Tuesday Blues

So, the Cyber Monday sale has brought me the Tuesday Blues. I make & make stuff, & slash prices & yet the sales are very slim. And yet, I'll prolly sell more stuff in a few days---when things are regular price.

It always happens that way. Funny... 

So, I decided to extend the sale one day longer. Today (Tuesday) is the last day of the sale.

Vintage Button Rings are $7.00!

Bottle Cap Badges are $6.30!

Bug Catcher/Treasure Keeper Necklaces are $5.60!

(30% off EVERYTHING in the store!)

Enter this code upon checking out to redeem your discount:
CM30off
Click HERE to start shopping.

The shop will only be opened thru December 12th.

(I won't reopon until January 13th!)

♥

Charity Wings

My blog/Etsy friend, Laura, of katydiddy's, writes a weekly column for the Charity Wings newsletter.

Charity Wings is a non-profit corporation based out of California that helps raise awareness and funds for other charities around the world through creativity based events. Their events and efforts have helped raise over $317,000 for the American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Unforgettables, the Wyland Foundation, Cancer Coping Center, Surfrider Foundation, Komen For the Cure, and many more since its inception in 2006.

Charity Wings even has an Etsy shop, a resource where artists can offer their handmade creations for the benefit of a featured charity & to help with the cost of running their unique organization.

Check out their website HERE & be inspired to give...

♥

Week in Review: November 22-28

Mostly my week was filled with happy times--& now warm memories--over Thanksgiving holiday.

And this weekend the pink Christmas tree went up. I surprised myself this year---by completely stepping away from the task of decorating & letting the girls attack the tree. I DID put the garland up at the very end. I know, that's backwards as far as the 1-2-3 Steps of tree decor go, but I was still crafting away & the girls REALLY wanted to decorate. Like, NOW! So, I just let them go for it. I'm not taking out many more decorations this year. Just the tree, & our stockings. Oh, & my favorite little s'more night-light. We are going to be leaving for a road trip to Washington on December 17th & my excuse is that:  it's so much work to put it all up if we're only going to enjoy it for such a little time. That prolly just translates to: lazy. But I'm OK with that. Not that we even have many more holiday decorations besides that anyway. Just a small hodge podge of items really.

I do love Christmas. And I'll really love it this year with my family! 

I'll also be meeting my biological father for the first time. And a sister or two & a couple brothers. And who knows who else will be there! I'm getting so nervous...

This week it's all about crafting, & holiday shopping & writing a Christmas letter, & shipping orders & dreaming about ways to make my favorite holiday even better...

Click HERE for a photo play-by-play.

♥

CSN Giveaway!!

CSN stores recently contacted me about doing another review for them. I chose this item to review because my 8 year old daughter was recently gifted with an American Girl doll for her birthday this year. I wanted to surprise her with some doll furniture, but didn't want to spend the American Girl Doll prices. CSN has many items available for the 18" doll sizes!

The doll bed came in the mail a couple weeks ago. Hubby & I sat down to put it together. I was dreading the whole process---but it was a snap!! A couple of the pieces (the sides of the armoire) were mixed up as far as the letter codes in the instructions, but once we got past that, the doll bed went up in a jiffy.

At the moment, the bunk bed/armoire combo is hidden in the basement, awaiting Christmas surprises.

I am CERTAIN Zoey will love it!

I am impressed with the quality of the bed. Nice size, sturdy. I plan on spiffing it up with some accent pillows...a little blanket...oh, you know how we crafty-types can get sometimes!

How would you like a chance to win a $35.00 gift certificate to CSN stores??

Well, leave a comment then! 

The gift certificate will expire December 31, 2010, so let's do this quick!

I'll choose one winner Friday, December 3rd at 4pm (MST)

U.S. & Canadian residents only.

(Photo courtesy of CSN stores)

♥

Turkey Day Road Trip

1000 tiny puzzle pieces

+ 1300 shotgun shells

+ 48 rotten eggs

+ 60 tubed croissants

+ 18 desserts

+ 1 pitchfork

+ 3 cooked turkeys

+1 irritated rooster

+1 lovely nap

+ 2 giant pots of homemade soup

+ 1 dead baby bird

+ 2 cows with expiration dates

+7 televised football games (I could be exaggerating there)

+6 slices of pumpkin pie (I may or may not be exaggerating there)

+800 miles of road trip

+ 7 giddy children

+27 adults

+ 1 happy farm

=

my Thanksgiving holiday

To view my complete Thanksgiving 2010 photo set, click HERE.

Thank you Nancy & Carl & Mark & Nichole for welcoming us into your home.

How much fun my family & I had being a part of your family for a few days!!

