Carrie Valentine Roses Pocketbook

Are you ready for 2009? I sure am and I'm jumping the gun a little and posting a peek at one of my new pocketbooks. I'm really excited as I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of 2008 and I know that it's not a train up ahead! It's sunshine and happiness! 

I've been promising to turn things around for over 6 months now ... and despite delays caused by illness, financial disasters, and just plain 'ol states of "overwhelm", I am happy to be tying up the loose ends on my backlog of made-to-order orders and will start 2009 with my improved business plan that will make for happy customers and a much happier me!

Most every bag you will see on my site this year will be a One of A Kind Original. Occasionally I may have enough of a special fabric to offer some limited edition designs (like I have currently wih the Victoria Black Rose Pocketbook blogged about previously) 

You'll always know if a design will have a production schedule, they will be clearly detailed.  And you can rest assured all OOAK's will be complete and ready to ship upon receipt of your order and completion of your payment. 

Here's my newest - just a little taste of what's to come ~ The Carrie Valentine Roses Pocketbook

The Winner of My Amy Butler Pattern is...

First, thank you to the 22 ladies who either signed up for my newsletter this week, or commented on my post about the Amy Butler Pattern Sale (or both!)  

The sale is over and thank you very much to those who took advantage of a very rare discount of 20% on these great patterns. 

Ok, I made a list of the names, in the order of either the comments or the sign up time on the newsletter. Now I have put all the names into the randomizer at Random.org and whoever gets the #1 spot when I hit the button will be the winner of the pattern givaway!  

Are you ready to know who won Amy's newest pattern?  Really? Are you?

Sweet.... then drumroll please ...  Our New "Domestic Goddess" Winner is... 

DAWN of The Feathered Nest!  Congrats Dawn! I will email you and get your shipping info! Thanks for signing up for my newsletter and commenting on my blog!  If you haven't ever visited Dawn's blog, do yourself a favor and check it out!

List Randomizer

There were 22 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Dawn 
2. Ruth 
3. Sheri 
4. Eileen 
5. Marian/Dutchy 
6. Debra
7. Janet C
8. Gabbriella
9. Patricia
10. Digital
11. Theresa
12. Nancy A. 
13. Janet B
14. Brandie
15. Susan
16. Gail
17. Carrie 
18. Andrea 
19. Dale Anne 
20. Lynne 
21. Marie
22. Kath

Timestamp: 2008-12-20 07:12:00 UTC

Amy Butler Patterns Sale Dec. 15 -19

Merry Christmas! 

My gift to you this week is a whopping 20% discount on all Amy Butler Sewing Patterns! Click HERE for more details. 

Also, I am having a drawing! Anyone who leaves a comment on this post, or who signs up for my newsletter by Friday Dec. 19th will be included in a drawing for Amy's newest pattern release ... Domestic Goddess Aprons!!   There's a box over on the right hand column to join the newsletter :)

If you are already on my newsletter list, just leave me a comment. I love comments!

Check it out! 

For the fashionable hostess, the artistic chef, the queen of the craft room, or the style-conscious art teacher. 3 styles with 3 lengths to choose from for different tasks. Whether you’re keeping food off of your evening dress, or dressing up a simple evening! Slimming pleats, pockets, towel loops & fabulous ties.

Gift Wrap Those GIft Cards!

If you are like me, this year a lot of people on your list really just want gift cards for Christmas.  My daughter and my niece want gift cards to their  favorite stores and for downloading music and  my sisters-in-law enjoy getting gift cards for buying fabric and sewing notions, books, groceries, meals at great restaurants and for going to the movies.

It used to seem like giving a gift card was not a very thoughtful gift, but with the current changes in the economy, more and more family and friends are asking for gift cards so they can use them for what they really want or need, when  they are ready to shop. It makes perfect sense,  and you can get a gift card just about anywhere for anything!

In fact you can buy gift cards right here at Mama's Pocketbook!

And what better way to "wrap" and present those gift cards than with a multi-purpose Mama's  Pocketbook Card Case! You'll find a variety of fabrics, or choose the Misc. Florals option to be surprised! 

Christmas Tissue Covers and Holiday Tissues

Adorable Holiday Tissues and Dottie Tissue Covers

These are not your ordinary tissue covers, they are from Mama's Pocketbook, so you know they are of the highest quality and made to last. There are no raw seams even on the inside - my special technique for making these cute little accessories results in a durable, washable, functional, and fashionable cover. 

The red dottie or green dottie fabric is a great cotton canvas that works for boys and girls, men and women. These make great gifts for teachers, bus drivers, mail carriers, delivery people, neighbors, co-workers ... friends, family, young and old alike! Everyone can use a nice tissue holder! And everyone enjoys the holiday printed tissues included!

