"The Craft Group" plus...

OK, it's time for a lovely story. Once upon a time, Joan made a pretty peg apron for a friend. One day in central Queensland, a lady called Queenie happened to be looking at our blog. She liked the apron and emailed me to ask if we sell them. Joan was flattered that someone liked her handiwork but wasn't looking for a new career in selling her creations. To cut a long story short, Joan was happy to make an apron for our new Northern blog friend. Queenie did request that white was not so practical on their rural property, so this was Joan's new creation... Joan didn't want any money for it so "The Craft Group" paid Joan and we sent it with a few other little gifts to Queenie for nix.  Would she like the new funky print?  Would she think we are strange for asking her to take a photo of her wearing the apron at her clothesline?  Would she be offended by the great little recipe book we sent her which also contained the great news of Jesus...

Hi for those {few?} who keep up to date with the blog. I have been so busy catching up with normal life after the big Craft Groups 20th Anniversary that the blog just took a little holiday. In case you are wondering, my knee is doing really well. I am going to the physio and I went back to the gym yesterday for the first time. A bit of time on the cross trainer, treadmill and a few other leg strengthening machines while I watched the telly in front of me. Not too stressful! On the home front, we have our 3rd child doing their final HSC exams. I can't wait until they are over! The weather is warming up and our house is about to go into chaos as we get new carpet in the lounge room and upstairs. I am looking forward to clearing, cleaning, sorting and some redecorating. So that is my update. I should get off the computer now and go to The Craft Group! I will take my camera with me and take some new photos of things that people are making. See you soon!

For my Free Giveaway , I intended to give away one magazine. I had so much fun with the choosing of the winner (which involves a dog and is here in case you missed it) that I gave away 4 mags to the winner Marion, 3 to Jenni, 2 to Elly and 1 to Bronwyn. Then we had a "Pull the name tag out of the box" at The Craft Group last thursday and Ina won a bundle of magazines too. I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has said such lovely things about my blog or has become a follower or left some comments.  I really enjoy my blogging hobby. Knowing that it has maybe brought a smile to your face or given you some inspiration is so nice to know! Have a great week. No Monday-itis allowed!

Today was the big day to see who was the winner of the big free magazine giveaway! The competition was fierce. Those who entered are all equally deserving of this inspiring mag. Who will win? How will I randomly choose? This has to be fair! Some blogs make use of a random number selector. But I had a much better method. It involves the following plate. CLICK HERE to find out my method of selection and who the winner is!

After a break over the holidays, "The Craft Group" is meeting up again tomorrow. It has felt like such a long time since I have seen everyone, so it will be nice to catch up again and see what clever craftiness has been happening in everyone's 'spare' time! Have you seen my magazine giveaway?  Click Here  to read all about it. Just be a 'follower' on my blog, leave a comment and I'll send the randomly chosen winner a lovely "Country Style" magazine. Have you seen our  facebook page?   Go there, click on "Like" and become a fan. But not this sort of a fan! [image from www.somuchpun.com] To my real life Craft Group friends, see you tomorrow! To my cyberworld Craft Group friends, watch this blog for lots of lovely inspirations coming your way soon!

Well, now I feel like a little girl who dresses up as an adult and tries to clomp around in the high heels that are way too big for her! I, on my little blog, am going to do a "Free Giveaway" just like the big bloggers do! The good thing is that you have a very good chance to win my little prize because you are not competing against 300 others! Here's what you win. The August edition of "Australian Country Style" magazine. This latest edition contains a cute heart cushion design inside. Here's a peek. Here's how it works, you have to be a 'Follower' of this blog (easy to do here on the right) and leave a comment on this post. Any comment, nothing profound required! On Saturday 6th August I will choose a winner using a very random method. I'll then send it to you where ever you live, be it on the other side of town or the other side of the world! I Love this magazine. Hope you get to enjoy it too! (Comments towards the free giveaway cl...

In the land of blogging are whole new concepts I knew nothing about just 6 months ago. Some blogs have "Link Parties" where you can link up something from your blog onto theirs. Roeshel runs the blog "the DIY Showoff" and lets anyone show off their DIY project for all the blogging world to see. Last week I shared my " Super Cheap Curtain Tutorial " along with 250 other "Show offs". Roeshel picked 6 highlights out of the 251 and she featured mine! That is super exciting for me. I'd love to showoff other peoples lovely crafts from "The Craft Group" but you have to give some step by step instructions. So next time you start a project.... have your camera ready and send the photos to me and I will "Show off" for you!

I have started a facebook page for "The Craft Group Plus". Click on the blue words in the right hand column that says "The Craft Group Plus on Facebook" and you'll be taken right there. Once you are there, click on "like" and sign in to get regular updates sent to your facebook account.

I can't believe it's friday already! I've been really busy, but besides all the crazy busyness, I have had fun blogging the following... I love family traditions. A while ago I made a  Congratulations Plate  to be used by anyone in the family with a birthday or something else to celebrate.  :) On Sunday I shared a lovely song by Tal & Acacia,  Yahweh . We saw Valda's latest project which is something you don't want to copy. I said "Happy 57th Anniversary" to my Mum and Dad, John & Wil. I featured 2 great bags made by Anne for our "Cancer Council Morning Tea". The first bag is made using 'bullseye quilt' leftovers. And the second bag is a padded Japanese lunch bag. Very handy... and cute. In my home life, Heidi got her braces on. She couldn't eat from the Congratulation Plate because she can only eat mush for a few days. I'll have to make a "I've had a hard day" bowl! Have a great weeke...

What's been happening here on the blog this past week? I showed off the sorts of cards the ladies are making, like this one by Cheryl. Have you seen the super inspiring interview with the blind lady who loves to quilt ? I showed off Anna's lovely business called "Knit Knit". When is a card more than a card? This card by Elly comes with it's own stand. Bronwyn and Rita did some bartering. Crafters can do good cash-free deals. Cards for cushion covers . Here's a cute white cardigan for a precious little foster baby. Here's the right clock for me at the moment. Makes you think it is 3 minutes later than it really is. (Would it really work on me?) Lately it is rush, rush, rush. Bring on the school holidays! Have a lovely weekend!

I have placed the candlesticks I made on a "Linky Party" where bloggers can share their projects. There are HUNDREDS of ideas and things people have made. If you click on the pictures (called "Buttons") above, you can see all the other things people have shared or 'linked up'. Only do this if you are sitting down with a good half hour at least to spare! On The Tip Junkie blog, my candlesticks come in at 248! On the DIY blog, my candlesticks started at 274. If people click on "Like", it moves up some places. I know I'm pretty far down the lists, but I just wanted to try this out and see how it works. There's always something new to learn in the blogging world! Now back to reality. I'm going to cook dinner.

Well, today I started a blog. This is a learning curve for me but I am so excited! I hope everyone enjoys the things I have to share.  (There is SO much I want to share!) I hope it will be a mixture of things I have made and things I have discovered, but mostly I hope it is a nice way to showcase some of the lovely things made by the ladies of The Craft Group which I run at our church. Enjoy!