We are so excited to announce the winners of June'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: Annie B.
ABOUT: Annie shared this beautiful Easy Does It bag she sewed, showcasing her first needlepoint project. It definitely has us feeling summery and fresh!
THEIR STORY: “This is the first bag I’ve made in about 5 years, and it’s even more special to me because it is showcasing my very first needlepoint piece from the beginner needlepoint zoom class I took at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The needlepoint piece had been sitting untouched for about 2 years and I wanted to do something special with it. In walked the ByAnnie Easy Does It bag, and some perfectly coordinating citrus fabrics, and I some courage to work with needlepoint canvas.
It took me about a weekend, but once I figured out how to make my changes to feature the canvas, it was smooth sailing! And now instead of hidden in a drawer, my first needlepoint piece is framed in a functional bag that will now hold my needlepoint accessories and threads for my current project."
WHAT WE LOVED: One ByAnnie team member said, "I love the needlepoint that is incorporated into this bag. It takes a very lovey and fun bag to a whole new level of excellence." We have to agree!
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Storyteller Award
WINNER: Susan G.
ABOUT: Susan shared a lovely story about sewing Project Bags 2.0 with a friend she made online. Sewing can be a very solitary task but it's so beautiful when it causes friendships to blossom!
THEIR STORY: "There is a special meaning behind these project bags. Right before I had a knee replacement on March 4th, 
someone on another Facebook site requested Tula Pink scraps. I ended up sending Lori- a person I didn’t know- a big package of scraps.
Long story short, I have become friends with Lori even though we have never met in person. I sent her one of my own ByAnnie project bags before I could sew again, and she LOVES it. I also discovered that Lori became very handicapped 10 years ago. She is now mostly wheelchair bound and has lost a lot of strength and use of her right arm. But Lori still sews. She makes quilt tops and pillowcases for children in need- and occasionally makes something for herself.
I found out that Lori’s favorite line of Tula Pink fabric was “Moonshine.” I bought a few raffle tickets (or "dips" as they are called in Australia), for Lori for a complete line of the Moonshine fabric. Well, Lori won the raffle‼️
She insisted that she send me the leftover pieces of Moonshine fabric after cutting out a quilt for herself and told me she couldn’t wait to see what I did with them. So, I was able to use the leftovers in the border and strips around the zipper for a project bag for me (black and white bag), and most of the other leftovers were used for a backing and borders and strips around the zipper on the peach colored bag. Four leftover pieces were used in the pieced border of the tree bag.
I am sending the peach and tree project bags in the mail to Lori today; this is a surprise, and I can’t wait to hear Lori’s reaction. ????
I am in awe that a Love of Tula Pink fabric and sewing brought two strangers together. Because of Lori’s disability, she would never be able to make these project bags - and who doesn’t need a lot of project bags if you are a sewer?!
Happy Sewing everyone. I am so glad that I can bless a very special person with your beloved project bags."
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Quilt Shop Highlight
WINNER: Family Threads Quilt Shop 
THEIR STORY: "I teach at Family Threads and I love By Annie Patterns. I wanted to show the customers who came in how easy it is to make something [Mini Notebook Cover, Stash and Dash, Call Me, Just In Case, Clam Up, Project Bags 2.0, Easy Does It, Flipping Out, Quick Zip Cases, and A Pencil Case For Lola] with just a few fat quarters of Fabric. (The only one that took more was the Flipping Out large).
This was done during the Shop Hop by the Bay. We had great response to the idea and hopefully people will want classes."
WHERE IS THEIR SHOP: San Juan Bautista, CA
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM ONLINE:
Instagram: @FamilyThreadsInSJB
Facebook: @FamilyThreadsQuiltShop
Web: FamilyThreadsQuiltShop.com
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Honorable Mention
WINNER: Kimberly S.
ABOUT: Kimberly found a fun way to carry her essential recess items by carrying them in a Take A Stand bag. She also found uses for a Call Me and Just Desserts!
