Inspired Giveaway: Handmade Penguin Ornament & Gift Bag
Our house has been filling up with five little penguins that I made. Four of them have been shipped off to their new homes for the holiday in these simple fabric bags, but one is left. Want to bring him home with you?
UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THE LOVELY REFLECTIONS POSTED IN THE COMMENTS.
Tucked in this little bag that you can reuse again for our greener Christmas challenge?
Enter to win and give this little penguin fella a home.
We’ll randomly select one lucky person who leaves a comment on this post between now and Monday at 5:00 pm EST. The winner will be posted later that day, so check back to see if you’re the lucky penguin mamma or pappa.
How to enter:
Leave a comment below telling everyone what inspires you in your home. It could be the way things make you feel comfortable, constructive, or relaxed. THEN tell us what deters that creativity and makes you feel less energized in your house.
Lots of luck!
(Images by Katie for Making This Home)
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Those are so cute, Katie. Happy feet! :-)
What inspires me in my home… Hmmm… Well, its surroundings, for one thing. I love the limestone facade and the limestone fireplace and alcove. For some reason, all that white, chalky stone has inspired me to have a lighter palette and more natural decor year-round. What deters the creativity is wanting to do everything at once and not having the funds to do that, and what makes me feel less energized is the time change and the sun setting so early. :-/
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
First off, let me say that those are adorable! My niece’s nursery is decorating in penguin theme and she has definitely become the penguin baby! So, I would love to add this to her Christmas presents!
In terms of what inspires me… I love color. We have painted several rooms in our house and they are by far my favorites. I plan to paint most if not all of the rest of them this coming summer while I’m off school. I also love our living room which has a lot of windows and therefore lets in a lot of light. Sunlight definitely inspires me to get creative.
What deters me from my creative path? At the moment it is unfortunately my craft room. Since we moved in back in March I have not spent any time or money organizing the space… so it basically a bunch of boxes which means any time I want to do anything in there I have to sort through/wade through boxes. Definitely not creative. I hope to work on that at least some this coming holiday break!
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I’m inspired by the vintage cottage feel of my home. The glass doorknobs, hardwood floors, and cute built ins! I love our big backyard that our two little doggies can run around and play in! I’m most inspired by the potential I see in our little home.
My kitchen makes me feel less energized. It hasn’t been updated in years and even though it’s bright and sunny and cute at a glance, upon closer inspection it needs a complete overhaul. I can’t do anything for 2 more years, so I just have to bear with it for now! I painted it yellow to give it a tiny facelift, and hopefully that’ll carry me through these next two years!
i love penguins! hope i win! ;)
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Even though our house is small, seeing my sewing area, always ready, in the middle of the house is very inspiring. I feel that I can sit down if I have a free moment and make progress on any project. A deterrent is when the area is messy. I get crafters-block when I can’t clearly see the inspiration.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I am a homebody. So I love just being home and crafty. I hate the mess though, it comes out of no where and is hard to craft with stuff all over the table!
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
What a great idea – I’ve been checking out all kinds of blogs this morning, several that I haven’t been to before!
Hmm, for me I have a nice forest-y hillside and on certain days just the view from the outdoors is enough to inspire me.
Right now though it’s the fireplace. We moved in to our new place about 6 months ago and this is the first time my boyfriend and I have a fireplace of our own to warm up to this holiday. Just seeing the fire on a chilly night makes me want to knit up mittens and scarves and holiday gifts!
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
What inspires me in our home is acutally the view outside the windows. I love nature and we have 17 acres of beautiful oak, pine and magnolia trees with a creek running past one side. I love the birds flying from the trees up to the window feeder to eat.
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I love the view out my kitchen window — makes me enjoy doing dishes!! Clutter is what blocks my creativity, and it’s a work in progress for me to stay on top of it, but I do try!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
How adorable!
What inspires me is my kids. All three of them. It is for them I do everything I do. And they are worth it.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
My kids reading books..inspires me. I love it!
kamyrensmiles@hotmail.com
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I love those little penguins!
I’m not so much inspired by what’s in my home, but where it is. I love living in the city (most of the time) and being within-walking distance of one of the biggest urban parks in the US. I go there and enjoy it just about every day.
