DYI Posies and a Contest!!!!

I love having flowers in the house. Unfortunately it isn't as easy in the winter, as it is in the summer. In the summer I just walk outside and cut whatever I fancy for a vase. In the winter, I have to buy them or hope that someone else does (which never happens). Ryan surprised me with a bouquet of gerber daisies on the anniversary of mom's passing. She loved gerber daisies and could grow them very well. I nursed them best I could and I finally had to toss them yesterday. Not to bad for two weeks - gerber daisies aren't known for their longevity. I missed the little posies, so I tried to think about what I could do to replace them. I had a rare opportunity to peruse etsy. I love etsy, but I like when other people find cool things and pass them on. I liken etsy to an anchor store - Macy's or JCPenny's - too many choices, too overwhelming. So I bit the bullet and looked myself. I found some cute fabric flowers and thought, "I can do that!" I went off and did it. The bonus is that I have a permanent bouquet AND I used up some of my remnant fabric. I'm thinking of turning one into a corsage for a jacket, sweater or hair thingy. I might just have to add this to the PP inventory - let me know what you think!

First I cut out two sizes of circles in fabric and complimentary felt.

I then sewed around the circle - leaving an irregular width from the edge. It doesn't have to be perfect - it adds to the character. I used white thread because it was there and threaded, I suppose if you wanted to get real sassy you could use contrasting thread for an additional flair!

You'll end up with a pile of thready circles that need to be organized and trimmed.

I then organized them into piles that I thought looked fun together.

I used wire to poke through the fabric and then through the bead at the top.

See the bead? I ran it back through and twisted it, I secured a smaller bead at the base underneath and then twisted the wire.

Vwa-la! I clustered three to four posies together and then clustered three of those groupings. I wrapped them in the same wire to keep them from separating.

Will you be my Valentine?

Okay so while I was making my flowers, I had the idea to make an owl. I like owls a lot - their trendy, but cute. So with all that extra fabric, I decided to make a quick stuffed friend.

A little bit of felt, fabric and buttons and you have a fluffy little friend.

Even Drew likes him.

The Owl tamer...

Guess what - I'm giving an Owl away! All you need to do is make a comment in the comment section. I'd love to hear some ideas for other little stuffed friends. Then I will draw the winner at random on that random number website that everyone uses. Once I draw the winner I will contact you and you can tell me if you want an Owl for a boy or a girl. Plus you might see your stuffed "idea" come to life in the coming months. The contest will close Friday at 3pm EST. You can enter once per day - happy commenting!

Thanks

and the winner is...

So I went to random.com and used their true random number generator and I wanted to put it on this page, but had an awful time of it, so trust me the random number between 1 and 14 (representing the total comments) was 6. My 6th comment and winner is:

Farrah said...

I always love a good contest...I think it's a great and ingenious method of advertising!! You gotta love word of mouth marketing!!! Ok so I would use it for cat toys!!! Hope I win....

August 13, 2009 9:27 PM

Well Farrah, you did! Thanks to everyone who dropped by and left a comment. Farrah - email me (ann@pennypickles.net) with your address and telephone number and the color bin you would like - I will forward it on to CSN.com. Thanks again and have a great weekend!

Give away and Review....a must read!

I always find it interesting when I look at my statistics each month for who comes and goes on my website and blog. I really don't understand most of it, I'm a bit of a web-doofus when it comes to things like that - but I occasionally get hits from sites that baffle me. That brings me to today's post. I received an email a few days ago from a company, CSN Office Furniture. CSN Office Furniture sells everything from home office furniture to office accessories, storage options, shelving, craft desks, craft kits and so much more. When I got the initial email the contact person said browse our website, so I did. For hours. Then days. It was crazy - of course it was like an organizers fantasy with all the storage options (some women dream about hot men, I dream about storage solutions). They contacted me because they like my blog content - hilarious. I mean I have friends who read this, and a few strangers I am sure, but companies - ridiculous. I still think it might be part of a prank, but I love a good prank, so I'll nibble.

So I chose a product that a. I would use, and b. I would like to give away. I could have picked out something more expensive for myself to review -but I'm a giver by nature, so what would be the fun in that? I chose a collapsible bin from Skip Hop, I own a diaper bag from this company and knew their quality was top notch! It comes in a variety of colors and its uses, well I could come up with at least a hundred. For my short attention span friends, I will only include a few - I may have already lost you at this point. The obvious first use is for baby things - that is one of the pictures they show in the description on their website. For me, I have no little baby things anymore (yahoo!) so I immediately thought this could corral hair thingys for Penny. (You've all seen her hair so you know what I'm talking about.) Then I thought I could use this by putting crayons, pencils, pens and paper and take it with us to dinner, football practice, soccer practice, football games, soccer games, PTO meetings, in the car, at boring play dates (oops did I say that?), you get the point. We are B-U-S-Y and having something handy to grab and take with us to entertain the two kids not participating at the event we're attending would be great. Not to mention keeping my car from becoming a total and complete dump. (can you tell I cleaned the car out recently and am appalled at the nastiness also known as my backseat?) As a mom in the car a lot more than I would like and having a great van with a crappy center console, I can also use this to put my things, like my phone, to do list, snacks, directions, and the things I need to do, but ultimately forget to do because my kids are fighting and I am looking for the nearest cliff to drive off. I also see myself using this for around the house. My kids are in a serious love affair with legos. The have been banished to their bedroom in an effort to keep them contained. However legos have a tendency to "walk" and have known to be found in other rooms of our house. The kids blame it on gnomes, I'm not so convinced. So having a go-to bin to house "to be put away later" items is priceless. That and my phone - some how it too has developed legs and at least once a day I have to hit the find button to retrieve it from closets and bathrooms. It can stay in my bin, now if my coffee mug only had a find button...

