inspiration and a celebration giveaway

There is nothing like blooming flowers, warm sunshine, lovely fabric, and a new book or two to give me the inspirational boost that I need to get back into the sewing groove. What books? you ask. Well, I finally used part of my Christmas gift card and purchased the book One Yard Wonders.A feast for the eyes, this one. So far I've just been reading, planning, dreaming. This is going to be a great stash busting book for me. I have a lot of fabric that is about a yard or so. There are patterns for practical things, functional things, decorative items, kids stuff-like clothes and toys, pet pampering things, and clothing patterns for me...like skirts and tops-which is perfect for the upcoming Spring Top Week! So yes, it's time to dive into the stash.
The other book I am going to get (it was out of stock) is called Organic Body Care Recipes. I've checked it out from the library a gazillion times. I am really trying to use more natural products, not only to rid my house of unnecessary chemicals but also to heal and nourish my little ones with sensitive skin. It has so many great, natural, easy-to-make recipes for things like hand cream, lip balm, shampoo, and more. Some of the recipes have a plethora of fancy ingredients but most use common items that when combined are wonderful for your skin.
Now on to the celebration part. This is my 400th post!!! Woohoo! To celebrate I thought I'd have a little giveaway...and even perhaps share a little crafty inspiration. I picked up a book a while back. It's a great little book full of fun knitting patterns called New Knits on the Block. News Flash...I'm a novice knitter so just reading the instructions makes my brain hurt. I would hate for this book to just sit around collecting dust, feeling unloved. It's brand new and could use a new home where it will be loved. That's where you come in. It's yours to win if you just leave a comment on this post. I'll pick and post a winner on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. So, good luck, happy spring, and share the love! xo ANG

a winner*

Okay, today is the big day! I am ready to announce the ecostore USA giveaway winner! Are you ready? Alright...here we go!

The winner

of the $25 gift certificate

to ecostore USA is...

Rebekah of Sunnybrook Farm Designs!

Congratulations Rebekah! Enjoy the natural goodness that is ecostore USA. Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.

*Just so you know, there is exactly one month until Christmas. I don't know about you, but my handmade gift list is freaking me out. I need to get busy! Sew, knit, crochet, embroider, but most importantly relax, enjoy, reflect, and appreciate all of the blessings in my life. Happy Wednesday. xo ANG

ecostore usa giveaway time!

Recently, I was given the opportunity to try a couple of products from ecostore USA and write up a review. First let me share some information about the company.

The team at ecostore USA loves making a difference in people’s lives. ecostore USA does not compromise on performance, so customers can be assured of the efficacy of the products - they truly work. We offer more than 100 products, each one meeting the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards. The guiding principle of every formulation is and will always be that the end product must not only be good for the user, but good for the planet.

As a general rule I like to use items that are as close to completely natural as possible. These days there are so many chemicals in everything it's just down right refreshing to have natural and safe alternatives. Here are the two products I tried...Manuka & Sandalwood Shampoo and Manuka Honey and Kelp Soap.

Let's start with the shampoo. The smell is wonderful, yet light. This shampoo lathers well so only a small amount is needed which makes it last so much longer. When I use this shampoo my hair feels super clean. I wish I had asked for the matching conditioner as well because my naturally curly, dry hair didn't feel moisturized after using this shampoo. Clean, yes. Great scent, yes. But because I already have dry hair a conditioner is still necessary. However, if you have naturally oily hair this may be the perfect shampoo for you. The soap, on the other hand, I absolutely love. The scent is great and it leaves my skin feeling super clean. It doesn't dry my skin out and it doesn't leave a soapy film either. The soap also has a wonderful texture which gently exfoliates! So, I have been enjoying both products and would highly recommend both.

