Old School Jack

If you've read my blog for the past few years, you know that our family always carves a pumpkin or 2. It's never anything elaborate like some you see on TV or in magazines, but it's good family time anyway. In the past, I've gotten free templates from the web or drawn out my own designs for carving.

This year, I decided to completely wing it. No pattern, no transfer; strictly free-hand. Old School Jack is the result. He turned out pretty cute, didn't he? Did you notice . . . I didn't even have to carve a nose thanks to the natural little "dimple" on our gourd this year.

Jack-in-the-Dark

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For pumpkin carving posts from years past, click here
For all Halloween posts, click here

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p.s. Happy Birthday, Sew Daddy! Love you!

Wordless Wednesday : Blue & Gold

Hay People!

Hay People

Hey, People!

Hey! PEOPLE!!!
{insert your own inflection here ;-) }

My little town was founded by German immigrants over 130 years ago. There is an annual Oktoberfest celebration now to honor our heritage. Businesses decorate with mums & pumpkins, restaurants serve traditional German food, there is a burgermeister, some people wear lederhosen & dirndls. It's a fun week for our little town filled with activities for young & old.

This cute couple have become a favorite attraction for locals & visitors alike. They are each constructed from 3 of those huge round hay bales so they are probably 15-18' tall. Pretty cute and pretty clever, huh? I'm not sure who makes their clothing or who braids her hair, but I appreciate their hard work to make something fun for our little town.

Life is good. :-)

Select HALLOWEEN Items ON SALE

The clock is ticking and HALLOWEEN is a little less than 3 weeks away. It's time to shop, people! ;-) The bonus is that this great tote and a select group of Trick or Treat totes have been reduced to sell now!

All sale items are ready to ship. Buy now, pay now and your order will ship the same day or next day.

Super Cute Halloween Patchwork Bag
ready to ship and only $24

These are just 2 of the special group of Trick or Treat baskets that are
ready to ship and only $12 each!
Visit the Etsy Shop to see all Halloween Baskets

Wordless Wednesday : Perfect Pumpkin

30 Days to Go

Where have 9 months of this year gone?

It's October 1 . . . already!

You know what that means. It's only 30 days until Halloween. The stores are filled with candy, decorations, costumes and the weather is getting cooler. {yea!}

There are lots of cute Halloween Trick or Treat baskets in the shop, but they won't last. Now that we are into in October things will be busy in the Sew Gracious studio. Some fabrics are limited too. Don't be disappointed and miss out on a basket that you love.

Here's the latest . . .

Just cause I love my blog readers . . .

• Get FREE US SHIPPING on your Halloween Tote
• Simply order between now & Sunday October 4, 2009
• BE SURE to type SG BLOG10 in your notes to seller at Etsy Checkout.
• Remit your payment & I'll refund the shipping to your Paypal account
• Offer good only on Halloween Totes

Happy Shopping! ;-)

NEW Halloween Baskets

A tisket, a tasket

It's time to get a new Halloween Basket!

Brand new Halloween Baskets just added to the shop today. One has sold & been relisted already so don't wait. Get yours while the selection is good! As Halloween gets closer, some fabrics will certainly sell out!

Click each picture to go to the listing for that particular basket or just click here to see all of the Halloween Baskets available!

for the love of Minnie

HOOT!

yum . . . CANDY CORN!


Are you on Facebook?
Are you a Sew Gracious Facebook Fan?
NO? !

If you are shopping for a Halloween Basket,
you might just want to become an SG FB Fan

I'm just sayin' . . .

LABOR DAY SALE : 20% off everything!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALE

in the Sew Gracious Etsy Shop

Now thru Monday 9.7.09

ALL ITEMS 20% OFF

• No Coupon Code needed
• Simply make your selection, check out & remit payment as usual.
• I will refund 20% of the purchase price {excluding shipping} to your Paypal account before your order is shipped
• Does not apply to previously placed orders & may not be combined with other special offers
• Standard Shipping Rates Apply

It's a great time to get a headstart on Christmas & holiday shopping!

Wordless Wednesday : pansy

glimpses from my garden : pansy

Happy Halloween : pumpkin carving

Today is the day! October 31 : Halloween!

The day for costumes & candy; pumpkins & hayrides. You've probably carved your pumpkin by now, but I wanted to share some pictures from our Pumpkin Carving Day.

The Tools


The Pumpkin

The First Cut is the Deepest



The Guts

More Guts

Exclusive Blog Reader SALE : 25% off

Here's your chance to
save 25%
on two cute Sew Gracious Bags!

Each bag pictured below is ready to ship and let's be honest . . . . Halloween is less than 3 weeks away! It's time to treat yourself to a fun bag for the season! This is a one-time offer, good only while the bags are in the Sew Gracious Etsy shop.

This offer will only be advertised here, on the Sew Gracious blog. There will be no mention in the shop announcement on Etsy or in a mailing to the mailing list. I want to offer something special, exclusively to my blog readers. It pays to visit the Sew Gracious blog DAILY! ;-)

So, how to you save 25%? It's first come, first served so don't wait!

• Click on the pictures below to go directly to the listing
• Place the item in your Etsy cart and enter "I LOVE YOUR BLOG" in the Notes to Seller section at checkout
• Complete your payment via Paypal
• I will refund 25% of your purchase price {less postage costs} to your Paypal account
• Your item will ship within 24 hours of payment
• EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY! ;-)
• This offer is good only on these 2 bags, not valid for any other Halloween bags in the shop

HALLOWEEN : Ready to Ship!