HURRY to order, at $4.75 each and with free shipping via first class mail. If you want Priority Mail, please email me and let me know or add to comments and I will invoice you $4.75 regardless of the number of covers ordered. These are bound to sell out fast and Christmas is just around the corner!

Pink Friday Christmas Sale!!

OH GOODIE! The time has come to dive into your Christmas shopping head first! And there's no better place to shop than from the comfort of your own home, browsing at your leisure all the fabulous shops participating in Christmas at Make Mine Pink , a Pink Friday Christmas shopping extravaganza!  Today we kick off our Holiday Shopping Series of Pink Fridays! 

I am so excited about Christmas and I can't wait to shop with all my friends at Make Mine Pink to find perfect gifts for my family and friends. Doing the bulk of my shopping online really eases the stress and makes the holidays so much more enjoyable. I have more time for parties and fellowship, baking cookies, decorating the house, visiting with family and friends, and yes, I do venture out to the shopping centers and town squares to shop as well, and having already taken care of much of my shopping online, I'm able to relax and take in all the sensations, smells, sounds, and just breathe in all the wonder of the season.  

Did you know that Mama's Pocketbook and ALL of the Pink Friday Shop Owners are meticulous about packaging and customer service? Oh yes!!  That is a big deal to us! We take great pride and extra measures to make our customers happy. Every purchase is carefully packaged and many include little extra gifts with purchase, or free gift wrapping, gift certificates, customized products, and above all, excellence in customer service. That is always the RULE, never the exception. Our customers are our the best and we treat them like royalty! 

So let's get moving...  Go to my PINK FRIDAY HOLIDAY SALES PAGE NOW!!

Don't hesitate when you find that perfect gift, many are one-of-a-kind and you don't want to miss out on the chance ... you know you'll be smacking your forehead later if you wait!! And no one wants to sport big bruises on their forehead in their holiday photos!! 

I have really gotten into the holiday spirit with deep discounts on lots of great items!  Like $10 off this One of a Kind Victoria Black Rose Pocketbook. I expect someone will grab this beauty by the end of the day today! Don't forget it comes with accessories, a matching tissue holder and I'll even throw in a matching card case! 

And of course there's always the mints, and some of the sweetest smelling soap from my friend Marie at SavonMarie! Oh it is heavenly! And who knows what else I might pack up with your lovely new pocketbook? Christmas is all about the giving in my book  - and in my pocketbooks!

I also have some treasures for the sewing enthusiasts -Mama's Pocketbook Gift Baskets! One is overflowing with vintage sewing goodies and fabrics, and the other contains an adorable kit for making Mommy & Me Aprons! 

There are more photos of these lovely baskets on the website. You won't believe all the wonderful itmes I've stuffed into these baskets! 

Anyone who sews will absolutely adore either one (or both!) of these gift baskets.

And there's still so many more great Christmas bargains to find... 

Do you love to pour over Christmas magazines from year's past to find great recipes, decorating ideas, arts and crafts, and gift suggestions? I know I can't be the only one who loves collecting Christmas magazines! But I've memorized many in my collection and it's time to share! So I've put together two lots of Christmas & Holiday issues of our favorite home, garden, arts & crafts, and womens' magazines. Check them out from my Pink Friday Christmas Page!

Whew, I just can't cram it all in here, I'll be here typing all day!! Just GO, and shop and see for yourself all the goodies and deals I have for you today. And remember, these prices are good TODAY ONLY!!!  HO HO HO!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!

Late Arrival - Pink Friday Gift Baskets

I'm late, so late ... but hey ... better late than never right? I thought I'd have to pass on today's Pink Friday sale, but I was inspired by our leader, Joyce Lucas, to make up some great gift baskets. 

I have put together a couple that I think someone will like. They'll make great holiday gifts or just a nice gift for yourself, or anyone who sews. You can see more images and descriptions and ordering information on my website's PINK FRIDAY PAGE.  There are only two baskets, each is a one-of-a-kind.

This is the "Seek Tranquility" Vintage Sewing Goods Basket

 

The first basket is a lovely floral hardboard, hat style basket filled with loads of vintage sewing notions, tools, buttons,

 lace, ribbon, seam binding, scissors, shears, embroidery floss, measuring tape, and all kinds of other goodies for the collector of sewing items.

 

This basket also includes 25 gorgeous decorator fabric samples! 

The second basket is filled with all the things you'll need to make a set of Mother & Daughter vintage inspired aprons. They are so cute! 

