NEW FABRIC COMING!!!!!!

He he he he!!!! I feel like a little kid leaving the candy shop with my bag full of penny candies (oh how I miss penny candy stores!!) I LOVE this new fabric. I am waiting on pins and needles until it gets here! I can't wait to get it! I LOVE the red and turquoise - so great for spring. Also, how COOL is the orange and yellow pop - so retro! What will I make with this??? I am in the process of addding other new fabrics to my selections - FABRICS - If you have been thinking about designing your own bag - I have some fab fabric coming!!!

My kids had a FAB Birthday Party!!

We had a GREAT time. Look at my 2 little ones snuggled together on the chair! I can't believe that they are 4 and 2!!! YIKES!!! Does time fly.

As the party was winding down, my son REALLY wanted to open his gifts. He was told that he could open them when the other kids went home. So, he walked around and told everyone if they could or could not stay!!! He told my friend, "OK, you are an adult with children so you can go home now." And to others without kids he said, "You can stay 'cause you don't have kids."

Well, I guess it worked for him because all of a sudden my house was clear!! He had motivation. I didn't even find out that this was happening until close to the very end! I hope my friends don't think that I was "kicking them out"!!!! Gotta love the things kids say!!!

Independent Designer Friday - Butercups And Buterflies

The Independent Designer of the Week is Buttercups And Butterfiles- a fun and whimsical Etsy shop specializing in everything from stone pendant necklaces to crocheted baby booties.

!Here is my favorite piece from Buttercups And Butterfiles - Blue Couch Tissue Box Cover. What a fun way to liven up any room in your house. This is truly a conversation piece :>

I asked Buttercups And Butterflies a few questions about the craft business!

How would you describe your crafts/Etsy shop?

I have a little bit of everything, Its simple and the items are so useful and unique. Our crafts are made by my daughter and I and we love working together to make people happy with our products.

How did you get started?

I was told by a friend through myspace about etsy. So I checked it out. I sold items at local fleamarkets and shows. But never thought of the idea of selling online till now. I love it, its great.

How long have you been crafting?

Since I was 8 Years old, I was young when I started. I'm 28 now and still going strong with it all. I dont think I'll ever stop crafting. Its so rewarding.

What is your inspiration?

My mother was the most inspiring person in my life. Now she still is even though she has passed on. Now my daughter gives me all the inspriation I need.

What is your favorite piece in your shop today?

My Favorite piece would be the little blue sofa tissue box cover. Its a bright blue and its so adorable.

How do you market/advertise your wares?

Business cards, word of mouth, friends and family.

Any advice to fledgling crafters / entrepreneurs?

Keep your chin up and stay positive, if a sale doesn't come today it will come the next day. Staying positive about things is what makes great products and if you have great products, you have happy customers. : )

I COMPLETELY agree with your last bit of advice. We all have good days and bad days. As long as we are true to ourselves, love what we do and put our heart in our work - we can make our businesses thrive!

Thanks so much for your advice and keep up with your adorable crafting!!

Planning a Birthday Party - friend and foe

Well, I am almost finished with the party for my kids - it's on Saturday. We're starting the day at a local moonbouce play area and coming back to out house for lunch and cake. My son will be 4 and is obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine. He has been since he was 16 months old! I am so happy because those stinkers cost a fortune!! Anyway, he is having a Thomas cake (again!!). I decided to get it from Coldstone Creamery this year to get something different.

My daughter - who will be 2 (there birthdays ar 5 days apart :>) decided on a little mermaid cake. She was torn between the Hello Kitty, Princesses and Ariel - she finally made her decisions.

I have been working feverishly on my house in anticipation of this event. I really want to update my entire kitchen but won't do it for a couple of years. So, to keep me happy until I do that - I decided to paint everything that I could in my kitchen - walls, trim, cabinets - even the countertops! Yeah, i might be crazy but if I'm going to change it in a few years anyway, I thought, what the heck!! That's the picture above. Hmmm - you can either love it or hate it!!

So, I am off now to finish putting together my Independent Designer Friday post (and cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc.......)! I will be featuring TONS of lovely ladies and their respective (delicious :>) Etsy shops/websites! These are going to be some fabulous upcoming weeks!!

NEW Crayon Toddler Bags!!

I just finished a wholesale order for a boutique - Lass & Laddie. These are the La Petite Sweetcake Crayon Bags that were designed. They turned out so ADORABLE!!! I was so psyched to see all of them sitting in a group looking all pretty and springy in their bright colors! I was so proud to ship these little babies off. Each bag measures approx. 6 inches by 7 inches and is 2 1/2 inches deep. Just big enough to carry around some crayons (8 to be exact) in the little pockets, notepads, pencils and stickers. ALL the essentials for every little girl :>

Customize Tote with Nature

Here is one other project from Martha - I will do this as soon as we have leaves!! You use a canvas tote or pillow or curtains (you decide) and choose real leaves to embellish with fabric paint! So artistic, simple and fun :>

Embellish Tote with Nature

Handbag Tutorials!!!

Here are some cool and fun handbag tutorials to get you started on this Monday!!!

Strippy Handbag - cool stripe effect patchwork handbag.

Reversible Handbag Tutorial - nice everyday handbag.

Pleated handheld handbag - cute going out handbag - pretty for spring fabrics!

Reusable Grocery Bag Tote - Easy and made from 2 pillowcases!

Classy Pleated Clutch - cute and classy :>

Kids Beach Towel Tote Bag - a fun project to make for the upcoming summer season!

(Pictured at top from Martha Stewart.com)

Toddler Tips - HOT Easter Crafts!!

LOVE this adorable Easter bucket from http://www.marthastewart.com/ . I especially LOVE the chickie template - they are absolutely adorable!! My kids and I made Easter baskets the other day out of old shoe boxes, construction paper, markers and good old foam stickers! I will post their masterpieces tomorrow.

How about this adorable Easter bunny card! I found this at a site called - Crafters Community. I will have to find some time tomorrow to make a few for their grandparents!

The also wanted to mention some of THE BEST chocolate I have ever tasted - Gertrude Hawk Chocolate

I grew up just north of Scranton, PA and was very lucky to be near the home of this delicious chocolate! It really melts in your mouth and put Hershey's to shame :>

Going Green - Organic Gardening Options

I found a company recently offering a wide range of organic weed and pest control products as well as organic fertilizer. Hey, I LOVE a green lawn come spring just like the next lady but, I am beginning to think that all of the herbicides I use to keep those dandelions away just isn't "dandy" for the environment!

Along comes - Pharmsolutions!!! This company makes natural alternatives to man-made chemicals. Everything from IndoorPharm made from certified organic soap, certified organic almond oil& certified organic soybean oil to keep indoor pests away from plants to GarlicPharm made with pure garlic oil to keep outside pests away.

I am psyched!! I will be able to grow my veggies this year and enjoy my flowers knowing that in protecting them I am NOT hurting my planet!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Hello all! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! This is an extra special holiday in my family as my husband and son each share this saint's name as a middle name! WOO HOO! I decided to hunt on Etsy to find some cool shamrocky items!

Here is what I found - An adorable shamrock pillow by Chubby Trubby. What a fun way to sunggle up!

The next is a delicious shamrock bracelet by dckdesigns. This bracelet would be a fab addition to your spring wardrobe! I wish everyone a bit of luck - in life and in style! :>

Independent Designer Friday - Doodle Designs

The Independent Designer of the Week is Doodle Designs - a fantastic Etsy shop specializing in beautiful handpainted signs and home decorations

!Here is my favorite piece from Doodle Designs - DADDY first hero, first love . What an absolutely inspiring Father's Day gift!

I asked Jenny of Doodle Designs a few questions about the craft business!

How would you describe your crafts/Etsy shop?

Fun! I love to create fun pieces of art for your special place. Of course with a 3 year old daughter and 5 year old son, it isn't hard to tell where a lot of my influence comes from!

How did you get started?

I have been crafting all of my life. My mom painted wood items and went to craft shows while I was growing up and is still very crafty. I loved to "doodle" and paint, and after years of making things for my family and friends i desided (with a little nudging) to make a business out of it.

How long have you been crafting?

All 31 years (ok, so just after i could actually use crayons!)

What is your inspiration?

Color, my precious kiddos, friends, papers...everything I see really.

What is your favorite piece in your shop today?

I think my favorite piece isn't listed in my shop yet (it is coming soon!0 but as for what is IN my shop today...well, I have too many but I am partial to the "Has anyone seen my tiara?"- my little princess definitely pushed that one along!

How do you market/advertise your wares?

I have my own web boutique as well as my Etsy shop. I have more customized/personalized items in my web store than Etsy. I have a business blog (I am just getting started with that...) and a ton of word of mouth. I am so thankful for other crafty ladies who spotlight artist like me. That is a GREAT advertisement!

Any advice to fledgling crafters / entrepreneurs?

Do what you love and stick with it. The more I try to venture off in different directions the more i am reminded that it is important to stick with what you love. It will work in time and with tweaking. Start slow and build. A tree grows over time from a little seed....not overnight.

Thank you so much for this feature! I am enjoying following your blog!!

Thanks Jenny - for your information and inspiring handpainted messages!!

Toddler / Kid Tips - Keep your house clean!

We ALL need tips on how to keep our house clean and germ free. Here are some tips that I recently read in Better Homes and Gardens.

Kitchen:

1. Clean all contact points - counters, faucets, cabinet pulls, refrigerator handles, light switches, and garbage can lids. These all need to be sanitized. Use a good disenfectant. Be sure to read labels to use effectively and always rinse from a surface that may touch food.

Basement -

2. Change your furnace / air conditioner filter - check out Filtrete filters and SafeHome Filters. These companies offer filters that will rid your home of dander, pollen, mold and some dangerous gases as well.

Bathroom -

3. Fans - Showers and baths create a lot of heat and moisture. Be sure to dissapate that moisture so it doesn't have a chance to breed mold by running your fan for 20 minutes after your trip to the tub.

Living Room -

4. MY FAVE TIP!!! Remove Shoes - Create a NO SHOES POLICY throughout your house. It's super easy to do and you will leave all of the outside dangers out of your home - pet droppings, chemicals, viruses. This is an especially important rule for houses with children playing on the ground!

Good Luck and keep cleaning! :>

FAB skin care creams - ROC

All right, I am 33 and I will admit that I am searching for the Fountain of Youth - for my skin! I have been using ROC products for over a year now - the Eye cream and the Night Cream. I do love the way the products feel and I do notice that the skin around my eyes is fantastic. I am running low on the night cream so I decided to try somthing new - but stick with ROC. I DON'T have deep wrinkles but I do want to prevent them so, I decieded I am going to give the Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Night Cream a try. I also thought that while I add a deep wrinkle night, I should add a deep wrinkle day cream. Let's keep those bad boys AWAY!!!!! You can find these products at http://www.druugstore.com/. I have ordered from there before and received my products the NEXT DAY! The product costs are from $25 - $30 - not bad - I'm satisified!

Then after you have polished your skin - you can rock out your new look complimented with my Eclair Clutch. Check out the one above - GROWL!!! You sexy mamas!!!

Quote of the Week!

"When someone is relating an important event that's happened to them, don't try to top them with a story of their own. Let them have the stage."

~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

This is a TERRIFIC bit of advice. It happens to be one of my New Year's Resolutions - just listen more. Sometimes we let information slip by that could really help us and/or the person talking because we aren't listening. We're just waiting for our turn to speak. I call it "the Stubbed Toe" syndrome. You tell someone that you just stubbed your toe and it stinks! He says, "Yeah, I stubbed MY toe last week and was in the hospital!" Big deal......I want to talk about MY toe! And it goes on and on.....

So, in short - LISTEN!!! Don't talk and enjoy. You might realize that you were missing something! :>

Going Green - Recycle Cell Phones!

Everyone loves their new gadgets! We have cell phones, ipods, cameras, blackberrys.......they are SO fun when they are shiny and new! You are left with the question - "What do I do with my old cell phone??"

When I am out grocery shopping, I do notice some bins that advertise recycling your cell phone - or maybe that was reading glasses!! Well, here's a bit of advice - check out http://www.call2recycle.org/. This company has partnered with many major retailers - Best Buy, Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears, Radio Shack, Circut City and Target - to offer convenient drop off locations for reycling your "old" cell phones and rechargable batteries.

The site offers an area where you can type in your zip to find the closest center. I found 12 located less than 7 miles from my house - very easy way to be green!

My new fabric love - Alexander Henry

Here is my new fabric love - well at least for the week!!! It is an Alexander Henry Japanese inspired "Lady Yang" print. This fabric brings a feel of a more vintage Asian fabric. I love that parts of the gold in the fabric is actually shiny - really retro!

Independent Designer Friday - Beach Haus Designs

The Independent Designer of the Week is Beach Haus Designs - a fantastic Etsy shop specializing in limited edition jewelery that sparkles and shines!

Here is my favorite piece from Beach Haus Designs - The Jenny Necklace - from the website - http://www.beachhausdesigns.com/. What a delicious raspberry shade - a very FRESH addition to your spring wardrobe.

I asked June of Beach Haus Designs a few questions about the craft business!

How would you describe your crafts/Etsy shop?
It is an extentison of our website with a few beautiful pieces of jewerly on it. We are looking forward to expanding our collection on Etsy in the near future.

How did you get started?
I was creating jewelry as a hobby & as gifts for friends and family when people started asking to buy my jewelry. My first sale was a sparkly shamrock bracelet!

How long have you been crafting?
Honestly, all my life! My mother was a huge crafter and really made it fun for myself & my sisters. So for me to be creating jewelry is such a natural thing........I have been creating jewelry specifically for about 10 years now.

