Macaroni and Glue

Dear Kid Saturday - Drama Girl

2010-02-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this week’s installment of Dear Kid Saturday, my weekly love letter to my girlie girl. Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:

Dear Drama Girl,

It SNOWED this week! Can you believe it? And not just a little snow like you’ve seen a couple of times before. This was like a foot of wet, fluffy, snowball-appropriate snow, and you officially LOVED it. Thursday morning you came running into our room shouting “YOU GUYS WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS!” There were big, fat, pretty flakes falling and you just couldn’t get enough. At preschool, you guys went outside and made snowballs and a snowman – two firsts for you! After school, we dried off, had some warm drinks and watched from inside while the snow just kept falling and falling and falling.

The next morning we got a big surprise. Overnight the snow had piled up on our big backyard tree and it cracked right in the middle and fell over! The tree was blocking our driveway and had broken our back gate. We were trapped! You were very, very concerned about that situation and headed straight upstairs to inform Dad that he needed to take some action. We all headed outside for some tree-chopping, snowball-making and wacky winter fun. After we got our cars free, you and Daddy made a big snowman in the front yard. You couldn’t stop giggling, and I sure am glad. When we move to Colorado, you’re going to see some SERIOUS snow. Don’t worry, though – next time we need to dig or chop our way to safety, we’ll be equipped with better tools!

Speaking of the move, you’ve been dishing out some serious drama lately. Top-notch performances, girlfriend. I know there are real things for you to worry about – like having a new room in a new house, going to kindergarten in a new state, and making new friends – but the stuff you’re coming up with is cracking me up. The other day you let out a big sigh from the back of the car and said, “I’ll never EVER be able to go back to our gym’s pool…” I told you there would be pools and gyms in Colorado, but you said, “They probably won’t be as good.” You goof – you hate going to the gym with me! And a pool’s a pool as far as you’re concerned. You’ve also started bringing up all the people you’re going to miss. Only you never seem to mention your current friends. You say you’re going to miss your cousins M & T (ahem – they live in Seattle) or that you’re going to miss your friend Duncan (who, incidentally, moved to Alabama a year ago). I’m glad you’re lightening up about it, though. The fact that you’re adding drama for effect means you’re dealing with the real stuff well. I knew you would.

You had some pretty deep thoughts this week, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorites:

"Mama? Did you know there's sooooooo much red? On jewelry, on hats... and especially on blood."

“I think it’s just awful that girls can’t be knights.”

“Mom? I don’t think my head is attached to my body appropriately.”

“When I squeeze my belly, it looks like a jelly hot dog!”

“Animals love me… I’m very special, you know.”

Yes, you are.

You’re very excited about Valentine’s Day, and you’ve changed your mind about fifty times as to who your valentine will be. First you said that a boy named Nathan was going to be your valentine (“Because he’s just so cool!”), and then you said you’d decided that “being valentines” with your whole class was a better idea. Yeah, I agree. As of yesterday, though, you’d decided I’m your valentine. And let me tell you, I’m flattered. You said it’s because of my “beautiful hair and sweet face.” I love you, baby girl. Tomorrow we’re going to let Daddy be both of our valentines and make him a special dinner. Instead of doing something fancy, we decided that the three of us would go to a hockey game on Monday afternoon. Can’t wait to hear you cheering those big hockey boys on again!

You’re fabulous.

Love,
Mommy

WW - Valentine's Day Loveliness

2010-02-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

Free Printable Valentines - Just in Case...

2010-02-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I assumed Little Miss would want Hannah Montana valentines or some such thing this year. Last year I went the handmade route, but she thought the store-bought versions the other kids brought were MUCH cooler. We've been so busy that I decided I'd give her just one preschool holiday that didn't involve something handmade by Mom. But this morning (I get misty just thinking about it) she informed me that she wanted to individually make valentines for each person in her class - all 26. Yikes! And naturally the deadline to bring them to school is tomorrow.

Luckily she's pretty easy to please, so we found some cute color-able black & white cards at Kaboose, I printed them four to a page, and she's currently camped out at the kitchen table with a pile of crayons.

But this isn't my first time at the rodeo. Although I'll certainly encourage her to finish cutting, coloring and signing all 26 cards, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. Juuuuuuuust in case...

Super cute birdie printable available at The Long Thread.

Adorable sweethearts printables courtesy of Bunny Cakes.

Sweet printables by The Rubber Punkin.

As for our cut-and-color versions... I'll let you know how it turns out. In the time it's taken me to put this post together, Little Miss has slowed down considerably. Let's see, three down... 23 to go...

Dear Kid Saturday - Super Fast Girl

2010-02-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this week’s installment of Dear Kid Saturday, my weekly love letter to my girlie girl. Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:

Dear Super Fast Girl,

This week was crazy, right? I have more pesky health stuff going on, and you’ve had to deal with a super sleepy mama. To make matters worse, Daddy’s been sick, so you’ve been boooooooooored.

Thankfully, you’re pretty good at entertaining yourself. This week you’ve been all about superheroes, which has been pretty convenient for me. I’ve found that Super Fast Girl gets ready for preschool in record time, especially if I give her a “mission” and set a timer. You’ve also been doing an amazing job cleaning your room and doing your chores - I’m going to have to find some more things you can help with!

Last weekend you and Daddy went to the Daddy’s Little Sweetheart dance. You felt like such a princess! I could tell you loved having Daddy’s undivided attention and, even though you guys didn’t stay very long (Dad said you told him, “OK, we’ve done everything - let’s go!”), the dance meant a lot to you.

Lately you love anything and everything new. You’re always coming up with great ideas for new activities. Most of the time, they’re pretty grandiose (“I know! Let’s invent an ice cube that never melts!”), but on Thursday you said, “Hey! Let’s make applesauce!” Now that one I could handle. We peeled and cut the apples together, and then you helped me stir and smash once we had them cooked. You were so excited because our “experiment” turned out just like the one on Sid the Science Kid. You shared your portion with Dad and he thought we were pretty amazing cooks.

Yesterday you had to go to the doctor with me and we were there FOREVER. I expected you to get a little impatient (after all, I was), but you were so awesome! I brought you some activity books and you totally surprised me by reading lots of the words. You read “you,” “draw,” “color,” “princess,” “school,” and “mermaid.” Wow, dude! You were also super sweet about me not feeling well. When the doctor said, “I’m going to order some more labs,” you said, “It’s OK, Mom - don’t be scared.” You are one tough cookie sometimes. You got right up close to the “lab lady” and watched me “get bleeded.” You know it’s annoying for me, but you’re pretty fascinated by all this doctor stuff.

Today you’re going to Chuck E. Cheese with your cousin and you’re SUPER excited. Right now you’re playing with Polly Pockets in the bathtub and singing at the top of your lungs.

I adore you.

More next week, girlie girl.

Mommy

In the Interest of Transparency...

2010-02-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. I fell off the wagon.

Just a few weeks ago, I came to you with this grand proclamation - I wasn't going to use food and inactivity as "rewards" or crutches anymore. I was going to get healthy for the sake of being healthy - not because I wanted to see myself in my high school jeans. I was going to make smart (not "diet") choices and add meaningful, goal-oriented activity into my life and simply allow my body to reshape itself accordingly.

Well, that worked... for exactly two weeks.

As of last Friday, I'd lost a total of five pounds in two weeks. FIVE! I literally went down a pants size and I was feeling great. I'd started my Couch to 5K runs again and felt like I was really on to something. I wasn't starving myself. I was, like I said, simply making better choices. And I was absolutely sure I was making changes I could stick with.

Last weekend, though, everything came to a grinding halt. I stopped caring, got mad and gave up. And you know what did it? One stupid meal. One stupid, giant restaurant meal that I just wasn't strong enough to say "no" to. So, basically, I decided I'd blown my entire week already so I might as well enjoy myself (rather, punish myself) until my next weigh-in.

Despite the fact that I've woken up every morning determined to work my way out of this rut, I haven't been able to get past the feeling that the damage has already been done. And so, in the interest of transparency, I'd like to share with you what has occurred in the past five days. My food transgressions have included:

1. One giant cheesey Mexican dinner followed by three large margaritas at home
2. Chinese take-out
3. McDonald's (ugh...)
4. A ridiculous amount of late-night snacking
5. Too much stupid calorie-laden wine in general

My exercise transgressions have included... well, not exercising.

So now, as of this morning, my hard-fought five pound weight loss has been reduced to a two and a half pound weight loss. Yes, I know - it could be worse. But I promised myself to take the high road this time around and not fall victim to these awful psychological pitfalls. Oops.

So, what's next?

Well, first of all, I'm not going to let the ENTIRE week be a fiasco. I've been weighing in on Fridays, so I still have today to turn things around (so far so good). Once upon a time I heard someone smart (Oprah, maybe?) say, "All you have is today and a choice..." So let's hear it for today and good choices.

Next, I'm going to need to take a good hard look at what got me so off track to begin with. It wasn't just the one meal, if I'm being honest with myself. There were other stresses involved this week. I felt victimized in other areas of my life, so I apparently gave myself permission to ignore my common sense. That shouldn't happen. If I'm frustrated, I need to find ways to deal with the frustration rather than wallowing in it with a huge chunk of cheese and big glass of Merlot.

OK, there you have it. I 'fessed it, I'll fix it. It's all about accountability, baby.

Consider me back on the wagon.

Quick, Healthy Dinners - One Week at a Time

2010-02-02T06:35:00.001-08:00

Mommies, I've been meaning to share this link with you forever. I read about Aviva Goldfarb and The Six O'Clock Scramble several years ago in "O" magazine. Designed for busy moms, the Scramble is a simple, affordable weekly meal planning service. And, girlfriends, it rocks.

Here's how it works.

Once a week, you receive a meal plan, including both main dishes and side dishes, along with a shopping list. The shopping list is organized into grocery store departments - produce, grains, dairy, etc. You make a single trip to the store and you're set for the week.

Here's the best part. All of the recipes take 30 minutes or less to prepare. And they're healthy to boot! I used this service when I was just learning to cook and I was absolutely thrilled with the variety of styles and flavors. Not only did I learn loads about cooking; I also never had to come up with an answer to "Honey, what's for dinner?"

Fabulous, right?

Daddy's Little Sweetheart

2010-01-31T06:31:00.000-08:00

Here's Little Miss all dolled up and ready for last night's Daddy's Little Sweetheart dance. She's showing you her ring. it was the most important part of the ensemble apparently. Both father and daughter report that the event was "very fancy." How did I spend my two hours of alone time, you might ask? Cleaning out my utterly terrifying "project" closet (the nerve center of all my home-based businesses) in preparation for home-selling. Progressing... Slowly but surely, we're progressing...

Dear Kid Saturday

2010-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this week's installment of Dear Kid Saturday, my weekly love letter to the girlie girl. Here's what we've been up to this week.

Dear Sea-girl,

Not so long ago you informed me that you did NOT want to pretend anymore and that you were ONLY going to be a girl from now on… This week you decided “just a girl” was pretty boring so you cranked things up a notch by turning our whole house into your “undersea kingdom.”

In our brand new undersea world, we have to swim from room to room or we’ll sink. We also have to refer to everything as “sea-“ things, like “sea-breakfast” and “sea-bath.” You’re the sea princess and I’m the sea queen. In the morning when Daddy takes you to preschool, you hand off your tiara and ask me to “please look after the whole kingdom” while you’re gone. Big job!

There are lots of rules in your sea-kingdom. Most importantly, you must never, ever stop moving your arms. Carrying a cup of coffee carefully into the office puts me in imminent danger of falling to the bottom of the ocean (despite my insistence that I’m wearing a buoyancy vest). Also, there is a special language that only the sea-people can understand. It involves very complex sign language, facial expressions and “Spanish” words. “And-on-ya” means “open,” and “A-known-ya” means “close.” Very subtle. One needs a sophisticated ear…

Aside from establishing our family as the rulers of the sea-world, you had kind of a tough week. On Monday there was a fiasco with “sharing time” at preschool. The teacher had asked you all to bring a wild animal to share with the class. You put wings on one of your favorite stuffed dogs and dressed him up. You told me he lived in the forest and was “very ferocious” and that “he’s SO wild, nobody’s ever even SEEN him!” When I came to pick you up after school you were crying - you said the teacher wouldn’t let you show him to the class because he wasn’t a “real” wild animal. Poor baby. You were so upset, I asked if maybe you’d like to take a different animal to school later in the week and try again. You said, “Well, I guess I could bring my dragon…but I’d have to make him specialer first.” I had to give you a big fat squeeze for that one. I love you. And I loved your ferocious flying dog! He’s the wildest animal I’ve ever seen!

This week you also continued to “miss Mommy” each time you were away from me. You still want me to take you up to bed each night (usually Daddy’s job); and a couple of times this week you started crying for no apparent reason and told me “I just miss you when you’re gone.” Aw, sweetie… I wish I could get inside your head and figure out what’s going on.

You told me on Wednesday that you don’t want to go to gymnastics class anymore - a big surprise to me! I’m not entirely sure what to do with that… Do I make you stick it out for a few more weeks to see if you change your mind? Or do I just decide that there’s no reason to pay for something if you’re not enjoying it? I asked if you’d be interested in taking a different kind of class and you said you’d like to try dance. Hmmm…

The Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance is this weekend and you couldn’t be more excited! We got you a very fancy dress and some sparkly pink shoes, and you’re threatening to wear your tiara. I can’t wait to see you both all dressed up and ready to go!

I love you, sweet girl. And don’t worry - I didn’t forget to swim while I was typing this up.

Kisses,
Mommy

A Very Barbie Birthday

2010-01-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

Birthday parties scare me. Throwing them, that is; not attending them. Attending them is great.

Because I’m terrified, it would seem, of hosting a party in my home (the excuses are plentiful - ill-behaved dogs, cleaning requirements, prep time, a general lack of good ideas…), I’ve gone the easy route for the past three years.

Once upon a time, back in Seattle, I threw a great first birthday party at a local park. It was simple, cheap and consistent with my parenting philosophy. Since then, though, my options have been limited. Little Miss was born in August, and here in Dallas, there simply AIN’T NO GOIN’ OUTSIDE IN AUGUST, Y’ALL. (You like that? That was my Texas accent…)

My daughter’s last three birthday parties have been held at:
• A bouncehouse place
• A pizza place with skeeball
• A local gymnastics school

While all three parties were loads of fun, they were a bit more spendy than I would have liked and therefore not consistent with my parenting philosophy.

But I’m happy to report that a party we attended over the weekend may have convinced me that home parties are not only totally do-able, they can be really fun!

On Sunday we attended a birthday fiesta for one of the girlie girl’s preschool friends (she’s turning 5). The theme was (loosely - it’s not like the girls really cared) Barbie. The cute, simple invitations included a note that Barbies were also invited. When we got there, the mommy had prepared several simple, fun activities that kept the party moving, covered all the bases, and made everybody feel included. Nothing was over the top or unrealistically complicated - the whole thing was really nicely handled. And definitely as much fun (or more) as any of those big-ticket party packages I’ve gone with in the past.

On the assumption that some of you, like me, might be nervous about hosting a birthday party in your home, I thought it might be helpful to share a few of the things I thought were cool about the party.

1. It wasn’t too big. There were eight-ish girls in attendance and four mommies. And there was more than enough room for the girls to run around without knocking stuff over or bumping into each other.

