.... is this thing on?

I logged on and found a draft of a post still just sitting there.....from 3 years ago! Sheesh! It's like a virtual ghost town.
Old broken links... ::Que the western music::
Photos no longer available....  ::rolling tumble weeds::

So. Let's just jump in like no time has past, except that everything is different. You know, like:
-my hair is down to my waist now
-I live in Omaha, Nebraska

Ok wow. I started a list because I thought it would be long, but ok that's really it! I still have a husband I adore. I spend my free time making things. Lots of things. Any things. And the other stuff is just a little different. My job is different now, and I have one kitty and one puppy now (Long story. No really. I love telling long stories where you wonder half-way through where it's going and sometimes I forget too, but this one is boring. Even to me) And oh yea!  I'm still not great at taking photos so you can pretty much just expect phone photos. Although I just discovered this thing called instagram and they have filters, so yeah, color you impressed #i'mawesomenow #allthecoolkidsthinki'mcool.

I think at least once a month for the last 3 years I have told Josh that I'm going to start blogging again. Mostly, I really miss having this record of my life. I'm not a journaler, or a journalee, or a journal-keeping-type-person, so I love having this place that I can write down my thooughts and feeeelings and stuuuuff. You know, not like a journal at all. I'd love to stick to posting once a week, so stay tuned! And ignore the last post (from three years ago) that said I was going to keep updating....

I almost forgot! A photo to prove I am still alive (Unfortunately this is not where we live. Its from vacation in Temecula last weekend. )

handmade giveaway!

i've been stocking up on giveaway goodies and i thought reaching 200 followers would be the perfect excuse to send someone some love!  plus, i like to make things. and i really like to make things for people i like! so here's what's up for grabs:

this {completely handmade} journal:

{filled with handmade paper i upcycled}

 and this little cutie {as promised}:

and last, but not least, a paper bunting banner, like this one.

so, down to the nitty-gritty, to be included in the giveaway you must:

1- be a follower!

2- comment on this post with an interesting fact about yourself {be sure to include your email address and/or blog link!} and that's it!

simple is good, right?!

make sure you enter by sunday night, and i'll announce the winner next monday. good luck and thanks for following along with me :)

forest friends

i've been whipping up a whole batch of owly key chains. or maybe i should call them key cozies? regardless, i dropped them off at t.la.re to find new homes.

i just love digging through my wool tub {yep, i have a tub full of wool fabric. bonus: it's all upcycled!} and picking out new patterns and creating their little faces.

and then i decided to branch out and try some other woodland creatures. 

like hedgehogs:

and foxes. i do love foxes: 

cute sidenote: a few girls at school/work saw my owl last week and fawned over it. one girl said, "i wish i had keys..." it was adorable.

anyway, i've made about 20 now and think i'll be taking a break from my wool tub.

so if you live in manhappanin' ks you can go snag one for yourself! otherwise you'll have to wait until monday, when i surprise you all and give one away! {along with a bunch of other goodies!}

sound good? 

frame and screen jewelry organizer

today you will find me guest posting at salsa pie, one of my favorite blogs since the beginning of time {or at least since i started blogging} caroline's blog is full of wonderful ideas and is always an inspiration. she just had a beautiful baby boy and while she and her family are spending some quality time together, she's asked some blog friends to help fill in.

so if you want to learn how to make this:

go check out my guest post! and make sure you say hi to caroline while you're there, she's the best!

the mitten

i've been absent from blogland. and i've been on vacation! i'm home in grand rapids spending the week with family and friends.

and what a week! 
1st anniversary of moving to kansas {i can't believe it's already been a year!}
1st bloggiversary!
4th wedding anniversary! 


it's going to be a good week. 

get the shirt here

brought to you by the letter k

one sidney road started an alphabet blog walk hop {although with as hot as it is here, it's a blog very-leisurley-stroll-with-lots-of-water-and-sunblock hop}

my letter:

{k}

and what does it stand for?

kittens!

this is deja {as in deja vu}. a baby barn cat {here she is at 3 weeks old}

she's my favorite {of all my summer pets} which is just as well, since her sisters have been hiding from me all week.

look at those baby blues!

note to hubby: are you sure we don't need a third kitty? for sure for sure??

crafty guest posting

come see me on joanne's craft blog today. 

especially if you want to make one of these:

{the terrarium that is}

may day baskets!

i'm still reeling over all the wonderful comments you all left me yesterday! i feel very loved, indeed!i'll be visiting all my new followers soon- i'm so happy to make some new bloggy friends :)

so, since i was away i didn't get to post all my amazing may day baskets! and i literally can't wait any longer to share all the wonderfulness.
i got this little bundle of may day love from kellie over at the rice babies

i really love the fabric scraps, felt flowers, handmade earrings, and notecards.

plus this little fawn, which i hung up immediately. i love the handmade goodness <3

this package came from gabrielle at bee wise bags

oilcloth scraps, vintage hankies, pin cushion ring, notecards and grocery bag pattern {with all materials included}

i've already sent half of these cards out. i love them! and i'm loving the grocery bag {i'll have to show you that one later}

i also sent out my packages, too.

this one went to jess from the mundane adventures of miss jess
{i wrote the address wrong, so it got sent back to me, but hopefully it's there now!}

and this one went to kami at bellevue natural health

and of course, i couldn't leave out my bestie, so i sent her a few goodies, too

i had such a wonderful time with this swap and i hope you all did as well! thanks so much for joining the fun- let's do it again sometime, k?

the comeback kid!

today is a big day for me- besides returning from my little bloggy hiatus, i'm today's featured blogger on sits! so welcome and hello to all my new visiting friends! 

i feel so much pressure to show off my entire personality in this little post- but instead of trying too hard, how about i just link a couple of my favorite posts so you can get to know me on your own?

a little about my life: la boheme

one of my favorite crafty posts: christmas stockings

my thoughts about: girlfriends

and you can always click on any photos in the right column to read more.

i'm so excited to be back, and i'm so excited you're all here!  i can't wait to catch up with you all and say "hello!" {plus, i've got lots of things to show you. and did i mention i missed you?}

a letter to you

dear friends,

we're coming to the end of the semester and husband is in desperate need for our home computer to be at his school office {since his old powerbook finally went kaput a couple months ago} so this is goodbye for the next two weeks. i'll be busy doing a few projects of my own {which i promise to share with you when i return}. in the meantime i will still check in on you once and a while {when i'm at the library or some other public place with computers} and will be checking my email at work. so you can always reach me if needed. but as always, i prefer a nice letter in the mail. if you'd like to become short-term {or even long-term} pen pals, email me and we'll exchange addresses.


until then,

and i'll see you soon. 

love, 
angelina la dawn 
angelinaladawn{at}gmail{dot}com

advice from my mom

today i'm guest posting over at auburn street. sarah has started an "advice from my mom" series that i'm so excited to be a part of! {cause i just love my momma}

so if you want to read advice from my mom {and sarah's too} then head over and check it out.

and if you want to contribute your own mom's advice, email sarah at helloauburnst@gmail.com

violin tote and giveaway winner!

i've been busy making new bags for my etsy shop update i'm planning. it won't be ready until the end of the month so i'm not showing anything off yet, but i did make myself a new tote bag.

i thought it was time to show of my musical nerdyness via tote. {the best way to go imho} i stenciled the violin and the appliqued it on. and stenciled the strings and "music" and then stitched over it.

and then i stenciled the bow, stitched the bow hair, and added a ruffle all around the top {cause it was looking kinda boring}

{detail shot of stitching and lining from my favorite vintage fabric}

 i like it!

and congrats to carma of carma sez for winning my very first giveaway!

school book positivity

looked over and saw this on one of hubby's school books yesterday.

{we all need a reminder sometimes}

today is your last chance to enter my giveaway! 

it closes tonight at midnight and the winner will be announced tomorrow. good luck!

my very first giveaway!

oh friends, have i got something special for you!

the wonderful people at csn stores {popular for their kid beds, among other things} let me peruse their websites, and find something special just for you. and man, i really wish i could enter my own giveaway.

and since i just couldn't decide which one i like best, i'll let the winner choose between:

 this songbird mirror, 

how good would this look at your place? pretty damn good, i think. and unique. i like unique.

or
this owly pillow

{i i'm going bird-themed with this one}

official giveaway rules:

1) be a follower.

2) leave a comment with your email address and which item you'd like to take home with you if you win. pretty easy.

3) if you want an extra entry, just mention this giveaway on your blog {leave another comment with a link to your post}

giveaway closes sunday, april 18 and the winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on monday. 

good luck!

may day basket exchange!

  as a kid, may day {may 1} was always a much loved holiday- running to neighbors' doors and leaving basket full of flowers, candy and tons of other little goodies! and even better, may day traditionally marks the end of winter, and who doesn't love that?

i've already been thinking about all the fun things i'm going to do with my kids at school to celebrate, but i thought it might be even more fun to spread the may day love around and do a package exchange. 

 so who's with me?

exchange details: since may day is all about the end of winter, this exchange is going to be all about spring and warmer weather! have fun with it and get creative with your 'basket' of goodies: music, reading material, crafty goodies, prints or postcards- whatever makes you thing of spring! but to ensure it's a fair exchange, just make sure your package is worth at least $10-15.

to sign up: just email me! angelinaladawn@gmail.com

make sure you include all this info:

-name 

-snail mail address

-blog or website address {required}

-willing to ship internationally: y/n

-how many swap partners you'd like: 1, 2 or 3 {asking for multiple partners means you will receive multiple packages}

timeline: sign ups begin today {march 29} and end april 12. that gives you 2 weeks to sign up, and another 2 weeks to get your 'baskets' ready to send sometime during the last week in april so they can all arrive by may 1. may day!

fill in the blank friday!

i've been wanting to do this for a while, and today seems like a great day!

 

1.  One thing I MUST do before I die is  make my own dresses. and then have kids and make all their clothes, too. {just like my mom did!}

2.  I would rather spend all day in the library than go to the mall any day.

3.  If I could give my younger self one piece of advice it would be don't be afraid to let bad friendships die. they will anyway, and taking control of the situation will ease your heartache.

4.  If I won the lottery tomorrow I'd by husband a new mac, and 2 plane tickets to spain for spring break.

5.  The best surprise ever was my engagement! hubby flew all the way down to nebraska the day after christmas to surprise me. perfect.

6.  My biggest fault is procrastination and complaining. i like to call it "venting" but husband says it's more like going on and on and on about things that annoy me.

7.  My biggest strength is my energy and love for others. at least i think so :)

 head over to lauren's to read some more!

and now i'm off to finish up some spring cleaning! {cause it's spring here, and our apartment is in some serious need of reorganization} 

 

 

i'm back!

i've been such a bad blogger this past week.

forgive me?

being under the weather early in the month put me way behind on sewing, so i've been busy trying to catch up.

the first step to making lots of new goodies?

replenishing my stock of tomato tags:

 

unfortunately, i didn't get any photos of my latest batch of bags, but i'll take some shoots of them in the store soon. and then {if they don't sell by the end of march} they'll be going to my etsy shop.

it feels good to be back! {and not be working like a maniac!} 

what have you been up to? i feel like i've missed so much 

valentine's swap

i'm back and all healthy again! {finally} thanks for all the warm wishes earlier this week <3

and now, as promised, my wonderful valentine's day swap cards:

breakfast at tiffany's card from micaela {who can no longer say she isn't crafty!}

 

from gayle {i just love the pattern combinations. so sweet}

from erin {with help from her boys} complete with a tea bag

 

from michelle {loving the grade-school nostalgia}

from caitlin {got a little squished in the mail, but i adore the feather and lace}

  

and one more, from my sweet mom, who also sent a little gift card so hubby and i can have a night out :)

i loved doing this swap! it always put a big smile on my face to receive a sweet handmade card. thanks to everyone who participated {and lets do another one soon, k?}

to you:

just a little handmade love to brighten your valentine's day.

from me to you.

questions for me?

i really like this idea {most recently seen on lauren elizabeth's blog}

so i thought i'd give it a go {as i hope you will also}
 my answers to your questions.

so go ahead- lay it on me. 

what do you want to know? 

i want to answer any question you have for me, about whatever you'd like to know {you know, within reason- no bank account numbers!}

it could be fun. and you get to know me a little better <3

photos here and here