This is the Lola Apron pattern from Sew Liberated, and I've created a kit in a basket, with beautiful Anna Griffin fabric, ric rac trim, and seam binding to decorate your aprons, as well as a few other goodies of my own thrown in. 

If you know someone who sews, wants to learn, or just loves vintage sewing & sewing basket items, I have these on sale until midnight tonight (and yes, I'll be up... It's Halloween and I have a house full of teenagers spending the night!... now that's scary!)

Twelve Days of Christmas Shop Hop at MMP

Mama's Pocketbook cordially invites you to

Join us - November 2  - November 13

for the Make Mine Pink

 12 Days of Christmas Shop Hop!

When: November 2nd - 13th

You can register now or wait until you've found one of the Christmas Trees. 

Registration is necessary to get credit for each of the trees that you find.

There will be prizes daily!

 

Mama's Pocketbook will be adding Holiday Items and Specials every day of the Shop Hop.

Click the link above to register! We'll see you there!

Show and Tell Monday - Pink Sisters!

OK, Here's my best Show & Tell yet!

I just found all these pics on my iPhone! 

These are my Pink Friends at the MMP Retreat we had in September in Williamsburg, VA

Enjoy!

New - Victoria Black Rose Pocketbook

I really enjoyed creating this One-of-a-Kind "Victoria" style pocketbook. I love combining contrasting fabrics and these compliment each other beautifully. I dug around in my baskets of trim and found a perfect flat braid with all the right colors and then added some of my dwindling supply of the ecru tatted lace. I love that lace, I need to start hunting for more of it, or more similar to it anyway. 

This is my favorite day bag design. It is the perfect shape and size. Not too big, but boy can you carry everything you need in it.  Click HERE or on the title or the highlighted link above for more details .

I love this style for whenever I go out with my family on a day trip or even just shopping because they inevitably want me to hold onto their ipod's or cell phone or a book or magazine and even with all my stuff (makeup bag, big wallet, and several card cases to keep things organized, my iphone and assortment of pens, paper, sticky notes, ResQ ointment, tissues and other stuff I must have with me at all times, there's still room for the other things I seem to accumulate while out and about with my family. This bag is both beautiful and a workhorse! 

This one is a One-of-a-kind due to the trims used. I can't replicate it. But I do have more of the fabric so you may see a Porch Pouch or a smaller bag show up soon on the site. Maybe I'll try my hand at some pretty makeup bags to coordinate with this pocketbook? 

Anyway, thanks for looking! Maybe this is the perfect bag for you or someone on your holiday gift list? I hope so! Oh, and don't forget, there's always a matching tissue holder and printed tissues and mints included with my bags ... and this one includes another freebie - a matching card case! YAY! Don't you love freebies?

Pink October Tote Set - Only 10 days left!

Just wanted to remind everyone that Pink October is coming to a close and due to other obligations and my construction schedule I will only be able to offer the Pink October Tote Set through Oct. 31st. in order to guarantee early shipping before the holiday rush.

These sets make wonderful holiday gifts and today only, Oct. 22nd, I am offering FREE Shipping to U.S. addresses. and I am still donating 15% of the sale to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation through my Passionately Pink website. This is for a good cause. Together we ARE making a difference!

Thanks friends! ENJOY!!

A Few Positive Changes at Mama's Pocketbook

Mama's Pocketbook is a small business - my pride and joy - and I will never stop doing what I love so much. I've learned so much , and now that I am well into my third year of this venture, I can see where it's time to make a few changes to improve the quality of service and to improve operations to stay strong in this time of change for the entire country.

While the present economic tightening is affecting everyone, we can all make some simple changes that will make life a little easier and allow us to enjoy a savings of time, gas, money and energy. One change that is easy to do and that brings savings in all those areas is to shop online! What could be better than to browse the most wonderful beautiful shops. like mine, and all the shops at Make Mine Pink for example! In the comfort of your own home, in your own time, you can find all the gifts and goodies you want for the holidays and have them come to you! Many of the shops even offer free gift wrapping - and you haven't seen "presentation" anywhere like what these shop owners have to offer!

Just think - No crowds, no parking, no wasting your gas driving from store to store looking for that elusive perfect gift, no lugging around heavy packages and no wearing yourself out!

When times are tough we are called upon to be smart and savvy and realistic in our business and personal decisions. Shopping at online boutiques stimulates the economy just as much as shopping the big box stores, more so if you ask me, because you are helping the small businesses thrive and grow and supporting families like yours directly. You'll find unique items, handcrafted goods, carefully selected products, antiques, home decor, furnishings, arts & crafts, "green" and personalized gifts for everyone on your list.

I've recently taken a hard look at where we are as a family and as a small business owner and have made some important decisions in order to keep my business alive, serve my customers fairly, contribute more to my family income and have time to balance my life, tend to my health, and spend with my family.

Over the Winter 08/09 I will be giving my website an update and I'll be modifying my product offerings in preparation for a "Grand Revival" of Mama's Pocketbook in Summer '09. But don't think I'm going anywhere! NO... I'm not going away! No, not at all! I'll be right here, but over the winter months I will be re-engineering my business, tightening up by offering only those items I can produce for you in a way that is managable and that allows me to balance my work and home life for the better for everyone.

My children are growing way to fast, and as much as I love creating beautiful accessories, I don't wish for all of their memories of me to be ones in which I am stressed out, sewing all hours of the night and never having time to spend with them. That is not what I started this business for. I'm here to celebrate my God given gifts and talents, my love for creating and to keep close to the memory of my own mother through this venture. But I also am learning about how to balance my life so that I am giving my all to have good health, precious time with my family and a healthy business.

So, If you notice a little less product, or a change in the items I offer, that just means I'm doing what I can to ensure the success of this shop. I'm here, you can always reach me as usual, and I think these changes will keep everyone happy and will prosper my young business through these current economic challenges. I will involved in quite a few new ventures over the next few months that will ultimately provide the platform for taking Mama's Pocketbook in an energized, new exciting, and hopefully properous direction.

Throughout this winter, new products will be added in the form of One-Of-A-Kind's and possibly some Limited Editions, as I have the time to create them and add them. But whatever you see posted, will be ready to ship. Other than wholesale orders, during this time I will create very few made-to-order products. I do still welcome custom order inquiries!! Email me anytime!

I thank all my customers for their kind patience and loving words of encouragment as I've weathered the growing pains, learned what works and what doesn't, and made the hard decisions to implement this new business plan. Please continue to visit and stay subscribed to my newsletter so you will know when I've posted something new and delicious!

Mama's Pocketbook will always be your source for One-of-a-Kind and Limited Edition Fabric Pocketbook and Accessories Designs that are beautifully, lovingly and durably made from the finest Vintage and Modern Decorator Fabrics in Romantic, Cottage, Floral, Shabby Chic, Victorian and Vintage Appeal Styles

2008 Pink October Tote Set

I'm so excited to launch my new 2008 Pink October Tote Set benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

This year I am offering a limited edition, one time only release of this special tote and accessories package.

Each set will be numbered 1/50 through 50/50. Sales of this bag will be available beginning on October 6th, with the kick-off of the "Make Mine Pink "Pink October Shop Hop". Sale will continue until all 50 bags are sold or through November 30th, whichever comes firs

t.

To purchase this set go to my website for more details. 15% of the sales of these tote sets will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

I also have a Passionately Pink webpage where you can donate directly to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

A Stitch In Time ... Pink Friday!

Ah, now this is my kind of Pink Friday! All about the love of stitching and things stitched with love. And that's how I spend the majority of my time ... sewing, or as I like to call it "making the pretty!"

This week I am celebrating Fall, kicking it off with two of my favorite fabrics, one I have been saving - hoarding - for 14 years! And today instead of OOAK offerings, I chose fabrics that I had enough of to offer a very special "Limited Edition" of FIVE of each design. But that's it, only five will be made of each of these Fabulous Fall Porch Pouches. Have a look... click the image for more details and ordering information. TODAY ONLY, Special pricing for our Pink Friday shoppers!

The Most Amazing General Store Ever!

Last week I traveled from North Georgia to Williamsburg, VA for the Make Mine Pink 1st Annual "Getting Down to Business" Retreat with another Pink Sister and let me tell you we had a blast! We took our time on the road going up to the event and while we were in North Carolina

 we saw a billboard for a "Tour of Homes" in Salisbury, N.C. Well, we soon discovered that most of the billboards we saw in N.C. were out of date, but we still found a lot to do up there in Salisbury!

My travel partner, Inka, of  Inklings Designs, was a perfect match for me. We both felt adventurous and were in the mood to explore. Given the fact that both of us love to talk, we often missed our turns and exits and as we'd already made several references to ourselves as being very "Thelma and Louise" like on this trip, my cohort stared calling me "Turn Around Thelma". That's ok, I can live with that. I called her "Louise Grace" as she is, um, how shall I put it ... inadvertently destructive ... so not the graceful one - but she is hilarious!

Our first stop was at a lovely little Cottage Shop, where the owner, Linda, was as sweet as she could be. She has a lovely shop and we had a great conversation, found a few goodies to buy and we did not do any damage there.  Linda pointed us to Salisbury and off we went to see what we could get into there. So far, so good!

