Frequently Wrong but Never In Doubt

Sewing festival and almost finished

2010-02-07T10:09:00.002-07:00

This past week I took day off work and went to the sewing Festival at the Denver Merchandise Mart in Denver. fun! I sat at the Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilt Assn Booth with my friend Dianna and got some cool stuff:

There's a fabulous lace guy there who brings some marvelous things. I was looking for small motifs for both my spirit dolls and crazy quilt. I also desperately needed silk ribbon (that's the box too) - which will be used to FINALLY finish my fairy (watch for that as my next ongoing project here). Oh! and I think I've got Dianna talked into trying Brazilian Embroidery! yay!

While we sat, we stitched. And stitched, and stitched. we actually left there and went for our regular stitch night to Paneara bread too! tons of stitching.

It is almost done - just a few more french knots and a lot of actual sewing (which you know I hate).

Well, then I got home and reality hit and I had to get back to work. Yuck. Ok, not yuck, but I was way behind. So I'm just having a chance to even blog now.

Speaking of my blog. Blogger is no longer going to support ftp blogs, so I guess I'm going to move 6 years of blogging to wordpress. Wish me luck. YUCK. However, I was pondering changing my twitter handle and maybe I'll change blog name along with it. A fresh start! Maybe fun? Thoughts? Am I crazy? (well, yes, but in this instance?).

Ok, off to stitch more...more progress will be made today!

She's Finished! Now January can come to an end!

2010-01-31T07:56:00.003-07:00

Maybe that's my problem, I think less about controlling time and more about it controlling me, but here I am finished with my BJP Spirit doll with a DAY to spare! ha ha. Actually the good news is I've already started on February.

Just to recap:

I created her as a composite of several spirit doll patterns I saw out there and loved her because of her matronly "mother earth" sort of persona. This doll didn't end up with the arms (except the suggestion in the cast ons) - but I will work on that more on future dolls.
This one is a tribute to "going with it" and finding a spot and calling her finished. The colors are "my colors" - oranges, yellows and earthy tones and a HUGE tribute to texture and the tactile.I'm also trying to incorporate historical embroidery techniques into the spiritual and "now".
Did I mention my huge goal is just to finish one a month? ha ha!

So, all kidding aside, my goal is to finish one each month. This one ended up pretty heavily covered - but I might skimp on a few others to finish the month - OR just because I want to. I love her - my only criticism of my own work is the back looks a bit "pineapple-ish" - but it's a historic technique and I really wanted to incorporate it. Plus, I think the vine breaks it up a bit.

My husband thinks the doll is "creepie" - gotta love support, eh? But I really feel she's has an interesting spirit and I can't wait to "meet" next month's doll!

Touchy touchy - more embroidery!

2010-01-28T09:31:00.002-07:00

More progress on my Bead Journal Spirit Doll:

I'm absolutely LOVING the textures I get with the crewel and the traditional embroidery. It's so fuzzy and tactile (which I love).

Lots of embroidery, but the next stage is to add more beading (although I see one bitty spot I need to cover with embroidery - ha ha).

The wheat ear stitch around her neck and down the back was a last minute decision last night and I like it. Oddly I'm not really loving the filigree at this point - I just wish it was easier to bead over, but it really isn't - so we'll see what happens when I add more beads tonight.

Robin made a comment on my last post that she wondered my doll's "story"....I created here as a composite of several spirit doll patterns I saw out there and loved her because of her matronly "mother earth" sort of persona. This doll didn't end up with the arms (except the suggestion in the cast ons) - but I will work on that more on future dolls.

This one is a tribute to "going with it" and finding a spot and calling her finished. The colors are "my colors" - oranges, yellows and earthy tones and a HUGE tribute to texture and the tactile.

I'm also trying to incorporate historical embroidery techniques into the spiritual and "now". Did I mention my huge goal is just to finish one a month? ha ha!

Anyway, I think she's a good start and assuming tonight isn't too busy she'll probably be done tomorrow! :)

Bead Journal project progress

2010-01-27T10:14:00.002-07:00

I think because it's my first doll, this one seems to be moving slowly, but whatever progress I make by the end of the week is where it finishes - it's ALL about finishing!

So, here's my little spirit doll #1 - January.

