apron giveaway with Scarlet Threads!

Quick announcement that I meant to mention a week ago! Scarlet Threads has new aprons and we're giving one away, and it could be yours! 

Introducing, Sofia!

Isn't she lovely?

Go HERE to enter! 

Also, there is a new website and lots of great things to see, so have a look! Remember, if you make a purchase from the site, use the code lex25 for a discount on your purchase!

apron naming contest with Scarlet Threads!

 

This was cross-posted to Scarlet Threads blog this week, but I wanted to mention it here too! We have a few new aprons about to be released, and they are in need of names! Please feel free to leave a suggestion, and who knows, your name could be the one!

 

 

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Hope you haven't forgotten about our new aprons and the names they need!

We love our tradition of asking our community for their suggestions, and then choosing from there! These three aprons are in need of names, and we'd love to have you suggest something, if you haven't already! 

 

 

To submit a name simply leave a comment or you can vote on or Facebook Page.

 

 

The winners of the individual naming contests will receive a 50% off coupon for use on one purchase in our shop! Just in time for a little holiday shopping, perhaps?

The Grand Prize winner will receive a Daphne Apron!

Winners will be announced on Friday the 23rd of November so get busy and be creative.

 

 

 

"Sandy's Beach"-

Asian flair-

 



Xiao apron-

Feel free to leave your suggestions on this post, or each individual post, which are all linked above. We can't wait to see what you come up with! 

new aprons from Scarlet Threads!

Scarlet Threads has new aprons! Here are a few peeks of the new line for 2012.  The styles are similar to previous aprons, but these need names too! 

We're running a naming contest all week long. You should enter! 

Why?

Well! I'll tell you!

If we choose your suggestion, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free apron of your choice! Also, just for participating, you will receive a code for 50% off your next purchase! That's a good thing, right? Extreme couponers would certainly approve  ;)

Aren't they lovely?

vintage floral above

art deco above

If you'd like to enter, please go to our facebook page or to the blog!

There are two more that I didn't show a picture of, so go HERE to see them! This naming contest will continue all week, with each being debuted each day, and you can make a suggestion for each, should you wish! While you're on the facebook page, please "like" the page. Also, are you following @ScarletThreadFT on twitter?? Tweet about the contest too!

Of course, perhaps I should do a giveaway with one of these....right!? Which is your favorite? 

scarlet love

I'm sure you're all aware of my love for Scarlet Threads, judging by the giveaways I've offered and other mentions here and there. I just love their mission-

Scarlet Threads is a compassionate boutique, specializing in fairly-traded handmade aprons. We're working to transform the lives of rural Asian women through dignified and safe employment opportunities.

We believe in the possibility of change. Scarlet Threads exists to make our core vision of "Work. Dignity. Beauty." a reality in the lives of our partner seamstresses.

They are based in Houston, TX, which is quite far from Washington, DC, but I've been getting as involved as I can from afar, by hosting these giveaways and tweeting about them (follow them too! @ScarletThreadFT). They also do a weekly feature called Tasty Tuesday, where they feature recipes. I've contributed to a few of their recipes!

Hopefully, as time goes on, there will be even more ways I can be involved with this amazing company.

Look at some of these beauties.

This is the aubergine apron. Oh, and did I mention? When new products come out, they often have naming contests. Aubergine was my suggestion for this lovely lady :)

Here is the Desiree dress, for little girls. There is another dress too, called Summer Joy. I bought one of each and sent them to Majlinda and Boikokobetso, my World Vision babies in Albania and South Africa. I got the most adorable photo ever back from Boikokobetso, of her wearing the dress I sent. I wish I could post it, but they have rules against posting photos of the children, for their protection (if you want, I can email it to you, if you really want to see it!).


They also had Christmas tree skirts this year, and the Noelle is under my tree still! Yes, we still have our tree up. I don't want to take it down, it is so pretty!!! Also? They have tiger hats for children! They are out of stock at the moment, but I think they will be getting more. There are new products coming out soon too, I think.

Here is the good news for you. The lovely ladies behind Scarlet Threads are offering a discount for you, my fair readers, that is good for just one week, this week!

Go to their shop and use the code "tea&crumpets" (without the quotes) and you will receive 20% off your entire order! Again, just this week, but you must need a new apron, right? It is your sister's birthday, right? Mothers Day is coming up! Valentines Day! Easter!

They also have a blog, where you can find their Tasty Tuesday posts. Read back through them, you may just find me!

I am quite convinced that wearing a cute apron while cooking makes your dinner tastier.

what are YOU doing?

Today is National Philantropy Day!

I've seen lots of posts about this on twitter, so I thought it would be appropriate to discuss. According to their website (linked above), 2010 is a very special year, as not only does it mark the 50th anniversary of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the chief sponsor of NPD, but it’s also the 25th anniversary of this special day.

