Giveaway Day 2009

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES TO GIVEAWAY NO LONGER ACCEPTED.  WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!


Welcome to Giveaway Day 2009! 

Well...the fact that you're here most probably means that you already know all about this wonderful day in crafting blogland...so let's get straight to it, shall we?

This year, I am giving you the chance to win this gorgeous shopping tote!

(one side view)

(the other side)

You've probably seen this sometime ago in a previous post. Anyway, for the benefit of those who haven't seen this or don't remember...this is the Market bag, the pattern of which came from an issue of the Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection magazine.  I don't know why they chose to call the bag such as I personally think it is too pretty to take to the market. 

This particular Market bag was made using 'Fig & Plum' 5" squares from Moda.  It is very nicely sewn up, if I may say so myself.  The bag is very roomy, about 17 1/2" by 13 1/2" by 4" in size.  Not only will this make a perfect shopping companion, it can also be a great overnight tote!

Well...you interested?  Here are the mechanics:

1. If you haven't done so already, SIGN UP to be a Heart of Mary follower. You don't need to have a blog to do so.  By being a follower, you will not only be regularly updated on what's going on here, but you will also get the opportunity to connect with others in the blog community, especially with those with the same interests as yours.  As for me, I like clicking on those little thumbnail images and learning about you (or your blog, if you have one) as well.

To be a follower, just click on the Follow button located on the side bar where all the tiny pictures of all the current members are.

2.  I am willing to ship to anywhere worldwide BUT please be sure that the postal system in your country is reliable.  It would be such a pity if the bag doesn't reach you and just gets lost somewhere!

3.  Leave your name and email address in the comments section below.  Without this information, your entry will be invalid.  Don't worry...I will not spam you ever! 

4.  You will have until the end of the day of the 6th of December to join. The Giveaway Day winner will be determined by Random Number Generator on the 7th and will be posted here shortly after.  Winner will also be notified by email.

Simple enough?  Good...wait...there's more...

In the navigation bar at the top, you will find a link to my eBook Shop, Simple Things.  (Please take note that this is not the same as my Etsy Shop although all the items for sale are the same.) Purchasing any eBook from the 2nd to the 6th of December will entitle you to a second eBook, of equal or lesser value, for FREE!  If that sounds good to you, go to the shop right now and browse around. You might just find something you'd like to make and give away this Christmas. 

If you do decide to make a purchase, don't forget this most important thing. When you head on to Paypal to make your payment, tell me in the 'Instructions to Merchant' section which second eBook you would like to receive.  Your PDFs will be sent to you promptly to the email address associated with your Paypal account, unless you specify otherwise.  Limit one freebie only per customer.

Well, that's about it!  I hope you all can join in the fun!  To go to the master list of all participating blogs and view all the other awesome giveaways, just click on the Season of Giving button below.  Good luck!

Some exciting changes and a special offer!

I nearly shed tears (and blood!) trying to make some cool changes to this blog.  Although I am quite computer savvy, HTML codes are just not my thing. I honestly had to google everything I needed to know.  I worked by head off, consumed hours and hours in front of the computer, and neglected a lot of my household duties in the process, just to make this work...and I think I finally did it...

You may notice that I now have a navigation bar at the top of the page, just below the banner.  Nothing much really.  That one was quite easily done.  Just a quick rundown of the choices:

Home - brings you to the most recent blog post
Free Tutorial PDFs - will open a new window which will allow you to download my tutorials in PDF format.  This replaces the previous widget on my sidebar.
My Etsy - will open a new window bringing you to my Etsy Shop, Simple Things

and last but not the least...the one that nearly killed me...

eBook Shop - will bring you to my new, alternate shop!

I've decided to create another shop, which links directly to this blog, just to give you a second option.  All the eBooks being sold there are the same ones in my Etsy shop. The prices are the same as well. If you want to purchase a pattern but you don't have an Etsy account (and can't be bothered opening one), you are most welcome to purchase directly from me.  In the process, you will be saving me a bit on Etsy fees too!

I invite you all to have a look.  The first page explains how the site works.  It's a small, simple shop, nothing fancy (as if I am capable to come up with anything fancy!).

I've tested all the buttons on the shop and everything seems to be in working order. Care to be the first one to try it out?  

HERE'S THE SPECIAL OFFER:

THE FIRST FIVE BUYERS WILL GET AN EXTRA eBOOK OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE AS THEIR PURCHASED eBOOK FOR FREE!  Only one free eBook per customer (so even if you purchase more than 1, you will only get 1 free, sorry!).  After you complete your transaction on Paypal, return to the shop's homepage and leave a comment so I would know who the first five buyers were. On your comment, include what second pattern you would like to receive. Please also make sure you identify yourself so I can match you with your Paypal transaction.  

Take advantage of this offer!  Head on over to the shop now!

(I will put an update here as soon as the five transactions come through, just so you'll be aware.)

Carry your Water Bottle in Style

Just a quick note to let you all know that my new sewing pattern is now available in my Etsy shop! This is a 17-page PDF containing detailed instructions on how to make a one-of-a-kind Water Bottle Carrier. It comes with 39 photos!





Isn't that cool?

With the instructions, you will be able to sew a water bottle carrier that: 1) is insulated (to keep your water hot or cold); 2) has an adjustable strap; and 3) closes with a drawstring to keep your bottle from accidentally slipping out. Directions on how to customize your carrier to suit a bottle size of your choice are also provided.

This is great to take anywhere! Why not make one for your kids, for school or for presents even? Christmas is not too far away...

I worked tirelessly on this one yesterday and am mighty proud of the resulting eBook. Hope you'll give it a go! You won't be disappointed...

The makings of an eBook

In my previous post, I mentioned about creating a new eBook. The truth is, I've been laboring on it for months now. My pattern has gone from one revision to another as I have been trying to find the easiest sewing process as well as the simplest explanation to go with it. It's been a challenge...

Personally, I prefer including loads of photos to go with my instructions because I like my readers to be able to figure out what to do just by looking at them. Taking photos can be a real pain for me though. Natural lighting is the best, but the weird Melbourne weather is just too difficult to work with! Yesterday, I was all set to go on with my project but the weather kept changing from sunny to cloudy and I just could not take decent shots from inside the house.

So today, when I woke up to what seemed to be a beautiful, sunny day, I had the awesome idea of transferring my crafting outside...to our backyard. Not only was it great because it was bright, but also because I had a huge space all to myself! Why didn't I think of this before?

I started real early, was very hopeful I was going to accomplish something and that I would have all the good photos I needed...

And yey, I did it!

The weather turned cloudy just after I was done and I was so thankful I had finished what I had set out to do. Now all I need to do is organize my photos, write up the instructions and complete the PDF. Sounds easy but I still have a long way to go...

Here's just a sneak peek into my soon to come out 'How To'. It's actually something you've already seen here before though just a little bit different...

Hope you all would look forward to that!

I ♥ Japanese fabric

I recently made a fabric journal cover (to go with a journal, of course) to give as a birthday present for my daughter's classmate. I took advantage of this opportunity to take photos and update my Fabric Journal Cover eBook listing on Etsy.

Adorable Japanese fabric does wonders to a simple project, doesn't it?

French animal faces fabric by Kokka

Close-up of heart button closure and pen loop

Something I made differently with this cover (which is not in the original pattern) is this ribbon page marker. A great addition, if I may say so myself.



The recipient was very happy and even thanked me personally. Why wouldn't she be? Handmade gifts are the best after all.

By the way, I am still looking for a swap partner. Head on over here, if interested (just scroll down to the bottom).

Re-igniting an Old Passion (plus some Swap Update)

My daughter will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation very soon. On special occasions such as this, I usually give my kids a small token to forever remind them of the TRUE gift they received on the day.

Missy, whose baptismal name is Marie, has chosen Anne to be her confirmed name. What an appropriate name, I believe, St. Anne, being the mother of Mary. I initially thought of making her a rosary bracelet with a St. Anne medal and so I went on searching on eBay for one. What I found instead was this...a small vintage brooch with a lovely image of St. Anne and the child Mary. I bought it without second thoughts.

I still went ahead and made a matching rosary bracelet. I had all the materials on hand anyway.

I used turquoise semi-precious gemstones for the prayer beads and have included a Benedictine crucifix and a Miraculous medal. This is something I hope Missy will treasure as she matures in her Catholic faith. Please remember her in your prayers.

Speaking of rosary bracelets...many of you who are new readers of this blog probably don't know that long before I started sewing and selling on Etsy, I was actively making rosaries and selling them on eBay. I did that for a couple of years and was actually doing quite well. I found great fulfillment in being able to encourage people to pray the rosary, even in my own little way. Three reasons why I decided to stop making and selling rosaries: one, the increasing eBay fees was just too much for me; two, I could no longer keep up with the big sellers; and three, having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on both hands made it quite difficult for me to continually handcraft each rosary.

Anyway, making that bracelet for my daughter reminded me of how much I used to find joy in rosary-making. When I found out that, on Etsy, there is such a team as a Rosary Guild, I quickly requested to join in and am now slowly getting back to my rosary-making! If you click on my shop link on the sidebar, you will see what I have listed so far. Maybe Etsy's reach will not be as wide compared to eBay but I'm giving it a try... I'll just see how that goes...