2. The “Barbie dress-up” activity was well-organized and perfectly timed. The girls were given bowls of beads and string with which to make jewelry for their Barbies and themselves; and there was a bowl of Barbie clothes and accessories the girls could choose from to create an outfit. There was more than one of each item (no fighting over the “best” stuff) and some extras just in case. The girls worked on their dolls for a little while; and when they started to drift, as 5-year-olds do, it was time for the next activity.

3. They did a good old-fashioned beanbag toss! Isn’t it funny how the simplest activities are sometimes the most fun? The girls lined up and tried their hand at tossing beanbags through a brightly-painted piece of plywood. Brilliant! And not too expensive. I’m filing that one away for future reference.

4. Cookie decorating offered a cure for the mid-party snack attack and a quiet, focused activity everybody enjoyed.

5. Who doesn’t love a piñata? Although I didn’t personally witness this particular activity (there was wine for the mommies after all - key to any home party’s success, I feel), they hung a pull-string piñata and let the girls take turns trying to get the right string. And apparently my little girlie found it! For her, that was the best part of the party.

6. Cupcakes made cake-serving quick and easy, and both chocolate and vanilla were offered (super nice and very much appreciated by my chocolate-hating daughter).

Doesn’t that sound fun? I think my party-phobia just might be cured…

Have you done a home party you’re particularly proud of? Tell me about it!

In Honor of Design - Valentine Paperie Giveaway!

2010-01-26T09:14:00.000-08:00

Looking for a little eye candy and a chance to win some delicious handmade paper goods? In Honor of Design is hosting a Valentine-themed giveaway featuring Retrocrafted Paper Goods and several other Etsy paper artisans. Many thanks to Anna for the opportunity to participate. You can enter here. And be sure to take a few minutes to look around. Fellow Etsy shop owners just may find themselves particularly inspired by these pretty packaging ideas. Enjoy!

It's an Honor Just to Be Nominated...

2010-01-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

Know what's cool? What's really, really cool?

This blog - yes, the humble little blog you are reading at this very moment - has been nominated for a Poppy Award via one of my all-time favorite sites, Poppytalk!

While it's certainly an honor to be nominated (it really is - I'm in amazing company), it would be awesome to end the week with more than the 0.0 votes I currently have.

So, if I happened to have struck a chord with you at some point and you might be so inclined, would you be so kind as to cast your vote in my general direction? Or at least check out the list of nominees - you're sure to discover some artisan blogs you may not have found before.

As always, thanks for reading.

Waxing and Relaxing

2010-01-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Is it weird that I find an eyebrow wax deeply relaxing?

I used to pay $25 minimum for a “brow design” back in Seattle. Here I go to the corner salon and pay $8. Sure, it’s not Burke Williams, but the place is clean, there’s soothing music playing, there’s a waterfall, and the chairs are super comfy. Plus, the technician never tries to chat me up - always a bonus for me.

I was a very settled-in 32 when I had Little Miss. I enjoyed a lucrative career and relatively simple life. I had plenty of time (and money) to spend on myself. I got monthly facials, the occasional massage and a bi-weekly wax. We were DINKs back then (double-income-no-kids) and it never occurred to us that those dollars would have been useful five years later when we’d find ourselves facing a car repair, broken air conditioner and $285 for preschool all in the same week. Regardless, I’m the type of person who needs to be alone with her thoughts now and then… like every day… for a long time… And, like most moms, I find that my daily reality is simply not conducive to “me time.”

These days the $100 super-relaxing monthly facial just isn’t an option. An $8 wax is about all I can swing (with a $2 tip, of course - I’m not that girl). So I make it my mission to enjoy every second, from the quiet ride over to the wait in the cushy lobby chairs to the event itself, which, despite the inherent discomfort, involves closed eyes, focused attention on me and only me, and 10 or so minutes of blissful quiet.

I’m a firm believer that being a stay-at-home mom is crazy-making if you don’t take the appropriate steps to keep yourself sane. These steps include a) making time to think, meditate or otherwise relax occasionally; b) finding things to do with your children that you both enjoy; c) establishing clear boundaries so as not to become an indentured servant; and d) taking reasonable care of yourself (i.e., not “letting yourself go”).

That “me time,” albeit incredibly difficult to come up with, is also INCREDIBLY important. Don’t get me wrong - I know moms that take it to a ridiculous level. I’m not suggesting you ship your child off to playcare after school twice a week so you can get your nails done and have coffee with your girlfriends. I’m simply suggesting that you find a few minutes, every now and then, to reflect, regroup, and remind yourself that you matter.

“But we don’t have the budget for that,” you protest. I get it. I feel you. Making time for yourself needn’t involve an expensive trip to the spa. Be creative! There are plenty of ways to “get away from it all” without literally getting away. And you don’t need a babysitter - just a few minutes before bed or on a weekend when the hubby’s around to kid-wrangle. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

1. Got a laptop or MP3 player and decent set of headphones? Try white noise and a darkened room to create a sense of aloneness. Simply Noise is free and awesome.

2. Guided meditation is another fantastic way to take a break from your mommy stress. There are loads of free podcasts and low-cost downloads available on iTunes.

3. Take a bath in the dark. I know it’s cliché, but it absolutely works! Light candles if you want, but, honestly, it’s the quiet that matters. Banish your husband, lock the door, play music if you need to drown out the household chaos… just float, enjoy the warmth and the darkness, and let your thoughts drift.

4. Got some time but no funds? Try calling a local massage school. Many schools offer free or low-cost massage sessions to allow their students to perfect their skills before entering the professional world. Don’t worry - student practitioners will have spend many, many hours working on each other before being allowed to work on you.

5. Head to the library. If you’re a reader, the library can be an intensely relaxing place. Where else is quiet a RULE? The library is a great place to read, to draw, or to write in your journal - whatever helps to relax and refresh you.

As a side note, taking time for yourself only works if you don’t feel guilty about doing it. Do whatever you need to do to make sure that you’re able to enjoy your time alone without feeling like you’re neglecting your family. Which, of course, you aren't... but you know what I mean.

Dear Kid Saturday

2010-01-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this week's installment of Dear Kid Saturday. As always thanks to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the idea and inspiration. Christina wrote an amazing piece last week on raising kids with Asperger Syndrome - I highly recommend it to any mom who's felt like "the blind leading the blind."

And now this week's letter...

Dear Just-Myself,

You’ve informed me that you are no longer interested in being a dog, a princess, or even a fairy – you are just a girl and you would prefer to be addressed as such. A very interesting turnaround!

We had a nice week, didn’t we? Daddy had the day off on Monday, so we went to a hockey game. We used to take you to the Seattle Thunderbirds games when you were a baby. You thought the noise and lights were pretty fascinating, but eventually you didn’t want to be held for three hours and couldn’t really stay up so late anymore. Now that you’re older (and you get your own seat), you’re not really much of a sports person; but we thought we’d try it anyway – if anything, I figured you’d enjoy spending so much time with Daddy and that you’d think the “cheerleaders” were fabulous.

As it turns out, you’re quite the hockey fan! You kept track of the puck, asked lots of questions and led our group in chanting, “Let’s go, red!” You weren’t so much interested in the cheerleaders (that’s my girl!), but you did want to stand by the locker room door so you could high-five the players as they came out on their big tall skates with their giant padding. Very cool.

We spent lots of time rhyming and making up songs this week. In fact, you made up a poem for me. It goes:

I’m four!
I score!
A floor!
A door!

It’s just about the nicest poem I’ve ever heard.

You’ve also taken to calling me “Queen,” despite the fact that you are (and make no mistake about it) NOT a princess. I confess – I like it.

I’m not sure why, but you’re having a little separation anxiety lately. This week you’ve not wanted to spend much time with Daddy (“I want Mommy to read me my bedtime story!”); and you’ve told me that you missed me each time you’ve left the house. You always love school, but this week you made a big show of not wanting to go. And last night, when you got home from Grandma Tiny’s, you told me you were too homesick to have any fun. Hmmm…

We played a fun music game the other day when we were out getting groceries. We decided to only talk in music (it was very Gilbert and Sullivan, actually, although I’m sure you thought we were the first people to ever think of it). The rules were: no talking between musical phrases, AND no ending a phrase until you’ve made it rhyme with the previous one. Guess what? You were really good at it! Who knew we could make up such great songs about milk and paper towels?? You even added a little choreography.

In the “random” category, you’ve apparently become terrified of robots. You refuse to go upstairs by yourself and when I ask you why, you say, “Because I’ll feel like there’s a robot behind me!” Wow. Those evil, following robots, huh? Not sure how to handle this one. Maybe I’ll have to stage a robot extermination…

We’ve got lots of fun stuff in store for the week, little one. You’re going to a friend’s birthday party tomorrow, and get this! Your Barbies are invited! And next weekend Daddy’s taking you to your very first “Daddy’s Little Sweetheart” dance. I’m pretty sure you’re going to love it.

I love you, sweet girl.
Mommy

Eco-Friendly Handmade Valentines - It's That Time Again!

2010-01-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

'Tis time to shout your love from the rooftops! Or, at least, to shower your kids' classmates in candy hearts, right?

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Retrocrafted Paper Goods has added just a few special greeting cards and minis to make your loved ones feel special.

Here's a peek at what's in the store:

Be Mine

I Adore You

Want something special for your child's classmates this year? These 100% recycled, handmade minis are perfect!

Just For You

Be My Valentine

Go handmade this Valentine's Day!

Chubby Simply Won't Do Anymore

2010-01-20T10:35:00.001-08:00

Between raging hormones, the holidays, the inability to exercise like I normally would, and stress eating, I gained an unsightly ELEVEN POUNDS between my miscarriage in September and the end of the year. While it may not seem like all that much in the great scheme of things, I'm normally quite a petite person. At 4'11" a gain of two pounds is noticeable - 10 is almost two pants sizes. Not good. Not good at all.

In the past, I've been a bit of a yoyo dieter, and I suspect that's what I can thank for my snail's-pace metabolism. Since 30, fighting fat, especially around my midsection, has been a nearly impossible task. Given my height, my calorie target for weight loss is in the 1200 vicinity. I don't know about you, but I'm HUNGRY when I try to live on 1200 calories. What's more, despite the fact that I make veggie-rich family dinners most nights, I'm notorious for trying to get away with starchy, salty, cheesy lunches and skimpy breakfasts, which I know are sabotaging my efforts. My "dieting" M.O. usually goes something like:

Breakfast - 100 calories
Lunch - 150 calories
Dinner - 500 calories
After-dinner snacks - 400 calories

Intellectually, I understand that, with habits like that, I can get 60 minutes of cardio six days a week (which I usually do) and still be chunky. Something's gotta give if I want to make a real, lasting change.

Last weekend after a particularly appalling (but I won't lie - delicious) dinner out with my husband, I resolved to change my approach. So, because I believe accountability is key when it comes to goal-setting and personal growth, let me tell you what I plan to do differently this time around.

1. Eat three balanced and filling meals each day, taking care to meet those good old food pyramid recommendations for fruits and vegetables.

2. NOT count calories, but rather focus on identifying low-fat, filling, nutritious foods that will keep me satisfied from one meal to the next.

3. Establish a realistic fitness goal and focus on achieving it rather than clocking a certain number of minutes each week. This summer I conquered the Couch to 5K plan which was awesome. This time I plan to go for 10K and beyond.

4. Decide on one or two low calorie, low fat after-dinner snack options that I will enjoy, but that don't encourage binging (goodbye, pita chips and hummus...).

5. Rid my home of "diet foods" like fat-free chips and sugar-free candy. They are not helping me to make healthy choices and do nothing to nourish my body.

6. Ultimately, within reason, let my body decide what size it will be. If, in three months, I can run for an hour at a time and can say at the end of each day that I've given my body the fuel it needs to be lean, healthy and strong, I can't complain if there's still a little pudge around my belly. After all, I'm a mom. It happens.

What do you think? Solid plan? I promise to keep you posted. Since last Friday, I'm down 2.5 pounds (mostly water, I'm sure - but so what?). Sweet. To be comfortably back within the healthy range for my height, I really need to lose about 10 more. To be at my pre-girlie weight, I need to lose 13.

Here's to doing it right!

Also, on a loosely related note, I feel strongly that every thirty-something woman I know should read Laurie Notaro's The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death. I laughed so hard I cried - several times. The chapter on the broken treadmill was a serious kick in the tush for me (all wrapped up in a sassy, hilarious package). Read it!

Timer 2.0 - Who Knew??

2010-01-19T08:39:00.001-08:00

Last week I wrote about ways for WAHMs (or ANYBODY) to stay on top of their housework amidst family and professional obligations.

One of my suggestions was to set a timer, giving yourself a specific amount of time in which to complete your household tasks. The goals are to a) force yourself to work faster and smarter; and b) avoid the "dread" factor by ensuring yourself that you're only going to have to work on those tasks you dislike for a short period of time.

Well, it occurred to me this weekend that perhaps the timer could have other uses...

Like (I assume) any mom of a preschooler, I struggle with keeping my little one focused, particularly on things she doesn't want to do - like cleaning her room, picking up her clothes or tidying up the playroom.

We recently implemented an allowance - tied to a set of simple weekly chores - which has helped, but still the announcement that it's clean-up time generally sends Little Miss over the edge. Because it seems like more drama than it's worth, I'm guilty of letting her procrastinate endlessly or do only a moderately acceptable job.

As of yesterday morning, her room was barely navigable, so I announced that it was, indeed, time to take it on. Before she had time to protest, I grabbed a timer and told her she'd have 20 minutes to finish her room. Since I also had chores to do, I told her I had to get the upstairs bathrooms cleaned in the same amount of time (thus eliminating the potential for "Will you help meeeeeeeeeee, Mommyyyyyyy?"). Naturally Ms. Thing wanted to know what would happen if we didn't finish on time. Since I hadn't thought that one through, I went with iPhone privileges. If I wasn't done, I didn't get to play iPhone scrabble, and if she wasn't done, she didn't get to play iPhone UNO.

Again, before the whining could commence, I started the timer and began RUNNING toward the upstairs bathrooms yelling, "Hurry! Hurry! We can do this!"

Much to my surprise, she followed me up the stairs and into her room, shouting, "Mom! Hurry! Don't forget to let me know how much time is left!"

I made a big show of "hurrying," running between bathrooms and panting as though I was exhausted. I'd shout, "Ten minutes left! We can do it!" and she'd reply, "Don't worry, Mom - I'm almost done!"

Whaddayaknow?? She finished her room BEFORE I'd finished the bathrooms and spent the rest of the time cheering for me. I pretended to cut it close, hanging up the final towel just as the alarm went off. There were high fives and "the cheer of greatness" (her invention) all around and, more importantly, NO DRAMA.

I tried it again later when we both needed to take showers and get ready. Again, she was finished first and thought all of my "rushing" was absolutely hilarious.

Sweet!

Now, I'm sure this little game will eventually lose its luster and I'll have to implement some kind of real consequences. But my thought is that, as long as I participate and keep the enthusiasm up, I can get at least get her once-a-week chores completed without unnecessary unpleasantness or procrastinating. For now, anyway.

Score one for Mom!

Dear Kid Saturday

2010-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first installment of Dear Kid Saturday for 2010. It’s been a really long time, I know. Since September, it’s been hard to talk about…family stuff. And frankly, my attention’s been focused elsewhere. As we head into 2010, however, we have every reason to feel optimistic, and I feel a renewed desire to celebrate the little moments that make parenting a preschooler so much fun.

