U-handblog

... and the winners of the U-Handbag Holiday Giveaway are...

Sorry to be late announcing this, things in the shop were a bit crazy in the run up to our last dispatching day.

So, this draw was by far the most fun and entertaining draw we've ever held here at U-Handbag HQ.  Your entries were simply astounding, your ingenuity in rigging up the most daft sewing situations took our breath away.  I found your pictures very touching because not only do you have a great sense of humour, but it was so nice to see pics of lovely ladies (and men) sewing all around the world.  You're all very beautiful and mad in equal measure :)

Winners were picked by the usual trusty random number thingy. We took the number of photos in the Flickr group (after discounting entries from myself) and used that number to draw the prizewinners from. 

So the winner of the Sewing Machine is...(drum roll)....

 
  WEEEEEE! By Another Dana.

.

Runner up no.1

   

  COOOEEEE! By Faz de Pano.

.

Runner up no. 2

  

  Sewing at the USA Embbas-sew (um... embassy).  By Sammie Doodle.

Congratulations to you all!!  Please let us know your contact details and I'll fix it with Janome so they can send your prize booty to you.  There's a good chance that prizes won't be sent until early Jan - just so you know.

Sorry to those who didn't win, but thank you so much for taking part.  I know it would've taken a wee bit of effort to enter this draw so I really appreciate your spirit - and your pics will remain there as funny reminders for us all :)

Week 51 of 2009 in pictures

Hello all!  How are you coping with the gruesome exciting countdown to the holiday?

I've managed to; get all my pressies made (and purchased), keep an eye on the shop, carry on with book writing (and various other things that I usually get in flap about), and I still have a sense of humour?!

It'll be a relatively quiet Xmas for me.  I'm going to spend a day with the family, a day with my ol' man and for the rest of the time I have to work. What a Humbug eh?  Ah well at least it's the sort of work one can do indoors, shuffling around in flannel Pjs, slippers, and fluffy trapper hat.  Glamming-it-to-the-max, that's me.

My week 51 in pics follows....

  I baked this Carrot Cake it's as easy to make as slipping up in the snow (we have snow outside!).  Being a piggy-wig I slathered the top with this delish Orange Buttercream icing.  Very very tasty, exceedingly gnom-gnom!

  Unfortunately, excessive amounts of buttercream icing require specialist containment and control facilities.  Sheesh! I've never been this weight before (this is what book writing does to you!)  As soon as this book is finished I'm going to hire Rocky's trainer to scream at me from his bike as I huff and puff around the streets of London running off my 'writer's muffin top'!  For the time being, these Spanx work surprisingly well and I am able to breathe in them. Now that's magic!

  Here's a sneaky peek of a bag that will appear in 'the book'.  Sent to my editor for approval this week - she approves :)

  This is the newest version of our popular Baguette Clutch Kit.  Went on sale this week.

  Here's Al in his doctor outfit.  See those shoes at the bottom?  They are shoes by the Simple company.  Al loves Simple shoes a lot so he was very disappointed when both pairs wore down rather quickly.  He emailed Simple (attaching the pic above) to let them know he was unhappy.   The lovely folks at Simple promptly offered him a new pair.  Power to the people!

.

Here are some more entries into the U-Handbag Win a Sewing Machine draw.  Some of you are simply certifiable - and I love you for it!   I get such a good giggle each time I look you lot in The Extreme Sewing Flickr group.  My friends and family think that you are all crazy amazing too!  You still have time to enter the draw, it ends this Sunday 20th Dec.  Thanks to everyone who has entered (and entertained).

You're all Nut-jobs and you rock!

 



   


 

(Non cheesy) Christmas Wallpapers

Totally unnecessary, but totally pretty wallpapers to pimp your holiday desktop. Follow the links to download for free. Enjoy!

.

  From Made In England. I currently have this one on my Mac.

 

 

  All of the above gorgeous December calender wallpapers can be found on the excellent Smashing Magazine.

.

  

 

  All of the above HD quality wallpapers can be found HD Wallpapers.

NB: I tried looking for non cheesy Hanukkah wallpapers, but it wasn't easy.  This was all I could find.

Hope you like 'em

Bonkers Sewing Pics

Really enjoying the entries in the Extreme Sewing draw. They're certainly funny and inventive! Thanks to all who have joined in.  Here is a small selection from the madcap Extreme Sewing Flickr:

  Sew over the Moon! by Hands of Gold.

  Sew Biker Chic! By Boodie316

 

  Sew wet! By Lesley (Z) 

I'll blog more pics in a couple of days.

Why not join in fun?   Have a go at the Extreme Sewing Draw.  You have until the 20th Dec, anyone can enter, and you might win a Janome Sewing Machine!!

Win a Sewing Machine!! The U-Handbag Holiday Giveaway.

Not that I want to add to the pressure, but it's December - Ahhhhhhh!!  (And before you ask, nope I'm not nearly and nope I haven't!)

Never mind, we'll soldier on and somehow it will all come together beautifully (like it always does in the end).  AND perhaps the thought of maybe winning one of these FABBO prizes will put a shine on the countdown to the  holiday proceedings.

This is the last U-Handblog giveaway of 2009 and we're ending it with a big ole BANG!!!  Big fat festive hugs go to all of my readers and customers who have shopped and/or popped in and said hello.   I simply couldn't do any of this without your support and I couldn't have gotten thus far without you being out there.  You've been very lovely to me :)  

 
 

There are 3 prizes up for grabs. 1x first prize and 2 x runners up. 

The draw is open to EVERYONE. Janome will be delivering the Sewing Machine.

