Homefront Mayday Giveway

WOW! A real giveaway all the way. Here's what we're doing we have 19 of the Homefront Team Shops participating in this giveaway and it starts May 1 and runs through May 15.
You can see all the items available to win and official rules at the Homefront blog http://homefrontstreetteam.blogspot.com/

The most important part of how this works is that in order to enter the contest you have to go to that Homefrontier's Shop and click on Contact ____________ to send a message to that particular shop owner. Be sure to include your email address so that we can contact you, the winner. Remember that you may only enter once into each shop's contest so you have the opportunity to win 19 times.

Please take a few minutes, look around the different shops. Each and every one has fabulous items beyond the freebie and is worth taking a stroll around. It's a wonderful way to discover shops you never knew existed and may come to love. And throughout this entire process you are helping support a team of talented military spouses from all branches of the military and from all walks of life.
We're young and old and of all different nationalities but the one tie that binds us is that our loved ones have and do serve this wonderful country.

I have one giveaway from each of my shops, but I want you to go to the Homefront Blog to see what they are!

If you have any questions on any of the shops, their giveaway items, or anything else please take a moment and ask me or that particular Homefrontier. Happy winning!

MORE HOMEFRONT TREASURIES!

We have 2 new and absolutely lovely treasuries created by Homefrontiers:

Sunny Days and Neapolitan Pinks and Browns

Thanks for all your efforts making these Treasuries!

Heart Born of Love and Consciousness

This is a movement that I'm proud to be a part of. It was started by the owner of an etsy shop named BujorHandmades and she has really done something wonderful. Here is her story (taken directly from the listing in her shop):

"On January 2nd 2008 I gave up one of the sweaters closest to my heart because I shrunk it washing it. I made my daughter a pair of pants from the sleeves and when I returned to the cutting table I looked at the beautiful red wool scraps.

I thought for a while healing the loss of a favorite sweater: Valentine’s day is coming. I could make something in the name of this celebration, but more pressing issues invaded this thought immediately. How do I convince everyone I know to buy USA made products, to start looking for hand made stuff, to support local businesses, to take pride in their purchases, to look at the story behind the products they purchase.

Via Etsy! All these pressing issues are addressed if everyone supports Etsy.

I cut a small (1.5”X1.5”) heart. And one more. A double sided heart. Red. Sewed the edges in white (red and white are the colors of spring in Romania).

I looked at it for a while.
I got a safety pin.
A recycled sweater heart pin, to start conversations about all that Etsy stands for:
local made products,
hand made,
artisans and their creations,
pride in creating,
a story behind each product.

Please join me and purchase the Born of Love and Consciousness Heart Pin to expand the movement that increases awareness about hand made products, buying locally. Start conversations about the pin and proudly speak about Etsy and all it stands for. I hope that the Born of Love and Consciousness Heart Pin becomes a national symbol for pride and celebration, for building communities. Each state can pick a different color recycled materials for the heart."

We now have a Street Team, by the name of "Hearts Born of Love and Consciousness" and are on our way to changing how the world views handmade items. Each state has not only their own color, but own story of recycling, reusing that which might have been discarded. I have pictured the first 3 hearts, but there are many more now. If you want to be a part of this wonderful movement you may contact me or click on the link above for Bujor Handmades and ask her if your state is still available.

Here is a list of the shop's that are participating: 1MaddieAndMe, BabbaShop, BujorHandmades, JackAndJillsMom, Kaboogie, MamaShea, MommysLittleHelper, Naturalmomma, NolaMiaDesigns, PumpkinHaus, RedThreadPlushies, RobynsNest, ThePolkaDottotSpot and more are coming on every week. Don't miss the opportunity to join!

Homefront Treasuries

Whats Black and White and RED all over? This TREASURY!

Spring Time Brights, what East Tennessean Doesn't Love ORANGE?

Please take a moment and check out our Homefront Treasuries, leave a comment, buy an item Support the Military by Supporting the Spouses!

Springtime Views

I wont necessarily be posting on my blog every day, but I HAD to share this.


This is the view out my bedroom window above my dressing table.


How can anyone wake up in a bad mood with this view?


Clematis growing in the planer on my front porch, one in full bloom - one just opening!

Hope you enjoy my view of Spring here in beautiful East Tennessee.

The Other B & M Shop Locally

It seems to me that since I posted about how to make the sign and where to hang it I have received a lot of positive feedback. I thought I'd show some pictures of the other shop that I have Maddie & ME and Mommy's Little Helper items in. First a little background on the shop: More Than Mail is a post office, package shipping depot & gift shop. They carry a local floral designer, local pottery, local handmade birdhouses and of course children's dresses and lavender goodies. The neighborhood in which More than Mail is located was originally started as a retirement community that is anything but retiring! Go with the vision of the modern retiree that is active in every facet of the word. This is NOT a old folks corner of the world and the children's clothing and lavender goodies make a nice addition to any package one might be sending back home. That being said, this is NOT an advertisement for the community, just a little background. My point is that even when you think you can't sell kids clothes to old people, remember they have grandkids they'd LOVE to dote on!


