"Hats are key to the finishing for a fashion" ~ tomokotahara

...I love hats & LOVE this latest ETSY find...tomokotahara!

The designs are elegant yet funky -her gorgeous use of colors and textures coordinate perfectly with her Japanese designs...be sure to pop over and take a peek!

ETSY find #2 of the week...

I think I will carry on with this theme of sharing my latest loves on ETSY...I have a fondness for snowmen at this time of year and LOVE these funky snowladies I found at Miss Bea Haven Originals...personally I would love anything from her store...makes me want to get out the flour & water and take up papier mache!

Fond Memories....

of playing paperdolls in our basement have me in LOVE with my latest find on ETSY!

Since I am still technoligically challenged I thought I would share some online finds this week...

Check out these adorable paperdolls offered by The Black Apple! A must have for every little girl on your list!

Yikes!

sorry to have been MIA - we crashed our computer and have been limping along technologically!

we also snuck in a quick trip to INDIA for a wedding and I will post pics once I have a computer up and running!

In the meantime...I thought I would share a funny email I got today from a good girlfriend who is living too far away ...

MY LIVING WILL

Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her,
"I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That wouldbe no quality of life at all. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."

So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine!

Happy December All!!

I've been Tagged!

Sara of Stinky Pete fame and new to the blogging world has tagged me to share 7 random facts about myself! The rules are as follows:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

...so here goes!

1. I am going to fulfill a lifelong dream next week by travelling to India for a wedding! I have always been fascinated by India, it's culture, food, literature and more. A friend of ours called last Christmas to let us know his marriage had been successfully arranged and we would be invited to the wedding! Pack the bags...we're going!

2. I love purple! not red, rosey purple but deep rich indigo purple...blue violet in crayola speak

3. hubby and I lived in Poland when we were first married and as a result we now speak "Polinglish" when we don't want the kids to know what we are talking about!

4. for some unknown reason I randomly spell words to myself - if I hear a word I might just start spelling it to myself over and over...weird huh?

5. I played trumpet for 4 years as a kid - even though I coveted the flute...my great grandfather had played in Sousa's band during WWI and I felt family obligation to continue the tradition

6. I love asian food especially Vietnamese

7. I went to 5 different elementary schools, 2 schools from 7-12th grades and 2 different colleges!

I am going to tag....

Joni, Judy (maybe it will get her blogging again) Mary, Erin, Sarah, Anj,

Love is in the Air....

2 new listings up on ebay...the 1st is a OOAK Christmas Dress...ready to ship!

Joyeux Noel

this dress features 8 different chrismas fabrics, gorgeous cotton velveteen & vintage ball fringe trim...
the 2nd one was just listed for a guest launch with Boutique XOXO...

Be Mine

this set features soft corduroy from Baby Nay and a funky Euro styled hoodie

Marvelous Monday on ETSY!

I thought that I would share another awesome ETSY find.....

I fell in love with the art of MarmeeCraft....whimsical & sweet...some neat finds for the holidays

Another cutie in her gock's frocks!

I just got these photos from a new ETSY customer who ordered one of my patchwork skirts for a family photo shoot...I also made the matching tshirt to complete the look...

My sister just emailed me this little story and I wanted to share with all of you...

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today?' So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. 'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?' So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.' So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. 'YEA!' she exclaimed, 'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously,Care deeply,Speak kindly.......

Leave the rest to God
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain

Trick or Treat Fun!!!

the whole gang...my mexican wrestler nephews...my sister, doingher best Johnny Depp imitation, my mom - the witch and Aunt Jody - winner of the spunkiest costume!

Klem - a gangster pig ?!??

Leo& george go native

fairy sweet Eily

the fairy wanted to fly

leo & george...BFF

pumpkin fun!

That's what friends are for...or advetures in the tutu factory!

last week some of my girlfriends came to my rescue as I madly got ready for a trunkshow at my mom's...tutus are always a big hit but I had run out of time to get them stocked up...so...we had a tutu tutorial here and a few of my gal pals joined me in the fun!

