Chat – Page 27 – Thimbleanna

Monday Randoms

34 Comments / February 7, 2011 February 22, 2011 / Chat

Well, how was your weekend? It was nice and quiet here in ThimbleannaLand. On Saturday, I spent the afternoon at MeMum’s baking cookies and on Sunday I decided to batten down the hatches and stay home. It was a lovely afternoon of knitting, movie watching, and enjoying the glorious white view out of the windows. (Below is a view of TheUglyTree from the laundry room.) Over in KarolineKnitsLand, she calls it a “mini-nervous breakdown”. I think it’s only supposed to be effective if you’re playing hookey from work, but I’m here to tell you, it’s fabulous for a day of ditching your normal routines and responsibilities.

So, how ’bout a little bit of random for a Happy Monday?

Several weeks ago, Ms. SilverPebble posted that she’d added some beautiful lockets to her etsy shop. I followed her link, and before I knew it my fat fingers clicked “buy”. I’ve received this gorgeous locket and I LOVE it. Love Love it! Sweet Emma even included a pretty (big!) piece of fabric and some chocolates — some of which may or may not have been consumed before I even got out of the car after the post office run. I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the locket, and Emma’s pictures are so much better than mine anyway — you can see them HERE. Thank you SO much for your marvelous service Emma — I couldn’t be happier with my purchase!

Ms. Pleasant Home has a fantastic post on how you blogspot bloggers can make it much easier for your readers to comment. We all love comments, don’t we? Jodi summarizes the secrets so that your blog can be MUCH more reader friendly. I always thought most of the commenting problems were related to different computers, but it turns out that there are settings that you can utilize so that your blog doesn’t make a commenter jump through hoops endure 3 or 4 screens just to leave a comment. If you’re a blogspot blogger I hope you’ll take a few quick minutes to go see what Jodi has to say — it might mean more comments for YOU!

Shall we play guess which camera lens is real and which is fake? The naughty little temptress Julia posted a picture of her cute Nikon coffee mug on Pinterest a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t resist. I had an amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket, so I splurged. They’re amazingly life-like. I might have to put Julia on probation– I bought a piece of fabric several weeks ago after seeing it on her blog too THANKS Julia!. Amazon has several different camera brand mugs for your viewing pleasure.

Some yummy yarn arrived in my mailbox today. The lovely and invisible NoBlogMsB. and I arranged a swap. I’m thinking I got the better end of the deal!

And last, but by no means least, I love TED. If you have 20 minutes to spare, here’s a video on new breast cancer detection advancements that I think all women should watch. Big things (among them more comfortable mammograms – woohoo!) look to be right around the corner.

Have a Happy Week!
XOXO,
Anna

Oh, and P.S. I’ve had a fantastic offer via e-mail to buy this scintillating blog for millions. I always knew this incessant yacking would pay off someday!!! However, because of my love and devotion for YOU, dear reader, I’ve decided to turn it down. Some things in life are much more important than money!

Snow and More

53 Comments / January 14, 2011 February 22, 2011 / Around the House, Chat

Snow! We got snow!!! I love it! It brought my new boyfriend along with it too. Someone at work was selling a snowblower, so after 25 years, we finally broke down and bought one. I’m in Luuuuv. I might miss shoveling a little, but not when we get a lot of snow. This was a nice comfy amount — 5 or 6 inches I think.

Periwinkle mentioned an interesting photo challenge. I think it would be fun to participate, although I’m not sure I could get some of the shots. Anyone else going to participate? Perhaps the local peeps could tell me where I could get a shot of a 100 year old tombstone?
If you’ve been here awhile, you know how much I love my little cupcake stands. They are a little pricey though, so if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, Tomkat Studio posted about an easy way to make some of your own.

Last weekend we went to see The King’s Speech. LOVED. IT.
As has become our custom, the gingerbread houses have been placed outside for the squirrels. Probably not a good idea to actually attract the squirrels, but I can’t bear to throw them away.

A few weeks ago, when I posted that I had a Pips Fat Quarter Pack to sell, several of you were interested. A friend has contacted me to let me know that she has one to sell — if you’re interested, please e-mail me (anna@thimbleanna.com) and I’ll put you two in contact.
There has actually been a little post-Christmas sewing around here. Here’s a sneaky peek.

Eye Candy Alert! New episodes of White Collar start next Tuesday. You’re Welcome. ;-)
And finally, but MOST important, Corrie has been posting lots of ways to help the Australian flood victims in several of her posts over the last week. Even just a quilt block will help!

