OPAM's July Winner Is ...

I've managed to be a bit more timely in drawing the monthly draw winner for the One Project A Month Challenge this time - life hasn't been quite as hectic, though still busy enough to keep my occupied! While it's very time consuming to pop around to all the blogs (well, most!) to collect finish lists, it's also wonderful to see all the fabulous projects that people are working on - there are SOOOOOOOOOOOO many clever crafters out there in blogland! It occurred to me, too, as I read, what a privilege it is to peek into people's lives. As I blog hopped, I read how a number of bloggers are coping with cancer treatment, for themselves or a loved one. I read how a mother had lost her son in the conflict in Afghanistan. I saw wedding photos, baby photos, family reunion photos, holiday photos, as well as the photos of fabulous craft creations. And I just wanted to say "Thank You" to all you bloggers for sharing because I can't help but feel our lives are enriched each time we brush up against someone else's life experience, whether it be good or bad.

OK, so that may be a little D & M (deep & meaningful) for a Sunday morning, but it was just how I was feeling after my whirlwind trip through OPAM blogland. So ... to the news you've REALLY popped in to hear ... the winner of the July OPAM Challenge draw is ...

KIWIFRUIT SHIREE!!!

Congratulations Shiree! Now, Shiree must have a four-leafed clover or rabbits foot to bring her good luck, cos this is the second time this year the random number generator thingy has picked her in one of my prize draws! (she won a Wonderful Weekend kit earlier in the year!) I'll have to get you to email your snail mail address again, Shiree, as I seem to have lost it. And I can't show a photo of Shiree's prize yet cos it's in my sewing room ... buried under a layer of kitchen 'stuff' still from our kitchen reno! Oops! Will have to excavate to pop it in the mail this week! :0)

And even though there's only one draw prize to send out, I'd like to congratulate ALL of you OPAM Challenge gals for your hard work and cleverness this month - there were 498 finishes reported this month, which takes our total for the year SO FAR to 3,338! WOW!! Think of all that space we should be finding in our craft cupboards with so many projects being finished! Tee! Hee! Hee! Bet you're mostly like me and no sooner do you finish a project than you buy patterns and/or fabric for three more! :0) Thanks to all of you who emailed your list of finishes (and fun photos!!) to me - that made my life soooooo much easier! And thanks to all of you who've been updating your lists in the sidebar as you go, again, this makes my (and May Britt's!) job MUCH easier at the end of the month. There are still a few of you who don't have the OPAM badge or a finish list in your sidebar, so if you could fix that up for us, we'd be very grateful. And if you didn't get to register any finishes this month, but made SOME progress on a long-term project - WELL DONE! Hope you're all still enjoying being part of the OPAM Challenge - I know it's what got ME motivated this month! :0)

Before I go, I thought I'd also share a photo of what I've been playing with this weekend. I know ... I said I'd make a start on writing the instructions for my "Fairy Bears & Butterflies" quilt pattern (see previous post!) - I fibbed!! :0) Instead, I've played a little bit with a Secret Squirrel Christmas project and started a new project. I'll show you a peek ...

A braided rug! I've wanted to try my hand at making one of these for YEARS, but never really knew how to get started. Well, a while ago, the "How To" was featured on a very handy blog, the Moda Bakeshop and with some white homespun left over from my "Butterfly Hunt" quilt borders and some funky red and white spot fabric that was on special at Spotlight, I decided to give it a go. I'm quite enjoying it, actually, as it's one of those "don't have to think much" projects that I can work on in front of the TV. Will keep you updated as the rug grows - could take a while though! :0)

And on the photo/camera front ... my trusty point-and-shoot camera has been FOUND!! YAY!! My Dad rang yesterday to say he'd opened the glove box of his car to get a shammy cloth (not sure that's spelt right, but the spellcheck isn't giving me any other options!!) out to wash the car ... and there was my camera!! I then remembered popping it in there to keep it safe when Mum and I went shopping, not wanting to leave it sitting in the open. Hmmm ... kept it SO safe that even I couldn't find it again! Tee! Hee! Hee! So not only am I relieved that I won't have to replace it, I'm relieved I'll be able to take happy snaps when I head off on my adventures, since the SLR was WAY too bulky to pop in my handbag!

And now ... I'm off to run some errands for my Beloved Geek Boy, who has started painting the newly renovated kitchen - will show you some update photos once there's progress to see. Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend and Til next time - Bear Hugs!

CHEERS!
KRIS