The Daily Diary ~ Pretty pieces and prose

First world blogger problems: when you have lots of little things to talk about, but nothing that is singularly post worthy?  What do you do dears? 

I am in this pickle, so what I have decided to do is start up a new feature called “The Daily Diary”.  This will not be a regular feature, but I plan on using it whenever the above situation occurs. 

I like to think of it like my diary on my blog ~ just a little conversation about daily happenings between you and me.

  …Starting with knitting!

    

I can’t believe I went out and spent $89.44AUD on wool for my next cardigan, but I did.  * _ *  I also find it hard to get over how expensive it is just to knit a cardigan!  Still, I reassure myself that I get a lot of fun out of knitting up my projects and while $90.00 is a lot of money, for a nice alpaca cardigan you’d pay about that much. 

Yup, you heard it correctly. the wool I am using is a 100% baby alpaca!  It’s so soft and I love how the creamy ivory colour allows the pretty cable detail to really shine.  I am making up the gorgeous pattern pictured below right ~ ‘The Sightseer’ from Clarks and Coat’s Bulky knits.  It’s so simple to do that I have knitted up 13 inches in three days!  w00t!  > u <

Next up in the list of lovelies floating through my house ~ this stunning giveaway prize that I won!  Remember I blogged about an awesome Pretty Broach Giveaway a while ago?   Well I was totally thrilled when I won; it’s a fabulous prize and it arrived on my doorstep just the other day. 

Sarah of Snövits äpple did a superb job handcrafting this darling little brooch for me and I love it!  Not to mention she included some lovely surprises for me ~ like the amazing vintage postcard {bottom left} that has a beautiful photograph of a girl and her horse on the front. 

Plus, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to see the precious box the brooch was sent in.  I am keeping my bobby pins in it right now.  Lastly, but definitely not least, the brooch was careful wrapped in a delicate lace~edge linen handkerchief.  What a truly delightful package to receive!  Thank you Sarah, thank you Elsa!  ♥

  

I also had to include a snapshot of the gorgeous new handbag I brought from Oasap, and a sneak peek of the shirtwaist dress that I been working on for oh, ages now!  It’s finally almost finished, and I am so happy with how it’s turned out. : 3

   

Until next time ~

xox,

bonita

The Thank You Giveaway Winners!

Hello my dears!  I am sorry it has taken me so long to announce the winners of the Thank You giveaway; life and my little boy’s first birthday just happened to get in the way.  > O <  Nevertheless, here are the lucky winners!

The Follower’s giveaway winner: Kat! @goodbyekitty2005

The Open giveaway winner:  Daneva!  @tednampa7Nu

And finally, the winner of the Mystery giveaway ~  Jessica from Chronically Vintage!!

Congratulations Kat, Daneva and Jessica!  And thank you to all who entered, I hope you all had a good time. 

Will the winners please contact me and email me their postal addresses so that I can send out the prize parcels as soon as possible? 

You can find me at bonita@bdotdepictions.com

Thank you and have great day lovelies!

xox,

bonita

::CLOSED:: Last Chance ~ The Thank You Giveaway!

Hi everyone!  It's the last day to enter my giveaway so if you haven't already, do sign up for your chance to win.  Don't forget that everyone who signs up is in the running to win a third, mystery vintage package.  ᵔᴗᵔ

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Here’s what happening.  I’m doing one giveaway for all of my followers and one giveaway that is open to anyone who enters!  Plus, there will be a third, mystery giveaway…  Exciting, yes?  Well, then onto giveaway number one!



Up for grabs is a gorgeous 40x40 silky vintage scarf with a pretty paisley pattern in blue, grey and pink.  There is also this darling vintage shirtwaist pattern in 36” bust.  Even if you don’t sew, this pattern is lovely to have around, even just to look at.  There is also a pretty lip balm included to keep you in tip~top kissable shape *wink* and a set of 6 hair combs that are fabulous for creating the perfect vintage inspired hair dos!

