simple Analogy

Two Winners

Before I announce the stamped necklace giveaway winner, I have reached some conclusions based upon all the comments I've received over the last week...

You girls are awesome out there!  You love love love your families.  You love your mothers. You love your sisters and your friends.  And no it's not selfish to want to keep a stamped necklace for yourself.  I only wished I could give one of these to each of you.

Rachel M. will be receiving a custom stamped necklace in the mail very soon!  She said, "This would be a gift to my sister-in-law who has moved near us to just be a part of ours and our 4 childrens' lives. She's such a blessing and help to us! It think it would be awesome to give her an "auntie" necklace with the kiddos names. Thanks for participating!"

Leslie who said, "I would sew one for myself and a whole bunch for baby showers. :-)" will be receiving the On-The-Go Diaper Clutch Pattern in her inbox!

Thank you all for joining me for this giveaway!  Have a wonderful weekend and a very happy Mother's Day!

Diaper Clutch Pattern Giveaway

***Giveaway Closed***

Giveaway number two...

On-The-Go Diaper Clutch PDF pattern.

This PDF download sewing pattern will walk you through making a diaper clutch perfect for short outings! Sew up your diaper clutch, slip in a pack of travel size wipes and a few diapers, and you're ready for a short jaunt to the library to pick up books. In the middle of potty training? Throw in a few pull-ups or undies and a pair of pants, and you're ready to pick up the siblings from school. 

If you're dependent on a diaper bag, stay organized by using it to keep all the changing items together and handy. No more digging around in the bottom of the bag for a diaper! Just grab the diaper clutch!


Pattern Information:  20 page PDF download with detailed instructions accompanied by lots of pictures to help you along the way.  Includes instructions for a basic clutch plus four customizable options.

Skill Level: Beginner and up.

Giveaway information:

• To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me who you'd be sewing this diaper clutch for.
• Make sure to leave your email address in the comment so that I have a way to contact you if you are the winner.
• Only one entry per person!  Any duplicate entries will be deleted.
• The giveaway will be open until May 10, 8PM CST.
• A random winner will be notified by email with the pattern attached and announced in a followup post on May 11th.

Good luck!

For those of you who do not win, the On-The-Go Diaper Clutch pattern and completed clutches can be found in my ETSY SHOP.

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For more great giveaways check out all the following giveaway categories on Sew, Mama, Sew:

Sewing and Craft Supplies

Handmade Baby and Kid Items

Handmade for the Home

Handmade Bags

Handmade Accessories

Her Claim To Fame

I managed to get a video (FINALLY) of my dog doing her favorite thing besides eating... snuggling down in her bed with her blanket.  It's a little out of focus at first.  I was trying to stall her until I got the camera focused, but when she wants to bunk down, she wants to bunk down.  

Dorrie figured this out all on her own.  It's a good thing too, because I'd be having to tuck her in a bazillion times a day! 

*If you're trying to view this on your phone or in a reader, you may not be able to view the video.  Try viewing it from a computer.

P.S. This Is About Replacing Google Reader

This is really for my mom, but you can read it too!

'Cause we're all in the same boat!

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Dear Mom,

You used to read blogs by saving them in your favorites and checking them every day to see if there was a new post.  Then I set you up with Google Reader.  You subscribed to all the blogs you loved and were able to read them there since it updated the feed automatically when a new post was published.  It saved you all that clicking over/loading time each day, and once you got used to it it was very easy to use.

Well, sometimes Google is pooey, and I'm sorry to say that they are shutting down Google Reader.  I know!  I feel so bad about it!  Just when you were getting settled in.  But I'm there for you, Mom.  You are not going to have to revert to your old blog reading ways!  I've done my homework, tested out a new reader, and I'm here to help you get set up.

The reader I am suggesting is Feedly.  It works the same way as Google Reader, updating your list of blogs as they post new feed. You can use this on your computer, ipad, or phone, and it will sync all of your devices just like Google Reader did.  

The best news of all... you don't have to re-subscribe to all your blogs.  Feedly will integrate them for you!  Woo hoo!  They've made it so easy to get things up and running!

So, there you go!  Daughter to the rescue!

Love,

Heather

Pinning

I hope you had a wonderful spring break!  We stuffed a little bit of work, a lot of fun, and a lot of rest into our break.  Sewing, washing windows, purging closets (oh how I love a good purge!), soccer, pickleball, movies, good food.  It was just what we needed to get us through to the end of the year.

I was also able to mark something off my to-do list... start pinning!  My boards are set up, finally!  Some are a bit sparse, but I'm sure they'll fatten up quickly.  You can find me at simpleanalogy.

