Hi again,

This week, I'm happy to give away a copy of Quilting for Peace, a marvelous book from STC Craft. (You might remember that I wrote about it here.)

This is a beautiful book – yet again, STC Craft has delivered a project that melds artful photography and great projects with well-written instructions. In addition, this book tells the stories of dozens of quilters (individuals and groups) who quilt for good causes – from animal shelters to children in need to adult victims of violence, war or natural disasters. The stories are touching and the projects are inspiring – they're part of what inspired a few of us here at Canadian Living to put our heads together and start a quilt for Project Linus Canada (more on that as it develops).

In conjunction with the publication of the book, STC Craft has organized a Quilting for Peace campaign. I think this is a wonderful idea – even though we live in a world where problems can seem so overwhelming, it's the little actions (even as small as a tiny quilting stitch) that can make the biggest difference in people's lives.  Learn more here.

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post: Tell me who you'd make a quilt for if you were quilting for peace. The contest will run until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 22; I'll post a winner here on Monday, November 23.

See you back here tomorrow – have a great Monday.

Hi friends,

Wow! I am so enjoying reading all of your comments on Monday's post. The tales you're sharing about the best handmade gift you've ever received are thoughtful, funny and poignant – sometimes all at once. Thank you all for sharing these little gems. (If you haven't commented yet, there's still time – you have until Sunday at 11:59 p.m.)

Now that Halloween is out of the way, I feel like I can finally hunker down and concentrate on my Christmas crafting. (Oh yes, the countdown is on!) I make many of my Christmas presents, and I know that many people are thinking about making some (or all) of their holiday gifts this year, and so I've been thinking about ways to make the process fun, festive, and affordable. Here's what I've come up with so far.

• Start early. Staying up all night knitting or sewing on Christmas Eve  = falling asleep in your turkey dinner.
• Make a list, check it twice. It's easy to get overwhelmed when you walk into a giant crafts or fabric store, and being overwhelmed can lead to overspending. Before you go supply-shopping, write down a list of the crafts you're going to make; then make your shopping list detailing exactly what (and how much) you'll need.
• Be realistic. Choose projects that match your skill level and the amount of time you have available. And don't waste time making something for someone who won't appreciate it. Some people just prefer purchased gifts. Save yourself the time and heartache; buy a gift card.
• Take advantage of sales. Use those 40% off coupons from the big box craft stores; make the most of your fabric store's discount club card. Watch the circulars for deals.
• Make multiples; set up an assembly line. Consider making similar-but-different gifts for the people on your list (for example, simple mitts or scarves; monogrammed books or mugs). Make one, so that you get the hang of it; then make all the rest, completing one step at a time in assembly-line fashion. This saves time (you only have to climb one learning curve) and money (you'll get best use out of each supply you buy).
• Order takeout. I hate having to clean off my kitchen table – which is where I do much of my crafting – in mid-flow, just so that I can make and serve dinner. And after a full day of Christmas crafting, who wants to cook?

What are your tips for fun, festive, affordable holiday crafting? Leave a comment telling me what you'd recommend and you could win!

The prizes for this surprise giveaway are two tickets to the upcoming Seasons Christmas Show at the International Centre in Mississauga OR a copy of Tree Top Decorations by Emma Hardy. In addition, I'll feature my favourite tips in a round-up next Thursday. (Comments accepted until Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11:59 p.m.; round-up will be published and winners announced on Thursday, Nov. 12.)

Hi again, friends,

If you're a regular Make+Do reader, you probably know that I'm a big fan of everything sock monkey. So imagine my delight when I opened a giant box full of sock monkey delights from Patons Yarns last week! The classic Canadian yarn company has put together a collection of sock monkey patterns to knit and crochet, and they decided to share the goodness with us.

This week, you could win the fabulous Patons Sock Monkey gift basket, which includes:

• A copy of "Monkey Business," with 13 patterns for monkeys, accessories and friends

• 6 balls (100g/205 m) of Patons Classic Wool in the colours you need to complete the projects in the pattern booklet

• AND a super-cute little friend to keep you (or someone special) company while you craft:
  

  (Banana not included.)

For your chance to win this basket of monkey business, leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 8th, telling me: What was the best handmade gift you ever received? I will post the winner here sometime on Monday, November 9th. Good luck!

