Crafty Carolinagirl

Retro Rewind - Blogoversary Giveaway Final Week

Well, my Blogoversary giveaway is finally winding down. I couldn't find an appropriate Retro Rewind to share, so I thought I would rewind back to the very first craft I posted on my blog (embroidered pincushions):

 

And, then fast forward to the latest one (pink stuffed fabric heart):

 

As the final two giveaway items, I will be including a How To Crochet book, full of instructions and stitches to get you on your way to crocheting, and one of my fabric hearts, not this one but one equally cute!

Here is a picture of the prizes, minus the How to Crochet book and soft heart:

So, if you want to be put into the drawing to win all ten prizes just leave me a comment on any post now until midnight April 20. I will choose the winner on April 23rd and post the winner, along with a list of all the prizes on April 24. The giveaway is open to US and International readers.

Good Luck!

Retro Rewind - Blogoversary Giveaway Week #8

Everyone needs a little treat now and then. I figured this week I would add some '80s sweets to the giveaway!

Does anyone else remember these?

Peanut Butter Boppers! My mom used to put one in my lunch every day. Combine these, with my shrimp cocktail (I know, I am probably the only person in the world who took shrimp cocktail to lunch everyday), and my after school quarter pounder with cheese every day and it is amazing that I never gained an enormous amount of weight.

Plus, it didn't help that I was never into any sports. I did ride my pink bike to my friend's house every afternoon to play video games though. I guess that counts, a little.

Every so often I get a craving for one and wish they would bring these back. Every Christmas my sister and I discuss how much we loved them and how the company should bring them back. But, I have a sneaky suspicion that if I ate one of these every day like when I was a kid, the pounds wouldn't come off as easliy. Maybe it is a good thing they are no longer made!

I soooo wanted to find one of these to put in the giveaway package, but I don't think they make them anymore. That is a shame, because they were really good. Instead of a Peanut Butter Bopper, I decided to add a pack of Bubble Yum gum and some Pop Rocks! Ooh, do I love Pop Rocks.

So we now only have two more weeks and two more prizes. I figured I had better post a picture of all the prizes, so you could actually see everything that is included (I am a very visual person who needs to see something to truly grasp what it is). So without further ado, here are the giveaway prizes weeks 1-8.

 

Retro Rewind - Blogoversary Giveaway Weeks #5, 6, & 7

Okay, I know this is a cop out, but my very large (25 page) class project is due in three weeks and I will be eating, sleeping, and breathing it until I turn it in. So, I am combining the next three week's worth of prizes into today's post. I hope you don't mind :)

I LOVE Fleetwood Mac! Their music, lyrics, and harmonies are amazing; I especially love Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

One of my television vices is watching those "Behind the Music" type shows. I'll watch it on anyone: Metallica, AC/DC, Elton John. Well, this weekend there was one on Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours". I learned a lot about the album and all the members, most importantly that Stevie Nicks wrote "Dreams" after crocheting. I knew I loved her for a reason :)

Over the years I have met a lot of peole who have loved Fleetwood Mac: my co-worker, Brian; my old boss, John; my best friend. . . wait, really?

All through high school my best friend would tell me how much she loved Fleetwood Mac. One day we were driving home from school and a Fleetwood Mac song came on the radio, so I turned it up really loud so we could both sing along. She turned to me and said,

MM: "Why are you turning up this song?"
CC: "Because it is Fleetwood Mac."
MM: "This isn't Fleetwood Mac."
CC: "Yes it is."
MM: "No it isn't"
CC: "YES, it is."
MM: (pause) "Then who do I like?"

Hee Hee. That is when we both realized she really didn't like Fleetwood Mac, in fact, she hated them. To this day neither one of us have a clue which group she thought was Fleetwood Mac. Oh well, I still love them!

In honor of Stevie Nicks and National Crochet Month, this week's giveaway items are all about crochet!!! Included for weeks 5, 6, and 7 are: two crochet hooks, a booklet of crochet bag patterns, and a skein of Red Heart yarn. So now the winner will be ready to knit and crochet.

I'll be back in a few weeks with the item for Week #8 and a picture of all of the giveaway items, thus far. Until then, have fun crafting. I'll be studying :(

Retro Rewind - Blogoversary Giveaway Week #4

She was a little bit country, he was a little bit rock and roll, and I was a lot obsessed.

Donny and Marie were my dynamic duo, sorry Batman and Robin. I soooo wanted to be Marie, and I was totally in love with Donny (ok that is a little creepy since they are brother and sister). I probably would have wanted to change my name to Marie too if I hadn't already decided on Janet (from Three's Company).

