200 Followers Celebratory 'Give Away'

Pretties!

I think I may be becoming obsessed.  Last night I had a dream about the most fantastic town, where the High Street consisted of numerous Yarn Shops, there was even a huge Yarn Market store.  I can remember in my dream oooing and aaahing over green buttons.  Particularly green buttons, beautiful glassy green buttons.  It was one of those dreams where it is a shame to wake up.
            I had a couple of plans for today.  'The Ides of March'.  It is my Daddy's Birthday.  We all had a nice birthday meal this evening, including cake and dad was very pleased with his presents, Beer and hoodies.  The kids have hoodies and a couple of weeks ago Dad said he has always wanted one.  They will be very useful as Dad is a very keen astronomer, which involves cold, late nights stargazing.

I asked him to pose for a Blog photograph and this is what we got!  A mixture of my photography skills and Dad mucking about trying to act 'Gangsta'.  Suffice is it to say, he likes the hoodies.
Many Happy Returns Dad xxx

           Henry found out he got an 'A' today for part of his final English GCSE we are very pleased about that.  I always knew Henry is not as daft as he looks!  He broke the 'No phone zone' rule at school to send me a photograph of the paper with the grade on it today.  The photo was a bit blurred I thought it was an 'A' in Religious Education!  English is good.  It is Henry's last year at school this year.  My 'baby' will be 16 in July and I will never know where that time has gone.  I probably don't need to tell you, but teenagers are not easy creatures to be responsible for!  I am sure I worry about him now more than I ever did.  I try not too.  If I am worried it makes my crochet hook work faster or my knitting needles clack louder!  These times can be quite productive with lots of late night yarny stuff going on!

Daisy the Dawg

           I also visited my Aunt and Daisy this morning.  My Aunt is feeling most unwell.  I love her lots.  She is the Aunt I lived next door to as a small child.  She has a painful chest infection and a virus.  We had a good natter and a cup of coffee.  She has been having a de-clutter and has given me lots of knitting needles and crochet hooks and some patterns.  I will probably mooch thoroughly through the bag later.  I am sure now I will have all that I need in the knitting needle department.  I will write a post about them, as with everything, I have a tale or two to tell.  Daisy was very pleased to see me and is a very cute little character.  She has somehow made herself look old in this picture, she is as bright as a button and very playful.  Every photograph I tried to take she moved or squinted her eyes up.
           I am hopefully going to a 'Basketry' workshop tomorrow evening with my Blog Buddy Claire and my Mom.  Claire is a member of Stratford Upon Avon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and Mom and I will gate crash.  I needed some weaving material, basketry stash.  It involved taking the dog for a walk when Euan finished school today.  Walking with a large bag and a pair of secateurs.  Trying not to look too suspicious snipping at the hedgerows.

Euan thought it was naughty and kept his identity hidden.  I am soaking my harvest overnight and keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to create something with it tomorrow.
               Now Finally on to the business of the 'Give Away' to celebrate reaching a total of 200 lovely Blog followers.  I did go to a yarn shop today, to my knowledge our town has a grand total of two, very small yarn shops.  They are both good though.  I found three pretty little prizes.  Guess what?  I also found some lovely green buttons for the green cardigan I am attempting to knit for myself.  I think my dream was a premonition.

First Prize: Pretty Printed Wooden Buttons
(I will find these hard to part with!)

These scissors are very 'Girly' too and would make a pretty addition to your work box.
Besides being pretty they are also small and very sharp.

The third prize are these three little charms.

 This 'Give Away' is open to anyone who follows my blog, (New followers are always welcome, the more the merrier).  I would also like you to leave a comment on this post and a way for me to find you, if I don't know how to find you already.  Closing date is midnight on 21st March 2012 and I will notify the 'winners' on Thursday 22nd of March 2012.

Thank you xxx

One Week to go! 'Great Blogiversary Give Away'

There is one week to go until my 'First Blogiversary'.  How quickly the time flies.  One year ago since I posted my first post When Life Gives You Lemons.  My philosophy has not changed.  I still think 'When life gives you Lemons you should make a 'Lemon Drizzle Cake.'   I love the way cake solves everything!  (If only the politicians ate more cake!)  In fact I have plans to make a 'Lemon Drizzle' next week to celebrate a year of blogging.  I hope to make a beauty with a candle and everything!

