Giveaway Tuesday! Placemats and Table Runner!

Giveaway Tuesday!!

Just in time for Thanksgiving! We are giving away a table runner and four placemats. 

The runner from point to point is 53" long.

The fabric is machine washable and is a taupe-gray color.

Giveaway will run through Midnight Friday 11/10 ET. To enter, follow the blog, Instagram or Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know what holiday decor item you are planning to add this year (so I can get ideas for upcoming giveaways)!

Good luck!! And thanks for stopping by!

Giveaway Tuesday! Holiday Pillow Covers!

Giveaway Tuesday!

Yesterday I posted a tutorial in One Yard Wonder on how to make an accent piece with a fabric that is too overwhelming to make a whole item out of. Today I would like to offer them as a giveaway item! These would make a great gift for that friend or family who member who is obsessed with Christmas!!! 

The giveaway is for a set of 16" square pillow covers made from white cotton for the base fabric and red metallic houndstooth custom made ribbon trim.

To enter, leave a comment below on the blog, Facebook or Instagram! In the comment, tell me which holiday decor item you plan to add to your collection this year.

Giveaway entries will be accepted through Thursday October 26th midnight ET.

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

Giveaway winner and a coupon for all!!

Giveaway Tuesday winner:

Kayley! Congrats!

Kayley won a 12" by 18" Imperial Trellis in Citrine pillow cover! Our other participants in the giveaway were given an additional ten percent off their custom window treatments order on top of the ten percent coupon we offered to everyone for a total of twenty percent off!!

We are offering to everyone through Friday September 19th, 2014, a ten percent of labor coupon on your next custom window treatments order! The coupon is WTbMBlog and is good in both our etsy store and our website.

I hope to hear from you soon and help you do design your next custom window treatment!

If custom work is not in the budget, please check out Swags Galore for a huge variety of window treatment options.

Giveaway Tuesday!

Giveaway Tuesday!!!

We're coming back to the blogging world with a bang! We're giving away an Imperial Trellis pillow cover measuring 12" by 18"!

To enter just leave me a comment with a way to contact you (a blog address or email address, etc). Then become a follower on our blog!

To everyone who doesn't win the cover, become a follower of the blog and leave me a comment here. Then get TEN% off your next custom window treatments order!!! Use code WTbMBlog on our website or mention it to Ashley when you are designing your custom window treatment order in our etsy store.

Giveaway will run from September 2nd through Monday September 8th at midnight. 10% off coupon is good in our etsy store and on our website. Coupon is good from September 2nd through Friday September 19th, 2014.

Thanks for stopping by!

Giveaway winner

GIVEAWAY WINNER

 

SARAH

 

 

 

Please contact me at windowsbymelissa at gmail dot com to claim your winnings!



Giveaway Tuesday!

GIVEAWAY TUESDAY!!

 

Thanksgiving is coming up. Are you thinking about table runners and placemats? If so, this is the giveaway for you!

 

Set of four double sided placemats with matching table runner. 

Runner measures: approximately 15" wide by 54" long

Place mats measure approximately 20" wide by 15" long

Made from a medium weight jacquard fabric and are reversible

 

 

 



 

To enter:

 

1) Leave a comment here with a way to contact you.

2) Share on Social Media

3) Follow our blog, or invite a friend to follow!

 

One entry per above for up to three entries.

 

Giveaway runs through Monday 11/11 at 11:59 pm.

 

Good luck! Enjoy!

Giveaway Tuesday Winner!

Winner!!!

 

 

Lindsey Weber!

 

Thank you to all who participated. It was fun to hear from you all. We'll be back at it again next Tuesday. We'll be doing lots of giveaways throughout the Holiday Season. Enjoy!



Giveaway Tuesday!

Giveaway Tuesday!

 

 

Waverly Pom Play Spa Rod Pocket Curtain Panels, set of TWO, measuring 22" wide by 48" long, lined in BLACKOUT liner

 

Please note the measurements. These are best for a very small nursery window. They will cover a window up to 44" wide. and 48" long.

 



 

Giveaway Starts Tuesday 10/7 and will run through midnight Monday 10/14.

To Participate you must do one of the following. You may do all of them if you'd like. One entry per item below:

1) Leave a comment here or on our FB. Tell us how you plan to use these curtains!

2) Refer our blog to a friend.

3) Share on Social Media.

 

I look forward to hearing from you!!



Happy Birthday, Giveaway Tuesday!

Happy Birthday to Giveaway Tuesday!

I have been absent from my blog for a while. I've been sick. :( But also, it is our busiest time of year and I am just getting these holiday order out as fast as I can! 

Normally I try to ship one order a weekday. This is everything I've completed since yesterday morning!

So I am super duper busy right now. This is just my work. My seamstresses have also been completing and shipping out orders.

I may not return to my blog until around Thanksgiving, but I couldn't let today pass with a Giveaway Tuesday post as it is Giveaway Tuesday's FIRST birthday.

