And the winner is....

I have had so much fun visiting each and every blog as part of Sew Mama Sew's giveaway tour.  I found many talented people and new blogs to go visit and made new friends.   (My fingers crossed that I'll be a winner on one of these giveaways!!)


Hosting my own giveaway has been a blast.  For a new blogger, this contest has driven great visitor traffic to my site and helped me grow my follower list.   And to top off that fun, I was one of the featured blogs listed on the Holly Jolly Bingo's blog roll at http://the-quilt-shoppe.blogspot.com/ .


I had 181 people enter my giveaway   (19 early followers who didn't comment and 162 people who left a comment.).  I've sent an email off to Sukie - the winner chosen complements of  Mr. Random Number.   Thanks to everyone who came by and visited.  That was a lot of fun and can't wait to do it again.


I've been finishing up a few last minute gifts (more to do today!) and decided to make this for myself - a small bag for my iphone.  I love my iphone but it sometimes gets lost inside my purse.  I wanted to fashion something quick and easy.

I started with a rectangle of fabric (I used Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas on both sides - the outside of my case will have the snowfake print.)   The rectangle was roughly 9 x 11 which I quilted.

1. The case is made by folding it in thirds the same way you would fold a piece of paper to put it in an envelope. I folded the fabric and trimmed lengthwise until I was satisfied with how the flap would look.  (Have your iphone handy at this point.)  
2. Decide on velcro placement and sew on the velcro.   
3. Cover the inside edge (see the marking in the photo) with a strip of white fabric folded over.   
4. Refold and sew both side seams (see photo).   After side seams are in, try the phone inside to test the fit.  Adjust if necessary.  By starting with fabric a bid wider than you need, you can adjust the side seams a bit and not need to use the seam ripper!  The beauty of this method is all the raw edges will be covered up and you don't ever need to measure too precisely. 
5. When you are happy with the fit, trim the sides so have a 1/4 inch edge.
6. Apply a binding around 3 sides using the same method you would for a quilt. 

 (Since I didn't take photos as I went, if you have questions on my mini-tutorial, just comment and I'd be happy to answer a question.)


And just because it is fun to share, here are some photos of some bags I finished to give as gifts to some teachers - a quick quilting, add a gift card and you make a teacher happy:

and to my daughter's French tutor (if you look carefully you'll see the photo my daughter took for me placed the bag right by a pink Eiffel Tower ornament on our tree!):

Happy Stitching!