Treasuries

I've been included in a couple of treasuries the past week. Very exciting!

Deck Your Tree! By: KimsCraftyApple

 

 I really like the Owl ornaments and the sweet little Dove! So cute :)

And.... 

The BEST Ornaments Out There By: greensies 

I would have to say that the acorns and the star are my favorites in this one. The acorns are small enough to fill your tree with them to make a big impact and the star would be great on your tree or as an addition to your mantel :) So many decorating ideas from these great treasuries!

Nokomis Urban Craft Fair

I am super excited about participating in the Nokomis Urban Craft Fair at the Nokomis Community Center this year. Please plan to join us on November 13th from 9am to 2pm!

For more information about the show, vendors and some really cool give a ways please visit :

http://nokomiscraftfair.blogspot.com/ or become a Facebook Fan

GIVEAWAY Shades of Whimsy has donated this Wooden "love" Pendant 

to be one of the giveaways that will be drawn on the day of the show!

New Layout! And Fabulous Fall!

Wow! I can't believe it's already September!! It's been one busy summer and to celebrate this beautiful transition to my favorite season I had to update my layout. I've already been semi celebrating with a ginger pumpkin scented candle and a few fall treats! Can I just say how much I love love love caramels?? 

I have lots of things going on right now. Many people have been interested in the Custom Keepsake Blocks I've been making. I hope to get a better system in terms of creating an order sheet so that I can start listing them in the shop.  I made a really sweet one for my desk at work. I love this picture of my little ones. A moment between them that is so innocent and sweet. 

I am also preparing for two local events in November (to be announced soon) and the upcoming Holiday season. I have begun helping my mother's business twice a week in addition to my full time job so needless to say.... busy busy! But - I love it. It's great to be able to help her with the little things she needs and it also helps put a little extra towards house repairs (thanks to a recent accident with our pesky garage door!).

And now I've allowed myself to stay up way past my bedtime (again). I'll leave you with a picture of my cute little boys and the block I made for the office. I'm off to dream about oatmeal spice cookies and falling leaves. 

Surprise Gifts and Great Friends

I've been working on these new photo blocks and am getting really excited about them so I've been talking about them with a couple of my friends. Seeing how my friends are really sweet I shouldn't have been surprised to find a present sitting on my desk last week....

A beautiful set of blocks made from exotic tropical wood! My friend's boyfriend works with wood ( I believe the company he works for makes cabinets) and he was able to snab some scraps from a project they were working on and cut them into cubes for me. How great are they? I just like to look at them. For the whole day I couldn't stop telling her how excited I was! Now the big question.... What do I make with them?? So many possibilities! In the end I decided to at least start with a present for another on of our friends whose birthday is coming up... (of course my gifter will also receive a photo block!)

 

My hopes are that I will be able to get these cute blocks up into my Etsy shop by the end of the month. I have next week off from work so .... let the creating begin!

A Roll of the Dice...

I've been playing with the idea of making these dice for awhile now. There are so many possibilities! You could go the game route and put answers on the sides (yes, no, maybe, most certainly) like you see on Magic 8 balls. You could also put activities on them for kids (read, play a game, go for a bike ride, etc). They were very simple to make and really fun! Of course I was working on night and wasn't able to take pictures of 'the process' however I'm working on another set that I'm going to post a tutorial on.

Another view ;)

The other thing I am so excited for are picture blocks!! I've been working with small versions on some scrap wood I found at the craft store but yesterday I was able to actually cut my own blocks with the help of a family friend. It was so much fun I am really looking forward to learning more about working with wood and all of those possibilities! I've already made two blocks as gifts. I wanted to post those pictures but until I get permission (due to the photos on the blocks) then it will have to wait. But here are pictures of the smaller version I did of my children.

And now I'm off to prep more blocks! I'm a bit obsessed at the moment..... :)

Sunshine and Smiles

What a beautiful weekend! Started off a little warm but today was wonderful.... Starting working on more new projects and feel a new creative path forming. I love the excitement of a new project - oh the possibilities! I also really like being able to use supplies that have been tucked away. Not sure where this new creative path will lead but for now I'm just along for the ride ....

LOST Without You

LOST... the final episode. All I will say is.... "they better fix it!". And that means [[SPOILER]] James (Sawyer) /Juliet and Jin /Sun! I don't think my tear ducts can take anymore.... I'm really interested to see if the whole "flash-sideways" will end up being the shows epilogue within the final chapter. It would be a very smart way of showing us viewers what happens after things get fixed (flight 815 never crashes). Although in my massive LOST EW a couple weeks ago I remember reading that the producers say it will be a "tissue box" ending. All I have to say is they better be happy tears!

In celebration of six years of mystery, shocking twists, frustrating fillers, and of course many bursts of excitement I spent yesterday working on a new project..... simple and fun.

The Numbers

Goodbye Old Friends!