Fancy Pants & Giveaway — Sis Boom Pattern

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He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” (Alan Lakein, Ben Franklin, Churchill, Bob’s grandmother… I dunno who really said it first, but there it is!) And frankly, I don’t buy it. It’s spontaneity that leads to adventures and discoveries.

What exactly does this have to do with sewing, holidays and the Sis Boom pattern company? Hang on. You’ll see.

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Canada Cups Winners Announced & New Giveaway

 

canadacups2016sponsors

Generous Sponsors of Canada Cups 2016

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Edited to add:

Marian A. was the charmed winner of the 3-class prize pack provided by Craftsy. Congrats, Marian!

Rochelle F. won the black lace, but traded it in for more zippers instead.

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Welcome back! You and I both know that you’re here to find out if you, or someone you know, won a prize. Go on, admit it! … But don’t be in too much of a hurry to leave. There’s more. We wanted everyone to win so we’ve got some discounts for you, from some of our best kept Canadian secrets. Plus, I’m having a mini-giveaway of 1/2 metre of black stretch lace from my personal stash. Read past the winners’ names to find out more.


This post contains affiliate links


Giveaway Winners

Are you one of the lucky 10?
  1. Lavender and Lace bra-making class from Braphoria: Reece Montgomery (Canada)
  2. Two $25 CAD store credit certificates (for you and a friend) from Bra-makers Supply: Denise Marie (USA)
  3. Exclusive pre-release Latte bra kit from The Emerald Studio: Jodi Barrington (Canada)
  4. Complete bra kit including findings, underwires, and lace from Uplift Custom Bras: Angela Smith (Canada)
  5. The Sophie Swimsuit online class, incl. PDF pattern from Closet Case Files: Yiling (USA)
  6. $50 CAD store credit from Blackbird Fabrics: Chelle (USA) [Not again! This woman has a horseshoe hidden somewhere!]
  7. $25 CAD gift card from Ann’s Fabric Shop & a PDF pattern from Jalie: Jeannie (USA)
  8. $50 CAD gift card from Central Sewing Machines: Patricia (Canada)
  9. Complete bra kit from Custom Bras: Kelly Boggs (Canada)
  10. The 10th prize is a bundle of 3 classes from Craftsy, worth more than $200 USD. Their Giveaway is still open until tonight, 11:59 PM MST. This lucky skunk of a winner will be notified directly by Craftsy. (I’m so jelly!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 


 

Discounts From Our Sponsors

—> Get the two Craftsy classes I reviewed for 50% off (half price, 2 for 1, half off…) If you love the look of corsets (they’re hot this Fall), and you can operate your sewing machine, then you definitely want to pick up at least one of these classes: Sewing Corsets: Essential Techniques – Alison Smith and/or Custom Corsets: Bones, Casings & Busks – Linda Sparks. Expires: Sept. 30

—> Visit Jalie for 20% off when you buy 3 or more PDF Patterns. Code: JALIE3PDF

—> Stop by Custom Bras for 10% off any item in stock. Code: Tour2016

—> Pop over to With Love Lingerie and score big with 50% off any order over $40. Code: Bloghop2016. Expires: Dec. 15, 2016

—> Drop in at Farthingales for 15% off your order. Code: Cancups

—> Pass by Miss Maika Fabrics to get 15% off some yummy fabric. Code: LINGERIE16. Expires: Sept. 30


 

Mini-Giveaway

Black Lace

Half metre of black stretch lace

a Rafflecopter giveaway


And Another Giveaway

Craftsy (yes, them again!) is giving away a mega mystery box of crafting goodies. The prize includes a class, plus supplies based on your crafting interests. Sounds like something I want to win for myself. Maybe I shouldn’t even be telling you about this so my chances will be better. … kitty’s already out of the box, horse out of the barn… just go enter so I can shut my trap!

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I’m so glad you took this trip with us. It was out of this world, but I’m dying from the jetlag now, though. (Or was it the pixie dust I swallowed in-flight?) Whatever has me so knackered, this old girl is signing off to go have a little afternoon nap.

See you soon!

Marsha Law Sig2


Did You Miss Any of Our Posts from the Tour?

Here again are all the posts from our magical trip with the Fairy Bra Mother and our impish friends:

Coming Up:

  • Come back to visit all the blogs for followup posts. It’s always fun!
  • See you next year for another round of …

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Canada Cups Giveaway 2016

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We’re finally at the end of our official Canada Cups tour, but we’re not quite finished yet. We have some exciting prizes to give away — 10 of them, in fact. But before I let you loose with the entries, how about a round of applause for our stupendous bloggers and indulgent sponsors who made this all possible?


This post contains affiliate links


Our Bloggers

The links to all their blog posts are at the end so please visit and revisit in the coming weeks because we’re not done with our unofficial posts about intimate topics and scandalous unmentionables.

canadacups2016bloggers

 

Our Magnanimous Sponsors

Craftsy Logo

canadacups2016sponsors

 

Thank you all for joining us as we ran circles around the country in our foundation garments like a C-list slasher movie. (What’s up with those, anyway?) It’s been a pleasure taking you into our sewing rooms, bedrooms and in some cases, our living rooms. Please come back and visit soon.

¡Hasta la proxima!

Marsha Law Sig2


Giveaways

Will you be one of the big winners in our tour?
10 prizes = 10 winners

* All dollar amounts are in Canadian currency (CAD) unless otherwise specified.

Exclusive Pre-release Latte bra kit from the Emerald Studio

Exclusive Pre-release Latte bra kit from the Emerald Studio

Go ahead and jump right into the giveaway now. You’ve waited long enough.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Three (yes 3!) Craftsy classes of your choice:

Craftsy

Click Here to Enter

 

 


Complete Tour Itinerary

It’s been magical, people, just magical

Canada Cups Logo Draft

All Posts


Monday, September 19
Have you entered the giveaways yet? Today’s your last chance.


Tuesday, September 20
Giveaway winners announced on all the blogs:
Life of a Fairy Bra MotherLittle Heart ThreadsGlitter in my CoffeeMichelle’s CreationsMrs. Weaver’s Finest UnmentionablesBraphoriaGracious ThreadsÉlégantine!Shelaine’s DesignsThat’s so VeniceSprouting JubejubeFlying by the Seam of my PantsThe Wild StitchFarthingales Corset Blog


After September 20

  • Come back to visit all the blogs for followup posts. It’s always fun!
  • Craftsy class discounts expire at midnight Sept. 30

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Canada Cups — Craftsy Corset Classes

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Hey! Come on into my boudoir for a moment. We have to talk about something very intimate. Remember when my friend Gem, the burlesque dancer, posted on Facebook that she just finished making 2 corsets? And I thought she couldn’t have made them from scratch; she probably just added some feathers and bows to personalize it. Because nobody makes corsets at home on their domestic sewing machines! Remember that? I guess not, since I never told you about it before this.

Truth is, I thought all undergarments were made by some mysterious heavy industrial machines that could shape and curve fabric and bend underwires. Oh boy! Was I wrong! And glad of it. Who knew that I would have, in the last two months, learned everything I need to know to make my very own skivvies with underwires, busks*, boning and all. Lay back on the silky pillows and let me take you on a journey, down a very adult rabbit hole with Craftsy and the girls. (I normally hate adulting, but this is fun.)

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Canada Cups — Day 3 Itinerary

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Happy Hump Day!! And in the spirit of the day, plus the theme of the tour, let’s all sing a rousing chorus of “My Humps” (Black Eyed Peas): My humps, my humps, my lovely lady lumps. My humps, my humps… I’m not sure this song has any more lyrics, so let’s call it done, shall we?

Here is where you will find 4 fabulous Canadian bloggers discussing their humps, lumps and bumps today:

Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 14

Meet you at the next stop!

Marsha Law Sig2

P.S. Be sure to enter the awesome giveaway by our sponsor Craftsy.

This post contains affiliate links

 canadacups2016bloggers


Giveaways

Craftsy

Click Here to Enter

Click the image above now for a chance to win a bundle of 3 Craftsy classes (your choice):

Stay with us to the end of the tour for a chance to win additional prizes from these generous sponsors:

  • complete kits to make your own bra,
  • bra- and swimsuit-making classes,
  • fabric, and more …

Thank you to these amazing sponsors who are helping make this tour a success:

canadacups2016sponsors


Complete Tour Itinerary

Come along on the magical tour to see what we all have under our clothes

Canada Cups Logo Draft
// Please note that none of these post links are available before the scheduled date. If you click on one too early, you will get an Error 404: Page not found. You know about those, right? //

Sunday, September 11


Monday, September 12


Tuesday, September 13


Wednesday, September 14   <<——— We are here


Thursday, September 15


Friday, September 16


Saturday, September 17


Sunday, September 18

Whoohoo! It’s giveaway day today!


