Catch up and a GIVEAWAY

I keep forgetting to post a picture of my year-round tree in it's April finery - it's been like this since just before Ostara, and will be up until after Easter.  Nice and colorful (and yes, that's another of my daughter's old tutus acting as a tree skirt).

Things got a bit chilly over the last couple days, but before that there were several glorious (if rainy) days in a row that  I could throw open windows and let some fresh air in.  I've been working through my house a few feet at a time, sorting things... keep?  sell?  toss?

I've culled about 14 boardgames (and kept about the same number - I do like my low tech entertainments).  Most of those were either for children younger than any of mine are but older than my grandchildren, or they were various 'DVD' games, which by and large annoy me, but they're in perfect condition and will go to yardsales.

I managed to cut my cross stitch pattern stash (lots of magazines as well as pamphlets) by about 1/3, which is more than I thought I'd bring myself to do.

I put another three shelves worth of general fiction and nonfiction books into the sell pile.

I found myself unable to let go of a single pagan or tarot related book.  Not one - and these take up five shelves altogether.  I emailed Michael about it, apologizing... "I'm sorry, I can't do it."  We're trying hard to figure out how to make space for all the 'stuff' of two lives - but every single one of 'em made me want to stop and reread right then and there.  

He wrote back that he was 'secretly' (though not very secretly) glad I wasn't getting rid of any of them, because he's looking forward to having that library at his fingertips.  Whew! 

I have a ridiculously large mound of various office supply like things - index cards, tape, post-its, pens (of course!), a few empty three ring binders, book covers, dividers.  I am trying to decide if I just want to box that and hang onto 'just in case' or set up some sort of grab bag of odds and ends for a yard sale.  It's little tiny stuff like this that makes my head hurt when it comes to organizing.

Oh and stationary!  I have a bunch of really pretty writing papers and blank cards I don't use much anymore because my handwriting has gotten atrocious.   I'm probably hanging onto those, though.

So... that's what's had me busy - there has been a bit of stitching in the evenings, and only little finishes.  More or less just a few stitches laid in as a token to the needlework gods.

Giveaway!
That said - 100 followers!!  How amazing is that?  It makes me happy every single day to see you all stopping in, dropping me a comment, and otherwise sharing in my daily life.  And I'd like to offer up a little something to say thank you.  My last trip out to Michael's yielded up another biscornu, which I never got around to showing off, and maybe this is why.

This one includes an experiment on my part - I wanted to try tea dying fabric, and so I did just a little scrap of fabric and used that to make this.  Because I'd be in the car for most of this stitching, I wanted to keep it easy - so it's just a couple of flosses, each variagated to give it a little more interest.  The result looks like something that's been hiding away in gramma's drawer for a few decades, doesn't it?  It's about 2 inches across, two sided, with a full pattern on each side, would work nicely as an at-hand pin cushion, or just to tuck on a shelf and look sweet.

So if you'd like a bit of stitchery from me, here's all you need to do:

Mandatory:
Be one of my followers on GFC - this is to say thank you to those following along.  Leave me a comment in this post saying letting me know you follow and would like to be entered. Leave an email in this first post so I can contact you! (1 entry)


Additional opportunities:
1. Spread the word!  Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your entry. (2 entries)

2.  Tell me about something you have that takes up space but that you just can't let go of. (1 entry)

3.  Tell me a tip about yard sales - what's worked for you? What hasn't? (1 entry)

That's a possible 5 entries, and we'll let this run until Friday, April 22 at midnight EDT.  The winner will be selected at random, and notified both here in a separate entry and by email so I can get their address, and will have 24 hours to respond or I'll pick someone else.

I expect I'll be doing more of these little giveaways as I reach further milestones.  Good luck to you all and thanks again for your support!

(shared with Someday Crafts Giveaway Directory, Giveaway Linky Love Thursday, Thursday Giveaway Linkup, Thursday Giveaway Party, Link 'Em Up Thursday, Thursday Roundup, Giveaways Galore, Thursday Treasures, Link Your Giveaway Thursdays, Link 'Em Thursday, Give It Away Thursday, Thursday Giveawway Linky, Thursday Giveaway Link Up, Thursday Tell-All, Thursday Giveaway Linkup)