A Pumpkin Girl's Dream Come True

I have some BIG BIG BIG news! Little miss Pumpkin Girl is going to be in a book called One Yard Wonders, by the talented local duo Trish Hoskins (owner of Crafty Planet)and Rebecca Yaker (designer behind Hazel and Melvin's Room). I'm pinching myself with excitement! The concept of the book is 101 sewing projects that require a yard or less of fabric. I am not only completely humbled and honored that one of my projects was chosen for the book, but I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of the book so that I can check out all the amazing work by other crafters. I think a few crafty gals I know personally also have designs in the book, so it'll be especially fun to try out their designs!



You can become a Facebook fan of the book and get a sneak peek at some of the projects (check out the adorable little girl's skirt designed by Rebecca) or even enter a contest by the publisher to win a yard of fabric for a year! The book is due out at the end of October, just in time for all that holiday crafting we all say we're going to do and then generally don't get around to. Maybe this year will be different. I think a yard of fabric and this awesome book would make a pretty awesome gift in itself.

It's a real dream come true for me. Now, I just have to try to suspend my disbelief that my project will actually be in there!

A Picture-Perfect Day for Announcing Winners!

Ahhh. It was a fantastic Thursday despite the fact that 9 hours of it were spent in a cubicle. I did sneak out to take a walk through the farmer's market, which is conveniently just outside my office. I got some new potatoes, some dill plants and some yummy bread (which I proceeded to start in on at lunch time). I took some photos, strolled a bit, listened to music. The weather was so great here today I should have tried to play hooky! Or maybe I should have laid down next to this adorable dog and taken a little snooze...

On to the important stuff, right?? Like big prizes to award!!!! And thanks to everyone who participated in the blog freebie fun! I am super excited to announce the winners! And through this giveaway process, I have avoided having my husband kick me and my clutter out on the curb, so thank you for that. Congrats are in order to:

--Laura! You are the big winner of the stocking and vintage bracelet!
--KristenMary! You are the winner of the growth chart!
--Jen! You are the winner of a secretly stashed growth chart that wasn't even a known giveaway item!!!
--Lisa at Lil Fish Studios! You are taking home a buncha lipbalms!!!
--Pin and Paper! You are the big winner of my big stash o' cards!
--No one snatched up the baby hat, so I'm going to donate it to my favorite charity!

If you're a winner, make sure I have your email address so I can get your details and get your freebies in the mail! Yippee!

How I Became Rich and Famous: My State Fair Story

I should start this story by saying that I am not, nor do I plan to become rich and famous. But I feel about as close to a celebrity as I think I ever will. I won myself a red ribbon at the Great Minnesota Get Together, the state fair. This is my winning entry:

I entered four things and this little bugger got the ribbon. Never mind that it's not infant sleepwear and that's the category it won in. Never mind, either, that it's knee pads are sewn more in proximity of the tooshie than the knees. It's a big, fat, red ribbon winner and I'm darn proud. Not nearly as proud as I am of my friend from Hazel and Melvin's Room who won second place for Monkeys in the Meat Grinder:

...and seemingly every other award known to man on her awesome sweater:

And my friend Kristen Mary submitted only one thing, her adorable cloth "paper doll" set, and she won the BLUE RIBBON on it! She rocks, and I feel like her famousness might rub off on me by being her friend.

I'm sure I missed so much. I LOVE the crop art and this year did not disappoint. The fine arts building was full of great looking stuff. But what made my day checking out the fair the most special, was sharing it with this little guy. He ate his first Pronto Pup, enjoyed deep friend cheese curds and a real chocolate milk shake from the dairy barn. He was such a trooper!

Venuys Xine Craft Contest

Got a great craft idea that costs less than $40? Got five ideas? You can submit them all by September 18 for a chance to win the Venus Zine Craft Contest. After my MN State Fair competition results (which I should know by tomorrow!), I might be ready for some more competition!

MN State Fair Creative Activities Competition

Mr. Pumpkin and I have been soul searching for a while now about whether we'd like to move to a smaller city closer to our families. Apparently we're not alone in wanting a less urban environment; I just read an article on the so-called Dreamtowns that everyone wants to move to like Helena, Montana and saw myself all over it. But our dreamtown needs to be Midwestern and semi-close to amenities found in a bigger city, so Helena is out.

In thinking about moving away from Minnesota, I have been collecting in my mind all the things I'll miss about this place. Can I give up seeing my friends? Will I have to live without French Meadow cafe? What about the Sample Room? My house that I love? Proximity to my sister and kids? What about the Great Minnesota Get-Together, the State Fair?

Oh, the State Fair. It's my favorite summer activity, and I go multiple times per year to eat lots of food and check out the baking competition, the seed art and the bird with feathery feet. Not to mention the giant pumpkins! In a last-minute panic, I decided to prepare for a possible departure by entering some of my crafts into the Creative Activities Competition. I'm super excited! I really was hoping to enter the "Quilt on a Stick" category, but alas I do not have time to put one together in a week's time. So here's what I'm entering. Check it out when you're there, and see if I won (unlikely, but at least I'll be representin'!)!

It won't make up for all the things I'd miss if we do move, but it will at least I can say I fully lived the Minnesota life while I was here! If you want to enter, the last day to register is today (4:30 PM) and you need to drop the stuff off starting next Sunday.

Creativity 350 Craft Contest

There's not much I like better than a craft contest. I usually don't enter, but I enjoy thinking about what I would enter or judging other's entries. I'm like the Lazy Man's Contest Lover. But since you all are not lazy, I thought I'd pass along a really cool opportunity to spread the word about global warming and potentially win some really great swag from a whole host of amazing sponsors. I think there are separate contests for tee design and a regular craft dealie, but you need to incorporate "350" into the design. Contest runs July 15 - August 15. Check out the Creativity 350 web site for contest details.

You, Too Can Be a Winner

Mama photo not your gig? How about Craft Zine's Prairie-Girl Inspired Apron Contest? I'm not sure if anyone has tried this, but one of my all-time favorite aprons is the dish soap bottle apron (free pattern here). I also love looking at the Flickr photoset dedicated to vintage apron patterns like the one at the top of this post. And finally, some patterns using these great fabrics by Heather Bailey and an awesome halter-style pattern by Heather Bailey that apparently isn't available yet...?
Happy apron making! I'm off to add some new cards to my shop!

Mama Photo Contest

I love the idea of the Mama Focus Photo Contest by Mama Zine, but I have not a photographer bone in my body. I like to blame my terrible photography on my equipment, but the more likely culprit is me. I just don't have the eye. But, if you do, or if your kid is old enough to take a picture of you, you should enter this contest, or at least visit the Flickr group where the entries are posted. Boy, there are some pretty mamas and some really good photographers out there. So far my favorite is this one by Laura Kukulski.
My favorite (although not arty, not really worthy of this contest) photo of myself post-mamahood is this one. I think it really captures the moment when Grant's feet hit the cold water at the kiddie pool, and I thought, "uh oh, maybe not such a fun idea!"

I think my sister should enter this one, which I assume was taken by one of her kidlets!