Wednesday, February 6, 2013

500th Post - and a Giveaway!

Whaoo!  This is my 500th post!  I remember the day I started blogging.  I questioned my decision over and over again to jump into the blogging world.  I remember writing the post and holding onto it for a week or two before I posted it.

The fine line of wanting to capture memories and important moments with my kids - yet a little anxious about putting my kids out there on the internet for all to see.  The balancing act of hobby vs family blog.  Who knew I had so much to say and show over the last 5 years!

I appreciate so much the kind words and sweet comments I have gotten over the years.  The words of advise on hard days.  The cheering my family on during our new adventures.  The support and compliments on my little projects.  And especially the encouragement in starting my new business.  I appreciate each and every comment I receive and page view I get.  I know our time is precious and I am so grateful that people my be interested in what goes on in my little world.

To honor all that and celebrate my 500th post - I thought it would be fun to host a little giveaway.  This is my first giveaway, so I'm pretty excited!

I went back and forth on what to offer.  Fabric because I love it so much?  A pattern that is on my to do list?  A finished something?  Which is what I ended up with.  I chose a table runner.  And not just a table runner, but one of my favorites.


I made a couple of the runners when I was trying to complete a Schnibbles  project and decided I was Schnibbles impaired.  But what came out of my mistakes was a couple of my favorite runners ever!  I love these pastel colors from the Martinique line by 3 Sisters.  Especially right now - they bring a springy feel into the house which is so needed with the cold out!


I also love the backing on this runner - flip the runner for a different look.  Aqua and red is so in right now I love it!


And stars - you all should know about my love affair with stars....so this runner has it all for me!
  


 I love runners for several reasons - I can use up scraps from my quilting projects, I can get them done in an hour and feel like I've accomplished something.  I love the pop of color they add to areas in my house.  And I love that I can change them out monthly if I like.  


I use them on my dining table, entry table, coffee table, island, dresser - they can go everywhere.  I even throw them over a chair now and then to add some color into my family room.  

So...the giveaway part - EASY - leave me a comment telling me what your favorite project/hobby is.  Doesn't have to be sewing related - anything you want - I want to get to know you and what you like to do most in life!  

I'll chose a winner next Monday the 11th and announce it here.  Please make sure you aren't a no reply email so I can contact you via email if you win.  

Good luck - and thank you so much for stopping by.


20 comments:

Angela said...

Favorite hobby??!? I don't know if I can pick. I have a very blessed life. I am a mom of 4, with only 1 left at home, and he is a senior in high school. So I'm a soon to be early nester. In my spare time, I knit, sew, play tennis, play bridge. It is very hard to pick a favorite. I've played tennis and knitted for years, but I've just discovered quilting and fabric in the past 6 months or so. So I guess my newest favorite "obsession" as my husband calls it is quilting. Congrats on your 500th post!!

Darlene said...

Congrats on 500 posts - woohoo!!!!

I love your tablerunners and the way you use them in your home. The tablescapes are beautiful, Abby.

My favorite hobby has to be quilting but I do enjoy embroidery, as well. They go hand in hand so it's a win-win. :-)

Kigwit said...

I love to knit socks. In fact, I learned to knit just so I could knit socks. My husband jokes that he married me so he could get hand-knitted socks. I love to sew, quilt, tat, embroider etc but knitting is my longtime love.

Heidi said...

I want that table runner, Ab...
I am a mom of four girls. I love to mix, stir, cook & bake... sampling all the while. I love to read & gauk at your amazing projects.
Love, Heed

Cheryl said...

What beautiful table runners. My favorite hobby is quilting, I love to go and have a little sewing time once my kids are in bed. I feel so much better than when I wind up on the sofa watching bad TV all night

Jen T said...

My favorite hobby would have to be sewing. I love to sew decorations for Holidays and fun things for my kids.
Congrats on your 500th post. I love seeing your beautiful quilts and I even enjoy your Menu Mondays.

Erin Quinn said...

Happy 500th!!!!
My hobby is quilting. I'm only fairly new to it, but the it's lovely to create something and especially something that is useful. If I had to choose some thing that's not quilting, I'd say baking. Not cooking - no meals or practical kitchen adventures. Just baking. Delicious cakes and cookies... But my husband grumbles because I can only make things that are unhealthy, so he is preferring the quilting. He doesn't know how much I spend on fabric though... :- P
E xx

Wendy said...

I felt the same I was not sure how much I would like to blog, but I'm so happy I started this journey. My favourite is making quilts. I love fabric and seeing it becoming something wonderful.

Julie C. said...

What a great accomplishment! Your table runner is beautiful and I love them too! I use them all the time in my home. I love to quilt, blog and paper craft (make cards mostly). I wish I had time in my life to devote to all three of them equally. Perhaps my favorite part is collecting fabric! That's definitely it. :-)

Linda in PA said...

My favorite hobby is quilting, but I also enjoy embroidery, knitting, and crocheting. Your table runner is so pretty. The fabrics you used are beautiful. I have several places in my home where it would look great. Congratulations on your 500th post and thanks for the giveaway.

hueisei said...

Happy 500th posts!!
I love to sew and quilt :D Sometimes I will crochet too.
Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! Cheers!!

Dee said...

Found you throughCrazy Mom Quilts...love your blog and congratulations on the 500th post! May the next 500th be just as full of quiltey loveliness!

Dee said...

Forgot to say I love sewing with scraps for "Mommy" therapy!

Ida said...

My favorite hobby used to be scrapbooking. Paper at first and then to digital. But about 2 years ago I got the quilting bug and I'm hooked. I'm a mom to five and wife to a busy Air Force doctor so quilting helps me feel like I've accomplished something permanent each day.

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

I have quite a few favourite hobbies :) Sewing "things" is my current fav though. I love being able to pick a project, make it and then have something for my efforts at the end of a couple of hours. Very satisfying. I also love to bake sweet things! Beautiful table runner - the colours are fab!

qltmom9 said...

I like to quilt as a hobby, but I also homeschool. Blog reading is a favorite too.~

Lucy~

Barbara said...

There are so many fun things to do in life- I loved raising my daughter -Is that a "hobby"? I love to walk on the beach (when I am not quilting). I love decorating, helping people, ging to church, reading the bible.... I LOVE Quilting- looking at patterns, reading descriptions, looking at other quilters work, going to quilt shows...so I guess my favorite hobby is QUILTING! Congrats on the 500 mark....
Barbara

Nancy E said...

WOW 500 posts! What a pretty table runner! I love 3 Sisters fabric, but don't have much of it. The LQS doesn't only orders it occasionally. My favorite hobby used to be Tole painting, but moved and didn't have my Tole painting friends or paint shop so I starting quilting and haven't been able to stop quilting or buying fabric, just love doing it.

Jan Baker said...

I can't believe you have 500 posts. I just discovered quilt blogs a month ago and just stared commenting on them this weekend. My favorite things to do are quilt and read. But my most favorite is spending time with my sisters. jmkinshella@gmail.com

marta said...

with a new baby in tow, i'm reinventing myself and figuring out NEW hobbies to get into. ha! i love thinking up cute parties / carnivals / gifts & favors / homemade businesses and then telling OTHER people how to run them. xo.