Back from Cape Cod

Hi,,, I feel like I have been gone for so long. I was away for 8 days and I never leave for that long. But it was soooo much fun. I flew into Providence RI and met 2 friends there. Nancy from Florida, Cindy from Seattle, and Marie from New York. We stayed a really nice Mariott Residence Inn. Saturday we toured some of the Mansions (the small summer homes of the Rockerfellers and such) in Newport. Had dinner and some shopping at the Harbor. But in Rhode Island its the "Hawba" lol (love their accents :) ) Sunday we drove up to Cape Cod for our retreat hosted by Joyce of Make Mine Pink. It was an adorable beach house with two smaller cottages. Joyce and her daughter Katie had everything just perfect. Our cottage was stocked with food, drinks, linens. I wont lie, it was soooo cold for me coming from AZ. I also know that my friend Kim from southern Texas was pretty darn cold too! But it was still soooo much fun. We had workshops to help with our cameras and photo taking. This was a huge help for me, I learned alot. We had a morning on the beach for "playtime" with hula hoops and building sand castles. We made gratitude journals. Now this was my kind of playtime. Thats exactly what I would have been doing as a child. Playing with paper, crayons and glue. lol. We had games! We played a game called left,right,center and let me tell you, the winner walked away with about 30 gifts! Congratulations to Marie! We had a scavenger hunt and the winning team each won a beautiful watch. We had plenty of time for shopping and antiquing and even went for icecream one evening. On our free day a few of us went to Provincetown. Very quaint little shops. I really enjoyed the shell shop. I also found a momma bird sitting on her nest with babies. And we had a pet bunny at the beach house. But soon enough it was friday and I was on my way back home to my kitties. They missed me horribly and I promised it would be awhile before I left them again :) So here is a few photos of my trip.

Thinking About Vacation :)

I have been really busy getting ready for my trip coming up. I am going on a mini-business-relaxation vacation. I will be attending the Make Mine Pink Retreat on Cape Cod. Joyce has rented a beach house and its gorgeous. I know she has so many fun, inspirational and informational things planned. There is a total of 9 of us going, and I know its going to be so much fun. I have never been to New England and this is somewhere I have always wanted to go. I think we will have some free time to explore and do some shopping. I know I plan on visiting Marion Pie Shop. Its came highly recomended from a very reliable source. lol

I have kind of slowed down on the business this week. I cant do everything and its high time I learned this. I have a pet sitting job that will take me about 4 hours per day and working full time too. So I am spending this weekend getting ready and everything sorted out. But as soon as I get back renewed, refreshed and ready to go, there will be alot of new things coming. This week I made this tote bag for my trip. I tested it out and used it today. Works good! :) I did make this cupcake wall banner that is part of a project that will be going to a magazine for consideration for a feature.

I will be around to visit you all! Have a very Happy and Blessed Memorial Day. Many thanks of gratitude for everyone serving our country and to those who have served to make America the country it is today :) Until next time............gail

Hi,, its Show and Tell time :)

Hi, I hope everyone had a great spring weekend? Its been a pretty busy week around here. I did get a few things done and that is always good. I just got finished watching a show on CREATE. This is the most awesome channel I have on cable. They have lots of cooking, travel, entertainment, quilting and knitting, sewing and my favorite painting shows. I really like a series they have on now with a husband and wife team, Gary and Kathwren Jenkins. They teach oil painting, and it actually makes sense. When I get back from my retreat vacation to Cape Cod in a couple weeks, I am really going to give this a try. I love drawing and painting, but have not had any formal education. Garys instructions are very good.

I worked on some new jewelry. The lavender dragonfly is an order, but I will be putting the pink dragonfly on my website. The next necklace is ornate and victorian looking, but I really think I would like it with a T shirt and jeans. This little doll is for a project called Comfort Dolls. Women all over the country send in small little dolls with an inspirational message of hope and they go out to womens shelters all over the country. We have a batch of dolls from us at Make Mine Pink going to our favorite place, Enchanted Makeovers to go to a very special group of girls. If you get the chance check out their blog. http://www.comfortdolls.blogspot.com/ . Next was an idea I had working with my cupcake idea again. So this has been my weekend,, what did you all do? (()) Gail

Romantic Roses for Pink Friday

I hope everyone has had a great week. I have been so busy, but this is a good thing~~~right? So I missed show and tell monday, but I definately dont want to miss Pink Friday at Make Mine Pink. I am sure you all know by now, however if not, you dont want to miss this event. Tomorrow for one day only all of the participating boutiques at Make Mine Pink will be having a special themed shopping day. The theme this week is one of our favorites. Romantic Roses. So if you love roses like us just follow this link. www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday . There will be gorgeous hand made items for your home or jewelry to wear. There will also be alot of beautiful vintage roses on linens, china, tea cups, etc. This is truly going to be the one pink friday you dont want to miss!

I also wanted to let you know about a wonderful opportunity going on as well. On my right hand sidebar you will see a widget for Enchanted Makeovers to "chip In" I have a more detailed post about Terry and her work with Enchanted Makeovers a few post down, but this women is great. She has a non-profit organization and makes over womens shelters. Her work has been so successful and has changed so many young womens lifes. Her current project is called Vista Maria and its in Detroit. At Make Mine Pink we are collecting money to buy the materials for 20 hope chests to be made for this project. From what I understand there is a very nice man in Utah who will be donating his time to build these for the shelter. This will be a special place for the residents, who are girls from 11 to 18 to keep their valuables and treasures in as long as they are staying at Vista Maria. These girls have nothing, but with the help of all of us maybe we can make their day a little brighter and give them hope for the future. Thank you for listening! :) Have a pretty week.

Beautiful Blue for Pink Friday

Its time for pink friday again. I love this time of the week. I love the challenge of coming up with something new to fit our theme. All of the participating Make Mine Pink boutiques will be offering wonderful selections in gorgeous shades of blue. If you are a fan of Victoria magazine you know every year they have one issue devoted to blue and white. That issue is on the news stands now as well. Its the perfect color for the upcoming warm weather. Check out all of the shops, there will be beautiful blue jewelry, vintage linens, needle point pillows, one of a kind art work. Its one day only, tomorrow May 8th. www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday. Have a great day and enjoy the Beautiful Blues,,,,gail

Show and Tell & Little Lotti

Wow, another week has gone by. Its almost half way through the year! Do you realize that Christmas will be back in stores in four months. Thats just down right scary. I want to make my cupcakes and sweet dreams bakery into Christmas ornaments this year. I guess I had really better get started on that. But for now its Mothers Day and if you are looking for a perfect, unique and original present this year, dont forget about the Shop Hop going on at Make Mine Pink. There is a button on my sidebar to register to join in all the fun and find great gifts. Hey I even buy my own Mothers Day present each year. I have been really busy making new jewelry with the great roses I get from my friend cindy. She had makes these ceramic roses and I love the colors. (http://www.angelheartdesigns.com/) These three bracelets and necklace are listed on my website now. I love the red necklace, it just makes me laugh.

Another very talented lady is Brandie from http://www.littlelotti.com/ . She designs and makes a line of childrens clothes that is just adorable! She had a contest on her blog celebrating her 100th post. I was so lucky to have won! It was an adorable skirt and tank top and a really sweet doll she made. I was giving the skirt to my grand daughter Mya. I got my mail friday night and got so excited that I drove straight to Mya's house. I didnt have my camera with me! Thats what I get for being so impatient. But I borrowed the photo from her website so you can see it. I took the photo of the doll. Mya isnt getting that,,, its MINE! lol Mya has never played with dolls, however I still do. :) Her workmanship is beautiful. Great quality. Her photography is awesome. It was wrapped so sweet. SO be sure to visit her website. Thank you for my beautiful prize. Have a great week.... gail

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

Its Monday and a new week :)

Hi, I hope everyone is enjoying some little bit of spring this week. In the southwest it has been gorgeous. I had such a busy week. I sure hope this week is a little more balanced. I did manage to get a few things made, but I so wanted to do more. I suppose its like that for us all. These 4 cupcake pillows are going out to a bakery shop in Seattle. I hope they do well. It could be the beginning of something good! Next up this week is my bargain of the year. LOL I was at Joanns buying glue and fiber fill and I saw these spools of wired ribbon. They were on clearance for .50cents each. I bought 16!!! I got 5 rolls of pink too. OK, next is awesome pink glass jars and bottles I received from my friend. She is clearing out and downsizing and had these pink things and thought of me. Imagine that. LOL I love them. AND last but not least, I received my advance copy of STUDIOS magazine that I am featured in. It hits the stands March 31st. Its a beautiful issue with some very inspiring studios. This handsome guy in the photo with me is one of my cats. He is a rather large 25 pound Maine Coone cat and his name is Googars. (Dont ask, I have no idea where that name came from, my DD April named him. lol) So, this is whats new in my life.... I cant wait to visit your blogs and see whats new in yours.... Until next time,,,,,have a pretty week.. gail

Easter for Pink Friday

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday - March 27, 2009 as we present Easter Memories.On Easter mornings, when we were children, we would awaken to discover Spring had magically arrived overnight... and delivered some delightful surprises. The world was new again and filled with treasures just waiting for us to discover them. Tall chocolate bunnies hidden in springtime flower beds. Eggs delicately painted like rainbows, waiting in the grass. Plush rabbits in ruffled dresses and straw hats, sitting in white baskets, eager to become our very special friends. We'd hunt together with our friends and family, oohing and aahing over each person's discovery... but secretly knowing that the treasures we found were made just for us. Now that we're older, the newness of Spring and the thrill of the annual Easter hunt can be rediscovered every time we seek out a treasure in a vintage shop or exclusive boutique. Perhaps we're not searching for chocolate wrapped in sparkly foil or rainbow colored treats. We might not even be sure what we're seeking, but we recognize these treasures the instant we see them. A vintage hanky embroidered so delicately you can't help but wonder about the woman behind its design. A crystal bracelet reflecting a color that's "just so" when the sunlight shines on it in "just that way". The ideal display for a certain corner that's been looking slightly forlorn - not missing just anything, but the perfect thing. The moment we discover them, our hearts feel a little thrill and, just for that moment, the world is new again and we feel reborn. As if someone hid this treasure in a secret corner just for us to find, and our hearts recognize them before we even know what we've discovered. At Make Mine Pink, you may not find the foil wrapped bunnies or the colorful eggs, but you will always discover a thrilling hunt for the perfect treasure that stirs up feelings of Spring.