today i’m excited about

:: It’s a warm, sunny day & right now I have baguettes baking to eat with dinner tonight). They smell so good.

:: Gold strike! Embroidered mumus have been on my perpetual hunt-for list ever since Rachel at Smile & Wave fixed one up last summer. (What’s on your perpetual hunt-for list, by the way?)

:: Also found this fun little book, published in the 1960s by a guy who wanted to preserve his grandfather’s country wisdom and know-how. Chapter titles include “Sugaring,” “Doing with Stone,” and “Indians.”

:: Heather’s Joyful Life Library! Advertising with a beautiful purpose; I hope we start seeing more projects like this on the blogosphere.

:: MM scrap pack giveaway on the Vintage Sheet Blog! Jen’s been hosting a whole month of giveaways in celebration of her one-year blogaversary. Congratulations, Jen!

:: Babies taking pretend naps in the laundry. The 3 of us had dinner at Denny’s last night (the man was in the field) and had the. best. time. Kids eat free Tues/Thurs, so it cost less than McDonald’s usually does. And with a lot less chaos.

:: Baguettes making happy crackling noises as they cool. Surely we won’t need all four for dinner…

winner + maternity skirts?

Congrats to Gloria, winner of the bunting giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered — if you still want a kit, don’t forget that you can get free shipping through midnight tonight using the code HAPPYHAPPY at checkout!

I’ve been contemplating making maternity skirts for the shop… one of my dearest friends from back home is expecting her first baby and asked me to make one for her to wear at her baby shower.

(The waistband is folded over a little in the picture.) Skirts and pants with jersey waistbands are my favorite thing when I’m hugely pregnant (heck, even when I’m not). Nothing feels better, except maybe a late-night McFlurry.

I’m looking forward to some studio time this afternoon so I can cut some more rainbow buntings and do some dressmaking experimentation. It’s a beautiful, bright Saturday in the North Country — hope your day is the happiest!

winners + coupon code

Tell you what, you guys know how to get your munch on in December! Oreo truffles, mince pies, eggnog, sugar cookies, chocolate-covered pretzels… YUM! My rad parents sent us a bag of TJ’s Peppermint Pretzel Thins this week, and I am officially addicted. If you are lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s, you must go get some, and if you aren’t, you should have a friend send you some. Wow. They’re good.

(Cute garland, eh? My cute sister in-law made ‘em for the chickies!)

Bess, who loves peanut brittle, is the lucky winner of the FQ set, and Sheila, who likes fancy cheese, scored the apron! Congrats, guys — look for an email from me in a mo’.

And I want to say a big THANKS to everyone who reads, comments, and supports — so how about a coupon code? Take 15% off your Modern Marigold order through December 19 with the coupon code MERRYMARIGOLD at checkout. (Psst, if you’re in the continental US, order by 12/19 to get your goods by Christmas!)

Thanks for entering, everyone, and I hope all your wildest Christmas munchie wishes come true!

the pink lemonade giveaway

Three cheers for Giveaway Day 2010! At The Modern Marigold, we’re always doing our best to spread a little vintage love.

This is really two giveaways in one! The first (and you can pick — read details below) is a sweet set of four vintage sheet fat quarters in hues that will bring summertime, blue sky, sandals, and lemonade stands to mind.

Or, if FQs don’t fit your fancy, you can snag this jazzy little apron, handmade from a sweet selection of coordinating vintage linens.

Yay, vintage! If you like what you see, be sure to stop by my Etsy shop, where you’ll find more flavors of vintage fabric love.

I don’t know about you, but December makes me feel munchy. So, in your comment, please include your favorite holiday treat along with which ONE prize you’d pick if you won. For an extra entry, subscribe to my blog and leave a comment letting me know. I’ll randomly pick two winners sometime on December 17th. Open to our friends both in the US and internationally.

Now get on out there and get yer click on! Good luck!

give it up for giveaway day

It’s coming! SMS is hosting their annual Giveaway Day, and I’m so excited to be participating. Come back tomorrow to enter!

We got the girls a big plastic saucer for the snow. The guy who plows our drive banks up the snow perfectly for sledding. We brought it out for the first time tonight, and the girls both LOVED IT. Even Maren was giggling madly every time I went down the hill with her, and Lizzy went down by herself with great glee. We had black bean chili for dinner and I ate my weight in buttered popcorn after the girls were in bed. R and I did 2 crossword puzzles together (our dowdy new together-hobby) and then watched Anne of Avonlea while I finished binding the table runner and R pretended to read.

Tomorrow is M’s first day at the church nursery, and L is all prepped and ready to assist by playing with M, helping her at snacktime, and making distracting animal noises as appropriate. I’m glad they’ll have a couple of weeks in there together — I only hope that it won’t have the reverse effect as we hope.

elsewhere today

I’m thrilled to be a part of the Featured Artist series over at Gussy today. Pop on over and enter to win a cache of sewing goodies, including a pack of scrappy bias tape from my shop!

Also newly listed in the shop today — a sweet zippered pouch with made from jute and heirloom crocheted doilies, part of my new woodland, linen, and lace obsession collection. Also seen in the Pretty Little Things treasury on Etsy. Woohoo!

new pretties

Happy Wednesday, friends! I hope everyone (up on the northern hemisphere, that is) is getting a little slice of delicious autumn air today. I can’t wait to get some apples at the market on Saturday and come home and make a big fat apple pie.

Fun shop news today! First, don’t forget about the giveaway over at Craftiness is Not Optional. If you want to sweeten your chances, flap your wings over to Blessed Little Nest, where my shop is participating in Heather’s super fun Handmade Vintage Market (there’s a discount code and a separate giveaway!). I’ve also got a couple of new pretties I’m excited to show you…

Scrappy bias tape! Such an easy way to add a dash of happy to whatever you’re working on. And…

A linen and lace zippered clutch! Ruched linen and a band of lace on the outside; vintage woodland lining on the inside. I’m in love with both of them, and I hope you like them, too. Have a great Wednesday!

giveaway alert

Mmkay, I promise I have more interesting things to talk about than giveaways, but make sure you don’t miss Jess’s 1000th follower celebration happening on Saturday — she has a TON of amazing giveaways going on, one of which is from (ahem) yours truly. She’s an amazing blogger and a great bloggy friend of mine, so hop on over and check it out! Added bonus: you don’t have to visit any links, like anything on Facebook, become a follower, or think of something witty to say (oh joy).

That is all.

headband winner

Did I say Monday on that giveaway? Sorry ’bout that. We were busy on Monday. And Tuesday. And today.

But we are back now — more on that later. So, a winner:

Number 5 is my dear friend Tina G, who said:

Nice job! You are so dang talented! I like. Pick me

Aaww! Thanks, lady! Tina and I go way back. And I miss her. So I’m excited to send her a little something in the mail (wink wink). We’re back from a mini family vacation to Florida (paradise, I’m telling you), so there’s a lot of post-vacationing cleanup to do tonight. I hope everyone is enjoying their autumns!

the most intriguing sewist in the world

So, have you heard about the giveaway SMS is running for a brand spankin’ new Husqvarna Viking serger? To enter, all you have to do is answer a simple question: How would your life be better with a serger?

Well, SMS, here goes nothin’.