The Etsy Midlanders Giveaway is Coming!

I'm a member of the Etsy Midlanders team - it's brilliant to be able to chat and support other crafters who are local to me. I'm currently organising 2 great big MYSTERY GIVEAWAYS with 9 other members of the team, so that means that there are going to be 10 lucky winners over the next few months. I thought I'd give you a sneak preview of the work (not necessarily the prizes!!!) of Etsy sellers who are going to be contributing to the giveaway... There'll be more information on the Etsy Midlanders blog really soon so call back here or there soon! PepperPi Collectible plush characters... Sarah Myatt Glass Gorgeous jewellery... Jacksknits Cute knits.. Vintage Finds Fun vintage.... Anna Clifton Jewellery Fabulous contemporary and eco-friendly jewellery... Brimborion One of a kind brooches, dolls and more... Lewesia Glass Beautiful hand-painted glass... Vintage Wants Not Needs Lovely vintage finds... kjmakes More amazing handmade jewellery... Craft Matters My crocheted and hand-sewn accessories:

Lots of Progress

It really is about time that I reported on my patchwork progress. I now have 8 12" square completed (please excused crumpled appearance - it's been rolled up in my bag over Christmas!). It's been brilliant fun so far - working with the other women in my class has been very inspirational and it's been great to see the colours and patterns that other people have come up with. It is fascinating that the same block can be made to look so different by the use of colour and arrangement. We are about to start our new term and I'm very enthusiastic - just hoping that enough people join up again to keep the class going. It seems a shame that there aren't more people out there who want to learn this amazing craft. This week I've also been working on a needle/crochet hook roll to store some of my crafting clutter. By complete coincidence, a couple of my crafting friends both approached me with a request to make one for them, so I thought I'd do one for myself first to work out a pattern - it's going well - just need to finish sewing up the binding and then I'm all done with that. I also have a commission to make a card wallet and a bag, so I've been buying gorgeous fabric and boring stuff like interfacing from the brillant Gone to Earth (ordered yesterday morning, received today!) and Cotton Patch. What a busy few days it has been - I've got lots of new followers on Facebook and great comments on my blog so it looks as if there's going to be quite a competition for the bag on Monday. That's all hugely exciting and it's certainly helped me to feel very enthusiastic about moving on with lots of new crafting projects. I've signed up for a crochet challenge - A Granny A Day over at Meet Me at Mike's. The aim is to commit to crocheting one granny square a day in 2010 - well there's no way I am going to achieve that, but I might manage 1 every other day. That would certainly be good for my yarn stash and also I'm hoping to end up with a groovy throw that would brighten up our newly decorated front room. Then there's also a very cool White Elephant swap at Juanita Tortilla. This is a great idea because it doesn't actually involve any crafting at all... go check it out and sign up if you have some crafty bits and bobs that you can't think what to do with! And in amongst all of this activity I've also managed to list a few things for sale on MISI and Etsy (phew!) - here they are, for your delectation.

Who would have thought it?

When I set out on blogging a couple of years ago I never would have imagined that I'd get to 100 posts. It's been tough at times - the last 2 years have been full of changes for me. I've grown tremendously as a crafter too - it's really interesting to look back on the earlier offerings to see how much more confident I've become in my crafting choices. Who for instance would have thought I would make a bag in this particular colour combination? It's a bit pink...and green...and purple (I've used this cute pattern from Melly and Me). But I love it, and I hope you do too, because it's going to be the main part of my Celebratory One-hundredth Post Giveaway.. All you have to do to get a chance of winning this cute little number (it's just 20cm high and frivolous rather than practical!) is to leave a comment here or sign up as a fan of Craft Matters on Facebook. If you are exceptionally keen then you can do both and I will give you 2 entries in the draw (assuming that I can connect your ID here with your ID there). There'll be some other goodies, and maybe a sweet treat or two, in the parcel too. Hopefully it will cheer up the lucky winner in this chilly new year. I'll do the draw 1st thing next Monday (18th) so get your comments in/get joining my FB fan page before then. I wish I could send all my visitors a little gift to say a huge thank you for all the kind and thoughtful comments that you've left on my blog over the last 100 posts. It's all the friendliness in the crafting world, and the general fabulousness of people who support crafters by buying handmade, that keeps me going when my confidence has taken a knock or I'm feeling depressed about progress. So a huge thanks to everyone & I wish everyone a very fulfilling 2010.