So, without further ado, here’s this week’s letter to my special girl.

Dear Toilet,

You’ve been a dog now for about… three weeks?

It started as a game you played with the other dogs - you got on all fours, barked, rolled around with them. They went nuts, which you thought was hilarious. Pretty soon you wanted Daddy and I to play along. You wanted us to play “owner” and “pet shop guy,” and you begged to eat your dinner on the floor.

At first we tried to discourage you (honestly, the barking and following us is sort of… trying), but now we’ve settled into a situation we can all live with. There are a few rules - only girls get to go to school or to the grocery store, and no doggies are allowed at the dinner table. As long as we act out our roles and toss you a “biscuit” now and then, you’re happy.

Originally your name was “Princess Poodle,” but you changed it when Daddy tried to put you outside to go potty. You told us, “Call me Toilet now because I’m the only dog in the world that goes potty in the toilet!” OK then.

When you’re not being a dog, you’re doing some pretty amazing things. Over the summer you began sounding words out, and now you can read me a book with only a little bit of help. So cool! You’re also doing simple math in your head and asking insightful questions about science.

You get frustrated easily, though, so I’m careful not to push it. It seems that as long as there’s no pressure, you’re a learning machine. As soon as it becomes clear that I’m in any way invested in the outcome, you totally shut down (usually giving me wrong answers or repeating nonsense phrases - “eyeball alien” is your favorite). You’ll be starting kindergarten in the fall and I’m anxious to see if you have the same issues with your teachers…

You still spend most days singing. If you’re occupied with something - a game or a puzzle - you’ll sing pretty “aaaaaaah” songs that sound like the accompaniment to a fairy movie. When you play with dolls or, more commonly, your stuffed animals, you make up elaborate musicals, complete with ballads and big, exciting production numbers. You pick up lyrics quickly and love to play on the songs you already know by changing the melodies slightly or adding your own words.

You told me the other day that you’d like to learn how to “act out a character.” For a girl whose parents both have theatre degrees, that wasn’t a huge surprise. I’m investigating some kids’ acting classes… so we’ll see what we can do. In the mean time, I’m encouraging you to act out stories from your books, which you think is pretty fun, particularly if Mommy plays the wicked witch.

I love you so much, sweet girl.

More next week,
Mommy

Stuff I Love - Friday Edition

2010-01-15T06:52:00.001-08:00

It's Friday, and the occasion calls for some eye candy. Today I'm serving up some delicious handmade treasures in tangerine. Enjoy!

OriginalsByLynnette

sketchbook

polishedtwo

retrofied

museglass

karingrow

Gingeroni1

WW - Who Needs a Human Baby, Seriously?

2010-01-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

Overwhelmed No More - Getting Stuff Done!

2010-01-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

Sort of a logical follow-up to yesterday’s post…

I don’t know about other WAHMs, but I find that I become easily overwhelmed when facing a work week that includes any of the following:

Doctor/dentist appointments
Preschool “changes” – short days, days off, weird drop-off/pick-up instructions
Extra work assignments*
A particularly dirty house OR
Impending houseguests/entertaining

*Extra assignments are great. I love them. I cherish them. They are a blessing. I can and do find ways to work around them. There – moving on.

There are a couple of ways to approach these situations: 1) freak out and act bitchy all week while running around frantically and being largely unproductive; or 2) find a way to get everything (or most everything) done without losing your mind. Most of the time, after an initial freak-out, I opt for #2. Here are just a couple of tidbits I’ve picked up along the way for making it work.

Plan Your Work/Work Your Plan
For a neat freak like me who doesn’t mind housework and lives for the efficient completion of errands and appointments, this is often the best approach. Since I don’t dread getting things accomplished, just become frustrated when there’s not enough time, I can usually set my mind at ease by putting together a plan at the beginning of the week that includes a sub-set of tasks to be completed each day.

For example, if I’m expecting houseguests on Friday, I might spend the early part of the week doing my usual household upkeep (just a few tasks per day) and the end of the week getting the guest room ready and shopping for meals. If there’s an extra “something” happening on a particular day – an appointment or a school event – keep your task list light and save time-consuming items for another day.

Also, I try to find things I can let slide, if just for the week. Let's be honest - - my dinner guests won't notice if I've not dusted our master bedroom in two weeks. If time's tight, it's off the list. Putting my plan on paper goes a long way toward eliminating worry and ensuring that my expectations for the week are reasonable.

Set a Timer
If you loath housework and errands and the very thought of getting your task list completed makes you want to put a fork in your eye, consider the timer approach. Set aside a single hour (or half, or 15 minutes) to attack household tasks. You work only until your time’s up, and save outstanding tasks for your next session. I do this with my work assignments sometimes, actually. I allow myself to spend 45 minutes of each hour working on the things I want to work on, and then spend 15 minutes working on those things I’ve been dreading. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish this way while not feeling oppressed by those tasks you dislike.

Get the Right Tools
I’ve found that the right tools make all the difference when it comes to homemaking. And I don’t mean a maid (unless you can afford one, in which case GO FOR IT and then send her over here, wouldya?). Once upon a time we had a functional Roomba. If your birthday is coming up, ASK FOR ONE. That thing made my life as a mom and pet owner a thousand times easier. While I had to do a deep clean every now and then, my carpets and hard floors were, in large part, clean all the time with no effort on my part. Lovely.

Recently, I invested in a steam mop. Highly recommend it. I have a humongous kitchen with white tile floors and not only does it show absolutely everything, it takes forever to mop. When it starts to get dirty, I panic, especially if anyone outside our immediate family will be setting foot inside our house within the next few days. The steam mop is going to be a lifesaver. It deep cleans my tile and hardwoods in minutes without any scrubbing, buckets or icky water. Yay!

There are loads of things out there designed to make housework easier. While hard-core homemakers often scoff, I immediately investigate – and so should you! With the right tools, even the most dreaded tasks can be over in a flash, and you can get back to the work you (hopefully) love.

Good luck!

A Belated Welcome to 2010 and Some Recent Realizations

2010-01-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

It’s been a loooooooong time since I wrote a real post. I could offer any number of excuses, but I won’t. Suffice it to say that I’ve been feeling quite a bit of pressure lately – to meet all of my professional obligations, to take care of myself physically, to be emotionally strong and healthy for my family’s sake, to find sufficient and appropriate creative outlets for my emotional “stuff,” and to take steps to help lead our family toward a much-anticipated and necessary move out of state. Something was going to have to slide, and the obvious choice was this completely optional (albeit beloved) blog.

If you read this post, you know that we struggled with loss and disappointment in 2009. About three weeks ago I began experiencing severe pelvic pain and other unexplained symptoms. My OB/gyn was appropriately alarmed and agreed that something should be done right away.

Distressed by the pain but hopeful that we may be getting closer to some answers, I underwent diagnostic surgery two days before Christmas. When I woke up in the recovery room, the news was… well, annoying. There is nothing visibly wrong with my reproductive system. And while steps were taken during surgery to alleviate my other symptoms, the pain persists and continues to be a mystery.

Two weeks ago, our daughter became a dog. I mean, not just proclaiming, “I’m a dog!” but actually following me around on all fours, bringing me my slippers and playing with “bones.” At first it was cute—all the enthusiastic wagging and panting—but eventually I did some research and I started to worry. Is this her way of coping with Mommy’s illness and distraction? While she knew that we were "working on" getting her that baby brother or sister, and that each of our attempts simply “didn’t work out,” I don’t think she understood what was happening—only that Mommy was sad, tired and less available.

The morning I went in for surgery, she grabbed hold of my waist and begged me not to go back to the hospital. She gave me a million reasons she needed me here. I’m apparently the only one who does breakfast right or who gives her the right amount of milk at lunchtime. She told me she’d make me feel better all by herself and that she “wouldn’t mind” if I watched TV all day and took lots of naps. I promised I’d be better soon, and she put on a brave face when Grandma arrived to watch her. But, wow. That was a lot.

Yesterday she overheard us discussing the move to Colorado and suddenly burst into tears. “You mean we’re moving out of this HOUSE?? What about my room?? And my preschool??” Oops. Guess we dropped the ball on that one.

Over dinner (alone), my husband and I discussed some of the logistics of the move for the first time. Will we pull her out of school early? Will she have the added support of extended family when we get there or will we be on our own? What about meeting people? Will she have a single soul at her birthday party this year?

It’s silly, but I lost it.

How unfair to this little person that her rock, her mommy, can’t save her from worry. How awful that she’s faced with life as an only child when she so desperately wants a brother or sister. How uncool that her mom is grouchy and short with her thanks to a situation she has no control over. And how very, very lame that she has to worry about a new home, a new school, a new room when she’s already obviously worried about me.

The worst part?

When it comes to issues like my health, our move, and the resulting disruption of her comfortably predictable life… I can’t DO anything. I can’t help. I can’t protect her. Crap will just happen and she’ll have to cope with it. And while sometimes I’ll be able to make it easier for her, more often I won’t.

It’s awful.

It’s terrifying.

It’s freeing?

Call it yet another uncomfortable realization about parenting. At exactly the wrong time. Man, 2009, you did a number on us.

As for my resolutions for 2010, I resolve to:

1. Get back to work on my collection of half-finished and beloved personal essays. They are therapeutic and, damn it, they are good.
2. Be diligent about planning my work and working my plan so as to allow myself to more effectively and actively parent (after all – what was the whole point of this work-at-home thing?).
3. Bring a more candid and personal tone to this blog by limiting “easy” posts and sharing more (as I’ve always intended to) about our family, life as a WAHM and our struggles with infertility.
4. Allow my creative endeavors and entrepreneurial pursuits to take on lives of their own; not force time and attention toward one business or project if the tide is clearly turning in a different direction. There is time enough to do what I want in life—it needn’t all be completed today. Or perfectly.
5. To, in a broad sense, let up on myself and allow 2010 to unfold as it will. To accept what I can’t change and to change what I can. To be OK with failures and to celebrate successes, acknowledging each as opportunities to learn and adjust.

Welcome, 2010. Bring it.

Overwhelming Cuteness (Wordless Wednesday)

2009-12-16T06:36:00.000-08:00

Most Expensive Handmade Card Ever!

2009-12-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

I Want It - Housewares

2009-12-08T07:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a "want it" post in a while and this morning the lure of a lazy, leisurely Etsy browse was just too much to resist.

I'm really feeling housewares right now, possibly due to the stuck-inside weather and impending holiday entertaining. Here are a few of my favorite finds:

PopWall

DishfulsOfDoodles

JaneJoss

MaryLittfin

OliveandRuby

DimmalimmHome

Healthy Tacos in Five Minutes Flat

2009-12-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

I know - this sort of a random post for a mostly crafty blog. But I do like to blog about work-at-home mom stuff now and then, and what's more important to work-at-home moms than healthy meals that don't require hours in the kitchen?

I've been meaning to share this recipe for a while now because a) it's entirely of my own creation, and b) it's really really good. These tacos have become a weekly staple at our house. And for die-hard Mexican food fans like my husband and me, that's really saying something.

This recipe really couldn't be easier. All you need is five minutes, taco shells, some cheese and a few things you probably already have around the house. Or, at least, things we always have around the house.

Five-minute Chicken Tacos

1 t. vegetable oil
1 can chunk white chicken, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup (or to taste) chunky salsa
Taco shells
Taco toppings - shredded lettuce, guacamole, tomato, shredded cheese, sour cream or whatever your family likes

Warm taco shells according to package directions. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add chicken. Add beans. Add salsa. Combine, shredding the chicken with a fork or spatula. Cook until excess liquid has been absorbed and mixture begins to bubble (about 5 minutes). Serve chicken mixture in taco shells with shredded lettuce, cheese or other toppings.

Serve with a fruit salad or one of those microwave Spanish rice-in-a-bag thingies (yes, they work) and you're good to go! The chicken mixture is also equally delicious served in soft tacos or, if you're feeling really fancy, in enchiladas.

Enjoy!

Great Gift Ideas for Her

2009-12-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

Check out the LJ Design & Photo blog today for some great gift ideas for the ladies in your life - all handmade by fellow Etsy moms!

While you're at it, take a peak at the LJ Design & Photo shop on Etsy for some more gift ideas of the photographic variety. I'm a proud owner of these two:

Check Us Out at The Creative JAR!

2009-11-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to The Creative Jar for including our Thank You mini cards in today's Thanksgiving post. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

http://www.thecreativejar.com/2009/11/full-of-thanks.html

Artisan Feature - elpy [Handcrafted]

2009-11-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

This week's featured artisan is Rebecca of elpy [Handcrafted]. A twitter buddy and fellow blogger, Rebecca stocks her Etsy shop with an eclectic blend of unique jewelry and super cute housewares.

Tell me a little about yourself and what you do
I'm Rebecca, a child of the 90's and new college student (after a long break). My family and I live in Connecticut. I make jewelry - some knotted, some beaded, some chainmaille, some a mix of the three - and small woodburned housewares. Magnets and coasters, with ornaments and wall art coming soon.

What 3 words best describe your work?
Hmm, this is a little tricky. I'll go with colorful, shapely, and natural.

What inspires you?
Words, letters and numbers. Shapes, colors and patterns. Kind of elementary things, the bits and pieces that make up the world around us. I like to incorporate them, mimic what I see, when I can.

What drives you to create what you do?
I've been a crafty entrepreneur at some level or other since I was in third grade. It's who I am...I'm starting to accept that. Seeing a void of an item type or technique makes me want to learn how to fill it.

What makes your work unique?
Me! hehe. Ok, more seriously, I like to reinvent things, tweak techniques and try to create the unexpected.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
It's currently a full-time hobby. It is my outlet and I've met tons of super-talented and friendly artists and designers as well. I'm inspired and humbled by them daily. Can't believe I'm part of such a community. I would like for it to be a full-time job, to make my living making things maybe teaching sometimes, too. I definitely have an inborn entrepreneurial spirit. Working for myself suits me.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
My ideal would be to have a brick and mortar shop of my own, selling my items and those of some of the artists I love. It's something lacking in my area. That's probably farther down the road than 5 years.

So I'd like get my work in some shops. I'd like to firm up my product line, decide for sure which of the ideas I've had for a while I'll actually add to my brand. I want to always be learning, trying to get better.

Where can we find you on the web?
Blog: http://not-rachel.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/notrachel
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_lp_flickr
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/elpy-Handcrafted/20893912192

Artisan Feature - Andrea Baker

2009-11-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

This week's featured artisan is Andrea Baker. One of my first Etsy friends and a fellow work-at-home mama, Andrea creates ingenious little handsewn creations, from business card cozies to adorable little clutches.

Tell me a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a mom of two beautiful girls. I truly enjoy taking my creativity and crafting it into something that can be held. Crafting for me is also a great way to unwind and relax.

What 3 words best describe your work?

Classy, Functional and Affordable

What inspires you?
The colors around me, nature, my children, my husband, really anything and everything is inspiring.

What drives you to create what you do?
Creating give me a way to make something that can be held and potentially passed down from generation to generation.

What makes your work unique? My work is unique because each piece is something that I’ve envisioned and there for has a bit of me in it.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play? Work plays a major role in my life. It gives me an opportunity to express myself and to also teach my children a way to express themselves as well.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I would love to have my work be shown in magazines and perhaps be available in gift shops. In five years I’d love to move my current studio into a room all its own.

