Just say it.

They have finally arrived! I just LOVE these little cards. I hope I don't sell them all...I want to keep some for myself. Need a soft simple way to say those words? Each one of these cards says it differently, but the meaning is still the same. They best part about these cards are the matching envelopes from Paper Source. I have been using these envelopes for all my postcards, and I just can't get enough of them.


The strawberry colored ones are my new favorite. The colors are just perfect, and the lip on these is so incredibly cool. I can't wait to send one off to my mom right now...oh wait. Mom, don't read that:)

Thanks as well for all your feedback and opinions on the frames that I posted below. REALLY helpful!!! I can't wait for you to see how they turn out!

Opinions PLEASE!

OK. So, I am needing another stream of advice.

I am starting to sell wholesale, and most stores want my prints to come framed. ( I am still weary about this...with glass and everything).

BUT: I need you tell me which ones you like best...if any at all. I am most likely going to create my own design based on what I have used before. These are the THREE that I have used so far and really like.

What do you think:

1) IKEA RIBBA frame Dark wood.

2) White with a little ornamentation. Better for the girl prints, maybe not so great for the boys.

3) Simple. Wide. White.

4) None of the above.

5) All of the above.

(didn't you always LOVE multiple choice?)

I am taking a VOTE...so even if I have no idea who you are, throw out your opinion.

What do YOU think?

Better late than never.

This image is pretty much how I feel right now....ready to embrace the new year. I feel invigorated, clean, and ready to take what comes. The future brings soft snow as well as the cold bitter air. But together, it is magical. New. Untouched. Fresh. Ready to be embraced. Happy New Year...a little late.

The problem of a Princess

Let me just say flat out....I really HATE (Oh wait. We don't say that word at our house) ...Try again...Disney Princesses are NOT MY FAVORITE.

I have a problem though. I have a princess of a daughter. Do I love it? YES! Do I love that she prances around the house with that dreamy look in her eyes when she hears romantic music, YES! Do I love the way she sings as if she is in the middle of a staged opera, YES! Do I love that dress-ups magically turn her into royalty, YES! Do I love that ANY store I go into we can't get out of without her begging for that DISNEY princess book display in the front entry, NO!!!!!!!

Why can't you be a princess anymore without trying to be Belle, or Ariel, or Jasmine or Cinderella? Why???? Why can't girls just be their OWN kind of princess, instead of being someone with a 16 in waistline with perfectly curled blond hair? (I could keep going, but I won't). I really love the movies...I mean, Cinderella really is the only cartoon character I know of who can get away with saying "Oh! Killjoy!" upon rising too early. It's all the merchandise I get annoyed with.

I wasn't that 'girly' of a girl. I pretended "princess" but I also pretended "school" and "mommy". Addie's first choice of pretend is Princess. She was BORN with it! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I just don't love that most tools that you need to have princess play are dominated by "Disney's BIG 6"

SO: Addie's third birthday is on Saturday, and I am trying to come up with a fun party theme that she will just love. As a mother, I just want to give her a princess party. As Sarah, I want to give her a tea party with dolls, or a Dress up party...the good old standards. But, being a good mommy, we are having a PRINCESS party. No Aurora plastic cups, No Belle table cloths...none of that. Just good "kiss the frog" "dance with wands" princess party.

I came up with these invitations in like 5 minutes tonight. I think that I might want to start doing Children's invites. So much in the kid's industry right now is dominated by mass marketing...Disney being the front runner. To me, once you get a mass market like that, it just takes all the imagination out of the pretend play. This invite is really simple. But I want to really learn more about Graphic design and layout.

Anyone know how to make a scalloped edge or dotted lines in Photoshop/Illustrator?

So, with that said, I have to share some AWESOME trades that I did for my kid's Christmas presents. I am telling you...the internet (ETSY being my FAVORITE) is really my answer to keeping my children from narrowing their imaginations to what Disney has to offer. My kid's FAVORITE toys are the good handmade wooden toys and handmade dolls.

Take a look at what I traded this Christmas with GEMMIE LOU HANDMADE:

Aren't these so sweet? Addie and Ian play with these for HOURS!!! Handpainted wooden pegs (and BEAUTIFULLY painted nonetheless). I also grabbed these clips too. Can't get enough of them.

And from Rachel at DARLY BIRD, I traded a few prints for these BLA BLA dolls that I have been eying for a year now.

On Christmas morning, Addie's eyes grew SO big when she saw "Sheesha" (her Addie-given name). Sheesha hasn't left her side yet. They are SO soft, handmade in peru...but the simple pattern and colors are my favorite.

Horray for handmade and handcrafted toys! Word from a mother: keep your kids away from the BLING BLING of the kids industry, and let them imagine again. Keep it handmade. Keep it simple. Keep them children.

Any of you mom's have any fun (non-disney) Princess activities you have tried with your 3 year old princesses? Do share.

The boys are charging in!!

OK...so like I have been promising...here come the little boys. I really have so much in my head, and in my sketch book right now of little boys, little boys, little boys. I just love MY little boy, and I can't wait to show you more of what is coming. This is just a taste.

But isn't he cute in his homemade newspaper hat, and over sized button down shirt from dad's closet? I just love having a little boy in my life. Ian is REALLY into BOY things...and already love to dress the part. Let's here it for the BOY!

My Little Cupcake



They are here! New ABC's for your little baker. I have ALWAYS loved ABC's and this is my first one. ABC's for little boys will be here this week too....as well as a few other's I have up my sleeve...so be watching! In the mean time, keep checking the shop. 2008 brings in a lot of NEW stuff!

B is for getting Bolder.


When I draw, I find myself drawing from my own childhood as well as my children's. I was a soft colors child...yet Addie is my bright colors child. I want to put more color in my artwork because it reminds me more of my own children. Here is the B in ABC. (I always seem to want to start in the middle). We love to cook in our family, and this will be an ABC for fun, vintage, red and pink little cooks. Don't worry. Boys are in the works too. I was just 'in the mood' for this tonight.