Now, the generous folks at ecostore USA have allowed me to host a giveaway for a $25 Gift Certificate to their online store. This is perfect! Just in time for the holidays! Order an ecostore USA product to give as a gift or just treat yourself to something. It's all up to you. Their only request is that you either sign up for the ecostore USA newsletter, follow them on twitter or be their fan on facebook. Quick and simple. Now just leave me a comment on this post and you're in the running. You have until midnight next Tuesday, November 24th, to enter and I'll post the winner on the 25th.
Good Luck! xo ANG

win some, lose some

Well, today was an exciting day for me. I won a giveaway from Rebekah...of Sunnybrook Farm Designs. Oh, what did I win? you ask. Well, in honor of her new fall line of beautiful, handmade, little girls clothing called Caramel Apple she was hosting a giveaway of a delicious chocolate and caramel covered apple from nikid on etsy. Oh, I am excited! This baby is big enough for four people to enjoy...so I think I'll be sharing. Okay, I know I'll be sharing and not just because I'd have to run a marathon to burn the calories that it contains but because it'll be too yummy to keep to myself. Thanks Rebekah!

Now about the losing. Remember when I entered these aprons in the Tie One On mad about plaid contest?

The winner was posted today and I didn't win. Bummer! I still had fun creating and sewing. It was a random drawing so my chances were slim. However, if you go to Amy Karol's mad about plaid apron gallery page to see all of the aprons that were entered you'll find my Key West Kilt Apron featured! Woot! Woot! So that's kinda like winning, right? While I'm on the topic of aprons...the new theme for Tie One On is peppermint candy. Yep, red and white just in time for the holidays. I've got my Christmas list...but maybe I can squeeze in some apron sewing time. Maybe.

Happy weekend. xo ANG

ecostore USA giveaway winner

Okay, today is the big day. First, let me just thank you all for joining in on the giveaway. I wish you could all win, but alas, I can only give away one gift certificate. Are you ready?

We are ready to pick a winner!

The winner

of the Ecostore USA

$25 Gift Certificate giveaway is....

Saph @ Walk With Me!!!!

Congratulations!!!

Send an email to me (clotheslinechronicles(at)gmail(dot)com) with your full name and the email address to which you would like your gift certificate sent. You'll receive your gift certificate soon and you'll be able to go right on over to Ecostore USA and start shopping!

I hope you all have a great weekend. xo ANG

ecostore usa review and giveaway

***this giveaway is now closed***

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Ecostore USA to review some of their products and host a giveaway. I immediately visited their web site to learn more about this company and their products. I was certainly pleased and excited about what I learned. Ecostore originally started and became well established in New Zealand and now they are branching out to the USA. Right now they are based in Michigan but would like to sell their products in stores across the United States. If you don't live in Michigan, no worries, they have an online store. Anyway, here are just a few interesting bits of information from their site:

ecostore USA guarantees its products:
• are plant- and/or mineral-based and free of nasty chemicals (No nasty chemicals™)
• use safer ingredients from renewable resources • are formulated with your health in mind
• are safely super-concentrated
• meet the highest environmental standards
• have not been tested on animals
• are GE free (free of genetically-engineered products)
• are packaged in recyclable packaging

Doing good by nature

The team at ecostore USA loves making a difference in people’s lives. ecostore USA does not compromise on performance, so customers can be assured of the efficacy of the products - they truly work. We offer more than 100 products, each one meeting the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards. The guiding principle of every formulation is and will always be that the end product must not only be good for the user, but good for the planet.
So what does No Nasty Chemicals™ mean?

Our mission is to focus on individual health issues. Our ingredients are the principle factor in helping Ecostore achieve this goal. By eliminating hazardous toxins that are the basis of so many conventional cleaning products we not only help you but keep our planet in the best shape possible. Doing Good by Nature means taking the wonderful gifts that nature offers and developing plant based products that are safe, authentic and really work.

Amazing stuff, right? Before I even share my review I highly recommend that you go check out some of their products, but do come back for my review and giveaway! Also, you can follow ecostore USA on twitter and facebook to stay informed. You can also sign up for their free monthly newsletter to keep you up to date with any new

Okay, review time. Because this is Clothesline Chronicles I just had to request laundry related products and they willingly sent me a bottle of their laundry liquid as well as their pure oxygen whitener. Let me start with the laundry liquid. The smell is wonderful and light. Because the liquid is concentrated it only takes 3 Tbs per load of laundry. For a few years now I have been using a different "natural" laundry detergent but it is quite clear to me now that even the "natural" detergent I was using had added chemicals. Ecostore's laundry liquid works great and it is plant-based with no nasty chemicalstm! With two little kids that get their clothes soiled with food, markers, paint, dirt, and grass on a daily basis but also have sensitive skin it has been difficult to find a detergent that is effective yet safe and gentle on their skin. Well, let me tell you, I have found it! Some pieces of clothing that had been stained and declared play clothes were free of the set in stains after just one wash in ecostore's laundry liquid. The fresh eucalyptus scent is wonderful and my laundry is clean.

Now, for the Pure Oxygen Whitener. Oh my goodness! What a difference this product makes! It is safe for colors in the wash and brightens them like you will not believe. My girls have dresses that are very colorful and cute but they are hand-me-downs and have had years of wear. When I washed those dresses using the laundry liquid and the pure oxygen whitener the colors were vibrant and like new! The whitener need only be dissolved in water then put in the washing machine along with the laundry liquid. It has a light, fresh, clean scent. To really put the Pure Oxygen Whitener to the test I followed the recommended directions: dissolve only 2 Tbs of the whitener in 7 liters of water (in a bucket) then add the white laundry items and let soak over night. I really wanted to see if this would work. I put in some white socks that were ruined from wearing them around the house, white socks that were terribly stained by grass and and good ol' Virginia red dirt from cutting the grass and gardening, my favorite solid white t-shirt that was not so white anymore, and my kitchen towels that are solid white yet stained from months of messy cooking. I let them sit over night and ran them through the rinse cycle in the morning then hung them on the clothesline to dry. Wow! My t-shirt looked brand new! My socks were gleaming white again! My kitchen towels could no longer betray me and my messy cooking habits....they were as white as they day I bought them. Are you as excited as I am?! These are great products! Plant-based. Natural. Safe. Eco-friendly.

The generous people from ecostore USA have allowed me to host a giveaway so that you, too can enjoy some of their wonderful products. I get to giveaway a $25 Gift Certificate* for EcostoreUSA To enter the giveaway go visit their blog and sign up for the free monthly newsletter and check out their products then come back here, let me know that you signed up and share your favorite product.

You can also follow ecostore USA on twitter and facebook to keep up with the latest happenings.

So there you have it! Now it's up to you. I'll choose a winner on August 8th. To gain an extra entry you can blog about it...leave another comment here so I'll know you did.

*the giveaway is for US residents only

and the apron giveaway winner is...

*****MARY*****

Congratulations!

I do hope that you will enjoy your apron and love hanging your laundry just a wee bit more. You'll be cuter on laundry day, that's for sure! Email me your address {clotheslinechronicles(at)gmail(dot)com} and I'll send the apron off to you in a jiffy.

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate the greatness that is our freedom!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. That was really fun...fun enough to have more giveaways!

friends & fireworks

Don't forget about my giveaway to celebrate the 300th post of Clothesline Chronicles. Click here to enter.

Yep, friends and fireworks...the stuff memories are made of. Eeew, did I just end that sentence with a preposition? The teacher in me loathes poor grammar skills but I couldn't help it. 'The stuff of which memories are made' just sounds highfalutin. Last weekend our town had a wonderful day of celebration that ended with a fireworks show. We have never taken our girls to see fireworks...ya know, with an early bedtime they are never up late enough during the summer to even see the sun go down. Well, we thought it was time. Time to enjoy fireworks, to see fireflies in the dark, to stay up late!

