R.I.P. My New Friend

Dear Friend,
Ok, so maybe that is a bit dramatic. But I am sad. I realize that you are a machine, and machines do not last forever. And you were sitting in a closet neglected for year's before I got up the courage to use you to make beautiful things for my family and friends. And I know that you were pretty old when you came to us after years of service....but I am still upset that you will not be working with me anymore.
So what do I do with you now? I was in the middle of a new project, about to finish a beautiful new tote bag, complete with strawberries and pretty prink stripes...and then you just stopped. I know that you have been touchy lately, once in awhile you had to have some encouragement to get going. I knew that it wasn't going to be too long before you needed a permenant vacation.
I guess I can donate you to someone who would know how to fix you, someone who will love your simplicity and hardiness. But I will miss it as well. I have looked at the other models, newer versions of you. Did you know that some of them have computer chips and will do over 50 different stitches? (I am cool with a straight and zig zag!)
Well, now I am going to pack you back up, find a good home for you, and plan my next projects while I look for a new partner to help me create the pretty things in my head. Thank you, dear ancient Singer Sewing Machine, for teaching me to sew and helping me find a new craft that I love, you will be missed!

New Products in Store!

I have been veering away from my usual business designs and am dipping my toe into children's art, specifically art that teaches things like letters, numbers, foreign languages. Since I am still really into the vector animal shapes that are popping up in my print and gives I kept going with it. Here are my new items- Animal Cracker Counting Poster and Animals Cracker Name Poster!

These are the two name posters I did for my girls- what do you think??

Giveaway Weds!

I love giveaways, I love winning them, donating things for them, and just the fun of seeing what other people do to promote their shops. A great giveaway that is going on from now until next Weds is at one of my favorite reads (and her blog banner is so tastefully designed *wink wink*) is at J.Leigh Designz. She is giving away one of her fabulous paper bag albumns, perfect for the creative mommy who just doesn't have time or energy to make a scrapbook albumn of her own. I had Jen make one for AJ's first birthday and it is soooooo pretty!

Also this is my 196th post, so in 4 more postings look for another great giveaway by yours truly to celebrate 200 postings!!!

What a Great Day!!

I am having a great day! It is perfect outside, a balmy 57 degrees (my ideal temp), the kids are all being really good, and I met a wonderful new friend with kids who got along with my crew like "peas and carrots"!

Today, my new friend and I took all the kids to the Rocky River Nature Center, another wonderful aspect of the Cleveland Metropark System. This was a new place for me and the kids and while it did not have a ton of animals (of course the few that it did have were snakes... of course!) there was a lot to keep the kids occupied for well over an hour. I loved how the building seemed nesteled in the woods and had lots of little nooks and cranies for the kids to see.

I am super excited because my friend also told me a little secret that I have to share with all my Cleveland readers out there- the Boonshoft Pass. Everyone here knows that Mondays are free at the Cleveland Zoo for county residents, but I personally would much rather buy a membership so I can go anytime I want and won't have to fight the crowds. But.... the membership alone is close to $80-90 for the year. And we love going to the Museum of History, but it is so pricey that we only go once a year or so. Now, thanks to hearing about this pass we will be able to go to the zoo, the Science museum, and the History museum and so many more...UNLIMITED for a year for only $69!!! Nuts huh??? Seriously- go check it out now!! (Then call me and we will go places!)

Hmmmm.... what else? Oh we had our first house showing yesterday... who knew that keeping a house "show ready" would be so challenging with 4 kids around and the animals? Since this is going sort of fast we are looking around at diffent houses all over a little more seriously. Fun fun fun!!

Surf's Up Sunday- Feeling Crafty?

Here are some great sources for fabric and also some more links to cool projects to try, fun and easy projects that don't require a lot of skill, just some imagination!

Monaluna, Metro Market Fabric Set in Blue and Green, 5 Half Yards
FabricSupplies on Etsy is one store that I am quickly becoming addicted to for fabrics. Whether you like girly fabric, really modern fabric like the half yard set shown here, or just something new and fresh, this store has it all. Prices are really reasonable as is shipping. How can anyone resist this cute kitchy set of chickens, fruit, and beaters??

It seems like everyone is doing freezer paper stenciling these days and here is a great tutorial to explain how it is done in a foolproof way!

Whimsical is a great word to describe a lot of my designs, especially when I think of AJ's room since she is more girly than Gabby. Isn't this little "wee girl" perfect for a shadowbox or on a lampbase in a little girl's room? Go here to see how she was made!

Speaking of whimsy, isn't this designer collection from FabricWorm, also on Etsy, fabulous? This is another great supplier whose fabric sellection is beautiful and affordable. I have heard nothing but good about them and can't wait to see what fabric arrives for summer!

One of the best birthday presents that I got this year was Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter. This book is simple,trendy, and so beautiful, allowing me to learn new techniques and make some pretty cool things for my house. From pillowcases to these really neat placemats with chopstick pockets, this book is a must for anyone who likes simple designs in their home! (I even made the yoga mat tote and some cute tote bags!!!) If you don't want to buy the book (although I highly reccomend it!) there are some free patterns from it here!

Ni Hao Kai-lan!

I don't know how many of you reading this have small children but if you are like us and encourage your kids to learn about other cultures and languages then there is a tv show that you have try out- Ni Hao Kai-lan on Noggin!

Having taken two semesters of Chinese in college and of course being a student of Buddhism I am drawn to everything about the Eastern cultures. Noggin, which is a branch of Nick Jr, just premiered this new show and I am hooked. This is what the website says about the show:

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is the next generation of preschool television programming
that introduces the psychology of biculturalism. If Dora and Diego popularized
bilingualism, Kai-lan will weave together being bilingual and bicultural. Ni
Hao, Kai-lan reinforces the idea that being bicultural and bilingual is being
American. The show will familiarize the viewing audience with elements of
Chinese and Chinese American cultures to promote multicultural understanding in
the next generation and goes beyond featuring "culture" as only ethnic food and
festivals. Instead, it celebrates growing up in an intergenerational family,
having friends from diverse backgrounds, and "habits of the heart" that are
Chinese American.

One of the best things about the show is that it stresses being calm and content, not jumping around crazy and shouting to get things done like the plots in Dora. The songs are pretty cute as well!! Definitely another show that I won't mind watching with the girls!

A New Idol

I envy photographers, especially ones who get to work with kids. If I had the money and lived in the Bay Area I would so have this photographer take our family photos. I can imagine the kinds of photos that Jason would come up with for my pair of troublemakers!!!

Print and Give- Valentine's Day

Here is a cute print and give for the kids- Valentine's Day Bookmarks!

Just print this out, have the kids cut the bookmarks out, cut out some cardstock to glue them to, punch the holes, stick some string through and voila! Cute V-day bookmarks for everyone!!!

The Land of Nod

Welcome to The Land of Nod!
There are so many things here that I would love for any space my girls are in,
come take a peek, you will be hooked too!

OMG of the day! (UPDATED!!!)

I love sarcastic humor, the kind of humor that says what I am always thinking but am too polite to say. Today I found a seller that represents my kind of humor to a tee. WryandGinger take some simple vector animal images (which you all know I am a huge fan of), give them personalities similar to Foamy the Squirell (for those of you not schooled in the humor of Foamy go to here), and slap it all on a card perfect for giving to that nasty coworker you had to buy a gift for or to your hubby who just F'ed up for the hundreth time that day.

Come check them out and laugh your ass off like me! These cards for stay at home moms are my favorite by far, fabulous humor!!