Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Handmade Christmas!

The kiddos and I have had a blast over the past couple of weeks getting ready for Christmas! We love adding a handmade touch to all our gifts, so this year, my son and daughter both got in on the fun. From snowman pencils, to hand-decorated gift bags and yummy Peppermint Bark, we've been enjoying ringing in the Christmas season together. I wish I could say that most of the ideas were mine, but this year I relied on a Martha Stewart Holiday Magazine from a couple of years ago, thanks Martha! Preparing the Peppermint Bark is something fun the whole family can do. It's quick and easy and keeps in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week. We bought pretty glass canisters from the local craft store and added a holiday label to give as gifts to our friends. Below is the recipe for the Peppermint bark with a few modifications:


















Makes about 2 1/2 pounds

2 12 oz. bags of Nestle's premium white chocolate morsels

12 large candy canes

1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil (you can find at local craft store)

1. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Follow instructions on package for melting chocolate. (I was able to pour both bags into a pyrex dish and heat for 2 minutes at 70%; stir and heat for an additional 10 seconds at 70%.

3. While the chocolate is melting, with a chef's knife or kitchen mallet, cut or pound candy into 1/4-inch pieces. I recommend putting the unwrapped candy canes into a plastic bag and placing it onto foil to contain the mess!




4. Stir candy and peppermint oil into the melted choclate. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Break into pieces before packaging (or serving). Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

So, I've been tagged a few times over the past weeks and I'm tryin' to catch up! So, this one is courtesy of my girl Rockerchic who shared her dirty little secrets and now expects me to share mine!

THE RULES:

~ Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
~ Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
~ Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog.
~ Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

SEVEN WEIRD OR RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME!

#1: I'm ambidexterous because I started out as a lefty and for whatever reason my kindegarten teachers thought I should conform and use my right hand, but even though my parents nixed that nonsense all I can really do with my left hand is write!

#2: My friends compare me to Joan from the sitcom "Girlfriends" and I've even been compared to Monica on friends...I guess I can admit I'm a little anal at times, especially when it comes to symmetry (in decorating my house, papercrafting...), but what's wrong with a little perfection now and then?

#3: I love decorating my house for Christmas! I put a little holiday cheer in each room in my house (including bathrooms...LOL). Everyone has their own wreath on their door and I put up a tree in almost every room...

#4: I think meals like burgers & fries, sandwich & chips, pancakes & bacon etc. were made just for me! Actually, I'm probably a little obsessive about how I eat my meals, I have to eat them proportionately so I do things like ration my fries so I have enough to go with each bite of burger, the same goes for sandwiches and chips, and I get a little bothered if I run out of bacon before I've finished my pancakes...I do share my food with hubby and kids, but there's always the concern that they'll throw things off-balance!

#5: When I was a kid I used to eat bologna sandwiches along with a bowl of cheerios for breakfast, EVERY MORNING!!

#6: Oh, while we're on strange eating habits, my mom says I used to bite off the stick of butter out of the refrigerator...now that's just gross!

#7: What could possibly top the eating butter thing...mmmm....I have a freakish memory when it comes to remembering faces. I tripped my hubby out once at the mall when I spotted someone I hadn't seen in about 15-18 years (when we were kids) and the kicker was we weren't even in our hometown!

So, that's enough about me. Can't wait to hear some interesting little trivia about these mamas:

MadebyJade

Wylesstyle

Stampinmom

Laylalegs

Crafts, kids, home and life

Turtlemommy

Eleganthobbies

Don't forget to check out these mamas' blogs!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas Creations

I just can't believe that Christmas is only 19 days away! This season is so busy for us; my daughter's birthday is sandwiched in between Thanksgiving and Christmas and then we celebrate a number of birthday's and anniversaries in January. Add being pregnant to all of that and I don't know how I managed to make anything new! But I found so much inspiration just thinking about the Reason for the Season. I especially like these latest tags and Family scrapbook Album I made and was soooo reluctant to list them in my Etsy shop! Think I'll just have to make some more tags for the gifts I'm giving.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

NCTriangle Team is Hosting a MegaGiveaway

Here's the scoop... the NCTriangle Etsy team is jumpstarting your holiday shopping this week by hosting MEGAgiveaways. It's going to be an exciting week!