What makes me feel less energized? Definitely when I haven’t been good about putting things away throughout the week-it makes for an overwhelming weekend. One of my goals is to simply go through the mail each day, so that there’s not a pile by Saturday. I admit I haven’t been too good about it though!
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
How adorable! I love the penguins and would love to give one a good home! :) Please enter me in and thanks! :)
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Cute little guys!
My sewing room inspires me… it’s all my own stuff, kept the way I like it… not being able to find something is demotivating.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
My mother in law loves penguins and would love these. My studio inspires me but not having a chair to sew on deters me big time!
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I love my fireplace! It is light oak and I chose burgandy tiles for both the floor and the surround. It burns wood and I love the way it looks. I love to decorate it! I am always using it as a focal point for my holiday decorations, it inspires and pleases me very much!
What makes me feel less energized is the lack of appropriate storage for my things. My problem is that I don’t think I really know how to organize and so I have too much stuff, in too many places!
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
My kids are what inspires me in my home. They are creative and love to try new things!
I don’t have my own sewing area so that deters me.
I have to say I love the penguins. My daughter has started a collection of penguins
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Those are really cute! Nature inspires me in my home – I love just looking into our yard which is filled with trees and birds. And the thing that holds me back is clutter – I feel so constricted by it…but since we’re moving overseas in a few weeks, we’ve been reducing that clutter big time. :) Yay!
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
This little penguin is the cutest thing ever. What inspires me….people. Friends, family and even strangers.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Those are so cute!
Well, inspiration usually comes from the colors in my home, a nice soothing yellow and a deep, passionate red. Aside from that, I’d have to say it’s the incense and such that I burn, and the music I play, but I don’t feel that quite counts as part of the home.
My major distraction, which makes it impossible to concentrate, is a mess. Unwashed dishes, clutter on the floor, anything will do it for me. ;-;
UntraditionalFairyGodmother[at]gmail[dot]com
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
WOW SOOOOOO cute i went “awwww” as soon as I saw them. I am inspired by nature most of the time, but if i am looking for actual specific, instantaneous inspiration I go to other blogs
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
My scrapbook room inspires me! (When it is clean, at least! LOL!) I love your penguins!!!
jinglesells at gmail dot com
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I sure would want to be a momma to that little cutie! What inspires me the most? Probably just the “open waters” of being it our own house. Not renting anymore allows us to do anything we want to it. I love colorful paint on the walls (each room has different color), and I’m just in the middle of getting valances for our new kitchen windows & slider. That’s about all I have in my head right now ;o)
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I am inspired by my children. I am distracted by my children. I wouldn’t change a thing, just loving the inspiration they give me daily through their highs and lows. you have a lovely blog and a really small apartment LOL.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
What inspires me in my home? All my beautiful quilts. Some are ones I have made, some were made by my mother, but all are beautiful and remind me of something I love to do, and remind of of different times in my life. I am distracted by my piles of fabric. They are always calling out to me, asking me to play with them and make projects out of them. So I have many unfinished projects. But who doesn’t?
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Please, enter me in your giveaway..
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
My biggest insprations come to me when my house is empty. I know it is selfish, but I love having the house all to myself. I think the silence is delicious because it is so rare.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I am so excited I just about jumped out of my seat when I saw the cute little penguins!!! Really I wish that you could see! Let me explain, my husband is super difficult to shop for, he doesnt need it or doesnt want it, or just doesnt want to spend money, but he has a secret love for little penguins. So each year I try to get him a little penguin.
what inspires me most in my home is my little sewing area that my husband created for me. Each time I sit down to sew and create i remember how much love and support I have and it makes it much easier for me to try new things.
What deters me…and this may sound silly, is the neighbors. I like to sew late at night and this just so happens to be when they like to party. It is an off campus sorority house and there is no stopping the party =( I cant wait for winter break when they all travel back to visit their families.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
When we first moved into our new place I was definately not inspired by the blank walls – we were going to go with a more minimalist look when we moved here, but it was much too depressing! since we put up our ‘artwork’ ie framed posters of favorite images – it is so much more inspiring.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
My children inspire me. They always have such an unusual and unique way of doing things and looking at the world. Not having a space of my own to be creative and crafty deters my creativity. It is hard to stay in a creative frame of mind when I have to haul all of my supplies in and out of the closet to use them. :(
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
What an adorable penguin! I’m inspired by the colors textures and patterns in nature! And I’m uninspired by plastic malls and noise!
