My babies are growing up (sniff sniff!)

I really don't know what has gotten into me, but the act of buying my girls a new dresser has made me all misty eyed! They share a room because they're twins and because we don't have a lot of room, and it works out quite well. They've always been together, 24-7, and there's never really been any issues or problems with them sharing their space. They share a closet, which works out well because the closet has two bars, which is enough space to store t-shirts and dresses. Their dresser looked liked this:

It's an old dresser that I believe was my brother's that somehow I got, and whilst I was pregnant I painted it red to go with the girls' Curious George themed baby room. (They had yellow walls and red furniture when they were babies.)

Well on Monday when I was putting away their laundry I was getting so frustrated because I couldn't SHOVE it all into their drawers. As you can see in the pic above, I piled clothes on top of the dresser that wouldn't fit inside. It's not that they have too many clothes, it's that their clothes are too large! Their little jeans aren't that little anymore, and their PJ's are bigger and longer. I declared that it was finally time for a new dresser! I should have declared this about two years ago but I kept putting it off. I'm not sure why, really, because when the girls got out of cribs and went into toddler beds I wasn't sad at all, I was quite happy because the toddler beds were cool. Then when they went from toddler beds to their bunk beds that was a quick thing too - but for some reason, this whole going from a little dresser to a big-girl dresser thing is affecting me. My babies are growing up too fast!

Check out the monster of a dresser that we got for them! We decided to go with functionality rather than cuteness and this one for sure is functional - it's huge! But it fits well into their bedroom. It's from IKEA, of course.

Sniff, sniff. Kinda sad. All grown-up and stuff.

Sharing my newest project

I have some stuff to share - photos from my newest crafty endeavor, creating textile items with linoleum blocks!

The first linoleum block carving I made was of a camper. It was difficult finding the correct paints to use that would work for the lino blocks and also look good on the fabrics. I ended up using screen-printing inks and heat-setting them, which seems to work pretty well. I made a stuffed camper for Arlene because the girl loves camping:

Then, I carved a little bunny stamp and made plush bunnies for the girls for Easter:

I personally liked the combo of the stamped image with the buttons. Cute!

Then I made the girls camping shirts!

Then, remember my little getting to know you contest? Well the winner, Miss Happy Hopefuls, said that her favorite flower was a red daisy. So I carved a daisy stamp and made her a tea towel!

Here's a pic of her towel:

So, what do you think?

I'm still experimenting, taking it slow. It's a learn-as-I-go process. I'm really liking the tea towels so I might make some more of those and try selling them on Etsy.  I also wanted to try combining the stamped images with embroidery - like maybe embroider the outlines of an image. I have some other designs sketched up too that I need to carve into blocks - I have some drawings of houses that I wanted to make into little pillows. And some designs of flowers that would be good on tea towels or to be used to make fabric yardage to sell.

But because this is all so new to me I'm a bit nervous to share it and to try to sell it. I'm not sure if it's marketable. So for now I'm just having fun and coming up with things that I know I'll like, that way if I don't feel like selling them or they don't turn out exactly as planned, I can keep them.

Tell me what you think, be honest!

Etsy Favorites Wednesday - House!

This is me:

"They all thought she was crazy" print by Scatterbox

Ugggggggg. I'm trying to remain positive about this, but darnit, it gets me down. When we put our house back on the market this year I was really hopeful about it. I was hopeful that we'd sell because of the awesome tax credit incentives offered to new home buyers ala Prez Obama. Well that deadline for the credit is Friday and we won't be making it. It's depressing. I even at one time had thought that perhaps we'd sell and WE would see a benefit, by also being able to utilize the housing tax credit to purchase ourselves a new home. Haha, not happening. Right now, I hold about zero hope of selling our house. If we couldn't find a buyer for our house at a time when buyers could get the tax credit, why would we ever find a buyer now?

Well this is about the saddest intro to an Etsy Favorites List!  I do apologize. But I do have a cohesive thought here. And it's this - I think about HOUSE stuff all the time. All. the. time. While I'm most of the time apprehensive about it or nervous about not being able to sell, I also let myself be a bit hopeful. I daydream about moving into a new house. And I daresay I do believe that houses are a crafting trend ... the other day I searched "house" on Etsy and came up with a ton of stuff. I've had some ideas myself lately of creating houses, like plush houses or embroidered houses or something. Because (and here's some positivity!!) while I want to sell our house for many reasons, it's also our home. We don't like where our house sits - it's on a busy street - but our house is our home and there's love inside. We don't like the small rooms and lack of storage space - but we make it work because it's our home. Our house is in a constant on-the-market-don't-make-a-mess state, but it's also US. It's got our personality and our touch. A house is a house, but a home is a HOME. Although I'm really sad about the fact that we can't sell our house, I'm thankful that I do have a house and an awesomely awesome family to fill it.

So here's this week's Etsy list, full of houses and homes.

Wherever we are together print

I heart this cup and its cute little house scene.

Small salt box house - I adore this artist's work!