In a year I have posted over 300 posts, phew don't I have a lot to say for myself!  I have made loads of 'Blog Buddies' and to date have 174 followers from all over the globe.  I am very grateful to you all for joining me in my madn adventures.  I have fun joining in with yours.

I have a small obsession with my 'Flag Counter' (a bit like stamp collecting) and check it a couple of times a week.  I have had visitors from 121 different countries with Qatar being the last new country.  (I still have to look up where that is!)  Fancy I have had visitors from places I have never even heard of!  My Geography knowledge must be bad!  We must not forget the 'Extraterrestrial Visitor. (Hello, smiles and waves - we know you are out there).

Now I love me a good 'Blog Give Away'.  I won't be celebrating for my birthday this year with a 'Give Away'.  I may celebrate '200' Followers at some point in the future, and '100 000' hits feels like it will be a benchmark, I still have a long way to go for that though (currently I have 67 000 hits).  If you can't celebrate your 'First Blogiversary' what can you celebrate?  It is not just a 'Big Year' for my Blog it is a 'Big Year' for Britain!  (Though most of us would not know it with the state of the economy!)  Her Majesty will be celebrating her 'Diamond Jubilee' in June and we will get an extended Bank Holiday weekend.  I am all for those!

Ooops Sorry, wrong picture!

Here she is in all her Glory

We are also proud (but very poor) hosts to the 2012 Olympics.

What a super 'Official Logo' It looks even better if you wear your sunglasses!

I thought it befitting that my 'Give Away Prizes' should have a touch of Great British Patriotism about them.  I will have One 'Lucky first Prize Winner' and Three 'Runner Up' prizes for the 'Grand Blogiversary Draw'.  I have a selection of these fine 'Tea Towels' to give away.  The first prize will be the much sort after set of all three.  The runners up will win 'One Randomly Selected' tea towel each.  They are sure to add a touch of glamour to your daily drudge!  I know they do it for me!

My Personal Favourite paying homage to The Great British Egg!

(I am sure you get eggs in the rest of the world though?)

My Day would not be complete without the Great British Cuppa.

(All the way from India!)

Doesn't the Union Jack look much better in Pink Patchwork.  I may write to Her Majesty and The Houses of Parliament to start a campaign to get it officially changed to this.  Much much prettier, don't you think?

I can't promise to iron the prizes but I am sure the 'winners' could do that for themselves.  To be in for your chance to win one of these fantabulous 'Tea Towels' you simply need to be a 'Follower' of  'Lucy In the Sky' and leave me a comment on this post.  I would love it if your comment could explain why for you, 'Britain is Truly Great'.  I will draw the 'Winners' by 'Random Number Generator' on my Blogiversary Day, 29th January 2012.  You need to have entered by 28th.  Let us eat 'Drizzle Cake' and be merry!

  

Good Luck and thanks again for following and all your lovely comments  X 

Hippy Witch is Celebrating by Giving Away 'Bunty Bunny'

Lori at Hippy Witch Crafts is celebrating fifty followers on her Blog by Giving Away the adorable Bunty Bunny.  I have the wantsies!  She is so cute.  I thought you would love her too and you will love Lori's Blog.  Lori makes the most beautiful hand crafted toys and ornaments.  I have a bit of of thing for Hippy Witch 'Felt Toadstool Houses'.   They are the prettiest I have ever seen.

I was/am a 'big' Noddy and Big Ears Fan, toadstool houses really capture my imagination, I could happily live in a toadstool surrounded by Pixies and Fairies.  I am hoping Bunty Bunny might come and live with me too.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Smiley 'In The Sky' - 50 000 Hits 'Give Away'

Wow!  My last celebratory 'Give Away' was 20 000 page views.  I decided I would have another when I reached 50 000.  I woke up today and had exceeded that 'Magic' Number.   It seemed a long long way off.  I am amazed in under twelve months (my First Years Blogiversary is at the end of January) this blog has clocked up so many page views.  I am very grateful to all my followers who continue to pop back to share my madness.  Cheers!  I love each and every comment that you leave.  My obsession with my 'Flag counter' continues and I am over the moon to say I have had visitors from 112 different countries, not forgetting the visitor from the mysterious 'Unknown Satellite'.

