Happy New Year & Giveaway Update

Happy 2010!  How is it possible that it is 2010 already?  Weren't we all just worrying about the Y2K bug not too long ago?  Time marches on, I guess.

Last night BunBun and I hosted the appetizer portion of our church's progressive dinner.  It was a wet and stormy night, but there were still plenty of people who stopped by to taste the goodies.  (Thanks Lee's and Dunker's for your help!)  Then it was off to the Teasley's (Starla and Garry's) for all kinds of yummy soups.  We sampled Clam Chowder, Split Pea, Hearty Hamburger Soup, and Arron Lee provided a Seafood and Tomato Bisque.  We all piled into our cars as all the kids went whooping it up into the empty streets (aren't other people's kids hilarious?) and headed off to the Walters' home.  Imagine BunBun and my surprise when we pulled up in front of the house my best friend lived in during high school?  (Cue Wayne's World do-do-do- do music and Garth and Wayne doing the squiggly line dream sequence thingy)

Many, many, many nights and days were spent here hanging out with my friend and her boyfriend.  Anyway, we had delicious spaghetti and french bread in Jim and Kathy's lovely home before heading off to the church for dessert.
We finished off the night eating dessert and laughing with friends.  Then we gathered together and prayed out the old year and prayed in the new.  It was a great time.  As a side note, coffee, sparkling cider chocolate, and other gooey desserts CAN give you some sort of hangover.  I'm definitely feeling icky today.

Before I get to the giveaway, I just want to mention a little bit of fame that came our way a couple days ago.  Starla is the director of an outreach program at our church called Ruth's Room.  Our local NBC affiliate, KIEM TV has a weekly spot on the newscast called Spirit of the Northcoast.  It highlights local people that help others,provide services, etc. for the county.  Well, Ruth's Room was blessed to be chosen as this past week's spot.  A lovely new reporter named Ramona came down and interviewed Starla and some other volunteers (yours truly included) for the spot.  It was fun and we hope it will help us reach more people.  We have saved approximately 60 tons of clothing and household items from the landfill in the nearly 3 years we have been open.  Here is the link to the broadcast.

And now.....for the giveaway.  I will be posting it in a couple days, but I wanted to give you a little preview of what it will include.  There will be a couple's devotional book written by James Dobson, some candles, and a large monogram of the winning person's choice.  I'm going to make one of my initial to demonstrate before I post it.  Hope you will all enter and spread the word to your friends and readers as well. 

On this day, 147 years ago, President Abraham Lincold signedthe Emancipation Proclamation.

Now I'm off to help BunBun take down the Christmas tree and get started on that monogram.

Initially Yours

I recently shared my love of monograms with you and some of the finds I made at Etsy and Artfire.  I decided this year's Christmas ornament would be the first letter of each person's name.  For those outside the family, I would  make one ornament for the entire family using the first letter of their last name. My family tree will include the letters M- Molly, C- Callie, L - Levi, S- Sam, N - Natalia, K - Ken, C - Cindi, A - Arlene, J - John, A- Ammi,  E - Ethan, A - Aaron, T - Tami, T - Tory, E, Emily, and  T - Tanner.  I know it's a lot of letters, but they go very quickly.

My materials were easy to come by as well.  Our $ Tree had these gigantic stockings made of felt so I picked up 2 of those.  I free-handed each letter onto the felt using a Sharpie.  I used my sharp sewing scissors to cut out a double thickness of each letter.  I sewed random buttons and other bits of bling onto the "front" of a single thickness of the letter using embroidery floss or thread.  I followed that up with a blanket stitch all the way around to attach both pieces of each letter to each other.  I finished each letter with a piece of narrow ribbon at the top for hanging.

Total time (for 1 letter) from beginning to end: approx. 45 minutes.  I completed several while watching Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and White Christmas, 2 Christmas classics.  You could easily get some of these made for your tree or to give a Christmas gift that personal touch in just a few hours.  If you have any to spare!  I'd love to see what you come up with if you do give this a try.

