Update

I am posting later than usual today...but...better late than never.

I do have a lot to share today.
First...a shop update...the fabric peg doll sewing pattern is now available over on my etsy shop.

They came out to join me for my walkabout tour of the garden this weekend.

The winners for the peg doll pattern give-away are:
1.  Rachel Proffitt (I am unable to leave a comment, or even get to your site from your comment so I hope you see this...I know I have seen your picture several times before...maybe from yarn along?? - I am sure I will find you somehow).
2.  Steph @ HCC (Honor Crowned Crafts).
Please be sure to "conversation me" with your email address so that I can get the pattern to you...and thanks for participating.  The winners were chosen by rolling a 20-sided die, in case you are wondering :)

And a garden update:

 The rhubarb did decide to come back!

 Wild blackberries that I dug up from the overgrowth behind where I work and transplanted in my yard last year...coming back beautifully...much farther ahead than the domestic blackberries I have in my yard.

 Radish sprouts,

 Lettuce sprouts,

 Pea sprouts,

 ...even the pussy willow branches I stuck in the ground as a divider between different kinds of peas have sprouted leaves!  I wonder if I will be able to get them to set roots?

Peach blossoms.

The problem is...these were taken on the weekend after several (unusually) warm days. I'm talking 25 degrees (Celsius).  Today, we are back down to 0 degrees (Celsius) and I forgot to put the row covers on when the temperature dropped...learning curve...it's my first time planting this early.   We will see what happens!  All of the herbs are coming along nicely, though.  Some are ready to harvest.

In fact...we were able to harvest some green onions to put in our dinner the other night.

Yarn along and some other stuff.

There is a new give-away at the end of this post...don't miss it.

 A few weeks ago I shared the beginning of these slippers that I was going to turn into boy slippers.  Ta-la!  The first one is almost done, and the second one is well on its way.  (The symbol is from a Canadian football team - well, sort of - it's the best I could do with the felt I have).

They stretch like crazy mad, so even though they look tiny, they will fit my twelve year old (they kinda fit me, see).  I am sort of reading my mom's Canadian Living Magazine.  I am leafing through it when I have a minute here and there.  After all, the sun is out, the weather is nice, and the kids are out playing...which means, it's garden time again!

OK...For those of you who participated in last week's give-away - Thank you very much.  All of your suggestions were very good.  Some changes have been made, and I will be working on some other changes (like the banner) over the next little while...
And the winner is....

eidolonsMar 6, 2012 07:10 AM

I think your shop looks great. Personally, I'd probably try to add more splashes of color in your listing photographs (like the flowers and fruits you have in some) - just to draw the eye a bit more. I'm not sure how I feel about your banner - maybe have your shop name or something on it? Though with the current picture it may be too busy. Hmm. I'm not the best to give advice, my Etsy shop is pretty sad looking.

And, as a thank you to all of you who participated but didn't win the necklace:
I have a second give-away for you...
Through the feedback, I have determined that the most viewed item, and the item most often "favourited" is the reversible knitting bag tote.

And who needs a new knitting bag more than yarn-alongers, right?  So, I have added the pattern to my shop, and am giving away a pdf copy of the pattern to one lucky person.  You can see all of the pictures and the inside and all that in my shop as well.  Leave a comment below if you are interested. I'll draw the winner on Monday, March 14th.

I'll be linking up with Ginny at small things for Yarn along.  Can't wait to see what you are all up to.  I'll have to start at the end this week, and work my way backwards, because I didn't have time to get to everybody last week.  I made it 2/3 of the way through.

A Give-away!

It is time for my first ever give-away.  Are you ready?  Go!

I am going to give away one of my handmade necklaces to someone anywhere in the world.  It is an embroidered image of pink lavender (yep, pink lavender...I have some in my garden) on linen blend fabric, mounted to a slice of branch, and strung on a string of pink toned glass beads.  The closure is a button that fits through a loop.

Interested?  I am going to make you work for it - OK?

Here is the deal...I have opened an Etsy shop.  I am just learning.  Most of the feedback has been good, however, someone related to me by blood has told me that it makes them think of an old granny rocking on her porch.  Someone else has told me that a particular item should come off the listings because it brings down the look of the whole shop.  As I said, I am still learning so I am shamelessly soliciting your opinions to see what I should change.  For a chance to win the necklace above, here is what you do:

Go to my etsy shop "AtTheCrossroads".  Come back here and leave a comment with your honest opinion.  Trust me, nothing you say will hurt your chances of winning.  It will be a random draw but I would like a nice big pool of opinions to go forward with.  And heck, while you are there...for a second chance to win, either mark an item as a favourite or come back and leave a second comment telling me what your favourite item is so that I can see what people are looking at.  Oh, please be sure to leave a way I can reach you to tell you if you won.  I will draw the winner next week, shall we say Tuesday, March 13 and will post the winner shortly thereafter.

I thank you all for your help, and good luck