Give-Away Day!

Did you know that December 3rd is Give-Away Day 2008?  Well, I read Sew, Mama, Sew!, an amazing craft and sewing blog and discovered that it is!  I like to think I’m kinda crafty – not as good as many of those on the Sew Mama Sew blog – but hey, it’s the effort that counts right?

Anyhow, today I would like to participate in Give-Away Day.  I’m going to Give-Away one of the first Wacky Wabbit’s I made.  He is a cute blue flannel wacky wabbit who would love a little one to tug on his arms, legs, and crazy ears. 

He was made with love

Anyhow, leave a comment below on Wednesday December 3rd about how you are going to “give back” this holiday season – whether it is giving to a toy drive, food bank, sponsoring a family, a soldier, or buying a pig (you can do this through World Vision!).  I will be doing a random draw on Thursday December 4th for the winner.  I will ship internationally through regular mail.

Homemade Pledge

I have taken the Homemade Pledge this year.  The Homemade Pledge is the pledge to “buy handmade this holiday season, and request that others do the same for me”.  And pretty much I’ve been abiding by my pledge.  I’ve been making quilts (pictures!), buying from Etsy, and buying gifts that make a difference like books and things that are good for the environment. (I have to be vague or certain people will not have surprises this holiday season!).  I am also making calendars this year for some of those smaller gifts, and I’m venturing into felt broaches… just have to find pin backs…  So, in other words I’ve been busy! 

I hope you too consider taking the Homemade Pledge.  Or at least give gifts that make a difference (World Vision, Unicef, Kiva, Ten Thousand Villages…

Another small thing I’m going to do is buy a “Yes You Can Wish Me A Merry Christmas” pin.  These pins are a local imitative that will support the Simple Dreams Team – a local program that provides Christmas dinner to thousands of Russian orphans at McDonalds.  The Kneiders (my old neighbours) and some other Stratfordites will be travelling to Moscow in January 2009 – this is their sixth trip.  Many children are also fitted out with a new set of clothing – a real luxury in many cases.  $5 can make a huge difference!

P.S. Stay tuned to our blog the week of December 3rd – Blog Give Away Day!

Etsy

So for a while I’ve had a real bad Etsy addiction.  When the computer is on, I check their homepage every hour – it rotates on the hour with new homemade items – and then I start exploring – seriously – it is a sickness.  I however have given in and created my own Etsy store.  Right now I’m not selling anything homemade (that will come!), but I have posted some vintage buttons that were my mom’s.  So if you know anyone in the market for cool buttons, have them check the site out.  All proceeds will be put towards our adoption costs.

Quilting

For the last few months I have been working on and off on a baby quilt made with Amy Butler’s pink lotus fabric.  I was thinking it would be a quilt for our baby if it turns out to be a girl.  Well, I have a better use for it.  Turns out one of my house mates from University is pregnant!  Laura and I lived together for 3 years and you know how life is, you tend to grow apart.  It wasn’t until I was out walking with Sarah a couple of weeks ago, who was also a university house mate, that I discovered this exciting news.

So of course, I sent an e-mail right away and got the scoop.  She is due in November, but unfortunately is having a scheduled C section at the end of September.  Seems that during the ultrasounds the doctors discovered a 5cm mass of cells on her intestine and they cannot determine what it is.  So, the early C-section is to prevent the baby from getting too large and putting pressure on the lump.  And since the baby is going to be a girl… I thought this quilt would be a perfect gift. 

Here is the final product.  (I was home sick from work today - the Library Cold – and thought binding the quilt would be the best watching tv past time).