In honor of my Sewing and Knitting Giveaway 's I thought it would be fun to share a few of the blog giveaway's I have won over the last few months (these blogs offer Giveaways very often, so you might want to follow!) I actually have been pretty lucky, I think.

I won this wonderful book via Chunkychooky, Simple Softies For the Whole Family (details available here).
It is filled with so many projects we love and have been inspired by. I made a cat pillow based on this design for my Jacob....I'm now wondering where it is?
I won these three issues of Stuffed Magazine via The Needle, (details available here).
One of our most favorite Plushies in all three magazines were these bears, made by Savannah Carroll --- so cute....
And, I just recently won a very generous $100 Woodmouse shopping spree via Soulemama.
Our favorite Woodmouse item is this Mama Tree and Two Baby Autumn Trees wooden toy set that we picked....
If you are having or know of a giveaway to share, feel free to add a link in the comments! 

P.S. --- Only five more days to enter my sewing giveaway and  my knitting giveaway!!!

The first email to come in was from my friend Cynthia Taylor! Thanks for being such a loyal follower Cynthia!!!

I've used this fabric print many times --- on my embroidered pillow, my family tree pillow, my scrappy nap pillow, my patchwork baby blanket, my bohemian aprons, and I am certain even more...this is just all the projects I could remember. Yes, I have admitted on this blog more than once that I have quite the love for Anna Maria Horner fabrics! So, thanks everyone! A few of you sent answers over with designers that have very similar prints of their own...who knew!

Thanks again friends! ~ Maureen

*** p.s. : : for more great Blog Giveaway's visit my sewing giveaway, my knitting giveaway,  chunkychooky, and magpie patterns!!!

Hooray! I just noticed that today my blog has reached 20,000 visits since I added the visitor counter in March! I was hoping to reach that goal by March of 2011 and thanks to all of you --- I already have!!! To celebrate this milestone I will send to one of you a 10 pack of these lovely printed note cards (blank on the inside, one of each print). To enter just email me (maureencracknell@hotmail.com) the answer to this question : :
Who is the fabric designer and what is the name of their collection that has a cotton quilt weight fabric in a  very similar print to the one on this note card? A little hint --- the designer and fabric line are one of my favorites!
I picked up these cards because I just love this red and aqua floral print so much and was surprised when I opened the box and saw one that looks so similar to one of my favorite fabrics!
I'll select one person to win who can answer the designer and collection correctly!

Be sure to enter my Knitting Giveaway and Sewing Giveaway if you haven't yet! The winners to these giveaways will be announced November 1st!

Thanks friends!  ~ Maureen

AND....a little of AMH's Innocent Crush!!!
What you'll win : : 
 
--- I ♥ Patchwork by Rashida Coleman-Hale 
--- Ten skeins DMC Embroidery floss
--- Two brand new packages of Wrights Bias Tape
      Maxi Piping in Brick and Deep Peacock
--- One tape measure 
--- One pair of Singer scissors and seam ripper
--- One 8" wooden embroidery hoop--- One pack of DMC
      Embroidery Needles
--- One Ball jar of vintage and new buttons
--- One plastic case of vintage pin assortment and new tomato pin
      cushion
--- One Singer ruler, pencil, and metal thimble
Plus : : 

One lucky winner will win it all...all you have to do is leave a comment to win! I'd love to hear a sewing story or for you to share a link to something that you are working on or are inspired by.

For extra entries --- Let me know if you (by leaving a separate comment for each) : :

1) Follow my blog
2) "Like" Maureen Cracknell Handmade on Facebook
3) Favorite my shop on Etsy
4) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to me
5) Tweet this giveaway with a link back to me

This giveaway will end at midnight on 10/31/10 and is open to the US only. (Only because of the cost to ship all this stuff!!! If you a have a friend in the States who will ship to you, by all means enter!) The winner will be chosen at random. Feel free to enter My Knitting Giveaway below, too!!!

Thanks everyone! ~ Maureen

What you'll win : : 

--- Itty-Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson
--- 4 skeins of Perfection Worsted in Marble by Kraemer Yarns
     ( what's left of the sweater I made here.)
--- 4 skeins of Mosaic FX by Berroco
--- 2 skeins of Hush in Kookaburra and Willy Winky by Berroco
--- 2 skeins of Sari Ribbon Yarn by Kertzer
--- One vintage pair of blue size 4. Knitting Needles
--- One brand new pair of Bamboo size 5 Double Pointed Needles
--- One brand new pair of Bamboo size 6 -13" Knitting Needles
--- One vintage pair of green size 8 - 28"Circular Knitting Needles
--- One vintage pair of red size 10 1/2 Knitting Needles
--- One brand new pair of Bamboo size 13 Circular Knitting Needles
One lucky winner will win it all...all you have to do is leave a comment to win! I'd love to hear a knitting story or for you to share a link to something that you are working on or are inspired by.

For extra entries --- Let me know if you (by leaving a separate comment for each) : :

1) Follow my blog
2) Subscribe to my blog by email
3) "Like" Maureen Cracknell Handmade on Facebook
4) Favorite my shop on Etsy
5) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to me
6) Tweet this giveaway with a link back to me

This giveaway will end at midnight on 10/31/10 and is open to the US only. (Only because of the cost to ship all this stuff!!! If you a have a friend in the States who will ship to you, by all means enter!) The winner will be chosen at random. Feel free to enter My Sewing Giveaway above, too!!!

