Bitty Birthday Bonanza! What a surprise!

 Yesterday was my birthday and I got the most wonderful surprises in the mail!  I received quite a few cards from friends and relatives, which was lovely.  Unbeknownst to me, my friend Kimmie at Flickr organized a bunch of mostly bitty blockers to each make me a birthday bitty.  She had them all send them to her and then she put together a box and mailed them to me, along with one other box from another, so 2 boxes.  Her timing was perfect as the 2nd box arrived on the exact right day and I had saved the first one to open on my birthday because I am a good girl like that, no matter what you think! 

I couldn't believe it when all the stuff started being revealed from inside the boxes!

 I've labeled each block as to who made it, at Flickr, on my photostream, if you're interested in knowing. 

 I was stunned, shocked, thrilled, giddy and all sorts of good things, I never expected this or dreamed it would happen, it was such a fun surprise!  I also got a lot of lovely notes and cards and even some other gifts!

 This is an overview of all the loot! Fat quarters of fabric, a pincushion that looks like a Frankenstein mouse, a Twisted sticker, rainbow star stickers, birthday candle glasses, happy birthday beads, a Rosie the Rotary Cutter panel, printed twill tapes, a tiny purse change purse, magnets, ribbons, mints, candy, jacks, even dried LARVAE or worms, but it's OK, they're BBQ flavored.  No, I won't be eating them!  Ew!  That Kimmie!  I just loved everything, except for the worms!  LOL

 And some close-ups.....

 So much fun stuff, I couldn't believe it all. 

 I can't believe the generosity of all my friends!

I had a great day, a very busy one.  I drove to town and got a haircut, then I went to a laundromat and washed and dried 2 comforters and 2 shams, (I had the place to myself, it was peaceful and different and I got to read my book), went to the library and got more books, saw my parents where my mother deadpanned "you know you're a senior citizen now.", much to my horror.  55 is a senior citizen, really?  Crap!

Then I went to the grocery and got some things and came home for a late lunch, Greek Salad.  We had fun with all the mystery stuff in the boxes in the afternoon and had a nice London Broil and salad for dinner, topped off with strawberry shortcake for dessert.  What a great birthday!

Many many thanks to all my friends and family for making it such a fun, memorable one! 

We have a winner! Two, actually, but just BARELY!

And I say that because obviously SOME people's children are too old and too cool to play the old children's game of "Bat the Corks About and Pick a Winner". Noooo. They have to lie there and look overworked, underwhelmed and hot. Pffffft.

It's a lovely pile of corks, is it not? Not that anybody USED them or anything. And don't mind the one showing #48- I'm a doofus and can't count. Didn't matter, though- the corks didn't move.

Look. Corks.

Whoopty Freakin' Doo!

So...... I enlisted the help of a man who drew 2 corks from a corrected pile and pulled out #11 and #21.

Translation- Susan R and Shelley! Congrats, girls and I'll be in touch for addresses so I can mail off your loot! Thanks to everyone for signing up for a chance to win and for all the lovely comments on my little blog and my little Mum and everything this year. It's gone by so fast!

It's my blogiversary! One year.... woohoo!

One year ago today I decided to join the masses and start my own little blog. I've had lots of fun with it, showing off things I'm working on, happenings around our house, light-hearted things, and pet activities. Nothing too heavy, nothing too deep, nothing, I hope, too depressing. I've accumulated just over 100 followers, thankyouverymuch, and to celebrate, I'm having a little giveaway.

You don't have to do any jumping thru hoops or spreading the word, I'm happy having you guys here with me and I want you to have the best chance of winning. So leave me a little comment and be sure that I can reach you should the little white number generator (Nosey Parker will be whining about the child-labor laws shortly) pick you as the winner or runner-up! Because I don't like waiting, the sign-ups close at midnight Sunday and we'll do the actually drawing on Monday.

Up for grabs is a little bit of Moda's Authentic. There's a Dessert Roll, a charm pack and a set of 3 cotton dish clothes that I don't really want to give away, I like them THAT much! But I bought them with you in mind, so off they'll go. That's one lot.

Then, as a runner-up prize, I made a Scrap Sewing Pod for you, using my own Authentic material. Here it is with all the other stuff, but the winner of this is only getting the pod. It might have something inside it, not sure yet, but it's possible. Depends on if I get to the store this weekend!




