Giveaway!

Check it out over on The Virtual Goody Plate!

The Earring Gods Have Spoken

Sheesh, this earring giveaway was more fun than I even thought. I mean, simple, yes, but super fun. I printed off everyone's name and choices, then folded the papers and had Ed choose eight. Then we laid them all out and placed a pair of earrings on each name so that each person got one of her top three. I'm so glad everyone liked different ones. And now here I am posting the winners.

FYI, I've been bead shopping this week so watch this space for another giveaway in the next month or so. Just too much fun.

See below for winners. No promises when these will go out, but eventually. Take note if I need your address.

Drumroll, please.....

MAREN

KAT

REBECCA (need your address)

RACHEL (need your address again)

SHANDA

MAGGIE (need your address)

JEN A.

JEN C.

Congratulations!!!

Earring Giveaway Extravaganza

Enough with these one-pair-at-a-time giveaways! I got together with my jewelry friends last week and busted out EIGHT pairs for your winning pleasure. Here's what you do:

1. Scroll down and look at all the earrings. That's right, I named them.

2. Place a comment listing your top three favorites in order. Make sure your name links to someway to contact you or that I know how to reach you if you win.

3. On Monday, March 23 I'll pull names from a hat and start figuring out winners. Good luck to all!

Boulder
Midnight Rendezvous

Clearwater

Woodwind

Peony

Citron

Ladies Night

Summering

Thank You, Jump Up and Down!

In January I won an adorable handmade dress from the eclectically talented Jessi at Jump up and Down. I don't know her personally but I occasionally check in on her fun finds, cooks, crafts, makes and ideas, and it's always great to happen upon her giveaways.

In this particular case it was a dress just perfect for Hazel this spring. It arrived one afternoon while Ginger was sleeping, and since we could therefore avoid the political repercussions of opening a package that only contained something for Hazel, we immediately opened it, tried it on, and went on the back porch for a fashion show:
Hazel danced around admiring herself in the glass door and exclaimed that she looked like a beautiful Princess Queen, and no one could argue it. Thank you SOOOOO MUCH, Jessi! It's wonderful and so are you!

And with Easter coming up, check out some of Jessi's ideas. What a wonderfully fun time of year!

Congratulations "Cluster G!"

Good old Genevieve of the black cluster earrings and of the phone call last night to ask how my haircut turned out has won the blue & orange earrings and will receive them next time I see her. Don't give up, folks. I am often making new earrings, and with 6 to 9 people entering each giveaway your chances are really pretty good.

Tiff - you are married to Isaac's brother, yes? Glad to have you here - thanks for the note!

Earring Giveaway

The other day a couple of friends and I - and our NINE kids - descended upon the bead rows at Michael's and then went to one house for a jewelry-making extravaganza. Pliers were flying, as were teeny tiny choke-able sized beads (sorry, Shanna.) It's actually a great activity to do with other people because to each her own. S wanted earrings and a bracelet. J wanted an excuse to break out the big Costco beading kit she bought her daughter, and figure out what was in there. G wanted to make black cluster earrings just like the white ones she was wearing, and they turned out amazing. Me? I just wanted to do something easy with my hands.

Like make a new pair of earrings for a giveaway.
Comment here with a compliment - it can be about anything really, doesn't have to be about the earrings - and you are in the running for this oh-so-stunning pair. Giveaway closes Wednesday, February 11 at 6pm EST.

Congratulations Heidi!

The results are in. Heidi Lott Paige, aka LDSMommy, won the red and orange earrings. We visited my sister Maren & family this weekend in Vermont and my nephew Peter helped in this highly scientific process. It was only fitting he wore red and orange for the occasion.


Luckily we salvaged enough of the paper to make out Heidi's name.

Heidi - email me or message me on Facebook your address so I can send them. Then I want to see pictures of you wearing them!

Earring Tutorial and Giveaway

Years ago one of my college roommates, of whom I do not otherwise have any fond memories, gave me a pair of earrings for Christmas...that she had made herself. They were simple, with a couple of brown glass beads on each, but I loved them and was totally impressed. She assured me they were easy to make but I didn't want to spend that much time with her so I never learned.

Fast forward 10 years to living the good life in Boulder, Colorado. I got Kat to take a $15 jewelry class at Michael's with me, and was that ever money-and-an-hour well spent. I bought my tools, loaded up on beads and wire, and for the next few years spent my free time making necklaces, bracelets and earrings for myself, friends and family - gifts, shower favors, or "just because." When we moved to New York the beading supplies got boxed up and I only pulled them out a few times - it was almost impossible to find a childless window in which to get them out, spread them out, make something, clean up and pack up. Just before leaving NY I did a little jewelry workshop with some ladies from church, to help clean out my supplies, and you may remember an earring giveaway my friend Lindsay did with the pairs she made.

Well ever since then I've been meaning to do a little blog tutorial here on how to make a pair of earrings. It's a remarkably useful skill to have. The equipment is cheap and small, and most women have pierced ears so it's handy to whip them up for people anytime. And a pair of handmade earrings is so impressive! So here you go.

How to Make Earrings

Qualifier: It is way easier to just show someone than to explain in writing and pictures. Most steps are two-handed but Ed was at work so I had to take the pictures with one hand. Luckily my entire readership is of above-average intelligence so you can mostly figure it out if you follow along.

