Show and Tell at Tillies Attic

This was an exciting day for me. Today was the special event at Tillies Attic from noon to 4 pm. Alot of people came out to the store and enjoyed refreshments, wine and of course chocolate and shopping. I enjoyed meeting some of the other vendors also. I really appreciate my friends and family who came out to visit me and support me in my new venture. It was great seeing you all! I am really looking forward to making so many new projects to put in my little cupcake room. I really think Tillies Attic is going to be a great success, and if you are in the Phoenix area make sure to stop by and see all of the new vendors and merchandise. Here are some photos of this pretty store!

One of a kind treasures

Good morning! I just wanted to remind you all that tomorrow is Friday,,, thats Make Mine Pink Friday. Our one day only themed shopping event. This weeks theme is "one of a kind treasures". Its always so fun to have something that only you and nobody else has. lol By visiting the participating boutiques there will be some pretty vintage and antique treasure for sure. For the shops that create their products you will be able to find one of a kind artwork to decorate your home or even jewelry for that special outfit. You dont want to miss this one, so remember tomorrow. Visit us at www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday.

Also this Sunday, the 7th of February is the Sip, Savor and Shopping event at Tillies Attic! There are so many new and beautiful items and new vendors in this East Valley location. If you are local to the Phoenix area, dont miss this fun event. Join us for chocolate and shopping from noon until 4pm. It would be great if you could RSVP ( they dont want to run out of chocolate:) . You can email Vera at vmanuz@cox.net and bring your friends.

My next post will be the before and after photos of setting up my shop at Tillies Attic. Its been alot of fun. Also pictures of the whole store! The photo above is a one of a kind treasure I was given,,, an antique cast iron stove for my little shop, and its a sneak peak at whats to come in the next couple days....until next time.....gail

I am opening up a shop and good help is still hard to find!

I have some really exciting news. I was approached by the ladies of the Briar Patch Marketplace and invited to participate in their new venture. A brick and mortar shop in Mesa. If you are local here in AZ its on Guadalupe and Dobson. It is a partnership with the shop Tilly Attic, which has been in this location many years. I will be displaying all of my creations in my own little room and I am in the process of setting up. I am striving for the look of walking into a shabby chic bakery shop. I am really short on time as I need to be done by February 6th. There will be a special event at the store on the 7th and I need to be in place and ready to go. Wouldnt you know I would come down with something. (again!) I have been fighting a respitory infection and also now babysitting my 4 year old grandson Mikey. But despite all of that, its falling into place nicely ~ thanks to my friends :) Today I just got ahold of an antique stove for display. Here is a few of the projects I am working on. Cupcakes of all sizes, chocolate Easter bunnies too. I will have all sorts of sweet treats from ice cream cones to large layer cakes to display on a pretty cake plate. (All with zero calories!) Even my sister Stephanie will be doing some dessert paintings for your walls. I will be posting before and after photos of my "shop" within a great store!

With all of the work that needs to be done, you would think the help would be a little more, well, HELPFUL. Googars doesnt have the same excitement that I do. Silly boy. (He needs a bigger bed!) lol I will keep you posted and until next time...... gail

In With The New

Its time for our weekly shopping event at Make Mine Pink. This friday the theme is "In with the new." We are all getting over the holidays and back to business. (Finally) I am so happy to be creating new things. I will hopefully be adding new items to my website and etsy shop every couple days. So many new ideas. Be sure to visit all of the participating Make Mine Pink Boutiques to see all of the new products this week. Maybe its time to do a little shopping for yourself! :) www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday

This is a picture of my new Valentine Pillow. I think it looks like a fancy box of chocolates :) The plate with the kitty was something I did at a local ceramic painting studio called As You Wish. My friends and I love to hang out, eat cupcakes and try painting. I love my girls day out.

I like the idea of "In with the new" I hope to be adding alot more to my blog this year. I love the idea of featuring lots of the talented women and guys that I am lucky enough to call friends. I hope you will find lots of interesting people and information here in the coming months. Thanks for stopping by. Until next time....... gail

Pink Slippers and Marie Claire Idees

Hi:) This week a made a couple pairs of slippers to send to the Pink Slipper Project. This is always such a fun project and its for such a great cause. This is an organization that collects handmade slippers from women and groups across the country and are donated to womens shelters for women and children. Some of the ladies crochet slippers and they are so pretty. Others, like myself sew them. If you or a group you know of would like to participate please contact Joyce at http://www.pinkslipperproject.org/. You will enjoy it so much and be helping some very special people.

I spent some time at my favorite Barnes and Noble yesterday. My daughter and sweet 4 year old grandson are staying with me for the week. She is moving into a new apt. and cant get the keys until next friday. Its a great move for them, but this is a 51 year old grandma who is used to lots of peace and quiet. So I sat in my comfy chair at the bookstore for an hour. I had a gift card and bought the new bood from Tara Frey called Blogging for Bliss. I cant wait to dig into that one. I love blogging and cant wait to learn more tips and ideas. They had one of my favorite magazines called Marie Claire Idees. Its printed in France and hard to find. I have a few copies but there was a new one so I grabbed it. I cant read the french but it is full of beautiful photos and so much inspiration. I thought I would share a few here with you. Believe me this is just a tiny sample :) Have a great week. I have lots of new projects to keep me busy. Plus a 4 year old!!!

