Little Dickens Designs

Eco Tuesday

2010-04-13T18:32:00.005-04:00

I figured it was time to revive my "Eco Tuesday" feature idea. I love hunting down some earth friendly items and would love to share them here once a week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
I loved this Batik Lap Quilt from camillewanders Probably because I love both batik fabrics and quilts so much. The artist describes it as....

Pieces of batiked hemp, organic cotton, and bamboo made into a perfect little napping quilt. Or reading quilt. Snuggle on the couch quilt. Sit on the front porch swing quilt. What, I'm not sleeping I'm resting my eyes quilt.

I'm particularly intrigued by recycled blow glass. We have a lot of glass blowers in my area and I love to watch them work. It's something I've always thought I'd like to try myself....one day, after I take up heli-skiing!

Blown Recycled Bottle Glass Bowl from wolfartglass

This incredibly unique "green seaglass" colored bowl was blown from 100% recycled Topo Chico glass bottles. The artist melts down small batches of broken bottles in order to gather onto a blowpipe for off-hand glassblowing. Recycled bottle glass has unique characteristics when blown, and Topo Chico bottles make an wonderfully bubbly yet clear green glass.

Enjoy!

Ever Want to Go Curl Up in Someone Else's Blog?

2010-03-31T09:17:00.002-04:00

Well, I do.....daily! I try to read a few blogs each day and there are always a few posts that I wish I could just step into, have a look around, enjoy a good cup of coffee or glass of wine....ahhhh! I love all the blogs I follow (see the left column), but I wanted to share a couple of recent posts that made me feel great. I won't copy pictures here from the blogs, so go visit them & have a gander.

My first stop is wonderbug: adventures in the blogosphere. I'm especially drawn to the sofa in the vintage kitchen gems and natural pantry staples, ahoy! post. I can see myself here with a good book. Cozy, yet watching the world go by.

Next I'd visit iHanna's blog. With a title like Create & Live Happy: art, craft & inspiration in everyday life, how could you not want to hang out with her? I especially love the Filling a paper with colours is calming post. It makes me happy. I want to go hang out with her, create, get my hands nice & dirty. I wonder if she'd make me her Pad Thai??

After that I'm going to take a nice hot bath, put on a lovely sundress, and gather my best girlfriends to visit Pepper Design Blog. Spicing it Up for the Home and Hostess...indeed! Just look at the fabulous table setting in Part 2: A {Vintage Nesting} Baby Shower. I hope I'm not too full from my Pad Thai! Guess I'll just have some desserts and latte!

Thanks you all for giving me some brightness on this rather cold & rainy day!

101 Things To Do This Summer

2010-03-22T15:53:00.002-04:00

I'm starting to plan our summer vacation and had to share this list I stumbled across. So many great ideas! Enjoy! 101 Things To Do This Summer

Inspiration Board: A Boy's Ski Themed Bedroom

2010-03-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

It's time to revamp my boys bedroom. They are now almost eight & five and both love skiing, especially in the terrain park. So I figured this spring would be a good time to start tackling this project. Here are my inspiration boards (to start)....

Bottom Row: (L-R): Armada skis, Photo of Tom Wallisch from Newschoolers.com

Photos: Sheets, Chair & Shelf from Target, Fillsta Table Lamp from Ikea,
Ski Areas Typographic graphic art mixed media collage by nativevermont, Aspen Trail Map.

Window to My Tuesday Brain

2010-03-16T09:04:00.002-04:00

I'm sure you are all waiting with baited breath to hear what I'm thinking. What is baited breath anyway and does it involve eating bait? If so, do we really want any part of it? Well, here it is, my Tuesday stream of thoughts.

Losing weight sucks.....The PROCESS of losing weight sucks....the actual weight loss part rocks. I want to eat a bag of cookies for breakfast because I am a grown-up and I can do stuff like that. I've lost 10lbs since the end of January and have a girls weekend in early April.....so no cookie breakfast. BOO!

I'm procrastinating

Sad it's Spring / Happy it's Spring - What the heck kind of March is this? There was no coming in like a lion! Oh sun & green sprouts you are powerful. You might just make me forget that I'm sad about ski season ending. But if you ruin my ski trip next weekend we will have to to talk.

Ugh...I'm turning another year older!

I'm procrastinating

I watched my son in his way baggy hoodie today (because hey, that's how they wear them, Mom) and was reminded he'll be EIGHT in three weeks. How did he get to be eight? Yet he still lets me snuggle him from time to time and as I rub his back I'm reminded how little he is.....still.

Where are those cookies?

The sun is shining, I have a to-do list, I "should" go exercise. Hmmmm....what what Pandora station to choose today?

Have I mentioned I'm procrastinating?

I Can Hear the Birds Singing!

2010-03-13T18:50:00.009-05:00

The other day I had all the windows in my house open. After I my cleaning & rocking out to '80s music binge I settled down on the sofa for a few minutes rest. It was at that time I realized the birds were going crazy singing. It has been so long since I've heard that I almost forgot what it sounds like!

Then today I was perusing my Etsy favorites and realized (among other things) I have quite an obsession with birds. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites below! To view larger, click on the image. Links to the individual items are below.

Featuring:

Top (L-R) - Between Bird Print by hadleyhutton, Feather Earrings by wildspirits, Bird 1 by bcode
1st Middle - Orange Chickadee and Cherry Blossoms by karingrow
2nd Middle - sweet little mod bird lariat by Lana0Crystal, Custom Wooden Star House Tree by Urastarhouse
Bottom Row (L-R) - Songbird 3 by Animal House Art, Bird's-Eye View Pillow by NestleAndSoar , Lemon by jenskelley

Great Etsy Finds in Green

2010-03-12T15:07:00.011-05:00

I love tooling around on Etsy with a theme in mind. Here are a few of my favorites of the color of the season. Enjoy!

Featuring:

Top Row (L-R) - Pologne Bird print by matteart, Fiestaware China Necklace by TheBrokenPlate, Lucky Shamrock Round by TheDaintyGardenia
Middle - Borneo Tree Embroidery Pillow Cover by Kainkain
Bottom Row (L-R) - Drilled Sea Glass from Puerto Rico by akkricket, C r o w d e d P a r a d i s e by mingtaphotography, Lime wedge necklace by lulubugjewelry

Think Spring!

2010-03-10T08:19:00.011-05:00

As an avid skier, I'm never one to rush the end of winter. In fact, I've been a bit disappointed we haven't received our usual dumps of March snow (I'm still convinced it is coming). But after about five days of wonderful sunshine and the green (well, brown) patches beating out the white on my lawn it is very hard to not feel the pangs of Spring!

So for today I'll relish in it and I've gone searching for a few items that make me feel all happy inside thinking of playing outside in the garden, opening my windows and letting the fresh air inside, the smell of soil......AHHHHH!

Check out this adorable garden hose. My husband would be totally embarrased by it, but I imagine me in a little garden just my own! From Country Living Magazine...

Or how about these darling buds in glass bottles? From Southern Living Magazine....

How about this great wall decal from Contemporary Dreams on Etsy.

I'm really loving these lavender sachets from The Lavender Road on Etsy. Wouldn't they be a nice addition to YOUR Easter basket?

Oh....and I am totally digging these! I'd love a set for Mother's Day for myself! From SchwidleShop on Etsy.

And wouldn't I look lovely relaxing in my garden with this cute jacket? It comes in yellow too! From Lisa Samartino Atelier on Etsy.

Alright, I better get started on some Spring cleaning! Have a good day all!

Shhhh....Silent Auction? Please Yell Your Ideas!!!

2010-03-09T16:10:00.003-05:00

My son's annual school fundraiser has come around again and I am coordinating all the class projects. Each class produces an item to be auctioned off at the Silent Auction. I have a running list of ideas (which I will happily compile & share here at a later date), but I'd adore some more ideas! The projects should be things that kids from Kindergarten through 5th grade could produce with the assistance of a parent volunteer or two. A few ideas I've seen before are...

Decoupage fun class photo as well as group and individual candids onto a small chest or memory box. Can paint the item with sayings from each student, or use favorite cartoon characters, animals, fairies, etc.

Hand-painted serving items like decanters, glasses, serving tray, tableclothes and matching napkins.

Painted outdoor canvas or Adirondack chairs, dog house, or garden bench.

Hand-painted/decoupaged furniture – buy unfinished chests, bookcases, small tables, child’s rocking chair. Class paints item in a theme (i.e., fish, sports) and signs in some way (i.e., each fish has the child’s name or decoupage a photo of the child on the fish).

Decorate and fill an LLBean canvas bag. Decorate with hand or footprints of children, have each child sign their name (in pencil, you go over in black fabric paint), then fill the bag with summer (or winter) fun stuff, videos, backpack, etc.

Please share with me your ideas or any great links you may have! Thanks!

I think I have a blog addiction!

2010-03-08T11:08:00.002-05:00

I've been away from my blog for quite a while. To try to get back here I decided to start perusing through the blogs I follow for some ispiration. Guess what??? I follow 300 blogs!!! What was I thinking? How could I possibly read 300 blogs? So of course I had to start culling that list to my favorite favorites! So far I've gotten it down to 144 and I'm not finished yet. If I can get the list to somewhere around 120 I figure I might actually get to visit each blog once a month, right?

When I get better prepared I'll share with all of you some of my favorites. But in the meantime, tell me yours! I love checking out new blogs (obviously). What inspires you?

Hope you are all having a good day & week!

so happy new year!

2010-02-19T09:02:00.001-05:00

a little late!

I promise I'll revive my blog!

So, What Are You Thankful for?

2009-11-11T08:48:00.003-05:00

I saw this posted on a friend's Facebook status the other day and decided given the time of the year it would be a great blog series. Join me if you like, reply with a comment and your blog link!

Can you do this? Every day until Thanksgiving, post one thing you are thankful for. "Today I am thankful for..." The longer you do it, the harder it gets! Now if you think you can do it then repost this message as your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what Y...OU are thankful for today.

Today I am thankful for the country I live in (U.S.A.). It's Veteran's Day so I am thankful for those who have served and currently serve our country. I may not always agree with the military minds of our nation, but I am proud that I live in a place where I am free to disagree. A freedom our military helps protect.

Some other things that I am so thankful for in the U.S.:

- Our national parks. Seriously, how lucky are we? Thank you Teddy Roosevelt, John Muir, Stephen Mather and countless others who had the vision to push to set-aside and protect lands and our scenic treasures. And thank you Ansel Adams for taking so many amazing photographs for generations to appreciate.

- Diversity. One of my favorite things about traveling in the U.S. is the amazing diversity among our people. I don't just mean in geography, but sitting and listening to the people around me. I love to see how many languages I can identify, how many accents, foods I can sample. It's amazing how we not only have distinct ethnic differences, but those have evolved and blended to wonderful, distinct regional flavors.

- Our Cities. I'm a country girl really. I mean, I grew up in a rural area and have chosen to raise my kids in a rural area. But I had the good fortune to have parents who liked to travel (and not expensively (lots of car trips & camping). But I've visited 18 of the 30 largest U.S. cities and each has a personality all its own. Makes me even more excited to go to New York and Washington, DC this week!

So, what are you thankful for?

Two & a Half Months!

2009-11-03T09:12:00.002-05:00

I SUCK!

I haven't blogged in two and a half months! What is wrong with me? I'd like to blame it on end of summer vacations and back to school but I think that really only accounts for two weeks. SIGH.....

Tomorrow I will be back with a new blog post, I promise!

I have not fallen off the face of the earth!

2009-08-12T20:04:00.003-04:00

I'm on an extended car trip with my kids. If you want to read my travel blog here's the link. http://www.mom-awty.blogspot.com/

But since it is Wednesday and I do have wi-fi I'm going to participate in YouKnowThatBlog's Silly Haiku Wednesday. This week theme is Friends.

A good friend listens

to the story they've heard ten times

then gives shit for repeating

Silly Haiku Wednesday!

2009-07-29T23:41:00.001-04:00

What? A week went by already? Here I am gearing up for a trip and lose all track of time.

Well, it's Silly Haiku Wednesday again! If you have no clue what I am talking about then visit YouKnowThatBlog. Here's today's entry, the them is Cupcakes:

Cupcakes, phew I say,

chocolate chip cookies kick

your ass sideways, dude!

A Day Late (but NOT a Dollar Short)!

2009-07-23T10:01:00.003-04:00

I've still been neglecting my blog a bit, as well as following the Silly Haiku Wednesday from YouKnowThatBlog. But here is my entry for...um...yesterday. The theme is birthday woes/joys.

40 here you are

Ya know, I don't look half bad

you don't suck too much

A Day For Some Painting

2009-07-19T14:55:00.004-04:00

Ahhhh..... I've finally been able to sit down and do a little painting today. I have the house to myself, been listening to music on Pandora and podcasts of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me", and just loving the day.

Here's the newest item I just listed in my shop.

If you have a moment, please visit

my Twitter, You Say Treasury

Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

Amazing Trust

2009-07-17T13:35:00.007-04:00

“We're never so vulnerable than when we trust
someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust,
neither can we find love or joy”

- Walter Anderson

My husband tossing our seven year old son in the air, just as he's done since he was about six months old. My new favorite photo. The trust your child puts in you is something you should never take lightly or squander.

Eco-Tuesday: Worked Up Into a Lather

2009-07-14T09:17:00.001-04:00

I have to admit about a week ago I decided I'd start a weekly feature on environmental topics, products, recycled/upcycled items, whatever struck my fancy at that moment. The idea was really ways to broaden my own mind, as well as tips I could use in my own home to become "greener". I mean, I already practice all the basics -- recycle, avoid unnecessary driving, conserve water, shop with reusable bags, compost (vermicompost, actually), avoid products with extra packaging...you know the drill.

While I was in the shower one day I started thinking about bar shampoo and how I should try it. After all, it avoids packaging from the get-go (one less plastic bottle to recycle), and can easily be purchased in an all-natural ingredient version. Then I began wondering what else I could change to reduce waste and the idea for this feature was born.

I started seeking out items, reading articles, and here's the resounding reality. I have fallen down the rabbit hole! I've been so deluged with information and options and ideas that I don't know where to begin. So....I'll begin at the beginning.....

With bar shampoo! I, of course, started with my favorite place, Etsy. If you search for bar shampoo you find lots of great options. Today I'm featuring one from Besem Natural Scents. This is their "Ultimate Travel Bar" that they describe as...

Made with neem oil, tamanu oil, jojoba oil, kaolin clay, and all sorts of other goodies that make it the perfect shampoo and body bar. Neem oil is know in India as "nature's pharmacy". It is soothing and healing to almost any skin condition, including: psoriasis, eczema, ring worm, and poison ivy. Tamanu oil has very similar antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, while still being extremely soothing and gentle. We have also added a good portion of white kaolin clay, so this makes an excellent shaving soap, as well. If you are feeling adventurous (or trying to only bring a carry on), this works well as a tooth soap, too. It is 100% natural with no added fragrance oils or dyes. These bars are also loaded with cocoa butter, which makes rich, moisturizing bubbles. We do not need to add any artificial foaming agents (ie. SLS). The natural glycerin is retained in each bar, and the combination of rich oils and moisturizing, protective butters, provides loads of fluffy lather.

10% of our profits are given to orphan relief. See our website for more information http://www.besemnaturalscents.com.

Pretty cool huh? They have lots of lovely scents, including a rosemary & mint one I'm especially interested in. So, please check out their shop by clicking on the links above!

Have a product, idea, article you might like to see featured in Eco-Tuesday? Please visit this post and add your item to Mr. Linky!

Extreme Blog Neglect!!!

2009-07-13T22:18:00.003-04:00

I admit it, I've been sucked into the world of Twitter. I said I wasn't going to do it, but I caved, and now I'm hooked. But in my defense I've been doing some marketing work for my husband's business, Green Mountain Soil, as well as some major cleaning/organizing at home. Sorry to have just disappeared!

I'm working on my "Eco Tuesday" blog post now! See you all soon!

Eco Tuesday

2009-07-07T10:22:00.002-04:00

Have an eco-friendly product you'd like to share? I'm looking for items to feature. So please either leave a link to the page the item resides on (please, only one link) or leave me a comment below! Thanks!!

Small Town Parade, Alburgh, Vermont

2009-07-06T17:00:00.006-04:00

Please click on the collage to see a larger version.

....HOT and HAPPY......

2009-07-05T23:52:00.002-04:00

Please come show my new treasury some love! ...HOT and HAPPY...

Planning the GREAT "GREAT LAKES" CAMPING ADVENTURE!

2009-07-02T10:47:00.005-04:00

Since my husband has no vacation time this summer and my good friend is divorced, she and I decided we are heading out on a Moms & Kids camping trip in early August. Our destination....the Great Lakes. Yup....all of them if we can! I've seen most when I was a kid, but other than work trips to Chicago, never seen a one since. Let me just start by saying that I'm very blessed with awesome car travelers in my sons. My husband and I have fostered this because when each of us were growing up with both did tons of car trips with our parents, including trips across the whole U.S.

So our crazy little gang with be me, my two boys (7 & 4) and my friend Melanie and her girls (7 & 5). Our kids get along great.

Since I am totally unfamiliar with this area of the U.S. I'd love any input you can provide. Any "must sees" along the way? We both believe in if we get some place the kids love, we'll just stay longer and adjust accordingly. We really hope to get to Madison, WI because I do have some friends there, and I've just heard it's a cool city so I want to check it out. I love Chicago so that must stay on my list and I've NEVER been to Toronto so that's staying too.

Silly Haiku Wednesday

2009-07-01T11:49:00.001-04:00

Ok, today is the FIRST EVER Silly Haiku Wednesday. This is totally up my alley! Here is my contribution for today.

Today comfy jams
Rain and gray go away NOW!
Butt, get off the couch!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday!

2009-06-30T16:56:00.024-04:00

Lost River Gorge in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. The kids and grown-ups both loved it!

And 40 More TV-Free Activities for Kids

2009-06-29T16:24:00.004-04:00

This rounds out the list of 140 TV-Free Activities for Kids this summer. Please check out the other posts as well: Fifty TV Free Activities for Kids and Fifty MORE TV Free Activities for Kids

And don't miss 83 Things to Do on a Rainy Day!

1. Play mini-golf
2. Put a hammock up in the yard
3. Put the baby pool at the bottom of the slide
4. Recycle bottles and donate the money to a local charity
5. Rent a projector , hang a white sheet in the yard for a "drive-in" movie
6. Run (or walk) a race
7. Run through the sprinklers
8. Set up a lemonade stand
9. Sign up at library for Summer Reading Program
10. Sit under a shady tree
11. Sketch a picture of your house from the outside
12. Sleep on a bed of moss in the forest
13. Slip on the slip & slide
14. Spend time with your grandparents
15. Stargaze and track the moon phases
16. Start a band
17. Start a club with friends
18. Swim, swim, swim
19. Swing on swings
20. Swing on the rope swing
21. Take a big, cold drink right out of the nozzle of your hose
22. Take a ferry ride on Lake Champlain
23. Take a Gondola ride
24. Take a letterboxing hike
25. Take a walk and record the sounds
26. Take an outdoor shower
27. Take photos
28. Take swimming and/or diving lessons
29. Throw a cultural heritage block party
30. Throw rocks in the river
31. Use a compass or GPS to map your neighborhood
32. Visit a farm
33. Visit a local public flower garden
34. Visit a National Park
35. Visit a water park
36. Visit another country
37. Visit the Montshire Museum
38. Visit the ocean for a day or two
39. Wash mommy’s car/daddy’s truck
40. Watch a fireworks display

I Asked for Quirky

2009-06-20T13:59:00.000-04:00

And I got quirky! Having a little creative crisis, so I asked Etsy sellers to show me their stuff. Here are just a few of the lovely, quirky, items suggested to me. Don't worry, more to come!

First up....The Bra Bag from MissKnits. Ever have one of those mornings where you wonder where you left your bra? Well, now you know! That is, if you haven't lost your purse. I LOVE IT! You can check out MissKnits shop in the link above or her blog by visiting here http://missknitsetsy.blogspot.com.

Next we have one representative from a myriad of great characters in RoseLullaby Dolls shop. New friends with great names like Candice, Colin, Arthur, Persephone, and this wonderful fellow, Clive. I love the description of Clive....

Clive is only a head and a neck, he lost the rest of him a long while ago. He doesn't really like to talk about the circumstances but he's always happy to talk about anyone else's problems.He's happiest hanging around on the edge of a bookshelf, not because he likes to read but because he's very proud of his tie and doesn't like it getting creased.

Doesn't he seem like a great companion for any studio?

And last but not least is a bag I could not resist. One of my all time favorite commercials (as a kid) is the "How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?". You know the one, where they ask Mr. Owl and he takes the pop and goes "ah One....ah Two....ah Three (crunch)" and then exclaims "THREE!". I still quote that all the time. That along with the "Thank you Easter Bunny!" from the Cadbury Cream Egg commercial. Glad to know I'm not the only one who remembers this stuff!

Anyway, this lovely little bag of Mr. Owl comes from ArelelDesigns. Click on the link to visit the shop or you can visit her blog at http://areleldesigns.blogspot.com/

I'm BACK! And looking for Quirky!

2009-06-16T16:34:00.003-04:00

More details to come about my whirlwind weekend away. I drove 11+ hours each way to PA for my great-aunt's 100th birthday party. With two boys in the car! They were wonderful. Then this week I'm helping with Bible camp, so I haven't had a moment to think or create.

So I'll rely on what you have created!

I'm looking for some quirky items to feature in a future blog post! Show me what you have! I can't promise everyone will be featured, but I'll get a few in that's for sure!

Happy Tuesday!

Time for a Little Planning & Reflection

2009-06-11T11:05:00.002-04:00

About three weeks ago I made this post Thinking Ahead to Summer. In it I outlined some of our family plans for the summer, but also some of my own short-term goals. Sadly, I'm not doing as well at focusing on these things as I'd like, but at least I'm making some progress. Here's an update....

1. Make something totally girly for myself - Hmmm.....well I have a lot of fabric I've purchased and ideas in my head.

2. Have a spa day - Uh, yeah. I've now had to reschedule one planned spa day three times over a three-week span due to general life craziness! Maybe in September when the kids are back in school! Today I think I'll paint my toenails though.....they need some attention.

