Alayna's Closet

SALE SALE SALE!

2009-01-16T22:46:00.003-05:00

Hi all - I am just dropping in very quick to let you know I am having a huge Sample Sale in Alayna's Closet. Everything in my Sale section is brand new and just waiting to find another home.

There are girls shirts, boys shirts, long sleeve, short sleeve, and even a few tote bags added in. The prices are low, low and sizes are limited! So stock up for this summer and for next year as well!

Feeling Inspired...

2009-01-01T20:33:00.006-05:00

Some time ago I purchased my daughter the most adorable dress from Matilda Jane. Besides being ridiculously cute - I was struck most by the use of buttons. I love buttons but really haven't had the opportunity to use them in my previous designs.

Since my last post I have completed 2 more of my Twirly T's (do you like my name for them?) and I just felt like it was missing something. Here is what I came up with...

This adorable fabric flower is removable and can be positioned anywhere on the outfit you like. You can even use it on your handbag, coat, other clothing, etc!

I used the same fabric that is on the hem and a really interesting square-ish lavender button.

I have so many fabric combinations running through my head! And I want to make these flowers in every color possible!

Updated to add the newest Twirly T's!

Wishing you all a...

2008-12-31T20:59:00.004-05:00

May 2009 bring us all peace, love, health, and happiness!

I'm all ears...

2008-12-30T21:08:00.006-05:00

Please - tell me what you think!

If you could see my sewing studio you would see that I am being overrun with shirts. I have a massive quantity in many colors and thought I would play around with a new design. I just did one last night as my very first tester and used fabric I wasn't too crazy about. That dress itself looks good but I still don't like the fabric. Nevermind the fact that I sewed the skirt to the wrong side of the shirt! If you don't look too close you can't tell it's inside out. :P

I just completed another one tonight with fabrics that I do like. I also tried a different design.

So, I want to hear from you! Please leave me a comment with your thoughts on my dress. I just have to say. I put the 1st dress on Alayna really quick tonight before I put on her pjs - and she twirled and twirled. It was seriously the cutest thing because she never does that. I will say it is a good twirling skirt. :)

Coming soon...

2008-12-29T18:52:00.010-05:00

I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season. I want to thank you for such an incredible 2008 and for making Alayna's Closet your destination for adorable appliqued items.

I know my poor little blog has been neglected. Really neglected. But with the new year around the corner I am feeling more energized and looking forward to stocking Alayna's Closet with lots more goodies! I am in the middle of trying out various products and working out the tweaks in some items I have already done. I always want to offer quality pieces that I love, and in turn, you love.

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Today I finished off some pants that match a top I made for my daughter for Valentine's Day.

I really love this red and pink polka dot fabric from Michael Miller and think it's the best to use for Valentine's. And I had the perfect pink ric rac trim for the bottom hem.

I just had to add a couple little surprises on the back of the outfit.

And a sweet grosgrain belt finishes it off.

You can click on any of the pictures to get a larger view - and you can click here to see the listing for the shirt. I haven't decided if I will offer the complete outfit in the shop or not. But I do have several shirts that would make excellent gifts for Valentine's Day. It's not too far away!

2008-12-24T23:46:00.000-05:00

Wishing you and yours...

2008-11-27T00:10:00.002-05:00

Getting closer...

2008-11-20T06:36:00.006-05:00

Christmas is nearly in our reach. In just over 35 days it will be time to celebrate and exchange gifts. I want to help you out with a little bit of your shopping! My shirts make great gifts and come packaged all pretty.

And of course you know that I can make adorable tote bags to match any of my tops.

So here's the deal... Purchase any two shirts for just $40! This is a fantastic savings and will only be available for a short time.

During checkout in the the notes to seller - you must enter the code BR2440. This offer will expire on November 30th, 2008. Start shopping! Click here to visit Alayna's Closet.

Ruffles here, ruffles there...

2008-11-18T20:42:00.004-05:00

I love these ruffles everywhere!

In the next baby step to full blown boutique clothing, I have started to offer complete outfits in Alayna's Closet. You can now purchase my adorable shirts with even more adorable matching pants. I currently have in stock size 12mths -6 knit flare pants and 2T-5T bootcut jeans. I can create these to match any of my existing tops in almost any color variety possible.

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Click on the pictures to read more about each outfit!

How have you been?

2008-11-14T11:11:00.008-05:00

Life is still crazy and hectic here in Alayna's Closet. Someday soon I hope to be up and fully operational with posting, giveaways, and lots more!

In the meantime I wanted to share a couple pictures of my booth setup from last weekend. Our group, the Mont Vernon Artisans was set up in 2 different locations - the fire house and the town hall. They share a parking lot.

The cool weekend garnered lots of shoppers for us all. The turnout was pretty good and I really enjoyed the event. I was a last minute addition so I was wedged in the corner by my friend Anita. But we both made good use of the space and got to chat during the down times.

I recently received a large shipment of pants for making some more beautiful outfits. You can see all new additions to Alayna's Closet in the slideshow on the right sidebar.

We're famous!

2008-11-07T08:27:00.010-05:00

Sorta...

All of the facts aren't exactly right, ex. I have only been avidly sewing for 4 weeks as opposed to 4 years, but Alayna's Closet is in the paper! I've been feverishly getting ready for the show this weekend and it is going to come down to the last hour.

Today I have a very long list of things to do and garments to complete and then setup is tonight. Is is all so stressful! Hopefully it will be worth it.

2008-10-31T20:06:00.000-04:00

Breaking the law...

2008-10-26T22:55:00.013-04:00

Anyone ever used to watch Beavis and Butthead?! NM connection there...

So I have been tagged a couple times recently (thanks Jen & Sydnei!) but I am going to deviate from the rules and just spew some random information about me.

