rings & a giveaway

while on the roadtrip I didn't thrift anything...it wasn't my plan to seek places out so I just left it to fate. but obviously fate didn't think I needed anymore crap because she really didn't put many places in my path & when she did they were either closed or there wasn't anything I liked. so in the end the only thing I bought were some stones at the wall drug rock shop which I turned into rings once home:


they only cost about a dollar each then I just added a little E6000 adhesive, a
ring blank & that's that...


and I bought an extra agate to giveaway as a little thank you for putting up with all those dang photos:


just leave a comment on this post & I will announce the winner on this friday's {the 15th} post.

p.s. the ring is adjustable & feel free to enter if you live outside the usa

p.s.s. the dog says good luck & do you see what I have to put up with?!:

thursday = embroidery {& a giveaway!}

I haven't done a giveaway in quite awhile so I thought a nice way to incorporate that into my posts of late about going home to visit my family would be putting one of my embroidered home sweet home paint by number hoops up for grabs:


just leave a comment here & I'll announce the winner next wed. {sept. 1st}. it's not a requirement to enter but I'd love to hear a little something about your hometown in your comment :)

moving on...this week's vintage embroidery subject is a book I picked up at the thrift store:


{mulhouse france - 1955}

***please note - I have removed the images I posted from this book due to possible french copyright issues. sorry, but I'm sure you understand.

a blog-versary giveaway

*****COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED - thank you for entering, I'll post the winner's name friday morning*****

jan. 2nd marked the start of my third year blogging. I kind of can't believe I've stuck with it & I really can't believe so many nice people come here to visit!

so, in honor of this occasion I'd like to giveaway this camera bag:


well, it's not technically a camera bag so much as a tote bag with my photo of a camera transferred onto it...you can put anything you'd like inside :)

to enter just leave a comment here before this thurs. {the 28th} at 6pm CST - then I'll announce the winner on friday.

p.s. if you really want a tote but don't win, or if you'd like a different doe-c-doe photo on a tote I've added a listing for custom totes in the shop!

1 for me - 4 for you

UPDATE 06.21.09 - comments have been closed. thank you everyone for your encouraging comments & for entering the giveaway! I'll post the winners tomorrow :)

recently I decided I wanted to create some graphics to add onto some of the many solid t-shirts I own. except in the end I realized I'm really a solid t-shirt kind of girl...so what to do? I ended up deciding to add them to a messenger bag instead:



the bicycle is cut from a piece of vintage fabric, but the thrift patch is avery printable fabric. I love that stuff - I've always had good luck with it & the bonus {for me at least} is that when you use the iron to fuse it, the smell reminds me of those t-shirt stores where you'd pick your design & t-shirt then they'd make it for you with a big heat press. good times...

anyhow, I also designed a couple other images & made totes with them as well. but really, I don't need 4 more totes so I'm going to do a little giveaway for them:







here's what to do if you're interested in getting in on this:

- just leave a comment & let me know which bag{s} you'd like. you can want more than one - just put them in order of your preference. {reminder: the green messenger bag is NOT included in the giveaway, its mine...all mine}
- the first random number generated winner is guaranteed their preference, then each winner after that gets whatever bag is left that is highest on their list.
- don't worry about leaving your email address - I'll announce the winner here on the blog monday june 22nd then you'll contact me with your shipping address.
- this is open to people outside the US, but there can only be one winner from overseas...sorry.
- I'll leave the comments open until 12 noon {cst} on sunday june 21st.

in closing, would anyone be interested if I made items with these graphics on them available in the shop or through one of those websites that will print designs on just about anything? just curious...

UPDATE: please note, the knit version is NOT included in the giveaway!

saturday = final giveaway winner

Congratulations Mommiesbee - you are Friday’s winner!

I really enjoyed reading your comments this week and meeting those of you who normally don’t comment. I’m especially grateful for your encouragement regarding selling the rings. I’m seriously considering it!

I’ve got several new projects to share with you next week which I’m really excited about, plus I’m starting some new projects this weekend that I hope will be ready to share soon as well.

So, I’ll leave you with a photo and thank you again for playing along this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t send each and every one of you something in thanks for making this blog such a fun place for me to visit everyday.

Have a lovely weekend!

friday = misc.

Congratulations Katherine {of kittens lost her mittens} - you are Thursday’s winner! {your blog giveaway must have given you good random number generator karma!}

{ please remember that overseas comments are closed}

I’m so glad to read in your comments that you guys pop in here & that you are enjoying the blog. I’m especially happy to hear that so many of you share my interest in embroidery & was really amazed at how many people commented! {You know I expect you to comment more often now that I know you’re out there…} I wish I could send you all something!

