Happy Mother's Day! and Giveaway Winner Announced

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms, Grandmoms, Great-Grandmoms, Moms-to-be, second Mothers, and those we love just like a Mom. I know my greatest joys in life have come from being a mother; I hope each of you is blessed to feel that level of love at least once in your lifetime. 

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."
~ Victor Hugo

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day and New Wallets

It's here! It's here! The Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day has arrived! 
Yes, I'm actually that excited.
This twice a year event, which actually lasts a full work week, is spectacular. "Meet" some new bloggers, have billion chances at winning a lil' somethin' for yourself, and feel the generosity of those who participate in spades. Awesomeness.
And I'm just as excited that Gypsy Thread will be participating in all that generosity this time around.

For those of you unfamiliar with my sewing adventures, please feel free to click around on those purple, social networking, circle icons to the right. I'm post to Facebook MUCH more often than I post anything to this blog. You can also find more about me, Carey, here. If you're wondering where the name "Gypsy Thread" originated, perhaps you'll find this entertaining. Click, browse, what have you. I'll be here when you're done.

One of the most loved and versatile items in my Etsy store are these great "Tea Wallets". While they're sized to carry your individual tea bags, they're also great to hold all sorts of cards - business, ID, credit, gift, loyalty, etc. For a really fun gift I've had a few customers slip in a gift certificate to their friend's favorite coffee or tea shop before gifting them. Great idea, huh? My friends and customers are so lovely!

Craft Show Prep

Moving from New England to sunny, perpetually warm Florida has opened many doors for me physically, which in turn has expanded the amount of time and energy I'm able to invest in Gypsy Thread. Having more treasures in my shop is a fabulous feeling. And although I miss my mill-based fabric shops and other raw material outlets with my whole heart, I am now able to share my creations with a new crowd of people via outdoor craft shows and art fairs, something available seasonally at best in New England. 

One of my many goals for 2013 is to take advantage of these year round opportunities. Building a better display, one that can be altered from a full booth to a table top only version has been a bit of a challenge. Not only am I an incredibly picky person, but my wares are not small and cute and compact. I need large display pieces for long scarves and handbags, props for wallets and clutches, room for signage and business cards. In short, I've created a very difficult set of inventory for me to display according to my own tastes and preferences, that is also appealing to a consumer or even admirer. Thank goodness for the internet and sites like Pinterest. 

Participate in the SMS Giveaway Day? You Bet I Will!

Twice a year it happens. Twice a year I enter a bazillion contests for cool stuff. Twice a year I get sucked into reading and discovering more awesome blogs than I though could ever exist. Twice a year I find myself wondering if my blog will participate next time. Well, guess what? This time I'm in.

Monday, May 6th, 2013 the epic, the anticipated, the most fantabulous Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day is going to take place! If you've never heard of this event, go ahead and schedule a few half day sessions for yourself to stare at the computer screen uninterrupted right now then come back and finish reading. Seriously. Go write or type it into your calendar. I can wait.

Earth Day 2013: Info and Ideas

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~ Native American Proverb

via Vintage Printable

Today we celebrate the Earth, this lil' ol' orb that sustains our lives. Today we are reminded to upcycle, recycle, reduce, reuse, and maintain an awareness of how our actions impact the planet. Today we look for ways to inspire awareness and appreciation among others, as well as seek out new ideas on how we may live in a more eco-friendly manner. This is an area I personally know I can improve upon. I recycle, try to conserve energy, buy local, and do my best to rescue fabric and other notions that have been discarded or neglected in my creations. However, there is so much more I could be doing with such minimal effort. Today, for me, is a reminder that I need to pay closer attention to my own actions and expect a higher level of participation from myself.

So, whether you only pay attention to this cause once a year, or just on recycling/garbage days, or you try to incorporate a little awareness into your lives year round, here are a collection links to sites that make it their mission to inspire us all to live greener.