Thanks for all the nice birthday wishes yesterday, everyone. It was a good day.
(Scroll to the bottom for today's giveaway.)
Let's see....Lots to tell you.....
Here is a hint as to what my birthday present was....Yes! Papa Pea and Sweet Pea gave me a new DSLR camera. I'm very excited but now have to learn how to use it (other than keeping it in Program--or fully automatic--mode)! I wanted to make a cute camera strap for it. I really loved Amanda Jean's at our quilt retreat. It's very cute. I was scared to cut apart my new strap for now, however. And I might change my mind as to the fabric I want for it. I may make one like Amanda Jean's at some point, but for now, I decided to follow a tutorial I found here for making a sleeve to fit over my strap. I adapted it a little, however, to look more like Amanda Jean's...I had a more patchwork look to mine rather than just a solid piece of fabric.
I made sure to press all my seams in one direction so that when I slid the strap into it, I could slide it the same way as the seams were going. That way, it wouldn't get caught on anything. I used fabrics left over from the baby quilt I had made a while back. I still really like them and have a lot of scraps from that quilt.
And here is my newly covered strap. Although I love the fabrics, I think this is just okay. It will do for now. I'll do something I'm more happy with later.
I am loving my new camera. All the photos in this post were taken with my new camera. I really enjoy working with it. (BTW, the photos of the Home Sweet Michigan Home quilt a few days ago were taken with the new camera. I thought it did a great job with deep, rich color.)
Look what my sister sent me for my birthday! I was telling her how some people I know have personal business cards for their blogs, etc. I told her I wished I had sone to send to people when I mailed them a block or a prize from a giveaway, etc. And look what she designed for me and sent to me! They are on glossy cardstock and are color on both sides. In the front here, you see one side of the card. The other card behind it shows the other side. It has my address, phone number, e-mail, etc., on it. (I covered that up for privacy in this photo.) Aren't they cool?! I love what she's done. She does internet marketing for a business, so if any of you need anything like this, I can hook you up with her. I'm just really happy with what she did! Thank you so much, Kristin!!! I am so excited to have these. What a nice surprise that was!
I wanted to spend some time working on my glamp yesterday for Amanda Herring's Summer Camp. Here are some of the supplies I am going to be working with. See that crystal there?
It came out of this shipment. I ordered a bunch of vintage chandelier crystals (some match, some don't) from an etsy shop called Frozen Silencex. Jai, the owner was great to work with. When I couldn't get the coupon to work, Jai tried to help me. I still couldn't get it to work, and Jai sent me a refund in the amount the coupon was worth. Very nice! My package came wrapped so cute, in a handmade, blue paper box, and then in these little bags. It was wrapped in iridescent tissue paper, and had confetti made from book pages inside. There was also a handmade and hand written thank you card, as well as a good coupon for another purchase (like 25% off!). And my package arrived like 3 days after I ordered it. I think I ordered on a Friday and it was here on Monday! Great service. I'll definitely keep shopping with Jai. (Incidentally, I feel like I get SUCH good service with on-line shops...far better than so many bricks and mortar stores these days. I NEVER would have guessed that 10 years ago, when on-line shopping was in its infancy. It's really quite amazing. Have you noticed that, too?)
Sweet Pea had so much fun unwrapping every little crystal (each of which was wrapped in its own tissue paper). She oohed and ahhhed over them. She then helped arrange them, along with some beads, in a fashion that she liked. Here is a sneak peek at what we did with them. I am loving how it's turning out! So is Sweet Pea. She thinks it's pretty special I would do this for her. (She saw a chandelier lately and told us she wanted a chandelier in her bedroom. Her dad said, "no," so we're coming up with our own alternative.) This was a very fun way to spend my birthday...playing with her and these crystals.
I'm using this lamp on etsy as a little bit of my inspiration, but I'm doing something quite different from it.
I told you I had a frustrating day in the sewing room yesterday. I was making the glamp, and Amanda's pattern is great and very clear. I decided to adapt some things, which didn't work out well for me. I should know better not to make adaptations to a pattern before I've made it the "right" way first. I screw up every time I do that. So, I'm going to remake it, and it will be better this time! I can't wait to show you the reveal.
Okay, how about another giveaway???!!!
(See, look how sharp this photo is. Loving that camera!) Today's giveaway is for this fat quarter bundle of fabric. There are 15 different fabrics in there. Some are more than a fat quarter, I think. This is a fabric kit for a small quilt called Tumbleweed, by Renée Plains. You can see the pattern here. I only have one copy of the pattern, however, and I'd really like to keep it. So, if you want to make that specific quilt, you can grab yourself a copy of the pattern. All the fabrics for the top are in this pack of fabrics, and there is a little piece of paper at the back that tells you what fabrics to use for what part of the quilt (if you do Tumbleweed). Or, you can break it apart and use it for something completely different if you'd like. It's a very pretty fabric kit. Again, they are quilt shop quality fabrics. (I bought them at a little quilt shop in Rochester, MN, that I believe is out of business now, sadly. I liked that shop a lot.) I almost couldn't part with this bundle. But, I am really enjoying the process of the giveaways, so I'm gifting it to someone out there. If you are interested in winning this, please just leave a comment below. I'll draw for it sometime tomorrow. Good luck!