Monday, September 19
Have you entered the giveaways yet? Today’s your last chance.


Tuesday, September 20
Giveaway winners announced on all the blogs:
Life of a Fairy Bra MotherLittle Heart ThreadsGlitter in my CoffeeMichelle’s CreationsMrs. Weaver’s Finest UnmentionablesBraphoriaGracious ThreadsÉlégantine!Shelaine’s DesignsThat’s so VeniceSprouting JubejubeFlying by the Seam of my PantsThe Wild StitchFarthingales Corset Blog


After September 20

  • Come back to visit all the blogs for followup posts. It’s always fun!
  • Craftsy class discounts expire at midnight Sept. 30

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Flash Finale Giveaway — The Great Canadian Craftsy Bag Tour

 

Hello again!

We’ve just barely made it home after our Craftsy escapade all across Canada. We’re unpacking our luggage and finding some great souvenirs from the trip, but it’s just too much to keep for ourselves. And because you’ve been such perfect road trip companions, we’d like to share them with you. Up for grabs are 4 coveted prize packs from our travels, as well as the special gift that Craftsy sent to us while we were gone galavanting.

Be quick about it! Giveaway closes soon.

 


* This post contains affiliate links. If you visit one of those pages via my link, I may receive a small commission from the seller, at no additional cost to you.

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First up is the Craftsy gift:

This colourful tote bag kit includes the Rowan Three-Quarter Patch Tote pattern, some stunning Kaffe Fassett fabric, plus all the Pellon Fusible Fleece stabilizer you will need for the project. The only things you would have to add to this are a coordinating button, some thread and your time. Voila! You have a gorgeous tote that will be the envy of tote-al strangers. It’s almost like instant Jello pudding, only better! Follow this link to enter before midnight April 11, 2016:

Craftsylogo

Enter to WIN a tote-bag kit


 

The Souvenir Prizes

Prize A (Canadian, US and International entries accepted)
Prize B (Open to Canadian residents only)
Prize C (Open to Canadian residents only)
Prize D (Canadian, US and International entries accepted)

 

How to Enter

Sign in to Rafflecopter below, or follow this link:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway Rules:

  • Prizes are awarded “as is”. No substitutions.
  • Deadline for entries is 10 AM PST on Monday, April 11.
  • Winner’s will be notified by email within 3 hours of the contest closing, and will then have 24 hours in which to respond to the organizers.
  • It is each participant’s responsibility to ensure they sign in to Rafflecopter with a valid email address, and also check their email accounts for notification.
  • Entries requiring a blog post comment, social media follow, or trivia answer will be verified using the name provided by the participant.
  • The giveaway is open to anyone worldwide. International or US residents who win a prize designated as for Canadian Residents Only may be required to pay for the additional shipping, or forfeit the prize. If said winner chooses to forfeit the prize, another winner will be chosen from the remaining eligible entries.

 

Many, many thanks to all the wonderful people who’ve followed us on The Great Canadian Craftsy Bag Tour. We hope you learned a little about our very large, diverse and beautiful country while you got a peek into some of our favourite Craftsy classes.

And very special thanks to the amazing, supportive people who helped make the giveaway and our graphics just that much better: Celine from Blue Calla Patterns and Elle from Brand UR Shop Graphic Design. Take a bow ladies! Prize Sponsors

 

Happy travels until the next time we take you tripping and traipsing!

Marsha, Janelle, Deb, Fiona, Michelle, Reece, Shelaine & Ula

I leave you now with buckets, bags and pouches of gratitude for having shared this epic adventure with us. And also with a bit of advice: If/when you visit our lovely and expansive country, please remember that unless your host says otherwise, you should remove your outdoor shoes upon entering someone’s home. Be sure to wear your clean, un-holey socks, like your mama told you. Marsha Law Sig2

 

 

 

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Tripping on Craftsy: A Week in the Bag

Day 6

It’s been a few decades since I left Alberta, but here I am — virtually waking up hungover in Janelle’s stock room. The past few days have been a crazy ride all over Canada with some of the sweetest, most talented sewists and bloggers up here in the Great White North.

