Please welcome Bunte Fabrics for this weekend's second giveaway!  Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a Quiara sewing pattern by Farbenmix and a yard of the birds on a branch knit fabric in pink (shown in the first photo below). Comments will close on Tuesday evening, December 14th. Good luck! Comments are now CLOSED.

Congratulations to Jill!

Read on to learn more about Bunte Fabrics.

Meg: Who is behind Bunte Fabrics, and how did it get started?
Yvonne: Bunte Fabrics is a true WAHM business run just by me, Yvonne. I opened the shop in 2007 after I had finished a long career in a major animation studio. It was a long jump away from everything I had known up to that point!

I fell in love with sewing just a year earlier in 2006 after I stumbled across my first Farbenmix pattern. I pretty much got an instant addiction to sewing clothes for my girls and my boy and naturally became a bit of a fabric addict as well. That led me to search for European fabrics and notions and finding that there was still a gap in European sewing supplies here in the USA I had my first thought about opening a shop online.

Meg: How did you discover European fabrics, and what makes them stand out as a fabric category?

Yvonne: I didn't so much discover European fabrics. I am German and have a link to Europe still even though I have lived here half my life now. There are several reasons why I love sewing with European fabrics. One,  I love that most all of them are manufactured under very strict guidelines, under the Oeko-Tex 100 standard. That is good for the environment and healthier for us to work with and wear. Second, I love that they are extra wide. Usually fabrics are about 42 inches wide. European fabrics are 58 to over 60 inches wide. So you get more fabric in the yard. Third and totally not least, I love the unique designs and since they are still hard to find here, you will truly have a one of a kind piece once your are finished sewing!  

Meg: What are your favorite patterns for children's clothes that use knit fabrics?

Yvonne: Oh gosh! I love sewing with knits and have so many favorite patterns. Right now I love AMELIE by Farbenmix but my all time favorite is most likely IMKE or QUIARA.

Thank you, Yvonne! Leave your comment to be entered in the giveaway!

Please welcome Imagine Childhood (one of my favorite toy stores!) for the first giveaway this weekend!  Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win your choice of either a weaving loom + yarn + handmade fairy OR knitting needles + yarn + knitting tower + handmade fairy. Comments will close on Tuesday evening, December 14th. Good luck! Comments are now CLOSED.

Congratulations to Cary!

Read on to learn more about Imagine Childhood.

Meg: What is the vision behind Imagine Childhood, and how did it get started?

Sarah: As a family we have been selling children’s goods in one way or another for the past 20 years, including a storefront in Denver Colorado that we ran for many of them. But, the real start of Imagine Childhood as you see it today happened around 4 years ago.

It had been a number of years since the shop closed and often we found ourselves drifting into discussions about the importance of good, quality gifts for kids.  This of course, easily segued into “when I was a kid” conversations about each of our favorite toys and memories from childhood. 

After a while we realized that there was a recurring theme.   All of our fondest memories, whether from growing up in the 50s or thirty years later in the 80s, were of time spent exploring and imagining... of believing in the power of a stick, a piece of string, a sunny afternoon and a good sense of adventure.

That's why we started imaginechildhood.com, a place where we could share stories, toys and activities that encourage a kid to be a kid... to get out in nature and explore... to dream... to imagine.

Meg: Your blog is such a source of inspiration for families wishing to get back in touch with Nature. Can you share few favorite posts with Sew Liberated readers?

• The Nature Walk Series (I am inspired and awed by the fantastic adventures that so many wonderful families continue to share each week.)
• Winter homes for Garden Insects
• Scientific Scavenger Hunt
• Mudbrick Houses
• Butterfly Net

Thanks so much, Sarah! Please leave a comment to enter the drawing to win the weaving loom kit or knitting kit from Imagine Childhood.

I'm excited to bring you a series of giveaways from my sponsors in the next few weeks in preparation for the holidays. Please welcome Nido Fabric & Yarn for this weekend's giveaway! Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Anna Maria Horner's new line, Innocent Crush, in the "Charmed" colorway. Comments will close on Sunday evening, December 5th. Good luck!

Comments are now closed! Congratulations to commenter #138, Hannah!

Phiona in Nido's cozy store in Burlington, Vermont. Nido just started selling fabric and yarn online, too.

Meg: Tell us about Nido, Phiona—what is the story behind your store, and what do you offer to your customers?