I just got this pattern yesterday, online- it is an e-pattern, which is very cool and instantly gratifying! I found it, ordered it, paid for it (a whopping $3.29) and downloaded it and printed it out, all in about 5 minutes. No shipping, no waiting, love that! Anyway, I made one for the runner-up. It measures about 8" long and 3" wide and 3" deep. It'll really hold a lot. You can use it for taking supplies to class, jewelry on vacation, make-up, pencils, whatever, it's yours to do with what you please! It's a pretty easy pattern, too and I'll be making more of these. The zipper application is the EASIEST ever, so if you have a fear of zippers, this pattern is for you! I really like the trim (the black printing) at the edge of the zipper, I think that's a nice touch.

The framed photo and the rocks are not included in the giveaway. That is my mother in the photo, with her brother, Ted. She was in the Land Army, in England. I love this photo, that hat just frames her head perfectly and she looks so lovely. She's 89.5 this month! Gotta love the Mumster. She's such a hoot.


This is my other favorite photo of her- she's standing in Trafalgar Square and has a pigeon on her head. No, that's not my father. He might not be anybody's father- his name, according to my mother, is One-Nut Nick. *snork* She SAYS she only knows this because her cousin Joan told her. Um, hmmmm. Sure, Mum, whatever you say! lol Anyway, she didn't date him long, she broke up with him after he asked her to move in with him. This was the late 40's, I think.... scandalous! Mum had principles! And class. Yay for Mum! She's very Authentic. The real deal.

So good luck, people! Leave me a comment if you'd like to be entered into the drawing for a bit of Authentic fabric and towels, or the little pod.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for signing up!

More loot in the mail, woohoo!!!

I love this, it's so much fun when the mail lady has to actually COME to the house to deliver stuff because it won't fit in the mailbox, that's always a good sign! lol

I got a great package yesterday from my friend Jenni, in CA. She sent me 7 pieces of wonderful fabric, all half-yard cuts, is that amazing or what? I love all of it, too. The fun animals in cars is so me and I'll use it for something for my next road trip, I'm sure. The 3 coordinating blues/greens are just scrumptious! Those are "Brother and Sister Design Studio", as is the black/white one and are such a nice addition to my stash! The wild circular one is Michael Miller called "Flashback" and will work with so many of my fabrics. The little dogs, "Rufus", is also Michael Miller and I just love it, I mean, little dogs in pink bows and ribbons? Who wouldn't love it? Thanks so much, Jenni! I just love getting fabric in the mail and it's really, really fun when it's all surprise fabric and especially when it's gorgeous fabric that I really like!

And then I got a box, too, from Scotland! My new friend Lynz was going to London and asked if my Mum, who was born in London, would want something from there and I asked Mum, who knew a pie and mash wasn't going to make the trip too well, and she asked for a good map of London so she could pour over it and point out places she had been, worked, lived, where she was born, etc. And you should see this map, it's the best map I've ever seen, so detailed, laminated, sturdy... it's a dandy. Thanks so much, Lynz, I know she is going to just love this! And all the other loot, it's so fun! I asked for a guard from the palace and she sent me a teeny, tiny version, he's adorable! And a Scotty dog iron-on, verra Scottish, thank you! :)

I can't wait to get into the sweetie, a Mrs. Tilly's Vanilla Tablet which looks so yummy. I MIGHT give the Mumster half of it, she's got a sweet tooth and could use some fattening up. I also got some shiny things, I love shiny things, I think I was a magpie in a previous life! I'm not really sure what they are, though, bits of belts, maybe? I like 'em, though, and I liked that she explained to me about the money involved "5 shillings, 11 pence" because they're marked 5/11. There are 2 gold ones and 2 silver ones, I'm sure I'll think of something fun to do with them!

The best thing, no- the 2nd best thing- a book of Scots slang, "Shut Yer Pus". Now I can maybe stop asking Lynz to explain all her expressions to me, like "ickle" (small) and "pants" (crap). lol That's just 2 of 'em, there's been a slew. Jim and I are having fun looking thru it and learning new words.

Finally- a HANDMADE by Lynz, star-shaped photo book which I just love, love, love. Looks normal when it's closed, but when you open it up....

You get a very cool star! There's a lot of work in this book, lots of gluin' and cuttin' and it's beautiful, I just love the papers she used. This book was a lot of work and I really appreciate it, sweetie. My photos don't do it justice at all, it's a little work of art.

Thanks to both of you lovely ladies for making the mail lady come down our long driveway to the house! Y'all sent me really neat stuff and I appreciate you both!