We are so excited to announce the winners of February's Photo Contest! To learn more about what it takes to win, be sure to check out our blog on the contest details.
If you’re looking to submit to the next monthly photo contest, VISIT THIS PAGE to submit your photos.
Want to see the rules and submission guidelines? VISIT THIS PAGE.
If you want to see all photo submissions visit our Customer Photo Gallery. You can also search through all of the Winning Submissions here.
Let’s see the winners!
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ByAnnie Top Voted
WINNER: Sandy W.
ABOUT: Sandy impressed our team with the beautiful Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0 she sewed in Tula Pink fabrics and we were moved by her touching story. One of our team members said, "I love that she was able to take a tragedy, such as losing a member of the family, and using that to be closer with her great niece and going on trips together and commemorating the trip with a useful bag that reminds you of that treasured memory."
THEIR STORY: “Sadly my niece passed away suddenly. My great niece will be graduating from high school in June. I thought it may be a special treat for the two of us to explore New York City. It’s always great to have something to remember a trip.
I decided on the Ultimate Travel Bag with fabric by Tula Pink. "Curiouser and Curiouser" was the perfect match. What better way to honor my niece than to have the Queen of Hearts traveling along. She would dress up like the Queen on Halloween, her favorite holiday. I thought it very appropriate to have Alice’s face in the bottom of the bag as if she were going down the rabbit hole. I think it will be the perfect companion for our trip."
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Storyteller Award
WINNER: Ruth C.
ABOUT: We love a story where a maker challenges themselves and finds success, and Ruth did just that. She sewed A Pencil Case For Lola, Mini Notebook Covers, In Control, and Flipping Out as shared in her photo.
THEIR STORY: "I visited a little sewing shop in a town up the road 5 miles from my house in Hudson, IL called the Sewing Studio. It all started by taking some classes and being challenged by a teacher named Kathy who is nuts about Annie!
I remember one day I had to tell her, "I didn't care what Annie thought about binding... because I couldn't do it Annie's way." (So sorry, Annie!) But, guess what... Kathy challenged me to do the Easy Does It bag and do the binding... Annie's way! Well, I didn't break a needle that day in class! (Yes, I know...no pulling or pushing!)
I found the free patterns on the "by Annie.com" website. I started with A Pencil Case for Lola. I had great success with that. My confidence was building. So, I moved on to finding other patterns by Annie and doing them MYSELF without the class. The on-line tutorials help a lot.
However, I still could use even more help! The more the better!! More pictures, too, please! The picture attached is my Progress Report on growing with patterns by Annie!"
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Quilt Shop Highlight 
WINNER: Easy Quilting Corner
WHAT THEY SAID:
"I own a quilt shop (www.easyquiltingcorner.com) and we carry a lot of By Annie's patterns and supplies and offer classes too. They are so much fun and we make sure most of our customers go home with a finished bag or at least needing last binding on." That's great to hear. We love the look of your finished Ultimate Travel Bag, we're sure it inspires your customers to try making their own.
WHERE IS THEIR SHOP: ONLINE
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM ONLINE:
Instagram: @ezquiltingcorner
Facebook: @easyquiltingcorner
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Honorable Mention
WINNER: Amalia S.
ABOUT: Amalia sewed this stunning Bowl Me Over 2.0. We can't get enough of the quilting details!
THEIR STORY: "Seven years ago I took a class taught by Annie at a local quilt shop in Las Vegas. I was very inspired by her and love working with her patterns. My first project was the Catch all Caddy. Since then I have made several bags (too many to count) and I enjoy the challenges that each one poses.
I always wanted to learn more about Free Motion Quilting. I tried and practiced a lot. I taught myself “micro-quilting”, a denser and closer quilting using my machine’s needle as a drawing tool. When I felt I was ready I made samples of different fabrics and found I really liked working with faux leather. It looked like tooling or carving on leather. That’s when I decided to make my favorite bag “Bowl Me Over”.
I had a lot of practice with the pattern since I made several bags previously. However I had to change the bindings to a one inch strip and had to be careful sewing them slowly because ripping faux leather is not fun (It leaves tiny holes)! The handles had to be made by folding the faux leather since I couldn’t use the strapping. I was very pleased with the results and the finished bag.
When I posted the finished bag’s pictures on my favorite group of ByAnnie Bag Makers in Social Media I was very flattered to read all the positive comments I received.
I am grateful to Annie and her wonderful patterns, her beautiful hardware, and definitely the helpful videos."
WHAT WE LOVED: Annie took one look at these photos and said, "The micro-quilting on faux leather than Amalia did was amazing! What a gorgeous Bowl Me Over bag she made."
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Honorable Mention 
WINNER: Colleen Z.
ABOUT: We loved that Colleen shared her kindness with us. She has been sewing Bosom Buddy seatbelt covers for the other patients she sees on her regular 
visits to the cancer center. We hope that lymphoma eases back so you can make less frequent trips to the cancer center, Colleen, and we hope the same for your daughter-in-law's sister! Breast cancer is certainly not an experience we wish for anyone.
THEIR STORY: "In November 2020, my daughter-in-law's sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. About that same time during one of my regular visits to the ByAnnie website, I saw the free Bosom Buddy pattern. I downloaded the pattern and made one for her for after her surgery. She loved it!
I receive infusions at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center for lymphoma every 4 months for 4 weeks in a row. I thought about all the other patients I see there with chemo ports and decided to give back to the center for all they do for me. In 2021, I brought in at least 12 Bosom Buddies during each round.
I ended up making 38. I am starting another round of 4 weekly infusions in February 2022. I have 12 Bosom Buddies ready to go. I attach a copy of the website description to each one. I try to make an assortment of feminine, masculine, and juvenile themed ones.
The nurses have told me that they disappear fast! I plan on doing this for as long as I can."
WHAT WE LOVED: One ByAnnie team member said, "I love that Colleen chose to bring positivity and productivity into a time that can feel so low or stressful for others. As someone who has had family members diagnosed with breast cancer, I know that she brought joy to more than just the other patients with her gestures of kindness."
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Honorable Mention
WINNER: Susan R.
ABOUT: Susan surprised her brother with a masculine and discreet Close At Hand bag for his diabetes supplies.
THEIR STORY: “My brother is a new type 2 diabetic. When he found out, he became angry and depressed. He felt burdened by all the things he needed to do, hated feeling at the mercy of a number that determined what and when he could eat, and hated the supplies he now had to keep track of and carry around. So, I decided to make this for him to have a cool-looking carrying case that kept everything Close At Hand.
He cried when I gave it to him. And said he especially liked that the case didn't scream: diabetic supplies inside! He liked that masculine fabric vibe, that it was soft-sided, and that it easily goes from briefcase to sports bag to home. He loves that everything can be kept in one place. And most importantly, that his sister made it for him :)"
WHAT WE LOVED: One ByAnnie team member said, "I think it's so awesome that Susan saw an opportunity to really care for and uplift her brother. It can be difficult to deal with a medical diagnosis that requires extra effort and Susan really came through by providing a bag that would make managing her brother's diabetes more streamlined without calling attention to it. Great work, Susan!"
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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A special ‘thank you’ to everyone who submitted to this photo contest. We had a wonderful time viewing submissions and ready your stories. We look forward to sharing as many of them as possible on our social media.
Interested in submitting to our photo contest? LEARN MORE HERE.
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FEBRUARY 2022 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS