Hugs from Helen

Sewpink 2022

It’s that time of year again – October - Breast  cancer month.  Now it’s not that we should only be aware in October but it is a great way to remind yourself that it is important to CHECK THOSE BOOBS!

I’m honoured to be a part of this years ByAnnies Sew Pink Initiative yet again. I think I have been involved every year and it is my pleasure to contribute to this great initiative.

I do normally have time to design and make something especially for it, but alas this year time has gotten away from us all and I need to remind myself also to stop and smell the roses I think.

However I did take a day out for myself and make a lovely set of Clam up pouches in the latest fabric line to arrive in our store – which I just love – Anne Sutton’s Flower farm for Moda fabrics - it has so many lovely pinks and pretties, it was just perfect for the job!

We’ll be donating $5 from every

Clamup pattern sold in October to Breast Cancer Australia on your behalf.

 

There are 5 sizes in the pattern – and I will admit I just watched the great add-on videos and then stitched them right up – I didn’t even need to read the pattern!

These are the small, medium and large versions (there is an extra small and an extra large version as well)

  

We can never have too many little zipper pouches but I was thinking that they would be very handy for medications, creams and oils and other little goodies when going in for treatment. Or of course your stitching supplies.

All of us know someone close or dear to us who has fought the battle of Breast Cancer – particularly in our Quilting world where our demographic has such a high risk rate. But with so many advances and free breast screening for many we need to be vigilant and ‘check those bumps for lumps’

If you know someone who is fighting the battle or has won the fight we have this range of brooches/badges that may just have the right message.

There are 16 to choose from and we’ll donate $1 from every sale to Breast Cancer Australia.

ByAnnies is also offering a $30 virtual voucher to one lucky person who reads this blog. I’d love you to post your pink bag makes on IG and tag me  @helen_stubbings  @patternsbyannie #sewpink  so I can choose a winner!

And remember to check those bumps for lumps!

hugs xxxxx

Helen

 

Here’s the full schedule for 2022 below. Be sure to drop by each bloggers post to see what they are sharing this year.

 

 

BLOG HOP 2022 SCHEDULE

✂ Oct. 1 :ByAnnie.com Kick off

✂ Oct. 3 : Emmaline Bags

✂ Oct. 4: Hugs ‘N Kisses

✂ Oct. 5: Clover and Violet

✂ Oct. 6: Fat Quarter Shop and the Jolly Jabber

✂ Oct. 7: Sewfinity

✂ Oct. 10: Teresa Coates & Shannon Fabrics

✂ Oct. 11:Beyond the Reef

✂ Oct. 12: Sallie Tomato

✂ Oct. 13: Suzn Quilts

✂ Oct. 17: Snuggles Quilts

✂ Oct. 20: Pat Sloan

✂ Oct. 21: Knot and Thread Design

✂ Oct.23: Sookie Sews

✂ Oct. 24: Mister Domestic

✂ Oct. 26: A Bright Corner

✂ Oct. 27: Sew Cute and Quirky

✂ Oct. 1 : ByAnnie.com Final Wrap Up

 

 

The #SewPink Initiative was created by ByAnnie.com LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer throughout the year. Our efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer.

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK

To find screenings available near you:

• Breast Screen (Australia)

• CDC.gov (US)

• WebMD (free screenings)

This year we are again joining forces with Fat Quarter Shop to promote a fundraiser. Their goal of raising $20,000 to donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

ByAnnie.com will match every dollar raised on the #SewPINK fundraising page.

 

 

 

Sew Pink 2021

I'm proud to be a part of the third annual Sew Pink blog hop run by ByAnnie – to focus on Breast cancer for the month of October. Although its important every day of the year, I've taken part in each of these initiatives now as I believe in the importance of this raising of awareness – and funds to beat this thing!

