Sugar Plum Winner!!

An early good morning!

So....the time has arrived to pick a winner for the Sugar Plum pattern!

There were 32 in all who left a comment asking to have their name thrown in for the drawing and they are;

1. Mary Deeter

2. Kristine Balinski

3. Tanja Haack

4. Rose

5. LynnB

6. jody salahub

7. SewLindaAnn

8. Maureen Cunningham

9. Laury

10. Linda

11. The Hojnackes

12. Su-z

13. Kathy

14. bluenines

15. AnneMaskell

16. Dorothy DotDot

17. Bunny

18. Tatiana Di Maio

19. Mary Maryall

20. frenaew

21. Angelathe Creative Diva

22. Vicki

23. Kathy

24. Ysenia H

25. Sharon

26. Anjie

27. lin3arossa

28. Ellen

29. rainjerette

30. violet gypsie

31. PoldaPop

32. Etcetorize

Once again, I went to Random.org and allowed the sequence generator to pick a number and the first number on the list is number 10, so that makes Linda the winner of the Sugar Plum pattern! Congratulations Linda. Please email me at sewbussted@yahoo.com with your address so I can get your pattern in the mail.

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

10
 1
31
14
 7
 9
25
13
21
23
 4
 3
 5
27
30
22
 6
16
29
17
20
26
24
28
11
32
 2
18
19
12
15
 8

Timestamp: 2013-11-10 11:38:54 UTC

For those of you who didn't win, I wish I had a pattern for all of you. That's the worst part about doing a giveaway :( But, you can always go to http://www.lolitapatterns.com/shop/ and pick one up!

When Sleeping Women Wake......

As this week begins to come to a close, I would like to do a little recap on the pillowcase journey.
Yesterday, I received a message from Halley who is a representative from Mary Bridge and she told me that she had posted our success at reaching 900 pillowcases on their Facebook page. I was on my way to a party when I read the message. She told me that the response had been incredible and that I might want to take a look at the messages. As I read the first, I began to cry and I told my husband, "well, so much for my makeup." I'll share the message with you,

"Rhonda, I want to thank you for all of the cases. My daughter Codi received a few after 6 long years of treatment, and even though now she is my angel, I still sleep with them and remember all of the memories of her with them. You have no idea how special you are. Much love to you."

As touched as I am by this message, this is really a message to all of you who have participated. Here is a link to the Mary Bridge page where you can read all of the messages that were posted, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151977799026445&set=a.10150120953716445.300180.117171346444&type=1&theater

I've pulled out a few pictures that have been taken over the past months. Please know that one does not mean more than another. Each has its own special memory. I hope you enjoy taking a stroll down Memory Lane as much as I enjoyed pulling out the pictures.  

The first 100.

 450!

Coats and Clark also posted the project on their Facebook page and this message was left by Laura, "Reminds me of the saying, When sleeping women wake, mountains move." You've moved a mountain and so many lives will be touched in ways we'll never know.
Thank you.
Rhonda

Chugging Along....Sorta, Make a Garment A Month

Do you ever have days when it seems like EVERYTHING goes wrong with whatever it is that you touch. I had thought that I would quickly finish up my Fabulous Free Pattern Friday piece this morning. That didn't happen. So I thought that I would finish up my Make a Garment A Month piece especially since I am so behind, after all this is November 8th. As I started getting into the project, I realized that I really should get my Sleeves On Saturday piece done since I need to leave rather early tomorrow morning, so I put the jacket aside. Then to just put the cheery on top of the whole mess, I managed to cut my sleeve out on the wrong side of the fabric. I was not happy, especially since I don't have enough of that fabric to re-cut the sleeve. The entire piece is now pinned on to a whole new piece of fabric. Let's see if I can get through this project without a mishap.

Before I begin to cut, I thought I would take a quick break and give you a quick update on my now very late October outfit. Trust me, I am determined tom get this finished and get on to the next project.

This is the picture that I showed you back in October.    

The skirt is finished. For a simple a-line skirt that should have gone together in a snap, it didn't. The pattern is a 1970's vintage pattern and the skirt had a yoke. I decided that I didn't want the yoke as I wanted a shorter skirt, so I illuminated the yoke and adjusted the waist. I thought I adjusted it correctly, but when I tried it on after it was completed, the waist was 2" too large. I was not happy. This meant that I had to take out flat felled seams and all the stitching I had done at the waist. Needless to say, I did it and now it is fine.

The jacket is quite interesting. What you see in the picture below is the back and a portion of the front with the pocket. It is completely lined.

In this picture is the overlay. The pocket will be stitched to the backside of the overlay. The overlay is also completely lined.

I found this wonderful cotton to line the jacket. I really love it.

I'm really much further along than it looks, and I sure do wish it were finished! Hopefully by this time next week, it will be and then I can pull out the next garment that I want to get completed.
On a happy note, I have received three more packages of pillowcases, so the count continues to grow. Very exciting. I'll post those tomorrow.
I hope your Friday is going better than mine has at this point. I'm off to cut that sleeve and I am determined to get it right this time!! Wish me luck :)

Success!

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've known since Monday, I've wanted so badly to shout it out from the top of my lungs, but everyone deserves their time to be recognized, so I had to wait.

WE HAVE OFFICIALLY HIT 900 PILLOWCASES FOR THE MARY BRIDGE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you believe it?!! It really happened!

As I said, I received the package on Monday from Laura who is still "Blogless in Delaware." I love that :) I told Laura that one of my favorite movies is "Sleepless in Seattle," and her little title always makes me think of the movie. I've probably watched that movie, well, more than 10 times and probably closer to 20. I can say the lines right along with the actors.
This is Laura's second contribution. Thank you so much!

 In the last pillowcase post, we had 894 pillowcases, so with Laura's 14, we are now at 908 and climbing.

