The New Week and the Winner

Isn't it great that we get so many chances to symbolically make a fresh start, to put yucky-ness behind us. We don't even have to wait for a new year, the beginning of a fresh new week is enough. There is much of last week that I'd like to erase from my memory and am so glad that now I can say that it's all in the past, it was all so last week.

In the midst of the week of bugs, both of the sickness and the technical kind, there were a few lovely moments I do want to hold on to. Nothing huge, just those simple little pleasures, a lovely mummy and daughter play date in the park and watching the little one develop new skills. This week it was learning how to use a spoon.

Practicing her spoon skills, originally uploaded by melanie gray augustin.

And then, onto the exciting bit, time to belatedly announce the winner of the Bookcase Tour giveaway. When I set up the survey, I was a little remiss in asking for a user name to announce with, so I'll be using part of the person's email address and will email the winner for their snail mail address....

With 71 entries, the Random Number Generator picked.... number 55! That makes it "Galleria..."! I'll be in touch. And thank you so much to everyone who took the time to enter and for all the lovely words. I've enjoyed each and every one of them! And will be back with the Bookcase Tour with a gusto!

Now, to get onto my new week. I wonder what it will bring... Does your new week have anything exciting to reveal?

A Late Winner Announcement after a Busy Week

I'm so sorry that I was late drawing the winner of my giveaway! It was quite a week, a good one, but a busy one.

Let's see, there was a prenatal checkup (all is going well), a sick husband who moved out of the bedroom to try to avoid passing on any germs to me, a farewell party for me thrown by the school Camera Club, presents and a talk about my "Photographic journey" to prepare for that party, bookings every lunch break and after school for students to practice an interview for an extra curricular English exam, tests to write and a birthday party also thrown for me, all on top of the usual. Pre-pregnancy I would have taken it all in my stride, but lately, I'm amazed at how quickly that I not only run out of energy, but gladly give in to the tiredness.

DH was feeling better by Friday night, after having a cold all week, so we thought that we'd try to go out for dinner and a movie. We managed dinner, but I quickly crashed after that and was in bed, asleep by the 8.05 movie start time. So much for the second trimester energy boost!

My bump is getting bigger, one day I will get over my camera shyness and show you a picture. I had my first complete stranger ask me if I was pregnant the other day and some of the girls at school have asked if they can touch my belly. My friend Mel, whose place we had the birthday lunch at yesterday, had told her adorable little one all about the "bubbie" in my tummy. When leaving, I got a big hug and a kiss from him, and the bubbie got a kiss too. So sweet.

I have been slowly listing stock in my Etsy store, but I have to confess I still have a lot more to do. I hope to get some more up (including new pendants) in tonight and will be extending the sale and closing of the store until around March 8th-ish.

But that's enough rambling from me, I'm sure you want to know who the winner was... well there were 32 comments, but one of those was a double, and one person who told me in the comments that they had mentioned the giveaway on their blog (I know at least two other people mentioned it as well, but without the comment and my airhead of a pregnant brain, I've forgotten who that was, please let me know, I'd like to give you a little something), so that made 32 entries.

And the winner was.... number 17, which was Edward and Lilly. Rebecca is such a generous, inspiring woman. Not only has she been busy making the cutest little Bushfire Bunnies to help out those who have lost so much in the Victorian fires, but she's also donating the proceeds from her sales in her Etsy store to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. I'd say this win was really good karma.

And We Have a Winner!

Thank you, thank you so much to everyone for your amazing support and advice for the Tokyo Fabric (and Craft) Lovers' Guide! It blew me away and there were so many great ideas. So many in fact, I think I have a series of books to work on now!

I'm off to Tokyo on Wednesday and this time will be there for five days. I'll spend the first couple of days on my own and then hubby will join me to check out some places and enjoy the remainder of our holidays.

One place I'm really excited about visiting this time is the Shinzi Katoh shop. I just melt when looking at his designs. I think I may have to give my credit card to hubby to mind that day.

Anyway... what I'm sure you really want to know is... who won the giveaway?!? Well, out of the 159 comments there were a couple that didn't give any advice, so in fairness to all the people that really put so much effort into their answer, I didn't include them, so that left me with 153 entries and the winner was...

.. LeilandBen! LeilandBen said;

Great idea! I would love to see little photos of each shop, either from the outside or the inside. I'd also love to have links to any stores that sell online as I don't think I'll be making it to Tokyo anytime soon.

It seems I can't actually contact LeilandBen through her blog as there are no posts and no contact details, so LeilandBen, please contact me with your details by the 9th September. If I haven't heard from her (assuming it is Leila and not Ben who entered), I will draw another winner.

Once again, thank you so much to everyone who gave me such wonderful, helpful, creative, insightful advice!

And the winner is....

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised at all the entries. I loved reading every single comment on the blog on people's ideas about finding balance in life. For me at the moment, a couple that I'm going to try to put into practice is the idea of doing things in 15 minute blocks and making lists. Once I'm feeling better, I can start using some other ideas as well. I'll let you know how I go!

So, there were 161 entries in all. There were 65 Etsy hearts from the competition period, so they were numbered 1 to 65. The blog commenters started at number 66 (and any double-ups were taken out). The random number generator picked.....

So that means that the winner is Guzzisue who wrote;

"I never have enough hours to sew but I use my biker social life and interests to counteract my unintersting work life.( given the british weather, I get to spend weekends in muddy fields all over the country !!)"

This chick is a biker textile artist. How cool is that! So Guzzisue, drop me a line with your postal address, and I'll be sending a package your way very soon.

Sorry to those who didn't win, but I will try to hold a giveaway every couple of months, so good luck for then!