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 pm
those ornaments are adorable!
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 pm
My Punkie Pie inspires me to be creative in my sewing room and the messes she makes distracts me!
Please enter me in your giveaway!
Thanks!
Jen :)
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
What energizes me this time of year is my living room full of beautifully bright christmas lights. i feel so at ease and ready to create when i’m in there. what detracts me?! after i’ve baked tons of beautiful christmas cookies i hate cleaning up the kitchen and the sink full of mixing bowls and cookie sheets!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
What inspires me…..When I wake up every morning knowing that I am a free women able to love my family the way I want. Knowing that what I do and say reflects onto my children and husband, my neighbors the person driving next to me and my country. What inspires me is that I am one person but one person that can show love and change at least one persons heart or mind.
And, I love your cute penguins!!!! They make me want to dance and sing!! :)
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I feel inspired when the afternoon sun is shining through my front window – especially if everyone else is sleeping! :0)
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
What inspires me in my home is happiness and joy. Lots of it!
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
What inspires me most are my grandsons! Love them to pieces :o)
December 4th, 2008 at 12:02 am
oh wow, these are so adorable. I love penguins.
I’m inspired by my family and just how i can be myself at home. As for distractions? I guess the family as well!! haha
-lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
December 4th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Those are so cute, Katie!
I’m inspired by the views from our kitchen and family room, the main part of our *living* area. We have floor-to-ceiling windows, and it’s like bringing the outdoors in.
For what uninspires me – clutter! I can’t think or relax if there’s clutter around! :0)
December 4th, 2008 at 12:16 am
What a cute little fellow. I am inspired by God in the nature around me. Uninspired by financial stress that seems to be bearing down on us lately.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I am and have always been inspired by my sister’s creativity! She always has wonderful crafty or home improving ideas. Katie, you would LOVE my sister! ;)
I am uninspired when my great ideas don’t work as well as planned.
Your pengins are very cute!
December 4th, 2008 at 12:37 am
I get tons of inspiration from my quilting studio …. but on the negative side the room is always a wreck. My oldest GD is penguin crazy … this would be perfect. thanks
December 4th, 2008 at 1:00 am
omg thats sooo cute!!
i love looking at martha stewarts magazines!
she’s awesom
December 4th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I love that!! i have a look book with all these things i find in magazines that inspire me!!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:04 am
My little animals inspire me at home! Construction near my place deters me though… :(
December 4th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I am inspired by things i see on tv!! like when i see the houses and decorations of the tv homes!! i hope i win this!!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:05 am
My mum! She is always so encouraging and that really helps. I guess noise disturbs me!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:06 am
My little sister for sure.. She’s so cute & loves to cuddle me. (think she’ll like the penguin!! HINT! :P) I think my messy table sometimes deters me! HAH!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:08 am
How charming! I love the penguins…
Well. Inspiration: Books on my shelf! Deterrence: Insects that bug me!!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:17 am
I love the ornaments, very cute. I’m enspired by what I see out the window.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Oh, those are too cute!
I’m inspired by the setting – our house backs on to the escarpment, so it’s green and lovely.
Uninspiring? The clutter. It drives me crazy!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Wow, these are so cute! We absolutely love penguins here in our house.
Cleanliness inspires me, as well as the process of cleaning. Whenever I clean something I feel invigorated and feel like finding more productive things to do. When everything is messy, I get so bogged down and feel like I’m in a fog.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:07 am
I am inspired in my home when my sewing room is clean. I love seeing all my fabrics nice and neat, it just makes me want to sew sew sew. I quickly become unispired when I find that one of my kitties has decided not to use the litter box and goes elsewhere in the house. It’s beyond frustrating and completely makes me not want to create anything.
Thanks so much for the chance to win this super cute ornament!!