We rolled into town and we were looking for an antiques place Linda had mentioned, but we spied the Okey Dokey General Store and my van literally just whipped into the parking lot and dumped us out there! (It's so well trained!). Oh My Goodness!! I just cannot begin to describe how delicious this place is! I couldn't take it all in, there were so many wonderful displays and the building itself is phenomenal, over 100 years old, with the original tin ceilings, a gorgeous soda fountain in the back, and seriously I do think they had everything under the sun in that one building! 

The staff there are so cheerful and knowledgeable, very helpful too. I told one of the ladies (I forgot to get her name!) why we were coming through town and asked if I could take some photos to put on my blog. The owner, who was completely absorbed in trying to get an old cash register working, gave us permission to take photos upstairs (not sure why the basement was off limits, but there was some extraordinary furniture and props and stuff down there!)

So, I could go on and on about how much fun we were having, but lets look at some photos first... you won't believe this is only a fraction of the displays they have in this place!

This is my favorite photo of all - I want these chairs!!

So, shall I say more about our adventures in Salisbury? I guess I should explain how Inka got her nickname of "Grace".  After a couple of hours exploring the general store we went across the street and found a little shop that had some metal signs that Inka wanted to check out. Of course we never meet strangers and I was busy trying to check my email on my i-phone so I sat down and chatted with the owner of the shop while Inka looked at the signs on the wall. Well, she found one she wanted to see up close and there was one of those carpet display units on the floor beneath it. Inka started pushing to flip the samples over so she could reach the sign and she was struggling mightily with it. So of course the store owner, Karen, and I are encouraging her to push push harder you can do it come on give it all you've got ... and she did. And she broke the end of the display smooth off! I'm talking the heavy welded metal rack that the samples rest on on the side! She pushed broke that sucker right off!! OMG! I have never laughed so hard in my life! I couldn't help it, the look on her face was priceless. If I hadn't been laughing so hard I might have thought to aim my phone camera at her! Karen was really cool about it, she said "Hey, you did me a favor, I hate that thing!! Whew, thank goodness someone in the situation had some grace!

So, we bailed out of there with Karen asking to come with us! We decided to grab some lunch before heading out of town so we went next door and sat down and ordered. Karen came over to meet a friend of hers for lunch and waved at us. While we were waiting on our food, Inka headed back to the ladies room and when she came back her face was 40 shades of red!! Seems she decided to take a picture of something hanging on the wall in the back of the restaurant and she backed over a Wet Floor sign and broke it!! Holy Cow.  Just as she was telling me this, the manager of the restaurant comes over, puts his arm around my shoulders and whispers "OK, which one of you is Thelma and which is Louise?"  Great, our reputation has preceeded us because he had not even had time to discover the damage "Grace" had done in there yet! 

I must say I drove very carefully back through there on Sunday, looking to see if any of the billboards had our wanted pictures on them. Lucky for us they are not swift about changing those up in North Carolina!

MMP Retreat

I attended the Make Mine Pink 1st Annual "Getting Down to Business" Retreat this past weekend in Williamsburg, VA and I had the time of my life from start to finish. I've been a bit tired today as I drove straight home ... for 9 hours ... yesterday! 

Today my website has been out of commission due to my hosting company migrating to new servers, so that has been a bother. If anyone has been trying to get to my site today and couldn't that is the reason why. I have not taken my site down!! Heaven's no!! If you can't get in, please keep trying, it is in the process of being hooked back up. 

I will be posting lots of photos later this evening from the trip and the event. I traveled with the most fun and crazy friend, Inka, of Inkling's Designs, and I have to say that my throat is sore from all the laughing and talking we did together. She is now one of my lifelong friends and I truly had some of the most fun I've ever had traveling with her and I am very happy that we did it! And that we did not get in any more trouble than we did because it would be very easy to get in trouble on the road with Ms. Inka!  She never meets a stranger, I can tell you that!

I want to take a moment to thank Joyce & Jim Lucas and their entire family, especially Katie and Melissa who are the ultimate hostesses, always with a smile and a laugh and very caring and patient with all the questions and situations presented to them. They are phenomenal! From my perspective every aspect of the event went smoothly and elegantly, the food was awesome, the prizes and the Pink Gala were incredible. The tables were absolutely stunning! Everything was fun, fun, fun.  The workshops were informative and comfortable. The SWAG bags were over the top! The displays were indescribable! So much love and effort went into their making and I'm so proud of our Eileen, from Forget Me Not Dreams  for her extraordinarily beautiful and WINNING display! It was truly a work of art and a labor of love for her and she deserved to win the coveted top prize for it. 

