Giveaway Winners!

And the winners are:

Research Randomizer Results 3 Sets of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set Range: From 1 to 18 -- Unsorted Job Status:

Set #1:10

Set #2:9

Set #3:13 Number 10 is Kara, Number 9 is Kim T, and number 13 is Stacey.  I have contacted each of you.  Whoever replies first gets first dibs of the prizes.  Woohoo! ETA:  Kim has claimed the yarn!  Kara has claimed the patterns!  Stacey is getting the needles!

The Love of My Life

I know last weekend didn't go as well as I had hoped with Holly being rushed to the hospital but I got to spend lots of quality time with my grandson Denver, the cutest, smartest, most adorable grandson ever (except for yours, right?).  All of the clothing here is courtesy of Grammie!!  The first outfit was from American Apparel -- yippee, sewn in Los Angeles -- love to support them!
Here are some of my favorite pics:

He was watching the signed language wallhanging tumbling in the washer -- his quilt, oh no!!!

Doh!!

Today I was in the market to buy more of Mary Ellen's Best Press for ironing my fabric.  I used half a bottle last night on my fabrics for the Kim Diehl workshops.  After forgetting to look for it the FIRST time I went to Joann's today, I doubled-back and you know what???  They didn't carry it in the store but had it online.  Hmmpph!

So what do you think I did next????  I looked for it online!  I discovered something MUCH better than a source for Best Press -- I discovered a RECIPE for it!  Here it is:

3 oz. Vodka (I chose a potato based one thinking it might be more starchy, not sure there)

24 oz. Distilled Water

Several drops of essential oils (I choose to use some scented pressing water I got at Costco years ago)

Mix all three ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle.  Shake each time before spraying to mix it all up.

Let's think about the cost here -- cheap bottle of Vodka ($15), gallon bottle of distilled water ($1.35), fragrance (nil).  That comes out to $1.77 in vodka, 25¢ in distilled water, and negligible fragrance for a grand total of $2.02 for 27 ounces of imitation Best Press.  Hmmm, I paid $7.95 the other day for a 16 ounce bottle.  Momma didn't raise no dummy.

Now I know what you're thinking -- but does it really work???  I pressed one large piece of wrinkled cotton fabric and it turned out great, maybe not quite as stiff as the 'real' Best Press, but great nonetheless.  Next I pressed a fat quarter of fabric with half 'real' and half 'recipe' Best Press.  Again, maybe the 'real' side was a bit stiffer but actually I think I might like the results on the 'recipe' version better.

If you give it a try let me know what you think.  Maybe I need a bit more vodka in it.  I know the brand I bought will never be going down my hatch!

Blogoversary Giveaway!

Ta-daa!  It's finally here.  My 4th Blogoversary Giveaway!  No fancy-shmancy rules here -- just leave me a comment with one of your crafty goals for 2013.  Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!  

Prize #1 -- Five skeins of Araucania Azapa yarn, 30% Alpaca, 45% Merino, 15% Silk, 10% Donegal -- nearly 1000 yards!!!

Prize #2 -- Knitter's Pride Dreamz Sock Needle Set, sizes 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 !!!

Prize #3 -- Four Knitting Patterns from Iknitiative:

I'll be drawing the winners on Sunday, March 1710, 2013 at 7 pm EST.  Don't forget to change your clocks on Sunday if you live in the U.S.  I will give each of the three names drawn by randomizer.org the chance to choose their prize from the three pictured above.  Good luck!

ETA:  Fixed the end date.  I had my weeks mixed up!!  I couldn't possibly wait that long to hand out the prizes!!

3/10/13 UPDATE :  WINNERS SELECTED AND NOTIFIED !!!!

Busy Busy

I have been very busy with a little of this and a little of that lately.  I'm still cleaning and tidying things up.  I vacuumed all over the house today.  It started when I decided to clean up behind my entertainment center when I was installing a new antenna.  My new vacuum can extend way beyond my normal reach and I found all kinds of dirt I didn't know was there.  Okay, maybe I knew it was there but chose not to see.

Last weekend I finished a cute little wall hanging for my daughter Holly to use in her classroom.  She's a special ed teacher for grades 3-5 and has two students in her classroom who are non-verbal so she's trying to teach them sign language:

I used a fusible batt called 'duo fuse' by Innovative Craft Products.  I'll admit, I wimped out and used fusible because I just didn't want to pin baste and although I know I have fusible spray, I took the easy way out.  It worked really well except for the sticky deposits on my ironing board cover.  At first I thought it was really stiff, but it was easier to quilt than the June Taylor brand.  It took less than an hour to machine quilt but about 3 hours to sew the bind down on the back - crazy! 

I used my brand-new iron from Vermont Country Store -- a DRY iron -- wow!

I know what you're thinking -- How in the world can it press without steam?  Oh, mon ami -- it does so very well, and without the distortion I get when I use a steam iron.  I bought the iron for an upcoming workshop with Anita Grossman Solomon, who recommends the dry iron.  I'm getting some practice in before the workshop!

I pressed all of the fabric I will be using for next week's workshops with Kim Diehl.  Tomorrow I'll get the pre-sewing done and I'll be all set for the classes -- phew!

I'll have my blogoversary giveaway reveal tomorrow so be sure to check back in!

Positive Thoughts Needed

I know I promised a giveaway but this past weekend has thrown me for a loop.  While up north at Holly and Mike's, Holly began hemorrhaging and went into shock.  I couldn't believe I was witnessing her crashing before my eyes.  She was rushed to the closest hospital 40 minutes away and received treatment, albeit not the correct treatment.

One of the problems with being up north is there's no cell phone service at their home.  Nothing.  Zero.  Zip.  I felt so isolated -- cut off from technology and unable to do any research.  Thank goodness I was able to get a text message off to my friend Joyce, who at midnight was willing to listen to me and help answer my questions.  Yesterday I was able to troubleshoot Holly's medical issues with my friend Jackie, a former OB/GYN doctor and today, after another hemorrhaging episode, Holly's doctor concurred.

Having friends like these make getting through episodes such as these bearable.  It sure was difficult watching her being loaded into the ambulance and whisked away.  She's a tough little snot, just like her Mom.  Holly is on five different medications and I may need to drive up to her home to care for her and Denver tomorrow.  She may need more surgery and plenty of rest.  And prayers and positive thoughts please.

Out of Time

Sorry to say, I've run out of time for a suitable post.  Long story that involves quilting, lunch with my Mom for her birthday, a horrible car accident (not me) and delay after delay in getting on the road for Holly's up north weekend.  Gotta go, more after the weekend!