Be the Lucky Winner

Some sayings I believe. Check out those shops if you like inspirational word decor. I want to talk about it a little in the context of my life and work right now. My Kickstarter is off to a slower start than I imagined, and that had me down a little yesterday. Before ever launching the project, I envisioned it going out in the Kickstarter email and getting amazing support from all kinds of people. I never even considered what it would look like if Kickstarter did nothing to promote it and it was all up to me. If I had considered that, I would have built an email newsletter list. If you have a business but no email newsletter opt-in, change that now. You don't know when you will need it. Even if you have no newsletter to send out, start preparing your list of people who have given their permission for such a time as this. I have over 6500 people who have bought from me on Etsy and almost 1,000 on Craftsy. I could have a huge email list. By this time next year, I will have a huge email list. There are more projects coming - like maybe a book - and I will need to get the word out.
My friend Amber over at One Shabby Chick - a very popular sewing blog because she sews amazing stuff and shares it - is having a great giveaway. I want to link you to the giveaway, and say thanks to Amber. You can earn extra entries into the giveaway by pledging on my kickstarter, yay! The pledges are coming in. We love contests, don't we?
The Kickstarter project is not a contest for me. It's not like I am asking people to vote for something I made so I can have the honor of being the best. I am asking people to contribute toward the significant expansion of my business. And it's not simply a contribution. People who back my project are getting rewards equal to the full value of their pledge. I provide excellent products. I believe in the patterns and the sewn items I make. I use them myself.  I actually make tangible, valuable products.
Why do I want to expand? There are a few people in my neighborhood who would love to sew for me and get paid. They have things like insurance, groceries, and power bills. I had a business coaching session a while back in which the coach, Maria Marsala, encouraged me to think about the day when my business could help other people by providing jobs. I think it's time for that. My own family has needs that require a bigger business to fulfill them. I think the printed patterns and the sewing notions lines are the right way for me to expand right now. So don't vote for my project, back it! Encourage your friends who don't sew to back it. Facebook has been a great way to spread the word beyond our sewing circles. Just copy the link to the kickstarter page and paste it to your status on Facebook. Or after pledging, there should be a prompt on Kickstarter for you to share on Facebook too. You, my blog readers, are some of the most supportive and giving people I know. Many of you have already pledged support. Thank you! I wanted to put this out there in case there is a lesson in it for someone in the future.
Connect with me personally on Facebook and/or connect with my business page on Facebook. Join me, and let's rock this thing. I really want to show Kickstarter that this little sewing business can make it even without their newsletter.

The book that will make you giddy

The book that will make you giddy because you can win it! Storey Publishing has generously offered to send one of my readers a free copy of their new release, Fabric by Fabric. In this author interview, Trish Hoskins mentions the challenge of taking a variety of designers projects and translating them into one voice for the book.  My licensing experience with Simplicity prepared me for someone looking at my patterns and rewriting them, so I think it is great. My contribution to the book is my simple kitchen chair slip cover. The book version is different from the PDF version that I sell, so it's all good. I am really excited to have a project in the book (because it makes my mom proud of me all over again.) It is so well done and attractive (read this review for the full scoop) I think it will be a best seller.

A couple of the projects that intrigue me are the lingerie project - I have a bunch of knit fabrics that will be perfect for these. 

And my daughter wants a hat exactly like the one shown below. I think I will help her make it herself.


The book really does have something for everyone. It is the perfect gift for anyone just getting into sewing. It will expand their thinking about what kinds of things they can sew.
HOW TO WIN THIS BOOK
1. You must have a mailing address inside the US
2. Subscribe to my blog or follow it, and let me know by leaving a comment. (Make sure I have a way to get in touch with you.)
3. If you already subscribe or follow this blog, just leave a comment here. Tell me about your favorite fabric and what you did with it or plan to do with it.
DEADLINE Monday, January 2nd at  6PM Pacific time.
I will choose an entrant at random and announce the winner here by 7PM Monday.
Good luck!
Here is a list of all of the contributors to the book who have blogged and are blogging about it:

