Roots Sewing Series Prizes, Sponsors, and Sew Along Link Up

Today is the day it all officially begins!  The Roots Sewing Series is all about celebrating worldwide heritage through sewing for children.  Not only do we have an amazing line-up of guests and a Sew-Along for everyone to get involved, but also an unbelievable group of sponsors who have generously contributed huge prizes!

THE GUESTS

So, let's start with the guests.  If you saw my original post, you may noticed that there has been a change.  Unfortunately, one guest had to cancel, but that slot was quickly filled by another talented sewist: Annika from Näh-connection.  So here they are, the group of ladies from all corners of the world who will share outfits inspired by their cultural backgrounds.  It's going to be amazing!  Oh, and of course, I will have to get in on this, so watch for my outfits which will combine my two very different backgrounds.  Should be interesting…Slavic and Caribbean, all in one outfit!  The guests will begin posting on January 14 and I know it's going to be an incredibly rich cultural experience of stunning sewing.

THE SEW-ALONG

And how about you!?  Ready to do some heritage sewing of your own?  Wouldn't it be awesome to see your little one(s) wearing something you have created that is inspired by the part of the world you come from?  There are countless ways to approach this theme: a traditional or historical outfit, or maybe the colours of your flag.  Perhaps your country is known for a particular style, or has a famous designer you could use as inspiration.  How about fabrics, prints, or designs popular in your culture?  Maybe you've already made something that fits this criteria.  Perfect!  You're ready to join in!  Feel free to submit as many outfits as you like, sewn at any time.  You just need to link to your photographs and submit them by January 31, 2014.    

If you are sewing along, make sure to add this button to your blog to let everyone know you are participating.

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THE PRIZES

To add to all this fun and excitement, a group of top-notch online stores, boutiques, and designers are sponsoring this series and providing you with the opportunity to win exclusive prizes.  Everyone who participates has a chance to win.

There will be three different prize packages awarded to Sew-Along participants, as well as a Giveaway open to anyone.

The Grand Prize will be awarded to one Sew-Along participant as chosen by a group of judges.  Each judge will select their favourite outfit from all the Sew-Along submissions.  The outfit with the most votes will win the Grand Prize.  Feel free to use patterns to make your outfits since this is not a design competition.  Just let us know which pattern(s) you used.  And if you alter any patterns to create your outfit, although not necessary, a tutorial would be wonderful.  It's always great to learn new techniques and ways to broaden sewing skills.  Who are the judges???  The lovely guests participating in the series and yours truly (me!).  We cannot wait to see what you make!!  

The criteria will be:

Craftsmanship: How well was the outfit sewn?  Since the construction of your outfit can only be seen on the screen, make sure to include photographs that showcase your outfit well.

Theme: How well does the submission fit with the theme?  Give a description of how the outfit incorporates your cultural background.  We look forward to learning about your heritage!

Wearability: How functional is the outfit?  Since this is also about sewing for children, make something that is comfortable and wearable for a child.

GRAND PRIZE - Judges' Choice

$100 gift card from Gold Star Tools 

$75 gift card from L'Oiseau Fabrics

$30 gift card from Ribbon Retreat

Very Shannon - 3 pdf patterns (winner's choice)

Craftiness Is Not Optional - 3 pdf Patterns (winner's choice)

Blank Slate - 2 pdf patterns (winner's choice)

Go To Patterns - 2 pdf patterns (winner's choice)
Sew Like My Mom - 2 pdf patterns (winner's choice)

ALL Sew-Along participants will automatically be entered to win one of the following incredible prize packages.  The three winners will be selected at random from all the submissions uploaded to the link-up below (the Grand Prize winner will not be eligible for these prizes).