I have a not so secret crush on Chris Isaak! *swoon*

Chris Isaak - New Music - More Music Videos

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I loved being pregnant and am sad I won't be ever again.

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My most favorite car that I've owned was my first brand new one. A 1997 blue green chameleon Pontiac Firebird. That car was hot! *channeling Paris Hilton when I say that*

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I am addicted to ChapStick!

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In high school I wanted to be a police officer in my hometown.

Hello???

2008-10-18T21:56:00.008-04:00

Is anyone still here?

I am - but barely. I'm still home taking care of my sick husband. He is out of the hospital now thankfully, but still sick. So while I am on hiatus from Alayna's Closet I am sharpening up my sewing skills and prepping for my new Christmas designs.

Here is a sneak peek at what is coming up.

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And as I mentioned - I am broadening my horizon and trying my hand at clothing. Today I finished a couple of flouncy skirts. I ordered a pattern for a couple different designs but I was antsy to get started.

So I did both of these freehand. I have a couple of kinks to work out before I start offering these in Alayna's Closet. But in the meantime - my little girl sure looks cute in something I actually made!

Party time...

2008-10-11T12:12:00.011-04:00

My little girl is 2 now.

Alayna has been my inspiration for so many things - including Alayna's Closet - that I thought I would share some photos of her Halloween themed birthday party. We kept it small and just invited a few of her little friends to celebrate. The kids all had fun at the cookie decorating station. Alayna mostly spilled the sprinkles everywhere.

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I found many great themed snacks here and here.

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We had another delicious cake from our favorite bakery. Alayna was a pro blowing out her candles.

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Thanks for looking! I hope to be up and running with my blog and shop by next week. See you then!

Hey, hey what do ya say?

2008-09-29T08:35:00.007-04:00

I say...
More free loot!

Right now until Saturday you have the chance to win one of my popular girls Patchwork Pumpkin shirts and and adorable leaf tote bag embellished with glass beads and ribbon trimmed handles. Head on over to Simply Sentimental the Blog and enter now.

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And thank you to everyone for your positive words! I read all comments and appreciate every one of them. My husband's transplant was done over the weekend and so far he is doing great. He now faces 3-4 weeks of recovery in the hospital. We continue to hope and pray for minimal side effects.

We have a winner!

2008-09-27T03:31:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Teresa!
She is the lucky winner of the $10 store credit the fabulous Etsy shop, So So Rosey. Thank you so much to Jennie for participating in this giveaway and for such a lovely prize! You can visit Jennie's shop by clicking on any of the pictures in her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous giveaways!

I will be back very soon with more riveting posts and more excellent giveaways! : ) Stay tuned!

I'll be back...

2008-09-24T21:02:00.003-04:00

I hope I still have some readers left!

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I know I haven't posted in awhile but I am very occupied in my real life. My husband has Leukemia and has been in the hospital for the past week. He will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant in the coming days. After that we hope and pray he will be on the road to recovery and back to his normal self soon.

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In the meantime I still have a giveaway going. Enter for your chance to win!

Saturday Giveaway - So So Rosey

2008-09-18T22:11:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Janet, Judy, and Miranda!
They are the lucky winners of the tote bags from my Etsy shop, Alayna's Closet.

This week Jen from the wonderful Etsy shop So So Rosey is really going to make one winner very happy. She is offering $10 to spend in her shop in whichever way you choose! There are dozens of items within that price point so you will surely find something you love! And of course she is so graciously going to cover the shipping to get your little treat out to you.

Here are a couple of my favorites from her shop that are ten dollars.

I love the soft color of these napking rings and the pretty shell button!

And this coaster/trivet would brighten up any kitchen!

How can this be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Jen's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, September 19th - Friday, September 26th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, I am willing to ship worldwide.
Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Have you ever seen???

2008-09-16T23:38:00.006-04:00

A movie called The Warriors?

I was forced to watch it some time ago by my husband. The first time I just thought what a cheesy, campy movie. And it is! But now I like seeing it. I find myself repeating lines of the movie all the time.

*** Warriors... Come out and play ***

Here's a little tidbit. My sister works for St. Joseph Hospital and has worked with Dr. Remar, his brother is James Remar. He is in The Warriors and more currently played Richard on Sex and the City. Speaking of which - am I still the only person who has not seen the SatC movie?! I can't wait for the dvd to come out next week!

Is one yours??

2008-09-16T22:08:00.003-04:00

It very well could be! All you have to do is enter!

They are all packaged and ready to go to their new home.

Thinking of taking the plunge...

2008-09-15T21:45:00.005-04:00

I have been sewing more often lately than I have before, mostly my tutu shirts for Alayna's Closet. But my sewing maching doesn't have a real home in my smallish studio. What I have been using is my daughter's play table and chair. Probably meant more for a 2 year old as opposed to a 30 year old! Needless to say - I want a new sewing table.

I have heard time and time again - go to Ikea.

I have actually never been to one before. Not too long ago they opened up the first store in Massachusetts. Stoughton isn't exactly close - about 2 hours away. But I have been told they could have almost anything I am looking for - even lunch. So I thought I could make a day of it. And hopefully find a new home for my sewing machine.

A new arrival...

2008-09-14T11:21:00.003-04:00

Well I finally found some long sleeve shirts for boys that I love and gave one of my dinosaurs a new home! I will have more colors and designs coming shortly.

Saturday Giveaway - Alayna's Closet

2008-09-13T18:22:00.008-04:00

Congratulations to Jenn!

She is the lucky winner of the set of cards from the fabulous Etsy shop, Simply Sentimental. Thank you so much to Sydnei for participating in this giveaway and for such a lovely prize! You can visit Sydnei's shop by clicking on any of the pictures in her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous giveaways!