12/12/2011 Becka's Project Journal

12/13/2011 Craft Buds

12/14/2011 Patch Work Duck Designs

12/15/2011 Patch Work Duck Designs

12/15/2011 A Spoonful of Sugar

12/15/2011 Nifty Kids Stuff

12/15/2011 Becka's Project Journal

12/16/2011 Nom Nom Nom

12/16/2011 Quaint and Quirky

12/17/2011 ikatbag

12/17/2011 Two Brown Birds

12/18/2011 Sharon Sews

12/19/2011 LBG Studios

12/19/2011 Carolina Fair Designs

12/19/2011 Under Construction

12/20/2011 Little Blue Cottage

12/21/2011 Craftzine

12/21/2011 Neuroses Galore

12/21/2011 Emily Steffen

12/22/2011 Jenna Lou Loves You

12/23/2011 Spincushion

12/27/2011 One Inch World

12/28/2011 Sew Sew Etc.

12/29/2011 While Tangerine Dreams

12/30/2011 Studio Cherie

January ‘12 Lu Lu Carter

January ’12 Fiberosity

January ’12 Zuhause

January ’12 Obsessively Stiching

January ’12 No Bad Days

January ’12 Craft & Cackle

January ’12 AfricanKelli

The book that made my mom giddy

Or maybe it was the mimosa she drank before she called me... Fabric by Fabric, sequel to the very successful One Yard wonders book - I signed one for her. She loves it - even before she noticed my inscription and that my slip cover is in there. It is so packed with great projects, anyone who sews will love it. Here is a fabulous review of the book. And here is a great interview with the authors. I will be doing a book giveaway in a few days - 12/30. Tune back in here for your chance to win. Meanwhile, enjoy reading the review and the interview.

Alchemy the meerkat from NiftyKnits

alchemy the meerkat from NiftyKnits
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

The first thing we did when we got Alchemy in the mail was to sit down and watch some Meerkat Manor on YouTube. We were hooked. I finally understood how these nifty knitted meerkats have taken off and become such a huge product and fabulous source of publicity for Nifty Heather. Since we don't have TV, we had never seen Meerkat Manor. YouTube doesn't have full episodes, so we are all dying to know what happened when the Commandos attacked. The second thing we did was to oooh and aaah over all of the cool things he came with from his travels. If you click on the photo, it will take you to Flickr where I have added notes to all of the items showing what they are and who they are from. Nifty will be hosting a big giveaway for the entire package from her traveling meerkat fanpage on Facebook - probably from Twitter too and from her blog. The third thing we did was Gabrielle took Alchemy to school for show and tell. Most of her classmates were already hooked on meerkat manor and thought Alchemy was the bomb. G is really hoping we win the prize so Nifty will have to ship him right back to us. Each of the items in the giveaway has its own charm and personality. Nifty Heather is in for a real treat when she sees this sampler of American Etsy and we were all treated to a little taste of the UK and a nose for viral marketing courtesy of NiftyKnits.

The Winners are...

The three winners of a free PDF pattern were chosen at random.org and they are: Kimmy Anne (I will have to find out what pattern she wants) Swaddle Babies who wants the clutch pattern, and Jen who will also be receiving the clutch pattern. Congratulations, ladies!

I appreciate all of your input. I am working on the duffle pattern now.
I have an interesting sketch done of the vendor apron, but that will take a while to get from sketch to prototype, to finished product, to pattern. I think you will like it once it happens though.
For my friend Ginny, I do have some gifts for boys in mind and your artists bag will be a great one, eventually.
All of my pillows are currently in process for patterns, including the ones you mentioned.
The sling style backpack is in process as well.
You all have wonderful ideas that have got me thinking... and making new things. Thank you!

Any of you who entered but did not win are welcome to click on my PDF pattern section and buy one pattern and receive a second one (equal or lesser value) free as a thank you for entering. Just tell me in the notes to seller what your choice is for the free PDF.

