Thompson Family-Life

Sponsor Feature: Wild Olive's Embroidery Basics & Giveaway!

Have you been wanting to learn the basics of embroidery? Sponsor Mollie Johanson of Wild Olive has just started a new Embroidery Basics series just for you! She does a great job of breaking everything down in an easy-to-understand way. You will learn how to choose colors, transfer a pattern, choose the right hoop and fabric for your project and chosing your needle. And she will be continuing this series, so check back often.

 Mollie is so generously offering a giveway of *TEN EMBROIDERY PATTERNS* of your choice to one lucky winner! WOO-WEE! That is pretty amazing. You can check out all of her wonderful patterns here. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment and be sure to type in your e-mail address in your comment as well.

Have a lovely weekend!

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! : )

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!

Sponsor Feature: Claire Donovan of Heart Handmade UK

Claire Donovan of Heart Handmade UK blogs pretty and colorful inspiration, D.I.Y. tutorials (I'm particularly in love with her bird cage light tutorial!), cute crafts, beautiful artwork, interiors ispiration and so much more! She also has a lovely Etsy shop of the same name where she sells handmade craft embellishments, pretty pom pom garlands and more.

You can find Claire on her blog, twitter, etsy shop, facebook, flickr, dawanda shop and folksy shop.

Claire is so generously giving away one of her gorgeous Pom Pom Garlands in pretty reds, pinks and whites! Having made MANY a yarn pom pom in my life, I can say that these are some of the most perfect Poms I've seen! : )

Leave a comment that includes your name and email address for your chance to win!

Thank-you Claire!