3. Derive some enjoyment out of cooking again - I'm making an effort in this area. I think the trouble is I'm just not loving my kitchen much these days. I don't have enough storage space and my husband's project of moving the washer & dryer OUT so I could have a pantry has come to a screeching halt. But I have been baking a bit and made a few nice dinners. Not sure I can say I've "enjoyed" it though.......sigh....

4. Paint my toenails - This should be easy right? Last time I did it was Memorial weekend, red, white & blue. That has got to go!

5. Pet my cat more -- CHECK!

6. Get my but out of bed for an early morning walk - Um.....what am I thinking? When is my 4yo going to finally sleep through the night consistently? When will I stop being such a night owl. I am working on this....truly I am.

7. Listen to more music at home -- CHECK! No TV on makes this much easier. Pandora I LUVS YOU!

8. Enjoy the moments of peace and quiet more - CHECK! Ahhh...no TV on. Even my kiddos are playing better together. Who knew?!?

9. Surprise one of my friends with something completely unexpected. - must.do.soon...must.do.soon

10. Lose five pounds (isn't this always on my list?) - Well, since Monday I've been eating better. Except for that strawberry rhubarb pie I made for my husband's birthday yesterday.

I'll keep on, keeping on!

Do you have any short-term goals you want to share?

A Game of Pounce Featuring New Etsy Sellers!

2009-06-09T19:16:00.018-04:00

Before I get started I just wanted to thank all of you who helped me with my quilt quandry, and for your kind comments about my lily-of-the-valley watercolors. I so appreciate the kind words!

I like to poke around on the 'pounce' feature on Etsy. Today here are a few new Etsyians I came across and loved their work! Since I've been in the wrong place at the wrong time on snagging a treasury lately I decided to do a blog feature on some of them. So, here goes!

These lovely little guys are from Il Grande Albero. This bunny really spoke to me. I hope he finds someone to play some ball with him! He looks like such a friendly fellow. I'm assuming he's a he, at least he looks like a he to me. If he was my bunny I think I'd name him Charles or Winston, as he has an aire of distinction about him. I have to admit, I'm concerned about our little friend because later we find Sir Charles/Winston in this predicament. What did he do? Did his ball blow out to sea and he went in after it? Did he leave his boat at home and had to sail back home and this was the best method? Little bunny, I want to know what happened!

But seriously, artist Sara Cancian has some cute stuff that deserves some attention, so please check out her shop when you have a moment! Il Grande Albero

I'm not usually a big purse/bag kind of girl, but this "Sweet Summer Dreams" clutch from EightSeasons grabbed my eye. They have a few of this type of bag, but in different colors and designs. I like what the artist has on her shop description....

"If you like feminine touch, luxury,

exuberance and bold style, you are in the right place!"

Can't we all use a little more exuberance? Check out their shop!

Our next shop feature falls in an area I've rarely roamed....miniatures! I am totally fascinated by artists who work in small mediums. For some reason even the most mundane article of everyday life becomes quirky and darling when it is teensy. Fittingly enough since it is a miniature, the photo is small. This actually reminds me of a wonderful vacation I took to Spain years ago. The Spanish certainly do love their ham and all things porcine. So, if you are setting up your very own teeny-tiny Casa del Jamón you must visit this great Etsy shop, Annie's Miniatures. Oh, and Annie has lots of cool other things, like itsy-bitsy bowls of fruit salad, for the good Irish customers, miniscule black pudding rings, and even petite cucumber sandwiches.

I'll end my post sort of where I started, with bunnies. No, I really don't have a thing for rabbits. OK, maybe tonight I do! But I just liked the look of this print. Maybe it's because she has redhair (like me), maybe I envy her cute short cut. But I think it's because she looks like a fun chick.....after all, she's wearing bunny ears. She and some of her friends reside at a lovely little shop called The Art of Emma. Please stop by and say hello to her and her pals. Maybe they'll invite you to their party.

Please check out all these new shops if you have some time! These favorites are also posted (among others) at the very bottom of my blog page. Go take a looksee!

Nighty-night!

Basking in Batiks

2009-06-08T10:43:00.009-04:00

Before I launch into my quandry I have to share a few thoughts about my morning before they slip out of my head. First, for the billionth time I asked myself "How did I get so lucky?". I hope you have these moments too. This morning what brought it on was my younger son asking me to snuggle. So as we cuddled up on the couch, me kissing his head and smelling his freshly washed hair I asked him "Will you still snuggle with me when you are 16?" and he said "Yes, Momma". Then I asked him if I could have that in writing.

Now for my blast of color. Some very great friends of ours are expecting their first baby in July. They are expats, living in Chile now and I think appreciate the unconvential and funky. I'm a batik FAH-REAK. I just love the vibrancy of the fabrics. So I decided to make them a batik baby quilt. Enough with this wishy-washy pastels or cutesy prints. Let the baby bask in some color!

But now I'm second guessing myself. I put together a bit of the quilt (a tossed nine-patch pattern) and I'm worried they are going to get this and think "this is the ugliest baby quilt I've ever seen!"......sigh.....

Is it too "out there" for a baby quilt? I look at it and love it and then look at it again and question if they will love it. So it goes with anything creative, right? Please keep in mind I am not a professional quilter. I've made a couple of small quilts in the past but it's not my area of expertise. I still like doing it though!

Thoughts? Please be honest.

Fifty MORE TV-Free Activities for the Kids This Summer!

2009-06-07T11:02:00.000-04:00

Here is a continuation of my list of fun things you can do that are all TV FREE!. My kids gave me lots of ideas, I searched the web, asked friend, and also a big THANK YOU to Gina from Unpink Life for her awesome list from last summer, as you can see many ideas came from her. I'm the compiler here, hoping this will help other parents.If you haven't already seen it, please check out my list of Eighty-Three Things To Do on a Rainy Day.There are more ideas coming, stay tuned! Some of the ideas are specific to my area, but you get the idea!

1. Have an ice cream sundae party
2. Help an elderly person with house or yard work
3. Hike at night
4. Hike up a mountain and let kids take pix
5. Host a teddy bear or favorite stuffed toy themed picnic
6. Host a yard sale
7. Join the library reading program
8. Jump on a trampoline
9. Keep a summer journal of places visited
10. Lay on a blanket and watch the clouds out
11. Lay out at night and watch stars
12. Learn or teach a new sport with someone
13. Learn some new outdoor games
14. Light a sparkler
15. Make a campfire in the back yard
16. Make a dam in the brook behind the house
17. Make a movie
18. Make a new kind of sandwich
19. Make a popsicle stand
20. Make a scrapbook of everything you do this summer
21. Make a teepee out of big sticks
22. Make an obstacle course in your back yard
23. Make chalk paint
24. Make clover or daisy chains
25. Make dinner for your family
26. Make fairy houses
27. Make homemade ice cream
28. Make homemade yogurt pops
29. Make juicy ices (with paper cups and sticks)
30. Make lemonade from lemons
31. Make s'mores
32. Make snow cones
33. Make some new window boxes for mom and plant with flowers
34. Make stepping stones for your garden or yard- or to give as gifts
35. Make your own letterbox
36. Make your own soccer camp
37. Make/work on outdoor play fort
38. Organize a scavenger hunt
39. Pick blueberries
40. Pick strawberries
41. Pitch a tent in the backyard and have a "camp out"
42. Plan a tricked out staycation for the kids
43. Plant a garden
44. Plant a tree in your child's name
45. Play badmitton
46. Play Frisbee
47. Play hopscotch
48. Play in the sand
49. Play kickball at the playground
50. Play Marco Polo

A Few Morning Sketches

2009-06-06T11:55:00.008-04:00

Today is one of those magical days where my boys are playing together so nicely, not pestering to "go do something" or wanting to watch TV. I've probably jinxed myself by saying this. But at least this morning allowed me to do a couple of sketches. These are watercolor paint and pencil. It's still very much spring here in Vermont.

Lily of the Valley is one of my favorite flowers. I wish I had more of them in my yard. They are just so dainty and fragile looking. But who am I kidding, I've rarely met a flower I didn't love.

It seems my scanner is acting a bit wonky. The images came out much more faded than they actually are. But since I'm not completely done with them yet, I'm not going to worry about that.

I haven't done much watercolor painting in the past. Usually I work in acrylics and mixed media or jewlery. But it's fun to try it out. I love the simplicity of watercolor. It's nice to know that I can easily take my watercolors along with me on an upcoming camping trip. I'd never think of dragging acrylics along.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. What are you working on this weekend? Yesterday my son had his class picnic at a friends home who has a spectacular garden, yard and view of the mountain. I took a few photos while I was there, as well as some others from driving around the roads of Vermont over this week. I'm anxious to get started on paintings from the photos I took.

Uh oh, see I jinxed myself. The natives are getting restless! I guess I had better gear us up for some type of saturday adventure. Somehow they don't think sitting in the yard and painting is as much fun as I do. Happy weekend all!

A Work/Cultural Exchange Program

2009-06-01T15:06:00.002-04:00

I have a new bee in my bonnet. In my recent restlessness my husband and I have been toying with a way we can live somewhere else, yet not completely give up our lives where we are. Aside from the fact that my husband has a good job, he also runs his own small vermicomposting business. So, life is busy. But we both have the desire to travel and experience another culture without really being on vacation (know what I mean?). Rather than being somewhat removed as a tourist, to really get to know people in some other area, even if it is just in the good ol' U.S.A.

So the other day my husband emailed me with this link - http://www.helpx.net/index.asp. Here's a description from their website.

HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts. This time range can vary considerably depending on the tasks at hand and the host’s preferences. Some hosts may require just 2 hours per day for accommodation only, and ask you to provide and cook your own food. Others may expect 6 hours per day in return for meals, your own room and sometimes other benefits such as free Internet use, horse riding, kayaking, bikes, local sight-seeing trips, yoga or English lessons, etc. Some will give weekends off, while others might allow you to put in 8 hours one day and later take a full day off. Helpers often live with the host family and are expected to join in and offer a helping hand with day-to-day activities.

This really sounds like it could be a fantastic adventure for our little family to go on. My husband thinks if he puts all his leave together he could squeek out a month. If we stay state-side he may even be able to roll in some telecommuting and/or work site visits so he wouldn't be so disconnected from his job. Personally, I'd rather go abroad, but maybe something on the other side of the U.S. might be a good introduction to the program for us.

Have you ever done something like this? If so, I'd love to hear your stories!

Fifty TV-Free Activities for Kids This Summer

2009-05-31T14:18:00.013-04:00

Here's a START to the list of fun things you can do. My kids gave me lots of ideas, I searched the web, asked friend, and also a big THANK YOU to Gina from Unpink Life for her awesome list from last summer, as you can see many ideas came from her. I'm the compiler here, hoping this will help other parents.

If you haven't already seen it, please check out my list of Eighty-Three Things To Do on a Rainy Day.

There are more ideas coming, stay tuned! Some of the ideas are specific to my area, but you get the idea!

1. Act in a play
2. Adopt a Webkinz
3. Arrange a bouquet of flowers
4. Attend a concert
5. Attend a first aid class
6. Backpack overnight
7. Bask in the sun (wearing the proper SPF, of course)
8. Bike, bike, bike
9. Bird watching
10. Blow bubbles, lots and lots of bubbles
11. Build a campfire
12. Build a sandcastle
13. Build a tree house
14. Buy a boyscout badge book and work on badges
15. Catch butterflies
16. Catch catepillars and keep them until they turn into butterflies
17. Catch frogs
18. Clean up a nature trail
19. Collect donations and volunteer at a local animal shelter
20. Create a terrarium
21. Decorate flip flops
22. Decorate some plain canvas sneakers
23. Decorate special outfits for the Independence Day parade
24. Decorate white tshirts
25. Dig for fossils
26. Feed the ducks at a pond
27. Fly a kite
28. Gather tinder, kindling and fuel for a night fire
29. Go camping
30. Go canoeing
31. Go on a scavenger/treasure hunt
32. Go outside and find five different kinds of flowers
33. Go to a ballgame
34. Go to a carnival in the evening
35. Go to a farmer's market
36. Go to the Drive-In
37. Go to the library then sit under a tree reading in the afternoon
38. Go to the Saturday movie nights at Ben & Jerry’s
39. Go to the zoo
40. Have a bonfire
41. Have a bubble gum blowing contest
42. Have a daylong science camp @ home with friends
43. Have a drawing contest on the sidewalk with chalk
44. Have a good ol' watermelon seed spitting contest

45. Have a paper airplane contest

46. Have a picnic

47. Have a root beer float dessert night

48. Have a splash party at home with the kiddie pool, water balloon fight, etc.
49. Have a super-soaker fight
50. Have a winter theme party

Sometimes You Need a Fairy House!

2009-05-29T19:26:00.022-04:00

I wish I could say I woke up this morning and was completely over yesterday's sour mood. But general restlessness is not the kind of thing you can just forget about in a day. But at least I didn't cry or feel so frustrated with my self.

I think a good productive day would have probably done wonders to boost my mood, but instead I had one of those bounce from place to place kind of days. You know the type....take my younger son in for a preschool screening test, come home and prep for an art history lesson for my older son's class, go to school to teach that (running late of course), get a snack, hit the libary, pick up older son from school, go home briefly to get everyone fed, then to the vet to pick our dog up from surgery he had today. Not much time to sit down and think, or create, or anything that my soul could have used after a day like yesterday. But I did accomplish stuff, just not the visible things that you can look upon at night and be proud you finished.

As promised, I will be posting my very long list of activities for kids (TV Free) in another day or two, so please stay tuned! But tonight I'm going to focus on one thing I'm excited to to make. I think because I have boys and this seems wonderfully "girly". Not something I get to do around here very often and it's on my own to-do list of summer goals. But I mentioned the idea to my boys and they actually seem excited about it!

We were at Disney World about a month ago during the Epcot Flower Festival. There was a lovely little "Tinkerbell's Garden" during the festival that my sister-in-law and I dubbed our serenity spot. For anyone who has ever been to Disney, you know serenity spots are few and far between, but also very much needed. In the garden there were lovely fairy/pixie houses. I was quite captivated by them and cannot wait to make a few of my own from materials found in the woods around my home. The photos here are a couple that we saw at Disney.

I just want to shrink down and crawl inside and watch the big, ol' world from my twig framed windows. Oh yes, and have tiny wings and be able to fly. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

One of Those Days

2009-05-28T21:11:00.002-04:00

UGH! Ever have one of those days where you are just down in the dumps for no really good reason, just general disappointment about your perfectly good life? I mean, I'm really lucky. I have a great husband (who sometimes doesn't get me), two kids, lots of friends, we are all healthy, have a roof over our heads, etc. So why am I discontent?

Then throw in some rainy, cold, gray weather, add a mix of crossed wires that results missing out on lunch with my husband, and BOOM = I'm sitting in my car in a puddle of tears.

Am I having a mid-life crisis?

Probably. But that's so trite. All I know is today I'm not happy and I've been restless for a while. I want to shake off the things that I hate about myself, and move forward to new challenges. Trouble is......I don't have the slightest clue what kind of challenge I want. Enter frustration.

I don't even know why I'm writing this down. I don't know that it will be read by anyone but me (hopefully down the road from a very different vantage point). But here it is.

Sorry to leave you with what is a sort of depressing state of mind. But at the same time there's some hope in feeling this way because I guess it means some sort of change is coming.

He's FOUR!

2009-05-23T09:51:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday my little man turned four (sniff, sniff). Actually, it's bittersweet because while he was the sweetest baby, he's also developing into the most interesting little man. He's got a great sense of humor, is creative, and keeps me laughing. I look forward to every new year with him and what will unfold.

But today while my husband has trucked off with our two boys I am off on a mission to get ready for the E-Man's birthday party (on Monday). My little fickle man has gone through several iterations of a birthday party theme (Star Wars, a campout sleepover - nixed by mom due to age of buddies, pool party, etc.). He finally landed on the multiple theme of..... Scooby Doo Dinosaur Mystery Splash Party. It was a last ditch effort on my part after I bought a whole bunch of Scooby Doo books as party favors and E announced he wanted a dinosaur party. You are killing me kid! So, anyway, one thing I wanted to do was make a little song list fitting the theme of the party. Any suggestions on tunes?

Also, if you have any great, inexpensive, party favors or games to suggest I am all ears!

Off to shower and shop. Have a great day all!

Eighty-Three Things To Do on a Rainy Day!

2009-05-22T08:46:00.003-04:00

In preparation of my TV-free summer I've been asking my boys, combing through internet sites, and yes, even pilfering great ideas from other bloggers on things to-do. Special thank you to Gina from Unpink Life for her awesome list from last summer, as you can see many ideas came from her. Some of the rest are mine, but mostly this is just a compilation of ideas from lots of places. Please feel free to share yours! I love to hear more and I'll add them to the list to benefit all! And stay tuned for the even longer list of things to do on nice days!

I must apologize, I made my list specific to my family, but I think you get the picture!

Rainy Day Things to Do

1. Bake a pie with fresh fruit
2. Bake banana bread
3. Bake cookies
4. Build a time capsule
5. Build with Legos
6. Compare a book to a movie
7. Cook dinner for friends and surprise deliver it to them
8. Create a new world
9. Create fun “to-do” chore jars
10. Create your own holiday
11. Cut up an old greeting card picture and make a puzzle
12. Dance in the rain
13. Design a family flag
14. Discover a new favorite author or book series
15. Do “spontaneous problems” from OM
16. Picnic with a blanket on the kitchen floor on a rainy day
17. Donate some of the toys and clothes you no longer use
18. Go bowling (http://wwwkidsbowlfreecom/)
19. Go out for ice cream
20. Go to story time at the library
21. Have a family game night
22. Have a handmade pizza party
23. Have a music/house cleaning party
24. Have a pillow fight
25. Host a tea party
26. Invent a new dance
27. Invent your own board game
28. Keep your brain going (with brain teasers)
29. Learn a new word Use it
30. Learn about a new place and have a meal based on that area
31. Learn about fireworks
32. Learn the Greek alphabet
33. Learn to crochet
34. Learn to play chess
35. Learn to sew
36. Learn to sew
37. Make (and eat!) Crash Hot Potatoes
38. Make a bird feeder
39. Make a bird house
40. Make a cd mix and burn it for the car
41. Make a collage from magazine words and pictures
42. Make a cool 100 chart for younger sibling or friend
43. Make a craft out of recyclables
44. Make a fire safety plan
45. Make a nighttime cd mix
46. Make a tech deck park
47. Make funny faces
48. Make home-made play dough
49. Make ice cream sandwiches
50. Make pancakes
51. Make pirate costumes
52. Make rock monsters for the garden
53. Make silly putty
54. Make something from recyclables
55. Make strawberry freezer jam
56. Paint a portrait of your best friend
57. Paint your face
58. Play dress-up
59. Practice spanish
60. Print some pictures and decorate plain frames
61. Put notes inside of balloons and hand them out to friends
62. Read a story to someone
63. Redecorate boys bedroom for a new school year!
64. Research your family tree
65. Scrapbook photos taken over summer
66. Send a postcard
67. Share your favorite movie with a friend
68. Start a collection
69. Sword fight
70. Take airplane rides on Daddy's feet
71. Tell ghost stories
72. Tint some shaving cream, spread it in a baking pan, and doodle or write words
73. Travel in time
74. Turn a big box into something cool
75. Visit ECHO on a rainy day
76. Visit the library
77. Visit the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and build a new friend
78. Wash your hair with shampoo in the summer rain
79. Wrestle
80. Write a fairy tale
81. Write a letter
82. Write a poem
83. Write a song

Thinking Ahead to Summer

2009-05-17T14:55:00.006-04:00

Today I announced to my kids the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad news that I was implementing a TV-Free Summer in our household. My seven year old didn't seem fazed, as he's not much of a TV freak anyway. But my four year old started to get a little teary-eyed. No reaction could have better cemented my feelings on why we need to do this. But I immediately followed with my "let's make a list of what we DO want to do this summer" and within a few minutes we had 45 things with a promise to list 100. I'll share that list later.

But now I sit here and think, what do I want to do this summer? I have to admit, I'm one of the worst offenders in the family TV addiction. I get sucked into something mindless rather easily and blow what little evening free time I have. I could be doing something so much more productive. Or at least putting a tiny dent into the mountain of books sitting on my nightstand.

So I just sat down and looked at the calendar and realized there are only 79 days of summer (for my kids school break). I guess I could really consider the TV free days starting now, since today we packed up our DirecTV receiver to ship it back (yay, saving some money per month too). So, starting from tomorrow through school getting out and starting back up in August we have 105 days. That's a good chunk of time to do so many wonderful things.

So here today I am going to begin MY list of what I want to do. These aren't change your life things, some are only do once. I figure I can commit to doing something once at least, can't I? .....here goes.....

1. Make something totally girly for myself
2. Have a spa day
3. Derive some enjoyment out of cooking again (I know....tall order to fill)
4. Paint my toenails
5. Pet my cat more
6. Get my but out of bed for an early morning walk
7. Listen to more music at home
8. Enjoy the moments of peace and quiet more
9. Surprise one of my friends with something completely unexpected.
10. Lose five pounds (isn't this always on my list?)

So, that's my start. I'll add more as I need to. It may only be 50 degrees today, but LET SUMMER BEGIN!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T10:40:00.009-04:00

To all the moms out there, I hope you are having a spectacular day. My husband took our boys out for the day to give me some peace & quiet. I told myself I would clean and organize my studio. So, I better get on that. But since it's been ages since I blogged I figured I'd take a few minutes to do so. Today I'm focusing on serenity. That's why I need to bring order to my creative space.

Trying to get back to normal life after a two week vacation in Florida. We had a wonderful time but with visiting family and a week at Disney I don't know that I would have called it relaxing. I'm actually glad to be home to have a little bit of quiet! The two weeks I was there I didn't have a moment to myself, which for me is really difficult.

But there were some days of pure perfection, like going to the beach with my boys. So for today I am leaving you with one of my favorite photos and keeping it fresh in my mind as I start weeding through the disaster of my studio. Peace to all! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

"It was the feel-good legislation of the year!"