I’ve dragged you along as I’ve criss-crossed the country with these ladies and peered into their sewing rooms. (A few of you were held hostage with a bow & arrow, but there were no charges laid so it doesn’t count.) So many miles, even more Kilometres, and oh so many pretty bags! — we covered it all with the help of our favourite enabler, Craftsy.*


This post contains affiliate links


This virtual road trip was a huge rush in so many ways, my head is still spinning. While I hunt down some Timmie’s coffee and dream of going home to my Montreal bagels, take a look back through the itinerary:

And be sure to visit all my new friends across Canada:

Each one of these bloggers has a discount link for you to take 50% off the class they reviewed. The discounts all expire next week, so now is the time to make the rounds and get those bag-making classes you’ve been thinking about. You can pick up Learn to Sew: Simple Bags for half price here, until Monday. No special link needed for Bag-Making Basics: Reversible Tote & Zipper Pouch because it’s always free.

Don’t forget you can enter to win a tote bag kit from Craftsy right now. Follow this link:

Craftsylogo

Enter to WIN a tote-bag kit

 

As long as I’m here in Janelle’s stock room, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to pick up some of that delicious bag-bling that’s stabbing me in the latissimus dorsi. This one‘s my favourite.

Until tomorrow, then!

Marsha Law Sig2

 

PS. You know about tomorrow, right?

 

Day 5

We’re zipping across the wide expanse of Canada, the second largest country in the world geographically. And today we have a change in the itinerary. Do you have any idea how far out of the way you can go if you take the wrong exit? We originally thought we’d stop off at Shelaine’s place, toss her in her duffle bag and go out to see Fiona on the east coast. But we’re going straight through to Fiona first, because well, the TransCanada Highway does not go through Southern Ontario. I’m sure glad Terry Fox knew that before he started his run. Or did he?

 

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Fiona got out of bed early to brush up on her skills with the Craftsy class 20 Essential Techniques for Better Bags with Lisa Lam. Her very detailed post is “riveting”, and as delightful as a big tin of Quality Street sweets from the other side of the pond. Go check out the sweet carpet bag she’s working on at Tangled Blossoms Design. And don’t forget to comment so she knows you want her tutorial. She even ups the temptation factor with a 50% discount code for the class.

With a delicious buzz and a few extra bottles from the Annapolis Valley wine country where she lives, we grab Fiona and backtrack to start Friday Happy Hour with Shelaine in Southern Ontario. As long as we’re close by, let’s just pick up some of the Niagara wine region’s Ice Wine. If you’ve never had icewine, put that on your bucket list too. You’ll thank me once that elixir of the gods hits your taste buds.

While we sip our wine, Shelaine is going to give us the skinny on how things went with her Craftsy class, Sew Better Bags: The Weekend Duffel with Betz White. I have my own strong opinions of the class and I’m dying to hear what Shelaine thinks. Come join us for Happy Hour and kick off the weekend un peu soul/soule. By the way, Shelaine has a special 50% discount link for Betz’s class.

Driving under the affluence of incohol is a very (very, very, very) bad thing to do so no more driving after all this wine. We’ll take our carry-on luggage and fly by the seams of our pants back to Emmaline Bags on Saturday for a wrap up of our adventures.

I’m off to start Happy Hour!

Marsha Law Sig2

 

 

PS. If you haven’t entered yet to win a Tote Bag Kit plus stabilizer from Craftsy, do it right now!

PPS. To try for even more amazing prizes, be sure to bookmark this blog and come back on Sunday, April 10 at 1PM Eastern. Or you could sign up for my newsletter to get a reminder so you won’t have to set your alarm.

Day 4

We left BC last night and went over the mountain, to see what we could see. And all that we could see, and all that we could see, was the other side of the mountain, the other side of… Not a bad view, actually.

Today’s stop is at Michelle’s Creations in Alberta to see all the bras bags she’s made. Unlike me, Michelle has some sense of decorum and therefore didn’t pull out her unmentionables for us but she did show us the stunning clutch bag she made from her Craftsy class, Mix & Match: Clutch Bag Techniques with Janelle MacKay.

