Yet another Silhouette giveway…

 

Okay, so this is probably like the 5th Silhouette giveaway I’ve entered.  5th time is a charm? Right? Anyhoo…go to Somewhat Simple’s website anytime in September to enter yourself in the giveaway. Here’s keeping my fingers crossed that I FINALLY win a Silhouette.

I Want to Win a Serger Entry

Sew Mama Sew is hosting a contest to win a Husqvarna Viking s21 serger. All you have to do is answer the question, “How would your life be better with a serger?”
Oh, how I would love to win the Husqvarna serger. How would my life be better with the Husqvarna serger? Well, to answer that, let us join the debate already in progress between two machines, Husqvarna and Sam*, my old machine….(*name changed for privacy)
Husqvarna Viking s21 Serger    vs..   Sam the incumbent
Q: What are some of the features that you can provide?

Husqvarna: I have 4, 3, 2 thread sewing         

Sam: Only 1 thread--well, unless you include the bobbin, does that make 2?                   

Husqvarna: I have 21 stitches, with pre-programmed stitch settings            
 Sam: What? You mean you can have more than one kind of stitch?
Husqvarna: There is a large sewing space, with an extension table      
Sam: My owner is lucky if she can fit her hand in here without sewing her fingers together…enough said

Husqvarna: I come with easy threading instructions, including a step-by-step interactive DVD 
Sam: Easy? Um, no. …Manual? Forget about it.
Husqvarna:I provide lay-in tension and color coded thread paths.  

 Sam:I’m a complex man. It took three women, over 30 minutes just to figure out how to thread me for the first time.

Husqvarna: I have differential feed.      
Sam: Umm…..I have a needle.
Husqvarna: Adjustable stitch length, cutting width and presser foot pressure       

Sam: I have a dial that changes something but heaven forbid you touch it, I just might die.

Husqvarna: I come with a Universal Standard presser foot & Snap-on presser feet with additional, optional feet     
Sam: Feet? No….can you say “foot?” As in only one, baby.

Husqvarna: I have extra presser foot height. 
Sam: Well, isn’t that nice.

Husqvarna: I can sew 1100 stitches per minute, with two sewing speeds.                
Sam: Um, what was the question again?
Husqvarna: I have a movable upper cutter…       
Sam: Um, no comment

Husqvarna: a built in two thread converter… 
Sam: Uh…. No comment

Husqvarna: And much more!  
Sam: …. (Sam has left the building)

As you can see, I am sorely in need of a new machine.  I love to repurpose old clothing (usually knits) and make new clothes for myself and my family but my current machine does a very sorry job. If given the chance, I would gladly replace my current machine with a Husqvarna serger. To be able to serge…ah, the dreams of beautiful seams and lovely (not ugly) knits! So to recap, right now with my old tattered falling apart machine, I feel like this…

Sad (see, even my daughter thinks it’s sad that I don’t have a serger)…

and tired (even my son, is tired of crappy seams and frayed appliqués)…
 
and afraid to take on some of the great creations floating around in my head and too timid to share them with others.
But! If I were to win this contest and be the proud owner of a new Husqvarna serger, I would be…

Happy (see, now she’s happy her skirt and appliquéd onesie won’t fall apart)…
 
Confident and ready to attack those intimidating projects and fabrics…

and ready to set those great ideas free on the world (okay, okay, I know the 1st day of school picture is a stretch).
So one more time-- me with “Sam” …
vs.. me with Husqvarna…
So-- Sew, Mama, Sew, please vote for me! Together we can boot “Sam” out of office, make a happy beautifully clothed family, and create world peace!
(No sewing machines or children were hurt in the making of this plea.)

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GIVEAWAY!!!!

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!
Grosgrain is giving a way a Silhouette machine! Lot's of popular craft blogs have been reviewing and giving these away lately. I totally want one of these. (This is probably the third giveaway I've entered.) It's similar to a Cricut but no expensive cartridges, instead you can download individual images or pay a monthly fee for unlimited downloads. Plus, whatever font you have installed on your computer, you can cut out with the Silhouette machine and your computer. Considering all the free fonts floating around the internet, your possibilities are endless! Plus, you can make your own image to cut, like family silhouettes. If I had the money, I would buy one today with the discount Silhouette is offering Grosgrain readers, but alas I do not. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the giveaway....
Enter yourself before August 31st by checking out the details over at Grosgrain.

Made by Joel

So I wanted to share one of my favorite blogs, Made by Joel. This stay-at-home dad and artist loves making toys for his twin preschoolers. Here are a few of my favorite projects that I would love to make. They are on my to-do (someday) list.

Match game (free download)

Paperclip Pick-up game (genius!)

Zip-line toy

Cereal box marble run

Cardboard box aquarium (The fish swim back and forth!)

Modern Alphabet game

Yo-yo ball (Although these would probably end up as slingshots at my house.)

Slotted building discs (These would be fun to have in your purse to pull out during restaurant and doctor’s office wait times.)

and my favorite…

Paper city, vehicles, and helicopter  (All with downloads for you to make your own!)

Go check out his website at madebyjoel.com and check out all of his fun ideas.