Where can we find you on the web?
Handmade by Andrea Baker http://www.andreabaker.etsy.com
Blog This Mom’s Life {Andrea Baker} – http://andreabakerdesigns.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/AndreaBaker
Plurk – http://www.plurk.com/AndreaBaker

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Holiday Cards Are Here!

2009-11-05T05:31:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! I know it's early, but you want to be ahead of the game, right? Our fun vintage-inspired holiday designs have finally made it back into the Retrocrafted lineup. Any and all of these designs can be personalized with your very own inside message. And if you order in November, I'll refund your shipping fee when you enter the promotional code "BLOG BUDDY" in your Notes to Seller at Checkout. Here's a peek at what's in the store:

Wordless Wednesday - Genius!

2009-11-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

Artisan Feature - able mabel

2009-11-03T05:20:00.000-08:00

This week's featured artisan is Leann of able mabel. I've been a big fan since I began selling on Etsy. Leann's shop is filled with wonderfully creative, highly functional items for home and baby.

Tell me a little about yourself and what you do?
I am a stay at home mom who uses able mabel as a means of escape from the "real world". I love the "out" that creating gives me. It makes everyday life more managable.

What 3 words best describe your work?
Fresh, Fun, Functional

What inspires you?
This question is always one of the easiest to answer. My inspiration comes from everywhere! A piece of fabric or paper, nature, color schemes seen in stores, magazines, et.

What drives you to create what you do?
I suppose it would be the need to use a different part of my brain. The creative side.

What makes your work unique?
I try to find fun, interesting pattern to use in my work and make most of it one of a kinds.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
My work is my "me" time. I sneak it in whenever I can. I think it's perfect just the way it is.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I'd be perfectly content if it stayed about the same. Granted, I'd love to sell more, but who wouldn't? :)

Where can we find you on the web?
Etsy: http://ablemabel.etsy.com
Artfire: http://ablemabel.artfire.com
Blog: http://mabelisable.blogspot.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Rave - Super Cute Wristlet

2009-10-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

On this dreary Thursday morning, I thought I'd brighten things up with a quick rave about one of my most recent Etsy purchases, this adorable little keyring/wristlet thingie by FancyFerris. It's the perfect size for my keys, credit cards, business cards and cash; and the wrist strap is comfy and the perfect length. The ingenious elastic sides make this the perfect expandable wallet. It's not quite wide enough for my iPhone, but it doesn't matter. It's still the only thing I need to take with me for a quick trip to the store. And it was a life-saver at the State Fair a few weeks ago.

I'm big on "compartmentalizing" my handbag. Instead of a junk-drawer situation, my bag contains three handmade zipper pouches - one for snacks (I'm a mom after all); one for emergency stuff like eye drops, kleenex, lip balm and hand sanitizer; and another for the gym. Yes, it's a big bag. Here's one of my faves from AbbaDabba Bags:

Some of my other go-to sewing geniuses include My Beautiful Girl and Pyong Bricole.

Wordless Wednesday - Parking FAIL

2009-10-28T06:53:00.001-07:00

Sheesh. Where's this kid when you need him?

Yummy Marshmallow Pops You Can Make at Home!

2009-10-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Looking for some sweet, family-friendly fun for Halloween? These ingenious marshmallow pops are the perfect "mommy and me" kitchen activity. Check out The Mama Dramalogues for the how-to!

Artisan Feature - bijouxbead

2009-10-26T05:17:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Darlene of bijouxbead. A fellow mom, Twitter buddy and incredibly talented Canadian jewelry artist, Darlene creates stunning beaded necklaces. I experienced the beauty of Darlene's work firsthand last Christmas and was truly amazed at the intricacy and precision of her work. Many thanks to Darlene for participating in this interview!

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I am a jewelry artist from Toronto Canada. My work is represented by several galleries, and I have a small shop on Etsy.

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Distinctive Wearable Art

What inspires you?
Canada and its inimitability

What drives you to create what you do?
The charitable work that I am able to do through Bijouxbead is the #1 reason I enjoy creating.

What makes your work unique?
My work is highly detailed and very distinctive. The entire necklace collection is multi-stranded and one of a kind featuring glass metal and stone, the bracelet collection features semi precious stone and handmade silver clasps, and the earrings are designed to compliment the bracelet collection.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Achieving balance is my ultimate goal, isn’t it everyone’s?

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I am not sure where this business will take me; I have been very fortunate up until now, and I’m still on a huge learning curve.

Where can we find you on the web?
http://www.bijouxbead.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Great Gift Idea: Sundae in a Bag!

2009-10-08T05:33:00.001-07:00

Some particularly lovely friends of mine took me to brunch for my birthday recently. One such lovely friend gave me a particularly ingenious gift. I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for creative gifts for friends that don't require me to know the recipient's clothing size or which books she's already read.

This gift is quick to put together, relatively inexpensive and positively oozing with charm. A fun (but cheaper) take on the ever-popular gift basket concept, this clever gift is basically a sundae in a bag. Here's what you need:

1. Cute gift bag
2. Cute bowl(s) - one for each member of the family
3. Big bottle of chocolate syrup
4. Fancy sprinkles
5. Little jar of maraschino cherries

Voilà! In a pinch, you can grab everything at Target on the way to the party. If you're feeling crafty and have some time, use enamel paints to personalize the ice cream dish for an extra-special touch. Who wouldn't be delighted?

Wordless (kinda) Wed. - Eye of the Tiger

2009-10-07T04:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a little Wednesday present from my 4-yr-old. Make sure your volume's on.

Artisan Feature - NeverEver

2009-10-06T06:00:00.001-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Emma of NeverEver. A costume maker by day, Emma creates adorable children's clothing and toys for sale in her Etsy shop.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Emma, and I live in Sydney, Australia. I am a costume maker for 3 days of the week and for the rest I run my baby and children's label, NeverEver.

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Cute, handmade, fun!

What inspires you?
Different things every day. Gorgeous children on the street, vintage children's books, lovely fabrics, seeing a beautiful garden or an artwork, going to bookshops and craft stores. Even browsing Etsy gets me inspired to get up and do something!

What drives you to create what you do?
I like seeing children wearing cute, well made, and thoughtful clothing. I really dislike all the branding that children's clothing gets slapped on it, and I like to see natural fibres and clever fastenings.

What makes your work unique?
My use of applique as a decorative technique makes my bibs and onesies quite particular, but I think it is my choice of fabrics that really makes my work stand out. I love a fun print and bright colours. Also, the retro feel to my patterns make my items a little different to your usual.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
My work takes up a LOT of my life! I find that I have to make sure that I schedule time out to watch a movie or do a jigsaw puzzle, or else I would happily keep sewing and working online! I would love it if I could work regular hours and be able to switch off at night, but I often find myself working until late into the evening!

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
Ideally, I would like NeverEver to be stocked in some more stores around the world, so this would mean giving up my part-time job and focussing all my energy on creating new designs and finding great fabrics and trims. I would love to be successful enough to have my own studio that is seperate from my sunroom at home!

Where can we find you on the web?
Etsy http://neverever.etsy.com
Blog http://nevereveremma.blogspot.com
Twitter http://twitter.com/nevereveremma
Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/NeverEver/37460701577?ref=mf
MadeIt (an Australian site) http://madeit.com.au/neverever

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Five Things I Love About My Big Kid

2009-10-02T06:40:00.001-07:00

Thanks for your patience during my long and unannounced hiatus. Normally I do a "Dear Kid" post every weekend recapping the week's events in a letter to my daughter. Since I've been away for over a month, consider this post both an explanation of my absence and my usual love letter to the girlie girl.

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know that my husband and I have been trying for a second baby for about two years. The first year, we just didn't have any luck and, frankly, weren't too terribly concerned about it. Life was good, we were busy, our toddler was a handful... we figured things would work themselves out later. Starting about a year ago, though, things got a little more complicated. I miscarried first in September, at about six weeks, and then again in November, at about seven weeks. We started getting worried and sought medical intervention, but there wasn't anything obviously wrong with me. "Keep trying," said our doctors. So we did. In March, I miscarried again at six weeks.

When I got pregnant for a fourth time in August, something felt different. I told myself, "This is it." I was in great shape, had been training for a half-marathon, had been eating well, felt emotionally healthy again... and our early lab work confirmed that all was well. Unlike previous pregnancies where hormone levels had been questionable or symptoms mild, this time I immediately began to look and feel (very) pregnant. But at eight weeks, we went in for an ultrasound and, although there was a perfect little teeny-tiny-almost-person right in front of our eyes, they couldn't find a heartbeat. I was devastated.

I did what you do in these situations. Cried, yelled, withdrew... and then eventually, quite recently, emerged from my cocoon and started coping. Because, really, what choice do you have?

As a side note, despite what you may think (after all, I'm a blogger and Twitter addict), it's an odd feeling to be so open about such a personal issue. It just doesn't come naturally. I'm perfectly happy to share with you my struggles as a mom, my shortcomings as a wife and/or friend, my inability to dance or odd fashion choices... But tell you I'm sad? It's not something I do. So why be so public about such a private thing? Because I'm trying to teach myself that it's OK to feel things - right there out in the open where somebody else might see. And that asking people for and allowing people to help, whether it's emotional support or babysitting or dinner or WHATEVER, is normal and expected in this situation. There's no reason to be a superhero. So... there. I've said it. I'm sad. I'm OK, but I'm sad. Not because I'm weak or needy or crazy, but because something sad happened to me. Now - on to the good stuff.

There is nothing like trying and failing at having a baby to make you appreciate the one you already have. She's not a baby anymore, though, as she'll be the first to tell you. She just turned four and, dare I say, though she's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination (wouldn't life be boring if she were?), she's a pretty cool kid. Over the last few weeks, in between lamenting my circumstance and feeling like a pathetic invalid, I found myself celebrating my "big kid" in ways that seemed new and unfamiliar. So I wanted to take just a moment to share with you five things I dearly love about my big girl.

1. She makes me laugh. Hysterically. Even when she's being awful, she's funny. And the fact that she gets so much pleasure out of making us laugh makes it even more satisfying. My husband and I believe in laughter as a way of life. We're loud, we love to top each other, and we have the most ridiculous senses of humor. Until now, our daughter has largely been left out of the loop. But lately she can hold her own, bringing her own brand of wit to the table, and we're absolutely eating it up. That's our girl!

2. She makes me stop and smell the roses. Not because I want to, but because she's SLOW. And now that she's too big for a stroller, there's no getting around the limitations of her short legs and ever-wandering gaze. Because she's slow and all over the place, she forces me into a more relaxed pace. And since I've pretty much been in a hurry since the day I was born, that's a pretty odd feeling. A good one.

3. She's not me. And she's not Daddy. In fact, she's so fiercely "herself" that it's infuriating at times. But finally realizing that she's going to be a completely separate creature from me, who will be who she is largely despite what I do as her mom, has been a very liberating experience. We're still finding our way, as I suspect we will be... well, forever. But I'm so glad to have figured out that I'm "guiding" her, not "making" her.

4. She brings music to my life. This child sings from the moment she gets up in the morning until she falls asleep at night. Mostly theme songs, little riffs she makes up, songs from "Rock Band," just whatever is in her head. Because I spend so much time with her, her music has become the soundtrack to our lives. To anyone else, it's noise. To me, though, it's this comforting, sweet, reassuring background music that lets me know she's happy, she's safe, and that everything's as it should be.

5. She's an eternal optimist. Despite a tendency to be rather dramatic (which includes pouting, sulking and the occasional "I don't have to!"), she generally expects good things out of life. She wakes up every morning with a smile on her face and a plan for the day ("Mom! Today's the day of our big talent show!"). She has no reason to expect that her plans will be in any way derailed or that something might happen to make her cry. She's always looking forward - to her next day of preschool, to Christmas, to her next birthday, to the day she can finally "be a TV star!" There's something about being around that kind of optimism that makes you hopeful. Like there's no reason to expect anything but the best. In her own special way, she reminds me that there's no reason not to celebrate today and look forward with optimism toward tomorrow. And which of us couldn't use a little more of that in our lives?

Get to Know These Creative Bloggers

2009-08-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

From time to time, you may notice a plug here for the Creative Bloggers blog ring. This great group of warm, supportive artisans and fellow creative types is all about paying it forward and promoting one another through blogging.

Every two weeks, two members of our group are selected for features. Although I usually like to devote a post to each of the featured bloggers, I'm running a bit behind this cycle. I do want to take a moment, though, to drop their links and tell you a little about what they do.

First is Michelle of Michabella Creations. I featured her darling sparrow earrings here in March. Michabella is the collaborative effort of two longtime friends. Together they create simple, pretty, nature-inspired jewelry incorporating Swarovski crystals, semi-precious gemstones, pearls, silver, brass, wood, and glass.

And in the "Great Mom Blogs" category, I'm pleased to introduce Brittany of The Greer 5. This sharp-witted mama will keep you laughing with her tales of motherhood and homemaking and rants on such hot topics as HOA nasty-grams and school pick-up car lines.

Please take a moment to check out these great gals and, if you wouldn't mind, leave some comment love. Good karma, you know.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Artisan Feature - Memories for Life Scrapbooks

2009-08-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Edi of Memories for Life Scrapbooks. A talented scrapbook artist, Edi creates gorgeous custom albums and adorable little notebooks to help the non-scrappers among us capture all of life's special occasions in style.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I live in a small town in Iowa with my boyfriend and our dog. I am currently laid off from my "day job" so I am thankful I have my scrapbooking to keep me busy :) I create albums of all kinds. I make mini albums as well as full-sized custom albums. Give me your photos and I'll do all the work :) Or order a premade album and add your own photos. I have something for everyone!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Custom, Memories, Keepsakes

What inspires you?
Magazines, other artists, the world around me! It's amazing where you can find inspiration. It's all around us...we just have to look :)

What drives you to create what you do?
Knowing that I'm helping people preserve their memories is all the drive I need :) It's a great feeling to create an album for someone knowing that it will be treasured for generations to come!

What makes your work unique?
I give people the ability to customize their albums any way they want. When it comes to paper...I can pretty much do anything they want :) This is why my Custom Name and Word Albums are so popular...people like that personal touch :)

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Right now it plays a very large role. My business is still small, but being laid off...it is my full-time job. It would be wonderful to scrapbook for a living...maybe someday :)

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I just started selling my work at a local gift shop and hope to get more wholesale orders from local businesses. I also plan to do more craft shows. I do two per year now and would like to find bigger shows and do them more often. And I would love to add a new studio onto our house that I could sell from! Wow...big plans!

Where can we find you on the web?
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5556196
My Blog: http://memoriesforlifescrapbooks.blogspot.com/
And look for me on Facebook in the near future...Memories for Life Scrapbooks

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Sunday - Happy Birthday!

2009-08-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear birthday girl,

Your party was a blast!! We had it at your gymnastics school. They had some big giant inflatables and we got to use all of their equipment. I think the parents had as much fun as the kids! You guys got to swing on the parallel bars, jump on all the big trampolines and throw yourselves into the pit. It was very cool. You were thrilled to see some of your friends from preschool, and I was really glad your best little girlfriend C and her family could come. We had pizza and cupcakes (which we made together yesterday morning - fun!), and you told me later it was the best birthday party you'd ever been to. Awesome.