I'm playing with crewel thread - but doing traditional embroidery (feather, chain) and then down where the "arms" would be are little "shells" of cast ons - the ones on the left, I have sort of added beads that act as "pearls" cascading down - I want to fill both arm areas with these - so lots of those to do. I already have picked out the embroidery for the back, so it shouldn't take long.

Deadline- Friday (Saturday at the lastest)!!

Sharing every little minute detail of my life

2010-01-19T17:30:00.003-07:00

So, one of my favorite area "Mom bloggers" made me stop and think today. Is it bad to share every detail of your life on the internet? Is there a point to it?

Furthermore, if you "edit" like I tend to - are we just putting out an image that's perfect and unattainable for most people. I have to say, I feel this mostly in craft blogging (Mom bloggers are another subject altogether) but haven't you seen perfect pictures of people's houses, followed by adorable pictures of their kids and LOVELY finished craft projects and just wanted to wretch?

Really? Are they perfect?

However, back to "Mom blogging" - sometimes I see an angle there that is also disturbing - where they air all their dirty laundry, telling you WAY too much information and giving you a bit too keen of an insight into their lives.

To be honest, I'm probably part of the first part. I don't put in the blog when I'm sick of my kids (very often) or when I fight with my husband (almost never) or when we're late on bills (not telling). I write about things that make me happy. Taking my Mother's line on communication, really do people want to hear the bad stuff?

So, here's my question to you...Mom bloggers, craft bloggers and readers and lurkers. Do you like the ugly side of life? Or do you WANT to envy the person who's blog you're reading?

Stitchin and surfin!

2010-01-17T21:55:00.003-07:00

Well it's been a couple of crazy days here - but I've spent today sitting and stitching with my computer next to me...surfing the blog world.

First, check out this event:

Really! How can that NOT be a winner? Now I don't exactly cross stitch, but my friend Dianna does and I bet she'd sneak me in with my stitching - and cocktails? and cupcakes? Really - where else would you want to be.

Unfortunately it's in London. hmmm, I wonder how cheap I can get a ticket?

Thanks - via Mr. XStitch

For a bit of eye candy - and for those of you who don't know, I'm dabbling in the world of crewel embroidery (which is essentially embroidery with wool thread). I'm always amazed when people thing I'm so advanced or do very complicated things.

What they have to know, is that out there, there are works like this:

This via Mary Corbet's "Needle and Thread" who is one of the most amazing embroiderers I've seen on the net. She does a ton of tutorials - but this work is in crewel and it's amazing. Things like this make me want to throw in the needle - ha ha - not really! but wow!

Finally, tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day - which to a lot of us means "kids at home", "day off work" or no mail. However I really enjoyed the simple tribute on Carmen Rose - simple, poignant and a good reminder of a great man.

Sunday craft shopping and a all work and no play makes me grumpy!!!

2010-01-12T19:59:00.004-07:00

It has been such a busy week, that this post is about Sunday - and it's Tuesday. Sigh. Where DID Monday go? Anyway, my friend Dianna and I went shopping on Sunday! Yay! We ditched the kids with the hubbies (who were quite happy to play World of Warcraft) and went to find open craft stores.

Now, just one soap box minute. WHY are no craft stores open on Sunday? I understand the going to church duty, but that's in the morning! And plenty of other shops are open Sunday afternoon - at least for a few hours. What really bugs me is that craft stores quite often complain about a lack of younger followers - and yet what store was packed on Sunday - Fancy Tiger (go check out the link if you haven't heard of it - yummy!).

So, anyway, they and Denver Fabrics (they don't have a website anymore - but it's a great store), and a lovely little bead store on Broadway, Fancy Tiger and Meiningers got all of our hard earned cash because the rest weren't open on Sunday. (be sure to visit all their links - hopefully they'll get some kudos for being open).

Ok, rant over.

Now, here's what I got - yummy!

Trims, from Denver Fabrics - no idea what I need them for, but really - I just needed them!

Fabrics from their discount bin. I think they'll all become lovely spirit dolls.
Oooo, crewel thread from Fancy Tiger! (aren't those colors awesome?)

My spirit dolls lusting after the beads I got! What a deal too - oh, and the little bag has little skulls for a Dia de los Muertos doll!

