put your best flair forward

To follow up with the picture accompanying yesterday's post...I have a confession. I was a brownie-drop-out. Yep, it's true. While I adored the uniform, I stunk at peddling cookies [my parents ended up buying my entire share] and preferred not to sing songs in unison. So, after a year in brownies, I called it quits and ended my career in girl-scouting.

As a result, I hardly earned a single badge...by far, the COOLEST part of being a brownie. But, luckily today, I can create my own.

I'm still working on this one:

Please feel free to accept any and all of these special badges as my treat. You can take a screen shot and use them on your own blogs and websites [in posts or on your sidebar]...all I ask is that you kindly link back here for credit. Cheers!

and we have a winner

Not surprisingly, all who entered the drawing for the new website and domain courtesy of Big Black Bag, were both clever and deserving...making choosing a winner tough. In the end, I decided to go the most democratic route, on this most democratic of days, and draw a name from a hat beanie.

And the winner IS : Andrea, aka The Big Gay Dragon

Congrats Andrea! Send me an email and I'll help you get started on your website!

And have no fear, just because you aren't the winner today, doesn't mean you can't be a winner tomorrow. I've got some fun things in store. Hope you'll drop by!

time for a pillow fight

We have a winner!

No way! Yes way! Congrats Becky! One fun pillow coming your way.

last chance harvey

If you haven't already, now seems like the perfect time to enter the champagne and pillows giveaway.  I'll be picking a winner later this evening.

champagne and pillows

I've got some good news. All those visits to open houses have paid off. Edgar, Louie, Pokey, Reilly and I will be moving into our first *real* house in less than a month and, boy, are we excited! I've hardly been able to sleep for the last two weeks due to the decorating that's been happening in my head. Eeeeeeeek!

So shouldn't we celebrate? If you were here, we could pop open a bottle of champagne, but since you aren't, how about a giveaway? Earlier this week I received this notNeutral pillow from All Modern:

I love it and hope you do too, because one just like it [or another pattern of your choosing] can soon be on its way to your house. All you have to do is follow three simple steps:

1. If you're not already, become a member of this blog (see sidebar). This will help me host more giveaways and provide motivation to get sketchin'!
   
2. Cruise on over to All Modern and check out their line of Notneutral pillows.
   
3. Leave a comment here with the name of the pillow you like the most.
   

I'll choose a winner at random on Monday. Until then, good luck!

FYI : Here are a few of my other favorites, but you decide what best fits your style!

marvelous mail

I want to send a big, HUGE, TREMENDOUS shout out to Patricia van Essche of PVE Design. I was fortunate to win a book giveaway at Patricia's blog (what can I say, it's my lucky month!?!) a little while ago and received it in the mail over the weekend.

Along with the motivating book (which I'm already reading...no time like the present to simplify) came some pretty amazing goodies...by goodies, I mean art! Check this out:




and my favorite part, hidden within the book...

This is definitely Pokey, flat as a pancake and ready to go on a W.A.L.K!

Thank you so much Patricia for such a wonderful and personal gift!

found!

Not in the refrigerator as I had previously suspected...but in an laptop bag I hadn't used in, oh, about a month, and was getting ready to lend to a friend. Yay!

To celebrate this joyous occasion I want to send my 200th follower (see sidebar --- I don't have a 200th follower yet...) a little somethin' somethin' in the mail. Not sure what that somethin' somethin' is yet, but I'll think of...somethin'!

Afterall, I was a big winner this week! Many thanks to Cindy and Fifi! Time to pay it forward!

tattoos are forever

: Photo courtesy of Kym. See Kym.'s other smurfadelic photos here! :

And the winner of the smurftastic giveaway is....

ANONYMOUS.

Unfortunately, Anonymous is, well, anonymous... However, how could I turn down someone with a friend with a smurf tattoo?!? That shows some serious commitment.

So, if you're the anonymous who wrote this...

"Oh my gosh, I hadn't checked in in a awhile and look what I almost missed. My friend Grace LOVES the smurfs and has a tattoo of one-she would dearly love and cherish the glasses. I would love to be the reason she gets them, she has done so much for me-cooked for me when i have been sick, watched my kids, and is just an all round great person."

...please email me (see sidebar for address) with your name and mailing address (i'm crossing my fingers you're in the US) and I'll send you six lovely smurfy glasses. If I don't hear from anonymous in a few days I'll choose another winner.

Thanks to everyone who participated AND if you were a fan of the drawing of the glasses, rather than the actual glasses, there is hope for you too. I'll share more details on this later.

