P.A.W.S. Is The Cause...

I interrupt my playtime to write a potht for Mom today.
Hang on a thec. Gotta thpit out thith Kong toy firtht...

There. That's better!
Mom's busy shipping out the giveaway gifts and
finishing the quilt she's making for me the master
bedroom - you know, where Mom and Dad (and I) sleep at night.

I really enjoyed sneaking onto her laptop last time, so when she said
how busy she was, I jumped at the chance to write this post for her.

I want to tell you about a friend of Mom's.
Her name is Nancy Huggins and she has a
blog - Inside Nana's Head
and
Boutique - Huggins Haven

Nancy and her husband open their hearts and homes to dogs
and cats, and go the extra mile when their animals need extra care.
Recently, they needed an expensive course of treatment for
heartworm for their lab mix, Maggie. (She's doing much better now.)
Nancy had a special sale in her shop to raise the funds needed for
Maggie's care. Whatever it takes.

Nancy is having weekly sales in her shop and the "cause" is two-fold.
After one year in Alabama, she, her husband, four dogs and two cats
are going to move back to the state they know and love - Illinois.

They are raising money to fund the move, but the needs of
un-homed dogs and cats are never far from their mind.

Not only are her items marked down to sell, but
for every sale in Nancy's shop, she'll donate 10% to
PAWS - Pets Are Worth Saving

Please visit Huggin's Haven
to check out her items. Perhaps you'll see something
you'd like to have for yourself, or give as a gift.
Nancy will also accept cash donations which she will
forward to P.A.W.S. Mom found a great pincushion, and
added a little extra to her purchase to go for "the cause".
(EDIT: Please read the "comments" for info on how to contact Nancy.)

Don't forget those pets less fortunate than the lucky pets in Blogland.

Click on the Animal Rescue Site button
on our Brynwood's sidebar to give free food to rescue pets.
Doesn't cost a thing. Really! You can click on it all day, every day.
A click a day keeps the hungries away.
Geez Louise! I think I hear Mom coming.
Gotta run!
Until next time...
(Mom will be back tomorrow!)

Generous Giveaways Abound In Blogland...

Thank you to all my wonderful friends for all the sweet comments you left yesterday...both about my giveaway gifts, your opportunity to ask for an ATC from me, and your gracious congratulations to the winners.

Today, I'd like to remind you that there are many, many generous bloggers offering gifts for their friends and followers. I try to post the giveaways I learn about on a separate page on my blog for you so that we can all enter and support other bloggers. You can find the link at the top of my blog menu as "Current Blog Giveaways". (Catchy, don't you think?) I also list their deadline dates, so you don't miss your chance to participate. *Note: They are not necessarily in order according to their deadlines here, but they are on my giveaway page. In all cases, click on their name and blog title to link to their giveaways.

I want to highlight a few for you...

Anne at Fiona & Twig
is having a generous drawing to win a $90 gift certificate
from CSN Online Stores! Hurry! Her drawing closes July 16th!

Kelly at A Stuffed Life
is sponsoring a sweet little Once In A Blue Moon giveaway.
You'll have until July 18th to enter.
Click on her link to find out how you can enter.

Abigail at Bird on a Wire
is offering this beautiful, felted barn owl as the prize in her current giveaway.
Isn't this just the sweetest little thing?
Wouldn't it look lovely in my studio?
She'll accept entries until July 25th.
Don't hurry, though. I really would like to win this myself!
(I know....Shame on me! lol)
If you can't wait to win something from Abigail,
she has a wonderful Etsy shop, too! Click Here to shop.

Marydon at Feedsack Fantasy/Blushing Rose
is having a fabulous de-stash giveaway. It's awesome!
She'll be drawing the name of one lucky winner
on July 18th. Click on the link to enter.

Lynn at Her Creative Spirit
is celebrating her birthday with a special
birds' nest pendant giveaway.
She'll draw her winner on July 19th.
Even if you don't enter giveaways,
please visit to wish her a Happy Birthday!

Melaine at My Sweet Savannah
is having a lovely, scent-filled giveaway.
She'll be choosing a lucky winner on July 19th!

Jennifer at Sanctuary Arts
is having a giveaway for Rub n' Buff antiquing finish.
I've used it and it's really cool stuff! You DO want some.
She'll draw the winners on July 19th.

Paula at Castle and Cottage Signs
is offering a $60 CSN gift certificate
in her current giveaway!
Her drawing will be held on Monday, July 19th.

Sissie at Sissie's Shabby Cottage
is also offering a $60 CSN gift certificate!
Her winner will be announced on July 29th.

Vicki at Two Bags Full
is offering a Pottery Barn tea set in her giveaway to
celebrate Maddy's tea party birthday.
Maddy will draw the winner's name on July 29th...Vicki's birthday!

