Monday, December 27, 2010

New Work (Part I)

So I've going on and on about this 'new work' I've been doing, and I've not shown any pictures of the finished results!

So here is Part I of the things I've been creating:



I've always made a yearly calendar for my card shop, but this year I decided to also make a calendar out of the prints in my print shop:







You can find the calendar, and all of it's details, here.
Hope you like it! (I love all the cute little animals, and haven't decided if this or my other calendar will be the one I use)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Flock








A long long while ago I mentioned that I had decided to knit a mobile for our son's nursery. At the time this seemed like a really creative, inexpensive, and cute idea. Well, it was mostly all of the above (just a serious pain to assemble!) and I finally got put up in his room. What do you think!?




I love the bright happy colors and hope he will too. :)
You can find the pattern here, should you like to knit one of your own!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Busy Busy Bee



December certainly is a busy time of year.

This December has been even more busy than usual for me which, as you might have noticed, has caused a serious lack of posting on my little blog. Let me give you a run down of what's been going on:

1.) I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Ever hear about this? I hadn't given it a single thought until I got a phone call from a nurse at my OB's office instructing me to high tail it to the hospital for an in depth test of my blood sugar. This involved fasting for 15hrs, and lots of blood work. Things didn't come back so hot and as a result my life was sort of turned upside down.

2.) As a result of GD I see twice as many doctors.
In addition to seeing my lovely OB every two weeks, I get to meet with high risk doctors every 2-4weeks to have my little boy checked on. I'm not complaining because I want him to stay healthy, but it's a lot of appointments to get to!

3.) As a result of GD I'm spending 90hours in the kitchen.
My diet is more strict than a regular diabetics diet, and I have to be very careful what I consume. I test my sugar levels four times a day, and if I am not careful I will have to also use insulin to keep the baby and I healthy. Since I do NOT want this, I have been on crusade to cook as healthy as I can for the baby and me. Dinners which were usually quick and easy have become more involved and time consuming, but worth it, because you can only eat eggs and a slice of toast for so long. I also go to the grocery store 50 more times a week to get fresh veggies for snacks and dinner.

4.) I've got about 6 weeks before I give birth.
If I went to my due date it would actually be 8 weeks, but doctors are hinting that that will not happen. This is a whole other story, but because of this I was told not to travel very far for the holidays. As a result my family is coming to me! This has meant lots and lots of cleaning and preparing for a house full of 7 people and 4 dogs set to arrive this Wednesday.

5.) I've been busy making new items for my shops!
I think this one is self explanatory :)



Did I give enough reasons for my horrible lack of posts?
I have lots of new work to share on here, and hope to do that all this week. Fingers crossed nothing crazy happens :)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Panda


I've finally gotten around to finishing a print that I wanted to do for quite some time. It is another in the "Mommy and Me" series, which I just love.

This time, the animal is a panda bear:


You can find it in my print shop.
I hope you love this cute little pair!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Organization



I am very excited for the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving will be our last official drive up to see my family until after the little boy is born. But with this came the realization that we will be having Christmas at our house this year.

And with that means cleaning and organizing like never before!
I want everything to be just so, since it's not every day we have 4 dogs and 7 people stuffed into our home. (I realize this might not seem like a big gathering, but it's big for our home!) Currently our coffee table is a mess of birds waiting to become the little one's mobile, and the floor is littered with Christmas wrapping supplies. There is much to do to make this house spic and span and with each passing day my growing belly takes away a little bit more of my energy.

It's going to be an interesting Christmas for sure. :)

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Flock

One thing I wanted for our little boys nursery was a mobile. But, I didn't like mobile prices! Sheesh. So I did what any crafter would do; started researching 'make-it-yourself' mobiles!

And this is what I found:





Isn't it great!?
I've already started my own with 4 birds made! My little boy's mobile is going to be a lot brighter than this, as I am using all the scraps from his Triple B crocheted afghan.
As soon as I have it finished and hanging over his crib I will post some pictures!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Time Flies




Wow. It's been forever since I've posted anything.

What happened? Am I allowed to chalk it up to pregnancy brain? I like to chalk a lot of things up to that these days :)

Basically I've been unbelievably busy and my modest little blog had to take a (temporary) backseat. We'll be up and running like normal starting right now though! Since I last wrote I have attended a wedding, funeral, last across the state trip to see the friends and family of my lovely husband, and my baby shower. (Where everyone, EVERYONE, asked me what we are naming the little boy. No one liked the answer: It's a Secret!!)

All of these events were out of town.
A minimum of three hours out of town.

I'm very happy to report my last out of town trip will be back to my hometown for Thanksgiving. That is it! I'm done with long car trips. Between needing a bathroom every 5 seconds, and antsy dogs in the backseat road trips are ceasing to exist until well after the little boy has arrived.




In other much more fun and exciting news, I thought I'd let you all know that you can enter a giveaway on the lovely blog, Scotty Boy and Katy Girl for your chance to win any one item from my Olive and Ruby shop (along with a bunch of other awesome things). Head on over for your chance to win!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Gnovember


I'm so excited to announce that I've been a featured on Gnome Angel's blog.
I did a Q&A and it was lots of fun. You can check it out here!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Daisy

Daisy, a floral piggy plush


Meet Daisy, the newest plush member of Pine Hill Forest. I love her so much I just had to share (and if I were having a little girl I can promise you she would be mine!) The thing I love about these pigs so much is that they are 100% baby friendly. Guess I better ask if I can get one in boy colors :)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Flickr Favorites II




A while ago I decided to make a flickr favorites made up from my own list of favorites on flickr. I had so much fun doing it I decided I would make a second one!

This time I tried to pick out pictures of all the same colors. A blue/yellow/white pallet is not normally something I gravitate too, but I after I saw the latte bowl picture I knew this is what I wanted to do. I have a small collection of latte bowls and they are some of my own favorite bowls to use everyday!













Want to see more flickr faovirtes?
Head on over to Artmind's blog and check them out!

Monday, October 18, 2010

2011 Calendar

Finally!
I realized October is rapidly drawing to its end, and decided it was high time I got my Wall Calendar for 2011 designed and in the shop.

Here it is:







(digital thumb nail images of each month)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Flickr Favorites - Refresh


Lately I have had this desire to change.
I want to redo rooms in the house, give my wardrobe a facelift, crochet brand new afghans for the sofas. . .you get the idea. I have no idea why this sudden urge has come over me!

The clothes could be attributed to the fact that I am growing outwards at an alarming rate, and my ever changing shape has me wanting something new to compliment it. As for the rooms in my house, all of which I loved a mere week ago? Maybe it's the changing of the seasons, or my crazy pregnancy hormones. One can never be sure why I want to do anything these days. Perhaps I'll settle for rearranging some furniture to see if that satisfies my urge for change!















Want to look at other flickr favorites?
Head on over to Artmind's blog and sign up!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Flickr Favorites - Senses




This week is theme week for flickr favorite's players. Miss Artmind posed the question:

" what touches your senses, gives you goosebumps, makes you all gooey inside..."

Initially I thought this was going to be a very difficult challenge to put to pictures. Because like Artmind I am a pretty sensitive person. Going for a walk in the woods, waking up to the smell of an ocean breeze, or something as small as walking into my kitchen with fresh cut flowers on the table can lift my spirits, make me smile. When I see something or somebody who touches me it alters my way of thinking, reminds me not to be too self-absorbed. I love those moments, and I hope I never lose that.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Monster Crew Expands

I love my monsters.
I never get tired of dreaming up new guys to add to my monster crew. They are always so much fun to put together, and besides, who doesn't love a friendly monster!?

