We Have A Winner!!

If you haven't already found this amazing lady Bernadette

who has an amazing blog 

Barefoot Hippie Girl

Go check her out!

Shes' the winner of this lovely apron that I made from a vintage pillow case.  You can find more of these aprons for sale here; NoDots Shop

AND While you are out and about on the internet today   You should check out what's going on over here; Reno Tattoo Mecca It's my new lil writing project that I started with my sister and I'm pretty excited about it.  Have a great weekend beloved reader. 

Giveaway, OH how I love Giveaways...

"Dear Friend,  I like to start my notes to you as if we are already in a conversation"
A few days ago, wait, I mean a week ago, nope two weeks ago now,  wait WHAT THE...  last month my friend Tasha came to see me.

This sweet lady is so creative and I begged her to bring that creativity with her on this trip. She did. I'm guessing that it would have been hard for her to leave that behind because it's just kinda in her DNA. Tasha is amazing.  She constantly challenges the status quo with her yearly challenges that she gives herself and she is truly an inspiration to me in so many ways.  She kept asking me what I wanted her to bring so beyond just her and her beautiful self I asked, no ...  I begged her to teach me how to make these while she was here.

She did. This is a Recycled Men's Tie Flower. This is her baby. I will not, I repeat NOT give away her secrets, but I am so glad she shared them with lil Ole' Me. The greatest part about that flower was that it was made from an old tie that my dad gave me. He gave me a whole bag of ties actually when I was home in November because he is retired now and has no use for them, and guess what I intend to do with each and every one of them? You guessed it, make those beautiful one of kind(maybe two) upcycled flowers, and then of course wear them, and then of course sell some of them in my store. NoDotsShop On top of leaving behind some of her creative genius... and some great memories,  she also left behind some amazing goodies to sell in my store and today I want to share those goodies with YOU beloved reader.

Have you ever seen or have you ever heard of a silverware caddy? Well, that is what these are. The purpose for these beauties can be multi-used.

You can use them like Tasha hopes you will, to stop using plastic ware at parties and picnics because you can now bring your own set of silverware. Your friends and family will not only be impressed with your determination to "going green" but they will probably be envious of your coolness factor going up a notch or two.

OR  You can simply bring these everywhere you go because then you will KNOW that your eating utensils are without a shadow of a doubt clean. Ya know, like if you kinda have a Monk-ish, OCD-ish quality going on. OR  You can use them for storing your crocheting needles when they are not in use for the party or picnic where you won't be using plastic ware because you are Green now remember?

Either way you should check them out here; NodotsShop Oh right, I almost forgot the giveaway part. So here's the deal if you can tell me where the quote at the top of the page comes from in a comment that is your first entry for this giveaway. AND IF you leave a seperate comment to tell me what you would use those silver ware caddy's for then that would be your second entry. Then if you are not a GFC follower here yet become one, or  tweet about my shop for a total of 4 entries.  I'm sure you want to know what you will win right? How about this;

AND 

A 50% off discount on anything, that's right I said anything at

NoDotsShop

And a 10 gift card to Target.

YAY!!

I LOVE A GIVEAWAY...

And You 

Happy 2013 Beloved Readers ;)

Winner to be announced on Tuesday, January 15th

Irons and Bees

I'm working on ... working on things. Or you could say,

I have quite a few "irons in the fire" right now. Don't cha just love old sayings like that? I just love old sayings like that. When I looked up the meaning of that old saying it made me giggle.  You really should read the back story on that very famous saying,HERE so you can giggle too. It will be an especially giggly time for you if you are a busy bee like me.
Speaking of busy bee's I am one, but I still managed to find this quote for you;
"It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted." Mary O'Connor
The "why" to my busy is what I want to focus on here for a minute. That quote made me question whether all my busy is God's busy for me? Does that make sense? Cause if it's God's busy then there should be praise, but if it's my own busy then inevitably swatting will ensue.  I mean... I feel I am a bee and to be praised(I want some praise people this is hard work this mom to 4 kids work) while I'm busy about my Fathers business. But how does one know they are about their Father's business, and not their own business, especially when it's my new business that is keeping me busy. Did you know Our Father Who Art In Heaven has a business? Well, He does and I want to be that kind of bee that does it's Father's business. Ya know a bee that should be praised versus a mosquito who deserves to be swatted?

 It's busy, business, being a bee. 

Say that five times fast.

I am SO busy, but it's a good busy.  It's a healthy busy. It's a (I'm -right- where- I'm -supposed -to- be) busy. It's the kind of busy that makes my heart sing.

I'm driving my kids here, there, and everywhere, and they in turn are driving me nutts!  No, really I am throughly enjoying them and their very active, very healthy lives right now. But when I'm not driving the Fab 4 here, there, and everywhere here are some other irons I've got heating up;

I have my shop that I'm loving so much. I'm sewing up a storm to stock the shelves of NodotsShop just in time for Christmas. And I'm trying to really prepare for having a booth at the Farmers Market here next Spring. I'm a bit excited about that little dream come true, bucket list, adventure. I sure hope they like me and my stuff. I hear the jury process is a rigorous one, but I have all winter to prepare.
And then I have my son Solomon and his art work that I'm trying to get packaged and ready for Christmas presents(hold tight family your copy is coming) and possibly future retail. Yes,  He is my 11 year entrepreneur, artist, inventor child. He wants to sell prints of his artwork at the Market next year with me. Well, really he wants to sell them right NOW he's an ambitious lil fellow that Sol Doll ! He started his own little business at the young age of 10 and he calls his business Donut Productions. I wonder where the love for Donuts comes in? Psh... certainly not from his mother who buys them all the time!

This recent piece of art work that he and his dad worked on together  a few months back has gotten quite the buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz... there's those bees again.
Solomon came home from school one day inspired by Van Gough and he asked me what my favorite Van Gough piece was, I said A Starry Night, and that is where Rainy Night was born. He sat down with a Sharpie and drew with such detail that My Giant was super impressed. Mo finished the piece with some amazing color and I might be bias but I think it's better than A Starry Night.  Psh... totally better!!

And then I have that little writing project that I was working on, Brody the Bishop and The First Day of Spring is no longer on the back burner people. Nope.  I put him back up on that front burner and I have a goal to get him full blown cooking by next Spring. That's right you heard me, I have a GOAL.  Just one or two, or maybe a few more than 5 ?
Remember this guy? 
Well if you don't you can read more about that HERE or just stay tuned. You will be hearing more about him in the future.  

Of course I still have my everyday life jobs, laundry dishes taxi cab driving vacuuming  cooking taxi cab driving shopping cleaning did I mention taxi cab driving?

Really, I promise I'm a happy taxi cab driving mom.

Most of the time I'm a happy driver.

Clearly, not a happy driver here but.... 

There ya have it folks,  the Irons and   The Bees. Linking up here