On to my contest. Because I love you all so much, I chose this bin so that I can not only review it, but give one away to you! So here's what you do - you have to leave a comment today and tomorrow - you actually have to say something, not just hit "comment." If you don't have a blogger account, then just leave a comment anonymously, but please put your name in the comment box. You can comment as many times as you want. I will leave this open until tomorrow - Friday, August 14th at 2pm eastern standard. I will do a random drawing from all the comments. (I'll figure out some complex sorting system, or einy, meny, miney, moe) The winner will chose their color bin and I will submit their shipping information to CSN to ship directly. See win, win!

And just like that you can be a winner...

Thanks and happy commenting!

Productivity

Today is Monday - I believe it might be the beginning of fall - I'm not a 100% sure - you wouldn't be able to tell by the temperatures - be gone 80 degrees - I long for those upper 60's and low 40's at night.  Ahhh - when I graduated college, I really wanted to move to Minnesota - unfortunately there weren't any positions open at the time - how different life would have been...  Ah so I will have to wait to retire to Maine or someplace equally as cool and green.  Not in the trendy "green" you are thinking, but forests, mountains, plant green.  Anyway - I digress, big time!

I was terribly productive this weekend.  I finished four paintings, I have three more well on their way and one that is sketched out.  Leslie is out of town until late tomorrow so I will be connecting with her on Wednesday to see how here trip went and get a few photos snapped of the finished pieces.  One of my contest pieces, the car and tire tread one turned out AWESOME - Lori I can't wait for you to see it!  Oh my goodness, it is just better than I could have imagined.  It's funny some of the more simple paintings give me the most challenges- I believe it's because I want to be perfect with my lines or circles - its weird that they frustrate me so.  

It was a good weekend - Ryan is finally retired from the world of side jobs - it is just too much to juggle him working, side-working, me with all the kids all the time - I'm getting busier with Jon's school (if you attend the Haunted Woods in a few weeks - I will be face painting!), room mom and chairing a pancake breakfast (I am my mother's daughter!) not to mention being pretty busy with painting - so I am grateful he is hanging up his work boots - at least for a while and doing a bit around here.

Saturday, Jon and I went down to the new Nordstroms at the Keystone Mall.  Last March Jon painted a tile that was to be placed in the floor of the new store.  It was an event run through the Zoo, which we are members.  He painted two tiles, chose his primary and they fired it and well it turned out great.  It was so fun to see something he did in the middle of the store (it is located right at the end of the corridor of the kids shoes, outside the girls fitting rooms) - all of the tiles turned out great and how cool is it to shop and see something you did on the floor!  If anything ever happens to his first tile, they have his back-up to replace it.  Pretty neat huh? 

On the Savannah

The proud artist!

 We then went to his football game where he scored another touchdown.  He zigzags back and forth, its a riot. I asked him after the game - why don't you just go forward - you risk losing yards. His reply was, I'm tiring them out mom! Oh the psychology!  He just loves to play center though, which is hilarious since his a slight fella - but he does a great job snapping the ball - so go Jon!

Jon on the move!

We went to Conner Prairie later that day, which if you haven't gone and you live in the area, you should go - it is so much fun.  I had my first glimpse of our teenage years, with Jon moaning about what we were doing - look at historic buildings, are you kidding me???  Needless to say, Jon was the one that didn't want to leave, loved going around the homes, trying out the beds, talking to the docents (except the teacher - all I saw was fear!  I might have to buy Mrs. Bayer a switch for Christmas - that'll keep the kids in line!) But he loved sweeping, and of course sampling their food.  I was surprised how much fun he had, and the fact that he wants to go back again - we'll use that membership yet! 

Farmer Drew

Sunday is football day in our house, so we watched football and since both Ryan AND Jon have fantasy football teams, we watch ALL the games that are on cable - soon they will ship off to Uncle Tee Tee's house and watch every game on his NFL network.  We ate pizza and wings and ended the weekend well, except for the Colts losing.  I think my boy Freeney summed it up best...

  

I feel you buddy - I can't believe it either!

So tonight is Yoga and hopefully finishing up a piece or two.  If not today tomorrow!!!  I am so excited to share these pieces with you - this time I even surprised myself with these completed works.