Phiona: I have always been a crafty sort of gal & after having my son Franco I found myself following crafty mama blogs & making all sorts of things for my family & home. Inspired by the growing movement of people reinventing the do-it-yourself ethic to produce projects that are both practical & visually appealing, I decided to become a part of what was going on & put together a cohesive business plan. Less than a year later, I opened Nido’s brick & mortar shop offering a unique selection of fabric & yarn to my community. Just last month I started my online shop so that people outside of Vermont could enjoy what we had to offer as well. Both shops offer a fabulous selection of fabric from designers such as Heather Ross, Laurie Wisbrun, Naomi Ito & Etsuko Furuya as well as yarn from Swan's Island, Vermont Alpaca, Cherrytree Hill & Twinkle. There is always an assortment of fat quarter bundles in our “other items” section as well as the latest patterns & kits. It’s all been VERY exciting & I really owe a great deal to my loving husband who has been so supportive of this whole process.

The giveaway prize - a fat quarter bundle of Anna Maria Horner's new fabric line, Innocent Crush, in the "Charmed" colorway.

Meg: What’s your first love—knitting or sewing? What projects are on your crafting to-do list this holiday season, and what fabrics/yarns do you have in mind for them?

Phiona: Sewing. Mrs. Ryle’s class, freshman year—I made my first dress & I was hooked! I still have the dress, which I humbly pull out of the attic every now and again to remind myself of just how far I have come. Since then I have picked up knitting but its never competed with my love of sewing!

This season it is all about simplicity! On the list for Franco is the Boy’s Cozy Pullover from Stitch Magazine's Fall 2010 edition made from Folksy Flannel, the Spaceboy & Robot from Wee Wonderfuls made with some of the Hope Valley collection & a cowl made from Vermont Alpaca yarn. Other gifts include lavender satchels, the Emmeline apron, which is ALWAYS a huge crowd pleaser & Jane Richmond’s Marian cowl out of Twinkle soft chunky yarn. The idea is to have a reasonable “to do” list this year! We’ll see ;)

Thanks so much, Phiona! Please leave a comment to enter the drawing to win the fat quarter bundle from Nido!

I'm really excited to feature one of my sponsors, Creative Kismet! Regina's art is so vibrant and full of life. Check out her inspiring blog here. She sent me one of her prints - "I Will Help You Grow" (perfect, right?) and it will have a prominent spot on the wall of the new playroom.

Please read on to learn more about Creative Kismet, and leave a comment to enter to win a free print of your choice. Comments close Sunday evening, November 20th. Creative Kismet is also offering free shipping on domestic US orders from now until November 24th. Just mention "Sew Liberated" in the notes to the seller with your order.

Tell us about yourself and and your art.
I am a mother of two happy, energetic and creative boys and wife of an amazing and very supportive husband. They are my light, my inspiration and my greatest joy. I am also working as a part time registered nurse and certified lactation consultant on a very busy mother/baby unit at a local hospital.  I love working with new mommies and their sweet babies, helping to make those first days of motherhood transition a bit smoother.

I am currently living in warm and sunny Southern Arizona very much inspired by the warm weather, bright colors and Mexican influences of my area. I also have this overflowing passion for creating handmade goodies, whether it be painting art, making craft or sewing. I love it all. I like to keep things upbeat, happy, cheerful and bright.

How does motherhood and your work as a nurse influence your art?

Because motherhood is such a tender and sometimes difficult period, I know that any support you get can mean the world. Whether it is helping a new baby nurse, getting a free home cooked meal, or gentle and kind words of encouragement, mothers need all the support we can get--and we should graciously accept it. I always think of these things when I make my art.  A painting that is bright, cheerful and gives a positive feeling and message is something that I want to share.

How do you set aside time to create in the midst of motherhood and work? Any suggestions for the rest of us?
Well, I'm not the best house keeper in the world. If there is a pile of clothes or dishes, I'd rather cover them up with a pretty dish towel so that I can have a bit more time with my art.  Actually, my husband is pretty amazing and helpful around the house and with the kids. We try hard to make sure there is time for both of us to do what we like. It's a priority to set that time aside.   My kids, ages 9 and 5, are in Montessori school now. They are at a great age where they are becoming more and more independent. They are also the best of buds and play very well together, keeping each other busy and active. This has definitely helped with freeing up little bits of time here and there. We have come to realize that when we all have time to do what we enjoy, we are all much happier and the rhythm of our home flows a bit easier. It isn't always humming, there are definite hiccups, but we try to take it in stride the best we can.

Thank you so much, Regina!

*****************************UPDATE, COMMENTS CLOSED************************

Thanks to all who entered, and congratulations to Kristin, whose comment was selected at random.

