Ladybug Bowtique

Musical

2012-01-22T15:27:00.006-05:00

I love this bouquet- it makes me want to put on a fur coat and go to the opera with a red flower in my hair. The thing is, I'd have to first go get a haircut, buy new heals and remember how to walk in them, get my nails done, find something to wear that doesn't involve yoga pants and a sweatshirt...it's nice to dream.

I made this today and both of my girls want it. Sara is playing the flute and Julia is playing the clarinet, so they both have a new love for things with musical notes on them. They both play in the school handbell club, too.

I'm a bit of a music geek myself. I played the piano and mallet percussion during my school years, and continued on to play in community theatres in the pit orchestra. I also played in my church handbell choir, and went on to direct that choir for several years. When I moved out on my own, I found a local church where I was living, and joined their handbell choir. Before Mark and I got married, he came along and joined the handbell choir, too- that's commitment! One of the last times we played with that handbell choir was the Sunday morning of Julia's Christening, back in 2000.

I was thrilled to find out that our elementary school here has a small handbell club. The girls both joined, and I've been going in to help out and play when I'm needed. I was thrilled this week when the music teacher asked me to help out his church handbell choir a few towns over as a substitute/alternate player. It's an advanced group, and I'm looking forward to playing again!

Maybe I'll have to make myself a musical flower for my hair! :)

A whole new year of crafting!

2012-01-04T08:36:00.002-05:00

I love a new, fresh year. I especially love that 2012 will have an extra day because it's a leap year! I've decided that the best crafting goal I can have this year is to destash my abundant stash of fabric, buttons, embellishments, flowers, appliques, etc. that took up half of our moving space last year. (Sssh...don't tell my husband.) It's still taking up half of our basement. I've decided to destash slowly but surely, by making one-of-a-kind or limited items for my Etsy shop. You'll see them throughout the year. Here are a few below- but fair warning, if you love them, get them quickly. These won't be regular items, and they will be offered at great, low prices.

Peppermint Bark Snowflakes

2011-12-16T11:10:00.004-05:00

I fell in love with this pretty way to make peppermint bark with a snowflake mold. I saw the idea on Pinterest, of course.

So I set out to make mine this year using the Wilton Bite Size Snowflakes silicone mold.

I like how they came out. The Wilton mold I found was a little less detailed than the pretty ones I saw on Pinterest, but I'm happy with them. For the larger ones in the center of the bags, I used a regular snowflake cookie cutter, placed on parchment paper. Here they are, all wrapped and ready to go to my husband's office, the neighbor's house, the mailman, and anyone on our list that deserves a special-something at Christmas.

HoliDaze

2011-11-10T12:23:00.003-05:00

Our family has always loved halloween. The kids were really looking forward to it this year, because we are in a big, family-friendly neighborhood now. Rumor was that we would get over 200 trick-or-treaters, a neighbor up the street would offer hayrides to the kids, and there was a special house that gave out humongous candy bars.

Unfortunately we were the victims of storm Alfred here in the northeast. On Saturday night before Halloween (which was Monday) we got a very heavy, wet snow that wreaked havoc on the trees that were still covered in leaves. So many trees fell and caused damage to power lines- over 800,000 people lost power here in Connecticut alone. And to think, we were some of the lucky ones that got power back after six days. My friend just a mile away suffered on for eight days.

This is my pumpkin on my front step at the beginning of the storm. I love it- I bought it a few years ago in our old town. It is made out of a recycled propane tank. It's heavy and it can't be smashed!

Here is the morning after, and what was left of a pretty dogwood tree in our front yard. The whole tree is lost now. So sad. I'm not going to cry over this one, though- dogwood trees make an awful mess in the Spring.

The kids ended up losing 4 days of school, and halloween was cancelled. So many power lines were down in our neighborhood that it wasn't safe for trick-or-treating. We slept by the fireplace in the living room all week, kept our food in coolers covered with snow, and cooked as much as we could on the grill before the food spoiled in the thaw. We all became characters from "Little House on the Prairie" and told funny stories by candlelight at night.

Over a week later, we've put that sad holiday behind us and we're looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've put all of my halloween decorations away in hopes that next year they will be enjoyed a little more!

I've been busy getting some new holiday items listed in my Etsy shop. I missed having power for six days- I couldn't make much of anything, and I was having withdrawals!

I hope everyone else had a nice Halloween. I'm enjoying a quiet week before I start thinking about holiday baking and Christmas shopping next week.

Hello Kitty!

2011-11-05T16:39:00.004-04:00

Here's a Hello Kitty bouquet listed on Etsy. The last one I made lasted only about an hour before it was purchased, so if you want this one, go grab it quickly!

October 19 Giveaway!

2011-10-19T10:49:00.006-04:00

Click "like" on my post over on Facebook today, and your name will be put into a drawing for a free wool felt flower from my Etsy shop...pick one, any one. If you are the lucky giveaway winner, you can choose your flower to be placed on a clip or headband, or even a pin brooch, ladies!

So go here and click "like".
Ladybug Bowtique on Facebook

And then go visit my shop on Etsy and decide what flower you might choose if you are the winner!

I'll choose the winner tonight at 8:00 EST.

I love horses. And purple.

2011-10-13T13:16:00.002-04:00

I've neglected blog posts, I know. Here's why. 1. Soccer. 2. Soccer. 3. Soccer. We are on the other side of town at the soccer fields 7 days a week. Sara is on a rec team and a travel team, Adam is on a rec team, and Julia is on a rec/travel team. That means practices Monday through Friday, and three to five games on the weekends.

I don't know what we'll do when November comes- I wonder if I'll be bored to death!? As busy as we are, I wouldn't change a thing. We enjoy being out on the fields in the cooler weather.

I had Julia in mind when I made this bouquet. She loves horses, and she loves purple. So I combined the two into a bouquet. Now I have to hide it, because she'll surely want it for her room when she gets home from school! It's available on Etsy, and ready to ship. :)

Pretty in Pink

2011-08-23T07:32:00.003-04:00

Summer vacation is coming to a close...this is our last week off before the kids go back to school on Monday the 29th. It has been such a fun summer visiting friends, traveling to Cape Cod and Maine, and some trips to MA and NH. Fall brings us routine, but too much of it. We are bracing ourselves for a full schedule of soccer, with all three kids playing again. On top of karate, girl scouts, etc, etc, etc.

I'll be back in the swing of things next week with new fall designs as well. But in the meantime, this might be my favorite set of clips- so pretty in pink with cotton crochet flowers. Am I too old to wear these?

