I am so eager to share this site with you all. This site is #1 reason I got my start on ETSY this past October. I stumbled upon a meeting in my town in September 2007, and found out about this GREAT organization. Startup Princess empowers women to begin their dreams of starting a business. Their Motto? " Make a wish, make it happen." They provide "Fairy Godmothers" (mentors) to steer you in the right direction whether you are just starting , or a seasoned professional looking for more information and advice. And lucky for all of us, they have a website where you can access articles, podcasts, and all sorts of networking information. From becoming part of Startup princess, I have been so fortunate to meet some remarkable people in my field. Kelly King Anderson...the founder of Startup Princess...is an AMAZING networker and has introduced me to wonderful talents like Jaime Lentzer of Jaime painting and design, and Shelly Kennedy of Drooz studios. Women are the best networkers, aren't they? And Kelly has counted on the unique qualities of women to create this great site and resource for anyone in the startup of a business. She also posted an interview about me yesterday that is now on the site. She outlined a bit of my startup venture and is a little too kind. But I hope someday to really be able to help other women (mom's especially) to live their dreams of starting up some kind of venture. Check out this site! It is a GREAT resource!
Happy Site Friday.
This site has my heart. Not often do I come across images of children with such innocence and vogue at the same time. I LOVE the vintage feel with modern flair and functionality. (Say that 10 times fast:) No, I just had to post about this site that I have come back to now an again as I search for great clothing to put my illustrated children in. I won't be dressing my own children in these (unless Sarah Jane Studios puts in me in the next tax bracket sometime soon...um, no.) But without further ado, I introduce to you:
Notice the fabrics.
Notice that the kids are just KIDS and not 'models.'
Notice the outdoor settings...just perfect for those restless kids.
Notice that the kids are just KIDS and not 'models.'
Notice the outdoor settings...just perfect for those restless kids.
Notice the softness.
Notice the vintage meets modern (my favorite). Notice the innocence.
Until next Friday...
Real Life.
My husband is a Middle school history teacher. You think Kids need a break? Teachers do to. Especially this one. He is a bit 'over the top' when it comes to his love for the students. And, well, he gets tired. Good thing it is spring break. This is what we will be doing lots of. Our favorite times are just rolling around with the kids, talking, making, doing, laughing, singing, performing and just being. I am throwing in a bit of drawing too. Well, according to my husband, LOTS of drawing. He is playing Mr. Mom this week, and I don't know if I will be able to handle this temporary freedom! So I sign off this post with the pitter patter of little feet playing with their dad and ink and pen ready to create!
Recipe: How to make the most of a rainy day
1. Mix two of mom's best sheets tied with string and hair clips (for optimum tent making).
2. Add 6 or 7 batches of bristol blocks. (We prefer 7)
3. Quickly add in one hand written book (or a rewritten book of a perfectly good one.) Must have lots of glue pasted every where, scotch tape plastered to the pages and must have lots of crayon. Take out crayon from little mouths as necessary.
4)Stir well with every whisk in the kitchen. A toy dinosaur tail works too.
5) Add a few kisses and tickles and hugs and soon, it isn't so rainy and cold anymore.
Enjoy inside mommy's nice warm bed and have fun making a mess of it. You can always make it up later. Or just leave the bed messy for the next rainy day.
Enjoy!
Shop Update
Be back soon!
Well, I am closing my doors to the shop for a few days to catch my breath. I am learning that balance requires constant reassessing and reorganizing, and spring has brought in new reasons for both. I will be taking a vacation from the good ol' US Postal Service, and will be focussing my attentions on some new art work...for the shop and some other projects I am currently working on.
UPDATE: All items will be shipped out on April 18th.
I see artists all around me who seem to just "do it all." But then I realize:
They aren't changing diapers at 6:30 am.
Or playing dress-ups at 7:30am.
Or cleaning crayon off the walls at 8am.
Or feeding breakfast to two hungry toddlers at 8:30am.
Or going on library trips at 10 am.
Or doing 15 bajillion loads of laundry at 1 pm.
Or scrubbing bathrooms at 2 pm.
Or building wooden block villages at 3 pm.
Or going to the park at 4 pm.
Or making dinner at 5 pm and drawing a bath at 6 pm with kids in bed at 7pm.
Really and truthfully, I am up at 5 am to start my day just so I can get some "ME" time. Right now, naptime isn't enough time for 'catch up.' And with a To-Do list building (the good kind of "to-do"...the kind I want to get done) but not enough time in the day to do it, I am forced to take somethings off my list. My children will never be one of them. SO....I am taking "print-wrap-ship" from my list for the next few days. Ahhhhh. That feels really good to say.
I am not out of town, so if any of you NEED anything to be shipped before the 18th of April, please contact me. I am here, and am sensitive to birthdays and deadlines on your part. But all other orders will ship out on the 18th of April.
I will still be blogging a bit. But my packaging materials will be gathering dust for 10 days.
Now that I won't be licking stamps for a few days....let the creativity flow!
Cya!
Humbug.
Happy Site Friday.
Happy Friday everyone. I am fighting a really bad sore throat, so I can't talk long. So we will make this brief (but not short!)
Mahar Dry Goods has been inspiring me for a long time. Something about their philosophy of beautiful play things for children really makes me wish they weren't an online store and that I could go and play in their showroom. Vintage with a flair for bringing back the old with a splash of new. I can't get enough of them! (Well, haven't bought anything yet, but not because I lack interest!)
Hop on over and get inspired.
Squirrel pull toy? Genious.
Recognize this? Inspiration for my Summer Tea Party.
Love these colors! Is it possible for a Robot to be pretty?
All the sudden "circus clown" isn't scary any more.
And these boxes. I can't get enough of orange and blue!
Shadow puppets? Thank you!!!
So, reasons to visit:
1) Mahar Dry Goods regularly hires artisans to make exclusive products and toys for his shop, so you aren't going to find a lot of duplicates in his store.
2) Robert, the owner, is really nice (and evidently has a really cool wardrobe).
3) You will find lots of pretty things and wish your tax return has come already.
4) Robert also has another site...Junior Society...revealing the cool and unique world of children's culture and design.
5) His site is designed by the one and only Jen Corace.
6) You will wish you were a kid again.
2) Robert, the owner, is really nice (and evidently has a really cool wardrobe).
3) You will find lots of pretty things and wish your tax return has come already.
4) Robert also has another site...Junior Society...revealing the cool and unique world of children's culture and design.
5) His site is designed by the one and only Jen Corace.
6) You will wish you were a kid again.
Enjoy your weekend!
check it out...
Remember....
Last weekend for the BUY 2 get one FREE offer.
Also...
If you are in UTAH, come see my stuff at the BABY EXPO at the Southtown Expo Center. I have a small spot with ONEITY. It should be a lot of fun! Come on down and have a chat!