Our good friends were taking their kids to the fireworks show as well and suggested that we meet for snow cones first and make an evening of it. Boy, oh boy, was that a good idea. We stopped and enjoyed some sugary treats together. I have never seen such a rainbow of colors on the teeth and tongues of these kiddos! The weather could not have been more perfect. The temperature was in the low 80's, the humidity was non-existent, and there was a wonderful breeze. It felt very Hawaiian trade wind-ish to me. And with the island music playing from the snow cone shack...it was perfect.

After the little ones ran off some of their sugar we headed up the mountain to get a great spot to see the show. The kids all piled in the back of our car then ran around in the grass, then back in the car, then....you get the idea. Let me tell you, every ounce of red#40 and every minute past bedtime was worth it. My girls are still talking about it and can hardly wait until next July! Here are some pictures I took of the fireworks show. The beauty can never be captured but it was so beautiful and we enjoyed every last second! Thanks Theresa and Mark for making these memories with us!

Happy Thursday. xo ANG

birthday time

July is officially birthday month in my family. First up...my sister!

Happy Birthday Mel!

Okay Mel, this one is from the girls! Enjoy!

I hope you have a great day! Love, ANG

Oh, and don't forget my giveaway. Click here to enter!

celebration giveaway!

***this giveaway is now closed***

This is my 300th post!!

It's hard to believe that I have had so much to say over the past 15 months. Okay, maybe it's not really that far fetched because I have been known to talk a lot sometimes. But 300 posts is a lot! I wanted to celebrate with a giveaway when I hit the 100 and 200 post milestones, but I just wasn't prepared. Well, this time I'm ready! How about you ? Are you ready for a giveaway? Oh goody! So here's what I'm giving away...an apron, a clothespin apron. It's fitting, don't you think? This is Clothesline Chronicles after all and I do possess an unusual delight in hanging my clothes out on the clothesline. Also, if you're going green and want to reduce your electric bill, hang your laundry on a clothesline instead of using your dryer and when you do you can fill this apron with your clothespins. Besides, wearing this cute apron while you work will make it more fun!...or at least you'll look like your having more fun, right?

Okay, so you like the apron but hanging your laundry isn't an option? No problem, you can use it for crafting, cooking, camp outs, block parties, yard sales...the possibilities are endless. Also, I made it reversible so if you want to tone it down, or don't need the big pocket you can flip it around for a more subtle, but still cute, apron.

Since the 4th of July is coming so soon I was feeling especially patriotic, hence the color choices. Who doesn't love the red,white, and blue?

So to enter my 300th post celebration giveaway just leave a comment on this post. Yep, that's it! Nothing fancy, just say hi or, if you want, leave me your best knock-knock joke. Ours are getting stale and with a 6 year old and 4 year old I'm in need of some new material. :o) Want an extra entry? Post about it on your own blog just be sure to pop back in over here and let me know. Don't have a blog? Don't worry, you can still get your entry by leaving a comment.

I'll accept comments until midnight on July 3rd. The winner will be posted on July4th!

Japanese sewing book is in the house

My Japanese sewing book finally arrived! Remember I entered a giveaway at the beginning of the month...and I won! Remember that? Well, it's here and what a wonderful treat it is! When the mailman stood on our steps for several minutes looking at my mail I just knew the book was here. We don't get much mail all the way from New Zealand in these parts! Let me just say to Jacqui from the blog Hazelnuts...Thank you for hosting such a great giveaway...and thank you for sending this fabulous book to the other side of the globe. I can hardly wait to get sewing.
Here are a few shots I took as soon as the mail arrived. First, the mailing envelope is so fabulous. That would be super-cute as a fabric print. Second, the cover of the book and the sweet note from Jacqui on that wonderful paper with orange flowers...loving the orange. The next three shots are pictures of finished products in the book. Everything is written in Japanese except for the word -detail- in a box pointing to a close-up shot of the sleeve. A little more words in English would be nice...but oh, well. I'm up for the challenge. I tend to get frustrated when reading the instructions anyway, so just using the illustrations should be great!