So, that concludes the shopping and really crafting for the week. I have taken out a TON of awesome crewel books from the library and found two I love.

The first one is:
Crewel Embroidery in England - has some unique old stuff. Love the ideas and I really enjoy historical pieces

and the second:

Creative Crewel Embroidery: Traditions & Innovations by Judy Jeroy - which has the most fantastic eye candy. I love the little animals.

Anyway, it's a new passion (because it's so forgiving) so I expect you'll see a lot of it on my new stuff!

Well, off to wrap up work and see if I have enough eyesight left to stitch!

Don't tell Matey Moo - Gumby's dead.

2010-01-09T22:04:00.002-07:00

My son (7 years) owns the entire Gumby collection:
Today Art Clokey, the creator of Gumbey, died. So, I said to my husband "should I tell Matey Moo". "No" he said. So, why do I feel weird. It's going to be really sad for him, but isn't this part of life that people who create things we love die?

I'm still wrestling with this - opinions? I'd love to hear them.

3 ways to repair kids pants

2010-01-02T19:24:00.004-07:00

I'm gaining fast knowledge of kids pants repair. My kids have a deep love (and ability) to rip holes in all their pants. On top of that, Missy C is SKINNY and so pants that are WAY too short, still fit around her waist. So, here's 3 different repairs to some beloved pants:

First, I've already fixed these once before, but a new hole appeared in the behind - so "tada" it's a heart. (the little one - the big one is the "old" one)
Then this pair - which had a HUGE hole in one knee. On the back was a leopard skin heart shape patch and so I had some tiger print flannel and patched the front. The trim you ask? Well that's to hide little holes that were created from where these used to be hemmed up. Missy C said she loved it and it wasn't over the top! :) So, here's the finished pair. She says they are here "wild pants".
These are the final pair. A much beloved pair of pants that are WAY too short! So, - tada! A HUGE cuff of printed fabric that lengthen the pants. She picked out the print. I have another pair in pink but I need to prewash the fabric.

I think they turned out really cute, and again, the lengthening the life of these pants! :) I'll let you all know how they wear - hopefully I don't have to patch so many holes that those pants are just a mass of hearts! :)

Cool artsy video

2009-12-31T09:00:00.002-07:00

Sincy my husband and Matey Moo are working hard today on a "movie" with toys and such, I'm interested in stop motion - so here's a cool one I found via Yahoo this morning:

Last look at Christmas

2009-12-29T08:28:00.004-07:00

Now this picture has a story:
These are our 3 cats - "Harry", "Frasier" and "Reggie" - I came up on this "reindeer costume" (there are feet too, but imagine getting them onto a cat!) at Target while shopping for last minute stocking stuffers.

The joke immediately became that there was no picture of a cat wearing it on the package - so we figured no one had ever successfully gotten a cat to wear it. So, for $4.99 I was willing to take the challenge.

As you can see, the 3 cats did indeed wear it, for about 10-30 seconds each. Frasier was the longest and willing to keep it on without being held. Reggie second (he actually purred!) and Harry who was "NOT AMUSED" but posed for exactly 2 pictures.

So, the moral of this story? Cats do NOT like costumes.

It was fun tho! :)

Happy Holidays from my family to all of you!

2009-12-25T18:14:00.003-07:00

It was a lovely holiday here in Colorado - weather-wise and holiday wise! We've had a fabulous day and it looks like a very very promising New Year!

My little gal in process

2009-12-22T18:57:00.004-07:00

So, this little gal has a face created by Leslie (who's wonderful and who I need to order more from!) - isn't she great! I painted her face with nail polish and sealer and I'm really happy with how she turned out.

I'm having so much fun beading her - I do need more beads tho (how awful - a shopping trip - GRIN!) and I'm just wondering if I'll be having this much fun by girl #12!
Things have been crazy busy with work and getting ready for the holidays, but it's been lovely to sit and bead and do embroidery at night. I do love it! Ahhhhh, relaxing.

And the bead journal project starts!

2009-12-20T17:56:00.003-07:00

And so here's the beginning of my Bead Journal project. The one on the left is mostly likely to become "January" but the one on the right is where I'm experimenting with adding dimension to her arms (if you remember my sketch, the doll actually has arms).