Merry Christmas!

Monogram Me!

According to Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary, a monogram is defined as "a sign of identity usually formed of the combined initials of a name."    For the last several years, monograms have been popping up all over the place.  They have always been popular on shirts, handkerchiefs, and stationery.  However, now they can be found on purses, jewelry, shoes, and as art.

 When I got married last year I started my own little obsession with monograms.   I took the last name of Rose a year and a half ago and so I have been on the look out for that unique "R" that may be lurking here or there.  When I got married, Starla made our cake for us (THANKS!)  and the top was a monogram "R" in the center with a  "K" on one side for BunBun whose name happens to be Ken and a "C" for me on the other side.   I don't have many in my collection yet.  In fact, I have 3 to date.  One is a silver Christmas ornament decked out with rhinestones, one is a black and white graphic magnetic "R" I picked up at Tar-zhay for $1 and the other is a wooden R I found and covered with Wallies from the Dollar Tree.

So I thought I would take a look around Etsy and Artfire and see what other artisans and craftisans were doing in the way of initials and monograms.  Here are a few that I found.

YellowDogStudio over at Etsy is one of the first places I stopped.  This studio focuses on reclaimed, recycled, and restored items.  In the shop owner's words, "The material I use is reclaimed, recycled from a previous life or discarded and heading for the landfill. Very little goes to waste as smaller and smaller projects are created to minimize the waste."  This is something I believe in as well.  I especially liked the "R" that this shop offered.  It's made from aged cedar and reclaimed plywood.  It is a white "R" on  a black background and would fit perfectly in my primitive decorating scheme.  Go check it out for yourself!


Inspirations by Faith is another Etsy shop I found.  This shop owner offers more than just monograms and there were lots of items in the shop I liked.  But what really caught my eye?  This wood plaque that is customizeable to your specific intial.  Faith Morgan, the shop owner, has elevated a lowly letter to a work of art with the use of aged-looking background paper and the right paints.  The lovely ribbon hanger gives it the perfect touch of class.  Faith also promises a quick turnaround time once you have placed your order.  I have already added this shop to my favorites.  Make sure you do the same.
 
themixshop over at Artfire is stocked full of fabulous finds.  Eclectic and vintage items are this shop's specialty.  I found lots to like here.  What I fell in love with were these adorable tiny initial charm necklaces.  While not vintage, they have the vintage look to them and they would look great with tee shirt and jeans or dressed up for a night on the town. Go take a look and I'll bet you find something you love at themixshop.
 
Kountry Girl Boutique is an Artfire studio whose owner lives in Florida and loves polka dots.  (My kind of girl!)  Everything in this studio is adorable and perfect for the initial/monogram lover.  I especially like the Intial with Scroll Door Sign.  The black with ivory scroll design is simple yet classy.  Your choice of paint color for the initial lets you make sure it fits in with your decor.  The letter"P" featured in this example is a lovely mint green and I do love green.  Head on over and check this studio out today!
 
Affordable Cake Toppers   is one of the last Artfire studios I stopped by.  If I didn't have an uber-talented friend like Starla, I would have headed here to get the top for my wedding cake.  These toppers are classy and lightweight.  The aren't made from plastic or wood.  They are metal and the prongs used to attach to your cake can be removed.  Once the prongs are removed you can display your new monogram in your home.  Three styles of monograms are available from this shop based in Michigan.  There is the plain metal, the vintage with crystals and the custom with crystals.  They are all gorgeous and would fit perfectly for a special anniversary cake as well.  My personal favorite is, of course, the vintage with crystals.  It just exudes elegance and class.  This is definitely one shop you want to visit if you will be needing a cake topper in the future.
 
I'm in love with monograms.  I put them on my Christmas wish list and I have been busily making initial Christmas ornaments.  (THAT post to follow soon!)  If you don't yet have a love/obsession/addiction with monograms, I hope by stopping by these shops and studios will at least spark an interest for you.  They are a simple, classic, artsy way to add a little personal touch to your home.