Coming soon....

I am 3 weeks away from this....









Now...who wants to come along????

Come on, are you for real???!!!

I try hard to keep my business frustrations to myself and not make them part of my blogging. I really try to focus on positive thinking when I post here. And it helps to get the most supportive feedback from my readers. Thank you all for that!

But I've had it recently! I can't stand anymore being pushed around by angry ETSY clients! Especially after working my {you know what} ...off to make them happy! What's wrong with some people? I have been selling for 5 months now, and I have had 2 really bad experiences...I have literaly lost sleep over them!

I get a request for a custom order, and after having the proof approved and started the printing, to only receive an email from the client saying that her husband didn't really like the set because it looks too much like the one his brother ordered...Are you for real???? And they expect me to do another set free of charge?...because that is not what they really wanted? After I was told "we love it, go ahead and print it?". Why is this all of the sudden my fault??

It's been great selling on Etsy...but I have had my bad moments with a couple of clients. I really try to accommodate everyone, but enough is enough....I would ship a second set if something went wrong, free of charge but I can't take it when people blame me for something I had no say on....

I have decided to get my own retail online shop. I have actually started working with an amazingly talented website designer and the plan is to have it up and running by the end of October. I will spend some of my time while in Europe working on graphics and wording for my new website. I will still keep my Etsy shop but most of my items will only be available on my website.

Sorry about this post everyone, I just really needed to vent. I hope to do another, more upbeat post soon!

New additions

I have been wanting to create some bookplates using my custom silhouettes...I finally was able to do it over the weekend. Here are a few of them I have posted on my Etsy Shop. I plan to add more of them with other designs. I think they will make a great Christmas stocking stuffer...hint, hint!

Just the 3 of us.

I can't remember how life used to be prior to having Nikolas. I think it's silly to even try to remember! One thing I do recall is people telling us, "once you have him, forget about sleeping in...or about sleep all together"...Come on, I thought, how bad can it be! I used to be up most of the night the first weeks because he needed me, but also because I wanted to make sure he was for real...I would watch him sleep and breath in his breath...
I still love to watch him sleep but that is during the day. At night, I'm out, completely....He still sleeps in our bed a couple of times a week...that's because he says "I need to!". The nights he sleep in his bed, I miss having him in our bed....Obviously, we haven't tried hard enough to stop this!

We had breakfast in the balcony today. Aaron made us crepes with lemon and powdered sugar topping. Both Niko and I agreed that dad should stick with things we like...but we appreciate his love to experiment (just not with food!).

I love this picture of the two of them. I know what you're thinking...They do look alike a lot...on the outside. Besides that, he is all me!

Hope you're enjoying the weekend. Ours is moving quickly but we are loving every bit of it!

ETSY, Je t'aime!

Since I discovered ETSY, I forgot all about Ebay? (E....who?). I even forgot my user name and passwords (but that's another story!) I love, LOVE, supporting ETSY artists. If I could afford it, I would buy one item every day...

Look what came in the mail today....

The top set, the "Sapphire Tears", came to me by the lovely Kerry at TrystbyKerry. They look even better in person. They will make a great gift for my younger sister who I will be seeing soon. Kerry was so kind to accept my offer for a trade. Thanks, Kerry!

The bottom set, "the buttercups" are the creation of The Peach Tree. I am wearing them right now. They are so amazingly made, you won't feel you're even wearing them...so delicate....o lala!

Because the girl has to have more than just jewerly....I had to get this ..

I have been a fan of these headbands from LittleByRD for awhile now....two in one to be exact, how clever...and it goes with most of my everyday outfits....I actually bought two of these as well. I might be kind enough to give one to my middle sister:)

Last, but not least (oh no no no)...I purchased the door pulls for my new built in working area (which my darling husband is almost done constructing - i will be posting pictures in a week or two for you all to see how talented he is) from my dear friend Alyssa of Revamp Boutique. Alyssa so patiently worked with me, as I wanted to incorporate my silhouettes into these little pulls. We might be doing some future collaboration, right Alyssa? ...
Now that I have completely emptied my wallet, I'll stay put and enjoy all these beauties....Make sure to visit the shops for more wonderful, artistic products.