The Follower’s Only Giveaway:

To enter this giveaway you need to be a follower of Depict This!  You can do that by liking the B dot Depictions FB page, following on Twitter, through Google Reader or another RSS feed reader, through Google Friend Connect, or you can follow through Bloglovin'.  : )  And please, no following and leaving after the contest.  If you don’t really want to follow Depict This! there is another giveaway for you.  Thank you!

Giveaway number two consists of four vintage patterns and a surprise gift.  I won’t tell you about the surprise gift, because it’s, well, a surprise!  What we do have is a Make It Easy 8 multi-sized pattern sewing guide with variations on blouses, skirts and even a jumper; plus instructions on making a kilt!  Then we have two Style patterns up for grabs ~  Style  1111 is a size 12, with a 34” bust and it’s the darling negligee pattern in the bottom left hand corner.  I love the sweet simple shape of this pattern; it could be used for a baby doll nightgown or a darling summer dress if you wanted!  The next Style 2442 pattern is the cute shirtwaist with a vest in a size 14, bust 36”.  This one unfortunately seems to be missing a piece, but it should be easy to make up with a little ingenuity.  Last, but not least, Simplicity 7382 is a pretty cocktail or evening dress pattern with a precious caplet detail.  I personally think this pattern looks quite 1930s, and could be use to make a gorgeous period inspired piece.  Any of these patterns are cute and wearable so enter now for your chance to win the lot!

The Open Giveaway:

This is open to anyone who would like the chance to win, so just leave your details and if you want, you can tweet for an extra chance to win!



The giveaways are open internationally and close the 25th of May, 2012 6:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. 


Oh, and if you are wondering about the extra mystery giveaway, it’s a random chance draw, so anyone who enters either giveaway gets an extra chance to win.   Good luck everyone!!  > ω <


I will announce the winners on Saturday next week.  : )

xox,

bonita

Pretty Broach Giveaway

There’s a lovely giveaway going on at Grandmother's Pearls.  Elsa is hosting the competition ~ she has a darling vintage blog is a great source of inspiration and pretty vintage modelling/pin-up pictures.  She’s teamed up with Sarah of Snövits äpple {which the ever~handy Goggle is telling me means “Snow White’s Apple”}. 

Sarah makes stunning jewellery pieces that are very vintage inspired, and are simply beautiful for adding that special touch to any outfit of choice.  I adore her photograph broaches ~ they remind me very much of an antique glass locket, or an Edwardian keepsake. Thankfully, everyone who enters the giveaway has the chance to win a custom broach for themselves!

This is the picture of Joey and myself that I would love to have in my broach if I won:

That or this one:

~ * Actually, I think this second one is my favourite! * ~

Now most of you may not really know this, but horses are such a big part of my life and I wouldn’t part with my boys for anything!  Joey and Copper play a big role in teaching me about myself ~ my mental attitudes, my physical talents and limitations, and the strength of my character.

Honestly, I can’t really describe the kind of bond that is formed between a horse and his rider ~ it’s not like a human friendship, but something else; a mental connection…  Sharing that with my boy Joey is a very important part of who I am. 

My vintage world and my horse world don’t often mix, but with a customized piece of jewellery, I would have a small memento of how much the horses in my life mean to me, and I would love to be able to wear that wherever I go!  So here’s me hoping, and if you want the chance to have your own customized jewellery piece, you can meander over to the giveaway post here:

Blog competition - Win a custom made brooch!

Good luck everyone!

xox,

bonita

Hey-Hey it’s a HeyDay Giveaway!!

Okay, so there is going to be a glut of these posts thanks to everyone wanting to win….  Therefore, I’ll keep this post short and sweet and leave you with lovely pictures of what I’d buy {if I won!} to drool over.

 

It’s a toss up between these gorgeous blue 1940’s swing trousers with a pink rose blouse to match or….

The new Fleur dress in pink floral gingham!  Ack!  I die!  So adorable…  I’d take all of these, but I’d have to decide what I’d buy if I win.  I reeeeeally hope I win.  *fingers crossed*    Go to the Heyday Givaway for your chance to win.  Good luck!