Thanks everyone! ~ Maureen

I am telling you folks...working with this wool felt has taken over every free second I might find to sew throughout my day. It's such a soft, beautiful quality felt. So much fun to play around with --- I am just loving it!!!
Wool Felt Spooky Owl Pillow --- details here : :
Wool Felt Ghost Pillow --- details here : :
Wool Felt Carved Pumpkin Pillow --- details here : :
And, even better...they are selling! I have several more wool felt creations to show you from this week. It's been a busy one, so I am a little behind. : )

On another note : : Thank you to everyone who has joined me at my new facebook page, it's awesome seeing you there! And, just yesterday my blog reached 500 followers --- which means GIVEAWAY!!! I'll have all the details by Monday. I am definitely planning two ~ One for the knitter, one for the sewer -- with a book and supplies for each....Woohoo!!!

I just added a few new item to my etsy and thought I'd share...

I have had plans to make and sell pillow covers out of my handmade wool felt since the very beginning. I still hope to, but happened to come across the most amazing wool felt and decided to try it out --- I'm so glad I did! It sews up beautifully and makes the softest pillow covers ever! I already have a million different designs swirling around in my head.

King Fox Pillow Cover available here : : (and picked up in this treasury ; )
Birdies Branch Pillow Cover available here : :
Handmade Wool Felt Garden Dollhouse Handbag available here : :
 Handmade Wool Felt Birdiehouse -- Dollhouse Handbag available here : :
And much, much more....coming soon.

Ever since I began sewing back in March, my kids have shown a real interest in wanting to learn, too. I let them play with the different stitches on scrap fabrics, help me wind my bobbins, and even press the pedal from time to time when I am working on a project. They have made a few little simple pouches to hold their cards or change, but that's about it. They are always asking to use my fancy, designer fabrics....um, no (well, not yet anyway :).... but, they are definitely ready and wanting to take that next step.
So, on a rainy afternoon this past week, we came up with this fun little sewn paper garland project. {The photos are dark, because the day was so very dark --- but this was too fun not to share, the kids really enjoyed it and were SO proud they were sewing.}

Here is what we did : :

First, we used some of our favorite scrapbooking paper and large paper punches to cut out their shapes. Super easy, even for my little 3 year old to do, as she would say "All by my big self." 
I recommend paper that has a print on both sides (although we used both.)
Be sure to leave a long tail at the beginning and the end to hang your garland when it's finished.
My job was to "help" feed in each punched paper piece, one right after the next.
My children controlled the pedal...slow and steady (and such a great way for them to get comfortable with it.)
And, once my oldest did, he insisted he could do it all by himself...he was right!
I explained to them that we needed to start small at first then build into our bigger ideas as we learn... 
Project by project, step by step, slow and steady, together.

Well, last night I finally decided to start a business page for Maureen Cracknell Handmade on Facebook. I have had my group page for more than a year now -- that has grown to 925 people, where I have shared many photos (from the very beginning), good news, received wonderful comments and photos of children who have received my handmades as gifts, and much, much more. I started the group page with the encouragement from my closest family and friends as a way to share what I do, (the same one's who encouraged me to start this blog), not knowing that a business page is what I should have started (silly me).

So here I am...
Saying "Hello!" from a new place, asking you to visit me there, too.

I have added a little click "like" button to the right there...Be sure to visit me and let me know where I can find your facebook!

p.s. The sun is finally shining again in Potter County, I hope it is wherever you are, too!  : ) ~ Maureen

I took the pledge --- Will you?

MCH --- Custom Bohemian Style Apron

In honor of American Craft Week and as we near the Holiday season, the Handmade Toy Alliance is asking everyone to pledge to buy just one handmade item this year. If everyone made the pledge to buy just one hand crafted product for someone on their gift list this year, think of all the thousands of businesses that will grow and nourish our communities.

New fall yarns on a rainy day

Being a proud hand crafter of Eco-friendly Felted Toys, Maureen Cracknell Handmade, and a lover of handmade goods, I of course think this is a fabulous idea! : ) You can sign the HTA's online pledge form below. Feel free to share this post on your blog, facebook page, and twitter too! Let's work together and do our best to make this pledge a success!

MCH --- Custom Heart Felt Owl Doll

A little more than a week ago a friend of mine left me a comment on one of my owl photos on  my facebook page, asking me if I wanted to have a little table at the Falling Leaves Festival. I decided to "try" to do it, changing my mind because of the weather and then exhaustion, hmn...about 100 times! Oh, my poor sweet husband...I think know I drove him crazy with my hour to hour ramblings of "I'll be ready, I'll just stay up REALLY late each night working. Yes, that's what I'll do"....to...."There's no way I'll be ready and now the weather is calling for rain, AGAIN! No, I'll just do the next one"....

Well....
I made it and I am so glad I did! It was a beautiful day, a wonderful experience, and I did really well! Due to time --- I didn't get everything finished and had to let go to that very specific vision I've had for when I would participate in my first local festival...but that's alright. What's left will be available in my etsy sometime this week or headed to the shops.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, too! ~ Maureen