This year when I went in for my bi-annual Boob check I ran into a friend coming in as I left. Not surprising – we’re all around the same age and demographic in a smallish town, so often you see someone you know. Little did I know that she was there for a dreaded callback – which resulted in a positive result and weeks of surgery, chemotherapy and years of anxiousness and checks to come.  What surprised me most when we next caught up and discussed it was that it was the first time she had had a breast check. (she is early/mid 50’s). This is despite having family history - and it being free to have Breast screens here in Australia from age 40.

Why wouldn't she do it? because, like me, she is a busy small business owner, a mum, a wife, a charity organiser and everything else she cannot say no to. She provides to, mentors and coaches hundreds of children a week in her business and she didn't have the time to think about herself – only others. She knows she should have, she knows its easy and free, she knows everything she could have done – but we, as working mums and business owners just tend to put ourselves last on that ever growing list.

You know I preach about the therapy of stitching, and I get so many messages of personal stories saying how stitching my patterns has helped people get through traumas, challenges and life events, including cancer journeys – I can’t stress enough the importance of taking that time out for ourselves, to smell the roses and – get the boob check! Before you have to go through the journey that so many of our friends and family have endured.

This year I have stitched the simple and of so useful ByAnnie Pocket Packer project using the wonderful Tula Pink linework fabrics we have instore at Quarter Inch.

But instead of a mesh on the outside pocket, I've used our EPP Iron-ons to make an English paper pieced ribbon in honour of the SewPink initiative. It’s quick and simple – but it sends a message – a reminder, to us all.

And I'm imagining that those are zebra unicorns there giving hope to all!

Here’s a quick little step by step of my ribbon process.

Take 18 diecut EPP 1” diamond papers (60 degree) and fuse them onto the wrong side of your chosen fabrics – I used three different Kona solids I had in my stash.

Remember to leave a 1/2” of fabric between them for seam allowances.

Cut them out keeping that 1/4” seam allowance on each one.

Next we use a fabric glue pen, a small line of glue along the edge of the paper and fold over that seam allowance onto the glue.

I arranged them onto a printout to see how I wanted to spread my colours around. (you can download that pdf here if it helps you)

Then you simply whip stitch them together as you would for any EPP. The difference with our EPP Iron-ons is you leave them in – yes they iron on, and stay in – if washed they’ll semi dissolve and just stay in as nice soft fibres.

Next you’ll cut a piece of cotton fabric (we used the zebra print) the same size as the mesh measurement in the pattern. Glue baste (we use small dots of Roxanne’s basting glue) it into place and then hand or machine stitch it down tucking in those tails as you go.

Then you’ll just continue to make up your bag as per the pattern.

I made Style 3 – with three pockets, splitting the bottom one.  You get a voucher code with each pattern to watch the Add-on videos by Annie. They take you through step by step with so many tips to perfect her zippers, mesh, vinyl and more.

If you’ve never done EPP before and would like to try this checkout my YouTube channel for some help using our method.

If you’d like to make your own version, we’re including enough EPP Iron-on precuts to make your ribbon with each Pocket packer pattern ordered on any of our websites.   We can also put together kits in the same fabrics we used – or of course you may have our own favourites.

We have a Giveaway

As part of the blog hop I have a $30 digital coupon to give away to one lucky reader – you just need to pop over to my Instagram feed and find the Sewpink post and enter to win. And remember, we’re giving you the EPP Iron-on 1” diamond papers when you grab the Pocket packer pattern.

Don’t forget to checkout the other amazing sew-leb-rities participating and see what they have on offer during the month of October.

BLOG HOP 2021 SCHEDULE

✂ Oct. 1 (Fri):Fat Quarter Shop - The Jolly Jabber

✂ Oct. 2 (Sat):Sallie Tomato

✂ Oct. 4 (Mon): Hugs ‘N Kisses

✂ Oct. 6 (Wed): Sewfinity

✂ Oct. 11 (Mon):Beyond the Reef

✂ Oct. 13 (Wed): Great Heron Thread Co.

