NEW Wonderland Fabrics and 20% Off All Quilting Cottons

Enjoy 20% off all quilting cotton fabric this week.  Save on yardage and single fat quarters.  Over 250 fabrics to choose from.

The sale price is good through 11:59pm MT, Monday, 10/5.

New Wonderland fabric from Art Gallery Fabrics is up on the site.  This line is already selling fast so order your Wonderland today.  And get the quilting cottons 20% off while you are at it.
New fabric and a sale!  Doesn't get much better than that.

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

Fall 2015 Make It Mine Challenge Winners

The judges have voted.  The results are in.  But, the decisions were HARD!  Here is what a few of our judges had to say had to say.

"Thank you for letting me be part of this challenge, it was so much fun and the projects were so pretty!!" 
Pat Bravo

"This was hard! There were so many great entries!" 
Jessica Stewart

"So many fun projects! Thanks for having me as a judge." 
Jeni Baker

Every single entrant should be very proud of the AMAZING job that they did.  You blew us away.  Great work!  On to the top three entries.

Second Runner Up

Second runner up will receive the following items, valued at over $123.00

1.)  A gorgeous bundle of fabric from Art Gallery Fabrics
2.) A $25 Whimsical Fabric Gift Certificate
3. One Winter Wear Designs PDF Patterns of your choice
4. One Swoon PDF Pattern of your choice
5. One Izzy & Ivy Designs PDF Pattern of your choice

Our second runner up is Paola Phillips!

Paola submitted the following outfit out of Happy Home fabrics.

First Runner Up

First runner up will receive the following items, valued at over $217.00.

1.) Two gorgeous fabric bundles from Art Gallery Fabrics
2.) A $25 Whimsical Fabric Gift Certificate
3.) One Winter Wear Designs PDF Patterns of your choice
4.) One Swoon PDF Pattern of your choice
5.) One Izzy & Ivy Designs PDF Pattern of your choice

Our first runner up is Ginger Bell!

Ginger submitted the following 6 piece ensemble out of Curiosities fabrics.

Grand Prize

The Grand Prize winner will receive the following items, valued at over $930.00!!

1.) A Janome 7330 Magnolia Sewing Machine

2.) Three gorgeous fabric bundles from Art Gallery Fabrics
3.) A $25 Whimsical Fabric Gift Certificate
4.) Two Winter Wear Designs PDF Patterns of your choice
5.) Two Swoon PDF Patterns of your choice
6.) Two Izzy & Ivy Designs PDF Patterns of your choice

Our Grand Prize winner is Jennifer Stover!

Jennifer submitted the following chevron bodice dress out of Curiosities fabrics.

Congratulations to our top three entries and to everyone who participated.  A huge thank you to our generous sponsors and to all of our judges.

P.S. If you didn't get a chance to take part in our Make It Mine Challenge hang around because we will be doing it again in the spring of 2016!

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

Don't Miss Out!

Today is your last chance to receive 20% off all knit fabric on the site.  Over 100 different prints and colors to choose from. The special price ends at 11:59pm MT, tonight, Monday, 9/28. Hurry!

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

Make It Mine Challenge Entries and 20% Off All Knit Fabric

Want to see all the gorgeous entries for our Make It Mine Contest?  We have gathered them all on Flickr.  

Click here to view.  

I have no idea how the judges are going to decide.  A lot of amazing talent there!

Also, this week enjoy 20% off all knit fabric on the site.  Over 100 different prints and colors to choose from. The sale price is good through 11:59pm MT, Monday, 9/28.

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

20% Off All Knit Fabric

This week enjoy 20% off all knit fabric on the site.  Over 100 different prints and colors to choose from. The sale price is good through 11:59pm MT, Monday, 9/28.

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

Meet the Make It Mine Judges

As our Make It Mine Challenge comes to a close we want to thank our sponsors and introduce our judging panel.

First and foremost I want to thank Art Gallery Fabrics for their generous donation of over $450 worth of gorgeous fabric for the prize packages. I hope everyone that has participated in the challenge has come to love Art Gallery Fabrics as much as I do. The quality is top notch, the colors and prints are stunning, and the company is amazing to work with.