OH! Wasn't it just minutes ago I was wishing I had something to give each of you? Well, Patons thought of that, too, and they sent me the pattern for the baby monkey (above) to share with you. Stop back here tomorrow for the pattern!

Hi folks,

Hope you all had a suitably spooky weekend! I have to admit that my favourite part of Halloween is actually the day after Halloween – who doesn't love half-price mini chocolate bars? Anyway, you're not here for my musings on leftover candy, you're here to find out who won Weekly Giveaway #26, that copy of One More Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit, by Leigh Radford.

The random integer generator came up with a nice round number today. Congratulations to...

...entrant #50!

I hope you find some inspiration in this book, Deb. I'll be in touch with details shortly.

Thanks to each of you for entering – I really enjoyed hearing your perspective on taking the handmade pledge. I'll be back in this space later today with a whopper of a prize for Giveaway #27.

Hello again!

I'm here with details on this week's crafty giveaways, one for local readers and one for those of you who live outside of Ontario.

Once again, courtesy of the Creativ Festival, I am offering a pair of day passes and vouchers for two classes for the crafts and needlework festival, which will be held in Toronto the weekend of October 16-18. Between the vendors, the classes, the opportunities to mix and mingle with other crafters, this is a must-see event for local crafters. (Tomorrow I'll be sharing some information about the jewelry-making resources available at the festival.)

The second prize I'm offering this week is a copy of Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt. This is a darling little book filled with projects that will have you searching out your needle and thread. There are little stuffies that would make perfect gifts for the children in your life, and bigger projects – for example, a messenger bag and a patchwork curtain – that would complement your own daily life in a certain amount of handmade style. Looking for a learn-to-sew project for a special co-crafter in your life? This might be the book to consult.

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post telling me which prize you'd like. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 4; a winner will be posted on Monday, October 5.

Hello again,

This week, I'm happy to be offering two prizes. 

The first comes to us courtesy of the Creativ Festival: another pair of day passes and vouchers for two classes for the crafts and needlework festival, which will be held in Toronto the weekend of October 16-18. Between the vendors, the classes, the opportunities to mix and mingle with other crafters, this is a great place to stock up on inspiration in the run-up to the Christmas season. (Check in tomorrow to see some information about the quilting aspect of the festival!)

The second prize, which I'm offering to Make+Do readers who live too far from Toronto to travel in for the show, is a copy of this beautiful book, "Knitted Socks East and West." Inspired by a host of Japanese influences, you'll find all sorts of socks in this book, and I guarantee that they'll challenge both your knitting skills and your conception of what a sock really is. I've spent a couple lunch hours poring over this book – it's beautiful!

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post telling me which prize you'd like. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 27; a winner will be posted on Monday, September 28.

Good luck!

Hello again, fellow crafters.

I'm very excited to be bringing you this special edition of Make+Do's Weekly Giveaway. As I hinted in the winner's post for giveaway #19, this giveaway is the first in a series of four, and it comes to you as a result of the generosity of the Creativ Festival organizers.

Coming to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on October 16, 17, 18, 2009, the Creativ Needlework Festival is celebrating its 22nd year of bringing crafters of all kinds together to learn, to shop, and to have fun! As the website describes it:

"Creativ Festival is… trend spotting, inspiration, new products, spectacular shopping, industry experts, conference classes, how-tos, hands-on activities, seminars, fashion & trunk shows, exquisite displays, book signings, door prizes and more!
"Here you will find fabulous fabrics, to-die-for yarns, textured papers, dazzling beads, techniques, project ideas and all the latest and greatest in equipment, tools and crafting supplies whether beginner or expert.
"Creativ Festival is your one-stop shop where you learn how to create your own singular style."

Each week for the next four weeks, I'll be highlighting one craft that will be represented at the festival – and offering the chance to win a pair of tickets AND each comes with your choice of a 3-hour class. (Conference classes start October 14.) This week, I'll be looking at knitting. Read on for more information (and your chance to enter!)

