GIVEAWAY!! (right here, right now!)

NOTE:  THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!

Guess what time it is?

Yup, finally time to get to that giveaway.
But first some chit chat which will segue into the prize.  So I'll be a brief as possible but I just have to share this so. . .

In making one of the prizes for this giveaway, I was reminded how fluid patterns are and how changing just ONE thing can change the finished product dramatically.

First, I was using a free pattern from Ric Rac (link goes to the blog but the pattern is on the right hand side).  The pattern calls for sewing right sides together (by machine, using felt) and then turning the pieces out .  So I dutifully followed the pattern and this was my result.

Now if you clicked on the link and looked at the tutorial, you will have already noticed the obvious.

But in case you didn't see the tutorial I'll save you the click.  That there turtle looks NOTHING like the one in the tutorial.  NOTHING.  I'm not saying that my turtle is "bad" but it was not what I was expecting and I was disappointed.  (oh and the hat is part of the tutorial and called for sewing and turning as well, which is what I did).

So there was just no way I could offer that sad turtle as a giveaway prize.  Again, it's cute and all but really?  It's just not good enough (no, I'm not throwing it out or anything like that, it fits in fine in the Land of Misfit Toys--I'll even find a name for him/her and all that).

Back to the pattern to give it another try, this time sewing on the right sides (by hand) with no turning.

Results?

MUCH better.  They look spot on like the ones in the tutorial (if I do say so myself).  In fact, I like them a bit better than the tutorial because I hand embroidered the shell designs and I used a blanket stitch to attached the top shell to the bottom shell (oh and I forgot to show it, I also hand embroidered lines across the belly--I can't believe I forgot about getting a pic of that).

Once I got the first turtle (the one in the red had) done I started the second with all intentions of having both of them as giveaway prizes (along with another item I'm getting to--you're being so patient and for that I thank you). But then I noticed one odd little thing. . .

Ok, he looks normal on this side.  What's the problem. . .

What the. . .oh my lordy. . .is that a. . .that one spot does it look a bit like. . .

I cracked up laughing.  Now maybe I'm just a perv but that one spot looks more than a bit. . .how shall I say it delicately. . .naughty?

Close up?

*snort*

Yeah, that looks like what I think it looks like.  And even if it didn't, now that I see it that way I can't UN-see it so. . .

The yellow shell turtle will be staying with me.  I don't want to offend anyone by sending them a peen turtle and (to be honest) it cracks me up so much I don't want to get rid of it.  (and for the record I polled my sister and my hubby and both agreed it did have a peen flair to it but that it wasn't blatant or obvious in a "you deliberately put a peen on a turtle shell, you're a pervert" kind of way).

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So, pattern discussions and peen turtles aside.  Let's get down to the getting down.

THE GIVEAWAY!!!!

There are TWO prizes so that means TWO winners!  How's that for a bit of alright?

PRIZE 1 is the aforementioned (non-peen) turtle.

This turtle is made from wool blend felt stuffed with poly fill.  (all new materials).  The eyes, shell decor, and belly stripes are hand embroidered and the whole thing is hand sewn.  The hat is also felt (with attached pom-pom) and can be removed (but it's a bit of a chore).  This is a small-ish sized toy (about as big around as the palm of your hand) so it's not a good idea to give to really small kids (they'd eat that hat in two seconds flat, I'd bet--I don't have kids but even I know that's what they do, eat stuff they shouldn't then cry about it).


PRIZE 2 is a copy of "Toys to Sew" by Claire Garland.

Somehow I ended up with two copies so my loss is your gain.

Those are pics of the front and back covers so you can see some of the cute patterns it includes.

And a pic from inside the book (in keeping with the turtle theme).

I can't wait to make this tortoise.  But it involves a bit of patchwork (to get the top shell all frizzy like that) so I need to get some easier patchwork experience under my belt before I foray into this (though you could just use a solid piece of fabric for the shell or applique to get a rippled effect--so you don't need to do patchwork).

If you want more inside the book pics, you can check out Amazon (I had a second inside pic--of this cool patchwork alligator--but it just would not upload for me and I got miffed and gave up).

SO, once again there are TWO prizes so that means TWO winners.

How to enter (and other details):  NOTE:  GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!

1.  Leave a comment here stating which prize you'd prefer.  That's the prize you'll be entered to win.

2.  For one additional chance (to win prize of your choice) FOLLOW my blog.  Just leave a comment saying you do/did and note what prize you'd like to win.

So you have TWO chances to win a prize (and yes, you can pick the same prize for both of your entries or you can have one try for each--so you do have a slim chance of winning BOTH).

This giveaway is open to any and all comers (U.S. and international).  If you are an anonymous commenter (or just want to make extra sure I can contact you should you win) leave your email address in your comment.  (you can type it the "no spam" way like this:  email(at)place(dot)com  )

Winner will be drawn randomly and notified by email.  Winner will be announced in a separate post at this blog.

Winner will be drawn Monday, July 30 and announced/notified the next day.  (and if the winner doesn't respond within 5 days of notification, a new winner will be drawn from the pre-existing entries).

So, summary:  TWO prizes up for grabs, TWO chances to win, OPEN to all comers (leave an email address).

GOOD LUCK!!  (and no, the peen turtle is not up for grabs, so don't try and beg me to give it to you, you dirty perv!)