It's on to day #2 of NCTriangle Etsy team's MEGAgiveaways!If this is the first day that you're joining in on the exciting giveaways, be sure to enter enter the previous MEGAgiveaway and make yourself a note to come back everyday this week to learn about the lastest giveaway!Today's NCTriangle Etsy Street Team giveaway is sponsored by Cinnamon & Spice Crafts. Interested in finding out more? Keep reading!
Cinnamon & Spice Crafts features cherished keepsake gifts and cards for birthdays, baby showers, holidays and more.


Prize: A set of 8 "Silver Elegance" Holiday cards and envelopes. $14.00 value. Plus shipping will be included!Who Can Enter: Anyone! US and International entrants are welcome. You do NOT need an"Etsy" account to enter.
Deadline: The give away runs from December 2nd to December 9th. The winner will be announced here the following day.
How to Enter: Visit the NCTriangle Team Blog and follow instructions there!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

EtsyMom Season Opening Sale

EtsyMom is kicking off the holidays with the Season Opening Sale! EtsyMom is having a team sale starting tomorrow, November 28! Search "EtsyMomSOS" (all one word) on Etsy to find participating shops! (Or, CLICK HERE!)



Thank you all so much for playing along in the EtsyMom Super Giveaway! 52 prizes have been given away already, and we still have 8 left to come! We are taking today off in observance of the holiday, but we will be back at it tomorrow, and on November 30, we are sending the Super Giveaway out with a bang by doing 4 giveaways!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

What I'm Most Thankful For...

in 2008 are my GOD, FAMILY, HEALTH, GOOD FRIENDS AND LOVE IN MY LIFE! I am also grateful for the precious little life that will join our family in just a couple of months. As my 5-yr. old daughter told me, then our family will be complete. I'm happy that I reconnected with several old classmates of mine, some of whom I hadn't seen in over 20 years, thanks to Facebook! It was better than a class reunion and I look forward to reestablishing those ties we once shared. Browsing through all of their pictures and profiles just brought back so many warm memories of the Fun and Wacky times we had over the years. It's amazing how some people look exactly the same and others I probably wouldn't recognize if I saw them on the street. I am very appreciative of the support I've received from and the opportunity to serve all of my fellow Etsy teams members. Imagine, people wanting to help you in business with no expectation of material gain or benefit to themselves...WOW! And I can't wait until we can spend time with close friends who are like family to us today...and of course eat!!! Love and Blessings to all!

Monday, November 10, 2008

I was tickled pink when my blog buddy Stampinmom presented me with this award! I love reading her blog and seeing what new and fun activities she's into, so check out her blog when you have a chance.
The Rules for the Award are as follows:

1. Mention the blog that gave you the award & comment on their blog when you post the award.

2. List 6 things you VALUE & 6 things you DON'T VALUE.

3. Then, pass the award onto 6 other blog buddies! Easy, peasy...here goes...

Things I value

1. LIFE

2. My incredible family
3. LOVE

4. Freedom/being an American

5. MY HEALTH

6. Each Day

Things I don't value (this is a little tough since I try really hard to find a little value in everything, even the worst situation), but I will keep to the rules!


1. Ignorance (although it could be an opportunity to educate someone!)

2. Mean-spiritedness

3. Hot, humid weather (unless of course I'm at the beach on some island that ends in i, i.e Maui, Capri, etc.)

4. Laziness

5. Bad restaurant experience (I love food, and when the food or the service is bad it makes me unhappy)

6. To piggyback on #5, bad shopping experience (I enjoy shopping and a rotten attitude from a salesperson can ruin it in seconds!).

I am passin' this on to the following (includes all my girls from the Super Giveaway Committee because they are so fly!):



Saturday, November 1, 2008

My Cards Given Away on Etsymom.com

My set of 4 handcrafted "Snowflake Fun" cards is the 2nd giveaway in EtsyMom's Month-Long SUPER GIVEAWAY!


Christmas is right around the corner! Spread some holiday cheer with these 4"Snowflake Fun" handmade greeting cards. The set includes cards measuring 5" x 7" and white envelopes. The cards were created from scrapbook paper, cardstock, ribbon and 3-D embellishments.
The item can be shipped worldwide.


