Happy 2 Years!! from blank pages... linky #5 AND a Giveaway!

Boy does time fly! I have officially been blogging for 2 years TODAY! Wahoo! I cannot believe how far I've come in 2 years! I have too many wonderful friends to count, I never would have believed you if you told me I would be 10 followers shy of 400! This whole experience has been one amazing ride and I wouldn't trade it for anything!! Thank you for all of your comments, friendships and support! It wouldn't be the same with out you!


I totally forgot about my blogiversary last year (I think I was pregnant??), and well, for this year I wanted to do something especially fun.  I've actually been meaning to do this all year long but never got around to it. Any kind of anniversary is special though, so I decided I needed to take a little extra time out just for this.

(I wasn't going to do this part, but saw it on someone else's blog once, and since people like to celebrate these things with giveaways too, I figured it might be interesting to see where I'm at...)

In 2 years I have:

• Published 404 posts (I believe over half of those are from this year!) :) (oh, and this doesn't count all the posts that I moved over to my Our Story section of my blog. This is just quilting/crafting stuff.)
• received 3240 comments on my various posts
• had 87,091 pageviews from 29,948 unique visitors. wow.
• I have 390 followers via GFC (only 10 away from 400!!) and 405 subscribers in google reader
• 139 people like my Facebook page (that I don't do anything with).

Anyway, basically it goes like this. I don't believe any of that. If you told me two years ago that I would have stats like that I would have laughed. Or punched you because I thought you were teasing me because I'm sure I was dreaming about it. ;) #widrn Eating a slice of humble pie. (= what I'm doing right now) You all are seriously awesome! And I just want to thank you for stopping by and saying hi. Maybe these numbers seem huge, and I'm sure to a lot of people they're small. But to me, I'm pretty excited about it. (I am NOT bragging. We all start somewhere and end up somewhere else. This is where I'm at on this day. Tomorrow I'll be somewhere else. I love watching where life takes us. Ok, now I'm rambling...)
 

Here is my picture round up of projects and posts from the last two years!
(click on the mosaics to go to Flickr and then you can click on the links to find out more about each photo.) :)


The beginning: first quilts, paper crafts, things I sold in my Etsy shop, first knitting projects, Christmas presents, etc. This is all from 2010 and a few projects from before that.

there are a few totally awesome awful projects that were left out. Oh well. ;)

2011:

Bags, paper goodies, sewing stuff, things for the little ones, and yes. Number 2 is a baby. I made my third baby in 2011. :)

All things quilting:
do.Good Stitches bee blocks, minis, quilts, quilted pillow, etc.

2012:

Pillows, Pouches and other sewing items

And Lots of blocks (do.Good Stitches, Moody Blues 2, [3x6] Mini Sampler Bee, 4x5 Modern Bee and just because)

Quilts and quilted goodness

I think it's safe to say that my skills have improved over the years, as well as my photography skills. ;) It's been a fun journey! Thanks for hanging out and looking back with me. It's always nice to see what I've actually accomplished, and that I haven't just been little miss busy body for no reason. :) Swaps have definitely been my favorite thing I've sewn for! They always seem to push me the most as well, which I really enjoy. I hope to jump in another swap here soon! :) But until then, there are WAY too many other things going on!

I think my goal for this next year is to finish more quilts! I have a few still sitting in my closet, that have been there for a while, so next year you will see some of those for sure! I hope. If not, I guess it will just be something better. :)

These mosaics definitely took WAY too long to put together, so I'm just going to leave it at that and not type anymore! lol.


Now I want to see the things YOU'VE done! I think everyone needs a special occasion to celebrate their creations and give themselves a big pat on the back! So here's the perfect excuse! :)


Here's what to do:

Create a blog post that highlights, or shows off all of your creations you've made! Is your list too long? Just pick your favorites, but make sure to search back in time and get all the goodness! Don't skimp on the celebrating, even if it's a little embarrassing going back to the beginning. ;)

Then come back here and link up your blog post in the linky. This will also count as this weeks from blank pages... linky. Because today we are celebrating the beginning of us! :)

You don't have a blog? Make a mosaic and post it in Flickr (or wherever) and you can link up your mosaic here. Need help making a mosaic? Here are some good instructions to help you out. I use Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker. I read recently that someone liked a different mosaic maker better, but I have no idea where I read that or where it was. If it was you, let us know. :)

Make sure to link back here in your post so others can come join along in the fun as well! :) (you can grab a button or something. :))



And because celebrations are ALWAYS more fun with prizes,  I will be giving away to one lucky reader......

