Happy Saturday!

So I'm totally into decorating our house. We've been here for 2.5 years and there's a possibility that we'll be here for another posting (three years) so I think it's time that we decorate the house the way we'd like and not just act like this house is a temporary home.

I have an on-going list of things to do or buy. Including re-painting certain rooms, buying paintings, rugs, entry tables, lamps, a hallway bench, leather dining chairs for the kitchen table, curtains (just ordered some, hope they look good) and we need to get some shelves in here. I'm loving these ladder bookshelves from Costco

And think that they would suit our homes decor just perfectly.

I also want to decorate the boys rooms. I want to put two brown lines on the walls in the older boys room (I totally can't describe what I'm thinking of)....a thick line and then a thinner one below it with a similar small line of blue between the two (their room is currently blue). And then in Jenson's room I want to put the phrase "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" up along the top border in vinyl letters.

So yes, there are a lot of things on my list, but I think I should be able to get a lot of them crossed off now that I know what I am looking for and wanting to do. I can't wait to get to an antique store to look for a few antique hallway tables and an antique blanket chest. Fingers crossed! You never know what you'll find at an antique store!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,

Good Morning!

And hello to you!

I don't really have much to blog about today, but wanted to check in to let you all know that I am still here!

I'm still managing to get items put together for the shop, which is a fab feeling! I listed a few more Card Wallets and I've just cut out a slew of Receipt/Coupon Holders and some more Card Wallets. I have a few embellishments to add and then a few new ideas I want to get to work on, but for right now, priority is restocking the shop.

Does anyone else feel as though time is on fast forward? I seriously can't believe it's already Friday! Where did the week go?! We are heading over to our friends house tonight for supper, just the kids and I. Her husband is away and so is mine, so it's a fun thing to do.....pizza is on the menu! Mmmmm, delish!

I'm heading out to hopefully find and buy some leather chairs for our kitchen table. Fingers crossed!

Time to get moving!

Cheers,

Good morning sweet bloggers!

I am on a sewing kick! It feels so good to be getting items listed in The Shop! I have four more items to finish up (should be done early this morning) and then I'll try to get the photos done and them listed by this evening.

Remember I had mentioned bringing back the Card Wallets? You can view the old style here. I made up a prototype and hope to have them back in action later in the week. Not sure why it's taken me so long to get them back in the shop.

Does anyone else feel as though time is flying? Our youngest is going to be six months old on Friday.....SIX MONTHS! Seriously, where did the last six months go? I can't get over how fast the kids are growing up. I sometimes take a step back and watch, and my goodness, it's amazing. Our eldest has no signs of toddler left in him, he's definitely a little boy now, a little mister. Our middle little guy is already going to preschool and coming home with wonderful songs and stories, and well, our youngest is six months old! Sitting, and gabbing away. Amazing.

Okay, gotta get everyone ready for school!

Cheers,

Oh My!

Oh my goodness! You should have seen the storm that hit our city today! Unreal, seriously, unreal! Thankfully it's over now, so tomorrow I can finally get to the stores and post office.

I've listed some more Checkbook Wallets and Receipt/Coupon Holders! I've already begun working on some more Card Cases and Coffee Cozies, hopefully they will all be listed by the end of the week. It feels so good to get the shop restocked, a little at a time!

I have several new ideas and drawings that I want/need to get started on. I have to get to the fabric store sometime this week first, to get the supplies. I'm hoping that I can do that while the kids are at school, we'll see!

I'm going to go and enjoy a nice glass of wine....kiddos are sleeping and I'm ready to put my feet up for a bit!

Night night!

Ekphrastic Challenge!

Oh my word! I just received a message saying that my Amy Bulter iPod Sleeve has been chosen as one of the items for the Ekphrastic Challenge over at the ever so lovely RikRak Studio Blog!!

Very exciting! Be sure to head on over to see all of the delicious items!