A touching story

I get many requests via ETSY customers regarding custom silhouettes....and I love working on every one of them. A couple of days ago, I got a very unusual request. I was asked to draw the silhouette of an infant who passed away after 7 days of birth....I only had one picture to draw her silhouette from, a picture taken a couple of days before they had to take her off the life support...a picture of the mother holding her. I can barely hold my tears as I write this post, my heart aches for this woman...All I could think of as I was drawing her silhouette, was the mother and her smile...how happy and beautiful she looked holding her precious angel. How can this happen to a mother? What would we do if it would happen to us? What would you do? I remember when I had my son...the feeling on holding him for the first time....nothing else in the whole world could compare to that moment...

After a lot of trials, this is one of the options I came up with ...

Mommy and Mollie

I don't think it does justice to the beautiful picture above, but I hope it will help bring back a smile to that mother's face.

Custom Order

I just completed another custom order for a church friend. Custom orders take time but are truly one of a kind. In this particular order, I had to design and individually custom cut each component of the invite, from the little pocket, to the layered invitations, to the reply cards and thank you cards. I love the feeling of being done even though I enjoy this part of my business just as much. There is nothing more fulfilling (in the business world that is) that seeing the order completed and ready to be delivered.

Vintage shopping

What is your idea of a perfect weekend? Laying in bed til noon? Getting up before everyone to go on a walk or spend some time by yourself? I can't decide which I would prefer. Both seem very appealing to me. But if I had to pick on, I would love to get up early and watch the sunrise....as I sip away some warm coffee....mmm.

Saturday, Alyssa, Leanne, and I headed out for some vintage finds. I love checking out all the little shops. I think it makes it so much more fun to go shopping with your girlfriends. So we shopped, and chatted over lunch. I ended up buying a piece of luggage (a duffel bag) at a paper store... of all the places...don't ask me why!

We even stumbled upon a fellow blogger, Kasey of Lola B Boutique. Her little shop is so adorable, I could spend hours browsing through her darling pieces...We exchanged business cards and talked about collaboration opportunities. I don't know about you, but I have the hardiest time marketing my business. Despite that, I have discovered how interested shop owners are to work with local designers. Who knew?

Being you....

Dear Nikolas,

Some days, I just wish I was you! Waking up in the morning with a big smile, screaming "I want breakfaaaaast" as you would know that is the only thing that would quickly get me out of bed...and it works! You know me so well!

Some days, I wish I could wrap my head around the most amazing things you say like "Mommy, please don't make the car so cold....because...(pause) hmmm...(pause)I think... it hurts my feelings" or "I need to be watch TV just a little bitten" (meaning "just a little bit")....

It's been a bit frustrating trying to potty train you....Whenever I try to explain to you that big boys use the potty, you'd ask me why...and no matter how many times I explain the whole thing to you...you reply in the same tone..."but why?" I feel hopeless, unsuccessful, frustrated.

Despite all these, it takes no efforts for you to remind me how proud I am of you for doing so many other things just right (like never forgetting to brush your teeth in the morning)..that I soon realize that sooner or later you will get there....one little step at a time.

I think I'm going to worry about all these another day. Today, I just want to tell you that I love you just as you are, a sweet, messy, brilliant little boy!

xoxo,

Mama

It gets even better....Check it out!

Oh but it does...Click HERE and you will found out why....(scroll down a bit). I have been put on the "spotlight" so to speak!

{Etsy Storque}...I'm It!

A friend blogger notified me this morning about one of my prints being featured on todays' Etsy Storque...I am so very excited....Take a look for yourself (sorry for the tiny picture, but if you click on it, you should be able to look at a bigger file version)...Down on the third row, the last image on your right...my Walk with Me Print of the two little sisters....


