Design Wars Bribes... ehr I mean Giveaway!

That's right, I have stooped to bribing you for your votes. Well, actually it's just an incentive to keep coming back. If you haven't already heard, I'm involved in this round of Design Wars!! The final reveals have been announced and voting has begun. In fact, you can vote every 12 hours until voting closes!

Here's what you can win:

• 5 winners will get a FREE copy of my Eddyline Sunhat Pattern when it's published
• 1 winner will get to make their own Eddyline with a crochet kit! Includes a copy of the pattern plus up to 4 balls of Red Heart Creme de la Creme yarn (colors vary by availability)
• 1 winner can customize their own word disc, made by me! What would you say?

Scroll through the pictures on the giveaway widget to the right to see what you can win. Don't forget this is all about Design Wars 3, so make sure you visit the blog to see the other amazing designs and vote for mine *cough* I mean your favorite! ;)

PLAY HARD ~ PLAY HOOKY

Thank you's from a Kindergarten Class

The response to Bryn's Flowers from my community has already been amazing. So when I received a book in the mail with thank you's written and drawn by one of the kindergarten classes, it really touched my heart. To think that Bryn may have been in that class is hard, but good at the same time.

This evening I went by the fence to secure some of the flowers that have blown loose. That same kindergarten teacher happened to be driving by so she stopped to talk. She said that all the kids still talk about how much they like it. When they ask why it's there, the teacher tells them "There was a little girl who was supposed to be here this year, but she can't be. So her mom made this for her." Smiling through tears!

As I've done throughout this whole journey, I wanted to share the pages with you. I blocked out the names of the kids for privacy. I hope they make you smile! :)

Who doesn't like free money?

I normally don't get this excited over giveaways, but this is the best one I've seen. Because really, who doesn't like free money? It's Charissa from Mad Mad me's giveaway and I'm not surprised because she always has the best ideas! You could win one of 3 Etsy gift cards - $100, $50, & $25!! Here's how it works:

• Enter to win one of three Etsy gift cards at the top of the entry page
• The more you share, tweet, and pin the giveaway, the more entries you'll get to win!
• Then can vote for up to 10 of your favorite vendors (the top three vendors win gift cards too!!)
• The giveaway winners will be announced no later than Monday, May 6th

So start sharing, posting, and tweeting to win!!

Look for my SpiderMan Beanie to vote for me!

PLAY HARD ~ PLAY HOOKY

Bryn's Flowers

Last summer, I experienced the darkest moment of my life; I lost my 5 year old daughter, Bryn. My sassy, funny, and amazing daughter suffered a massive asthma attack one month after her 5^th birthday. She fought harder and survived longer than anyone thought possible, but after two days her little body ran out of strength. I kissed my baby girl for the last time as she quietly passed away in my arms. The slow walk to healing can take many forms. So far my journey has included crochet and yarn bombing.

Bryn left us just a few short days after her last day of preschool. She never went to her first day of Kindergarten; a day she talked about with such enthusiasm that her whole body shook with excitement. She never got to walk through her classroom door, meet her new teacher, or experience the joys of a 'big girl school' so I decided to create a yarn bomb to be there in her place. After months of planning, over 300 volunteer crocheters from 35 US states, 7 Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, Germany, Italy, and Australia have come together for the biggest project I’ve ever attempted. Their outpouring of love and support helps me get through each day as the one year mark of her loss approaches.

Tuesday, April 16, would have been her 6th birthday. To celebrate and help give us strength, family, friends, a group of local volunteers, and even strangers walking past gathered on Saturday to install this epic project, showing just how many lives were touched by my sparkling girl.

This is a look back on the journey...

It begins...

My organizational skills are put to the test

Last minute preparations

People around the world showed their support by wearing Bryn's favorite color

 YARN BOMB!!

Bryn, I love you more than candy