Jenna Lou Loves You

Blog Aniversary - Wall Candy Giveaway

via pixelicus

I know I said I would be gone until 2010, but I remembered that today marks FOUR years of blogging for me and so I just had to stop in. It's amazing how fast that time has passed... and even more how much has changed in that time.

I've gone from working a dead end job just waiting for life to happen to me to taking the steps into being full-time self employed. I've become a homeowner and soon will be marring my best friend in the whole world. I've had gardens, made quilts, and even completed our first major remodeling project. All of which I got to share with you... and will have forever to look back on and remember.

Some of the things I wish for my blog in the coming years (hopefully!). I wish that I could find a more distinct writing style. I often find myself all over the board here wanting to talk about loads of personal stuff, but discovering that in my unsureness to share I just end up not posting. I don't really even know why it stops me, but I'm going to try harder to share my daily life so this blog can become what I've always wanted it to be. 

I also wish to find more connections with those who visit. I've already made some pretty cool blog friends who inspire me and share so many of my passions, but I know that there are SO many more who stop by ( yes I keep track of all you lurkers ).... and sometimes I have to admit it saddens me that we haven't been able to connect or even just share a few words. To do my part I'm going to get better about commenting on the blogs I read daily and will just hope that others do the same.

And now onto something more fun. In honor of my four years blogging lets have a giveaway. 

In my search to add more to the bare walls in my studio I found these cool Wall Candy Chalkboards. They just stick to your walls and supposedly you can even remove and reuse them which is pretty awesome if you are as scatter brained as I can be. It took me FOREVER to decide where to hang mine, but I like where it is so hopefully it won't have to come down anytime soon.

To win yourself a Wall Candy RoCoco Chalkboard please enter by leaving a comment. A simple "hello" will do... or you can be sweet and let me know what your favorite Christmas tradition is... or even better what you are baking this season.

For a double entry post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a link in the comments.

Giveaway will close Christmas day. I'll be away (on vacation) and so it might fluctuate a bit, so as long as the comments are open feel free to enter. 

Good luck everyone and Happy Holidays!!

Comments are now closed... Stay tuned for the winner.

Giveaway sponsored by the lovely folks at AllModern.com. Thanks!!

So Long, Farewell 2009

The shop is closed to only PDF pattern sales.

My bags are packed.

My camera is charged and ipod loaded.

I've kissed my dog and my honey goodbye.

And I'm headed out the door for a two week - girl's only - road trip to the Southern United States.

See you all in 2010!!

Weekending in Minneapolis - Part 2 - Holidazzle Parade

After visiting the elf wonderland at Macy's we exited onto streets crowded with hundreds of people waiting for the Holidazzle Parade to begin. It was quite a sight considering it was definitely less that 30 degrees probably less than 20 outside. But luckily for us we had timed it just right so we only had to wait about 5 minutes before the parade started. 

{Window Shopping}

When the parade starts they turn off all the big lights on the streets so the floats really glow. I had a great time just watching the crowds, trying to squeeze to the front if only for a moment and playing with my camera to try to capture the moving floats. I've got to say that this is probably one of the hardest subjects I've ever tried to capture. It's dark, and it's cold. And the floats moved by pretty darn fast.... and I did it all with no flash to try to capture the best image without the overly bright spots a flash would have made.

{Scary Hansel and Gretel float}

{ marching drummers }

{Santa of course!!}

I don't know that I made any progress on my camera skills (I know there is a LOT of noise in these photos), but it sure was fun to try.

Following the parade we went out to a cool restaurant right in the heart of the city and enjoyed some great food and drinks that made all of our wallets scream. Sometimes though it's just nice to splurge and pretend like it's nothing. And so that is what we did and it was fabulous.

Weekending in Minneapolis - Part 1 - Macy's

Last weekend we visited with John's brother and his wife and spent the weekend dinning out and playing like big kids do.

Our first stop was Macy's. This years Macy's Show in Minneapolis was themed "A Day in the Life of an Elf". The lines were long, but these two made it manageable... and so did the giant gingerbread cookie I knew was waiting for me at the end.

There was much to see.....

And who knew fake food could be so appetizing. 

 

It was magical to pretend for a few minutes and remember the awe and wonder that Christmas brought as a kid.  

One Yard Wonders Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. I wish I could send you each a copy.... you are all so crafty. I wish I had more time to spend doing non-work related crafting projects. There is so much I want to do and not enough time... maybe next year. 

I used random.org to select the winner which was lucky number 22. Sarah Helene Seufert. Congrats Sarah. I hope you love this book as much as I do!!

