I want to do another giveaway!

 It has been a while since my last giveaway, and I want to do another one. 

I have a bunch of stitchy things that I have collected for just this purpose, and I haven't done anything with them! I did neglect my blog for a little while, which didn't help, but I am back now! I may even have more than one winner!

Included will be:

Lots of plastic bobbins (you can never have too many)
Thread organizer boards
Travel scissors
Handmade (by me) chainmail charm/scissor fob
Needles
Needle minder
a few other small stitchy things
Some random charts (if you let me know what kinds of things you like)
... and more!

This is definitely not a complete list, there are so many things I have to include. I want a lot of it to be a surprise!

 Due to how international shipping is going right now, I want to limit this to the US, if possible. Things are getting held up in customs super extra long, and I would hate for things to get lost. 

Here's what to do:

1.  Follow my blog!
1. That's it, just click on the Join This Site or Follow button on the right-hand side!
   
   
2. Add a comment to this post, and let me know what kind of needle minder and charts/crafts you like!

• Whether it be plastic canvas, cross stitch, crochet (I may even have some needlepoint)
• Also, anything specific: such as flowers, landscapes, people, holiday, animals, etc.
• Be as vague or specific as you want

• Disclaimer: I cannot guarantee I will have a chart in the specific style you like, but I will try to get close!

•  Or, just say "surprise me", and I will pick some things on my own!

3. (optional) Promote my giveaway on your blog or website

            o    I put this as optional, as I realize not everyone has their own blog or website. It isn't                             necessary, but I would greatly appreciate it!

Another IHSW this past weekend!

 There was another IHSW this past weekend, so I decided to get some stitching in. I really need to get back in the habit so I can start the monthly challenge I set again in September! Since I failed in August, I really haven't been in the mood to stitch, so I just haven't. 

I got stitching again over the weekend, and I completed about 10-12 colors on my page. It may seem like a lot, but considering some of these colors only had a few spread out stitches across the whole page, it really didn't add up to much. Most of the progress seen is from about 2-3 colors. 

Here is where I was last update: 

And here is where I am now:

You can see most of the progress visible in the circles across the bottom half and the half-circles at the top. 

I'm getting motivated to start stitching again, trying to finish this page! I wanted to have this page done a long time ago, I just wish there was more time to work on it! Work just gets in the way!

Lego bookmarks!

 A while back, I bought some lego pendants and earrings, intending on using them for.... something (I don't remember what). I ended up sticking them in a box, since they weren't exactly what I was wanting. I figured that I would find a use for them later.Well, here we are, a couple years later, and I found a way to use them! 

I turned them into bookmarks!
I made one black and one silver, and used the same colors that are in the lego part, and I really like how they came out! The chainmail part is a little shorter than the others, but the lego makes up for it. 

Also, while I'm on this rainbow kick, I made a new bracelet. I saw someone posting a similar one online, and I wanted to try out the weave.
I like how it came out, but I don't think I'll make another one of these again. It was a bit of a pain. 

Con review: Shawnee Comic Con

Convention Name: Shawnee Comic Con
Date: Aug 15-16, 2020
Cost: $75, 1 10x10-ish booth
Location: Shawnee, OK
Grade: D

 This past weekend, I got to go to the Shawnee Comic Con again. I went last year, and had a great time. Since the Enid con 2 weeks ago went well, I figured this one would, as well. Well, no so much. 

The layout this year was much more spread out from last year, which is great. Last year, on one side of the room everyone was bunched up, and as things spread to the other side, there was tons of open space. It's understandable having more space this time, with Covid going around, but I think things went a little too far. The aisles were waaaay too wide, so people weren't being driven to each side of each aisle, they ultimately had to go down one side and back up the other side. It was just awkward. 

The turnout for this con was abysmal. I thought that with the good turnout 2 weeks ago in Enid, that this one would do well, too. This wasn't even close. The first day, there were only about 240 people that showed up. The second day, well.... it was mostly vendors shopping with other vendors for the first 3-ish hours. There weren't really any other people showing up. 

Luckily, at the beginning of day 2, the guy running things told us that due to poor turnout, if we wanted to leave early, we could. Also, this particular con isn't going to be held again, either, due to 2 bad years in a row.
I got to leave a couple hours early, which did help. 

Overall, I did OK. I made enough over the weekend to cover my expenses for the booth, hotel, and food both days. At this point, I would call that a win. I'm just glad I didn't lose money.
If this con was going to be held again, I don't think I would go, anyway. It wasn't worth it. 

Even with the poor turnout, it was still good to get out and do the con thing again. I did have a booth next to some friends, and got to chat with some other friends there, so that was good. I can't wait until things start picking up again.
This was my last confirmed con that has been paid for for this year. I have an application pending for one in November, and I have been keeping my eye on another one in October to see if they are going to proceed, or just skip this year.

 

Chainmailling again

 So, with the happy news that I shared with my last post, I am in need of creating new chainmail items! 

I got to work first on some more bookmarks. I already had the blanks, and some charms came in that I was waiting for, so I just went ahead and made some that I have been holding off on. 

First, I finished my Harry Potter set. I already had 2 done, but ran out of a couple of colors of rings, so I had to order more. Here is the entire set, now. 

Next is my set of Pokemon Go bookmarks. I just got these charms in, and they are perfect! 

Last, here are a few singular ones that I made: