Valentine Gift Finds ~ Everythings Blue

Candy Sprinkles Heart by Everythings Blue

Today is friday with my next Valentine Gift Guide Find for your loves. Please don't forget to check out the ones that you may have missed!

Maria is behind Everythings Blue and lives in sunny Arizona with her husband and two boys. She is a mom by day and a total resin junkie by night! She began her shop to support her crafting habit which became a big part of her life. "I've always been creative and designing wearable pieces of art is much more rewarding than my old corporate casual career!" ~ Everythings Blue

With all things sweet and making me crave sprinkle pendants you have to check out Everythings Blue!

Valentine Gift Finds ~ Green Nest

Valentines is coming soon and I am continuing on with my Handmade Valentine Gift Guide this week presenting you with fabulous gift ideas for your loves.

You HAVE to check out Green Nest! Her work is beyond adorable.
Green Nest creates original art, plush animals and sews up a storm of bags and pouches.

With so much kawaii going on you can't help but want to get all those poster prints!

Valentine Gift Finds ~ Rhee Dunn

Rhodonite necklace by Rhee Dunn

Valentines is coming soon and I am continuing on with my Handmade Valentine Gift Guide this week presenting you with fabulous gift ideas. You MUST visit Rhee Dunn!

Rhee Dunn is the mother of 3 beautiful children with a baby girl due in March 2009!! She looks for ways to recycle or re-use interesting things found on her travels. She loves to make jewelry, paint, sew, make paper, and anything she can do to express myself creatively. Some of her jewelry piece inspirations are from a recent trip to the southwest and also finds the change of seasons in the midwest influencing her creations.

Unique jewelry along with a handmade gift card for orders during the month of February! What a sweet touch! Let's go check it out!

Valentine Gift Finds ~ Essem Design

Cherry Bomb by Essem Design

Valentines is coming soon and the best place to find fantastic gifts are from many of the etsy shops I have my eye on. I'm kicking the week off with my Handmade Valentine Gift Guide which will be coming to you daily!
You MUST check out Essem Design!

Essem Design specializes in kitsch, punk, rockabilly, resin, glam and 80's retro jewelry! These unique handmade goodies are made by Stacy M. who has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts but right now is a stay-at-home-mommy that loves to be creative in her spare time.

Did someone say 80's?! Totally my thing. With the name Cherry Bomb for a necklace how could you not go clicking over?!

A Cute Day

So Sweet Valentine - Set of 4 by Paper Heart Press

Valentines is coming whether some of us love it or not! I always hear alot of people complain that they don't have a Valentines date ......so make one! It doesn't always have to be with a boy!

Pop Tart Earrings by Pulp Sushi

My girlfriends and I get together every year for dinner and exchange Valentines (I don't mean current or ex-boyfriends). ha!

Curly Heart Circle Tags by Ava Rae Designs

My Valentine Exchange Wishlist for this year include:

♥ White chocolates
♥ Dark chocolates (you see where I'm going with the chocolates?)
♥ Any kind of chocolates
♥ A unicorn (I'd prefer a real one)

If you are new to my blog, pls make sure to leave me a message so I can come visit you!

A lovely Valentine's Day Contest!

My lovely friend Tomates is having an incredible Valentine Contest that you need to go check out! They are celebrating 3 years on Etsy with a contest open to all blog readers!

To participate please head on over HERE!
So mouse over there for the Winner will be announced February 1st, at noon!

Happy Nation

Loves First Blush - Original Illustration by Winchetty

Ah, yes the 80's....I loved it and shall be doing a lil Valentine music countdown because of it in the near future. Look for it on a blog near you...specifically mine! One of my favourite songs and maybe I'm not exactly dreaming about the perfect man (ha!) but everything else falls true. Okay now I will dance with you! Happy Nation....


Laudate omnes gentes laudate
Magnificat en secula
Et anima mea laudate
Magnificat en secuala

Happy nation living in a happy nation
Where people understand
And dream of the perfect man
A situation leading to sweet salvation
For the people for the good
For mankind brotherhood

We’re traveling in time

Ideas by man and only that will last
And over time we’ve turned to the past
That no man’s fit to rule the world alone
A man will die but not his ideas

Happy nation...