THEIR STORY: "This school year was long and stressful for me as a kindergarten teacher. Recess was always a nice mid-morning break I looked forward to. As any teacher could tell you, this "break" requires planning! You need to be prepared with supplies for outside recess time, like bandages for minor cuts and scrapes, antibacterial gel for dirty hands, cool water for everyone (including the teacher), sunglasses, a key and whistle for when it is time to go inside, and a supply of trash bags for generous helpers who like to collect trash they find!
I spent my sewing time at home a few weeks before the end of school creating this bag with my favorite colored batik fabrics to make the last few weeks of recess more fun and to hold those essential items! I added 2 extra strap tabs for alternate handles and 2 extra pockets inside. (These are perfect for sunglasses and a handy box of bandages!)
I also happily discovered that just the bottom of the Just Desserts container perfectly fit my water bottle and reduced the condensation on my desk back inside! If I was just taking a quick break, my Call Me bag always came with me!
I didn't know how much I would love this versatile bag and the ByAnnie trio helped me skip to the end of the year!"
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Honorable Mention
WINNER: Monica H.
ABOUT: Monica shared an exciting story about the Back At Ya 2.1 she sewed for her daughter!
THEIR STORY: "Such an amazing experience! In a number of different ways.
My daughter, Morgan, is on a mission to visit all of the National Parks. Her sister, dad, and I share her passion for the parks. In February, I walked into The Old Craft Store, in Carrolton, TX and... lo and behold! They had an entire set of National Park fabrics. Riley Blake and Timber. I am an avid quilter but have never made a complicated bag. Nonetheless, the idea popped into my head to make a National Park themed backpack for Morgan— who just happened to be graduating from college in May. Perfect!
Oh boy....what a challenge. I struggled quite a bit for awhile, not knowing about the videos that Annie has. Then...voila! I started watching the videos. Specifically for the Pack It In pattern and also for the binding, zippers, mesh pockets, etc. This bag has it all (all the features imaginable, all the features to learn how to make).
Notice that I used a directional AND striped fabric. All the park "posters" are right-side up. It also happens to be a stripe in essence. Big challenge. Conquered it.
The story gets even more exciting from there.
Morgan graduated from Chapman University, which is 1 hour from Joshua National Park. We all went together to the Park. Morgan wearing her new National Park backpack, of course. As we're strolling along the path a woman who is power walking catches up from behind us and says, "Nice backpack!"
I smile and respond, "I made it," beaming with pride.
"I made the fabric," she says. My jaw drops and I'm not sure what to say. Was she being sarcastic? Nope. It was CINDY CLOWARD!!! The owner and fabric designer of the Riley Blake National Park fabric. A one in a billion chance that she would be visiting Joshua Park from Utah, and me from Dallas, and that she would approach us from behind and see the backpack.
Who knew making a backpack would be THAT much fun."
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
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Honorable Mention
WINNER: Sylvia D.
ABOUT: Sylvia is headed on a medical missions trip to Ukraine and had some "joyful" sewing to knock out before leaving.
THEIR STORY: "I’ve been an RN for 30 years and will be serving on a medical mission trip to Ukraine in mid-August. Our 
team will be providing medical and spiritual encouragement to refugees and displaced citizens.
I needed a bag to use as a carry-on for the international flight and wanted to pick my own fabrics. Found “joy” themed fabric that seemed perfect. Ordered more than enough and then started knocking out projects. Did all the quilting and sewing on my vintage Singer 301 from 1956 — the stitches are so precise.
The binding is becoming easier, especially after learning the “Kathy hack” that the FB group shared. In addition to the UTB [Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0], I completed an Easy Does It with some modifications (exterior zipper pocket, binding on outside, mesh pockets inside). The Jet Set “luggage tags and handles” are such a nice addition and I enjoyed learning that pattern.
I’ve already made several handles to give to friends who will also be going to Ukraine. Many thanks for well designed patterns that are clearly written/drawn and supplemented with Add-on Videos.
The videos are so professionally done and I always feel more empowered after watching them! Now to head to Berehove, Ukraine and do as the fabric says, “find your joy and share it with others!"
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 reading 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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JUNE 2022 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS