Merchant & Mills sewing notions giveaway and Rashida Coleman-Hale giveaway winner

Back when I was learning how to bake in a professional kitchen, I had a chef say to me, "A good chef never blames the equipment for her mistakes."  I agree with her that solid skills can usually overcome any deficiency in the equipment you might have to work with but on the other hand, don't high-quality tools make your work a pleasure?  It's so much more fun to sew--or bake or plant something or cut a piece of wood or do whatever the task is at hand--when you don't have to fight your tools or compensate for their poor quality.  To make your sewing a pleasure rather than a chore, we're giving away a swank new set of Merchant & Mills sewing notions from Kaufmann Mercantile this week.  The winner will be able to use tailor's chalk and beeswax made by manufacturers who supply tailors on London's Savile Row, perch a vintage deadstock steel thimble on a finger for handsewing, and snip threads and pin fabric layers without ever worrying again about dull blades and snagging points.

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment below and let us know which of your current sewing tools you're most eager to retire.  If you prefer, you can also comment on the corresponding Facebook post. As always, please include your Spoonflower screen name so we can find you easily.  Entries close next Tuesday, 4/10 at 7 pm EST.  Good luck, everyone!  And while you're waiting to find out if you've won, you might want to browse the Kaufmann Mercantile blog (aka, "references"), which includes articles on fashion and sewing as well as food preserving, cocktails, gardening, artists and designers, and other  subjects I personally love to think about.

Last week's winner of Rashida Coleman-Hale's Zakka Style book and two yards of linen/cotton printed with the winner's choice of two of Rashida's designs was Anne Yeo. Congratulations, Anne!