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Hello!  And welcome to the audition round for season 16!  This is always one of my favorite weeks.  I’m constantly awed by the talent of people.  Aren’t you?

So let me introduce you to the 12 ladies that are competing this round to be official crafters in the next season.

Beth @ Remarkably Domestic
Hayley @ Welcome to the Mouse House
Holly @ Heart Break Kids
Janiene @ A Bunch of Bishops
Jesika @ Craft Geek
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts
Melissa @ Delighted
Naomi @ Fifty Two Create
Natalie @ Nat Mac’s Knick Knacks
Randi @ Sowdering About
Sarah & Corinne @ Small World Land
Sheena @ ASANTB

fyi:  the order they are listed here is not the order that their projects are presented.  I’ll give you the crafter/project match up after the poll closes.

So now it’s all up to you.  Have a look at all the projects, then scroll back up here and rate them from your most favorite to the still-really-cool-but-not-your-cup-of-tea (it may be helpful to have a piece of scratch paper by you so it’s easier to keep track of – this will get easier as the season progresses.  i promise).

The poll will be open until Friday morning so make sure that you get your vote in quick and spread the word! Read more

Sorry this post is coming so late in the weekend.  Some of you may have noticed that SYTYC was down yesterday and part of today.  My web host and I were working on some back end things and it got a little complicated.  I apologize for that.

So here are the results for the Handmade Gifts challenge at long last.

And here is the crafter/project match up:

That makes  Heidi @ greendoodle our winner for the 4th week in a row.  Congrats again Heidi!

We have to say goodbye to Amber @ The Craft Project this week.  Make sure you head over to her blog to follow along on the rest of her great adventures.

Although it’s super sad that she won’t be with us for the last two weeks of the contest, she won’t be leaving empty handed.  Our amazing sponsors have provided an awesome little prize pack for her.

“Happy Go Lucky” Jelly Roll

Shop : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest : Flicker

1 Straight Stitch Society Digital Pattern

Shop : Pinterest : Flicker : Facebook : Twitter

2 ebook patterns

Pattern Shop : Etsy : Facebook : Pinterest : Blog

2 wall panels

Shop : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest

 A few things to remember:

• Link to a specific post, not your blog in general.
• Please only post your ideas, not round ups or guest posts.
• Only link up 2 posts.
• Think outside the box – a craft, tutorial, recipe, anything you want!
• Grab the handy dandy button in the side bar (or a text link it you like to keep things simple) and put it on your blog so people know there’s other great stuff linked up here to see.
• Visit other links and leave them some love – everyone likes appreciation
• Join me on Twitter & Facebook.  I’ll be sharing some of my favorites there throughout the week.

I have a love affair with felt you guys.  It is so outrageously soft, and easy to craft with and oh so pretty.  So a month or so when I was contacted by Chronicle Books about reviewing the newest  book from Amy Palanjian I jumped at it.

The book is called So Pretty! Felt and I’m in love.

It’s full of 24 “simple, yet elegant” projects – which is one reason I love it.  I’m a sucker for simple and elegant.  I seriously loved every project in the book and couldn’t wait to start on one.  So I didn’t.

I had been meaning to make my daughter a bow to match her favorite Sunday dress and figured this was the perfect chance.  I pulled out some 100% heathered wool felt that I had in my stash and some embroidery floss and used one of the projects for inspiration.  I put mine on a bobby pin instead of a headband.

It was so fun and, like they said, simple.  And there is such a great range of projects featured in the book.  From hair accessories to an adorable pin cushion to cupcake toppers & buntings it’s all in there.

So Pretty! Felt is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, or Chronicle Books. So hop on over and get to work!

*no compensation for this post was received, but I was given a complimentary copy of the book to review*

1.Tell us a little about you and your blog.

At the suggestion of my wonderful husband, I started our blog to document all of our adventures, as we like to call them. From big adventures like learning to cook gluten free, to digging out and finishing our basement, to little adventures like new favorite things and lessons God is teaching us, we love living each adventure together. The Adventures of D and V is a lifestyle blog that is about…well, our life!

2.How and when did you start crafting?

I have always loved crafting. Ever since I was in Elementary school, I was always making something. A 9 patch blanket for my doll, a chair for my Barbie, homemade cards for friend’s birthdays. I have always been a “make it from scratch” kind of girl. Designing and creating something is the fun part for me.

3.How often do you craft?

I craft whenever I have the time! Sometimes that is every day, and then sometimes I go weeks between crafts. But I try not to let it go that long, because crafting makes me happy!

4.Where do you get your inspiration?

I like to draw inspiration from memories and things that are sentimental to me. Things I remember from my grandparents houses, ideas that come to me while we are on vacation to help remember a special time. But let’s be honest here, Pinterest is also a constant source of inspiration, as well as my local flee market!

5.What is your favorite medium to work in?

Both of my grandmothers were sewers, so from a young age sewing and fabric has been a favorite of mine. When I was growing up it was a special thing to get to sew with grandma, now that both of my grandmothers have passed away, it is a special thing I do to in memory of them and all that they taught me.

6.What is your guilty pleasure?

I would have to say, watching TV. Daniel and I love watching shows from the beginning to end on Netflix, and totally get sucked in, sometimes watching 3 or 4 episodes in a row…it’s just so easy when you don’t have to wait a week for the next episode!

7.What makes you smile?

My husband. Even when I am in a grumpy mood, and do not want to smile, he some how manages to make me laugh. He is my favorite!

8.What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?

Swimming or teaching swimming lessons. I grew up in the pool, was a competitive swimming from age 5 – 22, and have been teaching swimming lessons for over 10 years. I just love being in the pool and sharing that love of the water with little swimmers!

Guess what guys?  Seven years ago today, 5 months to the day after laying eyes on each other for the first time, I married the most perfect guy on earth (You can try to argue it, but you’d still be wrong.  He really is the most perfect).

*I know the pictures a little blurry, but I just love it so!*

What!?!  Seven years!  We were just babies then it seems like. And there’s no way it’s been 7 years. To celebrate my love whisked me off to NYC.

So while I’m eating pizza, buying cheap knock-offs, walking around the park, and exploring the MET for the next few days, you guys get to check out these three fantastic Handmade Gift ideas.

Like always, the poll will be open until Friday!  have a fantastic week! Read more

I got a new sewing machine a few weeks ago and have been doing a little more sewing that normal.  But, do you know what I hate?  Pinning patterns to the fabric!  I had heard of and seen the little bean bag time paper weights, but I didn’t want to have to deal with making some of those.  Then I saw this linked up to the linky party last week:

Over-sized washers wrapped in ribbon!  So much easier to make and just as effective.  It really was one of those, “well, duh” moments for me.  Such a simple solution.  Thanks Sugar Tart Crafts for pointing it out to me.

Anyway,  here are the results for last weeks challenge that you’ve been waiting for.

poll

And the crafter/project match up:

That means Heidi @ greendoodle pulls in another win!  Congrats Heidi!  That concrete leaf really is amazing.  It makes me want a yard so I can have a reason to have one

It’s a good thing she has a blog so I have somewhere to go to keep up with her .  So head on over there and follow along with me.

 A few things to remember:

• Link to a specific post, not your blog in general.
• Please only post your ideas, not round ups or guest posts.
• Only link up 2 posts.
• Think outside the box – a craft, tutorial, recipe, anything you want!
• Grab the handy dandy button in the side bar (or a text link it you like to keep things simple) and put it on your blog so people know there’s other great stuff linked up here to see.
• Visit other links and leave them some love – everyone likes appreciation
• Join me on Twitter & Facebook.  I’ll be sharing some of my favorites there throughout the week.