Celebrate!

Why, you ask? Is it because Friday is near? Because summer is almost here? Because I had my first sale since I returned to Etsy? Because the kids helped clean up their toys last night?


YES! To all those things!


Plus I like cake.


But let's face it. What is the best part of a party? Well, we have already covered cake... so what is the next best part of a party? Presents! Yay presents! I have decided to have a little giveaway present. All you have to do is leave a comment here to this post! You can sit and watch my slideshow up there and tell me what layout you like best, or click on my latest from Etsy offerings and leave a comment, or read prior posts and chit chat about those... Just make sure you leave a comment to THIS post so I know who is eligible to win :) To select a winner, I will take all the posts, put them in a blender, create a collage, blindfold myself and circle the first name at random, then mail the collage to myself in a nondescript mailer with inadequate postage so it gets returned to sender-

Just kidding. I'll just write down all the posters' names on scrap paper, put them in a bowl, and let Johnny pick one (Mikey will get to pick my next giveaway to be fair). June 7 , Sunday night, I will post the name of the winner! You will have to contact me with your address and such so I can mail you your pretty! And what is the pretty prize, you ask?

I'm so glad you asked!

The winner of this giveaway will get one of my "pixie neighbors" sets... two little pixie homes and a tree :) A paper piecing trio that you can use on scrapbook pages, ATCs, a collage... you could even just put them on pretty paper and mat them...

So good luck! I am off to bake a cake...

A cup of herbal tea is steaming in front of me, I have my well-worn CD of Mary Chapin Carpenter playing, and my studio desk is clean and waiting for me to start a new project -

"Mama! MOM! MOM MOM MOM MOM! Mikey ruined my PanCakems!"

... and that is the reality. My sweet, sleep deprived daydream is interrupted by my darling (yes, even though he is shrieking about his pancakes, he is still my darling. Really. I swear it!) darling sweetpea Johnny. Substitute the green tea with a mega can of Monster, the CD with the wavering tunes to the latest episode of Dora, and a studio desk full of paper, paints, clays, and a random stack of Legos and art stamps. That is the reality.

We took the boys to the bookstore today. By now our routine is set. I swing through magazines with Johnny and scoop up as many Somerset magazines as I can without actually stopping, then while Daddy chases Mikey to the children's books, Johnny and I head to the cafe. I order a coffee, and he gets his Cream. Yes, I let my child eat a little dixie cup of whipped cream. He is content for five minutes, I get to scan the pages of Somerset, and all is right with the world...

When the cup is empty and the whip cream is effectively all over his nose and chin, we clean up, get a sip of water from the pitcher set on the counter ("I want to do it. I can do it myself, seeee?) then clean the complimentary water stand and pick up the knocked over cups.... we make it back to the Thomas the Train display where Daddy and Brother are playing.

I have the latest copy of Artful Blogging in hand. Yum! Savory pictures, pretty prose, and page upon page of inspiration. I tell myself that I, too, can have an artful blog. And I will. At first intimidated by all those professional looking wwwPublications, I stop and think about how the majority of these blogStars are probably a lot like me.

Covered with sticky kisses.
Dreaming of nap time so I can create.
And itching to get crafty.

Hello Etsy!

After a short hiatus, I have returned to Etsy! I have found that while I love making complete page layouts (which will still be auctioned on eBay), I also love making unique piecings and scrapbook embellishments. I have so much fun making a little tree, or piecing together a little clapboard house... And I also wanted a venue to have custom pages available, and Etsy is a perfect place :) I love that artist community. There is so much talent there, I could sit and browse all day long....

... if only the twins would let me.

So be sure to find me on Etsy. You can find a link below...

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5583375

Spring has sprung!

I know, a cliche, but it's true. My Korean Spice is sweetening my backyard, the lilacs are looking like they will bloom any second, and the grass is green and lush... I love spring! I was actually outside barefoot the other day, and there is nothing like having bare feet in cool grass, the sun filtering through the branches of a cherry blossom tree to make you feel like a seven-year-old again. Plus I had a fudgesicle in hand, so that helped the nostalgic feeling as well. I think I had about five of those delicious little frozen goodies yesterday.

With Mikey at preschool, I looked for four leaf clovers with his brother Johnny, and then we played circus in the yard. This involved a hula hoop and a variety of balls unearthed from under the deck. Not only was this entertaining (for the neighbors I am sure) but it also tired out the child. Johnny took a three-hour-nap. That's right - THREE hours! I was almost giddy to the point of feeling guilty. Almost.

Back to Basics...

Finally, I am getting a layout done for Ebay! I have been crazy busy working on Etsy with my sister (the Poet's Daughter) and doing local arts fairs, that I have been "going to make a layout" for ages. So here it is...

I love paper dolls, and this sweet little trio is just the right touch to this floral layout.

My sis and I are heading to the Farmer's Market in Flint, which was soooo much fun last week. I hope we have another gorgeous day!