: Faux-y Lady Scarf
More entries are coming in for our Me, My Scarf, and I Contest where the Grand Prize Winner will receive a Singer ProFinish Serger! Ooooh! I am loving this Faux-y Lady Scarf by Marigold of the blog Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky! (Flickr user mr. huckleberry & the milosaur.)
Marigold writes writes:
How can something so elegant and sophisticated be so silly at the same time? In my Faux-y Lady scarf, I tried to capture that strange juxtaposition inherent in the vintage fur pelts that have always fascinated me. If this scarf is a reflection of my personality, I hope it comes off a little bit quirky and unconventional, but with a great sense of humor, and somehow still a teensy bit debonair.
There's still time to enter the Me, My Scarf, and I Contest. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PDT November 23, 2009. Each entry will be judged based on the following criteria: creativity of design, description of how the scarf represents the creator, and the use of a sewing machine in the creation process. Please see Official Rules for more information on the Winner selection.
If you're joining in on the contest, here's the code for the badge to display on your site or blog.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1229922@N20/"><img src="http://cdn.makezine.com/make/craft/badge_singer_scarfcontest.gif" width="150" height="144" border="0" alt="CRAFT: Singer Contest - Me, My Scarf, and I" /></a>
See more entries in the Me, My Scarf and I Flickr Group.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 17, 2009 03:00 PM
Contests, Sewing |
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November 16, 2009
Craft Leftovers Monthly: Winter Issue + Giveaway
The Craft Leftovers Montlhy Winter Issue is now available for pre-order for $7 (+s&h). Craft Leftovers Monthly is all about living life creatively. It's full of resourceful projects, patterns, and ideas for using what's on hand. It turned two years old in August and is 100% recycled and 100% handmade!
Kristin of Craft Leftovers writes:
This issue marks a new phase of Craft Leftovers Monthly, not only is it larger in size and page count, but we also have guest designers for the first time! And to top that off, subscriptions for the zine will be available for the first time ever. You can now sign up for a half year and full year subscription!
The Craft Leftovers.com shop is celebrating a Grand Opening sale today, everything will be 15% off for today. Also, as a special to CRAFT readers, use the coupon code craftzine to get 20% off your entire order when you buy anything from the Craft Leftovers Monthly category (expires December 15th). Pictured above is the new Box Set , featuring Issues 15-26.
Giveaway Time!
Two random CRAFT readers will each receive a copy of the Craft Leftovers Winter Issue. To enter, leave a comment to this post. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Wednesday, November 18th. The lucky winners will be announced on the site.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 16, 2009 11:00 AM
Books and Magazines, Contests |
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November 12, 2009
Get Cozy with Vaska Contest
Berkeley-based Vaska, makers of botanical-based laundry soap, is holding a Get Cozy With Vaska Contest, which sounds like it's right up our alley.
Twelve winners will get $300 in cash and a page in the 2010 Vaska Cozy Calendar, sure to be a collector's item (or so they claim). The contest ends at midnight Jan. 4, 2010, with winners announced on Jan. 10. So now's the time to get making cozies! The cash would be a nice help in paying off some of my holiday debt, is what I'm thinking.
And I appreciate the fact that their PR efforts are focusing on crafters and our mad crafting skills:
"The Get Cozy Contest is a way of introducing the crafts community to laundry care products that conserve the integrity of their designs and, at the same time, we can reward them for their creativity. We know crafters will appreciate Vaska's softer, brighter, greener results," says Julia Fry, Vaska creator. Fry is a former fashion designer, whose love of textiles led her to create the herb-based detergent.
All the details, contest rules, and info on where to buy Vaska detergent can be found on their website.
Posted by Shawn Connally |
Nov 12, 2009 11:00 AM
Announcements, Contests, Fiber Art, Green, Homemade, Refashion, Yarn |
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November 11, 2009
Winners of The Shrinky Dinks Book
Congratualtions to Joyce in Iowa City, IA, Jennifer in Jeffersonville, IN, and Debra in Marshal, MN for each winning a copy of The Shrinky Dinks Book by Sheri Haab & the editors of Klutz as well as a refill set from last week's giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 11, 2009 09:00 PM
Contests |
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November 10, 2009
Me, My Scarf, and I Contest: Couch Scarf
Kudos to Heidi Wickersham one of our entries in the Me, My Scarf, and I Contest who created her cozy Couch Scarf and Flapper Hat.
