Sommer Designs

Giveaway Winner(s)!

Sorry I didn't get back on last night ~ there was a bit of drama across the street. My sweet neighbor had to take one of her little ones to the hospital and I got a chance to snuggle with the other little one and his big brother until grandma and grandpa got there! Oh, I do miss those little snuggles!

I used Carrie's Random Number Generator (and what a fun little tool that is!) and the winning random number (which I can't remember now) picked Terri Edmonds! Terri - please email me at info AT sommerdesigns DOT com, with your addy and your pick, and I'll get it out to you pronto-like.

While I was playing with the random numbers, I decided to pick two more numbers (which would be runners-up, if I was a high fa-luting contest-maker) so - Kiona & Knitterella , give me a holla at the same addy with your addresses - you each get to choose an apron or lavender liner!

Thanks, everyone, for playing along. I was amazed and overwhelmed by the amount of entries/comments, and the funnest part was seeing so many new names and finding so many new blogs! See, that's what happens when you comment! Other people get to notice you and visit your blog or website or Etsy store! That's why it's so nice when people DO comment! So, thank you!

I had a lovely day yesterday - played hooky all day long; in fact, I've pretty much been playing hooky since the weekend (you know, the whole 'let's celebrate Carrie for as long as humanly possible'). I'd love to play hooky some more today, and I've been thinking about a field trip to Anthropologie to 'celebrate Carrie' and spend some birthday cash...but, I think I might have to work. At least for a little while. Then it will be back to 'celebrating Carrie'.

Hey, don't roll your eyes. When you get to this age, you take all the celebrating you can get.

A super special Birthday giveaway!

Well, it's a giveaway, and the only reason it's super special is because MY birthday is in 5 days (that would be Tuesday, for anyone who is taking notes), and that, in itself, is super special. As you can see, I am setting myself up for the biggest letdown in the world - because to me, birthdays fall somewhere around the expectation of New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day. Neither of these holidays are really big for me (yes, it's true, I'm not big on Valentine's Day, can you believe it? And I can't stand red roses.), and my birthday, at this MID-LIFE point, is just another day.

I've been wanting to do my own giveaway for awhile, and this seems like the perfect opportunity! I was going to say, make a comment and tell me what you like - but I'm updating the site on Sunday and Monday, so you'd have to check back.

But it's no problem - just leave a comment and on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 - I'll pick a comment. I was also going to only offer an apron or lavender liner, but I think I might open it up to handbags as well...how's that sound? Here's a preview of a new apron, made with super gorgeous Barefoot Roses by Tanya Whelan - doesn't it look like you can just reach out and touch those roses?

And, another thing: I think I might have screwed up the feed on my blog when I tried to add Dinner Challenge to the whole blog feed mess. So, if it's messed up in your bloglines I do apologize and I'm working on it. When I'm not eating birthday bon bons, that is.

Update 2/5: Thanks everyone! Comments closed - check back later for the winner! XO, C

Are you wearing your apron?

Remember? It's Wear Your Apron As Fashion Day! I usually spend Monday's inside, doing all the household catch-up after a weekend of men/boys romping through the house and messing everything up. I'm going to try to find more excuses to leave today!

It was a busy weekend! Saturday, I went over to Shari's {beautiful!} home for a Craft Swap! How fun is that? It worked out so well because I've been cleaning and cleaning and cleaning and organizing, and came across all this miscellaneous craft {crap} stuff that I really didn't want to donate. I know that sounds so selfish. But really, I wanted them to go to a good home. A crafty home.

First we started with a little lunch, because it's better to craft swap on a full stomach, you know?

That's Shari & Leslie above, and Megan, Melissa & Christina below:

Crafty people are good potluck-bringers also. I took over the entire dining room table with my surplus of extra/old yarn, ribbon, fabric scraps, and just general had-to-have-at-the-time craft supplies.

Melissa had the fabulous idea of taking everything that was left to her local library, which puts together craft days for kids over the summer. Perfect!

