Ooh...I Want to Win This Quilt!

So far I've mentioned the following on this blog:

1. I *heart* Sandi Henderson fabrics.
2. I *heart* pretty quilts.
3. I *heart* signing up for contests.

So what better way to combine all three then a contest where I can win a pretty quilt made with Sandi Henderson fabrics? Can't come up with anything, now can you?

Here's the lowdown. Old Red Barn Co. is giving away a quilt. All you have to do is leave a comment on her blog. However, if I blog about her contest (i.e., what I'm doing at this very moment), I get 5 extra entries. Sweet! Further more, if I put a handy dandy little ad do-dad on my site, I get another 5 entries. Sweeter! I could get 50 more entries if I put a video together about why I'm deserving of such a beautiful quilt, however, I don't think I'm up for that much of a challenge. Although, I'm still entertaining the idea!

For now, enjoy they beautiful quilt pictures. "You will be mine. Oh yes, you will be mine."

Inspiration from Two Fabric Designers

I talked about Sandi Henderson and her Portabellopixie site a few weeks ago. I'm now a pretty regular visitor to her blog...and how can I not be when the pictures she posts are so amazing. One picture she posted after her travels to Oregon has really been on my mind a lot. I was again reminded of this picture when I was on a site of another new (to me, that is) fabric designer, Anna Maria Horner. Anna Maria has a new collection coming out called Garden Party. Two of the patterns when put together was like a fabric interpretation of the Sandi Henderson photo. It inspired me to pull everything together.
Here are more pictures of the Garden Party collection:

Take Me Home, I'm Yours!

If you're ever in Australia and come across a bagged toy hanging around in a random place, take it home! It's part of The Toy Society. Here's what their site has to say:

"The Toy Society" is a small project spreading the love throughout the streets. Nothing to it really just a bunch of handmade toys made by The Toy Society looking for a nice home. Should you come across a member of The Toy Society on your travels collect them up and take them home with you! But don't forget to let us know about it here."

I thought this was a really sweet idea...and I wish one existed here in Madison. Hmm...maybe the girls and I could start a franchise. =)

Check out some of the toys:

You Can Make Sticky Notes Books

GreetingArts has a fun and simple tutorial on how to make Sticky Notes Books. The instructions seem simple enough. and they'd make great little gifts, or just a fun way to dress up your desk.

Theater Chair Envy

Ooh...look at these cool theater seats that we reupholstered. I really like them! Hmm...maybe I need to keep an eye out now for my own set of theater seats. Such a great idea--and it came from KnitSonya.

SOX contest!

(Sorry, big brother, we're not talking White Sox here.)

As you've seen from past posts, I'm big on contests. I may not enter them all, but they're always great for inspiration and for getting the creative juices flowing. I just came across a new contest that I think is going to be very fun and force me to try something new--knitting socks! The Think Outside the Sox Contest started in February and ends January 1, 2009. There are a number of different categories to enter (go here for all the info)--everything from lacy baby socks to most avant-garde adult socks. The goal is to design and knit a pair of socks that think outside the box (or sox). There are over $20,000 in winnings available, with top prize being $6,000. Winning entries will also be featured in Knitter's Magazine and a new sock book from XRX Books.

I've never knitted socks before, although I did knit our Christmas stockings last year (I think I'll show those closer to the holidays since they are buried hip-deep in our over-packed storage space at the moment), which is kind of similar. Before I create my entry for this contest, I think I better give knitting some sock patterns a try first to see if I even like it. Below are a few I'm considering. I'll show my progress as I go (but it might be a few weeks before I start.)

I Need a Crystal Ball for This Baby Sweater

(Mandy C. avert your eyes)

I just finished making a new baby sweater which was intended for my friend and co-worker Mandy C. She helped me with my quilt in exchange for a baby sweater. She doesn't know if she's having a boy or a girl, and asked for something in natural colors. So I found a yarn that incorporated different colors and makes cool patterns as you knit. It was fun to see how it all turned out, but the O.C.D. in me is still thinking I should've tried to make the front stripe the same way on both sides. Oh well, I still dig it.

Here's my dilemma: I quite adore this itty bitty sweater, but I keep thinking it feels too boy-ish vs. gender neutral. I think a baby girl can pull off green, browns and grays more than a baby boy can pull off pale yellow and lavender, which is why I picked this yarn (plus, she asked for natural colors). And a few people I've asked said it's fine. But the more I look at it, the less I'm sure. I've started a second baby sweater with the same yarn but a different pattern--one that feels a tad less masculine. AHH...I don't know. I know I'm over thinking it. I guess I'll see how the other sweater I'm knitting turns out. If it I like it better then I'll sell this one on Etsy.

Oh, and the pattern is Debbie Bliss's Ribbed Baby Jacket (available here).

Sweater front

Sweater back.

I think this sweater is not as cute pictured sans baby, so I wanted to show some pictures of what other people knit and put on their babies. Too cute!