ANZAC Day Laundry Bag Challenge - the Winners

Oh My Gosh! 

As far as I am concerned you are all winners!  

I know I was going to post the ANZAC Day messages tonight but our Judge didn't want to keep you in suspense and so skyped me with the results late last night so that I could share them with you. 

Standby for TWO extra special posts tomorrow, 

one in the morning and one at the normal time.

Now back to the judging...

I fear it is not going to be long, and as we get more and more well known, people are going to wise up and will not be so keen to accept the responsibility of acting as Judge for these challenges!  Do you remember how hard Money Honey and SuperDad found it last December to pick the winners of the Brisbane dinner laundry bag Challenge?  You can check that out here.   It seems the job has not become any easier.  

First let me introduce our principal judge - this is how she spent yesterday morning, baking up a storm with her Kiwi mate making 10kg of chocolate dipped ANZAC biscuits for ANZAC Day morning. Now that is what I call ANZAC spirit and when it comes to spirit this lady has it by the bucket load.  You have no idea and I can't tell you half the stories I know but trust me - she is one in a million!   

When I asked her to be the Judge she said she would LOVE to do it.  The last few weeks and days have been really busy for her with Easter and then ANZAC Day and I checked that she was still happy to do it and she said OF COURSE and added that it was going to be a PLEASANT job to do.  Hee hee.  That was until she received my email with all the pictures in it!  

Oh and here is what 10kg of chocolate dipped ANZAC's look like! 

Mmmmm YUM!!

Anyway, back to the story.  

When she received the email with the photos her responses changed a tad.

First there was 

WHAT THE HECK!

Then 

OH MY GOSH - TOO MANY TALENTED PEOPLE

And finally

 I  MAY NEED HELP JUDGING I THINK.  I'M PRINTING THEM OUT AND LETTING THE AUSSIES PIC FAVOURITES.  

And that is pretty much what happened.   In the end THE JUDGE selected two others, also non-sewers, so that she had a tri-service team of judges and together they hammered it out until they had the final group.  

There are five that I will call the finalists.  

First the numbers were reduced to seven clear runners.   A winner was chosen unanimously and that left six.  More deliberations and the second place was chosen.  That left five from the seven finalists.  More deliberations and finally two more were selected and the decision had to be made - which one would be in third place.  I have to tell you I am assured that it was by the skinniest of whiskers so I decreed that we would have a special mention for the runner up for third place.  And then there was one that the Judge said she just loved and that has rated a second special mention. 

So, without further ado here are the winners starting with the special mentions.

Firstly we have the fabulous laundry bag that our JUDGE really loved.

Made by Katrina!

Our second special mention, just beaten by the narrowest of whiskers, was this awesome one made by Chelly

Third place went to (GO RAAF!!) Pennie for her classic RAAF Roundel 

Second place went to Julie Ann's very patriotic double sided bag

AND THE WINNER ...

By a clear margin...

Unanimously chosen by our tri-service team of Judges....

Was made by Louise 

featuring the poppy (very appropriate for ANZAC Day) and the slouch hat!

Congratulations everyone, especially our five winners.  As far as I am concerned though you are all winners and the lucky people who receive these laundry bags are going to be over the moon!!!

 You will have to wait a little for your prizes as they are on their way from Afghanistan but I will let you know when to start watching your letterboxes! 

Don't forget - two, YES TWO special posts coming up tomorrow which I hope you enjoy.   I have a very special one scheduled for 10am and then the ANZAC Messages will come later at the normal time.  

Till next time.................keep spreading the word and happy stitching.  JMxx