Thankfully the illustrations are very clear. Here are a few shots of the actual sewing instructions. First up..how to accurately measure yourself. Nothing is left out...head circumference, hand width, even the length from the waist to hip in the seated position! Secondly, pattern piece descriptions and how to wear cute Japanese clothes while cutting out your fabric :o) The last two pictures are just some shots of some amazingly detailed illustrations.

I'm pretty excited about making some of the clothes from this book. It really has some beautiful clothes and with each pattern there are variations so the possibilities are endless.

Thanks again Jacqui--you made my day!

beach thoughts and giveaway updates

• I am loving how E says "she shells", "bathing soups", and "sun scream" so cute...so cute, every time
• With a little fear O approaches the water's edge, the waves break and roll across the sand just reaching her toes then the fear is replaced with excitement and wonder.
• There have been many dolphins frolicking in the close breaking waves...it's really amazing to watch them. Jellyfish are amazing, too, but slimy and gross :o)
• We went to Brook Green Gardens today...beautiful, amazing, awe inspiring. I can hardly wait to share some pictures with you.
• oh, the sun, the salty air, the sand....I do love the beach, really I do.
  

On a non-beach note: Adrienne received the flowers she won from my Teleflora.com giveaway. You can see them here. If only you could smell them.
Also, I entered a giveaway at a blog I found called Hazelnuts. It's a great read. Jacqui is an archaeologist with a PhD in New Zealand and she's super crafty...cool right? Anyway, I won her giveaway. What did I win? Oh, a Japanese sewing book. Go here to see some pictures from the book. I am so excited!
That's all I've got for now. I promise to share pictures when we get back!

hear ye! hear ye!

Today's the day! The exciting day!

Someone has won the Teleflora.com Mother's Day Giveaway!

...and

the

winner

is...

ADRIENNE!!!

Congratulations!

Adrienne is from the wonderful blog Some of a Kind. She's got all kinds of great, creative things going on over there. You should drop by and check it out. She is also the driving force behind May(d) for Me! So join in! Sew something just for you!

Teleflora.com Mother's Day Giveaway

Pretty exciting things are happening here at the Clothesline! Thanks for stopping by today...I'm hosting a giveaway!
A few weeks ago I was contacted by Teleflora.com. Jacqueline, the writer of Teleflora's Flower Blog, was seeking out mom bloggers to feature during the weeks leading up to Mother's Day. I was chosen to represent the Classic Mom....see me here along with the other moms that were featured. I know, exciting, right?! Because I was chosen, Jacqueline has graciously allowed me to host a giveaway for the beautiful Mom's Butterfly Bouquet.

Now, before I share with you how you can enter to win this gorgeous bouquet let me share a few things about Teleflora.com.
* Their Mother’s Day flower arrangements are a great way to honor Mom and make her feel special. To see them, visit: http://www.teleflora.com/mothers-day-flowers/mothers-day-flower-arrangements-97452_97453c.asp. Just remember to come back here for a chance to win.
*Also, if you want to learn more about Teleflora as a company with the highest of standards and the most beautiful, hand-arranged, and hand-delivered flowers available, then visit: http://www.teleflora.com/abouttf.asp

Okay, are you ready? To enter for a chance to win the Teleflora.com Mother's Day Giveaway just leave a comment on this post. Yep, that's it! One little comment. Come on, you can do it. Tell your family, your friends, your neighbors...everybody loves beautiful flowers! You don't have to have a blog to enter just be sure to tell me who you are so I can contact you if you win. And for fun, nice, sappy, sentimental fun, tell me something special about your mom or grandma in your comment while you're at it. Everyone loves a good mom story.

You can have your name entered into the drawing one extra time if you blog about it on your own blog. Just tell me in your comment if you do so I'll know to enter your name twice.

I'll accept comments until Midnight on Sunday, May 3rd. I'll draw a name and post a winner on Monday morning! (U.S and Canada only)

guess what!