I'll be back with pictures soon! XOXO ~ Dianne

It's Still Harvest Home Pink Friday...

It's late on Pink Friday, but it's not over for sure!  I missed out on part of the "Harvest Home Pink Friday" myself because my brain decided it had to have some sleep. I've been keeping some very weird, awful late hours lately and it finally caught up with me and no matter how much I wanted to post more pretty porch pouches for todays sale, my body said no, no no! No more working, you crazy sewing feind!  I think it said some other choice words for me as I wobbled to bed and collapsed into deep lovely sleep, but I don't remember them! 

It won't be long before I head back to the sheets to finish the job of resting my brain and body. 

I share this because that means you will have some extra time to take advantage of my remaining Pink Friday offering! Unless I wake up at like 3 am and it's still there. I may decide to get up and close out the sale and update to regular pricing before daybreak! You just never know with me!  

I sold the first Fabulous Fall Porch Pouch that was listed this morning thank you TS!), but then I listed this gorgeous "Natalie Rose" in blue denim colored decorator linen with a huge spray of perfect pink cabbage roses and rose buds as an additonal one before the mandatory coma set in and it is still available.

 I really love this one, and honestly, I won't cry if it doesn't sell (can't imagine that it won't!) because then I'll claim it my own and my MMP girlitas will see me carrying it around Williamsburg, VA next week at our first annual Make Mine Pink Retreat! (soooo excited!) and everyone will be so jealous and wanting one like it.

But nope, that's not possible, because I don't have enough fabric left to make another one ... it's one of a kind baby!  Ok, I'm still a little loopy. I should write ad copy while I'm loopy, it's fun! 

Anyway, go check it out, it's Fabulous Fall Fun in Blue Floral Tote Goodness!

Then get back over to Make Mine Pink and see what the other Little Pink Boutique owners have for you. Remember the prices do go back up on Saturday ... or sometime between midnight and whenever I wake up ... if my pretty pouch is by any chance even still there. First come, first served. If y'all fight over it, I'll have to refund anyone who didn't snag the first served spot. Good Luck & Happy Harvest Home Pink Friday!

Thanks - I'll be dreaming about ya!

Most Gorgeous Cupcake Ever

Just had to share! 

Hubby knows I've been working really hard for weeks on end, getting by with little sleep and my stress level has been pretty high. So he did the grocery shopping for us on Sunday and this is what he

 brought me to cheer me up!

The most beautiful PINK CUPCAKE I've ever seen! He knows I have a weakness for cupcakes. I mean who doesn't? They are so perfect! And this one - Oh, so pretty! Almost too pretty to eat! I said almost! I did eat it, but I shared it with Lauren and it still took me all day and into the evening to finish it off! The frosting was soft and whipped and very 

rich, as was the cupcake. What a sweet treat and a sweet husband! I'm so blessed!

Hurry! Last Weekend Summer Sale Prices

HURRY!! This is the LAST WEEKEND to take advantage of the Summer Sale Price on 
PURSE'onality Bags!

I've been so busy, I forgot to end the Summer Sale! So take advantage - I want to give one last shot with a slight extension of the Summer Sale Price on the Full Package. Take note that this extension is only good until midnight Sunday, Sept 7th! I WILL remember to reset the price this time!! 

PURSE`onality Base Tote Package Includes Your Selected Base Tote & One Reversible Slipcover. We will include a Coordinating Shoulder Strap and Tie-On Sash.

Click Here to Choose and Order Your Base Tote Full Package for only $99.00
(before it goes back to the regular price of $139.00 )

Happy Summer! SALE ENDS August 31st SEPT. 7th! 
(Really, no kidding, it will end Sunday at midnight! - I have alarms set and everything to remind me to close the sale!)

Pink Friday - Favorite Things

Welcome back, it's already Pink Friday again ... And the Specials keep getting better and better! Looks like MakeMinePink.com has a record number of participating shops this week! It's going to be fun to look through all the shops and see what is offered up as each owner's favorite things!

I have some deals for you today! Since my favorite things are Fabrics, Sewing, Magazines and Saving Money ... I have a bit of all of those to offer.


First up.... I've taken 10% off all Amy Butler Purse Making Kits and I'm giving away a free copy of the fabulous Make Mine Pink Marketplace Catalog with each order! (Bonus the lowered price also means lowered shipping costs!)

Second deal ... These card cases really are some of my favorite things. I love having an organized purse and these little cuties do the job in style! So TODAY ONLY, I"m offering them for only $5.00 each! But wait ... there's more! Buy 4 - get 1 Free!! - and yes, there's even more! Use coupon code 2shipping to get $2.00 shipping (first class) on any quantity!