What a lovely 'Festive' time to have a 'Give Away' Celebration.  It is only fitting to have a Christmassy Craft theme.  I have a copy of 'Tis the Season to Crochet' ' to Give Away.  The winner will be drawn by Random Number Generator on Thursday 8th December (I will post the prize out ASAP).  All entries must be in by Wednesday 7th December.  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post :) 

'Give Away' Ta Dah - 'Lantern Scarf' by Anastacia Knits

Woohoo!  This is a cheeky little pattern from Anastacia Knits.  It has made a light but warm scarf.  I loved making this because it is not the type of scarf I would usually make.  I usually stick to the plain stuff!  It has a simple but effective repeat pattern.  It grows very quickly and was easy peasy.  I learned how to read a chart finally, thanks to this pattern.  I didn't use the written instructions and followed the chart, which made me feel very grown up.  Previously I have had a total mental block with charts but I really enjoyed this.  Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!  I also manged to read USA crochet terms without having to use a written translation.  What a great pattern for raising my self esteem and giving me a nice smug feeling.  The yarn I used was 'Sirdar Click' Aran, which is very soft and snuggly, but the pattern is so adaptable it can be made with any yarn.

My lovely boys were willing models!

I think Henry thinks my Blog may be a good way of getting a date, he is clearly open to offers.

I think I may have trouble getting rid of him, it is a good job I love him!

Euan was also enthusiastic to get in on the act!

Anastacia has kindly offered give a copy of this pattern away as prize to one of you lovely blog readers.  All you need to do to win your copy of the 'Lantern Scarf' pattern is leave a comment below stating which one of 'Anastaciaknits' designs is your favourite.  Leave a comment by the 17th of November and I will arrange for a winner to be Randomly drawn  on the 18th November.  You would still have time to whip up a couple of these for last minute, hand made Christmas gifts!

'20 000 Page Views' A Thank You 'Give Away'

I made my mind up that 20 000 page views was going to be worthy of a celebratory Give-Away.  I can not believe I have had over 20 000 page views that seems an awful lot to me!  I would like to thank you,  'Blog readers' from all corners of the Globe.  78 countries to be precise.  It all blows my mind.  I think Blogs are a fantastic way of communicating with each other and I value and enjoy each one of your comments.  I have also made some great Blog Buddies who I love to visit in Cyberspace.  I have learned so much from other peoples blogs and they inspire me to experiment with new skills, crafts and ideas.  All this in just six months of blogging.  You are all Ace.  

The Give Away Prize is this nifty little book containing patterns for crochet socks.

(My Crochet Sock Blog post for anyone that may be interested.)
I loved making my socks but found a distinct shortage of crochet sock patterns.  I bought a copy of this book for myself, when I was looking through it I found myself thinking my Blog Buddies would like this book so I ordered another copy and hatched the give away plan.

If you can Picture yourself glowing with pride, wearing a Pair of hand crocheted socks, made by your own fair hand, then this is the 'Give Away' for you.  All you need to do is leave me a comment by the 17th June and I will pick a lucky winner at random.  I will announce the winner on the 18th of June.

Attention - Fantastic yarn and Fibre Give Away -with lots of other goodies too



This is a sample of MHE's fibre not the actual prizes for photographs of the actual prizes go and look at Helen's blog :)



I must draw your attention to a fabulous Blog Give away, that is to celebrate 1 year of myheartexposed on folksy.  "My Heart Exposed Yarns - Home grown natural dyes, home made, 100% natural organic spinning fibres and handspun yarns made by independent mother and daughter fibre artisan's Helen and Angelica Jacobs-Grant. No harsh chemicals or irritants are in any of our products so they are kind to your delicate skin and our environment. Inspiring creativity for life. MHE are proud to be regular contributors to The Fibreholics UK sample box scheme http://thefibreholics.co.uk/ More info and access to all of the online pages go to http://myheartexposed.co.uk/."



Examples of some beautiful hand dyed Kid Mohair (Rumplestiltskin)

(Duchess)

(Carmen)

(Phantom)

  See Helen's Blog for the various ways you can enter this 'Give away' competition there are Twelve fantastic  prizes up for grabs including generous vouchers for the online store, Helen's photographs of the prizes can be found on her blog.   Ooooh its exciting I love them.  Helen you are a fantastic 'Fibre Artisan' a real inspiration in many ways and a great cyber buddy x