Well, these ought to keep you busy for a while! Be sure to check my "Current Blog Giveaways" page at the top of my menu bar whenever you visit. I don't always do a separate post for the giveaways, but I'll always list them up on that page. I wouldn't want all my friends here to miss out on the chance to win any of the wonderful things other share in Blogland!

Oh, one more thing. I got my usual "What's New" email from an online company called "Got Yarn" (I've purchased from them before), and guess what was on their main page? (Click here or here to see "What's New"! You'll need to scroll down to the fifth item on the first link...See it? That's my design!!!) I have to admit, I was pretty excited. Thanks for sharing a little giggle with me.

400th Follower (Friend) Giveaway Winners...

Today is the big day!

Thank you to everyone who regularly follows and reads my blog,
and thank you to all the new friends who have decided to get to
know me better. I spent the day yesterday creating all the gifts
for my 400th Follower Celebration. Goodness, I hope they're
"swoony" enough for you. You're all so "swoon-worthy"!
But, if your name doesn't get chosen, don't dismay.
I have something else up my sleeve, if you're interested.
More on that later...

What I'd like to do first is show you the four gifts I've
made for the lucky followers this time. First name chosen will
have first choice. Second will have second choice and third
will get to choose after that. I really hope that "Fourth"
doesn't feel like they got "leftovers", and is equally happy
with the final gift being given in the celebration.

Kes and Handsome came into the studio more than once
yesterday just to ask me what the heck "swoony" meant. I'd
just pick up the project I was working on and say, "I think
this is swoony." They'd smile (well, mostly Handsome did that)
and then they would turn around and walk out.

I made this necklace, featuring the celebration image, one of my new acorn charms and sparkly beads on a silver chain. There is resin covering the image, so it will be protected, although not waterproof. Is this swoony?
Then, I made a table runner. This is the last project I finished - after dark - so the color looks different from the next pieces, but they were all created from the same fabric, so it's just the studio lights that caused the image to color shift. I played a bit in Photoshop, but it's still not as accurate in color as the next images. I placed a pocket, embellished with the same image and then added handmade, vintage crocheted lace. The ruffle is unbleached muslin, and there is futher vintage crocheted trim on the top of the ruffle. The winner may choose to have me add a little color to this (I'll explain later), or leave it creamy, as it appears here. Is this swoony?
Using the same vintage, hand crocheted lace, I created a set of three, lavender-filled sachets for one of the winners of the giveaway. Not too big, but not small either.
They'll arrive stacked and tied with a muslin ribbon, which I hand stamped with my acorn logo stamp. Are these swoony?
Finally, one of the winners will receive this lined tote. Also made in canvas with a heavy cotton toile lining. Oh! Did I tell you that each of these gifts was cut and sewn together using one painter's canvas drop cloth from Home Depot? I even have enough fabric left over for a few more ideas. Anyway, the tote is a perfect size for a quick trip to the grocery, or can be used as an open handbag.
Here's a closeup of "The Girls", along with the vintage buttons, laces and trims I used to make it more special. I placed a muslin ruffle on the top edge of the front pocket.
There are more pockets (made from blue toile) on the inside, so the winner will have a place to tuck their cell phone, notepad and pen away for safekeeping. So, do you think this is swoony?

Here are the winners of Brynwood's
400th Follower Celebration Giveaway:

• First Choice goes to: # 76 Meri Wiley of Imagimeri's Creations (UPDATE 7/15/10 - Meri has chosen the tote. Next...)
  
• Second Choice will go to: #37 Marva of Purple Paint (UPDATE 7/15/10 - Marva has chosen the necklace. Your turn, Tracy!)
  
• Third Choice will be selected by: #150 Tracy Suzanne of Cotton Pickin' Cute UPDATE 7/15/10 - Tracy has chosen the sachets)
  
• The winner of the final gift is: #61 Ramona of Create With Joy (UPDATE 7/15/10 - Ramona will receive the table runner.)
  

Congratulations to all the winners!!

I'll be emailing these friends to let them know they've won. If you've won, I'll let you know when a choice has been made so you know which gifts you can choose from. If the winners of the sachets or table runner would like me to add colored ribbon to their prize (like I did on the tote) please let me know when you make your choice. I can add pink or blue trim if you'd like.

Now, here's the little surprise...

If you were entered in this drawing, I'd like to send you one of my Artist Trading Cards using the ballerina celebration image. If you'd like one, please email your address to me and I'll send one out to you early next week. (If you'd like to know if I already have your name and address, just email me to ask.) If you're not sure if I have your name and address, please just email the information to me. I'm going to make these ATCs after I find out how many of you would like one. You'll only have until Friday at 5 pm to let me know if you'd like one, along with your address. Just my way of saying "thank you" for being a friend.