Birthdays!!!!!!

Today my little cutie pie is 8. I just cant believe it. I feel the age 8 is a turning point in a boys life. Mine seems more independent, wants to hang out with dad more than me, and is testing more boundaries than he ever has before. Its making me get all teary! My little boy is on the road to becoming a little man. Hes getting a BB gun. Booo hooo!

Tonight is his big party. Its theme is Dinner and a Movie. We will have hot dogs, pop corn, and a ninja turtle movie. Awww a boys paradise. N-e-ways here are some pics of the cake I made.

I promise to start writing more soon!

Bat Man Hair Gel

I have sold 60 items in 3 1/2 months on ETSY. I feel like this is a real achievement. My booth has also sold some items. I have made my goal of getting my "rent" back for the first month on my booth. And I still have 2 weeks to go. I haven't been crafting or web surfing much the last week. School is starting in a little over one week. So I really wanted to fit in some fun stuff and I have tons to do to get ready. You know the drill, shopping, check ups, trying on old clothes, cleaning. To top that off, my hubbies b-day just passed and now my sons is coming up. So I also have to shop and plan a birthday party. Normally this is fun for me. Its stressful but the parts of being a stay at home mom that I love. But, after a long day of baking, cleaning, doc. appt. and birthday dinner with the in-laws I just sorta lost it. It started when I was getting ready for dinner. I was squeezing the last of my eye liner out, using bat man hair gel, and not finding any thing to wear that everyone hadn't seen a million times. I just took a step back and thought" how long have I been using bat man hair gel and using the last tiny bit of remnants of make up?" I wasn't even sure. Sigh.....My hubby ALWAYS has all his stuff. I NEVER let him run out. The kids do too. Why don't I take care of myself? I always put myself last. So after hubby made a mess in the kitchen I had just scrubbed I just yelled "I'm going out!!!" I grabbed the dog and took off. I went to a park and just walked and thought. I realized some things
1. I'm a perfectionist and nobody can do a job as well as me
2. I DO NOT know how to relax
3. I yell way to much
4. If I do not learn to relax, enjoy myself, and let others help out....I'm going to have a heart attack.
So......when hubby comes home I am going to apologize and tell him I am going to learn to chill. And he can help around the house without me hovering all he wants. (I'm sure he will love that one. lol)

So this blog is much more personal than my others. Why share? I know there are alot of moms out there using Bat Man gel right now. lol My message to you is Take a look at your life. Choose to be happy and have fun. Even if it means letting the Hubby feed the kids junk food, letting the laundry pile up, and the floor go unmoped. Your worth it. Im sure your husband and kids think so too.

Wow Thanks!

I feel so honored! Kat at http://alteredkat.blogspot.com/ nominated me for this. Cool!

I think these sweet ladies need the award too!

Aj at http://trash2treasure.wordpress.com/ She has an awesome store!

Kelly at http://www.dovegreystudio.blogspot.com/ Her house is sooo pretty.

Lori at http://faeriewindow.blogspot.com/ her art is sooo cute and she is really nice!

Tiffany at http://wwwbeyondthevintagepath.blogspot.com/ She does amazing work and is a sweetie!

Yay Rockin Girls!!!!

I LOVE junking!

I have been so busy crafting my little heart out. I have been making items for my etsy store and booth. I have discovered the wonders of crepe paper. I LOVE it. It took practice but I can make rosettes now. Today when I went junking I got some fabulous finds. Tons of vintage rick rack, ribbon, lace, and wooden spools. But, best of all I got this great old school house desk. Isn't it precious? Sadly, it just will not fit in my small house. Not to mention I do not think it is wise to have antiques around 3 little wild boys. So off to my booth it will go. I meet some wonderful ladies this week that are just as passionate about art and junk as I am. It was so nice to chat with such wonderful gals who gave me a huge boost of confidence.

SALE SALE SALE

I am having a half off sale in my etsy store.

http://www.brandywineboutique.com/

I want to change the look of my store and add lots of new cute items but I want to clear out some of the old first. Here is a preview of whats to come at my shop.

Well its done!

I have finally done it. My booth is all set up. It turned out cuter than I thought. Now I just have to sit back and see if I sell anything. Its so nerve wracking! It was sooo much work. I just have to mention how sweet and wonderful my husband is. He helped me set up. Which was a large task with 3 heavy doors to hang from the ceiling! So thank you so much. I couldn't have done it with out you. I am blessed to have such a supportive husband.

So now I must finish painting my studio. I am also planning to have a BIG sale in my ETSY store. I want to start fresh with lots on new items. But, of course I will have to create new ones first! lol

I feel like my new creative journey in life is really starting to get going. It so exciting. Thanks for coming along.

Open booth tomorrow!

Yikes! I cant believe it is already here! And on top of that I took hubby to see where it would be sat. and my spot was gone!! The owner said the fire dept. came to inspect and it was to close to the exit door. My heart fell to the floor. But, she had a new spot open up I could have for a little more rent. It is ALOT bigger and on a main path. But, I went from a wall booth to a no wall booth! Can you believe it? With two days until I set up. I was so OMG! I had to rethink everything. But, I think this will be so much better. So, this is what I came up with to display some smaller items to hang. Isn't it just so cute?! The pics do not do it justice! I will take lots of pics and post soon. Wish me luck!

Redoing Studio

I have been working really hard this week. This is

before and after pics of my studio. I took the pegboard idea from the better homes and garden mag and did it all by myself! I even used power tools!!! I just LOVE it. The color is aqua kiss. I have just the corner finished. I still have the rest of the room to do. But, I felt I had to have my work area set up so I did it first. The pegboard is just awesome. I will change it up some and add cute stuff so I will post pics after I am done.

Today however I put the power tools and paint brushes up

to do a little crafting. I get sooooo much more done having

it all handy and organized. These are for my booth. To see more

see my flickr.

A Vision

I have been thinking about making this collage for a few days. Last night I finally decided to just go for it. The obvious meaning is a wren having visions, dreams, and hopes for what is about to be for her. For me the meaning is much deeper. When I was about sixteen years old I really started to wonder who I was. I began to explore my native American roots. Now, my family really had no information for me so I began reading books. The spiritual way they lived really called to me. I began a quest to find my "spirit name". It came to me easily and knew with out a doubt my name was Little Wren. At the time I didn't even know what a wren was so I looked it up and had to laugh at the similarities. Wrens are very small, very protective, and seem to have no fear. I am only 5 foot tall. This "vision" is still with me 14 years later. When a wren crosses my path I feel it is a reminder to remain who I am. I may make this a collection. I'm not sure yet.

My little secret.

I found an antique mall really close to my house. I can not believe I had never seen it before. It did not look like much on the outside but, was HUGE inside. And oh what wonderful treasures. There was a whole room at the very back called Paris Apartment. I fell in LOVE! OMG! I want to live there. Next time i go I will take pics. It was exquisite. Now, here is my little secret....a few months ago (before flicker and etsy) I hated pink, and never had the slightest desire to go to Pairs. I have grown to love them looking at all the wonderful flicker pics. But, when I walked into this room......well it was magic. I felt a way I never have before. I swear I must be a reincarnated Parisian. lol I just felt at home, and pretty, and well.... very girly. I have always been a major tomboy. I guess I must be growing up. I had heard that happens when you turn 30. And it this wonderful womanly feeling means growing up I am fine with it. Also I got some great finds. I just love the little bottles. They have china paint. Not real sure what they are for. Dolls I think. But, I got them for the cute bottles. My son also scored while we were there. A very sweet lady GAVE his a whole big box of baseball cards. Its turning out to be quite a day:)

Refresh the soul

We had a WONDERFUL time camping in Colorado Bend State park. It was the most exhausting vacation I have ever had. But, I came back so refreshed, balanced, and free. I have been working non stop since we got back. My little dog had quite the adventure. Raccoons sole his food. A whole Tupperware full of food! He got brave and jumped in to the river and was headed down stream in a fast current when my husband saved him. But, he was so full of joy the whole trip. My son also had a blast. He was such a boy. He played in ant beds, got filthy, and climbed giant grape vines. If you want to see more pictures check out my flicker page.

News! News! News!

First the news. I am opening a booth in a local antique mall! Its a super cute store full of shabby chic and country decor. The outside is even painted pink! I will start out with a small wall booth. I will sell the same things I do on etsy but also add larger items. I will have alot of trash to treasure. I will finally get to use all the shabby old windows, scrap wood, and all the other junk I have been collecting. I am really excited. All the booths are decorated soooo cute. I cant wait to set up. Only thing is I have less than a month to get every thing made. Right now I really have nothing to sell. I am going to be soo busy.

Also, I got a great haul this weekend at garage sales and flea markets. Not pictured is a bunch of vintage aprons(i got for a buck) two suit cases and some vintage pots. I made a cute bird with some of my finds.

Cute New Tags on ETSY!

I really like how these turned out. I made on to go on some flowers I cut from my garden. I liked it so much I made a set to sell.

MMMMMM Cup cakes!

I just made these for the 4th of july. Gosh baking makes me happy. Or is it eating what I have baked makes me happy? Hmm. HAPPY 4TH every one!!!!!!!

Shabby Chic Front Porch

These are pics of my front and back door. Oh...and my rotten cat Sniffles. Here is my ETSY shop:
Brandywine Designs

Paris Honeymoon

I have been so busy! All this rainy weather has put me in a creative mood. I came up with the idea of "lost travel treasures". It is a paper bundle of ephemera from make believe people and their travels. So far I have made and sold one. I plan to make more of other places. So check my etsy store if you are interested. Also I would like to thank altered kat because I got the photo of the Paris couple from her awesome web site-Great Musings.

Altered art Kits

I have started making kits to sell on ETSY. Its so fun to put together.

Going camping.

I have been dashing around like a mad woman tyring to get ready to go camping. I felt sickish yesterday and got nothing done. My husband, son, two step sons, and our dog will be going. Two seven year old and a four year old. They make me laugh and want to pull my hair out. We camp in tents so there is soooo much stuff to take. I always take too much food. We are such pigs when we camp. lol I just hope our two seven year old stop fighting or this is not going to be much fun. Having a blended family is so crazy!! It is never boring. I hope to post some cool pictures when I get back.

New Vintage tag set

I made a cool tag set this morning. It took alot of work but I love the way it turned out. If it sells I will have to make some more. I hope it sells. I have not sold anything in a while. Im thinking the reason is ETSYS bugs. Every thing seems to be going smoothly now thu. I just really need a sell for my moral boost.

My Toad!

I took my pac man toad outside yesterday. I thought I would take some pics of hims.

Isn't he cute! He eats baby rats. Gross huh? I HATE feeding him. I buy them frozen. So its not to bad.