5211-24 through 26

So, I'll admit it....I'm officially a horrible blogger!
I mean, it's bad when you cannot even post once per week.

I seriously don't know why my interest in blogging has not been there. I have gone back to older posts to see what used to excite me enough to blog about...and I loved some of those posts that really were for no other reason but for me to read.

I think blogging has gotten to the point of worrying about who is going to read my posts or how many people are following my blog to see if what I say is interesting...That's really not why I even began blogging in the first place! Why do we as humans get so caught up in what others think?  *sigh*


I want to start blogging again for one person and one person only: ME! If anyone else reads it, well, that's okay, but I'm going to vow to quit worrying about such things!

NOW, for the real post...the last three weeks' 52 Week Project photos.
Each one of these photos have been for challenges on the 52 week Project blog. These have been so much fun and a nice change of pace from just trying to think of a new idea each week.

This was for the Message Challenge

And this one was the Dad Challenge

And this week's challenge is Multiplicity!

I hope to be back before mid July with more. :)

Howdy Folks

Just wanted to check in on my blog and say "howdy folks" - I'm still here.
My personal blog has somehow taken a backseat lately to all the other goings on in my life...

• hospital, almost daily since Dec. 20th
• my newest project: 52 Week Project (This is a good thing, BTW) ;)
• back to work
• jury duty (dismissed us all - luckily!)
• some sleep and laundry in there somewhere.
• you know, the usual stuff! 

Anyway, I am still here, just not much pretty to post. :(

OH, wait, except for this new pasttime:
Pinterest!


Add me if you are on there, if not,  you should be!
If you need an invite let me know, I have some to hand out!
 

What is IN my cup

It seems my blog posts have a theme this week.

So now I want to talk about what is IN my cup.

Can you imagine just wanting a clean drink of water for Christmas?

Better yet, can you imagine your CHILD wanting a clean drink of water for Christmas?

Well, imagine if all you wanted was clean water to drink 365 days a year?

I cannot - nor do I even want to quite honestly!

My bloggy/twitter/crafty friend Prudy has been led to begin

a little campaign through myCharity water to raise

$500 toward a Christmas water project.

She asked her bloggy/twitter/crafty friends to 

join in her efforts to raise awareness 

and ask for a small gift toward the campaign.

I was totally in as I also feel passionate about the mission

of assisting the over a billion in developing

countries who don't have access to clean water.

In fact, our church supports Living Water International

each month and so I am essentially already supporting

this effort through tithe and offering, but feel led to do a little more.

$500 seems like a lot of money to me,

but in reality, it's really not if we can raise awareness

to have many people who are willing to help Prudy's effort.

Amazingly, $500 will help 25 people get water!

How cool is that!?

I think it would be really nifty to know I had a hand 

in giving such a gift as clean water to 5 families.

Because I feel so strongly about this cause, 

I am going to do a little giveaway in conjunction with this - 

I'm asking you to donate, but you may not have the funds to do that right now.

Trust me, I completely understand!

However, you have a voice, a blog, a Facebook account,

Twitter, so you can help spread the word and it won't cost you a thing!

Who knows, Ellen, Demi or Ashton might see your tweet and retweet it. 

I wonder how quickly we would reach the $500 goal if that happened? 

(Hey, I can dream!) 

If you are willing to help in some way, 

 I am willing to do a little giveaway!

Come back and link me up to your post, tweet,

link...whatever you feel led to do.

(enter more than once if you do more than one 'shout-out' for Prudy's project) 

I will give someone a Crochet Candy pin on January 1st.

Sound fair?

I know it's not much,

but it's just a simple token of my appreciation 

for using your voice or outlet for a good cause.

And I know there are tons of good causes out there,

but there is just something about knowing there are humans

(and animals for that matter)

who don't have clean water...something so basic

geez, I take so much for granted!

If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading through my mumblings -

and if nothing else, just say a simple prayer that more and more 

clean water can be provided each day!  :)  

AND when you get down during the holidays as we can all do, 

just have a nice glass of clean water, 

imagine how you can let your glass overflow, 

and remember how blessed you are. 

Check out these other great ladies who are helping the efforts:

Jenny Rain:  http://jennyrain.com/
Elora (Love Wins):  http://eloranicole.wordpress.com/
Amy Sullivan:  http://amylsullivan.blogspot.com/
Mary Hess:  http://maryhess.com/
Laura Leigh Parker: http://www.lauraleighparker.com
And of course Prudy: http://www.prudychick.com/

Help a sister out!

Okay, so I need a little help from my friends....

see I won an awesome giveaway for Vintage Pearl.  

I have been eyeing this necklace for quite some time and this GC will get it for me. 

{YAY}

Problem is I realized I can add whatever text (up to 15 or possibly 22 letters) I want.  

Don't really want "Shutterbug" which is shown.

{photo credit: Vintage Pearl}

Can you help a sister out and help me decide what to put on this cutie? 

Want one of your own or another adorable piece of jewelry, check out the Vintage Pearl.
These would make great gifts anytime of year.

 

Moxie Mandie

I must tell you about my friend Mandie's very cute wares in her brand new Etsy shop called Moxie Mandie.




First of all, she is just an awesome person. Seriously! Read just a few of her blog posts and you'll see!

Second, she has worked hard to attain some mad sewing skills and is making these adorable zipper pouches.

Third, Her generosity and spirit of helping others truly amazes me. 

Take for instance how she has decided to donate 10% of her sales this month to something she is passionate about.  She is doing this for another adorable girl on the interwebs, Emily over at the Anderson Family Crew. Her photos are splendid, by the way!  They are adopting a little girl from Africa and need to alleviate some of the costs. 

I encourage you to head over to her shop and do a little Christmas shopping this month - Don't forget to put "Adoption" in the notes to seller so she'll know to deduct 10%!

Also, you might want to check out Moxie Mandie on Facebook and "like" her.  (BTW, I'm so glad FB has not put a dislike button on our profiles and pages - that would be rather humiliating, huh?)

So many pretties around the internet lately - I will share more this week.

Week 38

Had to do it!

See no evil, hear no evil, and of course speak no evil! 

I am hoping to catch up on my favorite blogs - I am missing all of you and missing all the inspiration...I've just let my blog reader get completely out of control and when that happens, it makes my feel guilty and then I continue to let it grow out-of-control. Why do we let guilt creep in on us over the small things!?  GEEZ

I am crafting and hope to update my Etsy shop soon with some new fun goodies.

Mandie! Gussy! Giveaway! Oh My!

What do you get when you combine two awesome chicks, freestyle ruffles, and a blog?

A giveaway! That's what.

Go to my dear friend, Mandie's blog and enter to win a $30 credit to Maggie's awesome Gussy shop. How much better could it get?

Hurry, the deadline to enter is Sunday at 10PM!http://maggiewhitley.bigcartel.com/

www.mandiesmumblings.blogspot.com

www.maggiewhitley.com

It's about the Shoes!

The following text belongs
to this award:
“The world of blogging is amazing.
Through blogging I made friends
of places I never heard of before.
I experienced kindness and caring.
I hope my blog friends will pass
this award to only three caring
and kind people from anywhere
who touched your heart.”


How cool that I got an award with shoes!  Not just any old shoes though...red wooden polka dotted shoes!!! ;)




l was excited to see my name over at Marit's blog.  So cool to "meet" people online with similar interests out of all the bazillion people in the world, but even cooler to reacquaint after losing them in the hubbub of the world wide web!  So glad to reconnect Marit. :)

I will now pass this along to some of my most faithful blog friends.

