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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

New sponsor and Colette Patterns giveaway!!!!!

This giveaway is now closed.  Check back soon for more!

I'm so excited to announce a new sponsor, The Paper Dart, a fantastic online pattern shop.
Andrea sells a great selection of patterns from boutique designers, including these cute ones:
What a fun way to get inspired to do more sewing!  For yourself, or, if you're like me, sure, there's time to start a new project before Christmas! ;)

Here's a little bit about Andrea, who's behind The Paper Dart:

Hi everybody!
My name is Andrea and I run the little Etsy shop called "The Paper Dart". I'm a twenty four year old mother of one spunky little girl Sophia, and wife to my lovely husband Patrick. I majored in Fashion Design, and have a specialized interest in pattern-making and garment sewing.


As for my shop, I specialize in fun, retro, yet modernized sewing patterns for the seamstress who wants to wear beautifully designed clothing, that they can customize to their own individual style. Handmade is always better!


Like most out there, my favorite pattern company right now is Colette Patterns. I currently carry some of my favorites from them, like the Crepe Wrap Dress as well as a new Negroni Men's Shirt which I couldn't be more excited about! I'm hoping to offer unique notions and trims in the near future too!


Right now, I'm offering free gift wrap AND taking 5% off with coupon code "Holiday5off". Sale ends December 23rd at 12:00 am PST. In most cases I'm able to ship same day! Feel free to email me at thepaperdart@gmail.com if you have any questions about any of the patterns.


Thanks so much!
Andrea


So, readers, definitely check out Andrea's shop to take advantage of that discount, but also enter the giveaway here for the Colette Patterns "Crepe" Wrap Dress pattern!  Here's what Andrea's offering one of my readers:
Such a cool design, a little retro and also fun--I've never seen a back wrap closure anywhere else!  What a lovely dress this could be made of nice fabric for summer or winter.  I'm sure you've seen the great designs coming from Colette Patterns--and I love that they're from Portland, my city!

Anyway, to enter the giveaway, the rules are:

  • Visit The Paper Dart and tell me which pattern is your favorite AND what you'd do with it!  Who would you make it for?  Have fun!
  • You must be a follower of my blog.
  • Leave a comment on this post (make sure I have a way to contact you!),
  • and/or share this giveaway: Facebook, Twitter, your blog--tell me about it in a comment on this post!

You get one entry per comment, so if you share this in two or three places, make sure to leave two or three comments! (But only once per venue).

I will announce the winner next Wednesday, December 22nd (giveaway ends Tuesday the 21st at midnight)... good luck and have fun shopping at The Paper Dart!

72 comments

  1. Ooh count me in!!

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  2. My favorite is the Ceylon Dress! It looks so mad men! It would be a perfect Christmas day dress- although I don't think I could crank it out that quickly!

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  3. My favorite pattern happens to be the crepe wrap dress. I'd be selfish and make it for myself!

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  4. i love the patterns for the between seasons coat!

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  5. I love the sencha blouse...perfect for my have-to-dress-up job when I'd rather be wearing jeans with holes in the knees! super cute.

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  6. Oooo, what great patterns! I'm following your blog & I favorited her store on Etsy too ;-) I love many of the patterns, but the Lady Grey Wrap Coat 1010 calls out to me. I'd make it a lush burgundy velvet piped in black satin with a black faux-fur belt & a vintage black jet button from my stash. Then I'd wear it with a black pencil skirt & black satin camisole, lots of pearls, black seamed stockings, & mile-high heels to go out on the town for drinks w/my hubbi & gal pals. Cheers!

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  7. Plus I just shared on Facebook :-)

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  8. Cute patterns!
    I love the negroni-mens-shirt! I can never find a well-fitting shirt for my husband and would love to make him one!

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  9. I love the lady grey dress coat.