Judge #1

Pat Bravo
Owner (with her husband Walter) of Art Gallery Fabrics

 "I see the world for its beauty and majesty. The intricate, the ornate, the royal... All of this catches my eye. You can say I have soulful eyes." 

My passion for sewing materialized at the age of 9, when I sat down at my mother's sewing machine for the first time. At the age of 13, I joined a sewing school in my native Buenos Aires, learning everything about fabrics, dressmaking, and patterns. For many years I lived in this wonderful world, until it was time to go to college. I decided to study law and sew on the side, but soon realized that this was not my dream. I dropped out and took three years of painting classes and around this time, I met the love of my life, Walter Bravo. Twenty-seven years later, we're still married and have a beautiful son together. He is my friend, my confidant, my everything… and my partner in our company, Art Gallery Fabrics. 

 In 1989, we moved to the United States and I became pregnant with my son, Alex. My life changed radically after the move. Everything was completely new for me: the people, the culture, the food, the city. It was such an intense period of adaption, that for a good amount of time, I had no energy to do the things that I loved and cherished. That all changed when Walter got me my first sewing machine! With that, I immediately came back to life!

I fell in love with quilting, sewing triangles and squares together, eventually teaching myself everything that could be achieved using traditional quilting techniques. Throughout the years, my taste started evolving and I began to cross the bridge towards art quilts. First, I started with landscapes and with time my style became more abstract. I hard a hard time finding color variations in batiks and that's when I decided to paint my own fabrics. I began to see that quilters loved them, and not too long after that, Walter and I founded Art Gallery Fabrics.

I am convinced that everybody is born to do something in life. This is what I was born to do and I am sure that this is what I will do for the rest of my life. 

Judge #2

Bari J. of The Curated Maximalist™
Designer of the Anna Elise fabric line.

“Color is of the utmost importance in design.” 

I was born and raised in Chicago, but decided to move to Scottsdale, Arizona with my two teenage daughters: Anna and Emily, and my husband Kevin to stay closer to my family. 

I have been passionate about design for as long as I can remember. As a child, my mother would paint and craft, so it was only a natural progression that I would inherit her love of crafting. I began crafting and creating jewelry, but when I first learned to sew I knew I had found my passion. I was hooked on it. That obsession is what inspired my own handmade handbag business and my first book: Inspired to Sew. 

My style is rather eclectic, and has grown over the years into what you see today. While I love vintage and soft designs, I am constantly drawn to color and bold prints which are very modern, as well as mixing the two for surprising combinations. I don't hold back when it comes to mixing fabric prints and colors. The world around me inspires me…. I look at photos and imagine faraway places. I see a color and that inspires a whole collection. I am a color junkie. 

 It was my love for fabric that got me back into graphic design and specifically textile design. In 2009, I created my first fabric line, Full Bloom. Since then, four additional lines proceeded. Due to their popularity, they were featured in magazines including Accessories, Romantic Homes, Quilts and More, Studios, Belle Armoire, and many more. LillyBelle being my first one with Art Gallery Fabrics.

Judge #3

Caroline Hulse of Sew Caroline
Designer of the Happy Home fabric line.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney 

Caroline currently resides with her husband and their puppy in Fort Worth, TX. In her free time, Caroline loves to travel, walk her pup and create adventures in her everyday life. 

She grew up in the piney woods of East Texas where a sewing machine was the furthest thing from her mind. She loved being outdoors and most evenings you could find her riding her bike through the neighborhood. She went off to Texas A&M in search of a business degree, but what she found was a husband and a total disinterest in the corporate world. The Christmas after she turned 20 Caroline received a sewing machine as a gift. Her sewing machine sat on a shelf for the better part of two years, until one day she decided to figure out how to work it. She watched YouTube videos, read blogs, and went through a lot of scrap fabrics before she found where to put the bobbin, how to thread the machine, and how to set the tension straight! 

