361.

Happy Monday friends!

I hope you had a lovely weekend...mine was packed FULL of organizing and cleaning out every cabinet in my house...it all started with wanting some shelves in a closet...and started a chain reaction that echoed through my whole house...as soon as I get the details finished I will show you all my fun changes and hope that you can use a few of them.  But for now....

I want to extend the most heartfelt and deep seeded thank you to each and every one of you.  Thank you each for buying a net or more than one.  Thank you for your kind emails and encouragement.  Thank you for following along and passing the word about the quilt to others.  I am SO humbled and thankful for you making our campaign a success.  

We, together, raised enough for 361 nets.  That means THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE families will now have one less thing to worry about...361 families will be safe from malaria while they sleep at night.  361 families now KNOW that someone cares about them.  And it is my prayer that the love of God that covers those people will be as noticeable to them as the nets hanging over their beds at night.  361 families.  Just think about that number.  That is no little task.  I have been to towns smaller than that.  So thank you thank you thank you thank you.  I love you...truly.

And we will be doing another quilt...but this next one will take some help from you...eventually I will post a tutorial about how to make a certain kind of quilt block...then I will ask you to make one...and send it to me.  And that will be the next quilt...

But for now...I have few more fun goodies for you...from some generous people who offered up some lovely items...

Amy Powers...you win your choice of crayon set from Orange Blossoms.

Aubrey Christ...you win your choice of print from Pickled Pumpkins.

Ashley Garret...you win a Simple blog design package from Dirt and Lace.

 Jenni Carlisle you win your choice of size and color carrier from Meeup Baby Carriers.

You may all contact the appropriate shops to collect your goodies. :)

Thank you to those who supplied those fun things!!

In other news...I have a lot I want to share with you...

Cute silouettes that I am trying to decide whether to put in the shop or not...

 And I am work work working on hoho's...if you want one just for you...just let me know.  They go fast. :) If you are a fan of Little Bit Funky on facebook you are the first to know when there are some up for adoption...if you are thinking of them for Christmas...it is never too early to order...

And if you are a fan on facebook...you already know about these cute hoho shirts...they will be a very limited run based solely on what good deals I can find on shirts. 

 And I have lots of other fun things to share this week...but for now I will just wish you a Happy and Blessed Monday. :)

xo

are ya'll ready for this?

I am SO excited to be writing this post.  You really have no idea...I am almost day before Christmas excited...but not why you think.  Well maybe...if you know me...if you can beleive it...the finished quilt is not the most exciting part to me.  

It's the fulfillment of a promise that is making me all giddy with excitement.  

You see...a couple of months ago I felt the nudge to do more with my blog than just write and share...I felt like I was being led to use my blog as a catapult for showing God's love...

Honestly, I was like...ok...just what do you mean God?

And I waited...and prayed.  And then things started clicking...I found the quilt pattern over at Film in the Fridge. You can find it HERE.

"YES!" Is what I wanted to scream when I saw it...I knew what I was supposed to do...and how.

And quickly, because I am human and humans both chicken out AND forget easily what God tells them to do...I emailed a small group of women that I trust and love...some who I knew would kindly remind me of what I had shared with them that God told me to do. 

Basically, I told them..."God told me to do this...please call me out on it if I don't".

Then I contacted sweet Jody from Fabric Shoppe...and told her what I was on a mission to do...wouldn't you know it...she is a pastors wife and hopes to adopt from Africa one day.  She almost immediately offered to donate ALL of the fabric I would need to make the quilt.  

Thinking about it...that is a pretty crazy thing.  That is a LOT of fabric to just send to a stranger who promises to make a quilt to benefit a charity.  I cried in the parking lot after getting her email.
Then a good friend offered to pay for the batting and the shipping. 

God is SO good. 

God is responsible for all of this coming together.  God loves all people.  God loves Africa...and all those sweet people who are suffering from something that is SO easily helped...

To me...each piece of fabric in this quilt stands for a family or person...or BABY...that together we can help...and this may sound crazy...but if you are one of the many who have told me of plans to adopt from Africa...the net you buy just may save YOUR future baby.  Crazy cool, right?

Malaria kills over 1 MILLION precious people PER YEAR!!!

In fact, there are 10 new cases of malaria every second. 

Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies from a malaria infection.  A child that is no less precious or loved or held dear by his parents than our own children.

By buying ONE net a family of four can sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net, safe from malaria, for four to five years.

AND

The benefits of bed nets extend even further than protecting those sleeping underneath them. The insecticide woven into each net makes entire communities safer – killing and repelling mosquitoes so that they can’t go on to bite others who may not be protected by a net.

Although $10 for a bed net may not sound like much, the cost makes them out of reach for most people at risk of malaria, many of whom survive on less than $1 a day.

Just think...to us $10 is a couple of latte's...a movie...a shirt...a lunch out...a CD...a couple of magazines...any number of frivolous things that we all throw money at...can I challenge us all to give those up for a day...or a week or a month...and give a net or two or three instead?

Can you help me show God's love to people in Africa?  And wait with me for God to show up in a big way?  Each net you buy is ONE entry into the raffle to win this quilt!

It's a beauty...if I do say so myself...considering that I only started sewing a little over two years ago...I feel so BLESSED that God would use me in this way to do something big.

It is approx 51in by 73in.  It would be cute as a twin coverlet...or on a couch...or hanging on a wall.  

And fyi--my home is smoke and pet free. :)

And as a special little touch...to help you remember what this quilt represents...I added this cute little tag. :)

God IS SO GOOD!!!

And now for the begging...

PLEASE go buy a net...you can click HERE to go to our page.

If only each daily visitor to this blog bought ONE...we would more than double or triple our goal.  So YES...one net DOES make a difference!

PLEASE feel free to copy this ENTIRE post and repost it on your blog...you will probably have to check the links but feel free to post away....anyway you choose.  I would LOVE nothing more than to go through my reader and see this post over and over and over again!!

We will choose a winner NEXT FRIDAY the 23rd!!  So every net bought by Thursday the 22nd at midnight will count as ONE entry...and I have a totally unbiased judged in mind to do a VIDEO reveal of the winner!!!

 AND there will be other prizes as well.  If you would like to donate a prize PLEASE contact me...I already have several offers and I would like to extend the deadline to donate.

You guys are awesome.  And I love you...truly.  I can't wait to hit "publish" post...I feel like all of this before was like heading up to the highest point of a roller coaster and hitting "publish" will push it over the edge...

Now...pretty, pretty, PLEASE...go BUY A NET...and spread the word!!
GOD IS SO GOOD!

xo

done! done! done!!!!

the quilt is DONE!!! 

right now it is in the wash...then the dryer!! 

then tomorrow I hope to get some scrumptious photos of it!!

I may post about it Thursday...but for now...

if you have a shop...make a craft...or something like that...and want to donate something to the raffle...I need to hear from you...preferably within the next 24 hours. Even if I have already heard from you...can you email me again...I need to know what you would like to offer...and a photo of it. :) 

It is going to be AWESOME.  I am SO excited.  

Have you bought a net yet?  Over there on the right...click away...thanks to all the many generous donations that have come in...

I can't wait to show you this beautiful quilt!!!!

50/50

well with many thanks to my wonderful, child occupying husband...the quilt is 50% quilted!  

on my machine.  with my brand spanking new free motion quilting foot.  that i have used once (ONE) (1) time before this.  just a little tiny bit scary.  but so far so good...i am pleased with my loops and random pretty form.

what do you think?  cute right?

and you know when you KNOW you are doing what God has told you to do...and the enemy gets wind of it and tries every trick in the book to sway you from doing it...yeah, that is going on big time.  but we will talk about that later...just keep praying, ok?

until later...have you bought a net yet? click on the button to the right to do just that. :)

your quilt top is ready {and she's a beauty}

the title of this post will be true for at least one of you! :) this could be YOUR quilt!! :) 

Have you bought a net yet?  Go HERE to do just that!

I'm almost sure I won't make it through the weekend without starting to quilt this beauty...but I have to get some other stuff done first...what do you think? Do you love her?

xo

hooray!!!!

Thanks to the best comment ever left by Cristi from 2 If By Sea...I was able to whip right through the rest of the de-papering of the quilt squares!!!

Cristi suggested that I mist the back of the squares to allow the paper to be easily pulled away...while I did not have a mister...using a wet cloth wiped across the seams worked beautifully!  Crisit if you lived close enough I would come over and hug you...you saved the day!!

