Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Busy busy busy!!!

Hello every one! Happy Wednesday! :)

I am busy today and tomorrow working away on a knitted newborn hat for my hubby's expectant co-worker. I'm doing a cute purl/knit combo for the first couple of rows, then straight knit stitch the rest of the way. I'm knitting the hat on 2 size 8 needles, then I'll stitch it together when I'm through, adding a cute pom pom on top. I'm knitting it out of this:



I'm also working on picture tutorials for my craft blog Alocraft! It's a blog where we'll be doing weekly crafts of choice, posting pics and interacting with one another as we progress in making the crafts. It's going to be a lot of fun, and if you'd like to join in, simply click on the link in blue above and come on over to learn more!

I'm also eagerly awaiting for these mirrors to arrive in the mail! I can't wait to start custom embellishing the back of themm... they're going to come out awesome!



Well, I hope every one has a blessed and creative day!!! :)


Sunday, March 14, 2010

Steampunk!

So, I know I've said it before, but I really, really dig the Steampunk style... more in actual jewelry than clothing, but nonetheless... it's addicting!

So, to celebrate that, I've created a new Jewelry for Your Hair piece... Steampunk Butterflies!


Using pieces from a vintage watch, I combined the dial, several links, vintage butterfles, metal balls, and several buttons to complete an aesthetically-pleasing, overall-unique design. I really dig the way this beauty turned out!


You can see this new creation at my Etsy shop! Come take a look! :)

Also! Audrey's Giveaway Blog has a SUPER giveaway going on right now!!! You could win this delectable candle from Sugarville Candles! Go enter now!!!


Friday, March 12, 2010

Giveaways

OK, so I enter some giveaways... and most of them have a couple of ways to enter. To be honest, I usually just do the first choice, whatever it may be... I simply don't have a lot of time to go around doing every thing that a giveaway requires... until NOW!

There is finally a giveaway that I'm not only willing, but excited to do every thing it requires to get multiple entries! Please, take a moment and check out her giveaway, it truly is fantastic!

Here is the Giveaway!

Vintage Watches?

OK, so recently I've gotten into Steampunk... a style I dig very much. So, I recalled that Mom had some watches left over from Grandma, or perhaps earlier... and I checked them out. Here they are:



Now, I don't know anything about watches, but I think they *might* be worth something, and I'd like to find out before I go and break them up to use on crafts, LOL. :)

So, here they are, closer up.

1. This one is an Electric, by Timex.


2. This second one is a Bulova.


3. And this last pretty one is also a Timex, with no other indicating title.


If anyone knows anything about watches, I would love any feedback regarding these. Thank you so much!

Aloquin :)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

From Start To Finish...

I recently created the first in a series of ACEOs titled the Fruit of the Spirit! I love the way it came out, and I wanted to share the creation of it with you! :)

First, I took an already pre-cut ACEO (that stands for Art Cards, Editions, and Originals, and the only rule is that they be 3.5 by 2.5!) I then sketched out the idea with a pencil first, before I inked over the marks with my black BIC pen.


After the pen dried, I erased the pencil marks and began color in my card, with paint pens and markers. I enjoyed the way the colors blended, especially on the inside of the orange!

I contined coloring the rest in, testing one color against another, and this is the final product! Not bad, if I do say so myself... can't wait to make the others in the series!

Friday, March 5, 2010

A True Story

This was posted earlier on DAWG Group web site, and I'm reposting it here, hoping it can help someone. Please read it, it's not long, and it WILL move you.

What God Can Do with $.57

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded.' 'I can't go to Sunday School,' she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 'This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.' For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would
do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there....


A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents. Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University , where thousands of students are educated. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr.Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, 'Acres of Diamonds'.

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.