Nancy of www.sewwest.blogspot.com  told me, "You will reach a 1000." I think we will.
Your generosity is astounding. Laura included a note with her cases and she said, "You had to set this goal before it could be reached; keep on aiming for the stars!" I think her words are something we can all take to heart in every aspect of our lives.
I talked to a friend on Tuesday and told her that we had reached our goal. She too has contributed twice to the project. She told me that she thought that there was no way that we would reach 900 pillowcases. Over the last months, she would caution me, but I refused to speak anything but positive words over the project. The only time that I have been a little cautious, was with my pilot friend who has done the aerial photos for us. When he flew over and saw the first 100, he was extremely excited and said that I needed to contact the news stations and let them know what I'm doing as they love human interest stories. He's friends with all the helicopter pilots for the various stations and offered to talk directly to them. I said that I wanted to wait. I didn't want to bring in such public exposure in the event that we didn't make it. That was the only time that I let a little fear slip out.
Last year, this project brought in 4,500 pillowcases at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington. Percentage wise, what we have done is huge. Our numbers are basically 25% of the the total of last year's donations. We came together and made something incredible happen.
I am planning to hang the 900 pillowcases the day after Thanksgiving. I think that is a very appropriate time. I'm going to be a mess I'm sure. As I was folding Laura's cases this morning, I'll admit that I shed a few tears.
As I said, the count continues to grow. I've received a number of messages that cases are making their way to me at this very moment. Lisa, of www.poldapop.blogspot.com is hosting an Advent pillowcase making party at her church in December. She said that her pastor is very excited about it. I think it is such a unique way to celebrate this time of year. If you have wanted to contribute to the project, but for whatever reason have not been able to, you are most welcome to send in cases until February 1st. At that time, I will be boxing up the cases and sending them on to Tacoma.
Thank you again for all you've done to make this happen.
Rhonda

The Pattern Pyramid Winner and A Surprise!

We have a winner!

I am not sure how scientific this is, but I went to Random.org and found the free sequence generator. The first number on the list is number 8. I gave everyone who entered the drawing a number in the order in which they left a message. The only one that is not listed on the blog replies is Dorothy DotDot as I accidentally deleted her message before posting it. So sorry Dorothy. I did remember where she was in the line up and it would have been number 13. The first number to come up was number 8 and that makes Dal the winner!! Yea Dal!! Please send me your address so I can get the patterns out to you. A little surprise, I am also including a copy of my Clam Shell Wristlet pattern in the pyramid. And another surprise...I would like to give everyone who entered a copy of my Clam Shell Wristlet, yea!!. So, if you are on the list below, send me your email address and I will forward the pattern to you. My email address is sewbussted@yahoo.com. Everybody is a winner!!!! Aren't Wednesdays wonderful?!! 

1. Andrea

2. Debbie Cook

3. corecouture

4. Lee Anne Bourque

5. Desarae

6. gMarie

7. Mary Maryall

8. Dal

9. Cathy

10. foamofdays

11. Mary Deeter

12. Kuby2u

13. Dorothy DotDot

14. asunnydayinla.com

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

 8
 2
 5
 6
 9
10
 3
11
 4
13
14
12
 1
 7

All Is Bright And Happy!

Another gray Chicago day! But all is bright and happy!! 

I have 2 pillowcase donations to share today, both are from fellow Haute Couture members.

First up is Maria. Maria and I have known each other for a very long time. She took a tailoring class that I was teaching and when I found out how much she enjoyed sewing, I invited her to join the Haute Couture Club, and the rest is history :)

All 5 of Maria's cases have a kitty cat theme. She confessed that she had purchased the fabric to make new beds, but.....that didn't get done. We've all sung that song I'm afraid!!

She also used a very pretty embroidered ruffle to trim one of the cases.
I'm sorry for the kitties Maria, but I so appreciate your contribution!

Next up is a long time member of the Haute Couture Club, Melba. I had no idea that she had planned to make cases, but she pulled a bag out and tucked it in my arms and said, "Here!" I love it :)

This Winny The Poo fabric is so precious.

And who can resist Maynard?!!!

Thank you so much Melba. You always make me smile.

If you've been following along on the pillowcase posts, then you may have already done the math and added this 9 and come up with a total of 894 PILLOWCASES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's only 6 away from 900!!! We're almost there. Can you believe it?!!!!! So when and who will contribute the 900th pillowcase? Oh.......such suspense!!
Until the next post, have a bright and happy day :)
Rhonda 

I'm In A Give Away Kinda Mood

Just about a month ago I shared with you the pattern that I tested for Lolita Patterns. The testing was actually done during the summer, but the pattern wasn't released until October. 

The ladies of Lolita had a vision for their pattern envelope and they weren't going to give up until it was right, so they decided to hold off on the release. Since I tested the pattern for them, they very graciously gave me one.

The closure is so unique and cute.

 And it works so well. Just bend up the bow which has a metal strip behind it,

 and slide open.

I love the pattern, but since I printed off the pdf and did all the work to tape it all together, and there's no reason to just throw all the work I did into the recycling bin, I've decided to give it away. You'll receive the printed pattern, not my pdf version. Lucky somebody!!!

So, Here's the deal,
1. You must be a follower of this blog. You know, that little box with all the smiling faces and the blue tab     that says "Join This Site."
2. Leave a message on this post by Saturday, November 9th and let me know that you would like to be included in the drawing.
I will draw names on Sunday, November 10th and announce the winner.
That's it! Good Luck and may the pattern gods be on your side!!!!
Happy Tuesday Everyone :)
Rhonda

P.S. Remember the pattern pyramid giveaway ends tomorrow, so make sure and get your name in the pile if you would like to be included. Here's a link, http://www.rhondabuss.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-won-and-so-can-you.html