We are the midst of a terrible winter storm. The drive to Maddox's school, which is maybe 2 mins was horrible! Winds are strong, blowing snow, visibility is very limited and there are loads of snow drifts. It is times like this, that I wish we didn't get rid of our Pathfinder!

Cheers,

A Good Day

What a good day this has been! I snagged a treasury last night and have gotten some wonderful feedback on it (you can view it here).

I managed to get several new listings up (yay!!!!). They can be found here, here, here and here.

It feels soooo good to have new listings up. They've been sitting 1/2 complete on my work table for oh, a month now, at least! Good heavens! They are much happier now that they are settled in their proper "complete" bin!

I've started on some coffee cozies, to be listed shortly. Yippee!!

The boys have been lovely today as well. No fighting, well, only a limited amount, and I've even managed to get housework done.

It has most definitely been a good day, hope you're having a good day as well.

Cheers,

Gotchya!

Just snagged a treasury! I'm no pro, that's for sure, but I do enjoy putting them together!

You can find it here.

Enjoy!

Cheers,

I Heart U....

A little something that I'm working on.....

This one is geared towards Valentine's Day.....more to come soon! They sure are fun to make and I love how they are interchangeable. You can even put them onto a bobby pin! They just slide on and off, into place! A great way to jazz up any hairdo!

I think the heart needs to be placed on an angle, but that's what prototypes are for!

Cheers,

Getting Organized!

I have added to my "to do" list. I've finally decided what to use my new Amy Butler home decor fabric for.

I'm going to make several of these:

Canvas Storage Collection (Pottery Barn)

Love those ones from Pottery Barn, but yet again, no Pottery Barn here in town, so I will use these as my "guide" and make a few. My goal is to hopefully make three or four. One for the living room to put the toys in, one for the hallway to store mittens/hats and then perhaps a smaller one for the bathroom for extra toilet paper. I think that they will add a great touch to each room.

I will probably use the tote bag pattern I used when I used to make totes and just make an extra large gusset. We'll see!

I'm still searching for linen drapes....hmmm. OH! And wouldn't you know, that I FINALLY decided on which chairs I was going to buy for our kitchen table:

Irish Coast Table - Urban Barn

And wouldn't you know that I go back to purchase them (I was at the store only two days prior) and they are SOLD OUT!!!! Oh my goodness!!! I've had this table since October and have been looking for chairs ever since, and finally, I find the ones I like and sold out.....oh well, perhaps it just wasn't meant to be!

We're under a winter storm watch (I think we are), so we'll probably be sticking close to home today, which is fine by me! I can get loads done around here.

Cheers, enjoy your weekend!

Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

The lucky winner is........

Jessica Fancy

Congrats! I'll be sending you an email shortly!

Time for my morning cup of hot coffee!

Cheers,

Found, But You Can't Have Them

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm searching for fabulous linen drapes for the living room window. I have to say I've been searching for quite a long time now, almost a year. I haven't exactly been looking everyday, but it's something that I've always kept my eye out for. I thought about making my own, but I'd have to line them and then add gromets, etc, so I figured, it would just be easier to buy them already made. Wondering if maybe I should just make my own, since I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.

Anyone have some inside scoop as to where to purchase nice, affordable linen drapes? I found the lovely ones at Ikea:

(Aina)

Simple, but I think they'd do the job, however you can't order them online and we don't have an Ikea here......sigh

Hopefully I'll find something soon.

Cheers,

Handmade Olympics!

Have you heard? Have you entered/nominated?

This is SUCH a fun idea! The Handmade Olympics are being held over at RikRak Studio Blog!

It's so easy to enter and there are many different categories.

Be sure to check it out!

Cheers,

Productive!

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!!

Oh, how good it feels to have a very productive day! I've gotten all of my house work done, well, almost, must leave some for tomorrow! Put together a new item (planning to list it this evening), and I cut some more new items out. Ahhh....feels good!

We are enjoying a warm spell, which is nice. Today the winds are strong, so it's a little chilly than the past few days, but gosh, it's nothing close to what the normal temps are, so I won't complain!