I am also sorting though stacks and stacks of magazines and will be offering sets of great decorator magazines as well as some great NEW Decorating Books. Oh how I love decor mags and books!

So go and enjoy the Pink Friday event, Please visit my Pink Friends and don't forget the holidays are just around the corner - stock up now on your gifts and they will come to you - you save money, gas, time and energy and you will make everyone jealous when you are taking it easy ... all, "I'm done already with my shopping!"

Re-decorating the Blog

You know, I just cannot commit to one look, I just can't. I love too many styles. I'm eclectic. So I have decided to embrace my many moods and inspirations and give in to this designer's heart of mine and stop worrying about having one everlasting look - at least here on my blog!

Maybe that it's just too much fun to make new banners! Esp. with the fun and easy to use graphics from Shabby Miss Jenn Designs.

Still, I do believe that it's important to have a logo, and marketing materials that make you stand out and that are recognizable for your websites, boutiques, etc.. I'm working on that. And I think that by going through some of the changes I have played with here on my blog that I have begun to develop my own look. I will brand my company and products in some kind of consistent manner, but I still will want to incorporate some small flexibility for changing out the colors and textures to flow with the seasons and moods of my designs.

So I will compromise. I have made this background that I really like, it's textured, it's subtle, it's damask (which I obviously love!) and it doesn't clash with anything else, so that can stay. And I won't move the furniture around in here too radically. I worked to hard to figure out how to make that third column, so the structure will stay intact here too!

But I'm likely going to indulge in a new banner at least every season, maybe every month. So don't be confused if you see a new one! It's just me redecorating again!

It's Bling Friday Y'all

This weeks's theme for Pink Friday is Gotta have Bling....

... a little pink bling, maybe a little vintage bling. How about some rhinestones and pearls~ anything to please the girls!

I didn't think I'd be in on this one, but I remembered these pretty sparkly blingity blingie sequined and beaded and lame purses and hats I have! So here I am, ready for Bling Friday after all!

These bags are really pretty, really vintage and are in great condition! Enjoy and be sure to stop by the other Pink Friday MMP websites too!

New OOAK Pink Toile Cherub Tote

I just love this tote! It's so pretty and feminine! I know someone is going to claim it as theirs pretty quick but I still just had to show it off here on the blog! It is truly a One-of-a-kind ... I don't even have enough of this fabric left over to make one for myself (Waaaah!)

It may look delicate and too pretty to use, but trust me it is made to be used! It's been protected with a high grade decorator's soil, water and stain repellant and the designer Braemore fabric is already treated from the manufacturer, so this is doubly treated inside and out! If you are the lucky one to buy it... Please do enjoy using it! Go HERE for more details and ordering info. Thanks for looking!

Wonderful Whites on Pink Friday

It's once again Pink Friday and this week the MMP participating shops are offering beautiful goodies in the "Wonderful Whites' theme!

I have a few items for you on my website. A bit different this week as I did not have much time for sewing. I did handcraft these lovely White Eyelet Lavender and Rice Sachet Sets (learn more on the site!)

And I have some vintage white dress-up purses and a very vintage faux fur hat with ornate trim.

I also have two very pretty Porch Pouches, one with a white background and one with a cream background! Thanks for looking. Enjoy your shopping and be sure to visit all the participating shops at MakeMinePink.

My Fresh Green Kitchen! - Show & Tell

I'm posting late for Monday Show & Tell, but as promised ... I've got pictures of my freshly painted lovely green kitchen to share! Steve and I worked so hard the past two days finishing the painting in our kitchen (that I started oh, about 2 years ago!) ... and we are so happy!

Happy not only because it's finally finished, but because we really love it! It's so cheerful!

Green is our favorite color. For those who have asked - the color name is "Grape Leaves" and we got it at Home Depot in the Behr paint colors, we chose the semi-gloss kitchen and bath finish. We fell in love with this color when we saw it in a gorgeous kitchen at the Street of Dreams at Marina Bay here in Gainesville.

It was quite a job for the two of us to finish this by ourselves. I'm not usually scared of heights, but I did not enjoy being 13 ft up on a ladder trying to reach the peaks of that ceiling!

It's not perfect, but it's perfectly fine with us! We will hire someone to come in and do the crown molding when the times comes!

This was the hardest room in the house to paint, especially because we could not use the sprayer. The overspray was too much, so we will have to use that when we get the walls up down here in the basement, before any molding or floors are put in.

I'm very proud of us for deciding to "just do it" and really motivated to do the rest of the house.

We've decided to turn this into our dream home, there's plenty of room and potential for adding all the elements we want.

Now the only thing I need to do to finish the kitchen/breakfast room is decide on a fabric for the window treatments.