A huge thanks to Seamstress Susie, Mary Ellen - the cutting queen & Luscious Lara who even enlisted the help of her 9 year old DD!

Oh Sew Busy...Take 2!

Yes...2 more listings up on ebay....

my final one for StudioR's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is a felted wool jacket that coordinates with Michael Miller's Holiday fabric...but also goes great with a pair of jeans!

The design has been needle felted on and I incorporated angelina fibers into the wool roving to give some added sparkle. The green trim is from my stash of vintage trims and is the lovliest shade of limey green!

Through the Woods

My second set that just listed this morning is a semi-custom felted wool skirt with hand appliqued wool polka dots..I just love how this came out!

Fall Frolic

Enjoy!

Oh Sew Busy...

I have 3 new sets listed on ebay this week ..

the first is Let it Snow with StudioR, this is a 3 piece custom featuring a wool skirt with hand emboidered details, needlefelting and applique using wool felt and recycled felted wool sweaters!

The next 2 sets were done for my guest appearance with the Cherry Blossoms...an amazingly talented group of women!

Their theme is "Tattered Beauty" and I listed 2 tonight for that and will have another 1 or 2 more later in the week.

The first I have named Autumn Splendor and this features a REVERSIBLE dupioni silk skirt - double your fun for the holidays!

the other one listed with theBlossoms is called Chocolat and is a Euro inspired Zuma pant setEnjoy!

Fabric Therapy....

well, Stanley was not the only one to have some fun in NYC...I also had the chance to take a quick trip through the garment district...WOW!! It is a good thing I was on foot and limited by how much I could carry otherwise I could have done some major damage!

The selection, colors, textures, trims were overwhelming and inspiring at the same time...I limited myself to a few goodies that I will share as I use them...for now, enjoy the photos...

Stanley Takes the Big Apple

columbus day weekend found me in The Big Apple..sans les enfants! whooo wheee ;) We are going to India next month for awedding so I flew down to visit my brother and get our visas...I did have a stowaway with me however...Flat Stanley!

My daughters 2nd grade class is studying geography and they each mailed 2 Stanleys to friends around the world with instructions to take photos of Stanley at some of the sights where they live. Si Stanley jined me on my journey to NYC..enjoy the pics....

The Kindness of others...

Wow...I was overwhelmingly surprised by the positive vibes I received on my EURO Hooodie Dress that ended today on ebay...

It had more than 700 views which was record setting for me and at one point 30 watchers! I listed it over at my ETSY store and when I got home from running errands I had the sweetest convo in my mailbox...

I just had to tell you that this may be the most beautiful dress I've ever seen! If it were in my budget, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'm sure it's worth every cent, though! Whoever gets that dress will be one very lucky little girl.I love all your stuff, but this dress took my breath away, and I just wanted to share!

I am touched that the effort was made to let me know how much they liked it...I know I try to do this when I see something I lov ebut may not be able to purchase and it was neat to have it done to me...thanks Irishmonk!

It also caused me to reflect on the whole design process...sometimes I agonize over a design for weeks, trying to get each element as I want it but then , as with this dress...i catch sight of the fabric from the corner of my eye and the urge to create takes hold and within hours the design is complete. I loved the dress but as I had not spent long laboring over the design I did not have great expectations for it - I have been so pleasantly surprised and want to thank everyone for their kind words of admiration!

Have a beauty filled day!

Another Awesome ETSY find....

I just love the creativity over at ETSY and had to share the latest neat idea I saw...

perfect for all of your knitting friends...jewelry from recycled knitting needles!

from Sassafras Creations...and she has a promo for freeshipping through 10/15!

Some more customer cuties....

two cute!!

Good Morning! I have a lot of goodies to share with you!


I have 3 current listings for the Elite Euro launch on ebay


to Market...




From Russia with Love






from Russia with Love ...part 2





I also spotted a great RESELL on ebay...


Uptown Twirl