Think Pink!

I've had a really cute, yet skinny tree for the past 4 years or so. The tree is about 6 1/2-7 feet tall & the base of the tree is only a couple feet wide. That is one puny, yet adorable, tree! But this year I'm on the hunt for a new one----a pink one! And more specifically, a PRE-lit pink Christmas tree. I've begun my google search today.... The tree pictured is a 6 foot pre-lit tree from Christmas Express.

I've Been Tagged

"I'm it!!", as they say. I actually don't mind being tagged. (It's the "tagging" part I'm not so good at...)


The Rules
-Link to your tagger (see above), and also post these rules on your blog.
-Share 7 facts about yourself (random or weird) on your blog.
-Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
-Let them know they are TAGGED by leaving a comment on their blog.


I was tagged by Geri at Altered Crow Designs.



1. When I was a kid (around 10-12), my mom let me paint my room in bright crazy colors AND she let me write all over the walls in my closet. SO, whenever my friends would spend the night, we'd fill the walls with anything from random grafitti to the name of our favorite boy in school.


2. One of the first times I kissed a boy--it was an awkward moment as it was--I leaned in for a kiss....& was the only one to use my tongue. Double awkward.


3. I usually grow my hair long, & then I get sick of it & cut it really, really short--like a pixie cut. And then I grow it long...cut it short, etc. It's a whole cycle with me. But lately, I've been enjoying my long hair a lot, so I don't know if there are any pixie's in my future...

4. I hate the term "lol". HATE IT. I'm sure I've used it sometime in the past. But, my term of preference, instead of "lol", is HAHA! And seriously, you can imagine what sort of laugh I emit when something funny is said or done---I can guffaw with the best of 'em!!! I LOVE to laugh & I LOVE to make people laugh!

5. I have long-ish thumbs.

6. When I was 9, I auditioned to be in The Nutcracker ballet, & got a part as one of the "party children" in the beginning scenes. I performed--along with many other children--with the New Orleans City Ballet Company & it was a very intense experience, one that I'll never forget.

7. I drool for Edward Norton, Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey, Gerard Butler, & Ryan Gosling (he's in my FAVORITE movie EVER:--The Notebook)....just to name a few, ya know?

First Snow of Winter!

It snowed last night! But as I write this post at 2:30 in the afternoon, the snow is all gone. There will be more this week though! YAY! Behind my big noggin in that picture there IS snow.

I was visiting my mom earlier today & she & my 2 1/2 yr. old niece made a wee snowman. I decorated their 10" creation with a red-hot candy nose & buttons, 2 clove eyes & my dad's funky plastic toothpicks for arms. Aw, so cute! The candies started "bleeding" into the snow & turned him pink! I shoulda taken a pic of THAT! Poor little guy. He's probably dead by now.

OK, now onto crafty stuff. I love sparkles & glitter & shiny glamorous things! I have had these random jeweled bits for a while & I made 'em into magnets. I'm sewing simple little bags from vintage material to slip the "glam magnets" into.

I saw how to make these in a crafty mag over the weekend. These & the glam magnets will be in the shop tomorrow!

KA-POW!!!

I've been silent. Yet busy. Lots of new stuff in the shop! This weekend I worked on a NERD Scrabble Tile Ring Set. (Remember my "DORK Ring Set"? It was snatched up by someone at Mighty Goods in August!). I also worked on...

...more Sweet & Shabby Christmas Garlands...

...& a new Mini Tag Banner: JOY. I'm working on some bottlecap Christmas ornaments tonight & other goodies to come soon too!

I also have a major new project I'll be working on for my girls & niece for Christmas presents. I fell in love with some washable fleece foods that I saw just recently on Etsy & I stocked up on fleece this weekend at JoAnne's. I'm super excited to tackle this project & make some yummy fake treats that the girls can use in their wee kitchen sets. I'll show my progress as I go. I hope to get started later this week. A lady that worked at JoAnne's mentioned she had seen Martha Stewart show how to make them, but I have not been able to find that. It shouldn't be too hard...right?

Sorry to make this short, but I'm wearing an aluminum foil hat that Zoey made for me & now she wants to teach me how to ride horseback on her pink & white oversized stuffed pony. Gotta go!

Dreams And Nonsense...

I have an urge for bowling & sipping tea. Does that sound romantic? It does to me....
It's late. I'm working alone in a quiet house with sleeping ones in their beds & I thought I'd stop by to share my random thoughts. I get them a lot--these dreamy 'bowling & sipping tea' thoughts...I'll go now. Don't mind me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

" The turkey has been eaten, the ham has been devoured, the pie is sticking to my hips just like a fluffy cloud." Did you like that? I made it up just now. HAHA!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! My last Grateful Days Challenge comes at the late eve on Thanksgiving. My belly is full by the way.....

I'm thankful for all my blog friends, & Etsy friends, my new BFF, & "doll", "princess charming", "duchess", & other new friends I've stumbled upon & met this year. I'm thankful for all who have visited my blog & left comments & for silly emails back-n-forth. I'm thankful for being able to peek into my favorite crafty friends' lives through their blogs & getting inspiration or encouragement & learning more about this crafty world that I LOVE so much!

Ok, the kids are in bed, Mr. WhiMSy love is watching football, & I'm off to do my favorite thing: make stuff!

Oh, & look what just arrived at 'WhiMSy love'. As I was beginning to make more of my "Rockin' Record Bowls', I made a sweet NEW thingie: Rockin' Record TRAYS!!! They are quite cool!

Wednesday Stuff

I can't believe this Grateful Days Challenge is almost over. What a cool thing it has been---thanks Jerusalem! It's funny 'cause I'm thankful for so much---too much to list of course---but, it was kind of a challenge to think of how to put my thankful thoughts into words. It was a great exercise. A great challenge.

So, today I continue with my thankful thought....I'm thankful for my camera. I LOOOOOVE my camera & I would be so bored without it. I've been a picture-taker for a long time now & have gone through SO many cameras. (The picture above is one of MAAAAAANY self-portraits. I'm bare of makeup & so that's why I darkened the picture so much & tweaked the color. HAHA!) Maybe it's not that I love my camera so much as I just love taking pictures. (Or maybe it's that I love MYSELF so much---with the excess of self-portraits & all. Hmm.) I am not a great photographer. I've had my moments, sure. But it's so cool to love doing something, even if you're not that superb at it--simply because it brings you joy.

AND, one of my vintage button rings was in a treasury listed on the front page of Etsy! YAY! It was up at 1am my time, so I didn't see it, but I found out it was on there. (Even the curator of the list didn't realize her list got on the front page.) Here's the treasury that was picked: (Don't know how long this link will work, but here it is:) http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=15992 AND, I sold the ring too! Woot, woot!

I found a really cute & VERY Christmas-y vintage apron last weekend. Here's a peek at the colors. I'm planning on "cupcake-ing" it up & putting it in the shop this weekend. I'll be working on that this evening. And Wednesday nights are one of my "leave mommy alone" crafting nights so I'll be spending some time working on goodies for the shop & watching my beloved Project Runway!!!! A beautiful night ahead, indeed.

If I don't get a chance to say it tomorrow, I'll say it now: HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!

A Lull

I'm the type of person who thrives on busy-ness. I want it all: Projects to make! Hunting for crafty supplies! Orders to fill! Packages to ship! Trips to the post office! And I want it all the time. But for now, I'm experiencing a lull.

I want those Christmas orders to be rolling in, but they're barely c-r-e-e-p-i-n-g in. I should be thankful for the lull, but I'm not. The reason I SHOULD be thankful is that it gives me a chance to do the handmade Christmas thing for my own family. I've got playthings to sew up for my girls & niece, rings to make for my sis-in-law & bro-in-law's wifey, a Christmas design to sketch for mom's holiday cards, paintings to finish for my nephew, purses to make for grandma & mom, & holiday shopping to do on Etsy! So, I guess I am thankful, in a bitter-sweet kind of way, for the lull.

I was embellishing some kitchen towlels with acorns last night for my girls to give to their preshcool teachers this morning, as a gesture of Thanksgiving. As I sat on the couch last night, sewing & watching TV, a commercial came on for "Day after Thanksgiving" shopping. This particular store is opening its doors at 4AM! What the heck? Who of you crazy fools out there shops at 4 am? Do you know what that means? It means you actually get up at 3-something in the morning to get ready for the 4AM shopping spree! That is just insane. Well, while you're out there shopping BEFORE THE SUN EVEN RISES, I'll be sleeping. But THEN, I'll be cozily sitting in front of my computer wearing cuddly jammies & sipping hot cider while my warm fingertips click away as I window shop, Etsy-style, through lovely stores filled with handmade goodies.

