its been a while. i know.

busy thinking of what comes next to be honest. but its no excuse.

to make up for it i have found a few contests (from other crafting sites) to get you back in gear.

SINGER/CRAFT Contest Description & Official Rules

SINGER® Sewing Company and CRAFT are excited to present a contest for all you seamstresses and seamsters basking in the glow of the summer. Yes, its finally summer! This is your chance to show off your spin on beach-wear (*must be a sewn garment). For a six week period, crafters can submit pictures of your swimsuit cover-up to the flickr group called ‘The Swimsuit Cover-up Contest’. At the end of the six weeks, SINGER will pick one Grand Prize winner and three runners-up.

The Grand Prize winner’s project will be featured on the SINGER® web site and promoted in an ad on Craftzine.com. The Grand Prize winner will also receive one (1) SINGER® Fashion Mate 7256 Sewing Machine.

Three (3) runners-up will receive a SINGER® dress form and a $25 Maker Shed Gift Certificate.

Head on over to the The Swimsuit Cover-up Contest Flickr group.

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Vintage Garments Contest

Contest will run: June 17-July 17 2009

Time to pull out any vintage patterns you have stashed away, or find some at the thrift shop or even on ebay or etsy. I know they seem to multiply at my house!

If you can’t find one, you can use any of the pattern companies that offer reprints of their vintage patterns. NOT vintage ‘inspired’.

The Rules:

This is a FREE CONTEST. Well except for the fabrics or patterns you might have to buy LOL

Make a garment using a vintage or reprinted vintage pattern. Vintage here refers to (approx) 1920-1980.

Minor design ‘tweaks’ are awesome! Make it to fit your lifestyle now!

You do not need to use vintage fabrics. You may learn a lot from checking out the techniques so you might want to read those pesky directions.

You can sew clothing for women, men or children. Accessories as part of a clothing item can be included and would be super cute.

The garment must be started on or after midnight June 17, and completed and reviewed by midnight July 17th. This includes cutting out the items. You can prewash and prepare the patterns but NO cutting of anything!

Yes you can use a pattern you’ve used in the past.

More than one item can be entered in the contest.

No doll, aprons, home dec. This is garment sewing only.

Requirements:

1. Each entrant must sign up by clicking here. You need to click to ‘join’ the Vintage Garment Contest.

2. When you are ready, you must post your finished item in this forum. Include a link to the Sewing Mamas review of the pattern you used and the finished garment YOU created.

4. You must supply a Rating and Review for each pattern used, and list it in your official entry. If multiple items are from one pattern, one review is sufficient.

Winner determination:
Decided by Sponsor votes. Voting will begin on July 18th and end on July 22th.

Prizes:
Two winners:
$20 and gift certificates from Old Patterns.com
Three winners:
Sets of Sewing Mama Labels from http://www.misslabel.com

Each member who has been registered for a minimum of 60 days prior to the contest start can enter. Each entrant can only win one prize only. If you have won a prize in the last six months from an Official Sewing Mamas’ contest you are not eligible.

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Making a great small project is a fun challenge. It’s about working within constraints to see how much stuff you can fit into a little tin, or creating something small enough to carry around and easily show others.

Due to popular request, we’re bringing back one of our favorite contests – the Pocket-Sized Contest!

Any entry that can fit in a pocket can be entered.

Rule of thumb: if you have to describe the pocket the item would fit into, it’s not pocket-sized. So those big baggy cargo pants pockets are out. Think small, palm-sized, and easily pocketable.

So show us something awesome and win a Leatherman Squirt P4-Pocket Multi-Tool with a custom laser-etching. You can add your name, a (very) short message, or even a little logo. We’ll also be giving you an Instructables Robot t-shirt and some other goodies.

Check out last year’s winners for inspiration. Now get creative, and think small!

First Prize (3 winners)
One Leatherman Squirt P4-Pocket Multi-Tool with custom laser-etching.
Plus an Instructables Robot t-shirt, patch, and stickers.

Judges Prize for Best Green Entry (1 winner)
Signed copy of The Best of Instructables Volume I

Runner-Up Prize (4 winners)
Instructables Robot t-shirt, patch, and stickers.

(Official Rules)

International entries are OK.
Multiple entries are allowed, but each entrant can only win one prize

$1 thrift sale

NEXT WEEKEND… make sure you hit the Salvation Army store near you and experience fun shopping once again. i love going through the racks, filling the cart til its overflowing and realizing its only going to cost $30. thats what thrift shopping used to be like. thats what it should be like.

at Salvation Army Thrift Stores

PLUS…

dont forget your coupons for other deals on other items

thinking of summer camp?

here are a few of my favorites from the Spark Center, in New Hambourg

Summer Camps

There’s still space available in some of our summer camps (for ages 6-12)—so be sure to register soon if you’re interested. We are still accepting registrations for the following weeks of camp:

Full-Day Camps
9am to 4pm daily for $175+GST/week, extended care available from 8:30-9am and 4-5pm for additional $2.50/half hour:

Jul 13 to 17: Drama Extravaganza – Develop confidence and creativity through the performing arts. Campers will learn the basics of improvisation, mask making and principles of theatre (sets, costumers, lighting, make-up). A performance on the last day allows emerging talent to shine!

Jul 27 to 31: Creative Blast from the Past – Get unplugged and explore creative pursuits from yesteryear. Sample activities: calligraphy, writing and performing radio plays, designing and hand sewing stuffed critters, embroidery, spool knitting, playing marbles, and singing folk songs.