To enter to win this set of 4 Christmas cards from, go to the EtsyMom blog for complete giveaway guidelines. Deadline for entering this giveaways is 11:30pm today, Nov 1st, but don't worry, there will be others everyday this month!

Friday, October 31, 2008

EtsyMom SUPERGIVEAWAY is coming!

The EtsyMoms Street Team is prepping for the holidays by taking the time-honored tradition of gift-giving to another level! Riding the wave of unity, harmony and excitement inspired by the Etsymom Trunk Show in September, our team tossed around a few ideas about our next team event. A little idea of having a giveaway, where Moms would donate an item to be given away each day of November on our blog has morphed into a SUPER GIVEAWAY!! When the call for volunteers went out we had an overwhelming response of over 60 shops willing to donate a $10.00 in value item to this cause. Two winners will be randomly chosen everyday to receive one of over 50 prizes. Donations will range from an assortment of hand embroidery, vintage finds, hair clippies, baby accessories, paper crafts, earthenware pottery and more. Perfect for gift-giving! There is a little bit of everything, so whether you like trendy, shabby chic, traditional or retro styles, you're sure to find something! Don't miss this ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA. Visit us here beginning tomorrow, November 1st for contest rules and deadlines!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Cinnamon and Spice and all Things Nice...

That's the theme for my babyshower in a few weeks! And here is a picture of the invite I made, yeah, I know, I made my own shower invitations...but I thought my friends might have a hard time finding pink and brown ones. Alright, alright, the truth is I knew exactly what I wanted them to look like, so I made them! I always keep an extra invite I make for birthday parties for my kiddos, so I'll be tucking a copy of this one away safely, along with the 3-D ultrasound pics. We had one yesterday and it was unbelievable the level of detail you could see. I was set against spending the money for one, but hubby wasn't here for the two earlier ultrasounds, so I thought it would be a nice surprise for him...the look on his face was worth every penny!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hopelessly Junky

I'm letting you in on a little secret...I'm organizationally challenged. Yep, while my blog layout is pretty neat and tidy, my house is another story. It's not that it's dirty or anything but there's lots of "stuff" or I guess some people would call it clutter. My mom just calls it plain ole JUNKY! So, since this summer I've been on a mission to get this house under control, especially my craft area, before I add to it with a new bambina! You're probably dying to see pics of this glorious mess, but I can't go out like that, now can I? Here is a pic of how my Craft Nook should look, but can I just tell you how rare this is? What I'm not showing you are the other rooms where the REST of the my supplies are, the guest room, the hall closet etc. So come join me on my search for the ultimate craft room! Thanks to google, I found some spaces I'd absolutely love to have...of course I would need to have a whole room to dedicate to my crafting but that hasn't worked out yet. It's really more practical to be in the same room with the kiddos, they work on their projects while I work on mine...or something like that. Check out Lisa Brown's room. See all those slots for the scrapbook paper? Ohhhh, I so need that. And look at how all her ribbons and embellishments are neatly stored in canisters. Could I maintain this level of order??? I'm not sure. When I first saw this next room I thought it was her kitchen! It's too beautiful for words. Everything has its place, in drawers, cabinets, off the countertop! Of course that would require putting away everything when you're finished, which is no fun! I found this next room, called a "hobby/craft room" on my home ideas. It's probably what my husband would prefer, neutral, manly colors (there better be a tv inside that armoire)! And it doesn't look anything like a craft space!


In all seriousness, it would probably be more fun and more realistic to have a room like Tara Anderson, I love the brightness, festive colors and overall "busyness" of her room! Finally, I came across this website, "My Electic Mess" whose tag line is "Diverse Crafts For a Diverse World" and thought, now this describes me perfectly. I think the key for me is accepting that in my world, out of CHAOS comes some piece of beautifully handcrafted art, made with love. So, once I find one central location to "house" my mess in, so it's not spread all over the place, I'll be set and I will definitely share my space with you. Thanks for going on my little journey of self-discovery!!! Need help organizing your space? Wendy Travis shares her "5 Steps" here and the Container Store, ScrapnCube and Cropperhopper all carry materials for whipping that space into shape. Then again, if you're like me, you'll be checking out the local Thrift Market and taking your 40 and 50% off coupons to the Craft Stores to find those storage pieces that truly reflect you!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Etsymom Giveaway during November


The EtsyMoms Supergiveaway is coming! All I can tell you right now is that there will be a month-long giveaway of over 50 prizes beginning November 1st!!! More details to follow soon!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Etsy Must Haves for Baby Girl!

