Thank you to all 28 of you who entered the key-ring contest! It seems that the economy really is on everyone’s mind.  I heard a frightening statistic on NPR this afternoon, over 150,000 jobs have been cut…THIS MONTH ALONE.  I hope that we can bond together as neighbors and friends and help each other as needed. I thinking of doing a “month of thrift” for february, where everyone posts about their favorite way to stretch their dollar, or their meals, or their clothing, gas etc.  what do you think, would you want to be a part of it?

Now, today’s winner is Katherine:

While I picked just one winner, I’m happy to custom make one for you at $4 and free shipping.  Just email {heather-at-heatherhalesdesigns-dot-com} me if you are interested.

remember when I made these for my girlfriends last month?  I have an itching to make another one…for one lucky reader.

I’ll dig through my fabric stash and make a key ring with the initial of your choice.  Comments will be open until Friday (23rd) night about 10pm PST.

To enter just leave a comment and answer this question: “what issues are you most concerned with for 2009?”

While reading over at the Baby Gardner today, I was made aware of some new child product safety standards that will make it impossible for crafters to legally sell their wares.  It has to do with something called Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.  Read more about how you can help here.

The thought of actually penning a letter to my congressman scares the pants off me.  I’m horrible at business writing and am sure that I would sound like a kindergartner saying, “hey, it’s not fair, I want to play too!”.  So, if someone out there would like to pen a letter and let the rest of us use it, please let me know!

On to more pleasant things, I did a little shop update today- some aprons and a bib.  AND, I decided it was time for a holiday give away!!  Simply leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday dish and you will be entered to win this fun towel and pot holder set.  Comments are open until I go to bed Friday night (I have a date with the husband, so it should be late).  I’ll announce the winner Saturday morning!

If you’re new here, I like to hold a giveaway once a month, because sharing is nice.  This month I am giving away a Patchwork Pillow Case  (no pillow just the sham/case, you’ll have to supply your own 14×14 pillow, may I suggest using your 40% JoAnn’s coupon?- that’s where I get my pillows).

I was just really hankering to make something pretty- for fun.  I was inspired by Elizabeth’s paint box quilt and I’ve always loved the coin quilt pattern.  However, it is not without it’s flaws, as in seams not quite matching and quilting not spaced evenly…etc.  But, notice how eye catching it is?

I backed it in what is almost the last of the brown sheet I thrifted (so far I’ve made, 1 dress, 1 blanket and now a pillow from 1 sheet!).  The binding features the same fabrics that are featured on the front.  Everything is 100% cotton and already washed for that lovely crinkly look.  Quilted with my favorite all natural bamboo batting.

In the lower left I added a special cream patch with the word “laugh” hand embroidered by me.  With this many colors, you know it will look good somewhere in your house!

All you have to do to win this pillow is to leave me a comment, if you want an additional entry you can add this button to your blog.

Just copy/paste this code into your sidebar:

<a title=”patchwork pillow giveaway!” href=”http://heatherhalesdesigns.com/blog/patchwork-pillow-giveaway/”><img src=”http://www.heatherhalesdesigns.com/blog/images/sidebar_add.jpg” width=”200″ height=”300″ /></a>

**the code wasn’t working earlier, I’ve updated it and it is now working!**

Comments will be accepted until I go to bed on Friday October 24th.

is the sewing room!  We finally got rid of the monstrous futon, the empty space in there now is warming my heart!

My sister is coming to visit this weekend which was just the right push I needed to get this room in order. Where will she sleep now that the futon is gone you ask?

Why right here where the ironing board is, on an inflatable mattress.  We don’t have over night guests often enough to warrant a permanent bed anymore.

See that chair in the corner?  Solid wood, lovely detail work on the legs? $12 at goodwill, I’m planning on recovering it next week (hopefully) in a pretty red floral print I found.

Even the closet is organized! Well, it’s organized in my own special way, I suppose it might look messy to comeone else.  Be sure you click through to flickr on these images, I’ve loaded them up with notes (which explain things like, why aren’t there any baseboards in this room, or what’s with the laundry basket in the corner).

The giveaway?  TOMORROW and here is a teaser.

 Thank You to everyone who participated!  The winner is KIM!

I know, I know, I just did this…but I have one more giveaway.

This reusable grocery tote (or perfect for trips to the farmers market, or the thrift store…etc) is constructed from vintage pillowcases and is lined with white linen (nice and sturdy!).  It measures about 19″wide, 16″ long with a 4″ wide bottom. Leave a comment if you want it, comments will be open until Thursday AM.

If you won the last giveaway I plan on mailing everyone’s stuff this weekend.

Thanks again for all the participants in September’s Giveaway.  The winner of the “doggy bag” is commenter #7, Valerie.  The Linky Love prize goes to: Giddy For Paisley, makes me wish I had a fun paisley fabric to send with it!

We’ve been celebrating with family recently and there is still more fun to be had.  In the meantime, check out this cool colorstrology – a horoscope with color.  Here is what it says about me:

I can’t say I have ever given much thought at all to hunter green….

Comments are now closed- thank you to everyone who participated!

**Important** I added a new anti spam feature to the blog comments section, I’ve received word that some of you have legitimately tried to leave a comment only to be informed that you are spam (ACK!).  If you’ve been labeled spam please email me directly (heather at heatherhalesdesigns dot com).  I also added a “Contact” form in the about section, has anyone tried it yet, did you get labeled spam there too?  Please let me know!!  If a lot of you are repeatedly having problems with it, I’ll remove it and find another way to cut down on spam, a girl only needs so many cheap Viagra pills after all!

Here is the 411 on this month’s giveaway: leave me a comment telling me what kind of tutorials you’d like to see more of.  What do you want to know how to make?  It doesn’t have to be something you’ve seen me make before, it can be anything.

The grand prize is this cute retro tote bag I found stuffed with vintage sewing ephemera (trims, lace, fabrics etc.)!

As always there is a Linky Love prize too, if you link to the giveaway on your blog you’ll get a chance to win the linky love prize.  Vintage math flash cards, a vintage Bunco set (I think it’s from the ’40′s) and a fun thrifted pillowcase!

Comments will be open until Saturday night!

The Winners Are:

#15 -  Cori Gilkey  “Since my chickadees are teens now I would have to choose the pyrex. Love the orange color; however, the skirt is adorable!” -please send me your address!

#8 - Jen Byard “Skirt please! My little niece Olivia would look adorable in this…pick me!” please send me measurements!!

Thanks so much for everyone who participated!  I have enough fabric to make 2 more skirts, email me {heather(at)heatherhalesdesigns(dot)com} if you are interested ($10 skirt + shipping). Thanks to everyone who sent in an order- if you are still interested let me know as I may come across another sheet!

thanks to all who entered, I’ll post the winners on sat

I realized today that I haven’t had a contest for July yet, nor did I have one for June.  OOPS!  So, to make up for it, this one will be really good….

I made my daughter a skirt today from a vintage sheet I found at Goodwill for $1.  Not only was it super easy, but it looks SO cute on her.

Here’s the deal, I will make someone’s daughter a vintage sheet skirt, with puff ball trim!  “But wait,” you say, “I don’t have a small daughter” .  For those who are not interested in a skirt I’m offering this cute small vintage pyrex serving dish in the butterfly pattern and I’ll fill it with bits of vintage sheets.

I’ll leave the comments open until friday July 18, and as always feel free to link back.  Just mention in the comments which prize you would like.