Any Wild Mamas Out There??

Okay, so you're a MOM... all caps, all love, all heart, right? But, does that mean you HAVE to carry a diaper bag with Pooh on it? Or covered with little pink flowers??

No! Here's my "wild mama" diaper clutch, made JUST for you! :) It's a snazzy little number, all bright organges and blues and reds, complete with a super funky stitch to finish off the edging!

No wilting flower mamas need apply! ;p

What fun!

I found this great pattern for a fun, "3D" ball for babies; even my toddler likes playing with them! I've made several in bright colours but I've only got one posted on Etsy so far!

The balls are great for tummy time because they'll roll, but not TOO far since they're not really "round". They're also great because they're soft enough to be thrown around IN the house (if Mama will allow such things!).

Let me know what you think!

Save your shoulder & sling your baby!

When I was first pregnant with my daughter, the thought of "babywearing" was so foreign to me that I simply couldn't imagine why anyone would want to do it. I mean, WHY would you want to schlep your little one around ON you? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable? Heavy? Cumbersome?

And, in face, with the store-bought carriers out there (Baby Bjorn, etc.), it was. Trying to get all the straps in the right place, buckled, not twisted, tight enough, etc., was simply no fun. As such, I never used ours and just carried my daughter. And, as a result of THAT, I ended up with an unusual condition called Clavicular Osteolysis - my clavicle (collarbone) was dissolving, yes DISSOLVING, because of repetitive use. Hurt like a mother & there's no treatment for it. Thankfully, once you stop using your shoulder (yeah....) it will heal itself, and it has, but it was a MISERABLE two years of not being able to lift my arms above shoulder level.

Then, a friend asked me if I'd ever tried a ring sling. Lightweight, easy to use, endlessly adjustable even WITH the baby in it, and much prettier! And, it would SAVE my shoulder! AND they're big enough that my husband can use it, too! Hmmmm... what is this magical sling you're speaking of? :)

So, I asked my mother to make one for me (this was back before I was sewing). ;p

LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT.

When baby #2 came along, I was fully prepared with a 100% silk sling that I'd made myself (like the one in the pic). The silk is such a great medium for slings; SUPER lightweight, breathable (natural fibers), folds up to about a 5" cube for easy transport, and SO stylish & pretty. Silk is also very strong; I can use it to carry my 35 lb., 3.5 year old in it, too! I had Alexander slung almost every time I picked him up; as such, my Clavicular Osteolysis didn't return. Yay!

It's also so great to be able to hold your little ones when they just need some "mama 'nuggle time" and still be able to get stuff done (like cooking, vacuuming, etc.)! :)

Now, I make and sell the slings on my Etsy shoppe. I wish I could give one to every new mama out there so they, too, can understand what a great thing baby wearing is!

Meet & Greet: Twisted Tree Studio

It’s been a while since my last feature of a fellow Etsian, but here goes! I’d like to introduce you all to Twisted Tree Studio; Eclectic Art & Exquisite Leather Work. The dynamic duo of Jen & Pat live in the Colorado Mountains near Pike’s Peak, which towers 14,000 feet over their little town. Pat is a mason my trade while Jen, a painter & muralist, has worked in offices and retail over the years. They make beautiful leather bags together and Jen also paints & sells murals and handles the web store.

Pat & Jen have been selling their bags for about 3 years, though Pat’s been into leatherworking since his 20’s and Jen has studied art her entire life. She studied in Holland and has an Art. Ed. Degree from here in the US. Believe it or not, though, she’s never taking a class on painting!

According to Jen, they pull their inspiration from “forest and the natural qualities of the hides and stunning stones”. In browsing their Etsy shop, Twisted Tree Studio, you’ll find a great contrast of smooth stone with rough leather and products that FEEL natural, not contrived. Check out the incredible quiver they have in their store now; it certainly makes me want to go in search of Legolas!

Twisted Tree Studio came to Etsy after much research into online communities. They have high hopes for their shop, planning to turn it into “a strong business, with customers all over the world, while maintaining our special level of unique one of a kind art and incomparable craftsmanship that will give us a way to create art for many years to come”. Given that they feel that great customer service and unique products are paramount, I’m sure their shop will be immensely successful!

Fun Facts
Favourite Colour: Purple/Blue
Favourite Food: Jen – Italian, Pat – Spicy, Hot Mexian
Favourite Drink: Coffee, or whiskey & Coke!
Favourite Travels: Jen’s in love with the UK but loves travelling anywhere (a gypsy at heart). They also want to explore jungles and Africa someday!

Here's What I'm Not

So, it occurred to me the other day that everyone can spout off thousands of words to describe what they are, who they are, why they are, where they are, etc., but ask them what they're NOT and you'll give them a few seconds pause. :)

As such, I've decided to start a new blog, Here's What I'm Not, that will take me on a 365 day journey of self-realization to help me discover who I AM by understanding what I'm NOT.

I'd love you to join me on this trip; you may even learn a few new words along the way!

http://hereswhatimnot.blogspot.com/

Clock Chimes

Okay, so my father got us this beautiful (I think) wall clock that ticks & tocks & chimes... it's great and the chime is so pretty. However, the chime is also LOUD and with our small house we don't want it to chime the hours (and keep us & the kids up at night).

Dad promised me that the chime would wind down, too, and need to be re-wound to work. There are two separate winding pegs, one for the clock & one for the chime. We've had this thing running for about 6 months and it's STILL chiming... Does anyone have a pendulum clock like this?? Is it EVER going to wind down?? :)

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Eco-Friendly Lunchbox

So, today I tried out a new pattern and made up this super-cute, eco-friendly reusable lunchbox! you can find it at my Etsy shoppe!

This great, reusable lunchbox is perfect for kids or adults! The adorable chicken fabric is very cute and pretty apropos!

It includes a great interior space for holding lunch and/or snacks and has 2 exterior pockets, one flat (ideal for silverware) and one gusseted (would hold a small water bottle, like an Aquapod). The bag closes with velcro on the front flap and has a small handle for carrying!

The whole bag is lined with a light blue fabric and all pieces are lined & interfaced for strength, durability, and a touch of insulation.

Could double as a day/diaper bag, too!

Dimensions: 8" x 8" x 3"
Machine Washable

When you're sick.... STAY HOME!

Okay, so my husband came home last week complaining that several of his coworkers were in the office even though they were fighting off this stomach bug that's going around. Well, needless to say HE caught it and was out of commission for 2 days last week. I thought that the kids & I had avoided it (yay for Lysol!), but sure enough, last night around 12:30AM my 3.5 year old daughter wakes up wailing & flailing. After about 10 minutes of crying, she gives me the most pitiful look as says, "Mama, I'm gonna throw up". I grab her trash basket & just in time she vomits right into it.

So, she & I were up all night, with her throwing up every 30 minutes or so until about 3AM. Then it slowed down to once an hour until 6. Then, she threw up at 7:30AM and, thankfully, that seems to have been the end of it. It's now almost noon and she hasn't vomited since. The poor thing is so hungry & thirsty, but we're limiting her intake to a sip of water every 15 minutes. Crappy, but it seems to be working. I'm staving off food, though, until after her nap (if she'll let me!).

Anyway, the moral of this story is that IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME. No, you're NOT so important at your office that they can't live without you for a day or two. I PROMISE, corporate America is NOT going to fall apart without you. WASH your hands a LOT, too!

Valentine Wishes

Happy Valentine's Day to all my followers! I hope you all are surrounded with love on this day and every day! :)

My first Etsy *Main* treasury!!

So, today I was able to snag my first Etsy treasury - the MAIN treasury, not the West one! I was inspired by the colours rust & teal and decided to see what I could find with those colors if I searched for the word "dirt".

Here's what I found!

Etsy Treasury

Diaper clutch w/ Built In Changing Pad

Okay, so by now you've all seen my beautiful & unique diaper clutch with built in changing pad, right?? This copyrighted design is a great item for chic moms on the go! It holds a 2 - 4 diapers, a wipe case, and a small bottle of powder or bum creme. There are also pockets on the front to slip in some cash or cards, which makes it great for quick trips to the park or the store!

It closes with velcro and some 'models' also come with a beautiful sash to tie around it. It looks like a gorgeous clutch when it's closed and no one would guess it's true purpose! Open it up, though, and it becomes a 12" x 20" changing pad, just the right size for protecting your little one's tush from foreign surfaces. I still use mine for my toddler!

These make great baby shower and Mother's Day gifts, too! I use only high-end designer fabrics, including Amy Butler, Michael Miller, Alexander Henry, and Heather Bailey. If there's a special fabric or colour combination you'd like, please don't hesitate to let me know!!

New Design!

I wanted to post my newest design in my lip balm holder line; it has a flap that closes with a snap to ensure the "safety" of your balm! While not necessary for normal use, people who are rough with their keys will certainly appreciate this modification!!

I'd love to hear what you think!

Only the Best of Etsy Sample Packages GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Only the Best of Etsy Sample Packages GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Crafting with Kids

So, today we had a Kids Craft playgroup at my house & we felted soap for the kids to use in their baths! The kiddos (aged 3 - 6) wrapped their soap themselves in 2 - 3 layers of fleece. I did a very tiny bit of needle felting to hold the fleece ON the soap during the wet felting. Then, we put the soap in small zip-loc bags, added a bit of hot water, and set the kids to work.

A few of them actually felted their soap themselves, but some of them also got tired of rubbing a bar of soap and Mama had to step in. It actually worked out great because the moms had a great time, too, felting by hand!

All told, each child went home with his or her very own bar of soap and one mama took home one, too! I sure hope they have fun with them!