Heidi writes:
I am somewhat nostalgic and I like being comfortable. So, I decided to combine the two for this contest to create a scarf with a cushion look to resemble an old-timey arm chair.I'm also very thrifty and like re-using things that I have lying around, like the over-sized men's shirt that I made this scarf and flapper hat out of.
This scarf is incredibly warm and comfortable. When wearing it, it brings back memories of cuddling on the sofa in front of my grandmother's fireplace with a teacup full of colorful mini-marshmallows .
See more entries in the Me, My Scarf and I Flickr Group.
There's still time to enter the Me, My Scarf, and I Contest. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PDT November 23, 2009. Each entry will be judged based on the following criteria: creativity of design, description of how the scarf represents the creator, and the use of a sewing machine in the creation process. Please see Official Rules for more information on the Winner selection.
If you're joining in on the contest, here's the code for the badge to display on your site or blog.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1229922@N20/"><img src="http://cdn.makezine.com/make/craft/badge_singer_scarfcontest.gif" width="150" height="144" border="0" alt="CRAFT: Singer Contest - Me, My Scarf, and I" /></a>
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 10, 2009 02:00 PM
Contests, Sewing |
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November 9, 2009
CRAFT Giveaway: Moop Bags
Moop specializes in handmade bags for men, women and kids. Every bag is designed and crafted, start to finish, in their Pittsburgh studio. Once an order is placed, they begin the process of production (cutting, sewing, finishing) so your bag is made especially for you.
Featured at top is one of my favorites, The Letter Bag (in Rosewood). This is a bag with lots of little pockets, perfect for your cellphone, iPods, notebooks, craft projects, and more. It's also deep enough also to carry at laptop up to 15"!
Pictured above: (L to R) The Porter, The Market Bag, The Messenger, and The Tote
From the Moop site:
We love the maker's life and are constantly looking for ways to be more connected to the people who make the things we love. We support small independent businesses who work hard to do what they love and find ourselves akin to the same practice. You will find us in the studio every day sewing, making, designing and sharing our experience via our blog. We have worked hard to establish a business that is always looking to improve and grow. We hold thoughtful design and product integrity to be among our achievements. We believe that form does follow function and work hard to bring you bags that hold up to our own high standards.CRAFT Giveaway Time!
We are excited to partner with Moop to bring you this fabulous giveaway! Two random CRAFT readers will be given the bag of their choice (any bag from the entire Moop collection!). To be in the running, simply visit moopshop.com, then come back here and tell us which bag you want and why. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Friday, November 13th. The lucky winners will be announced on the site. Good luck!
Update 11/13: This giveaway is now closed!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 9, 2009 02:00 PM
Contests |
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November 6, 2009
Glamourpuss Book Giveaway Winners
The winners from last week's book giveaway for Glamourpuss by Julie Jackson are: Laura from Bronx, NY, Warren from Alexandria, VA, and Virginie from Kiel, Germany. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 6, 2009 08:00 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests |
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November 4, 2009
Paper Cutout Giveaway
Remember the amazing paper cutouts that I found at the thrift store last week? Well, I went back and picked up 10 sets to mail off to some lucky readers. Just leave a comment on this thread about your love of paper crafts for your chance to win one! The paper cuts are in pretty vintage envelopes, with multiple designs and colors in each. And their crafting potential is endless! The winners will be selected tomorrow so please enter by noon PST Thursday. And please include your email in the form field to be eligible (emails will not be published). Good luck!
Posted by Brookelynn |
Nov 4, 2009 10:00 AM
Contests, Paper Crafts |
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November 2, 2009
Crafty Chica Challenge: Day of the Dead Shrine Winners
Thanks to everyone who entered our Crafty Chica Challenge: Create a Day of the Dead Shrine! The winners are in...
