Added A New Pink Friday Beach Goody

TROPICAL DELIGHT HANDBAG!

Heads Up!! For those who are getting a late start on your Pink Friday Beach Shopping... I have just posted a new item, just finished this afternoon and ready to be grabbed up by some lucky shopper! This time it's a cute, cute, cute little handbag I call "Tropical Delight" and it's really a fun summer handbag for all your outings! And did I say it's cute? Well ... you decide:

Go to the website to see more photos and details! This is a One Of A Kind handbag! I have a feeling it won't last long at only $44.00!!

Makes me want to go on vacation... or at least show it off by going out to eat. Hmmm, should I keep it for myself? Sometimes it's hard not to want to keep all my own bags ... I do love them if I do say so myself! LOL!

Thanks for visiting. Have a fabulous weekend!

Pink Friday's Fabulous Pink Flamingo Beach Bag

Welcome to Pink Friday!

"Don't Grow Up to Quickly... lest you forget how much you love the beach.”-- Michelle Held

That's right ... Today is PINK Friday - June 27th and we hope you will enjoyShopping with a Twist at the participating boutiques of Make Mine Pink.

Today's Theme is The Beach Cottage.Sea shells, mermaids, beach roses and so much more,all at your favorite boutiques at Make Mine Pink"We'll meet you at the beach"

I have "Design Your Own Sun Hats" and this "Fabulous Fun Pink Flamingo Beach Bag" which is OOAK!!

And be sure to check in throughout the day. I haven't slept yet and it's 5:00 AM, so I'm gonna go catch some ZZZZZ's and will be back later with more goodies!

ENJOY PINK FRIDAY AT MMP... GO VISIT THE OTHER SHOPS!!

Milestones, Rights of Passage

Yesterday we had a milestone day. Today is another.

Usually I write about work, creating, business stuff. But my business is so intertwined with my personal life that somedays, like today, it just feels like I should write about what I'm feeling instead of what I'm doing.

Yesterday my daughter who just recently turned 14 had her first "sort-of date" The day before her birthday, a boy that she has been best friends with all year asked her to be his girlfriend. They have been burning up the text messaging and phone lines for two weeks now. Today she went to church with him and had lunch with his family, then his dad, who is the pastor of the church they went to, brought them over here so they could watch Camp Rock together. Her boyfriend is very nice and I enjoyed talking to him and his father. The kids, ah, they were just too cute together, holding hands and while I'm not really ready for all this, and my heart aches that she is growing up, I was at the same time remembering how it felt to be so young and to have such new experiences. I wanted to take a picture of them together, but I didn't want to be "that mom". I'm sure there'll be other days to take pictures of them. Maybe I was a bit more accepting of this right of passage because, especially yesterday and today, I remembered all too much the deep sadness I endured as a 14 year old and I just want my daughter to have as many happy memories of this time in her life as possible. I will hover, and keep check on her, but I will also let her live and learn and have the fun that 14 should be.

Today is a different kind of milestone for me. 37 years ago today I lost my sweet Mama. She was only 37 years old. I was 14, same as my sweet daughter is now. There's something mystical in those numerical matches.

Nothing ever prepares me for this day, nothing ever makes it easier to face it. Nothing ever takes the pain away. But along with the pain, I do have a comfort that I did not have for most of the past 37 years. Because now, I have my Mama with me everyday. I see her face each morning when I open my website, and here on my blog and in pictures here in my studio and in my home. I honor her everyday with my work. I love that God guided me to build my business around the memory of her and the inspiration she has always been to me. Whatever path Mama's Pocketbook takes, whether it stays small or explodes into the stratosphere, or just makes some steady growth ... as long as I keep my love for my mother and for the artistry. creativity and beauty she taught me to embrace. at the center of what I do and who I am, I will be grateful and fulfilled. It's a miraculous blessing to find that a broken heart can still be a fulfilled one.

In memory. I miss you Mama, but I'm glad you are alive in my spirit and soul, and in my children too.

Playing Tag and Catch Up

Oh my! I've ignored my poor blog for a whole week! Time to catch up.

First of all, to play tag... I've got to say thank you to two of my Pink Sisters from Make Mine Pink who tagged me this week with this lovely award called The Arte y Pico Award which is “given to those who are creative and have a penchant for art.” I feel very blessed and honored by my friends Shell (Michelle) at The Raspberry Rabbits and Inka, of' Inklings Designs . I really appreciate being thought of as worthy of this award. Thank you very much.

(I have to admit though that I'm not very good at other languages so when I told my hubby about my award I called it the Pico de gallo award, which is probably insulting to the originators of this award ... so I hope they have a sense of humor!)

So, now it's my turn to present some awards...

Here are the rules:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity,design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3.Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award (I know it says this is a rule , but I know not everyone likes to do this, so I won't be upset if you don't.)
4. The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

Let me see, I have a huge list of fav blogs in m favorites, but some of those people don't know me, so hmmm, should I only award those who know me? Hard to say.. This is probably subconsiously why I ignored my blog this week - it's hard to choose who to honor but I'll pick the cream of the crop!)

