I can't believe it

I posted a while back about entering Momdot's "Christmas of Dreams" giveaway. I read all the other entries for the contest and they brought tears to my eyes because everyone was so deserving. I couldn't even begin to fathom how the admins were going to decide who's entry to pick as the winner.

Well, they officially named the winner(s) today. I was the grand prize winner!!!!!!! For the past two days I knew there was a good possibility that I would win. The admins had emailed me asking IF I won (which they weren't saying I had or not), would I be willing to give the baby items back and given to others who entered the contest who needed those. I thought that was a great idea, as I had intended to donate them, but had no one in particular in mind.

I'm still shocked that I won. I have a million things to do here before heading to my neighbor's house for dinner, but I am glued to this computer. I keep checking...thinking I read it wrong, thinking maybe I am dreaming again and I'll wake up and it won't be me. (yes I have been dreaming about it over the last two nights). I'm so grateful to everyone at Momdot!

Thanks also to Kim @ The Little Black Box for posting about the giveaway on the Black Box Review blog.

Some new things

I've listed a couple new things this week, and have more that just need finishing touches to list. I'm hoping to get that done this week so I can participate in next week's SNS sale. Wait...I can't do next weeks SNS, I'm not going to be home. Ok...well maybe black friday weekend's SNS sale. That's ok...more time to get some things listed.

Per my post last week about doing more needle felted items, I'd like to introduce you to Kola!
Kola is a cute little guy who always has a friendly wave and a big toothy grin for you. I'm not sure where he is from, but I'm relatively sure he is not from this planet. Aside from being hot pink and having curly hair, he seems to bear a slight resemblance to ET. Much like the movie character he resembles, one night he went and drank too much beer. That's how he ended up with a smiley face tattoo on his right butt cheek.

Kola needs someone to look after him, to keep him from making any more rash drunken night tattoo decisions (a well thought out tattoo would be fine), and just an all around good friend!

Kola is needle felted from 100% wool. He measures about 5 inches high and 5 inches wide.

Kola is not recommended for small children as the wool could be a choking hazard (that and his penchant for beer).

Click here for more pictures of Kola (including the butt tattoo!).

Dear son:

No, I did not know there were hearts on the toilet paper.

No, that is not why I bought it. I didn't know the hearts were on there until now.

No I did not put them on there.

Really, I didn't put them on there. I did not come home and emboss the toilet paper with hearts. They were that way when I bought them.

No, I did not know there were hearts on there when I bought the toilet paper.

Yes, it has hearts on it because we love each other.

No I did not put them on there for that reason, I did not put them there at all.

No I did not buy the toilet paper with hearts on it because we love each other. I bought it because it is made from recycled paper and it was cheaper than the Seventh Generation TP.

NO I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD HEARTS ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT!!!

Please....please stop...we have the same conversation every time you use the bathroom. It has surpassed cute and amusing and is now starting to grate on my nerves.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

I love you (but that is still not the reason I bought toilet paper with hearts on it)

Mommy

Christmas of Dreams Giveaway!. A Must see!

Momdot is doing a wonderful Christmas of Dreams giveaway this month. The drawing will be on November 28th. Here is the information about this giveaway from their site:


"On November 28th, MomDot will be pulling ONE winner to win prizes from all of these amazing sponsors to help you celebrate a Christmas of Dreams at your house this year. You must have your entries in no later then the evening of Nov 26th. This is NOT the blog party, this is completely different (we have a big month!)

There are a few requirements:
1) You MUST be a blogger. I have made this requirement because this year we are celebrating the blogger. Our site is about the blogging community and this is our way of rewarding one lucky blogger with a huge win. If you are not a blogger, your entry will not be considered. Go make a free blog if you have to to enter!

2) You must post about the Christmas of Dreams on your blog and include all the sponsor links (to give back and toss linky love to all the wonderful prizes that are being generously donated), while also linking back to momdot. Just cut and paste our list to make it easy.

Additionally, we want you to pick out your top 5 favorite sponsors and let us know your favorite things on their site. This ensures that you check out all the great stuff they have to offer, we always have to give back to the sponsors! And you may find something you really like for your christmas shopping!