2008-12-12T17:38:00.008-05:00

That's how the movie review would might read for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that handily passed through both houses of Congress in August of 2008. How could we not want to protect kids from evil lead-laden toys? This is a no-brainer, right?

Well, not entirely. What might seem like a piece of legislation that has no victims does, in fact, have thousands upon thousands of victims in the form of small and mid-size companies and truly, even the kids this legislation is meant to protect. This legislation will put thousands of businesses out of business, simple as that. Aside from the fact that kids and parents may have far fewer options for selecting unique and hand-made toys and clothing, it seems that children with special needs could be hurt more as the availability and cost for their much needed tools and manipulatives could be impacted, if the legislation goes through as written.

Others have written far more informatively and eloquently than I could on this subject, so I'm mainly looking to provide links so others can learn more about this topic and how you can help! Because it is not too late, YOU CAN HELP! We all have a voice and the power to tell the media, other parents, and our elected officials how we feel about this!

I AM a parent. I have two boys, ages 3 and 6. Of course I want to see them and every child kept as safe as possible. But there has to be some middle ground here to make these regulations both protect kids and yet keep creativity alive and protect us from another huge hit to the economy!

Here are places to learn more...

Daddytypes.com - Is CPSC's New Lead Regulation Going To Wipe Out The Baby Non-Industrial Complex Next February?

Mothering.com - Toy Safety Legislation: Good Intentions Lead to Catastrophic Results for the Natural Toy Industry

TheSmarterMama.com - The CPSIA: Good in Theory, Hurting Small, Favorite Green Businesses in Practice

Etsy's Open Letter regarding the CPSIA

DOES THIS DIRECTLY AFFECT YOU?
If you are business owner and want to know how this will affect your business you can ask questions of the CPSC by clicking this link http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Tell everyone you know!
Take a few minutes to call your local newspaper or TV station and tell them about it. Pass the info along to a friend who might own a small business and see how it impacts them. Call up your local, independently owned toy store or resale shop and ask them how it will affect them or any vendors they work with.

Call your congressional representatives!
Or write to them. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Crafters & Artists please join the protest - http://craftingwithcats.blogspot.com/2008/12/crafters-take-action.html

Join a Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49551386833
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38306568596&ref=mf
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/166874?m=7bf7bab2

Wow, it's been more than 5 months since I've blogged!

2008-11-23T10:54:00.004-05:00

Crazy!

Oh well, life gets in the way, right? I've been in a creative slump lately. But with the dark days and cold weather I am back to creating to keep my sanity. I have a few things in the works, but nothing to post just yet.

But I do have two treasuries running, please show them some love and leave a comment if you can. One all cool and wintery.... http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=33616 And the second all warm & homey....http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=22601

Waiting....and waiting....and waiting for summer to start!

2008-06-25T10:20:00.004-04:00

Well, really it has, but the weather just can't seem to decide to stay nice. Wait, what do I mean stay nice? I mean be nice at all. Pattern is cool nights, clear morning with increasing sun & humidity until about noon then all out thunderstorms for the afternoon, then chilly in the late afternoon. With my son in morning camp it's getting hard to plan our afternoons. But today looks great, so as soon as camp is done today we are heading to the reservoir for some splashing in the water.

Oh, I have a treasury going for the next few hours. Filled with beautiful artwork (including this amazing barn painting that I love so much) that really brightens my mood. Please check it out if you have a moment! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=14009

OK, I'm off.

New blog to visit

2008-06-24T00:47:00.002-04:00

My husband just started a blog for his business Green Mountain Soil, so please check out his blog at http://www.greenmountainsoil.com/blog/ if you have a moment! Thanks!

FEATURED ARTIST - Pauseability

2008-06-19T08:22:00.006-04:00

I don't know about you, but I never quite know what will make me laugh or smile on any given day. Today it was an Uber Salad. Maybe it's because I'm reminded of a favorite Seinfeld episode about "The Big Salad", maybe it's because I truly appreciate the perfect salad, especially when I don't have to make it. But I think it's because I just love the word "uber". What can I say, I'm of German descent.

This uber salad is actually a pin, made the etsy shop Pausability. The best thing about this salad is you can wear it every day and it never goes bad. And if you don't feel like talking in a restaurant, you could just point at your pin and the wait person should get the idea. Really the possibilities are endless.

Yesterday I had a chance to convo with Moses, the artist and owner of Pauseability and get to know him a little better. Yes HIM (yay!). His shop is filled with beautiful and varied items from ACEOs to clay creations and cards. I hope you enjoy meeting him as much as I did...

How did you come to sell on etsy?

Last year, I started a brick and mortar shop called Pauseability which provides the space and materials for folks to pause and try out something creative. This also gave me the opportunity to craft. At the encouragement of my customers, I finally decided to put some of the things I made on sale on etsy.

I see you are in Singapore, are you from there originally or just living there now? And if you weren't living in Singapore, where would you like to live?

I was born and bred in Singapore. Japan is another place that I think I would enjoy living in.

What's your favorite thing from your shop?

Green with Envie (see right). I like the idea behind it (a whole book of envelopes), the fact that it is almost fully recycled and also its pun-ny name.

What's the next thing you plan on crafting?

A recipe journal - something practical but with little whimsical touches that has to do with cooking. Ideas are most welcomed. :)

If you could time travel to any time in history or future, when would you choose and why?

Can I be greedy and ask to be able to travel through time at will? Each experience will be such an eye-opener and so inspiring, just like when we get to visit a new place on a tour.

Thanks Moses for taking the time to chat and sharing your work! You can find Pausability at the following locations....

Etsy - http://www.pauseability.etsy.com/

Blog - http://pauseability.blogspot.com/

Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauseability

Brick and Mortar – http://www.pauseability.com.sg/

Get ready for summer to start

2008-06-17T08:47:00.003-04:00

I know for most of you summer started weeks ago. But my son is still in school, for another day at least. That's thanks to all our snow this winter. I am so ready for no schedule, days at the lake, camping and all that!

I hope in all this I can find a way to carve out some creative time each day. Today I'm going to set up an outdoor art space for the boys and me. My older son wants to make a book this summer, so we'll get started on that.

What are your summer plans?

Before I forget, I snagged a new treasury today. It features new Etsy sellers who haven't had a sale yet. Please check it out! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=13314

Today a CELEBRATION!

2008-06-10T08:27:00.002-04:00

Today is my husband's birthday. I don't know how you feel about birthdays but I always feel it's a good time to reflect on where you are in life. And for me, right now I'm pretty happy with where I am. I have things I want to do/change, but that's what keeps you moving forward, doesn't it? I'm just so thankful for what I have, a great husband who is truly a partner in my life, two amazing little boys who make me laugh everyday, friends and family I can truly rely on, time to pursue my dreams, my dad still with me (hopefully for years and years to come), in-laws that I actually not only like but love, a roof over my head in a really beautiful and friendly community and the ability to put food on my table. Oh and let's not forget the beautiful (albeit hot) day outside. Really, who could ask for anything more?

My boys and I are off to paint some pictures for Daddy's b-day. Go enjoy your day!

The Meg / Megan / Meghans have it!

2008-06-10T07:48:00.004-04:00

I meant to blog about this yesterday, but I have a another treasury (this one a main one) and it is a celebration of artists name Meg, Megan, or Meghan(n). Please take a moment to check out these great items - http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=49494 It's only up for another 18 hours!

Worms! Who knew there were so many worms?

2008-06-08T09:08:00.005-04:00

Good morning everyone! I just wanted to share a treasury I created yesterday dedicated to the little wiggly ones. Here it is http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=12328 I hope you all enjoy it! It's expiring very soon! So here's a picture of it!

Struggling with the creative/marketing/family balance

2008-06-07T11:26:00.006-04:00

And I don't even want to talk about how long it has been since I exercised. I wish there was some way I could keep all the balls in the air without one or two (or more) other areas going to pot. Add to that my husband building his own new business and it feels a little crazy at times. Deep breath!

You know, I don't need a spotless house. It's just not in my nature I don't think. But damn, it's a disaster area right now and it's so affecting my mood and creativity level. It makes my mind feel cluttered, ya know?!?

And then I get sucked into the wonderful world of Etsy. I go on to do a few things and before I know it I'm reading up on new marketing avenues or techniques and BLAM.....hours have passed.

I really don't know how others balance all this. Anyone care to share? I did manage to make one bracelet last night. I still have a bunch of unfinished watercolors I think I told myself a week ago I was going to finish. Better get onto it and off of here. Have a good day all!

A worm bin like no other!

2008-06-04T19:06:00.010-04:00

For those who are not into vermicomposting (composting with worms) this will not be very exciting, but for my husband and me, it is! Yesterday we completed our first real collaboration project, and we didn't kill each other! My husband is just starting a vermicomposting business called Green Mountain Soil (http://www.greenmountainsoil.com/).

A few weeks ago he was asked by the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center to donate some worms and possibly a bin for their composting exhibit. Well, he went and met with them and knew it would be a great opportunity to make a fun bin for them and so he set off on a mission. I agreed to paint it for him. ECHO stands for Ecology, Culture, History and Opportunity. It's a great museum if you are ever visiting Vermont, please check it out!

Today he delivered them bin and the staff loved it. They will be keeping it in their staff dining area so they can actually use it, then wheeling it out (it is on casters) for special presentations. My husband will probably come in at some point to give a presentation on vermicomposting. I'm really proud of him!

You can see a few pictures of the bin. We hope to come up with a lighter weight design that can be shipped flat, for those who might be in the market for a special worm bin. We want to work with schools and other science centers to help get the word out about the importance of vermicomposting! So, please contact us and we'll do our best to give you a special rate. You can find more information on custom bins, what vermicomposting is all about and more photos on my etsy shop at http://www.littledickensdesigns.etsy.com/.

Enjoy!

Well, what do you know!

2008-06-03T10:11:00.008-04:00

I guess because I made up my own treasury of sorts the "Treasury Gods" felt sorry for me because magically I was in the right place at the right time and I got one! Here's the link to it, it will be up until the middle of the day on Thursday.... http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=11875

But here's a screen shot of it for when it expires!

If I can't get a treasury I'll make my own!

2008-06-02T10:08:00.004-04:00

So there!

Would anyone like some watermelon?

I hope you enjoy it!

A clean house is good for the soul

2008-06-01T09:37:00.008-04:00

Well dang! I typed out a whole post and then accidently hit backspace. I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

Ok, back to good for the soul. Today I promised myself I'd dedicate a few hours to cleaning and purging. My house needs it and my head needs it. Fortunately my husband took the kids out for the whole day so I have the house to myself. Ahhhhh....peace! So, my day is dedicated to a little bit of cleaning and a whole lot of creating. I have a few flower watercolors to finish, as well as an educational worm bin I'm painting for my husband's business (Green Mountain Soil). And then there are new beads calling my name! So please check out my shop later to see what I've uploaded at LittleDickensDesigns.etsy.com

But today I have to share the work of an artist I stumbled across on Etsy. Her name is Lisa Nelson and her shop is WhimsyArts. I just love this dog because it reminds me of my sweet lab-mix. My dog is getting up there in age and I know he won't be with us much longer. I don't want to think about it. This print is of the artist's sister's "very spoiled" dog. Hey, I resemble that remark! So, here's all the dogs in our lives and what they bring us! Check out WhimsyArts, there is some cool stuff there. Enjoy!

I'm planting a garden

2008-05-27T16:16:00.003-04:00

On paper that is. It's cold and dreary today, so I'm painting funky flowers. Nothing like some bright colors to make a person happy!

I'm wishing today I was anywhere but here. Well, maybe not anywhere. Italy would be nice. Someplace warm where I could just sit outside at a cafe and enjoy a few nice glasses of wine.

Alas, too much to do. I need to paint a educational piece my husband is working on for ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center. I'll be sure to post pictures when that's all done.

Not much new to report when you don't leave your house for the day!

Digging the itty-bitty format

2008-05-27T00:49:00.000-04:00

I can see how ACEOs are addictive. I had some fun tonight making some. Finally got my new scanner working too, so here's the latest ---->

I really need to start going to bed earlier. That is all folks!

The pitter patter of little feet

2008-05-25T22:34:00.001-04:00

I'm still hearing it. It's 10:34 pm and I'm still hearing it. The "E-Man", my 3 year old, has decided it's a great time to play a rousing game of only child. Not that he's not a charming evening companion, but come on!

I haven't made much progress today on cleaning out my space. I think I'm in major avoidance mode. Instead I spent too much time procrastinating on the computer and cleaning out my kids clothing drawers. They have way more clothes than I do. There is just something wrong with that! I think I need someone to issue me a challenge so I'll stay on track.

Here's an artist I'm diggin' on today. Her name is JessicaSimanowski. Check out her etsy shop -- http://www.jessicasimanowski.etsy.com/

The E-Man just said to me "Mama, you are the only one who has sounds in your body. You are the only one, nobody else". I'm not sure what that means and if I should be offended. Oh wait.....he's wearing a toy stethoscope. Does that make it better?

It's 11pm.....little man you are so going to bed!

Git up offa your....

2008-05-24T09:56:00.001-04:00

Right now I'm trying to make myself do that. Weatherman promised a nice day today....uh yeah if you consider 57 and gray nice.

Can you tell I'm procrastinating cleaning out my craft space? Too bad I'm not still in college with a paper to write, then I could promise you that craft space would be sparkling clean about now.

Since I have no great wisdom to share this morning (coffee has not kicked in) I went in search of inspiration. This morning this baby quilt is making me very happy. It was created by Sea Urchin Art Quilts. BRILLIANT!

Alright kiddos, I'm off to create something, hopefully not more of a mess.

Shoutout to my man!

2008-05-23T21:33:00.000-04:00

I would be very remiss if I did not let you all know about the business my husband started recently. It's a small-scale vermicomposting facility in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains. For those who don't know, vermicomposting is composting with worms. But I'll let the man explain it all to you when you visit his website. For those who are faint of heart, I'll spare posting the picture of the worms here, but I gotta say the little buggers are SO COOL! It's amazing what they do. Our son Alex considers them the 9th member of our family (me, husband, Alex, Evan, then our pets, a dog, cat, two beta fish, and #9 = thousands and thousands of worms).

http://www.greenmountainsoil.com

Welcome to my random thoughts

2008-05-19T10:01:00.001-04:00

They are pretty random. What can I say? Motherhood seems to have brought out the scatter-brain in me.

I'm new to blogging and new to what I think is one of the coolest sites ever, etsy.com. I just barely opened my store there. I hope you'll check it out http://www.littledickensdesigns.etsy.com/

So today I'm wishing my kids had school or something so I could just craft and tool around websites for inpiration. Alas, I desperately need to clean my house for my son's birthday party in two days. But I did want to show off an etsy shop I saw this morning that I thought had some very cool stuff. Makes me wish I had a little girl! This comes from http://www.ogekko.etsy.com/

Off to clean (or procrastinate some more). Later!