This week I will be mixing it up a bit and offering 3 of my tote bags from my shop, Alayna's Closet. And this week there will be 3 lucky winners! The first winner chosen will have their choice of the bags and so on. Here are the bags up for grabs!

All of these tote bags are my medium size, the measurements are: 11w x 9h x 3d

How can all of these be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit my shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, September 13th - Thursday, September 18th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, I am willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!
And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Never Forget...

2008-09-11T23:59:00.000-04:00

Blog Feature

2008-09-11T21:29:00.004-04:00

I got a very nice email from Emily of Gems by Em. It was her birthday yesterday and she picked a couple of birthday items to feature on her blog. She picked one of my shirts!

Thank you Emily - and a very Happy Birthday to you!

Buy Something New Today - Oak Trees!

2008-09-11T20:46:00.006-04:00

So you have heard it all before! I love Fall! And that includes the beautiful trees changing colors. Before the not so fun part of raking them up comes seeing them float to the ground, stomping aroung in them, hearing them crackle under your feet. So how many things do you think you can find on Etsy relating to oak trees? Atleast 451 items. Here are 3 of my favorite.

O A K

T R E E S

First from the wonderful shop - Cutesie Clips - is this gorgeous assortment of hair clips for your little girls hair. I haven't ordered my set yet - but know that I will! And they will be perfect just like all the other clips I have ordered from Jennifer.

From Sweet B Studio is this too cute print of an oak tree, complete with leaves and acorns. From their original drawing this print can be personalized and your info will be "carved" into the tree. What a sweet gift for a wedding or anniversary.

And lastly, I love this little felt tree. It just makes me smile. Actually all of the things in the Hi Tree shop do. This is the littlest of the oak trees available but there are also sequoias and cypress trees.

If you want to read more on these items just click on the picture and you will be taken straight to the listing!

Once again...

2008-09-11T20:33:00.006-04:00

Thank you Sydnei of Simply Sentimental! She has picked one of my personalized girls shirts to be in her very nice treasury that she created. You can view it here.

ok - so it appears I have been too slow in posting this. The treasury has expired but I still want to thank Sydnei! Alayna is modeling the shirt that was chosen for her treasury.

I also want to remind everyone to enter in my current giveaway featuring 5 very sweet cards from Sydnei's shop - Simply Sentimental! The drawing will be held tomorrow evening (EST) at 10pm.

Wordless Wednesday...

2008-09-10T20:59:00.004-04:00

Just have to share...

2008-09-09T01:07:00.004-04:00

I have reached a milestone - 100 sales!

I am so excited - but busy!! Ok - back to work now. : )

Home cookin'

2008-09-07T19:31:00.005-04:00

I know I already said goodbye to summer, but...

I am so sorry I haven't had an update on Try Something New Today. I actually haven't been cooking too much lately. My mom is visiting so we have all enjoyed her home cooking. Tonight was red chile enchiladas! drool...

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Although, I do have something to share. It is still in the beginning stages but in a few months I hope to have some homemade vanilla extract. It is super easy! All you need is some sort of seal able bottle, vodka, and Madagascar vanilla beans. I purchased my beans through this Ebay shop. You can buy the bottles here or here or here. The vodka doesn't need to be any kind of fancy brand. At my local liquor shop they have lower shelf vodkas and then top shelf vodkas. Grab something in the middle. Slice the vanilla beans in the middle lenghtwise and put into the bottle. Fill with vodka. Done! For the large bottle that I had I put in 8 vanilla beans. You need to store it in a cool, dark place for up to 4 months. Every once in a while invert the bottle to let it mix.

Here is a really great site with more information all about vanilla!

Saturday Giveaway - Simply Sentimental

2008-09-06T08:17:00.012-04:00

Congratulations to Paula!
She is the lucky winner of the picture frame from the fabulous Etsy shop, Onkie Bazoobie. Thank you so much to Danielle for participating in this giveaway and for such a lovely prize! You can visit Danielle's shop by clicking on any of the pictures in her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous giveaways!

This week Sydnei from the fabulous Etsy shop, Simply Sentimental, is offering a total of 5 of her totally cute handmade cards!

Just in time for the Fall season and Halloween!

Feast your eyes on the amazing details that this talented paper artist creates! All of these cards have been left blank inside for you to personalize. Click on the pictures for more information. And for those of you who can't wait to make a purchase - Sydnei has so graciously offered FREE SHIPPING from 9/6 - 9/12 throughout her entire shop to my blog readers. Just enter the code "CLOSET" during checkout. So go crazy buying - now you have an excuse! :)

And who wouldn't love to receive one of these in the mail?!

How can all of these be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Sydnei's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, Septmeber 6th - Friday, September 12th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Sydnei is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

What took so long?!

2008-09-04T20:44:00.004-04:00

So I have finally been clued in on how to check if I have been included in treasuries on Etsy. So I decide to go trolling and looking for a gold star. I found one! :)

Thank you to Scribble and Script for picking me!

You can view my oh so uber popular witch shirt in the treasury here.

A shout out to Sydnei of Simply Sentimental for this screen shot of my treasury!!!

Buy Something New Today - For the Girls!

2008-09-04T10:40:00.007-04:00

Today's selection of must have items from Etsy are things I found while browsing through the hundreds of thousands of handmade goodies. I am window shopping while trying to find things for my daughter's upcoming 2nd birthday. Of course I may have found a couple things for myself too! Click on any of the pictures for more information on the featured item.

G I R L S

I had always thought of these silhouettes as old fashioned. But I love the updated twist with the girly pink! Sold from BabyCakes Art as a set of notecards with matching seals, it can be personalized to reflect your little beauty(ies)!

