Giving Thanks

Today was/is (at least for another couple of hours) the day set aside in the US to give thanks for the harvest (though -- our current traditions probably have very little to do with the celebration we're supposed to be emulating). It's also a time to look at your life and think about what it is you are grateful/thankful for. I know it's something I don't do often enough, so it's nice to get the reminder sometimes.

This year I am thankful for young eyes that remind me of the wonder of the first snow of the year. No worries about the roads, travel -- just excitement and wonder that this white stuff came from the sky, and a quick run to the closet and demands to put on her coat so she can go out and play.

I am thankful for my family and friends, near and far. They're pretty wonderful people.

I am thankful for the opportunities I have had this year to play with my quilting and to teach my first quilting class.

And, I am thankful for you -- my fellow crafters who read my blog. You give me encouragement (even when I probably don't need it when it comes to stash enhancement activities), advice, and honest feedback. Those are all things I value. In addition, I've made so many new "imaginary" (though, you are all real -- that term bothers me somehow) friends from all walks of life, all over the globe. I have learned over and over again that quilters are some of the most generous people. People whose generosity in terms of time (and sometimes in terms of fabric, patterns and other goodies) are unparalleled.

So -- as a way to say "thank you" on a day meant for thanks -- I'm going to offer up a little token of my thanks. Remember these pincushions? Well -- leave a comment on this post between now and Sunday, November 25th and I will send you one. Which one I'm not sure (and one of the two finished ones you see in the photo has already gone to a new home) -- but you will get one of them. I mentioned earlier that I had put some scented oil in one -- the one I will send does not have any scent.

Oh -- and if you don't want to take any chances and would like to guarantee that you get one of these -- I still have one spot open on my Pay-It-Forward exchange. If you'd like to play along -- I think I can guarantee one of these lovelies :0). If you are signing up for the PIF -- it will be first come, first serve. Please leave your comment on the PIF post!

Pay It Forward

I know, I'm a bit behind the times here. I've seen this going around the blogosphere for the last several months. But every time I saw someone post it -- it seemed I was always the 4th person to read and/or so far down the line it wasn't even funny. Now -- looks like my luck has changed. The lovely Kristin L. (rocking cool crafty artsy chica mama that she is) has decided to play along as well. AND I managed to make a comment in enough time to be able to sign up. Wooo Hooo!!!

So, for those of you who haven't read it before or have no idea what I'm talking about here is the original meme/invitation:

“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.”

Obviously, there is one little catch -- you must have a blog in order to pay it forward yourself. I wish there were a way to make the offer to some of you who have kindly commented here and don't have blogs of your own -- but this one is going to have to be limited to those who have blogs. Stay tuned for something soon that will be open to anyone.

As for what I may send -- I have NO idea. Probably something made out of fabric, though knitted stuff is not out of the question as well, and then there are embroideries too -- oh the possibilities. I also will try my best to get these out sooner rather than later -- but, the only promise I will make is that in the invitation -- within the next calendar year. Oh, and the photo of the yoyo's -- um, not sure the eventual PIF items will contain them, just needed a photo for today so I raided a past blog post!

And on the current crafting front -- I have a ton going on right now. Lots of stuff on my work surface, some new patterns to play with, some sightings of the aprons I put together at market (last photo from the bottom of the post on the right, the mannequin with the aprons on it? The adult sized one is one I made -- and yep, that's the Lakehouse booth -- silly that I'm excited by this right?), and a package from Australia that came in the mail today with more goodies. But, the only photos I've taken in the past two days are of the applesauce I made yesterday. And I don't think you're all that interested in my culinary experiments sooooo -- I'll post more about what's going on later (I'd say tomorrow, but it may just be later today).