Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways....

It's been a while since I posted about some of the great GIVEAWAYS out there in 'bloggy land' but I have come across a fun one recently that I just had to share....



Head over to The Mom Buzz to enter the Little Miss Matched sock giveaway!! I hear you say "socks?? who wants to win socks??" but trust me these are so much fun and the perfect answer to the old odd sock problem and they couldn't be more unique because at Little Miss Matched you don't get a pair of socks. You get a Mixter Pack. Each Mixter Pack comes with three socks that complement and "match", but they are not identical. So mix it up a new way each and every day! And, you can throw that "extra" sock in your tote or diaper bag, and if one sock gets ooey-gooey or lost - just throw that 3rd part of the set on those little toes!


So just by visiting Little Miss Matched and choosing your fav 'set' then posting it back at The Mom Buzz HERE you will be in the running to win a weeks worth - that's 3 sets - of socks for your baby or toddler!!! Entries close January 20th so be quick!

Weekly Featured Artist - Anastasia of Percival Road Designs

This is the perfect time to have Anastasia from Percival Road Designs as the Weekly Featured Artist because for the month of January (2009) she is offering FREE postage within Australia and for international buyers - Buy 3 items & receive FREE postage!! What deal, hey?? what a great chance to stock up on gift tags, notebooks, greeting cards and maybe find the perfect Valentine card??

Tell us all about yourself and your craft?
I'm Anastasia from Sydney, Australia. I'm a mum to two young boys and wife to Andrew.
I love to do lots of crafty things but mainly I play with paper, both new and vintage papers and make sweet paper goods!

How long have you been creating your craft?
Ive always enjoyed crafting but must admit I got back into I once I started blogging – I was totally inspired by all the craft blogs! So the past 3 years Ive been crafting on a regular basis and 10 weeks ago I started selling on Etsy!


What is one of the biggest lesson you have learnt about your craft & selling it? Being a newbie selling online I'm learning everyday but one thing that I learnt straight away is, if you sell online then you need fantastic images/pictures of your products – its so important!!

Which of your items did you have the most fun creating & why?
I just love paper! So anything made with paper and I love vintage ephemera, ribbons and all things wonderful – that’s when I have the most fun!


Is there a basic 'household' item you use when creating that seems to work just as good if not better than the actual 'tool'?
I do a lot of old fashioned collage (paper and glue) so I use heavy books – thick and large dictionary’s, magazine stacks to flatten my paper tags and collage cards overnight!

What is your favourite candy bar & why?
Peppermint Crisp – delicious and not too fattening haha well compared to other sweets!


If money, responsibilities, and time were no issues where in the great wide world would you go & why?
I love big cities – walking, exploring, eating – it would be a toss between Paris or New York ….I love overseas travel!

For more information on the In's and Out's of Anastasia's paper world check out her blog Anastasia Drawing and Dreaming.

The loss of a great man!

What a start to 2009, a dear and great friend has passed away earlier this week to the shock of all those around him. It's hard to not ask the why questions - why him? why now? why his family? but if If anyone lived their life to the fullest while they were here it was this great man!
James you will be missed oh so much but will forever live on in our memories and hearts - xoxo

The Day God Called You Home
Anonymous

God looked around his garden,
And He found an empty place.
He then looked down upon this Earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you,
And lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.

He knew you were suffering.
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never,
Get well on Earth again.

He saw that the road was getting rough,
And the hills were hard to climb,
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, "Peace by Thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn't go alone.
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home

In loving and fondest happy memory of
James Matthew Long
02.10.1977 - 06.01.2009

Weekly Featured Artist - Fran of Lyptis

We start 2009 off with a a fellow Aussie as this weeks Featured Artist! All the dresses, brooches, and women's shirts in Frans etsy shop are "sewn from scratch" by her and are gorgeous! Visit her shop at www.lyptis.etsy.com and find your fav item no matter where you live as Fran is happy to post internationally, and also would be happy to work with you on a custom item if you like!