From a talented jewelry artist, RHB Designs, is this gorgeous copper disc pendant accented with a sterling heart charm. It is then stamped with the name of your choice. It is truly simple but a piece anyone girl would love.

Last we have this big, beautiful letter of your choice from Kiss Me Kate. The painting and embellishments look so great together and would be a fantastic gift. There are several sizes and fonts available so be sure to check them all out!

Signs of Fall

2008-09-02T13:29:00.006-04:00

I need to go out and start buying my Fall stuff for outside. I go crazy with cornstalks and scarecrows, mums, and of course pumpkins. When we bring in the new stuff - that means that other things must be put away in the barn until next year.

Our little bear steps off of his rock perch and goes into hibernation until next Spring.

And our star plaque will be replaced with a gorgeous autumn wreath.

But one of the things I love the most - is all of the apples that have fallen off the trees in our orchard. Some are half eaten by the deer and other's look almost perfect, but soft. It is the smell... My husband cuts the grass on the lawn tractor and runs over all the apples. It smells like fresh apple cider right in my backyard. Love that!

Alayna's Closet Giveaway!

2008-09-01T19:14:00.004-04:00

How would you like your very own Alayna's Closet original dino shirt? If you head on over to Maternal Spark you can enter to win your choice of a girls or boys dino tee.

Goodbye Summer!

2008-08-31T15:23:00.002-04:00

I hope that you are all enjoying a Labor Day weekend filled with family, friends, and fun!

Saturday Giveaway - Onkie Bazoobie

2008-08-30T00:31:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Deb!
She is the lucky winner of the pendant from the fabulous Etsy shop, The Pretty Peacock. Thank you so much to Ana for participating in this giveaway and for such a lovely prize! You can visit Ana's shop by clicking on any of the pictures in her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous giveaways!

This week from the talented artist, Danielle, we have a gorgeous hand distressed picture frame. Just take a look at this...

Here is some more information from Danielle about how she created this beautiful one of a kind frame:

My papering technique makes the paper look like it is seamlessly merged onto the frame and is really quite a beautiful process. I have done quite a bit of hand distressing on each and every corner to give it an aged look and make it feel like a piece that has been handed down throughout the years. I handstamped the word "believe" in a copper bookplate set with copper tacks. The picture opening is 4x6 and the entire frame measures 9x7.

How can this be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Danielle's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, August 30th - Friday, September 5th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Danielle is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Buy Something New Today - Cancer Awareness

2008-08-29T19:08:00.009-04:00

Today's selections have been chosen in honor of my husband. Just 3 months ago he was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL). He spent another tough day at the hospital in preparation for his bone marrow transplant next week. He has shown so much courage and strength throughout this ordeal. So from Alayna and I - we love you!

C A N C E R A W A R E N E S S

This pendant from Gems by Em can be custom created to your specifics - but I love the simple message. Hope.

30% of the proceeds from Etsy shop Mirrorific will be donated towards Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in San Diego.

And this sterling silver with swarovski charm bracelet from Rosebud Boutique is shown in colors to show your support for Leukemia.

An apple a day...

2008-08-28T19:42:00.005-04:00

We went to the Farmer's Market today and scored all kinds of goodies. We picked up a nice baguette because my husband is dying to make some cheesy garlic bread. I bought a bag of apples and I am figuring out what to try and make with them. You can see Alayna sampling the merchandise. Some local wine, a bunch of sunflowers, and some nice yellow tomatos!

What a perfect day...

Alayna is wearing my Pretty Paisley Flower shirt, available now.

Witch City...

2008-08-26T22:38:00.003-04:00

I am being overrun by witches!

I am so glad that my little witch shirt is so popular! Better order yours today before they all fly away!

Something new to love...

2008-08-26T21:24:00.004-04:00

Today Alayna and I went to welcome our newest neighbor. They opened a brand new Michael's in a plaza fairly near our home. I had my trusty 40% off coupon with me and I was ready to shop. They had alot of great deals to celebrate their grand opening week and was able to take advantage of a few of them. I had thrown a rotary cutter into my cart and thought I would use my coupon towards that. But as I wheeled my way through the aisles I found this...

It is perfect for my ribbon and other little things. My ribbon had been in plastic containers on a nearby shelf but it was kind of a pain having to open each container seeing which was the best match. Like my thread, I can now just glance up and see everything at once. My handy hubby hung it up for me lickety split.

Can you tell I love organization! In my studio anyways!

Hello - old friend...

2008-08-25T20:35:00.005-04:00

Today I decided to venture up into our attic and find something to dust off and bring into the furniture rotation. I found an old friend. She hasn't really found a permanent place in our house so she had been residing up in dustville for the last couple of years.

I bought her in the Fall of 2004 after we first moved here. There was an antique sale at a local church and I snagged her up for a song! She has a beautiful antique white finish with lovely little crackles.

I thought I could find her a home in my studio. I tried several places and I don't think it's going to work. I am already busting at the seams and need a bigger place to create. Maybe I can move her out into our hallway?

I referred to this desk as "her" 4 times.

Saturday Giveaway - The Pretty Peacock

2008-08-22T23:51:00.009-04:00

Congratulations to Diane!

She is the lucky winner of the set of earrings from the fabulous Etsy shop, Lily in the Garden. Thank you so much to Lily for participating in this giveaway and for such a lovely prize! You can visit Lily's shop by clicking on any of the pictures in her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous giveaways!

This week we have a gorgeous Etsy shop called The Pretty Peacock. Ana specializes in heirloom quality Indian influenced jewelry. She creates custom pendants and bracelets using sterling silver and Swarovski crystals. She has been so generous to offer this beautiful eco friendly silver pendant and ball chain to my blog readers.

