resource party {+ name tags}

This weekend Julia and I hosted a resource party. So the idea is that everyone brings a goal that they want to share. At the beginning of the party everyone tells the group what their goal is and then throughout the night you talk to people who you think you may be able to help, give ideas too and basically just encourage. Julia and I put together a list of local bloggers and there was an amazing turn out of 25 girls. I highly recommend doing this. I learned very quickly that you don't need a blog and you don't need to have a business. Your goal could be to help a non-profit or to start to go to Yoga, whatever. The huge take away for me is that there are no goals too big or too small and we are all here to encourage each other {which I know everyone needs}. I had a happy hangover the next morning, everyone's energy was so good. Could you imagine most girls didn't know anyone. I think I only knew half the group and everyone felt comfortable being vulnerable telling the group their dreams.
My house was filled with so much radiant talent... these were our guests...

Alex - Rustic Rooster
Bethany & Tere - MOM
Karen - Karin Grow
Kara - Verse Jewelry
Ashley - Little Presidents {adorable monogrammed goodies for you and baby... website to come}
Brandi - Not Your Average Ordinary
Summer - Modernhaus
Raluca - What Would Gwenyth Do
Bianca - Bink & Boo
Theresa - Inspiration Co Op
Samantha - Vintage is for Lovers
Jennie Corti - The White Barn
Heather Feemster - La Feem & The Post Social
Grace Sorenson - Grace Happens
Amber Haldane - The Girl is Craftee
Brandis Rodriguez - Little Rabbit Print
Haydee Sentianin - Happenstance & The Post Social
Julia Wheeler - San Diego Songbird & The Post Social
Nicole - Coastal Family Living
Nicole - Paper Boat {amazing shoes... coming soon}
Venus - Anthology Collection
Erin - Such Small Steps
Greta - Ott Creative

So for name tags I thought I would do something a little jazzier then just "Hello my name is." So I got mailing labels from Paper Source, cut out fabric, punched out paper from the dictionary and made a "fresh" stamp {our theme was Fresh food and Fresh ideas}. I hot glued them all together and there you go... a fun twist on name tags {which are so nice to wear especially someone like me who gets nervous and forgets good friends names}.

Wait! one more thing I forgot to say... today marks the first day of Jeanne Oliver's, Building a Creatively Made Business e-course. You can hop on and join in at anytime and registration is open until April 23. On top of the course all registered people are entered to win a Beginning Business Kit. This is blog design, web design, postcard design, business card design and one on one consulting with Jeanne. I am super excited! Please email me if you have any questions... I have no doubt that it will be great.

fabric covered eggs

supplies:
* one styrofoam egg
* straight pins
* fabric scraps from a friend

how to: make a stamp

Here is a fun way to make your own stamps. Get one of these kits. Carve out whatever you have in mind {if you do letters remember you have to do the mirror image}, glue your stamp to a handle {I used an old wooden bead and a wooden spool} and stamp away.

wrapped up {almost}

wrap:
Ikea drawing paper
bakers twine
jute twine
candy canes
Delphine Press tags

wings + popcorn

Rarely do my stars align to have a quiet moment to myself, so I thought I would take the opportunity to photograph and post these wings I made for a friend. Miss you all out there in blogland. I hope someday soon I will be back. My creative energies have been given to my two little guys for the last 4 1/2 months. I guess I look at them and think, "Should I make Popcorn and play or Post?" Popcorn always wins.

*wing tutorial found here.

F&F pop~up shop + more happenings

Bear with me as there is so much to report for this weekend that I feel inclined to make a list...
1-The lovely ladies of M.O.M. will be at the Queen Bee Market {see #2} so while they are out a few of us will be filling their shop with goodies. I have made a bunch of sewn note cards {above} and will dropping by some BIG elephants {like these}. Grace Happens, Modern Crush, and Zippity will also be there... come see us!!
2- Queen Bee Market~ this is a fabulous event filled with beautiful artisans and antiques... think Renegade {with more antiques} in Del Mar.
3-Summerland Mercantile!! is revealing their brand new Atelier on Saturday with an open air market and jewelry making hosted by the fabulous Kaari Meng... if you are any where near the middle of California I would hop in my car and go... Seriously I KNOW this will be a fabulous event.
4- My wildly creative friend Karin Grow is having a garage sale on Saturday. Okay her garage sales are so good that I actually begged to go to her house at 2 today for a sneak preview {I could do an entire post on the fabulous treasures I have found at her house}. 919 Doris Drive, Encinitas... starts at 8.
5- and Mother's Day... to all of you Mommy's out there THANK YOU! I didn't really get it until I had Henry and now I see... it is the hardest and most important job on Earth... and yes! we do deserve a little celebrating!!

21st in Vegas

This weekend my sister Christiana turned 21. At Christmas we all asked her what she wanted to do for her big birthday and she said Vegas with her family. I was so excited to be included... at 31 and pregnant I am so tickled that my sister wants to spend her birthday with me. We stayed at Vdara which I highly recommend; no casino, great pool, beautiful rooms and in the City Center. For our big night out we went to see LOVE. One word... WOW! I loved it. There were many points where I was actually laugh-crying. The combo of sitting next to the birthday girl, Beatles music and magical set designs made for a brilliant evening. I love you CC... happy birthday... I can't wait for you to come home for summer!

I made CC a crown for her big day. I meant to take photos while I was making it for a little tutorial but I am so bad at that. I think about it when I start and then remember once I am all finished. Any way here are some directions... just in case if you want to try one out for your next celebration {I think it would be adorable for any kind of shower, birthday, Mother's Day, holiday...}.
1- cut out a crown on a thick piece of card stock... I used 2 pieces of 8.5x11 and then sewed them together {you could always use glue} a piece of poster board would be even easier.
2- take pages from an old book and trace out the crown that you have cut out. Glue or sew on the book paper to the crown
3- Measure out a piece of ribbon that is long enough to wrap a head and tie... I made it kind of long which looked cute from the back
4- center the ribbon on the crown and Sew or glue along the bottom
5- Layer a piece of lace first with glue on the center of the crown
6- Then get something decorative {I used little dye cut roses that I have from Paper Source, you could also find something online and print it out on your printer} glue it on the lace
7- And finally glue the numbers on... you could make your own with glitter and card stock... I actually don't remember where I got these numbers but I have a box full of numbers and letter... it is a great thing for packages.
8- For a couple hours I let the crown dry with a book resting on top to ensure that everything would lay flat
9- Once the hat is done I embellished it with a little more glitter
On the backside you can use the plane paper for a little love note.

birthday butterfly

A few weeks ago we got an adorable invitation in the mail. It was so sweet, the birthday girl made the invite herself and then mom color copied them. I loved it. I was especially taken with the butterfly she drew, when I saw it I was instantly inspired to get out my stitching, so I traced it and stitched it for her birthday. Happy 6th Birthday sweetie!

work in progress: car mat

Here are the beginnings of a 'car mat' for Henry. I wanted to make something for him that he can use with his Matchbox cars at home or on the run. He is always vroom vrooming them around the house and I thought it would be fun to have a little road with houses and such. Although I have some more stitching I thought I would share. I started with a piece of fabric about 36"x24", cut out a road and have started layering on houses, a boat, buildings and a lake. My goal is to give it to Henry with some new shiny cars in his Easter basket.

my first class!!

When I started my blog a year and a half ago one of my goals was to teach classes around the things I am interested in... cooking, sewing, embroidering, gardening, painting... So when Cathy and Stacy of Summerland Mercantile asked me to teach a class about sewing on paper I was so incredibly, amazingly excited! I am going to be teaching March 19th, go here to sign up. Which leads me to my "Creative Crush"... follow me over to Under a Pink Moon to see more...

** everyone taking the class will be going home with 10 notecards like these
*** been getting emails on the location of the class it is near Santa Barbara, CA in Summerland... when you sign up for the class you will be sent the address {I haven't been there yet but I have a feeling it is pretty amazing... super excited :)... thank you for the interest!!}

on the sticker wagon

There has been lots of blog fodder about a certain sticker maker called the Xyron. I thought it sounded awesome but I didn't know how amazing it was until yesterday. There isn't a fabric scrap or piece of paper in the Art Barn safe right now, basically everything I can get my hands on is now sticky. I am having a shower here next week for friends who are getting married on a sailboat. We are thinking 'nautical tea' and this sticker machine is perfect for my little flags. Thank you for the tip Bianca {and coupon!}.

Olivia James + the winner is...

I have been so excited to share these photos of Olivia James. My girlfriend Lauren asked me if I would come take photos of Olivia for her announcement. I was thrilled to spend time with the new mommy and baby, plus knowing I was allowed to take photos of everything was sooo much fun {I am usually so embarrassed to just start snapping away even though that is all I want to do}. Taking photos of babies may be my new "calligraphy," I kind of loved everything about it.

And on another note... so I know I originally said you all had until Thursday to comment for the giveaway but it occurred to me that Valentines is already on Monday so I better speed up this giveaway if you want to give this card to your love. So to be far and square I wrote all your names on little pieces of paper and I pulled....... wait for it........ Brandi!!{email me your address and I will get it in the mail pronto}.