No-Coast Finds and Giveaway

Every year I find new artists at No-Coast that make the most unique and beautiful things and this year was no exception. Here are a few that made me happy.

Penguin & Fish just made me want to squeal. The most adorable plush!! They are so silly and fun and seriously would make a great gift.

Can I just say.... that if you were planning to get me anything this year..... *cough*..... that I like this. Wink Wink. Figs & Ginger is elegant and fabulous. Enough said.

This is actually the second year I spotted Cosmo's Collars at No-Coast and it was just as tempting as the first time. If you have been letting your furry friend trot around in a plain ole nylon pet store collar it's time to upgrade!! I just love that shiny hardware.

Have you seen this book yet?? It's been all over the blogoshpere getting great reviews. This book has 101 projects from lots of designers and was put together by Trish and Rebecca who were on hand at this years show to sign copies. There are so many fun and simple projects I'm sure I'll be making more than a few of them. I got myself a copy at No-Coast and thought you might like one too!! And if you are anything like me you have plenty of forgotten yards in your stash to use up.

To enter to win a copy of One Yard Wonders please leave a comment telling me what crafty thing you've been up to lately (doesn't have to be just sewing!!). This giveaway is open to worldwide shipping so even if you are overseas please join in. And for a second entry mention the giveaway on your blog then comment to let me know about it.

Giveaway closes Sunday December 13th around noon central time. 

Crowded Sums It Up - No Coast 2009

No Coast was AMAZING this year. So MANY shoppers. I was just amazed. In the past two years that I've done this show there was always lulls in the crowds providing five minuets here or two there to get a drink or grab some lunch and just generally take a breather, but this year was nonstop crowds from before the show officially began until after it was closed. I'd say if one word could sum up this show it would be crowded. And that's a GOOD thing.

 

John was kind enough to be my camera man this year and managed to capture the scene perfectly. 

As you can see I started out with a booth overflowing with goodies. We were so hungry and tired at the end of day two that we forgot to take afters, but it was quite a dramatic difference. Thanks to all the shoppers who came out to support handmade and also to the people at Crafters Local 612 who put on this amazing show each year. 

Stop in tomorrow to hear about my favorite finds this year and a GIVEAWAY too.

Meet Me in Decebmer

Wow... it's December today. And to me that means only one thing: No-Coast is THIS weekend!!!

It's the show I spend about one solid month getting ready for and one of my top shows of the year. It's so fun to meet all the shoppers and I always go away with a feeling of awe. Everyone is so gracious and I'm just pleased as a pickle to spend these two days in the Midtown Global Market among other amazingly talented artists and crafters and oh did I ever mention the food. John and I talk year round about how much we miss the food there. There is this really great Mexican place we eat breakfast each year and then hit up the Asian food for lunch. Last year the owner became so familiar with us he surprised us by sending steaming egg rolls and wontons our way for an afternoon snack.

So if you are free this weekend please do stop by the Midtown Global Market for the No-Coast-Craft-O-Rama and say hi!! And because my blog readers are dear to my heart just mention this post for 10% off your total purchase. I hope to see you there!!

Friday the 4th from 3pm-8pm
Saturday the 5th from 9am - 5pm

For more details about the show you can visit the No-Coast website HERE.

Knit Lite Winner

Thanks to everyone who played along to win the Knit Lite set!! I've made a list of each and every book recommendation and plan to 'read' them all. I'm hoping the list will keep me busy until spring! Our library just finished an expansion project and reopened yesterday. I was feeling so book deprived that I checked out 5 for good measure.

And now for the winner. Congrats to Abbie from Woodbridge, VA. I hope these needles shine a light on your holidays. (wow... sorry for that cheesy line, but I just had to). For real though thanks again to everyone who entered and all my new and previous email subscribers. You guys are the best friends a girl could ask for!!

Thanksgiving Celebrations

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving (and a wonderful weekend to those non-US readers too). We spent the day with family and of course eating too much food. It was a classic turkey day celebration: conversation, food, tv and games, more food, then home to bed.

I wanted to do a Thankful Thursday post, I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts to words. I've thought of so many things I am thankful for, but I guess the feelings outweigh any words that I can assign to them. I'm just so happy to be where I am right now. It is a place where there is still self-consciousness and doubt but it can be eradicated with simple reminders that the big guy is always in charge and the past is what's done. It's a good place to be if you are me.

P.S. Don't miss your last chance to win the Knit Lite set valued at $120!! Giveaway closes Sunday around noon central time.