Me, spamming??????

Someone left this comment on one of my old posts last night.

What?????????????????????????

I cannot even begin to describe how I felt upon reading this.  Probably much like an innocent man being convicted of a crime he didn't commit. Or being accused without being given the benefit of the doubt.  Seriously, how come some people are so quick to judge?

Me, spamming??????  I don't know if I am to laugh or cry.  This is one of those times when I feel that the internet, amazing and useful as it is, can really be a terrible place.  People think it's ok to badmouth someone else just because they can hide their identities.  (Remember this other time?)  

I chose to publish the comment (even if I could have easily just ignored and deleted it) because if there is one thing I would not want to happen, it is to have a person get upset with me over something I didn't even do.

I DO NOT EVER SEND SPAM EMAIL OR COMMENTS.  I receive them myself  on a daily basis....even from email addresses of my friends and contacts.  But I know better than to accuse without asking first.  It doesn't take a genius to know that spam comes from anywhere and anyone who may have ways to access email addresses and URLs.  

I DO NOT USE ANYONE TO PROMOTE MYSELF OR THIS BLOG.  Most people who come here find me through Google, either when searching for bag tutorials or for cake recipes.  I do not go on other people's sites to advertise myself.  The content of this blog is shared freely and I do not need to do nasty tricks to get people to notice.  My goodness! My heart carries no evil personal intentions!

I HARDLY LEAVE COMMENTS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S BLOGS.  My ten fingers are probably enough to count the number of times I've left comments on another site.  Yes, I go to a lot of sites but I just linger, stay quiet and appreciate what I see and learn.  I DO MIND MY OWN BUSINESS.

When I do leave comments, I never do so anonymously.  Out of courtesy, I always introduce myself and there is always a way for people to get in touch with me.  When I do have a concern with someone, for example, when my cake photos are being used without permission, I make sure I email the person concerned and ask them politely to do whatever has to be done.

Having said all that, here is my message to the person who left the comment (and I hope they are able to read this):

 Leaving an anonymous comment and a bad one at that, is just not right.  I hope you would do the proper thing, that is, to come forward and straighten things out with me like a mature adult would.  I do not expect you to apologize. Nor do I demand it.  I just need you to acknowledge the truth.

You know how to get in touch with me.  I shall wait.  

For all you out there who may have, at any point, thought that I have spammed you, just trust and believe that IT WAS NOT FROM ME.  Mind you, for as long as we all have an internet presence, the spamming will never stop.

Winner

Congratulations, Andrea!  Please email me your complete name and postal address so I can ship the fabric to you. (By the way, I recently found a brown fat quarter in my stash suitable to use for the wallet lining, so I will be sending that to you as well.) I will also email you the Travel Wallet eBook as soon as I hear from you, ok?  Have fun with the pattern!

Thank you to everyone who participated.  Hope you all get to your dream destinations very soon!

It's GIVEAWAY time!

Yes!!! The "How to Make a Travel Wallet/Organizer" eBook has been finalized and is now available here and here.  This is, I think, the most well-written set of instructions I have ever made.  The eBook is 38 pages in total and when I say, "step-by-step", I really do mean it!

Once again, I would like to thank the two ladies who so kindly offered to test out the pattern for me and whose valuable comments and suggestions are most appreciated. Here are their versions of the travel wallet.

Catherine's

Mimi's

They did a great job, didn't they?

Because I am so glad this eBook is finally completed, I am giving you, my dear readers, a chance to win a FREE copy!  Aside from the eBook, I am also sending the lucky winner a fat quarter of this travel-themed fabric from David Textiles so she (or he) can get to work on her (or his) wallet straightaway.

Interested much?  To join, please share with me (in the comments section) which place you would most want to visit and why.  Maybe you will even give me travel ideas in the process.  Me?  I would love to go to the Holy Land.  I know it will be a deep spiritual experience for me.  My daughter has promised me she will take me when she's older (and when she has the money).  Hopefully, I would still be strong enough to travel when the time comes! 

You have until next Sunday, the 26th.  And yeah, don't forget to leave your name and email address, of course.  (Any 'Anonymous' comments left will not be considered, sorry!)  I will use the random number generator to determine the winner.  Please, please, please join!  It's no fun when there are only a handful of people to choose from...

Ok, before I go, let me just show off some of my baked goodies of the past week.  Here are the Lalaloopsy-inspired vanilla cupcakes I mentioned in my previous post.

Have never really heard of Lalaloopsies till I was asked to make these decorations.  I think these characters are cute...but at the same time, quite creepy-looking?!  They remind me so much of the movie, Coraline.  You know, the button eyes?

And here's another one....a unicorn cake!  I really had great fun making the topper. I just love a good challenge.

So that's it for now.  Have a great week ahead.  And please don't forget about the giveaway.  Hope to hear from all of you soon!

T.G.I.S.

Thank God it's Sunday night!  I know, I know....it's Monday tomorrow and nobody likes Monday.  But I am just relieved that the past week is nearly over.  It was one pretty busy week.

Perseverance really does pay off, doesn't it?  I am very happy to say that I am finally done with the travel wallet instructions!  It has been a long time coming. Here's the wallet I made and took step by step photos of.

What else is there to make with that fabric???

I think many people will be glad that the eBook will be available in the shop soon.  Will just need to have the pattern tested this week, fix up whatever kinks there are and then it will be ready.  I am already excited to share this!

As for my 'caking' this week, I had a full schedule as well.  Made 5 cakes and 64 cupcakes.  The first 32 cupcakes were Lego-themed and a real treat to make!

Vanilla cupcakes with gumpaste Lego block toppers.

Used a silicone mould for the Lego blocks.  Quite an expensive piece of cake decorating gadget but well worth the expense.

Modelled freehand, this gumpaste Lego minifig is the same size as the real one. Cool, yeah?

The other 32 cupcakes are for a 6-year old girl's birthday tomorrow.  She is sharing it with her class at school. I have already baked and frosted them but will put the toppers tomorrow morning.  They're Lalaloopsy-inspired!  Can't wait to show you.

Anyway, that's it for now. It's getting late.  Got to have a good night's rest as it will be another busy week ahead.  Have a good one!

Project #3: USB Flash Drive Case

I was at Officeworks the other day buying some school supplies for my kids when I saw one of these.

In case you didn't know, this is a USB flash drive case.  It is made of neoprene, has two pockets (one on each side) and a metal ring for attaching to keys, lanyards, etc.  It also comes in different colours.

I thought it was really a cool little thing because our USB flash drives get misplaced so easily.   I held one in my hand for a while and was very tempted to purchase it as it was only a little over $3, but then I realized that I can just make one myself.

When I got home, I did a search on Google to find out the dimensions of the case.  It turned out, there is another type in the same brand.

Called a USB flash drive shuttle, this one has flip pockets that close with velcro.  Also has a metal push clip.  

Opens up to reveal 2 transparent pockets to hold the USB drives

I found this a better design because it provides a safer way of carrying around the USB drives.  No danger of them accidentally slipping out as in the other case.

Anyway, as you may have predicted, just a day later, I now have this....

Closed case: 4" by 2".  I think I am on a bias binding sewing spree these days!

 This photo doesn't do my case justice because it's really much cuter in person...

Open case: safely keeps two USB flash drives

Pretty neat for such a small thing, don't you agree?  Want to make one too?  JUST LET ME KNOW!



PS.  Here's another cool little thing you might want to make.