Treasure Hunt Winners

Congratulations to Lindsay and Karin for winning the drawing for my treasure hunt! Lindsay was the lucky winner of the $15 gift certificate to my shop and Karin got to take her pick of key fobs! Thank you to everyone for participating! I hope to do another, more challenging treasure hunt down the road sometime, so make sure to keep following for the next round of fun!

Little Embroidered Camera

There are so many beautiful embroidered things on etsy and other craft sites, it's really gotten my creative juices flowing. I've been wanting to try hand embroidery for quite some time, and finally mustered up the guts to give it a go.


I decided to embroider a simplified camera for my first project since I've taken a huge liking to photography lately and even recently won a photo contest. I had my hubby sketch this cute little camera for me and got to work on my newly purchased European linen from fabric.com.

While it's most certainly not perfect, I'm really happy with the way it turned out, especially for being my first try. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my little camera, but I'm thinking it might make a pretty cute coffee cozy, no?

Treasure Hunt

I'm finally starting to get back into the swing of things after my son was born. I never thought such a little person could change our world so much, but our entire world has been turned upside down. With toddler tantrums, increased laundry responsibilities, nursing not one, but two children (sometimes at the same time), diaper changes and everything else that comes with having a new baby I haven't had much time to sew lately.

Fortunately though, we're adjusting nicely and are finally finding our rhythm. That can only mean that I've finally started to find time in my busy days to get some sewing done. Yipppeee! So, to celebrate (actually, I just needed an excuse), I decided to have a treasure hunt.

So, here's the deal, all you have to do is go to my shop and find the listing with this picture in it


Once you find the listing with the treasure chest, email me the link at DarningDiva[at]gmail[dot]com with subject line "treasure hunt." I'll randomly choose two winners on August 27th with a grand prize of a $15 gift certificate to my shop and a first prize of a key fob of the winners choice. Well, what are you waiting for? Go hunt!

Handmade Christmas

Can you believe Christmas is only 4 months away? I've already started to think about the gifts that I'd like to give because I'd really like to have a 100% handmade Christmas this year. With a two year old and a new born, crafting has been slow going around here lately, so I need to get to work soon! Here are a few pics of things that I'm planning on making:

I recently purchased a pattern on etsy to make these felted wool baby links for the little guy.


I'm also planning on making the taggie football from Grace Violet that I posted about here.


A portable doll house with peg dolls for my daughter also form Grace Violet

Those are the three ideas I have so far aside from a little purse for my daughter and probably some embellished barrettes. I would love to hear the ideas you're thinking about for your handmade Christmas!

**Edit: Oh yes, and I forgot to mention sock monkeys! One for each of my babies, and who knows who else may get one - I've heard they're super fun and easy to make!

Wordless Wednesday - Yum

Like. Dislike. Love.

I like that the longer I'm a parent the "greener" I get

I like that I make my own laundry detergent

I like that I have ingredients on the way to make my own diaper ointment and deodorant

I dislike how uninformed I am about vaccines and that I have 2 months to decide whether or not to give them to my son.

I love the new pediatrician that I found that has a more natural approach to pediatrics

I like that I have tons of green tomatoes on my plants

I dislike that none of those tomatoes are ripe yet

I like that I found my local Le Leche League and have such a great support group

I love being able to provide all of the nourishment that my son needs through breast milk

I love that my daughter is 29 months old and still nursing

I like tandem nursing

I dislike the lack of knowledge that most people have about breast feeding

I love co-sleeping with my kids

I dislike that there's so much to do and so little time

I dislike my cluttered house

I love that the fact that my house is cluttered means that I've been enjoying my kids. :)

I dislike how infrequently I've been posting lately.

I love that I've met so many great people through blogging.

I like food.

I dislike cooking.

I love that my hubby does the cooking so I don't have to.

I like sewing and the amazing fabrics that come with it.

I dislike using patterns when I sew, so I make my own.

I like the smell of fresh spring air

I like gardening, but

I dislike weeding my garden and flower beds.

I love my kids, my hubby, and ultimately my life. Nuff said!

I got the idea for this post from crunchy domestic goddess. I really enjoyed typing up this post and thinking of all of my likes, dislikes and loves. It really was interesting to watch the direction that each line took the next. If you decide to write one of your own, I'd love to see what you come up with. Cheers!