It's October 1st!

Only 30 more days until Halloween!

Take advantage of these great READY TO SHIP bags today!

A fun bag for Mommy
the last full-size Halloween bag for the season! :-)

. . . and cute Trick or Treat Candy Bags for the little princess or pirate in your life!

Click the pics or go to The Shop to see the entire collection!

Shades of Autumn : Pink Chocolate Houndstooth

Just listed on Etsy!
a new Shades of Autumn Bag

I love this new bag! I used a bag design that I haven't made in a while because I love the shape : classic . chic . tailored. The houndstooth fabric is pink & chocolate brown babywale CORDUROY which always a customer favorite. It is soft as velvet. The damask flap was the perfect accent. If you love it and have you have to have, click one of the pictures to go directly to the listing.

Lots more great bags for Fall, Halloween & Christmas; along with great accessories always available in the Sew Gracious Etsy Shop! See you there! :-)

Trick or Treat : Halloween Candy Bags

••• ••• ••• HALLOWEEN at SEW GRACIOUS ••• ••• •••

More great Halloween bags debuted this week in the Etsy shop!

• These are fun little bags, perfect for gathering candy on Halloween night! Your little princess or pirate {the bows are easily removeable} can carry a handmade candy bucket . . . much better & more eco-friendly than the plastic pumpkin! ;-)

• A cute tote for your little girl! For a cute Mommy & Me look, pick up a coordinating bag for yourself. There are several choices now available.

• Don't have a little one? What a cute Halloween decoration for your home! Fill it with candy & keep it by the door; ready for the Trick or Treaters visiting you on October 31.

• Click the pics to go directly to each listing or go to the main page of the Sew Gracious Etsy Shop

• Get yours now • Available for a limited time only :-)

Back To School Apples & Boo {again}

In the busy-ness of this week, I have not had a chance to share the new bags available in my Etsy Shop. Even though it's still summer, we have already started back to school here. My mind is filled with thoughts of falling leaves, chilly days, football games, cozy clothing . . . all of the charm of the season.

What's more "back to school" than apples? This new bag is one of my favorites. The bright red & green apple fabric is babywale corduroy. This is not your Daddy's corduroy. This one is almost like velvet. The colors are rich & bright on the black background. The saddle stitch ribbon trim reminds me of those handwriting tablets that kids use in first grade.

What a great bag for you {a cute preppy look} or your child's favorite teacher. Let's be honest . . . Christmas will be here before you're ready. If you buy this bag now, that's one less teacher gift to think about come December. She will appreciate it ;-) A matching mini wallet is also available. If you are interested in other matching accessories; just convo me via Etsy.


Halloween bags are already popular this year. What's not to love? Bright colors paired with classic black! Here are 2 brand new Halloween bags, now available.

No tricks . . . just TREATS for YOU! :-)

As always, click on each picture to go directly to the listings or
click here to go to the main page of the Sew Gracious Etsy Shop.

Shades of AUTUMN : 2 more New Bags

Here are the latest bags in the Sew Gracious Shades of AUTUMN series! Some of your favorite fabrics in new combinations for the perfect bag. Click on each pic to go to the listing or visit my Etsy Shop

Yes, this is a short post today. We are in back-to-school mode here. Schools starts this week so we have all of those last minute things to do including a trip to Dairy Queen just because! I know . . . it's too hot, summer was too short. I've said all those same things, too. ;-)

Shades of A U T U M N : New Bag Too

As promised, another addition to the Sew Gracious Shades of Autumn series! A great combination of colors & fabrics make this one-of-a-kind bag special. Amy Butler Dots paired with kitschy, vintage circles & dots finished off with multi-color polka dots on the bottom. Even the pockets inside are pretty!

Click here or click the pic to go to the listing. Be sure to check out those pockets! ;-)

The matching key fob is also available.

If you order it with your bag, just type BLOG READER in your comments when checking out to receive FREE SHIPPING on the key fob.

BOO!!! [Halloween Bag]

Did I scare you! ;-)

It's hard to believe, but fall is just around the corner. This is the last week of July and that means Halloween is just a couple of months away. Why wait? Pick up this fun one-of-a-kind Halloween bag now. It's the latest in the Sew Gracious Shades of Autumn series.

Made with the cutest retro print Halloween fabric by Alexander Henry. Vintage style graphics: cute kids, pumpkins & classic costumes. Amy Butler Full Moon Dots are the perfect accent! Black canvas is the perfect sturdy, yet stylish finish.

Click here or click to pic to scare up a new bag for YOU today!

Shades of A U T U M N : New Bag!

Even though it's hot right now; autumn is just around the corner. Now is the time to shop for a great transitional bag! This one is perfect to carry now and right on through the fall.

Fabric from the customer-favorite Ginger Blossom Collection by Sandi Henderson makes this bag beautiful! A coordinating green eco-print on top is the perfect accent. A brown base & handles completes the color ensemble.

A matching wristlet key fob is a great accessory

Either of these is a great accompaniment to this pretty bag

Look for more Shades of AUTUMN bags by Sew Gracious coming soon! Each one is unique, so don't let it get away! :-)

Click the pics to go directly to the listings for each item.