A paper house kit

Mushroom house

Shop assistant

This weekend I was photographing some of my recent projects, which I plan to blog about later this week. I was taking photos of stuff inside my light box and I had a little assistant with me, Miss Arlene. She was fetching items for me and all around being very helpful while her sister was taking a nap, trying to sleep off a chest cold. She wanted to be a photographer too, so she got her little kid camera and began setting up a scene and taking pictures: 

Cute! She took a picture of her goggles with a little doll. Unfortunately the batteries in her camera were ka-put so she didn't actually get any photos but she had fun pretending. I thought it was incredibly sweet.

And then we were in the kitchen taking a few photos and she brought her scene stuff in there. I let her snap a picture with my camera. The kid has good composition skills, no? Not to mention a super foxy main subject!

Goggle girl

Someone was SUPER EXCITED to have purchased a brand new pair of swimming goggles with her very own money. So excited, in fact, that she wore them around the house for three straight hours.

More of the major cuteness

Etsy Favorites Wednesday - glass flower vases

I love displaying fresh flowers, but I'm bored with my plain vases. I came across these delightful vintage glass bottles that would be great vases for flowers:

Vintage Laboratory Glass

Inkwell

Milk glasses

Canning jars in a crate

Big milk jug

I'm having a sale!

Currently all of my dolls in my Etsy shop have been marked down by $4 or $8 or even $12 in some cases!

The big dolls are now $24.

The baby-safe dolls (with painted eyes) are now $16.

The plastic button-eyed dolls are $14.

Get them while the getting's good!

The winner!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my little "getting to know you" thing!  I had 14 entries and honestly learned something about each of you - I loved your answers to "What's your favorite handmade item"! 

There were two comments on the reminder post Friday and 12 comments on the original post. Starting with the reminder post on Friday, here were the order of commenters, and a link to their blog if they have one!

1.) Sarah - Ten Pennies

2.) Kristin

3.) Happy Hopefuls

4.) Jess

5.) Amber - Write Here Write Now

6.) Jenn - Wrestling Kitties

7.) Jamie - The Grumbles

8.) Iris Took - Iris Took of the Great Smials

9.) Kylee - Two Pretzels

10.) Lynn

11.) Gavin's Mom

12.) Mickey Dee - My Reality

13.) Lori - T.W.I.T.

14.) Sandra - Pink Lady Designs

I googled "random number generator" and came upon random.org, entered my numbers, and this is what it came up with:

Congrats to number 3, Happy Hopefuls!  I'll be making something for you and I'll email you to get your address very soon! 

Thanks again to everyone that participated!

You want to win a prize, don't you?

Have you entered my little "getting to know you" contest?  It's in the post below. If you've already left your answers, then THANK YOU! You're in the winning to win a really awesomely great handmade prize by moi!  If you haven't yet answered the questions, just do it!  Do it, come on!  No one will bite, I promise. I knoooow there's a few of you out there who are reading but haven't yet left your comment!   

I had said in my post that I'd take entries until Friday, but, duh, I'm going out of town today, so you have ALL WEEKEND to get your answers to me!  Silly me. I will pick a winner Sunday night and then I'll get working on said awesomely awesome prize and mail it out to the winner. 

The prize will be something made from my new crafty endeavor, which I've blogged about before so you can probably figure it out!

Whoooo Arrrrrrrrrre Yooooouuu?

Do you remember the part in the Alice in Wonderland cartoon where the caterpillar asks Alice, "Who ARE youuuuu?"  Here's a clip to refresh your memory (plus it's just fun to watch - I love the original Alice movie and also the new one from Mr. Burton!):

So I'm asking you, readers, "Whoooooo arrrrree youuuuuu?" 

Let's get to know one another!  Don't be shy now, this is fun and painless and easy. I promise. I know you're reading because I have spies that track this blog.  Ha ha not really. Well, okay, I sort of do. I have a little tracking thingie installed on this blog and it tells me who is reading and when and how much they read and where they are from. So, you there, hello!  Thank you for reading!  Tell me a little more about yourself!

And the best part!!  You get something out of your efforts if you're lucky, oh yes you do!  I will randomly select a commenter and that commenter will receive a really great handmade prize from me!   The deadline to make comments is Friday, so don't delay.

Answer these five quick questions in the commenting section. Just click on the "# Comment here!" link below (it's pink) and leave your comment.

1. Do you know me?  If so, how?  If not, how did you stumble upon this blog?
2. What's your favorite color?
3. What is your favorite meal to make at home?  If you don't cook, what is your favorite meal to eat at home?
4. What's your favorite flower?
5. Do you have a cherished handmade item?  What is it?  Who made it?

My answers are in the comments section.  Add your answers and you might win a surprise!  {if I don't know you please leave your email address along with your comment so that I can contact you if you win!}

Etsy Favorites Wednesday - Spring Tulips!

Tulips are so lovely! I have really enjoyed this year's tulips, they seem more vibrant than ever. Enjoy this week's Etsy Favorites Wednesday list - full of tulips!

Clutch - I just absolutely love this! 