Regular readers will know that I've reviewed each of these prizes separately in their own blog posts.  To read the reviews of each prize just click on the link below the pictures...

  A fantastic Janome 8077.  

Read the Sewing Machine Review.

 The Sewing Bible: Curtains book AND a Janome Mega Sewing & Craft Tote worth £50!!

Read The Sewing Bible: Curtains review

  Free & Easy Stitch Style book AND a Janome Mega Sewing & Craft Tote worth £50!!

Read the Free & Easy Stitch Style Book review

 
  

Draw Details (please read carefully)

I'll send 3 winners one of these smashing prizes each.  The draw is free & open to everyone. Janome will arrange for the sewing machine to sent to wherever the lucky digger winner lives.

To enter all you have to do is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST:

• Right we wanted to make this holiday draw extra special; so we would like you to do something extra special... We would like to see photos of you doing some extreme sewing (see photo below for explanation of Extreme Sewing.  

  What is this chap up to?  Well, he's doing a spot of Extreme Ironing of course.  To enter this draw we want you to do some Extreme Sewing.  All you have to do is grab your sewing machine and take it anywhere you wouldn't normally sew. There's no right or wrong way to Extreme Sew, but daft is always good :)

The only rules are:

1. You can enter as many times as you like - you must repeat rules 6 & 7 for each entry.
2. It doesn't have to be you the pic.
3. The machine doesn't need to be plugged in.
4. There needs to be some 'sewing' under your machine foot - a scrap of fabric will do.
5. If you don't own a sewing machine take some hand sewing out instead.
6. All pics need to be posted to our U-Handblog Extreme Sewing Flickr...
7. ...then you need to comment on this post with your Flickr username and a link to your Flickr pic or your entry cannot be counted.

I've added my own Extreme Sewing Pics and I'll keep adding more...

The draw ends on the 20th December so you have lots of time to get your entries in.  I'll post a selection of your Extreme Sewing Pics on the blog in the days running to the closing date.  I hope you can join in the fun - we can't wait to see what you get up to!

Stuck for Extreme Sewing Ideas? How about: the bath - empty & fully clothed; the pavement/sidewalk; the supermarket; the park; the beach - careful!; a car park/lot; a library; at the bottom of the garden...

SORRY THIS DRAW IS NOW CLOSED

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll randomly draw the 3 winners on 20th Dec and announce them the following day-ish.  Good luck! 
2. I'll need to ask the winners to make a donation for the book postage.
3. Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
4. Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
5. Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

I'll also announce the winner blog post on Twitter on the 21st Dec -ish.  Good luck!

Free & Easy Stitch Style. Sneak Peek (& giveaway to be announced).

Ohhh Kay!  Here's another prize that is being added to the U-Handblog End of Year draw in which 1st prize is a smashing Janome sewing machine.  The draw opens tomorrow!!

DRAW IS NOW OPEN!!

This book is 1 of 2 just published craft books that we are giving away! Both books are published by David & Charles - the same folks who are publishing my tome.

The 2nd book to be given away is reviewed here. 

Here we have a fun and breezy craft title on free hand and free style machine sewing - literally doodling with your sewing  machine.  I have to say 'doodling around' looks very appealing especially as I spend all of my time sewing accurate seam allowances and neatly up matching up edges.  In the book Poppy Treffry encourages you to do away with the neatness and 'colour over the lines'.

For those who haven't tried it before there is a clear and good introduction into freestyle machine embroidery and whilst Poppy provides lots of inspiration and advice she encourages you to throw caution to the wind and dive in.  I like it when there's no right or wrong in something.

 Poppy Treffry's new book: Free & Easy Stitch Style.

  How cute is this self portrait?

  Can never scoff look at too many cup cakes.

  Housey door stops.  Loads of fun templates are provided at the back of the book.

  Perfect for weekend breakfasting.

  Sweet pleated bag with happy flowers.

  I love this version of a wall tidy.  It's so vibrant.

Coming tomorrow: the U-Handbag End of year draw. It's a BIG 'un you don't wanna miss it!!

The Sewing Bible: Curtains. Sneak Peek (& giveaway to be announced).

Ohhh Kay!  Here's another prize that is being added to the U-Handblog End of Year draw in which 1st prize is a smashing Janome sewing machine.  The draw opens tomorrow!!

DRAW IS NOW OPEN!!

This book is 1 of 2 just published craft books that we are giving away! Both books are published by David & Charles - the same folks who are publishing my tome.

The 2nd book to be given away is reviewed here.

First up we have a clearly written book on curtains and window treatments.  It's written by Wendy Gardiner who is the chief editor of Sewing World Magazine (the magazine I usually write for - when I don't have books to write). So rest assured that Wendy knows a sewing thing or two about a sewing thing or two!

With bespoke curtains costing  squillions (and shop bought not always coming up to the mark) why not make your own.  My Mum does (Hi Mum!) and she always makes fab matching cushions too. 

With a fresh clean look, the 144 pages will explain many of the most difficult parts of curtain production in a clear, no nonsense way.  Take one window, add a sewing machine, throw in some fabric, mix well.... it's curtains for the days when you didn't know how to make curtains!

  Wendy Gardiner's new book: The Sewing Bible: Curtains

  Love the art deco fabric on this swish looking window treatment.

  These modern looking eyelet curtains are reversible. Cool eh?

 I'd love to have round windows in my house!

 

  Beautiful pinching and pleating.

  

Very cute tab tops on these cutains

 

Graceful country style pinch pleat curtains. 

Coming next: Book review no. 2