April is National Art Glass Month

Delphi a glass supplier is hosting it’s 19th Annual Art Glass Festival to celebrate National Art Glass Month.  Delphi’s online festival is a place for glass hobbyists and artists from around the world to come together to display their works and provide inspiration and creativity! Any art glass, mosaic or jewelry piece qualifies for entry, whether it’s a sun-catcher or a 2,000 piece Tiffany-style lamp. All skill levels are welcome. Delphi will award  thousands of dollars in prizes to the winners!

Delphi will start accepting entries on March 1st and end April 1st, 2010. You can get all the details about the 19th Annual Art Glass Festival here.

I will be entering this contest and will keep you posted on what I design. If you are a glass hobbyist or artist, leave a comment and share what you’ll be entering (feel free to leave a link to a photo/blog/website).

Happy New Year

Happy New Year …..

The Giving Spirit Giveaway will continue through January 8th…..stay tuned for the 3 winners!

Giving Spirit

….the  Giving Spirit giveaway has inspired my family and I’m really enjoying how so many of you find the time to do something for someone else without expecting something in return. It truly warms my heart! The kiddos wanted to share an awesome website with you if you are short on time and would like to donate $’s, World Vision.

Blake was excited to learn that Gramma & Papa donated chickens in his name to a family in need  and passed on the good news to all his friends. Brittney was a little disturbed that Gramma & Papa donated rabbits in her name because she views them as “pets” not necessarily food/way to create an income so we had a little chat and she was on board in no time and sharing the good news with her friends too.

I love the fact that my parents did this for the kids and shared their giving spirit!

Raiding the pantry….

This morning was hectic. The kids and I got up a little early to get the cupcakes for the class holiday party iced and sprinkled. Of course, we all had to sample the butter cream icing and I’m sure the teacher’s will appreciate (yeah right) the fact that my kids were acting like they had ants in their pants from the sugar high! ;-0

While our family is blessed to have a home and a pantry full of food, there are many families who are not so fortunate. My daughter’s class is collecting canned food to donate to a local shelter as a service project. So, this morning we raided our pantry to create two food donation bags which included Macaroni & Cheese, peanut butter, crackers, soups, beans and assorted vegetables. They both really wanted to put in fresh fruit but I explained that the pantry we are donating too is doing a one time collection from the school and the fruit might spoil before it got there. I told them I would look up what pantries in our local area accept “fresh produce” so we can make an additional donation.

My daughter also took an unwrapped toy that she purchased with her own money to donate to another service project at school. Every since she found out about the service project, kids helping kids over the holidays, she has been setting aside part of her allowance to buy a gift. Aw, it’s making this mom tear up!

Don’t forget to share your “giving spirit” to be entered into the Giving Spirit Giveaway (you have the chance to inspire others and win an one of a kind necklace that I designed).

Inspire with the Giving Spirit Giveaway

The giveaway has been extended through January 8th……

If you follow my blog, you will know that I was recently a finalist in the Soft Flex Beading company’s Flex Your Creativity Contest. While my designs were not one of the top 10 winners, I still feel proud to have stepped out of the box and “flexed” my creativity with the following designs. Originally, I was going to auction of the 3 pieces that I designed for charity because they don’t really “fit” anywhere in my current designs. I had such a hard time choosing one charity that I decided to give you a chance to win with your “giving spirit”!

Get your chance to win one of the three designs below, please leave a comment on how you have “given” back to your community this month. It doesn’t necessarily need to be monetary (your time counts too). One of my favorite “warm fuzzy memories” is of the time I spent reading to the elderly while I was in university…..

For example, in our household we have donated canned goods to our local food bank, gently used toys to the woman’s shelter, and new toys for a variety of toy drives. Plus, our family is planning to donate our time to Operation Kindness . The kids are excited that with the help of mom and dad that they can assist at the animal shelter.

So, here are the designs that you have a chance to win in the Giving Spirit Giveaway…..

I look forward to reading and sharing my favorite “giving spirit” comments over the next few weeks. Please share with family and friends too. Let us inspire one another with our giving spirit!

I will choose 3 “random” giving winners on January 8th, 2010 (comments after January 7th midnight CST will NOT be entered in the random drawing) using Random.org so please make sure you type your e-mail correctly so I have a way to contact you. Yes, you can comment more than once (the more giving spirit the better IMHO)! The winners will have 72 hours to respond via e-mail. If they do not, another winner will be chosen. All jewelry will be e-mailed via first class mail ( I will ship world wide) within 2 business days of the winner responding.

Any questions, just e-mail me artist AT designing-diva DOT com.

In the spirit of giving,

P.S.
Update Jan 11/2010:
Winners: Nyla Thompson, BrendaLea, and Sara Hardin

Jingle Bash -winner

At the recent Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash,  I had a free drawing for a $25 gift certificate. All current newsletter subscribers were included in the drawing and I used Random.org to choose a winner. Congrats to Sara Boland-Taylor who just replied with a “woot”. Yep, I think it’s “happy dance time”!

P.S.

The next free jewelry drawing will be held December 15th. To be automatically entered, make sure you are a “confirmed” newsletter subscriber (see Get E-mail updates on right hand column).

Giveaway Alert–Bash Bucks

Quilty Giveaway Alert

Woohoo. I feel like I’m still whooping it up at  the International Quilt Festival in Houston with all these fabulous giveaways by quilting bloggers. Jackie of Canton Village Quilt Works is sharing not one but 5 “quilty” related giveaways!

• A layer cake and jelly roll of Moda’s Hunky Dory line. (Wow, such happy colors).
• The highly sought after Moda Sampler box. (This is what I have my fingers & toes crossed for!)
• Kay Capps Cross’s newest book Black and White and Pieced All Over. (The cover on this book looks delicious.)
• A charm pack of Kona Cotton Solids with 40 different Kona Colors.
• A charm pack and fat quarter of Northcott’s gorgeous new line, Leading Ladies.
  

Ok, hurry on over to Canton Village Quilt Works blog and learn how you can have not one but 5 chances to win one of these fabulous  “quilty” giveaways!

Giveaway from Our Cozy Nest

One of my favorite destinations for sewing inspiration is the infamous Moda Bake Shop. Let me warn you. It can be dangerous. I often have the urge to go out and buy more fabric (yes, I hear the fabric store calling my name)!!

With September being “National Sewing Month”, I have several projects on the go right now including a baby quilt for Eve who is now 6 months old. I think I’ve finally decided on making a coin quilt. Eek. I better get right on that or she’ll be a year old before I know it!

I’m just so tickled that I did stop by MBS today because of the fabulous ribbon blanket and block tutorial by Nicole from Our Cozy Nest. This would make a fabulous baby shower or welcome home gift and it is a super quick sew so the bambino won’t be months or even a year old before you finish!   Stop on by the Cozy Nest real quick because Nicole is having a Moda charm pack  giveaway (hey, it would save you a trip to the fabric store if you win so you could get started sooner!).

Etsy Dallas turns two

Etsy Dallas turns 2 this week! Happy Birthday!

Check out the the sale-a-bration going on here…..

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