Some Christmas Fun:)

Boy,,, its been very busy around here.  Just trying to finish up some gifts, the end of the season shows and making sure my website and the shop I am in are stocked.  I am really looking forward to the New Year. I gave myself this year to have my surgery and make a full recovery from that.  I am so glad to be on this side of that! I am doing very well now. Its taken alot of patience, way more than I normally have, but its been a humbling and learning experience.  But I am ready to take on all of my new projects and ideas and get this New Year rolling:)   I will start teaching sewing classes for adults, teens and kids in January.  I am really looking forward to that and as I build on that I would like to branch out to other class venues.

But for today, we had our annuel contest at Target to dress one of the little dogs. All of the head quarter employees vote on them.  When the voting is done, they will be going to the Childrens Hospital. So no one looses! Its always fun and I love thinking of new ideas for outfits. 

I also got an awesome suprise in the mail from my sweet friend Shell from the Raspberry Rabbits.  She knows me well. I am a goofy girl who loves squirrels!  I know its because I live in AZ and we dont have any here to put up with, but I think they are adorable and so fun to watch.  This little guys is needle felted and even has an acorn in his paws.  He is going to sit on my desk all year round!

And last but not least,, a new photo of my new Grand Pug, Bently.  I think he is about 5 months old now.  He is a tiny guy, and appears wont be too big. Just adorable and the sweetest disposition. Very smart too.  Well, have a great day. I hope everyone is ready for Christmas and all of the holiday celebrations. I am getting there!        

How Many Things Can You Make With A Shirt:)

I am having fun with new ideas. You have to always be looking ahead. I have been creating new designs and also working on drafting patterns of my cupcake and ice cream cone pillows. But I have also been having some fun repurposing mens shirts.  I found this pink and white striped shirt at goodwill and made a chair cover, two wine bottle gift bags and with some left over scraps, a cupcake pot holder:)

I hope everyone is getting ready for family celebrations and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Green Table Gifts Holiday Event

HI,, I wanted to share an exciting event going on tonight at Green Table Gifts.  This is a local shop I am in.  This is going to be so much fun. You can come in and meet the local artist, have some holiday treats and even win some great door prizes.

 

Stocking Stuffer Shop Opens At Make Mine Pink

Make Mine Pink "Stocking Stuffer Shop" Will open November 15th and run through December 15th.

Everyone loves getting a stocking. I know both of my daughters are in their 30's (yikes, can this be true!!), and still love getting a stocking. Its one of their favorite traditions.  If you are looking for really unique and fun ideas just stop by Make Mine Pink beginning tomorrow. 

Make Mine Pink Friday

When Family Gathers


November brings the excitement of preparation and planning for when the family gathers. The air is crisp in Autumn and the days are short, however, nothing warms us up more than coming home. Whether if just for a day or two, there is much to do to get ready for the guests to arrive.

Furniture needs to be moved to accommodate everyone. Small side tables come out. Remember to put the extra leaves in the table and count all the chairs. Ironing the large tablecloth and linen napkins is a pleasure as visions of the holiday tablescape come into plan: soup tureens, gravy bowls, large serving bowls, extra silverware and serving pieces, candlestick holders and the very best china and crystal stemware comes out to be used and enjoyed by all.

Don't forget to plump up the pillows and add another quilt to the daybed as Uncle always loves to take a little 'cat nap' after dinner as much as he tries not to. All the youngsters can play with the tins filled with vintage old fashioned games of dominoes, cards, wooden blocks, marbles, buttons, paper dolls and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, to name but a few of the childhood treasures.

I cannot wait to hear the squeals of 'ooh's and ah's' as everyone sees the desserts making their grand debut.on two tiered bone china servers, cut crystal platters, Nippon candy dishes and decorative baskets filled to the brim with delicious delights. Everyone will gather around with child-like anticipation as they try to select 'oh just one of these....maybe one of those'. The tea which has been seeping in the teapot is ready to be poured into the various floral teacups. Nothing matches and that is what makes it so quaint and charming.

