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Monday, March 11, 2013

My ABC's - A Different kind of Giveaway!

The weather has been warming up, which is awesome! I am a bit excited for a change in the weather. Minus the fact that my fybromyalgia must also be excited too, as it won't let this change of seasons go unnoticed. (Have you ever heard people with arthritis say, "a storm is coming! I can feel it in my joints." Well, that is basically the same thing for me in the spring... that stuck between winter and spring, wet soggy weather, is like a car alarm going off in every joint and muscle in my body. blah.) Anyway, it luckily is not as bad as it used to be and mostly I forget that I even have it, but this weekend has been killer = i am a lazy cranky bum. My solution? Ignore the world and sit at the computer! lol. :) I've spent a lot of time finishing up some patterns and I am SO excited to have these almost completely finished!! :)

Last week I released the new alphabet pattern, My ABCs (not to be confused with My First Alphabet), in uppercase form, and this weekend, well, I finished the lowercase letters, as well as the additional pattern pieces for the Complete Set! :) (I really thought it would be months before I would be done with this.)

Let me explain how this works:


There is an UPPERCASE only alphabet:

My ABCs
Pattern has 3 pages of instructions and tips, 11 pages of pattern pieces (26 uppercase letters)



There is a lowercase only alphabet (pattern currently being tested):

My-abc's
Pattern has 3 pages of instructions and tips, 8 pages of pattern pieces (26 lowercase letters)



And then there is the complete set (also currently being tested):

My ABCs and My abc's
My-ABCs-My-abc's
This pattern has 3 pages of instructions and tips, 36 pages of pattern pieces (99 letters - Uppercase and lowercase)


This set has 4 different alphabet sets in it, which makes it much easier to combine the different alphabets. Here is a snippet from the instructions that explains how the different patterns work:

My ABCs and My abc's Complete Set
The lowercase alphabet (not including the E spacer at the bottom) does not include the letters g, j, p, q, or y. Both the Uppercase and lowercase sets are perfect if you are not using the lowercase forms of those 5 letters, as you don't have that extra piece at the bottom, and can fit the letters into whatever project you want, without that extra strip. (of course you can always add the strip, or just use the other alphabet sets. I know I'm excited for that option anyway. :)

FYI:

The stand alone My ABCs Uppercase pattern is the set that does not have the "E section", so the bottom left pattern = if you combine it with a lowercase letter g, j, p, q, or y, you will need to add extra fabric on the bottom for the letters to match.

The stand alone My abc's lowercase pattern is the upper right pattern. With the "E section", which means if you are NOT using the lowercase letter g, j, p, q, or y, you will need to trim the E section if combining it with the uppercase pattern, or if you just don't want that extra strip at the bottom of your letters.

You definitely can buy the separate patterns and they definitely are combine-able, it just might be a little extra work. This is why I came up with the complete set, with the different alphabet options - to minimize the fussiness for you. :)



Does that all make sense? Any questions?


(before I move on do you want to see the next pattern I'm just finishing up??? I really want to make a fabric growth chart with this one, and then when I measure my kids, embroider the lines and dates on. Plus then I'll be able to take it with us when we move!) :)

My First Alphabet: Numbers and Punctuation Marks
My First Alphabet - Numbers and Punctuaion Marks
The numbers are finished, I just need to finish up the punctuation marks, which are kind of crazy! Anyway, these will be fun! :) Hopefully I'll get it finished in the next day or two and send it out to be tested. :)

These go perfectly with My First Alphabet! (I do want to make a set that matches My ABC's as well, but my hubby might kill me if I don't take a break from the computer for a while. ;) lol.)



Anyway, onto the good stuff!

Have you seen some of Rachel of Stitched in Color's giveaways that she does, where you have to tell her what you would make with the fabric and then she picks some good ideas, and they win the fabric? And then they have to actually make what they say they will, and share it on their blog by the end of the specified time frame. I think that is such a fun idea!!! 

I decided that I want to try that with the My ABCs and My abc's Complete Pattern!

I am offering one complete pattern (40 pages of instructions and pattern pieces) to two different winners! Here's how to win:

  • Tell me what awesome project you would make with it, with as much detail as you want
  • I'll pick two awesome ideas
  • In 1 month? (what is a good time frame???) (By April 18th) Those winners will post and share about their project, and I'll share them here on my blog too, with links to their posts.


but PLEASE! If you can't meet the time frame, or won't be able to make your idea, don't enter, or at least let me know in your comment so I can pick people who will be able to share their projects. (I'd still love to know what your ideas would be.) :)


I'll have this giveaway up until Friday and announce the winners on Saturday, as well as send out the patterns. (I should also have all three patterns up for sale by then, for anyone else who wants them.) :) Then the winners will have until April 18th to complete their project, and I'll share them here on my blog on the 19th. :)


This should be a lot of fun! I'm really excited!! :)

p.s. feel free to share the giveaway with others and help spread the word! Since I'm not adding options of following, or tweeting, etc, I wouldn't say no to a little word of mouth anyway. ;)


Diane

11 comments:

  1. I'm expecting and I think it would be really fun to do pillows and bibs with the name initial on them. I would also make some for my friends who just had babies.

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  2. I found your blog after I saw a picture of one of the earlier pattern tested projects for your first alphabet - genious! Anyway - I would love to win! I would love to make a banner/mini quilt that said, "I just want to make beautiful things even if nobody cares." It would be for my someday sewing room that hopefully I will have sooner than later.

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  3. I would love to try a pillow for our master bedroom. I think I would either use the letters to spell our last name or maybe a word that reminds us of our faith. Congrats on finishing the patterns, I can't imagine how time consuming that project was!

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  4. Oh wow, I would sooo love to win this! I just bought the 'My First Alphabet' pattern to use
    On my round robin quick block for my guild. These would be awesome for the back of it!
    That of course is just the beginning of what I would do! Very excited about the numbers
    too, can't wait for the patterns!

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  5. OK, I got it. I had to think about this one. A sewing machine cover for my Janome with my blog logo on one side, and my blog name on the other. I might have to resize the letters though, not sure. I 'think' I could finish in a month....but no promises:) Love your new alphabet!!

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  6. I would make a baby quilt from scraps :)

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  7. I am in the process of making an I SPY quilt, I think it would be fun to write some of the names of the images and use it for the border...

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  8. I'm not talented enough to make anything with your patterns, but I want to buy them and practice. But I think this is a neat idea!

    I just wanted to say I feel your pain - literally - as I have both fibromyalgia and an autoimmune arthritis, psoriatic, and crazy weather just does me in! Amazingly when I ache, unless it's flaring my carpal tunnel syndrome, about the only thing I can do is type! It's always frustrating when I can't thread a needle!

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  9. I think it will be fun to make a mini quilt/banner with some inspiring words to hang in my sewing room.

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  10. Would be great to personalize some beach towels so there is no fighting!

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  11. I hang out with an 8 year old boy who I just love. His parents went through a bitter divorce a few years ago. He's a sensitive, smart boy. He, like all of us has insecurities. As one of his support staff (and his private, personal quilter :) I am always looking for ways to support his self image. I am looking to make a quilt for him with all the words that describe him (I.e., kind, intelligent, athletic, etc) surrounding the sentence "More than good enough and getting better every day."

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