I won a giveaway!!!

There's a blog I love to read called One Thing. You really should pop in there and read what's going on out there in Oklahoma. Jenni, the inspiring, humorous, mother of 12, author of the blog really has a way with words. She also homeschools her children and just started another blog called Grueling Homeschooling. I love that name. I love homeschooling and most moms that I know that homeschool love it, too but there are days when grueling describes it best. Now, if you want some neat tips and fun stories to read then you really should visit that blog,too. The giveway was hosted on Jenni's homeschool blog and I had to enter because who doesn't love a good tea party...and who doesn't love a fun game? We ripped right into the box and ooohed and aaaahed over the wonderful pictures on the box. Then we played the game. It's so cute. My girls just loved it. I meant to take a picture of us playing the game but we were having so much fun trying to acquire our cream and sugar and the much desired desserts while avoiding the bees that I totally forgot to take a single shot.
Thanks, Jenni, for hosting this giveaway with such a wonderful, fancy lady, one lump or two, best-ever, tea party game...we love it! And thanks for the sweet note on the most fabulous stationery ever!

giveaway, good food, and gifts

Oh man! Adrienne over at Some of a Kind is celebrating her 200th post with a giveaway. She's got some serious sewing talent and is always making something fabulous. She is going to make an apron for the winner! Fingers crossed! Okay, okay, if you want a chance to win an apron go ahead over to her blog and enter, but if you win I'll fight you for it... so put up your dukes!
Oops, wrong Dukes...I couldn't resist! hehehe!

I was brave this week. I made enchiladas again. I know, I didn't think I would be ready so soon, but we've had a hankerin' for them ever since the last disastrous attempt. Now remember, the putrid, rancid, most disgusting enchiladas I made before...it was not my fault! It was the sauce. Walmart didn't have my brand so I got an obviously inferior, possibly even deadly brand. One that I.will.never.buy.again. So back to being brave...I know cooking doesn't necessarily equate with bravery, but once again Walmart didn't have the brand of enchilada sauce that I prefer so I tried another brand. You just never know...but this time the sauce was good and the enchiladas turned out great! Now if I just had some fried ice cream for dessert...Mmmmmmmmmm.

My sewing machine has been getting a good workout this week. There are two birthdays coming up and I've been busy. I can't show you what's in the works or tell you about it...that would ruin the surprise. What I can do is give you a sneak peek! (this is stuff for 2 separate gifts)So if your birthday is coming up...you know who you are...then close your eyes!

oh boy! another giveaway!

Rebekah over at Sunnybrook Farm Designs is having a giveaway! She is celebrating her 200th post by giving away a sweet tote bag. Oh, and if you love it, like I do, you'll also love all of her creations. Just check out her Etsy shop!

reversible bird seed skirt giveaway!

Reverisble Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

photo from Grosgrain
I am loving this skirt...and I really want to win it (for my girls of course)! The giveaway is being held over at Grosgrain. There is some serious sewing talent going on over there. You really should go check it out...just click here if you want to see more of her handiwork. Okay, okay, if you like the skirt you can enter to win, too.

i won!

One blog that I enjoy reading is Hurrayic. She has lots of crafty things going on, plus some real life stuff, too. You should go visit her blog...it's great. Anyway, she's having a Dress-Up Giveaway right now, and I WON giveaway #2!!! I'm so excited! I never win anything...it's really fun to win!...I'm a winner! The only condition is that I make something for the girls' dress-up box with all the goodies she'll be sending me. I'm so excited, I can hardly wait!! If you want a peek at what's coming my way, just click here. Oh, and just so you know, Dress-Up Giveaway #3 is going on right now. So, if you want a chance to win the next pile of goodies just head on over there and leave a comment.
Man, what a great way to start the day! Happy blogging!

quilt giveaway!

Hey, check out the beautiful quilt in the sidebar! It's from the Old Red Barn Co. It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Do you want a chance to win it? I know you do, so just click here to enter.