Thompson Family-Life

Sponsor Info & photos around the house

Sad news...

So, I wanted to let you know that I won't be taking anymore sponsors indefinitely. I've realized that I'm just way too busy and have too many pots on the stove (is that how that saying goes?) and something has to go. Unfortunately, sponsorships is it. This will probably not be a forever-decision, but until I can complete some projects and find better balance with all of the jobs/projects/family stuff I have going on, something needs to go.

I SO love supporting small businesses and I truly love creating these sponsor posts, so I'm hoping that later this year I can do it again. Thank-you to everyone who has taken an interest in sponsoring my blog. I take these sponsorships very seriously. When someone trusts their hard-earned money with me, of course I take that seriously : ) When I can give these posts my 100% attention again, then I will offer them again. Because I truly love it.

I will have one more sponsor post coming tomorrow though! : )

Ok, that said! I can't leave a post without photos, so here are some randoms I took yesterday. A peak at our (tiny) bathroom that was renovated and completed months ago, but I never got around to photographing it. I need to photograph it again because the photos didn't come out great but you can get an idea. More photos coming soon.

 

I have to say, photographing one's bathroom is very odd. It's like, private stuff ya know? Like yeh, "I just used that toilet this morning.. oh and there's my purple toothbrush." Now you know all my secrets. And yes those are swim caps on the wall. ; )

And here are a couple other random photos from the dining room...

 

Don't forget the One Buck Wednesday kit on sale today only! Sale ends at midnight EST.

Find the kit here! : )

One Buck Wednesday!

Find it here! : )

(Commercial & Personal Licenses available.)

Sponsor Feature: Michelle Clement of Scissor Quirk

 Michelle, from Scissor Quirk is one super sweet and multi-talented lady. She works in the animation industry in her hometown of Vancouver, B.C., is an illustrator, crafter and designer for Sassafras Lass. She has a new collection called Sweetly Smitten that is absolutely stunning, full of patterned papers, diecuts and stickers. She shares her gorgeous craft projects on her blog, such as embroidery, crochet, quilting, scrapbooking and more. There's never a lack for beautiful eye candy! 

You can find Michelle's designs in her Etsy shop, Bubbly Shnooks, and be sure to follow her on Flickr and Twitter.

Michelle is offering an adorable original embroidery by her to one lucky reader! It's a little 3"x3" inch piece.. how cute! Leave a comment and be sure to type your e-mail address as well, to be entered in the giveaway.

Thank-you Michelle for sharing your colorful world with us!

Sponsor Feature: Fuzzymama Vintage

When Beth contacted me to sponsor, I hopped over to her shop to check it out. You know, there are a lot of vintage shops out there, but Fuzzymama ALWAYS has something that I want! And usually it's multiple things! She packs her shop full of awesome finds and you really have to check often because she updates often, and if you snooze, you lose. (I have been one of those lose-ers. ; ) Seriously, her finds are top notch!

All of the items above are in her shop now. Be sure to connect with Fuzzymama on Facebook and Twitter to be updated on new products and sales she's having. And she is offering my readers 20% off! Just use the code "THOMPSON" at checkout. The offer is good for a week!

Here's a little tidbit from Beth on how she got into the business of selling her gorgeous vintage:

"My shop started after my husband and I went thrift store shopping on Valentine's Day in 2008. We came upon a store that had two huge racks of amazing vintage kids clothes. We thought we could do "something" with them--etsy, ebay, etc. People totally stared at us as we literally filled two carts with all of these amazing outfits - probably 50 dresses! I love the idea of saving something and giving it a new life. Before kids, I worked as an interior designer for non-profits who had literally NO budget. I pride myself on the fact that I can make something from nothing and find beauty in old, rusty, quirky things. My house is mostly reworked hand me downs, flea market finds, and IKEA."

Here are a few Fuzzymama finds of my own. When I saw these vintage illustrated blocks, I knew I had to have them to display in the boys' room. I'm a sucker for illustrations like these.

And here's a huge quilted apron that I'm going to make into a window treatment. I adore the patterns and colors!

Thanks Beth!

It's a Work in Progress: Inspired by Twinkie Chan

 

I've been a huge geeky fan of Twinkie's for a few years now. And luckily thanks to Twitter, I've had the chance to chat with her a little, and she is indeed every bit the riot that she seems. : ) She is totally funny, insanely talented and even more importantly, very kind and gracious. She's a "sweetpie" as Campbell would say. : )

I saw her tweet about her new cake hairclips in her shop the other day (top photo above) and immediately freaked out at their cuteness. I instantly thought they would be adorable in Blythe size! I shamelessly asked her half-jokingly if she could make them for Blythe and she said in so many words "it's hard to crochet that small!" heehee! Then I realized the SCALE issue and thought, dang she's right.

So I set out to try it myself to see what I could come up with. I looked around Etsy for some sweets crochet patterns (aftewards realizing I should've checked out Ravelry for free patterns first, but oh well, i don't mind supporting indie pattern designers!) and found lots! I started out with this one. The first one I made came out way too big. Like WAY too big. I've also realized that I must crochet with really loose tension, because my stuff always comes out larger than estimated in the pattern. I spent that first night trying to get the crocheting-in-the-round thing down, as I'd always messed it up before. Thankfully after trial and error, I figured it out!

I had to alter the pattern the second time around because it just felt too big. I bought smaller weight yarn ("super fine" Sophie yarn from Michaels that's SUPER soft!), but used the hook size recommended by the manufacturer.. after i was done, i realized that was a bad move. Because the cupcake is still too big. And it really looks more like a bonbon. ha.

But it's still pretty cute! I'm going to try going down on the hook size using the same yarn (I used a 3.5 I think, i'm going to go down to a 1-something. I actually need to buy this hook because the 3.5 is the smallest I have! and it's already SUPER TINY). I actually don't mind working really small. So after I try the same yarn with a smaller hook, if that doesn't work, I might have to try crochet THREAD.. which is kind of insanely small. But i'm open to trying anything because I LOVE this idea. I especially love how Twinkie styled 5 or 6 cake clips in her hair at once, like above. Seriously cute!

 I always feel like I have one foot in the past with my love of vintage, and one foot in the present with my love of japanese inspired cuteness. This little project is exciting for me because it refocuses my constant obsession interest in the past, and reminds me to not underestimate the exciting and original designs coming out of Japan (and Korea and China). And it lets me revel in the fun and frivolosity of it all. It inspires that part in me that used to go to the mall JUST to visit the Sanrio store to stock up on as much Hello Kitty as I could find.

Next I'm trying my hand at a miniature wedding cake, another cupcake and a birthday cake to adorn my Blythes' noggins.

Thanks Twinkie for inspiring this project!

Be sure to check out her new craft book and you can make some of your own Twinkie-inspired creations.