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!

Just too cute!

I just had to share this sweet photo of my puppy Bella with our friend's miniature pony, Boogie! Aren't they cute!! At first sight Bella acted all tough, growling, scratching the ground and puffing up like the Queen of the World she thinks she is. But eventually she edged closer to see what kind of big dogs these were! She's used to bossing around our Weimeraner, Beau, and our Black Lab, Jack-Jack, but these creatures made weird noises when she bossed them!



CUTE!



Boogie was curious about Bella too and slid his whole head through the fence to check her out. Bella stood very still and Boogie began licking her!! We only had the cell phone to snap this with, but it captured the moment. They are so cute!!!

It's Pink Friday - July 11th, The Cottage Porch

It's PinkFriday at Mama's Pocketbook and at Make Mine Pink

Be Sure to Visit All The Participating Shops at MMP's Pink Friday Event Today

Join Us Today on The Cottage Porch...

I have some One-of-a-Kind fresh floral
"Pretty Porch Pouches" for you today over in my
LittlePink Boutique!

Click Images to go to details pages

Show and Tell - Vintage Hats!

Happy Monday - It's time for Show and Tell! After my friend Gail at Gail Friend Designs posted this morning about her vintage hats find, I remembered the sweet find I stumbled upon this weekend at a great garage sale. I didn't think I'd have a show and tell today, but these two boxes full of vintage hats are great fun to share!

The guy having the sale said "I don't know why my grandma held onto all those old hats! You can have them all for $7.00" I acted very nonchalant and said, "Ok, sure, they'll make nice props for photos."

I didn't even look through them just had him set them aside for me while I snagged a few other goodies there too, 5 nice big thick blankets for my dogs crates, a brand new steamer, some vintage fabrics and pillowcases, a few odds and ends, and a fabulous old chippy shabby chic chair (have to take pics of it later).

(Click on the photos to see them close up!)

If I'd had more mad money I could have scored a wonderful old jelly cabinet and a huge ornate shelf. I would have squeezed out the money for the shelf, but it wouldn't fit in my van. I need to get a truck!!

At least I got the hats, some are fragile, but aren't they awesome! I have to wonder (like Gail did about hers) what the lady was like who wore them. They come from all over the world!

They need cleaning ... maybe the steamer will help? Not sure. I'll have to look up and see how to clean them without destroying the already brittle netting on some of them. Anyhoo... here they are... 17 of them! Pretty good deal I think!

Well I hope you enjoyed my find! I'm off to get my busy day going. Lots of sewing to do!! Thanks for stopping by.