So, while I'm waiting for "Army Wives" to come on, I'm checking out Etsy for some incredible baby girl finds, as promised! Etsy has opened up a whole new world to me, the world of handmade. You can truly find one-of-a-kind, quality, "art" to wear, for your home or as as a gift. Until Etsy comes up with a baby registry, I'm putting together my own wish list from my mama friends at Cafe Mom Etsy Mom and Etsymoms, and sharing it here! I'm trying not to go crazy, especially since we're having a girl but it's hard. So far, I've only purchased this sweet little matching bib and burper set from Boodybabies. The minky fabric on the reverse side is so incredibly soft and I love the fabric. I also have my eye on this new item from her, a portable changing station. Call me lazy, but I would love to have one of these in every room in the house! And, talk about tutus. My little diva will definitely have some baby pics in a fabulous tutu, it will be hard to decide which one...but I think this one from Trinity's Tutus is perfect because I can get one for big sis too! And one of my new favorite shops is Petalheads. She makes the purtiest headbands and she's just added a new item, a hat! Anyone who knows me knows I am crazy about hats. I have them for every season and my kids do too! So, the baby just has to have some too, right???? More must haves for your darling diva next week!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Trunk Show, Online Craft Fair and Baby News!


The past couple of weeks have flown by! I participated in a trunk show at the home of another NC Triangle Team Member and I'm trying something new this week. It's a virtual Craft & Gift Show sponsored by EZ Shoppes and it runs from 8 October to 22 October. So, I've been hustling to make quite a few holiday items for both of these events. What I like most about doing shows is that you get a lot of merchandise made at one time! It also seems to stimulate my creativity and I come up with new ideas like the puppy dog gift tags and the gift card holder. And in honor of us finding out we're having a baby girl, I'm going to be highlighting some of the shops from my teams that make baby girl stuff I absolutely must have for her!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Think Pink ~ A Journal for a Friend!


A friend of mine that I met when I first opened my shop on Etsy has been winning the battle over breast cancer for the past several months. She's scheduled for a mastectomy later this month to finally rid her body of the cancer and I wanted to do something to show my support for her. I have to be honest, I originally had the idea of making one of my altered composition notebook journals to sell and donate the funds to support medical research. I even listed it in my shop, but I'm making another one for Etsy and I'm sending the original to my dear friend Jodi. Jodi is a woman of strength, raising three beautiful girls all on her own, and frankly, she takes away all my excuses. Whenever I feel a pity party coming on, I can just visit Jodi's blog and I sit in awe and amazement at the life and vitality that leaps off the pages. I've learned so much from her and we've never even met in person yet...but even if we never do, she's impacted my life in a tremendous way. Thank you Jodi!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Tag, I'm It!

I was tagged the other day by BoodyBabies!
The game is 6 Random Things.
Here are the rules:
Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write 6 random things about yourself.
Tag more or less 6 people at the end of your post.
Let each person know he/she has been tagged.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1. A lot of people are surprised to find that I voluntarily completed the Air Force Survival Training Course and I'm not even in the military! Ahh, those were the days, a younger, more fit me!

2. English is my native tongue but I also speak Spanish, Korean and Japanese.

3. I am hopelessly addicted to soap operas (I limit myself to two now, General Hospital and Young and the Restless).

4. My dream vacation will be renting a villa in Italy for a month with my hubby and kids, once I make enough sales!

5. I'm pregnant with my 3rd child and suddenly developed allergies to everything from apples, bananas, peaches and oranges to rice, potatoes, lettuce and turkey!

6. Before we were married, I made my husband wait about 7 years before I would go on a "real" date with him!

I am now tagging: itcametome, cozycabincreations, petalheads, brainmosaic, happyathomehandmade and starttofinish. Now, I better get back to work! The EZShoppes Online Craft Fair is coming up in a few days!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Win a Set of My Notecards on The Giveaway

Another fabulous Etsyseller, Babylyons, is hosting a giveaway for me on her blog, the Giveaway. I admire all that Babylyons does to promote Etsy and its members and am so appreciative she chose my items to feature on her site! By visiting the site and following the detailed instructions on how to enter, you too can have a chance to win a set of my handmade "Vintage Darling" notecards!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Did You Know You're Brilliant?

Thank you to Happy House Quilts for sending me this award! What an unexpected treat when others recognize your time and energy... If you've never seen her precious hair accessories, be sure to check out her website.


Now as part of being nominated there are rules so here they are.....


1. Add the logo of the award to your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.


3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.


4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.


5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.
So here are my 7 picks.....


Start To Finish-- In need of crafting supplies or just want to discover some great finds at Etsy? Visit Katie's blog for all of this and more! Her reasonably priced supplies can be seen in her Etsy shop.



Xue-originals--Xue is a self taught artist, experienced in advertising, graphic designing, theme parties, cartoon illustrations, mosaic art, & jewelry designs. She blogs about crafting with her kids and her beautiful jewelry line which can be seen in her Etsy Shop.



brainmosaic--“Snazz”, a SAHM who loves to sew and cook is sometimes embarassed to admit the level of her domesticity! SAHM’s rock! Her blog is chock full of fun about her family life and her sewing adventures.

Shai's creations--If you haven’t seen “Mama Shai’s” Creations, you are definitely in for a treat. She makes the most beautiful tutus for little princesses!



Scrapbook-Crazy about Mini's--If you love mini albums, this is the site to visit. Peata has the latest info on great give-away-contests and scrapbookin’ challenges.


momdumchronicles--MomdumChronicles—I fell in love with Kerith’s blog the minute I saw her banner and the first post of hers I read about her love, well addiction for scrapbooking which is probably equal to mine! See her paper, die cuts, crafts and more in her Etsy shop.



Dr. Mommy Chronicles--I enjoy visiting this blog for inspiration about motherhood, working from home and getting organized! Check out her great meal tips as well.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

EtsyMoms Virtual Trunk Show!!

Get a jump on your holiday shopping with the Fall into Holiday Cheer Trunk Show the wonderfully talented Etsymom Street Team Members are hosting this Thursday, Sept. 4th at 7 pm in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Come find out what inspires the beautiful handcrafted artistry of this dedicated group of moms in business. Each Etsymom participant will display images of their work, share about their creative process and answer questions. Don't miss this first-time event for Etsymoms and an opportunity to buy some incredible handmade goods!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Etsy Treasury Guide ~ Part I of III

Do you buy or sell on Etsy? Would you like to know some tricks of the trade for building your own Treasury? As writers for our NCTriangle Team blog, Lynnscrafts and I are writing a three-part series on the nuts and bolts of how to curate your own collection of Etsy art. Here's part I: http://nctriangle.blogspot.com/2008/08/etsy-treasury-part-1-of-3.html

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Newest Item ~ Pregnancy Journals!




I am so sleepy it's ridiculous, but I was so excited about the latest custom order I did, I wanted to do a post. Thanks again to the slammin' Cafemom Etsy Moms team I'm on, I got a request to make a custom pregnancy journal. The client wanted the journal covered in cordorouy, which is one of my all-time favorite fabrics. She also wanted an applique. I so enjoyed making it and she loved the way it turned out, prompting me to make a couple more. So, here they are...

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Where Have I Been?????


It's been a little quiet here, but that's because I've been working my tushy off to get some products out the door. I got my first consignment gig at Peaceblooms, a shop in Morganton, NC that showcases handcrafted collections by American moms!!!! Thanks to my membership on the Cafemom Etsymom team, I was connected with the owner of the shop. They liked my scrapbooks and greeting cards, so I've been working to get my first collection out the door. In addition to my summer line of scrapbooks and greeting cards, I added some new cards and a baby girl photo album. Guess I'm going to need one of these for myself because we also found out yesterday we'll be having a new little princess of our own soon...I've been working on a lot more and will be previewing it in the coming weeks!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Spotlight on Eco-Friendly Etsians!