So my friends who represent well the description of "those who are creative and have a penchant for art" and who share my sense of humor... are ...

Cindy of Angel Heart Designs

Erica of Meadow Street

Carrie of Noelle Garrett Designs

Carol of Clutter Bug Studio

Theresa of Cottage Violets

There, I did it! I shall reward myself with a large helping of my hubby's newly baked recipe of blueberry crumble! (Pictures to come... it came out so pretty!)

It's Pink Friday - June 13th Kitschy Kitchen

Today's Pink Friday theme is Kitschy Kitchen" Items We are offering TODAY ONLY! This is a OOAK Set of Three (3)"Pretty & Practical Fabric Shopping Bags"

Allow me to tell you about these extraordinary, unique shopping bags. These are not just any fabric shoppers - they are Mama's Pocketbook Fabric Shopping Bags! And that means they are the highest quality reuseable "green" shopping bags around ... and the prettiest!

This OOAK set of 3 shopping bags is made from a fabulous fabric by Ro Gregg for Northcott. Northcott released this Rose Garden Tea fabric as part of their Quest for a Cure ™ program and donated a portion of the purchase price for every yard sold to Breast Cancer Research. This fabric is now discontinued and is very hard to find.

Not only does this fabric help support a worthy cause, with these bags you will do your part for the environment by cutting out the use of plastic bags - and do it in style!

These bags are very well constructed, fully lined with white drapery lining, all seams are double stitched and the bags are shaped exactly like the plastic grocery bags, with pleated bottoms and handles that are triple stitched and topstitched for extra secure hold. They are strong, durable, washable, and can be folded down small enough to fit in your purse or glove box of your car so you will always have them on hand ... and you will not find a prettier or sturdier reusable fabric shopping bag set anywhere! You will get 3 bags made from this fabulous fabric (even though only two are shown in the photos)

Click on any of the images to be taken to my webpage where these bags can be ordered. TODAY ONLY, and there is only ONE SET!

Thank you! Be sure to shop the other MMP Participating Pink Friday Shops! Just click the packages below!

Show and Tell Monday - June 9th!

Ohhh, I'm late, but I decided to post my Show and Tell anyway!!

I'm so happy to be creating new and exciting One-Of-A-Kind designs again!

Today I am showing off my latest creation, and because it's Show and Tell Monday with the MMP ladies, I'm going to make this an extra special package deal!

As described on my website...

This One-of-a-Kind Botanical Beauty is absolutely breathtaking! Created as the perfect Spring to Summer Tote from a stunningly detailed couture botanical print linen accented with satin twisted rope piping along the top edge. This tote is appointed with perfect 12" drop softly padded shoulder straps and is lined with an exquisite decorator weight straw-colored linen and features two roomy fully lined interior slip pockets.

A Classic Beauty for One Very Special Lady.

Is this the perfect tote for you? If so, please don't hesitate to order as it is an exclusive one-of-a-kind creation that will not be duplicated and I'm sure it will be grabbed quickly by some lucky lady!

This beauty comes to you with a matching card case and tissue cover, and is packaged in a fabulous coordinated gift storage box tied with a gorgeous voluptuous pink bow!

We Have A Winner for The Vintage Pattern...

As you may recall, on Saturday May 24th I posted about an awesome website I came across called "Mom's Patterns - Vintage Sewing Patterns - Real Retro Fashion!"

I know a lot of you visited and I sure hope you took advantage of the great discount code that the lovely owner Jen gave to our MMP Friends. If not, you should get right back over there - the code is 'makeminepink10' and it's good through tomorrow, June 2, 2008 at midnight!

Meanwhile, I promised to announce a winner today in my offering of a Vintage pattern of the winner's choice from Mom's Patterns (up to $15.00 value) and of course some kind of little sewn goody from me!

So... I have called upon the ever so handy Random.org list randomizer, and after putting in all the names from all the comments on the original post ... and clicking the magic randomizer button ... and designating the first name to appear on the resulting list as the winner.... are you ready?

OK... here's what the randomizer decided:

List Randomizer
There were 12 items in your list. Here they are in random order:
Eileen - Forget Me Not Dreams
Theresa - Cottage Violets
Carolyn - The Odd Sparrow
Sita - Silver Spoons and Scraps
Andie - The Brown Bee
Lisa - Pale Pink and Roses
Gail - Cup Cakes and Cute Stuff
Janet - Janets Creative Pillows
Debbie - Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor
Susie - The Polka Dot Rose
Lilli - Lilli Blues Vintage Rescues
Janet - Beloved Creations
Timestamp: 2008-06-01 16:27:54 UTC

Congrats to Eileen! Eileen if you will please visit "Mom's Patterns" and let me know which pattern you'd like to have, I'll have Jen send it to me and I'll forward it on to you with a nice little sewn giftie from me!

Thanks to everyone for commenting and participating. I hope you'll enjoy shopping both at Mama's Pocketbook and at "Mom's Patterns.