New in the shop!

So, I finally got my gift certificates finished and listed in my shop! I had been thinking for awhile that I wanted to create these to offer as gifts to new moms or mothers-to-be and I really wanted to get them available in time for Christmas.I really got the kick in the booty when a customer asked about gift certificates for my shop... and now... I have gift certificates for baby clothes memory blankets so the recipient can collect their clothing and then just send them to me themselves and I also have $25, $50 and $100 incriments good for anything in the shop including custom orders. What a fun and unique gift to give for the holidays!

Camera-less

So, my trusty digital camera and I have broken up :( He left me after a good 3 years together... we did everything together and we sure had some good times. Of course, as in any brake up, it happened at the most inopportune time... on our yearly family vacation this summer. I've tried and tried to get us back together but it looks like we're split for good. In this in between time until I find another good match, I am forced to use my digital video camera which takes amazing video footage but terrible photos... hence this photo of a new quilt in my shop. It does seem to capture the cute quilting but does not do well with colors or clarity. This little quilt is amazingly gorgeous but you'd never know that from this picture. The daisy eyelet white is super bright and clean and the lavender is so lucious... which you miss too. This is so not my style of photos :( Well, off to find a new camera! Wish me luck!

For the Little Princes out there

Well, this adorable baby boy quilt was just one quilt that was supposed to be for a school's charity silet auction. Sadly, they had to cancel their charity event wich leaves 3 gorgeous quilts available in my shop! This one is just one of my favorites for a little boy. As a mother of a 2 year old little boy, I've noticed that etsy's baby items are much more geared towards little girls. I have to admit that I'm guilty of that as well... it's fun to make things for girls with all the color options and "girly" fabrics out there, it's so hard to resist! Not to mention that most of my sales have been for girl blankets. I love this classic blue and brown combo though... so European to me. take a look at it in my shop and you'll also notice the other new additions as well that were ment for the auction. I've also included a gorgeous quilted throw for all you mamas too! The Bella Baby quilt above and my mama size throw in harmony flowers are the start to a new line of "cuddle plush" quilts and blankets. I've discovered an amazingly soft backing fabric that I'm so excited about! Check it out and take advantage of some amazing quilts!

I Heart Santa Cruz!

My mom and I have the fun job of looking at potential wedding sites for Melanee and Todd's wedding next summer. Since they live in Chicago but want to have a very "California" wedding... we're looking at beaches and redwood weddings. This is my favorite!!!! This gorgeous view would be where they exchange vows in front of! Not only is this beautiful, this venue allows tables and chairs to be set up right there on the sand! Now how California is that?

Olivia's first trip to the beach. She REALLY didn't like the sound of the waves or the cold water. She was cute though!

Inspiration

I love it when a client requests a custom item and you find an inspiration for something for yourself! This is gorgeous fabric in a map of regions in France in "pear tart". Mmmmm...the name just brings me back to my vacation in Paris and all the yummy pastries and cheese. It's my favorite place in the whole world. I'm so going to get some of this fabric and make myself a huge quilted throw to cuddle up in...it'll make me smile everytime I see it!

The reason why my poor shop hasn't gotten anything new...

I'm an Auntie now!!!!!

My brother and his wife had their little boy and I've been spending as much free time with my first nephew as I can. Logan and Olivia are loving having a new little cousin!

Jackson Nathaniel

June 16, 2009

12:28pm

8lb 5oz, 20 in

My little man

23 months is the "funnest" age I think!  Logan is now just a month away from from turning 2...yay!  He's learning something new everyday and it's so fun to see him process things.  He's in the stage where he wants to do everything we do.  I caught him trying to sew the other day (hmmm, maybe he sees me at my sewing machine too much!)

So, I was home sick for a few days this week with a terrible cold so I got to watch a mini marathon of my favorite show, Top Chef.  Logan, ran in the room and was glued to the tv for a few minutes, ran to his cupboard in the kitchen and came back in with his "cooking stuff."  I think we have  chef among us!  I'm on a search now for fun felt food patterns!

 

Doesn't this just make you want to smile?

I have the happiest baby in the world, she can always put a smile on my face!  What a little cutie!

Any day now!

I'm going to be an Auntie for the first time any day now and I am so excited!!!!!  My brother, Nate and my sister-in-law, Di are expecting their first little bundle of joy literally any day now.  I think I'm just as anxious and excited for them as I was when I was pregnant with my own little ones.  That waiting game is the hardest thing because you know that at any moment you could be holding and looking into the face of your baby.  It's the most wonderful and emotional experience of my life.  There is nothing in the world that compares to seeing your baby for the very first time.  I know it's kind of weird to say, but both times I had such easy and quick births (thanks to an epidural!)  But I have such wonderful memories from my children being born.  I hope the same happens for them.