Narrowing It Down

Whew!  We were in a flurry of getting thrid quarter school stuff finished up around here.  Science exams, research papers, math exams all happening yesterday.  But oh today is gonna be a good day!  First day of spring break!!!

I was on such a great yearly routine of sewing a spring break skirt for a while (one/two/three), but the last year or two it kind of fell by the wayside.  I have plans this year.  Just have to narrow down which skirt I want to make!  Something like this...

source

or this...

source

Who knows maybe both?  Here's to some spring break sewing for ME!

Do You See What I See?

And speaking of hearts...

I just updated my inspiration page.  If you're looking for some new blogs to read, these are some of the ones I heart.  You can always access them by clicking the inspiration tab above.

Paying It Forward

So much fun to be had!

Here’s how it works...

{most of this text borrowed from The McBailey’s}:
The first 5 people to comment below will receive, from simple Analogy, something in 2013. It may be handmade, or a book, something sparkly, a SURPRISE! I won’t tell you when you’re getting it, I will just send it when the spirit moves me!

There is, of course, a catch. Those 5 people must make the same offer on their blog. If you don’t make the offer, I can’t send you anything… and I want to send you something. So make sure you do and let’s get this challenge rolling.

So grab the button, share it on your blog, and then leave me a comment with a link to YOUR blog post. Make 2013 a year of giving and bring a little bit of sunshine to someone’s day.  Please note, if you do join the challenge, make sure you give me your email address so I can get your mailing address and send you something.

<center><a href=”http://www.themcbaileys.com” target=”_blank”>
<img border=”0″ alt=”The McBaileys”; title=”The McBaileys” height=”200px” width=”200px”
src=” http://themcbaileys.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PayItForward.jpg “/></a></center>

I would love it if you would participate!

P.S. If you do participate, be sure to go over and visit The McBailey’s and link up too so she can see how far her challenge spreads.

My 2012 Couponing Experiment

I tried a little experiment this last year... couponing.  My friend Michelle had been having great success with it, and I decided to give it a go for one year and see if it was worth the hassel.

I followed Michelle's advice and went to My Litter to get some tips.  (See the COUPON 101 tab at the top.) I used the binder system (3 ring binder, baseball card pages, and dividers) to organize my coupons.  Love this!  When I first got married I tried the little coupon folder thing and hated having to search through all the coupons to find what I needed.  The binder way makes everything easy to see and find!

I'm definitely not an extreme couponer!  I subscribed to a few coupon sites, but it got to be overwhelming, so I unsubscribed.  I do not print coupons.  I only buy one paper a week,if that!  A lot of times I just make due with the free community paper that includes one coupon section.  I only cut coupons that I know I will use and are brands that I like.  I do not have space to store items, so I do not buy and keep a huge stash of items on stock.  I tried the whole CVS thing (see My Litter), but it just confused me, so I only use my coupons at the grocery store.  I have never gotten a whole cart of groceries for only $5, although that would be awesome!  Nominal couponer is what I would call myself.

Yet even with my nominal couponing ways, I saved $1,100 dollars during 2012.  I'd call that a sucessful couponing experiment.  One that I will be continuing this year.

P.S.  Don't worry, this will NOT be transforming into a coupon blog!  I couldn't take that!

Fortunes of Flu

Ahem. Testing one, two, three. This working?

Hello again! It's so good to be back amongst the real world again. We are officially better after the whole family getting the flu right before Christmas. Really, I thought this was gonna be no big deal. We got in to the doctor right away and got our tamiflu. I thought we'd be better in two days and be good to go. But for some reason tamiflu did nothing for us. One whole week down the drain and at Christmas to boot. 

Keeping in the spirit of thankfulness, here are a few fortunate things that I found while being sick at Christmas time...

1.  At least you have a pretty tree to look at while you're lying on the couch.

2.  Lots of down time (even though it's forced) when you'd probably be running around like crazy.

3.  No last minute trips to the store to get just one more present.

4.  Hot cocoa really does soothe a dry raspy throat.

5.  Christmas popsicles.  Huh?  Yea, it's a little out of season.  But when fevers are running that high, you gotta take matters into your own hands.  I whipped up several batches of these vitamin C infused popsicles for the boys.  (Simply orange with mango, banana, and several opened capsules of vitamin C sprinkled in for good measure.

6.  Facetime with family.

7.  Christmas movies.  Although I must say some creativity is needed in that area!  Too many spouse has died, and children want a mom/dad for Christmas.

8.  No Christmas goodies to have to ration yourself on.  This is the first year we haven't been inundated with cookies, etc.  Although the boys and I are planning on making our annual Christmas cookies this week.

9.  Good books to read.

10.  Lots of quilts to cozy up under.

I wish you a healthy and safe New Year!