Wednesday, September 8, 2010

We made it to our 100th post AND our FIRST GIVEAWAY!!


Don't hate me for how awesome my hair looks.


**Sorry for the long winded post, but I was feeling rather sentimental tonight and felt like sharing my thoughts.  I promise there is a giveaway waiting at the end of this!!!!


Almost 15 years ago to the day, I met Annee Zackrison (now Annee Earnest).  We were both freshman at the BYU, and both trying to figure out college and being away from home and all the freedom that came with our new lives.  We ate ice cream, went to classes and did Abs of Steel almost every night our Freshman year.  Then we were roommates our Sophomore and Junior year, and then Annee found Darin and we had to split up.  I believe she got the Christmas tree stand, and I got the ironing board.  We split the silverware 50/50 and my family used my half of the utensils to eat their dinner with tonight!  I was at her wedding in LA when she got married at 20, and she was at mine 7 years later.  In fact, she was by my side as I planned my wedding in Utah while living in CA.  She helped me make the oh so important decisions - what cake to eat and what flowers to hold.  She's visited me in every city I've lived since college including my house here on Maple Avenue and the namesake of our blog, and I've made to it all but 2 of hers.  (How I managed to get to South Korea but not Germany is something we've discussed and laughed about.  Life is crazy!)  We're friends, but I call her my Sew Sister, because she's the closest thing to a sister I've ever had.

I remember when I found out Annee was moving to S. Korea.  It was toward the end of August 2007, and the Italian and I were vacationing with his family in Hawaii.  I was in my first trimester with my son George, and I had bad morning sickness and was overly emotional about pretty much everything.  While I was at the airport on my way home from Hawaii I got an email from Annee letting me know she would be moving to Korea for 2 years, and I started crying.  How could this be.  How could she go so far away.




Little did I know that Annee's move to S. Korea would provide me with the greatest opportunity of my life to develop a talent I never knew I had.  You see lots of designer fabrics are manufactured in S. Korea.  Annee discovered a store called Happy Quilt which is truly the happiest place on Earth if you like to sew.  We started a fabric exchange, and kept track of everything we mailed to each other on The Tab.  Annee needed basic supplies from JoAnn's for sewing, and on occasion I'd get other requests for items that were hard to come by in S. Korea.  Things like ceramic dishes from Ikea!!  (5 huge boxes and a small forest/newspapers helped me safely mail more dishes than I can remember to Asia!  And not ONE dish broke I might add.)  Annee always offered to send me a check for the things I sent her from the Motherland, but I always declined.  All I ever wanted was fabric.

For the last 2 years, I've been working on perfected my sewing talent with my ever growing supply of beautiful fabrics.  The Italian asked me just last week how many things I've sewn for Grace.  I really have no answer to that other then A LOT!!  Annee and I've created 100 blog posts on MOM, but we only started this blog 5 month before she left S. Korea.  There were about 18 months worth of sewing projects that are only recorded in our emails sent back and forth to each other with time stamps always in the early a.m. hours.

We've sewn and shared projects like this one...


A new patchwork skirt for Grace with a matching flower shirt.  


I have no idea how many things I've sewn for Grace, but I can tell you she doesn't have enough yet.  Not as far as I'm concerned!!  The skirt pattern is from  the Stitch magazine last spring, and all the fabrics are from Riley Blake's fabric lines Rainy Days and Mondays and Summer Song.

Sew to celebrate all the good times we've had over the past 15 years, and especially the last two and all the sewing madness, I have something for you!!!  *You* being any one and every one who's stopped by Made on Maple and has validate our insatiable need to stay up late to sew, make, and create things.  We love our followers!!  Sew for you tonight, I have 2 whole yards of this lovely novelty print I purchases in S. Korea.



It's from Riley Blake's fabric line Rainy Days and Mondays.  A line of fabric designed by two sisters and BYU grads.

The winner will receive ALL 2 YARDS!!!  Now I know some of our readers don't sew or don't have time to, but we want everyone to feel like they could still enter and win something.  Sooo, If you don't own a sewing machine or yours is taking up space in storage, I'm willing to use the fabric and sew either a Lazy Day Skirt OR a Sweet Little Dress just for YOU.  Maybe you have a little girl yourself or maybe you need a baby gift or birthday present or maybe you want to surprise a friend.  What ever your circumstances, just enter the contest and YOU could be the winner!!!

Here's how it will work:

*Just leave a comment!  For fun maybe you can let us know what you'll do with the 2 yards of fabric or who you will give the Lazy Day Skirt or Sweet Little Dress to.
*Any one with an address is welcome to enter.
*The giveaway will be open until Saturday, September 11th until midnight PST.
*One winner will be picked at random and will receive either 2 yards of fabric or a Lazy Day Skirt or a Sweet Little Dress.

There you have it!  A walk down memory lane and a big thanks for coming and enjoying this space with Annee and Me!