Since then, she’s found her passion in sewing and designing women’s garments. Caroline defines her style an ever-evolving mix of classic feminine romance and modern trends. Seeing a pile of fabric transform into something beautiful to dress herself amazes her every time. 

Judge #4
Jeni Baker of In Color Order
Designer of the Curiosities fabric line.

 “We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry." - E. B.  

White I have been sewing since I was 11, but crafting nearly all my life. From mud pies to friendship bracelets and collages made from magazine clippings, I’ve always felt a strong urge to make things. I taught myself to sew with the help of my mother, who always encouraged craftiness. Throughout high school I sewed tote bags and small projects, but eventually other hobbies took precedence. When I went away to college, I dragged along my trusty sewing machine and sewed off and on when I found time between classes. Finally, I moved into an apartment and made my first quilt. I have been hooked ever since! 

My favorite part of the sewing process is fabric and color selection, I love nothing more than to be surrounded by fabric. It feels natural to be entering into the realm of fabric design with my first fabric collection, Color Me Retro. 

I’m still trying to find my style. One side of me loves clean, minimalist designs with limited colors and patterns. The other side loves patchwork goodness, sweet vintage florals, and an explosion of color. One thing is for certain; I love a bit of whimsy! 

In addition to sewing, my hobbies include photography, baking, and collecting vintage kitchenware and linens. I currently live in Wisconsin with my pet bunny, George.

Judge #5

Chelsea Andersen of Pink Fig Designs

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I have not always been creative. Most of my childhood and teenage years were spent on a tennis court. In fact it wasn’t until high school while taking the required art classes that I found I could do more than just swing a racket. I absolutely loved art and to create things from my own design was exhilarating! So, I decided to pursue it a little more in college. While there, I also signed up for a basic sewing class where I learned how to thread a machine, sew a straight stitch, unpick seams, read patterns, and for the final I had to make myself a skirt and top from a pattern of my choice. Despite my efforts, it turned out hideous! The fabric was ugly, it didn’t fit right, and I ended up with a B, barely. I was convinced that sewing with patterns was not my thing. Still, I knew sewing was something I wanted to do, so from then on it was all home dec. I sewed bedding, curtains, and pillows for my own home and then eventually for others. What was meant to be a creative outlet for myself while staying at home with my kids, turned into a nice little side job. I also picked up a second job with a local clothing company doing fix its and alterations until I was eventually made head seamstress. It sounds more glamorous than it really was. I mostly just shipped out supplies to all of the other seamstresses and kept them on task, but I had a chance to work with notions and I learned a ton! 

When my first daughter was born, I decided to give patterns a second chance. I went to the local fabric store and bought all the cutest patterns and fabric I could find and started sewing! I made custom clothes just for her at first, but after relentless persuading from a few good friends I launched my designs into the boutique world taking custom orders from mommies all over the country. It was hard work, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. In 2008 I decided to take it one step further and started my own line of patterns under the name of Pink Fig Design.

A HUGE thank you to Chelsea for the free Miss Milly Apron Dress PDF pattern available on our Facebook group, Whimsical Fabric & Me.  *This pattern is available to group members until 11:59pm ET tonight, Tuesday, 9/22.

Hurry and grab some Pink Fig PDF patterns for 30% off through 11:59pm MT tonight, Tuesday, 9/22!

Judge #6

Suzanne Winter of Winter Wear Designs

A HUGE thank you to Suzanne for the free Horse Free Motion Applique PDF pattern available on our Facebook group, Whimsical Fabric & Me.  *This pattern is available to group members until 11:59pm ET tonight, Tuesday, 9/22.

Hurry and grab some Winter Wear Designs PDF patterns for 20% off with the coupon code WFsave20
The code is good until 11:59pm ET, tonight, Tuesday, 9/22.

Judge #7

Jessica Stewart of Izzy & Ivy Designs

Hurry and grab some Izzy & Ivy Designs PDF patterns for 20% off with the coupon code MAKEITMINEThe code is good until 11:59pm ET, tonight, Tuesday, 9/22.

