Last weekend, we visited our county's historical museum. Each year, there are Christmas Trees displayed that have been decorated by the various organizations, businesses, and clubs in the area. Many of the trees were covered with items that would be donated to local charities, such as the ones we saw covered in baby items and socks.
We had to walk rather quickly through the explorer, pioneer, and Native American displays in the museum. Little Guy liked looking, but he longed to touch! He did like checking out the sections with musical instruments from marching bands of eras long gone and the history of the firefighters in the area. We finally made it to the second floor, what our family dubbed "The Custer Show". You see, Gen. George Custer is from our town. I found it kind of weird that a town would celebrate the leader of Custer's Last Stand, but I've since learned that the man had quite an outstanding military record. Um... until that final little faux pas, that is.
So, once we got through the Custer section, we came upon what Little Guy so badly needed - a hands-on section! They had a Civil War Era campsite set up with replica uniforms of various sizes. (They also has a section with women's and girls' clothing from the same time period.)
Darn hat!
He made me some "coffee" on the campfire.
See Custer in the background?
We had a lot of rain last week, causing the river to jump way above it's normal depth. There was quite a bit of flooding and many road closings for a couple of days. Just so you can see the difference, I've included a photo of what it usually looks like below.
See the bridge in the background? I was standing on that bridge, facing toward the one in the foreground, to take the photos above. Big difference, huh?
Stopped at the park on the way home. It's been a few weeks since we've been there. Turns out Little Guy figured out how to propel himself on the swing like this! No more pushing him every 2 seconds (I think!)
OK, you guys are AWESOME!!!There were a total of879 entries, including the extra entries on my review posts. Now, here's how I picked the winner (hope it makes sense!)
I added up all of the extra entries on the review posts, in the order that I posted. There were only 16 entries total. Then, I added the main giveaway entries (863), which brought the total entries to 879. Here's where it gets a little weird, and I hope I make sense. First, I went to Random.org and plugged in the numbers (1-879). I wanted to see if one of the 16 extra entries won before I went any farther. Well, Random.org chose #759.
Now, I had to figure out what number entry that would be... Hmm. Now, I'm pretty sure I did this right. Instead of sitting here counting each entry (which was my first idea - duh!), I took the winning number and subtracted 16 from it (from the extra entries at the beginning.) Now, stick with me!!! The magic number was 743 - the number I am about to look up on the Rafflecopter entries in the main giveaway post. I sure hope it makes sense. If not, please know that I checked and rechecked and eventually counted all of the entries in a row (took forever with Little Guy saying, "Mama! I three now!" every two minutes!) and the number 743 came up again and again. Next time, I'm figuring out how to do this without the extra entries! So, this is "live" - I'm heading to Rafflecopter to find out who the winner is....
UGH! The person didn't leave a Facebook name... OK, back to Random.org and my screwy math.
And, 86 - 16 (extra entries) = 70...
Gotta love my wonderful control of the mouse on Paint!
Congrats, Lisa!!!
So, there you have it. I'll be emailing Lisa as soon as I get this posted and she'll have 48 hours to respond to my email. If not, I'll be back on Saturday to do this ALL OVER AGAIN!
Please don't forget my generous sponsors when your shopping for holiday gifts. These shops have a lot to offer and their prices are very low. Plus, most of them offer discounts and have clearance sections. Here's a run-down of links to my review, once more. Please keep handmade businesses in business! (You'll be helping local economies, supporting artists, buying original gifts for important people, and most of the handmade businesses you come across are MUCH greener than all of those large manufacturers!)
First of all, I wanted to remind everyone that to enter all of the great giveaways for the Made in Michigan Hop. The linky is below. Also, there is one blog that has a giveaway, but hasn't met the $25 minimum prize value. Her giveaway isn't on the linky, but it's REALLY cool: Mommies and Beyond is giving away Wild White Mini Pumpkins from a local Michigan farm. Think of the possibilities that these pumpkins would have - centerpieces, bases for a turkey kids' craft... Oh, and the only entry is to follow her by GFC and leave a comment. How simple is that? (Psst... So far, I'm the only one who has entered!)
Next, I need to remind you that the Baby Nari Hip Hugger giveaway is ending tonight at 11:59pm EST, so if you've been meaning to enter and haven't, don't miss out! This is the coolest thing ever - if you have kids (or know someone who does) between 5 months and 3 years old, you NEED this. Trust me!