Here are some details from Ana's shop:

This is a beautifully unique, eco-friendly sterling silver teardrop pendant ( I try to purchase all my metals from companies who use Earth friendly means of refining).

I hand stamped the Sanskrit word "Abhaya", which means "Fearlessness". I oxidized the characters slightly so they would stand out against the shiny metal. I wire wrapped a gorgeous, 6mm bicone Swarovski crystal in garnet and used a sterling silver Bali spacer and headpin to set off the exotic theme of the necklace. The pendant set is hung from an 18" ball chain

How can this be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Ana's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, August 23rd - Friday, August 29th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Ana is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Try Something New Today - Green Chile

2008-08-21T11:45:00.012-04:00

Today I am longing for family and home.

I'm from New Mexico and my parents and most of my family still live there. When I think of NM I think of the food. I grew up with green and red chile. While I didn't particularly enjoy eating it when I was younger I have come to appreciate it more and more. Living in New Mexico you find chile everywhere. You eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The common question when you go out to eat is - red or green? If you like them both - it's Christmas. You can even find a green chile hamburger at McDonald's and other fast food restaurants. During Fall you can smell the chile roasting in the air. The local Smith's grocery store sells them by the burlap bag full and they have giant roaster's out front with flames lapping away.

Unfortunately New Hampshire isn't known for it's overabundance of chile. When my parents make a trip out this way they pack a large cooler full of dried red chile, frozen roasted green chile, and tamales. (Thanks Mom!) But if we run out 3 or 4 months later then we just have to wait and salivate until they come again.

So I decided to buy some green chiles at my supermarket and roast them at home. There is a process to follow.

I was in the mood for green chile meatloaf and canned wasn't going to cut it. Sadly the chile greatly lacked in the heat and flavor department.

Green Chile Meatloaf

1 pound ground beef
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 Hatch green chiles roasted, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup ketchup or tomato sauce (I used v8)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
2 eggs
1 cups bread crumbs1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine ground beef, onions, garlic, chile, cheese, thyme, eggs, bread crumbs and season liberally with salt and pepper. Mix by hand until mixture is combined. Form into loaf on lightly oiled shallow baking pan. Brush outside of loaf with ketchup and brown sugar. Bake in oven until just cooked through (about 40 minutes). Remove and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

I served this with some roasted garlic and onion potato wedges. Dinner was good - but could've been better with some flavorful New Mexican green chile.
If you are like me, and don't live near NM - order some of your own up here.

Buy Something New Today - Pottery

2008-08-20T06:39:00.011-04:00

I am truly in awe of crafts other than mine. Actually I think of some more like art. Today the spotlight is shining on hand crafted pottery. I love the texture, the uneven color palette, the sturdiness, just the pure gorgeousness. I only have a couple of pieces in my collection - but after today's post I would love to have alot more!

P O T T E R Y

First is this perfect little bloom vase from La Pella Pottery. I love the shape of this as it reminds me of a beehive (another thing I love!). The colors are beautiful and earthy. This is a great starter piece that would show beautifully on a window sill or a bookcase.

Next is this simple but perfect bowl from Clay Slinging Mama. It has a generous size that makes it great for a variety of uses. I love how the finish drips towards the bottom - it gives it so much character. The colors are so warm and so lovely and would work in a variety of decor.

And lastly, from Montezuma Mudd is this most beautiful berry bowl/colander and plate. This artist is actually located in Mancos, Colorado - not too far away from where I grew up. I love supporting people and places that mean something to me. This set is so amazing and functional and would work for all of the fresh fruit in season now.

All three of these pieces would be perfect and thoughtful gifts for anyone on your list (ME!) and are all priced below $30. So if you have someone to buy for check out these functional works of art and browse the shops. You will probably see me there too.

What a difference...

2008-08-19T12:13:00.005-04:00

I can't believe it has taken me so long to move my thread rack right next to my ironing board. It has only been there for one day and already it makes such a difference! It had been on a shelf on the other side of my room. Now it's not like I have an olympic sized swimming pool for a room - but still. When I am ready to stitch and looking for thread I just glance up and there they all are.

Shiny Happy Thread!

I'm Cuteable!

2008-08-19T10:03:00.003-04:00

Well atleast my boy's dinosaur shirt is anyways!

I received an email this morning from Lynsey at Cuteable that she picked my boys dino tee to be featured on her blog. He is one of my favorites so I was really happy to see him there. And Cuteable is a really fantastic blog to be seen at so I am thrilled at the chance!

The timing is actually really good. Just last night I finished my darling dino tee for girls. What do you think?

I finally made it to the front page!

2008-08-18T08:46:00.007-04:00

Doing the happy dance!! I really didn't think it was a very big deal until it actually happened to me! My wonderful Etsy friend Lisa sent me a message this morning that one of my shirts was in a treasury on the front page.

Thank you to Lisa for sending me this screen shot and to Etsy seller StaceyDawn for picking my Pretty Paisley Flower shirt. : )

The witch has been picked...Again!

2008-08-18T01:09:00.003-04:00

I was so happy to open up a message from Sarah of Cool Midwest Mom. She wanted to let me know that she was featuring my witch tutu shirt in her blog.

Thank you Sarah! : )

Alayna's Closet Giveaway

2008-08-17T19:41:00.002-04:00

I just want to let you all know that the girls over at Raechele's blog are holding a giveaway for one of my shirts! The drawing starts today and ends on 8/24. Click on the picture to visit their blog and enter for your chance to win this shirt!

Merci, Gracias, Danke, Thank you!

2008-08-16T15:29:00.004-04:00

I had spotted this award given out to a fellow Etsian and blogger earlier this week - she then passed it along to Sydnei of Simply Sentimental. Who I am delighted to say passed it on to me!