Make Mine PInk Friday

Join us for our first Pink Friday event and Make Mine Pink. We are going to continue having our weekly themed shopping events. This week is a great theme, "making way for the new". There will be alot of shops offering great discounts and sales in order to make room for all of the great things they are working on for the new year. So remember, tomorrow, one day only! www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday.

I also wanted to share this information. If you have ever wanted to open up shop at Make Mine Pink, the time could not be better. There are new rates for 2010 and they are unbelievable! Very affordable and the best networking and support group of women in business. Dont miss out.

Organized and ready to go!

I hope everyone had a healthy, happy new years weekend. I am really looking forward to a new year. Its funny but everyone I talk to from all walks of life are so glad to see 2009 behind them. There is something about a new year, especially when its the beginning of a new decade. I have alot of new ideas and new directions for this year and I am ready to get going. But I had to organize my space! The two weeks before Christmas life happened and my cute little apt. looked like a bomb went off in it. So I designated the week between Christmas and New Years to an early spring cleaning and organizing my whole apt. Closets, cabinets, drawers and especially my studio. Its Sunday night at 9:45 and I have just finished. It took the WHOLE week. But what an awesome feeling to be done.

I am posting some BEFORE photos of my studio.... I dont normally let it get soooo bad, but like I said, life happened! Then a few afters. I am really excited to have set up an area just for painting and drawing. I have all of my books, paints, pencils and stuff in one place with my easel. Its been scattered for the last year so I plan on working more on these projects now. As you can see my office manager Lucy has her little blanket back where it belongs. Still sleeping on the job though. lol And last but not lease my desk. You cant believe the very large bag of garbage I threw out here. So, tomorrow I am setting up all my new files and after that..... watch my dust! :) I hope you have a great week and have a wonderful new start to your year. Take the time to get a little organized. It does wonders for your spirit!

Looking forward to 2010

I hope everone had a wonderful holiday and a Merry Christmas. I had a great day with family, friends and in the evening I went to see the new movie Sherlock. I really liked it alot. The movie theaters were packed! I guess thats the new thing to do on Christmas night these days. I am really looking forward to starting the new year. This is a year that has had many good things, but a very hard one for me. There is nothing like a fresh start and a new attitude. I normally dont make New Years Resolutions, but this year I am. I hope your New Year is an exceptional one. I wish each of you a Happy, Healthy, and Successful New Year! May all your dreams come true :)

This is a few gifts that I made for my sister this year for Christmas. :) The cat on the purse is her cat Lily. It was a photo transfered on fabric. Lily likes having her picture taken. My sisters living room has a little red love seat and she uses the leopard print as accents, so I though why not a leopard cupcake pillos. lOL

Quilt and Stitch Ornament Exchange

I participated in a really fun ornament exchange that the Quilt and Stitch Marketplace had. I made cupcake and ice cream cone ornaments for my contribution. The three I received are so sweet. I hope they will do this again. The first one is a sled from my friend Nancy at http://www.couerdalenegifts.com/ . She also had a bag of wonderful potporri sitting in the sleigh. The second is an ornament made from folded papers. Its very intricate and detailed. I just love it. Its really nice on my tree and it was made by Rebecca Dean from Utah. The third one is a sweet knitted hat and mittens made by Liz Sampson from Norwood New York.

This is my Grandaughter Mya at her ballet perfomance last week. She did awesome, of course. LOL She is really growing up fast.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy, Healthy and Successful New Year! Gail

Earrings and Fabric ~ Oh My :)

I have been as busy as Santas Elves the last couple weeks. But while I was working on some gifts and orders I made 3 pairs of earrings. I havent decided if they are for me or my website. LOL The first set of 3 is for one of my best customers and she is only 6 years old. Her name is Lily and she is the grand daughter of my friend Marie. By the way,,, if you love yummy, soft, beautifuly fragrant soap please visit her website. http://www.savonmarie.com/.

I was out trim shopping and I was at this store called SAS. If you are from the Tempe area of Phoenix you probably have heard of this place. Its been here forever and you can get lost for hours. The prices are unbelievable too. Alot of trims are .25 and .49 cents a yard. I stumbled upon the designer samples that they were selling for 4.99 for each set of samples. My sweet friend that I was with, Pat bought these for me. They are plenty big enough for the projects I do and I am really looking forward to creating with these!

I hope you are all about ready for the big day. I dont think I am, but its all good. This week I have a ballet recital and school program for my grand daughter Mya and a cookie baking day on friday,,,so fair warning,,,Grandma alert!! My next post will probably be Grandma brag pictures. LOL Have a great week.... gail

Quilt and Stitch ornament swap

I got to participate in a Christmas ornament swap with the ladies at the Quilt and Stitch Marketplace. I have already received my first one in the mail. Dont you love getting suprise gifts in the mail. Especially if it comes on a day with no bills. :) I received this sweet hat and mittens made by Liz Sampson. I love them,,, they are so adorable. I hope she likes what I sent her. I will post the others as they come.