This is a review for one of my
sponsors of the Made in Michigan Blog Giveaway Hop, which will take
place from October 28 – November 2. I will be offering my readers the
chance to win a (Hand)Made in Michigan prize package worth nearly
$200! Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Etsy shop and
then fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a very easy extra entry into the giveaway.
I've been waiting for the item that The Star Box sent me to review, but it is in the hands of the USPS and I'm just not sure when it will arrive, so I'm going to tell you about this really cool Etsy shop right now and, hopefully, I'll be able to add my own review later!
If you are crafty in the least (or know someone who is), The Star Box is a shop to check out. Debra, the shop's owner, creates these stamps by hand, carving the rubber for each and hand sanding the wooden blocks they are mounted to. Now, I don't know how many of you have ever attempted making your own stamps, but I can tell you it isn't easy! I always skip over those neat and creative kids' crafts that I come across that include the word "stamp" in them - whether you make them from potatoes or Styrofoam, I cannot got them right. In high school, I had the opportunity to try to create stamps from rubber. Yeah. That didn't go well, either. One wrong move and the entire thing is ruined! And the time I put into very slowly and carefully carving them was too much for me to want to pursue the art any longer.
Look at how intricate the carving is for these Dragonfly Wings!
So, I have the utmost respect for anyone who has the skill and patience for making stamps. You really have to love your work when you do this! While I may not care for the actual making of stamps, I do love using them! Stamps aren't just for adding a little embellishment to a handmade card or scrapbook. I've seen tutorials that use rubber stamps to decorate clothing, for handmade wrapping paper, and to include as images in art. Check out the use of this Fancy Bird Cage Stamp, for instance:
In addition to single stamps, The Star Box offers stamp sets. These can be used in any number of ways. For this review, I'm waiting on a set of Art Doll Paper Doll Stamps. The set includes the five stamps pictured below, along with an entire kit to make a ton of little paper dolls for playing with or using for crafting:
(4) 4"x4" squares of light weight, up-cycled cardboard for the doll body parts
(10) 4"x4" sheets of assorted decorative papers
(4) metal bottle caps ( these are real used, clean bottle caps, not the
shiny new ready made caps for crafting)
Assorted Paper Ephemera - this can include book pages, vintage images, tags, paper stubs, tickets, etc.
Assorted Embellishments - this can include tinsel pipe cleaners, metal
letters, assorted beads, assorted buttons, fabric pom pom ribbon, small
amounts of jewelry wire in various colors, sticky back label strips in
various colors with words punched on them, etc.
(12)- mini brads for moveable arms and legs
I cannot wait to get my hands on this kit! I'd love to make my niece a set of paper dolls with family members' faces on them. I'm thinking of even creating a diorama of a dollhouse from a big box so she can play with them like that. The Star Box has this really cool set of Retro Kitchen Appliance Stamps that I think would be really neat to use in the background of the kitchen section of the house. Think of it: a pretty much flat dollhouse in which she can store all of her dolls and slide it under the bed when she's through! Not only would it be a gift, but a much-needed creative venture for me, too. Check out what Debra has done with this kit:
Today only (ends 10/30 at midnight EST), if you're a Twitter follower of The Star Box, you can get in on the Buy 1, Get 1 Sale! Buy one stamp or set, get one of equal or lesser value ABSOLUTELY FREE! So, head over and follow and get your order in ASAP. Oh, and if you follow, make sure to claim your entry in the Made in Michigan Blog Hop. You can win one of the above Art Doll Paper Doll Kits (including all of the extras!) or a $35 gift certificate to The Star Box as part of the HUGE prize package!
In addition to The Star Box's Etsy shop and Twitter account, you can find the business on Facebook. Also, if you didn't make the connection, Debra is the owner of Michigan Spinning Company! You can find out more about that on my review post HERE (it was my favorite review so far!)
Disclosure: I will receive an Art Doll Paper Doll Stamp Set and Kit, as described above, for the purpose of review. No other compensation will be received. All opinions are 100% my own.
Man, my whole week has been nuts! It would seem that I got in way over my head. Well, actually, things wouldn't have been so screwed up if I hadn't caught a nasty cold a couple of weeks ago. You never realize how great it feels to be healthy until you're sneezing, coughing, and trying to keep up with a little one - all while trying to let a fever do it's work to kill the germs inside!
