shop stocked

Yes, I know. It has been a very long while since I have done anything shop related, but here you go. A nice big update of goodies for you! Go and visit the Cakies shop now...

All the items listed are ready to be shipped! And some colors are one of a kind, so if you want one, you better snag it (like this, this, and these are the last ones). The bows (we got big and smalls) probably won't be made again and don't forget the dollhouse pillows! But if you do still need a custom crown, just let me know and I can always see what I can do.

This will probably be the last update for the rest of this year as we got a baby coming in a few short months and who is to say if I will continue to make things for the shop after that. Four kids is a whole lot of responsibility and not sure if that leaves much room for sewing in the days ahead, though I do want to open a vintage shop up soon, but I just need more time in a day. Though for now, enjoy the stocked shop!!!

Happy first day of Summer!!!

to my husband

(polaroid taken a few days after our wedding)

I missed you a lot this week. I know... I know. I saw you every morning and every night, but it wasn't enough. I can't wait until the weekend because I get to be with you for two whole days straight! Maybe we can try to win the lottery, so we can be together all the time and you don't have to work. Just a thought. I (and our girls) love you lots!

ly,

your wife

To everyone else,

There is a teensy, tiny, shop update as I didn't end up having too much time this week. There is a pillow (just like the one on Brave's rocking chair), a ballerina bag (like True's), and another hair clip.

Have a good weekend,

Ruby

goodies

I have been doing some sewing lately, some of it for the shop and some for fun. Here are just a few of what has come out of my sewing times...

First off, it is wonderful to have another friend (via web) going through almost the same things I am going through in terms of our roundness. Though, she is due in just a couple weeks and I have a few more to go. This little frock was a vintage find, but it called for a little more. Thus, I added a special deer friend for a special little girl name Ruby who will be welcomed into this world very soon.

I think it was a perfect little thing to send for the daughter of the mama who is the epitome of vintage with a modern twist!

Then, I made some custom made bags for this lovely lady. Each have a lovely little hand embroidered piece clueing in to what may be hiding inside. They are fashioned after True's little dance bag. I was able to make one more bag from the same fabric True's bag was made of (minus the outside of the handles), so that little ballerina bag (the third one from the left) will probably be up in the shop on Friday. There will only be one. 

These little bags were fun to make, but I totally forgot that I am kinda slow at the whole embroidery thing. I ought to practice more to get a lot faster, and it seems this burgeoning belly is keeping me in bed more and more, so maybe the time to practice has come! Now, I just need to find the right embroidery project.

I have a grand list of things to do today, which include organizing True's closet, figure out Halloween sewing, and trying to get to my doughnut recipe figured out. Wish me luck...

What do you have up your sleeve today?

friday at last

Means another shop update and more of these lovely ladies and other goodies.

I am hoping to get more good stuff in next week. Does anyone know where I can buy more time (and energy) for a day?

The weekend is up and I love weekends because my Ben is home. I love him being home. Last night, when we went to bed, I hugged him tight and he hugged me tight. I love being in his arms and falling asleep that way, though somehow we always manage to wake up on opposite sides of the bed. He is so handsome and I just love him too much!!! I don't like it when he leaves for work, but I guess somebody's got to pay the bills around here.

This weekend we are headed off to a pumpkin festival. It is our yearly family tradition to go and this time we are prepared with a wagon. Therefore, we will be able to lug some nice pumpkins home with us!

Here are some pictures from our previous years...

(2006: True's first time at the pumpkin patch)

(2006: family of three)

(2007: family of four)

(2008: Brave can walk around the pumpkins)

(2008: family of four)

I can't believe how our little family has grown! Time flies when you're having fun...

*****

Had to do re-do giveaway winner, so check it here and come back tomorrow to welcome another fabulous sponsor!

*****

i love leaves

Especially fall ones.

Here are some leaf clips for fall and will be in the shop for tomorrow's update, along with a few other goodies. I hope I get some nice work time in this afternoon during their nap.

Does anyone else realize that is only about 10 weeks until Christmas?!! Crazy... I know. I am almost done with my Christmas shopping and I just have to wait for a few more packages to come in and then I can start wrapping. With this baby coming soon, there is no room for procrastinating.

Here's to hoping today is productive, but first off is a playdate with some long-time-no-see friends.

p.s. I will be working on my donut recipe soon.

p.s.s. Winner was announced on sponsor giveaway post. Come back this weekend for another grand sponsor giveaway!

sweet collections

We are collectors of things in this house. Not too many things as I am not a clutter collecting person, but we like sweet things. Odd things. Old things. Nature things. 

True has taken to collecting rocks, sticks, and flowers any chance she gets. They all end up in the house on and on the fireplace mantel. When I see her little collections, it reminds me of her sweet little hands and how happy she is collecting these things. Kids really don't need that many toys. 

(True's most recent collection of tiny flowers)

(True's growing collection of rocks)

(collection of vintage keys)

(my collection of cameos: the ring (etsy), necklace (oh, hello friend), real vintage cameo (I got somewhere in Italy))

Now, it is about time to share what will be in tomorrow's shop update. This is something new that I have been making that I am absolutely swooning over. I wear it. True wears it. Brave wears one too. It is so dainty, vintage, grown up, but equally as lovely for a little girl. I really love these new hair clips! Each lovely lady is cut by hand and the trim is antique trim from a vintage tablecloth (more can be seen here, here, and here). 

(a collection of lovely lady cameo hairclips that will be in the shop tomorrow)

Thank you everyone for the blog-birthday wishes. I am so encouraged by all of you. It is fun to have so many friends from all over the place, even Ben gets so excited to read your comments and to see which are your favorite posts. I love him so much and so happy that he nerds about all this stuff with me too! We are a nerdy-lovey-dovey couple that way. It is the absolute best! Well, keep the comments coming for the giveaway as I can't wait to see who this lovely polaroid camera will go home to.

I can't wait for the shop update tomorrow, but for today my mother-in-law is here and I have a date with my best friend this afternoon sans kids. I haven't hung out with her without kids in so long. It will be some fun girl bonding time of shopping, eating, antiquing... did I mention eating? Well, you get the picture. Some days we need time off, right? Maybe, I will find more things to add to my different collections. Hmm... maybe clothes. Now, I am sure we all collect that!

Happy Thursday!!!

two

Today, marks my blog's 2nd birthday. A bloggy-birthday you may say and I am celebrating it. Is that strange? 

I didn't bake this ganache just for the occasion as I had some frozen ones left over from a craving a month or so ago, so I took it out and stuck two candles. I am no longer craving the chocolate ganache, so I didn't eat it and used it only for picture purposes. It will probably just end up in the trash (as it has some unhealthy ingredients), but I needed something to put the candles in.

Blogging these past two years has been such a blessing. I have had so much fun crafting, cooking, watching my girls grow, but basically, just living life and sharing it. Here are three things that I have learned from this wonderful journey thus far:

1. God must always be treasured above all things.

2. This online community is so talented and amazing.

3. I really love nerding about creating/crafting. 

I figure, if you read my blog, you must also love polaroids, so to celebrate, I am going to giveaway a polaroid camera and a pack of polaroid film.

Now, if your thinking this will do you no good as polaroid film has ended, think again! It is going to be back in production in 2010 and you could read all about it here. Therefore, whoever wins this little beauty will be all set for a lifetime of polaroid picture taking.

What to do to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me about your favorite post.

2. Leave your email. 

3. Make sure you are a follower of this blog (check out sidebar on the right). Plus, I am thinking of doing a "just because" package for one lucky follower each week or each month, depending on what is realistic. This will give me a chance to get to know more of you slowly, so you will want to make sure you are following. 

That's fairly easy right?

I will pick and announce the winner next Tuesday, September 1st (and those overseas are welcome to join). Oh my! It will already be September. Time is really flying...

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop in here from time to time. Your constant encouragement, love, and support means so much! I look forward to many blog posts to come...

shop updated (kinda)

Good morning! The fruits of my labor is evident as the shop is now stocked up with loads of color, like I promised. There are fabric necklaces galore! Some of these necklaces were also the ones featured in Small Magazine's most recent issue.

Here are two of my personal favorites.

I really love this bib necklace made from part of an embroidered vintage tablecloth. If it isn't gone in a week, I am taking it off and keeping it! But I think it would look super duper lovely on one of you... don't you think?

I made an oopsie! I thought I had dragged the individual photos of the vintage, embroidered tablecloth bags to my flash, but I guess I didn't and they are all on Ben's computer, which is with him at work. Therefore, the update for the bags will have to wait until the evening... sorry.

There are 5 of them and they are all quite lovely. Unique, vintage, and so fun! I wouldn't mind keeping a few, at least for a little while, but God knows I don't need anymore.

My hands are tired from all the uploads and well, the pregnancy water retention isn't helping. I can't wait to upload the other things in the shop tonight and I plan on having another goodie update sometime next week (probably Wednesday). I have some new hair clips that I think you will love. Well, at least my little girls love them and it has been so difficult to get them to wear hair clips these days! These little babies have a mind of their own!

Have I told you that True and I now fight about what to wear?!! Oh boy! That is for another post of its own. And to think, that she is only three!

Happy snooping around in my shop today!

***UPDATE: Lots of lovely vintage tablecloth bags are now in the shop.***

i heart making crowns

I love making custom crown (and regular ones), but custom ones always present a challenge and I love a challenge... usually. Well, one of my closest friends requested a I LOVE NY crown for her little girl as a hint to her dad of what he was getting for Father's Day, which were plane tickets to NY. I knew this was going to be a fun crown for a stylin' little girl. 

She wanted I LOVE NY, skyscrapers, and if I could manage to get the Brooklyn Bridge in. Let's just say I got two of the three, but I was having trouble putting the bridge in without the crown looking too busy. But I was very happy with result and I think she was too!

I must say that yesterday was a very productive day as all my bathrooms are now clean! I even cleaned the showers and tubs, which is quite an accomplishment as I never ever clean those. I hate cleaning that part of the bathroom. Anyone have any tips on how to remove really bad hard water stains? Today's task will be to fold and put away laundry and I would really like to get some sewing in. Now that I think about it, I didn't even feel nauseous at all yesterday. Maybe, things are looking better. Ah! To be human again is such a good feeling. Well, thank you very much to my two little, not so little anymore, seesters for taking care of my very little girls. You two are the best!!!

The weather is expected to heat up this weekend... yikes! I know I am a wuss when it comes to hot weather. I prefer the cold. 

Happy Friday! Keep cool this weekend with watermelon, cherries, and a whole bunch of lemonade. At least that's my plan!

sweet and refreshing

Darn. I forgot yesterday was Wedding Wednesday. Sorry. I might just post it later today or continue next week. Of late, I have been quite absentminded with so much going on and not enough brain to think about it all! Does that ever happen to anyone? Maybe, it's just me. Maybe, this baby is sucking all my brains for himself/herself... maybe. Nice thing is that my sisters are with me today and that means babysitters!!! I get to catch up and clean and do things that I have wanted/needed to do... I think I'll sew me a dress. Well, we will see how time goes. 

I have made a couple custom crowns this past week and here is just one of them. For a special Ruby who is going to turn 5 with a perfect, summery, watermelon themed party!

I found this crown so sweet and refreshing that I had to take a bite. Now, really, who can resist a cool, sweet watermelon in the summer? It is the perfect treat to help one cool off from the scorching sun. 

How is the weather where you are at? Has the summer heat already hit? It hasn't here and I am enjoying every bit of it. Though, we will be making our way to Texas in about a week, so I know I am gonna be in for a lot of heat. 

neatness helps

Wow! Wow! Wow! Thank you for the well wishes and congratulations. Sunday will mark the 3 month period and I can't wait to get myself back. Here's to hoping and wishing. There are things to do and lots to clean, my family really needs me back. I really miss crafting and sewing too. The summer has me pretty excited...

Well, if you have seen my mess that has been lingering around my loft since I made my mom her dress, you seriously would have laughed at me. I never had a mess stick around that long (okay, maybe I have). Each time I did orders, I worked around the mess to only make it much messier. The floor was littered everywhere with fabric... literally. It was so bad. I couldn't think clearly. Frankly, neither could Ben, so I set out to clean my work room. It took a good 3 days, seeing how I had bouts of just staring at the mess when I was so tired, but it was done and the carpet can be seen again, which I am not sure is that much better than fabric. I dream of wood floors. That's another story. My work table is clean with the two beastly of machines, serger and sewing machine sitting side-by-side in peace once again... dreamy. Threads are lined up nicely and color coordinated and all icky mess in the trash. Such a nice feeling.

I like working on a clean table. It really feels so good. So with a bit of brain dreaming this morning, I set off to make some crowns that are now off to some special little people. I hope they (and their mamas) love them. 

I call this one floral wonderland...

This one is perfect for that little ocean lover...

I love making crowns... so much fun. As I sew, I like to think of all the wonderful play and imaginative places they will go while wearing the crown. Children's imaginations are really special, never a dull moment. 

Have I told you lately that True now plays with some "kids"? True and the "kids" go to the beach. True and the "kids" play in the kitchen. True loves these "kids" and I guess I love them too. Brave is a bit too young to play with the "kids" or so I have been told. Imagination at work I tell you... gotta love it. 

i love SMALL things

Thursday is off to a good start as the newest issue of SMALL just went out. I am especially excited because my fabric necklaces were used in one of the fashion editorials in this issue.

I love how the photographs are so artful. They are very visually appealing. The focus isn't just on the kids and what they are wearing, but includes so much of the textured filled scenery. Lovely, just lovely. 

To see Cakies necklaces, look here, here, and here. Now, that the necklaces are back in my hands, I will need to list them in my shop soon, along with some other goodies. Stay tuned...

It is always such an honor to be in SMALL Magazine. Praise God! Despite the name, it is always a BIG deal in our house! Happy Thursday!!!

flowers on my mind

That's what spring is about after all, right?

This new crown will be up in the shop sometime today or tomorrow. Time is a rarity for me these days...

And True's little birthday made its way to Cookie Magazine's Nesting blog... so fun! Thank you!

we call it sushi night

And it feels so right... oh what a night!

We all love our sushi. We don't get it too often, usually when someone is in town or on special occasions, but when we do, we love to indulge! Even the girls love sushi, they have been dying to reach out and eat our raw pieces, but we must wait until they are a bit older to give them those...  

Now, sushi nights will be even more special as they get to wear their Sushi Meal hair clips...

They were totally loving it (the hair clips and the food).

I think these hair clips will make your sushi nights even more special! 

Want some sushi?!!