Pink Ladybug

2011-06-12T14:05:00.003-04:00

Here's a pretty custom bouquet I made for a customer with a ladybug theme in green and pink. I never get tired of this color combination.

Rain, rain!

2011-05-17T11:39:00.002-04:00

It's raining, it's pouring. And it will be like this for several days. I'm okay with it, though- it gives me a chance to get some Spring cleaning done inside while the kids are in school. Rain does make for some lazy days, though- the kids sports games and practices usually end up being cancelled, so it means we can all relax and have a leisurely evening.

Over the weekend I found these hot pink bleeding hearts in three or four parts of the yard. We had one of these plants in our last yard, so it was nice to see them here.

The rain subsided just long enough for me to get out to the deck to take a picture of this new bouquet. It's listed on Etsy. It definitely brightens things up!

Juicy Fruit

2011-05-13T13:55:00.003-04:00

Here's another ready-to-ship bow bouquet listed on Etsy. I love the citrus colors in this one.

And this Seuss-ish bouquet didn't last long...it is sold already, but I loved how it came out!

Mayday, Mayday!

2011-05-01T18:21:00.013-04:00

Happy first day of May! Where did the first four months of the year go? Oh yeah, complaining about snow, rain and cold...that's where. Well today we had another beautiful Spring day in Connecticut.

Everything in the yard is starting to grow, and since this is our first spring here, we're watching to see what comes up. We have lotsa hosta (lol, which I hated in our last house, so I dug it up and tossed it in the woods, only to find out that my neighbors loved it, so they went and retrieved it.) We also have a beautiful bed of ivy in our side yard that makes a nice backdrop for my pictures. It just produced some small white flowers, which are now going away. Everything is so green. Green, green, green. So green that we didn't have one flower in the yard. Until just recently, when I looked out back and noticed this lonely little daffodil had poked through that ivy bed.

It was the only flower we had in the yard. I couldn't believe it! Until a couple of days ago, when it got a friend! It's friend is white with a yellow center.

So those are the two flowers in my yard. Pretty sad, huh. Well, I've added some color to my yard, with this pretty rainbow bow bouquet, that is available on Etsy!

You can see that bed of ivy in the background. The bouquet adds some color to my yard, don't you think? I'm okay to part with it though, since my kids brought me loads of pansies and marigolds from their school plant sale. I will no longer have a green yard once I get a few things planted.

And maybe I'll be surprised, and something that is currently green in my yard will flower. Happy May, everyone!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T18:05:00.005-04:00

Julia made these eggs today during our family egg-coloring. Of course I love them.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter. Since we're a bit of a distance away from our families now, we will have a leisurely morning, a family bike ride, and an easy New England-style boiled dinner.

The Easter Bunny usually plays some tricks in our house, so I'm looking forward to a fun morning. Many blessings to all of you!

Dreaming of the Beach

2011-03-20T18:35:00.002-04:00

It's only the first day of Spring, but I have summer on my mind! We live so close to the beautiful beaches of southern CT now- we'll be able to go often, instead of planning an entire day trip to see the ocean. We visited a beach last weekend in our hoodies, puffer vests and mittens- it was cold! But still beautiful, and we found some gems to bring home. The kids have plans to collect sea glass all summer and store it in a clear jar to show off their loot.

So with the beach on my mind, here is a headband that makes me think of warm sand, hot sun, and crashing waves.

Charming!

2011-03-19T18:20:00.002-04:00

I am in love with these gorgeous charm/fringe bracelets by Kim Smith. I'm deciding which one I'll buy myself. Right now the one pictured is my favorite, but it seems to change every time I visit her store. She has an eye for beautiful color combinations!

Springing Forward

2011-03-13T08:03:00.003-04:00

I can see signs of Spring! Yesterday we saw a yard full of purple crocuses on our way out to explore the coastline east of New Haven. That's a sure sign!

Once the kids are awake and have recovered from their hour loss of sleep (not really, they'll just sleep in) we're heading over to the rail trail so that Mark and I can get a run in together and the kids can haul on their scooters.

Our house is a stone's throw from an entrance to the Farmington Canal Rail Trail. We are going to get lots of use out of this gem this summer!

Snow Brain!

2011-02-05T08:38:00.003-05:00

I've completely lost count of how many snow days we've had already. The kids haven't had a full week of school this winter. More snow is coming today, with two more storms expected next week. The snow banks are enormous, so the kids are having a blast getting outside and climbing, digging tunnels, and sliding down them. We have an ice cover on top of the snow now, so they love the fact that they can walk on top of the snow.

I took a walk through the icy neighborhood yesterday, and couldn't help but dream about spring coming. I can't wait to see yards full of flowers!

Frigid!

2011-01-23T13:56:00.003-05:00

We woke up to temps below zero this morning, so it's an inside day for everyone. If frostbite can set it after five minutes in temps like this, I don't want my kiddos exposed too long. Luckily the sun is bright, and it's pouring through the windows. We're all hanging in today doing our own thing. I love days like this when there is no shopping to do, no places to be, no visitors to clean for. We must look like the silliest family hanging around all day in our bathrobes, the five of us. I did get out of mine long enough to hit the elliptical machine, but as soon as I was out of the shower I was back into my comfies!

I made this multi-toned flower today. I love the colors in it, especially for Valentine's Day.

Enjoy your Sundays, everyone. It will be interesting to see if the kids have a 5-day school week. We haven't had one yet this year with all of the snow and ice. There's something about another big storm coming in on Tuesday/Wednesday.

Spacing Out

2011-01-21T18:15:00.006-05:00

I'm enjoying my new, sunny workspace in our house. My work area is smaller than what I had before- a compromise I made so that my middle child Sara could have her own room. She and her sister Julia shared everything before- a room, a grade in school, clothes, toys...it was about time for her to have her space and she deserves it. The house we are in now lets us spread out a little.

Our master bedroom is big enough to fit our huge elliptical machine, and besides our bed, furniture and television, we still have plenty of space for my work area. So even though I lost out in the deal spacewise, I love my creative space. It is on the first floor, and I have two windows that give me plenty of sunshine. (My craft room was in a finished basement before...I felt so isolated!) I keep most of my supplies downstairs in my basement, which leaves a minimal mess where I'm working- I'm forced to keep it cleaned up and tidy, and I'm feeling more organized this way. One of my windows looks out into our back yard, so today while I was working I was able to watch the kids sledding outside.