Today I have added two more to the crew:







Like all of my prints, you can find these in my etsy shop.
Here is a mass picture of every monster in the crew:
Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Flickr Favorites



I was having a hard time coming up with an idea for my flickr favorites this week.
Then it occurred to me.
These little mosaics I make every Tuesday are called "flickr favorites." Why not actually sit down and go through all of the pictures I have marked as favorites and make a mosaic around some of them!?

So here you have it, a flickr favorites of some of my saved favorites on flickr! I think I could make about 90 billion flickr favorites like this. I forget about all the lovely things I add to my favorites on that addictive little website!


(And as a side note, my favorite picture is of that Orange Ranunculus - love those flowers!)













Want to check out some more flickr favorites?
Head on over to Artmind's blog and look around!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Nursery Update


Well now that we know it's a boy I decided to add a few boy touches to a room that was looking, frankly, a bit girly.

I hunted all over etsy, and so far this is what we've got:


1. The Hirsute Hedgehog and The Happy Bear prints by John W Golden
2. Another beautiful quilt by my mom, of Pine Hill Forest
3. Cute Deer Pillow by Olive
4. Do it yourself Long Dog in brown by June Craft




5. Helicopter Decals by janeymacpress
6. Not an Etsy purchase, but couldn't resist showing the crochet blanket I made for the room once more!




Well that is what we have so far folks! Not up yet, but will be as soon as I decide where to put them are a retro weiner dog print in orange by June Craft and a light blue hippo print by yours truly!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Quilts

(detail from the quilt)


The first thing I received when I found out I was pregnant was a handmade quilt from my mom. It did not come as a surprise as I specifically asked her to make one for me to match the colors and pillows (pillows that she made) in our bedroom. I wanted it because this little dude is coming in February which I consider the coldest month of the year for us. I thought it might be nice to have to snuggle him in during those midnight feedings.

I gave her no direction, just requested she use the same fabric and colors we had picked out for the accent pillows many months before hand. I heard no more about the quilt until she was ready to put her favorite touch on it. A few pieces of velvet ribbon. She wondered about what colors I wanted. Not knowing the sex of our little one yet, I chose cream and green.

And with that choice made I received my quilt:

(quilt hung up on my bedroom wall)


Isn't it lovely!!!?
I need to figure out the best way to photograph a quilt because this picture isn't even doing it a bit of justice. I admire it sitting draped over the chair in our bedroom every morning when I wake up, and every night before I go to sleep. I can't wait to use it, and pray the little one doesn't get too many gooey messes on it! (wishful thinking I am sure) I love it so much I immediately told her she should be selling these in her shop along side her plush animals. No word yet on if she will, but thankfully I know that at least I can get one of these beauties whenever I want!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Details



What an exciting day Monday, September 20th, was!
I had been getting more and more anxious for it to arrive with each passing day, resorting to drawing lines on my pretty calendar for each day I made it through. It was a constant reminder that time was indeed rolling along even when it felt like it wasn't.

The morning started with a routine visit to the transplant clinic for my husband. It was the big removing-of-staples visit, and we were there bright and early! Once all of that was finished we decided to spend some time walking around Old(e) City. I love it there. There are so many beautiful sites and sounds. Rarely do we actually have the time to just stroll through the old buildings, or down the little cobble stone streets. This was all short lived by my urgent need to eat though!

After a lovely lunch (he had a burger, I had a calamari salad) we strolled through some pretty streets on our way back to the car. The time was really getting close.


Time to finally see the baby that is.


We arrived 20minutes early, and I expected to sit and wait the eternity that was required of me. However we were both (very pleasantly) surprised when they called my name after 5 minutes (yes!). At this point the husband was looking a little pale, and I wondered if he'd make it through the exam. This was his first time "seeing" the baby and he was all kinds of nervous about that fact.

