Pink Friday *** Oooh la la

This is a very exciting day. Make Mine Pink is having a really special shopping experience each Friday. We will each have special items selected for purchase for this one day. Each Friday will have a new and unique theme. Today is our very first Pink Friday and the them is "Springtime in Paris" Please click onto the Pink Friday link to the right so that you may visit all of the Make Mine Pink Boutiques. I know you wont be disappointed.

My contribution for this week is a one of a kind bracelet. Available only today! I call it "Fleur di lis", (flower of the lily). I think of French gardens, with pink fleurs and papillons. Lots of romance and amour.

This bracelets pink and clear swarovski crystals. Pink swarovski butterflies (papillon) and hearts (amour). It has a heart clasp and the rhinestone fleur di lis which gives it its oooh la la. If you click on the photo it will enlarge it. The length can be adjusted for a custom fit for you at no charge. The cost is $34.00. If interested you can send me an email to cupcakesandcutestuff@yahoo.com and I can send you an invoice through paypal. Thank you for stopping by ... and dont forget to check out the Make Mine Pink : pink fridays link to see more French inspired shopping... until next time............gail

Happy Memorial Day and Show and Tell Monday

I have had an incredibly busy week. With it being a holiday weekend I have had alot of petsitting assingments. The post below is just 3 of my adorable clients you can visit. I hope you all have had a safe and fun holiday. I thank all of our service men and women who have served our country.

Also, stay tuned this week. This friday is our first Pink Friday hosted by Make Mine Pink. Each friday there will be a different theme. The shops will have an item related to that theme. It will be sold only on that day. So you will have to be fast to snap up the great and creative items. This is going to be so much fun and such an original way to shop. This fridays theme is "Paris in Springtime." I cant wait to see what these creative women come up with. I hope you stop back by and see what I have come up with!

Well, with all thats going on I managed to come up with two new pieces of jewelry for show and tell monday. First is a pair of dragonfly earrings. I used light blue swarovski crystals. I like dragon flies. And next is for any Princess. This bracelet is pink and clear swarovski crystals in different sizes and shapes. Nothing catches light like swarovski crystals for sure. And the princess needs a crystal crown!! I will be back later this week with more suprises to remind you of Paris. Until next time.................

Furry Friends are the best kind of friends

In addition to my day job as a secretary, and my creative endeavors, I also have a petsittng business. My business has been really growing as of late. Working with animals is a passion I have always had. I even worked at a wild life park for awhile with the big cats, birds and even 20 foot snakes on occasion. There isnt a better job than working with animals. They are so happy to see you and all they want is to visit and play for awhile. I usually just blog about my art on my etsy shop, but I just wanted to post a couple pictures of some of my clients.... I would like you to meet Willy, Iris and Gibson... They are very pleased to meet you...LOL Until next time...

Show and Tell Monday

Wow its been a week already. Time is really flying. I have been very busy on my magazine submission pieces. I am happy to say they are done and I will be mailed this week. I dont think they want me showing them ahead of time, so I wont put them on my blog yet. I have emailed pictures to a couple of people though. Now is all the "paper work" writing the step by step instruction list, and supply lists. Now I am wondering if having 4 pieces is such a good thing!? LOL. So I have gotten a couple things done and I have posted 6 new things to my etsy shop if you want to have a look around there. (thanks)

The first thing is a two dollar garage sale find. This was a white wicker rocking chair that was painted white. It need some fresh paint, so I decided on yellow. Dont think I really did not want to go with pink! You see George sleeping. He is the cat who loves tues. market chat so much. Its fast paced on the computer and its a huge chase game for him. lol

Next, my friend Judy and I have been making these pillow cases like crazy. I picked this fabric because the theme for my business is water lillies and color. So I couldnt resist. But they are adorable in so many color combinations. They take minutes to make and they even have french seams, so no raw edges. I am going to make a pillow case and matching pj bottoms for everyone for Christmas.

Then last but not least some new jewelry. Of course I am loving using Cindys roses. These are both on my etsy shop now. I cant wait to see what you all have done. I have a crazy day, so I promise to visit you ALL, but it may take me all day to do it. The best part of the day for sure!!!! until next time...........gail

I would like you to meet Janet :)

Janet is a very dear friend I have met through Make Mine Pink. I live in Arizona and she lives in Florida, but we did get to meet in Chicago in the middle of March while attending the Country Living Magazine Creative Women event. We stayed at a lovely brownstone just off the miracle mile with other Make Mine Pink friends.

Janet is very talented and has a business called Janets Creative Pillows. They are just awesome and she has so much talent. I have posted a couple samples but please stop by her website and her blog. I am sure you will agree. Until next time................gail

http://www.janetscreativepillows.com/ and http://www.janetscreativepillows.blogspot.com/

Monday, Monday

Yea!! Monday again. I am glad that show and tell is Monday. Makes the beginning of the week a whole lot easier. LOL I really hope everyone had a wonderful Mothers Day. I had a very nice relaxing day. What could be better. I had a very busy week but managed to get a couple things done to post. In my spare time I was also working on the designs I am sending to Florida later this month for a magazine to be published in September. I am very excited about that and I will keep you posted.

For this week the first thing is a bracelet inspired by the beach. Especially Hawaii. And its all about summer. I do need to get some more things posted at etsy tonight or tomorrow, so take a look for new things. Second, this is an enamel heart. It started out as a piece of copper that I used a jewelers saw to get the heart. I used the black and white powdered glass that is put in a kiln to actually melt. I love doing enamel. I cant wait to get my own kiln, but I have found a studio that has open studio by the hour. I am really excited about that, and if life can slow down enough for me, i will be there more. I added a couple beads and put it on a black leather cord. And last is my purple flower garden bracelet. I bought the 3 purple flowers at a bead show last weekend. The are had made from glass from a local artist. Its just fun and for spring.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I cant wait to see what you have been up to. I will be stopping by through out the day to have a peak at your new creations.... happy creating, luv, gail

Mothers Day at Make Mine Pink

At Make Mine Pink there is a month long celebration of Mothers Day. Last Thursday was recipe day. Anyone who knows me would be laughing out loud at me participating in a recipe exchange. I have been blessed with many talents, BUT the two things I am hopeless at is Cooking and cutting hair. My kithchen is so cute and its just for looks. Although I have more sets of the most beautiful dishes. Oh well thats just the way it is. LOL

For today the topic is gift giving. Whats the best gifts to give, or what not to give. This probably goes back to the fact I dont cook, but please dont give me something useful. I want cute and fun! I think the best gifts are books and Joanns or Michaels gift cards. I LOVE art supplies. (they talk to me, I swear they do.) Handmade cards and pictures made by my Grandkids are right up there at the top too! Those are priceless and I always have them up in my "gallary" for everyone to enjoy. I hope all of you Moms out there get exactly what you want. You all deserve the best. And the best part is the best doesnt mean expensive. It truly is the thought that counts.

Show and Tell Monday :)

Show and tell monday is always one of my favorite posts. That means my friends are making new posts as well. I get to see what everyone is doing this week. I have been soooo busy this week with trying to get my house ready to sell and work has been crazy, but I managed to get a few things finished. Thats why I love it; it would be so easy to brush off not completing anything when its gets crazy but I love participating so much I get something done.

I am also trying to come up with an absolutely WOW idea for consideration to have something published in a jewelry magazine. Normally I am never at a lack for ideas but I want this to be over the top. And as I mentioned its just been crazy this week. I hope to have something working for me by the middle of the week. Well, I cant wait to visit everyone. Until next time....

The necklace is one more of the hand built ceramic roses from Cindy at Angel Heart Designs. The Bracelet is actually more lavender and purple than the pictures shows, and this is a small tote I made from a leg of some old blue jeans. Its lined in a yellow/orange batik fabric with cats on it. I was just experimenting and just through it together.

Yeah, its show and tell Monday again

I love show and tell monday. I love seeing what everyone is up to. You all are so creative and talented! You just keep me inspired.

I have made a few new jewelry pieces. I am trying to be more creative and original. I am striving to be more unique with each new design. My friend Cindy from Angel Heart Designs Makes these beautiful hand built ceramic rose buttons. So I am coming up with all kinds of ideas to incorporate them into bracelets and necklaces. I LOVE these buttons. I am also experimenting with very small silk or paper flowers in frames. And I found this seahorse and couldnt wait to do something different with it.

I cant wait to visit your blogs as well. Also, this is the start of the Make Mine Pink shop hop. Check out all of the details on the post below. You wont regret how much fun this will be. I hope you all have a happy creative week ahead!!!! Until next time.....

Make Mine Pink Shop Hop and Mothers Day

Make Mine Pink will be offering a Mother's Day Shop Hop starting on April 21st, 2008 and ending on May 10th, 2008. Join the Make Mine Pink Bloggers as we each post our plans for a Mother's Day Event~ we will share stories and recipes, a garden hat or two, and stop and smell the roses along the way.

Mya's Concert!!!

Sometimes I just have to BE a grandma and brag so be patient with me. lol Tonight was my Grandaughter Mya's spring concert at school. She is in the first grade now.Man she is growing up soooo fast. The concert was outdoors and the weather couldnt be more perfect. Even a nice cool breeze. It was hard to get any pictures of them singing; by then it had gotten dark and they didnt turn out too well. But these are some before and her BFF. Her and Arianna were in kindergarden together too. I hope they stay close friends forever. We had a blast and the kids were so cute. So I just had to post a couple pictures for now.

I am working on more jewelry and sewing and I will have more to post for sure before Make Mine Pinks show and tell monday!! until next time,, happy creating gail

Spring Flowers

I hope you are having a beautiful day! Its spring and time to plant flowers. I love going to the local nurseries and picking out just the perfect flowers to bring home. I have a container garden on my back patio. You really have to enjoy them for their time here in the desert is very short lived. We have about 3 months to enjoy there company.

I have been busy in my studio as well. I have been designing some new projects. Some go together right away and others I have had to try a few times. I am building up an inventory to do some local craft shows. I will put some in my Etsy shop as well. Let me know what you have been up to? Until next time.........

Its Spring, but getting to close to Summer!

Hi all:

In Arizona spring is short, in just a few short weeks it will be 100 degrees. So we have to enjoy this time now. My guy, Jeff and I went to Southmountain Park by my house and I took some pictures. It almost always looks the same here though. I have lived here all of my life, so I am used to not having seasons, but when I talk to all of my online friends and hear about the beautiful fall leaves, the first snow, the first signs of buds coming out of the ground in spring it makes me kinda sad. There are trade off though. No digging out of snow seems like a BIG plus to me. LOL . For better or worse, its home and I am always glad to get back here when I travel; even in August.

I have found out about alot of great groups out there. I signed up with the Arizona Crafty Burrito Collective this last weekend. This is an Etsy street team group. I cant wait for the first meeting I can go to. It sounds like they are very involved with the local art and craft scene in the Phoenix area and a great outlet to sell. I have also joined mycraftivity.com as well. So lots of exciting things on the horizon for me.

Stay tuned for my new designs in jewelry. I have came up with some really original and different ideas. I am hoping to post some by this weekend. I hope to be featuring another artist next week. Have a great day, until next time.............

Our Winner .... Lori

OK... we have a winner..... its so fun. It was Lori from Katies rose cottage. I will be contacting her now and mailing out the bracelet on Monday! Thanks for participating. I will have another one in a couple weeks!!!! Until next time......

Meet Kathy

Here is some more of Kathys jewelry. Its is so pretty. Also if you go to her website you can learn about The Forever Bracelet. It is for anyone who has lost someone they love and held dear.

Meet Kathy

I want to start featuring other artist on my blog. There is some awsome talent out there and I love the idea of supporting other women in their creative endeavors!!! I first met Kathy on myspace. We have been friends for sometime now. She lives in Boston and I live in Phoenix. I was lucky enough to learn she had a business trip to Phoenix. So we were able to meet in person. We met at the Hyatt in Phoenix and had a drink and dessert at the top in a restuarant called the Compass Room. Its a circular restuarant that spins and you can see Phoenix from all views. Its was great getting to know her. She works in the field of genetics, she is a practitioner of yoga and plays the guitar. (you go girl) She is one of the sweetest people you would ever want to meet, and one of the worlds gentle souls. She also told me she volunteers at her local childrens hospital and teaches the teen age girls how to make jewelry. Her work is beautiful. The bracelet above is a gift she brought to me,,, and am I lucky or what. LOL Check out her websit.. http://www.elysianjewels.com/ and she is at www.myspace.com/elysianjewels as well....

My First Blog Contest

I love the idea of blog contests. Its so fun. So I want to start having them every now and then. Just drop by and leave me a comment and I will draw a random name for the winner. This is a pink bracelet in honor of all my pink friends at Make Mine Pink. The drawing will be Saturday March 28th! Good luck..........happy creating , gail

I took two different backgrounds, but it is a very light pink in color.

Happy Easter !!!

Happy Easter everyone. I am hoping to have a quiet weekend. Last weekend I was in Chicago and I will always remember it. Its one of the best times I have every had. Coming home this week has been a little stressful. A few life altering changes on the horizon and its just a little scary. So I hope to just kind of chill out and have some fun and I will get busy addressing those issues next week.

I took my Grandaughter Mya shopping for a Easter dress for church. Of course we bought two. She is just so darn cute. I am going to put together the Easter baskets tomorrow. So that will be alot of fun too. So everyone have a blessed, peaceful, happy Easter weekend... until next time, gail

The Most Amazing Weekend

I got back from Chicago yesterday afternoon. Words cant describe how great this trip was. Meeting up with all the girls from Make Mine Pink was the most fun I have had in so long. I was the only one who flew into Chicago Midway apt, so I got a taxi and headed for the brownstone we stayed at. My taxi driver was a very nice guy. When I arrived everyone had just gone down the street for some lunch. So I walked down to a sandwich shop and had lunch. This was in its own way a great experience. I never eat alone. But here in another city it was kinda fun. As I watched all the people walking up and down the street, I couldnt help but notice how everyone seemed to be so dressed up. They looked so put together. Here in Arizona its so casual that its sloppy jeans and sweats. It was really something to think about.

When I went back to the house and all the other girls got back it was like a reunion. It really seemed like I had met them all before. I even knew who they were before we said our names!!! Later we walked around Michigan ave, aka the Magnificent Mile, and also had dinner. When we went back "home" we all just talked and laughed our heads off all night. The next morning we all got together for the Country Living seminar. Four of the girls were pitching there business early that morning for the magazine. They all did great and have wonderful ideas. I really hope that they are chosen. The event had several speakers and panel discussions. The information was so inspiring. The main features that stuck out for me I guess was the technical aspects. I am very new to that and I wanted to learn as much as I could. They all felt blogging was very important to todays online market. A great way to get found by alot of different people. I learned a little more about Etsy.com . They are supposed to be doing some advertising now to let more people know about etsy. I kind of agreed with Joyce, why have they NOT been advertising before. There was building website advice. (some of it was still over my head. LOL) Then the last part of the day was the panel with the 10 most inspiring women. Of course Joyce made an incredible impression. She just glowed up there. Her husband was so proud of her. I loved it, he wore a pink shirt and a Make Mine Pink button. After the wine and cheese reception we received these awsome gift bags. Its a great brown tote and it was filled with all kinds of things, mostly from the women entrepenuers businesses.

At the house we had a pizza party, but before we could eat, we had to dress for dinner and wear our tiarras. The winner was Michelle. It must have been such a hard descion to make, because they were all great. Michelles white gold and diamond tiarra ring was so cool. She really deserved it, she was such a great person to get to know. We had a gift exchange and it was so funny. I ended up with what I wanted. Diane brought the cutes pink stuffed bunny, but it has a secret. You put her in the microwave and its a scented heating pad. I love her. Hey,I just thought, I think I will name her Dianne. LOL But we all pooped out and headed for bed around 1 am. The next day, my nice taxi guy picked my up to take me back to the apt. I was so sad leaving and I am looking so forward to meeting everyone again!!!! These are a few pictures of the beautiful pink girls.........

Chicago: Here we come!!!

Well, I should be packing. I have to meet a friend for drinks in an hour and I have a very early flight to Chicago.... I hate packing. I think its left over from being an airline employee for so many years. I know its going to be soooo much fun. I cant wait to meet all of the women from Make Mine Pink. Plus I am really looking forward to the Country Living Magazine seminar. I hope to come back home with lots of wonderful inspiration to get my business really going.

As I mentioned before, we are having a pink, outrageous tiarra pagent. Since we all leave today or in the morning, I am going to post the picture of mine. Its not really what I would call outrageous, but its about what I do. I love pink, make teddy bears and jewelry. So its about ME. LOL There will be great compition, this a VERY talented group of women. But its going to be fun for sure. I was suprised I was even able to make the metal frame of the tiarra. So I learned something new too. Well, I am off to pack!!!!!!!! Until next time, happy creating out there...... gail

Illustration Friday

I have found a great website called illustration friday. Each friday there is a world chosen to be that weeks subject. Artist download a picture they have done. Its open to anyone and any medium. Its a great way to build up a portfolio and get some practice in each week. I am a little rusty drawing but this is my interpretation of this weeks word "garden". Now I just have to figure out how to get it downloaded to them.LOL.......

Its Friday!!!

This weekend is going to be fun I think. I hope I dont have to go out. I am locking myself in my studio and working on some new projects I am soooo excited about. I am also putting the finishing touches on things I have to do for my Chicago trip next Friday. I am going to the Country Living Creative Afternoon seminar. Joyce Lucas who owns Make Mine Pink is being honored along with 9 others as women entrepeneurs of the year! I met Joyce online when I joined the Make Mine Pink public forums. The women here are just amazaing. Always willing to share ideas and help network! So, some of us are all meeting in Chicago for her special day. After the seminar we will be having our own celebration, and what would that be without a tiarra contest. We have all been working hard, as the prize is a beautiful tiarra ring! Its a secret for now, but as soon as I get back I will post a picture of mine. Its supposed to be outrageous and pink.

I was looking around earlier today and came across some wonderful teddy bear artists blogs. I cant wait to have more time to look around some more. Its all very fun and exciting... well I am off to create some magic. Until next time.....

You Make My Day

I was very suprised to learn that Janet from Janets Creative PIllows presented me with this award!!! How fun is this. I am going to give this a try and send the award on. My understanding is you present the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blog land. Let them know by email or a blog comment so they can pass it on. Here are my special 10!!! Click onto their blog to be as inspired as myself.

http://www.janetscreativepillow.blogspot.com/ Janet

http://www.palepinkandroses.typepad.com/ Lisa

http://www.mademoiselle-rose.typepad.com/

http://www.rosepetalsandblooms.blogspot.com/ Michelle

http://www.silverspoonscraps.blogspot.com/ Sita

http://www.thebrownbee.blogspot.com/ Andrea

http://www.mamaspocketbook.blogspot.com/ Dianne

http://www.clutterbugstudio.blogspot.com/ Carol

http://www.cest-chouette.blogspot.com/ Sharon

http://www.makeminepink.blogspot.com/ A bunch of wonderful ladies

You all have been a great inspiration to me,,,, Thank you so much,,, luv Gail

Busy Computer Days!!!

Boy! It takes hours to manage all of this stuff. I still enjoy it though. Just what I need, another new hobby. LOL With help from my friend (thanks Judy) I was able to figure my camera out a little better, so I was able to get a few better pictures up on etsy. I have gotten my boutique posted at Make Mine Pink on the little pink plaza. So all of this feels GREAT!

I met some friends from High School for breakfast Saturday. It was so nice seeing everyone. Susie came with her family all the way from New Hamshire and it sounds absolutely beautiful. For the first time in a very long time I was the baby of the group. The other girls are already 50, and I have until October. But Susie said something very thought provoking and I really liked it. She said she never minded turning the age of a new decade, ie; 30, 40, 50, because that a new start. Its better than 29,39,49 because thats the end of the decade. So now I am really looking forward to that new start. And besides 50 is the new 40 anyway. LOL She gave us all an open invitation to New Hampshire, and I hope she meant it, because I am going!!!

Well, here are a few new things to post. I am trying to get more artsy in my creations. Ya know something with a story or feeling behind the inspiration. Until next time ..........