"Crystalia" 2016 Hoffman Challenge Traveling Exhibits

Hi everyone! 
   This past weekend we took a little road trip for my birthday up to historic Jonesborough, Tennessee Vistor's Center & Emporium to see two of the 2016 "Crystalia" Hoffman Challenge Trunk shows that are on exhibit there until the end of the month.

The venue was gorgeous and they really had a very nice display set up for the Quilts Trunk "H" and Clothing and Accessories trunk B.  My little quilt " A Wing and A Prayer" was included in the exhibit. 
It was really nice to see it again since it has been travelling the country for almost a year now. It will come home late September 2017. 

The entire exhibit was really pretty set up together throughout the Visitor's Center. I know most of the entrants do not have the opportunity to see their item(s) on exhibit so here are lots of photos in no particular order. I believe these are all from Quilts Trunk H and Clothing/Accessories Trunk B. 

 A Wing and A Prayer is hiding behind that cabinet door.

The bottom two photos were taken by my BFF Debbie  when she visited the area a couple of weeks ago. Aren't these all just gorgeous. The Jackets are beautiful. I think one of the jackets won 2nd place in the clothing category. It was really fun to see how the Hoffman Challenge fabric "Crystalia" was used in so many different ways! If you get the opportunity to see one the Hoffman Challenge Trunk shows I highly recommend it. You can find a list of the 2016 Hoffman Challenge Crystalia Trunks here:
http://hoffmanfabrics.com/hoffman-challenge/

and the locations and dates of the Trunk Shows here:
 http://www.hoffmanchallengetravelexhibit.com/c.html 


We really had a fantastic but very long trip. We stopped at Fontana Dam on the way home. It was beautiful but the weather was very HOT!

 We spotted lots and lots of Barn Quilts along the way through Tennessee. Hubby was whizzing along so fast I didn't get to photograph those but I did get a map to all the Barn Quilts in that area!

And a fabric panel that even includes some of the Barn quilts that we saw! I think I want to make a lap quilt with it to use on road trips. Maybe even on a Barn Quilt road trip through the Tennessee mountains!

I am super excited that my 2017 Hoffman Challenge Quilt "Hex-plosion" made the semi-finalist of digital online judging and has been sent in for the next round of Judging. Fingers crossed that it gets to travel around the countryside with the 2017 Hoffman Challenge exhibits this year! I will post photos when the Judging is completed.
  Thank you all for stopping by!
 Be sure to get out and see some of the amazing Hoffman Challenge Exhibits. Locations and dates in the links above.
Happy Quilting friends!
xo Jan

Little Dresses for Africa 2017 Sew Along Winners!

  Woohoo! Thank you everyone that participated in this years Little Dresses for Africa Sew Along!
You guys are awesome! We made a total of 33 Dresses and 2 pairs of boy shorts! What a wonderful way to celebrate our Freedoms here in America by helping others in need! I am really proud of each and every one of you that participated! And super thankful for our sponsors, Aurifil and Fat Quarter Shop!    They help make this annual sew along sew much fun!

  Let's pick some winners of the fantastic prizes! So we had 4 prizes and 6 participants! I decided to throw in 2 extra prizes from my ETSY shop, so everyone gets a prize! Yeehaw!!!

First I have 2 Charm packs of "Lovey Dovey" by Riley Blake Designs. The 2 winners are:
Donna Medlin and Jan Newman! Woohoo!

Next I have a $25.00 Gift Certificate to my ETSY shop, Featherweight Quilt Company! The winner of the gift certificate is Pam Sterling! Woohoo!

Next we have a beautiful 10 small spool collection of Aurifil 50 wt thread "It's a Girl" !. This is my go to thread for hand and machine piecing.The winner of the "It's a Girl" Aurifil collection is Nancy Davies! Woohoo!

Next we have a $50.00 Gift Certificate to the Fat Quarter shop! I love the Fat Quarter shop for all of their pre-cuts and modern fabrics! The winner of the gift certificate is Elise Jane Stone! Yeehaw!!

