Hello! There’s a whole lotta stuff going on today. First, I’m excited to share with you a few peeks at some more projects from my book. The photo above is a the very dandy Mr. Bunny (wearing a bow tie and old man pants, of course), lounging on the Wonky Diamonds Quilt. These are two of my favorite projects. I just love that little bunny with his earnest little face – and he’s so easy to make. Straight lines only! And the quilt was one of my greatest challenges in the book, design-wise. It’s got diamonds with wonky centers, set on point with some tricky angles that make the construction a challenge, and the result is pretty cool (I think!). And of course, the patterns for both are in Sewing in a Straight Line.
For today’s blog tour stop I’m popping over to Grand Rapids, MI, to visit with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of CraftSanity fame. Jennifer is single-handedly creating a fantastic crafting empire; a journalist by trade, she now blogs, produces a podcast, appears weekly on TV to demonstrate crafts on her local news station, and has even launched CraftSanity magazine, which is available in both print and digital format. Go, Jennifer!!
I’ve enjoyed Jennifer’s CraftSanity podcasts for years. They consist of a long, leisurely interview with someone from the craft world, and Jennifer has such a great interview style that she makes the listener feel as if they’re eavesdropping in on a long phone conversation between friends – about crafts. (Perfect listening material while working on a project!) I was honored that Jennifer asked to interview me for a podcast – the result is almost an hour and a half of my life story, as it relates to crafting and my career. It was a treat to have a chance to take a walk down memory lane for this podcast. So head on over to CraftSanity to read Jennifer’s blog tour post about Sewing in a Straight Line, and listen to the podcast. Thanks for being part of my tour, Jennifer!
And now it’s giveaway time! Up for grabs today is a complete set of fabric to make the Mr. Bunny and his girlfriend Miss Kitty from Sewing in a Straight Line (pictured above), an autographed copy of the book, and an 18-spool set of Coats Dual Duty thread. Good stuff!
To enter, leave a comment on this post and tell me who you’d make this kitty and bunny for! (It’s okay, you can admit it if they’d be for you.) THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED; PLEASE SEE CURRENT POSTS FOR CURRENT CONTESTS.
PS: A few other announcements to share:
- Thanks to Crafternews for posting about my book and providing a free, downloadable version of the One-Hour Skirt. So now you can see how it’s made in video, and download the print pattern too. Be sure to keep an eye on Crafternews for more goodies on my book as well as a variety of crafting wonderfulness every day!
- If you quilt and you live near NYC, this weekend is Quilters Take Manhattan! This special weekend-long event benefits The Alliance for American Quilts and features parties, exhibits, fashion shows and more. Check it out!
- Thanks to Craftsy for posting a guest post from yours truly, where I talk about my inspiration for the book – and there is a copy of Sewing in a Straight Line up for grabs!
{ 145 comments… read them below or add one }
I would make this for my 2 year old daughter. She loves stuffed animals! And these are too cute
My two sweet baby boys, Owen and Leo. They’s love them and mom would love to make them.
That’s “they’d love them”. :P
I’d make the set and give one to my daughter and one to her my best friend’s son, who is only a few months older!
I’d make the set and give one to my daughter and one to my best friend’s son, who is only a few months older!
I would make the set for the many new babies that are being born at work!
By the way, I bought your book and am loving it. If I won, I would keep the autographed copy and give this to someone else as a gently used gift!
I would give them to my niece and nephew. So adorable!
I would make this for my little cousin Saphire, she is seven and to this day still believes that I do Santa Clause’s dry cleaning. She might enjoy an early gift from Santa’s laundry attendant!
Definitely for my niece who turns 1 next month!
I’d make them for my son! or my new niece that’s due to arrive late August! or two babies due in December! Lot’s of choices…
Awe, so sweet, my 2 nieces would definitely get them!
I can’t get over how awesome you and your giveaways are! I’ve had to much fun looking forward to each story, each new crafty blog and each great giveaway each day.
Okay – so I have an ALMOST two year old who would be beside himself excited about these little critters, though i think my best freind would have to have the kitty and the quilt I would make for my other best friend who just had a baby boy!
My best friend’s girls, Indy and Lily…the sweetest things I know!
so adorable! id have to give them to my friend who is about to have a baby!
I would make them for the baby on the way!
I would have to make them for cats! (we don’t have any kids yet) Stuffed with a bit of catnip and I think the girls would love it!
So sweet! I would make them to stay at my house for when my little sister comes to visit. She loves animals and I bet she would adore these (and I would too)!
I’d make these little ones for my best friend’s two daughters, Allison and Sydne.
I would make them for my husband’s little sister, she’s in LOVE with my pet bunny so she’d love it!!
