And the Winner Is......

.....RACHEL DONIGER from Chicago, IL!!!

Congratulations, Rachel! Check out the raffle drawing video below. My assistants, Noah and Grace, helped make it happen.



Just wanted to say thank you again for playing my little raffle game! I'll be sending the $907.90 donation to the Red Cross today via their website on behalf of all of us.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Mod Mom Raffle for Haiti Relief -- Total Amount Raised!!

OK. I know you've been up all night stressing about the raffle and whether or not you've won (Russel) so I'll just get to the point. You won't know if you've won til after my son gets home from school and picks the winner out of the jar. I need to cut all the paper and do a the organizing of it so look for an announcement around 4pm PST. Also, I'll take photos and video tape it so you know I'm not just randomly pulling Oonagh Delaney (who has been so vocal about wanting the box on Facebook) out of the jar. Although, I think I should build her one just for her incredible enthusiasm. That, and the fact that she's family. :)

So in a nutshell, check back later today. Also, I'll contact the winner directly via email or phone or with the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes people so you'll DEFINITELY know you've won.



Now for the drum roll..........the total amount raised for the Red Cross......is....................................

$907.90!

It's really amazing what you've done!! When I put it up on the blog last week, I was seriously hoping for $200. But to sell $10 tickets and raise close to $1000 is really so unbelievable to me. Thank you so much for participating in the raffle!! I'll be making the donation later tonight via www.redcross.org. Here's a link to a recent article on the Red Cross website called Snapshots from Haiti .

(Photos courtesy of Red Cross.org)

Mod Mom Keepsake Box Raffle -- All Proceeds go to Red Cross for Haiti

Raffle Update as of 8:30am PST, January 26th:

HOLY COW we're up to $774.09 with a total of 81 tickets sold! The raffle ends tonight at midnight PST so if you haven't bought a ticket yet, look below for the Paypal link! And do it QUICK. :)

Just a reminder that the keepsake box is not just intended for kids. I designed it with adults and kids in mind and came up with a few ideas for what you big kids can store in it: leftover antibiotics that you forgot to take, old mixed tapes, photos/letters from past loves, all one thousand TV remote controls, your rock collection, your Twilight Edward Cullen action figure, and the list goes on!






I, like everyone else, is just crushed by the news coming out of Haiti. It's heart breaking. And like everyone else, we gave what we could to charity to help. Even though we can't squeeze more out of our budget to donate personally, I figured I could do something with what I know best. I've got wood and I know how to use it.

Inspired by Bamboletta dolls who raffled two dolls and raised close to $10,000 (insanely big number, huh?!?) that will go Doctors Without Borders and their relief efforts in Haiti, I figured I'd give it a try. So, last night, I designed a bird keepsake box for the raffle winner.

The keepsake box is made from eco-friendly Russian Baltic Birch. The bird and veneer cut-outs are were hand-drawn. I use Miller dowels to ensure strong joints. The paint/stain (your choice- see below) are non-toxic. The finish is low-VOC, water-based polyurethane from Deft. Dimensions: 15" x 12 1/2" x 5 1/4".

RAFFLE DETAILS:

THE WINNER GETS TO CHOOSE THE COLOR! The lucky raffle winner will get to choose the paint or stain color for the bird. I wanted it to make it work in almost any home and let you have some say in what your handmade keepsake box looks like!

HOW TO BUY A TICKET - Each ticket is only $10!: Donations will be accepted via Paypal by clicking the ADD TO CART button below. If you want to buy more than one ticket, you can choose adjust the number of tickets you'd like. Now since I'm not a non-profit organization, I'm sorry to say I cannot give receipts for tax write-offs. I'll be donating all proceeds to the American Red Cross

WHEN IS THE WINNER ANNOUNCED? The raffle will run until next Tuesday, January 26, at midnight. The winner will be chosen on Wednesday, January 27th . I'll be sure to keep you updated throughout the raffle. I'll take care of the shipping/packing costs of getting the keepsake box to the winner.

Thanks in advance to everyone who participates!