Mandie She just rocks! She has become a true friend that I cherish as a blessing from God. She is seriously a gem... and even though we have never met face-to-face, I know someday we will!  :) 

Julie. wow, this woman is amazing...I honestly think maybe she is two people. :)  She has more energy than all get out!  She is the queen of smilies and can scrapbook like none other. She is always positive and just makes me happy. :)

Deana. What a doll. She is the most adorable and talented thing! Another one who amazes me with her energy.  PLUS, she is quite the fashion-plate and has awesome taste in shoes!  You can't go wrong with good shoes. ;)

There are many others who I could go on and on about...seriously, it is awesome to connect to people who have similar interests and passions.  I probably take that for granted, but I do appreciate all the wonderful blog friends I've made!

And since this award is based around shoes and Deana is the shoe queen, I leave you with one of my favorite pictures of the over 1400 I took at a wedding on Saturday:

I'm a weiner!

Or in real English language, a winner!

How cool will I be wearing this adorable creation???

Thanks to a fabulous little giveaway over at Mandie's Mumblings, 

we'll see just how cool soon!

Thanks Mandie. Your creativity is amazing and I'm very blessed to call you FRIEND!  :)

For those of you who have not ever visited Mandie's blog, I highly recommend it for some inspirational photos, crafts, thoughts and stories from her life with sweet hubs, Gabe!

Yes Please!

Just a quickie post to share one of the most creative and inspiring things I have seen all weekend pass through my blog reader:

This post:

http://www.crochettoday.com/crochet-patterns/marvelously-mod-wigs#comments

These photos:

(photo credit)

Seriously, can it get any cuter that this?

indecisive

So I've changed my blog banner today ....... FIVE TIMES!!!

In wanting to come up with a cute, catchy name for the blog that encompasses exactly what this blog is all about I have made several lists.

At first I thought I'd keep it Kim's Point of View & Cre{8}ions 
too long

Then I started thinking about another named for my point of view or thoughts and came up with the word Notion.  Perfect!  It describes a thought I might PLUS it describes sewing supplies!

So, I changed it to Kim's Notions & Cre{8}ions
Nope, just not feeling that.

Hmmmm, I have always liked the word twine - it just sounds so simple and old-fashioned, and it sorta*kinda is another word for yarn, right?

Yes, so I'll call it Kim's Notions & Twine
I like it!
In fact, I even made a cutesy little blog badge that I was going to post over in there for others to grab if they felt inclined.

See!  Cute huh?



<a href="http://www.kimwhitten.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4691415523_35ec8a717a_o.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Kim's Notions & Twine" /></a>
 

Then I thought if I didn't know me, would I understand me?
Am I becoming a wee bit obsessive here?
Probably!

Anyway, I decided to ditch the twine.  I know, I know, it is a cool word, but  -

How about Kim's Notions & Wild Ideas?
I do have lots of crazy ideas...with crafts, photography, food, family and life.

I went ahead and left the present banner for the night with a different font and an updated picture of my Crochet Candy- decided I'd wait and sleep on it and look at it again tomorrow with a fresh brain.

Any feedback is more than welcome!

 ETA: hit me late last night: Clever Notions.  me likey

do you love orange?

I love the color orange...it is bright, fun, and energetic!

So when I saw this giveaway of one of the uber-talented Emily Falconbridge's cool camera straps in orange, I was pumped!

{image from Emily's Etsy Shop-go check it out!}

You might win it if you enter, but I'm really hoping you don't and I do! ;P  

If, by chance I don't win and you do, well, you can thank me later! 

Now get yourself over there!

It is always cool to stumble on new blogs to add to my reader - I have already added Sara - her blog looks interesting, no?

Emily Falconbridge giveaway via Sara Janssen

Where 'O where is Kim?

Here she is!
I know, I continually neglect my place in the blogosphere, but I am vowing to do better.

I must.