NOW...on to some Swap news. It's been a week since I posted about the first Swap and apparently, no one is interested or has any use for the Kiddie Fat Quarters on offer. And so...sensing that a lot of you are waiting for a different swap, I've decided to scrap that first one and head on to the next.

Update (24/9/09): FOUND MY SWAP PARTNER! NO LONGER ACCEPTING OFFERS. TILL NEXT SWAP!

Would you like to own this City Backpack instead?

This bag is exactly the one in the tutorial I posted here. Again, if you are new to this blog, I encourage you to also read this. I love this bag but have not used it ever. Just so you know what to expect, this was the first backpack I made and I had a crappy sewing matching then, so you might find some minor faults in my sewing. Sounds like I'm just making excuses for my unpolished sewing skills...seriously, though, I'm sure you will love it as well.

Let me just repeat the mechanics of the Heart of Mary Swap:

1. If you are interested, please leave a comment here plus your contact information. Tell me what you would trade for this backpack. Try me! If you can email me photos of your item, the better.

2. I am willing to ship to anywhere around the world so anyone can join.

3. I will choose the best offer and commence the swap. Next swap round will begin as soon as my swap partner and I receive our respective items.

Everything clear? The trading floor is now open!

iPhone case version 3.0

Before I go into talking about the iPhone case, let me tell you first about how I got the iPhone.

Well, my husband brought it home one day recently as a surprise for me. No, he did not make an outright purchase (we certainly do not buy expensive stuff like this!), but the phone came with those "0 upfront, 24-month mobile phone plans". Why he made the seemingly impulsive decision to change my perfectly good old phone and switch to a different post-paid plan, he only knows. I wouldn't say the generous gesture came as a surprise...rather, it was a shock. Honestly, I hardly get any presents even when there is an occasion...

The iPhone, as cool as it is, is not really something I need. I am rarely on the phone, I am not a text messaging addict, I only listen to music while I'm ironing clothes, and I have internet access from a desktop computer that's on nearly all day. I don't want to sound unappreciative, but yeah, the iPhone seems too much of a luxury for me.

But I must say, it is one magnificent phone...I am lucky to be the owner of one...and my kids are having fun with it as well.

And so, such magnificence only deserves the coolest of carry cases.

iPhone case version 3.0

That is what my son calls my carry case. I've spent countless hours figuring out how I was going to go about sewing up one that will meet all my requirements. It needed to be padded to give the phone extra protection. It had to have a secure and big enough storage space for the headset and stylus. I should be able to easily access the headset jack. And I should be able to carry it around hands-free. Plus, it needs to be pretty!

Three tries later, this is what I ended up with. (I showed the first version on my previous post.)

Front view (button loop closure, swivel hook attachment, detachable neck strap)

Padded interior ensures a safe and perfect fit

Pleated back pocket

Velcro pocket closure

Phone accessories stored securely

Open top with headset plugged in

It was quite difficult to sew up considering the small size and the thickness, but the case does meet my criteria. I am really happy with it. What do you think?

UPDATE (6/6/09): PDF Sewing Instructions for this iPhone Carry Case now available in my Etsy shop!

Saying thanks...

Before anything else,  let me just thank all those who left messages on my previous post. Seriously, I did not expect anyone to comment, more so, offer words of comfort and encouragement.  

I believe that people who take time to comment like that show that they are genuinely interested, not only in what I do but in who I am.  Again, thank you.  I came to realize that although we come from different places and races, we do share the same human experiences after all.  And that makes us no different from one another.

I, of course, have not forgotten that we have been brought together, first and foremost,  by our same love for sewing and crafting in general, and so...

Here it is, the final version of my small wallet (after making 6 variations!).

This wallet has several differences from the very first version.  The main fabric is lined with fusible fleece instead of stiff interfacing, making the wallet quite thick but soft.  It has 6 card slots rather than 3.  Also, the zippered compartment on the outside is a little larger.  There is no keyring attachment on this but putting one would always be an option.

I worked double time for the past two days on making the instructions.  The eBook is now listed on my shop.  As always, I promise you clear, straightforward directions and loads of accompanying photos.

Hope I am successfully keeping you gals interested enough to come back here.  Have fun!

Happy Easter! Happy 100th post!

Happy Easter everyone!  And happy 100th post to me!

In my previous entry, I showed you a new bag I made. Here it is again with more photos...