I had it all: lunchboxes, records, a record player, paper dolls, t-shirts, books, and my all-time favorite, the dolls. I had two outfits that I dressed them in, but they also shared Ken and Barbie's duds. My favorite outfits were the pink and purple shaggy '70s ones (shown below). I loved Marie's dress and Donny's huge silver belt. Way too '70s.

Unfortunately, because I loved them so much they were played with too much. They didn't make it very far into the '80s before they met their fates: Donny tragically died of decapitation (his head just up and fell off) and Marie, well she survived a near drowning in my spa, but is now permanently scarred (her legs are 5 times lighter than the rest of her body). If only I had taken better care of them.

I occasionally see them on Ebay, and have to hide my credit card from bidding on them. But, they would make a wonderful addition to my doll/toy collection, which includes: Mrs. Beasley, two Cabbage Patch Kids, four Care Bears, a dozen Glamour Gals, eight Smurfs, one Pound Puppy, Apple Jack My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Huckleberry Pie, Angel Cake & souffle skunk, Lemon Meringue & frappe, Cafe Ole, dozens of Barbies, Ken, Jem, one of the Misfits, Starr, Luke Skywalker, Gilligan, Marianne, and one of the New Kids on the Block.

I just wish I had taken better care of all of them. The dolls have remained intact (for the most part), but their pieces have not. Their accessories make up most of the missing pieces: Luke Skywalkers belt, Mrs. Beasley's glasses, Starr's shoes. . . I just hope someday someone will want to get rid of their old toys and I'll find them at an estate sale; you know I am always looking!

This post really has nothing to do with the prize added this week, except that it matches Donny & Marie's outfits, somewhat. This week's giveaway prize is a skein of Homespun yarn, Waterfall. It is really pretty!

So to recap, this is what is included in my Blogoversary giveaway prize, so far:

Week 1 - Set of Partridge Family softies

Week 2 - 2 pairs of knitting needles (sizes 6 & 8)

Week 3 - I Taught Myself Knitting booklet

Week 4 - 1 Skein of Homespun yarn

Crocheters don't despair, because next week is a prize for you!

Retro Rewind - Blogoversary Giveaway Week #3

So, last week knitting needles were added to the giveaway, sizes 6 & 8. Well, this week another knitting item is being added. . .

I can honestly say that I now know how to knit, well at least one stitch. Yeah!!!

Here is my first real try at casting on and working the knit (or garter) stitch:

This is the same yarn I used to learn to crochet, and it has helped me out again.

How do you like my funky pink needles? My grandmother's friend gave me all of her knitting needles (I mean like 30 pairs), but I like these the best. . . so very '80s!!!

Do any of you knitters have know of any simple, beginner patterns that only use a garter stitch? I'd like to master that stitch before moving on to the purl stitch. :)

Did you guess? Yep, it is "I Taught Myself Knitting" booklet from Lion Brand Yarn. Included in the booklet are instructions on how to knit and a few patterns. Now all you need is some yarn! Check back next week :)

Thursday Thirteen #5

Karla over at Looking Towards Heaven asked this week what songs everybody was listening to. I figured I'd answer with this week's Thursday Thirteen.

13 Songs I listened to this week:

1. I Am - Nichole Nordeman

2. Where I Stood - Missy Higgins

3. Pressure - Paramore

4. If You Know What I Mean - Neil Diamond

5. Freedom '90 - George Michael

6. Dead Man's Party - Oingo Boingo

7. Welcome - Christina Aguilera

8. Testify - Avalon

9. Uncle Tom's Cabin - Warrant

10. Angry Situation - Save Ferris

11. Love Song - Sarah Bareilles

12. Blue Skies - Point of Grace

13. St. Theresa - Joan Osborne

What a list!

Retro Rewind - Blogoversary Giveaway Week #2

This week's giveaway item comes from a post I wrote just a few days ago. I don't have many knitting posts to choose from, so this one will have to do.

Today I made. . .

Ok, so I didn't really make this one. But I did figure out a really cool way to keep all of my knitting needles in one place.

I bought this vase a few years ago on clearance and haven't had any use for it, until now. It is the perfect size for all of my knitting needles. Now I just need to knit more often!

Did you guess what this week's item is??? Yep, it is a pair of knitting needles from my vase of needles. To find out what size needles I am including check back next week. They will be needed for next week's item (hint, hint)!

Retro Rewind - Blogoversary Giveaway Week #1

This is where it all began. My very first Retro Rewind post. I still hadn't figured out how to center pictures or resize them yet, which is why they look the way they do, so please try to look past that :)

I thought it would be fun to start a weekly post about things I remember or wish I had again from my childhood. For me, that era was the '70s–'80s, so that is what I will focus on unless there is something that I really love from a later or earlier era (like the Partridge Family) then I will include that too.