The obligatory group shot: (l-r) me, Shari, Melissa (formerly of Beandip & Eddy), Leslie (The Paper Princess), Christina (Indie Entreprenuer) and Megan (Bel Bacio Jewelry). It was loads of fun! More pictures are on Shari's Flickr!

Yesterday we worked on the disaster of a garage overhaul. Scott relocated his workbench (no problem), ran electrical (no problem), patched the wall (no problem) and then painted (problem). Paint didn't stick. What? It's PAINT! It's supposed to stick! Okay, let's try something else. Picked up four panels of pre-made wainscotting and worked all afternoon trying to get it up. Nails not holding/glue not sticking/you get the picture. DISASTER!

What's worse? I'm in the middle of a major production and the garage is chaos. Not even reasonable chaos. Just pure chaos. I would have taken a picture but it's just too pathetic. *sob*

At least I'm wearing an apron.

66? Are you kidding me?

Seriously. Did it just take a giveaway to get 66 of you out of lurkhood? Okay, not all 66 are lurkers, but the vast majority...oy. Okay, matey's. Here's what I did. The old fashioned way - I cut and pasted all 66 comments into a Word doc, and then cut out each and every comment and folded it in half. Because I'm systematic like that.

I was going to stuff them into that pretty vintage milkglass cachepot, but it was too small. Then, I noticed a bag I just finished. That'll do.

And I reached in and pulled out...

So, there. Wow! Congratulations to Erin, Miss Jenny B. Harris (who apparently just broke her contest losing streak), and Happy Zombie! I'll be sending these three wonderful bloggers an email and will need your addresses to get the Lavender Liners in the mail...like, pronto! Thanks to everyone else who played along and commented! I really appreciate it, it was totally fun and heartwarming, and I promise we'll do it again!

Now, that wasn't so bad, was it? Oh! And the new bag?! Just in time for Sunday Market!

My Mother's Day gift to YOU!

I keep meaning to do another fabric scrap giveaway, but really, I just don't have it in me, energywise, these days. But, I've had so much fun with this blog, and I missed my second anniversary, so a two year anniversary giveaway didn't work. And I'm way past 100 posts, even 200 posts, so that won't work. But I've met so many wonderful, creative, inspiring people that I just HAVE to do something for you all! And if this doesn't get you lurkers to come out of the woodwork, I don't know what will...

My gift? Just leave me a comment on this post, and on Friday I will cut up all those comments, put them in a bowl and draw three names - those three people will each receive a Lavender Drawer Liner (of my choice), as my way of saying...thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, thanks for understanding and thanks for just being there.

Remember, you MUST comment on this post, and provide a real email address! Drawing names on Friday!

Thanks for everything! XO

The last of the great swaps!

I am officially done! One nice thing that happened Monday was my trip to the P.O. – which I have to admit to being a bit remiss about. Sometimes, I realize it’s been a week or two since I visited, and then I worry about what’s piled up in that little box. Usually not too much (junk mail and NRA nonsense addressed to the previous owner...), but every so often, an order from someone who prefers to pay by check (but even that's rare).

Well, Monday (I must have had a feeling I would later need a lift!), I found my Tea Towel Swap package waiting! This was a private swap that Jackie put together, and a very fun one indeed. I liked that you were actually partnered with the same person who would be sending you your swap package, for some reason, that made more sense to me. I had sent my package about a week ago, and was anxious to know it had made the trip unharmed!

I'm not sure how Angela knew my tastes, as we never once touched base and emailed each other, lucky guess, I suppose! There was a beautiful vintage embroidered towel (perfect for today), a lovely white embroidered towel (which I really love, and own several others that are similar), a recipe for Cinnamon mini muffins that I am dying to try but haven't had time (see yesterdays post!), a crochet potholder, mini muffin paper cups with fall leaves, red measuring spoons (oh, wow - she must have ESP to know how those were needed!) and wrapped in another lovely (aqua & red!) printed tea towel, a muffin pan. I love my package! Thank you Angela - it came at a time when I really needed to just sit down and open something sweet for myself! And thank you Jackie for organizing such a sweet swap!