I realized during the move that I have *way* too many supplies. I've been making bows and clips for eight years now, so I have accumulated thousands upon thousands of yards of ribbon, and thousands and thousands (that's sick to say, but true) of gorgeous appliques, silk flowers, buttons, beautiful beads, and so much more. So I've decided for now to continue to create ready-to-ship items on Etsy at a very reasonable price. My website is open also, so if you need something custom-made, you can look there. But for now, my love is finding new things to create with the boxes full of beautiful supplies I have.

Let's not talk about the bins and bins of fabric I have...

A wee bit cold...

2011-01-15T06:38:00.005-05:00

First a blizzard, then a nor'easter, and this morning I woke up to a temperature reading of -10 degrees! Brrrrrrrrr! We got 2 FEET of snow in the nor'easter on Wednesday. I don't think we'll have any melting in these temperatures.

What is this I hear that Florida is the only state without snow on the ground? Here are some snowflake clips for winter, whether you're dreaming of snow or buried in it, like we are here in CT!

Love and Hearts...real ones.

2011-01-14T09:36:00.002-05:00

A customer recently purchased 20 of these sweet infant flower headbands to donate to two organizations that send baskets to babies that are in the hospital for open heart surgery to repair congenital heart defects. Some will go to Annabelle Baskets, and some to Love from Lindsay Baskets.

I was so taken by these two organizations that I plan to make a donation of my own of some spring-colored headbands for Easter. Thank you to my customer "D" for contacting me to make these for some special little girls. God Bless.

Sleeping Giant

2010-11-22T19:25:00.004-05:00

We are in Connecticut! It has been a long few months, with Mark living here and the kids and I staying back to sell the house. We did it. In 16 days we had our offer, and after some negotiating, we finalized the offer and we closed last week. It was a tough week for our family, leaving everything we knew. Girl Scouts, Karate, classmates, the creature comforts. My friends. I had a wonderful week laughing and crying with my best friends- but I know we will not lose each other just because of a move. There's Facebook. ;)

We're staying temporarily in the apartment that Mark has lived in since August. Our house will be ready to move into on December 1. For the kids, this is like a luxury hotel. For me, yes, a luxury hotel, but with five people and no personal space. So we've been heading to the playground A LOT. Sanity.

It's a beautiful area. We drive by this monster daily: it is Mount Carmel, but it is called The Sleeping Giant- you can see why. Adam wants this big guy to wake up and start walking around like The Thing. The mountain range is supposed to look like a giant sleeping on his back. We're planning to climb the "chin" in the Spring, where there is a tower.

So we're still in transition. We'll be in our house for Christmas, but I'd like to spend that time getting acquainted with the area and making sure my kids have a good transition to their new school. I'll open just after Christmas, or before January 1.

Thanks to my regular customers who have been stopping by Etsy to buy some ready- to-ship items. It's been nice to see you!

Moving along...

2010-10-18T08:09:00.002-04:00

Our autumn is getting more exciting, and the pace is picking up for our move. We are packing the house up for a November closing, just before Adam's birthday, and just before Thanksgiving. We're looking forward to moving into the next house and a new school for the kids on December 1.

I've decided to keep the website closed during the move, and until after the holidays. It has been a nice break, but I love making bows and will be back into the fury and fun once we're all settled in. I'll still have a few things listed on Etsy, because I have a limited supply of ribbon and clips in a tiny little box that I'm keeping off of the moving truck. I have to feed that obsession, of course!

Fall Clips!

2010-09-28T07:27:00.003-04:00

I've listed several new clips for fall on Etsy. These are made with super-soft, luxurious wool-blend felt. So sweet!

Another summer is winding down...

2010-08-22T08:24:00.002-04:00

It's almost back-to-school time here! Next Wednesday I'll have a first-grader and two fourth-graders. How time flies.

I am extending my bowmaking hiatus until mid-September, at least. We have some big changes coming in our lives starting next week that will have things a little mixed up in our household for some months. I want to be sure to have all of my current chaos in order before I reopen.

I'll still be listing ready to ship items on Etsy from time to time, though. I've had requests for Halloween and Christmas bows so I'll post on Facebook when I have something to offer. Be sure to become a fan over there to get the latest news.

Enjoy the beginnings of fall...the season is definitely a changing one for my family for sure- all good things.

Pinwheels...

2010-07-08T11:27:00.003-04:00

I love pinwheels in the summer- I remember getting the foil ones when I was young. I made fabric pinwheels last year, and decided to try them with wool felt- they came out so pretty! They are listed in a rainbow of colors on Etsy.

My favorite? It's almost a toss-up between the red/pink and the lime green. But the green wins!

Heat Wave

2010-07-06T19:40:00.003-04:00

The news reports that this day has been the hottest in eight years! I'm not sure what the recorded temp will be for our town, but it was in the high 90's with a heat index of 105 degrees...completely UNCOMFORTABLE! We stayed inside and relaxed all day, needless to say.

These basic clips are perfect for hot days, and they are great for any age. I tuck some into the back of my own hair sometimes when I wear it up- it holds up the loose ends. They are very cute for infants on up.

Early Bird

2010-07-02T07:36:00.003-04:00

I was up with the birds this morning. 5:00 is a wee bit early for me. I really do love the sound of birds chirping back and forth, but not that early in the morning. So with a cup of coffee in hand and a very quiet house (no complaints there!) I decided to make something new. Here is what came about. I love this...love, love, love it. Brown and turquoise always look so pretty together, and with a touch of cream it will be so pretty in the fall. I've put it on Etsy, and will customize it to be attached to the brown stretchy headband, or a regular brown headband, or even a french barrette.

I felt like it...

2010-06-29T16:41:00.003-04:00

Some days I can't get enough of my ribbon. Other days it's my fabric. Today I felt like...well, felt. The flowers are attached to soft and stretchy headbands. So comfortable! I've listed these (and several more styles) in my Etsy shop.

Thomas goes to school!

2010-06-28T08:01:00.003-04:00

I love this Thomas outfit by Danielle of 2the9s*boutique! Thomas is all ready to go back to school! The bows are made with bright primary colors- they are a great match for the Thomas outfit, or mix and match them with her other back-to-school outfits. The little Thomas clip is the perfect finishing touch!

Be a Good Apple!

2010-06-26T17:51:00.002-04:00

Here's another bow set for DillyDally's Back-to-School Blues launch. Denim ribbon with gingham, dots, flowers, and an apple clip. Click on the photo to see them, and be sure to go see the Good Apple set by LaNae of Tattered Tulips!

