One Word Wednesday..... WHAT?!?!?!

So, I've always known that I live in a small town... the only places we can go to buy anything is Safeway, the Dollar Store and the truck stop. But it's really quiet where we live and we've got incredible views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen on a clear day. Most of the time the benefits far out weigh the disadvantages of needing to drive 30 minutes EVERYTIME we need to buy something. Not much happens here - there is the occasional community event, but other than that it's pretty mellow.

And then one day, we saw these workers filling fabric tubes with sand and wrapping them around a metal frame. My first thought?? They are building something to protect the well. They have their olive orchard on the corner of a major road that links two highways and it has been hit before. And then they kept going up and up and more and more round. And then one day, we drove by and saw that they had plastered around it and added the spear.

What?!?! We're still waiting to see if they paint it like an olive (that would be the only thing that makes any sense what so ever) but so far this is it.... a big, huge white egg with a spear through it. No one can say this town is boring!!

One Word Wednesday... SMILEBOX!

I know I'm a day late, but definately not a dollar short :) You won't believe what I finally figured out! I'm so excited to share it with you!!

Quite a while ago, I noticed Smilebox on a friend's blog, totzhatz, and accidentally downloaded it. Then for months and months, I'd get these little updates and little notes saying "come try me out"! Well, yesterday morning, although I really didn't have the time for it, I decided to try it and LOVE IT! It's so much fun and can't wait to have a bit more time to play around with it.

But, for now... here's what I did... hope you love it as much as I do :)

Make a Smilebox photobook

Carmen Bowe - "Teammate Tuesday!"

This week's teammate blog post is going to feature...

CARMEN BOWE
of CB Design Studio on etsy!

I had recieved "One Lovely Blog Award" from this super helpful and terrific EtsyMom teammate in June! Make sure to check out her etsy shop and her blog - she has some absolutely beautiful pieces of jewelry!

I was so excited to recieve this award from her, especially since it's been a challenge for me to fit this blog into my schedule and find things worthy to write about! And to have someone notice it is such an honor!!

In acceptance of this award, I will post the rules:

1. Accept the award, post in on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other fabulous blogs. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here is my list in no particular order:

ZozoBugBaby

AmyRoseDesigns

TheCleverKitty

zuzugirlhandmade

totzhatz

pammydawndesigns

HELLOmynameisHeather

Tiny Tots with Style

KimsCraftyApple

GoldtoneDesigns

RozzisHandmadeHeaven

Lindsay Parks

Bit of Whimsy Dolls

Fabric Family Fun

HomemadeZen

WHEW! That was tough!!

Six by Six for "All Me Monday!"

So I've told you before... I'm WAY behind on all the things I had wanted to blog about as evidenced by the date on the link I'm going to give you!!

I had been tagged by my friend over at zuzu girl handmade in a game "six by six" which is supposed to be the sixth picture in the sixth album in your photo library - hense the name! Click here to see her "six by six"!

So... here it is... my sixth photo in my sixth photo album that is on my computer right now!!

Aren't these fishy cupcakes the cutest things that y(ou've ever seen??? One of the AMAZING moms (and I was so blessed because they were all amazing!!) I had in my kindergarten class last year offered to make the cupcakes for Paige's mermaid birthday party this June - and to think that she does this as a hobby!! They were incredible and tasted just as fantastic as they look!

Now here are a few other birthday pictures that I just had to add... well, just because!

When I started planning this mermaid party at little miss's dance studio, I knew that I wanted it to feel like the kids were underwater. And just about then was when I spotted some darling fish at Pottery Barn Kids. As amazing as they were, the price wasn't something I wanted to splurge on for a birthday party (3/$60) so I set out to make my own. With some paper lanterns from the dollar store and left over tulle from tutus I had made and some felt, this is what we got! Each one was a different color combination and they were perfect for the party (even though they did look a bit like piggies)!!

I also did a happy birthday banner that matched the colors of the party - you'd be proud of me, Kristi :) I used brads in the corners of each letter card and strung a piece of ribbon through the whole set. I think next time I might have ribbon on each one and tie them together... we'll see!