A Quick Moment of Thanks...

I forgot to post my thankful thoughts for the Grateful Days Challenge yesterday. So, you'll get a 2-fer-1 now...

I'm first thankful for...being thought of. That sounds SO silly & lame. I know. But, it's nice to think that someone, somewhere might be thinking of me....

The second thing I'm grateful for is....sushi. I've never even had sushi. The thought of it makes me gag. But, I know that someday, somewhere, I WILL eat sushi. I'm adventurous like that. But sushi, in this sense, also represents all the things I've yet to try, all the things I've yet to experience... I'm thankful for all that I haven't done or seen or tried yet. I'm thankful for all those little adventures that still await me, including eating sushi.

And the picture shown is a birthday gift I had for a friend who really likes sushi. The card was custom, made by Laura Bray at katydid designs. And the sushi magnets were created by Clayworks by Kim Detmers.

New Vintage Button Rings!

Here's my latest collection of vintage button rings! Perfect for a sweet holiday gift or a fabulous stocking stuffer! (Mr. WhiMSy love & I were up late last night giving each one a unique name!)They each come in a handmade paper box tied with a strip of fabric. I'll be listing them throughout the day. If you see one you want, let me know & I'll reserve it especially for you in the shop!

YOWZA! It's My Favorite Things: Themed Christmas Gifts!

I thought I'd put together a very small collection of themed gifts--all handmade!-- to get yer noodle thinkin' for the whole shopping part of Christmas. Have fun looking...& shopping!
This post & the following FOUR posts contain gift ideas for The Chef/The Baker/ The Cook, The Dad or The Dude, The Diva, The Kid, & The Crafty Chik!


THE CHEF/THE BAKER/THE COOK...

This Medium Everyday Spice Kit by Purpose Design is about as beautiful as it is functional! This shop claims to be where "Metropolitan Home meets Mad Scientist".

I use a torn up, stained, splattered & ripped version of this. It's a conversion chart! It's laminated & super useful & plus--it has cupcakes on it! It's called Conversion Confusion by Green Chair Press & it can made into a sturdy card to keep in your recipe books or a magnet for easy reference. Either way, it comes laminated--so it won't end up looking like mine!

The cook can be glam too! This charm necklace celebrates a love of cooking. It's called Beat It from a shop called "Jewelry by MatsudaBunch". She has LOTS of themed charm necklaces--so check them out!

I'm all about trivets. And, if they can be quirky AND useful, I'm TOTALLY all about it! I spied a "buttered toast trivet" from this same shop, so you'll have to settle for this fun PLAIN Toast Trivet instead! Made by Magic Forest Creations. They also make LOTS of beautiful pottery.

This just HAPPENS to be called The Cupcake Collection Oven Mitt. That's 'cause it matches a cupcake-adorned apron from the same collection. But, if you're like me & love polka-dots--then get this mitt!

Speaking of APRONS....Get this Crazy Cupcake Love Apron from WhiMSy love. This vintage apron has 4 big pockets & cupcakes galore--decorated with vintage fabrics & vintage buttons!

This is a set of 6 magnets called Cooks Essentials made by Eclectic Selections. They're created using graphics from a 1950's cookbook.

The Kid

Some kids don't like bathing. But I bet they will when they get this super cool Dalmatian Dock Rubber Duck Soap! By Sweet Lollipop Shop.

Who is the fairest of them all? Whoever is wearing this cute-r-iffic crown, that's who! This Royal Crown is created by World of Whimm & is made of washable fleece.

And for the boy with an imagination here's a very cool gift! This Kids Superhero Cape is CUSTOM--you pick from the patterns provided &/or you can send in your own fabric. By Panjo.

This is my new favorite kid thing. Washable Fleece Playfood! Pictured is the salmon with lemon. Browse Remember When's shop for more foodie fun- & at a great price too!