A 5" charm pack of Anna Maria Horner's LouLouThi collection.

30 squares cut by me from my unwashed fabric stash.

To Enter: 

(you must do at least 1 - otherwise I won't know you've entered! bwahahaha! - it's late. 

All others are optional.)

1. Link up a blog post or mosaic to the linky (1 entry) and leave a comment telling me you did (get an extra entry)
2. leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite memory as a child
3. follow this blog and leave a comment telling me you do.
4. follow me either on facebook, twitter, or intagram! (only one entry even if you do all three)

This giveaway is open to international participants as well! Yay!

I will leave this giveaway open until I pick a winner the morning of Wednesday, September 5th.

Good luck! 

Have fun!

And thanks for stopping by!

Giveaway Week: "a Very Merry Unbirthday to You!"

That line is from Disney's Alice in Wonderland, just fyi.

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

This has definitely turned into a late night party post!! To be truthful, I will not at all be upset if no one enters this giveaway. I would be VERY happy to keep what I have for you tonight. :D But of course, you can enter if you want... but only if you really love it! lol. ;) My little man was having a rough day today... so he got some a lot of extra attention today, which means prep time was put on hold... but alas! here we are. :)

This week has definitely been awesome!! I'm so glad you've all stopped by! I love meeting and getting to know you all better! and hope that you will stick around even after the party is over. I can't wait for things to slow down just a little so I can come stop by and say hi in your neck of the woods (=on your blogs). ;) Especially to those of you who have recently had birthdays, or will soon, Happy Birthday to you too! :) and to the rest of us, a very Happy Un-Birthday!! :)

Quick Tangent: Ok, one more thing I kept thinking of this week as the emails have been pouring in: Have any of you ever visited HomeStarRunner.com? It was kind of a big deal back in college and we would be constant visitors as we were in the computer lab *trying* to work on projects. heehee. Anyway, StrongBad has this email segment and always has some silly song he sings at the beginning. This week reminded me of this one, "When a email comes to town, you know, you know, it's like a rainstorm. in your browser." lol. This probably really isn't funny to anyone. but it makes me chuckle inside. :)

Now onto the good stuff!! :)

I decided to change it up a little. This whole week was fabric and more fabric, which apparently we all love. ;) But I did want to give a little something from me as well. I've been having so much fun making little pouches for my recent swaps and really wanted to make one more.

the back
I think this is my current favorite quilting style. Love all those squares!

I used the "x and +" block style, but just moved it over a little so the "x" was in the center instead of the "+". I think it frames it rather nicely for the front of the pouch. I really like how Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations did her recent pillow with solids in the center, and decided to go that direction, making it a little less scrappy.

All the prints are Amy Butler.


even the inside fabric.

I made a few adjustments for the inside which I think turned out well! On my other recent pouches the fabric on the inside was always a little bit baggy. Today I sewed the liner with a generous 1/4" SA and it fits so snug and perfect in there! I am so happy with it and hope you will be too.:)

Sometimes I look at her fabric and think that it's kind of crazy. But I can't stay away from the intense saturated colors! Love them! The solids in this are both Kona's... I'll have to look and see which ones later. :)

This little pouch finishes up at 9"x9".
I lined it with fusible fleece so it has some nice structure and softness,
but I wouldn't say it's at all bulky.

I could definitely keep making these! Perhaps I will! I could add them to my Etsy shop! (shop name: From Blank Pages) :) Have you stopped by there? It is struggling. lol. I haven't made anything new for it for quite a while now. I need to give it a little TLC. Though perhaps a good clean out would help motivate me. Do you want to help out?! heehee. If so, I've set up a coupon just for you! 

You can enter in "fbpUnBirthday" and receive 15% off your order. I think I just might leave this open indefinitely... but this is the only place I'm going to advertise it. ;) 

Ok, this is turning into a show off post rather than a giveaway post. so let's get back to the important stuff. :) What's the point of having a pouch if there is nothing in it??? So I will also be adding a few secret goodies/supplies to travel along with this so it is not lonely when it goes out to it's new home. (such a sad thought. :(... ) j/k. :) I'll show some pictures of the extras on Monday when I announce the winners! I love surprises! :)

Just so you know, all the prizes for this week are 100% from me to you. No sponsors or re-gifting allowed. Just because I really wanted to. :) So thanks for entering! I hope you have enjoyed this week as much as I have. :)

Want to know how you can enter? 