Judge #8
Alicia Miller of Swoon Patterns

Hurry and grab some Swoon PDF patterns for 20% off with the coupon code whimsical
The code is good until 11:59pm ET, tonight, Tuesday, 9/22. 

And finally, you can still save 15% off at Whimsical Fabric on all Anna Elise, Curiosities, and Happy Home fabrics(and coordinates) by Art Gallery Fabrics. Also save 15% off all paper and PDF patterns. No code needed, prices are already reduced.This offer ends at 11:59pm MT, tonight, Tuesday, 9/22.

Don't forget that all Make It Mine entries are due tonight, Tuesday, 9/22 at 11:59pm PT.  Please email your pictures along with your order number(s) for the fabrics used to us at   whimsical.fabric@yahoo.com    Thanks!

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

Miss Milly meets Anna Elise - a Freebie and a Sale from Pink Fig Designs

 

 Click HERE to View the Official Rules

We have some very exciting news that we've been dying to share with you all.  You may have noticed on our Make It Mine graphic that we have Pink Fig Designs listed as one of our sponsors and yet we haven't mentioned anything about Chelsea Andersen or her patterns, Pink Fig Designs.

The exciting news is that we have another FREEBIE for you courtesy of Chelsea Andersen!  For the next week, if you join our Facebook Group, Whimsical Fabric & Me, you will be able to download the adorable Miss Milly Apron Dress PDF Pattern by Pink Fig for FREE!

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In addition, all of Chelsea's Pink Fig PDF Patterns are marked 30% off on our site through the remainder of the Challenge! It's a GREAT time to stock up.

There is even more awesome news!  Every..Single..Person who enters the Make It Mine Challenge will receive a coupon code good for 1 FREE Pink Fig PDF Pattern of their choice from Whimsical Fabric!  Don't you just love it when everyone wins?  I do!!

So, more about Miss Milly.  I really love this sweet little pattern and just adore it made up in the Anna Elise fabric by BariJ.

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For the bodice of the dress I used the Let It Be in Breeze.  I love the colors in this fabric! Turquoise and Purple are favorites here.  And how about those guitars?  So adorable.

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I chose the Encolureful and Pretty for the skirt front and dress back.  It's some of the most gorgeous fabric I've worked with lately and Sydney went crazy over the horses.

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I wanted a hem band to add a pop of color, but I didn't want it competing with the beautiful horse fabric so I decided to make a much narrower hem band than the pattern called for.  I used the delicate floral called Wind Melody in Soft for the hem band.  It added just the perfect amount of color.

I made my hem band much narrower than the pattern calls for.

 The guitars on the bodice fabric have a chevron print to them so I decided to use the Riley Blake Teal Chevron Buttons we stock in the shop.  I also added the Mauve Herringbone Twill Ribbon to the waist seam.  Love that pop of purple and it's a perfect match!

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To finish off the look we opted for a comfy 100% cotton Triple Ruffle Tee in brown.  Yup, you guessed it, we stock those on the site too!  They are awesome quality and super cute.

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I really enjoyed sewing the Miss Milly.  The only part that might be even remotely challenging would be the side tabs.  I sewed a little box (with an X in the center) at the bottom of my tabs just to make sure they were really secure and wouldn't rip if Sydney pulled to hard.

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 I also decided to serge my side seam allowances on the dress front and back before sewing the side seams together.  With the tabs on the side, I think it just makes it easier to finish the edges if you do it before sewing the side seams.

The pattern recommends buttons or snaps for the side tabs.  I was afraid Sydney might accidentally rip buttons off if I used them, so we used KAM snaps instead.  They worked out great and she loves the ease of the snaps.

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I hope you enjoy making a Miss Milly as much as I did.  Please make sure to share you creations on our Facebook Group, Whimsical Fabric & Me.  We would appreciate it if you also shared our group and website with all your sewing friends and family.  Thanks so much!

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Join our Facebook Group

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

Make It Mine Prize Packages - Over $1,270 in Prizes!

 

 Click HERE to View the Official Rules

Did you realize that we are giving away over $1,270 worth of awesome prizes for our Make It Mine Challenge?  Wow!  That's just amazing.  Check out the prize packages below!