PRODUCTS PRIZE PACK

$75 gift card from Gold Star Tools

Party of Ribbon Bundle from L'Oiseau Fabrics ($23 value)

$30 gift card from Zipit

PATTERNS PRIZE PACK

Very Shannon - 3 pdf patterns (winner's choice)

Blank Slate - 2 pdf patterns (winner's choice)
Sew Like My Mom - 1 pdf pattern (winner's choice)

Beatnik Kids - The Bond Top PDF Pattern 

Peaches and Peanuts Patterns - Jack & Jill Color Block Shirt PDF Pattern 

Sewing Mama RaeAnna - Cupcake Top PDF Pattern

E & E PATTERNS PRIZE PACK
E & E Patterns - 2 pdf patterns from the soon-to-be-released Spring 14 Collection 
(winner's choice)

Winners will be announced on February 3, 2014.

On January 16, there will be a Roots Sewing Series Giveaway open to anyone who would like to enter.

GIVEAWAY

Exclusive Accessory Bundle from MjiaMae Design Studio

It's a pleasure to introduce you to our wonderful sponsors.  These shops and designers provide top quality products in the sewing world and it's an honour to have them be a part of the series.  Please take some time to visit their shops and enjoy their products and exemplary customer service.

THE PRODUCT SPONSORS

America's #1 independent web retailer of fashion and sewing supplies, GoldStarTool will provide you with the highest-quality, lowest-cost sewing supplies and equipment to meet your needs.  Free US shipping.

High quality, imported European fabric, trim, and patterns.  A store inspired by the love of all things crafted.

Quality ribbon.  Quality prices.  Quality Service.

YKK® Zippers for Sale at Wholesale Prices! The Best Selection of YKK® Zippers on Etsy! 

MjiaMae is a proudly South African design studio.  The daughter and mother design team are both fashion designers and share a love for beautiful fashion & decor items.

THE PATTERN SPONSORS

So, let's begin the fun, shall we!?  

Link to your blog or if you don't have one, use a Flickr account with photographs of your outfit.

Refashion Month at House of Estrela

This is Refashion Month at House of Estrela, and today I have the pleasure of guest posting for this awesome series with a round up of my upcycled outfits.  There are always a ton of ideas from all the guests, so head over there to and don't miss out on the fun!

Retro Sweatpants Pattern

Comfortable, casual, sporty sweatpants for boys and girls.  Details include in seam side pockets, elasticized waistband with optional drawstring ties, and cuffed leg openings.

The Retro Sweatpants pattern includes:

• 27 page PDF document (2.8MB) with full colour photographs and instructions
• numbered, step-by-step instructions
• prints on both standard 8.5X11" and A4 paper
• includes both imperial and metric measurements
• full-size pattern pages 
• seam allowances included
• sizes 12 months to 9 years
• fabric recommendations & requirements, notions, sizing chart

Wishing all my wonderful readers around the globe the best holiday season.  This pattern is complimentary and my gift to you.  Once you are redirected to google docs, click on the arrow in the top left hand corner to download the pattern.  Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Easy Handmade Gifts for Kids

There is still time to make some lovely handmade gifts for the littles ones in your life, but not much!  So, today I am sharing a couple gifts I've made that are easy, but sure to be enjoyed.

The first is a super cute monkey made using a DIY Fluffies pattern.  If you're not familiar with DIY Fluffies, I highly recommend you take a peek.  There are so many adorable patterns to choose from, that making a decision on which one to sew was, without a doubt, the most difficult part of the process!

The instructions with digital diagrams are clear and easy to follow, resulting in an adorable toy in no time.  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to try out the this pattern, and will definitely be making more.

Next, is a fabulous scrap buster project using this tutorial by Lindsay from The Cottage Mama.  What a great idea for a fun game!  This set is going to my nephew, but after seeing how much fun my children had testing it out, I think I'll have to make a set for them, too.  Thank you, Lindsay, for a great tutorial!

Behind the scenes, I'm working hard to release a free pattern for you, my wonderful readers.  Crossing my fingers it will be ready on Friday, but after some unexpected 'hiccups', it's looking like early next week is a bit more realistic.  In any case, I will have a gift for you before Christmas.  It's been a great year here at E & E, and I have you to thank you that!