**UPDATE : HOUSTON, WE HAVE AN ANONYMOUS!!!**

the fountain of my youth

I came of age in a time when Trapper Keepers, Pound Puppies, California Raisins and glasses with designs of cartoon characters imprinted on them were all the rage. Unfortunately, as a child, I was unable to procure the last of these treasures...leaving me forever uncool. Despite the fact that virtually every fast food restaurant in the world carried glasses boasting the Care Bears, Alvin and the Chipmunks, He-Man and She-Ra, my mom refused to buy a set for me. I begged and begged, but to no avail. I thought they were cool; she thought they were tacky.

Fast-forward 16 years. When I was 22 and got my first apartment on my own, the very first thing I bought for my new digs were a set of six smurf glasses: one at a time off eBay. I was an adult and I could have my cartoon glasses, darn it!

Sadly, however, for various reasons (not enough cabinet space, a husband who also thinks they are tacky...) the time has come for me to relinquish my beloved smurf glasses... However, the thought of them going to someone who doesn't love them or, worse yet, in the trash, makes me a little nauseous. So, with this thought, today my blog detours from being a sketch blog to a gift blog. I'd love to send my smurf glasses to one of your out there who fell in love with them as a child as I did or has a child today who would enjoy them.

Please leave a comment if you're interested or if this post brings up memories of your childhood... I'll decide on the lucky, smurphy recipient later in the week.

initial reactions

Cheers to everyone who participated in the *link love* giveaway. Soon two valentines will be on their way across two oceans to Joan Y and Inger C!!!! Way to go!

As a side note, this giveaway seems to prove that chances of winning at random are enhanced if your screen name includes a last initial. From now on I'm going by Suzanne B :)

heartfelt

Don't forget the *link love* giveaway ends tomorrow! There is still time to share the love...

*link love* giveaway

"The love we give away is the only love we keep." - Elbert Hubbard


In honor of Valentine's Day, which is exactly one month away, I'm happy to announce another giveaway! Whoohoo!

Every blogger knows what a compliment it is to have someone link to you....ahhh, to feel appreciated! So, to participate in this contest I ask that you do two things:

1) Link (on your own blog) to someone/anyone! whose site makes you happy. If you feel like it, why not go ahead and dedicate a post to that person and their work? **if you don't have a blog, feel free to skip this part...but at least try sending good thoughts telepathically**

2) Put your name in the pot by leaving a comment on this post.

Two winners will be drawn at random on January 21 and will be sent "care packages" complete with one of the handmade valentine magnets you see above.

Now, go on! Share the love.

congrats are in order

May I get a drumroll please? The winner of the *i'm so thankful* giveaway, drawn at random, is...
Jose Louro of Lisboa, Portugal!

I feel very happy to be sharing my work with such a talented artist and architect. If you haven't visited Jose's blog before, please take the time to check it out today. It is one of my favorites.

And a big thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway. I hope you'll continue visiting and commenting!

chasing pokey

I've been on an unexpected, though somewhat needed, drawing hiatus this week. I've had so many other projects going on that I've had very little time left to draw simply for fun, but I guess that is ok now and again.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was laid back and perfect. Above was one of my favorite activities of the day...chasing Pokey around the yard.

As promised I will draw a winner in the *i'm so thankful* giveaway...but not until a little later today. SO, if you haven't signed up yet, now is your chance!

*i'm so thankful* giveaway

Yay!!!! Finally, after weeks and weeks...no, make that months and months...of thinking and talking about it, I have a little ETSY shop up and running!!!!

AND, in celebration of its "Grand Opening" I've decided it's time for a giveaway!!!!

To participate all you have to do is leave your name in the comment section of this post, along with something you are thankful for (it is Thanksgiving here in the US after all). On Friday, November 23, I will draw a name at random and send you some surprise goodies from my shop! No purchase is necessary, though it is a good time to start thinking about holiday presents...isn't it? :)

And let me begin the thankfulness chain by letting you know just how much I appreciate you, my visitors and friends. Your encouragement fuels my creativity in ways I can never describe.

drumroll please

And the winner of the *time for presents* giveaway, drawn at random, is Paula Jarvis! Congratulations to Paula and many thanks to all who participated. This is something I hope to do more of in the future, so please keep visiting.

*time for presents* giveaway

I mentioned yesterday that I had some fun things planned for this week. Well...no party is complete without presents!

Please leave your name in the comments section of this post. On Friday, July 21, I'll draw one name and send out a little package of personalized olive drop stationery, along with a few other goodies, to the winner!

Thanks again for all your support!

**THE DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY**