Occupy Success!!!

The beginning was more sorting, than anything else. Aye!

 
But I did manage to get some *secret* stuff cut up, and also whipped out some RED curtains for my son's room. I ended up buying a nice table cloth at K-mart 50% off for those... $7.50 for curtains is much more justifiable to me than the prices I was seeing out there. :o)

... And now the pictures have stopped loading, so stay tuned. I'm taking the kids to my high school alumni Christmas Choir concert tonight. I'm probably looking more forward to it than they are! :o) 

Why not? Occupy Your Sewing Room!

It has been a tough 6 months in this household. After working 2 different jobs trying to find something that would blend with my special needs kiddo's needs, I have found that I am still not ready, or rather my family is not, for me to be back to work full time. Friday I turned in my tools and am now back to staying home until the next job opportunity comes along. (I found a help wanted ad for a new JoAnn's opening @25 miles from me, could be what I have been looking for!) Anywho... all my sewing, crafting and blogging came to a dead stop when I started working and now my lonely sewing machine is begging for some attention. Enter *Occupy Your Sewing Room* being hosted over at Cat Patches... What perfect timing for me! If you have followed the *Occupy* movement, this is a fun spin on that. So, this week I will be occupying my sewing space, creating some lovely handmade CHRISTmas pressies and enjoying the time I have so missed with my machine. Sign on and join in! I will be posting pics throughout the week to keep myself accountable. :o)

Traveling Stash... yes, I am STILL stalking this! :o)

Sara, over at Growing Stitches  is the latest lucky duck to be drawn for this. Run on over and enter for your chance! You know I did! :o) Don't hesitate to also browse around her blog. Lots of inspiration!!!

(Image borrowed from Jess at Quilty Habit) Check her bog out, too! :o)

Pay It Forward 2011!

 

I am joining Jess from Quilty Habit  and Paul from Outnumbered Quilter in two separate Pay It Forwards. I am combining the ideas of both blogs, so I am going to do this for the first 6 that sign up here. Now, I don't have THAT many followers, so if I don't get enough, then I will be making things for my local charity to Pay It Forward! So, here's how it's going to work. (Copied and pasted from Jess & Paul's blogs...)

(Copied from Jess) 

I need three people that would like a gift from me.

I send each of them a gift sometime in the next year.

In turn, you send three other people gifts.

I don't think this is too hard a task, considering we have a whole year!

No need to be big and fancy, just kind and considerate.

(Copied from Paul)

1.  I will make a little something for the first 3 people who comment on this post. It will be a surprise and it will arrive when you least expect it.

2.  I will have 365 days to do it in. What's the catch? To get a handmade present from me, you have to play too! This means YOU pledge to send a little handmade something for 3 readers of your blog. It doesn't have to be quilty - just handmade.

3.  You must have a blog.

4.  Once you comment here, you must post about your Pay It Forward on your blog to keep the fun going - with the Pay It Forward badge.

I am going to make a slight change for my followers...  The first three to comment will receive something from me regardless of whether or not you have a blog.  If you don't have a blog, agree to make something for 3 charities.  Or 3 things for one charity.  (Project Linus Quilts, Quilts for Kids, Your local homeless shelter, etc.)  In order to adhere to the rules set forth by those who started this, I will make something for 3 bloggers.  So, if the first three are bloggers, then I've met the obligation.  I just don't want any non-blogging followers to feel like they can't participate.  So, will I make 3, 4, 5, or 6 items?  That depends on who responds to this post!

SO... that's 6 items for someone who would like a little handmade something from me! :o) 

Unpacking & Settling In...

Just a quick post to let my friends know that I am still alive. We have been in the new house a month now, and the unpacking has been slow. I blame sickness, general busy-ness and the cat for the lack in progress. 

 ... Shopping hasn't included much in the way of fabric store... more in the way of decorating essentials the last few weeks...

I look forward to having my sewing space set up SOOOOOOON and diving into some planned projects that I am totally excited about!

I saw these mugs at DG and HAD to have them... See those bright yellow kitchen walls? Gotta go! I see more painting in my near future! :o) 

Stay tuned the next couple of days... You HAVE to see the awesome things I won over the last few weeks from some giveaways. I am STILL geeked because I never win anything. Well, my luck has changed... 3 giveaways in the last month. How cool is that!?!?