I'm all swapped out

I think I had mentioned that I was taking part in Jackie's Tea Towel Swap. Yesterday I finally got my package out the door. It isn't due until October 15, but it was ready, and I figured I'd just get it in the mail! The longer it sat around, the more I kept adding to it (good for my partner, I suppose!). Here's a little view:

We were supposed to send two tea towels and a recipe. I sent two vintage tea towels, both beautifully embroidered, and my favorite fall recipe for Pumpkin Tea Bread. I was at Cookin' Stuff in Redondo Beach recently, and decided to also add a loaf pan, cake tester and the cutest set of measuring spoons I have ever seen!

They're perfect for when you just need a pinch or a dash of something! Then, I figured I would add an apron, because really, you can't bake without one and I really wanted to add something that I had made. And, for after the big clean up, some delicious Cucina hand cream from Anthropologie. So that's out and I hope my partner likes it! I'm going to lay low on the swaps for a while, because, as fun as they are, they are also exhausting and time is scarce these days. I also have to admit to just a bit of disappointment in that neither of my other swap packages were ever acknowledged. All I hope is that they arrived safely, and that the recipients were happy.

More fun: I also recently received an advance copy of the new Craft Magazine. Coolness magnified! I think I signed up to get an advance copy in exchange for a critique, but I can't remember now! If anyone knows if I'm supposed to do something official, please let me know. I'm a little scatterbrained these days...

It's a very cool magazine! I love it's nifty little compact size, and there are projects and instructions and interviews galore! One that I really loved was Jenny Hart, who is the genius behind Sublime Stitching, and I have to thank for inspiring me to embroider some rockin' embellishments on my Levi's years ago. Now, each time I get a new (old) pair, I can't wait to go through my Sublime Stitching pattern stash for something new, cool and 'off the wall'. I can guarantee that I'm the only one in Palos Verdes walking around with DIY embroidered jeans...

For this issue, Jenny has embroidered her skateboard. Man, I'd love to meet this chick! Another artist, Liza Lou, is a beader...check out the beaded typewriter...amazing!The stories are so inspirational, and the pictures are pure eye candy...

But my hands down favorite....

is the pimped out Little Tykes Cozy Coupe! Tell me this isn't fabulous? At one time, we had two of these things in our yard - if only I had thought...

It's a great magazine - so much inspiration (I said that already, didn't I?). The only problem, is the price. It's a quarterly, and the subscription cost is $34.95. The cover cost is $14.99. I realize there is a ton of information here, but I can't even remember the last time I dropped $15.00 for a magazine. And I'm not sure I would. Bummer. I hope they work on that.

Wait. I'm not done. Sit back down. Remember a few months ago when I had that fabric scrap giveaway? My friend Jennifer up in Menlo Park received one of the packs of scraps, and two days ago, I opened this:

Jenn is an amazing quilter, and also makes very cool sleep masks - of which I have been coveting for some time, but no more! Thank you so much Jenn! It's so sweet! Can I take a nap now?

One of these days I'll get a Thrift Thursday post up...grrr.

Rare Robin Awards!

One of my favorite blogs, Rare Bird Finds, is hosting a Rare Robin Award contest! That’s good news for you, my good friends! They are planning to give away $1300 in combined prizes. This is such a cool idea – the only catch is that you have to vote!

“The Rare Robin Awards were created to recognize the online stores that carry the unique finds that we lust after on Rare Bird Finds.  Please vote and help us recognize your favorite sites.  Voters will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win 1 of 7 gift baskets - with a combined total retail value of more than $1,300!  Vote today for your chance to win. “

How cool is that? Of course, Sommer Designs is one of the sites, and I would be giddy if you would vote for my site! Click on over and check it out – and while you’re there, go ahead and vote! Of course, I’d love you to vote for me, but there are so many fabulous sites to choose from – I’d be glad if you just voted!

The grand prize alone is worth more than $550! Seven lucky winners will be randomly chosen at the end of the contest, which runs from October 1, 2006 – November 31, 2006.

Yes, you have plenty of time, but why wait? Go check it out!

Go.

Now.

Scat!

Good Monday to you!