Thank you so much Sydnei! I love reading your blog and browsing your shop and am thrilled that you also enjoy mine.

My time with my blogging crown has been short - but I must part with it. I have decided to pass it along to Kari of Spring Chick. She has been an inspiration to me in many ways and I love reading her blog. She always has a fun mix of posts and beautiful pictures to share. And of course you know she also has a wonderful Esty shop that you have to check out!

What the Hail!?

2008-08-16T14:58:00.004-04:00

I almost lost you guys!

A big bright bolt of lightening followed by a huge window rattling crackle of thunder. Shortly after came the onslaught of rain and hail. It looked really cool until I tried to get online. Our powerstrip is fried - but luckily she took the brunt of it and saved the rest! Thanks powerstrip! : )

Saturday Giveaway - Lily In the Garden!

2008-08-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to KY Girl!

She is the lucky winner of 2 set of address labels from the fabulous Etsy shop, Bohtieque. Thank you so much to Julie for participating in this giveaway and for such a lovely prize! You can visit Julie's shop by clicking on any of the pictures on her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous giveaways!

This week from the terrific mother and daughter shop, A Lily in the Garden, we have some very stylish, earth friendly Sunny Flower earrings!

What a pretty way to show your love for the planet! These sweet flower earrings are made from recycled aluminum soda cans. Don't worry, they've been hand filed for smoothness and any scraps have been returned to the recycling bin. This pair features soft yellow and orange on silver. On elongated silver palted earwires, they measure 2" (5cm) long and 1" (2.5cm) at the widest. Super lightweight, they're as easy on your ears as they are on the environment!

How can these be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Lily's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, August 16th - Friday, August 22nd. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Lily is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Warm fuzzy feeling...

2008-08-14T22:58:00.011-04:00

I just wanted to remind all my wonderful, lovely, and smart readers that the current giveaway is closing in less than 23 hours! Click here to enter for your chance to win!

And I really have to gush about how much I love Julie's shop - Bohtieque. I had already told you that I ordered some custom designed products from her along with the adorable Mr. Pumpkinhead labels. She was so wonderful to work with and when my labels arrived I fell in love with them... Can you love stickers? YES!

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I am so glad to have discovered Bohtieque for my own personal shopping. That is really what Etsy is about. Finding "gems".

Buy Something New Today - Boys!

2008-08-13T20:34:00.007-04:00

My good friend Linda's son, Giovanni, just celebrated a birthday. So today's theme is great gifts for boys - in honor of him! Let's hear it for the boys...

B O Y S !

I have been eyeing this first shop for awhile as there are so many cute things. But these army men soap are so clever I just had to include them. These are single use soaps - you receive 15 of them. Use one each time your little guy takes a bath - he gets clean and has a new toy at the end of tub time! Check out Annie's Powder Room and guaranteed you find something you love.

Next is this adorable pirate pillow. Such a popular theme brought to life in this generously sized pillow. I love the original design and style. He even has a peg leg and a hook for a hand! I know several boys that would love this for a gift. You can get your very own by visiting Wonder and Whimsy.

And I saved this little goodie for last. From the Etsy shop, Cookie Dough, a brightly colored box has been painted and glued shut. But inside the monsters mouth your little one can search for over 40 mini treasures hidden amongst the beads. You can even play I Spy as there is a contents list included on the bottom of the box. What a smart idea!

Christmas presents?

2008-08-13T00:00:00.002-04:00

I think I could make these for many of my friends and family and they would love them! What else am I going to do with the remaining 22 feet of this paper?! But I am so excited to say that I found the exact same shelf paper they used in the Family Fun article. You gotta love Target!

So without further adieu ---

I went with a round pizza pan because I thought that would be a more interesting shape than the traditional rectangle cookie sheet. It made it a little bit more difficult in trying to cut out the circle - but what I did was use the little paper that was taped on the inside of the pan and traced that. Of course it was smaller than I needed so I cut about an inch larger than what I traced. And in my haste to put this together I didn't completely peel off the price sticker and you can sorta see the little bumps of the sticker residue. Inside the bottle caps I had the perfect size button so I glued them in. The little can was from sliced mushrooms and that was easy to cover. I just added some ribbon trim around it to jazz it up a bit. The magnets I bought are crazy strong - next time I will look for something a little less powerful. :P And I finished off my little beauty with a brown ribbon tied in a bow to cover the nail.

I can't wait to do some more!

My handy helper...

2008-08-12T00:00:00.002-04:00

Now that I have changed my packaging and colors to be more inclusive of boys and girls - I have alot more raffia to deal with.

I had a wooden dowel left over from some other project and was trying to think of a way to use it as a dispenser. I couldn't think of a good way to attach it to the wall though. As I was digging through another closet I found a pair of curtain rods that had been taken out of another room after redecorating. These of course came with brackets for the wall and it was the perfect size to hold all of my raffia. My hubby hung it up for me and I am loving it! It keeps everything orderly and out of my way.

I was thinking either above my shipping table for the cookie sheet message center or maybe one sideways above my raffia bar? We'll have to see...

The Mummy has been spotted!

2008-08-11T20:34:00.004-04:00

I am so happy to share that my mummy was picked as a "Fabulous Fall Find" on Raechele's blog - for Spunky Little People!

Check it out!

I'm on a mission!

2008-08-11T16:56:00.005-04:00

I am off to buy some cookie sheets, shelf paper, and magnets.

I was reading one of my favorite magazines and saw this and thought it was so pretty! They will be perfect to hang on the wall above my shipping table. I only hope I can find paper as nice looking as the one they show.