January's "theme" is going to be "focus" - so I'm using that piece I picked up at a local bead store as a center and I'm working my way out from there. I'm still not sure if I'm best off stitching them while they're flat, but honestly I like working in dimension so that I can see how it's all going to turn out. However, the jury is still out on doing it this way.

So, I can't wait (really I'm totally psyched about this experience) and I look forward to getting to know all my beading friends over at the Bead Journal project blog! (go over and friend the blog to see what's happening!). I'd also love to know which Crazy Quilting friends out there are participating - maybe we can cheer each other on. You KNOW I'll do several crazy quilted dolls!

Tutorial: Make this fabulous, decadent crazy quilted stocking ornament

2009-12-20T12:46:00.008-07:00

This is a quick and fun ornament for the holidays. Obviously it's quicker if you've done crazy piecing before, but if you haven't it's a great place to start. Enjoy!

Materials:

One piece of muslin - larger than the template (print out)
One larger (a little larger than the template) piece of velvet or satin.
Fabric scraps including cotton, silk, satin, rayon velvet, laces, silk-like polyester, taffeta, etc . Heavy fabrics can be hard to stitch through - so keep that in mind, but otherwise pick fabrics you like.
A variety of needles - always pick a needle thicker than your thread and appropriate for trying to go through the fabric you're using.
Strong sewing thread (or beading thread) any color for piecing (it's under your work, so it doesn't matter what color.
Embroidery thread - use your favorite, mix them up! Metallic, silk, cotton, whatever is your preference. I find fancier threads look better on fancy fabric, but it’s up to you (no rules!)
Embellishments, including beads, charms, appliques.
Small length 3-4 inches of cording or ribbon for loop to hang stocking
Printable PDF pattern

Printable Instructions (same as below)

First, put aside any "rules" you've learned from regular quilting or embroidery. It doesn't matter how straight your stitches are and nothing is straight or lined up in crazy quilting. Start fresh and be creative!

The following project can be all be done on the machine, but I think it's easier with a small piece to do it all by hand. The choice is yours!

Start by copying the pattern onto a piece of muslin - or any inexpensive cotton or flannel cloth. Color doesn't matter because this will be underneath all of your work. Leave approximately a one inch seam allowance all of the way around. You can trace with any sort of pen or pencil - this is all going to be covered up.
Pick out one piece of fabric to be the center where you will start piecing. Place that down on the fabric. You can baste around the edges, but I find unless it's really slippery you can usually just hold it until you piece the edges around it. A five sided shape (Judith Baker Montano's approach) gives you some nice angles , but you can also use a four or three sided shape.
This can be a good place to use a favorite fabric with a motif or a piece of embroidery or cross stitch, remember to leave a little room for a seam allowance. Usually you put this piece in the middle, but as you get more experience you can start wherever you want! Then look at your colors and try to decide how to get some contrast between pieces - you don't want to piece similar colors together (unless doing a monochrome look) or you wont get a nice contrast.

Pick out your second piece of fabric.

Take this second piece of fabric and place it right sides together along one edge of the first patch. You can pin it if you want, but you can also just hold it with your fingers and begin a running stitch through both pieces of fabric - using the muslin as a base. You don't need to backstitch at the end because you will be sewing another patch over the end but do use knots at each end - it will keep your patches from slipping.

Iron pieces flat. If you have a seam, flatten in the direction of the thinner fabric so it lays nicely. Be carefulusing steam if you're ironing velvet - I often just hold the steam and iron over the piece to flatten it. As you're going along, you're going to want to cut off any excess pieces so you can see the pattern and see where you want to place your next patch.

The third patch of fabric is placed right sides together along another edge of the first patch and across the second patch.

Be sure to trim the seams and the excess fabric underneath to reduce bulk and minimize shadows under thin fabric.

The rest of the fabric is placed right sides together where you want the seam to be, start by putting a patch on each edge of the first patch, then add them randomly - each seam is a straight line which can run over several previous seams

One technique I used is here. Where I stitch two smaller pieces together (to break up a long piece and then piece it on the crazy quilt as one piece of fabric.

Continue adding patches until your pattern is covered. When you're done, you should have a variety of sizes in your work - this makes embellishment more fun - but if you don't that's ok.