When our wonderful technician started the first thing we saw was a little head and belly. Then I thought I saw cute little hands. "Nope!" the technician told me. Confused I asked her what I was looking at then. She responded with a chuckle that it appeared my little one had it's legs up in the air with both feet hanging out by his/her face (at this point she would not tell me the sex. She explained she always did that part last. boo!). So a little perplexed but amused, I tried to tell my brain to register the little grey images as feet and not hands.

As though the baby knew I was struggling to get a good grasp on what I was seeing, I saw little hands reach out and play with those little feet! And then I saw the same little hands play with a teeny tiny little mouth. And then I saw a spine. The technician made a small comment about this being a very "active" baby and told me that s/he had flipped to facing my spine. Within a minute or two s/he was back to facing outwards towards my belly. This went on and on, and while I watched I sort of wished I could feel that twirling happening inside my belly.

The technician clicked away, taking all sorts of measurements while I sat content to watch. After 45minutes (and with feet still up by his/her face) she informed me she was ready to make the gender call. Here we go, in seconds I know I am going to hear her say "Girl"

"It looks like a little boy!" she proudly proclaimed. I just sat there wide eyed. Next thing I see her do is zoom in so close to the baby parts it's all a sea of grey, and she begins to circle the 'jewels.' I look over at my husband who is just as shocked as me (I'm not lying when I say we really thought this was a girl.) The technician wrapped up what she was doing, I'm smiling and in shock, and she tells me to wait for the doctor to come in to tell me what he thinks of the measurements.

I snap out of my shocked state and remember to be nervous over the health of the baby. The doctor comes in right away and informs me everything looks good, and to have a happy and healthy 4.5months. Back to gender shock.

We walked to the car and I kept saying, "we're having a little boy. we're having a son."
By the time we got to the car we couldn't even stop containing our excitement.

Since then we've tried in vain to come up with a name or two we like. That is proving problematic. Anyone have any boy names they want to share? (we're going for unique, but not 'moon beam' unique) Until we come up with a permanent name, we're calling him Axel Lee. This started after hearing that a couple from a TV Show we happen to love named their little baby boy this a few weeks ago. Also Lee is my husbands name. He is the opposite in appearance to what comes to mind when you say "Axel." It's a pretty fitting nickname for our little man until we come up with something more permanent. :)


Seriously, send me boy names!
We've got nothin'

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Flickr Favorites - . b . o . y .


Not much else to say!
(okay there is, but I will write all about it tomorrow)

The verdict is in. We are having a boy, and I am in love!






















Want to see some more flickr favorites?
Head on over to Artmind's blog and sign up!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

New Cards

Why did I not post this sooner?!
Earlier this month I added two new cards to my Olive and Ruby shop:






I really love the way both of them have come out. I also have two more cards almost ready to be listed in the shop! More on that once they are up (this time I will post the update on here in a timely fashion) .

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Flickr Favorites - Best Friends


“Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms”
-George Elliot






Now I don't like being openly biased, but I happen to have the two best dogs in the world.
Piper (aka Pipes Marie) Cockapoo - Age 2: A little brownie who barks way too much, requires a ridiculous amount of love everyday (the smothering kind), and wags her tail until she topples over when I tell her she is a good girl. She has a special 'hiding spot' under the love seat with special toys. She plays under there by herself every night.
and
Nicholi (aka Nick-Nack or Choo Bear) Lhasa Apso/something with long legs - Age 7: A little guy who used to be all white, but is now white/tan/grey due to the fact that he suns himself everyday to the point of changing color. He prefers to sleep 20hours a day, or walk for just as long, provided I take him to his favorite park (he knows it as VF - Everyone else might know it as Valley Forge). He is also the only dog I know who sneezes approximately 20+ times a day when he gets excited about said walks in the VF. (hence the clever "choo bear" nickname)



I also happen to know for a fact that I am the luckiest person on earth to have found both of these little critters. I hope they know just how much they light up my life.











Want to see some more flickr favorites?
Hop over to artmind's blog and see what others have come up with!

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