In the United States alone, there are more than 1 million charitable organizations, and Americans give more than $300 billion annually to charitable causes (Giving USA Foundation). In Canada, more than 88,000 charities provide countless services to millions of Canadians, who in turn contribute more than $10 billion annually to those organizations (Canada Revenue Agency). In Latin America and Asia, with governments no longer able to provide enough funding for social services, charitable sectors are growing rapidly and creating programs to meet the needs of their countries’ citizens. The quality of life for all people—everything from education, healthcare, the environment and the arts, to name only a few—would be far less if not for these organizations.

(italicized paragraphs come from their site)

I talk about them enough, so I'm sure you know of two of my favorite organizations-

Scarlet Threads

A a compassionate boutique, specializing in unique products designed and produced by talented seamstresses in rural Asia.

World Vision

a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

It has only been recently that I've become involved with Scarlet Threads, but I just love their mission and beauty, and I'd love you to check out their site (linked above, and on the side of my blog) for more information. They have gorgeous fairtrade aprons and other gifts that are perfect for any occasion. They just came out with their new products, and see the Aubergine apron? That was my name suggestion! Time for another giveaway, perhaps?

As you know, I sponsor two little girls through World Vision. Majlinda is seven and lives in Albania and Boikokobetso is three and lives in South Africa. I've been sponsoring Boikokobetso for just over a year, but it's hard to believe some days that Majlinda has been in my life for more than three years! I just love having them both in my life, and I think about them often, sending love and prayers their way. I have a picture of them both on my desk at work too. Unfortunately, I cannot post their pictures on my blog, as WV works hard to protect their privacy, and I respect that, but trust me when I say how adorable they are!

What are your favorite charities and what are you involved with? Are you passing along the message of philantropy today?

yet another giveaway!

Remember a few months ago when I hosted a giveaway to benefit Scarlett Threads?

Reminder-

Scarlett Threads, a compassionate boutique, specializing in unique products designed and produced by talented seamstresses in rural Asia. Scarlet Threads products are fairly traded and created in compliance with our core vision and values. When you purchase one of our beautiful hand-crafted products, you become part of our story by providing a woman with safe and rewarding work. (from their site)

Well, I am doing another one, and here is why!

Scarlett Threads often has new products come out, and when they do, they have naming contests where they ask their readers to suggest names.

I won!

Thanks to yours truely, this lovely lady is called Penelope!

With summer's end right around the corner, our new reversible apron is also perfect for fall! One side is a bold floral print in shades of pink, brown, and orange. The other side features a leaf motif with shades of teal and gold. The neck and waist straps are both made of green polka-dot and are fully adjustable.

Isn't she cute?! Wouldn't you love to have her in your kitchen?

If you would, here's how you could-
(same rules as last time)

You'll receive one entry for each of the following-

1- leave a comment, first of all, and tell me which of their aprons is your favorite design

2- become a follower of my blog (if you already do, just let me know)

3- become a follower of the Scarlett Threads blog

4- tweet about this giveaway (if you do, add the @lexilooo and @ScarletThreadFT so I see it) (feel free to retweet a few times a week, too!)

5- while you are tweeting, follow both @lexilooo and @ScarletThreadFT

6- blog about this giveaway on your own blog (leave the link here for me)

7- if you are really loving this idea, buy an apron from their shop for either yourself or a giveaway of your own, and you'll receive an extra ten entries!


Also, Scarlett Threads is working to introduce something new- they will be working with readers to host apron parties! It is a very new concept and still in the early stages, but I think I may be hosting one sometime this fall. It would be along the lines of a Tupperware party or the like, but way more fun! Interested in attending mine, either in person or virtually? Let me know! Interested in hosting one of your own? Let me know, and I will put you in contact with the Scarlett Threads girls and they will help make it happen!

I will keep this giveaway open through the remainder of August, so you have some time to enter and tell all of your friends :)

to China with love

I know that I haven't mentioned this yet, but I recently began sponsoring a little girl called Jenna! Look how precious she is---

Jenna lives at the New Day Foster Home in Beijing, China. Jenna was born on July 12, 2004 and that same day, she was abandoned in the yard of a local church. She has been at New Day for about a month now. When she first arrived there, she didn't speak. They didn't think that she couldn't speak, but just wasn't speaking, from living through the multiple transitions that have occured in her short life. Just yesterday morning though, I read on

New Day's blog that Jenna spoke!


She said the Chinese words for dirty, cat, want, and car, and she said Dad and no in English.


Nothing short of wonderful, I'd say.

I've learned of New Day through Jill's blog. Jill has volunteered at New Day, and also sponsors a little girl there. Volunteering there is something that I would really like to do in the future, more than once, I hope! Through Jill's blog, I've found many other bloggers who sponsor children at New Day, and some who have adopted from there also!


Of course, this sponsorship is a bit different from World Vision. My hopes and prayers are that Jenna will soon be adopted by a loving family, whereas Majlinda in Albania and Boikokobetso in South Africa are with their familes.

All three of them are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.


Do you have a child somewhere that you sponsor?