South Dakota in a Nutshell

Thanks to everyone for playing in my "where I went on vacation" game. And congratulations to Bev for correctly guessing first South Dakota.

Also congratulations to Mike Pearson for posting about my gigantic giveaway on twitter! He wins one of each of my patterns. Mike, please e-mail me your address and I'll send them out to you (mstramel@melissastramel.com).

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from South Dakota:

Love,

xoxo

You Can Still Win

Wow! That picture must have been really hard, so here is another clue.

 Guess the state or region I went to on vacation to win the pattern of your choice. Just leave a comment here.
Love,

xoxo

Guess and Win

I've been on vacation. I know. It's so seldom that a person with three little kids gets to go anywhere that this is a surprise! But to make it a sweet deal for you too, guess where I've been and the first person to get it right will win one pattern of your choice. Just leave a comment below.

Don't forget you can still enter my gigantic giveaway here!

Love,

xoxo

One Giant Giveaway

Is August ridiculously crazy busy for you too? I mean between county fair, vacation and back to school, there's pretty much no August left. In honor of that, I have decided to have a mega giveaway. Up for grabs is one paper copy of EACH of my patterns!

 This includes the Joy bag, Family Tree, Quilters Rule, Beloved for Dolls, Pastime Pillows, Sweet for Dolls, Mommy, Dolly and Me Aprons, Bountiful bags, Cherished for girls, All Dolled Up Tote, Sweet for Girls, Picnic in the Park quilt, Beloved for girls and Cherished for dolls. You can read all about each one of these patterns on my pattern page.

So how do you enter? Well this one's a little bit different. I want you to post about the giveaway on your social media sites. And please link to this page and use the picture above! Share on twitter, facebook and your own blog. Then leave me a comment below with the address to where you shared so I can check it out. Comments don't count this time, just links! One entry for each social media site you link to. And of course a way to contact you. This prize is valued at $158.80!!! This giveaway ends when I feel like it's time.

Good luck and happy August.

Love,

xoxo

A Redo for a China Cabinet

 I have a China cabinet that was in pretty bad shape. My husband preferred that I didn't paint it (not sure why???), so instead I took some Marguerite by Stitch Studios for Riley Blake and faux decopaged it. Riley Blake had given me quite a bit of this fabric line to play with. (Thanks!)

 Faux decopage? Are you interested? I've done this on walls before and it's completely reversible. You can see my instructions here.

 I realize this look isn't for everyone. My mom's eyebrows went through the roof when she saw it. But I love it! Oh and the dishes are Corelle, if you're wondering. Pretty!

Love,

xoxo

The County Fair in 100 Pictures or Less

 More than a week of fun for the kids and more than a week of exhaustion for the parents. Not that any of us would trade it for the world!

 Anna's first year to ever show a horse.

 Emilie's first ever sewing project was a skirt.

 Anna appliqued the pillow in the background as well.

 Nathan drove while Anna rode the lawn mower in the fair parade.

 Anna shows Nathan's pig Pork Chop in Open Class.

 Time to get clean Goater and Goateriffic.

 My nephews Trey and Brent show their sheep.

 Nathan won a lot of awards for his projects in 4-H. He spent over a month cleaning up the wheat for the entry.

 Our 4-H club booth.

 Nathan placed second in the tractor pull. We'll go to the state fair again!

 My nephew Brody showed Nathan's bucket calf in open class.

 Way to go Emilie!
Love,

xoxo