Giveaway Tuesday was a significant change in business for me and I wanted to tell you a little about it, and thus a little about myself.

Our first giveaway was a set of 16" village blue/natural zig zag pillow covers!

 I started the sponsor program where we help families in need about a year ago in Sepetmeber. I made my seamstresses aware of this program. Their response was (direct quote): "I was wondering if you could tell us how you pay us? I just want to make sure it is fair." I think they thought the money for donations would be coming out of their checks or something. But anyway, this was a huge blow to me. I was hurt. After I had given them work, paid them in advance and given them bonuses and then they accused me of not being fair, I was so hurt. 

Following this event they quit taking the funds I had paid in advance and left without completing their work. I basically lost all faith in humanity at this point. I remember thinking to myself, "That's the last time I try to help someone out!" But I knew that wasn't right. I knew that I wanted to help people and to give. This all happened on my birthday last year. My birthday is on the 16th, which fell on a Tuesday last year.

I was just beside myself. I really felt like I didn't ever want to do anything for anyone ever again. But I knew that would only make me bitter. So immediately, to counteract that thought, I posted a giveaway to our Facebook followers to win a set of 16" village blue/natural pillow covers from us!

As people would leave comments to enter the giveaway I started to learn so much. People would say things like, "I've been eyeing these for a long time and just don't have the extra funds." Or "My mom would love these!" And it got me thinking that I could give a little more to make someone's day a little better. So we started doing it weekly! To give designer decor to those who normally can't afford it, or who also want to share it with someone to make someone else happy during these very difficult and trying times in our economy. It's hard to think about others and giving thoughtful gifts to others when you are just tryring to keep your own head above water.

We started venturing away from pillow covers and moving up to valances (above) and other window coverings. This gave us an opportunity to try out new patterns and give away our "prototypes" to people who might have the money to have one custom made.

My point in telling you the Giveaway Tuesday story is so that you will all know that this is an effort from us to share and provide even just a little happiness to brighten someone's day in these financially difficult times.

So born from a complete crap hole of a mess, pretty much the worst day of my life,  Giveaway Tuesday continues on today! I love it each time I do it, from the first one I've done up to today!

We would like to give away $30 to you and $30 for your friend to use in either our etsy shop or our clearance section. (Which was just updated before this post).

TO ENTER

Leave me a comment here telling me if you will use your $30 toward a custom window treatment or if you will use it for our clearance items and tell me the friend or family member whom you'd like to share the giveaway with. 

WINNER will be posted on TUESDAY of next week, NOVEMBER 20th. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check back. Ic an't tell you how many of these I've done where I have picked a winner and they just never respond. :)

Thank you all for participating and for following us and helping us grow! We appreciate you all.

It has been such a fun year hearing everyone tel me where and how they plan to use their giveaway winnings!! I really do enjoy it and enjoy seeing all the pictures of the items once you have received them. We hope to have many more Giveaway Tuesday birthdays to come!!

My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software GIVEAWAY!!!

My Memories Suite is offering a GIVEAWAY of their fabulous digital software product. We will host this giveaway for ONE WEEK. To enter this giveaway head over to MyMemories.com and leave a comment telling us which paper pack you like best!

Now, for those of you, like myself who see a wonderful product and just can't pass it up or wait for to find out if you won the giveaway, you can click on the image above and enter code 12101MMBlogock

This code will $10 off the My Memories Suite digital scrapbook software AND and ADDITIONAL $10 toward your purchase in the  MyMemories.com store!!

"Suite" deal!!! Okay, corny, but really, that is a pretty sweet deal. 

Some of you may remember my sister in law, Katie, who has been a contributor on a our blog several times. She has her own fun design blog and this header was made using My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software!! 

Again, this Katie's lovely family! This yearly calender was made using the software as well!  Katie is my sister in law and every year the family makes a full year calendar for the grandparents. I am going to suggest using this software to put that together this year. 

And Christmas cards!!! How great would it be to have this user friendly and easy to use software available to make cards and announcements on your own time and ready when you need them?! And all custom and unique to your own needs and taste.

Here is what Katie had to say about the software: "I am always looking for great digital scrapbooking software and I found that with My Memories Suite. It was really user friendly and I learned my way around the software in no time. I really liked that I could download my own background paper and embellishments. I made my family Christmas card, a yearly calendar and a new blog header. I liked that I could customize the size of the paper and make it my own. As I get more into digital scrapbooking, this software will make it more enjoyable to make what I need."

 I'm not kidding when I see I am scared of technology. It gives me anxiety :) I can check my email and post a blog post. But that was the extent of my computer use. But this software is user friendly and you know, it's just downright fun! I might be bombarding my readers with a onslaught of design boards here shortly. :)

Click on the button below and use coupon code 12101MMBlogock to claim your $10 off when you purchase the My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software and an additional $10 off  in the mymemories.com store. 

To enter the giveaway:

 1) Go to  MyMemories.com and leave us a comment telling us which paper pack you like best! 