I went with my daughter April and Mikey to her holiday party at the dental complex where she works. It was a very nice party. Great food, entertainment, Santa Clause and the best part, a chocolate fountain! I have been doing my best to get ready for Christmas. I have a few gifts to get done and then let the wrapping begin! I hope you all enjoy your week. (()) gail

I Love Cupcakes and Make Mine Pink Fridays

Tomorrow, friday the 4th of December, is pink friday and Make Mine Pink. The theme for this week "its all about Christmas". Be sure to visit all of the participating shops for great gifts and holiday decorations. www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday . Also, dont forget about the 12 Days of Christmas Shop Hop still going on until December 8th. You can see all of the details here, but you dont want to miss out on the chance to win our Ultimate Gift Basket. www.makeminepink.com/shop-hop .

I am having a promotion on my website during the shop hop. If you purchase any pillow on my "cupcake pillow" catagory you get a cupcake ornament for free. I hope you all have a great day.

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas

I always put my tree up on Thanksgiving night. I dont have a very large tree, or a very fancy one either. My tree has lots of ornaments that I have collected over my life. Kind of like my charm bracelet. I always like to buy hand made ornaments whenever I can. I also love making ornaments! I used to buy a new ornament for each of my daughters when they were growing up, then when they left home I gave them their collection. Word to the wise out there, if you do this make sure you by yourself one too. I failed to do this and had a bare tree for awhile. LOL But I love that tradition and I know alot of people do this.

Many of you know my office manager Lucy,,, she even helped decorate the tree. My cats are so funny, they love laying under the tree. They are all piled up sleeping their afternoons away.

This top photo was some ornaments I made for my friend Joyce and she took these on her tree! They are just awesome. The pink angel was mine when I was a little girl from the 60's. Its still my absolute favorite. I bought the teddy bear santa and the moose in a stocking at a Harvest Festival back in the 80's.

I have been making lots of cupcake and ice cream cone ornaments and they are in all colors. I have some on my website and can also take special requests for colors. I hope you have a great week and are having fun decoration and getting ready for the holidays!

Short and Sweet

Its Thanksgiving week already! I think this year was on warp drive. I hope everyone has special plans this year with their family. Take time to think about all of the wonderful things in your life to give Thanks for :) This year for the holidays I am focusing on having fun and enjoying time spent with friends and family. I am usually far to busy being stressed out about everything being perfect. I think one blessing from being unemployed this holiday is the fact that alot of those issues that cause so much stress has been taken out of my hands. I just have to go with the flow and see what each day brings and there is a very liberating feel to that. I dont have the budget for perfect and when that fact is taken out of the situation, what is left is concentrating on what is affordable. That is being able to go to school programs to see your grand kids perform, ballet recitals, visiting friends, playing games and baking cookies. Not only is that affordable,,,,, its priceless. (So take that Master Card. lol)

I have some new cupcake ornaments that I have been working on. Here are a few. They will be going on my website very soon. I have been having fun making gifts for people, but I fear I cant post photos or I will give it away. So I dont have a lot to show this week. But this elf needs to get back to the workshop. Have a beautiful, happy, healthy and blessed Thanksgiving...

THE Ultimate Gift Basket

The holidays are fast approaching. Really fast! I am doing my best to be ahead of scheduele this year. I am doing pretty good too. But shhh, dont tell anyone, I would hate to jinx myself. I think one of the easiest ways to stay ahead and be organized is shopping online. As most of you know I belong to Make Mine PInk and we have so many shopping events going on. We have all made the commitment to make customer service top priority this season. Put some Joy into this season after such a hard year. Many of the boutiques are offering free gift wrapping, and free offers and gifts. This friday our weekly themed shopping event is "all about family" for Make Mine Pink Friday. Find great gifts for all members of your family or holiday decorations to start new family traditions. Then November 27th through December 8th is our annuel 12 days of Christmas Shop Hop. Its even more special this year for a couple of very BIG and exciting reasons. We have invited Shabbylane Shops, Victorian Heart Shoppes and Shabby Cottage Shops to be part of this event. Its going to be huge! You can check this link for complete details, www.makeminepink.com/shop-hop , but during these dates you want to visit each participating websites and find their hidden shopping bag. Click on that bag to register your find. There are some fabulous prizes, but the Grand prize is whats being called the Ultimate Gift Basket! Find all of the hidden bags and be put in a drawing for this grand prize. Its retail value is over $1,000.00. Everything inside has been contributed by participating Make Mine Pink shops. The basket is very large and lined in a lush rich velvet. You really dont want to miss this one! But while looking for those shopping bags... take a little time to see what special offers and sales are going on. You may just get some of your holiday shopping done too! I plan on adding lots of these cute cupcake ornaments for your tree and gift giving. I will also be offering free gift wrapping upon request!

AND if this isnt enough.... November 21st,,, this saturday night is the Pink Twilight Sale. Its 6hours of unbelievable bargains. This is our version of an online tag sale. Last month was soooo fun. Its 6pm to 12 midnight EST. www.makeminepink.com/twilight