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  10. I love the mens' shirt, too.

    rebekahricker at yahoo dot com

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  11. I shared on FB.

    rebekahricker at yahoo dot com

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  12. Thanks for the giveaway. Actually, I really like the new Colette Crepe pattern. I would also love to try out the Lady Grey, but that's probably asking too much from my sewing skills:)

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  13. Ceylon, with a close second of Lady Grey. I'd definitely make it for me as I'm low on classy clothes that actually fit.

    kakraus (at) gmail (dot) com

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  14. Anonymous12/15/2010

    I love Colette Patterns, and to be honest am particularly in love with Crepe. I'm very much a selfish crafter, and so would sew it for myself. I'd probably find a nice plain fabric and then embroider some details onto it myself. It seems like a good base for some awesome embroidery.

    corvus.melloriATgmailDOTcom

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  15. What a cute dress! Just love it.
    I also adore Oliver S Sewing Pattern, Ice Cream Dress for my little girl

    elskerkhofs (at) netscape (dot) com

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  16. I love the wrap dress and the Ceylon dress, though I doubt I'd be able to make the latter look as nice as her photos! Great shop, thanks for sharing! :)

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  17. Great timing! Gertie is doing a sew-along of the Crepe pattern right now on her blog http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/

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  18. I actually love the pattern for the crepe wrap dress the best, and I would make it for me for a wedding I have next summer. I follow your blog through google reader.

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  19. I'd love to try both the wrap dress and the Ceylon dress. The latter would definitely be a nice challenge.

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  20. I shared on fb and I would love to use the crepe wrap pattern to sew me up a retro red dress with some fabric I have in my stash. Love that pattern!

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  21. I've always loved the Lady Grey...I'd make it up in a brown tweedy wool for myself! I also like the Ceylon dress, maybe in a dark green cotton.

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  22. I would love to make the Ceylon dress for my teenage daughter, in a cotton lawn. It's got such beautiful lines! Of course I love the Crepe dress also.

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  23. I'm a follower. I really like the versatility of the Crepe dress. I'd make it for myself as one of my new goals for 2011 is to start sewing clothes for ME!
    modelmumma at gmail dot com

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  24. I love the Ceylon Dress #1009.

    I would love to have one myself but I would definitely make it for my sister. She's so adorable and petite.

    liannelstewart(at)gmail(dot)com

    http://thestewartestate.blogspot.com

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  25. Oh my fave is the wrap dress. I saw that on Colette Patterns and just love it!

    ~Alison
    www.backstitchbaby.blogspot.com

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  26. i love the oliver + s jumprope dress - i would make it for my future babies!

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  27. There are 3 Colette patterns I want. The Crepe, Negroni and Lady Grey. The favorite is the Negroni. Being a fairly new sewist, and completely new to garments, the web site says it's like learning through the pattern so I think it would be perfect to surprise my husband with a shirt for Valentines Day.

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  28. I am a Follower of AID. I read thru Google Reader, but clicked on the GConnect button today.

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  29. I shared the link on Facebook. Yahoo!

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  30. Hi! I follow you as crafty Q :)
    My favorite pattern is the wrap dress, but close 2nd is the "Eclair Strapless Dress". Both are going to be on my Christmas wish list this year!

    aimeeq111atyahoo.com

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  31. I'd love to make the Crepe Wrap Dress for myself, I live in Korea where they don't make my size clothes so I have to sew or ship from the US everything! -Caroline

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  32. I have to say I have been eyeing off the Crepe wrap dress since a sewing buddy pointed it out to me. I would make it up into a nice Summer frock - ladies lunch out, whatever occasions came up.

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  33. The Ceylon dress is too cute!! I love the vintage and different look it has. I'd have to make one for myself to wear EVERYWHERE of course ;)

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  34. I love the Lady Gray pattern! And I would totally be selfish and make it for myself. :)

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  35. Portland is my city too! Well, at least I went to college there but I have a special place in my heart for it.

    I love the Lady Grey coat pattern. Perfection.

    cowilcox@gmail.com

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  36. I'm a follower!
    I love the ceylon dress ... but the one you featured is gorgeous too! (and looks more forgiving to a novice seamstress).
    I would try to make it for myself, but would probably follow up with a copy for a friend or cousin.

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  37. I would make the jump rope dress pattern for my two-year-old. I think she would love it!

    kitschymommy @ gmail.com

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  38. The crepe dress would probably be my fav, actually. I love the V back.
    I would love to do some embroidery on it.

    shalyndesigns{at}gmail{dot}com
    http://arsgratiaartis-shalyn.blogspot.com/

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  39. I'm a big Oliver + S fan but if I had to choose one I'd pick up one of those "Crepe" wrap dresses for ME. So cute.
    liakurtin at yahoo dot com

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  40. I love that sencha blouse. Very sweet!