We’re traveling in time
Traveling in time

Tell them we’ve gone too far
Tell them we’ve gone too far
Happy nation come through
And I will dance with you
Happy nation

Happy nation...

Say it with Status King

So this is where the fantastic fun begins! What is Status King you ask? It is a creative Facebook application that was developed and launched by a family of 6 brothers, 3 sisters, 2 parents and a bevy of spouses and children. Created during vacation brainstorming about business, politics and family goals. I mean come on, who doesn't love vacation!

It's like the King of the Hill game but for your Facebook status. Every 48 hours, a new Status King is crowned. I want a crown! If you get crowned as Status King you get a FREE T-shirt. Take a look at today's top 10 statuses here. Think you should be King? Then add the application and start playing!

Status King is easy to navigate and you can't miss where you need to Make Your Own Shirt. I was able to create my own painlessly and as you see I may really be Rainbow Brite. Of course you may be sidetracked by all the new facebook status ideas and if you fall off your chair no worries, I did the same thing laughing.

So join in the fun for Clever is King. Status King that is.

Meanwhile......Belle Perez is Rainbow Brite.

For the ones who have missed my Status Idea Series when the creativity has fallen into a coffee cup, be sure to check them out below. If you use them at Status King and are crowned Status King, I would LOVE to know!

Crafty Cute Facebook Status Ideas
Caffeinated Cute Facebook Status Ideas
Just Cute Facebook Status Ideas

Felt Love

Candy & Pebble Felted Square Beads Cabs

Last nite it went to -52 C and today its about -43 so I am going to get comfy cozy later and stay inside once I finish my errands! I just wanted to share with you what I'm going to be doing with my etsy shop. For now, I'm putting a hold on my new project and awaiting for clarification with the new CPSIA law beginning Feb.10th. I really don't want to stop selling to the US. I love my customers!!

Turquoise silk and Merino Wool Needle Felted Balls

I've taken a step back and just plugging along with my writing and felting. I'm doing the things that I love and find relaxing. I'll be updating soon about my naturopathic path from my post last week. If you missed it, its right Here.

For now in my etsy shop you can find me occasionally listing sets of felted balls and/or beads which are perfect for those who want to try something different in their work and don't want to commit to a large supply order. These are all handmade by moi. I hope you like them! I especially favor the mixed merino wool and silk fibers.

Photo from My Scrapbook Life

The lovely Corinna from My Scrapbook Life had ordered some custom felted olives from me for a gift she wanted to make and she sent me a photo and post regarding it. This has got to be one of the cutest things I have ever seen!!

What's in a Rose?

I'm standing at the corner downtown....hmm.....okay that doesn't sound right....let me try this again! ha. I'm outside downtown drinking my lukewarm latte where it is still pretty early and did I mention cold yet this morning?! I see a young man from the distance running down the street and I'm thinking he's running after one of the many buses down the street.

A few moments later I look up from my watch and the same young man shoves a long stemmed red rose in front of me and proceeds to tell me 'You are the most beautiful girl here every morning'.............and then HE RUNS OFF in the same direction.

Vintage Necklace by Pink Hello Kitty

The people around me looked like they were going to applaud and I had to giggle at their expressions. First off, who is this young man and second of all, where did he get such a rose at 7 in the morning?!! Yes, that was very sweet.

Frozen Charlotte Notebook by My So Called Junky Life

It made me abit nervous for I have never ever seen him in my life. Gulp. I only say this for I've had similar things happen before that make me very cautious. Anyways, Valentines must be nearing. ha!

btw, if you are new to my blog and would like me to stop by, don't forget to leave me a comment so I know where to find you!

The Handwriting Game

I've been tagged by Lil Miss Cupcake
on Flickr! Now how is this for a fun game?!

