Potpourri Post (And A Winner)...

Today's post is a little of everything.

Hence, "potpourri". (Clever, right?)

I want to start by sharing my latest project. I'm making another mug mat (surprised?), and these are some of the components. I've had so many things to share lately, that I hadn't shown anything sewn, stitched or crafted in a while. I didn't want you to think I was slacking off. Heaven's, no! I'll post this to my Mug Mats Flickr album when it's finished (not to be confused with the Mug Mat Swap album for all of the participants to post to).
I received my January artist trading card from Sandi McLean of Fun With Scrapbookin' (Maximum Embellishment). The theme was "White and Snow". Sandi captured it perfectly!
My photographs don't capture the magical finish she put on this card. First, the image is entrancing. I love the faces of these children. After she secured the image and the words "Winter Sky" to the card, she put a sparkly pebble finish over everything. It's just like ice! I'm not positive, but if memory serves me right, I think this is an embossing technique. Sandi, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

This card is gift from yet another talented ATC artist. I really love being a part of the Blissfull Swap group. These talented women really make the most beautiful creations to share with each other and me. Their interpretations of each theme are varied and all wonderful. I'm looking forward to continuing to participate with them. I want to let you know that if you're interested in joining the swap group, you can email Wendi through the Blissful blog (click here) to join.

Please say a prayer for our friend, Debbie of Mosaic Magpie. Her husband is in the hospital and extremely ill. I know she'll appreciate you having her and her husband in your thoughts. Thank you.
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to my first Memory Lane Mondays party. I'll be continuing each month in 2011, and hope that more of you will be moved to contribute your stories. I'm also going to continue to have a drawing for contributors every month.

Start thinking now about a story from your past that you just have to share with your readers. Once you start thinking about it, there will be one that just continues to push to the front waiting to be written. Then, I hope you'll share it with the rest of us.

I had a drawing for the school book, "Five In The Family", choosing the winner from January's contributors. The winner is:

Donna
of
Conghaile Cottage

You can click here to read her contribution - and visit her blog. Her blog header makes me even want to consider living in snow again (ok, maybe I need to go lie down for a while until that urge goes away!) Congratulations, Donna! **Please email your address to me so I can send your book off to you.**