Message Center

Get the message across with a repurposed cookie sheet.
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Non-aluminum cookie sheet
Ruler
Scissors
Self-adhesive shelf liner
Scrap of wood
Hammer
Large nail
Empty can
Glue (we used Crafter's Pick The Ultimate)
Supermagnets
Bottle caps
Card stock
Markers

Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours
1. Measure the back of your cookie sheet and cut a piece of shelf liner that's an inch wider and an inch taller. Stick the shelf liner to the back of the cookie sheet by peeling off one corner of the liner and laying it down on a corner of the cookie sheet. Slowly pull the backing away as you smooth the liner onto the sheet. Cut off the excess shelf liner. 2. To make a hole for hanging, place the cookie sheet over a piece of scrap wood and use a hammer to punch a nail through the center of the rim. 3. For the pencil holder, cut a piece of shelf liner that's about an inch taller than the can. Wrap the liner around the can so that the ends overlap a bit, then cut off the excess liner. Glue two magnets to the side of the can. 4. For the bottle-cap magnets, glue a magnet inside of each cap. Cut a piece of card stock to fit the cap, write a name on it, and glue it on top of the magnet.

Hopefully I will have some nice photos of my project that I will add soon!

Alayna's Closet Cuties!

2008-08-11T11:01:00.006-04:00

Want one of these?

Here is where you can find all of the information and benefits of joining the official Alayna's Closet Cuties Club.

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Perks

Show off your cutie on my blog
Free personalized wooden hanger
Exclusive discounts in Alayna's Closet

How to Join

Simply submit a picture of your cutie wearing their Alayna's Closet shirt or sporting their one of a kind tote bag. It will be displayed in the slideshow at the bottom of my blog.

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For more information or to become an Alayna's Closet Cutie Clubmember - contact me at AlaynasCloset@gmail.com

To see current ACCC's look for them in the slideshow at the bottom of my blog.

Mummy's Home!

2008-08-10T16:40:00.003-04:00

Now available in Alayna's Closet!

What is it...

2008-08-09T16:14:00.003-04:00

New fabric has arrived in Alayna's Closet

Isn't it lovely?!

A big gorgeous pile of fabric fresh out of the dryer and ready to be ironed, folded, and put away.

No what to make with it is the question...

Saturday Giveaway - Bohtieque!

2008-08-09T01:35:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Jodi!

She is the lucky winner of the Quick Trip Organizer in her choice of pink or blue from Zwei Baby. Thank you so much to Heather for providing such a fun prize! You can visit Heather's shop by clicking on any of the pictures on her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous giveaways!

I have had the pleasure of working with our next artist for my own personal and business needs. Bohtieque is an amazing shop full of original designs for address labels, note cards, and picture greeting cards. I think very highly of Julie and her work - and if you aren't lucky enough to win this weeks prize - I would recommend shopping with her for any of your correspondence needs.

But for one lucky person - up for grabs are 2 sets of these beautifully classic address labels called I Take Beauty. The winner will receive a total of 60 round 1.5 inch glossy labels.

How can these be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Julie's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, August 9th - Friday, August 15th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Julie is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Don't wait!

2008-08-08T00:34:00.003-04:00

Tonight at 10pm the drawing is coming to a close. A winner will be chosen at random - will it be you?

Back to School Special!

2008-08-06T23:57:00.003-04:00

For all you mom's out there trying to get your kids new clothes for school, I've got a deal for you! Pick them up something that will stand out. A shirt that not everyone has. Buy a stylish top for your tot from Alayna's Closet.

From Thursday August 7th - Sunday August 10th receive free shipping on your order within the US. In order to to be eligible you need to type in the following code in notes to seller during checkout - BLOGREADER08.

Buy Something New Today - Birthday Party Hats!

2008-08-06T10:51:00.008-04:00

I wanted to introduce some very fun and playful items from the Etsy world this week. Party Hats! These aren't your run of the mill, everybody has one, cardboard hats. These could be keepsakes and made to match your theme!

P a r t y H a t s !

I decided upon this theme after I completed one of my shirts. I chose the red, black, and white colors to match Alayna's party in October - but it can be recreated for you in the colors of your choice! You can find this shirt in my shop, Alayna's Closet.

Then I found this adorable party hat from Itsy Bitsy Bunny. You already know that I love pink and green together and this beautifully made hat is just so sweet. If you visit this shop you can find so many more options for boys and girls!

I am big on having something special to mark an important occasion. This birthday party hat ornament is such a beautiful way to remember a special day. It can even be personalized with a name and date by the artist herself, Kirsten. The Painted Palmetto offers many more unique and gorgeous handpainted baubles.

This one's for the boys...

2008-08-04T21:16:00.001-04:00

I finally finished a new shirt and matching tote bag for the little boys out there. I probably do 3 times as many shirts for girls as I do boys... but I sell 3 times as much girl stuff.

The tote bag can be used all year round but I thought it would be especially cute as a trick or treat bag. It can be just a spider or personalized in your name of choice. Click on the picture and it will take you directly to the listing for more details.

And just this afternoon I completed the matching shirt. I love the colors of the orange shirt and the blue/black spider. It would be a great shirt for Halloween and beyond. When the weather get a littler cooler just layer a long sleeved tee underneath and your little man will be ready to go!

If you have any suggestions or an idea of designs you would like to see - please leave a comment. If I pick your idea and make a shirt or tote bag with your design on it you will receive one for free!

Calling all Alayna's Closet Cuties!

2008-08-02T11:54:00.014-04:00

Coming soon I will post about features and benefits of being a club member - including a free welcome gift and exclusive discounts! There is no charge to join - you just need to have purchased a shirt from my shop.