Handwriting Game

All you have to do is write:
Name/Username
Left or right handed
Fave letters to write
Least fave letters to write
Write "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
Tag 6 of your contacts

I just love the idea of it! When I'm done, I'll post it in the Handwriting Game group.
I know, I know...it doesn't take much to make me giggle like a little kid. hee haw.

CPSIA

On a serious note, as you may already know the new CPSIA law is coming into effect on Feb.10th, 2009 being dubbed National Bankruptcy Day.

Keeping our children safe from hazardous items is a priority of course but the new law is over the top swallowing up many many small businesses. I am both saddened and angry about it.

I am from Canada and will also be affected by this being that my handmade toys are in a handful of US indie shops as well as a large chunk of my online customers being from the US. I also had plans to introduce a new product line but that is on hold as of now.

If any of you have something you want us to read, pls leave the link so we can all drop by!

http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/
Help Save Handmade Toys http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

Blog posts pertaining to the new law:
http://immaturecouture.blogspot.com/2009/01/cpsia-isnt-only-problem-apathy-is-as.html

ooolalalala

1. Love Heart Valentine Tags , 2. heart mobile, 3. Sweetheart gift box, 4. candy stripe felted wool scarf

Wednesday List

I like beginning the day with a short list.

I forgot to add (shameless plug I admit!!) that I'm going to be listing the rest of my inventory in my etsy shop. Happy Wednesday!

List update as of 4pm: play candyland game..check

made new smoothie drink...check AND my blender exploded..egads.

put christmasy boxes away...UNcheck

smile at boys...check..check..heehee

strike a pose anywhere...yoga tree that is...check

return friend's call...check

Monday Mittens

Squirrel loves cake badge by Woodland Treats

It is terribly cold out there today. egads, I had to take off my mitten for a mere second and it burnt my skin (I like that word...egads). Last nite they said it was going to be -48 today, they weren't kidding. I've decided to lock myself in my home and not venture out again. I have everything I need right here for today.

Strawberry Squirrel Necklace by Destroyed by Design

You know what I did see today ....a squirrel!! He was running across the snow. Gosh, I hope he has food...and mittens. I admit making them crossed my mind.

acorn pattern. handmade notebook by Julie Peach

Also, thank you for all your supportive comments, private messages, etc..from my post yesterday :) You guys rock.

For those who asked, of course I'll still be on etsy! I looooove etsy!! The only thing is that I won't be listing and will be more shopping. haha. This is my shop here with many things on sale still. I will still be blogging my heart away though.

Meow Like It's 2009!

Wow, I've been been meaning to post for a few days now but then I got carried away fighting with polyfil. haha. First of all, a Happy Happy New Year to all of you!! I wish all my readers lots of creativity, inspiration and most of all good health :)

Two months ago I was diagnosed with Uterine Adenomyosis which finally explained my pain and symptoms. I know this is personal but I am sharing this with you if it can help others. Initially I thought I had a UTI which is what my MD thought too but nope. I had sypmtoms in my past medical history that my MD didn't put together. I was plauged with horrible migraines, bloating, cervical pain and lots of other great stuff that comes along with it. as women, we have our days that we bloat but if it continues instead of decreasing take note. You really may not have eaten too many cupcakes. My uterus is literally sitting on my bladder and its the most uncomfortable feeling. With the medical system here, I had to wait months and months for testing. I was so anxious for my test results that I don't know how I managed to breathe the whole time.

After research and medical doctors telling me that a hysterectomy is the 'only' treatment to REALLY help alleviate symptoms. btw, I still can't believe they call a hysterectomy a 'treatment'. One of them was persistent telling me I NEED to go back onto oral contraceptives which MAY help me but at what price? I'm aware of the side effects of it for my body. There is more to this story but for me as of these days, I am going towards a Naturopathic Treatment. I know of people who have scoffed at this but I shall only surround myself with positive people who will help support me with my decision.

I hope that you will read along with me on my journey which I shall be sharing with you from time to time my kittens. I am feeling very positive about all of this and yes, it's still me living in my pink world!!