Rachel
athenagwis at hotmail . com
December 4th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Oh, my little nephew loves birds of all kinds. Count me in!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:18 am
I find that I get lots done, whether it is cleaning, cooking, sewing, etc. when I listen to books on tape. My favorites lately have been the Phryne Fisher.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:26 am
My little girls inspire me. They love pretty things, and everything I make for them!. The biggest thing that sucks all my creative energies is a messy house (which also comes from my little girls)! We love penguins and would love for this little one to find his home in our home.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:28 am
How wicked awesome!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:29 am
I am inspired by nature. We have beautiful pine trees in our backyard, and I am always using the pine cones for things year round!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:36 am
Music makes me feel energized. I put on music while cleaning and A CLEAN ROOM IS A HAPPY ROOM.. when my house is clean I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT and when it smells fresh and clean and is very inspiring to craft in then. :D
When I get stuck on the internet it makes me unenergized because I end up wasting away alot of time on it when I get sucked onto it and get nothing done at all. :(
Thank you for including me into your give away.. it is ssooooo cute! Happy Holidays!!!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:42 am
My children’s creativity and other’s handmade items inspires me, the amount of clutter and junk that comes with children definitely stems it though!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:50 am
What a cute penguin! I feel inspired by photographs of friends and family on my walls. Clutter deters my creativity.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Life is good when the house is clean and in order. When it’s a mess I just can’t focus on anything. I don’t think it could be narrowed down to one thing.
They are really adorable little guys, Katie! How nice that you jumped in. :)
December 4th, 2008 at 2:59 am
We live in an old house in the woods.Living with trees all around and the change of seasons inspires me.
What distracts me …hmm i’d have to say clutter,laundry, and dirty dishes.
Thanks for the contest.The ornaments are really cute.
:) Laura
December 4th, 2008 at 3:01 am
The views from my windows inspire me….sunny skies and trees :)
ljs742(at)yahoo.com
December 4th, 2008 at 3:39 am
My crafty desk inspires me. Before I moved here I just stuck all my crafts under the bed to be forgotten about. In my new-ish apartment I have a little corner with all my yarns and papers and candle wax that sit out and inspire to work on it.
But often times the table turns into a storage space. Right now it has a box of wedding magazines taking over, and I haven’t been crafting. But I’ve been looking at bridal magazines to determine what are good things to craft for my wedding.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:54 am
I love country cottage style, though my house is not really one style. I love having my kitchen organized, but the rest of the mostly has to be clean. I hate a dirty house, though sometimes mess makes it impossible to keep up with.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Lots of sunlight and spring weather inspires me. My children and clutter deter me. Every night at dinner my 3 year old asks what our favorite animal is and she always says hers is the penguin. How nice it would be to hang one on my tree.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:16 am
I’d love to enter your contest. Thanks for your generosity.
Sincerely,
Kali
December 4th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Those penguins are adorable! Thanks so much for the chance!
December 4th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Cute!
Things that inspire me are the huge blank white walls we have that are always begging for something pretty to cover them up! But craftiness is always depleted by gettnig out my crafty stuff, becuase then there is no room to actually make stuff without contantly moving things around.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:37 am
I have to tell you, I just love the name of your blog, first off. Second, these penguins are too cute! I try to be inspired everyday by the little things in my life. My kids, my dog, a smile froma stranger, dancing int he car, etc. I have a hard time when there is no time to get things done. Time is my struggle. Thanks for inspiring me!
December 4th, 2008 at 4:44 am
I’m inspired by morning light coming in the windows.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:57 am
What inspires me…the view outside my house at sunset/sunrise…
And those penguins would make the best gift for a friend of mine! Thanks for the chance!
December 4th, 2008 at 5:05 am
What gives me energy is also what takes it away~ my kids inspire me but
they also wear me out! I will craft with them then will not want to clean up from
being so tired! LOL! But alas these days are fleating and before I know it I
will be old and my babies will be having babies.
Good luck to all.
Rane and kids
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 4th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Very cute penguins!
I’m inspired by the stuff I have from my grandmothers. It is amazing all the things they came up with considering how little they had to work with. It really gets the creativity flowing!
December 4th, 2008 at 5:56 am
I’m inspired by my fabric closet, each time is an adventure. Dirty dishes zap my creativity. I wish I had a dishwasher.
Thank you for the chance at your giveaway and have a great holiday.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I love these penguins! They are so cute!
December 4th, 2008 at 6:46 am
My little sister LOVES penguins! What inspires me is my craft room with fabric, paper, sewing machine, magazines, and crafty goodness everywhere! What unispires me in a messy, unorganized craft room!
December 4th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Adorable penguins!
I am inspired by the quilt my 9 year old made in a week with her grandma this past Easter. I’m deterred by the clutter and the fact that my basement kid playroom/craft room has no carpet or walls. can’t wait to get that done!