The Blues...

2010-06-25T15:27:00.005-04:00

DillyDally's Back-to-School launch started yesterday, with plenty of great listings- my designer friends always amaze me! Click the adorable logo below to see everything.

For this launch, designers used denim in their creations- as soon as I saw the beautiful template, I knew I wanted to make some accessories that could be worn with anything-denim, as well as school uniforms. The first set is a large ribbon flower that can be worn with the headband. I used denim ribbon, and denim fabric in two shades.

And for the second set, I found these cute denim flower appliques, so I decided to make a set of bows with a matching clip.

I also have some collaborations that I'll post separately. This is a fun launch- be sure to check it out on eBay!

Singed Turquoise

2010-06-19T20:14:00.002-04:00

It's a relaxing Saturday night. We grilled steak and vegetable kabobs and plan to do nothing productive tonight. Mark is watching the U.S. Open and the kids are watching Alice in Wonderland. I'm not one to sit still long enough for much television. So I dug through my fabric bins and found this turquoise, black and lace combination. Here's what came about- I'm in love with this!

I've listed it on Etsy. I can picture it with that perfect black dress- and don't be shy, moms...it fits any age.

Argh, Matey!

2010-06-18T19:28:00.003-04:00

Here's a set of pirate bows to match the fun outfits by twolittle*angels. Ready to ship, listed on eBay!

Hot! And Pink!

2010-06-18T08:26:00.002-04:00

The kids got out of school this past Monday and summer vacation is in full swing already. We took a spontaneous trip up to Waterville, Maine for two nights and got back yesterday. Today is our first day to sit around and do nothing, which I will enjoy. Two of the kids came home with strep throat, so lounging around all day will be our priority.

It's going to start getting hot today, finally! Speaking of hot...check out this pretty treasury that includes one of my hot pink ribbon flowers on Etsy. I love the pink and green combination that LoveandSpunk put together.

Ding, ding, ding!

2010-06-10T13:05:00.003-04:00

Or should I say bling-bling?

Step forward, my glitter clip winners! Michelle Dalby and Shelley Wells!

Woot! Thanks for playing!

Glitter, and a giveaway!

2010-06-09T12:39:00.005-04:00

I mentioned getting this pretty glitter ribbon weeks ago, but it sat on a shelf shining and staring at me until today. I went back and forth with myself wondering what type of clip to make with it, and decided on a very basic clip. The ribbon is stunning by itself, without any extra loops or adornments, so I kept them simple- but they are stunning in person.

Find them on Etsy or on my website for $4.99 for a set of four, either in the sets shown or a pick-your-color set.

Now, for a giveaway! I'm giving away a set of four clips (your choice!) to TWO LUCKY FANS!

Here's how to enter:

1. Post a link to the Ladybug Bowtique Facebook Fan page on your own FB profile. Here's the link.
2. Go to the fan page and post a comment under "It's time for a giveaway!" and tell me that you've shared a link for Ladybug Bowtique on your wall.

Easy? Thanks for helping to spread the link love! I'll announce two winners on my blog tomorrow at 1pm EST.

More on Etsy!

2010-06-08T11:06:00.002-04:00

There are over 100 wool felt flower color combinations to choose from now!

Blooming Dahlia

2010-06-05T10:35:00.003-04:00

My friend and I were meandering through our local fabric store the other day (one of my favorite things to do!) and this huge silk dahlia caught my eye. It's a whopping 6 inches across- just gorgeous! Wear it clipped to the headband, or by itself.

The heat is on...

2010-06-04T13:47:00.005-04:00

I love this set of hair clips for summer, when the hair wants to misbehave, frizz, stand out, fall flat, and all of those things. They are for any classy lady, young or younger, who wants a splash of color. Just tuck one or both in and go...easy and carefree...dainty, but bold.

In love with an ogre...

2010-05-30T08:40:00.002-04:00

This week, find a very fun collaboration on eBay featuring my favorite ogre, Shrek! My fellow DillyDally designers and I had so much fun with this one. You'll find a brother and sister set, a boy and girl Shrek necklace, and of course the set of bows with matching clip. See them all here!

I want some Strawberry Shortcake!

2010-05-11T13:39:00.002-04:00

I just listed a set of ready-to-ship bows for a fun collaboration with Missy*Lulu and Beadiful*Kids*Boutique. See the listings here!

Sparkle and Shimmer

2010-05-08T19:19:00.002-04:00

I've resisted this beautiful sparkle ribbon for months and months. But finally I broke down and ordered it in a few colors. It is BEAUTIFUL! The sun hits it and it just shimmers and shines! So I've ordered it in every color available and will soon have headbands, bitty bows and basic clips available in all of the colors. I can picture these bows and headbands being worn during the holidays, especially. Find them in my Etsy shop now- and when I get the full spectrum of colors in, they will be a regular item on my website.

Happy Days!

2010-04-22T16:36:00.004-04:00

Today is Earth Day and Girl Scout Leaders Day. Julia went off with a friend for the afternoon, and Adam is busy with all-things-Lego, so Sara and I took off to the local garden store to find supplies to build a mini Terrarium. We wanted to create our own little ecosystem in a jar.

We followed this wonderful tutorial. Easy Peasy!

Here she is with the finished product...she felt it needed a decoration. We looked around for a fairy or mushroom, and came home with a frog. It was cute, but too big to fit. She found this white bengal tiger and we knew it was the perfect finishing touch.

Happy Earth Day!

Oh what a night...

2010-04-17T21:15:00.003-04:00

The Father-Daughter dance was last night. What a fun time for the girls! Here are Julia and Sara, all ready to go. They loved their dresses!

It was raining out, so I was worried about indoor pictures, but I love how these came out.
Here are the girls with Mark. He has lost 50 pounds- he's looking good!

We had some of their friends over to take some pictures- the dads all looking so handsome in their shirts and ties that coordinated with the girls dresses.

Here they are being so silly! This might be my favorite picture!

I would have loved to see the school gym full of pretty girls, but moms get to stay home with the boys. My son had his friend over and they ruled the WII for the night!

A Seuss-ish Steal

2010-04-14T12:01:00.003-04:00

Call me strange, but I had a dream about Cat in the Hat bows last night. Seuss/Cat bows have always been a great seller for me- it seems I make them quite often. This morning I made up this pair to list on Etsy. Want them? They are offered at great discount from what I typically charge on the website. Just for fun!