♥

Month of Gratitude: Day 27, 28

Day 27:

I am grateful for...laughter.

 

Zoey (age 8) is grateful for...the Christmas tree.

Pazely (age 6) is grateful for...the Christmas tree.

(We put up the Christmas tree. Can you tell?? And the girls are really, really happy about that. Can you tell that too??)

Day 28:

Zoey (age 8) is grateful for...the Christmas ornaments. Without them, "the tree would be naked!"

I am grateful for...my Etsy shop. Really, it is a chance for me to do what I love. An excuse to create. And it brings in a few dollars so I can spoil my girls.

Pazely (age 6) is grateful for...her toothbrush.

♥

Month of Gratitude: Day 24,25, 26

Coincidentally enough, the girls & I have been less vocal about our Month of Gratitude project right around this Thanksgiving holiday. Funny. We were busy on a trip! We hardly ever get out to take family trips, so this was a bonus for us. We went to Lincoln with some friends & spent the holiday with THEIR family. More about that later. But here are some thankful moments in our past few days. (The girls' grateful moments are sans photos.)

 Day 24:
I am grateful for...the chance to be with friends for a Turkey Day road trip.

Zoey is grateful for...Thanksgiving.

Pazely is grateful...that she was born so she could have a mommy & a daddy & a sister.

Day 25:

I am grateful for...a place. Just for me.

Zoey is grateful for...hanging out with new friends.

Pazely is grateful...that it was a celebration so we could have family & friends together.

 Day 26:

I am grateful for...a favorite moment rarely ever gotten anymore. A chai latte in one hand, crafty magazines in my lap & nesting in a cozy chair at Barnes & Noble. This is what heaven is like.

Zoey is grateful for...horses.

Pazely is grateful for...riding horses & jumping on trampolines.

♥

Cyber Monday Sale!!

Shopping in your jammies with bedhead & morning breath---all in the comfort of your own cozy home??

What's not to love about THAT????

Cyber Monday sale in the WhiMSy love Etsy shop!!

30% off everything!

PLUS, every order receives a 1-inch handmade vintage fabric button AND a paper crafted holiday gift tag.

See you Monday!!

♥

UPDATE: To receive your 30% OFF discount, enter coupon code: cm30off when checking out.

Happy Thanksgiving!



by Pazely, age 6
♥



Clothespin Ornaments

I recently purchased an ornament for my mom at a local shop. After bringing it home, I realized, "Hey, the girls & I could make these!" Ours are much more juvenile, but the concept is the same: a clothespin base.

These were soooo fun to make! All you need are clay & clothespins. I bought two different sizes of 'pins at JoAnne's: a regular size & a smaller 1 1/2" size. I also gathered up whatever tool-ish things I could find to help us in our clay molding efforts.

Wreath by Zoey (age 8)

(A word about clay: The girls & I have clay around to play with on occasion. I am not a clay expert. It is not my medium of speciality. I purchased this giant package of Sculpey III clay because it was on sale or I had a coupon or something. But, it's horrible to work with. Surprisingly my 6 year old was steadfast. But my 8 year old had many fits. Basically, it's really hard to work into a smooth consistency & it is very crumbly. Crumbs everywhere. Takes so long to knead into something you can work with. Although, because of its firmness, I do like the way it holds its shape when you are putting your pieces together. We've had other brands of clay that seem to work better for us. This is just my opinion & I'd love any tips or advice from clay experts out there!)

Snowman by Pazely (age 6)

Here is the cup of hot cocoa that Zoey made.

She inspired mine.

After creating our miniature pieces, we baked 'em in the oven, following the instructions. (About 15-25 minutes depending on the thickness.) While the pieces were baking, we decided to paint our clothespins. They can also be stained. Or left plain.

Once the clay pieces have cooled down, glue to clothespins with E6000.

Pazely's ornaments are pink & purple. She made a tree, a candy cane, a s'more with red graham crackers (to make it more holiday-ish--hee hee), a snowman, a melted ice cream & 2 cookies. Zoey made a cup of cocoa, a ball ornament, a tiny gift & a wreath.

Clip 'em on your tree or on a gift!

♥

Week in Review: November 15-21

This week was full of craft! And I loved it. Since moving to Nebraska almost a year ago, all the things I used to love doing have taken a backseat. Like crafting. And tutorials. And blogging more. And my Etsy shop. And weekly coffee shop dates with my best friend. And more. I guess I was sorta naive to think that, after trekking 1200 miles from the Northwest to the Midwest, my surroundings would be the only thing that would change. I have lots of new responsibilities now, a new daily schedule. I have a new job. New pressures. New hurdles. New mountains. Creative muscles I never knew I had are being used. Emotions I have never felt, have surfaced. Simply put: I'm learning to adjust to a different rhythm that, honestly, I'm having a hard time adjusting to.

