February Pattern Giveaway

Last time I did an Amy Butler pattern giveaway everyone loved it, so I thought I'd make it a monthly event here at Mama's Pocketbook! You like? Sweet... So, here's what 'cha do ... Post a comment and tell me why you should win this month's pattern! 

Ok, this month I think we all need some warmth and sunshine and are looking forward to spucing up our homes for Spring! Well, I have just the thing. Amy Butler's Midwest Mod Pillows is our giveaway pattern for February!

Three styles of pillows and they are so stylishly delicious! This is an easy, and affordable way to add some new color and update your rooms. Click here to see more about the pattern on my site!

Seriously have you priced pillows in the home furnishing stores - I don't think I can justify hundreds of dollars for pillows when it's so easy to make new ones! Or just add a zipper or a flap opening to the back of any of these pillows and cover your old ones! Hmmm, maybe that should be my next tutorial huh? Ok, I'll work on that and you tell me what you think of this pattern and why YOU should win it. 

Yep, I'm gonna make you work for this giveaway. I want to know something about how you'll use the pattern. Will you cover your existing pillows? Do you want the pattern for a friend? How about which room you'll make pillows for and what fabrics you'll use? Share with us all, lets get inspired to freshen up our living spaces. It's been cold too long, lets dust things off, and make some pretty pillows. Ahhh, I love accessorizing! Don't you?

Oh, I forgot about when to give it away! LOL! Silly me! Ok, how about Valentine's Day, that gives everyone a week to get their posts in to convince me of who should get the pattern. I'll make it fair by having my daughter and my husband read the comments and help pick the winner!  If we can't agree, maybe we'll even pick two winners. You just never know with me. I like to make the rules up as I go along!

Added 2/6  Wow... I am loving the comments, everyone's reasons for wanting this pattern are so compelling... I think what I'll do is have my family help me decide on one winner based on the comments explaining why they would love to win and have a drawing from the rest of the comments to make it fair to everyone to have a chance at winning. Sound good? Keep those comments coming then and you'll have two chances to win! XOXO Dianne

Show & Tell - Free Sewing Tutorial

I'd hoped to present a new bag today, but that will have to wait for later in the week. This weekend I was prompted to create a new pdf tutorial on "How to Make Boxed Corners" as an added feature to expand on my Free "Pink October" Tote Pattern.

Seems I have quite a few new seamstresses trying out my free pattern and getting stuck when it comes to understanding how to create the boxed corner for the tote. My original tutorial has been posted for over 3 years now, but I guess it's really catching on with new sewists and the photos' do not show the process well enough.

So ... While I was sewing another tote this weekend, I took more photos and created this pdf. file to help expand the directions for the corners. The fabric is a little busier than what I'd normally use for a tutorial, but I wanted to get it done for a visitor who wrote me asking for more details on how to make the corners. I hope this helps those who are learning to master the boxed corners. Once you do it, you'll see, it's a cinch!

Making tutorials has been rather eye-opening for me as a testing ground for creating and marketing my own pattern designs. Lots of work involved, but it is still something I aspire to do this year!

If you want to make your own tote using my Free "Pink October" Tote Pattern, it is absolutely free, and I encourage all to enjoy it. I do copyright the instructions and images, but you are free to create the totes for yourself and others and even to sell your own designs made from the pattern! The additional "corners' tutorial comes in on page 2 of the tote instructions. Have fun!

New - Victoria Black Rose Pocketbook

I really enjoyed creating this One-of-a-Kind "Victoria" style pocketbook. I love combining contrasting fabrics and these compliment each other beautifully. I dug around in my baskets of trim and found a perfect flat braid with all the right colors and then added some of my dwindling supply of the ecru tatted lace. I love that lace, I need to start hunting for more of it, or more similar to it anyway. 

This is my favorite day bag design. It is the perfect shape and size. Not too big, but boy can you carry everything you need in it.  Click HERE or on the title or the highlighted link above for more details .

I love this style for whenever I go out with my family on a day trip or even just shopping because they inevitably want me to hold onto their ipod's or cell phone or a book or magazine and even with all my stuff (makeup bag, big wallet, and several card cases to keep things organized, my iphone and assortment of pens, paper, sticky notes, ResQ ointment, tissues and other stuff I must have with me at all times, there's still room for the other things I seem to accumulate while out and about with my family. This bag is both beautiful and a workhorse! 

This one is a One-of-a-kind due to the trims used. I can't replicate it. But I do have more of the fabric so you may see a Porch Pouch or a smaller bag show up soon on the site. Maybe I'll try my hand at some pretty makeup bags to coordinate with this pocketbook? 

Anyway, thanks for looking! Maybe this is the perfect bag for you or someone on your holiday gift list? I hope so! Oh, and don't forget, there's always a matching tissue holder and printed tissues and mints included with my bags ... and this one includes another freebie - a matching card case! YAY! Don't you love freebies?