    Rebeccak(at)gmail(dot)com

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  41. How cool! That wrap dress is actually my fav Colette pattern! Second is the Lady Gray coat. I haven't yet had the pleasure of working with a Colette pattern, but my co-worker has two. I would make the dress for myself because my teen daughter won't wear dresses!

    kmsarles at hotmail dot com

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  42. Sewing Patterns by Figgy's - Ofelia Dress <-- LOVE it!! Would make it for the little 4yr old in my life that is as beautiful as the dress :D

    punkydoll @ gmail dot com

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  43. posted on facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=586830319

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  44. posted to twitter
    http://twitter.com/#!/jkesseldesign

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  45. Anonymous12/16/2010

    I want them all! but my first choice is the crepe dress. So pretty

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  46. I love the Action Pants pattern! I would make tons for myself!
    hanibee8@hotmail.com

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  47. i shared on FB!
    hanibee8@hotmail.com

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  48. and I tweeted!
    hanibee8@hotmail.com

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  49. OOOh, I love the ceylon dress. I am a follower.

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  50. The sencha blouse is gorgeous! I haven't seen anything like that!

    djneuneker@gmail.com

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  51. I LOVE that dress. It is my favorite pattern in the shop. My second favorite is the wrap coat. I would make either of these for myself.
    runningmaria at gmail.com

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  52. I love that crepe pattern! Very cute! thanks for offering the giveaway! jm.oneglobalmind(at)gmail.com

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  53. Love it!! Count me in!

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  54. Colette is deffinately my favorite. Would make a summer dress!! Wishing for some warm weather!

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  55. Now I'm a fb follower....=0)

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  56. the coat is my favorite but I would try out any of the great patterns

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  57. I absolutely LOVE your blog. As a single mother of two you give me so many fantastic ideas of ways to update my wardrobe without killing my budget! I love love love the Ceylon, I would love to have something new and fancy to wear on one of the rare occasions I get to have a night out! I reposted about this on my (startup) craft business's facebook. I love this so much!!! sjkrysl@gmail.com
    Thanks! Keep being inspirational! :)

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  58. I also shared this on my bananacowdesign twitter. :)

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  59. i love the ceylon colette dress, i want to wear it to my new years party! plus, my middle name is colette so i think its meant to be and that that counts for something. :)

    janelle dot colette at gmail dot com

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  60. I'm actually loving crepe right now! What a fun pattern. g

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  61. Hello!!! Im totally a follower, I love the beach bum hoodie pattern, I would make it for my son, Roscoe, I actually just bought this radical fabric the other day that would be perfect for it. Id love the dress pattern, I use a bunch of recycled fabrics in my blog and would like to try this pattern. Holiday Love XOXO Torirae.creighton@gmail.com blog the greatest show on earth

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  62. I'm on a bit of an apron kick right now (can you say holiday baking?) so the Pleated Cottage Apron really draws my eye. I think I'd like to make one for myself and each of my girls - then we might just have enough!

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  63. I love the Sencha Blouse by Collette Patterns and if I had it, I would sew up a couple of these babies for the summer.

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  64. am a follower who loves the oliver and s iceream dress. http://www.etsy.com/listing/52339476/oliver-s-sewing-pattern-ice-cream-dress
    i would make it for my favorite niece who is celebrating her birthday in jan

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  65. I am a follower, and I think I love the "action pants", I have some fabulous jerseys and cottons awaiting use, this may be a good way to go! I also love love love the crepe wrap dress. So simple and purrrrty.

    Thanks!
    Kelley@gmail.com

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  66. I love the Crepe Dress and would make it for me! I also love Oliver + S patterns, I just wish they had adult patterns :)

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  67. I love the pattern for the Ofelia girl's dress! It would look absolutely adorable on my 1 year old niece. Then again she looks cute in just about everything!

    --
    Teri
    teriandmatt.blogspot.com

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  68. The Crepe Wrap Dress pattern that you are giving away is definately my favorite right now, but I will be bookmarking the site for future reference because the little girl dresses are adorable too.

    tlnovak[at]mlnovak[dot]com

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  69. My favourite pattern is the wrap dress!

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/59448331/new-sewing-pattern-1013-crepe-wrap-dress

    I'm a follower!

    mypassionsforfashions(at)yahoo(dot)ca

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  70. I blogged about this:

    http://mypassionsforfashions.blogspot.com/2010/12/giveaway-at-adventures-in-dressmaking.html

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  71. I would make the Eclair Strapless Dress 1009 by Collette Patterns for myself out of red gingham to make a pretty summer dress!

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  72. I love the Ceylon dress - but I'd start with the Sencha blouse pattern. I can see that in a light. flowing linen with some skinny jeans for the summer!

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