WIP Wednesday...

Two quilts are in progress in my sewing room right now, and both of them are finished being quilted and ready for binding.

The top one is a baby quilt for a sweet little niece - I chose a soft animal print backing because I know my sister-in-law is going to love it.

And the bottom quilt is something extra special that I've been working on, and I'll be able to share the story and details of it in a week or so.

on my cutting table...

Some pin-basting got done this week, but not a whole lot else. Kids, work, and a head cold have kept me busy. But I did select a couple fabrics from my stash, and patterns to go with them - my girls have requested nightgowns and hooded raincoats for their 18" dolls. Hoping they sew up quick since that's about all I have time for lately...

Easter long weekend coming up...

Kinder has been a blog sponsor of mine for a few years now, and they generously sent my kids some Easter goodies. I sewed up a fabric bucket for each of them, and added in a couple fun items. Looking forward to their surprise tomorrow when they find them!

Kinder® is also active in the community, and they have partnered with Children’s Miracle Network and will be providing 12 baskets to CMN hospitals.  As well, Kinder® will be donating another $25,000 to help support this non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

WIP: HST Lattice Quilt...

A brand new niece was born last week, so a baby quilt made its' way to the top of my to-do list. The design is half-square triangles sashed in white, giving it a lattice look. I'm loving the bright colors, and hope to pick up some minky for the backing.

And there's a couple giveaways wrapping up in the next couple days on my blog here and here.

And my divided tote tutorial went live on the Sew Sisters blog this week too, with a giveaway for the Kona solid fat quarters I used.

Divided Tote Tutorial...

Sew Sisters is a Canadian online shop, that also has a brick & mortar location in Toronto.  They asked me to take their Kona Club Challenge - use one of their monthly Kona Solids Club packs, come up with a project, and make a tutorial for it.  Today my tutorial for a divided tote is up on their blog, along with a giveaway for the Kona Solids bundle I used.  Please let me know if you make one, I'd love to see it!

Kidoodle.TV Giveaway ...

Today I have a kid-friendly giveaway for you, a one-year free subscription to Kidoodle.TV. They are an online TV service that allows you to set up multiple users for your kids, select which shows are appropriate for them by age categories, and pre-set their screening time. You can access it through any device with internet. Kidoodle.TV has a tonne of shows to choose from, including lots of retro ones - and all the content is safe, kid-friendly, ad-free, and commercial free.

I love that I can put my active little boy quietly with a show when I'm visiting a kid-unfriendly place, or waiting for an appointment.  He loves that his show choices have been customized to include Super Mario Bros, Transformers, and lots of National Geographic animal episodes.

But, of course, feel free to check out their website where you can learn more and get your first 14 days for free.  And if you're happy with your experience, you can use this exclusive discount code to get 25% off a one-year subscription: MCC25. Coupon code expires June 30, 2014.

If you'd like a chance to win a one-year subscription, enter through the rafflecopter below. You may enter across many blogs, but only win once.  Entrants must be a resident of Canada, excluding residents of Quebec. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Also, you can have a chance to win one of 3 iPad Minis being given away in March and April by entering through the Kidoodle.TV Facebook Page.

Disclosure: I am part of the Kidoodle.TV blogger program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

2 years with the JOY circle...

If you're here for the giveaway, click here.

An anniversary of sorts passed for me last month - I have now completed 2 years of making blocks and quilting for the Joy circle of Do Good Stitches.  Each month we make one or two blocks for the host quilter, and mail them out.  Then the quilter adds the batting and backing, quilts it and binds it, and donates it to a worthy cause. The quilters in our group make two per year, and so far I have donated three quilts to the cancer center at our local hospital.

I just finished piecing the top for a fourth quilt, and this month I am about to start receiving blocks in the mail for my fifth quilt.

I have really enjoyed being a part of this quilting bee, and hope to continue for as long as I am able.  It's fun trying out new blocks and techniques on a small scale each month, and receiving all the wonderful blocks that have been made with my vision when it's my turn.

For anyone that is interested in joining a circle, you can fill out the form here.

Medic Alert Bracelet Giveaway and Promo Code...

One of my daughters and I both wear medic alert bracelets. And did you know that there are some seriously cute ones out there?!  I ordered us each a bracelet and tag from Lisa Rene' Creations - and I just can't say enough about the quality and how comfortable they are! My daughter has a pencillin allergy and she wears hers 24/7. I wear mine for a food allergy, and I carry an epipen - so I make sure to wear it to restaurants and on my recent vacation.  Lisa Rene' Creations has a fantastic selection of designs for adults and kids. Here are some of my favorites:

And these are the ones my daughter and I wear:

Wearing a medic alert bracelet is extremely important for anyone with a drug allergy, but in this world of so many food allergies - it's also a big comfort knowing I'm wearing one with life saving directions printed on the back of it. I would especially like to encourage this for any child with a food allergy who attends schools, field trips, camps, etc. This could be a lifesaving purchase! Lisa is generously offering a promo code for my readers - just use the code BusyBunch at checkout to get 15% off anything in her shop!

And for a chance to win a bracelet and tag, just leave a comment below - who in your life wears or should be wearing a medic alert bracelet?  For additional entries, 'like' Lisa Rene on Facebook, follow my blog, 'like' BusyBunch on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter. Just leave a separate comment for each (up to five entries in total). Good luck!   Winner has been emailed.

settling back into routine...

For the past week, I have been out of country on an amazing cruise with my mama and my three sisters. It was a week devoted to us spending quality time talking, shopping, eating and drinking, sharing jewellery and clothes, touching up each others hair, and being entertained by all the sights and shows. I am slowly settling back into routine around here - catching up on laundry and trying to remember how to make my own food. I am missing my morning lattes, getting my bed made, and all the food choices.  We made some fantastic memories, and I hope we get the chance to go again one day.