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~ All images in this post belong to In the Heyday.  For more information about the products shown here please visit their website.  Thank you!

By now you already know, but ~ Heyday Giveaway!

How badly do I want to win this dress?  ……

 VERY BADLY!!!  > o < 

I have my fingers and my toes crossed.  If you want a chance to win; don’t forget to enter the giveaway on the In The Heyday blog!  Good luck!

xox,

bonita

GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Packages, Presents and Stuff ~ Modes4u Review

I was online a week or so ago, and the cuteness of Modes4u brainwashed me into making a massive bulk purchase!  Deco, stickers, stamps, and more ~ I just couldn’t resist.  And when the package turned up on my doorstep yesterday?   >_____<     *eee*  Very happy!!   I couldn’t wait to share it with all of you.

     

♥   L to R clockwise  ~   Face Clothes: my favourite is on top!   ♥  Two stamps:  one panda with strawberries and a cupcake one with sweets and a bunny and a bear   ♥   Two packs of puffy stickers:  Food bunnies and cute kitties   ♥   A fairy tale note book:  No lines ~ perfect for my notes and pictures!   ♥   Pacer pencil: cute bears, cakes and doughnuts and I love the doughnut charm hanging off the top of it!!   ♥   Deco items: Large roses, small roses, and cookies with strawberries on top   ♥ 

Modes4u had really great customer service ~ there was some sort of problem with my order and it wouldn’t go through, but they sorted it out really quickly and helped me finish the payment.

I was also very happy with the quick delivery ~ I ordered these items on the 22nd of November and received them on the 1st of December.  It was only just over a week before I got my items!  Plus, everything was packaged well, so that was great.

I am not so much a fan of the prices though….  I love what Modes4u do ~ their shop is clear, easy to order from and, obviously, they sell super cute stuff.   The only drawback for me was the prices of everything.   The Australian dollar is doing pretty well at the moment, so at least I didn’t have to worry about the exchange rates.  But even then, I found that while the notebook was a reasonable price at US$6.49 the pacer pencil cost US$5.07 which seemed excessive to me for what you got.   I don’t think I’d buy many of the deco items either ~ I love the strawberry cookies I got, and I want to get some of the cherry cookies too, but at US$2.59 for 5 pieces, when I can buy more than that for AUD$2.00, it just seems a little over the top.

All in all, I found the service and items from Modes4u great, but the prices a little expensive.  I’d save and buy things you really want from the site, but I’d also think twice about what you want to get.  To be perfectly honest, you might find it cheaper else where, and I’d rather having to wait a while longer if I could spend less! 

I know it’s early, but I am very excited for Christmas this year.  I think it’s going to be awesome and that’s why I have a special surprise!  I thought it would be really nice to do something celebrating Christmas on Depict This! so I am going to randomly give a Christmas present to one of my readers.   Okay, so it’s more like a really small version of a giveaway, but it’ll be fun anyway.  ^ w ^

~ *  You’ll receive an ice-cream bubbler, a snowman coin purse and a mystery present!  * ~

To put your name in for the present, please just comment and leave your email address so that I can contact you to send your Christmas parcel to you!

There is just one rule; please follow Depict This! publicly through Google Friend Connect so that I know you actually read DT!.  Other then that, anyone can enter.  Good luck everyone.  ^__^     GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

xox,

bonita

Fun with Influenza

Say it with me ~ “I dot a stubby nos anb its loabs of fun…”  Not.   Enough about how I’ve spent the last three days in bed.  I tell you what is fun ~ this awesome giveaway by Super Cute Kawaii!  DO NOT FORGET TO GO THE SUPER CUTE KAWAII GIVEAWAY POST {Kookizu Giveaway} TO ENTER ~ this is not my competition and commenting here won’t get you the prize.  Sorry.  ^__^

Kookizu Giveaway

Mes amis! I have for you ze new contest and it is most fantastique! Ma chere Sarah of Kookizu gives me ze prize of these 3 super cute acrylic necklaces which are featuring ze characters of Japan - Lucky Cat, Ninja and Kokeshi, all tied up in ze bundle of cuteness! Une winner will receive all of ze necklaces and be making ze friends very envious, non? Especially since these necklaces are not to be available in ze Kookizu shop until ze contest ends!

