Time for a giveaway! A book on basic clothing alterations.....

One of my very best friends, André Williams, has written a book on alterations.  For the last 27 years, André has been doing alterations in Northwest Arkansas and I know from personal experience that she is great at it.  Writing a technical book is not easy and she's worked really long and hard, even thru the death of her husband, Kenneth.  She got the book finished, though, and last weekend had her book signing party, which was a lot of fun.  She was very sweet and gave me a free copy for myself as I had helped her a little bit by proof-reading the book and offering opinions, but I also bought 2 books specifically to give away to my bloggy buddies.  These books sell for $20 each, but I'm going to give these 2 signed copies away to 2 randomly picked readers who leave a comment here.  I'd really like them to go to someone who wants to do her own clothing alterations, or her family's, not just to a book collector, so please leave a comment only if you think you'll actually USE the book, OK?  Thanks!

Here's the cover of the book- it's spiral bound so you can lay it open right next to your sewing machine and read the instructions and see the photos without the book closing on you!  Isn't that a clever feature!?!

 And here's a great photo of André, my lil' Cajun friend!

 Just a peek at the great photos....

 ...and the Table of Contents.

 I even got an honorable mention in the credits!

Leave a comment for a chance to win- you can even tell me a funny story about trying to alter something yourself and botching it up (or succeeding!).  I know I've done it, so my copy of this book is going to be treasured.  It'll be hard to not ask André to do something for me, though.  She's so good at it and nothing seems to faze her, except for rude customers.  LOL  I used to work in the frame shop right next door, so I heard the occasional story!  People are just weird sometimes.  Fortunately, though, most of the people around here are really, really nice.  

Good luck to you!  Oh, I'll be selling these books in my Etsy shop, too, so if you don't win one but still want one, come to my shop.  FlossieBlossoms

Thanks for reading all this.  I hope you're all having a fun weekend!
This drawing is now closed!  

Thanks so much, everyone.... and I'm ready to move forward, to quote a friend...

I very much appreciated all the kind comments from you all, I hope you can understand why it's taken me so long to get back to you and say thank you.  Honestly, I spent so much time here bragging on my Nosey Parker, I feel like this blog was more about her than anything else.  But I'm going to try to get back to doing things like I did, even though it won't ever be the same, not even close.  

OK.  

I've been a little busy these days with helping with my mother, but I've also had some time to sew.  I've made a few bitties and a lunch bag and a couple of mug totes.  Let me show you.  Bitty Block Committee is on hiatus for the summer, so I don't have as many as usual to show you.  

We did another go-round of the beach/underwater theme- I think this one fits quite well, since it's half underwater.  The message is their last will and testament and leaves ME all their fabric and quilting supplies.  Heh!

We also did a Farmer's Market theme and I made zucchini- you know how you get so many that you can't hardly give them away?  LOL  And I made one block to commemorate a funny occurrence I had with my mother at the store once when the clerk had spelled cucumbers as "cucmumbers" on the sign.  The laughter from my mother could be heard throughout the entire store.  ;)

 We also did a side swap called "Bitter Bitties" and I made a "You are the spinach in my teeth" block....

 and another one- "You are the gum on my shoe."  I did this one especially because Kimmie and Ruthie love the Wizard of Oz so much, and I thought it was pretty funny that Dorothy would step in it, even more than she already had.  LOL

 I made a couple of mug totes, for someone who goes to classes or work and wants to bring her own favorite mug with her.  This one turned out really well.... from this tutorial- by {me} and my thoughts....  I added the inside pocket.

 And this one is just adorable, from this tutorial- by Red Brolly, but honestly I think it would be better as a little purse for a kid, it seems awkward for a mug, too cube-like. The butterfly wasn't on the flap once a mug was inside, it covered part of the top of the bag.  I guess the flap could be made longer, but it would still be very deep at the top, not tapered like it is in this photo. 

I sent the first one to my partner in FLiRTS, she wanted  a mug tote or a lunch bag... So I made her a lunch bag, too, using this cute Edgy Veggy material that I had.  I found this pattern on Etsy. 

And I included a matching condiment wallet... I've sold tons of them in my own Etsy shop.

 

 I also made myself a new bag out of selvages.  I had worn my old one out, it was threadbare and shabby.  It has pockets on the outside but it's plain inside, since I use a purse organizer that fits right in it. I did this in a "quilt-as-you-go" style so I wouldn't have to make a lining.  I covered the inside seams with binding.

Thank you all again for understanding our loss and sympathizing with us.  We do appreciate you all very much.  Bizbee and Gravey have been getting a tremendous amount of attention lately and we really are treasuring them even more than ever.  A smooch/rub/head-butt from a cat is a gift, one we need and really enjoy.