Our week was pretty much devoted to party preparations and getting ready for our girls-only trip to see Mommy's friends next week. You've been particularly well-behaved and grown up lately, which I greatly appreciate. Earlier this week, you caught me using a less-than-adult tone of voice (a horrible habit I really need to work on) and said, "Hey, you're a big kid now, Mom - no more whining." Good call.

You continue to rock it in our near-nightly Rock Band 2 competitions. You've decided vocals are the way to go, and you end up with scores in the 90% range. Nice! You get all the notes but are still working on getting all the words. You insist that the "Eye of the Tiger" chorus includes the phrase "grill of the night" and the word "rive-O," although you're not sure what either means.

You woke up Thursday morning with a scowl on your face and reported that you'd dreamed I was a "mean farmer." Interesting. I love hearing about your dreams, incidentally. They're getting more and more complex, and I'm fascinated by the way your mind works. I seem to be in all of your dreams, and lately they usually involve some sort of tricky situation we need to find a way out of (like escaping from a castle). You're always the hero, of course, and you always mention which "costume" you were wearing at the time. Very cool.

Yesterday morning hcracked me up when I asked you what day it was (thinking you'd say, "Birthday party day!" Instead you said, "Is this the day I get to be on TELEVISION??" Girlfriend, you have a one-track mind!

I love you so very much, baby girl.

Kisses,
Mommy

I Want It

2009-08-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

While strolling through the gallery of fellow "creative blogger," mezz of mezzG Creations, I stumbled upon this pair of appealingly asymmetrical silver bangles and simply had to share. Quirkily striking and decidedly unfussy, these bracelets make my heart go pitter-patter.

Stroll through the mezzG gallery yourself to see everything this one-of-a-kind artisan has to offer. And be sure to check out mezz's blog while you're at it!

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

I Want It

2009-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

TiLT Creations is nothing if not original. This little handpainted foldover clutch is no exception. So simple, it's almost like I could make it myself... only mine wouldn't be this cute... at all... since I can't sew... or paint. I absolutely love it!

Get it here (and on sale, no less!). And be sure to check out Theresa's blog for more TiLT Creations happenings.

Featured Artisan -- Rosebud's Lampwork Beads

2009-08-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Mallory of Rosebud's Lampwork Beads. An amazing lampwork artist, Mallory offers beautiful handcrafted glass beads, jewelry and more in her Etsy shop.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I am a retired special education teacher with a passion for melting glass. I make lampwork beads. I feel that making glass beads is challenging and exciting. I don't feel like I've begun to master the craft. Those unborn beads keep me excited about life!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
funky, fun, affordable

What inspires you?
I think bright colors and patterns are the most inspiring things for me. When I see colors combined with an amazing pattern, I want to make that bead!

What drives you to create what you do?
I love a challenge. Making lampwork beads is a challenge because there is always something new to learn and to master.

What makes your work unique?
I like to make things that are one of a kind. I rarely repeat a bead. It's hard for me to make identical beads for a set for that reason. I love variety, and I love making that one of a kind bead.

What role does your work play in your life?
Making and marketing my beads is a predominant part of my life. I try to torch almost everyday. I do like to take, at least, one day off a week, but the marketing aspect of selling the beads, is ongoing and everyday.

What role would you like it to play?
I like what I do now. I would like to have to work less on marketing, but there's a lot of healthy, good competition out there. There are so many truly great lampwork bead artists. I really want to be more like them with less in the way of marketing.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I feel that my work can only get better. I hope to continue to enjoy making lampwork glass beads. I also hope to bring more wire work and fiber into my pieces. One of these days, I hope to slow down a bit, too.

Where can we find you on the web?
Informational Website: http://www.rosebud101.com
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5181465
Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/rosebud101
1000Markets: http://www.1000markets.com/users/1078
Blog: http://www.rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Sunday

2009-08-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." A week late and about a hundred dollars short - that pretty much sums up how I've been feeling lately. Freelance projects abound and I've become a regular author for Yodle's consumer guide . I'm doing less designing than I'd like, but I recently listed some fun back-to-school stuff with Artiste. Here's what's going on at home since you last heard from us.

Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear almost-birthday girl,

This picture was taken about five minutes before we bought Rock Band 2. Since then, we've spent lots of time taking our family band on the road. Most of the time, you're on vocals, I'm on drums and Daddy's on guitar. Your favorite song is "Hungry Like the Wolf." Nice! I had no idea how much fun this silly game would be, but we're all pretty much obsessed. Each time we play you say something like, "Are you guys ready to ROCK?? I'm gonna KILL it this time!" I love it.

Next weekend is your birthday party and you are SUPER excited about it. We're having it at your gymnastics school and I'm hoping some of the kids from this year's preschool class will be able to come. Last year I was a little worried that you didn't make many friends (although you didn't seem particularly concerned about it). I thought that giving you a chance to get to know some of the girls outside of school might make things easier when you start for the year. Can you believe the summer's almost over??

This week you took your first real "big kid" gymnastics class and it was so fun to see how much you've improved. Camp this summer has obviously made you much more confident on the equipment and your balance is getting better and better. It's amazing how fast you're growing up!

You continue to practice spelling and writing words on your own (although you're not really interested in being corrected - I applaud your moxie, but eventually we'll have to focus on accuracy...). On Monday you were mad at me for putting you in your room and confiscating one of your stuffed kitties. You wrote a sign that said, "No Kitty Yes Kitty" (spelled K-E-T-E, but still pretty good for a preschooler) and you showed it to me without saying anything when I came to get you out of your time-out. You crossed out the "No Kitty" part when I asked you what it meant. Apparently you wanted your kitty back.

Later in the week you were concerned about the dogs hanging out in the kitchen while I was cooking. You wrote a sign that said "Go" and "No." Then you crossed out "Go" and put it in front of the entrance to the kitchen. If only those dogs could read!

We seem to have moved past the super sassy phase I talked about in my last letter. In fact, you've been particularly cuddly and generally compliant for the last couple of weeks. You're focused on learning lots of new skills and on new best friend, Annie:

It's funny that you were never all that interested in our big dog, but you sure do adore this little one. She follows you around all over the house and you love attaching her leash and taking her for a little walk. You like for her to come up when we tuck you in and you let her stick around for story time so you can give her good night kisses. We're glad she's here to stay.

I love you so much, sweet girl. You're almost FOUR!

Kisses,
Mommy

I Really REALLY Want It

2009-07-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

How adorable is this illustration by Chichiboulie?!? I want to fill my little girl's room with them! Vibrant colors, rich and joyful characters, and lovely themes - I could find a home for just about everything in the entire boutique!

Get this one here. And be sure to check out the "Boulie Blog" here.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Featured EtsyBlogger -- miesmama

2009-07-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Congrats to this month's featured EtsyBlogger, miesmama. A longtime active member of EtsyBloggers and also a member of the Felting team, miesmama creates pretty little things for just about anyone. From her profile:

I am a mother of two who loves to be creative. I knit, quilt and daydream. Anything to do with textiles inspires me and makes me happy.

Check out the miesmama blog to learn more about this unique and lovely artisan. Hope she's enjoyed her month of EtsyBloggers fame!

I Want It

2009-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

My daughter's recent "Fancy Day" must have put me into a dressed-up state of mind because these gorgeous dangly earrings by Hilary of 57 Design Studio are really calling my name. Are you feeling it? Little black dress, strappy heels?

Get them here. And be sure to check out Hilary's awesome jewelry blog here.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Artisan Feature -- EdUB Graphic Art and Design

2009-07-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Erin of EdUB Graphic Art and Design. A super talented graphic artist, Erin offers logos, business cards, banners, blog layouts and more in her Etsy shop. Some of her favorite logos are featured here.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Erin and I'm currently moving from place to place with my husband's construction job. It was hard for me to find work in this new place because not only was the economy horrible, but I was five months pregnant (and despite what the law says, people don't want to hire a pregnant woman!) Enter, Etsy! I started designing logos for people in alchemy and then opened shop in March. I've had such a blast with it! I do custom logos, blogs, etsy shop make-overs, photo editing, print design, invitations, etc. I'm always open to custom requests!!!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Unique, lovely, girlie :)

What inspires you?
COLORS! I love mixing different colors, especially blues and greens (thus why my logo is blue and green!)

What drives you to create what you do?
I just love art and I love being able to create while making some extra cash on the side...even better :)

What makes your work unique?
I think I have a totally different style from a lot of designers...partially because I haven't had formal training. My ideas come from me and the more I practice, the more creative I can get.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Work is important to me, but my family is my first priority. Any extra time my husband has at home, I spend it with him...other things will be put on hold. After baby...more things will probably be put on hold :) However, I believe in balance in all things and I will definitely keep working to keep my sanity!!

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I really hope to see a greater clientele...I LOVE working with repeating clients because I know their style and it's so easy to work with someone you feel you know! I have met some really great people on etsy and I hope to continue to do so.

Where can we find you on the web?
My Store: www.edub.etsy.com
My Blog: www.edubgraphicdesign.blogspot.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Sunday

2009-07-26T12:47:00.001-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid" and sorry for the unannounced hiatus! I'm just now getting caught up after our Seattle trip and the freelance projects (thankfully) have been plentiful. Here's what we've been up to since you last heard from us.

Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear chickadee,

We've had a busy couple of weeks since my last letter. We planned a surprise party for your Grandma Tiny and you were SO awesome at keeping it a secret! She had no idea. Part of the surprise was a quick visit from your Aunt who lives in California. You were super excited to see her and I know she loved spending time with you.

Also last weekend a new little doggie came to stay with us. You've been such a great help. Since she's a lot smaller than our dog, you're able to walk her all by yourself and you think that's pretty great. She's really taken to you as well. Hopefully she'll continue to get along nicely with our big dog and she'll be able to stay.

You did something SUPER cool this week - you started writing words! We've been working on reading and you already recognize some words, but all of the sudden, you began sounding things out in order to write them down. Amazing! The first time you did it, you came running up to me and said, "Look, Mom! I made a sign that says 'No Apples!'"

Not bad considering you'd never tried anything like that before. You thought it was hilarious to ban apples in our house, so your next sign was:

Poor Dad. He loves pears! That one was even more amazing because I only gave you a teeny bit of help. You couldn't figure out how to make the long A sound in "pears," so I gave you a hint. The rest you came up with yourself! Later that afternoon, you wrote me a note that said, "No Nap." Hmmm....

The fancy dress in the picture is from your "Fancy Day" with your Aunt K. She took you out for an early birthday surprise - getting your nails done and then.... a tea party! She said you behaved like quite a little lady. I'm so proud of you.

Meanwhile, we've been having a little trouble with listening at home, haven't we? Lately I have to ask several times for you to do something, and every now and then you'll stick your tongue out or give me some sass. I don't like it one bit and I've not been very patient with you. When I get mad, you get madder - we're quite the team. I realize that if I get worked up, I'm only teaching you to get worked up, so I need to learn to practice self-control. Now that you're older, you can say things that really hurt my feelings. It's my job as your mom not to respond emotionally but to offer you choices and allow you to make mistakes. You're smart enough and independent enough that you'll learn much more effectively from the consequences of bad choices than you will from a lecture from Mommy. Let's work on it together this week, OK?

On a "you're adorable" note, last night when we were at dinner, you tried and tried to get the waiter's attention while he was taking our order. Every time there was a break, you said, "Sir? Sir?" When he finally turned your way you said, "Sir? Guess what? Me and Mommy are best friends!" That was pretty much the sweetest thing ever.

I love you so much, girlie girl.

Kisses,
Mommy

It's Christmas in July!

2009-07-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ho ho ho! It may be 100 degrees outside here in Texas, but the Etsy Bloggers street team is bringing you a little bit of Christmas cheer... in July!

This year, make sure you have enough handmade goodies under the tree for everyone on your list. Stock up now and save big on some amazing artisan goods.

In my Freshly Crafted and Retrocrafted shops, take 20% off your entire order for the rest of the month!

Here's a peek at what a few of my fellow Etsy Bloggers have to offer:

Luscious pine-scented soap by spottedcowsoaps

Stunning Southwestern earrings by beadedtail

Super cute clutch by TiLTcreations

Adorable little girl's apron by veryverdant

Pretty hobo bag by nicodesigns

Check out this thread to discover all the super talented artisans participating in this sale. Happy shopping!

Wordless Wednesday - Just 'Cause It's Great

2009-07-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

I Want It

2009-07-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

How perfect is this color combination? I could stare at this gorgeous copper pendant by Earth Expressions all day. Get it here. And be sure to check out the Earth Expressions blog here.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Featured Artisan -- Bonhomie

2009-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Kirstie of Bonhomie. A fellow Etsyian and work-at-home mom, Kirstie creates gorgeous, earthy jewelry designed to enhance and celebrate your natural beauty.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I'm a stay-at-home mom of one toddler and I'm married to a wonderfully supportive husband! In addition to my jewelry, I run my own business as a virtual assistant/legal billing specialist. I'm a self-taught jewelry artist. I've been working on my jewelry for only a little over a year and I love it!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Organic, funky and down-to-earth. Does that count?

What inspires you?
I'd like to say that I'm inspired by nature or the world around me but really, I'm not certain what inspires me. The act of creation itself inspires me!

What drives you to create what you do?
I just started working on a new line of enameled jewelry. I had no previous experience or training with enamel so I just sat down at the bench to see what happened. Most times it's a new technique I'd like to learn that drives me create. I wanted to learn to enamel and what came out of my experimentation are pieces that I connect to.

What makes your work unique?
My work is unique partly because of my lack of training. I know that sounds odd but what I mean is, on many an occasion, what I intend to create comes out completely different than what I've pictured in my mind but it ends up as it should be - in 'my style'.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
As I mentioned earlier, I have a very supportive husband. He recognizes that creativity is something I require in my life and working with jewelry fills that need. He's my biggest fan and supports the fact that, even though my work isn't supporting us financially, it takes a leading role as though it will someday.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope to have fully developed my 'signature' in my work - so that people can look at my work unidentified and KNOW it's mine. And I fully intend to be a full-time jewelry artist (with a full-time income!!) five years from now.

Where can we find you on the web?
Bonhomie jewelry is available on Etsy and 1000Markets. You can also visit my blog for sneak peeks of new designs (and the sometimes twisted thoughts of my mind!)

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Sunday

2009-07-12T04:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Happy Sunday, sweets!

Whew! We've had a busy few weeks. Last week we went to Seattle to see friends and family, and you had a great time. You're a good traveler which makes things pretty easy for Daddy and me. And this time we get to spend most of our trip outside. You got to go on a long boat ride, have a campfire on the beach, see those amazing Seattle fireworks for the first time and get lots of love from your aunt, uncle, cousins, Grandma, Grandpa and all of our wonderful friends.

This week was all about getting back into the swing of things and we had lots on the schedule. You had gymnastics camp on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a birthday pool party on Thursday - that's a pretty full week for us!

We had a big occasion this week. You moved into your first "big girl" bed. For a long time, you've been sleeping in either your toddler bed or, more recently, on the floor in your princess tent. On Monday, though, we got your twin bed set up and you were SO excited about it. We went to Target and I let you pick out some sheets and wall decals. When we got home, we had a redecorating party! I think your room looks more like you now - girly, playful, creative... and definitely not like a baby anymore. You seem to love it!

You introduced us to a new alter ego this week - "Princess Presto." Apparently she flies "swiftly through the night sky." Leave it to you to combine princesses and super heroes, right? You also let it slip that you have a "secret grotto" these days and that you hope I never find it. Hmmmmm...

