Feather Your Nest: Judges' Choice!

Do you hear the drum roll...? It's time to announce the big winner of our Feather Your Nest competition: the one project selected by our 10 judges in a thoughtful and challenging nominating and rating process.

And the winner is...


Recycled Paper Bird Mobile by Jane of Buzzmills!



Congratulations Jane!!

Jane made this bird mobile with paper from her recycling bin. Birds were cut from paper and then stitched together with the sewing machine. Fun, whimsy and decoration -- this mobile is an upcycled home run! Jane blogged about it here. (If you don't know her blog, please check out Buzzmills!)

This project is a perfect example of the clever ideas exhibited in this competition, and how stitched and repurposed does not have to include fabric! The shape of the birds, the choices of prints on paper, and the overall flow of the mobile -- making it look as if a flock of birds is flying by the window -- made this project a winner.

Jane submitted a total of 5 projects in the Feather Your Nest competition and impressed us with her skill, aesthetic and productivity. Check them out! (And scroll down for details on Prize 1.)




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Now that we've announced our 3 winners, we hope you will ALL pat yourselves on the back. The competition was fierce and our judges had a heck of a time.

We asked them to first make 3 nominations, which brought our semi-finalist tally to 20 projects. They then rated their 5 favorites with points from 5 to 1. Their criteria for judging were how well the project met the contest requirements, along with overall originality, craftsmanship and creativity, and that general "wow" factor.

When we tallied the numbers, the top 10 were extremely close. Here are the amazing other 9 finalists!








Scissor Clutch - Cat house - My Happy Corner - Circle up Cushion - Old Bath Towel Rag Rug - Have a Hoot" Embroidered Owl Cushion - Falling Feathers Pillow - Ironing board cover - Quilters Clock

Fabulous job, everyone!! We are so impressed by your talent and beautiful projects!

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Our lucky winner Jane will receive Prize 1:

$150 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop



A surprise half-yard bundle in aqua and grey fabrics from Drygoods Design Online (or $75 gift certificate)



5 books from Lark Crafts: Stash Happy Applique by Cynthia Shaffer, Hand in Hand by Jenny Doh, Crochet Garden by Suzann Thompson, Heart-Felt Holidays by Kathy Sheldon and Amanda Carestio, as well as one of our favorites: Sewn by Hand by Susan Wasinger.



Feather Your Nest artwork from Jenny Bartoy ~ Handmade Designs, fabric applique on upcycled burlap, 8 x 8 inches



Congratulations Jane! Look for an email from us later today.

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A HUGE thank you to our judges and prize sponsors!!!!!!!!!

And an even HUGER thank you to ALL OF YOU who participated in our Feather Your Nest competition and came to visit this past month for our home-focused series. We had so much fun and hope you did too!