(Thank you Robert for making my photos at the top look amazing! And for sharing the news on http://www.mahardrygoods.com/blog.php and http://www.juniorsociety.com/)

Gratitude

I was reading the Apartment Therapy post again because I noticed there were four comments below. Which meant there was one I hadn't read. As I scrolled down, my heart raced a bit....and then completely jumped out of my body when I read the first line of what appeared to be a very long comment...

"I very rarely leave commentary here, though I frequent the site often, but I HAD to chime in..."

Gulp. Then big gulp. Then OH CRAP WHAT'S NEXT?!!? After a couple deep breaths, I made myself read-on through the corner of my squinty eyes and was so glad I did. Victoria was a customer of mine in 2008. She did what I sadly don't come to expect much which was say really nice things about my furniture. I've had a few bad run-ins with commenters over the course of the past three years and I guess it affected me more than I thought. I know I do good work...I put my heart and soul into every piece. But still, just a few voices who never even bought my furniture (or saw it up close) make me doubt myself and the goodness of others. It's wrong, I know.

So to Victoria, I can't thank you enough. You did what few people ever take the time to do.

"...I ordered the Owyn Toy Box from modmomfurniture over a year ago and I couldn't be more pleased. Certainly it was a splurge for me, but I ordered the piece for my daughters' first birthday, hoping it will last her. The construction is stunning, it looks absolutely lovely in her room, it's easy to use, spacious and does more than add to the decor. Am I the only one who thinks most wooden toy boxes on the market look like tiny coffins? I know I may be stretching it a bit, but I can't help the association. If they're not gloomy and dark, then they're overly gaudy. I'm already thinking of how I will be re purposing this toybox as storage for linen at the foot of my daughter's bed when she will no longer need it for toys, as it will easily transition into a teenage years... and then hopefully it's intended use will come in handy again for my daughter's children (yeah, she's only 2 now, but I dream that far).I now have another little girl and I'm seriously considering another toy box from modmomfurniture for her 1st birthday as well. I love the idea that my girls will each have an intricate hand-made item that can last and gain some history. Thank you again Kiersten, you are one talented gal!http://public.fotki.com/Vikulya/sisters/baby/first-tea-party/dsc2165.html

Ohdeedoh and Riley Paige

Many thanks to Carrie at Ohdeedoh for writing about Riley. I LOVE this article!!

Riley Paige Toy Box by Mod Mom Furniture

Meet Riley Paige. She's that rare combination of homecoming queen and valedictorian. Beneath her pretty looks lies a smart, functional, quality piece of furniture. She is lovingly handcrafted (with your choice of patterns) by one of our DIY inspirations, Kiersten of Mod Mom Furniture.

The Riley Paige (named in honor of her niece) has a bit less "mod" in it than her previous designs. She described it to us as vintage-inspired with an Anthropologie sensibility. We just happen to love the sample she's made (above), but you can also send her the papers you want decoupaged (with low VOC materials) on the flowers to match your decor at home.<

Since Kiersten makes these to order they will take 10-12 weeks before they're ready to leave her workshop and be on their way to you. The Riley Paige is constructed from Russian Baltic Birch wood and sits atop caster wheels. Each costs $450 and can be passed on for generations.

Find the Riley Paige and the rest of the Mod Mom Furniture collection right here.

(photos: Mod Mom Furniture)

Deep New Year's Thoughts

The other night Scott and I rented Julie and Julia...or is it Julia and Julie?!? Anyhow, after previewing about 17 other movies I settled on it with much less enthusiasm than I would, say, NEW MOON, but I was interested. To back up, I'm not a Food Network fan. Don't get me wrong, I'm a food fan and I like to cook when I don't have toy box deadlines and have to help kids with homework. But I don't watch TV or movies about food, generally speaking.

While watching the movie, I felt some at-one-ness with Julie. Except she was cooking. And me, well, building. She started a blog to document her project. I started a blog to document my woodworking journey. Then sometimes she gets too wrapped up in her project and neglects her husband. And well, that is an understatement for me at times. And how she picks and chooses what she publishes..and gets told by said husband not to write about their fight(s). I, too, pick and choose. Sometimes (often) I just pick the parts that make me laugh or are funny on the page. I don't share everything but then again you knew that. What I probably should share a little bit more of are two things. My gratitude towards my supportive beyond belief husband and family. And the times that are so frustrating and painful that make me want to hang up the drill and go back to a job where I wear heels and do lunches.