Tools:

Wire cutters, Round-nose pliers, Needle-nose or Chain-nose pliers

Supplies:

2 head pins
2 ear hooks/wires
Beads*

*Make sure the bead holes are big enough to fit on the pin but not so big they slip off the head. You may need a small bead to go on the pin before a large one. Don’t pick very heavy beads.

1. String the beads on a head pin the way you want them. This is the hardest part! Seriously, you wouldn't think lining up 2 to 5 beads on a pin would be tough but what you think will look good doesn't always, and vice versa. Design matters!

2. Using needle-nose pliers bend the pin at about a 90-degree angle.
3. Wrap the end of the pin around the tip of a round-nose plier, using the needle-nose pliers to help you hold the earring.
4. Watch carefully here. Slip the round-nose pliers out and reinsert the lower nose into the same loop. Twist the wire around to make a complete loop but don't close it because you have to slide on the ear hook.
5. Slip the earwire onto the pin loop before finishing it. Do NOT look at my ugly fingernails. I am a hardworking Mom who doesn't get a lot of manicures. Let's see yours!
6. Hold the earring as shown and, using your other hand and other pair of pliers, take the tail and twist it back around itself once or twice under the pliers you see in the picture so it fills in any extra wire between the top bead and the loop.
7. Cut the extra pin wire off using the wire cutters. 8. Repeat for second earring.
Tip: If you can avoid it, do not make your earrings on the back porch in 30-degree weather without a coat on. I can attest, it's less effective.

9. Try to get at least the little beads cleaned up before Ginger wakes up from her nap and excitedly asks, "Whatcha' dooooin'? Can I help you?"

Now you can wow all your friends and neighbors, hold a jewelry-making party, or at least accessorize your own wardrobe perfectly.

Now about the giveaway. I knew everyone would be so jealous of the pair I made in the demonstration that it would be cruel to not offer you at least the chance to have them for your own. So yes, this is a giveaway. Leave a comment saying "I want them" or something and you will be entered in the random drawing. But listen, not everyone can work red and orange, so make sure you've got the right attitude before leaving your comment. These were meant to be worn, not left in the jewelry box with the wallflowers. Contest closes Monday night 1/19 at 6pm. Sorry if you were hoping to get them in time for the Inaugural Ball.

Congratulations Therese!

I drew names from a hat - my favorite technique - and my old mission companion Therese (T-baby) won the pumpkin mix. Of course I picked the one in England and now have to go to the post office and figure out how to send overseas. I do feel sorry for the rest of you and will consider the cd pleas, though I am a scattered mess around here so you never know.

Is anyone making the cookies? I want to hear about it!

VGP #12 Yummy Pumpkin Giveaway!

Mmm, pumpkin muffins. Trader Joe's pumpkin muffins. You already know I love them. It's time you did, too. I gave a box to my friend Vanessa who was recently visiting. A week later she sent me this email:

Kari,

So I love, and I mean LOVE, the pumpkin bread mix. I wasn't expecting it to be THAT good. So fluffy, so flavorful, just the right amount of spice. We are headed to Raleigh the second Saturday of December and I have already located the nearest Trader Joe's. There is one right by the temple. I am making a stop.
Thanks again,

Vanessa

You see? I'm not just blowing smoke on this.

So if you live farther than 30 miles from a Trader Joe's put your name & email here and you're in the running for a random giveaway of the gnarliest Pumpkin Mix on the planet. (And another bonus surprise as well - a copy of my "So-Good-I-Amaze-Even-Myself" Christmas mix CD.) Giveaway closes tomorrow at 6pm. So start salivating and good luck!

Nie Nie Auction Follow-up

Thanks to everyone who spread the word and/or bid on our auction here - we made $100 for the Nielsons! To donate see the button on the right. I myself made the rounds on a couple of auctions and won this fabulous bag from Apostrophy Designs via Ponytail Challenge:Anybody else score something great from the auctions (besides Kat)? Many auctions are still going on, and new ones being added - Design Mom is keeping an updated list of live auctions here. A couple of bloggers are also gathering totals from this enormous effort so hopefully soon we can find out a grand total.

While looking at Apostrophy's stuff I also noted she's doing a bag giveaway at Vermillion Rules! Then I saw that VR! does giveaways of really awesome, usually Etsy, stuff almost daily, so I have added her to my growing file of giveaway bookmarks.

So far this week, cool stuff from:
Less Ordinary Designs
Sassy Aprons (would you believe I'm still on the hunt for my perfect apron and may have to actually make it myself?)
Lovey Duds

Also cute outfit at Grosgrain is being given away this week (really hope it's to me...)

...and of course I almost cried when I saw the giveaways that I've already missed out on, but now I know.

An Inspired Giveaway

Last weekend I taught a jewelry-making workshop thanks to a $15 class I took at Michael's a few years ago and an enormous bin of beading supplies I needed to pare down before the move. Creative juices flowed and we all ended up with some nice pieces, admiring them on each other at church the next day. Lindsay made 3 lovely pairs of earrings and, with virgin lobes herself, is hosting an earring giveaway on her blog, so get over there before Friday and join the fun!

It's true, blog giveaways are oh-too-fun, so it's gotten me thinking...we'll see what I come up with.