BaconThenEggs: May 2011

Thursday, May 26, 2011

SMS Giveaway Day Winners!

Alright...Thanks to all who entered and left random facts--there were some really hilarious facts & I met many new crafters! Here's the lucky spuds who are receiving a prize & an email from me pretty soon:

The first winner is #317: Pippa! She chose the charm pack

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:317Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Pippa said...

Charm pack please!
Fact: I love Negro Modelo Beer. Yay!

May 23, 2011 8:54 PM

Second winner is #500: Gayle! She chose the book & tablecloth

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:500Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Gayle Himmelwright said...

I would LOVE the book because I've been big into repurposing things in my sewing lately. Random fact: I'm missing a joint in one toe (and didn't notice until I was an adult).

May 25, 2011 2:37 AM

Third winner is #366: Poppyprint! She chose everything, but after counting comments out for 7 other people who all wanted the book or charm pack, this chick gets the fabric!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:366Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Poppyprint said...

You make this hard! #1 because I can't turn down a good craft book + vintage linen, followed by #3 because that fabric is so flippin' cool. But I'd take #2 in a pinch you know.

I hated ballet, but did it for 9 years for my mom.

May 24, 2011 12:50 AM

p.s. i'm not sure why the random thing reset to 100, but the result # is accurate!

Monday, May 23, 2011

SMS Giveaway Day!

It’s that time again! SMS giveaway day!

I’m about to start another compacting kick so recycling/upcycling is on my mind. In a sentence, compacting is a predetermined period of time in which you do not purchase anything new except food (and I include t.p. too). It’s amazing how much stuff you find when you’re forced to use only what you have!

#1. I read through Amanda Blake Soule’s Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures again this week and I’d like to pass it on for the next family to use. I am including a vintage 60 X 80 cotton tablecloth with 7 napkins as a project starter, pattern mock-up, or reusable cleaning toweling.

#2. Were you hoping for fabric? How about this Sew You, Sew Fun Too from RJR fabrics charm pack with bright florals & geometrics I found hidden in the linen drawer?

#3. Long quarters of Marcia Derse fabrics. The green on the left is from the Streamline collection and the two on the right are from the Gerta collection.

To enter, tell me which one you want and a random fact about yourself.

Contest ends at midnight, CST, May 25. Winners picked by random on May 26 and notified by email. SMS rules state that prizes must be sent out by May 30 so check your email or forfeit your prize, dahlings!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Barn Sale

Vicki of Accio Fabrics calls to say she's going to a barn sale and do I want to meet her? Oh, of course. I'm thinking, "Well, I need a new hand pruner and maybe there'll be some old wood for projects."
All I can say is. . . glad I remembered my checkbook!

This barn was full of the most amazing crafts I've seen in a while. Absolute artistry! And, there were even art classes by one of the vendors. I did locate a blog about this called Na-Da Farm Life; check it out to find out more about the artists, especially if you live in the Chicago area. All I had was a phone camera so these aren't the greatest. A sampling:

journals, cards, coin purse, candles

"altered books" how ingenious!

that's a real freaking cat, friends.

awesome mirror

hard to see--this is a thimble with baubles for flowers

a leather bracelet with buckle and hanging embellishments

an altered rosary-wow!

the displays went right up the sides of the barn

lace made into a necklace on a paper mache form

"I am a beautiful mess" mixed media

see the "create"? yeah, someone fashioned that out of newspaper and has a bunch of items for sale pinned to the display

tomato cages, wrapped in lace with gigantic newspaper flowers at the bottom hang from the ceiling

yes, live chicks are part of the display. I was loving the painted wooden doll with text, but out of my price range!

boring lampshade? add lace and embroidery!

tie-dyed lingerie anyone?

boring burlap bag? PUT A BIRD ON IT! Okay, you caught me--I don't really like this 'cocky' bag, but it's a neat idea and a running joke in the crafting world right now...

straight-up acrylic painting

So, you may be asking, what did I purchase? Maybe not but go with the flow... (and click for a bigger pic)

mixed media journal cover that fits an 8-1/2 X 11 notebook: the heart is a trapunto-style velvet so it's more 3D-ish. Amazing, no? Love the vintage bark cloth and saint's medal. I write down 5 things every day that I am grateful for; I thought this would be lovely on my nightstand.

upcycled domino

and some homemade soap from a goat farmer's wife

And for those of you who are asking, where's the freaking fabric?! I scored this load of Marcia Derse's "Third in Line" line at Acorn Quilts:

Did you really make it this far? You're the best! Come back Monday for Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day!!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Quilt Retreat

I attended a quilt retreat this weekend, hosted by Vicki of Accio Fabrics! Here are a few pics of the attendees:

(left) Deb is a sure-fire "techie" who's only been quilting for about three years, but she thinks quick and sews quicker! On the right is Disco Jen--Jen made clothes for two kids and place mats for her family using I-spy fabrics. Jen gets more items made in one weekend than you would think humanly possible. We all love the way she makes a mistake and then says "oh well!" followed by something akin to "where's the ric rack so I can cover this up?"

Our host, Vicki, making an adorable animal print quilt (of course, it's a commission; somehow Vicki knows people who are willing to pay for the time and work it actually takes to put a quilt together!) Once we start making sewing mistakes and swearing, Vicki says "Hey! Channel your inner Disco Jen and say 'oh well!'"