If you have a spot where your seams didn't overlap enough, you have several choices: you can applique the edge down, you can use the corner of a hankie as a "patch" or you can embellish right over it!

Mistakes are sometimes happy accidents in crazy quilting.

When you have finished piecing, stitch a running seam all the way around the pattern. This helps keep the fabric from moving around and also gives you a boundary for your stitching.

Now you're ready to embellish.

Directions are not required here because you can do whatever you want. Use online stitch dictionaries to pull out your favorite stitches and then create combinations, mix and match your threads and feel free to add beads and ribbon.

Some of my favorite online stitch dictionaries:
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchindex.html
http://www.prettyimpressivestuff.com/stitches/index.htm
http://www.classicstitches.com/main/knowhowIdx.aspx?cat=Gloss
http://www.fidella.com/webstitch/needle_stitch.html

Sharon Boggon has a fabulous guide on stitch combinations, so if you are more advanced, visit for some fabulous ideas.

I have finished off the top with some fringe I had around, but you could also use fur, lace or another fabric or any keep it all crazy quilted to the top.

Stitch a ribbon loop to the inside upper left hand corner of the front of the piece – this will create the hanger.

Cut out a piece of velvet or satin the same size as the template. Place the right sides together and stitch around the edge - leaving a once inch opening. Turn it right side out and slip stitch the remaining section.

Starting the new year a little bit early

2009-12-19T08:53:00.004-07:00

I know it's a couple weeks early, but today begins the beginning of the end or the beginning of a new beginning (however you want to look at it). I got my invite to the Bead Journal Project blog (yay! Can't wait!) and so you can follow that blog if you're interested in everything fabulous and beady!

I'm also going to post (today or tomorrow) the long awaited Crazy Quilted stocking tutorial, that I originally wrote for Needle Magazine, but it ended up on the cutting room floor (but to my benefit I get to post here! :) ) - so that's coming today. I promise you'll still have time to make one - they really stitch up pretty quickly depending on your skill level, so maybe a quick project to fill the upcoming days with the kids?

Anyway, expect lots of posts and maybe pictures as I get all crafty this weekend! :)

Books and art come alive and mingle

2009-12-16T10:03:00.002-07:00

Just a bit of blog reading to try to recuperate after a crazy day yesterday (new hairdo if you have access to my Facebook).

Here is some massive eye candy in the way of books turned into art - amazing!

Hoedown from Rodeo from Eleanor Stewart on Vimeo.

And this one from the New Zealand book Council (both items were found on Drawn)

2010 Word of the year "Focus"

2009-12-13T09:14:00.004-07:00

I was going to write two posts (one about last year and one about this year), but since I see this new "word of the year" thing being a regular yearly occurence I might as well just lump it together in one big thought bubble.

If you don't know about my "Word of the Year" - check out my sidebar. This was inspired by Christine Kane (who I'm a regular follower if not paid recipient of her coaching - yet) - she inspired me last year with the idea of a "word" instead of a New Year's Resolution. I like the "word of the year" because, unlike a brief resolutino which is made and quickly broken, this is a way to check in with yourself and see what kind of progress you are making throughout the year.

My choice for last year's word was "Discipline" - in reading through my post at the beginning of the year I realize that that not only was what I needed, but I also really accomplished what I set out to do.

My goal was based on the fact that as a stay at home Mom I had been able to pursue flights of fancy and never really stay focused on anything - just getting through the day. I also admit that I've always lacked discipline. I needed - with a new and growing business - to be able to set out to actually accomplish specific things during the day and hold myself accountable if they didn't happen.

What's cool is I really accomplished this.

But I really accomplished more. I journaled all year (something I've never done - I've done it and lost interest and started a new journal book) - my journal changed, but I kept doing it. I did the "yucky" jobs and a lot of fun ones too, but I accomplished a lot. I also - finally at the end of the year - quit "taking days off" and blowing off work completely. I still let myself "ebb and flow" (see my post about ADHD) but I work every day and if something needs doing I see it through to the end.

The only place I really feel like I didn't totally accomplish this was in my artwork. Which leads me to this year's "word":

Focus.

I start new projects ALL the time. I have lots and lots of little strings of things that I pursue and then lose interest in and get lost. One of these things I had been pursuing was writing a book. I have no idea about what, but you know what? I'm really not that great of a writer and it's really NOT my passion. What AM I passionate about?