Take care, have a great day and Thanks!

and the winner is...

If you haven't had a chance to see my latest work please scroll on down  to see it.  I feel terrible that it didn't a get a couple more days as "lead" post.  But I do have some anxious ladies who want to know who's won my first contest.  So with out further ado:

Lori G. - race car with car tread spelling out name or monogram

Stephanie K. - night fairies and imps

Now you may be saying that these are so similar to what I have.  Oh, but they aren't.  There were so many awesome entries, and it isn't to say that I won't be using them at a later date - (and the creators may get a little gift or discount when I do them).  My thought was that the race car zooming by, looking at it from up top and seeing the tire treads spell out a name would be such a cool look.  As far as fairies are concerned, well I have some, but this night fairy/imp image is something I envision being like the creatures of the Spiderwick Chronicles.  Where the fairies are actually the flowers, the bugs, kind of transform into these beautiful fairies if you look close enough. 

I will say I was inundated with boy themes - I have struggled with this from the beginning. It seems to be when thinking of themes and imagery it is so easy to conjure up a million things for boys.  Girls on the other hand after fairies, princesses, and butterflies - it gets tricky.  But you can vary the look and create something totally new.  

This was so fun!  I want to thank everyone who participated and took the time to email me. Thank you for your interest!  I will be contacting the winners and working with them, so check back to see what we come up with on those new themes.  If you didn't win, but still would like to see your idea become a reality I am offering a 15 % discount to participants, please email me if you are interested (ann@pennypickles.net).

As a reminder - all Christmas orders need to be in by November 14th.  Please check a few posts down for more details.  

Thanks again and have a great day!

its over...

Well my first contest is officially over.  I have to tell you, I am absolutely floored by the submissions and the creativity that flowed from them.  Amazing!  Thank you so very much for all your ideas and the time it took to pull them together and send them to me.  

Now my plan is to review all the ideas and come up with a winner (or two).  Since there were so many awesome ideas, you will have to give me a day or so to digest them all and sketch them out. I will be undergoing a very technical voting system with the accounting offices of Page and Page (Jon and Drew) and results will be kept secret until I unveil them here on my blog.  I will contact you personally if you have won, and we can figure out the details of preferred colors, shipping info, etc. My goal is to announce the winners on Thursday, September 4th. 

In the meantime I am waiting for feedback on an adorable jungle themed tile for a nursery and have finally finished Drew's baseball vignette! I'm also just about done with a large logo sign.  It has been  a busy few days!  

Sunday night I had a bit of a panic attack about Christmas.  I mean I received such an awesome response with this contest, I am nervous about the holiday season.  Not to mention some of the not so subtle hints from friends and family about what they would like for Christmas. So lets talk about Christmas!  

I have decided that since it is now September 2nd, we can officially discuss the holiday season without seeming too obnoxious.  That being said, if you are interested in having a painting done for the holidays for yourself or as a gift here are my guidelines:

• All requests must be in by Friday, November 14, 2008.
  
• If your request is submitted after November 14th, we will need to discuss the nature of your painting and delivery date options.  
  
• My goal is to have all paintings out by Monday, December 15th, 2008.  That way you are insured of a Christmas Eve delivery.  
  
• Please don't think it is too early to think Christmas!!!! If you aren't sure if you are ready to order, we can at least start the collaborating process.  If you want a custom piece those usually take a few emails or conversations to get on the same page.  

I have several new projects in the works some very, very big and some a bit smaller.  I am so very excited with all of the variety that has been presented to me since I've started.  I want to thank all of my clients for their creativity and most of all trust and faith in me to deliver something special enough to hang in your home.

Thanks again and have a great day!!!

Random thoughts for the day...

Today is a collage of thoughts.  

Ryan had his follow up meeting/interview with a company in Zionsville.  He said it went very well - he is suppose to go in on Monday and they will firm up an offer.  Cross your fingers, pray, send good energy - whatever it is that you all do, do it please on our behalf, it would be nice to start the week with a job.  He is at an another interview this morning, he isn't back yet, so we shall see...

I am almost done with my most recent order for a nursery, its cool because I am hand lettering the babies name and birthdate.  The bedding that they have and what I modeled the painting after is so cute - I am moving right along and if I play my cards right I will finish this evening.  It is amazing to me how some pieces go so quickly and others not so much.  I need to do a quickie surprise gift, so hopefully this weekend I can whip that little fella up.  I am waiting on some feedback from two other pieces or else I would have some pictures for you.  But alas, I do not.  But I did find this little one - if you have a mac, you gotta love photobooth!

Me with two out of my three chickens!

Oh, the contest, okay so I am going to open up the contest on Monday!!!! I have my idea and I will explain what I need from you, then on Monday look for the posting, okay unless something bigger happens, then we'll start Tuesday, but for now its Monday!  I am excited for my first contest, now ask me next week when I have two entries into my contest, how excited I am.  So check back, tell your friends, until then...

Thanks!