The Need for Sunshine and Little Miss Lily

It is now mid-March. There is still way too much snow on the ground for my liking, and it's still freezing. Actually, my husband just advised that he started a fire in the wood stove. It's cold. I'm cold, and it's been a very long winter that seems to be lingering despite my constant prayers. It's during this time of year when I feel beyond depleted of vitamin D and sufficient sunshine to make me happy. It usually starts by late January, and ends in April. I have a ways to go. Truth be told, I found myself wanting to crawl into a hole, hibernate, and never come out most of February. Not just because of the cold, and snow, but because of people judging me, my book, family things, parenting things and then I got sick. All these things added up and it became the loneliest feeling and one I don't wish on my worst enemy. It was then that I started praying for sunshine. I certainly didn't leave out blue skies and birds chirping, but of all the things I needed....it was sunshine.

A few weeks had passed and I get an email from a dear friend, Laura Kelly. She had emailed a slew of friends/bloggers to join her rainbow blog hop. I've participated in a two of her hops, and they are always fun. Truly. But I was in that deep dark hole, and didn't want to come out. She must have sensed something, because I didn't reply right away - and posted a message for me on facebook to see. She told me to check my email - and to hurry up with a reply so I didn't miss out. I ended up emailing her and said "I was trying not to reply". I didn't want to do a fun blog hop, because I was feeling quite the opposite and was too much in a slump to think of anything fun. I didn't want to sew - was even at the point of packing up my brand new baby bernina and putting her deep into a closet. I didn't want to do anything. But she convinced me to reply, so I did....reluctantly. While that was going on - I was in the process of making a huge duck tape house. With my girls playing on occasion, and collaborating with me - I was able to stop thinking of everything that brought stress or sadness.

I continued to think about the package Laura was sending and what would I make with random green things. Yep - I thought she was sending me green. SO I had this grand idea...and when I got the package - I tore into it and saw tons of yellow. What??? Yellow - Laura? Seriously. I could've sworn she'd mail me my favorite color, but she didn't. Now what? What am I'm going to make with all this yellow.

Somehow, someway - she must have gotten a message. A message passed down from a prayer. ANd this was my answer. I needed more sunshine in my life - and she sent me yellow. One of my most favorite and special patterns from my book is the Gnome Doll. I decided to make a yellow Gnome. A little girl that brightened my days, as I worked on her. She gave me hope. I debated her name, as did my daughters, my mom and my sister...and ended up on Lily. Little Miss Lily. I could've named her Sunshine, or Summer, or Daffodil, Lemon Drop, Lemonade....but Lily seemed like a more gentle name. Most lilies are white, but many are yellow too.

As sad as it will be to see her go, I have decided to spread the sunshine and send her off onto new adventures in a new home. In a way she saved me. She helped me to think of spring and summer, and all the beautiful good things to come in just a few short weeks. I can hold on a little longer now. If you have gotten to the end of this - thank you. If you are feeling the same way as me - I'm sorry. And yet - I'm so glad to not be alone. The sun will come out tomorrow. That is my hope. That is my wish.

So here's the deal - visit me on Instagram....I will post this giveaway image (above - the one with the extra fabric/thread and Maine candies) on Monday...follow the instructions on there for your chance to win this most special Gnome. Did I tell you - this will be the first Gnome I've given away? She can be yours - if you try your luck. Thanks for reading my long winded sob story. Thank you Laura for inviting and encouraging me to participate in your rainbow hop, and for giving me yellow! Please visit Laura's blog for a list of the other participants and to see what they made or see links below.

To find out more about my book Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love, click the book link to the right. To sign up for my newsletters, click the link below.

So sorry to Laura for leaving out the fun Rafflecopter! Enter for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

My Funky DIY Duck Tape Doll House - Voting Starts Now

I'm sick as a dog and really want to go to sleep, but have to quickly tell you about my Funky DIY Duck Tape Doll House that I have been working on for many hours, and invite you to check out it out and even vote for it...if you wish. There is $1,000 at stake - so please take a moment to check it out on the FaveCrafts site...and vote - you don't need to sign up or plug in your email - so it's very quick.

During my recent trip to CHA, I had this grand idea to make a huge duck tape doll house with my girls for the FaveCrafts blogger event contest. Things were pretty crazy here - so I decided I was going to take a break from stress and make this Duck Tape doll house and just have fun. It worked wonders for my soul...and the girls (when not playing teacher) were happy to help with the beginning and later the details...not so much the in between. lol. Eventually we will be donating it to a local charity (which will do more wonders for my soul), because our girls have (smaller) houses of their own to keep and play with. Until then, they are loving all the newness this funky one has to offer....including a sewing studio and a swing!

With the winter we've had - this bright Yellow house is a beacon of hope for me! Bring on the sunshine.

Chalkboard art, checkerboard flooring, metallic table top, stainless steel appliances, and a gumball machine...what more could a funky duck tape kitchen ask for?

Cozy up in this living room...with pillows, a newspaper and funky drapery poles (knitting needles and crochet hook).

When the kidlets come to play - they can hide away or take a nap in the tent, or swing to their hearts content.

Got time to craft? Check out this sewing studio...we've got tiny bolts of your favorite fabric designers!

There's so much more I wanted to do with this house, but I simply ran out of time. It was so much fun though and my girls and I will continue to add some framed pictures, crochet rugs and much more to it prior to donating it. Thank you to The Duck Brand for providing so much Duck Tape for my project!

Thank you for visiting my blog, for voting, and I hope you have an awesome week! To find out more about my book Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love, click the book link to the right. To sign up for my newsletters, click the link below.

