Cleaning with Cocktails

Hi, this is Country Mouse! I know, I know, you never hear from me, right? Well, I’m a bit shy and also very busy getting ready for our first appearance at No Coast Craft-o-rama which is coming up December 4th & 5th in Minneapolis.

I just had to peek out of my little mouse nest to let you know about a fantastic cleaning product that I came across recently at the DIY Network, check out the video here. You’re not going to believe it, but it’s Vodka! Yes, it’s true. Vodka for cleaning! Cheap Vodka. Not Grey Goose Vodka, but the cheap stuff. Well, you could use your Grey Goose, but that would get spendy.

I also recently saw Kirstie Alley talking about using vodka for cleaning last week on Oprah! It’s amazing, eco-friendly, and cheaper than buying all of those cleaning products that are so hazardous to the environment. Plus, you can take a sip while you’re cleaning and cleaning will be FUN! Well, gotta run…..happy cleaning and have a fun-filled weekend!

(image Pottery Barn)

We have a Winner!

At the One Yard Wonders Book Release Party with Rebecca Yaker and Trish Hoskins

Thank you so much for entering our first giveaway for a copy of the fabulous One Yard Wonders book! We had so much fun reading your comments about your least favorite household chores. From dishes to laundry to bathroom cleaning, there sure is a lot to do around the house that isn't a whole lot of fun!

We used random.org to pick the lucky winner - AmyV123 - who has a dislike for vacuuming the stairs but is able to convince her husband to do the chore! Congrats Amy! Send us an email with your address so we can send your copy of One Yard Wonders!

Amy Butler Love in the Shop

Have you checked out Amy Butler's newest collection - Love? It's absolutely stunning! I love both the floral and architectural prints as well as the colorways of Amy's new line.

We were lucky to pick up a few of these new prints while we wait for our large order to arrive - we were told it could be early January! So while we wait, let's enjoy the beauties we have available now. New ironing board covers will be added to the shop early this week.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

No Coast Craft-o-rama

You'll have to forgive me if it's a little quiet around here. All I hear lately is the hum of the sewing machine and the scissors slicing through fabric. We are in full production mode (working like mad women every waking minute!) preparing for No Coast Craft-o-rama!

If you are local (or maybe you need an excuse for a trip?) you must mark your calendar to attend the spectacular No Coast Craft-o-rama on December 4th (3pm-8pm) and 5th (9pm-5pm) at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. You will find the most amazing gifts for everyone on your shopping list. Check out all of the details here.

AND don't forget to enter our giveaway for your very own copy of One Yard Wonders before midnight CST this Friday!

First Giveaway!

We have been feeling the need to celebrate for quite some time now and decided the time is finally here! Why celebrate? Oh where do I even start....How about a brief recap?

A little over a year ago myself (City Chic) and my mom (Country Mouse) opened our Etsy shop. We never dreamt that a year later we would have so many sales, developed friendships with amazingly talented people, and have a blog with the most wonderful readers!

And finally we have our copies of One Yard Wonders (we contributed our tabletop ironing board cover pattern)! The book is fantastic! It is spiral-bound so it lays open nicely while you read instructions for 101 amazing projects! So how about we celebrate by giving one lucky reader their very own copy?

How to enter:
We try to create things to make your household chores a bit more fun (like ironing!). So leave us a comment with your least favorite household chore.

Rules:

• One entry per person, open to US residents only (darn shipping costs!)
  
• Giveaway will be open through midnight CST - Friday November 13.
• We will randomly pick a winner and reveal the lucky one Monday November 16.
  
• Lucky winner will be responsible for emailing us with their mailing address.
  

If you can't wait for us to announce the winner of the giveaway, you can order your very own copy here. It's the perfect gift for a fabric lover (remember the holidays are fast approaching!) Good luck and happy sewing!

Tick Tock

Is it just me or is Fall the fastest season of all? It's really flown by these last few weeks, don't you think? But stick around because next week I plan to share some of the things that have kept me (& Country Mouse) busy lately and you won't want to miss it. Until then here are some fun things that have been a distraction to me (in a good way):

• Dreaming about what color to paint my office/sewing room, I think I'm set on Creamy Mocha and Cappuccino White.
  
• Accepted the fact that it is going to get cold and snowy again, so I bought this to keep me warm.
• Also accepted that it is going to be 2010 next year! So I'm considering a new calendar.
• Trying to get to the theater to see Michael Jackson's - This Is It
  

That's all for now. Hope you have a wonderful Halloween weekend! See you back here next week!

Bake it Pretty - Owl Friends

Today I created a bunch of hooters. (Owls!) They are so adorable. And tasty.

Mmmm...

I used a candy mold from Bake it Pretty along with candy wafers for melting and cello bags for packaging. You just melt the candy wafers, fill the mold and tap it a little to get the bubbles out, and stick it in the freezer until it sets.

The shapes pop out very easily and I'm sure you can think of a number of cute ways to package them. I was in a bit of a hurry and just used tiny cello bags and cut out cardstock paper with a smaller Amy Butler scrap paper and stapled them all together. Sweet and simple. For more sweet candy inspiration, head on over to the Bake it Pretty blog. Your sweet tooth will thank you!