Curing Bibliomania with a Giveaway

A vehicle stopped in front of our house. Before feet trudged onto the porch, I glanced out. My eyes strained to focus in the dark. The package appeared before the man dressed in brown.

“Thank you very much!” and I set the box on the desk. The package begged to be opened, but little eyes peered. After those eyes closed for the night, I delved in.

Would you believe the box contained books!

My husband wonders if I have bibliomania:

Bibliomania is an obsessive-compulsive disorder involving the collecting or hoarding of books…The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.

I protest his diagnosis,

I don’t have more than one copy of a book.

Error exposed. Five copies of one book came out of the box. Scripture wrapped with art drew me to O Holy Night.

What I did not anticipate are the stunning photographs of the land Jesus traveled. Poetry, hymns, and descriptive texts enhance the biblical story of Jesus from hope promised to promise fulfilled.

But I still can’t justify buying five. One extra copy for a gift, but five!

Christianbook knows how to market to my kind. The books were only $2.95 if I purchased so many.

And still I’m not truly repentant. I wish I had a copy for each of you to enjoy. Since I don’t, I’ll have another giveaway. Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a hardcover copy of the beautiful coffee table book, O Holy Night.

Please let me know if you have more than one copy of a particular book, or what book you would be tempted to buy if it was on sale.

Drawing ends Friday, December 5th at 11:00p.m. CST. Shipping is to U.S. addressed only. Best wishes!

P.S. Is collecting CDs a symptom of bibliomania? I have two copies of Focus on the Family’s Radio Theatre, A Christmas Carol. I’ll include one of them as well.

There. Now am I cured?

Appreciation Expressed and Winners Announced

My appreciation doesn’t put anything in your hand, but it’s the only thing large enough to stretch to all my readers. Thank you!

I am honored that you spend moments of your precious time here. Your participation encourages and challenges me to continue writing and studying. By reflecting on my role as mother, teacher, and Christian, my heart is strengthened for the work of parenting. I hope you find refreshment here as well.

We Give Thanks

I’m glad you enjoyed the beautiful handmade items highlighted this week. I only wish there were enough prizes for all of you.

The randomly selected winners are:

• $10 gift certificate to Ocean Breeze- #50 Julie W
• $20 gift certificate to Anna Hawthorne Bookarts- #4 Linda
• $10 gift certificate to Shady Side Farm- #12 Michelle
• $10 gift certificate to Cypress Lake Soap- #12 Beth

The winners will receive an email with details of how to use their gift certificates. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say a special thank you to the generous ladies who made this possible. Linda, Anna-Marie, Lona, and Michelle, thank you so much for sharing your talents with us!

Giveaway from Cypress Lake Soap

I have never made soap, but, like most crafts, the process fascinates me. Seeing the colors, feeling the textures, and smelling the fragrances must be refreshing. I could have used that today after our garage flooded again, but that is another story. Suffice to say our castle is fortified, and we have a moat.

The final giveaway of the week is from Cypress Lake Soap. Michelle and her family make soap fit for royalty. (Even if some queens shovel mud in fierce rainstorms.)

Every bar is a unique creation because they are made in small batches using the cold-process method. No two bars will ever be exactly alike. We think you will enjoy our soap as much as we enjoy creating it.

Now is your opportunity. You can win a $10 gift certificate and experience this mild, all natural soap.

Choose a gift set.

Or a bar of warm, spicy Orange-Eucalyptus.

Still can’t decide? Get a sample set and enjoy them all.

To win the $10 gift certificate, leave a comment on this post. Due to postage prices, contest is open to U.S. shipping addresses only. Comments will be open until 12:00 a.m. Saturday. The winner will be announced later that day.

The other contests are still open, too:

• Ocean Breeze jewelry
• Anna Hawthorne Bookarts
• Shady Side Farm wool creations

Thank you for participating in my giveaways this week! Don’t forget to bookmark the Etsy shops of these generous moms who educate their children at home and create beautiful things for others to enjoy.

Update: Comments are now closed. Winner will be randomly chosen and announced shortly.

Giveaway from Shady Side Farm

My family thinks it would be wonderful to live on a farm. Sunshine asks repeatedly, “When can we have a barn?” Our neighborhood does have a couple of horses and more dogs than necessary, but we long for the space to roam and explore, but forget the hard work. What we don’t live is easy to glamorize.

Lona of Shady Side Farm has a different perspective. She shares how she choose to name her blog, Farming in the shade.

When I chose the name for this blog, it was partly a play on the name of our farm–Shady Side Farm. It was also partly a statement on the decline of farming in America–that somehow a cloud has passed over the sun, and we work on while worrying what is to come.

I am so glad Lona and her family continue the work and that they share it with us. In fact, I enjoyed her stories so much my thoughts relaxed in the spring green pasture, and now I want to write about my memories of growing up in the country. However, that must be for another day, because I need to share the fabulous things created on this farm.

Shady Side Farm sells:

• Wool from our sheep: dyed and undyed yarns, and roving for spinning
• Crafts made from our wool: cat toys, greeting cards, braided rugs
• Handwoven fabric rag rugs made on antique looms
• Socks made on an antique circular sock knitting machine
• Crocheted cotton dish/facecloths

And you have the opportunity to win a $10 gift certificate towards anything in the shop.

You could get a few of these cards, which are too cute not to include.

How about a pin to remind you of spring? Or crocheted cloths to cool your face?

Or you could put your gift certificate towards a gorgeous rug.

Please visit Shady Side Farm to see the entire selection of beautiful things created by Lona.

Leave a comment on this post for your chance to win the $10 gift certificate. Due to postage prices the contest is for U.S. residents only. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Comments will be open until Saturday morning. The winner will be announced later that day.

Bonus: Lona is offering 10% off the purchase price for readers of Life Nurturing Education until Friday at 10:00 p.m. EST. Leave a note in the message line of your purchase and the discount will be refunded.

Be sure to enter yesterday’s giveaway, and come back later today for my introduction to Cypress Lake Soap.

Update: Comments are now closed. Winner will be randomly chosen and announced shortly.

Giveaway from Anna Hawthorne Bookarts

I drooled over the pages of Making and Keeping Creative Journals dreaming about making books. After returning to reality, I realized I wouldn’t be undertaking the painstaking process anytime soon. And I don’t have, too.

My friend, Anna Hawthorne, creates amazing handmade books. I plan to be her best customer.

Anna describes her work:

I am a book and paper artist specializing in handmade books as art in form and function. My blank books are made to be written in, so they will be lonely collecting dust on a shelf. Use and enjoy! And each blank book comes with a free project page, full of creative ways to use your new blank book.

Now you can get your hands on these colorful books with a $20 gift certificate to Anna Hawthorne Bookarts. Here is a sample of the books you could choose. Use them to record precious memories, store artwork, or fill with inspirational quotes. The possibilities are limitless.

A couple of mini books are perfect for small projects.

Or how about a journal with creamy lined paper?

Another option is to put your $20 towards a gorgeous album made with handmade marbled paper.

For more information on any of these books and to see what else is available at Anna’s Etsy shop, click the illustrations above or use the preceding text link.

To win the $20 gift certificate, leave a comment on this post. Contest open to U.S. shipping addresses only due to postage prices. Comments will be open until 12:00 a.m. Saturday. The winner will be announced later that day.

Be sure to enter yesterday’s giveaway, and come back tomorrow for two chances to win. I will display the wares of Shady Side Farm and Cypress Lake Soap.

Update: Comments are now closed. Winner will be announced shortly.