 

Disclaimer: Each blogger was given TONS of product while at the FaveCrafts Blogger Event during CHA and asked to make a project with at least one product. That in no way shaped my decision to make this funky house. Duck Tape provided me with TONS of additional Duck Tape to make this project. Thank you to all the sponsors of this contest, especially the Duck Brand and to FaveCrafts for the awesome contest that made me breathe!

Sewing Tales for the Holidays Contest Winners

Hello hello - I'm so excited to announce the winners of the Sewing Tales for the Holidays Contest, but before I do that, I'd like to give a huge shout out to the sponsor companies, the judges along side me: Linda (from Sizzix) and Kim (from Prym/Dritz) and all the participants. You can see all the details of the contest here and see criteria for the judging.

So without further ado, the Grand Prize winner is: Kristi from Schnitzel and Boo
Kristi will receive(approx $475 Retail value):
1 seriously awesome FABI from Sizzix
1 Dritz Sewing Bundle Valued at $75
1 - 3 Month Subscription to Quilty Box (this will be the Oct, Nov, Dec boxes)
3 Brand New Titles from F + W Media
A Signed Copy of my Book
1 Pair of Fiskars Scissors
6 Fat Quarters of Heather Bailey's "Lottie Da" fabric collection
3 yards Bosal Foam Create - A - Pattern paper

The 1st Runner up is: Deborah from Fish and Museum
Deborah will receive(approx $200 Retail value):
1 Dritz Sewing Bundle Valued at $50
1 Month Quilty Box
2 Brand New Titles from F + W Media
A Signed Copy of my Book
1 Pair of Fiskars Scissors
2 yards Bosal Foam Create - A - Pattern paper

The 2nd Runner up is: Kim from Babes and Brides

Kim will receive(approx $120 Retail value):
1 Dritz Sewing Bundle Valued at $25
1 Month Quilty Box
1 Brand New Titles from F + W Media
A Signed Copy of my Book
1 yard Bosal Foam Create - A - Pattern paper

I hope you'll take a moment to read their posts and leave a comment. The details in all of them are outstanding. Congratulations everyone. Again I'd like to thank all the other participants who worked so hard to enter the contest - even into the wee hours of the night before the linky closed. The stories that brought your characters to life were so fun to read. I am so grateful for your support of my book and glad to see the fun you all had!

Thank you to the sponsors below for their support and generosity!

Have a great week! To find out more about my book Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love, click the book link to the right. To sign up for my 'lovely' newsletters, click the link below.

My Crafty Valentines

After a few months of pure stress, illnesses and so much other stuff, I decided to have some fun. Plain and simple fun, in the studio for a whole week. Now that it has passed, it doesn't sound like much, but it was exactly what I needed to do. I just may have to do it again, and next time I'll lengthen it to a whole month - who's going to join me?

For a few days, I worked on making some crafty Valentines, for all those crafty people in our lives. It all started with the Clover Wonder clips. I had this little note on repeat in my brain "you are so wonderful" and thought it would be fun to send some wonder clips with the note. Then the spark flew and ignited all these other crafty product ideas for Valentines. I just couldn't resist.

To print out these crafty valentine tags, click on the picture above (print on paper or card stock). They are 4" x 2" and will fit across a 4" candy bag. If you are making baggies, and want to use the tag as a tab top, print the tags on regular paper. Cut a plain white piece of 4" x 4" card stock, fold it in half, and glue the tag on the front side of the tab. When dry, staple it to the top of the bag. If the item is larger, print the tags on card stock so they are durable, punch a hole in the corner or center of the tag, and tie it to the product with a piece of ribbon.

 

 

Here's the master Crafty Valentine list and I'll add to it as I come up with more - or as you all add comments below:

Sewing, Scissors, Notions, Fabric:

1. I wonder if you'll be my Valentine - Clover Wonder Clips
2. I've always Felt you were the Valentine for me - Wool Felt (National Nonwovens)
3. I'm strung out on you - Bakers Twine
4. You're as cute as a button - Buttons Galore and More
5. You turn me right round baby right round - Dritz Turning Tube set, and EZ-Pull Bodkin
6. We're the perfect pair - Fiskars Dress Shears and a fabric Fat Quarter wrapped around them
7. I would pick you any day to be my Valentine - Dritz seam ripper, Dritz assorted needle pack, Aurifil Gutterman or Coats & Clark Thread
8. You are sew special to me - mini travel sewing kit
9. I love you sew much - Go big.....go for a Sewing Machine
10. You Rule Valentine - give with a new acrylic ruler for rotary cutting
11. I'm stuck on you Valentine - Present with a box of pins
12. You're a cut above the rest - Sizzix, Brother or Cricut cutting machine, or scissors and fabric fat quarters

Crafting:

1. You can count on me when things get sticky - Phoomph and non stick Westcott Scissors (would also work well for Duck Tape and a pair of scissors).
2. I'm stuck on you Valentine - Washi or Duck tape
3. You're just ducky Valentine - Duck Tape minis
4. You're just write for me - Copic, Microns anything you can write with and a cute Journal
   

Crochet/Knitting:

1. I'm hooked on you Valentine - Crochet hooks, and Lion Brand BonBons (also looks like buoys)
2. I can't resist your pull - Crochet hooks and yarn
3. You light up my life - light up crochet hook

If you have some crafty people in your lives...which of My Crafty Valentines will you be giving out this year? Have any other crafty valentine ideas, please share them below!

I love you all - thanks for visiting my blog. To find out more about my book Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love, click the book link to the right. To sign up for my 'lovely' newsletters, click the link below. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

(Disclaimer:  some of this product was purchased by me at craft stores - because I craft and shop (shocker - I know). Some was given to me at trade shows, during one event or another from various companies. Some products are even left overs from previous blog hops. But none of that really matters since it's about the idea and sharing the idea with all of you. I was not paid to use these products, and do not serve as advertisements)