Pretty Plum...

2010-04-11T09:32:00.002-04:00

I love the rich hues of these two felt colors- they look so nice together. This is a bigger rose that sits up on top of the headband like it is blooming. It's a one-of-a-kind, listed on Etsy.

Do it up!

2010-04-10T18:28:00.002-04:00

I got such a kick out of this picture that someone took after her daughter and friend each received a Ladybug Bowtique bow bouquet for Easter. May as well go all out, right?

Thanks, Patty! I'm glad you had such a fun Easter!

Oh, so sweet!

2010-04-09T17:15:00.003-04:00

I sent some felt flower clips off to Melissa of Contemporary Captures and couldn't be more pleased with the pictures I got in return! Little miss Gracie is so beautiful--watch out for those golden eyes- they are mesmerizing! I loved all of the pictures but here are some of my favorites. Thank you, Melissa!

Little Mermaids...

2010-04-08T15:20:00.003-04:00

It's Father-Daughter Dance time again! The dance is next Friday night. Julia and Sara scored some beautiful "mermaid" dresses, as they call them. The dresses have a sheer overlay, and the fabrics are beautiful blues and greens. Last year they got all dolled up...has it really been a whole year?

So of course I am charged with the hair accessories. I took the dresses with me to the fabric store and picked up shiny satin fabric that was a fairly decent match. With a few stitches, some felt, and some beads, they came together quite nicely!

Sara's dress on the left is aqua and lime green. She wants just one flower pulled to the side of a head full of curls.

Julia's dress is an emerald green and turquoise. It is lovely on her. She has longer hair, so she wants her 'usual' do- tossed up with some whispies coming down on each side, with the flowers tucked in at the top. She decided she needed two flowers for this look.

Of course I'll be sharing pictures next weekend. We still need shoes, so I'll be on the hunt for those. I'm all for practical shoes- the girls know they have to choose shoes that they can wear all summer. Adam decided we should go to the Olive Garden that night. So I have a date with a very handsome boy while Mark and the girls are off to the dance. Luckiness all around.

DillyDally is going on a trip...

2010-04-06T10:27:00.004-04:00

...to the Sunshine State! Welcome to Florida! Search DillyDally on eBay this week and next to find a variety of outfits and accessories for her trip to Florida. And check out our DillyDally Dollars giveaway below!

Remnants...

2010-03-31T16:44:00.004-04:00

I love digging through the remnant bin at JoAnn Fabrics. I've been good lately and haven't picked any up. Yesterday the remnants were 50% off and I couldn't help myself when I saw this red and pink taffeta. I've been meaning to try this flower technique where you cut circles out of fabric and singe the outer edge with fire.

My girls and I quickly assembled beautiful pink and red flowers and they wore them to school today. After they left, I made this black and red headband and the full and fluffy pink flower. I love them! The headband sold within a few hours but I made another one- I couldn't resist! Click on the photos to see them on Etsy!

Rainy Days and Mondays...

2010-03-29T11:31:00.003-04:00

If any day is going to be a rainy day, it may as well be a Monday, right? I don't mind the rain. It's a good excuse to stay in and putter around. I did manage to hit the treadmill this morning, but that's the most work I'll do all day. This morning I made this ladybug-inspired wool felt flower headband. I love the color combination. Ladybugs and rain both bring good luck. If I can request where this "luck" would be applied, I would ask that our basement be spared in the coming days with all of the rain we are expecting!

Stocked up for Spring!

2010-03-28T08:09:00.006-04:00

My Etsy shop is stocked up with so many pretty things for Spring! Stop by and browse through. I'm in love with the soft, luxurious feel of wool felt. The colors are so vibrant. I dream of new color combinations constantly!

Craftiness and Friends

2010-03-26T11:52:00.003-04:00

Remember a few posts back when I mentioned that my friends and I have been getting together to do crafty things? Well this was our second attempt. My sister Becky was a Stampin' Up demonstrator before, so she had all of these great stamps and some leftover travertine coasters. She showed us how to do them and we went to town. It was a fun morning. I loved them all, and I don't want to play favorites, but these are two sets that I was impressed with.

My friend's mom is a breast cancer survivor. She made one for her mom, her aunt, her sister, and one for herself. So thoughtful.

I was having a creative block, so I'll spare you from seeing mine. ;)

Red Hibiscus

2010-03-21T07:42:00.003-04:00

Here's another interchangeable headband set with a wool felt flower that can clip on and off. It's listed on Etsy. I love the red and white combination- it reminds me of a red hibiscus flower.

Digging...

2010-03-19T18:56:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I'll be cleaning up my craft stash or digging through a pile of fabric and colors will just fall into place. I found myself digging through my pile of wool felt today and these colors fell together. I love fresh and clean blues together when they are paired with white. This headband is listed on Etsy!

Spring Starburst

2010-03-16T16:24:00.008-04:00

My stay-at-home-mom friends and I have become coupon crazy lately. I started last fall and fell off the wagon around the holidays, but renewed my coupon love in the last few weeks. Last week I scored 32 packages of king-sized Starburst and Skittles for almost free...$3.12 to be exact. just less than 10 cents each. Why so many, you might ask? We have four computers and four printers, so I take advantage of every offer, times four.

So yes, the Easter Bunny will be bringing Skittles and Starburst this year. Lots of them. And the rest of my stash will be lovingly placed in birthday-party gift bags throughout the Spring for OTHER children- not my own. My kids don't eat much candy. So even though I feel that special little happy buzz that I got it so cheap, I will not keep it for myself- I will give it away.

But before it all goes, I did happen to open one pack of Starburst. I love the colors. Pink, especially. When I was making this flower today I thought of Starburst. But I realized that Starburst doesn't have any green- I added lime green to the flower anyway.

Here is my candy-inspired felt flower headband, listed on Etsy for a bargain, just like I got last week with my coupons!

On the wild side...

2010-03-15T07:56:00.004-04:00

I've added new clips to my Etsy shop. I love these...pretty flowers with a wild side!

More Springtime Sets

2010-03-11T20:37:00.006-05:00

There are more "Springtime in..." sets listed by DillyDally today. They make me want to start planning a summer getaway! I love this portrait dress by LaNae of 2TatteredTulips. It is my favorite design of hers. Her daughter Evie is looking so beautiful in the pictures!

And I'm definitely dreaming of Paris in the springtime! Look at this adorable set by Cassi of SugarBritchesBoutique. The gaucho pants are so cute! Little Miss Reagan is as cute as ever! The set of bows comes with the little pink poodle clip.