Grand Prize Winner:
Shawnee from Life with Monkey (smonkey on flickr) is the Grand Prize winner with this shrine paying homage to her late mother who died last year, as well as her father who died before she turned two. You can read the complete story about her shrine on her blog.
Runners' Up:
Maumby's shrine to her brother Nico.
Lalabaloobah's shrine for her grandparents, great-grandparents, and her father.
Nikimaki's shrine for Grandma and Grandpa.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 2, 2009 05:45 PM
Contests |
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November 1, 2009
Celebrate the Day of the Dead!
It's finally Dia de los Muertos, or, Day of the Dead. I've lit the candles on my shrine, and reflected and celebrated the lives of my loved ones who have passed on. This year the holiday has been particularly rewarding due to the crafty energy that I put into my altar. I have loved looking at the images and stories submitted to the Crafty Chica Challenge, there are truly moving pieces of art posted. The special emotions and memories that have been shared in the flickr pool are just amazing. Enjoy life, everyone!
Posted by Brookelynn |
Nov 1, 2009 06:00 PM
Contests, Halloween, Holiday projects |
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October 28, 2009
Crafty Chica's Cycle of Life Face Paint
The beautiful and meaningful Day of the Dead is almost here. I hope that you have been working on a shrine to memorialize your loved ones who have passed on, and that you will enter it into the Crafty Chica Shrine Challenge! Kathy Cano-Murillo is a constant source of inspiration, and today I want to share her spectacular cycle of life face paint.
Using face paint found at the costume store, paint half of a face like a sugar skull and leave the other half alone. This represents that in this life or the next we will always be "alive", our spirit is eternal! I've seen all kinds of faces painted in this style and it is inspiring to see the variations on how the skull portion is decorated. You can use black and white, or lots of color and even glitter!
Posted by Brookelynn |
Oct 28, 2009 10:00 AM
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October 27, 2009
Crafty Chica Challenge: Day of the Dead Shrine - Deadline Extended to Nov 1!
Hi Crafters! The deadline for the Crafty Chica Challenge: Create a Day of the Dead Shrine has been extended to Sunday, November 1st at 11:59 PDT. Winners will be announced on Monday, November 2nd. It's easy to enter! Just add the photo of your shrine into the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr Group and enter in a 250 word or less description of what your shrine represents and what materials were used in its creation.
Pictured above is the current altar-in-progress by Connie Ayers, our own Sheena Stevens' mom.
Sheena writes:
She hasn't yet strung together her marigolds and put the finishing touches on the altar, so this is the basic set-up. All of the photos are our loved ones who have passed away. I love having all of their pictures up in the house every year around this time, it's a nice way to remember!
For more Day of the Dead Inspiration:
- Crafty Chica Challenge: Day of the Dead Shrine Inspiration
- How-To: Day of the Dead Advent
- How-To: Start Building a Day of the Dead Altar!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 27, 2009 08:30 PM
Contests |
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Book Review + Giveaway: Glamourpuss by Julie Jackson
Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs by Julie Jackson
Book Site: kittywigs.com
Julie Jackson who brings us Subversive Cross Stitch and Kitty Wigs has reached "eleven" in terms of cuteness with her new book, Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs. The fashionable kitties, photographed by Jill Johnson, are styled in various Kitty Wigs amid scenes of their fashionable life. Hey, it's the world of the supermodel kitties! I love each of the hilarious kitty quotes that go with each photo making it super believable that these kitties are living some kind of extraordinary life that we get a glimpse into.
Book Giveaway Time!
We are giving away 3 copies of Glamourpuss. Just leave a comment in this post and tell us why you want this book. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Thursday, October 29th. The lucky winners will be announced on the site. Good luck!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 27, 2009 11:00 AM
Books and Magazines, Contests, Pets |
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October 26, 2009
Twitter Giveaway Winners: Stencil 101 Decor
Congrats to these 3 winners from last weekend's Twitter Giveaway: @serenajasmine, @pompompon, and @emmaneezer for each winning a copy of the new book, Stencil 101 Decor by Ed Roth. Thanks everyone for entering!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 26, 2009 10:17 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests |
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Favorite Scarf (for now)
This is my favorite scarf. That I bought last year.
I have several other favorite scarves. Probably about 10 or so that are favorites, and another dozen or so that I really, really like.
Favorites include the one I got at a thrift store in Germany this summer; the one I bought in San Francisco with my best friend Jenny on a Mom's Night Away; and the one Marie Kare (love ya!) knit for me a few years ago. So many fabulous scarves!
But back to my favorite scarf (that I bought last year).
I got it at Bazaar Bizarre in San Francisco from Lauren Brady, the woman next to the Craftzine booth where I was working. It's designed with quilted pieces on one side and a rust-colored, very soft corduroy on the other.
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Besides the pattern and fabric choices, both of which I love, it includes two clever features. The first is the little embroidered bird on one end. So cute! The other is a button sewn onto the corduroy side about a third of the way down the length, and a corresponding hole sewn into the scarf near the other end. You can button your scarf in place! This keeps you super toasty and super fashionable, all at the same time. Such an awesome feature for a favorite scarf!
And I can't wait to find my next favorite scarf among the entries in the Me, My Scarf, and I contest. You're all clever, crafty, and motivated, so maybe I'll end up with 2 or 3 favorites this year!
Posted by Shawn Connally |
Oct 26, 2009 11:00 AM
Contests, Sewing |
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October 23, 2009
Twitter Giveaway: Stencil 101 Decor
Happy Friday everyone! In celebration of the weekend, we've got a special Twitter Book Giveaway for Stencil 101 by Ed Roth starting now! We are addicted to Twitter! So for this book giveaway, follow @craft on Twitter and send a tweet to us saying "@craft: I need Stencil 101!" You can also add anything else you want to say to us too! We will pick 3 random twitter followers for the prize. Deadline for tweets is Monday, October 26 at 9:00am.
And since you are following us, please also follow @ChronicleBooks for all of their awesome news on books, design, and everything else under the sun! Have a great weekend!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 23, 2009 03:45 PM
Books and Magazines, Contests |
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Shrines, Just Because
My neighbor Teresa Cuseo is an amazing artist and crafter -- every time I talk to her or go over for a visit she's doing something creative, from terrific mosaics to yummy baked goods to cool jewelry and clever shrines.
She recently bought a Day of the Dead crafting book and has plans to make some Day of the Dead altars, but the shrines and altars she's created thus far pay homage to the various incarnations of the Virgin Mary, bicycling, her loved ones, other religious figures, and roses. I like each and every one of them, and think they offer a lot of inspiration for our Day of the Dead shrines, too. Check them out after the jump and see what you think!
Read full story
Posted by Shawn Connally |
Oct 23, 2009 02:00 PM
Arts & Design, Contests, General |
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October 18, 2009
Sadie Fox's Wicked Scarf
Rachel spotted a beautiful version of the Ruffle Scarf inspiration I shared for the Me, My Scarf, and I Singer Sewing Challenge. It was created by Sadie Fox, who has the scarf up on her own blog, and posted on Wardrobe ReFashion. Her site has a ton of fun fashion projects with clever recycled and repurposed twists. I love the color she chose for her scarf, it just looks so great on her, and I hope she had a great time wearing it to the musical Wicked! I also hope that you will enter the contest, for a chance to win a Singer Serger.
Posted by Brookelynn |
Oct 18, 2009 06:00 PM
Contests, Fashion, Fiber Art |
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October 15, 2009
How-To: Day of the Dead Advent
Day of the Dead Advent
By Jessica Wilson
Every year I plan to make a Day of the Dead altar in honor of my mom and every year, I lose track of time and never manage to pull it off. This year, I have created a countdown, an advent of sorts so that you take a couple of hours on one day to gather your supplies and create your jar of advent, and then, for 10 days, you spend a little time working on your altar/shrine while reminiscing about your loved ones passed. Make sure to begin your altar no later than October 22.
If you are thinking of joining in on Crafty Chica's Day of the Dead Challenge but feel intimidated, never fear, this tutorial breaks it down for you in 10 easy steps!
Read full story
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Oct 15, 2009 12:00 PM
Contests, CRAFT Projects, Halloween |
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