Aug 24 to 28: Eco Explorers – Discover the natural wonders of New Hamburg and brainstorm how to make your neighbourhood a greener place. Sample activities: nature walks, sketching outdoors, making art from “trash,” and learning about cool environmental solutions like worm composting and eating local.

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures..” Thornton Wilder

Contact asap to register — or visit their site for more information

P: 519-662-6600
www.thesparkcentre.com
251A Huron St.
New Hamburg, ON Canada N3A 1K2

NEW Elmira Market

Elmira has added handmade to their downtown with the creation of an indoor market. They run every Saturday, and you can have a table for a mere $20.  The market has been open since May 16 and is a work in progress.

ELMIRA SHOPPING VILLAGE
Lower Level at 10 Church St. W. Elmira
Corner of Arthur St. (Hwy 85) and Church St. (Line 86)
Between Home Hardware and Royal Bank

rainbows of colour

I am so inspired by the bright rich colours of summer. takes me to a place where the sun is shining, the surf is crashing, and the salty smell of the ocean is in the air.

Pom Pop Wooden Bead Necklace :: Suzini

Handpainted Flats :: SMIRNOFF Designs

Bundle of Joy Baby Onsie + Burp Cloth :: Lola Miren

Citrus Hair Pins :: Mia Beads

Giant Gerber Daisy Headband :: Little Keira’s Bow’s

Grace Foldover Clutch :: White Hope Designs

…happy shopping, but remember to get out + enjoy the sun!

Happy Birthday RareFunk!

Help celebrate 1 year of existence!

RareFunk officially opened June 5th 2008 with items from about local 14 artists, and a few previously loved items. Now, ONE YEAR LATER, they have exactly 90 artists selling their funky unique handmade works at this little diamond in the rough on Duke st, Downtown Kitchener (ontario)

RareFunk 2008 :: 14 artists

The artists come from surrounding areas of KW, Toronto, Montreal, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba … and just this year they have branched out of Canada showcasing their first artist from Australia!

Rarefunk Today :: 90 Artists

Rarefunk Today :: 90 Artists

To help celebrate the joy and excitement of ONE YEAR of Service, many artists are offering sales on all kinds of items. All month long you will find discounted items by Megan Kraatz, It’s a Lulu, Koriander, Kathryn Helwig and Chicki.

… dont forget

JUNE 21st IS FATHER’S DAY

A girl’s father is the first man in her life, and probably the most influential. – David Jeremiah (Quoted in Fathers Who Dare to Win by Ian Grant, 1999)

tshirt: sweet, coasters: mike woodside , cards: WH designs , dress: its a lulu , remaining items: thrifted

BONUS: By shopping at Rarefunk during the month of June you will have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate for the shop. (Second prize – A set of four custom hand-painted coasters by WH Designs) what a fabulous deal for buying someone else that perfect gift — a gift for you too.

… something for dad, something for me.. something for boyfriend, something for me…

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.
Fathers Day Quote by: Charles Wadworth

pillow: throwbacks , magnets: Wh designs , coasters: WH designs , iron figures: iron beaver industries

cards: scarpstar originals

One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown

coasters: mike woodside

salt + pepper shakers: the spiked olive

jar lid pins: gnarled branch, glass pins: sweet

Or choose from other fabulous funky artists like some of my favorites…

sweet

Kys Perspective

Dear Ms. Tanushka

CarolynWard

My Belle Bijoux

fabricawakuwaku

Kailey Hawthorn

designed by RJ

Natural Mosquito Repellants

FIRST…

• Don’t wear dark clothing as it will attract the buzzers.
• Don’t use fragrances especially floral fragrances.
• Don’t leave standing water around in birth baths etc.
• Don’t Garden during Dusk & Dawn : Mosquitoes are more active during dusk and dawn. Head inside for 30 minutes, just as the sun goes down, then back outside when it’s dark, for those starlit nights

Plants that repel mosquitos:

• Rosemary
• Ageratum
• Marigolds
• Catnip

Note plants will repel however it’s best when they are crushed and oils are used or even just taking a leaf and rubbing it on!!

Natural Mosquito Reciepe:

Use catnip oil to make a spray. Mix about a half-teaspoon of essential oil of catnip with 1 cup isopropyl alcohol and 1 cup water. Shake well and spray lightly on clothing, arms and legs. Do not use on children, pets or people sensitive to catnip.

· Brew a catnip and vinegar spritz. Crush 2 cups catnip leaves and add to 3 cups white or rice vinegar in a quart jar. Seal and store in dark cupboard. Shake every day for 2 weeks. Strain mixture into clean jar and refrigerate. Use as a light spritz on clothes, arms or legs. Some say the vinegar keeps the mosquitoes away, other say the catnip does the work.

Gather 2 cups catnip and 1 cup rosemary leaves. Crush the leaves by using a rolling pin or scrunching them with your hands. Put the leaves in a clean jar and cover with 2 cups unscented body care oil or vegetable glycerin. Store in a cool dark cupboard for 2 weeks. Shake the jar lightly every day. After 2 weeks, strain out the leaves and pour the oil into a clean jar. Refrigerate and use the catnip body oil as needed

Reipes from www.greenterrafirma.com

via BT Toronto Blogs » Frankie Flowers.