I keep thinking a black & white toile might be nice, but would sure love to have some suggestions from anyone who reads this.

Tell me what fabric and style of window treatment you think would look good in my kitchen (and please feel free to share links to any fabric samples you like!)

Hmmm, could this be a good idea for a contest?

Who wants to win something pretty???

I'll figure out a prize and post about it tomorrow. Meanwhile I have to get some work done while you look at my "new" kitchen!

Meet Me at the MMP Retreat!

Make Mine Pink presents the first annual Make Mine Pink "Getting Down to Business" retreat in historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia on September 19-20, 2008. Join the Women of MMP, who are always willing to welcome, mentor and help build a circle of friendship.

This is an energized opportunity to network, and gain or enhance business knowledge in a fun and inspiring way~ plus we will have lots of fun, great food, great friends, great information! Casual dress required… stuffiness and worries must be left at home!

Make an investment in your business today.

I can’t wait ~ won’t you join me?

Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg Lodge

310 S. England Street

Williamsburg VA 23185

1-800-HISTORY (447-8679)

September 19 -20, 2008.

Show & Tell - New Porch Pouches

Finally, I'm ready ahead of time for Show and Tell Monday! In case you are new to my blog (WELCOME!!) and don't know about it ... on Monday's I join my Pink Sisters at Make Mine Pink in sharing something about our past week or weekend.

Today I'm sharing photos of my two newest OOAK creations: A New French Rose Porch Pouch (tote) and A New Sage Rose Porch Pouch.

I've been so hard at work lately sewing till my fingers are numb and embracing the fact that YES I CAN GET CAUGHT UP! If you are waiting on an order from me, it's almost there - really! I don't mind working tons of hours each week to make the pretties for my customers, but on the weekends I have to take a break and create something completely new! I have to keep my creative energy flowing and this is how I do it...

What fun making these sweet totes! They are gorgeous for hanging anywhere, gathering flowers, taking to the market, or use them for your favorite new summer tote. They are very versatile, but they are truly made to be used!

It might be hard to decide if you just want to hang one on the porch with some pretty silk flowers in it to cheer you up or on a hook in the kitchen, or if you want to carry it everywhere you go because it makes you feel good! Be prepared to get attention if you take it with you out and about! Hmmm, maybe you better get two of them. LOL!

I know that's hard to do when I can only post a couple of new ones every few days. You'd think I was competing with Hermes, being so exclusive and all! But I am trying to crank out as much of this pretty as I can late at night and on weekends. Meanwhile, grab 'em when you can!

Don't forget to check out the other Make Mine Pink blogs for their Show & Tell features today! I'm posting early (Sunday night actually ... yeah I know, amazing isn't it!) but later when it's actually Monday, I'll showcase what some of my friends have been up to!

Strolling The Garden Path this Pink Friday ...

Are you hooked on MakeMinePink.com's PINK FRIDAY events yet? If not, come and join us today for a stroll down The Garden Path to find all kinds of beautiful garden treasures. Think of it as a lovely public garden, with quaint little kiosk vendors set all along the trail, offering their wares to beautify your own garden and home. Take your time browsing the shops, have some tea or coffee along the way and enjoy the scenery! But be sure to take advantage of the very special deals you'll find as you move along, because they won't last long at the special Pink Friday offerings.

It was sweet luck for me that we moved from the Cottage Porch of last week, out into The Garden Path this week, as it gave me a chance to create more of my inspired Porch Pouches, which are perfect for gathering the flowers of your garden and displaying them for your enjoyment. They make mighty fine totes for shopping and browsing too as they have nice big pockets inside and don't let their beauty belie their strength ... they are made to last and be used!

I don't really have a "garden" at our home yet, and since the dogs have free reign of the back yard, they would just destroy it. So, we won't put one in until we put up a divider fence in the back to give them their space and reclaim the rest of the yard for ourselves. I hope we can start on that soon!

My version of a garden is my lovely back deck, it's very nice out there and I am quite proud of my attempts at growing tomatoes! I may have to get some more plants, but I'm giving these a chance first.

I'm not a natural at this green thumb stuff! But I do LOVE FLOWERS, especially when it comes to floral fabrics. My studio is a virtual garden as I have collected hundreds of yards of beautiful floral fabrics over the years. That's why I'm having so much fun creating these Porch Pouches, they are a perfect way to show off the gorgeous flowers of my fabric garden!

(right) Blue Love Song Porch Pouch

(Below) English Garden Porch Pouch .

I hope you'll visit my shop today and with the other MMP Boutiques too! Have fun as you stroll peacefully along the garden path.

Have a blessed weekend!