There's lots to inspire knitters (both beginners and experts) at this year's Festival. One big attraction for me is always the awesome selection of retailers, which this year will include British Yarn (UK), Fur Yarn by Paula Lishman International, Headwater Wool, PassionKnit Ltd., The Purple Purl, Romni Wools, Signatur Handknits (Australia), Spinning Wheel Alpacas, Sweaterkits...and that's not even half of it! Start saving your pennies and clear a space in your stash.

Among the many exhibits, a must-see attraction is the "30 Years of Rowan Exhibit," featuring breathtaking hand-knit garments. Many are original and date back to the year they were published – they echo the world of fashion, yet remain timeless and unique, and could still find a place in the wardrobe of today.

Jo Watson (left) and Brandon Mably (right) will both be teaching at this fall's Creativ Festival.

Workshop-wise, you'll want to check out both Brandon Mably (Kaffe Fassett Design Studio) and Jo Watson (owner of British Yarns and host of UK Ravelry Day), who'll bring British knitting techniques to share in their conference workshops. And, get inspired to knit the colours of Australia at the Signatur Handknits trunk show (free with admission!). (Check out more workshops here.)

And, when you're finally ready for a break, you can relax, sip a latte, knit and pick up purls of wisdom at The Purple Purl Yarn Café.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets and two passes to your choice of a 3-hour class, check out the festival website and tell me what you'd most like to go see at this year's Creativ Fest. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 20; a winner will be posted on Monday, September 21. Unfortunately, free plane tickets aren't in my budget, but if you think you can get yourself to Toronto (and really, it's worth the trip), be sure to enter!

Hi friends,

I'm encouraged by your positive response to the idea of putting craft templates online (see Monday's post – and enter the contest to win the craft kit!). Some of you have mentioned that you're having trouble finding the templates for the "Bring the Leaf Motif to the Table" article online, and the web team is working on that right now find them here.

You can also download them right here:

• Click to download the napkin ring templates.
• Click to download the table runner and place card holder templates.

• **Please open these files in Adobe and print them from there to ensure you're getting the proper size image.**

Two notes:

1) If you don't have access to a printer, we'd be happy to mail the templates to you.

2) I'd like to make this pattern the subject of the first Great Results Roundup. If you make any of these projects, email me a photo and I'll feature it in a special blog post after Thanksgiving!

Good morning!

If it's Monday, it must be giveaway day. Let's get straight down to business. The winner of last week's prize, a copy of Knitting Classic Style by Véronik Avery and five assorted balls of Patons Silk Bamboo, is:

Commenter #29, Grace, who says:

Congratulations Grace (and Grace's mom-in-law)! I'll be in touch shortly.

(While we're talking winners, I'm still looking for Carla, last week's winner. Carla, are you out there?)

This week I've got two (2!) copies of The Knitted Odd-Bod Bunch by Donna Wilson (here's a book review from Mochimochi Blog). The knitted toys in this book are definitely not short on personality! I think they'd make great gifts for the kids (or adults) in your life who appreciate quirkiness. Lots of fun!

As usual, enter for your chance to win by leaving one comment on this post by Sunday, August 30 at 11:59 p.m. I'll announce the winners on Monday, August 31. A couple weeks ago, Amy (Whistlepea) suggested that profiles of Canadian craft bloggers would be something she'd like to see here at Make+Do. I think that's a great idea, so if you'd like, why not nominate someone in the comments?

Hi friends,

Happy Monday. Check out that list of great Canadian craft blogs! Thanks so much for sharing your favourites with me.

Congratulations to this week's winners,  Lori  and Wanda!  I can't wait to see what you make with that beautiful bamboo yarn from Patons.

For this week's giveaway, I've got something a little different. The Kirigami Home Decor Kit takes paper cutting to a new level, with tons of great ideas on how to use these beautiful paper-cut designs in your home. The box includes an instructional booklet (with over 20 projects to make), origami paper, tracing paper and a pair of scissors. Best of all, these projects are actually something you'd use in your home – in fact, I've got a plain white lampshade that could use a little bit of kirigami magic.

(What's kirigami, you ask? I had to look it up, too. It's a combination of paper folding and cutting - think paper snowflakes and you're halfway there.)

To enter to win, leave a comment on this post by 5 p.m., Friday, July 17. I'll post a winner here next Monday.  My question this week: Have you started your Christmas crafting yet?