Blooming Bouquets

2010-03-10T11:47:00.003-05:00

March seems to be my busiest time for bow bouquets. I shipped out three last week, and here are three more that will be sent out today. This one is for a wonderful customer of mine who ordered it to give to her friend when her new baby girl arrives. What mom wouldn't love getting one of these after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl? It's stuffed full of girly flowers and clips that can be worn for many years. There's a little crochet beanie hat in there, too. The new mom can clip any of the flowers to the little cap and her daughter will be looking SO sweet and fashionable!

And these two bouquets will go to a friend that I knew in middle school and we recently reconnected on Facebook. Her little girl will get one, and she will give the other one to a friend's daughter when they visit with each other later this month.

All three are going to be shipped to Florida tomorrow. Too bad I can't fit myself in that box!

"Springtime in..."

2010-03-09T13:02:00.005-05:00

DillyDally is dreaming of Spring all this week on eBay! Search DillyDally starting today to find the spring-inspired sets. Here's a rainbow gift bouquet stuffed with an assortment of bows and clips to brighten up her Spring wardrobe. Starting at only $9.99!

Hats off to Spring!

2010-03-08T09:03:00.006-05:00

Even though we still have a few weeks left of winter, this past weekend gave us a little taste of Spring in New England. I won't be surprised if I see a robin poking around the yard today- my girls made sure to sprinkle plenty of birdseed throughout the yard to make sure the robins come out.

We took a walk in the fresh air yesterday and it's the first time I saw my girls hair bouncing in the breeze since last fall. I'm so excited that the hats are coming off now and the pretty hair accessories can come out of hibernation.

I've been digging through my fabric stash (which is WAY to big for someone who doesn't really sew that much) and I'm going to put together some trios of fabric hair flowers. They are so springy and fresh. These are currently listed on Etsy for just $9.99 for the set. Find them here.

They are pretty over a ponytail in the back of her hair, or pull the top hair off to the side a little and clip one in. Older girls might wear them on an elastic headband, or clip them onto a bag or beanie hat.

The weathermen tell me that we'll get a "wintry mix" later this week. So we won't put the hats away just yet.

Happy Crafting Month!

2010-03-01T08:59:00.005-05:00

As if I need another excuse to get crafty...but I'll take it! March is National Craft Month. I can celebrate every day, that's for sure.

I love to try new crafts. My sister does all-things Stampin' Up, so I've invited her and her bag of tricks out to my house to have coffee with all of my lady friends in a couple of weeks to make stamped tile coasters and a greeting card. Crafty Coffee is what we call it. A refreshing spin on our usual coffee get-togethers. It will be fun to try something new! I'll be sure to post some pictures when we're done.

In January we got together and made these pretty glass tile pendants. It was a fun time, and my friends decided we should make this a usual "thing."

Happy National Craft Month!

Lots of Spring Blooms!

2010-02-03T18:44:00.004-05:00

Spring has sprung at Ladybug Bowtique, even if we're still six weeks away from it, according to that darned groundhog! It doesn't really matter here in New England what Punxsutawney Phil sees or doesn't see. We have winter until the end of March, and sometimes into April.

On April 26, 2002, Sara was born and it snowed that night that I was giving birth. And on May 18th of that year, it snowed again. So whatEVER...

Here's what's blooming in my Etsy shop right now. These sweet clips are made with wool felt- they are so soft! The colors are vibrant and pretty. I can make these in any color combination if you don't see your color choice in my store.

Thanks for looking!

Here, fishy fishy!

2010-01-26T11:16:00.003-05:00

I remember this cute little goldfish stuffed animal that Julia was given when she was born. She used to call it "Blub Blub Fishy." Anyway.

Check out this Little Fishy collaboration by some of the DillyDally ladies! There's some highly sought-after goldfish fabric by Heather Ross in the brother/sister sets. So cute!

DillyDally is having a Wild Thyme!

2010-01-20T12:56:00.007-05:00

DillyDally's first launch of the year features fabrics from the Wild Thyme collection by Carolyn Gavin. Come see all of the beautiful listings!

Here are a few of my contributions. I had fun with this one!

There will be a few more listings popping up from me toward the end of the week. The headband shown above is a new item- it is an interchangeable fabric-covered headband. I wanted to find a way to cover a headband with fabric and still be able to clip a bow or flower to it- and I found the perfect way to do it! There's a little hidden fabric pocket on the side to slip the clip into, and since it's hidden, the headband can be worn by itself without anything showing. My friend Amber (my fellow Brownie Leader) clued me into this and I couldn't be more excited! Thanks, Amber!

Would you take a minute and vote for me?

2010-01-19T14:56:00.002-05:00

My handpainted ladybug tote was chosen as a top-ten favorite for The Handmade Gift Guide photo contest. How fun! Would you take a moment and go vote for me on the blog? There's a little green box where you can select Ladybug Bowtique. Thanks for your votes!

Feeling it...

2010-01-14T08:13:00.003-05:00

DillyDally's first launch of the year is next week- I'm excited about it because it's a fabric launch, with each designer using some of the Wild Thyme fabric by Carolyn Gavin. Here's a sneak peek of one of my contributions.

These cute little fabric flowers can be clipped onto a fabric headband, and I'm excited that I found a great way to make the headband interchangeable, without any loop or fastener or anything showing. It's very cool! Search DillyDally starting the 19th to see what we've come up with!

Happy New Year Coupon!

2009-12-30T08:39:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to my wonderful customers. My ribbon room is sorted and organized and I am ready to go! (That will last about 1/2 a day, and then it will look as though a bomb went off, once again!)

Here's a coupon to use through New Year's Day. It will expire at midnight EST on Friday night. Save 20% on your order of $20.00 or more. Regular shipping rates apply. This code does not apply to any special/custom orders. It includes website purchases only (special invoices and Etsy orders are not included.) Enter this code at checkout.

HNY20

Have a happy and safe holiday!
Kristen

The year is winding down...

2009-12-27T14:35:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been almost two months since I've blogged. I admittedly got very burnt out right around the first of October and took a huge mental break. My orders were very plentiful, thank you to my wonderful customers! But it got to the point where it was taking four to five weeks for some orders to go out. As blessed as I am to have a popular website, it does take a toll on my home and my family.

The break was well worth it for me and gave me new energy! My faithful followers will be pleased to know I am reopening on January 1!

The design group I am part of (DillyDally) is getting ready to launch around the third week of January. Exciting things are happening!