I think in the New Year lots of good things will happen. And lots of frustrating (I've just been interrupted by my sweet 7-yr-old SIX times from the start of this entry), tear-inducing moments too. In honor of "letting go" of stuff before the New Year, I'm going to share a few things you haven't read on my blog. Here goes...

1. A handful of times, since starting this career, I've found myself lying on the floor in the garage crying from frustration and exhaustion. While I know it'll happen in 2010, maybe it'll just happen less than a handful.

2. I don't buy into the pink powertool/hand tool crap on the market. Why does a hammer have to be pretty in pink to appeal to women?

3. It's really hard to read negative comments/commentary on my work and sometimes I just want to write F*&$ YOU. But instead, I yell it at my computer screen and then write something back that sounds like I have a publicist. Just once this year, can I write F*&@ YOU? Ok...ok...I won't.

4. People assume since I build kids' furniture that I can build anything. Wrong. I suck at mitering and anything with trim. Don't even ask me how to use a router. Too complicated.

5. I sometimes wish I could take just a three month break from building anything with wood. Don't even want to see it for a quarter of the year. But I don't say that out loud because that would sound incredibly selfish, especially in this economy where I'm beyond thrilled to still have a thriving business. I just said it out loud, didn't I. Selfish bitch I am.

6. I don't thank you enough for being supportive, reading my erratic blog that sometimes isn't updated for weeks, and for just in general, making me feel like what I'm doing is a good thing. I wish only peace, love and prosperity for all of you out there. You keep me going, you really do.


That about does it for 2009. I'm leaving the wood behind tonight and we're making French food. Which OF COURSE, starts with buying a Presto Deep Fryer. Duh! Making Frites and Pets De Nonne (which is fancy for donut). But for a night, I'll feel like Julie who felt like Julia. And there will be butter. Massive amounts of butter.

Happy New Year!!!

The LA Times likes Riley...they REALLY like Riley!!!

Massive big thanks to Lisa Boone who unbeknownst to me has been checking in to see what crazy thing I'm doing in my garage. I woke up this morning to find this article and truly had no idea she was even cooking it up.

THANK YOU LISA!!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2009/12/latest-from-mod-mom-.html

My Cup Runneth Over

My drinking problem. Yes, they are all half full. And yes, they're all days old.

Finally....a NEW piece!! Introducing The Riley Paige Toy/Storage Box

I've had this design in my head for a LONG time. Just didn't have time to work on it. I'm still figuring out pricing and getting permissions for patterns but I'm hoping to have this on my online store within the next few weeks.

A couple things I wanted to mention and get your opinion on....

Current Options:
1. Casters or Mid-century style legs

2. Dimensions are the same as the Owyn: 29.5 inches wide by 14 inches deep x 15/12 inches tall.

3. I am going to offer several different pattern collections. So far I have what you see above (or something similar) and was thinking of a pink/mod blue/brown pattern combo. Can you suggest other color/pattern recommendations?

Strep! Toy Boxes! Christmas!

I'm alive!!! And back in the saddle again. Damn strep throat (with vomiting - who knew?) knocked me on my rear last week. My mind is all over the place today so I thought I'd post some cool stuff going on in bullet form...

• NEW TOY BOX COMING SOON! I posted a preview of a new toy box I'm finishing on Facebook. Look for more info soon. :)
  
  
• Thanks so much to Darryl Masterson for featuring my work on his blog. Darryl is a fellow woodworker that I met through Lumberjocks. www.anetsyfavorite.blogspot.com
  
  
• A new store called Baby Bot in Canada is officially launching this week! They have 15 Mod Mom storage pieces in stock so if you're in Canada and need one pronto, check out Baby Bot. www.babybot.com
  
  
• Happy Holidays! And thanks for reading my silly blog. :)