Win a Free PDF Sewing Pattern

This giveaway it open to anyone in the world with an email address. Three winners will be chosen by random from entries. Here is what you have to do. Visit my shop and browse by category, then come back here and leave a comment to tell me what you would like to see me make into a PDF pattern. It does not have to be something I already sell in my shop. It could be something you've always wanted to make and you want to have access to an affordable pattern for it. When you leave your comment, let me know which pattern you want for a prize. It can be anything from this section of my shop. Also leave me your email address, so I know where to send the prize! The winners will be announced here on September 16th. Get an extra entry by sharing this giveaway on Twitter or by sharing it with a sewing group in person or online. Just leave a second comment telling me where and how you shared it. Now, for all of the entrants who do not win a free pattern, I will send you 2 patterns for the price of 1, anytime from now through the 22nd. Just mention blog in your notes to seller and tell me what you want for your free PDF on the buy one get one offer. Thanks for all of your great feedback so far.

The Heart of a Champion

I know I said just a few days ago, vote for someone else. But now I feel like my 10 year old does when I beat him at chess, completely surprised. I see that I have given my children the heart of a champion. We envision ourselves winning before the game ever starts. We never even imagined the possibility of defeat. So I am going to admit it now, I already won in my mind, but I need you to vote for me to make that thought a reality. If you vote for me, your chances increase greatly of winning the frame purse that I am offering as the prize. I really love it, and I wanted to keep it, but I have to admit that winning is more important to me. Besides, I can always make another one and you can't. (Unless you sew and you buy my pattern.) So go now, click on this link, vote for my bag entry #7, and leave a comment on that blog to enter to win. If you do not have a blogger account, you can still leave a comment and be entered to win, just leave some way I can identify you. You can say, for example, this is Cherie's friend Tami S. in Kirkland, if you are someone I know personally, otherwise, do leave a way for me to get in touch with you if you win! From here on out, if the team does more challenges, I am going to opt out and stand on the sidelines cheering. Fierce competitors also make great cheerleaders, and that is what I would rather be for my teammates. Oh, and I wanted to post a link to Elsiee's blog in which she gave an unsolicited rave review of the frame purse she won from me when I did a giveaway here. That way you can see from another perspective how great it would be for me to win and for you to win.

Giveaway over there

Winding down the work week and way too excited about the new stuff I just made to do any blogging. You'll probably see it in my shop by Monday, gotta do the photo shoot. I am the blogger for the Eastern Washington Etsy Street Team though, and if you are in the US, you can pop over to that blog, vote, comment and be entered to win a prize. Don't vote for me though, I think I want to keep that little bag.

Giveaway Part 2 Some Perspective

Today I want to post a photo that puts the leading contenders in perspective. Taking my own advice from Am I Worthy, I used poster sketch to take a look at my items along with some items that are already in the gift guide. Maybe this will affect how some of you see them as well. Read yesterday's post for the details on the giveaway. Oh, I added the Amy Butler fabric changing pad bag to the mix now. That item sold as soon as I put it in the shop, but I haven't made time to make another one, so now it is in there again as a custom made to order item which will make me take time to make it as soon as someone orders it! So, you can comment here or on the previous post, and I will add you to the contest. Thanks for all of the great feedback!

Help me choose, win a prize

There are so many things I want to blog about today, but I only have time for this one. Yesterday I noticed that a lot of the choices in the baby gift guide on Etsy are actually patterns. Naturally, my question is why not my pattern? So I am changing the photos on my compact travel change pad bag pattern and hopefully landing in the gift guide where I belong. If you leave a comment on this post, telling me which of these photos you think is the most attractive for the Etsy Baby Gift Guide, you will be entered in the drawing. If you also leave a post with a real tip on how to get noticed by admin to get chosen for the gift guide, you will be entered again. The winner will choose her own prize. If the winner is outside the US, she may choose any of my PDF patterns. Inside the US, she has 4 options of finished products - 1. one of my compact travel change pad bags, which is the coolest baby shower gift ever invented, 2. this sunglass case, 3. a finished frame purse like one of these pictured in the pattern, or 4. any pattern in my shop. Thanks for your help, and good luck! Here are the 6 photos I am thinking about using. Tell me which one you think is best. Entry deadline is Noon pacific time on Wednesday, February 25th, and I will annouce the winner here on the 26th!