Not wanting to do the traditional party bags, mostly because I wanted to try to make a starfish mermaid wand, but also because it was summer vacation and I had all the time in the world... right?!?!? Well, not really, but I did enjoy doing these! I made the starfish part from colored felt and hand embroidered glass beads to them, added the tulle and wrapped the ribbon around the dowel (MUCH harder than it looks, by the way!) and voila! Here they are! I also drew the mermiad onto a plate pattern from a Make A Plate kit I got at a kindergarten conference and had all the kids from the party sign it. I can't wait to send it in and get the actual plate!!

Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I always feel better when there's a great project to do! So... (in my spare time!! - Nicole, you'll get a giggle out of this one!) I went out and bought a Yudu personal screen printing machine and printed the mermaid design onto a t-shirt for each party goer. They turned out GREAT! I put out some small cupcake tins with fabric paint in each section, laid out some paint brushes and let them decorate away! They turned out so cute!

The party was a huge success and now there are so many more things I'm going to add to my shop... when I find some "extra" time - is that even possible?!?!

THANKS KRISTI, for tagging me! I had such fun :) Now to tag the next 6 bloggers!!! Here they are in no particular order:

Blissfully Unaware

Amy Rose Designs

Kims Crafty Apple

a la mode fabric

Candy Stick Lane

baby cheeks/The Trendy Tots

I can't wait to see what their "six by six" is :)

One Word Wednesday... YAHOO!

Ok, I know it's Thursday... believe me, I know! But I just had to pretend for a few minutes so I could get this post out :)

I'm one of the contributing editors of a new online magazine, Modern Handmade Child. There has been a lot of hard work that has gone into it and I just have to shout from the rooftops... YAHOO! It really is incredible and I'm so excited to see what is to come!

So... click, click, click away and check it out! Subscribe so you can see more! Yes, you!!! Go... now! :)

Open publication - Free publishing - More kids

The Sisterhood Award

I got this award from Jackie at totzhatz because she likes my etsy shop and thinks my blog is fun to read! (And as behind as I am with all the things I want to write about, I thought today would be a good day to write this one!!)


Thanks so much for the honor, Jackie!


Now I get to pass it along to 5 other blogs!! Here's how it works:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 5 other blogs which show great ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have recieved this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you recieved your award.


Here are the 5 blogs that I am passing this award onto:

1. baby cheeks/the trendy tot - her two shops are incredible full of such darling things and her blog is really fun to read! (not to mention, the fun I'm having chatting with her on facebook!)

2. Banana Ice Cream Kids - super cute clothing items and a fun, fun blog!

3. Handmade Gone Wrong - what more can I say about this one?!!? I saw the link on facebook (sorry, I don't remember who posted it!) and can't get enough! These ladies say all the things you try to keep inside your head!!

4. Mommy Loves It! - this blog wrote one of the first product reviews for me and it was such a great experience! The author, Heather, is super sweet and does such a wonderful job!!

5. Red Sox Mommy - being a HUGE Red Sox fan and raising one myself, I just love this blog! What more can I say?!?!

"Teammate Tuesday"

Not long after I started my etsy shop, I began to wander around "Etsyland" as I like to call it and found a much larger community of artisans and crafters than I ever could have imagined. Among all the wealth of information that I had found was a thing called an etsy team.

I was a little unsure as to what they really were, what kinds of things I'd need to do and how much of a time committment it would be. And finally, after months of looking through the list of teams, I decided to join one. And then two and then three!!

I have been so pleasantly surprised by the friendships that I have developed, as well as the abundance of support that I have found and continue, each and every day to be amazed by the amazing talent I am surrounded by!

Each week, I am going to feature one of the many talented ladies that I am continually inspired by. Not only for the amazing products that they produce, but also for their kind words and dedication to their team.

This week, I'd like to recognize...

Jackie from totzhatz - a wonderful EtsyBaby and EtsyKids teammember!

Jackie has been on etsy since 2008 and has such an adorable assortment of hatz! You can find always find her posting on the team threads with such kind as supportive words for everyone! She has a great blog and is featured in two different etsy shops: Bloome and ImogensGarden. Well done, Jackie!!

"All Me Monday"

It seems appropriate that today is my first "All Me Monday" blog post since it's my birthday! And what better way to celebrate :) Here is a darling video of my sweet, little girl singing to me... precious!!