Had all gone smoothly, I'd have managed to write one giveaway sponsor's review and a "real" post everyday. That was the plan. But, I found myself writing nothing, then trying to get all of the sponsor posts up before the hop. I was up until 5am on Friday morning putting the finishing touches on the Made in Michigan Giveaway Hop post - just in time. I still have one more review post to write and another great Etsy giveaway to post by tomorrow. Then, things will calm down around here. I'll be able to get the Mindful Parenting Collaboration post written (I did manage to get my inner work done while sick!) and a few other posts that I've been meaning to write taken care of. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back on track soon!
Other than being sick, I've been getting ready for Halloween! Last weekend, our town had a really great Harvet Festival - complete with Trick-or-Treating at the small businesses downtown. It is so neat to watch Little Guy's eyes light up at every single Tootsie Roll and Twizzler. He smiled HUGELY at every stop (I don't think he could stop smiling!) and his "Thank You" to everyone was so genuine! You see, we don't do a lot of candy around here, though I don't completely outlaw it. Up until this summer, in fact, fruit leather and raisins were referred to as "candy".
Today, the farmer's market held their own Trick-or-Treating! So, Little Guy got to dress up in his really cool Thomas costume again and get FREE CANDY from the vendors he's come to know all over the summer.
Oh, and we decorated pumpkins last night. Check out this post to see how we do pumpkins around here. It's more economical - and safer - than carving!
Showing off how strong he is!
And, finally, here are a couple of pictures I managed to catch this morning that ended up being nice little surprises when I uploaded them from my camera:
The River Raisin this morning. I really like getting photos of the river when the reflection in the water comes out so beautifully.
I love this one! The flower vendor has a blue tarp over her stall this morning. I just love how everything in the picture has that blue hue to it except the flowers.
This is a review for one of my
sponsors of the Made in Michigan Blog Giveaway Hop, which will take
place from October 28 – November 2. I will be offering my readers the
chance to win a (Hand)Made in Michigan prize package worth nearly
$200! Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Etsy shop and
then fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a very easy extra entry into the giveaway.
We all wear clothes, right? (Well, most of us - Little Guy has decided to venture into nudist territory lately.) Did you even consider the fact that everything we wear - from wool to cotton to synthetics all start with spinning fibers together to create a thread or yarn, which is then woven into some kind of fabric and put together into clothing. Now, consider how long people have been doing this. These are the kind of thoughts that are akin to contemplating how insignificant one is, while laying on a hill and looking at stars on a warm summer night. The thoughts that come rushing in can be mind-boggling. Well, at least, that's how it's been for me for the past two hours.
Debra, owner of Michigan Spinning Company on Etsy, sent me a handmade (in Michigan!) Maple & Birch Top Whorl Drop Spindle and some beautifully hand-dyed Shetland Wool Roving (also from Michigan!) to try out. Now, the closest I've ever gotten to working with roving was when I was about 10 years old and visited Greenfield Village. One of the displays had a basket of freshly-washed wool, some carding supplies, and a giant spinning wheel all ready for inexperienced visitors to try out. I think I made the biggest ball of fuzz on a string in the history of humans spinning!
So, you can imagine my apprehension when I opened the package from Michigan Spinning Company and had the weird spindle thingy in one hand and a giant roll of loosely-braided roving in the other. How in the world can I use this stick with a circle and hook on it to turn this fluffy stuff into something I can knit with?! Then I calmed myself by remembering that someone, a very, very, very long time ago, figured out hoe to do this without the benefits of having the roving and spindle delivered by USPS and the Internet with Google and YouTube videos! Now, I don't have sound on my computer, but just watching a few of these videos and the various techniques people use made it possible for me to feel confident enough to get started. And, you know what? I MADE YARN! Really!!! All by myself - for TWO hours. Debra warned me that it was addictive, but I really had no idea it would be such a great feeling. Oh, and meditative, too. For those two hours, I was able to just stare at the spinning spindle and contemplate all those ideas I mentioned above.
Now, I have to share Michigan Spinning Company'sMission Statement because they've succeeded 100% by simply sending me these things to review.
"Michigan Spinning Company is dedicated to promoting and preserving Fiber
Art Traditions, including but not limited to, the art of natural fiber
processing, hand dyeing, handspinning, knitting and weaving. We have a
hands-on approach to learning and eagerly share our experience and
enthusiasm for the Fiber Arts through informal informational videos,
audio/video podcasting, newsletters, and participation in local Fiber
Festivals and Events. We believe in the importance of introducing young
people to the Fiber Arts, educating them in the traditions of earlier
generations, fostering their love and appreciation for things handmade,
and encouraging them to pass on their acquired knowledge and enthusiasm
to future generations."