Lately you can't get enough of puzzle books and worksheets, so we've been working through this really big Kindergarten workbook together before dinner each night. It includes things like simple math, writing upper and lowercase letters, matching pictures to words, and you always do a great job. Sometimes, though, you think I'm trying to pull a fast one and actually teach you something. As soon as you think it's a lesson, you're over it. I've had kind of a hard time getting you to stay focused even though you obviously like the challenge.

Apparently, though, I've been doing it wrong. It's quickly becoming clear that praise and encouragement make you feel like a sell-out. You respond much better if you think you're showing me up. For example, you love nothing more than for me say, "Oh, this is probably too hard for you. Let's do something a little easier." Your response is always something like, "Oh yeah???? Watch this! I can do the whole thing and not even need any help!" We got through the entire alphabet that way the other night - before each letter you'd put your hand on your hip and say, "I'll bet you don't think I can write this Q!" or "There's no way I can make this W, right, Mom?" And you especially love it if I act astonished and mad when you get it right. Wow. It's amazing how different we are.

Thursday morning we found ourselves with a flat tire and a carload of groceries on a 100 degree day. You were quite the little helper! First, you suggested I call Barack Obama. Then you said that maybe the tire was flat because it "just wanted attention." Thanks for the perspective, kiddo. What would I do without you?

Yesterday we talked about being in love. You're all about "finding your prince" and getting married right now. Slow down, girlfriend! Let's at least get to your fourth birthday first, shall we? You told me yesterday, with a very long and dramatic sigh, that you're not in love yet. When I told you that you didn't need to worry about being in love for a long time, you were having none of it. You said you wanted to get married NOW. And at a friend's party last night, you promptly fell in love with an 11-year-old boy. Followed him around all night batting your eyelashes and giggling, in fact. Thankfully he was a great sport! Oooooooh my. Perhaps we should take a break from the Disney princess stories?

I love you so much, baby girl.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Wordless Wednesday - Sesame Street Rocks

2009-07-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

Featured Artisan -- Epheriell

2009-07-07T06:15:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Jess of Epheriell. A fellow Etsyian and super talented jewelry artist, Jess offers gorgeous contemporary designs that are both simple and stunning.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I am an Aussie girl who has discovered her passion in creating sleek, artisan jewellery! I also love to work with yarn and beads and gemstones, and I also make jewellery from sea glass that I collect at the beach down the end of my street. I love wandering slowly along the beach looking for a glint of treasure on the sand! I also have a lovely English fiancé, and a ridiculously cute cat named Gobbolino…

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Contemporary metal jewellery

What inspires you?
Nature inspires me… as does the metal itself. When working with wire, you have so much freedom – but as with any material, limitations also.

What drives you to create what you do?
I work in a very ‘intellectual’ job, and I find working with my hands just brings me an incredible satisfaction. Until I began crafting, I always felt as though there was something missing in my life – now I can’t imagine life without it!

What makes your work unique?
I think every thing a person makes is unique, because it comes from their hands, and so every piece – even if the look the same – never can be. I am trying to find unique ways to shape my material, and I’m always trying new designs. Who knows what I’ll be making in a year’s time?

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Currently, making jewellery is a hobby (or perhaps, obsession!) for me. Sometimes I think I would love to be making a living from it, and other times I don’t want to take the freedom out of it by doing this. I’ll just keep creating, and whatever happens, happens, and could not happen any other way! (kudos to the Matrix, here, for the quote…).

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I will keep crafting for the rest of my life. I can see this becoming a bigger and bigger part of my life – and it’s nice to know that if I ever have kids, I’ll have the ability to make some money from my craft. My main aim is just to keep enjoying what I do, and to keep creating new designs!

Where can we find you on the web?
Blog - http://www.EpheriellDesigns.com
Website - http://www.Epheriell.com
Etsy - http://Epheriell.etsy.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Featured Artisan -- Gala Glass

2009-06-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so honored to present this week's featured artisan, Angelo Tiozzo, an Italian-born glass artist who has been creating handmade crystal glass creations for over 50 years. The artist behind Gala Glass in Toronto, Angelo hails from Murano, Italy, the world's premier center for crystal glass artistry. In 1966, Angelo traveled from Murano to Canada to exhibit his talents at the 1967 World Fair and Exposition in Montreal with a rudimentary knowledge of English and just $20 in his pocket. After the Expo, he stayed on and helped build Gala Glass, a small workshop made up of Murano artists in Canada. Many thanks to Angelo for participating in this interview!

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I was born in Murano, Italy (a small island close to Venice), known worldwide for its deep tradition in glassmaking. My family was quite poor, so when I was eleven years old I started working in the famous Murano glass factories. I have been doing this for over 50 years now. My wife and my sons are now part of the business which is great!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
· Handmade creations

· World class craftsmanship

· Affordable

What inspires you?
Everything inspires me, but I think that nature (and all its wonderful colors) is my biggest inspiration. I try to think of what people would like and make it into a work of art.

What drives you to create what you do?
I like to innovate and to dream up of different designs and shapes. It’s part of me, it comes from inside.

What makes your work unique?
All the creations we offer are handmade so they are, by definition unique. No two creation will be exactly the same. The fact that I am originally from Murano and have worked with the great Murano glass masters for over a decade also gives me a different perspective on glass art.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
I’m a workaholic – my wife and son are the same way – so work plays a very large part of our lives. Most days it does not feel like work because we are lucky to be doing something that we love.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
Today as in the future, I seek to find creations that appeal to people. I love what I do and always try to create the highest quality possible.

Where can we find you on the web?
You can find all our handmade creations at our online boutique: www.galaglass.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Sunday

2009-06-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Hi baby girl,

I took this picture on Friday after you absolutely INSISTED there was no way you could possibly take a nap. See? Here's the proof, missy moo. The second I tucked you in on the couch, you were out like a light.

We had a nice week, I think. Don't you? You had gymnastics camp on Tuesday and Thursday, which you LOVE, and we were making secret plans for Daddy's birthday and Father's Day this weekend. We surprised him with a party at Buca di Beppo and lots of friends, and then had a cookout at our house last night for Father's Day. You've been super well-behaved considering the late nights and I know Daddy has appreciated it.

You said the sweetest thing on Monday. We were just sitting around and you were thinking hard about something. Suddenly you looked over and said, "Know what, Mom? True love is what I'm really looking for." I had to give you lots of cuddles for that one. And we had a great talk about what love is and what it means between people. You told me how much we all love each other in our family, which I thought was pretty awesome.

You're experimenting right now with a particular kind of defiance. I'd love to tell you that you're good at it... but you're really not. It's more of a playing-dress-up-with-being-bad kind of thing. Every now and then when Daddy or I say "no" to something, you'll give us a mean face and try out some nastiness. On Tuesday you said, "Mom, whenever you say that, I make a sign that says 'NO MOMS ALLOWED!'" Oh my goodness. You're also testing out what happens when you kick things gently, like the couch. Our interaction usually goes something like, "That's not very nice behavior." "Oh yeah? How about THIS behavior?!" Very strange. I'm hoping it's a short-lived phase, since it's really not very consistent with your personality and, frankly, you're not really giving it much effort. Still, it's interesting that you feel the need to try.

We've implemented a new rewards system for the summer - you're learning lots of new life skills. Because you're sometimes reluctant to try things you don't already know how to do perfectly, I thought it would be cool to make a sticker chart and give you some rewards to work toward. Boy, that sure did the trick. You can now get your own breakfast, pack your own lunch, get dressed, hang up your clothes, take care of your own bathroom business (yay!), and open all kinds of tricky containers. After only a week I've already shelled out a new sticker book, a little stuffed puppy and a Fancy Nancy game. That's called "working the system," my friend. Nice work. I'm gonna have to up my game this week!

You had a big emotional breakthrough this week. We were watching a movie that had a happy ending, and you cried because you were happy. I mean, you really, REALLY cried. You were so confused and upset about feeling sad and happy at the same time that you wanted me to hold you and rock you for a long, long time. You kept saying that you didn't understand why you were feeling so sad. I told you what a grown-up thing it is to feel empathy, and how proud I am that you care so much about other people.

We've got a big week ahead - lots of preparing to do for our Seattle trip! Thanks for giving me so many great opportunities to love, laugh, and grow with you.

Sincerely,
Mommy

I Want It

2009-06-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't this pretty??? This gorgeous ocean jasper wire wrapped ring by Casto Creations is custom made. I'm in love with this perfectly imperfect pink, but it's also available in green, white, or tan with a variety of patterns. Get it here. And be sure to check out the Casto Creations blog here.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Wordless (or is it Wordful?) Wednesday

2009-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Featured Artisan -- Lisa of LMcreation

2009-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Lisa of LMcreation. Lisa creates pretty little handmade pouches, wristlets, and bags that feature fabulous prints and fun color schemes.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Lisa, my company is LMcreation and I make handmade handbags, purses, business card holders ... basically anything that I can sew. I'm a working mom with a full time day job, and I've been sewing since I was a little girl. I enjoyed crafts and learned to sew making dolls clothes! I've always enjoyed sewing as a hobby and even made some of my own clothes when I was a teenager.

What 3 words best describe your work?
Contemporay, Colorful, Functional, Fun (OK, that's four, I know I cheated!)

What drives you to create what you do?
I'm inspired by the many, many beautiful fabrics that are available these days. When I see the right fabric I just know that it's got to be made into a special bag or wristlet or whatever.

What makes your work unique?
I aim to make the best quality piece that I can in my own style and with fabrics that really appeal to me. When everything comes together in the right way it almost feels like I've made a fabric sculpture, not just a bag or purse.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Sewing and creating new things is a way for me to relax and express my artistic side. That's the most important role for my work and I don't want it to change. Even though I've been sewing ever since I was small, I didn't try to sell anything because I didn't really know what to do or have a way to find customers, or even think that people would buy my things. LMcreation came along much later. I think that discovering Etsy motivated me to start LMcreation. Finding a site just for handmade goods and that was friendlier than ebay meant I could set up an online business in a few hours, which was just fantastic. I thought about it for two or three months then started my store in January 2008. I really didn’t know anything about running a business, but luckily that didn’t stop me. I’m still learning a lot and hopefully getting better each month. My husband has been a great help here, and helps out with a lot of the “boring but important” bits like keeping track of the finances when I'm short on time.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
Now that I've established that I can generate steady business for LMcreation online, I've started to do craft shows as well. I've still got a lot to learn but if I can do eight or ten shows a year plus keep my online business going (plus be a mom and keep my regular job!!) then I'll be happy for now. I would love to make LMcreation my full time job one day, but that would need some careful planning.

Where can we find you on the web?
You can find me on Etsy www.LMcreation.etsy.com, on Twitter http://twitter.com/LMcreation and on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_lisa/

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Giveaway Winner!

2009-06-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

Congrats to my lucky former colleague and all-around classy gal Meg, the winner of last week's Retrocrafted Paper Goods blank note set giveaway! Thanks so much to all who entered - your nice comments were very much appreciated!

I Want It

2009-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I know it's June, but will you be my valentine? I adore the simple concept and gorgeous pink and red color combo in this sweet bracelet by S & T Creations. Get it here. And be sure to check out the S & T Creations blog here.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Super Cute Kitschy Notecards Giveaway!

2009-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's a giveaway! Why? Just 'cause. Last week's AbbaDabba Bags giveaway reminded me that I haven't done one of my own in a loooooooong time. And so, because I like you and I'm grateful to you for reading my silliness and supporting my fellow artisans, I'm giving away a set of Kitschy Kitschy Coo blank notes from my Retrocrafted Paper Goods collection. These notecards feature super cute restored vintage artwork printed on 100% post-consumer recycled cardstock, and are accompanied by invitation-weight recycled bright white envelopes.

Leave a comment here to enter! I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, June 16th. Good luck!

Featured Artisan -- Roseworks Jewelry

2009-06-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Ruthie of Roseworks Jewelry. Ruthie makes cool beaded jewelry with an earthy, eclectic feel.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I'm an eccentric artisan who loves to try her hand at just about anything! It shows in my shop too - I'm always experimenting with new forms of jewelry! I also love to read, write, and do anything that involves people :)

What 3 words best describe your work?
eccentric, bead-weaving, bright

What inspires you?
Other artisans, books, magazines, and things in every day life.

What drives you to create what you do?
One big drive is that I am disabled. Because of this I have long periods of time where I am very limited in what I am capable of doing. Creating jewelry is something I can do sitting still and when I'm not feeling well. It gives me a way to stay connected to the world and to feel productive! I also just love seeing the finished products.

What makes your work unique?
When you look in my shop you'll find a wide-range of styles and price-points. This means that there's something for everyone!

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
My work is my therapy and my solace. I'd love to have it start paying the bills at some point too.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I forsee a lot of growth as a bead weaver, and hopefully in some other crafty areas as well. Hopefully I will have grown my business to the point where it helps pay some of the household bills.

Where can we find you on the web?
My Main Etsy Shop: www.roseworksjewelry.etsy.com
My Artfire Studio: www.roseworksjewelry.artfire.com
My Second Etsy Shop: www.kstreasures.etsy.com
My Blog: www.roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Sunday

2009-06-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear Sweets,

We were unstoppable this week! Preschool is officially over and we had the week to ourselves. Despite Mommy's persistent laryngitis, we had lots of fun and took on lots of cool creative projects. Monday we made some stilts out of cans and velcro. You thought they were pretty awesome and I was glad to have dissuaded you from trying to make "rollerskates" out of your plastic cars. Lately you have lots of very detailed plans for "inventions," many of which are a little scary for me from a safety perspective. I was glad we could agree on stilts and then work together to figure out how to make them.

Tuesday morning you told me one of your stuffed dogs was going to have a baby and started asking lots of questions about how that might be possible. I confess - I was thrown off. I didn't expect to have the "where do babies come from" conversation for a while. I was very relieved when you clarified your questions. Apparently you only wanted to know how babies get fed when they're in their mommies' tummies. Whew! That one I could handle. But that conversation sure did get me motivated to do a little research on the best way to talk to you about... things like that!

Wednesday morning, you informed me that your stuffed dog's baby had been born - a little yellow bear named "Applebug Goose." What a great name! You were very busy taking care of the baby for most of the morning and you wanted to know if your cousin Twinkle could come over so you could take care of her too. I hate to break it to you, but she's not a baby anymore! Thursday morning, another one of your puppies had a baby named "Rocky Hockey." Boy, those puppies have been busy.

Daddy took Thursday and Friday off, which he doesn't get to do very often. We were ready for some serious family fun! We hit the science museum first, which you thought was actually kind of scary. Daddy and I were surprised - you love science and nature shows on TV. Maybe everything was just a little bit too big and too "real" for you. Anyway, you got a big kick out of the gravity lab (wasn't it cool to float those ping-pong balls over the air vent??), the mini tornado, and the giant kaleidoscope.

Friday we went to the zoo, which is pretty much one of my favorite places EVER. Once again, you surprised us a little bit. You weren't really impressed with any of the animals. You were actually way more interested in the little wagon we'd rented than whatever exhibit we were looking at. Dad and I were feeling a little discouraged, but when we got to the penguin exhibit, you had enough fun to make the whole day worthwhile. Apparently penguins are VERY funny.

This week you start your summer gymnastics camp and you're pretty psyched about it. I don't think you've quite figured out that preschool is over for the year - you keep asking about your teacher and which day you're going back. I'm hoping camp turns out to be a good distraction, and I'll bet you're going to love having a nice long gymnastics class twice a week.