As promised, here's the 1st in a series I'll be doing which will highlight the creative ways some of my NCTriangle and Etsymom Street Teams are making eco-friendly products by recycling, upcycling and using natural, biodegradable materials. Erin, of DinnerTimeChimes, always seems to keep her ideas fresh and innovative as shown here by her whimsical stationary set. She used envelopes from bills and creatively covered them with designs from magazines. The paper is made from recycled card stock. Aren't they fun? I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Speaking of fun, Mojo Trashion has designed this pocket-sized Mini Oreo Cardholder perfect for keeping important cards and a little cash on hand. Made from a recycled Mini Oreos package that's sandwiched between heavy duty vinyl and felt, it's super durable. It would also make a great gift!

And Donnapool makes us smile with these charming vintage multicultural button magnets. She used original images from a vintage magazine to create these one-of-a-kind magnets. They could be used as a cute way to show off your kids artwork, pin up important notes or a number of other possibilities!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Days of Summer Vintage Cards and Album


I've been gone for a spell, had a nasty bug over the past couple of weeks but I'm over it now! Wanted to take a minute and share some new items from our Days of Summer vintage cards and albums selection. I've had these vintage photographic images for quite some time, but inspiration is kind of funny, you never know when it will hit or where it will come from! So, a few weeks ago, in preparation for an art show, I checked out some of the local antique stores. One that I particularly love is the Cotton Exchange. There I found vintage ribbons, buttons and postcards that made the perfect adornments for these cards and my favorite, the photo album cover. The images are from a family scrapbook circa 1920's and 30's and the members and friends seem to be having a laid back time at the beach, which is one of my family's favorite pastimes!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Green, Not Just My Favorite Color Anymore



Green has been my favorite color for as long as I can remember. There's something about the color, except for that shade of split pea green, that makes things fresh or calming or even funky. Recently we've started to view "green" in another way at our house. No, we haven't done a complete eco-friendly revamp overnight, but we are taking steps to incorporate more earth-conscious habits into our daily life. We're excited that our city is finally going to begin a recyclables pick-up this week and I wanted to share my most recent purchases. One has drastically reduced the amount of plastic bags floating all about our house and the other has an extremely pleasing scent. Yep, you guessed right. We bought reusable grocery bags from Harris Teeter and have started using the all natural "Green Works" cleaners by Clorox. Before we got a cloth bag to store our plastic bags, they were coming out of what seemed like every drawer and cabinet in the kitchen. Even after I bought the bag, for some reason the plastic ones didn't always make it in there! Now, we can take our resusable ones with us wherever we go shopping, and they can hold a lot. I think it's a great investment for .99 cents a bag. We've also been happy with the natural cleaners, they have a much fresher, non-chemical smell, and work really well. Next, we'll be highlighting Etsy shops that create items from recycled materials. Got any great tips to share? Post them here, we'd love to read them!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

All Aboard!!!


Last week I took some much needed time off to go home and visit my parents. While I didn't enjoy all the turbulence on the flights, my son got a blast out of the take-off and landing. To keep from having to use the little white paper baggie the airline provides, I tried to keep my eyes closed. It was a little difficult to do with this little voice calling "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" and little fingers trying to pry my eyes open! Needless to say, we arrived safely. We stayed for about a week, attending a family reunion and just doing a lot of plain old nothing. My brother, his wife and their four boys hung out for a few days. It was a lot of fun seeing my kids play with their cousins. One of the most fun things we did was to visit the St. Louis Museum of Transportation. It brought back so many memories because I used to take school field trips there as a kid. My kids enjoyed climbing on the historic railcars and the tour guide was excellent. It was great to see how they're expanding the museum from when I had last visited. They've added a scenic choo-choo ride around the museum's grounds. If you're ever in St. Louis check it out!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

First Custom Mini Scrapbook Order!

