Auction for Dan

I’m finally finished with the first item up for auction and can write this post! First a bit about the cause…

Dan is my brother’s best friend. They have been friends since they were kids. His mom and my mom became best friends. When Dan was 13, he, and all of us, lost his mother, Darlene, to Ovarian Cancer. She was only 33. Dan was already like a member of the family, but after his mother’s passing, my mom practically adopted him. He spent Thanksgivings and Christmases with us. He’s like my little brother. Well, not so little anymore…:)

Dan was recently diagnosed with Pre T Cell Lymphoblastic lymphoma. He has been undergoing extremely difficult rounds of Chemo. He is only 26. He is back east where my family lives, and I wish I could be there to visit him. I also wish I was a millionaire, so I could take away the burden of the enormous cost of all his treatment, but since I am not, here’s what I came up with…

I am going to be auctioning off several handmade by me items over the next couple months. You will have @ 2 weeks or so to bid on each item and 100% of the money you donate will go directly to Dan. The first item up is a Lap Quilt. It’s made for a mix of thrifted fabric, and some of my favorite Alexander Henry. The binding is machine and hand sewn. Sandwiched in between is bamboo and organic cotton batting. It measures approx. 40″ X 40″. It has been laundered with eco-friendly, no dye, no frangrance laundry soap and comes from a pet/smoke free home. 

I’m sorry, but my sewing skills are far better than my photography skills! If anyone would like other pictures or have any other questions, feel free to contact me. The closing date for this item is September 25th at 12am. Just leave your bid in the comments section in whole dollar amounts.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ashley, Dan’s girlfriend. I have never met her, but by all accounts, she has been Dan’s rock, and has been by his side throughout, going so far as to quit her job so she could be there for Dan. THANK YOU! Dan is so lucky to have you and we all feel better knowing you are there. 

If any of you would like to read more about Dan and his progress, he has a blog: www.dannycanary.blogspot.com.

Thank you.

Mmmmm…coffee

 

 This summer has completely gotten away from me. I have a bunch of things that are half finished or even almost all the way finished. One of these things is the bag that dear, patient Mel won in my last giveaway in July! It is coming Mel, I promise! 

Another project is one close to my heart that I will tell you about when I get the first project finished. I can tell you that I will be auctioning off several things to benefit a friend who has cancer. 

I also have received several wonderful comments, some of them I have yet to answer. I do appreciate each and every time someone comments on here. I am always amazed that people read my blog! So if you haven’t yet heard from me, you will.

I was even given an award by another blogger! Sara at ‘The Plaid Post’ nominated me for this:

I feel bad because she did this over a month ago! Thank you Sara!!

Here are the rules I must abide by to accept this award:

1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

So, here are some of my favorite blogs (in no particular order…)

1) Aux Petit Oiseaux

2) Little Red Caboose

3) Smallville

4) JC Handmade

5) Beauty that Moves

6) Bluebird baby

7) Oh, Fransson

Please go check out their wonderful blogs if you havent already! There are others like Soulemama and Angry Chicken, but I figure these blogs have gotten their fair share of blog awards!

Ok, I’m off to finish this project that is, unfortunately, causing me more frustration than I had anticipated. Hopefully, I can tackle it today.

Absentee Blogger.

 

yes, i’m alive. i can’t believe it’s been a month since i last posted. this is my absentee blogger mugshot. although, i think i’m looking a bit too happy for a mugshot! it’s me, circa 1983. feathered hair, upturned collars, big 80’s glasses. good times.  my computer time these last days has been limited to a quick browse of flickr, a mail check, and a bit of blog lurking…so please forgive me.

tomorrow, i promise to have a recap of last month. news about my first canning venture, a blog award, and the path to better health. interesting mix, no? meanwhile i’ll let you hop on over to SIMPLE MOM, an awesome website for us stay-at-home moms with info about all aspects of family and home management and keeping your sanity. right now there’s a great GIVEAWAY going on there that encompasses all that simple mom is about. good luck!

Happy, Happy #2!

 I felt like I needed to make it up to my girl for the crappy Birthday she (we) had a couple weeks ago by having a little party. She finally got to wear the little smock I made her. For about 5 minutes. Then it was down to her diaper. I’ve decided not to waste any more time or energy making her clothes until she actually wants to wear some!