What is your inspiration?
I am inspired by my two beautiful daughters & supportive husband. I love to travel pretty much everywhere as well as we spend a lot of time at the beach in Florida and in Northern Michigan. The sand, the water & the sunsets are huge sources of inspiration everyday! Being a southern girl I love feminine, girly, fun things and that reflects a lot in what I design.

What is your favorite piece in your shop today?
In the etsy shop- I love the Rosie Posie Bracelet http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9725646
At our online store- I love the Olive Necklace http://beachhausdesigns.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=175

How do you market/advertise your wares?
We advertise in some regional magazines as well as we do quite a bit of web marketing, newsletters, postcards as well as we have our web address on everything we send or give out. Really helps to get the store name & website out to customers.

Any advice to fledgling crafters / entrepreneurs?
Don't give up. If you feel this is your calling in life then go for it! Sometimes it is learning a better way of doing things, marketing it differently, trying different shows, etc....I found that once I try something & it doesn't work then we try something else and try not to keep repeating the same mistakes. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help or advice from others that are being successful. Mentors are a great thing!

Thanks June - for your information and a bit of sparkle and bling!!

Toddler Tips - Girl Charlee Clothing

I have been admiring the children's clothing company - Girl Charlee for awhile now. I LOVE retro and vintage and if you do to then you will love this clothing line. Above is a delicious little outfit that is a fave of mine :> I love orange and I LOVE gauchos!! I think they are too cute and refreshing on little ones! I think this outfit will most likely end up in my daughter's closet.

Girl Charlee offers clothing for boys and girls from birth through size 6 along with unique gifts and health and body items. Check them out!

Quote of the Week!

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

~ Robert Brault

I add a story from my own week......I was washing the dishes from lunch in the sink a few days ago. My 2 year old daughter comes up to me with her favorite blanket in hand and begins to lay it on the dirty red carpet under the sink.

I begin to think to myself - don't do that it's dirty! But I just watch her work instead. She so meticulously lays the blanket out, carefully considering it's position. She then lays down on the blanket preparing for a rest.

Again, I think to myself - NO don't that's SO dirty! But, I refrain from speaking and continue to watch. As she's laying down, she picks her head up, looks at me, pats the ground next to her and says, "Lay here mommy."

Without even thinking twice about the dirty floor I lay down next to my daughter feeling so priviledged that she invited me! Ah, but the best was yet to come. As we were laying there face to face not more than nose distance apart, she kisses me. Not once, not twice, but all over my face. I was so happy I could have cried. How long will my little sweet want to do this with me? I realize how lucky I am right now.

What a sweet moment I didn't let escape me by worries of the everyday. :>

Live, Laugh and Love!

Going Green - Talking Trash

I often think about and research ways to help the environment. I especially think about reducing my waste. I use cloth diapers, reusable grocery bags, recycle all paper and cardboard and plastic, glass and aluminum.

I found some facts from Better Homes and Gardens that I want to pass to you. I always wondered what became of the items I recycled - here is some cool information.

Recycled Glass becomes food containers, tiles, landscaping pebbles and road surfacing.

Paper becomes newsprint, boxes, insulation, and animal bedding. **One Sunday paper recycled each month saves a tree a year!!!

Aluminum becomes beverage cans, cookware, bike parts, and tennis rackets. Steel becomes new steel and could become auto parts, filing cabinets or appliances.

Plastic turns into alot of things. #1 and #2 plastics become beverage and shampoo bottles, pipes, fleece, fencing, deck planks and gutters.

Want a cool shopping tote - check some out like the one pictured above out at my Etsy store - http://www.simplesweetcakes.etsy.com/ .

Now you can feel good knowing where your recycled items end up! Good Kharma :>

Sewing Tips - Fray Chek

Product Description accoring to Joann.com.

A colorless plastic solution which reinforces and locks fabric threads to prevent fraying or further wear after fraying. Withstands repeated laundering or dry cleaning.

This notion is great for some things but also has it's limits. I use Fray Chek mainly on the material that I have made slits in for magnetic snaps. I don't want it fraying under the snap and then revealing itself - especially on more delicte materials - satin, taffeta, etc.

I don't use Fray Chek on the ends of ribbon and or ends of exposed materials. I don't feel that it stands up to everyday use OR laundering very well. To seal ribbon ends, I heat seal with an open flame. For fabrics, you can serge the ends OR create sealed hem.

Here are a few tutorials for installing a magnetic snap:

Craft Apple

Chats Designs

Rose Baby Designs

Happy Sewing!!!