Yeah … I would definitely keep them. They, um, look too much like me and my husband to give away.
I would make them for my bf’s niece. She love any type of stuffed animals.
I will not lie, I would probably make this for my dog. But, before I get yelled at, she is not one of those dogs that rips apart her toys. She carries them around lovingly and cuddles with them. A dog cuddling a baby? It doesn’t get cuter than that!
I think they would make nice unique Christmas gifts.I can think of quite a few people to make them for,big and little.Thanks for the chance!
i’d have to make them for my nephew and niece- they can pick who gets which! these are so adorable.
These would definitely be made and stowed for my next baby shower… recipient TBD!
Cute! I would make them for my grand daughter. Still trying to find your Knit & Crochet Now on PBS!
My best friend collects unique homemade dolls. I bet she would love these if I made them for her!
I would make these for my girls age 2 &4. They love dolls. I would love to win your book!!!
-Sabrina
I would make them and give them to my soon to be newborn. I’m due
11/06. :)
I’d make one each for my six-month-old niece and my five-month-old son — I’d put my niece’s name on the cat and my son’s name on the bunny. That way, they can still hug each other when my niece is in California! :D
That little bunny is too cute! I’d definitely make him for our friend’s new baby boy, due next month! And I’d probably keep Miss Kitty for myself :)
i would make the kitty for my kitty. I needs more friends.
Honestly, they are too cute to give away. I would keep them! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’d love to make this for my two year old second cousin. She calls me Auntie V and it’s the sweetest thing!
My daughter has a cat Named Miss Kitty- so there you go…easy peasy…and a dog named Loki – so one of each for her and I would love to win this! Yay!
I would make them for my two friends (sisters) who are having babies within a month of each other. I might have to make a set for me too! Yes, definitely.
my daughter Finnley would love these!!!
mcintosh dot kimberley at gmail dot com
My four kids get plenty of my crafts, so I think that Miss Kitty would be really loved by my niece Siena, and Mr. Bunny by her brother Van. :) Plus if I win I could make some for my own kids later. Maybe. There’s lots of fun projects in your book I’d want to try!
These are too cute! I think that I would make then for my new niece or nephew. They are coming in January and I have been looking for the perfect stuffed toy to make for them. With only knowing a little about sewing this would be great!
So very cute, I’d definitely be making them for my new niece although would have to smuggle them past my own children first!
thanks for a fantastic giveaway
SO cute. I would make them for the nieces I am going to acquire when I get married this fall. Zoe is 3 yrs old and Stella is about 5 months.
I’d make them for my niece who loves animals and who I love to make things for. (Sentence construction = difficult.)
I’d love to make these for my daughter!
I have no shame. I’d probably keep them for myself because they’re so darn cute! It would be different if I had kiddos, though. :)
These two lovelies would go straight to my little niece. Crossing my fingers…
I would make them for my two daughters age 3 & 1! They would love these!
I volunteer at Center Valley Animal Rescue (http://www.centervalleyanimalrescue.org/), so I’d have to make the happy animals for my fellow volunteers!
I would make them for my catss! ;]
I know plenty of people I can make these for!!
I have 3 daughters…need I say more? :)
I would make it for my 2 year old daughter. She would love them!!
I’d make them for my cat, is that wrong? I think she’d like to have new buddies as cute as those (oh alright they would really be for me)… by the way your new site is great.
OMG…I love them. Especially the old man pants. Sigh. I’d make them for my 4 yr old daughter. :)
I would SOOO make them for myself. I’m not too proud to admit it! :)
I would loveeeee to make this for my neice in london who just turned 3 as i have not seen her for a year!
I would love to sew Mr. Bunny and Miss Kitty for my 1 1/2 and 4-year-old daughters. They would love it.
I would probably keep them for myself.
I’d make the bunny for my mother, who currently has six real ones, and collects bunny things. I’d make the kitten for my daughter, who has two real ones, and works at the local Humane Society on the weekends.
Love your site! Looking forward to the next season of Knit and Crochet Now!
Moi! I would love to have them for me!!
Selfishly (but don’t tell anyone) I’d keep these give aways for myself and make dandy Mr. Bunny for my baby boy Oliver and his sweet girlfriend for my older sweetie boy Samuel. I truly admire how you have captured Mr. Bunny’s expression. My remake of these lovely toys won’t measure up as nicely.
When I first saw these bunnies I thought I definitely need to make them for my friends’ son Jacob. That is who. It would be way sweet to win this!
I would start out making them for me because they are so cute, but my grandchildren would latch right on them and then I would have to make another set for me.
I would make one for me and one for my niece! I can’t believe she will be 9 months old this week!