December 4th, 2008 at 6:55 am
having handmade things around my house is so inspiring and makes me feel so at home!
December 4th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Cute ornament and bag.
I am inspired by nature, just looking out the window at all the colors and textures there. I am deterred by clutter and messes.
Thanks for the giveaway.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Color! Great Giveaway! Nice to meet you! You can see my giveaway here:
http://aprylian.blogspot.com/
Apryl
December 4th, 2008 at 7:15 am
My sewing machines and stash beautiful fabrics inspire me. I live alone and each evening I work at creating gifts for my family and friends. What interupts me are bothersome tasks like cooking and cleaning…maybe I should get a maid! I love your penquins!
December 4th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Love the penguins!! My inspiration comes during my daghter’s nap time and ends when she wakes!!
December 4th, 2008 at 7:32 am
All the awesome, creative things that I see other people do inspire me to be more vreative in my home. For instance, your fun penguins!
December 4th, 2008 at 7:35 am
i am inspired when things have a place are neat clean and put away, i am deterred by the reality, clutter every where, things without homes, and general messiness of life. although the latter can inspire me to abandon all hope and go downstairs and play in the craft area because cleaning up is futile, there will just be a new mess tomorrow. i have three boys 8 and under it will be a long time before i have full time inspiration.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:44 am
color inspires me. The way the sun playing over a color can change it gets my juices flowing and inspires me to start playing with my paints and papers and the next thing i know i’m switching out the artwork on our walls
Your penguins are so cute! thanks for the giveaway
December 4th, 2008 at 7:48 am
What inspires me in my home? My children. The large windows in my living room. The scenery outside. I’m easily deterred by the large loads of laundry, our Christmas tree sitting outside the large windows, and the dead bushes on the hillside. I love your penguins!
December 4th, 2008 at 8:39 am
This would be absolutely lovely to win and I hope I do because I think would flip!
Thanks so much for the chance too!
December 4th, 2008 at 8:54 am
what inspires me is my daughter, what deters me is clutter
December 4th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Having my home clean and open inspires me.
Clutter zaps my energy.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Oh man those penguins are just too cute.
And my home inspiration, I think just wanting to make it cozy and loving. To make it a safe haven for me and my husband. So things that inspire haven-ness and cozy. Like homemade quilts (we had a good friend make us a wedding quilt… beautiful) and candles
megan.nadalet[at]gmail[dot]com
December 4th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Cute! May I try?
Stephanie
junktime2000@yahoo.com
I recently moved from a small apartment into a house and just having more space inspires me!
It is much more comfortable here than the damp apartment where I used to live.
The only thing I dislike here, that does not inspire me, is the noise that sometimes comes from the apartment complex next door.
Happy holidays!
Stephanie
December 4th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I love it when I can just relax (This time of the year, with the Christmas lights on!) and look at some magazines. I also love all the crafty blogs I’ve found!!!
I feel uninspired when my nice clean house gets all messy in a matter of minutes (I have a 3 year old!!!)
December 4th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I am inspired by nice warm sunny days! It’s hard because it’s usually gray and drizzly here *L* I think the biggest deterrent is when I’ve got messes and no “clear space” to craft.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
i love to have music playing and a plan laid out and then i can get some serious stuff accomplished. all it takes to derail my plans is to see a good fiction book and i’m done for!
December 4th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I love to use fimo clay but I never thought to make ornaments you have inspired me.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
It’s not really in my home, but I am expired by all the crafty blogs. I am most uninspired by clutter.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
hmmm. we are temporarily between homes, living in a studio at the moment. so i can say what i imagine will inspire me when we get to a better place. space. and windows. make me feel peaceful and relaxed. clutter, and lack of space prevent me from getting things done.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I am inspired by sitting in my studio looking out over the valley and the creek. I am not inspired by sitting in my studio looking at all the stuff I have in there to do. LOL. We all have that problem don’t we? thanks for sharing. Jeanne
December 4th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
What inspires me? The wonder and joy in my children’s eyes as they discover new things. What keeps me from creativity? Many times, my children:-)
December 4th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Those penguins are so sweet!