Here's hoping, at least! I spent most of the weekend working (what a surprise!). I am now officially out of purse feet, and hope Hong Kong air moves fast! There's a lot I can do in the interim, lest you think I'm just sitting on my haunches, eating Bon Bons waiting for the postman...

But wait! Look! Look! Look! I received my Aqua & Red Swap package, and I'm telling you, I had the absolute BEST package there ever was in the history of Aqua & Red Swaps! My sender, Marianne in Michigan, read my profile and filled (and I mean filled) my box with all sorts of Aqua & Red goodies! Please, hold yourself back from jumping into your monitor...

It started with a cute envelope, with a spool of skinny red ribbon coming out, leading me to each item, which was clipped to the ribbon with an Aqua plastic clothespin (which, for some reason, looks green in this photo...)!

Damn if this girl wasn't crafty! Would you check out this WALL HANGING??!!! I was beside myself!

 

As if that wasn't enough, I received the cutest Aqua Melamine teacup & saucer with a sweet handmade pin cushion; a vintage Red coin purse; a vintage Aqua thermos with tea; a vintage tin cup with glitter and Sharpies (yay Sharpies!); Chocolate (gone); Cherry gumballs (almost gone); paper; notecards; some old vintage Aqua & Red fabric; Gingersnap creamer (oh, yum!); a fun zip-out tote...man, did I get everything? I am in awe. I feel like the luckiest swapper in the world! This was beyond the best and totally made my day! Love it! Thank you - Thank you - Thank you Marianne!

Just so you know, I did also get out on the trail Sunday! And, I took a loaner dog! This is Charlie, who was too enamoured with the view, and what was on the other side of this hill, to pay attention to the camera (smart girl). She's up for adoption, and Dylan is begging us. I took her on a 5 mile hike to see how she'd do (wonderfully, but she pulled nearly the whole way), and then she came home and spent the afternoon playing with Candy. At this point, we are undecided...but she sure is sweet.

Swaperiffic!

Today I mailed my Aqua & Red Swap.This time, I was the good blogging swapper and took pictures. I had a lot of fun with this one! There is so much you can do with Aqua & Red. Luckily for me, my recipient actually filled out her profile, so I had an idea of what she might like. She’s an artist and paper crafter. Easy peasy! I put together a little package of notecards, papers, elements & embellishments and some fun red & aqua pens, and wrapped them up in cellophane with a cute bow. I also found some delicious aqua tea lights that I included. Finally, I really wanted to make something. That was part of the swap appeal to me in the first place. A Lavender Liner was the easy choice and I set out to find some appropriate Aqua & Red fabric, which of course, was the best part for me! What I ended up with, was something I would never had purchased – a lovely piece of Amy Butler’s French Wallpaper fabric from the Belle line in this gorgeous colorway. (I even had enough left over to make a couple for myself – true decadence, if you know me at all). I love these liners! And since Amy has changed her policies on who can use her fabrics, I am no longer able to purchase them for my line. Oh well - this was one way around that rule!

So it’s all packed up, and on it’s way to Canada (oh, Canada!) I don't do much shipping outside the country, and even though it's only Canada, it was a small reminder why I don't do much shipping outside the country. Forms. Customs. Paperwork. Baloney. Sorry international friends, I just can't deal with it...

And, on the subject of swaps - last Thursday I received my package from my Tea Cup swap sender - this was lovely! She made the sweetest oval box, painted pink (gee, how did she know?), decoupaged the top with a pretty damask paper and filled it with wonderful things! Delicious chamomile tea (for my many sleepless nights lately...), a lovely rose patterned china cup (that unfortunately lost its' handle on the trip over - it's setting with crazy glue as we write), a sweet tea towel, little voltive candles and a teapot magnet. A girl can get used to all these gifts, I'm telling you. How am I going to deal with regular life now? The swaps are addictive, and even though you are somewhat expecting something, it's still a great surprise! Can you tell how much I'm loving this?

Now, I just have Jackie's Tea Towel Swap left, and I've been gathering all my fun things for that. Can't show just yet. You have to be patient, just a bit longer. Fun stuff though. What's next?