<3 *<3 *<3* <3* <3* <3* <3* <3* <3 *<3 *<3 *<3 *<3 *<3 *<3* <3* <3 *< 3*<3 <– lotta love. hehe
I have to admit Id make one for myself, and another for my kitty! :)
I’d try out my novice sewing skills on these cuties for another pair of cuties: my soon to be born niece or nephew (I’m a first-time aunt!) and the baby who upstaged me on my wedding day (he’s so adorable I couldn’t blame everyone for gazing at him instead)! Luckily, the holidays are months away! I have your book from the library now and thanks to it’s awesomeness, I am finally overcoming my fear of the sewing machine. I will have to wait until I am a little more liquid before purchasing a copy for myself.
Yeah, it would be for me.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
Either I’d make them for my daughter, or one of my nephews or nieces…whom ever’s birthday we are invited to first :)
Being newlyweds, my husband and I are on a tight budget this year, so I have decided to make all of our Christmas presents this year! Considering I have not mastered the art of sewing yet, I am starting to tackle easy projects now, so that Christmas gifts might come a little bit easier. My sister is having her first baby (it’s a girl!), and I would LOVE to make these for baby!
I would make them for my twin niece and nephew, Sid and Sophia. Twin cuties for twin cuties!
I would make the cuties for my one year old grandaughter Lila Josephine! Thanks for them great giveaways.
one for my nephew who’s arriving in Sep. and one for my nephew who arrived in April!
AHHHHH The cuteness of Mr. Bunny is slapping me in the face! Another great project from your book that caught my eye :) I admit Mr. Bunny would be for me and Miss Kitty would be for my little girl :)
I think I might have to make a couple sets. I know several little kids who would adore these. Macy and Kevin, Sasha and Owen, and Mae .
I’d make them for my friend who moved to Atlanta in March, I misssss her!
I love these! I’d make the bunny for my son, and the kitty for my daughter.
I would make them for my college roommate’s new baby. Well, I’d make one for my roommate’s baby, I’d probably keep the other for me.
I would love to make this for my 4 month old daughter and maybe an extra pair for me too. DH will not be happy about our bed getting crowded :P Thank you for your wonderful giveaways & good luck with your book tour!
I would make them for my fiance niece and nephew.
I would definitely make those cuties for ME, MYSELF AND I. I love, love, love those. :) If i don’t win the book, I’m still buying it.
Brett: Congrats on your new book. Enjoying listening to your Blogtour while I work on back to school projects for DD. She’s addicted to loveys of all kinds and would love me to make each of yours. Hope Knit and Crochet Now has another season! I don’t get it on PBS so always buy the DVD’s.
My little cousins are 5 and 3 – they would love to have some cute toys like this!! – Christine
my little girl Lydia– she will be a year in November. BIRTHDAY presents :)
My twin neice and nephew I think. I always make them something for their birthdays and christmas and these look too cute as a pair to split them up.
Me! I’m selfish :). J/k. I would make another set for my nephews so I wouldn’t feel guilty keeping one for myself
I would make it for my little nephew it would be so cute for him.
I’d make 1 set for me and 1 set filled with catnip for my cat. :D
i would make it for me :) cute n adorable!!!
i would make it for me :)
I would be making this for my kitties. They love stuffed animals so I can stuff a little catnip in these!
for my baby girl & her best little friend.
I would make it for my sister! She’s so hard to shop for the homemade gifts are the only way to go! She’d definitely love these cute little things.
samanthaguillen@gmail.com
I’d make them for my son and daughter. I really do think (or at least hope) they appreciate hand made gifts more than store bought ones…
frankly,i will make these for myself=] but i may make some more for my friends so each of us can have one!
I would make one for my best friend’s baby. He was born while I’ve been away at grad school and will be a whole 6 months old by the time I finally get to meet him. I knitted him and his mama a blanket for his birthday but I would love to have something else handmade and cuddly to give him when I get to see him for the first time.
Yeah, I’ll bite. They’d totally be for me :)
I would love to give it to my baby boy….
Thanks for a chance..
Love it!!
I would definitely make these for my daughter. She would love them!
I think I would have to make these for my cat & my boyfriend, so they would always have adorable friends when I’m away :). I would also like to engineer a photoshoot with my kitty and these two animal pals going on adventures in my apartment.
Heck yeah they’d be for me! How cute are they?! I might, one day, when we actually hvae kids, share…but since that day seems to be in the distant future – They’d be mine! All mine! :)
For my nieces!
I would make one for my dog and one for my friend who just had a baby girl yesterday!
I would make them for myself!! Well not only myself, as our friends start to have children and kids start showing up at bbq’s it would be nice to give them a fun toy to play with!!!
I would make one for my cousin who is finally pregnant with a baby girl!