Did you take note of the mention of "young people" and "future generations"? My kids will be learning how to do this, too! My oldest has the most agile fingers and I just know he's do well with it. And, even at three, Little Guy could do this. Just think of the education and pride they'll get out of learning this. And, as kids who've been taught to ask questions, I know that we'll probably end up heading to the library to learn more about different fibers used for clothing, the science behind spinning, how clothes are made... the possibilities are endless!
You can find Michigan Spinning on Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also follow on their Blog!
Disclosure: I received one Drop Spindle and +/- 6 oz. Wool Roving from Michigan Spinning for the purpose of this review. I have received no other form of compensation. All opinions are 100% my own.
I am extremely happy to be part of this Made in Michigan Giveaway Hop. As I said in a previous post about the hop, Michigan really needs and deserves this type of spotlight with the economy the way it is right now. Yes, everyone is hurting, but it just amazes me how badly Michigan is doing economically with all of the wonderful resources we have. Most people know the the "Big 3" car makers are located here, but jobs with them are hard to come by. Where I live, Ford used to be the largest employer. I swear, probably 80% of the people I know are either laid off from Ford right now or their spouses are. There are other large companies here: Kellogg's, Jiffy (you know, the corn bread & other mixes that you can still get for less that $1 a box?), Better Made Chips, Meijer, Jiffy Lube, and even Eden Organics! Then we have quite a bit of agriculture here, too. But, with large agri-business taking over, it is hard for the family farmers to stay in business. Do you know that, though I live in a semi-rural area, I've never seen two of Michigan's main crops at the farmer's market - blueberries and cherries? In fact, it's rare that every stall at the farmer's market has a vendor! Finally, we have some amazing outdoors areas. I don't think I have to tell many people how fantastic the U.P. is. Western Michigan is known for its beaches and sand dunes. And, you can go pretty much anywhere and find some great camping (you know, the kind that isn't basically a huge parking lot for campers? I think people call it "roughing it"...) As I said, I just don't understand how, in a state with so much to offer, the financial situation of the majority of its residents is so dire. So, I am extremely happy to be able to spotlight a few of the items that you can get that are made right here, in Michigan.
My giveaway consists of a TON of amazing prizes offered by Etsy shops based in Michigan. At the top of this page, you will see links to reviews of some of these shops. After you enter in the Rafflecopter form below, I strongly urge you to click on those links and read about these wonderful shops, their products, and rack up an extra entry into the giveaway by completing the very easy Rafflecopter entries at the bottom of those posts. (I'm telling you, they are EASY - no commenting/following/liking necessary!)
Yeah, yeah... you want to know what you can WIN, right?! Well, here you go:
Andrea, owner of 4th Street Candle Co. (that's "4th Street" in MY town, by the way!) would like to offer the winner an 8oz hand-poured, dye-free soy candle in the scent of his or her choice (see this post for the full list.) Let me tell you - her candles ROCK! The scent is so real. And these candles last a long time! Though I have burned my candle for an hour or so every night since I received it three weeks ago, there's maybe only 1/4 of it burned down. You can visit 4th Street Candle Co. on Facebook,
Etsy,
Twitter,
and Andrea has her own blog ~ Stumbling Along Faithfully.
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Courtney, owner of Beatifical, makes little creatures of all kinds by hand. Based in Detroit,she says that she started making them one day and just never stopped. Sometimes she has a plan in mind when she starts a new creation, but most times, she works off the cuff and a new addition to her shop is born! Aside from making the creatures by hand, she also makes her own buttons for the eyes - now that's what I call 100% handmade! Courtney is offering the winner a $15 gift certificate to use in her shop, Beatifical.
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I cannot find enough words to describe the beautiful pieces of woven bead jewelry that is made by MelJoy Creations, located in Sebewaing (it's in the "thumb" of Michigan). Each gorgeous handcrafted piece is made with quality in mind, yet kept at affordable prices. (If you use the coupon code BOO20at checkout through October 31, you can even get an additional 20% off your entire order!) I absolutely love that, if you see a woven pattern you like but not the colors you want (or the other way around), you can request a customization and MelJoy Creations will be happy to work toward creating you the perfect piece. MelJoy Creations is offering the winner a hand-woven beaded bracelet worth $30! You can stay updated on MelJoy Creations' newest items and sales via Facebook and their Blog.