To entrez, please visitez le Kookizu shop and leave ze comment on this post telling moi about your favorit Kookizu product. I am thinking you will be finding this most difficult!

I close ze contest at 12pm BST on Monday 25th Octobre and pick ze winner with mon ami le Random Nombre Generator. All mes amis worldwide can be entering so I wish you bonne chance mes cheres!

 

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Good luck everyone and don’t forget to visit Super Cute Kawaii for your entry.   I hope you win ~ because it is quite unlikely that I will!   >__<

xox,

bonita

Giveaway ~ Melludee's GOODIES Giveaway!

This giveaway is too cute not to enter ~ I have not yet managed to win any giveaways, so I have my fingers crossed for this one.  x (^3^) x

Love that rose bracelet and the Hello Kitty necklace!  >w< 

As normal, please go to the link I have provided below and enter there.  Entry comments to giveaways that are not hosted by me will NOT count if they are posted on Depict This!. 

I am only providing the details of what the giveaway is and where to find it. 

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I have finally decided to hold my long awaited Giveaway to my wonderful readers for sticking with me through the past few months of this blog! ♥ To celebrate reaching 50 followers and just because I love you all (and also because this is the 100th post on this blog!) here is what you can win!

Included: Plushie Phone holder, Bow Hairclip, Rose Bracelet, Hello Kitty Necklace and Two MIKI Nail polishes! ♥

Although all these items are mainly aimed at the female population, males can still enter and if they win, they will receive a different prize (unless they want this one) which will be a COMPLETE surprise!

How to Enter!
This Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and open to new readers too! :)
Winner will be chosen by random!
Required: You MUST be a public follower of http://melludee.com via Google Friend Connect.
And you MUST comment on this blog post with the following information:
Name:
Email:
Country:
How you found my blog:
Optional: Although doing the above is sufficient enough for you to enter this competition, there are also other methods for you to gain more entries (and hence, a higher probability) to win this giveaway! ♥ And, if you do have more than one entry, I will add extra "surprise" goodies in to the package :) ♥

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The link to this giveaway:  Melludee’s GOODIES Giveaway!

I will also be putting up a link in my side bar…  Yes, it is slightly pathetic but I do so want to win…  >o<  Good luck to everyone! 

xox,

bonita

Baby I’m back!

Hi everyone!  Well, after a long and crazy week at the snow, DH and I finally made it home being only a tad bit worse for the wear.   O__o

We both had a lot of fun, and with the combined owies of a sore neck and hand sized black bruise we managed to survive relatively well.  {His is the sore neck from an epic stack off a drop jump.  He rolled three times and lost his goggles and beanie.   And mine is the bruise in an unmentionable place from hitting a gum tree.  Yes, it hurts to sit down….}

Would you like to see pictures?  I have a million photographs that I took, but I shall restrain myself and only put up a few.  >__<

  

 

   

     

In other notes, I have put the Circle of Confessions page up and I am writing the clip tutorial to post tomorrow.  So late I know, but things are rather busy around here….  >x<

I am also joining a new site called Giveaway Scout which allows readers to search for giveaways on the one site.  Their little website blurb describes their service like so: 

“Giveaway Scout is a giveaway search engine. Our users subscribe to receive updates on the latest giveaways on the web. Add your blog and your giveaways will be exposed to our large network or users.”

Sounds neat to me, so I am signing up.  If you are interested in adding your blog, have a look here: http://www.giveawayscout.com/addblog

xox,

bonita

Giveaway ~ Vintage Styled Postcards

Check out Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage’s giveaway featuring these neat postcards!

I am so hoping for the everywoman one with that gorgeous checked dress.  It looks so nice. 

Free Postcards Giveaway!