(there are 3 possible entries - leave a separate comment for each)

• Leave a comment telling me your most embarrassing moment! haha! :) (I love having you say something specific instead of just a random comment! it keeps things interesting. lol. and let me tell you, I LOVE all the unique things you've shared with me! You all are awesome!) :)
• Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me that you do.
• Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment telling me you did.

This giveaway will be open until Monday March 26th 2012. 

I will pick a winner that evening.

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

 You can find all the giveaways from this week in this post.

p.s. leave your email if you are a no-reply blogger. If I have no way to get ahold of you, then I will pick a new winner. Sorry!

Giveaway Week: 150 Followers Appreciation Day!

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Day 4 of Giveaway week is finally here!! All giveaways end on Monday 3.26, so you still have time to enter! (Plus there will be one more tomorrow.) :)

I guess perhaps today should be a 200 Follower Giveaway! and then we'd actually be celebrating it right on time! :) Either way, thanks for following!! And for a huge shout out to all of you, I think it's about time we get onto the giveaway! :)  (I think I said everything in yesterdays giveaway. ;) And if not, it's too early to think about anything else to write right now. Maybe I'll come back to this post and add more later. lol.)

The prize for this giveaway was kind of a hard one to decide on. But I finally decided to share some of the love from yesterdays giveaway! Did you see this charm picture that is part of the Charming Travelers???

Well, did you know that this stack is actually two of the same stacks put together? I wanted to get yesterdays giveaway posted before I had finished cutting, so I just put the two piles together. Yep. That's right! I cut out two charm piles! So far they each have 25 fabrics in them. I obviously have more charms to assemble for yesterdays prize, and will cut more for todays. But I'm not sure what number I'll end up with. I have to say, I kind of felt bad yesterday having so many rules and exclusions for the giveaway, that I've decided that today I am just going to give this second pile of charm squares away to one of my lucky followers!! :) No rules, no exclusions, no passing it on. It's yours just because you won this giveaway! :) I know some of you that entered the Blogiversary Giveaway have said you don't blog regularly, or maybe you don't live in the US. Well, now you can still get in on this stack of goodness (and randomness). How does that sound??? 

Want to know how you can enter? 

(there are 3 possible entries - leave a separate comment for each)

• Since this is a Follower Appreciation Giveaway, you MUST be a follower. (NEW FOLLOWERS WELCOME!) Leave a comment letting me know you are.
• Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment telling me you did.
• Leave me a comment telling me one unique thing about yourself! :)

This giveaway will be open until Monday March 26th 2012. 

I will pick a winner that evening.

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Make sure to come back tomorrow for the last giveaway! You can find the previous ones from this post.

p.s. leave your email if you are a no-reply blogger. If I have no way to get ahold of you, then I will pick a new winner. Sorry!

Giveaway Week: 100 Followers Appreciation Day!

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Giveaway Week is well on it's way, can you believe it's already Day 3?! Thanks everyone who has entered Day 1 & Day 2 Giveaways! You really make this so much fun! :) (if you haven't yet, make sure to go enter! And if you're still in time, don't miss the Traveling Stash Giveaway! It ends today!)

Today I want to celebrate ALL OF YOU! Yep! It's a Follower Appreciation Giveaway!! :) One thing that is really excited for me, as a blogger, is seeing that number on my sidebar go up! Every time I got a new friend via Google Friend Connect I would immediately tell, text, call my hubby and tell him, "Guess what?! I have x-number of followers!!" It was always so exciting! And you know what? I still do that! :) So even though some of you may be a follower and yet never returned, it still means that you like me/my blog enough that it was worth pushing that button. And that means a lot. :) Thanks for your support and encouragement! (so touching. it's ok. wipe that tear. lol.)  

Did you notice that that number is well over 100 over 200 now?! Exciting huh?! :) Well, just like almost every other part of this giveaway week, I missed the celebration of when it actually happened. I may be late to the party, but I don't ever miss it. ;) I reached 100 followers in December, in the middle of the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day! Because of that giveaway, and the holidays coming up, I decided to hold off. Well, the new year wasn't any less busy, so here we are 3 months later. I am none the less appreciative. 

Want to know what I'm giving away to you???

(not all the fabrics are in here yet... I've got some good surprises to add as well.)
let me explain...