My main purpose for taking this walk down memory lane is to spur some new ideas for craft projects. I have seen so many cute retro projects on other blogs that I really hope I can get inspired to create something cute too. Maybe these posts will inspire you as well.

This week's retro rewind. . . You guessed it, Disco!

I was a little too young to be involved in the whole disco dance craze, but I wasn't too young to be influenced by the music.

I am not ashamed to say it, I love disco! Most people who hear me say that just roll their eyes, like my sister, but I like the funky, upbeat music. How can you not like The Commodores; Earth, Wind, and Fire; The Bee Gees; Sister Sledge; Gloria Gaynor; Anita Ward; and Donna Summer?

The very first album I ever got (for Christmas, I think) was Donna Summer's On the Radio. It was a purpley-pink, double album, and included so many of Donna Summer's greatest songs. I hadn't realized it was a greatest hits album until I scanned my CD cover for this post. So I am a little slow - 28 years to be exact.

My favorite song was and still is, MacArthur Park. I don't know why because I don't even understand the meaning of the song, but I love it. I think it is because it starts out really slowly and then picks up into a fast, disco song. Donna Summer did that a lot; Last Dance was like that too.

I played that song so much that if you listen to my record now (yes, I still have it) you can't even hear the song because it skips so badly. I eventually had to break down and buy the album on a CD. Ironically, my CD skips just like my record. I guess I take care of my CDs the same way I took care of my records.

I really can't understand why disco gets such a bad rap. Believe me, there is plenty of music out there that is much worse. Remember when everyone decided disco was dead, and they tossed all of their disco albums under a steamroller? I think that was taking it a little too far. I would have never done that to Donna Summer.

It amazes me how people still talk negatively about disco, yet look at how many artists are sampling disco songs today—especially the rappers. I guess there is proof out there that disco isn't dead after all. So, rock on with your bad self.

I do love disco, but this first giveaway prize has nothing to do with disco, sorry.

The first prize in my 1 Year Blogoversary Giveaway will be a set of my Partridge Family softies. All six will be included: Mrs. Partridge, Keith, Laurie, Danny, Chris, and Tracy. I'm sure they will make you happy!

Check back next week for giveaway prize #2!

Retro Rewind - 1 Year Blogoversary Giveaway

I am going to mix up the Retro Rewinds a little bit for the next couple of weeks, but I think you will all have some fun with it.

I don't know if you noticed but I have added a Blogoversary button under my "Alongs" section. It is counting down to my 1 year anniversary of my blog.

I have been trying to figure out something fun to do as a thank you to all of you for visiting with me over this past year as well as including all the new readers. So, this is what I have decided on. . .

Starting the first week of February and for the remaining 9 weeks I will be Retro Rewinding through my past year's worth of posts. The reason: for every post that is revisited a prize pertaining to that post will be put into a giveaway. Then, on April 23, one super awesome winner will receive a prize including all 10 items!

Sound good?

At the end of every post I will give you that week's item to be included in the giveaway. I will then post the complete list of all the prizes and open up comments on April 18. Then I, along with my lovely assistant Drusilla, will randomly choose a winner on April 23.

So, get ready to travel back in time throughout this past year's posts. This should be fun :)

Also, keep an eye out for the Bloggy Giveaways to start on Monday. I'll be giving away a hand crocheted scarf and some of my felt cookies :)

Thursday Thirteen #4

So, now that I have been knitting for exactly a week I am completely obsessed. I do have to admit that I enjoy crocheting more, but shhhh. I don't want the knitting needles to hear. They have been very friendly to me so far.

So here are the 13 knitting projects I can't wait to give a try:

1. Alligator Scarf (for all of the Florida Gators that I know, myself included)

2. Alice's Illusion Socks (these are just too cool)

3. Simple Garter Stitch Scarf (I think I can do this one)

4. Cabled Bag (can't wait to learn to cable knit)

5. Adam Ant (love the name, and no it is not the singer)

6. Melissa Scarf (again, love the name)

7. Ben Scarf (seems to be easy man's scarf, but has purl stitches too. Yikes!)

8. Pirate's Hook (I must make this one)

9. Bumble Cat Toy (Drusilla will love this)

10. Country House Tea Cozy (so adorable)

11. Poison coffee cozy (to go with my Poison tote)

12. Tea Party Treats (ooh how I love to make fake food)

13. Storybook Dolls (Robin Hood & Maid Marion are too cute)

I do realize some of these are very advanced, but a girl can dream, right?

Thanks to everyone who emailed me links to beginner patterns. I hope to have a picture of my finished dishcloth next week :)