I call this one the 'Simple and Classy' Handbag. It is a medium-sized handbag that closes with a flap and magnetic snap, 11 ½” wide at the top, 12 ½” tall, about  12 ½” at its widest point, with a darted bottom.  It also has a zippered pocket inside.  A great compact size for everyday use!

The pattern and instructions for this bag are all compiled in a 28-page eBook which will be made available on my Etsy shop starting on the 19th of April, next Sunday.

As my way of sharing Easter joy with all of you, I am having a special shop promotion starting today, the 12th of April till Saturday, the 18th...

Get this for FREE....

Say that again??? For every Lily Handbag eBook purchase,  you will get the new Simple and Classy Handbag eBook absolutely FREE!

But remember, the promo is till the 18th only.  After that, the eBook will cost $8 USD on my shop.

Head on over to Etsy now!

A Bag is Born

Been working really hard on my new eBook since late last week.  The process of sewing up the bag, taking photos along the way, resizing and editing photos, writing up instructions, editing and proofreading, converting to PDF...all while my computer was acting crazy...it's really pretty tiring.  But now,  I am very glad to say...I'm done!  And praying that the effort will be well worth it.

Yes...the bag has been given a name.

My first inclination was to use a name that would describe the bag's purpose. Giving it a girl's name just did not make very much sense to me. Until I got this suggestion...

Then it all made sense.  I could clearly imagine my mother in her younger years, wearing her style of blouse, a pair of capri pants, and her favourite comfy leather Naturalizer sandals... carrying this bag.  She would have loved to bring this along on occasional lunches out with her neighborhood friends or an afternoon spent playing mahjong with them.  

And so, I am proud to say, the Lily handbag is born.  Named after the most beautiful person I have ever known.

Thank you to B, for bringing out the sentimental side of me.  I will contact you shortly to ask for your complete postal address.  The bag is yours!!!

As for the eBook, it is now available in my Etsy shop.  As always, I will be hoping for everyone's support.  Thank you so much to all who participated in this giveaway.  I genuinely had fun.  I will be keeping all the bag names you have suggested in mind for my future projects.  If I do decide to use one of those names, for sure, the author will be informed and 'rewarded' accordingly.

Have a nice day!

Shop Update

Want to make one of these?

You've seen them on previous posts, here and here. Well finally, the promised ebook on how to make this 'Heart of Mary' long wallet is finished.  It is now available on my Etsy shop for a small fee.  You can be assured that just like all my other tutorials, this ebook will provide you with very detailed and easy to follow instructions, complete with accompanying step by step photos. Satisfaction guaranteed! Just follow the link on the sidebar!

I hope you will understand...

I don't know if anybody has already noticed that two of my tutorials are no longer available for viewing and/or download.  I have an explanation for this that I am really hoping you all will understand.

Since I started this blog a year ago, I have already shared a number of 'how to's'. I am happy to have received really good feedback for them.  I have offered my tutorials to you freely and seeing your own creations and feeling your appreciation were my greatest rewards.

In my last post,  I had mentioned something of utmost importance to me.  That particular reason, and that alone,  led me to decide to now offer some of my work for a small fee.  This is not about gaining profit...

It is simply to help me keep a promise.

Having said that,  I do pray for your support or understanding, at the least.  I hope it is not asking too much...

Now on sale at my Etsy shop - eBooks on How to Make a Fold and Zip Shopping Bag and How to Make a Fabric Journal Cover with Pen Holder.  These two eBooks are revised versions of the original ones posted here.  I have improved them and are now even more understandable and easier to follow.

Notebook (and blanket stitch) fun!

Lately, I have been smitten by notebooks. On my recent trip overseas, I purchased a few...one fabric covered (from the Changi airport in Singapore) and a couple made with recycled paper (from one of my favourite Philippine shops, Papemelroti - You can view some of the said shop's wonderful paper products here.).

As if I didn't have more than enough notebooks, I went on and made fabric covers for two more plain journals.



I used this book cover tutorial and had so much fun with the blanket stitch. I really love that handmade look!

And speaking of handmade, you may have noticed that my Etsy shop, Simple Things, is now up and running. I promised myself that this would be THE year I am getting my craft out there. Most of the items listed now you may have already seen as I have blogged about them before, but I do have a number of new things coming soon.

Another commitment I have also made to myself is that all sales from my shop will go towards helping fund my next visit to my mum. I gave her my word that I will be bringing my whole family to see her this year. She really longs to be with her grandchildren. I know this will not be an easy task as there are six of us... but this is one promise I will keep, come what may.

Can I count on your support?

Some 'firsts' for 2009 ( a new bag and a giveaway!)

As the creative juices haven't flowed in just yet, I decided to use someone else's bag pattern to get me started. I couldn't let that new sewing machine just sit there, idle...