Grand Prize Package  -  Valued at over $930.00.

1.) Janome 7330 Magnolia Sewing Machine ($599 value.)
The Magnolia 7330 is the most advanced machine in the Magnolia Line.

Key Features

• 30 stitches.
• 6 one-step buttonholes.



• Built-in needle threader.
• Snap-on presser fee.
• Memorized needle up/down.
  Push the button to set the needle to stop in the up or down position. Set the needle in the down position for easy pivoting on corners and for seamless free motion embroidery. Set the needle to the up position for easy fabric removal.
• Superior Feed System.
• 7-piece feed dog.
• Free arm.
• Drop feed.
• Speed control slider.
  Set the speed for comfortable sewing with the speed control slider. This slider allows you to set the top and low end speeds of the machine. Set to slower speeds for intricate work, and high speeds for long straight seams. Never sew faster than what you are comfortable with.
  
• Locking stitch button.
  The locking stitch button ties off the end of the thread. No need to backstitch to lock a seam. This is ideal for securing seams on delicate fabrics, or when using decorative stitches.
• Easy reverse button.
  The Reverse button allows you to easily backstitch for locking seams. With the tip of your finger, this conveniently located button can also be used to stop a stitch pattern before its completion.
• Auto-declutch bobbin winder.
• Extra high presser foot lift.
• Backlit LED screen with easy navigation keys.
  
• Top loading full rotary hook bobbin.
  The advantage of easy drop-in, top load bobbins is that you can readily see how much thread is left on the bobbin through the window. You do not have to remove the bobbin case to insert a new bobbin, and you do not have to remove the accessory tray from the freearm to change bobbins. Drop-in bobbin sewing machines also have full rotary metal hooks which move in one direction, run quieter, and require less lubrication than underneath oscillating shuttle hook and removable bobbin case systems.
  
  
• Maximum stitch width 7mm.
• Maximum stitch length 5mm.

2.) Three gorgeous fabric bundles from Art Gallery Fabrics ($255 shipped value)

22 Gorgeous Yards of Fabric!

7 yards bundle of Chromatics

10 yard bundle of Nature Elements

10 half yard cuts of Tule

3.) A $25 Whimsical Fabric Gift Certificate 

4.) Two Winter Wear Designs PDF Patterns of your choice ($19.90 value) 
5.) Two Swoon PDF Patterns of your choice ($11.90 value) 
6.) Two Izzy & Ivy Designs PDF Patterns of your choice ($19.80 value)
 
1st Runner Up Prize Package  -  Valued at over $217.00

1.) Two gorgeous fabric bundles from Art Gallery Fabrics ($167 shipped value)

14 Gorgeous Yards of Fabric!

9 yard bundle of Oval Elements

10 half yard cuts of Sweet As Honey

2.) A $25 Whimsical Fabric Gift Certificate

3.) 1 Winter Wear Designs PDF Patterns of your choice ($9.95 value)
4.) 1 Swoon PDF Pattern of your choice ($5.95 value)
5.) 1 Izzy & Ivy Designs PDF Pattern of your choice($9.90 value)

2nd Runner Up Prize Package  -  Valued at over $123.00

1.)  A gorgeous bundle of fabric from Art Gallery Fabrics ($73 shipped value)

12 half yard cuts of Essentials

2.) A $25 Whimsical Fabric Gift Certificate

3. 1 Winter Wear Designs PDF Patterns of your choice ($9.95 value) 
4. 1 Swoon PDF Pattern of your choice ($5.95 value) 
5. 1 Izzy & Ivy Designs PDF Pattern of your choice ($9.90 value)

And don't forget to take advantage of our wonderful sponsor's generous coupon codes.

Winter Wear Designs - 20% off with code: WFsave20
Swoon Patterns - 20% off with code: whimsical 
Izzy & Ivy Designs - 20% off with code: MAKEITMINE 

Join our Facebook Group

Happy Creating!

Danielle Storm 

www.whimsicalfabric.com