miahenry

November/December giveaway and fundraiser

This giveaway is closed. 

This month I want to give away a book! Yay! As in last months giveaway I am including a donation component (see all the details below). The wonderful thing is that between Nov 10 and Dec 1 Global Giving will match our donation with 30% - so to make it to our $100 goal we only need to donate $80. We are already at $30 so we only need five more generous souls to donate and we can send that little one to school for a year! We can do it!

Okay here's the book up for grabs...

One of my favourite and absolutely gorgeous cooks, Nigella Lawson. If you don't have any of her books yet I think you will love them, she is funny and warm and seems to love all the foods I love. 

Just leave a comment on this post, remember you don't have to donate to enter but if you decide to donate I will put in two entries for you, no need to tell me, I will get an email about your donation.

Giveaway closes 1 December. Winner announced 2 December. So get commenting!!

Good Luck!!!!

The Fundraiser

If you would like to help out you can enter the giveaway and donate towards the fundraiser by clicking on the 'give now' button below. First, leave your comment, then donate. I will put 2 entries into the giveaway for you if you decide to donate.

The minimum donation on Global Giving is $10.00 and they charge 15%. You can choose to have the 15% added on to the $10 (total $11.50) or included in the $10, in which case $8.50 goes to the project. Why is everything so complicated!?

Our goal is to raise $80, that is enough to put one child through school for one year! If we raise more than the $80 we need I will donate the money to another BRAC education project and tell you all about it!

The project is being run by BRAC, if you would like to know more about it click here.

I have been researching the organisation that is running the project and I'm very impressed with their approach. In fact BRAC is considered to be a model organisation. Visit BRAC to find out more.

Thanks so much!!!!!

Christmas List 1 - Global Girlfriend

Some of my favourite things from Global Girlfriend for Christmas this year (please) (thanks).

Love Bird Handbag                        Dancing Disc Necklace 

Recycled Soda Bottle Soy Candle

Bitty Sweater Ornament

 

Heavenly Chocolate Brownie Mix (US Only)

Shop Swap & Blog: Audrey's Country Crafts

I have been so lucky to get a beautiful package in the mail from Audrey's Country Crafts! We were partnered up in a Shop Swap and Blog recently over at Structured Chaos. I love presents that have lots of little surprises wrapped in tissue!

 

 

And here is what was inside!

 

Gorgeous, fun, adorable Christmas Stocking Ornaments!

 

AND this wonderful wind chime that I LOVE!

 

AND a very pretty bookmark!

 

How lucky am I?

All About Audrey

I am a wife, mother, school bus driver and avid crafter.  We live outside a small town in southern Manitoba, and have been crafting/painting for about 14 years now. My husband, Brad, and I have been married for almost 21 years and have two sons - Luke (19) and Logan (17).  We love to go quadding (riding ATV's) as a family, hiking, trying new foods, meeting new people etc.

I started crafting about 15 years ago. At the time I was a stay-at-home mom with 2 small children.  One day I saw an ad in the local paper for a beginner folkart painting class.  My husband suggested that I go, as a way to get out of the house one evening a week and talk to other adults.  So I joined.  I think he's sorry now. LOL  After attending the class I was hooked and haven't stopped painting since.  Did many small craft shows at the beginning, and have done a few larger ones lately.  It's a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.  I just keep telling my husband that crafting is my therapy and it's cheaper than a psychiatrist.    

Some of my inspiration for my crafts comes from other crafters.  But my grandma inspires me the most. She lost her eyesight slowly about 35 years ago, but it didn't slow her down. Grandma tried to teach me to knit when I was younger, it's just not my thing. Couldn't manage to even knit a scaft straight. She is now 93.5 years old (1/2 years count at that age), and still knits everyday, making scarves, mittens and slippers for the great-grandchildren. I hope I can still craft when I'm 93!

 

What made you start your business?

My craft room was getting to full of things I was making, so decided to try selling them.  Now I'm hooked! LOL.

What you plan to accomplish with your buisness?

My business is not supposed to ever be full time.  For me it's more about the fun I have making the items, looking through new craft books/magazines, and trying new and fun crafts.

What you get most out of having your own buisness?

Sanity!  I need to create to keep sane. LOL

Your favorite independently owned online shop

Oh my - that is a really tough question!  About a year ago I had Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash contact me about swapping a couple of my items for some of her B&B products.  We have since become friends and chat online quite a few times a week.  I have ordered many many of her soaps, lotions, sugar scrubs and body butters to use for myself and to give as gifts. I love them all!!  Cara is a sweetie, so easy to deal with and ships really quickly.  Her shop is http://bovinebubbles.etsy.com.

Any upcoming shop promotions 

From November 15-30 I will be having a Christmas Promotion in my shop.  As well as a "Christmas Open House" featuring 10 other shops on my blog.  Check it out for great promo's from each shop and 10 Give Away Prizes!

Check out Audrey's blogs, Audrey's Country Crafts and Audrey's Giveaways.

You can find more gorgeous creations, with loads of Christmas goodies in stock over in Audrey's Etsy Store.

Thanks so much Audrey!!

product photos

I find taking really good product photo's quite a challenge. I have a good camera but really don't know anything about photography. I have learnt one very important thing though, light is everything and natural light is so important when you want a beautiful, interesting photo. 

Needless to say I was thrilled to come across this excellent post by Becka from Bliss in a Teacup over on the Poppytalk blog. I only recently discovered Poppytalk, they have some gorgeous products over in their market. (I'm starting to talk about the internet like it's a physical place where I walk around!) 

I've also been having some fun over at Picnik, recommended to me by my darling Mia. 

 

1960's

 

Polaroid

 

Museum Frame

unwanted visitor

Rick had to be very brave and shoo this hungry carpet snake away from our bunny this afternoon. I threw banana at the rabbit in an attempt to get it into it's hutch where it would be safe while Rick hooked the snake on the end of a broom and gently persuaded it into the garden. Kiki is now safe in the garage but the snake came back and has been perched on the wire enclosure for about 5 hours! Not quite sure what to do if it's still there in the morning, it didn't show any fear of us when we were near it. Last year at this time I was feeding Kiki at night and stepped on a very large snake - not nice I tell you! - I wonder if it's the same one?

Snake Situation Update - it's nowhere to be seen this morning...not sure how I feel about this...I'm keeping the screen doors closed and I hope it found something else to eat last night!

Hooray for Kara

The winner of my October Giveaway is Kara. Congrats to you, I will sending the the little doll out to you today with her pj's etc. That was a really fun Giveaway, AND we managed to raise $30 towards sending a child from Sudan to school. Good job and thank you so much. I'm working on the next one right now, would love to get to $100 before Christmas!

 

Much love to all who entered.