Good Night and Good Luck!

22 comments:

Kat said...

Oh man, number 1 never gets picked! I love you Liz because you love Annee and I love Annee and I love to see the sewing maniacs you have both become.

I have 3 little girls but I think I'd have you sew something (or just send me the fabric and force me to learn something myself? On such pretty fabric. nah, I'd have you do it) for my 3 year old. Then when she's done with it I'll pass it on to my sister-in-law who just had twin girls.

Kristina said...

That flower shirt and patchwork skirt combo is ADORABLE!

You can throw me into the giveaway group if you'd like. I'm sure baby Caitlin would love something new made from you using that fabric. I wouldn't trust myself to even cut it.

Lisa said...

Love the Fabric! I'd use it in a quilt.

Liz said...

So cute!!! I'd use it in a quilt top if I won. Thanks for the giveaway!

Jana said...

Congrats on reaching your 100th post. You are 2 talented ladies. I would love to win the fabric it is just adorable.

Annee said...

I do not need to win the fabric, but that post was so sweet I needed to comment. I can't wait to see who wins! Thanks for the giveaway Liz. And thanks for the 15 years of the best friendship a girl could ever hope for. Love you.

E J said...

Even though I am capable of sewing and could think of SEVERAL things I'd like to do with that fabric (how cute would it look made using DMK's Reversible Lovely Ribbon Jacket pattern) - is it wrong that if I win (which I never do) I would want a "Made by Liz" piece for Olive? I LOVE the work that both of you do - thanks for the inspiration and congratulations on making it to 100!

Cherie said...

Yippee! I would sew matching skirts for my two girls so that they can put on their rain boots and splash in some puddles :)

Unknown said...

Thanks for the chance to win! I love that fabric! I think I would use it to sew my 7 year old something fun. :) Maybe a skirt and with an applique shirt or a dress.

Sarah said...

Cute Cute outfit and such a great story. I'm so glad to know you both. I'm a follower, but more like a stalker so thanks for letting me stalk!

Rachel said...

This is my first visit here, I came to check out your Jump Rope Dress, I'll be back. I love the Riley Blake fabric and would love to win.

Congrats on 100 posts, now I have to go back and read all of them.

Cher said...

Look at all of your followers! I probably wouldn't sew anything if i won the fabric right now but if i did have some time it would probably be a cute bag or skirt or pillow! Oh the possibilities!

Mickelmonkey Mama said...

It is adorable fabric and I've always enjoyed reading about all of your projects. It is the perfect fabric for cuddling up with a book on a rainy day. I'm sure it would materialize into a quilt. . . eventually. Congratulations on your beautiful friendship and blog!

Sanchez Family said...

I'm so proud of your 100 post accomplishment!

Ok Liz, I now have the sewing room set up, a sewing machine and your blog as my #1 inspiration! The only thing I haven't done is sew something! With maternity leave ahead of me (and I'm sure nothing to do at home) I'd love for a one on one tutorial from you with the fabric!

Way to go ladies!!

Becky N. said...

Congratulations on 100 posts! I enjoyed reading your back story. :)

Sarah told me about your blog, and I don't know how I haven't managed to subscribe yet! Consider that problem now remedied. ;)

I am SO jealous of easy access to designer fabrics. I can't tell you how often I sit and drool over these types of fabrics online. This particular Rainy Day fabric is just FABULOUS! I love it! I can think of half a million things I'd love to do with it! I'm certainly going to keep my fingers crossed on this one. But in the meantime, congratulations again! What a wonderful thing you've done with your friendship. :)

Spooky said...

Congrats on the 100th post, and the lasting friendship! I'd loooove to get my hands on that fabric and whip up something fun like a tote! Thanks for the giveaway.

Jeff said...

I would love to have a Sweet Little Dress made for Skye. Liz, she wears her skirt all the time (loves the twirling) and I get asked where I got her skirt about every time she wears it. Your sewing talents have been enjoyed here!

Sarah Foreman McKellar said...

I love reading your blog, Liz! I made a banner just like yours, only blue, that says "celebrate." Isn't it great to have friends like Annee?

Diana said...

Congrats on you 100th post gals! I'm not a sewer but I enjoy reading your post and seeing the cute little dresses for the girls!

emily said...

Congrats on your 100th post!!! I love sewing, so I'm glad my mom (Judy Gaines) sent me your link! She knows Annee from the Colorado Springs Primary! Awesome! Thanks for sharing and inspiring me with all your awesome work! If I win, I will use the fabric to make my first dress for my 16 month old! And if I win the skirt, I have a wonderful 3 year old friend named Alice who would just LOVE it!

Tydog49 said...

Love the fabric and the blog. I am a friend of Sariah Fisher who lived in S. Korea. Corinne

Jennifer said...

Congrats on your 100th post and your long friendship. I love this line of fabric. As I am in Aus, I am sure I have missed the time deadline, but Congrats anyway

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