I love you, baby girl.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Giveaway Winner!

2009-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Casual Cottage, the winner of last week's AbbaDabba Bags clutch giveaway! Thanks so much to all who entered. I know Monica appreciated all the compliments and I always love the chance to showcase someone who does such amazing work. Look for my next feature on Monday!

Wordless Wednesday - Fashions of the Future

2009-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I Want It

2009-06-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's the colors or the shapes... this gorgeous asymetrical necklace by amber leilani definitely reminds me of childhood. The vintage opaque Swarovski crystals conjure up images of vintage baby books and candy necklaces. The blackened sterling silver chain "dirties it up" just enough. Fabulous.

Get it here. And be sure to check out the amber leilani blog, Yellow Flower.

Featured Artisan -- Red Marionette

2009-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Kelli of Red Marionette. Kelli makes adorable little pocket critters and other whimsical loveliness.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Kelli. I have been a crafter and lover of handmade all of my life. I have dabbled in fine arts, sculpting, sewing and many other areas. I teach art at a Computer Animation University and maintain Red Marionette on the side.

What 3 words best describe your work?
Kooky, Whimsical and Cheery

What inspires you?
Colors and Fabrics. I love fabric. Its nearing an addiction.. I have to touch and feel all kinds of fabric to see if it would work well with my character designs.

What drives you to create what you do?
Originally Red Marionette started as a stress reliever. I was working in Construction Management and that was not an easy job so I would come home and sew fun little critters. It grew from there and I have since moved on from that job, so it came with me.

What makes your work unique?
Hand sewing quality and the design, definitely. I hand stitch all of the characters. No glue or quick stitching. They are durable and sturdy. I design everything from start to finish and try to keep the continuity of the look through all of the Red Marionette products.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
It does not have to be the stress reliever it used to be, so now its much more lighthearted. I do it now as a passion not because I would go insane without having an outlet. I would love to be able to do it as a part time job and be employed part time through the school. I love both of my jobs now, I wish I had more time for Red Marionette.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
Continuing to grow at a steady pace. I am learning so much about the business side of things still that by then I will have honed advertising and marketing for my products. I am always developing new products and designs. I hope in the future to have more time to execute the designs I have stockpiled.

Where can we find you on the web?
My Shop: http://redmarionette.com
My Blog: http://redmarionette.blogspot.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Featured EtsyBlogger - Create A Thought

2009-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Congrats to this month's featured EtsyBlogger, Create A Thought. Located in Saginaw, Michigan, Create A Thought is one super cute Etsy shop filled with whimsical jewelry, fun and fancy journals, and other bright, artsy handcrafted goodness. From her profile:

Everyday you are creating thoughts. Thoughts that are interesting and beautiful, profound and deep, silly and funny. Whatever your thought style is, they should be recorded. CREATEaTHOUGHT's mission is to help you do just that.

Check out the Create A Thought blog to learn more about this cool and quirky artisan. Hope she's enjoyed her month of EtsyBloggers fame!

Dear Kid Saturday

2009-05-30T04:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

My little chickadee,

Pretty big week, huh? Preschool is over for the year, and we had your end-of-year party and Splash Day this week! Daddy and I absolutely loved seeing you with your classmates Tuesday night at your class picnic. You've grown up so much this year. And the songs you guys did for us were awesome! You were so proud to show off your classroom and your teachers. And you couldn't get over the fact that you guys got to do your little program in the lecture hall at the high school. A real stage!

On Wednesday I went to school with you for Splash Day. Boy, your teacher is really on top of it - all of you were incredibly well-behaved and great listeners. I was so impressed! The teacher assistants had set up a bunch of crazy water games and pools all over the playground. You parked yourself in the biggest pool and absolutely cracked me up by putting a floaty ring on and keeping it on all day. You silly - you're not afraid of water! We're going to have to work on swimming this summer. I think you were more brave before you started lessons! Now you seem to have decided that adults are going to trick you into putting your head underwater, and you're determined not to let that happen.

We implemented some new TV rules around here, and I've gotta hand it to you - you're handling it like a champ. In fact, you're starting to prefer shows like Sesame Street over Dora and Disney, and I love it. I like watching together and then talking about what we learned afterward. I'm amazed at how much you pick up!

Since we didn't have preschool, we had lots of time together. Lately you're always asking questions and saying "tell me more about that." You were asking lots of questions about calendars and clocks on Thursday, so it occurred to me to get some worksheets out and see what we could do. You loved it! You were matching the time on the clock face to the written time within just a few minutes. Very cool. And we made a calendar together that will help you figure out what day it is and what's on the schedule without having to ask.

You also taught me, accurately, how to do addition and subtraction on my fingers this week. You seem to really like anything related to numbers, especially if it's related to something tangible in your life. And you love talking about science, just like Daddy. You like to pose complicated scenarios and then change up the variables to see "what would happen if..." You're really inspiring me to find creative ways to help you learn this summer. You just can't seem to get enough!

I love you, sweet girl. Can't wait to see what you have in store for me next week.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Featured Creative Blogger - Carol of The Blue Cat

2009-05-29T03:51:00.000-07:00

This week's featured Creative Blogger is Carol of The Blue Cat. Carol is an artist who loves vibrant colors and whimsical subjects. A fellow stay-at-home mom, Carol loves the Blue Ridge mountains and her "most curious" cat!

You can get your very own Blue Cat original at Carol's Etsy shop.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Featured Artisan and Giveaway! -- AbbaDabba Bags

2009-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Monica of AbbaDabba Bags. I'm a huge fan of Monica's bags and the proud owner of two of her wristlets. Not only does she have an amazing eye for gorgeous prints and unique color schemes, her construction is flawless and her bags are virtually indestructible.

Leave a comment here and be entered to win a Deluxe Clutch in Amy Butler Coriander Pine! The winner will be notified by June 1st. Good luck!

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Monica and I am a mom, a wife and a bag maker. I made my first diaper bag in 2004 when I couldn't find anything stylish to carry. I was soon making them for friends and selling them by word of mouth. I now sell a whole line of bags online and have hundreds of satisfied customers across the country and around the world. I have been sewing since I was a pre-teen and officially started AbbaDabba Bags in 2007.

What 3 words best describe your work?
Bags, Fabric, Quality

What inspires you?
Fabric and colors inspire me. Sometimes I see a new fabric and instantly know which style bag will make it shine. Other times I find a fabric and design a new style to show it off. Getting a shipment of new fabric in the mail always makes me excited to sew!

What drives you to create what you do?
I have a love of purses and bags. I enjoy shopping for them, buying them and of course making them. I really love the creative process of designing new styles. It is good to have an outlet for your creative juices.

What makes your work unique?
I design my own patterns and try to be creative. I don't try to follow the latest shape or size of other sellers but instead focus on what I like. So far my customers like them too so it seems to be a good strategy. I also like to combine fabrics in new ways. It is not unusual for me to have stacks of fabric on my design table trying to find a new combination. The bigger my fabric collection grows the more fun I have with this process.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
AbbaDabba Bags gives me the opportunity to do something non-mom related. As a stay-at-home mom I give most of my time and energy to my kids. I think it is also important to have something that is separate from all that. An online business gives me the perfect flexibility to work around my family responsibilities. As my kids get older and enter school I would like to expand the business and the role it plays in my life.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
In the next 5 years I would like to broaden my own website and offer my bags directly to my customers. I'd also like to have my bags in a few local boutiques.

Where can we find you on the web?
My Website: www.AbbaDabbaBags.com
My Etsy Shop: http://AbbaDabbaBags.Etsy.com
My Artfire Shop: http://AbbaDabbaBags.Artfire.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Monday

2009-05-25T06:03:00.001-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear Missy Moo,

You went to one super fancy party on Saturday for your friend L. Your favorite part was definitely the karaoke. You took to that microphone like a duck to water. We sing a lot at home, but this was different - there were lots of other girls and mommies watching and you were very serious about the whole thing. You sang "Do-Re-Mi" and it was awesome. I was very proud of you! A couple of the other moms even told me what a nice job you'd done. I know it was a big deal to you too. Nice job, kiddo.

Last week was your final week of preschool before the summer break, and you are really excited about the end-of-year picnic and "Splash Day" next week. Apparently the class is going to be singing a song for the parents and you've been doing a LOT of practicing around the house. You've also been in a pretty silly mood lately. On Monday, you came up to me and said, "Hey, Mom, you're a cutie pie!... No, actually, you're a nailhead!" Huh??

You're also in the process of making up your own version of sign language, which often involves very long and elaborate silent stories, which you're quite annoyed that I can't understand. I've tried to get you interested in learning real sign language, but you're put off by the idea that there's an actual vocabulary involved. Apparently you think it should be all about using your hands creatively and being expressive with your face. We did manage to learn the "Happy Birthday" song... we'll just keep working on it.

This week we had no fewer than ten conversations about your birthday (which isn't until August!). Apparently you're very concerned that I'm not going to get your party right. You went from telling me you wanted to have a mushroom party (which you said is a party where "they throw mushrooms all over the birthday girl"...hmmmmm...) to insisting that only a tea party would do. This year should be interesting. Now you have friends from preschool that you'll want to invite, so I probably can't get away with planning a party for families again. We'll just have to get creative, I guess!

Friday morning, we used our pre-gymnastics time to do some serious playing. We made a "boat" for your puppies out of the ottoman, a belt and a box, and we took them on a great trip to "Antarctica" to see the icebergs and penguins. You even asked if there were Inuit people in Antarctica. Goodness!

This weekend has been super fun. Dad has a three-day weekend, and we've been doing lots of stuff together. We've played soccer and football, and lots of your favorite games. We had a family meeting to talk about the furniture in your room on Saturday. You wouldn't attend until you'd put on a princess dress and your little high heels - apparently it's your version of a power suit.

I'm looking forward to your picnic this week! We've got some time before summer camp starts, so we'll be able to go to the pool several times this week. Yay!

I love you, sweet girl.

Sincerely,
Mommy

Memorial Day Deals and Biz Plans for the Summer

2009-05-22T05:49:00.001-07:00

Summer's finally here! Cap off your holiday weekend with a visit to Artiste on Monday night at 9:000 PM for our last stocking in May. My fellow WAHMs and I are putting together a lovely collection of eco-friendly handmade goodness - a little of everything and something for everyone. In honor of Memorial Day, I'll be offering some deep discounts on in-stock items from both my Retrocrafted and Freshly Crafted lines, a couple of freebies, an auction or two, and the first of my Father's Day cards.

In the coming days, look for more Father's Day options to show up in my Freshly Crafted shop.

The beginning of this summer also marks the completion of my 2009 "go green" campaign. With the exception of just a couple of specialty items on metallic cardstock, my entire stationery line is now printed on 100% post-consumer waste papers, and accompanied by invitation-weight recycled envelopes. Over the past year, I tested a number of different cardstocks and am thrilled to have found a solution that is eco-friendly, beautifully textured, takes ink like a dream, and is nice and heavy for that luxe look and feel I'm so fond of. Thank you to the many customers who've given me such positive feedback on the new papers and our print quality - you've been incredibly helpful!

Also on tap for the summer is the continued development of relationships with my awesome retailers. Look for the launch of Orange & Blossom in the coming months. I'm so excited to be part of this adorable, Anthropologie-esque wedding boutique. Not only will the site offer several of my stationery sets, I'm also in the process of creating an Orange & Blossom exclusive item. At Orange & Blossom, "It's going to be a beautiful day..."

I'm also planning to expand the number of our products available at Flourish Boutique (Check out the owners on CNN!) This adorable boutique is moving to a new space and doubling in size soon. You go with your bad self, Vanessa!

Have a great weekend, everybody. Don't forget to check out Artiste Monday night - the best stuff goes fast, so be on time!

I Want It

2009-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm fascinated by chainmaille in the same way I'm fascinated by optical illusions - I look and look, never quite able to make my brain understand what my eyes are seeing. Appealingly simple and impossibly complex at the same time, this gorgeous sterling silver roundmaille bracelet by Chainmaille By MBOI catches the eye and keeps it dancing from one glittering ring to the next. The look is rich, minimalist, and just a teensy bit goth. In two words - very cool.

Get it here. And check out the Chainmaille By MBOI blog here.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Featured Artisan -- My Beautiful Girl

2009-05-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Samantha of My Beautiful Girl. A fellow member of Artiste Congo and all-around super fabulous gal, Sam makes gorgeous, high quality handmade cloth diapering items and boutique clothing for every member of the family.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Samantha and I own My Beautiful Girl. I am the mother of 3 and currently TTC. I have been married to Trent for almost 14 years! Wow, the time sure does fly. I have always enjoyed crafts, but didn't specialize my skills until I was in my 20's. Now I enjoy sewing boutique clothing, wetbags, cloth diapers and many other miscellaneous items.

What 3 words best describe your work?
functional, cute, affordable

What inspires you?
My children are a huge inspiration. I also love vintage chic items and trying to put a modern spin on them.

What drives you to create what you do?
My families needs are my biggest drive. My daughter and niece needed rompers for the summer, so I created them. I needed comfy shorts and great fitting yoga pants, so I made them!

What makes your work unique?
My work is unique because I create each and every piece by hand, one at a time. I rarely make duplicates and everything has a function.

What role does your work play in your life?
My work keeps me sane; it gets crazy with 3 kids, 2 businesses, a husband, a house and pets. I schedule my day just like any other working Mom and the stability makes getting it all done, much easier.

What role would you like your work to play in your life?
My future goals are that my business will be an even bigger financial contributor to the family income. But with more income, comes more time. Its a hard act to balance.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I see the business thriving and focusing more on clothing and less on cloth diapering items.

Where can we find you on the web?
All of my information and locations to buy can be found at www.mybeautifulgirldesigns.com.

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Saturday

2009-05-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear pretty princess,

You had a tough Monday, huh? There we were having a great time playing ball (OK, yeah…maybe we should have gone outside) when all the sudden you ran straight into the corner of the kitchen table. I didn’t see you at first, and there was a long pause… and then you started screaming. When I looked over, you were REALLY bloody, and you were pretty freaked out about it. I confess—I was too! Luckily, Daddy saved us from ourselves and got you all cleaned up. I was worried that you might be really hurt, but when you told me you were crying because there was blood all over your princess dress, I knew you were OK.

I picked up a new Wii game this week (My Fitness Coach) and you think it’s pretty great. Just like I’m always telling you, it’s important to get your body moving every day, and Mommy decided to follow her own advice and get a little more serious about fitness. You worked out with me almost every day this week. And I’ve gotta tell you—you’re a pretty tough coach. You’re the first to tell me when my form isn’t perfect (you watch the virtual trainer like a hawk) or if I start going slower than the game says I should. With you in my corner, I’ll be ripped in no time! We had a little difference of opinion in terms of workout wear—you think princess attire is required for step aerobics. But it was fun to be active together, and you definitely kept me giggling all the way through our workouts.

You were particularly concerned about the bunny at preschool this week. You wouldn’t say whether something had happened, but when I asked you what the bunny likes to eat, you said (very seriously, I might add), “Wine and people!” Hmmm…

You had a grumpy day on Wednesday—just really didn’t want to be told what to do. It didn’t much bother me—a little time-out now and then in a mom’s life is just part of the job—so once we’d gotten things “worked out,” we hung out in my room working on puzzles and reading books. I’m loving your attention span these days. You’ll sit still and concentrate on a book or a word/number game for a really long time. Since that kind of stuff is fun for me too, I really love spending that kind of time together. You’re getting very close to putting letter sounds together to read words, and you already know some words by sight. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together over the summer!