2) For an additional entry follow My Memories on Facebook by clicking here.

Leave a separate comment for each entry.

Good luck! And please, in the comment, leave a way for us to contact you when you win this giveaway. 

Giveaway Tuesday Imperial Trellis pillow cover winner!!!

KAARA! You won the 14" by 26" Treillage Imperial Trellis zipper closure pillow cover with matching piping! 

Please contact me at windowsbymelissa@gmail.com with your shipping address to claim your prize.

Thank you all for participating. We are going to be having a "prototype" sale the first week of November. We have made a few new items to showcase in the shop next year and are going to be selling the "prototypes" for a steal since they were out "practice" items. 

Also Giveaway Tuesday's birthday (and my birthday ;) is on November 16th! Be sure to stay tuned for the ultimate giveaway Tuesday!!!

Why is Imperial Trellis so expensive?!

Imperial Trellis

Why is it so expensive?!

This is Fran's shade from Green Street Blog.

When Fran contacted me about making this shade for her two years ago I had not yet heard of Imperial Trellis. She sent me the fabric and I made the shade all the while noticing how FABULOUS this fabric was to work with. It did everything I wanted it to. It was flawless. I said to myself, "I have got to find out what this amazing fabric is!" So I looked it up and was so glad she didn't tell me its list price before I made it--it would have made me a little nervous. . .  

Normally when I sew a shade I first mark the measurements on it with a disappearing ink pen marking them at a 1/2" wider and longer than the given measurements because when we turn the fabric inside out after sewing the main fabric to the lining we lose some of the width and length in the seam. But with Imperial Trellis I can mark at the exact given measurements and when I turn it out it will be exactly what I measured. I have yet to find another fabric that will do that.

Mandarin

The current list price with Schumacher if you don't have an account  with them is $206.00 per yard!!! Often I get people that email me from my website saying, "You have Imperial Trellis listed with a three digit number for yardage! I think there is a typo." And I say, "Nope. That's what it costs. Painful, I know."

Citrine

WHY?

First and foremost it is a matter of supply and demand. The Imperial Trellis design itself is extremely popular right now. To meet the demand they have to increase the price.

Imperial Trellis is printed on 100% flax linen. Why is that so special, I asked myself. A quick visit over to Wikipedia tells me that flax is often retrieved from the earth manually as more of the stalk can be harvested that way vs. when it is mechanically harvested. 

There is a very long process the flax must go through before it is spun and made into its "thread form" for weaving into fabric. First it must be harvested. 

Then it undergoes a process called "retting" where the inner part of the stalk is rotted away but the coarse outer fibers and straw (flax) are still intact. 

Next, the flax is "dressed." This is the term used for the step when the flax straw is separated from the coarse fibers in what is left of the stalk.

Dressing the flax has a whole process in itself. It is difficult to do and so there are many methods to do it. You can "break" it by putting the flax stalks in a breaker machine which beats the stalks until they are soft and pliable. You can "scrutch" the flax with a scrutching knife by hanging the stalks vertically and striking the stalks with the scrutching knife causing the coarse fibers to break away from the flax straw. Or it can be "heckled." A heckle is a bed of nails that separates the flax straw from the fibers.

FINALLY, when all that is left is the straw, it is ready to be spun into linen!

Long story short (too late!) Imperial Trellis is printed on a natural fiber that undergoes a scrutinous process before it can even be spun. And that is why it is so expensive. But I will tell you from personal experience that it is so worth it. It is a fabulous product.

Java

While Shumacher has it listed at ridiculous dollars per yard, my girl Lynn Chalk has all the color ways available for $125! And, I never thought I'd say this about a triple digit number for yardage, but that's a steal!

navy

And if you, are as loyal as I like to think you all are and you have read this ENTIRE blog post, then I thank you! This post is actually a giveaway tuesday post :) I am giving away a 14" x 26" lumbar pillow in Imperial Trellis Treillage with matching Imperial Trellis Treillage piping. 

treillage

I haven't made the pillow yet but it will be the size of the citrine pillow you see on the right but will made in the color way on the left and have piping.

If you have stuck with me till now, leave a comment to be entered for giveaway tuesday. I'll choose a winner in one week from today (tuesday).

Sources: Wikipedia: Flax, Lynn Chalk

Giveaway Tuesday!

Giveaway Tuesday:

Fabric!

I am offering a 50% off coupon for all our fabrics TODAY ONLY. If you see a fabric you like in our shop please contact me there for further information on how to get your coupon.

I appreciate all of you very much and want to express my appreciation to you during a difficult time for me. Your patience is very much appreciated. More than you know. Enjoy the coupon!

This coupon applies to any fabric option in our shop and accounts for any amount of yardage.

I have a lot of fabric in stock that isn't listed, so if there is something particular you are looking for please just ask. I have about three times as much fabric as is listed in the shop. So I am happy to help. I even have some of the fabrics that the treatments in my listings are made from. So please feel free to ask. 

Happy shopping!