Things I Love Thursday: PRESENTS! (and Giveaways)

I have a lot to be grateful for.  The end of each year always causes some retrospect, doesn't it?  I did a lot of travelling to teach, met so many wonderful people, received an art grant, curated a gallery show, joined Handmade House, was juried into Dimensions once again, and was published 5 times in three different countries.  Isn't that unreal!?  I'm booked in to 2018, and feel like I have so much on the horizon.  I am so very grateful for all the support.  I'm proud to be supporting my family financially as well by doing something I love - something so personally rewarding and something completely addicting at that! : )  I'm grateful, though I am so very busy around the clock, to be working from home.  It's a big juggle to have a full house and a full time career, but I do love the challenge of working on demand for whomever needs me at the moment.

I could go on and on.. but thank you for listening!  : )  And with gratitude comes the desire to give.  And so, a giveaway it is!  Awe heck, how about three?  Here are the draw prizes.

#1
A signed back issue of Quilter's Connection.  Inside is my article on Postcards.  With it comes a postcard kit.  IF the chosen winner does not sew, the kit can be substituted for a blank art print card with envelope.

#2
A signed back issue of Stitch from the UK.  Inside is my article on Threadpainting.  With it comes an art print card of mine, blank inside with envelope.

#3
A signed issue of the current Noro knitting magazine.  Inside is my interview about stitching with Noro yarns.  With it will come some yarn samples in small skeins.  If you are not a fibre artist, you can request an art print card to accompany the magazine instead.

did I say 3?  Nah.  Let's go with 4.

#4
A signed copy of Machine Quilting Unlimited.  Inside is my article on Threadpainting.  With is comes an art print card of mine, black inside with envelope.

Wait - five.

#5

A 'Wish You Were Here' Prairie Postcard that I made.  Signed and numbered on back.  : )
I won't show you an image of what I select to send.  It will be a surprise.

There ya go!

Here's what you need to do to enter:

- Leave a comment here, ensuring you don't sign in as 'anonymous' or I'll never be able to find you.

- Tell me about what makes you feel good to give, whether it's a fond memory or an annual charity you support, how you helped out a friend or was kind to a stranger.  It's not meant to boast, it's meant to spread some stories of warmth and love in a pretty tough world full of tragic news.  Let's inspire each other.  Please do enjoy reading all the stories!  Be inspired.

*** The best story is not necessarily the winner.***  

We'll will pick five random names by Friday midnight.  I'll contact you all the following day and mail everything out Monday morning.  Hopefully you'll get things in time to put under the tree.  ; )

I'll go first.  My story?  If I have coins in my pockets, I can't walk past buskers or anyone on the street asking for change.  I make a point of saying hello, visiting or listening to a song, and emptying my pockets... and always when my children are with me.  They will dig up dimes and nickels from the van to give.  I think it's important to teach them to be kind humans.  I show them how easy it is to do, and that everyone deserves a smile and some friendship.  Everybody matters.

Last week, without my kids in tow, I was in a rush to an evening meeting.  I LIED to a young man I passed on the street and I said, 'no. sorry, I have no change'.  I was rushing, and I lied.  I felt SO shameful about it.  After the meeting, thank goodness he and I happened to crossed paths again!  Serendipity.  I was so relieved - I went straight up to him and told him I lied to him.  I told him I was sorry for rushing past, and I gave him my change.  I told him I was so thankful that we met up again.

That'll teach me.  I've never been a good liar.

So, you know, little or big - even little things are big to someone, right?  Tell me something happy, and good luck!  ENTER AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE, but include a happy story.  xo

A Guessing Game Giveaway!

Here we go!  

It's been a while since I've had a giveaway.  Remember back in the spring, Brandie Lynn Maslowski did an interview with me on Quilt Talk Radio?  I was all about Fibre Art Postcards.  She later organized a Canada Day swap with a Maple Leaf theme.  Since then, Brandy Lynn caught the bug big time and has organized more postcard swaps via her site!  : )  At the end of the summer, we submitted information to Quilter's Connection magazine.  Hers was an article about hosting a swap and the love of postcards.  Mine was project instructions for making and sending postcards.

It's here!  Hot off the press.

cover art by Pippa Moore

This entire Canadian quilting magazine issue is devoted to art / artfulness.  Here is a peek at Brandy Lynn's.  5 pages and lots of samples!

I was really surprised to see 5 more beautiful pages they printed for me as well!  Being in between studios, time was tight and resources were scarce.  I could not provide samples of my own.  So I asked the makers of a handful of my favourite postcards if I could send those in to be photographed. I have received these through online swaps.

I'm so glad I did!  So, congratulations (and thank you!!) to Sheila Munro in NS (5 images), Vicky Baker in AB (1 image), Cheryl Coville in ON (1 image), Judy McCrosky in SK (3 images), and Mary Anne Kingston in ON (2 images) for contributing to have your wonderful postcards make it into the pages of the magazine.  And it looks like all your names are in there too, spelled right.

Quilter's Connection Magazine - Winter 2014/2015   Pages 18-22

To celebrate - a give away!!  I have 2 prizes each of a 1 year DIGITAL subscription to this magazine, courtesy of Quilter's Connection.  I know not everyone prefers the digital version, but if you are like me, you have piles of magazines and still manage to spend most of your time on the computer. ; )  It's not so bad, and it's free!  All you need to do is say hello in the comments and give me a number.  The two closest guesses to how many postcards I have received from around the world will win the subscriptions.  ONE GUESS per entry.  Enter as often as you want.  (HAHA this should be fun!!)

You have until the end of this week to guess.  I'll announce the winner on Saturday, December 6th, 2014.  Good luck!  I guess I had better get counting...

My First Blog Giveaway!

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Every blogger does it.  

It isn't very hard.

So now it's my turn.  

How about a post card?  

 

I might mail you something pretty 

in time for Halloween.

Just answer me this question

of what the moon means.

I'll do a random draw.

Please post your thoughts below:

'a memory of the moon'

  for everyone to know.

*   *   *   Monika  *    *    *

~ over the moon in Saskatoon ~

)

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