Where has summer gone!

Ok, for those of you living in California, you know exactly what I'm talking about. For everyone else...this time of year we're supposed to be having 100 degree weather and having BBQs and going to the beach, you know doing "summery" stuff. Nope. A couple of weeks ago we had a hot week and we all though "ok, summer is here to stay", but last week started the cold, cloudy, windy weather again. Isn't it June today??? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this weather so much better then being all sweaty and cranky from the heat...it's just so weird.

So, even though it's hard to say being that it's the first day of June, but this is what my family can look forward to for dinner tonight! My step sister's fabulous chicken chili with a few "Stacey" tweeks to it!

Chicken & Black Bean Chili

drizzle of olive oil

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts-cubed

1 onion-chopped

2 garlic cloves-minced

2 red bell peppers-diced

2 tsp chili powder

2- 24oz cans of stewed or diced tomatoes (Yummy tip-I like to use the fire roasted tomatoes!)

1 cup salsa (Yummy tip-I use a mango or a peach/pineapple salsa!)

1 can corn

1 can black beans

In a large pot, brown chicken in olive oil and reserve to the side. Add onion, garlic and red bell pepper and sautee until soft and tender, about 10 minutes. Next add the chili powder, tomatoes, salso, corn and black beans and mix.

Simmer away! Let your chili simmer for at least 1 hour to let the flavors blend. Add chicken back to the pot for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking to reheat.

Top with your favorite toppings! Our favorites are fresh red onion, chedder cheese and sour cream.

I let my chili simmer all afternoon so that when my husband comes home from work the house is filled with the smell of warm corn bread and chili. He gets the biggest smile on his face and I get the biggest hug and kiss! He's a good 'ol southern boy from Oaklahoma, so this brings him right back to his childhood.

I think this pretty much sums up our weekend so far...

This truly represents our busy weekend!  This is Logan's beloved blankie that I found out in the backyard leaf pile (it's strangely been really windy for California this weekend).  We had a LONG car buying experience on Friday but luckily after five long hours and not nearly enough toys for the kids, we got a new car!  Church today followed by visiting my inlaws and back home for dinner and playing out side.  Logan is a true boy...loves being outside, loves exploring, and loves getting dirty!  Well, better get ready for our BBQ tomorrow...

Construction is underway!

Work on my newest project is in full force!  I'm working on a twin size baby clothes memory blanket for a wonderful customer's daughter...and I just received the box o' clothes in the mail the other day.  Isn't it funny how getting a package delivered makes you feel like a kid opening a Christmas present?  I love it!  This is going to be a huge project and extremely time consuming since each piece needs to be cut and backed individually for the ultimate durability and overall "prettyness."  The end result is amazing though and it's so fun to piece together a mother's memories of her little girl.  I like to think that one day this mom will sit with her little girl on her lap and tell her about the fond memories that each square represents and one day maybe this little girl will pass her heirloom quilt down to her daughter.  Ahhhh, I guess I'm a romantic!  Check out my shop for the memory quilt that I made my son!  Adorable stuff!

I'm it!!!!

Ok, so this is my first tag...so bear with me :)

Thank you AlyGatr for choosing me...how fun!!!!

So here are the rules...

The tag is ALWAYS & NEVERS • list "5 fashion always-es"• {things you always like or cannot do without}• for you personally• conversely, list "5 fashion nevers"• {things you would not be caught dead in}• for you personally• then tag 3 bloggers

ALWAYS

1.  Always, always, always have Burts Bee's chapstick handy!

2.  A pair of comfy flip-flops 

3.   My ultra handy huge Coach bag..thank you to my amazing husband!  It's PERFECT for carrying all my "stuff" and I can even manage to get a few diapers and wipees in it so I don't have to lug around a diaper bag :)

4.   My nice worn in, holey pair of jeans

5.  Anything that doesn't show all the baby drool and spit up from my 5 month old!

NEVER

1.   A super-low cut shirt (at least not for the moment!)... I've learned my lesson with two little ones and enough strangers getting a peepshow :)

2.  Bright colored eye shadow

3.  Super expensive designer clothes that can feed a small country...shoes don't count!

4.  Bling!

5.  Pouffy hair...I already lived through the 80's, thank you

Thank you AlyGatr for including the newby!  Ok, now to pass it on...

My "little loves"...

These are my two "little loves"...my sweet babies!  Logan and Olivia are such blessings to our lives and they are the reason I get up at 4:00am to work a full time job and own my own online baby boutique, Petit Amour that I run out of my home.  So much can be accomplished with just a table, a sewing machine and lots and lots of love!  I'm such a blessed lady!

Please check out my baby boutique at www.petitamour.etsy.com