Looking back to Christmas & a big yay for 100 posts!

Wow, Christmas was a busy time here at Craft Matters Towers! I've been absolutely shattered since Christmas and it's been hard to pick up a crochet hook or plug in the sewing machine. But all the hard work was definitely worthwhile. Another Christmas project I signed up for was the Crafteroo Secret Santa Craft Swap organised by Vonnie of Blotted Copy Book. I stalked my Secret Santa partner - Helen from Kitty Ballistics Creations - for a little while and managed to work out that she liked the colour teal (which made life easier because it's one of my faves), and she needed a new pin cushion. So, in my ever-literal way, I made her a teal pin cushion! The base of the pin cushion is crochet and the top is foundation pieced patchwork (you see, I have learned something on my patchwork course..). I also made a sort-of-matching needle book and sent some lovely pins in a cute tin, some pieces of wool felt (Kitty Ballistics creates lots of very witty felt creatures like these...), some vintage thread, and some choc & posh tea bags. It was great fun putting it all together, and I think I am going to make more of the pin cushions - they combine two of my favourite crafts, which has got to be good. From my Secret Santa (Jane at Hooked Yarn) I got some fabulous goodies... She made this wonderful bauble which I absolutely love, as well as a very pretty red crochet angel, a handmade notebook, some choc (yes!), teabags, and a star-shaped cookie cutter. Judging by the great appropriateness of these gifts I know that Jane has been paying very close attention to my various posts and online activities! It was lovely to receive such a beautifully wrapped, thoughtful gift. So thank you Jane, Helen, Vonnie and Crafteroo for all the Christmassy fun and inspiration. And YAY! this is my 100th post. It's taken me a long time, but I got there in the end... It's amazing to think how much my crafting has changed and developed since I started blogging. I would never have believed that I would be writing my own crochet patterns for a start. Post number 101 will be the BIG CELEBRATORY GIVEAWAY! So don't forget to check back very soon.

And the winner is...

PennyDog! Congratulations Kerry - I will be in touch so I know where to send your goodies. Kerry makes really fantastic, original resin jewellery - check out her PennyDog Jewellery store.

Thanks so much everyone for adding a comment - it was really lovely to read all your thoughts about Christmas. It's such a hectic time of year (especially for us crafters!) - it's really great to take a minute or 2 to think about the things you love best about it.

I am painfully aware that I haven't updated my blog for days - I've just been run off my feet with some orders (hurrah!) and trying to get a little bit organised for Christmas. But I have lots of posts planned, so don't give up on my and pop by again soon.

It's time for the giveaway!!!

It's my 50th blog post!!

I never thought I'd manage to keep this blog going when I signed up with blogspot - I don't have a great record at this kind of thing (I always gave up writing in diaries sometime in the middle of January). But I've reached my 1st milestone so I'm feeling pleased with myself, especially given all the ups and downs of the last year - bereavement & moving house included.

I'm very very pleased that this has coincided with the run up to Christmas because it gives me an excuse to create a package of seasonal goodies for the lucky winner. I love Christmas & making things to give & share at Christmas is very important to me (you can find lots of our ideas at our Christmas website - Christmas Matters). So whoever wins this giveaway will get a package full of Christmassy delights including handcrafted decorations and other goodies (& keep in mind I make excellent chocolate fudge & even more excellent sloe gin)!

So, please leave me a comment, telling me what you love about Christmas, to be in with a chance of winning an extra Christmas present this year! The draw will be made next Sunday on the 7 December. Good Luck!

A lovely giveaway! Don't miss out....

Suzanne over at her Chickadee Cards blog is having a giveaway to celebrate a fantastic 10,000 visitors to her blog. She makes beautiful beaded jewellery & lovely cards. You should definitely get over there to give yourself a chance of winning a fab piece of handmade loveliness. This is one of my favourites... I love the choice of beads and that very intricate weaving of the strands. Fantastic - there's no way I'd ever have the patience to do something like that.