To be quite honest, I was worried for Michelle that this could get ugly. Or at the very least, put her under too much pressure to be nice. I hate reading review posts where the writer is so afraid of offending someone that the whole thing sounds like rice pudding without the pudding. And this situation was particularly challenging in my mind. First, Michelle was reviewing a class by someone who is also on this tour. If feathers get ruffled in the car, it could make for a very tense road trip. The second challenge here is that both ladies live in the same small town. I don’t need to tell you how many ways things could go wrong there.

I needn’t have worried. Michelle did an outstanding job with the review and produced a bag that is so stunning … let’s just say if that bag should go missing from her house, there will be no shortage of suspects. (And they will all be zipping off to Ontario in the same getaway car.)

Pop in to Michelle’s and have a peak in her clutch bag. When she’s not looking, snag her link to get 50% off the price of Janelle’s class. But don’t let “Catherine” catch you.

Before I go, does anyone recognize what I was singing in the first line? For some reason, I get strange looks every time I go over Mont-Real (Mount Royal) and I burst into song. To the tune of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”, everybody sing …

The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountaaaayn
To see what he could see

And all that he could see
And all that he could see
Was the other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountaaaayn
Was all that he could see

Have fun with that!

Marsha Law Sig2

 

 

 

Day 3

We drove all night … and we sang along with Celine Dion (oh yes, she’s our Canadian superstar): “I drove all night to get to you. Is that alright? I drove all night…” Sing along with Celine*, DebUla and me as we visit Reece in Beautiful British Columbia today.

Reece from Happy Okapi has done some spectacular sewing, and written a review of the Craftsy class Sew Sturdy Travel Organizers with Annie Unrein. This is, by far, the most organized, honest and helpful class or pattern review I have ever read (and I read a lot!). Plus the travel organizer she made is just stunning! You have to see the photos. Outstanding job on both counts, Reece!

While you’re there, look for her link to get 50% off the price of the class.

Join us again tomorrow as we make a pit stop in the prairies to see how Michelle handles things with her Craftsy class, Michelle’s Creations — Mix & Match: Clutch Bag Techniques with Janelle MacKay. (Check out the complete tour schedule below.)

Marsha Law Sig2

 

 

 

Day 2

{{Briiiiiiiiingggggg, Briiinnnng}}… Craftsy Calling. Get out of bed!

10 AM

Hello… HUH??? Whaaaaa? OH $&%! I slept in! I slept in. I’m late, I’m late…

I’m late for the epic road trip — The Great Canadian Craftsy Bag Tour. Wait for me, wait for meeeeeee.

Oh! I have the car keys… In that case, y’all come in, make yourselves some coffee (or tea. I got lots of tea) and hang out while I get myself cleaned up. Better to wait and miss the rush hour traffic on the bridge anyway.

1 PM

Just stopped off at Deb’s place with the Sprouting JubeJubes to see her pot of binding and grab some coffee. That Champlain Bridge, man! Anyway, I discovered she was over there making stewed rabbit. Go see what I mean! Poor Wabbit!

As long as you’re there, don’t miss the discount link to get your class for half price.

2 PM

We’re picking up Ula at Lulu and Celeste, and can you believe it? The woman is still in her pajamas. She’s not even finished packing her bag! Shall we leave her a comment and tell her to get a move on? We’ve got to get to Reece in Happy Okapi by tomorrow morning.

But don’t leave without your 50% off discount link to Craftsy.

Day 1

Catch up on Day 1 here and here.

Marsha Law Sig2

 

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Complete Tour Schedule

Monday, April 5

Emmaline Bags — Tour Kickoff

Seam of my Pants — Learn to Sew: Simple Bags with Nicole Vasbinder

Tuesday, April 5

Sprouting JubeJube —  Sew Sturdy: Home Organizers with Annie Unrein

Lulu & Celeste — Sewing With Oilcloth: Bags & Baskets with Kathy McGee

Wednesday, April 6

Happy Okapi — Sew Sturdy Travel Organizers with Annie Unrein

Thursday, April 7

Michelle’s Creations — Mix & Match: Clutch Bag Techniques with Janelle MacKay

Friday, April 8

Shelaine’s Designs — Sew Better Bags: The Weekend Duffel with Betz White

Tangled Blossoms Design — 20 Essential Techniques for Better Bags with Lisa Lam

Saturday, April 9

Emmaline Bags — Recap/Roundup

Sunday, April 10

Sur”prizes”

Set your alarms to come “bag” here or sign up for the newsletter to get a reminder and other exclusive treats.

Bag Tour Bloggers

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