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Giveaway: Tumbleweeds Love

By Lisa Gutierrez on 10/02/2012

CLOSED! Winner announced at end of post.

For some reason, the lovely folks of Tumbleweeds Handcraft thought I was interesting enough to interview and ask me what my ideal features in a pair of sunglasses would be. What resulted were these absolute beauties you see right up there and down below.

I seriously swooned for several minutes when they arrived. Like stared at them sweetly and sighed. Ahhh. They’re simple and classy, but still so intriguing! They’re the clubmaster style with cherry veneer and mother of pearl inlay. I couldn’t capture the mother of pearl iridescence, but it’s there and it’s beeeauutiful.

Do you like them as much as I do? Well, the glasses are available in the Tumbleweeds Handcraft Etsy shop, but there is a very limited quantity!! Get them while they’re still available.

If you’re more of the gambling type, they have generously offered a pair to one lucky winner! To enter, just leave a comment below.

For extra entries (leave a comment for each):
-Visit the Tumbleweeds Handcraft shop and let me know which glasses are your favorite!
-Follow Beca’s blog, Tales of a Tumbleweed (GFC or Bloglovin).
-Tweet about the giveaway & leave me a link to your tweet. Example: I want to win a pair @tumbleweedsshop sunglasses via the @goodknits blog! http://goodknits.com/blog/?p=4801
-Pin this post (you can use the button below or pin any of the images in this post). Leave me the link to your pin.

Make sure you provide a valid email in the email field when you’re leaving your comment(s), so I can contact ya if you win! Giveaway ends at noon (CST), next Monday, October 8.

The winner will also received a crocheted carrying case for their glasses! My case is this lovely coral cotton with rust leather and pearl snap! I may or may not have cuddled it earlier. OK, I DID.

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The winner of the giveaway is comment #39–Berta’s!

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Cross-Stitching: Superheroes!

By Lisa Gutierrez on 08/28/2012

I know I’ve been a bad blogger, but I hope that with my boys in school I’ll be able to spend some of my free time crafting. Let’s just not look at that pile of laundry on the floor of the bathroom, OK? Thanks.

Moving along…

The lovely Danielle of Kitschy Digitals asked if I would be interested in stitching up some samples of the beautiful patterns available on the site. She specifically wanted me to try out some of the cross-stitch patterns from Wee Little Stitches. Of course I said yes! I mean, cross-stitched superheroes are absolutely too cute to pass up. Plus, I have two boys that kinda love when I make toys (tootin’ my own horn).

I got the Batman and Robin from the AMAZING Superhero Alphabet Cross-Stitch Pattern. We wanted them to be big enough to be squishable dolls, so I knew I’d have to enlarge the pattern. Instead of searching the ‘net for a tutorial, I perused one of my many vintage needlework books. There were two methods that stuck out–using a smaller count fabric or re-charting the pattern by making each 1×1 square a 2×2.

That latter was really intriguing and it was pretty simple to adjust the pattern, but I soon learned it would take FOUR times as long to stitch up. I persisted and ended up with a cute-as-a-button Superman. As much as I loved it, I knew I wanted to make more than one and not spend my entire day cross-stitching. I decided to go with a smaller count fabric.

I used a 40% off coupon (keeping it real) and picked up some Monk’s Cloth at Hobby Lobby. It was my first time using Monk’s cloth…my first time using any evenweave! It was a new skill to learn–not hard, just different than stitching on Aida. I couldn’t find any Aida larger (smaller?) than 11 count, though! The Monk’s Cloth is 7 count and working on it resulted in dolls that are 8-10″ tall. I used my scrap yarn and these babies worked up so fast!

I also made an Iron Man and Incredible Hulk (in the same pattern!):

Their backs are home-decor weight fabric I had hanging about. I used my machine to sew along the edges, leaving the bottoms open for stuffing. I stuffed as firmly as I could and then hand-stitched it closed.

I think I’m gonna have to stitch a Nintendo controller next…for my husband! Or maybe a gorgeous sleepy owl for myself? Thank goodness the boys go to bed at 7. Mama’s got some stitching to do!

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Summer is Delicious #2: Blueberry Peach Pie

By Lisa Gutierrez on 07/16/2012

[Blueberry Peace Pie]

I make this pie every summer. My friend posted the recipe in 2008, so I’ve been making it for a few years now. It’s SO GOOD. I add a little extra peaches because I love them. I also sprinkle the crust with a bit of cinnamon & sugar. I just made this one, last week, and I already want more. It’s that good.

My attempt at a lattice top leaves something to be desired! I’ll just say it looked…rustic. Charming?

It rained EVERY DAY, last week. I was extremely thankful because last year’s drought was unbearable, but it got a little annoying by the end of the week. We’re back to hot and humid sunny weather and I’m having a hard time deciding which is better. I can’t send my kids out to play in either!

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Hook & Needle Organization w/Jordana Paige

By Lisa Gutierrez on 07/09/2012

So long mason jars, hello organization!

I fell into the trend of using mason jars to hold most of my craft tools. I have no less than 4 mason jars on my craft shelf with various hooks, needles, markers, pens, buttons, and random notions. There is no order and when I need to find a certain something I almost always end up dumping one or two of the jars onto my floor. It’s more than a little frustrating. Even my circular needles are crammed into an old tin box. Oh, the tangles!

When the folks over at Jordana Paige asked if I would be interested in reviewing their newest organization product–the Crafter’s Tool Butler–I visited the product page and seriously gasped. Something that would not only hold my knitting/crochet accesories, but help me ORGANIZE? Yes, please! This is like a crafter’s dream.

(Beautiful packaging! The back of the box also shows the list of features.)

There is no right or wrong way to organize your things in this. There is even enough space between the zippered pockets to keep a pattern or two. I love that it isn’t craft specific. I could put anything in there! This could be my journaling case with notebooks and a random assortment of markers. Alas, my markers actually look nice in mason jars. My random assortment of needles and hooks are better suited for the Butler.

It features:
• Six flat pockets for all sizes of double-pointed needles and crochet hooks.
• Four zippered accordion pockets for circular needles with label inserts for custom numbering.
• Mesh pocket for small items such as safety pins, stitch markers and darning needles.
• Knitting needle and crochet hook inventory chart.

Yes, there are little cards for you to make note of what you are storing. So considerate! I don’t know how many times I’ve emptied jars/bags/whatever looking for something I am SO SURE I placed in there. This totally eliminates ever needing to do that again.

After fixing your things inside and just relishing in the fact that you won’t lose your most favorite H hook again, you get to zip it up and stare at the beauty on the outside. This thing is pretty. It’s a textured vegan “leather” bound case that measures 10.5″L x 2″W x 6.5″H. I have the bronze case, but it also comes in black onyx, deep red, and eggplant purple. It has a clean, classy design.

If someone you love is having trouble keeping their hooks or needles organized, this would be the perfect gift! Check out Jordana Paige to see other lovely knitting bags, patterns, or even a directory to locate one near you.

Save the page for July 18 when Jordana Paige will be having an “imperfect” handbag sale benefiting The Pre-Eclampsia Foundation. A new bag will be posted every hour for $50 and ALL of it gets donated. Amazing. Click the image below to see the full blog post on the JP blog.

Disclosure: Jordana Paige sent me the Crafter’s Tool Butler to review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Shop: cross-stitched polaroid

By Lisa Gutierrez on 07/02/2012

New to the shop: Cross-stitched Rainbow Polaroid Pendant. I have a few more pendants to list, this week. I’ll post about those later. I just had to share these photos of my SX-70 wearing this one.

♥ ♥ ♥

p.s. When I took my camera out for these photos, I realized I have one shot left on my pack of PX 100! I’ve been thinking about what to shoot all day.

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