3) Please carry a momdot banner or link on your blogroll

Sponsors are (and subject to be adding more as the month goes on):

Dyson
BabyPop
The Shrunks
Soda Club
Kadi Prescott
Uncommonly Cute
Lollipop Book Club
Kuster
Silly Monkeez
LA Plates
Natitys Design
Little Black Box
Koshas
Kidz Sunglasses
jaC Jewelry
Appledonia
LeapFrog
Mutsy
Kushies
Huddy Buddy
Mimsi-Bags
BottleWise
Lets Go Strolling
DaBib
Sassy Baby
Baby Legs
Scentsy
FeeFiFoto
Randi100
Organic Blankees
Shi Shu Style
Georgie Tees

After that, we simply want you to answer this one question in OUR comments."

Wow...so many great sponsors. My top five items are:

Dyson - Dyson Ball
Little Black Box - woohoo...I'm always up for a Little Black Box!
jaC Jewelry - I love the "Sparkly Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver Earrings" - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11774578
Leap Frog - I think AJ would love the Tag Reading System
Organic Blankees - The couch blanket. A great looking snuggle blanket for a cold winters night!

Black Friday Bonanza!

The Little Black Box is hosting a Black Friday Bonanza from November 28 - 30th. Here is some info from their blog:

"During our special event the participants are offering sales such as 50% off or free shipping or even buy one get one! Many are having special contests and door prizes. It's going to be a blast and every single sale is a door buster type sale! Believe me when I say that you won't be able to resist this sale. "

Be sure to check it out. I know I will be. I'd rather be home drinking my coffee checking out some good sales than to be out fighting the crowds, and standing in long lines!

Jekyll and Hyde

I worked like a mad person knitting and crocheting things for my shops. I listed them and was a bit dismayed to find they don't have many views. It suddenly dawned on me that it is my needle felting that gets the views and sells. I have sold eight items between my Etsy and Shophandmade.com shops. Six of those eight were needle felted items.


Needle felting is my whimsy. Sometimes I start a project with one thing in mind, and it becomes something completely different. There are times when I just pull out some wool and start felting and see where I go. My whimsy sells better than my practical, probably because that is when I am most creative. I guess it shows.

However, many times when I start creating something, the practical tries to overpower the creative side. For example, as I was working on Joseph (that is him there to the right), I almost scrapped him because his shell didn't look like a real turtle shell, and I had set out to make a turtle. Actually I set out to make a frog, but it was soon apparent twas not a frog shape I was making. Once I finished Joseph I absolutely fell in love with him (so did someone else and he found a great home!).


Creative/Whimsical v. Practical. That is the Jekyll and Hyde in me. I'm just not sure which is Jekyll and which is Hyde.

Fantasy LBB part II

I was planning on posting more this weekend,but the time just got away from me. I'd better get moving cause once my LBB arrives the fantasy game will be over(since I got my tracking info on Saturday it should be here soon!)

Let's see..where was I? Oh yeah:

C&S Embroidery and Gifts: The custom embroidered pillow cases look great! I also love the Baby Embroidered Burps but since my son is no longer a baby I don't need them :(

Wyrding Studios: Seriously beautiful jewelry. Picking a favorite is extremely difficult....no..picking one favorite is near impossible. After looking at all the available options, I am absolutely in love with the tarot pendants! Here is just one example - Strength . The artwork, and wire wrapping are both beautiful!

Simply Sentimental: More cute stationery I would hate to give away. My pick from this shop is the Peace on Earth handmade greeting card. My holiday cards are usually the ones that say Peace on the front, and have a pic of a dove, or the earth or something to that effect.

The Soap Seduction: Mmmmmm....soap (done in my best Homer Simpson voice). Before I stared selling on Etsy I had never considered handmade soap. Now, after getting a few samples in the LBB I am a convert! While many scents sound wonderful, I still wish for smellovision (or smelloputer in this case) I really do like to smell the soaps before I commit to a whole bar, which is why I am loving this Go Soap . You can choose 6 different scents, and they are all contained in a little ice cube tray looking container. Great idea!

QueenVanna Creations: So many cute things! I think the perptual calendars are my favorite though. Very pretty designs!

Kunkel Baby: When I was looking through this shop last week this bib was the hands down winner for me: Give Peace a Chance bib. All of the items in the shop are super cute. For me anything with peace, peace symbols, etc is a clear winner!

Unfortunately, I can't get through any more of these today. I really should have started this earlier/worked on it over the weekend.