Love for Ruby Day

A little over a year ago, my little girl was in a hospital, undergoing echocardiograms, blood treatments, being poked and prodded on her bruised little body, looking at me with sorrowful, questioning eyes, with no understanding of why she was there and why she was experiencing such pain.  After days with no answers, she was finally diagnosed with a rare form of children's heart disease.  Praise God, she's made a full recovery.  But we will never forget what that experience felt like.

Today, another little girl's heart is going through a battle, as are her parents and family.  Ruby is a sweet six month old baby, whose mom Christie blogs at Lemon Squeezy Home. If you're not already a reader, and you head over there, you will find tons and tons of awesome tutorials and content that shows what a talent Christie is, and then a few posts like this one and another one here, that give a glimpse of what is going on behind the scenes.  You see, Ruby was diagnosed with a serious heart condition at birth and has been fighting ever since.  And today, she is undergoing an open heart surgery that requires the doctors to literally stop her little heart from beating for up to 90 minutes.

Those of us who know Christie, as fellow bloggers and friends, are declaring our love for Ruby and support for her family the best way we know how: through social media.  We would like to flood the internet with heart images for her with the tag #loveforruby on Instagram, Twitter, and a Facebook page dedicated to her.  This is a complete surprise to her family, but we hope that when they see how many people are thinking of and praying for their daughter, that some of their load will be lifted.  That in some small way, it would brighten their day while they wait in anguish for this all to be over so they can take their precious daughter home.

Want to show some love and support for this family, too?  Head over to and like the Love for Ruby Facebook Page, use hashtag #loveforruby, and if you believe in the power of prayer, pray for little Ruby.

Roots Sewing Series

The most rewarding aspect of being a part of the online sewing community is having the opportunity to 'meet' fellow sewists from all over the globe who share the same love for creating handmade clothing.  It's an amazing experience to hear from all of you and to connect with other bloggers who experience the same excitement when a package of fabric arrives, and when you try a garment on your child that you've made and it fits just perfectly!  You know the feeling!

Combining my fascination with world cultures and my love for sewing, I have decided to host a sewing series that celebrates sewing for children around the world called Roots.  An incredibly talented group of ladies representing twelve different countries and five continents will be sharing original outfits inspired by their backgrounds each weekday from January 13 to 31.  Not only will this be a showcase of amazing sewing skills and creativity, but also rich cultural experience, exploring heritage worldwide.

Didn't I tell you this was a talented group?!  It is such an honour to have each one of them participating.

And speaking of participation, I just couldn't host something like this and not include you!  So, in addition to these wonderful ladies sharing their looks, there will also be a Sew-Along for everyone, everywhere who wants to sew something for the child(ren) in their lives, inspired by their cultural Roots.  From January 3 to 31, you can upload your outfit to the Sew Along Link Up and show the world your cultural creation.  

Now, let's add even more fun to this series: how about some PRIZES?!  Reaching out to amazing shops and designers, I've been overwhelmed by enthusiasm over this event.  On January 3, the prize packages for the Roots sewing series will be revealed, and believe me, these sponsors are incredible AND generous!  I may have to give some hints before then, because I don't know if I'll be able to wait that long to tell you because it's just too exciting!!

So, what do you think?  Are you excited, too?  Are you going to Sew-Along?  If so, feel free to use the button below and spread the word!  I would love for you to be a part of this big event!

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Giveaway Day

It's Giveaway Day, a huge biannual event at Sew, Mama, Sew.  If you are new here to Elegance & Elephants, welcome!  I'm delighted you're here.  Hope you can stay awhile, or come back later once you've had a chance to enter all the giveaways!

The winner of this giveaway will choose two E & E Patterns from the following original patterns:

Anyone worldwide may enter by leaving a comment below and liking Elegance & Elephants on Facebook.  Thank you so much for stopping by and good luck with all the giveaways!

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