(I just saw that the source I linked to is sold out of the pattern. But here is another resource, and as of this writing it's on sale for only $4!)
Until next time,
Mama Pea
P.S. My birthday giveaway is still going on until sometime tonight, too. So, if you didn't get in on that action and you want to, see yesterday's post about that!
Love the pattern and the fabrics. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity and the link to the pattern.
Posted by: Cathy | August 04, 2011 at 01:38 PM
How wonderful! Thanks for the chance!
Posted by: Anya | August 04, 2011 at 01:39 PM
Love those soothing fabrics. Thanks!
Posted by: Luci Dutton | August 04, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Your sister did an amazing job on your business cards-they are super cute! Seeing all of the sneak peaks of your glamp makes me anxious to see the finished product! That bundle of fabric for today's giveaway would go perfect with one of my partially started projects I have at home ;) Once again thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Samantha K. | August 04, 2011 at 01:50 PM
Those cards are so cute/nice! She did a really good job. And that's a great idea to inclose a card too when sending items. Your pictures really do look much better. I love the fabrics and would love to win them. (I think, because so many projects, only so many hours! LOL!!!)
Posted by: Linda in Calif. | August 04, 2011 at 02:23 PM
Some day I'll have a decent camera! What a great birthday gift for you. Can't wait to see your finished GLAMP - I'm sure it will turn out perfect.
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | August 04, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Happy Belated Birthday! Enjoy your new camera. Your business cards and logo are fantastic!
Posted by: Jennifer Edgar | August 04, 2011 at 02:32 PM
Love the fabric!!
Posted by: Sarah | August 04, 2011 at 02:43 PM
DSLR cameras are awesome. I love mine (Nikon d40 with a superfun lens). I am sure you will be clicking away!
Posted by: Natasha | August 04, 2011 at 02:48 PM
I have a Sony dslr, it uses my antique minolta lenses. Love the giveaway, thanks,
maggie
Posted by: maggie fellow | August 04, 2011 at 02:55 PM
Lovely fabric! Thanks so much for the give away!
Posted by: Martina | August 04, 2011 at 03:17 PM
I'm glad to read you got some nice presents for your birthday, it's always fun to get them, you're so lucky you got a new shining camera, my camera's broken right now, and I can't shoot any pic (it's one of my passions), love the fabrics you're giving away, some of my fave colors!!!!
Posted by: arlette | August 04, 2011 at 03:34 PM
What an awesome birthday gift, indeed!!! That is on my wishlist to get!! Enjoy!!!
Posted by: Linda | August 04, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Happy Day After Birthday! What a great gift - I recently got a new camera too and it's so nice being able to take clear, sharp pictures! Your business cards are adorable! Can't wait to see what you and Sweet Pea are up to with the crystals. . .
Posted by: Deb | August 04, 2011 at 04:18 PM
You had a very good b'day it looks like! I got a new camera about a month ago and I love it ... have to make me a camera strap too.
Those crystals are great and Sweet Pea arranged them so beautifully :) I can't wait to see you glamp.
And your cards are fantastic!!! Your sister is very creative ... love them!
Love the fabric ... looks like some purple!
Hugs,
Donna
Posted by: Donna | August 04, 2011 at 04:34 PM
THe fabrics are so rich looking. I am becoming a 'liker' of purple lately. It use to be at the bottom of my color scale, but lately....it speaks to me!
Posted by: Shelley C | August 04, 2011 at 04:53 PM
Thank you for posting about the strap cover - I have a new gps unit for geocaching and it came with a very ugly strap :) Also thank you for the giveaway! Happy Birthday + 1!
Posted by: Elisa | August 04, 2011 at 05:00 PM
HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS SWELL!
JUST LOVELY FABRICS!
THANKS SO FOR SHARING!
HAPPY SUMMER!
Posted by: Linda | August 04, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Happy Birthday. Your business cards are wonderful. What a talented sister you have. Great gift.
I would love a chance to win the fat quarters. Thanks, Selina
Posted by: selina | August 04, 2011 at 06:29 PM
AWESOME birthday present!!! Good job on your strap, I need to make one too. Your pictures look great! I love the business cards, and the crystals, can't wait to see that done. Another lovely giveaway, sweetie!
Posted by: Allie | August 04, 2011 at 06:46 PM
Happy birthday and hope you had spent a nice day.That fabrics are wonderful and thanks for the chance to win.
Posted by: rosa | August 04, 2011 at 08:04 PM
The camera and the cards were great gifts! Happy Birthday again! I've been dying to work with these subtle colors - thanks for the great chance to win some.
Posted by: Stacey | August 04, 2011 at 08:20 PM
I love the cards your sister made...aren't sisters wonderful??!!?? Sounds like you are having a great birthday week!!
Posted by: Michelle Mullinax | August 04, 2011 at 08:37 PM
I love the business cards, so cute! Adorable.
Posted by: Jackie | August 04, 2011 at 08:41 PM
This fabric looks yummy. Yes, I do have hand work to work on in the camper,(can't live in the house at the moment)but I haven't had the time or energy to work on anything much. Are you on FB? I've been posting some pics.
Posted by: Patti J. | August 04, 2011 at 09:57 PM