Ellie Inspired

Happy November and Ellie Inspired has had a blog-lift!  Some exciting things happening here that I've been working on (sorry for being neglectful in blogging lately but I think you'll forgive me when you see what's happening!)

You are all invited to my Christmas party!  See the button in the sidebar at the right?  Take it and put it on your blog, please!  We would like as many people as possible to attend this Christmas Extravanganza Week.  It makes it more fun for everyone!  Here's what and WHY this is happening:

• Guest Bloggers
• Giveaways Galore!  (Every day a new Giveaway!)  Thanks to so many of you who offered to do a special giveaway for this week!
• Free Patterns, Tutorials, Craft Ideas for Christmas Gift-Giving
• Free Christmas Recipes
• Sharing special Christmas memories
• THREE new patterns released during this week!  I'm still not going to let you know what they are quite yet but they are very special for Christmas and I will be giving away one of each of them on Friday of that week!

Here's a sneak peek at some things you will see that week:

So, when does it happen and how can you join in?

Our big Christmas party begins on November 15th and continues all week.  Here's how you can join:  if you have a blog, put the button on your blog or post about it so that others can join in too.  Every day of the week, I will have a new Giveaway, Free Tutorial, Recipe, and Christmas Memory to share.  There will be a linky tool at the bottom of the post where you can link up and share your blog where you will also be posting either a recipe, Christmas memory, or even something Christmas-y crafty that you have made.  If you don't have a blog, you can post your things to the Ellie Inspired Flickr group and link up that way.

Also be sure to comment on each post that you would like to win the Giveaway!  I will draw the winners each night.

So, to be sure not to miss all of these special happenings, make sure that you are a follower of my blog.  I am looking into being able to post certain things only to my followers so that I don't flood this blog with new posts.

So, will you come?  Will you share a special Christmas memory or recipe?  Will you enter the Giveaways?  I hope many of you will.  It's always more fun at a party when lots are able to come.

The winners have been picked for the Big Ellie Inspired Giveaway.............................

......................and I know who they are!   he he

Keep checking over at SewBaby for the announcement!

This has truly been the BEST week!  Ann over at SewBaby sent me an email some time ago asking to carry my e-patterns there at her shop.  I was so thrilled that she wanted my patterns and last week, she asked me if I would be interested in doing an interview for her blog.  I, again, was thrilled! 

Ann has such a great shop full of a wide range of designer patterns including her SewBaby patterns and lovely fabric especially cute children's knit fabric.  She also has a wonderful blog where she showcases what is new at SewBaby as well as her personal sewing adventures.  I love seeing her pattern reviews on women's clothing!

If you have time, hop over to her store and check it out.  You may be bored to tears reading my interview but she is sponsoring  a TREMENDOUS giveaway there that you should enter!  It is for two lucky winners to win my entire collection of Nursery Rhyme patterns and It's a Girl Thing patterns which will also include two yet-to-be-released patterns (Nanny Etticoat and Lil' Bluebird)!  You'll be the first to get them!

Thank you SEW much Ann for featuring my business and for your support.  I feel a special connection to you since we're both from Illinois too.

Bye for now, sewing sisters!

What I was up to yesterday...

It's a birthday gift for my 2 yr old niece this weekend.  I had thought about writing up the pattern for the cloche and the shrug (did you notice the cute little bling of crystals and pearls in the flower?) but I think that would have qualified me as certifiably insane to add that to my pattern list for the fall!!

So, if you would like a cute hat that is handmade, I would love to show you my cousins' gorgeous creations and their etsy store:

Now, I have thought about the Giveaway and here is what I've come up with.  I think it's pretty good!

A custom hand-smocked Ellie Inspired original dress in your choice of pattern and size:

and in your choice of fabric from Fine Stitchery:

AND

a $20.00 gift certificate to Misslis' Boutique for a new fall hat or headband!!

Total Value:  $170.00!!!!!

If I get an overwhelming response like I did last time I did a giveaway, I'll even throw in a matching doll dress for an 18" doll!!