Sooooo...I'm hoping to have something else awesome to show you soon! :)

Yes, the "Love you so" sign is for sale!  Just email me...first come first served. 

n

And I am working on an awesome week of posts next week...with giveaways...from our new sponsors...and hopefully ending the week by starting the quilt raffle with a finished quilt!! :) 

Email me if you want to be a sponsor you will be among great company!! :)

Off to work...happy Friday to you!! :)

70 {seventy}

I sewed my rear off this weekend...and just finished sewing the last of the squares for the Nothing But Net quilt last night...the grand total?  SEVENTY!! :)  Seventy beautiful, wonderful, lovely, life saving squares.  Want to know more about the Nothing but Net Project?...click HERE. 

Want to go buy a net or nets/entries?  Go HERE.  

So now that the strips are sewn...

  I have also ironed them flat...

and I am currently trimming the squares...I hope to get that done today and then de-paper the squares tonight while watching a movie with my love. :) 

Maybe I will even have a finished quilt top by weeks end? 

I hope so...I just can't wait to see what it will look like.  I am SO excited!

I hope that when the time comes you will blog, tweet, facebook, talk, scream, share, etc...all about it.  You will won't you?

Consequently...it's a great time to think about advertising with little bit funky...I have great rates and excellent stats...want to know more just shoot me an email. :)

Hope you are keeping cool where you are...we are under a heat advisory here until Wednesday night!

xo

nothing but net {head start}

Alright friends...here's a look see at the first eight squares of the Nothing But Net quilt here...if you are new{er} here you can catch up by reading about my BIG dreams.

The gist is this...I am making an awesome quilt...made from fabrics and materials donated by awesome people...we're going to raffle it off...buy a net get an entry.  As many entries as you can get your hands on. :)

My goal is 500 nets.  Eeek! Did I just type that so that 1000's of people can read it?

But it's going to be a beautiful quilt...so 500 should be easy right? 

All things are possible with God, right!!! (yes, that is not a question)

Did you know?

• Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria in Africa.
• Children and pregnant women are most susceptible to malaria.
• An insecticide-treated bed net can protect a family of four for up to four to five years.

Malaria is one of the most serious global health issues. Approximately 500 million people each year are infected, and more than one million of those die. Malaria is particularly devastating in Africa where the disease is a leading killer of children, accounting for twenty percent of all childhood deaths. 

Every 30 seconds a child in Africa dies from a malaria infection.

A child just like yours or mine.  A child that is loved by their mother like WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN!!!

We, you and I, can do SOMETHING about that.  WE can show them one net at a time that God loves them...that people in another country CARE about them. 

As I make each square I pray over it..."Lord, let this square help show your love to someone in Africa...keep their babies and families safe.   Be bigger that we can ever hope for."

I'm so excited...are you?

You can click on the photo above to start buying nets.  Each $10 net purchase is an entry into the raffle for the quilt.  The winner will be chosen, at random, by an unbiased person.  The more nets you buy...the greater your chances of winning a quilt...and...

That leads me to my next thought. I'm thinking that there should be 2nd and 3rd prizes...so if you have a shop...make a craft...wanna send a gift card...then email me.  :) I want this to be awesome...and I need YOU!

So feel free to go start buying nets...click on the photo above or over on the right.  Each net purchase from here on out counts as an entry.   The quilt or other awesomeness could be yours. :)

Yay God! :)

peek 1 and peek 2.

number four is up for grabs ($18 plus shipping)...number three is already gone.

and I finally have some zippered bags that are shop worthy...

 (8in by 5in and $18-free shipping)

I have others in the works...but if you want to claim this one...

...or number four above...just send me a email. :)

Come back tomorrow for a peek at our Nothing but Net quilt and how you can start buying entries to win it!! :)

ten things for you. :)

1.  At long last...I would like you to meet the fabric sponsor of our Nothing But Net quilt. 

Say hello to sweet Jody.  She blogs over at Everyday Beautiful and sells a gorgeous selection of fabrics at the Fabric Shoppe.  Yummy goodness all over there. :) I have a prayed a lot over this quilt already...as I am hoping you are doing too. :) Each and every step...including who I was to ask for fabric...little did I know that Jody had a heart for Africa...what a coincidence (wink wink), right? 

She is a lover of fabric and creating, has and works towards a beautiful life, and has two sweet girls under two, and a wonderful supportive husband.  Her heart for Africa comes from a hope to adopt from there someday.  Who knows...one of the nets that come from making this quilt could directly effect her life? Gives me chills to think about it. 

Jody in all of her wonderfulness insisted on donating all of the fabric needed for the quilt.  I was floored.  Crying happy, thankful tears.  God is in this quilt.  You better believe it. 

And I am already mentally planning our NEXT quilt...yep, I am that crazy.  But right now I LOVE the idea of collecting quilted squares from bloggers all over to make one big happy quilt. :)

So go say hi to her and thank her for being awesome...go buy some fabric from her lovely shop, too.

2.  Speaking of that lovely fabric.  I finally got it all cut. :) Done and done.  Now to get the paper ready for the squares...then to start those squares! :) I'm excited...are you?

3.  Hoho says not to worry...he finally got his own ice cream cone. :)

4.  And did you happen to notice that this cutie is sitting on something cute and fun? I know, I know, his cuteness IS distracting...but focus and look at what he is sitting on?  Know what it is?  More about that soon. 

5.  By far my best seller.  Do you have one for your kiddos yet? :)  I am also taking orders for Happy Scrappy Skirts...email me for details. :)

7.  A peek at a photo shoot that I did this weekend...more of these coming, too.

8.  A post soon on "why bother blogging?"

9.  Summer is already making me lazy...sweet tea and a good book anyone?

10.  A summer timely twenty minute crafter coming soon.

Hang in there we have a lot to talk about. :)

getting my bum in gear.

I admit.  I am having a hard time recovering from vacation...I am slooooooowly getting my bum in gear again...I have a HUGE pile of "have-to's" to do before I can get to my "want-to's".  I am taking today as a fresh start....and am really going to push myself OUT of vacation mode and into getting stuff done mode!

Let's start with the winner of the Pleated Poppy Giveaway...it is YOU!!!   

Send me a little email if that is your blog link up there...and we will get you to your prize. 

Check that off the list. :) 

Also, I have the Nothing But Net fabric in hand!!! I hope to start cutting it up by the end of the week...more on that and the ever lovely sponsor soon!

AND the batting AND shipping now has a sponsor too!!! WOO HOO!! :)

Check that off!

In between doing the custom order "have to's" I am working on some new bags (aka want-to's).

I also have a ton of other new things I want to do....

Sort of check that off the list...

Now this was not on my list...but apparently on his.

Check "wear underwear on your head during nap time off of your list".

:)

Now I am off to check "second cup off coffee" and "tend to a diaper rash" off of my list.

What are checking off your list today?

nothing but net quilt {and a visit}

thank you SO much for your response to my nothing but net quilt raffle idea!! :)

it thrills me to pieces to have you all behind me and supporting this idea!

I am super excited to share with you that ALL of the fabric has been donated!!!

All of it...I can't believe it.  God is SO AWESOME! :)

I hope to be able to get to work on the quilt in couple of weeks...I will show you all of the fabrics as soon as I get them!!

And...for those of you who offered to donate some fabrics...I am still praying and brainstorming about just HOW to utilize your wonderful and unexpected generous donations.

I have not emailed any of you yet because before I knew it...my original contributor offered to supply it ALL! 

So some ideas I am toying around with...to do a another quilt some time in the fall? 

To make pillows and offer them up after the quilt raffle (this would require some pillow insert donations as well)?

Anyone out there have any ideas?  I am open to your suggestions and I would LOVE to give anyone who wants an opportunity to contribute to do so.

As for the quilt...the only things I need at this point...will be batting and shipping costs to the winner. :)

I can't wait to get started!!!

This weekend we had a visit from Doug's brother and his wife.  Moses was beyond thrilled. 

Both Moses and Uncle Eric enjoyed some scooter time.

Aaron soaked up some Aunt Jen time...and Aunt Jen took the boys on countless trips around the block.

The boys slept great that night...and Moses said that his favorite part of the day was simply "Uncle Eric".  

They say that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach...I think the way to a woman's heart is to love on her kids.  There is little that brings me greater joy. 

:)