And finally we have a 12 large spool collection of Aurifil 40 wt thread "Sand Dune". These threads are beautiful and I am totally jealous Liz Gray because you are the winner of this gorgeous thread collection! Yay!

Woohoo! Congratulations ladies!  Thank you all for your hard work and for helping a child in need! I will be contacting you for your mailing and/or email addresses! And a special THANK YOU to the Fat Quarter Shop and Aurifil for their generosity and support! Be sure to visit both on their facebook pages and let them know how much we appreciate their generosity!
  And remember Little Dresses for Africa accepts dresses and shorts all year around so if you didn't get to participate in this years sew along you can still help a child in need. You can find all the details of their program here!
Thank you everyone!
Happy Stitching!
God Bless America today and everyday!
xo jan

Little Dresses for Africa 2017 Link Up Party!

 Welcome to the 3rd Annual Little Dresses for Africa Sew 

Along Linky Party at Sew and Sow Farm!

 Each summer I like to choose a project to make for 

charity. In 2013, I came across an organization that

makes and collects simple little dresses to help clothe

 children around the world, Little Dresses for Africa! I 

really enjoyed making those first dresses. So this year, I 

decided to do it again and asked for some help from ya'll!

 I also asked some of my sponsors to give us a little 

incentive to Sew - Along! Aurifil and the Fat Quarter 

Shop didn't hesitate and have offered some very nice

prizes along with a prize from my ETSY shop

 Featherweight Quilt Company!! I have the BEST 

sponsors! They are ALWAYS so generous! I have been 

making a few little dresses and have 6 out of my goal of 

10 completed. 

I also reached out to blog and facebook friends and I have already received 28 dresses!

Woohoo! Aren't these just adorable! Way to go ladies! Thank you so much for your help! 


 This year I plan on mailing the dresses that I receive from you all and the ones that I have made directly to Little Dresses for Africa's Headquarters in Brownstown, Mi. 

Also, if you did not get to participate, Little Dresses for Africa accepts items year around. So it is never too late to help a little boy or girl in need! 

         *******************************************************

I would like to say a HUGE Thank you to our wonderful sponsors.

  Aurifil for two beautiful thread collection prizes! These are simply gorgeous threads!  

And The Fat Quarter shop for their generous Gift Certificate!

And I am offering a $25.00 Gift Certificate to my ETSY shop , Featherweight Quilt Company, for one lucky participant!

 Having prizes for doing what we love is like the icing on a cupcake! It just makes it all a little sweeter!

It's time to link up those Dresses!

1. You must link to a specific and current blog post or face book post. Not just to your homepage.
2. Please visit at least one person before your link and one person after your link. We want to share our sewing and be sure and leave nice comments! We all love receiving comments and encouragement on our efforts! Plus it's a nice way to make new friends!
3. Please take time to visit Aurifl and the Fat Quarter Shop and let them know how much we appreciate their great prizes! You can tell them all about your dresses and /or shorts or just tell them hi! Tell them I said hi too! They are both fantastic and generous companies with superior products!
4. Share, share , share! Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, twitter, blogs.....The more people we have making dresses and shorts, the more children we can help!
5. Be sure to follow up and get your items in the mail if you haven't done so already! 
6. The link up will only remain open until Monday July 3rd, 11:59 pm EST You must add your link before then to be eligible to win one of the prizes! You must link to at least one completed dress or boy shorts. You can still make more after the link up party !
7. Winners will be announced on Tuesday July 4th right here on this blog! BE SURE TO CHECK BACK HERE ON TUESDAY! SEVERAL OF YOU ARE SHOWING AS "NO REPLY" SO I HAVE NO WAY TO REACH YOU IF YOU WIN ONE OF THE PRIZES!!

I really want to say THANK YOU to everyone for participating. It really touches my heart how generous our sewing and crafting community is! 

 So let's get this party started! Follow the Linky below to add your photo and links! (click on the "click here to enter")