Deck the Halls!

I made these stockings to sell on my etsy site and take to the next Market show we have, but I'm thinking I won't be too sad if they don't sell. I secretly had Avery and Braden in mind whilst sewing!

.....But of course if you like them, or know someone who might, you can buy them here.

PattyCake Designs

As many of you know, we've been experimenting with many different avenues of this business stuff. I won't even begin to list it all, but now I'm trying something else! I learned about this from my friend Brooke, and my MamaKat. The site is called Etsy.com, and it is a site where you can have your own store and list items that you have created and designed on your own.

I'm thrilled about it, and can already see that several people have viewed my items! Maybe this will be an answered prayer!

So, when you have time, drop on by or send others my way to http://www.pattycakedesigns.etsy.com/ and do a little shopping!

Our Online Adventure

Looking for fabulous finds?! Visit our new, easy to maintain site. Tell everyone you know! Spread the word.

Open For Business!

So it's taken a while, but Paintdrops and Lollipops (the umbrella company name for Little Boy Blue and PattyCake Designs) is open for business!

Last week, Ashley and I ventured into The Shoppes at My Kids Attic to get ideas for our upcoming booth at GraceLift. Then just for fun, we asked about rent prices. Little did we know, there would be a spot in our price range! So, between Wednesday and Saturday, we rented, painted, and filled our new boutique! It all happened so fast, and we're glad that it did.

Since we decided to hold off on the website for a while, things seemed to slow down for our ideas and readiness to promote. Now we hope it will pick back up now that we have a real outlet for our products. People will be exposed to our items daily instead of monthly!

So, if you're in the neighborhood (or if you want to head toward Colliseum Blvd.) take a gander in My Kids Attic. Toward the back, on the right side, you'll see "Paintdrops & Lollipops!" (The real life image is much more appealing that the picture below. The camara could not capture the quaint, coziness of our boutique.)

Paintdrops + Lollipops

I think deep down everyone has the desire to manage their own time, not be stuck inside a dreary (or even a not-so-dreary) office on a pretty day, or be available to go to their child's game or field trip without worrying about taking time off. Don't get me wrong. I am glad I experienced four years of working in the real world, and even better that I got to work in the field of advertising (which I spent my college years studying toward).

But...I've tasted freedom now that I'm home with Avery...and I don't want to go back...Ever.

The phrase, "you could sell that" resounds in my ears everytime I design, create, sew, or re-finish something. The wise words of my all-knowing mother. She's been the drive behind me most of my life, even after I gained the other best friend in my life who has the special knack to make me realize I can almost always go beyond the limits I set for myself.

So, with my mom and Kenny in the wings, I've decided to go for it.

And it's helped that I've met a friend, Ashley, with whom I have so much in common, and as an added bonus, has even more talents that help balance me out in areas where I'm lacking.

In other words, Ashley and I have created Paintdrops & Lollipops. A place for fabulous finds for women, baby and home. We've been planning and working for a while now and we're learning that there is going to be much more to come. The best part is that we're terribly excited for the opportunity to use our creative talents to establish a successful business.

Paintdrops + Lollipops will offer products ranging from children's furniture, totes, jewelry, original art, invitations for all occasions, birth announcements, to handmade pillows for tots, teens and home.

Our website is in the making, with a tentative launch date for mid February. We also plan to travel for on-site shows in Montgomery and surrounding cities.

So, for now we request prayers for peace of mind, patience and success. In the meantime, please help us spread the word!

Below is a preview of some of our featured items. Check out Ashley's site for more fabulous finds!

Rock On!

I've discovered that I love to sew! It started with a project where I wanted to make a quilt out of my old club t-shirts from college. That was successful, so I made a dress for Avery. That got out of control because it's hard to stop once you start. Of course now I want to do drapes and pillows and everything else for the house, but I've decided to wait until we buy a house and not waste it all on the rental one that we're in now! So, most recently I've discovered tiny rocking chairs for kids! I've always known about them, but I've started re-doing them and making little cushions! It's so much fun, and I can't wait to see what color combinations I can come up with for the paint and fabric! I really want to start selling them, so if that happens I can specialize them with names and themes! Now I just need to make a plan: where am I going to find lots of little rockers? Where will I sell them once I do find them? How long should I wait before branching into other little people furniture?! So much to think about, but for now they will make great baby gifts!