The Donations Just Don't Stop!

by Rita Wetzel, HandmadeBits4u

Are you coming to see us on Saturday?  Our HandmadeMN Spring Market is this Saturday, May 5, at the Ballentine VFW in Minneapolis. The team is finishing the last minute details so you'll have a great shopping experience.

You will have the opportunity to shop for a variety of handmade product from our 45 vendors.  We have jewelry, leather journals, photographs, illustrations, cards, baby clothing and accessories, kitchen decor, home decor, vintage items, woodturned and carved product, purses, totes, wallets, soy crayons, yoga mats, monster pouches, quilts, and so much more.

If you're one of our early shoppers you will receive one of 25 Swag Bags (actually there are more than 25 this time!)  They will be handed out at both the front and back entrances of the VFW.  Everything in the SWAG Bags have been donated by our members and everything is handmade - you won't be disappointed. You'll also be drooling over our Giveaway Baskets! Each is worth at least $150. Just get your passport stamped by 3 vendors on the main floor and 3 vendors in the basement! No purchase necessary! Our past winners have been ecstatic with the basket contents. Here are some items that you will find in our Swag Bags or in our Giveaway Baskets and they will be available at the Market too!

KibblesNKnits was very generous with her donations - look at these adorable necklaces and rings!


AnnaTereDesigns donated these Phone Charger pouches and also some hair accessories too.

You may find these "Love from Minnesota" notecards in your SWAG Bag from VandaliaStreetPress.

Look at these lovely pouches from JulieMeyer.

EleanorsTreasures makes these delightful appliqued onesies and TShirts.

CayennePeppy has a lovely line of jewelery and also makes adorable bags.

You may find water bottle holders and adorable felt and bottle cap pins from AimeesHomestead.

DeederTheBeader has made this lovely set of earrings and necklace for one lucky shopper!

ArtyDidact has made pouches and greeting cards for our Giveaway Baskets and Swag Bags!

We also have fused glass from DragonflyAdornmants to giveaway!

Do you need a travel wrap?  If so, then hopefully you will win one from MargaretMousleyDesigns.

PixieSpit has donated several of these delightful pony tail holders for our Swag Bags.

And CindyLindgren has donated both prints and cards!

Aren't these absolutely out-of-this-world donations from our team to you, our shoppers!  Later this week you will see all of the Swag Bags and the Gift Baskets.  You will definitely want to find some time to stop by on Saturday to see us!

Show Details: 
WHAT: HandmadeMN Spring Market
WHEN: May 5, 2012 10am-5pm COST: Free and Open to the Public
WHERE: James Ballentine VFW, 2916 Lyndale Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55408. parking lot located at rear entrance to VFW, on Aldrich Avenue.
WEBSITE: http://handmademn.com

HandmadeMN Giveaway ~ Created by Kristen M

by Monique Parent of Glass Garden Designs
Congratulations to our latest giveaway winner! Thanks to all who entered and we wish you good luck with this week's giveaway!

This week's giveaway is from Kristen of Created by Kristen M. She is giving away this fun set of handmade cards.
Kristen made this set of nine handmade cards with beautiful papers and adorable embellishments. You will be proud to give these to friends & family! Included in the set is 1 wedding card, 1 anniversary card, 1 sympathy card, 1 graduation card, 1 baby card, 3 birthday card and 1 best wishes card. Click on the photo to see Kristen's listing picturing all 9 cards.

Open to US and Canada.

Contest ends Saturday, May 12th, at 12:00 noon Central. One winner will be chosen by Random.org.

How to Enter:
Visit Created by Kristen M, pick your favorite item and leave a comment on this post about it. (Scroll to bottom of post and click on Comments)

     Please make sure you include your email address
            so we have a way to contact the winner!

For Bonus Entries:
Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry (To qualify for extra entries you must do step one above).

1. Visit other HandmadeMN team members shops (listed in the sidebar here) and leave a comment(s) here with your favorite pieces.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow this blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting us know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

5. Follow HandmadeMN on twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

6. Become a Facebook Fan of HandmadeMN. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

7. Become a Facebook Fan of Created by Kristen. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Contest ends Saturday, May 12th, at 12:00 noon Central. One winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Good luck!

HandmadeMN members are not eligible to win.

HandmadeMN Fun Friday Finds ~ Spring Market

By Mara Olden of Dragonfly Adornments


Stop and smell the roses, then come on over to shop some fantastic finds at the HandmadeMN Spring Market, Saturday, May 5th from 10am to 5pm. Here's just a sampling of the HandmadeMN Market items you'll find.



Visit these HandmadeMN shops to see more: 
Click on any of the names below 


First Row (Left to Right): 
Second Row (Left to Right): 
Third Row (Left to Right):
Fourth Row (Left to Right):

 

What is your Decorating Style?

Okay, so y'all know that I just bought my first home!


Isn't she lovely?!?

I sure do think so...

Anywho...as I was decorating my sister-in-law asked me what my style was called!

Hmm......

Ummmm......

Well.....

Never really thought about it!
{have you?}

But by golly gee I was going to figure it out!
So I asked my friend google...
What's my decorating style? 
And you know what?  
Google told me!
Well, told me where to go!


and this is what I got...


DING! DING! DING!
Nailed it...

~ Mix & Match.....CHECK!
~ Comfortable....CHECK!
~ Neutral, subtle hues...CHECK!
~ Furniture that isn't fussy...CHECK!
~ Anything goes, but simplicity is key....DOUBLE CHECK!

So...what's your decorating style?
Did BHG nail it for you too?

Loves...

MOTEL ROCKS GIVEAWAY !!!



Today I am super excited. The reason??? I am hosting a Motel Rocks giveaway. It's a £50 voucher for a lucky winner to spend it buying beautiful clothing in Motel Rocks shop! Isn't it amazing??? Oh I even wish I could participate in this.

         


 So if you want to participate in this all you have to do is follow these 3 simple steps:
  1. Create an account at Motel Rocks here (the voucher will be put in your account in their website so you must sign up) and like their page on facebook here
  2. Follow me by Google Friend Connect
  3. Leave a comment with your email
That's it, as simple as it gets! The giveaway will be closed in exactly 3 weeks on May 18th. So there is plenty of time to spread the word and the invite your friends too.

GOOD LUCK GIRLS!!!

Fashionably yours,

Despina

Reconstructive Surgery

Kellan was the first knit Manga Spirit that I made.  I love her impish smile and green hair, but wasn't happy with the neck spacer, so the pattern was tweaked, and the knit Manga Spirits now have a smaller neck spacer.

But here was Kellan, wanting to be a real doll too!  So, I took off her head, removed the spacer, and ladder stitched the head back on.  It doesn't move, but she doesn't mind, and we are both happier with the way she looks.

Very cute in parti-colored rompers, don't you think :-)

Adventures of a First Time Home Buyer! Part 6 - Inspector? You mean, like Inspector Gadget?

 Welcome to 
The Adventures of a First Time Home Buyer


Part 6 ~ Inspector?  You mean, like Inspector Gadget?



Probably the best money you can spend in a home purchase process is for the home inspection.
Cut corners anywhere else you want, but not when it comes to your home inspection.
An experienced, knowledgeable home inspector is worth every penny you pay them.
A thorough home inspection will take at least 2 hours to complete, depending on the size of the home.
Our inspector was recommended to us by our realtor and ended up costing us $330.00!  


Here are some key points to remember:
  • Why do we need a home inspection? Regardless of how new or well maintained a house might be, you owe it to yourself to have a qualified professional inspect the home thoroughly. 
  • My friend/relative is a handyman/contractor. He says he can do our inspection for free! You may know someone that is handy, or has construction experience, but you really should use the services of an experienced, certified professional. Ask your Agent to recommend several inspectors. 
  • How much does a Home Inspection cost and how long will it take? Most inspections run about $300 to $500, depending on the size of the home.
  • What is normally involved in a Home Inspection? Most Home Inspections involve a complete evaluation and assessment of all structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and their primary components. Your inspector will want to make sure that the home is safe, structurally sound, and that all primary systems are operating properly.
  • What happens if the Inspector finds something major wrong with the house? Don’t get too excited and worked up.  Almost every house is going to have something come up on the inspection report. However, if there is a huge defect that is uncovered, you will usually have the opportunity to request the Sellers to remedy or repair the problem. It is a negotiation process. The Sellers may agree to or deny your request. If the Seller’s response is not to your liking and you are within your Due Diligence period, you can elect to back out of the contract and retain your earnest money.

Manga Spirit Sweaters to crochet and knit

To keep the chill off on these early spring days, here is a sweater to crochet or knit for your Manga Spirit.  Click Manga Spirit Sweater to access the download for this sweater.

The sweaters are made from sportweight yarn, using a D hook for the crochet sweater, or size 4 (3.5mm) single point needles for the knit sweater.

Enjoy!

Fluorescent Adolescent (Arctic Monkeys)


Inspirational style of the day: Alexa Chung.
Due to illness I have not been blogging as much as I wanted to the past days.
I hope I will be back to you soon. Outfit post is on progress ;)

Fashionably yours,

Despina













































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