Some close ups of the items and displays in More Than Mail!


Mommy's Little Helper has a showing of all her items here!

Boo Boo Bags Being Featured

I am so very flattered. I received a message on my etsy site this evening that my Boo Boo Bags will be featured on Trendy Tots. Please take a moment and visit this wonderful site and see what all they have to offer! http://trendytots.typepad.com/trendytots/

How to Make a Sign and Where to Hang it

How to make a hanging banner sign:
1. Find some fabric remnant that you bought 6 months ago and never used for its original purpose.
2. Guesstimate the size of the space in which you are planning to hang said banner (its better to actually measure, but if your like me thats not an option at 8:47 at night). Cut fabric accordingly and serge (or hem seams however you see fit).
3. Go to you computer where all your marketing info is kept (hopefully in the same 'file'). In my case I used my avatar and the same font as my hang tags / clothing tags. Open said file in MS Publisher - crop to chosen size and save as new file. OK here's where I messed up - since we are printing on Iron On (T-Shirt making stuff) - be sure that when you say "file print" you go into the "print properties" and change the orientation to MIRROR IMAGE. This is important because otherwise you'll iron it on and the entire thing will be BACKWARDS!!! I speak from some experience, but corrected the problem before I started the ironing.
If your wording looks like this, IT IS WRONG! Go back and re-do before you iron it on! It should look backwards if right side up and normal once you put the right side down. Its a little expensive to mess up with this paper, but much more time consuming if you've already ironed it on.

Next: Prance around with pride and joy that you've made something that looks quite professional, take pictures, post them in the forum for everyone to see.
Put grommets in the corners to hang it with and voila, you have a shop worthy sign for very little money.

<--- WHERE TO HANG IT!

I have my own little niche now at Gingerly Dressed which is a Boutique and Consignment Store here in my own little corner of the world. She carries several different local designers' items
and I am proud to be a part of her ever growing shop.

Some different angles of my cover ups and summer lounge set as displayed at Gingerly Dressed.

And a HAM!!! - here is my HAM who can't stand for a camera to be in use and her picture not to be included.

I am proud to show that Gingerly Dressed also has some of Mommy's Little Helper items in her stock.

Once again, a special thank you to Ginger and her lovely shop. If you are in the East Tennessee area and are looking for Gingerly Dressed you should look here:
Location:
In the Foothills Marketplace
355 Gill Street
Alcoa, TN
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday
10AM to 5PM

Did you Pass the Test?

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.
"Why?" my daughter asked.
"Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been. It's dirty and probably has germs," I replied.
At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Mommy, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart."
I was thinking quickly. "All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mom Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mom."
We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.
"Oh...I get it!" she beamed. "So if you don't pass the test, you have to be the dad."

''Exactly", I replied back with a big smile on my face.

Thanks Homefrontiers

Thanks to all the Homefrontiers who have chosen to post their etsy mini on my blog. I will be shifting them weekly so each of you gets a shot at the top spot and after 6 weeks I will add 6 NEW shops. Keep checking to see who's coming in next!

Thanks Joyful Abode

Thank you to Joyful Abode for the write up on Mommy's Little Helper items. Please visit her at http://www.joyfulabode.com/. She has a wonderful site with all kinds of hints, advise and fun info for the "Accidental Housewife" Try a recipe, check out how she remade a junk room into a guest room, and of course check out her spotlight on Mommy's Little Helper!

Things I learned from my 4 year old

When I am overwhelmed and grumpy she says "just laugh Mommy." She's right, it IS that simple, if I start laughing and she starts laughing then we can't stop. It clears my head right up and I remember what is important!

Thanks KIDDO

Semi Formal Dress

This A-line style dress, falls below the knee (on an average child). This dark silver fabric is a faux Dupioni Silk, which is actually polyester and therefore easier to maintain and completely washable.

The shoulders are wrapped with pink rope edged ribbon. The bodice is also banded with the same pink satin ribbon. This is a sweet dress that will be perfect for spring with a light sweater and for summer by itself.

Monster Away Spray

Since this is my first post in my first blog I am simply going to feature one of my favorite items I've created:

The spray is used as an exterminating spray as well as preventative. If your child already has a monster in his or her room, simply spray the area where the monster lurks and it will drive the monster back to its own realm. After that, all you need to do is spray before bedtime to prevent further infestations.

The silver Dragon Scale Dust is the magic ingredient and was willingly given to me by Master Ezradrake, the Dragon. He has assured me that the one scale will supply a lifetime of Monster repellent. He recommended the Lavender scent as it also helps drive monsters away since they are very offended by the scent.

This spray will work for many types of Monsters including Boogers, Haints, Long Teeth, Lurkies, Banshees, Gremlins, Trolls, any of the Wolverine families and many, many more.

* Do NOT Ingest, Do NOT Spray toward face *

Purple coloring in water should not cause discoloration of any linens (as food coloring is water soluble and therefore washable)

If you have any questions please contact me.