I'm excited to be supported in my blog-writing efforts this month by Sew Fun Patterns. Jenn has some wonderful patterns on her site, including the brilliant Grab n' Go Diaper Clutch. Who wants to lug around a ginormous diaper bag? I was under the impression that I needed a huge diaper bag when I was pregnant with Finn. I was wrong. I'm making one of these clutches for baby #2, and keeping the big 'ol bag in the trunk with an extra change of clothes, etc. Read on to learn more about Sew Fun and to enter the giveaway!

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Hello, I’m Jenn Lopez – wife, mama and owner/designer of Sew Fun, www.sewfun.com. I used to be an educational video game developer but now I design sewing patterns for Babies and Moms. I made the switch so I could claim buying fabric as a business activity. Just like the games I used to make, all of my patterns are easy & fun. With easy-to-follow instructions and detailed illustrations, they are beginner-friendly yet appealing to advanced sewing enthusiasts.

At Sew Fun, we believe in supporting cottage industries and work-at-home crafty moms, so we are proud to offer a limited free licensing program for all Sew Fun patterns. Here is our Grab 'n' Go Diaper Clutch stitched up by one of our ETSY friends over at Sonoran Baby:

From quilts and toys for Baby to stylish diaper bags and accessories for Mom, Sew Fun patterns make beautiful gifts for baby showers and cherished handmade keepsakes for all the loved ones in your life!

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Jen is giving away THREE diaper clutch patterns to three lucky Sew Liberated readers! Just leave a comment to enter; the winners will be drawn at random on Sunday evening, October 3. 

Thank you to all for entering, and congratulations to Yana, Rachel, and Zom G. who won the random drawing. Jenn of SewFun patterns will be in touch with you to claim your diaper clutch patterns!

UPDATE: Comments are closed. Congratulations to Brooke, who said:

Thanks for sharing... we can always use this sort of book at our house -- and what a beautiful one!

Thanks to the lovely author Rae Grant and her publisher, St. Martin's Press, for the giveaway!

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Forgive my use of the publisher's photo - my copy of Homemade Fun is happily in my hands, but it's too cloudy and wonderfully cool here to take any decent sort of picture of it. Finally, a respite from the blistering heat!

Homemade Fun is Rae Grant's third vintage-feel crafts and cooking book written with school-aged kids in mind (although, I'm well past school-aged and I still love all her books and find myself perusing them for some easy, old-fashioned recipes and craft ideas!) Homemade Fun combines the best of crafting and baking, and offers 101 projects organized in the following chapters: Hand Sewing and Embroidery, Papercrafts, Baking, Building Things, and Toys, Games, and Pastimes. Those last two chapters really make the book stand out, in my opinion - it's really the perfect antidote to an "I'm bored" rainy afternoon. I'm sure our copy will get lots of use as Finn gets older.

Make sure to stop by Rae's inspirational blog, My Little Hen, for more fun activities to do with kids.

The nice folks at St. Martin's Press sent me this charming book to giveaway to one of my readers. Leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a winner on Saturday morning, July 3.

Congratulations to the following randomly picked peeps, each of whom won a copy of Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby !

Monday:

Rachel Wolf :

Most rockin'. Can't wait to stitch up that hoodie!

Tuesday:

Mandy White :

Here's my day 2 comment. I really, really want to win!

Wednesday:

mountain girl :

Great trousers! Love 'em.

Thursday: 

nancymoo :

Ooooh! Love those pants!! Thanks for hosting this giveaway! :D

Friday:

Carrie @ Oh Baby O :

Reversible too!? :-) I've been trying my hand at making clothes for my lil' guy lately. What fun! (Crossing my fingers extra tight to win the give-away!)

Thanks for all of your fun comments!

I made mine in a lightweight cotton lawn, using the vertical lines of the fabric to create a lengthening effect along the torso. I love the styling - the gathering at the shoulders and the lower bodice works well for fuller-busted, nursing mamas, and it's very comfortable to boot. My sleeveless version started out as a dress, but like many of my would-be dress projects, it morphed into a tunic.

The pattern itself is extremely well written, with very clear diagrams. It was fun to sew, and I worked it up in about five hours or so. A few pattern notes - because I made the sleeveless version, I ended up bringing in the side seams underneath the arms. I don't have a very broad back, but I suppose that, had I made the version with sleeves, I wouldn't have had to make this adjustment, as sleeves do require some extra space for arm maneuverability. The only bummer about this pattern (and the other maternity/nursing patterns in the book) is that the sizes are limited to Small, Medium, and Large. I wear a Small/Medium in the tunic, so I can imagine that the sizing is a limiting factor to many women. It's the nature of patterns-in-a-book, though - you can only fit so much on those little paper inserts.