I truly don't know why I have quit blogging regularly...maybe all these freaky spammy comments that keep appearing.  annoying

I certainly cannot promise I will be blogging as regularly as P-Dub or Elsie, heck those 3 of you who checked in on me from time-to-time may have given up completely.  But, honestly, I didn't start blogging three (has it been three?) years ago for people to read my blog - I didn't even expect it!  I started it for me!  Therefore I need to continue to do it for me.  I have become so self-centered since turning 40! 

Nonetheless, I WILL persevere and make this place hap-nin' again (insert climatic, inspirational music here) and vow to bring my wit and humor  -AND-  maybe some gasp photos or craftiness BACK TO THIS VAST EMPTY PLACE IN THE NETS of INTER.

ok, I'm worn out after that build-up so I will leave you with my last few weeks of selfies.
Yes, that is one thing I have stuck with - go me!

Beginning with Week 20 which was the weekend of Alex's graduation, thus Alex is included in my selfie!

This was taken after her dinner before going to the Commencement ceremony.

Week 21:

Ironically, I commented to someone on Facebook that this was a "What you Talkin' Bout Willis!?" look, and a week later, Gary Coleman passed away. :(

I loved me some Different Strokes growing up! Heck Gary was only two years older than me! RIP Arnold!

Anyway, I took this shot on my Mom's back porch - I actually rigged my camera up from one of her plant hooks and let it twist and turn and just snapped some random shots with my remote. I thought this angle was pretty cool! wish my necklace hadn't been turned around with the clasp showing. :\ Nit-picky, ain't I?

Week 22:

I know, I know...completely unoriginal. I just thought I needed one of these camera shooting in the mirror shots. Plus I was just blank on anything original so I went for it!

I would be interested in any original self-portrait ideas.
Do you have any you'd like to share?
Know any fun websites, blogs or flickr groups?

I have some foodie things to share this weekend.
Enter: tropical salsa and some beet canning.
I know, the suspense will probably snuff out any life you may have left but please try to be patient.

Desktop Wallpaper

Back in January I discovered a groovy freebie on one of my favorite sites: Design*Sponge.
They post a monthly d*s desktop wallpaper with a cool illustration and calendar for the month.
I look forward to seeing what the new art will be each month.

This month is awesome - orange+yellow and a bird. :)

How could you go wrong????

Happy April.

Beautiful Blogger

Ahhhhh, what a great award to receive from my fellow blogging/tweeting/facebooking friend Susan.

...and now for the rules!  (Dude, there's always rules, ya know?)   ;)

As always, there a rules for this award! And they are:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award. (THANK YOU, Susan!)
2. Copy the award & place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award. CHECK!
4. Share 7 interesting things about yourself.

1. I am 40 and have a 16 year old brother. My first brother was born when I was 16.
2. I hate having my picture taken but am trying to overcome that with my 52 week self-portrait project.
3. I've never had surgery or had to go to the hospital. (hope I'm not jinxing myself by stating this!)
4. I eat around the perimeter of my sandwich and burgers and save the middle for last.
5. I get incredible road rage when someone rides my bumper...beware: I WILL slam on my brakes!
6. I don't bite my fingernails, but I pick at and bite at my cuticles - ugly habit that I've always had.
7. I am completely and totally afraid of mice.  Like panic attack and lose sleep afraid!

Not sure how interesting these seven things are - but they were first to pop in my head!  (Maybe I'm just not very interesting.)

5. Nominate 7 bloggers to receive this award.

1. Julie
2. Deana
3. Sarah
4. Mandie
5. Nancy
6. Jeanie
7. Karla 

Anyone else who is reading this...please consider yourself nominated as well and let me know as I always enjoy reading interesting things about other people...seeing as how I'm so UN-interesting! :)

Ima doofus

...for so many reasons, but today mainly because I realize I've spent all this time on my little "blog makeover" and never went back to fix some of pages I made.

You'll notice right below my banner that I have new static pages with much of the information that I had before on the side.  This is nice because it allows a little more flexibility.  I hope to keep these pages updated and current, but right off I realize I never even linked my Etsy...upon further investigation I realized that I have not even updated my Etsy since Christmas!    GEEZ.