The apron can now come off. Tugging at my heart strings, I stop my pondering and say a prayer of thanks for when the family gathers and look forward to our time together.

Join the shops at Make Mine Pink for this weeks theme..... When Family Gathers.  This one day shopping event will have lots of pretty items perfect for the upcoming holidays. 
http://www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday/

Show and Tell Monday

It is getting craft show season and I have been busy at work. My first show is friday night and I am doing it with my friend Phyllis.  I am working on all new products.  They are in a various state of completion. So I will have more to show during the week.  Not only are the craft shows gearing up, but the Stocking Stuffer Shop is due to open at Make Mine Pink in a couple of weeks.  So I am going to keep my nose to the sewing machine so I have lots of new things for this fall.

Today I finished a couple pumpkin and apple pot holders. I also wanted to share my new dress form I just got.  Its not vintage, but she will do. I got her at Home Goods for a very, very good price. Just could not leave her there.  She will be perfect for display for many of my new things. Jewelry, purses and shrugs.

I wish I have more hours in the day.  Besides having to work the day job, adding inventory to all of my shops, craft shows and my website, I am really trying to get some more classes  scheduled.  Thats going well, but boy I would love to have more time to really get that project going.  I hope you all have a great week and find time for creating! I will be back soon:)

Wedding Party Hair Barrettes

I hope its a pretty fall day in your part of the world.  This time of year I get so inspired. The holidays are coming and everywhere you look you see wonderful holiday projects.  The holiday issues of the magazines are out and websites are getting decked out too.  I am officially addicted to Pinterest.com too. :)  I have been getting so much done and new ideas are sketched out and waiting for the patterns to be finished so that I can start the sewing.  I am getting new ideas ready for classes as well. I hope to expand teaching classes to different venues around town. If anyone has any ideas for a class you would like to see offered, please let me know:).  My day job is just not working out and I plan on working very hard over the next couple months to change direction.

I have been doing some special orders for customers also. Thats been picking up too. Its all very exciting. My last project was these hair barrettes for an upcoming wedding for a co-worker.  Her wedding is going to be in a pretty shade of red with peacock accents. 

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating! 
    

Loving October

October is my favorite month. When you live in the southwest desert and its been months of triple digit weather any relief is awesome.  It still gets in the low 100's in the afternoons, but the mornings and evenings are so pretty.  Not to mention October is mega birthday month around here. Nearly all of my family and friends birthdays are in October so there is alot of celebrating going on.

I have been trying to transition my work life into a more creative job.  I made the decision to go part time at my job. I wasnt healing from my surgery as well as I should have been sitting for 8 hours straight everyday.  So I go in from 6 to 10 in the mornings. I will be teaching sewing classes at Joanns starting officially in January, but may do some classes in Dec.  Once I get things perfected I really hope to branch out and do more of that. It seems like alot of fun.  I really have alot of ideas I am working on.ting ready.  From here I hope to be able to get started on my own shop and event space next year.

So with my reduced hours I am making sure not to waste anytime and being as productive as possible.  I am trying to stock up the two stores I am in and re-do my website.  This is a few things I have been working on this past weekend.  For the holidays I made some double ruffled crepe paper streamers and its time to start making Christmas ornaments.  I am busy making the cupcakes and the ice cream cone ornaments.  The pink plate is what I painted when my friends took me to As You Wish pottery painting studio for my birthday. :)  That is always so much fun to do.  If you have a birthday in October to, Happy Birthday! Enjoy the fall weather where ever you are.
    

Join us for Pink October

PINK OCTOBER: Each year many of the boutiques at Make Mine Pink get together to give back to a charitable organization of their choice by holding a Pink October event. This year, because October is also "Domestic Violence Awareness Month," we've decided to hold a special "all pink boutique" contributing 10% of all sales to The Pink Slipper Project. We hope that you'll stop by and see some of the fabulous PINK merchandise we'll have for your enjoyment.


www.makeminepink.com/holiday/
http://www.pinkslipperproject.org/
The Pink October Boutique will open at 12:00am October 7th and run through October 21st.