For now, here's a new listing on Etsy. A bow bouquet stuffed with goodies for a little wild child!

A Magic Kingdom

2009-10-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

Search Boutique AMK all this week for the much anticipated A Magic Kingdom launch. There will be so much to see. I'll post my listings soon!

It's a Holiday Parade!

2009-08-18T08:32:00.001-04:00

Today is parade day! Sugar3 invited all of the ladies from DillyDally to decorate a float. Our float theme is "Holiday Movie Madness" and we have some great listings to share! Search Sugar3 Parade starting today!

Warm Colors for Cool Weather

2009-08-15T21:47:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a fall weather person. I love that time of year. Mark and I picked our wedding to be around Columbus Day weekend in October for the color and scenery that New England has to offer, but also for the crisp, cool air. So here it is in mid-August, hotter than I would like- so my thoughts are turning to fall. Here's a set made with rich autumn colors, including some flowers and butterflies. They are finished and ready to ship, offered at a great price!

Halloween Cuties

2009-08-14T21:27:00.001-04:00

Here are more fun Halloween/Fall bows listed for the Lil Peas and Guests go Batty launch. The first bow will match the Mickey Vida Dress by Terri of pink*freckled*frogs. If you're taking a trip to Disney in the fall, this dress would be perfect!

And next is a pair of bows with painted owl centers to match dress by Stephanie of Room*6. I found some little wooden owls so I painted them to match the owl applique on the front of her dress. The 5-pieces can be worn as a set, or take the owls out and wear them separately. So many options!

If you're kids are starting school this week, best wishes for a great start! We still have a full week of summer left here, plus a few days. We start back on August 26.

Sis BOOM!

2009-08-11T21:57:00.000-04:00

It's always fun collaborating with Carrie of PunkyFaeDesigns. Her daughter Jordan is so cute. I've been able to see her grow during the last year or so that I've known her (in pictures, of course...even though she lives just a few hours away!) Take a look at this cute owl vida dress made with Jennifer Paganelli's beautiful Sis Boom fabrics. The hair set includes six mix-and-match pieces.

Thanks to Haute Couture...

2009-08-10T17:02:00.000-04:00

Thanks for featuring me on your blog today!

Doll Baby

2009-08-05T22:25:00.000-04:00

Here's another fun collaboration for the DillyDally All Stacked Up launch. I had the pleasure of making bows to match this adorable set by Amy of SewSweetStudio. Look how cute her little girl is!

DillyDally is All Stacked Up!

2009-07-30T12:17:00.000-04:00

DillyDally's All Stacked Up launch is here! Browse through the listings and see all of the wonderful creations by some amazing designers!

I have several sets of bows finished for the launch and will be listing them over the next day or so. My favorite contribution for the launch is this painted ladybug tote with a set of matching nesting dolls. I was excited to see it featured on This Is Boutique!

It has been a great launch, and a fun way for our group to debut our new DillyDally name. Thanks for taking a peek at our listings!

What? Halloween? Seriously.

2009-07-12T21:05:00.001-04:00

That's what I heard today when I was spotted by my family, taking pictures of some fall bows. I know. It's crazy. Who could possibly be thinking of Halloween at this time of year? If you're part of the boutique world, you've already got your eye on that perfect custom outfit. Or you scroll through the newly listed sets on eBay hoping to find the perfect one for this year's Halloween parties. Here are a few sets I have to offer to wet your whistle...

Ready to ship!

2009-07-09T19:14:00.000-04:00

Here are two new listings on Etsy, both ready to ship! And since I don't want to hold on to anything too long, they're both listed at incredible prices- grab them now, even if you have to tuck them away for a rainy day for a little girl in your life! Click on the pictures to see more.

Do you Facebook?

2009-07-05T07:46:00.000-04:00

Join the Ladybug Bowtique Fan Page on Facebook to be eligible for some fun prizes, coming soon!

And the nomination goes to....

2009-07-03T06:33:00.000-04:00

I was thrilled to discover that I have been nominated for Designer of the Year in Haute Couture for Kids! I was nominated for my bird tote that I listed during the HC 3rd Annual Runway Launch. What an honor. My friend Kerstin of BambiniDreams was nominated as well. I would love to see her win- if it weren't for her beautiful Sweet Tweets design, my first painted tote would never have come about. So hats off to Kerstin, and thank you to Lynne and Rebekah again for such a fun collaboration!

BijouCo is changing!

2009-07-01T19:29:00.000-04:00

On July 29, BijouCo will become DillyDally! We will debut our new name with a fun guest launch called "All Stacked Up." I can't wait to see all of the designs that are made with matryoshka doll fabric, or inspired by a set of nesting dolls. Come see our listings by searching DillyDally starting July 29!

The last week of school...

2009-06-23T13:44:00.001-04:00

Yes, we're still in school this week in Massachusetts, thanks to that lovely ice storm that kept us out of school from December 12 through Christmas break. The last day is this Thursday. Thankfully it's not hot this week.

My daughter Julia and I were browsing through Michael's a few weeks ago, and she came upon a little pamphlet for these cute little pots made with chalkboard paint. We thought they would make fun teacher's gifts to give out this week during their last week of school. We try to remember everyone, right down to the bus driver. So we set out to make a bunch of these, and here's the end result. They are stuffed with green paper grass, an eraser and chalk.

Julia and Sara are writing personal notes on the back of theirs. Adam went for a simpler "Thank you" version on his pots. It was fun making these. Julia now has this craft written down in her "idea book" that she keeps for when we move and she gets to redecorate her bedroom. She wants to make colorful chalkboard pots to keep on a shelf, labeled with fun words, and stuffed with all of her goodies.

Even ladybugs are patriotic!

2009-06-07T16:16:00.000-04:00

Look at this adorable patriotic pony-o by Katie of theres*only*one*of*me on eBay. It has little ladybug beads in it- Katie finds the cutest beads and works them into FABULOUS creations!

I just love her. Okay, yes- I do know her personally. Our kids go to school together.

Find it here.

Sweet Little Tweet

2009-06-01T16:41:00.001-04:00

The Haute Couture 3rd Annual Runway Launch is here! I was delighted to be asked to make bows to match the birdie outfit by Kerstin of Bambini Dreams. The little bird clip is made by Rebekah of ScrappinDesign...look how cute! I loved the outfit so much, and it inspired my first painted tote. I know I posted about it ages ago, but here it is in action. Lynne from Magical Moments Photography took the great pictures, with her daughter Kayla modeling.

