Tag Archives: giveaway

Helpful Unicorns, Win One Yourself

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ScannedImageWorking in the crochet industry has given me several opportunities. I have been able to meet wonderful people, I have inspired others to create, I have had the done some traveling, and I get to sample new products. It is from these opportunities that I have a giveaway for you!

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Unicorn Fibre cleansing set!

I have checked out the products of Unicorn Fibre, they make fabulous cleansing products for natural fibers. They are gentle, yet effective with a clean scent. I have a set of cleansers; Power Scour, to remove stains, odors, oils, and even can be used to wash raw sheep fleeces. Fibre Wash, for gentle cleaning with no yellowing effect. Fibre Rinse, to reduce “itch” factors, reduce dye loss, and leave fabric just yummy. Included in the set, a complimentary Unicorn Fibre Baby Unicorn, just cute and cuddly to make you smile.

The products are designed for hand or machine wash, and work with hard or soft water. They are easy to use, and the Fibre Wash and Fibre Rinse can make blocking a dream. These are definitely products that can enhance any of your natural fiber creation.

So why is it important to treat natural fibers delicately? It has to do with the chemical makeup of the wool and hair that are mostly comprised of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen & Sulphur, (it is Sulphur that attracts moths). Natural fibers are more likely to break down in chemical washes that interact with these properties. An easy way to think of this is as your own hair. Different hair care products can have very different effects on your head, and the same is true with natural fibers (wool, alpaca, and such).

So to have your own opportunity to check out these cleansers, simply leave a comment on this post before Wednesday, November 2, 2017 midnight PST. I would love to hear about your favorite natural fiber, or cleansing tips you might have, but any comment will get you entered. One lucky winner will be selected randomly on November 3, 2017. If you don’t happen to be selected, give yourself a treat and check out Unicorn Fibre products (you can find them here).

Bringing Home From Conference

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ScannedImage I managed to bring a little of the annual CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) conference home with me. I have many memories, and learned much, but then there were the prizes and giveaways.

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Night of Jazz Wrap 2nd Place Accessories in the CGOA 2016 Design Competition

I entered the CGOA Design Competition and took 2nd Place in the Accessories Category with my Night of Jazz Wrap. (See all the winners on a slide show here) The Wrap was inspired by a pattern I found for curtain trimming in a Needleworks publication from the 1920’s. I used two skeins of Designing Vashti Lotus yarn in Red Rose color and accented it with #6 Czech beads from Bead Biz, it is essentially crochet rings that are join as you go. Then they are bordered and have centers inserted in the rings, and tassels added. I always seem to design items for this contest that are hard to display, but come alive when worn. This was re-affirmed to me after the winners were announced, I had one of the judges approach me and express that no one was sure about it until they had a model put it on, then they knew it was a winner. I hope to have this pattern available sometime next year, so that I can share the enjoyment of the creation more.

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With my purchase of raffle tickets I won the set of Furl Odyssey Hooks with bowl & stand. I won the Knitter Pride Interchangable Crochet hooks as a door prize at the CGOA Banquet

The CGOA was very successful in securing great door prizes and giveaways for the conference, they even offered 2 goody bag nights with bags stuffed with yarns, books, and notions. There were so many more people in attendance then expected that the goody bags ran out early and I neglected bring home any of their content. However I did purchase tickets for an entire set of Furls Odyssey Hooks, with holder and bowl. I was completely surprised when my ticket was drawn, so now I get to enjoy a great new set of hooks, in addition to the Knitters Pride set of Tunisian Crochet hooks that I won as a door prize at the banquet dinner.

I did do a little shopping at the Market Place, Compression Support Socks and a Massage Pillow, both of which I put to immediate use on my swollen feet, but the pillow has become a family favorite at home, and I think it now belongs to my husband.

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On the buggy tour…so many flowering trees.

After my board meeting on Sunday after the conference, my friend Karen McKenna, took me to downtown Charleston to see some sights. It was nice drizzling weather, I was happy for this as it meant that it was cooler than the typical day which I had experienced as hot and muggy. We took a buggy ride and learned a little more of the city’s history. I had to focus to understand the accent of our guide and some of the terms used in conversation, but found everything quite interesting. Every tree seemed to have flowers and everything was green, 2 traits I do not see much at home in California, especially in July. We stopped at a little bistro where I actually had fried green tomatoes and grits that I found quite tasty. It was a very enjoyable day and I am grateful that I actually got to see some of the local charm of places I visit.