The natural light coming into my home is very energizing. On the other hand, clutter is a problem which I am working to solve…
December 4th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
adorable penguins! :) so fun :) i’d love to win! my home itself inspires me… the colors, the view through the windows, my husband, my mini-library of books collected over the years, and the fact that it’s not stressful, but very relaxed.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Oh, adorable penguins!
I get inspired looking at my yarn stash, and looking through my knitting books. Unfortunately, we have too much clutter, and that gets in the way!
December 4th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I’m always inspired by the stack of crafty library books I check out every week. What keeps me from fulfilling that inspiration? Well, that would have to be my super busy, super smart and super demanding of attention twin daughters (they are after all only 2 1/2)!
Hugs & Blessings!
December 5th, 2008 at 1:35 am
My kids inspire me! My daughter will draw something new that will have an unusual color combination or doesn’t quite look like I think it should but it is beautiful none the less. I have used her artwork for abstract pendants and on shrinky paper to make pins. My son inspires me to make him things because as a baby he’s always growing! He just started standing so I needed something non-slip to put on his feet. So I cut up an old suede jacket and made him some leather bottomed booties/shoes.
As far as what is non-inspiring? Clutter!!!! I just look at it and go, ugh! Plus I have horrid lighting in my crafting area which makes certain projects difficult to work on at night.
What an interesting question to ask. I loved reading all of the other responses. :)
December 5th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Having my crafting things to hand and a nice clean workspace inviting me to sit and creative is great :) What deters me is, well, the opposite…and too much busybusybusy-ness. Strangely, laundry doesn’t put me off. I like setting crafty goals in the time it takes for a cycle to get done. I’m weird, I know. (But it helps me get through boring laundry !) LOL
Happy crafting. And happy holidays.
December 5th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Hi, wow, those are so cute!! I get inspired as I sit and look at my fire going, or looking out my window and looking at the birds.
Blessings my friend.
Hey, I’m having a give a way too, check it out.
December 5th, 2008 at 3:10 am
I love those penguins, they are so cute! Well, I knit, spin yarn, crochet, sew and craft and I have a stash for each one of my activities. So I have to say I’m inspired by my BF telling me to either use the stuff or sell it! LOL
December 5th, 2008 at 4:27 am
I am more inspired when the rest of the house is cleaned up first.
December 5th, 2008 at 5:19 am
How adorable!
What inspires me in my home is music. I just put on my itunes and begin crafting. What hinders me are my kittens. I love them to death, but I can’t get anything done with them “helping!” I usually have to lock them out to get my crafting done. :)
December 5th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I have a 3 year old girl who becomes my granddaughter on Dec 18th…. When I met her last year she was so shy she would only talk thru one of the little penguins she carried in her hands.. I’ve been trying to find penguins to give her for Christmas….. I asked her the other day if she wanted to call me grandmom and she said her grandmom was an angel with Pops (she lost her maternal grandmother Oct 6 and Paternal grandfather on June 15) so we settled on Grammy or Ms Lisa…..
December 5th, 2008 at 7:50 am
I am inspired by my children we are all together during the day and I love to hear their sweet little voices singing softly into the air as they play! I get hindered by ….the TV!!! SHHH!!!! don’t tell anyone, but I get distracted by the junkiest daytime tv shows!
December 5th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
My inspiration comes from warmth, coziness and memories. I’m very sentimental! What detracts from my being relaxed and comfortable is clutter! That drives me nuts.
December 5th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Everything about my home inspires me. I have found as I get older (early 50’s) that I am so much more
at peace with myself and my life. Little things make me content–knitting, baking, my vegetable garden and most especially my two labs–Hank and Greta. I love them (oh! and hubby too). The only thing that distracts
me is me. Sometimes I get to rushing around to get things done and I find myself not getting near as much
accomplished. My list is always way longer than what I can reasonably accomplish in a day. But I have
learned over the years that my house doesn’t have to be perfect–what i do with my time and my husband and pups is really more important than a spotless house. Anyway, thanks for listening and offering the giveway.
December 5th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Love the penguins!
December 5th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I am not following rules. I have to say that I stumbled on your blog from the giveaway. One of the last ones I clicked on and I LOVE penguins.
But, I will play I guess. I think that good smell inspires me and organization. I am not organized at all and currently working on that. But, there is nothing like walking into your home that smells great and you can find everything.