The pattern is from Sweet Pea Totes. I've tried two of their designs before and have found the instructions for them very clear and easy to follow. This one, I believe, is the newest one they have - the Simple and Chic handbag. Here it is,folks, my first finished bag for 2009!

(Click to view larger images)

This bag is about 10 3/4" tall, 16" wide at the top and 11 1/2" wide at the bottom. The strap is around 20" long. It also has a flap with a magnetic snap closure and one inside pocket. I used 100% cotton fabrics, with the main bag lined with fusible fleece and the lining with stiff interfacing.

The whole sewing process was pretty easy. The only tricky part was stitching around the shaped top. Nice pattern to try out, even for a beginner.

Speaking of patterns, I am having a bag pattern giveaway, my FIRST for the year! There are two, actually...Favorite Things' Wallet Purse and Lazy Girl Designs' Chelsea Tote! Combined value - about $22 USD!


You can read more on these patterns here and here.

Everyone is invited to participate. I don't mind shipping these outside Australia. Here is what you have to do to be in the running to win:
1. If you have a blog, please mention this giveaway and provide a link back to this post. Don't forget to also leave a comment here so I would know that you've joined, ok?
2. If you don't have a blog, aside from leaving a comment, I would appreciate it if you could extend this giveaway to at least one friend. Ask them to join too! The more entries the merrier, right? There would be no way for me to check if you did your part, so I will have to trust you on this one!

Entries close on Saturday, the 24th of January at 12:00 noon AEST. COMPETITION NOW CLOSED. I will use the random number generator to determine the winner. Watch out for the announcement on Sunday.

So, that's it for some 'firsts'. Hope you all have a nice day and thanks for dropping by. Good luck!

~ Corinne ~

PS. With Sweet Pea's blessing, I might just sell the bag above. Please watch out for that!

TUTORIAL: How to Make a Fold 'n Zip Shopping Bag (Handmade Holiday Gift Idea #3)

I am proud to say that I hardly ask for a plastic bag anymore when I'm out shopping. I do so only when I totally forget to bring a reusable bag with me. So as to have no more excuse, I thought of making a shopping bag that I could easily bring with me in my everyday bag, at all times.

I'm pretty sure you've seen one of these shopping bags before...

I remember when I was young, my mother always carried something like this in her handbag. The photo inset shows how it looks like all folded up and zipped. The size is very convenient for those light shopping days or quick trips to the library. Please pardon me for using such dull calico fabric. This was sort of a test run and I did not wish to waste any nice, expensive fabric. Thankfully, it turned out well and just as I had imagined it would.

Use pretty, coordinating fabrics and this shopping bag would surely make a great holiday present!

UPDATE: This tutorial is no longer available for viewing. The detailed 'how to' has been modified to make it even more understandable and easier to follow and will now be offered as an eBook (PDF) for a small fee at my Etsy shop, Simple Things. Thank you!

School Holiday Promise

The two-week school holiday officially started on the weekend. You all know what that means, of course. Just the thought of having the 4 kids around me the whole day for the next 14 days tires me already. Not that I don't like having them around the house...it is, in reality, more work to do - more cleaning up, more cooking, and all those related stuff and I have less computer time (ha ha).

But I promised myself I won't let the eternal household chores get in the way of me working on things for my newly-opened Etsy shop. No pain, no gain, right? I asked my daughter to keep guard. She needs to motivate and encourage me when I begin to feel like slowing down.

I feel great today because after weeks of working on this, I finally managed to finish my Mousie Heart Bear eBook. The pattern and instructions are now available as a PDF on my shop, so if you want to make one yourself (instead of buying the ready-made doll), you can now go ahead and purchase it....please...pretty please...

Now I have to do some cleaning up for a while...I'll be back with some new stuff, that's my school holiday promise.

Some Great News...New Tutorial and New Shop!

My husband returned from his vacation last Tuesday. So did the camera (hooray!). And so for the past couple of days, I've been busy taking photos and finalizing patterns and tutorials.

Good news number 1 is that the Journal Cover tutorial is finished! Here is the second one I did, "in-the-making" photos of which, you will find in the tutorial...




UPDATE: The free PDF download is no longer available. It has been modified to make it even more understandable and easier to follow and will be made available as an eBook for a small fee in my Etsy shop, Simple Things. Thank you!

Good news number 2 is that the Etsy shop "Simple Things" is now officially open. My first listings include 5 of my bear softies. I'll see how it goes from there. Please, please support my shop! You can click here or the link on the sidebar to view the shop.

It's really getting pretty late and I'm very tired...I just wanted to finish all these before I retired to bed. Goodnight!