I could easily take day by day of the conference and write several posts about the happening, the people I met and the adventures I had, but I should probably begin focusing on the next adventure.

Love & Leche Give Away!

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ScannedImageI have tended to notice in recent years, just how much my hands dry out over the course of a day. Granted it may not actually be anything new, but having your hands in yarn all day and dry skin can become a little obvious.

To begin with those fuzzy yarns, like mohair and the like, tend to find areas to snag upon. There is something a little telling about moving your hand and having your yarn follow you when you were not expecting it to. DSCF1109

At a recent trade show I had an opportunity to check out a lovely lotion bar, Love & Leche (formerly as Milk & Honey). Now I will admit, lotion in a bar is not something that I grew up with. I am completely use to lotion in a tube, lotion in a pump, bars that was for soap. However the combination of placing lotion in a bar provides something unique. With traditional lotions I am always attempting to find one that does not feel greasy, that absorbed quickly, and actually felt like it was doing something. This is a tall order, but as a bar this lotion seems to do everything.

The lotion comes in a nice little tin, and comes in a wide selection of scents that offer aromas from soothing to refreshing. The primary ingredient is beeswax, followed with coconut oil, almond oil and essential oils. These elements of nature come together to make a very nice, soothing, product that I recommend for soft feeling skin.

I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity for one lucky individual to try it for themselves. I have a Limited Edition Citrus-Rose Valentine’s Lotion Bar, with a generous size of 2.5oz, a heart emblem, in a tin. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post about some of your favorite things to use on your skin by midnight PST on February 9, 2016. One comment will be chosen at random the following day.

Check out Love & Leche for yourself, they are offering the Limited Edition Valentine’s Bar until the end of February, so you might find something for that special someone.

 

 

Imagical Seasons- A Success! A Giveaway!

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ScannedImageI always find it fun, the way that crochet can be worked in so many different ways and still come together to create something that makes you say “WOW!”

The designs in Alla Koval’s latest books, Imagical Seasons- Spring & Imagical Seasons- Summer are no exception. Alla has won awards for her designs in the Crochet Guild of America annual Design contest, and having seen her work in person I can tell you that photos just don’t do them justice. She uses creative construction techniques and fun stitch placement to make her designs shine. Summer Tropicale Cover01

If you want to check out Alla’s designs for yourself, I am fortunate enough to be able to give away both of her new books, 1 to each of 2 lucky winners! The Imagical Seasons- Spring will go to the first, and the Imagical Seasons- Summer will go to the second. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post by the end of the day, Wednesday, August 26, 2015 and the winners will be randomly selected the following day and announced on Twitter and my Facebook page. Spring Parfait Bolero03

The Final Gift Bag Giveaway!

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ScannedImageWow after 4 other giveaways from the gift bag at the Marly Bird Designer Dinner at TNNA Summer Trade Show in Columbus, OH, there is still enough yarn to have 1 more!

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Classic Elite Yarns, Red Heart Yarn & Knit Picks

The yarns for the final giveaway all have something pretty special about them. Like the Knit Picks Wool of the Andres. It has a beautiful heather of brown, and is created with 100% Peruvian Highland wool. It is not the softest yarn I have ever experienced, but it has great stitch definition and durability, great for outer ware or accessories. It is easy to see why many people use this as a “go-to” yarn.

Red Heart Boutique Infinity definitely is something special as well! It is a chain ply bulky weight acrylic/polyester/wool/nylon yarn. A chain ply is a yarn that is not strands spun together as basic yarns are, it is usually a single strand that worked like a crochet chain or like a knit I-cord. This is a very simplistic explanation, as the process for each company varies, but it should at least give you an idea. It has a little sparkle to it, and will work up quickly.

The yarns from Classic Elite Yarns are fitting the title. Inca Alpaca seems lush, with a nice hand and nicely saturated color. It offers great drape and I image would make some nice accessories, such as a shawl or gloves, maybe even a hat, but it can even work up as a nice sweater. While Fresco is comprised of wool/baby alpaca/angora is a lighter weight and softer than Inca Alpaca. It is quite yummy. They even have their own drawstring project bag, and who does not need another project bag?

This last gift bag giveaway definitely has some fun and interesting things to play with, and if you would like to sample the above mentioned, please leave a comment on this post by the end of Friday, July 31, 2015. One comment will be chosen at random with the winner announced the following day on my Facebook page and Twitter.