Many windows in my home sport bare rods. No curtains. There are walls & walls with nothing on them. That is just not me. I would normally find something to slap on the wall. Sass up the space! Drape something--anything--on the windows! It is a fact that I know we're supposed to be here. Yet, I've had an unsettled feeling for a whole year. I can't help but take notice of how chaotic my life feels. I am unbalanced. Unorganized to the max. Unable to maintain weekly assignments. Constantly overwhelmed & not quite able to keep up with even the simple daily to-do's. I've fought hard to keep some kind of order. But instead, disorder has shown up. I even feel like I can't be the person I need to be for my children, my husband.


Gosh, this sounds super depressing. But I'm getting somewhere. I have a point...

I have been in constant conversation (a.k.a. "prayer") with God about this. Why, God? Why do I feel this way? And He said to me,
"You have not made your house your home."
 Something as simple as hanging curtains can transform your emotions. Slapping some paint on a junky piece of furniture can alter your attitude. Decorating your walls with happy artwork can make you....well, happy! All of those things do that for me anyway. That is my language.
I guess I just got in a funk & lost myself somewhere between here &...somewhere else.
Oh, sure, I'm all happy & jolly & friendly & silly still. But it's my insides that were all-of-a-jumble. And my home & private personal life reflected this as well.

Where is the Nikki that used to have a power-tool project going on in the garage & who crafted tutorials & made constant messes with her kids & baked cookies while dancing around the house and singing songs into an empty toilet paper roll tube---all at the same time?
She's Back.


I have to make time for my home---which means, making it a happy place for myself, my man & my kids. Both in appearance & in heart.

I'm grateful that while I've quietly stumbled about this past year, life has not all been woe-is-me. I love my new friends: forever & for reals & for all the time. And I love the adventures I get to go on every week. I love all the new things my famly has gotten to do. We've already had a lifetime of experiences squished into just a teeny bit of living.

I don't really have a superb ending to all this.
That's all.
That's it.
My personal moment.
Out loud.

For a photo play-by-play click HERE.

♥

Month of Gratitude: Day 21, 22, & 23

Day 21: Click HERE.

 Day 22: Click HERE.

Day 23: Click HERE.

♥

Day 20: Month of Gratitude

Zoey is grateful for...her coat.



Pazely is grateful for...her gloves. (I accidentally call them "mittens" sometimes, but she always corrects me.)



I am grateful for...the house to myself & one quiet hour to relax.
♥

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 19: Month of Gratitude

Zoey (age 8) is grateful for...kleenex. "So we don't have to blow our noses on our hands."

I am grateful for...a weekly planner to keep me organized these past 2 weeks---& on into the busy holiday season!! It's really working. And I love lists anyway.

Pazely (age 6) is grateful for...her dad. "'Cause we don't have just one person taking care of us, we have two people to love us."

♥

The Creative Thanksgiving

 Here's a quick idea I incorporated into a recent early Thanksgiving dinner held at my church...

After spreading white paper tableclothes on each table, Pazely & I bundled up many, many sets of crayons with string. The bundles were placed on each table so that guests could draw, doodle, scribble, or write. Some used it as a chance to sketch what they were thankful for.

♥

Day 18: Month of Gratitude

I am grateful for...a day off. I headed to my friends' photo studio today. I visited & got lunch takeout from the diner & crafted & cozied on their couches & it was just real, real nice...

Zoey (age 8) is grateful for...her white board. It was a birthday gift from a friend this past September & one of the best she has ever gotten. She'll sit for long periods of time playing with that thing!

Pazely (age 6) is grateful for...the trash can. "So we don't have to litter all over the house."

♥

Pencil Sweaters!!

A freind of mine JUST opened up an Etsy shop. Like, JUST yesterday. I saw some adorable Pencil Sweaters she had knitted & asked her to send me some ASAP!!! They are like leg warmers. Only tinier. And for your pencil. Don't you just want some? I love them. Like, seriously LOVE them.

Well, hop on over to Tiffany's shop She's In The House & grab yours quick!

They fit nice-n-snug over a pencil, they're totally unique & BONUS: the sale of these pencil sweaters helps Tiffany's daughter to raise money for a school trip to Washington D.C. next year.

A set of 3 for $13 is a dealio!!

( shesinthehouse.etsy.com will also be stocking other fun knit items & PDF's soon!!)

Stocking stuffers anyone??

Support Handmade.
♥

Day 15, 16, 17: Month of Gratitude

Day 15: Click HERE.

Day 16: Click HERE. 

Day 17: Click HERE

♥