✂ Oct. 15 (Fri): Love You Sew

✂ Oct. 15 (Fri): Emmaline Bags

✂ Oct. 16 (Sat): Meadow Mist Designs

✂ Oct. 18 (Mon): OklaRoots

✂ Oct. 20 (Wed): Suzn Quilts

✂ Oct. 20 (Wed): Teresa Coates

✂ Oct. 22 (Fri): Knot and Thread Design

✂ Oct. 23 (Sat): Shannon’s Studio

✂ Oct. 25 (Mon): The Littlest Thistle

✂ Oct. 27 (Thur): Mister Domestic

✂ Oct. 27 (Wed): Sookie Sews

And Don’t forget to go have that Boob check – no matter how busy you are.

happy stitching,

Helen

 

The #SewPink Initiative was created by ByAnnie.com LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer throughout the year. Our efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection, and support for those affected by breast cancer.

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK

To find screenings available near you:

● Breast Screen (Australia)

● CDC.gov (US)

● WebMD (free screenings)

In addition to participating in the #SewPINK Initiative, Fat Quarter Shop invites you to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation with the goal of raising $10,000.

To find the Fat Quarter Shop fundraiser visit: https://fundraise.nbcf.org/FatQuarterShop

 

To learn more about the Breast Cancer Research Foundation visit: https://www.bcrf.org/

#SewPink

I was honoured to offer to contribute to ByAnnies #sewpink initiative to support Breast Cancer worldwide. As someone who has known and continues to support many close to me fighting this dreadful disease it is something dear to all of our hearts. I sit with you all with a 1 in 8 chance of also fighting this fight one day – but with all the promotion and education, and funding for research it is heartening to know that there is now a 90%+ survival rate.

Early detection is the best tool we can have, and I have designed a fun project to remind us to ‘check the bumps for lumps’.  Yes I know, its not the most pleasant biannual trip we have to do, having our breasts squeezed between a  vice – but its a small few minutes of discomfort to hopefully save a lot more down the track…

In Australia, most women after 40 can get free annual or biannual screens – so there’s no excuse. Of course in between these screenings we should be regularly checking those bumps for lumps.

Here are a couple of links if you’re not sure how to

https://www.bcna.org.au/breast-health-awareness/breast-awareness/

https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam

So here is my little project for you – Check the Bumps for Lumps

it uses my Easy EPP method (or you can use your own preferred method) and

some raw edge applique

I applied mine to a ByAnnies very useful Zip it Up bag. I made up the outer pocket piece – quilted the three layers and then appliqued my EPP’d  boobies by hand, then used my eye as a guide to place the steam a seam prepared letters into place. Then I fused to secure. The pocket then just made up as per the bag instructions from Anni.

It’s a great little bag with zippered pockets on the outside and mesh and clear vinyl pockets on the inside. The whole thing then zips up closed so you can fill it with everything you need and nothing will fall out. Im hoping my new little laptop will  fit in my outside pocket as I made the large version.

For my day in the bloghop Im offering the Check the bumps design as a free download.

Alternatively you can purchase the kit which has the preprinted applique paper, steam a seam, and the fabrics (same or similar to what Ive used) and the printed layout guides and templates.

ByAnnie are donating 30% discounts on all things pink as per the links at the bottom of this post.

The #SewPink Initiative was created by ByAnnie.com LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. They have pledged to raise funds to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through sales and promote action through giveaways.
For more information please visit their official #SewPINK information page: https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK
To donate directly visit: https://give.bcrf.org/give/31404/#!/donation/checkout
To see the calendar of events visit: https://www.byannie.com/2019-SewPINK#calendar
ByAnnie will be donating 30% of profits on all SewPINK items sold on their web store. You can search for SewPINK items on their website or see the list of items here: https://www.byannie.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=sewpink

Hugs for today

Helen

Love thy neighbour quilt

Finally I have managed to finish my’ Love Thy Neighbour’ quilt.