My work/company, my family and my art. So, I'm really going to focus on these things.

My current two main blogs - this one and my Midcentury style blog.

Then my business - which is always primary...food, clothing and shelter being not only necessary but the basis of our existence....the great news? I love what I do, so this one isn't too hard. However, keeping our company focused is also always a big challenge. We've had a ton of growth and change the last year and I now need to manage that and make sure it doesn't go off in 50,000 directions along with my head!

Last my fiber art. I spent the last year finishing projects. Some I will NEVER do again - but some I've really loved. I also still have several unfinished projects I need to complete. My HUGE goal this year is the 2010 Bead Journal Project which sets the monumental goal (you really have to know me here) of finishing a project EVERY month! HUGE!

I'm also going to start focusing my art. Little by little I want to take the projects I have been working on, finish them or abandon them and begin focusing myself into an artist with a purpose. I have spent years now exploring different medium and I think I have mastered a few of these well enough to pursue my artistic direction through them.

I think (more to come on this - ha ha).

Anyway, there's my huge big announcement for the year - wish me luck! One of the reasons I adore blogging is it holds me accountable. I'll put up something I've been working on for years and my readers will say "what, that? Heck, I thought you finished that long ago?" Or give me support with a new direct, or many other feedback. But I really love looking back through my life the last 5 years and seeing where I've been and where I'm headed.

Happy 2010 everyone! I think this is going to be a great year!

Have I mentioned I'm ADHD?

2009-12-10T09:24:00.004-07:00

There wasn't a diagnosis for ADHD when I was a kid, or I'm sure I would have at least been in the running. I'm literally unable to do the same project for any long period of time, so I start new ones (and don't finish - thus my side bar list of projects). I cleaned the list up a bit this morning, moving a few into "finished" and deleting a few.

This one is probably the closest to being done:

I added the last "seam" (yellow and orange) last night and now it's just a few french knots and I'm DONE! (with this side). The other side needs a bit more but it's also close - then I move on to sewing it all together - hmmm, I petrified, but I'll do it I suppose. I just need to buy binding.

Then there's this project:

I started the long and short stitch which makes up the "fur" of the reindeer. Hopefully I'll get farther - I might sew the crazy quilting border around the edge to give me more to work on AND to make it all look more finished.

Missy C's Kitty quilt is painfully close - however, I've decided to hand quilt it. So, I think that's going to remain on the list for next year. I just need to sandwich it and put it in a hoop. I think my goal on that one is to have that ready by the New Year.

Speaking of New Year - if you're not familiar with Christine Kane, you should be. Last year I wrote a long missive about her "word of the year" and I think my efforts were very successful - I'll be writing a post on that really soon. This year, my new word is "Focus" - more to come on that, but I am focusing on my fiber art a lot more, so with the Bead Journal Project and other upcoming things I'm going to actually try to finish and explore my art a lot more this year!

Oh, and my lace is selling quickly in my Etsy shop - so if you want some, pop over and snap it up!

Happy Turkey Day everyone!

2009-11-26T07:56:00.002-07:00

We're having friends over, playing games and stitching. Should be a wonderfully relaxing day! I hope all of yours is wonderful too!

PS - the card above came from my Mother in Law from Blue Mountain - isn't it fabulous?

Back to our regularly scheduled programming

2009-11-21T09:49:00.003-07:00

Now that the "big drawing" is over - it's time to get back to real life and crafty stuff. Well, actually all of that has been happening all along, I just haven't had the time to write about everything that's happening.

Now, brace yourselves because there will be some "kid pictures" here for the Grandparents who have heard a ton about our holiday happenings and weren't able to make it to any. HOwever, one event was crafty (so might be of interest).

Missy C's class at school did projects on Denver buildings - this was hers - I think it was a cool choice - the building at the corner of Broadway and California that was built around the Holy Ghost church. She did it all herself with just a few "how-to" pointers from us! If you want to see more of the models, hop over to my flickr. Some were great!

The here's Matey Moo in his school production "Bugz, the musical". The kids were adorable.

I have been doing a ton of stitching on my crewel project, my silk on satin advent calendar and my quilting. All coming soon! Here's a sneak peek at the hand quilting tho - first try (over the top of my first try at needleturn finished YEARS ago. This will go up on Etsy - hopefully before the holidays - so watch for it! :)

And the winner is....