Scrub a dub!

New Key Fobs!

So, I'm listing a bunch of new key fobs and lip balm key fobs today... Joel Dewberry, Alexander Henry, Amy Butler... :) If you need one, or know someone who does, head over over to my sister shop, Key Fob Fairy at Etsy!

Meet & Greet: WinterCrochet

Okay, I always knew it’s a small world, but this is starting to get a little crazy… I randomly chose my 2nd fellow Etsian to interview and, in reading her answers, discovered that she, TOO lives in MA, about 30 minutes away. Apparently New Englanders are drawn to each other! She loves living here and revels in the culture; museums, sports, nature – it’s all here.

I’d like to introduce you to Margaret of WinterCrochet. A cubicle dweller by day, in her off-hours she uses yarn to make hats that literally look good enough to eat. This Mint Chocolate hat nearly had me drooling! Margaret came to crochet by way of soap making, after the smell of soap starting to get to her. As the daughter of a soap maker myself, I can definitely understand the sentiment! She was taught by her mother, who still lives close by, and crochet is a craft that “runs in the family”.

Margaret pulls her inspiration from a variety of places, people and even materials. She says, “Sometimes a certain color or texture of yarn will scream to be made into something very specific.” I think a lot of fellow artisans can relate to that experience. Something else a lot of us can understand is her studio goal – to keep it clean enough to at least be able to see SOME of the floor! :)

She has a great attitude towards entrepreneurship, and, I bet, life in general: always keep learning & growing. She says of her shop, “…a year from now I still want to be learning new things about entrepreneurship and community markets.” She values her experience in running her shop, having made both personal and professional connections in the few short months she’s been selling on Etsy.

In closing, I’m going to just copy & paste her quote on the import of buying & selling handmade goods – I couldn’t write it any better myself!

“When people make and sell and buy handmade goods, I feel that it brings us back to a place where everyone knew their neighbors and you could trust in quality craftsmanship, and also in the people around you. We're so disconnected these days from the dinner parties, and knitting circle type activities that brought communities to be proud and tightly woven; [communities] that worked hard to do what was right and help each other. I feel the community ties we make are the most invaluable outcome of handmade communities.”

Fun Facts:
Favourite Colour: Earthy, Mossy Green
Favourte Food: All of it (“I'm a food maniac! I'm one of those live to eat people and not the eat to live type”)
Favouirte Drink: Alcoholic: margarita (on the rocks, no salt) Non alcoholic: nice pink lemonade in the summer.
Favourite Travels: Her parents’ house (how sweet is that?)

Hearts for Haiti Donation, SOLD!

So, the tattoo-inspired "LOVE" key fob that I donated to the Hearts for Haiti cause on Etsy just yesterday, sold TODAY! Yay!! There's $5.99 more for the cause! And I hope the buyer loves the fob!

Meet & Greet: Studio Seventy Five

Since I’ve run out of daily fodder to chat about, I decided to run a series of “getting to know you” posts featuring other Etsy artists. I love meeting other creative people and finding out what makes them tick. I hope you enjoy reading about these great crafts(wo)men & collectors. :)

The first Etsian that I’d like to introduce you all to is Jennifer of Studio Seventy Five. In conducting the interview, we discovered that we live only about 20 miles from each other and that she grew up in the same town that my entire family is from (Franklin, MA). I guess it truly is a small world! She loves living in New England and can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Jennifer is a stay-at-home-mom to two boys (ages 12 and 6) and has been married to her husband for 16 years. She discovered her passion for jewelry making when she took a beading class a few years ago and it quickly snowballed into a desire to learn several different techniques. Having sold to family & friends, she decided to open an Etsy shop in September of 2009. In this short time she’s had over 50 sales! Her jewelry is classic, clean and reasonably priced, so it’s no wonder she’s doing so well.

Asked where she gets her inspiration, Jennifer replied, “I always have ideas swirling in my head. I get inspiration from nature, magazines, current jewelry trends”. She prefers buying and selling handmade products, supporting local artists, and knowing that what she’s purchased (and sold) is unique and not available at the large box stores.

Jennifer is working on growing her business and plans on showcasing her beautiful jewelry at several craft fairs this year. Her advice to other new Etsy sellers is great customer service & great pictures! The first can be easy, the latter, as many of us know, can be very tricky! Keep your eye out for Studio Seventy Five!

Quick facts:
Favourite Color: Aqua
Favourite Food: All of it!
Favourite Drink: Midori Sour (when she partakes)
Favourite Travels: Hawaii

Lip Balm holder being featured on another blog!

I'm so honoured that Kira Ann Designs (http://www.etsy.com/shop/kiraanndesigns) has featured on of my lip balms as her Etsy Find of the Day. The lip balms can be found at my "sister" shop, the Key Fob Fairy. Check it out!

http://kiraanndesigns.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much!!