I always like to include something crafty as a gift to my girls, something crafty THEY can make. This Bracelet Kit for Children by Handmade Living. The kit comes with lucite beads & elastic string. Recommended for ages 5 & up.

nanaCompany is one of my favorite shops. I often drool over her pretty kids aprons & sweet little things. Her shop is closed for baby #3's soon arrival, but browse her sold items & drool yourself. Pictured here is her Sweet Treat Gift Set. It comes with a child's apron & a baking utensil set all tucked inside a European valise-style lunchbox. nanaCompany's sweet playtime sugar cookies are among my favorites too!

This plush toy named Penelope is from Skullboy Worldwide, Inc. Several styles are available.

Bobbies & clippies in every color under the sun are available for a sweet price at Little Daisy Chains. Pictured are the Green Daisy Clippies. Little Daisy Chains specializes in jewelry & hair accessories for kids & teens (young-at-heart adults!).

The Diva

These Purple Dress Notecards were created by Laura at Katydid Designs. They're smart & sassy---just the way a diva should be!

Stressed Diva Lavender Herb Sleep Pillow by Black Rose.

Whipped Clean Italian Lemon Cream Foaming Body Wash by Gudonya TOO! A few swipes through it with your bath pouf produces loads of bubbles for a sweet & clean shower experience!

Crocheted lip balm holder with keychain made by Knitting Dreams. There are loads of different colors & styles in shops on Etsy, but I think these are such a cute little gift!

I have had this "hearted" for a long time. I think it is very sweet! It's a pocket mirror made by DC Designs.

I really adore knitted items. I think one reason for that is because I don't knit. This watermelon colored Knitted Pouch is among many knitted things I find so adorable! By evagodeva.

Another WhiMSy love item! I know, I know. But, I'm allowed. It's my blog. I can do whatever I want. HAHA! This quirky, but very unique item is called Plug Art. They come in different shapes & many different styles & this happens go along with the whole "diva" thing. It covers your plugs with class.

The Dad or The Dude

This Metro line of men's bath & body products are created with a spicy citrus blend of bergamot, tangerine, pepper, cinnamon, bamboo, sage, sequoia wood, vetiver & musk. This Body Detail Gift Set for Men is created by Spa Therapy.

Daddy Embroidered Heart Hanky is by Mud Flap Grrrl Designs.

This is my absolute favorite from "The Dad or The Dude" list! It's a dad holding his daughter's hand--the "Pedestrian Crossing" sign from Budapest. This 5 x 5 fine art photo would look so sweet, framed, & given to pops! By Friendly Made.

I think cuffs are very cool & very sexy! And these cuffs by Fosterweld were the absolute coolest I could find on Etsy! They're made from genuine leather, hand dyed & feature a piece of recycled, painted & distressed steel.

These are quite silly & fun! They're Steak Cuff Links! Just looking through Inedible Jewelry's shop is a treat in itself! The store is 100% jewelry made to look like food! (Cupcakes too!)

The Crafty Chik!

Love it! Love it! Love it! In fact, being a crafty chick myself, I love every single one of the gifts in this themed list! This Button Bar of Soap is made by Kitsch Niche. They even have sewing kit & cupcake soaps!

So crafty cool! This pink & burgandy Sew a Go-Go T-Shirt is by Moxie Madness.

I think a really neato gift for ANY crafter would be a crafty kit. I love the Cup O Joe pincushion kits by Betz White. She is selling 'em fast--there was a cute green striped one I was gonna show, but it sold. Bummer.

This Crafty Geek Decal makes a fun stocking stuffer! Made by Vinyl Wall Art, it comes in 16 different colors. Check this shop out for a ton of other vinyl wall decals!

Every crafter needs a super hero to help with those piles of undone projects. This portrait is by The Dreamy Giraffe & it's called Cut and Paste Girl.

I always think a hodge podge of crafty doo-dads is a fun gift. Am I the only one? I love getting random bits of items to craft with! This collection of stuff-n-things is called Pretty Alright in Pink Crafty Curios from Naughty Secretary Club.

This Apple and Pear Crafty Bag is created by Kelly Zarb: Thrifty miss. Any crafter would be delighted at a gift of ORGANIZATION!!!

Misty Waterwoman makes these Crafty Girl Keychains. Another great stocking stuffer!