To celebrate this little "achievement", I would like to offer free shipping anywhere in the world on this print or any other print from my Etsy shop, all day today (offer is good only to my blog readers) Enjoy!

Most anticipated vacation...

I don't know how many of you already know that US is not my birthplace...It is though my home, now! It has been so for the past 10 years. I don't regret my decision of leaving the place I grew up in...I just miss my "home" home every once in a while.

I miss the crisp morning air..., the early walks by the beach, the smell of the coffee roasting.... my mother's daily dilemma on "what shall we cook today?" and the detailed preparation that is involved with it.

Each year I anticipate my 3 week vacation mainly because I get to see my family again, but also because of this...
These pictures are from our last year's vacation.

This is the first year, Aaron won't be joining us. It makes me sad to think of it but I know we'll be ok. I can't tell you how much my parents miss Nikolas. If you can imagine this, they get all teary the moment they see us get off the plane and pretty much throughout our time there (because they think of the end of our vacation, before it actually arrives)...We are a very close family indeed!

I was very touched by my dear blogger friend Mrs. French's post on whether we have two places we call home... I have been feeling this way for a long time, and to be able to read it on another blog, the very same thoughts, reassured me that "yes", most of us have two homes...the one we grew up in and the one we actually live in.

I associate the place I grew up with a special smell. I don't know if it is mother's famous cooking or just the fact that I spent 18 years of my life in that place. I used to cry every time I would come home from college! This is the way I feel to this very day....

I can't wait to share pictures of this years vacation with you all....Stay tuned...We will be going 3 weeks in September.
I like to leave you with with this picture of Nikolas and I on the last day of our last years' vacation. We both look pretty relaxed.


After posting this, I had a nice conversation with my dear hubby...seeing how his family lives far as well....and we both agreed that perhaps this is a good thing for us. We are amongst the lucky ones to be able to escape for a little bit each year...go visit home in a different place...You know, we HAVE too...we have no other choice:)

Warm Biscuit Beddding and Co.

They are one of my favorite children boutiques...and I love them even more because they carry some of my artwork. If you have not stopped by their online store before, you should! There is so much to look at and decide what you like the most....I just love everything, from their bedding to their kids furniture, not to mention the fabrics....they got it all! But the most important reason why you should check them out is because they are having a special on wall art from many different talented artists. This is the image attached to the email Vicki, the owner, sent out yesterday. I feel a bit tickled right now!


Do you recognize the print underneath my work? It's Sarah Janes from Sarah Jane Studios, another amazing artist and a blogger friend.

Giveaway!

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations for Mama2lilly for winning my giveaway!
Thank you everyone for all the wonderful comments!

It is time for another giveaway! This time I am adding my giveaway to the Bloggy Giveaways quarterly carnival.

This is what I am giving away and I am dying for you to win.

24 Personalized Floral folded cards (variety pack, 6 per each color)...


You will need to leave me a comment and your email address. You don't have to have a blog, just a valid email address, in case you are the winner.
The giveaway ends Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 12pm CST. I will announce the winner via blog or email. Shipping is free anywhere in the US and CANADA!

For a glimpse of more of my stationery line, stop by my Etsy Shop.

Trip to the amusement park...

I did not go to many amusement parks growing up. As a matter of fact there were none of these around. I grew up in a different country...I fear heights and roller coasters so much that I would avoid going in places that have them. I would prefer the stairs over the elevator any day.

We were given free passes to Six Flag Great America and we felt we had to take advantage of it....especially since my two boys unlike me, love the coasters....
So I went along, but made it perfectly clear that the Kids Rides would be as far as I could take it (not that we had any other choices...but just to be sure)....First ride, the balloon ride, made me sick and brought back memories of being 3 months pregnant flying to Europe...not fun at all. I survived (obviously)!!

Seeing Niko have a great time made me forget about everything...How was your weekend?