Since Friday is a Misc. day I tried to put together a mix of stuff for today’s giveaway:


I had yet another duplicate of that book – it scares me what lurks in the dark corners of our home! Petunia is another duplicate, some more fabric, another practice embroidery I did, some fun buttons and a plain felt bag ready to be made into something.

And I saved my favorite color for today’s ring:


I’m sad that Embroidery week is coming to an end. I’d like to thank Floresita & Pip for the genius idea & coordinating everything – thank you!


As usually Friday is the day I am running the latest so I have to dash – I will post today’s winner Saturday morning & next week we’ll be back to our regular posting schedule. Happy Friday…now where are the car keys?!

thursday = embroidery

Congratulations Hanna {last comment of the day} - you are Wednesday’s winner!

Hanna is in New Zealand so very sorry, but overseas comments are now closed.

Here we are at embroidery day, which must mean its Thursday!

Today’s giveaway includes several Vogart envelopes {duplicates of other patterns I have & not all there – sorry!}, an embroidered pillowcase I thrifted as well as some practice embroidery I did long ago that I hope someone craftier than I can figure out something to do with.


And here is the ring:


I am so loving the week of embroidery – running around to different blogs to see what they posted each day, so fun! Here’s my contribution for today:

And finally an interesting test to determine what woodland creature you are {found via lisa’s blog}.

I was not a doe…

wednesday = books

Congratulations Elizabeth {comment #2} - you are Tuesday’s winner! {Elizabeth is in the US so please feel free to continue to comment today if you are outside}

You guys blew me away with the number of comments for the fabric! They were so heart-felt too, I wish I could give you all some fabric…its breaking my heart, seriously!

And thank you for all the nice comments about the rings. I’m starting to think maybe I should give etsy a try…maybe I could sell some fabric packs too.

For today’s books I’m giving away duplicates, 2 of which I’ve featured on past book days – here & here which are probably two of my favorite titles in my little used, but much loved craft library.


And another ring:


And today’s embroidery pattern:


I’m running late so have to run…have a great day!

tuesday = fabric

Congratulations Nicole - you are Monday’s winner! {Nicole is in the US so please feel free to continue to comment today if you are outside}

I ‘m so flattered so many people commented by the way, now don’t be shy & lets start all over again with Tuesday’s fabric:


And ring:


Also, you’re probably already aware but I wanted to mention the Week of Embroidery that floresita is doing over at meet me at mikes. What a great coincidence that I am doing a pattern each day this week – that there’s what you call serendipity!

There are lots of people participating – links are conveniently provided so you can click your way around the web & collect embroidery patterns to your heart’s content!

And here’s my contribution for today:

And in other random news:

I discovered this embroidery related tidbit last night – Helen Dardik the {amazing} illustrator and blogger behind orange you lucky! is working on an embroidery kit which, by the looks of the samples that won’t be included {if these didn’t make the cut imagine what did…}, is going to be very cool!

Oh and have you seen this adorable elephant quilt over at house on hill road?! I find it incredibly inspiring!

early bird special’s wall hanging is also stuck in my head, inspiring me…

I wish I could finish projects as quickly as I think up new ones!

Monday = thrifted

Okay, so here we go – giveaway week!

Monday’s are all about thrifting {regular posting will resume next week btw} so I’ve put together a selection of items I’ve bought but really didn’t need. I thought I needed them, but really I don’t! So I’m hoping they will find a home with someone who will give their existence meaning.


There are several craft booklets involving pom poms, feathers, foam & babies. Oh my!

There are also 3 coloring books: smurfs, care bears & strawberry shortcake. I thought these would provide great line drawings for someone doing embroidery for kids.

There’s also some birds, felt flowers, ribbon & a wooden deer {like the one on our mantel.

And the bonus is this ring; I made using a thrifted earring:


I’ve been collecting vintage earrings and made rings for myself for a while now. But since the earrings come in pairs I have leftovers I’ve thought about selling on etsy. I’m not sure if there’s a market for these though so if you have any thoughts on it, let me know!

So, now you have to leave a comment so that you can be included in the drawing…don’t forget the rules, okay!

Oh, and because I want everyone to get something this week, I’m also going to be providing an embroidery pattern every day from the mail-order transfer Design #838:


You might recall that the very first transfer I shared on the blog was the chick from this collection. Fitting considering this giveaway is in honor of my 75th post, which is coming up shortly…