Mothers Day Shop Hop and Pink Friday

There is alot of great events happening at Make Mine pink celebrating Mothers Day. This is a perfect chance to find that perfect gift for your Mother that she will love and always remember. Our Mothers Day Shop Hop is an event that runs between May 4 and May 10th. Not only is there great shopping, but prizes can be won. You will want to click onto the link www.makeminepink.com/shop-hop and get registered. Then beginning May 4th stop by Make Mine Pink and click onto the shop hop to see the participating boutiques. When you visit each boutique you will want to look for a hidden shopping bag that will say "you found it". Click that bag and it will take you back to Make Mine Pink to give you credit for your find. The shopping bags will usually be hidden with no more than one click from the home screen. Your name will go in for a drawing for some great prizes.

Our weekly Pink Friday event this week is also celebrating Mom! Its theme is Romantic Delights. There will be special jewelry, needlepoint pillows, handbags and totes, vintage treasures and even some of the pictured hand dyed silk roses made by Eric at http://www.meadowstreet.com/ . I own one of these special rose pins, and they are stunning. There will be so many treasure to be found, so be sure to visit www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday tomorrow. Have a pretty day :) gail

April Showers Brings May Flowers

Hi,, its been a really busy and productive week for me. I got soooo much accomplished. Now, I just have to do it again this week and I might be caught up and ready to start again. LOL The problem is alot of what I was getting caught up on is the cupcakes which I have posted before. But I did have a special order for some pink chocolate dipped strawberry pillows. I had four of them to do and I have to say I am sooo glad they are done. The velvet and satin were tricky and hand sewing the sequins and beads to a long time. I had a couple of pulling my hair out moments, but in the end they turned out well. Next my order for new ceramic roses from Cindy came in. I am working on lots of new jewelry with these. And the next flowers I made this afternoon at my BFF Judys. She is a quilter and had this handy dandy Accu-cut machine. You roll your fabric across these dyes and it cut the fabric in that shape. She has alot of the normal quilting ones of squares and triangles, but I love the flowers and butterflys. After we cut them all out, I stacked a few together and made a little stitch in the center to make them puffy. I am thinking of using these on top of my cupcake pillows.

Well, have a wonderful week. I hope you all have beautiful spring weather. Also, the post below this one is about a wonderful place called Enchanted Makeovers. If you get the chance, read this too! :) Happy Creating,, gail

Enchanted Makeovers

As I have said many times, I am a member of Make Mine Pink. I am a very proud member of Make Mine Pink :) and I will never be able to give back all I have received from this wonderful group. I have been given more opportunities and experiences that I would have never been given had my life not take this path. And yes I do believe its destiny. Another thing I believe with all of my heart is "pay it forward". Its time to give back in the best way I can. Make Mine Pink has become associated with a wonderful organization called Enchanted Makeovers. As a group we are donating money and sponsoring 18 hope chests to be built for a new makeover for a womens shelter. From what I understand, a very generous man is donating his time to build these wonderful treasures. The charity I am speaking of is called Enchanted Makeovers and was started by a young women named Terry Grahl.

Terry started her career as an award winning interior decorator with her own business. Chance had it that she was asked to donate some time and paint a wall for a shelter being made over. I would encourage you to visit her website and learn about her story. It is so inspirational! http://www.enchantedmakeovers.org/ But the result of that day was the beginning of her own adventure. In January 2009 Terry's Enchanted Cottage that was established back in 2005 ultimately became Enchanted Makeovers, a non-profit organization that changes shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities. Today she is transforming the shelters that save peoples lives into beautiful sanctuaries that heal their spirit.

Her latest project is Vista Maria in Michigan. At Vista Maria they provide education, therapy, shelter and care for young women. The make over will include cheerful paint, pretty new bed linens, furniture, curtains,, etc. Homemade items will be included for that special touch to complete this fantastic make over. I am so happy to be part of this organinations fundraising and I hope to be able to participate in many ways for the coming years. If you would like to join us,,, please feel free to contact Terry. All of her information is on her website.

Have a pretty day! We are very fortunate women. :)

Lavender and Lace for Pink Friday

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday, April 24, 2009 as we present "Lavender and Lace"
A lavender field in full bloom creates a purple and green landscape and infuses a sweet fragrance into the air. A field of flowers brought to life with the buzzing of bees, decorated with birds and butterflies drawn to its fragrant aroma. The lavender fragrance wafts gently through the air, carrying the memories of flowers, happiness, and sunny days.
Far away, a summer porch, framed by windows with white lace, is surrounded with the scent of lavender. Lavender blooming in window boxes and flower pots, or decorating a flower garden with their purple blossoms. Whether along a country road or on a city street, the lavender scent embraces all indiscriminately.
Too beautiful to remain outdoors, the fragrance of lavender easily enters our homes and daily lives. From a carefully tended flowerbed we pick a tiny bunch and place it in a hand-cut crystal bud vase, where it can brighten a corner as it sits upon a vintage lace doily. Tuck a sprig of the tiny flowers into the lace band of a broad-brimmed summer hat, carrying the beautiful fragrance with us wherever we go. Or perhaps lay it inside a dresser drawer. Tie it with a tiny scrap of lace and hang it upon a wall, set it upon a shelf. In a drawer or as a lavender bouquet tied with apple-green organdy ribbon, edged with a dainty row of lace, the loveliness of lavender is impossible to contain. An elegant centerpiece set upon an antique table draped with a vintage lace table cloth, it's a feast for more than the eyes as the fragrant aroma declares its presence. Sunlight shining through the lacy curtains warms the room and casts delicate shadows upon the wall. Suddenly, the room seems draped in a lavender landscape and fields of lace.

Joyce Lucas,Founder
www.MakeMinePink.com

Photos provided by istock photo

A Little bit of This and That :)

I have had a really nice and quiet weekend. I got alot done and am feeling very productive. I had a pet sitting job to feed this really sweet dog named Fiona. As I was driving to Fionas home I saw a store grand opening with all the colored flags celebrating the event. The sign said Ribbons and Lace. I almost made a right turn on two wheels to get in there, but I must be a responsible business owner. After all I had a very hungary Fiona waiting for me and a strong desire not to have my insurance rates go up because I caused a car accident, I drove by. I couldnt wait to get done so I could drive back and check it out. I wish I had my camera. It was rows and rows of ribbon and lace. Some of it was a little on the expensive side, but alot of it was priced pretty good. It turns out this is a 2nd store for them. Years and years ago, back in my other life as a wife, I used to sew alot and I went to this store. I forgot all about it, but now they have opened up a 2nd store near me. I will visit there often for sure. This is some trim I got to go on cupcake pillows. This other is a 4 inch taffeta wired ribbon with roses. ISNT THIS GORGEOUS! It comes in so many beautiful colors. When I have time to figure out what I am going to do with it, I will be buying more. I have a really pretty rose fabric and I think I am going to make a really long handled tote and use this ribbon on that. I need a tote that I can wear diagonally across my shoulder. Then Target sells these hard side clutch type wallets. I am thinking of covering it with this ribbon. Well, you just have to see it in my head, but trust me, its really cute. I will keep you posted. LOL

Next is a bracelet using one of my ceramic roses that I get from my really good friend Cindy (http://www.angelheartdesigns.com/ ) I was inspired by this scrapbook paper that I have it sitting on. I think its going to be a gift for someone, if not, it will be on my website soon. The scrap book paper is going to be used for my May Day Jar. There is a contest going on at Make Mine Pink for pretty May Day jars for fresh flowers to give someone on May Day. Its open to all members, so now would be a perfect time to join at http://www.makeminepink.com/ Eveyone have a pretty week. Enjoy some pretty spring flowers.

Pink Friday ~~~ Keeping it Green for EarthDAy

Keeping It Green!

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday, April 17, 2009 as we "Keep It Green."Restoring and repurposing vintage products keeps the earth clean while we decorate our homes and our lives. Suddenly following the 3 R's - reducing, reusing, and recycling - is much more than environmentally friendly. Now it's about making everyday things more beautiful. The practice of keeping it "green" can come in many colors... rose petal pink, poppy red, turquoise, pearl and yes, even green. Flea market finds and fragile memories edged with glitter, embossed with jewels, engraved, stitched and woven anew giving old treasures a new purpose.Items lovingly restored to more than their original beauty grace shelves and are welcomed into our cozy corners. Table linens returned to their crisp, former selves discover new life draped over an antique oak table or reinvented as a charming pillow or or tote. Silver pieces, shining brighter than before, sit proudly upon a freshly painted piece of discarded furniture. China and mirrored glass salvaged from cobwebbed corners set a graceful display. Repurposing gives items with forgotten histories new stories to tell. Rescued needlepoints are transformed into luxurious pillows, stitched with beautiful silks and trims, and shared with a friend. Postcard pictures become pendants, someone's love notes worn as special gems. Silk ribbons, velvet trims, handmade lace, are added to vintage finds. Tapestries transform into bags, repurposed into something perfect, just for you. Even the smallest fragments of memories are unwasted. The tiniest scrap of lace from a time-ravaged heirloom can be reused, and add a "just-so" touch to a new creation. Altered art repurposes the most unlikely items from the longest forgotten closets into pieces of beauty with new intent. Whimsical works assembled from many vintage and repurposed items. Shoes trimmed with flowers, pink winged fairies, items put together with nothing more than the intent to make you smile.
Repurposed Fabric Tote Image by: Dianne Hadaway - Mama's Pocketbook
Repurposed Sweater Chick Image by: Tedi Mercer - Petite Bookstore

Hippity Hoppity ~ Show and Tell

HI!! I hope everyone had a great Easter :) I had a three day weekend and I am soooo happy. I had such a productive weekend and got so much done. My daughters had plans with their in-laws for the holiday, so after a quick trip to deliver Easter baskets to the Grandkids I came home and had a relaxing day creating. I also managed to clean my apt. , do laundry,get my book club chapters read and make 3 cupcake pillows that are orders! So, I will post a few pictures here and then I am off to eat my Chocolate Easter Bunny! :) George and Pookie would like some of my Easter Bunny too! George and Pookie are brothers. George weighs about 12 pounds and Pookie weighs about 24 pounds. We think Pookie may be part moose as he is one big boy!

OK, lets see, first is two of my new small cupcakes that will be added to my line. (Nancy the pastel pink one is yours :) ) I have been so busy with cupcakes and have been missing creating jewelry, so I spent this afternoon making this necklace and bracelet. This friday at Make Mine Pinks Pink Friday the shopping them is "keeping it green". Both of these pieces are made from other broken or vintage jewelry. I go to a local antique mall and this man bags up huge amounts of broken jewelry and I love buying them and making something new from these bits that would normally end up in a landfill. So in addition to being productive, I am ahead for this friday :) Its just got to be a good week. I cant wait to visit you all in blogland. Until next time....... gail

Show and Tell Monday

I hope everyone has a little spring in their neighborhoods! The weather has been gorgeous and spring fever has hit me hard. :) And the day job has been anything but pleasant. But I have managed to get a few new things made. I have been working on so many new ideas. So I thought I would share a couple with you today. The first photo is a new addition to my Sweet Dreams Bakery line. These will be smaller cupcakes for hanging on doorknobs, or hooks. This was the first one and I am going to have to tweak it just a little. So next time I post you will see the finished result, but i do like them. I plan on doing alot of fancy embellishing on these. Next is my 3 tier cake pillow. I didnt know exactly where I was going with this, but this was the end result. And I have lots more ideas for these cakes coming as well. And last are some Easter Bunny baskets I have made for years now. I just plain ran out of time to get any online for this year. But one was an order for a dear friends Grand daughters first Easter and she picked the green one, so my Grand daughter Mya will get the blue one for Easter. Poor kid is 7 and I have never made her one yet!

So this week I have been working on my business plan, designing new patterns, spring cleaning at home and trying to hang in there at the day job. Cant wait to post more new things soon....gail

Marie Antoinette ~ Pink Friday

Marie Antoinette was young, tall, blonde and beautiful and she set fashion trends through France and Europe. She was nicknamed "Madame Deficit" or "Queen of Debt” because the Queen spent lavishly on her dress and adornments, exceeding annually her clothing allowance (her overruns always covered by her devoted husband Louis). Her flip remark “Let them eat cake” (attributed to her, but never confirmed) was the spark that ignited the French Revolution. Today, we simply cannot get enough of “Marie”Only 15 when she married the crown prince of France, the dauphin. France was then the most powerful nation of continental Europe, and the royal palace at Versailles the most opulent. She became Queen of France while still a teen. Her excessive fashions for high headdresses, plumes and voluminous dresses were subject to public comment, admiration and ridicule. At Versailles, the Queen also spent lavishly on her friends and on her entertainment. She held frequent gambling parties, masquerade balls and danced all night long.To escape the formalities, boredom, and royal obligations of court, Marie-Antoinette created a private realm of pleasure for herself and her friends at the Petit Trianon, a small retreat palace on the grounds of Versailles, and Hameau, where she planted the first Anglo-Chinese garden; collected all species of antique roses; and revolutionized architecture and gardening trends. It was so much her escape that the King was reported only to have visited her there a few times.So why do we love Marie Antoinette today? All her extravagance, her life of excess, her hairstyles that were larger than life, her reported love of pastries and champagne (some truth and some fiction as Marie was a teetotaler) all create for us a time and place where a young girl can be Queen. Marie Antoinette has become a real inspiration.

Make sure to visit www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday tomorrow, April 3rd to see all of the great Marie inspired shopping for our one day only shopping event! The participating shops and boutiques have been preparing and making some very lavish and beautiful products for this special shopping day. You dont want to miss this one. (())gail