You could probably find a gift for everyone on your list at 8daysOfTreasures. This shop has "A Little Bit of Everything" and that's no joke. From beautiful moss terrariums to breathtaking Michigan photography to vintage and antique items, you really could browse this shop for eight days and still find something new! Stephanie is a very talented photographer who has managed to capture some awesome scenes on film. If you're the lucky winner, you can expect to receive (4) - 4" x 6" and (2) - 5" x 7" photographs depicting colorful Michigan autumnal scenes and Lake Michigan beaches (you can see the autumn photos here and the beach scenes here and here.) And, yes, 8daysOfTreasures is offering you a discount code, too! From now until November 30, you can receive 20% your entire order by entering the code: AUTUMNSALE11 at checkout. To stay updated on Stephanie's newest items and sales, connect with her on Etsy and Facebook.
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So, PETfection (located in Grosse Pointe) saved my life! Well, they probably saved it, plus they kept my family safe and made my kitty cat very happy. How? This is the very first time I have managed to find a company that makes natural, organic, non-toxic pet supplies that really work! In Michigan, especially in the wetland area where I live, fleas and ticks are terrible. Once your pet gets them and they get into your home, you have to pull out the big guns - chemical-laden flea killers. Not good for people, nor animals. But, PETfection's Cat Bug Spray really repelled the biting insects and it even making out cat's fur really, really soft. You can read more about this and some of their other products here. In addition to the bug spray, you can find shampoos, treats, pet beds... a ton of safe & natural pet products at their online store. Oh, and the prices aren't what you'd expect! You won't be re-mortgaging your home or mailing them and arm and a leg just to get Fido's funky odor under control. I suggest heading to their Web site. There, you'll get to see all of their wonderful product (even great gift baskets) and, if your order is shipped to a Michigan address, shipping is free - no coupon code needed! PETfection will be sending the winner one 2oz. jar of relaxing & healing Peppermint Paw Cream! You can find PETfection at their Web site, on Etsy (free shipping is only good on orders through their Web site), on Facebook, and on Twitter.
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Michigan Spinning, located in Grand Rapids, offers a wide array of hand-dyed and naturally colored fibers and yarns and even handmade drop spindles! In wanting to help the local economy, the shop's owner, Debra, tries to buy fibers from Michigan Farms first. The materials that she cannot find locally are purchased on Etsy, so she's still supporting those vendors that matter most! I have always been impressed and in awe of anyone who could take a fluffy pile of wool and turn it, first, into yarn, then into a functional item. I received a package recently from Michigan Spinning that will enable me to learn to do just that! You see, Michigan Spinning's mission is to preserve these traditional skills through education, especially the younger generations, in the hope that these will not become lost arts. And, to help pass the traditions on to a wider circle, the winner will receive the same items I got to review: a Top Whorl Drop Spindle and 4oz. Wool Roving in their preferred color(s) or, if he or she prefers, a $35 gift code. You can find Michigan Spinning on Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also follow on their Blog!
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Also owned by Debra is The Star Box, an Etsy shop that specializes in hand-carved rubber stamps. Have you ever tried the old "simply use a potato to make a stamp" art project? How did it turn out? Yeah, mine, too. Stamps are hard to make and, looking at Debra's intricately carved stamps, I can't help but wonder how she does it! Each stamp is carved, then mounted on a hand-finished block of wood. The winner will receive an Art Doll Paper Doll Rubber Stamp Set from The Star Box. You can find The Star Box on Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter.
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Amore Vivo is located in South Lyon. You have to go check out this Etsy shop that is just filled with beautiful floral arrangements, wreaths, wine art, and upcycled cork art. What really gets my attention, though, are the fresh holiday arrangements that shop owner, Michele, creates from Michigan evergreens (juniper, blue spruce, cedar, pine, and more) each year for a limited time. And, that is the prize that she's offering to the winner of this giveaway: one Fresh Michigan Evergreen Centerpiece (this prize will be available to the winner between November 20 - December 18.) Check out Amore Vivo on Etsy and Twitter!
Whew! That's a LOT of prizes! Be sure to hop on over to the other blogs participating in the Made in Michigan Giveaway Hop, listed below!
(BTW - I have kept all entries optional. Please take the time to check out these great shops and let them know which items you like the best. It is very helpful to them to know which items people like the best. Also, please don't "like" a Facebook page only if you're going to "unlike" it the day after the giveaway ends. It's rude. I haven't asked you to follow, like, subscribe, or vote for me in any of these entries. If you like my blog, please show me some love!)
We had a lot of rain last week, causing the river to jump way above it's normal depth. There was quite a bit of flooding and many road closings for a couple of days. Just so you can see the difference, I've included a photo of what it usually looks like below.