I got the idea from a combination of the Traveling Stash Giveaway (hurry and go enter! it ends today!) and ALL of the many MANY charm swaps going on right now! I'm going to call it:

The Charming Travelers

Here's how it'll work:

• I've put together 56 charm squares from my stash (1 yards worth of fabric). Some from charm packs, some cut from larger fabric cuts. 
• One person will win it through this giveaway.
• I will send the charms to the winner. They will take out the charms they want. THEN replace the missing charms with some of their own charms (either from precuts, or cut from their stash).
• All charms must be squared up to 5" x 5".
• ONLY quilter quality fabrics allowed! No batiks, flannels, voile, Joann's or Hancock's fabrics, etc. Can be prints or solids.
• They will host a giveaway on their blog, repeating the process of sending it on, the winner taking out charms and replacing them, holding a giveaway, etc.
• I will keep track of where it is (blog, city) and we can watch it travel around the US.
• If it starts getting messy, too many weird or ugly fabrics, I'll have it sent back to me, clean it out, and start it up again!

To win:

• You must be an active blogger.
• You MUST promise to send it on - always with 56 charms.
• US residents only. SORRY! But I think this will help in keeping it going/reduce delays, as well as keep shipping costs down to participants. 

What do you think?? To make it fun I want to create a map on my blog where we can follow the charm pack. Like I mentioned I'll update each city (or general area) and blog that it goes to! That means that I will need to keep in contact with each winner. This will also allow me to keep up with the status and quality of the fabrics.

This could go really well, or be a total bust. BUT I think it will be SO much fun! Especially with all the charm swaps going on, I'm sure that we all get charms that we will never use... but someone else will! (but don't just put your fuglies in there.) :) 

Want to know how you can enter? 

(there are 3 possible entries - leave a separate comment for each)

• Since this is a Follower Appreciation Giveaway, you MUST be a follower. (NEW FOLLOWERS WELCOME!) Leave a comment letting me know you are. (Be honest please!! ;)  )
• Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment telling me you did.
• Leave a comment telling me what you think about this idea of the Charming Travelers: yah? nay? needs a different name? any other input ideas on how to improve it (not promising that I will make them)? OR what you like to make with your charm squares. Do you have a favorite pattern? 

BY LEAVING A COMMENT YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE RULES!

This giveaway will be open until Monday March 26th 2012. 

I will pick a winner that evening.


***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Make sure to come back tomorrow and Friday for the rest of the giveaways! You can find the previous ones from this post.

p.s. leave your email if you are a no-reply blogger. If I have no way to get ahold of you, then I will pick a new winner. Sorry!

Giveaway Week: My Blogiversary!

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Ok, so it is totally NOT my blogiversary. But it was! In August. of last year. I kind of missed it. :) Anyway, I think that's what I like about blogging. You can do it if you want, or don't do it if you don't. Or take a break when you need it. But it's totally worth it, and has been worth it! I can't believe all the good friends I've made through blogging (and flickr and swaps)! It's also been such a great outlet, and a blessing to be able to keep my sanity through all the joys of raising small children. :) (which I love, but sometimes can be crazy. let's be honest.) :)

It's been fun to reflect on how my blog has evolved. It started out crafty. Then I took a break. Then I remember when I first found some great quilting blogs (Stitched in Color, Freshly Pieced, Canoe Ridge Creations, Don't Call Me Betsy). I remember feeling like I was sitting on the sidelines dreaming about being a part of the quilting community. And now look at me! I've been in awesome swaps, Bees, have lots of great quilting friends. :) It's been a blast!! Thanks for making it a great experience!! :)

Anyway, welcome to Day 2 of Giveaway Week!  Yesterday's giveaway is here. And if you missed it, there will be a giveaway each day this week. :)

So to celebrate a year of blogging, and blogging in general... here's what I'm going to giveaway:

A charm pack of Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley! (this charm pack is carefully cut from fabric in my stash, just so you know.) That is 24 - 5" x 5" beautiful squares of fabric. One of each print. This giveaway pick is definitely inspired by the rerelease of Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy (oh how I want it! Can I get some Aunt Edna's too please?!) ;)

Want to know how you can enter? 

(there are 3 possible entries - leave a separate comment for each)

• Leave a comment telling me what you love about blogging (or reading blogs), or an awesome experience you've had through blogging! :)
• Follow my blog and leave a separate comment to let me know that you do.
• Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment telling me you did.