I got a bunch of promotional postcards printed from Vistaprint, to hand out over the weekend. I made three different designs - two Everywoman magazine covers (one wartime, one early 50s) and one from my "Marilyn" pin-up beach photo shoot. Anyway, to celebrate Vintage this weekend I'm offering these up as a giveaway for all followers!

Any follower is entitled to one, and if you post a link back to this giveaway on your blog or twitter, and/or Like my new facebook page you can have more! Just email me your postal address and I'll pop one (or more) in the mail for you.

This is so much fun - I'm already picking out more images to make into postcards in the future, so this probably won't be the last giveaway of this type.

~* ♥*~* ♥ *~* ♥ *~

Isn’t she just the best?  I am thinking that I shall try and do something like this too.  I am supposed to be ordering some business cards from Vistaprint sometime soon so maybe I will do a postcard giveaway too!   Or maybe I will save them and do a really big giveaway when I reach 50 followers.   What do you think?

xox,

bonita

Emerging Thoughts Giveaway

Hi everyone!  I hope your weekend has been going well for you!  I have been super busy with snowboarding, friends and horses, so it has been rather crazy around here.  I did a photo shoot on the way home from Cooma yesterday, so I should have some photos up for you soon.  

I thought that this weekend’s giveaway from Keiko Lynn is a really cool one, so I am posting the details and the links.   Good luck everyone!

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Today's giveaway is courtesy of Emerging Thoughts, who is offering one of my lucky readers a print of choice from a featured artist on their site, Cindy Bernhard. She is wildly talented and a Postlapsaria customer. That's an old Postlapsaria design in the above self portrait!

To enter, simply visit Emerging Thoughts and then leave a comment below with the print of your choice. A winner will be chosen at random and announced in this post!

Up to TWO bonus entries - leave additional comments notifying me with the following:
+ Follow Emerging Thoughts on Twitter
+ "Like" Emerging Thoughts on Facebook

Entries will be accepted until 9 pm EST on Monday, August 16th. You must leave a valid email address or some way for me to contact you in order to win. Good luck!

-Keiko Lynn

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

 

I also had a really cool idea when I was waiting in line at one of the t-bars at Blue Cow.   I want to knit myself an animal hat and hang an amigurumi off it instead of a pompom.  The only thing is that I have to wait a bit to try this as I do not have the right sort of wool to felt.  *sad face*  Oh well.   Maybe I will do a takochu hat something like this ~

xox,

b.

Scrummyland Giveaway!

I am featuring my first giveaway ~ it’s not my giveaway so if you want to enter please go to Super Cute Kawaii! and comment there.  Best of luck everyone!  >w<

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Mes amis! I returnez from my travellings and bring for you ze contest most marvelleux! Truly, Le Bun is ze best at finding for you ze kawaii prizes, non? Zis week, I speak to mes amis at Chicki and they give to me ze wonderful jewellery et accessories from ze Scrummyland range. Zut alors, but they look good enough for ze eating. But non, they are for the wearing and tres jolie they are too.

Ze grande prize is above with les cute necklaces, badges, stickers, mirror and hair flower.

Plus, deux runners-up will each be winning une kawaii parfait necklace.

Please to read on for ze full instructions on how to entrez. I wish you bonne chance! Au revoir mes cheres!

* * *

There are two ways to enter:

1. Visit the Scrummyland ranges at Chicki and Shana Logic then come back here and leave a comment telling us about your favourite Scrummyland item.

2. Join the Super Cute Kawaii Facebook page and post your favourite Scrummyland product on the Scrummyland discussion thread.

You’ll also get an extra entry if you post about the contest on Facebook, your blog, or Twitter. Just leave the link/s here or on Facebook.

Contest is open internationally and closes at 12pm BST on Monday 9th August. Winners will be picked randomly. One entry per person per site. Good luck!

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Do not forget this giveaway is on Super Cute Kawaii!  & I hope you enjoy it.   I never win so I thought that I would share it and maybe one of you will be luckier than me!  

xox,

b.