See, Ima doofus!

Here is one of the customized Country Text frames that I did for a lady around Christmas.  I love these with the barnwood frames.  

(nevermind my reflection or the plastic wrapped around the frame for protection)

I also have not been a very faithful blogger lately.

Yet again: doofus!

I hope to get some of this remedied this weekend.

Meantime, how do you feel about the new Google produce: Google Buzz?
Jury is still out for me on this.  I have Twitter and Facebook and am not quite sure I can reprogram myself at this point.

work in progress

Just letting you know I have done some of my blog changes but still have more to make!

Added pages under my banner and plan to clean up my sidebar over there.

Ok
off to eat some din-din.
Parmesan Chicken - garlic bread and peach cobbler made by Alex! 
Yay ALEX!

New Reads

I've been adding blogs to my Google Reader left and right this past week.

Do you ever do that?  

Go through a phase of finding really cool new blogs.

I don't know what it is but I find some new crafty blog which links up to another, then another...well, you get my point.  Anyway, I have the One Pretty Thing blog in my reader and every evening they post the Daily DIY.  Oh man, I love some of the clever ideas I've found on that!

There is always something on there that catches my eye, which leads to a new blog...then the process begins.  New blog reader material!  

Here are some I have come across this week that I'm totally digging:

Ruffles and Stuff 

Susie Harris

Tatortots and Jellow (don't you just love that name!)

How about Orange 

myevaforeva

And my Scrapbook/Twitter friend, Susan turned me onto an art journaling project that she's involved with that I'm looking forward to:

A Year in the Life

(Susan will be a Guest host too!)

This is one of the more clever ones I've come across:

Color me Katie

Really cool things with photos & color.  It is definitely eye candy.

My blog roll over there on the right --->>>  is not actually up-to-date.  Although I do read all these blogs too, after I discovered Google Reader I kind of quit keeping this updated.  (oopsie, sorry)

So do you have any good new blogs that I should add to the 130 I already have?

It's a two-fer

I meant to link up the Crazy Daisy blog tutorial that I did about photographing layouts. I would seriously love, love some feedback with other tips you may have to get those nice crisp shots I see around this place we call the world wide web.

A layout using lots of the Crate Paper goodies in the July kit. And my sewing machine & gesso of course!



If you ever read my comments you will know Julie from all her smilies! :):):):):):)
She is a faithful blogger and I have loved her since the first time I saw her posts on SIStv.
Well, she has put together a challenge blog! I'm so psyched for her and the wonderful team she has assembled.
July 15th will be their first challenge so be sure and get them on your blog reader or links that you read, it's sure to be a blast! (and happy!) ;)
These are a few of my favorite things

okay, two is all you get in one day!
Threefer is a little much I believe! :)

she crafted

I have seen so much Christmas craft inspiration as of late on the world wide web.
So much in fact that my head is swimming with lots of ideas that I want to try out.

Wreaths seem to be the most popular items to craft.

Since I have started utilizing my Google Reader and subscribe to every artsy-craftsy blog known to man (or woman) I have found some really good ones that I attempt to check out with every new posting.

Especially those with new handrafted eye candy.

One such blog: A Foothill Home Companion is filled with the eye candy I speak of.
And yesterday there were these great little origami stars with a link to the video tutorial.
I watched - amazed at how simply they went together.
Well I immediately pulled down one of my Anthropologie catalogs and my paper trimmer and went to town.
With some trial and error, I came up with several of these little cuties and put together this tonight.

How cute is this?
A little wreath ornament! Yea!
There are so many possibilities with these.
There is even an Etsy shop dedicated to making these into jewelry.
clever? yes!

Now I realize it may not be Martha Stewart worthy and my little stars are far from perfect, but I love it & it is now hanging on my tree - with is also not Martha worthy -OR- perfect either!