At last, the orders for our mini scrapbooks are starting to roll in! In one of our earliest posts, I talked about my passion for mini's. Some people call them brag books because they are purse-size so you can carry your favorite pics of loved ones wherever you go! In Vera Rapso's e-zine article on brag books, she talks about them being "the scrapbooking enthusiasts answer." She says "Brag books aren’t just for showing of babies either. They can be used to tell a story about trip, event or even a special accomplishment." She makes a great suggestion for involving your kids in scrapbooking too! She suggests giving them a supply of disposeable cameras when they go to summer camp and telling them to keep an eye out for keepsakes like ribbons and things they've created.

The first two I ever did were pre-made for Valentine's Day 2007 and I sold them on Ebay. I took another one to a Women's Expo a couple of month's ago and got our first order for a custom book. This client helped me improve the product when she asked for a case to protect it from the contents of her purse. I had fun experimenting with sewn-together transparencies and other materials before I created an envelope to coordinate with the book. We've had a few more orders that we're working on. Coming to Etsy soon!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

JULY FOURTH FUN FACTS

Can you believe it! July 4th is right around the corner. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, starting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. Every year this holiday is celebrated with parades, fireworks across the country. Did you know:

  • There are 30 number of places nationwide with "liberty" in their name.


  • 11 places nationwide have "independence" in their name.


  • 5 places nationwide adopted the name "freedom."


  • There is one place named "patriot" — Patriot, Indiana

    • For more 4th of July fun facts check out the following links: http://www.chiff.com/a/fun-facts-fourth.htm and http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet

      Saturday, June 21, 2008

      Introducing "Bud" New Pillow Kid














      Introducing our new friend Bud! Bud hails from Chicago Illinois. He is approximately 8.5" x 11" and weighs 1 pound (or so he says). Bud is looking for a new home. If anyone is interested we can connect you with Bud via our website at Etsy.com. For anyone interested in a pillow companion such as Bud, he has a number of family and friends whom are in need of relocating from the Chicago Metropolitan area. We will provide you with their contact information in future posts and listings on our blog. Bud and his gang are special friends of ours and are willing to relocate as gifts for birthdays, holidays or "thinking of you" gift giving.

      Thursday, June 19, 2008

      Green Juice Recipe

      If you are in need of a pick me up, you've got to try this green juice recipe. No matter what time of day this will prove to be quite refreshing. 3 cups of water (add more if you wish), 5 ice cubes, Handful or 2 of fresh spinach, 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, 1 cup fresh mango or fruit of your choice, 2 T of *blue agave nector or 3 T of *maple syrup or *honey.

      >chop spinach fine
      > put water in the blender, add spinach and blend
      >add fruit and blend
      >add sweetner (optional) blend
      >add ice cubes last and blend
      REMEMBER THE *SWEETNER IS OPTIONAL ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Saturday, June 14, 2008

      ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT?

      Trying to squeeze in everything that I must do into my schedule has really been a struggle for me this year. While perusing the “Etsy Forum” one evening, I was drawn to a discussion on, the hardest part of starting your business. I was not surprised to find that I was not the only one seeking balance and organization in the management of their time. When overwhelmed with the demands of life, whether it be children, husband, household, and/or business, how does one strike balance? Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that all you are fit to do is to sit on your sofa and stare at the ceiling? According to David Allen, founder of the David Allen Company, which is focused on productivity and executive coaching, "time management is a mislabled problem." He believes that time can’t be managed, it just is. He further states that "what we really manage is activity during time, and that defining outcomes and physical actions required is the core process required to managing what you do."

      After my introduction to Mr. Allen's ideas (Wikipedia), I began to reflect on some of the things I have observed successful friends and family doing with regard to managing time. Whether they are concious of it or not, they actually do manage their activity and not their time. I've noticed that they tend to avoid time wasters such as gabby telephone time and watching television; they multitask and use creative organization techniques. One example of this was sitting right under my nose. In our June 5, 2008, post, Cinnamon shared one of her creative organizing tips. She uses legal-sized manila envelopes to sort her kids' school papers, party invitations and important dates to remember. She assignes the task of labeling and decorating to her 5-yr. old. Now if that’s not creative activity management, what is?

      Light bulb moment! MANAGE YOUR ACTIVTY AND NOT YOUR TIME! Be encouraged, and know that striking a balance is possible, it's all about redirecting your focus. Feel free to comment and share with us any ideas you have found useful in "managing activity".....