December 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
How cute! Penguins are my favorite! I’m not quite sure what inspires me – mostly it’s seeing other people’s fun ideas, then adapting them to my own tastes.
December 5th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I would have to say that the internet is my double-edged sword. All of these great blog inspire my however I find if I do not limit my time browsing I lose time crafting. Silly little circle I am stuck in.
Thanks for the giveaway, those are so cute.
Check out my giveaway
http://keilah76.blogspot.com/
December 5th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Inspiration? Usually something with a deadline. I can really get going when I am working on a clock, especially if it is a gift for someone else.
Deterrent? losing something. Spending time looking everywhere until I am distracted from the task at hand and have passed the muffins for the 10th time and for the 10th time had a bite from them. heh heh
Darling penguins
~a
December 5th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I’d love one of your darling little penguins!
I am inspired when my home is neat and orderly. When everything is in it’s place I feel like I can actually get stuff done! However, I get detered when things start getting chaotic, which comes easily in a home with a 2yr old, 4yr old, a cat, a 7month old puppy AND I’m 7mos pregnant (hubby’s there too, but I won’t blame him in the chaos)! So you can guess, I’m detered most of the time!
December 6th, 2008 at 1:14 am
I am inspired by some very creative friends that I have who can decorate with very little money. I am detered by myself and my own problems with disorganization.
December 6th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Your giveaway is just darling! I am inspired by beautiful singing. A lovely song with pretty lyrics gets me every time. Happy Holidays!
December 6th, 2008 at 3:43 am
Cute!
I am inspired by light and color. I am deterred when my house is a mess.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:47 am
What inspires me in my home…neatness. A clean, clear surface; a stack of papers transformed into a neat file box; an organized cabinet. And the opposite feeling, paralyzed creativity, comes from clutter. Our home is plenty large for the four of us, and yet clutter can (and does) make it feel so small to me at times.
Glad to have found your blog!
December 6th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I’m inspired by what I see on the crafts sites. I’m detered by laziness, the state of my sewing room (a mess) and business. :-(
Thank you for doing this.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:32 am
What inspires me in my home is when it is clean….I feel like I have accomplished something and it makes me want to make things and ideas start flooding my brain. I am uninspired when my house is a mess, when I try to start crafting I just keep thinking about whatelse I could be doing like cleaning or doing laundry instead of being selfish and doing fun things.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
What inspires me? This is totally corny but I always see things as a means to an end. For example, when my son smiles and laughs during a project. This makes going from store to store and asking for help in my bad German searching for crafty things totally worth it! (I am talking mostly about little stuff like jingle bells!)
What does NOT inspire me is not getting enough sleep! Creativity always happens when I am well rested (although well rested when one has a 2 year old has an entirely different meaning now!)
Thanks for doing this! I LOVE penguins!
December 21st, 2008 at 10:40 am
I get my inspiration from my kids! With 4 of them coming up with all kids of things, there’s always an idea, thought, or laugh to be had. Currently my youngest is playing tug of war with our 15 lb snaggletooth hound, it would make a great painting! And the snaggletooth hound wants to eat her crayons!
What deters my creativity is lack of organization. Being highly creative, organization is not a strong point for myself. I try, and do what i can, but I’ve yet to perfect a system. There’s always something to search for… but eventually found!
CUTE penguins btw!
March 28th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
What inspires me in my home?
We have, over the years, simplified the way we live. We use serene colors and most of our “accessories” are reminders of people we love or places we have been. For ex, on the mantle is a beautiful vase given to us by a dear friend in Japan. Also on the mantle is a clear jar filled with seashells…a handful from each beach we vacationed at before we got to retire here. Hanging on one wall is the needlepoint ottoman cover (now framed) that my mother-in-law did in her grief when her husband died. She gave it to me with warm hands. I write my notes at her secretary (another warm hands gift). In it are small treasures from children I taught many years ago.
The colors are the serene colors of the beach: the beiges of the sand, the blue-greens of the water, the almost turquoise of the deep waters, the murky gray greens of the marshes. There are no concealing coverings over the windows save those needed for sleeping in the bedrooms. The rooms are small (my husband says the better to catch me in) but we had to do a lot of paring to get here.
In our youth, we like most Americans had a “big house fetish”. Now, when I look at big houses, I think maintenance and housework and I love my little cottage all the more.