I’d promised you a new princess dress since the pink one had been “bleeded all over.” We had a super fun time picking one out. You’re very very good about not whining and begging for things at the store, so it was a huge treat for you to be able to check out the toy and the dress-up aisles. Your eyes were like saucers, and when you found the one you wanted, you were soooo excited! We had to play princess and queen for a long time Thursday afternoon.

We got a fun surprise on Friday. I had a meeting with a client and you got to go along. He brought his little boy and we all got to go for a carousel ride at the mall! Since it’s one of your VERY favorite things in the world to do, I was a little worried that you might give me a hard time about only going once. But you were super polite and didn’t whine or cry one bit when we had to leave. You’re such a grown up girl these days!

I love you so much, sweet girl. And I’m so proud of you always.

Sincerely,
Mommy

P.S. Thank you for my Mother’s Day present—I love it! Now if only you’d let me keep it in my room instead of yours…

Advice for Artsy Bloggers

2009-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured Creative Blogger is Jill of Liv'nGood Jewelry. Jill is a chainmaille artist, lover of steampunk, and a dedicated, relevant blogger. I stumbled across a recent post with lots of meaty tips for successful blogging and wanted to share it with you. This post on checking the tone of your marketing message is also worth a read.

You can get your very own piece of Liv'nGood Jewelry at Jill's Etsy shop, her 1000 Markets shop, or her ArtFire studio.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Wordless Wednesday -- Cooooooooool!

2009-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dominoes Everywhere from Jared Lyon on Vimeo.

Featured Artisan -- LoChristine

2009-05-11T05:08:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Lori of LoChristine on Etsy. A fellow Fabulous Artistic Mom, Lori creates fun and funky jewelry with lots of personality.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Lori Hadley and I design jewelry! My etsy store, LoChristine, has a sampling of earrings, bracelets, and rings that I’ve created. I began creating jewelry many years ago but just recently opened my etsy store and began selling items to the public. I love playing with different color and shape combinations of beads and forming metal. Designing and creating is both comforting and exhilarating at the same time!

What 3 words best describe your work?
earthy, funky, free-spirited

What inspires you?
Most often, I am inspired by nature and the beauty in the world around me. However, I cannot work without some of my folk tunes blasting in the background! The music itself provides an inspiration for my designs.

What drives you to create what you do?
My head is filled with ideas and designing jewelry has provided the perfect outlet. It’s a great way to express myself and reach out to others.

What makes your work unique?
I use numerous elements common to other artists, but assemble them in a way that is unique to me.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
I’m currently a stay-at-home mom to my 5-year-old step-daughter. I try to do most of my crafting while she is at preschool. However, after she enters kindergarten this fall, I plan to devote more time to both creating and promoting my work. Creating jewelry at home also allows me the freedom to travel with my husband (a fairly well-known tattoo artist) and pursue other interests.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I definitely have big dreams for myself, but know that it takes time. Initially, I plan to get involved in craft shows and network around my community to consign my wares at various places. I just recently landed my first consignment at a local coffee house.

Where can we find you on the web?
Etsy - http://lochristine.etsy.com
Blog – http://lochristine.blogspot.com
Flickr – http://flickr.com/photos/lochristine/

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Shiny Objects

2009-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm distracted by them. I also appreciate a really beautiful color scheme, which is what struck me about this piece by Mademoiselle M. It reminds me of something I can't quite place... something warm and sunny... a favorite piece of clothing from a particularly nice summer in my past perhaps? Anyway, I think it's pretty.

Get it here. And don't forget to check out the Mademoiselle M blog to learn more about the artisan.

Wordless Wednesday -- Pizza Fail

2009-05-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

See more at failblog.org

New Stuff and Great Savings Tonight at 9:00!

2009-05-05T05:22:00.000-07:00

Join me tonight at 9:00 PM for Artiste's first May stocking! My fellow WAHMs and I have put together a lovely collection of eco-friendly handmade goodness - a little of everything and something for everyone. I'll be offering big discounts on some new pieces from my Retrocrafted Paper Goods line. Here's a sneak peek:

If you're new to Artiste or to HyenaCart, you're in for a treat. All of our listings go live at 9:00 PM sharp, so be sure to scope out your favorites in advance and be there on time to pounce. Fair warning - the best stuff goes fast!

Featured Artisan -- Menacing Pickle

2009-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Sarah of Menacing Pickle. A long-time Twitter buddy, Sarah (who has been incredibly patient when it comes to this feature - thank you!) creates super fun, bright, creative and playful kids' outerwear.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I was trained as a costume designer for stage and film and worked in the field until the schedule became too difficult due to my having Lupus. I apply those skills to making outerwear for kids in entertaining fabrics that requires effortless care. When I am not designing I am either talking about food, reading about it, or stuffing it in my face.

What 3 words best describe your work?
tasty
amusing
expressive

What inspires you?
Hunger, and the desire to let kids dress in fun and unique creations.

What drives you to create what you do?
People do. I love hearing about creative themes people wish for in children's clothing. I think the clothes we dress them in are like little billboards for our lives and there is no better way to say "I love this hobby, food, sport!" As adults there are so many factors that restrict our being able to dress ourselves with such freedom; dress codes, social expectations. etc. But kids can pretty much wear whatever they want, so let's have some fun with it and express ourselves at the same time!

What makes your work unique?
I didn't want to make little versions of grown-up clothes. I dislike seeing that. I wanted items that are fun and comical while still being functional and safe.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Everything in my life inspires my work. I like that my job is fun and creative. I love meeting with other kid's product designers and working on collaborative projects so we can expand our customer base and have a great time doing it. I would love to have more opportunity for these collaborations.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
My business took a big hit because of CPSIA. My plan involved promoting and selling my items through stores. Now I am working on improving my online presence. Since I no longer am concerned about pricing for retail, I look forward to reaching parents of all economic levels and being able to offer them unique products they desire and can easily afford while still offering a self manufactured (hand made) item.

Where can we find you on the web?
BLOG: menacingpickle.blogspot.com
WEBSITE: menacingpickle.com
ETSY SHOP: menacingpickle.etsy.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Saturday

2009-05-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear chickadee,

You, my friend, are awfully funny these days. This week in particular you were filled with lots of jokes and riddles, as well as your usual hilarious proclamations. The statement of the week was definitely "Mom, your work is so great, you give the whole town a hug with your talent."

We had storms all week. You know what that means… not much napping, lots of concern and heavy discussion about the weather, and some very serious displays of bravery in the face of thunder and lightning. You’re much better able to deal with it this year, though, than you were last year, which is a good thing. ‘Cause storm season is just getting underway, and there are most certainly going to be some tornado sirens in our near future. Hopefully you still think it’s funny for our entire family to hide in the closet in the middle of the night.

Aside from the storms this week was pretty good. Daddy went on a business trip Monday through Wednesday, and you were more concerned about it than I would have expected. You didn’t ask to sleep with me (I was surprised), but you did refuse to talk to Dad on the phone… you’re sort of like the dog that way—punishing people for not being around. We made the best of it, though. Monday night we had one very long Uno tournament (man, you’re really getting good!), and spent a little extra time on stories before bedtime. Lately you like for me to make up stories rather than read our usual books, so we work together on funny adventures for your stuffed puppies. You usually act them out as I tell them. I love it!

Three days this week you insisted that you were absolutely NOT tired at naptime, and then promptly fell asleep on the couch next to me—one time for two hours! When you woke up you insisted that you “weren’t sleeping, just pretending.” Mmmmmmhmmmm… I can’t figure out if your naps are phasing out or if you were just thrown off by Daddy being gone and the weather being weird. I guess time will tell. When the dog came over to give you a little wake-up kiss after one of your couch naps, you started giggling hysterically and said, “I guess she thought I was dead!” My goodness!

You’ve been pretty much in love with Dad since he got back. He hid a stuffed kitty in his suitcase for you, and when he got home, he told you he heard something meowing in there. Another little stuffed friend for your entourage. What’re we up to? Let’s see… there’s Alex, Alex Mae, Mother, Kerf, Perm, Duckhead, Bearhead, Puppy, Other Puppy… and now you’ve decided to name the new kitty “Love.” Excellent choice. It’s kind of funny—you don’t really have any interest at all in dolls that look like people (except sometimes Barbie). You dress up your animals, push them in strollers, put them to bed… they’re always your first choice for playing “family.” And of course, also for playing “pirate.”

By the way, you also did one very amazing straddle roll at gymnastics class yesterday, and I was so excited for you! Yet one more thing you couldn’t do at all just a few weeks ago.

You rock, girlie girl. I’m so proud of you.

Love,
Mommy

Snuggies: Warm, Comfortable, Deadly? (Wordless Wednesday)

2009-04-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Warning - contains brief tushie nudity.

Late Line Special Report - Snuggies: Warm, Comfortable, Deadly? - watch more funny videos

I Want It

2009-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

As you might imagine, fairies are very important around here. My daughter's favorite movie (by a long shot) is Tinkerbell, she has a fairy door in her room, and she wears wings several times a week. As I'm contemplating a "big girl" redesign of her room for her fourth birthday this summer, this series of prints by Angel's Hair is providing lots of inspiration.

You can get them here. And check out the Angel's Hair blog here.

Featured Artisan -- White Mouse Design/Turnaround Design

2009-04-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week's featured artisan is Shannon Whealy of White Mouse Designs (printables) and Turnaround Designs (greeting cards). A fellow EtsyGreetings member, Shannon creates wonderfully whimsical printable paper goods and recycled greeting cards.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
For the past 12 years, I've been a freelance graphic designer. I've been a stay at home mom to two boys for seven of those years as well. It has been a journey to arrive at White Mouse Design on Etsy, but I'm so glad to be here! I've been creating my own personal cards for years, and I'm finally able to focus my graphics business on it. It's a dream come true!

Printable cards and stationery are uniquely thrifty. They are designed by me and sent to the customer in a digital file. Then, the customer supplies the paper and ink, and prints them out on his/her own desktop printer. This way, there is no limit to the number that can be created.

What 3 words best describe your work?
simple, modern, whimsical

What inspires you?
Currently, I'm really inspired by the 70's. I was a little girl during that time, and I find that in these hectic and uncertain times, it's comforting to think about the simplicity of that era, and also the carefreeness of childhood.

What drives you to create what you do?
I was born with a passion to create! It runs in my family. I am also feeling the effects of this economy, and being able to offer a card or gift to have in a pinch at a low cost is important to me.

What makes your work unique?
It is a way for the customer to actively participate in the handmade movement. Also, there aren’t many products you can buy at an unlimited quantity.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
My work gives me something that's just mine. In a busy family, as a working and sometimes overworked mom, this is so important. I want it to continue to fill my cup, so to speak.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
In the next five years, I plan to grow my business into a full-time job. Currently, I have plans to expand my printables into invitations, party favors, wall art and calling cards, with a focus on children’s items. Being self-employed allows me be available for my kids, and I feel very fortunate to be in this business!

Where can we find you on the web?
PRINTABLES SHOP: www.whitemousedesign.etsy.com
CARD SHOP: www.turnarounddesign.etsy.com
BLOG: www.turnarounddesign.blogspot.com
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/turnaroundart
WEB: www.turnarounddesign.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Dear Kid Saturday

2009-04-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this week's installment of "Dear Kid." As always, full credit to Christina of Cutest Kid Ever for the fabulous idea. Want to write a "Dear Kid" letter of your very own? Learn more about how to participate here.

Dear Speed Racer,

Like the picture? This is the view I have most often of you these days. You are on the move! We had a nice week. It's warm outside now but not too hot, so we're able to run and ride and climb and play before summer hits and we get stuck inside.

Monday morning you arrived downstairs toting a plastic pith helmet filled with your stuffed puppies and singing me a good morning song. Lately you're pretty much singing all the time. You make up your own songs ("Rock Star Village" is my favorite) sometimes, and other times you just add words to classical music or change the words to another song. Even when you're not singing, you're humming - our very own little music box! Monday night you found a connect-the-dots puzzle in one of your books and did it all by yourself. I was really proud of you - it went all the way to 35. Nice job!

I got the giggles Tuesday after preschool when your teacher asked me if I had eight kids. Apparently you guys were making a family tree, and you insisted on adding your "seven brothers and sisters." Silly! I love it that you're such a good pretender, but it's important to tell grown-ups when you're just pretending, OK?

On Wednesday, we had a chance to play together for a long time. You made up lots of cool games like "monster cats," "campout on a boat on an island," and a great big "Mexican feast" for me and your puppies. It's really fun to just sit back and see where you go with your games. Those times are some of my favorite times together. Later, I taught you to play Uno. Little did I know it would become your favorite game. You picked it up really quickly, and were REALLY excited to skip me and make draw cards. We've played every day since!

Thursday we were all about arts and crafts. You made some secret Mother's Day stuff and drew some really awesome pictures of me and Daddy. I didn't even know I could drive a bus or conduct a train! You had a super great new song called "It's OK if You're Afraid of Bugs," and you made a really pretty painting that you said would be "very expensive." I don't think you have too much of a problem with self-esteem, my friend.

Friday you walked backwards on the balance beam for the first time at your gymnastics class - nice job! You had an ice cream date with your grandma and grandpa, which you absolutely loooooove. When Grandma Tiny came to pick you up, you took your Big Wheel, just in case you needed to "solve emergencies." Always be prepared, right?

I love you, sweet girl. Looking forward to another week of fun!

Sincerely,
Mommy

Great Gift Idea for Mom, Grads and Teachers!

2009-04-24T04:10:00.000-07:00

Just in time for those spring gift-giving occasions, I present a few new personalized blank note sets from my Freshly Crafted line. These boxed sets are perfect for Mom, for the graduate headed off to school, or to show your appreciation to a special teacher. Take a peek:

The "Susan" Note - $12 per boxed set of eight

The "Linda" Note - $12 per boxed set of eight

The "Kelly" Note - $12 per boxed set of eight

These styles, plus three of my greeting cards for Mother's Day will be available at special prices tomorrow night at Artiste's last stocking for April.

If you're new to Artiste or to HyenaCart, you're in for a treat. Artiste brings you a wide variety of gorgeous, eco-friendly, handcrafted goodness, all made for you with love by a work-at-home mama. All of our listings go live at 9:00 PM sharp, so be sure to scope out your favorites in advance and be there on time to pounce. Fair warning - the best stuff goes fast!

Featured EtsyBlogger -- Two Zany Zebras

2009-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Congrats to this month's featured EtsyBlogger, "Mama Z" of Two Zany Zebras. A stay-at-home mom from Southern California, Mama Z offers super cute kids' clothes and accessories featuring the "Zarkles," wacky and whimsical little kid-friendly creatures, in her Etsy shop. In her own words:

I am a SAHM of two silly zany kids. They keep me busy and on the brink of insanity. I am trying to find a balance between kids, husband, self, housework, scrapbooking, sewing, and selling things on etsy. I love being with family, having fun, the outdoors, and being creative.

Check out the Two Zany Zebras blog to learn more about this adorable, crafty family. Congrats to Mama Z for this well-deserved honor. Enjoy your month of EtsyBloggers fame!