This giveaway will be open until Monday March 26th 2012. 

I will pick a winner that evening.

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Again, make sure to come back tomorrow, and each day this week to see all the other giveaways! 

And don't miss the Traveling Stash Giveaway here! (it ends tomorrow!)

p.s. leave your email if you are a no-reply blogger. I've gotten a few of you without emails! If I have no way to get ahold of you, then I will pick a new winner. Sorry!

Giveaway Week: Happy Birthday!!!

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Well, I am officially 30! Can you believe it?! Ha. Probably since we've probably never met. ;) lol. Anyway, I had a fantastic birthday weekend, thanks to my wonderful hubby!!! :) And so far, so good. :) I think I had a harder time turning 28 than I am turning 30. I don't think anything can worse than turning 28. But that's a different story.

Are you ready for giveaway week?!!! I took the weekend off from sewing and blogging and all things related, so I had to wait until nap time today to get everything ready! Boy am I excited for this week. I hope you all like the selections I've picked for the giveaways this week. :)

First up on the list, to celebrate my birthday, I am giving away a charm pack of Nicey Jane! (I've cut the charm pack from my stash of fabric, just so you know.) That's 39 - 5" x 5" squares - one of each print (I am missing one print - the leaves in blue - the print on the far right, second row down). I LOVE this line! It was my very first FQ bundle that I bought well over a year ago. I made Little M's quilt with it (that I'm hoping to finish this month. lol.) 

the back. aren't those fabrics and colors so pretty?!

Want to know how you can enter? 

(there are 3 possible entries - leave a separate comment for each)

• Leave a comment telling me how your dream birthday would go! :)
• Follow my blog and leave a separate comment to let me know that you do.
• Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment telling me you did.

This giveaway will be open until Monday March 26th 2012. 

I will pick a winner that evening.

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Make sure to come back tomorrow, and each day this week to see all the other giveaways! 

And don't miss the Traveling Stash Giveaway here!

p.s. leave your email if you are a no-reply blogger. If I have no way to get ahold of you, then I will pick a new winner. Sorry!

So Many Reasons to Celebrate!

Ok, first I need to apologize. I started up the One Stop Giveaway Shop blog with Rachael, and then I went awol. SORRY! I was too overwhelmed with too many projects and could not handle it. But I'm back. So if you want to share your giveaway, it will be posted! :) Just want to let you know about that. :) and if you want to host our button, we will most certainly host yours! Just let us know that you did. There are a lot of great giveaways listed! so be sure to go check them out!!!

Anyway, in posting giveaways, I am reminded about the greatness of celebrating blogiversaries! and Follower Bench Marks, and birthdays! and well, I have missed all of those by miles. I had my first blog anniversary last August? or July? ha. I don't even know. I hit 100 followers in December, and well, now I've got 159! Awesome!! :) but really? where have I been?

blogiversary

One thing I did NOT miss is my birthday! It's this weekend. :) Boy that does NOT give me a lot of time to come up with something though. So I think to make up for EVERYTHING I have missed, we should make the celebration a little bit longer. :) Wahoo! Party time! Ok, probably this will just be a mini party... my giveaways always flounder. lol. But that's ok. I like to keep things intimate. ;)

Here's what will happen: Starting on Monday we'll have a giveaway marathon - but backwards. Each day I'll post something that you can comment on. Then the following Monday I will pick a winner from each days commenters and those winners will all send me something. LOL! J/k! ;)

Seriously, I will announce a giveaway each day for 5 days next week... all with different prizes and different rules (for the followers giveaway you'll have to be a follower for example!) Then on Monday 3.26.2012 I will pick winners for each of the giveaways!  

I have some super great ideas in the works! Hopefully you will like them too. Make sure to come back next week to find out what they are! 

"The suspense is killing me! I hope it will last." 

(do you know what that line is from??)

Here's what I'm thinking we need to celebrate: 

my birthday (to be posted: 3.19)

my blogs anniversary (3.20)

reaching 100 followers (3.21)

reaching 150 200 followers (3.22)

and an un-birthday party! (3.23) 

(because it will no longer be my birthday, and un-birthdays are always fun!)

all giveaways will end Monday 3.26.2012

If you're in the mood for giveaways, be sure to also check out the Traveling Stash Giveaway! You can find all those details here. That giveaway ends on Wednesday 3.21.2012

If you have any requests for what you'd like to win... let me know before Monday! 

You just might get your wish. ;)