The brilliant modesty panel makes for super-easy nursing access. I tried it out for lunch on the town, and sure enough, nursing discreetly was a cinch. Finn approves.

It's also versatile! Quickly tie it in the front after nursing for a sweet look.

I'm not done yet! I'm off to find some fabric to whip up the Four Corners Blouse, and I've already cut the fabric to make Finn a pair of Quick Change Trousers with a modification for his large, cloth diapered bum.

And how can I resist the Baby in the Hood Jacket? The fabric is all lined up for this one, too. To see more of the book, check out this preview.

The nice folks at Wiley Publishing have sent me not one, but four books to give away to Sew Liberated readers! Here's how the giveaways will work: each day this week (Monday through Thursday) leave a comment. I'll draw a winner for each day and announce the winners on Friday, when I might be hosting Anna Maria for a little Q & A. (I say might because I've procrastinated in getting my questions to her, and she's a busy lady! Cross your fingers, though!)

Check out the other book tour stops when you get the chance!

May 3~ Craft
May 4~ Indie Fixx
May 5~ Sew Mama Sew
May 6~ Pink Chalk Studio
May 10~ Wise Craft
May 14~ House on Hill Road
May 16~ Purl Bee
May 18~ All Buttoned Up
May 19~ Alabama Chanin Journal
May 20~ Homemade by Jill
May 21~ True Up
May 22~ Oh, Fransson!
May 23~ Prudent Baby
May 24~ Sew Liberated
May 25~ Handmade by Alissa
May 26~ Hazelnuts
May 27~ Petite Purls

***The giveaway is now closed. The random number generator chose "berries*", who will receive some organic goodness for her little one, due in a few weeks! Congratulations!***

I'm very pleased to welcome back LuSa Organics as a blog sponsor. Rachel makes some mighty fine products. Her Booty Balm is magical - if ever a rash-like somethingrather appears on Finn, I just slather this stuff on him and it's gone within the day! Read on to learn more about LuSa, and leave a comment to enter to win your choice of Booty Balm and Baby Wipe Juice or 4 bars of LuSa Organic's Naked Soap. In addition, Rachel is also offering $10 off your purchase of $40 or more when you enter the coupon code "Sew Liberated" at checkout (expires April 24 - I'll be stocking up on Booty Balm for new baby gifts!) The winner will be announced on Monday, April 5.

*Also, if you are, or have been, a baby-wearer, Rachel is collecting uplifting stories about the baby-wearing experience as a way to counter the fear-mongering stories all over the media that have been cropping up lately (I was unaware of this until a man working downtown asked me, while I was wearing Finn, "Aren't those things supposed to be really dangerous?" I just smiled and kindly responded, "No, it's way more risky getting in a car." Anyway, for more info and to submit your story, visit Rachel's blog.

LüSa Organics is all about goodness.

Good ingredients. Good people. Good principles. And outstanding products.

Owned by a work-at-home mother of two, LüSa Organics handcrafts organic body care for babies, mamas, and the rest of the family. They offer an unconditional guarantee on every product. (If it isn’t the best you’ve ever used they’ll take it back.) Both the LüSa Organics mama line and baby line have been recently featured in Mothering Magazine.

Bestselling Baby Wipe Juice and Booty Balm are both cloth diaper safe and will end your babe's diaper rash woes for good. Their handmade soaps contain fair trade shea butter and are ideal for dry or sensitive skin. All products are free of synthetics and toxins like parabens, non-soap surfactants, chemical preservatives, and fragrance oils.

Owner Rachel Wolf's blog, Clean, is an inspiring place to find daily thoughts on natural family living, crafting, cooking, and parenting.

It seems as though this bloggie of mine is giveaway central as of late! Today I'm featuring the truly lovely Lisa Leonard, who makes beautifully sweet handmade jewelry. My husband gifted me one of her necklaces on the day our son was born (which also happened to be my first Mother's Day) and it is one of my most treasured pieces of jewelry.

Lisa is generously offering a Sew Liberated reader a $100 gift certificate to her store! Please leave a comment on this post to enter. The winner will be drawn at random on Sunday evening, February 7.

Visit Lisa's store

.. and her blog.

Thank you so much, Lisa, and good luck to you all!