Hair Clip - Adorable!

Lino block print - lookie here! A linocut tulip print!  I think it's fantastic. I need to make one!

Earrings - Such a nice pink color.

In Touch Clutch - So great both for its usefullness and cuteness!

Wish I could take that back

I taught the girls a word that I really wish I wouldn't have. I taught them the word "infinity." As in, "I love you to infinity" or "It's mine for infinity" and better yet "Infinity times 100 you better stop it!"  Why oh why did I do that?!  I don't know. But now, I'm paying the price. Because they use it. All. The. Time. "Infinity I want that plate" - "infinity that orange glass is mine" - "I'm getting into the bath first, infinity!"

About 98% of the time they use it incorrectly, but neither one of them realizes that they're using it incorrectly, but they still get mad at each other because they THINK they're using it right.   Example?  Just this morning, the following went down:

Arlene: "I want to watch Curious George, put it on channel 8."
Lydia: "I was in here first. Channel 27 is on."
Arlene: "I want to watch Curious George!"
Lydia: "NO! I was in here first, INFINITY, so it's on 27!"
Arlene comes running into the bathroom to tell me: "Lydia won't let me watch Curious George"!
Lydia, screaming from the bedroom, "I said Channel 27 INFINITY!"
Me: "Girls, stop it. You can't pick a channel for INFINITY Lydia because that means that the TV will be on Channel 27 for the next 100 million years."
Lydia: "I don't like this show. I don't want to watch it for 100 million years."
Me: "Then put it on Curious George."
Lydia changes channel to Curious George. Argument over.

Ya see? They are almost there with its usage, but they are still not quite correct. They know it means something, but they can't quite put it together just yet. But they think they're using the word right - by using "infinity" it's like the end-all, be-all. So they get mad. And I have to explain that it doesn't make sense. And they're all, "Oh, okay!" and then the argument is over.    Ha ha!

I will have to video record the girls arguing. It's probably not right but their arguments make us giggle. They rarely argue anyway, but when they do it's always over something totally trivial and they get so mad at each other, but they're never quite sure how to make the other person mad, so what they do choose to say is just comical. Five year olds are funny!

Thumbs up and down list

Why hello there, it's Monday.  Time for a thumbs up, thumbs down list, yes?  Yes.

First, let's start with the downers, then we'll end on a good note, okay?

Thumbs Down:

• To this here blog as of late. It's feeling neglected. Sorry blog. I just haven't had much I've felt like writing about. I'll try better, okay?
• To allergies. Boo allergies! I never had allegeries before. But now I have seasonal allergies.
• To having obligations that are really annoying, but try as I might, I can't get out of them.
• To the aches and pains of growing older. Back pain, arrgg!
• To time going by too fast when you're having fun and too slow when you're not.

Thumbs Up:

• To an absolutely awesome weekend. We had a wonderful, wonderful weekend. I was really sad for it to end. 
• To my great kids and my great husband. Really, I'm one lucky gal. My heart is happy.
• To spring!  I am loving this spring weather we're having in SW Ohio! 
• To a light load of work!  It's an odd feeling, after being so crazy busy at work since January, to finally have a lull, but I'm enjoying it!
• To planning camping trips. Super fun!  We're planning weekend trips and a week-long trip to take this summer, hooray!

So that's my list. What's agreeing or disagreeing with you in your life right now?

Etsy Favorites Wednesday - what is inspiring me

I decided a couple months ago that I wanted to teach myself the art of linocut block printing. I had been doing research and gathering up the materials. I received a bunch of excellent loot for my birthday!  I got a bunch of lino blocks and carving tools and inks!  I have carved out two blocks so far, but I'm waiting to unveil them here because there's still some tweaking that I need to do. Since this is a completley new art form for me, I'm taking it slow and learning as I go along. I have been experimenting with techniques and I've struggled a bit finding the right paints for fabric. I made a super cute camper design and also a cute bunny design. The girls have enjoyed my attempts - Arlene has a stuffed camper and both girls got a stuffed bunny for Easter.

I do believe I've figured out all of this lincut business and I will be unveiling my work soon!  I plan to make stuffed stuff and some tea towels as well as paper prints. I'm very very excited so stay tuned! 

In the meantime, I've been admiring some linocut pieces on Etsy lately that I wanted to share:

  Forest Spirits - I love the spirals in this piece as well as the two colors used!

Bela Lugosi - Wow!

Ice Cream Tea Towel - this artist was my original inspiration to try linocut printing. She makes the cutest things!

Little Monster - I love these little monsters. I have some designs drawn up for monsters-y type creatures that I could turn into little stuffies. The great thing about printing is that the designs could be made into anything, multiple times over, since I'm working with paper and fabric, and once the block is carved, it can be used countless times. I could make paper prints, cards, paper coasters, posters, postcards, and then for fabric?  Pillow cases, aprons, t-shirts, shorts, skirts, quilts, fabric yardage, stuffies, tea towels, fabric coasters, etc. etc.

Brass Thimbles - um, I want this! 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!