How sweet – I would make for my niece who loves animals and especially grey kitties!
I would make these for both of my sweet little baby nieces!
My new home! They are just darling!
I would make them for my soon to be 4 year old daughter, Autumn. She sleeps with a different animal every night. She has a basket of stuffed animals next to her bed and chooses one each night. We had to make a rule she could only sleep with 1 because she started sleeping with a few and then many and then all of them and it was getting to be too much! Anyway, her favorite animal is a bunny.
One for my Nephew, and one for my dog (she appreciates cute, soft things that she can rest on).
I would make them for my two nieces. One is two and the other is a month old, sisters. I know they would absolutely adore them!
I would make them for my daughters! Thanks for the chance to win !
I would make these for my boys but if they mysteriously wound up decorating my sewing room that would be ok too. ;)) I love that quilt!!! Thanks for a chance to win. I am really enjoy following and reading!!
I would make these for my kids. I’m sure they would all love them!
I know a 6yr old that would love these and that his mom might steal them before they made it into his hands because they are so cute!
Of course… they might just end up sitting on the shelf with my other handmade collectibles.
For my daughter and her cousin.
I would make them for my twins! So sweet and they would love them!
I would make them for my niece her birthday is coming up :)
to be fair, i’d try to make these for my cousin’ son and daughter…but since we see each other so rarely, i fear i’d get attached and keep them for myself!
thank you for the giveaway.
cheers!
I love Ms. Kitty. I would make several of her for my cat loving friends.
I love giving little surprise gifts all year long and this would be adorable.
I think my nieces would love them :D
Thanks for the chance!
I will make them for my girl for her 2nd birthday! She loves all stuffed animals, and adores the ones mommy made her.
BTW, I am really interested in that book. There must be tons of simple yet amazing projects inside. Cannot wait to flip through it and try everything out.
thanks
I’d make them for somebunny I love who is purrrfect in every way!
I would make them for my friends baby, who should arrive in October, and his older brother. But I’d be really tempted to keep them for myself. =)
I would make them both for my mom, who collects stuffed animals and keeps them on her bed :-)
I would make these for my cousin’s girls, who are 3 and 5 and thus require two equally cute gifts every Christmas or the bickering begins! These are perfect, both cute but quite easy to tell apart.
I’d make these for my two crafty friends, since we often exchange homemade gifts. Thanks for the giveaway.
Mmm, cute Mr Bunny! I’d make him and his girlfriend for my nephews.
I’m in love with these two cuties … but if I win, I’ll make them for my great-granddaughter Livvy!
I’d make them for my 7 y.o. daughter. They’re so cute!
i would def keep those for me. to snuggle at night. and that quilt in the background is awesome!
I’d love to win! If I won I’d make them for my Best Girlfriend and her brand new baby son, I make them on my New sewing machine, so far all I’ve done on my new sewing machine is fix a few rips in my husbands pants…I am dying for just the “right” pattern…and then gift it to a wonderful friend’s baby…
Thanks Brett, love your show!
I’d make it for my little niece (well, maybe I’d keep the kitty), using the new sewing machine that I received for my birthday a few days ago! Looks so fun.
I would fill them with potpourri and put one in my daughter’s drawer and one in my son’s sock drawer. These cute little creatures would start their day of with a smile when they saw them as they are getting dressed for school. ( and hopefully chase any smells away!)
I would be keeping these cuties for myself Brett! I really enjoyed your interview on Craftsanity. Your book looks and sounds fantastic.
My nephew and his girlfriend are expecting their first baby soon… as is my other nephew and his wife. Since one is having a boy and the other a girl, I would make this for both… fingers crossed!
How sweet and generous. Just found your blog. I enjoyed you on your PBS show.
I would sew these for myself and my cat.
I’d make them for the baby my friend is expecting.
Mr. Bunny would definitely be for my newborn son, Henry!!
I’d make them for my 7 year old!
I would make these for our newest grandniece due Aug 24 (and the 4 other grandnieces ages 0-6). All of them love stuffed animals.
I would make these for my daughter Loie who is a fabulous 2 years old. She LOVES Bunnies! But she calls them Buddies! :)
Mr. Bunny and Miss Kitty are adorable!! I would love to make them for myself, but would probably end up giving them away to my niece :) The Wonky Diamonds Quilt looks really cool!
I nanny two afternoons a week (limited stipend money in grad school) and the little girl I watch would flip out over a little bunny I made her. We’re always seeing rabbits on our walks and she is always excited/ intent on holding very still so she doesn’t scare the bunny away.
My friend’s son and his wife just welcomed their first child, a boy! I think Mr. Bunny and Miss Kitty would be a great present for this new little person!
I’d make them for 2 friends that are expecting this year :)