2009-11-20T20:27:00.006-07:00

Number 3! Amy Falconetti - who didn't leave much contact information, but did say:

I like fresh and natural scents too. But my favorite scent right now is my baby girl who turned 1 today! This is my first time visiting your blog, but I think I'll be back again.

Yay! A first time visitor AND has a baby! So, Amy, unfortunately you didn't send me your contact info, but feel free to email me at mary-frances@widgetinc.com and I'll get the basket to you, courtesy of my new friends at Glade!

I wish you all could have won - but this was my first successful giveaway - so thanks! :) It was fun!

I'm Giving away an IKEA basket with cool stuff in it! (thanks Glade!)

2009-11-17T08:05:00.009-07:00

Do you remember my post on my nice night out courtesy of Glade? Here I am in all my fuzzy glory holding the basket that CAN BE YOURS! That fuzzy lump in my hand includes an IKEA basket, an IKEA blanket, a glass container with chocolate and marshmellow drink mix, one of the really cool (more about this in a sec) Glade "Sense and Spray" starter kit with one refill. The blanket color is kind of my favorite color right now!

Here's the cup I decorated - front (It says "I love Crafts"):

And back (that's supposed to be a quilt):

Which washes off! :D - I'm not really sad if you wash it up and use the white cup (it's a nice white cup) and if you really want to keep my artistry you can shellac the cup and use it that way.

So, here's the scoop about the Glade Sense and Spray - I never do product reviews, and so don't count this as one, but after using it for a while, it really is groovy - there's a sensor so it goes off a few seconds after you pass by. Then it's locked for 30 mins so it doesn't spray all the time. I never would have gone out of my way to buy one, but now I do actually think they're pretty cool - watch for coupons if you don't win this giveaway!

Being geeks here it's really about as "high tech" as room scents get!

My only complaint is the spray that came with ours is a bit subtle (we're using it in the bathroom - not the place for subtle) - but even then it's nice! And the basket comes with the "starter cartridge" and a different scented refill - so it should set you up nicely.

So, leave a comment on this post to be eligible and mention your favorite smell or scent. I'll get a kid to randomly draw a number on Friday night - so put your name in soon.

Oh, and the shipping is courtesy of our hosts, so I CAN ship this internationally if you all are willing to wait for customs (you probably know your own customs better than I do and whether or not they'll be fussy about the package!).

**Note - try to be sure to leave me a way to contact you too! Although I'll post the winner's name on the blog! :)

COMMENTS are CLOSED! Thanks for all the entries and the winner will be announced soon!

Ooooo! Me Likey!

2009-11-13T09:06:00.002-07:00

So excited about this:

I've been reading "Sense and Sensibility" and finished a while ago "Pride and Prejudice" - Rex claims everyone goes through a "Jane Austen" phase! And I ran across this on Craft Magazine (had I known I could win a copy I would have hopped right on it!) and so now have put in an "order" with my brother in England to get me a copy - it's crazy expensive here in the US.

Anyway, right up my alley with historical needlework and crafts! I can't wait!

Thanks for ALL the support (here and on Facebook) for my writers block. I finally got up at 5:30am this morning and just totally finished it. Today my friend Jani is coming over to "test" my tutorial, so all should be good. Tutorials are rough - it's sometimes really hard to make sure you're explaining this so they're understandable to someone. Luckily I have pictures to help!

Writers block

2009-11-11T08:41:00.002-07:00

So, I'm working on a HUGE article for a new online publication (I will announce it when it's published in all it's glory) and yikes! I'm having a hard time.

Writers block!

Ok, that's not quite right, but everything I write seems stupid. I'm sure it will look better with some editing and some rewrites, but does anyone else ever have this problem?

Last night I had a FABU time at Morton's with the Mile High Mama gals! What a fabulous group and in a really short time (2 months?) I feel like I'm getting to know all of them really well!

Still waiting on a picture for my great giveaway from last week's get together, but I am feeling really connected to the fabulous Colorado bloggers - who knew there were so many of us and that we were all such great people! ha ha!

So, you would think this little post would make me feel better, hmmm, not sure.

Moooooooo......