I quilted it quite simply to get it done and I backed it with just polar fleece – so no batting. This was the first time I have personally quilted a quilt with polar fleece (although all of our Snugglybug quilts are done like this) and I did find it a little ‘slippery or stretchy’ as I quilted, but I got the hang of it once I sorted a few tension issues out. It does mean the quilt has a lot of movement still but I think that’s okay for its purpose. I didn't want a stiff overlyquilted quilt.

It certainly makes for a very snugly quilt to wrap up in and should be very easy to launder – as was requested – as this quilt will be on a hospice bed.

I love using a stripe for binding…. always looks great and I had used it on the quilt top also.  for the quilting I simply quilted 1/4” inside either side of all sashing strips  and the plain lemon half square triangle blocks in the border. I then did a large stipple on all remaining blocks. So not marking required, I simply used the edge of my free motion foot for my 1/4” and then freehanded the stipple.

I will try to make delivery of this snuggly quilt to my neighbour in her new home this week – and make a difference to her day…

I never thought I'd ever use that prize pack of fabrics, not being my preferred colour/style but they can always bring joy to someone else…hopefully they will.

 

hugs for today

Helen

Rainbows for Dainere

It is so lovely that you are all supporting our Rainbows of Hope campaign so beautifully. We have classrooms making rainbows for Dainere and holding little fundraising days in their school. I think this is a lovely way to teach young children about the gift and importance of giving..

keep them coming girls, every little bit brightens Dainere’s day.

She wrote on her blog last week ‘I have hung the rainbows from a shelf in my room and each morning when I wake and every night before I go to sleep I see them and they fill my heart with hope and love.’

They are making a difference…

hugs to you all today

Helen

Share your Gift for me please....

When I did the recent Project interview, from the hours of filming they ended with a quote I had used – ‘we all have a gift – use it to make a difference.’

So now I am asking you, all of my blog and Facebook stitching friends around the world – to share your gift for me… and make a difference to this wonderful and inspiring girl I have ‘met’ online since the Project aired.

From Dainere’s Blog she writes:

I was diagnosed with High Risk Medulloblastoma in 2009, since then my dream has been to raise awareness and funds about brain tumours and inspire others, I hope that one day a less devastating treatment will be found and hopefully a cure. In 2012 I was diagnosed with an incurable relapse of my disease in my spine. This has made me more determined to raise funds and awareness to have a cure found for this horrendous disease.

From her mum:

Raising that awareness to help others is the most important thing to her.  Primary brain tumours are the second highest cause of death for children aged 1 -18 years from all causes after drowning and now sits as the highest cause of cancer death in children.

Of course we are making her a Snugglybug quilt but I needed to do more. Sometimes something just touches your heart and it aches to help in some small way.

Dainere loves rainbows – they give her hope…..

What I am asking you to do is:

Download this pattern – or make up your own version of a rainbow

Download Rainbows for dainiere

It will only take a few scraps and an hour of your time to stitch.

If you can manage it pop it into an envelope with a $5 note and post to

Rainbows for Dainere

17 Delma View Gungahlin ACT 2912, Australia

Lets give Dainere hope from all around the world, and when there is no further hope at least there are hugs and rainbows surrounding her. Help Dainere to make a difference for kids in the future – it  could be our kids or the neighbours or the friends in school class. It could be any of us…

Please, do this little thing for me and use your gift to make a difference..

there is no time frame for this, any special package will brighten her day, just when you can…. do this one small token, it will give back to you also, a feeling of love and appreciation for our life as it is.

hugs to all of my rainbow makers today

Helen

If you are able to, please email a pic of your rainbow to me or my Facebook page, spread the word, share this post and tell everyone, imagine what we as quilters could do for Dainere if each and everyone of us just made this one small token...

One person can only do so much but many people can do SO MUCH!!