On Your Hook This Week--Linky Party

Okay, so this is a first for me. I have never hosted a link party, but thought it might be something kind of fun to start. I will see how the first couple of them go before I decide if it is something we should keep doing.

I thought I would call it "On Your Hook This Week," and everyone could share links to what they have been crocheting/knitting. The only problem with this title is that there are many people who follow who don't do any type of needlework. I don't want to leave you out. So, I am open to suggestions for a name for this linky party. We'll keep it as "On You Hook This Week" for now, and hopefully come up with something more fitting for the other crafts out there.





On my hook this week I have had a ton of items. I have had this cocoon and hat set (bad photo), some newsboy hats, and tons of owl hats! I am keeping busy! I'd love to know what everyone else has been working on, or if anyone has any new patterns to share! I ALWAYS love those (and I know I am supposed to be sharing something for a boy here soon, but I have yet to get to it....SORRY).

So, without further ado....the first ever linky party on The Dainty Daisy!

Winner Winner

And the winner is....#2!! Kate!


CONGRATS!!

Send me or Diane your information to get your slippers! Here is what Kate said:

Kate said...
"and i just became an official follower of 'the dainty daisy'. . . :) "

Good thing you became a follower! It made you a winner!!

GIVEAWAY from Something Diane Made

Giveaway Day! YAY!

You will not want to miss out on a chance to win this giveaway! Diane, from Something Diane Made, is giving away something so comfy and cozy! Diane has such adorable and cute things to sell in her Etsy shop and a fun blog all about things crochet and crafty (you know I love that)! Before we get to the goods I am going to have Diane introduce herself:

Who I am: I am a Christian, Wife, Daughter, Sister, a Northerner at heart, and a “Crafter.” I love all things artsy and homemade. And there is very little that I won’t attempt to make!

About my Crocheting: I learned to crochet when I was eight years old from my Grandma Herder. I spent my spring break riding in the cab of a semi-truck with her and my Grandpa as we delivered flats of flowers to the southern states. From then on it became a part of me, something that relaxed me after a long day or something to release the stress of school. I have made Afghans, scarves, hat and more recently slippers.

What made me decide to sell: I have a passion for the arts and all things creative and have always loved the Etsy site and decided it was time for me to make my own. My husband is a graduate student so our budget is a little tight with tuition costs so sharing/selling some of my creations is a good way to make a little extra money. If I could craft and make money full-time, that would be the dream job :) I don’t expect everyone to love all the things I make but they are pieces of my heart and I am so excited to be able to share each piece with the “crafting” world!

Let me show you the cute things this girl makes.

Wouldn't you love to scrub your dishes with one of these???

Or how about wrap this around your neck?

I know I make the little ones hats, but us grown folk need em' too!

And who can forget the Mary Jane slippers I shared yesterday??? How much do you love these??? Well, a pair of these adorable slippers are up for grabs! Wanna win? Here's how:

1. Follow my blog

2. Give Diane some love and follow her blog at Something Diane Made

3. Check out Diane's Etsy shop and comment on your favorite item

4. Facebook or Twitter about the giveaway!! (I don't Twitter, but I know there are those of you out there!)

Enter by leaving a separate comment for each thing you do! Winner will be chosen on Tuesday, September 21!!

Oh, and you know what else Diane does? She dabbles a bit in the graphic design and has made me some fabulous new graphics for my blog! Stay tuned!! I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Happy Birthday, Belle!

Dear Belle,

One year ago today you came into this world and life has never been the same. I can hardly believe how much things have changed in the past year! You have sure brought us so much joy! I have been reflecting on life this past year and all of the things I love about you, as well as how much you have taught me. Never has anyone impacted my life so greatly as you. So, without further ado, my reflections of this year:

1. I love how you tricked us all by coming out with a head full of dark hair. I had all of these great ideas of how I would style it as it kept growing longer and longer. Instead, it all fell out until you were almost bald and has somehow come back blonde!

2. I love how good you make cellulite look.

3. I absolutely love that your daddy is your favorite person ever (I am happy to take a close second). When he comes home from work your smile couldn't be bigger and you couldn't crawl quick enough over to him to meet him.

4. I love that you are fearless...this is clearly from your dad. Granted, your fearlessness has led to you falling head first off of our bed and taking a few spills in the tub. Either way you seem to keep on going and you don't seem to mind those bumps and bruises.

5. Oh, those blue eyes. I know it might sound silly, but I was hoping and praying you would have my blue eyes.

6. This may be trouble later, but I love how social you are! You charm the pants off of everyone when we go to Meijer. You smile and kick your legs and even wave. The "Stranger Danger" conversation might have to happen early on!

7. I love how being your mom has enlightened me about my own mom....your Meme. Loving you has taught me how much my own mom loves me.

8. You have taught me that putting my needs/wants aside isn't always easy, but that there are much more important things in life than taking care of myself first.

9. Mac is your best friend. Seriously. Who cares that he is a pit bull who is 3x your size. You feel you have the right to pull on his ears, poke his eyes, try to sit on him, eat his food, try to eat his tail, and laugh at him hysterically when he is barking. You two really are best buds and he is one protective dog. That boy sits outside your bedroom when you cry and sometimes I have to drag him out of your room when I put you down for a nap.

10. We love you dearly, but have enjoyed many laughs at your fat belly, your big head, and your tiny feet.

11. You scrunch your nose when you smile, and it makes me smile EVERYTIME.

12. You took 8 months to roll over and I NEVER thought you would actually figure it out. Once you did, there was no stopping you.

13. The first six weeks of your life may have been the most difficult time of my life ever. I loved you SO much, but I was sleep deprived and you felt the need to stay awake all day. People told me to "sleep when the baby sleeps," and I just kept wondering when the baby would sleep...

14. You have so many names. Isabelle. Belle. Booskie. Belle-a-Boo. Bellsie-boo. Boosee. Drama. Fatso.

15. I am amazed at how many times one little person can be sick in one season.

16. Nothing is cuter than a naked baby.

17. You have made me fall more in love with your daddy. Seeing him as a father is one of the hottest things ever (someday when you read this you will be so grossed out).

18. I have learned that you are a creature of habit like your mama. You like things the same. You like naps at the same time everyday and you are like clockwork (usually).

19. It is so amazing to see physical attributes and character traits of myself in another little person.

20. Most of all, I want to thank you. You gave me the greatest gift ever. You made me a mom.

Happy Birthday, Belle! We love you so much and feel so blessed to have you. God has given us one amazing little girl!

So Much To Share...And A Sneak Peak!

My life has been so hectic and busy lately, that I feel like I barely get time to sit back and really relax without thinking of what I have to do the next day. Things have been good, though, and I am learning how to manage my time!

Last night I went to my first ever Matilda Jane Trunk Show....and it was the first ever trunk show I did to sell my own things! It was so much fun and I cannot believe the amount of orders I took. Seriously, any orders from here on out won't be able to be fulfilled until after Christmas. I can tell that everyone is thinking about getting hats for the cooler weather coming up! It feels good that I am making money doing what I love, but it is also overwhelming to think of all of the work I have ahead of me. All in all, I'm flattered that there was such an interest in my hats.

Due to the great outcome of the trunk show, I allowed myself the opportunity to splurge on something for Belle. Let's be honest here. I am a Dutch girl who majored in Social Work. I am cheap. I am really cheap. So, Matilda Jane clothing is not really the type of stuff I would ever consider purchasing for Belle. I don't even spend that much on my clothing, let alone a growing girl! However, I took the opportunity to really buy something adorable for her. This is what I got:

Adorable, huh? The upside (my cheap bone is really sticking out here), the skirt can be worn year round with or without leggings, AND I am praying it fits her waist till she is about...oh, 10? Haha, well, at least 3. If I spent $60 on this sucker, it better last forever!

Okay, now onto the fun stuff! I realize this post is insanely long, but bear with me. The fun exciting stuff is this next part...a giveaway!

You know how I was just talking about how busy I have been lately? Well, Monday I got these babies in the mail from Diane from Something Diane Made. These are NOT your grandma's slippers!

Diane and I attended the same high school, although didn't really connect until recently with our mutual LOVE for all things crochet :-) She has recently opened up an Etsy shop and has major cute things for sale!! She wanted to share these slippers she made with me so I could give you a sneak peek of what one lucky person is going to win!

I'll introduce Diane more on Thursday and let you know how you can win a pair of these slippers. TRUST ME, you will want a pair for the cooler weather coming up. I love coming home from my internship, slipping off my heels, and spoiling my feet in these :-)

In the meantime, check out her Etsy shop, Something Diane Made and her blog and drool over all the other lovely items this girl makes!