I don’t think she really knew what was going on, but she seemed to enjoy herself. I made an angel food cake with lemon curd, strawberries and whipped cream. Um, yeah. 

And found out that singing Happy Birthday makes Audrey clap her hands over her ears and scream “NO!!” at the top of her lungs and burst into tears. Aww.

We moved our whole house around over the weekend. The kids finally have a room of their very own. And so do we. *insert sly smile and a little tee-hee-hee*

It’s not finished yet, but it has changed the whole dynamic of our household. Now the kids can look out into the back yard while they play. Julian was very excited to see a woodpecker out on the apple tree this morning! 

Julian started out like this last night…

…and Audrey started out like this…

…and somehow it turned into this…

Now, I may be biased, but I think this is just about the sweetest photo I’ve ever seen. Of course, at 3:45am, it turned into mama, papa, and two babes squished into a queen size bed. Baby steps, my friends…

On the crafting front…I didn’t even unpack my sewing machine (I had taken it on our vacation) until yesterday. Mel, I swear, your giveaway bag will be done soon! I have a dozen projects in my head. Need to get the ooomph! Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Some really great giveaways!

Here are two really amazing giveaways! The first one is for an AMAZING quilt from Old Red Barn Co. Not only is she giving away (oh so generously) the quilt, but she also has a shop that sells wonderful soaps and the like, and two second place winners will win gift certificates to her shop!

The second amzing giveway is from Grosgrain Fabulous. She is giving away adorable kids’ clothes bi-weekly and this week it’s this adorable Pinata Pinafore dress:

So, go and win yourself something fabulous!

Swap package to make you cry

I received my Fabric Button Swap package yesterday from the incredibly talented and generous JImin of smallVILLE Handmade. It is just so great. She made a dress for Audrey that came in a matching tote, all of course adorned with beautiful fabric buttons. There’s also linen “postcard” with more coordinating buttons. Everything was packaged beautifully, right down to the little dress tag! Thank you SO much!! I wish I could wear it myself!

I just LOVE that Little Red Rding Hood button!

My camera is such crap and I wish my pictures did all of this justice but they don’t. Jimin actually posted much better pictures here. The swap was hosted by the beautiful and talented Ella of Little Red Caboose, and I can’t wait until her next one- Thanks Ella!

39

There! I’ve said it. I’m 39. I haven’t realy sorted out how I feel about it yet. I’d like to say I feel all enlightened and getting older is great! I think maybe how I spent my Birthday may be clouding my thoughts. I spent my Birthday combing lice out of my hair! We found out that a friend of my son had it (they called us on our vacation) and I discovered them on all of us. Such a bummer. It wasn’t so bad for my son and husband-they just buzzed their hair off, and their treatment was pretty easy. I, however, was in the bathroom combing and combing for 4 hours! We had to call Audrey’s party off. We did have the cake already and it was delicious and audrey didn’t sem to notice that anything was amiss. 

I was very happy to get back home. Of course, the way home isn’t complete without a stop here (although, not for the great food, to be sure!)

Birthday Dress

I finally finished Audrey’s Birthday dress. It took me so long! Mostly because I made a lot up as I went along, and did things ass backwards often. Lots of time with the seam ripper. Well, at least here I can look out at the ocean as I do it!

I love the pocket I made, even if it’s a bit off. I don’t think I’ve ever made anything that didn’t have a whole bunch of wonkiness. That’s one of the reasons why I doubt I will ever have an Etsy shop. I have no problem giving away my wonkiness, but having someone pay me for it is something else. Maybe in another couple of years!

I love these buttons, too. I’m going to add them to the front somewhere. I am officially addicted to making buttons now. At least it’s a cheap and easy addiction!

Tomorrow I’ll have all the details of Audrey’s 2nd Birthday. I can’t believe my little muffin is going to be 2!! It really has gone by too fast. Way faster than Julian’s. Must. Not. Cry….

I forgot this…

I actually have some video of the finale, which was great, but I have no idea how to get it on here! Any suggestions?

Pyrex *LOVE*

So I promised pictures of the aqua pyrex (and items not pyrex) bonanza. Try not to cry…

Okay, the canisters might just be my favorite. Can you believe this all came from one kitchen???!!! And I didn’t even photograph everything! I did score some more green pyrex from the other thrift store this morning…all this was $9…

And, of course, we had to stop every so often for Audrey to pick grains of sand out from between her delicate toes…