This is going to be such an awesome event and if you love pink like I do, this is THE place to be shopping. Every thing will be pink:)  Stop by and have a look.

Its a Sidewalk Sale at Tillies Attic

Hi, I have been away for a bit.  My computer got a nasty virus and it took a bit to get it back up and running. I am lucky to have a friend taking care of it for me. I have had a laptop to use in the mean time and I have really only been doing what had to be done. That thing drove me crazy!  Just not used to  it, and the cats were really a pain walking all over it!  I have been still working  on my recovery. Its going pretty slow, but I have had a good week. I hope thats a sign of better weeks ahead:)

I made a trip over to one of my favorite shops, Tillies Attic.  It is looking so pretty and ready for the upcoming holidays. Lots of new Halloween decorations that are just as cute as can be. If you are looking for items for fall they have that too. There seems to be more antiques and vintage things every time I come in and the  prices are very good!  But my favorite is always all of the pretty Christmas decorations. On Saturday October 15th Tillies will be having a sidewalk sale.  The fun part is it will start at 7am.  If you are in the area you should stop by and say hello and check out all of the treasures!  The address is 1941 W Guadalupe RD Ste 111, Mesa, AZ 85202. (SE corner of Dobson and Guadalupe) 480 775-4342

New Creations To Keep Me Busy

Well, I am really looking forward to the fall.  Its been 115-ish for the last few days.  But I guess if I was to choose weather, this has been a good week to be in AZ.  With earthquakes and hurricanes I will take the heat. I hope everyone back East is doing well and will be back to normal very soon.

I have actually been getting alot of creating done.  So for Show and Tell Monday at Make Mine Pink I thought I would post a few new things.  I actually made the cupcake pillow for my Grand daughters birthday.  I am really excited about the holidays coming up.  I am in the "zone" and I hope to have more to post soon.  Have a pretty and SAFE week ahead.



       

I'm Loving Cute Pink Computer Stuff:)

I just wanted to share these fun pink cables I just got:)  These are so fun and they match my pink kitty computer tower.  Its a set of three cables,,, here is the official names...

GE 3 Cable Kit USB,Cat5,USB Mini Device 6ft each Pink

My friend and computer guy hooked me up with these, but he has an Ebay shop and has a few more sets to sell.  I know how my friends like pink as much as I do,  so I wanted to let you all know where to find them, here at Tonys place.    

 

I will have lots of new things to share in the next few days.  I am having fun with a new idea for pillows and I have also started working on some projects for my new shop.  I start teaching some craft classes at the end of this week also.  I have been doing well, a lot more energy and ready to begin working on my future. Lets get this party started! :)   

 

My Two New Addictions and New Classes

Wow, its the middle of August.  The kids are back in school and fall is on its way. I love the fall its my favorite time of the year.  This summer has gone pretty fast. In a way, but its been weird. Having surgery at the beginning of June seems like so long ago.  I am making progress. For awhile I felt like I had it a plateau, but I am feeling pretty good now:)  The really big news is I went to the Mall today! Its been years since I have been able to go to a mall.  I walked around Barnes and Noble and to the food court for a drink. I sat there reading my new issue of Where Women Create. I love that publication!  The ediors letter from Jo Packam at the beginning really got me thinking. Really Thinking! Its been a stressful three weeks trying to get back to work. I finally started yesterday. I wont go into all of the details, but the company hired to handle my employers leaves of absense was horrible.  I have been put through the ringer, rung out and feeling pretty beat up over the whole ordeal.  But back to Jo's letter. It was about your passion and "Your Dream" and how elusive it can be. Just when you think you have it nailed down, it starts moving on you.  Life happens or while you are happily going down the path to that goal, there is a fork in the road. A new idea!  A new opportunity!  I have had so much time to think this summer, perhaps a little too much time.  I have thoroughly confused myself.  Finally things are making sense and the clouds of confusion are parting a little. The things I know for sure are that its time to move. Move towards my business I have planned.  To start I have been presented the opportunity to teach some craft classes at the new shop I am in. Green Table Gifts is a new shop and they are offering some really fun classes. I am going to be teaching these baby shoe pin cushions and these headbands with matching pin. This is just the beginning. I am working on some other projects for future classes.  I am going to incorporate my event planning in my classes.  I am going to use my Cupcakes and Cute Stuff name and serve drinks and bring cupcakes to my classes. I am going to style my events and make it alot of fun.  The attendees can bring their girl friends, hang out and catch up, learn something new and take home a new treasure they made themselves all the while enjoying cupcakes and cute stuff! :) Its the first step of my dream and I couldnt be happier.
Oh yeah, I HAVE to share my two new favorite addictions.  I have never really watched Project Runway, but I love that show. Its only two shows in, but so far I think I am team Burt! He is older and really has an amazing talent. Hopefully he will be mature to go along with that talent.  AND have you been to Pinterest??? This place is so addicting. There is so much inspiration and creating your own Pin Boards is so fun and can be really usful. I have to really put a timer on myself or I wont get anything else done. That wont do,,, I have new products to create for new classes. :)  I hope you have a great week and spend some time working on your Dream.            

My New Addiction:)

OK, this is seriously fun.  Since I am home recovering I have been watching alot more TV than usual. I got into an HSN special with Martha Stewart.  They had an exclusive for this one event. I think it will eventually be available on her site, but it appears to be all sold out on HSN and I was not able to find any photos on their site to post here. But this is a knitting and weaving kit. There are different size bars, circular looms, and different sized pegs to create all kinds of knitted or woven items. I have tried and tried to knit and even crochet. I dont know if its because I am left handed, or if thats a good excuse for just not having the knitting gene!  But I went to my sisters to bum a skein of yard to practice. I set the loom up for a scarf and was just going to practice. This is soooo easy, my first effort has turned out and it will even be able to be used! Next I am going to make a hat. There are directions for making the flowers too. So I will even all a couple flowers. I think I will make a few as gifts too. I am going to be working on a hand made Christmas this year. I better get started:)  I hope you all have a great day and have fun creating something new.    

New Headbands and flowers

I really like making all kinds of headbands. I usually make them for my grandaughter Mya. I have been experimenting with making these roses out of tulle, taffeta and other pretty fabrics. Its been working out pretty good. Sewing on the machine is a little hard since my surgery. I can make these by hand.  I actaully will be teaching these in a class at the new shop Green Table Gifts.  The class will also include a matching pin that can be used pinned to a sweater, blouse or even a purse.  I am coming up with other fun classes with projects that I hope everyone will enjoy making.  Classes will be starting at the end of August.  I should be up and running by then. LOL  You can always check out the shop and all the different classes being offered online at  http://www.gtgifts.com/ .  This pretty shop has been getting new things in and its really worth checking out :)

I have finally been able to start outpatient physical therapy.  Its painful, but in a good way. I can tell its going to be a great help. I am hoping to see alot more improvement in the next month.  Speaking of PT, I need to go and get ready for todays session. Wish me luck! Have a great day, stay cool.     

Green Table Gifts

There a new shop in town! And it is so cute. Its in Chandler, near the Chandler Mall. Its in one shops surrounding the mall near the PF Changs entrance. Last night was the grand opening event and so many people came.  There was some great food and each person who came in got to create a charm bracelet. Some of the artist who are in the shop made the charms and we helped the guests create a one of a kind bracelet just for them.  Its a great shop in a great location, so if you are in the local area stop by and say hello. I am looking for to being in this store and hope to eventually be teaching some classes.  You can visit their website to get more details about the artists and the directions. http://www.gtgifts.com/ .  I thought I would share some photos of the event last night.