Karen tagged me for a meme – so I thought I would take the opportunity to tell a little about the gal behind whipup. To read all the rules if you choose to participate go to Karen’s blog – but fairly simply – 7 facts about me – some strange and some not. Please leave a comment to introduce yourself with just one strange fact.

1. I have spent the best part of the past year renovating my house and living amongst rubble and dust.
2. I have two children who go to a local ’slow’ community school, they love school so much that getting them to leave in the afternoons is a struggle.
3. Countries I have lived in for more than one year: China and England, and I really want to take the family to live in Spain for a while.
4. I was married in a rain forest with my daughter at my feet and my son in my belly.
5. I collect interesting shaped river pebbles, I love to feel their soft roundness and see them stacked or lined up neatly.
6. I wear jeans and berkenstocks nearly everyday.
7. We don’t have a tv, instead we read books to each other and play family computer games.

Don’t forget to take the buy handmade pledge these holidays.

YouCanMakeThis.Com’s “Thrifty Under 50” Challenge encourages A handmade holiday for Under $50: The goal of Thrifty Under 50 is not necessarily to have participants make all of their gifts for under $50, but rather challenge them to come up with new ways to make homemade gifts that will be appreciated, without spending much money. Blog

Melbourne Craft Cartel helps patch up economic woes: Alarmed by reports of the restrictive rental practices of shopping centre owners squeezing small independent traders out of business – Craft Cartel organised a ‘craft-in’ craft making session – to highlight the issue and encourage Melburnians to direct their shopping budgets towards those who need it most. “We want to give the community the message that if they really want to contribute positively to their [local] economy, they should forget the plasma tv and Buy Handmade and Buy Local this festive season.”

Inkubook are offering free shipping until 12 December: Enter code GIFTSHIP* during checkout to receive free standard U.S. ground shipping. This offer expires on 12/10/2008. Also inkubook has introduced calendars – Between now and December 31, 2008 you can buy one calendar and get a second copy of it for half price!

The latest issue of Down Under Quilts magazine is now online – have you signed up for your free subscription yet?

Check out pat sloans free embroidery designs :: and lovely crib sheet tutorial

threadbanger halloween party: THREADBANGER is throwing an EPIC Party on the eve of Halloween! Thursday October 30, 2008 @ 8pm at Mercury Lounge in NYC – more info.

Nationwide contest just announced and presented by SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING, and PFAFF. To enter the GIFTS BY YOU contest presented by SVP Worldwide and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), upload a photo of a sewn project at www.marthastewart.com/sew between November 17, 2008 and December 31, 2008. Images of the uploaded sewn projects will be displayed on the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia website at www.marthastewart.com during this time. Entrants will be asked to enter their project to be judged in one of the following four categories: home décor/crafting, fashion, machine embroidery and machine quilting. Each person who uploads a photo of their own project will receive a $5.00 gift card they can use at authorized and participating SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING and PFAFF retailers throughout the U.S.-it’s SVP Worldwide’s holiday gift to sewers. More info.

Giveaway at Hallmark magazine blog – a beautiful tote filled with K&Company’s Amy Butler scrapbooking supplies!

vote for the next lionbrand knitalong.

2009 knitty calendar is up read all about it here and see the winning images.

CHA is very excited to announce a unique opportunity for Indie Crafters to present their distinctive work and display it at the CHA 2009 Winter Convention & Trade Show. The Show will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA from January 25-28, 2009. Just send us a photo and description of your work and we will select the top 30 projects and display them. Project must be innovative and creative or must demonstrate how to use ordinary materials in a new way This contest is open to ALL crafters. Completed winning projects must fit in a 1 ½’ wide by 3’ high by 1’ deep space or 3’ wide by 3’high by 1’ deep space. You may enter up to five projects. Email a photograph and description of your project(s) to aadoff@craftandhobby.org. Entrants have until November 21, 2008 to submit original ideas to be considered in the contest. We will notify you if you are a winner by December 19, 2008

If you are interested in lobbying to get knitting needles and crochet hooks allowed on Australian planes again – write a letter – here is all the info (thanks Kylie for the link)

On December 6th and 7th, 2008, over 100 indie crafters will be selling their work at the fourth annual Urban Craft Uprising, at the Seattle Center in downtown Seattle…and you could be one of them!

 Applications are available here : Deadline: September 8th.

there’s a Craft-Off going on over at Indie Fixx! Last two standing will win prizes! including: One-year subscription to Craft: magazine : Lotta Jansdotter book published by Chronicle Books: Lotta Prints : and more – info here

Announcing the Grand Prize winner of the Spread the Craft contest, and recipient of $1000, is: Crafty Rockstar Grungeboard Pin by Margot Potter. The People’s Choice Award and $500 goes to: Light Painting-Fun With Photography by Tony Siciliano.