XOXO,
Anna

We Have a Winner!

27 Comments / January 8, 2011 February 22, 2011 / Chat

Ok, time to draw a winner for my four year blog anniversary. After removing the duplicate comments and those who didn’t want to be entered, I cut and pasted the comments into a word document so they would automatically be numbered for me. (I think this only works for WordPress comments. ) Then I consulted Random.org — the Random ManoftheHouse Generator is out grocery shopping, so we’re going high tech here.

Number 50, Come On Down! According to my word document numbering, that’s YOU Terri — yes, YOU, the girl who never wins anything LOL.

Congratulations Terri! And thank you, thank you to the rest of you for all of your wonderful comments. It was so nice to read through all of them. I usually call a truce on contest comments, so I hope you’ll forgive me for not answering them. Back to our regularly scheduled programming now though — I might be slow, but I’ll try to get back with you if I hear from you!

It’s a lazy Saturday afternoon here in ThimbleannaLand. Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? I think I might lie around this afternoon and try to organize some projects. I don’t really make lists for any given year anymore, as I never get them finished. I just sort of have an ongoing list. Some projects have been on there so long though, that they need to be deep sixed. I think maybe, instead of making a list of projects to complete this year, I’ll just come up with a general goal. Maybe two UFO’s for every new project, or something like that. I should make a resolution not to buy any more fabric (ironically, the FedEx man just rang the doorbell 20 minutes ago) but we know that’s not going to happen!

So, off to plan and dream. And here’s fair warning — next time there will be finished quilts here in ThimbleannaLand. Don’t want anyone keeling over out of shock or anything!

XOXO,
Anna

Splash of Color

42 Comments / January 6, 2011 February 22, 2011 / Chat

Hello! I’m just popping in to participate in Emma’s Splash of Color this month. Emma started the Splash of Color to cheer us up during the dreary winter months. And it’s surely dark and dreary here in ThimbleannaLand today.

I looked around, and the most colorful thing here (aside from my fabrics, yarns and threads) is my jar of M&Ms. I know we’re not supposed to be eating them this time of year, but I can’t help it. It’s so gray and sad. We NEED the cheering up. There were quite a few brown M&Ms in the pile, but they aren’t colorful, so I sacrificed for you and the need for a colorful picture. I disposed of them. In my mouth.

Thank you for your Splash of Color series Emma — pretty colors are definitely a pick-me-up in the winter!

XOXO,
Anna

P.S. In case you missed it, only one more day until my Divine Twine/Vera Bradley giveaway comes to an end.

A New Year Wraps Up Four

155 Comments / December 31, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Chat, Store

Is anyone still out there? Boy, it’s sure quiet and I’m as guilty as the next guy. There hasn’t been much computer time here in ThimbleannaLand. But lots of family time and goofing off, which is very important at this time of year. I hope you’re all enjoying the holidays too — and having a wonderful time.

In the middle of it all (Christmas, New Year’s, and our anniversary (which is a number that makes me feel really old LOL)) there’s been a blogaversary here. Four Years! Gosh it hardly seems possible. Thank you so much for playing along here with me. For listening to me ramble on and for leaving all of your wonderful comments. You guys are the best invisible friends anywhere. I know other bloggers have said how much their blogs have surprised them and I feel the same way. It’s been so fun to get to know many of you and to even meet some of you in person. Each year brings new adventures and I can’t wait to see what will spring up in year five!

So, how ’bout a little giveaway? A little Vera Bradley — a new passport holder and small make-up bag. In pink, to match a pretty pink roll of divine twine. (‘Cause I’ve added pink and airmail to the Thimbleanna Divine Twine corner.)

See? Pink and Airmail. (I love that Airmail — it’s red, white and blue wahoo!) Aren’t they cute?

Oh, that was shameless, wasn’t it??? Thank you, Thank you for supporting my teeny little store. I almost said “Most of all, thank you…” but it’s not most of all. Really, I can’t tell you how much fun your comments and e-mails have been. I can’t say much more without gushing all over us both and then … well… pass the kleenex.

Anyway, back to the giveaway. No jumping through hoops. Just leave a comment by, oh, let’s say midnight EST January 7th (Happy Birthday to SweetiePie) and I’ll draw a winner that weekend.

And Best Wishes for a VERY Happy and Safe New Year to all of you!
XOXO,
Anna

P.S. If my comments happen to randomly shut off — which they do on a regular basis {grumble}{grumble} — just hang in there. I’ll fix it as soon as I see it!