I just purchased a new book that I'm excited about! It is all about embellishing projects, which I find to be VERY fun. There are so many different ways to embellish items, it's fun searching and discovering new techniques. I found a stash of twilled cottons in my fabric drawer that I had completely forgotten about! Embellishing them is a great way to jazz a solid coloured fabric up! I was using the twilled cotton for the straps on the totes I used to make, how I forgot about them, I do not know!

Cheers,

Two Steps Ahead

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm trying to get ready for Valentine's day. Last year I was super late and didn't send Mad to school with any treats for his classmates, just cards and apparently that's no longer sufficient! How was I supposed to know?! He's my first born! Thought that would be a good excuse, but nope, several other kids were the eldest in their families as well. Ooooops, okay, I will take the blame (just this time though!).

So I'm trying to be a good Mum and to not hide my creative capabilities (do you ever do this, please say yes!). Not sure why I do that, because I know I'm capable, but sometimes I choose not to be creative. Hmmmm, interesting, will look into this further some other time.

Okay, so what I am thinking is that Maddox and I should make some Chocolates On A Stick to give to his friends. We can do everything here at home very easily (seriously, why I never did this before, I don't know!). I'm excited to get all of the fun supplies....chocolate, sprinkles, sticks, moulds, baggies, pretty ribbon....fun, fun, fun! It's probably the only time that he will want to make "pretty" things with me, being that he's more into Bakugan, Star Wars and Lego!

Have you ever made these (I'm thinking that many of you have). Any tips? Tricks? Yummy things to add to the chocolate? I'm open to suggestions!

Cheers!

Giveaway! - CLOSED

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Let's start this week off with a fun giveaway!

Remember this Receipt/Coupon Holder? (similar ones soon to be available in the shop!)

Well it's up for grabs!

It is a prototype, but completely useable! A few of the sequins aren't perfectly placed, so I won't sell it (see middle pic).

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment with this post!

Extra entry by following my blog! Be sure to leave a separate comment telling me that you are following.

Winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway is open until 11:59pm EST Friday, Jan 22nd.

Good luck!

I Love You.....More

That is something that I always say to the boys. They will say "Mum, I love you" and I always reply "I love you more".

I just saw this gorgeous sign:

(I Love You More Sign - From My Heart Prims)

My heart skipped a beat! I think this sign has my name written all over it!

Cheers,

Craft Hope For Haiti

I just read about this Etsy shop over at Allisa's blog and I've jumped at the opportunity to help. I am so touched by the generosity of people all across the world. We have donated to the relief efforts and I thought that this was another fabulous way to do what I can.

You can visit the website for more information.

Cheers,

For Me?! Why Thank You!

My goodness!

My girlfriend/neighbour just returned from a lovely family vacation in Hawaii. While there, she did a good amount of shopping at many of the fabulous stores. One of the stores that she stopped at was Coach. I LOVE Coach items, just love them. And she remembered this. So she stopped by yesterday to drop this off to me:

OH-MY-GOSH! First off the box alone made me freak out.....seriously, how gorgeous is this clutch?! And the fact that she thought of little me while on a shopping expedition touched me as well. I'm thankfully and appreciative! Can't wait to rock this beauty!

Cheers,

Nice To Meet You!

And time for another sneak peek! I'm VERY excited about this (I always say that don't I?!). This has been an idea that I've had for quite some time now. I think it's safe to say that most women love pretty shiny things, and even better when they are practical!

So here it is! The Receipt/Coupon Holder adorned with gorgeous Swarovski Element Crystals! Seriously, these gems are GORGEOUS in person!

(please excuse the poor quality of the photos, I'm rushing to get this done while the little guy sleeps!)

I love how the possibilities are simply endless when it comes to the layout of the crystals. These have not yet been applied (good thing too because I'm noticing that they need to be adjusted!). I layout the design, leave it and then come back again in a little while to see what I think. If I still absolutely love it, I apply them permanently, if not, I go back to the drawing board, or rearrange a few of them.

Cheers,

One In Every Colour

Are you anything like me and when you find something you like, ie a shirt, you buy one in every colour that is available? I tend to do that quite a bit. Not sure if it's because I don't get out to shop too often, of it it's a survival thing, but I am guilty as charged. My husband always asks me " you really like it that much?!" yup! When I find something I love, I love it and want to wear it all of the time. My most recent purchase was a shirt from Jacob, I bought five, all different colours, but the exact same shirt. Just makes things easy, I know I love it, and I love how it fits, so I just buy as many as I can!

My other shopping method is to buy the one colour that there is the most of on the rack (when I'm not buying every colour available that is), cause usually that means that not as many people have that particular one. When they zig, you zag!

I'm totally in love with all of the button up plaid shirts, aren't you? I love how many of them have ruffles along the buttons in the front as well. I have to go and buy some, yes, some......one in every colour!

Cheers,

Days And Nights

Good day fellow bloggers!

I have come to realize that I am going to have to go back to how I used to schedule my days. My days will be focused on getting housework done and playing with the kids of course and my nights will be for sewing and such. It will be so much easier to get things done this way, and a great way to stay focused. I'll try, very hard to not think of sewing and the shop during the day (except for when I'm out shipping orders and correspondence), which will allow me to have a little more clarity as I get my everyday tasks done. I sure am talking a lot about this type of stuff lately aren't I? Not sure when I got "lost" but I think I'm getting back on track. I still think I'll be sewing or working on the shop during the day, but I just need to make sure that I do make housework a priority, since I'm getting pretty behind in that department (and that's putting it very nicely!). Amazing how much more laundry you have to do when you add one more member to your family!

In regards to the shop. I am adding a new dimension to my items. It's kind of a slow process, but all of the ideas have been etched down, it's just a matter of perfecting techniques. I'm excited to share them with you, hopefully in the next week or so. The sequins was the first instalment.

I'm simply shocked by the tragedy in Haiti. I can't stop watching the news coverage and feel for those who have been affected. I can't even begin to imagine. My thoughts are with them and their families.

Cheers

Good Morning!

A good morning to you my fellow bloggie bloggers! I'm so happy to not have to get up super early this morning (early by our standards) to drive my husband in to work. Three days in a row we had to do that, so our eldest was late for three days....not fun. It was just busy, very busy mornings.

Today, I hope to get a load of house work done and to get some much needed sewing time. I have hardly had anytime to sew, and that's no fun because I really want to get a lot done. I have a few gifts to make as well, lots of birthdays in January! Also realized that I need to make some reusable wash cloths for when feeding Jenson cereal. I'm thrilled to finally be able to use some of the bibs and burp cloths that I used to sell in the shop!

I just don't want to leave the house between when we drop him off at school and when we have to pick him up. Just want to relax a bit! Do you know the other day, I was trying to remember where I had parked when I picked Maddox up from school and just what had happened that morning. I couldn't for the LIFE of me remember. I was trying so hard to think back to how we greeted each other (he always gives me a hug when I pick him up....love it!). So yes, I couldn't remember and it was really bothering me....how could I NOT remember what had happened the day before?! Well, perhaps because the day before was Sunday, and therefore there was no school and therefore there was no school pick up.....oh my word! ha!

Coffee time!

Cheers!

Minus One

Today is the first day of preschool for our middle little guy. They finished at the beginning of December and started back today. It is unbelievably quiet in the house without him here. It's just Jenson and I, my what a difference it makes to have one less! I miss him though, still not used to him being away.

I have a new product to show to you! I'm about 1/2 way done putting it together, hopefully I can show you some pics and have it listed tonight, hopefully.

Short post....

Cheers!

Monday Monday

What a wacky way to start off the week! Our second car was making a weird sound, so we had to take it in to have it looked at. Which meant that the kids and I had to drive my husband into work, which is about 20-30 mins from our house. It's just too cold for us to walk to school in the morning, even though we're enjoying somewhat mild temps, it's still a little too chilly for baby Jenson. So yes, off we went to drive the Mister in to work. We were a tad bit late making it back, so Mad missed the morning bell at school. Ooops! But all is back on track now, the other two boys and I are home, and about to get cracking on a few house hold chores.

Speaking of mornings, my morning routine usually, well, always consists of a banana chocolate chip muffin and a nice hot cup of coffee. I'm thinking that perhaps I need to switch it up and make a different type of muffin....same type of idea, with some fruit or something. Anyone have any yummy suggestions?

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! I have another one coming up! I have a few prototypes that I need to giveaway, so be sure to check back!

Cheers!

Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

The lucky winner is......

Aestraea

Congratulations! I'll be emailing you shortly, or feel free to send me an email to ellivebstudio@hotmail.com

Feature - Himawari Designs

Making up for lost time!

Today's featured shop is Himawari Designs which is owned by a young artist named Jessica.

(Amy Gel Skin Case for iPhone)

Her shop is unbelievably fun and fabulous. Offering gel skins, photos and apparel. Bright colours, fun graphics are just a few ways to define the items in this shop.

(Shinjuku 01)

Precious cell phones and laptops are many people's main way of communication, which means they take them with them everywhere! Jessica offers a fashionable way to deter dirt and to help keep them clean.

(Eritza laptop skin)

Her blog is full of sneak peeks, coupons, events and the ever so fun...giveaways!

(Women's V-Neck)

If you're looking for bright, functional and modern items, be sure to take a peek at the items that Jessica has created for you over at Himawari Designs!

Cheers!

Browsing And Dreaming

So I was thinking that of making my new workspace on my own. Then I thought who am I trying to kid?! Not sure when I'd have time to do that!

Now I think I'm going to rely on the lovely folks over at Ikea!

(VIKA HYTTAN/ VIKA FINTORP Table $189.99)

VIKA AMON/ VIKA ALEX Table $234.99

I love all of the drawers in the last one....

This chair would be great....wheels, and you can adjust the height as needed!

JULES Swivel chair $69.99

So here I sit, dreaming away of all things possible for the new workspace.....it's a fun thing to do!

Cheers!

Feature - M and J Designs

I truly apologize for taking such a long break from the Friday Features.....it's now time to get back into it!

I'm happy to introduce you to Malea and her 11 year old son J, the proud owners of the Etsy Shop M and J Designs.

(Buddhist and Hindu Inspired Mandala Panel)

This shop has an eclectic mix of products ranging from one of a kind shirts to plush toys to greeting cards!

(Scroll Work Woman's V-neck Tshirt)

I just LOVE that you can find such a mix of fantastic items for almost anyone all in one shop! Just look at this simply adorable tooth fairy pillow!

(Tooth Fairy Pillow)

There is a pocket hidden at the top that will fit your little ones tooth and then coins or even a folded up bill! The ribbon (which you choose out of a large selection) allows you to hang the pillow from a doorknob or bedpost! Brilliant!

(Mr. Man Green Tie Onesie Bodysuit)

Make sure to head on over to M and J Designs to see the rest of their abdorable plush collection and wide range of items!

And be sure to say a big HELLO to Susie while you're there!

(Monster Plushie - Susie)

Pssst.....she loves bright red tulips, soft music and cuddling with her loved ones! Just thought you might want to know that!

Oh, and don't forget to check out their blog or to become a fan over on facebook!

Cheers!

Looky!

I am working on a few new looks for the Receipt Holders and Card Wallets and will hopefully have some of them listed shortly.

This is just the first prototype of this style (more styles to come) and there will be many more variations, but just to give you an idea here's a pic!

Also, I'm bringing back the old style of card wallets, like the ones I used to sell. They too have been re-designed. Here's a pic of the old style:

I'll be selling both styles of card wallets in the shop.

Okay, off to enjoy the rest of the afternoon!

Cheers!