      Monday, June 9, 2008

      We Were Featured in an Etsy Treasury!!!!!

      How tickled were we to learn that our fellow NC Triangle Team member, owner of Dinner Times Chimes, selected our "Polka Dot Fun Embellished Tin" for a "Buy and Replace" Treasury on Etsy.com. What's the Treasury you ask? The Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each (plus four alternates). It functions as a high-demand (and pretty!) promotional tool that many devoted Etsians fight to get. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme, or just however they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Etsy Admin often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page and occasionally make them to tie into Storque articles or special events and occasions. Maybe you're like me and had been wondering, how do those items make it to Etsy's front page? Well try your hand at curating. Here are some tips to help you create your first Treasury!

      Saturday, June 7, 2008

      FATHER'S DAY IS JUNE 15, 2008

      Father’s Day Trivia:

      Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, hailing from Spokane , Washington is acknowledged for promoting the idea of Father’s Day as a holiday.

      President Woodrow Wilson officially approved the idea of Father's Day in 1916.

      The third Sunday of June is generally observed as Father's Day throughout the United States . In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson issued a proclamation that Father's Day be observed on the third Sunday in June.

      This is just a reminder for all you that haven’t purchased your Father’s Day cards and/or gifts. Father’s day is set aside to honor all fathers and father figures in our lives…. FATHERS ROCK!!!

      Thursday, June 5, 2008

      Favorite Organizing Tip


      I just found a great blog, the Dr. Mommy Chronicles. It is chock full of good info, especially for us work-at-home moms. A recent post focused on sharing organizing tips and I know I need all the help I can get! Please share your tips:

      ~Start copying here
      The Organizing Tip Meme
      To participate:
      1. Post your favorite organizing tip on your blog and tag 3 other bloggers
      2. Copy and paste everything shown here into the post
      3. Add your link to the bottom of the list
      More Great Organizing Tips:
      1. http://lifefrommylaptop.com/2008/05/20/favorite-organizing-tip-meme/
      ~End copying here

      My favorite organizing tip is using legal-sized manila envelopes to sort and store my kids' school papers, party invitations and important dates to remember. I let my 5-yr. old decorate them and write each of their names on the back. They are hanging in the kitchen with the back facing forward.

      Sunday, June 1, 2008

      Arte Y Pico Award - Premio Arte Y Pico


      Many thanks to the fabulous Etsymom Le creazioni dello Streggato for presenting us with the Arte Y Pico award! What an honor! This award recognizes a blog's creativity and overall contribution to the blogger community. Now, we get to select 5 recipients:






      Once you've been selected, please follow these guidelines and pay it forward:

      1) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.
      2) Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog by so everyone can view it.
      3) Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
      4) The award-winner and the presenter should post the link of the "Arte y pico"blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
      5) Please post these rules!

      Thursday, May 29, 2008

      Introducing Mini Pillow Kids


      With so many projects to complete, I soon discovered that often times, less is more. Soooo, we're now introducing the "MINI" pillow kids. Each doll measures 9 x 6.5 inches. Our super cuddly friends are hand-crocheted from an expansive assortment of rich colorful yarns. Yarn selections range from 100% wool, mohair, to wool and acrylic blends. They are stuffed with polyester fiberfill and have a muslin lining. The dolls will also have a multicultural theme. Earlier this month we entered several of our friends in craft fair auctions, needless to say they've since found new homes. Jackie is the first from our multi-ethnic "MINI" Pillow Kid collection to be introduced online. She's shown in multi-colored purple, pink, green and blue wool blended yarn. Her hair is black, she has brown eyes, a head of long, black hair and a cheery smile. She is an example of what we can create for you or as a gift. We'll have more dolls viewable within the upcoming weeks on our Etsy site. The collection is continuously expanding. These dolls are special and great for birthday, holiday or "thinking of you" gift giving. The Mini Pillow Kids are also available in 8 1/2 x 11- inch and 17 x 22-inch sizes. All requests can be customized to reflect hobbies, school colors, school emblems, etc. Eye-catching accents can include textured hair, lashes and vibrant colors.