This weekend progress comes to another halt as I am traveling from Lansing, Michigan to Madison, Wisconsin with a few bus loads of fellow patriots to rally and protest at the capital. The things happening over there, and now in Michigan, are truly scary to the working man's rights. I am honestly shocked at the amount of friends in my inner circle that have no clue what is happening that could effect their futures in such profound ways. Power to the people, my friends!

Here's to a fabulous weekend for everyone!

~ Becki :o)

On the Move...

Just a wee note to let those who stop in know that I am in the middle of a move. Yes, we were crazy enough to move in the dead of winter. What fun! NOT! Anywho... I will pop in periodically to check e-mail, but until we have the house set up, the net will be off. Booooo! I will miss following my favorite blogs, but I shall return. I hope I am missed! Love & Peace~ Becki

... Enter

Lila Tueller Designs is having a fantastic giveaway! Don't miss it!

Want this?!?!?

Then run on over to Jaybird Quilts for this awesome sponsor giveaway!

Simplify and Dream on! + FNSI Time, Again :o)

Camille from Simplify is celebrating her fantastic book's #6 spot on Amazon's Best of 2010 list by having an amazing giveaway. Don't miss out! :o)

New to me this week is Amy's Creative Side | Challenge Week. The challenge is to set a goal, link up and comment on the post linked above, and get it done in a week. Easy peasy! Meet your goal and you will be entered in a drawing for an awesome table runner kit. Perhaps that could be one of your future one week challenges to finish, or start? :o)



And yes, kids... it's that time, again. Time to be held accountable. Run on over and sign up for Handmade by Heidi: Friday Night Sew In!   First Sew-In will be this Friday, post your finishes on Saturday and win a prize on Sunday. Let's beat those winter doldrums down. :o)

Week 3 Stash Report & Goodies!

Used this Week:   0
Used year to Date:   10
Added this Week:    3
Added Year to Date:    5
Net Used for 2011:    5 yards

 Ok, so how could I resist a birthday party for my LQS? We were bribed with coffee, tea, cake & cookies! And SALES! So, I caved when I saw some paisley prints by Moda. Different lines, but I LOVE paisley!

While I am not an embroidery type person, Shell from over at Shell's Blog  posted this cute book, Doodle Stitching that I had to have. So, a PINK hoop and a starter pack of embroidery thread were needed to put my embroidery scissors that Santa brought me to good use. ;o) I might even jump in on the LMS | Birdie Stitches Quilt Along!!! SO... definite goals this year will be trying my hands at embroidery and small wood working skills.

My mom gave me a couple of after-Christmas gifts... I love project books! She gave me Pretty Little Mini Quilts, and Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase. Love them both!

Lastly, while thrift shopping with my Retail Therapy partner, I came across this vintage Quilters Newsletter. Why couldn't I resist it without even looking inside? Because it is dated the year and month of my birth! How cool is that!?!?

It has been a crazy busy week here with nothing else to do but shop while the maintenance guys tear up the attic here. Thanks for letting me share! :o) Happy stitching!

TAG! You're *IT*... but in a good way! :o)

Which means favorite blog ~ that's really nice. Thanks to Shell's Blog for including me in her favorites list! I really AM honored and extremely humbled. :o)

So this tag is to highlight a couple of your favorite *smaller blogs* ... like this one... those blogs which bring you oodles of inspiration but don't have as many followers as those really HUGE ones do. I am all for spotlighting my talented fellow bloggers so I award this to:

Elizabeth from *Don't Call Me Betsy*
Susan from *The Cranky Quilter*
Jolene from *Blue Elephant Stitches*
Megs from *Monkey Beans*
Beck from *Sarcastic Quilter*

 I have a whole bunch of blogs I love, and most of my faves are the smaller under 300 size, so it was tough to narrow it down! But there are a few that have not yet been nominated that I thought I would share with you!
If you wish to accept this tag then you in turn do a post saying who tagged you, pick 3-5 of your favorite lesser known blogs (don't pick ones that have 300+ followers as the aim of this award to to highlight the lesser known ones) and let them know they've been tagged.

Thanks, again, Shell! <3

Week 2 Stash Report

Used this Week:   10
Used year to Date:    10
Added this Week:    2
Added Year to Date:    2
Net Used for 2011:    8 yards