Tell us all about yourself and your craft?
Hi, my name is Franziska Ringel. I'm a German by origin and i have been living in Australia for 2.5 years now and 2 of them in Melbourne! I have actually gotten quite used to the Australian 'laid-backness' and the mild weather, who would have thought!:) I live with my boyfriend who is from New Zealand and our plant, which is called planti!

How long have you been creating your craft?
Before I got into dressmaking I was very interested in music and i actually studied sound engineering, but it didn't really work out (too many stupid men in that business!) I played in a band, I use to draw allot and take photographs of buildings and nature too!
I started sewing about 9 months ago and I absolutely love it! It's great to turn normal fabrics into something beautiful which is also very practical and you can wear every day! i have been selling for 3 months now and I also love the fact that people love to wear something I made! Yay!!


What is one of the biggest lesson you have learnt about your craft & selling it?
You have to be patient and believe in yourself! Also I guess networking is a big one! If something doesn't work out, try it again, use a different approach, nobody's perfect from the beginning! Joining a team on etsy has been wonderful to me! Not just to chat and not feel so alone as a newbie, you also learn things, can promote each other and help each other!

Which of your items did you have the most fun creating & why?
I love working with vintage material, they take me away to some fantasy world, some nice and safe place, so romantic! It's like an adventure! Obviously I also like to scout around for them.


Is there a basic 'household' item you use when creating that seems to work just as good if not better than the actual 'tool'?
I always like to keep little jars from food stuff for items like buttons, pinbacks and other little stuff, of course I soak them in water for hours before that. And I got a little peanut dish in shape of a peanut that I keep my little tools in!

What is your favourite candy bar & why?
I like crispy candy bars, with caramel and crunch, like twix or fling, but really I'm a battenberg girl:) that is some marzipany dutch specialty you can get from the supermarket, the ends are dipped in chocolate and is has a nice sweet milky cream and sponge in it! Mmmh..


If money, responsibilities, and time were no issues where in the great wide world would you go & why?
I'd go everywhere! Well everywhere were there is peace and its not too stressful! I like beaches and culture! And I want to go to Hawaii, New York and Cuba! Hopefully next year! **Prays!!**

Mom Made That!: GIVEAWAYS!

Mom Made That!: GIVEAWAYS!



Win a PERSONALIZED OVERNIGHT DUFFEL BAG by Suzi Homemaker!


Going somewhere? Be sure to get there in style with this hip overnight duffel bag made by Room It Up and personalized by Suzi Homemaker. You will love the ample storage this overnight bag affords and, with two interior mesh pockets, you will be able to keep all of your essentials organized. A hidden front outside zip pocket and a convenient Velcro side pocket are perfect for easy access to all of your smaller items. Adjustable shoulder strap with lobster claw closure included! Measures 17" x 10" x 11". Your choice of color and monogram style!


::HOW TO ENTER::

To enter this giveaway, simply visit Suzi Homemaker's website at www.suzihomemaker.net, and leave a comment HERE about a product that caught your eye!

Giveaway ends 6:00 p.m. CST on January 11th, 2009. One lucky winner will be randomly selected and contacted on January 12th, 2009. Good luck!

It was the night before Christmas...

Hooray for Christmas eve!!! Everyone is on holidays, relaxing, chatting, eating, and excited about tomorrow... what will Santa bring? I LOVE Christmas... always have and always will and now as a mum it has a whole new enjoyment to it with seeing my girls open gifts, play with the new toys and their cousins we spend the day with.

I just wanted to send a Merry Christmas wish to you and all of your families from me and my little family - Enjoy and I'll see you on the other side of Christmas day when we are looking to the beginning of a new year........
what are you New Years Resolutions for 2009?? maybe this list titled 'Things I've Done' that I found on the brand new blog Vanilla Pixie can help you decided:

The things that I have done are in bold. How about you? What have you done? What could you aim to do in 2009?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (a sponsor child - does that count??)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Feel free to share the things that you have done, and leave me a comment if you blog about it too so we can compare.....

Merry Christmas xoxox