Wouldn't this make a great Christmas gift for your daughter or granddaughter too?

Here's what you have to do to enter:

1.  You have to be a follower of my blog.

2.  Leave me a message letting me know which of my patterns are your favorite (can be existing patterns or new ones coming out.)

3.  Optional: Your name will be entered into the drawing a second time if you blog about the giveaway and send me the link.

The Giveaway will end two weeks from today at midnight (September 17th) and I will start on the dress (or dresses!) as soon as I get back from SAGA convention.

Now, remember to "block sender" in your email so that you don't get all the notifications of messages left after you!

Good luck!

My friend, Shirley, has been cancer-free for two years and is having a giveaway to celebrate this 2 year anniversary.  I love reading her posts about her family and she has been such a great supporter of me when I was getting started in my business.  Stop by her blog and say "hello" and sign up for the giveaway.  You only have a couple more days!

Thank you all so much for your comments, blogging about my giveaway, and becoming followers of my site.  I have had the chance to get to "meet" so many wonderful sewing sisters and it was fun reading about how all of you learned to sew.  Almost everyone learned to love sewing because a grandmother or mother taught them when they were younger.  Sewing is not only a great creative pursuit, but also a bond that links generations together.

And now,

Drum roll please...............

The winner of:

Pocket o' Posies

Sugar Horses

Lucy Locket

Dancer

and enough material to make Dancer in any size from Bessie Mary

is...

Kimberlee is the winner!  Congratulations Kimerlee!  Email me and let me know whether you would like your patterns as pdf downloads or paper patterns, and your address for the three coordinating fabrics above. 

Thank you all for entering the Giveaway!

Now, is anyone interested in a sew-along?

I will start on Tuesday of this week.  I will post a step every couple of days and we can make this cute little ruffle halter dress together.  This will be available in sizes 1-8.  If you are interested in joining in, check back here on Tuesday.

You can post your finished dresses to my flickr account:           

If you think you might enjoy this project, let me know and add the button in the right sidebar to your blog so others can join in too! (Just click on the "get widget" and you will get some html code that you can paste into your blog.)  Thanks!

My new sweet friend, Sivje, is having a giveaway on her blog for her new apron pattern!  It is DARLING and I want it...A LOT!  So, I was going to say run over there and register to win but I changed my mind!  LOL  Here is her web address:  http://www.goosegirlsews.blogspot.com.  Good luck to you!

This week has been fun!  I wanted to give you a few little sneak peeks of what I've been busy working on.  It is almost done.  I'm finishing up the writing of it and it will be going to testers this weekend.

Aren't these fabrics so fun together??  This is Marabella by Amy Hamberlin for Henry Glass Fabrics (not including the dots which I can't remember).  I got it at my local quilt shop. 

And here are those cute little polka dots going through the pleater.  I just love anything with dots.  It wasn't a perfect pleating job - I ended up doing it again but those little dots are still cute!

One last piece of news..."Lil' Bluebird" is almost done!  I'm hoping to have it ready for sale next week.  After I post it on my website, I'm going to be doing a giveaway.  So keep checking back for that!

I dearly love Martha's blog: Southern Matriarch.  She has lots of eye candy to drool over and fabulous tutorials.  She is having a Pink Giveaway until March 16th.  Pop over there and see the wonderful goodies she's giving away!

"Sugar Horses" came out yesterday and I've been pleased but very humbled by the attention and interest it received.  Thanks you guys so much.  This pattern seemed to come out quickly because it's something I actually started last year; but really by the time it is finally offered for sale, you feel like it's your baby! 

I'm working on some new things for my website including a flickr group, a followers button (finally!) and some new tutorials.  But, I am seriously computer-challenged and the followers button has stumped me for a little while!  I am getting lots of hits on my website so I know some people are looking at my blog but I need the followers button so I don't feel like I'm talking to myself!  That already happens way too much!  I'll keep working on it and if anyone knows how to help me...thanks!