I can't say thank you enough to these wonderful ladies. The collaboration came together so nicely! Find the outfit, bird clip, tote and bows here.

Mermaid, Part Two

2009-05-21T12:03:00.001-04:00

I made another Mermaid tote, this time with some additional accessories- an orange crab (I love this, with the silly eyes!) a starfish, a seahorse, a clam shell and a green fish, all to match Gymboree's Mermaid Magic line. This will be fun to watch, starting at 99 cents with no reserve. Check it out, and watch it with me!

3 Tweets...

2009-05-19T06:51:00.001-04:00

Another peek at the collaboration with Bambini Dreams and Scrappindesign. Lynne Marie Pisano of Magical Moments Photography took the beautiful pictures. This will be listed for the Haute Couture Runway Launch at the end of May.

Little ladies...

2009-05-15T20:28:00.000-04:00

The girls went to their Father-Daughter dance tonight with Mark. What a fun time it was to get ready. It seemed easy this year. I found dresses on the clearance rack at JC Penney after Easter for $20.00 each, and they included the little doll dresses to match. So we put the dolls into the pictures, of course!

I still giggle when I think of how I agonized over what shoes they would wear, until they found the pink and purple jelly shoes at Walmart for $7.50! The girls insisted on getting them after I said no...they were not appropriate for a dressy dance...but they were thrilled when I threw my arms up in defeat and let them. I think they ended up looking very nice with the dresses!

Such ladies, showing off their elbow cuts...

And their shin bruises...

And the jelly shoes! Priceless!

More Magical Sets...

2009-05-10T07:56:00.000-04:00

Here are two more sets listed for BijouCo's Pirates and Princesses Launch. The little girls are too cute for words! Too bad they're not included. Happy Mother's Day!

Mermaid Magic

2009-05-09T19:08:00.001-04:00

I love making these. This tote matches Gymboree's new Mermaid Magic line. I added in some Gymboree Ric Rac clips to the handle- they can be removed to wear in the hair. This is offered at .99 with no reserve!

Fairy Pretty

2009-05-07T16:27:00.000-04:00

This was a fun mix-and-match set to go with the Tinkerbell set by Cassi of SugarBritchesBoutiqueOnline. It can be worn in so many ways. Clip the flower or the Tinkerbell clip into the weave of the headband and wear them together, or wear the flowers over pigtails. Find the set here, and while you're looking, check out some of the new BijouCo listings that have popped up this week!

BijouCo Pirates & Princesses Launch

2009-05-05T15:42:00.000-04:00

Launch day is here! Here's my first contribution, and I'll have a couple sets of princess bows posted in the next day or so.

This is the tote I gave a sneak peak of the other day. I'm in love with it, and my girls adore it. It will be hard to part with it. The reserve is set at $79.99. This took hours and hours...enough to take up about a week of my life. It is one-of-a-kind and includes all six dolls. Take a peek, even if it's to just look at the pictures in the auction and dream of being young again...

Show me the bows, Kristen!

2009-05-03T15:02:00.000-04:00

The most common email I get from my regular customers goes something like this...

Hey Kristen,

I know you're busy. When do you think you'll make bows for the new line? I need a pair for the new Gymbo line. Like yesterday.

Love,
Me

Okay, so lots of you know you've sent an email to me like this. Except you don't say "like yesterday" even though I know you want to say it. :) And you don't say "love" at the end. I added that in because I feel the love. Ahem...in daily emails. Especially when a new line comes out. For those of you who have been ordering your M2M bows from me for the last few years (wow, did I say that?) you know that I was always on top of the new lines, getting to the store to match, and coming home to make a sample of every bow style possible to match the line. And a pretty little collage showcasing all of those designs.

I've decided to change the way I do this, though. The website is so busy that some new lines don't get touched for weeks. And you sit so patiently waiting, and sometimes they never get added to the site. Now you can order your bow(s) right away as soon as a new line comes out. Just visit the *Custom* section in each M2M area and you can order the bow and style you need- just let me know which outfit you have. Now you're not left waiting until I get around to it.

This makes it easier for you, and easier for me, too! And yes- once I make up your bows, I'll add them as a regular item for everyone else to see. For my regular customers, I hope this helps you place your order with ease, and I hope you'll enjoy receiving your new line bows sooner.

Happy May! And thank you for your continued orders!

I can't wait...

2009-04-30T18:50:00.000-04:00

I seriously can't wait until Tuesday to list my latest project. I've been working on this one for hours upon hours...early hours, wee hours, all hours. The laundry is left undone. The house is a wreck. The kids are dirty. (Okay, not really.) The husband is feeling neglected. (Really.) This is a tiny sneak. Come see me on Tuesday, my friends. Hint: the colors in the large beads of the handle might give you a hint. There are 6 of them.

The Thing...

2009-04-27T21:07:00.000-04:00

Adam is so psyched to be playing T-Ball this Spring. He's on the orange team with some of his best buds. Here he is after Opening Day. He thinks he's The Thing in his shirt and hat (the Marvel superhero, for those of you who don't know.) His friend Elias is the Hulk, so you can probably guess what color that T-Ball shirt is!

Sara is 7...

2009-04-26T20:58:00.000-04:00

Sara turned 7 today. Happy Birthday, Sara!

Sailing Away...

2009-04-25T07:05:00.000-04:00

I'm so happy the warm weather is finally here! I spent the day in the sunshine yesterday with friends, and got my first (and ONLY) sunburn of the season. I'm always so careful because I have very pale skin and light hair, so I burn easily. I'm the one that you see always covered up in the warm weather. But yesterday I uncovered to enjoy the first real warmth this year, and it happened. I'll be more careful, that's for sure.

So this all gets me in the mood for summer outfits and red, white and blue sets. Here's a set by LaNae of Tattered Tulips. I love the smocking. The little sailboat and bows had me thinking of this summer and spending time with my Dad on his boat. I'll take the sunscreen, please.

Rainy Day Painting...

2009-04-21T20:34:00.001-04:00

It was rainy here in Massachusetts today, and I didn't feel like doing much, so I picked up these naked pegs and started painting them. Here's my ladybug and her friend. These remind me of Julia- we've called her "JDBug" since birth. Her initials are JD, and I've always loved ladybugs (hmmm...obviously.) Her nickname is still "bug" even though she cringes if the name pops out by accident in front of her friends. This was really practice for a bigger project I'm working on for next month. Stay tuned. :)