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If you would like to submit a picture of your cutie wearing an Alayna's Closet shirt to be displayed in the slideshow at the bottom of my blog, contact me at - AlaynasCloset@gmail.com. Make sure to put "ACCC" in the subject line.

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Scroll down to see my cutie, Alayna, and my sister's cutie Eden. Who will be next to join them in the Alayna's Closet Cuties Club!

Saturday Giveaway! - Zwei Baby

2008-08-02T08:40:00.017-04:00

Congratulations to Karin! She is the lucky winner of the 3 piece Pure Mineral Makeup set from Mixology Makeup. Thank you so much to Rae for providing such a fun prize! You can visit Rae's shop by clicking on any of the pictures on her Etsy mini on my right sidebar. You can also view the shops of previous participants and preview upcoming shops that will be offering more fabulous gifts!

Mommies of babies and toddler's rejoice!

This weeks giveaway is so very practical but made oh so stylish thanks to Heather at Zwei Baby. Heather is offering your choice of blue or pink in her Quick Trip Organizer.

Here is a little more info from Heather about these wonderful organizers...

Better than a seperate changing mat and diaper/wipes holder...this is all-in-one! Folds up to a nice clutch size and unfolds to reveal a pouch for holding diapers/wipes as well as a mat for changing baby! Lightly padded for babies comfort but not too bulky for your bag.

Folded organizer measures approximately 12" x 7" and has a snap closure. Pouch has room to hold multiple diapers and a wipes container.

How can one of these be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Heather's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, August 2nd - Friday, August 8th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Heather is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Try Something New Today - Zucchini Craisin Bread

2008-08-01T21:06:00.006-04:00

I was at the supermarket and saw mounds and mounds of big, green, lovely zucchinis - and the only thing I could think of was yummy zucchini bread. I went to trusty Allrecipes and found a highly rated recipe and of course had to tweak it to make it my own. My family loves craisins and I thought it only natural to throw some in here. They plump up nice and juicy in the bread and help to make it very moist!

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 cups grated zucchini (about 2 large zucchinis)
1 cup craisins

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wisk together flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, baking powder. Beat eggs. Add and mix well sugar, vanilla, and oil. Add zucchini and craisins to egg mixture. Add dry ingredients, mixing well. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

I dusted it with a little bit of sugar on top but it wasn't necessary. This bread was sooo delicious! If you try this recipe out please let me know if you loved it too!

The witch has been picked!

2008-07-31T20:01:00.002-04:00

I was so delighted to hear that my very own witch shirt has been picked as a favorite on another blog. Even more special - I've reached my target audience - a 2 year old little girl. To read more about this you can click here!

Buy Something New Today - Polka Dots!

2008-07-31T15:15:00.009-04:00

In honor of my new blog design I have searched up and down on Etsy to find my most favorite things with polka dots! Let's go!

P O L K A D O T S

I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever seen a more adorable bib than this one from Bean Pickle Sprout. I love the color combination and the little bird is just the cutest. The modern and neutral colors would also make it a perfect pick for a little boy or girl.

Next I chose this brightly colored, ultra hip diaper bag/tote bag from Pink Lemonade Bags. The colors are fantastic and I love the crisp bow. There are pockets on the light pink interior which makes it easy to find what you are looking for.

And lastly we have this lovely travel sized blankie from Dolci Baci Boutique. One of my favorite color combinations is pink and green - and this gorgeous blankie uses both so well. I just wish it came in a larger size!

Impersonations...

2008-07-30T11:14:00.006-04:00

I decided to try and expand my tutu shirt collection in Alayna's Closet. They are the first thing that I did and the whole reason I started selling on Etsy. So last night I took the witch shirt I already made and added the ribbon and tulle - making one very cute tutu shirt.

Here is Alayna giving her best wicked witch look.

This cute tutu shirt is now available in my shop. Did you know??? Any of my girls applique tees can be turned into a playful and cute tutu shirt? You can even pick the ribbon and tulle color. Your little girl can build the shirt of her dreams!

Notice anything...

2008-07-30T10:50:00.002-04:00

My blog has been transformed once again! Michele from Elite Boutique Designs has so graciously helped me in my quest of a 3 column blog. For the next couple of days things may be rearranged in an effort to get everything to fit in my skinny sidebars. But I hope that it will all become more reader friendly. So stay tuned!

New shoes...

2008-07-28T10:44:00.010-04:00

Now is the time I start buying Fall clothes for Alayna. You see warmer colors and sweaters and pants start to crop up in the store displays. And that of course means buying new shoes. Alayna has already outgrown her first couple of pairs of sandals that I bought in the Spring. It always makes me sad knowing I have to buy her new ones. Not because I have to spend money on getting some more - but because it means she is growing up.

One of the brands that I love for her are Converse. They are supportive, stylish, and have a flexible sole. I love that they are fairly inexpensive at $20 for the traditional colors. She is wearing these chocolate brown ones today. I usually buy them from Piperlime. They have free shipping both ways which is very convenient. And they always have loads of styles in stock.

With her brown Converse she is wearing one of the new shirts from my shop, Alayna's Closet. There are 3 of them which I call the Pretty Paisley Flower Collection. You can check them out by clicking on the link above.

On a Scale of 1 to 10... Movies

2008-07-27T21:52:00.003-04:00

I thought it would be fun to talk more about things I like and let you know how I rank them. My husband and I always use the "1 to 10 scale" to indicate how much we like things. I thought I could use that for movies, restaurants, books, etc.

Today I am ranking the classic movie Eddie and the Cruisers. I honestly can't say when it was that I first saw this movie but I know that I was young. Since that time I have watched it dozens of times on my own dvd and whenever I catch it on tv. It was released in 1983 and there was one sequel to it which I haven't seen. I also own the cd which I have had for years and years.

I really like the movie and would wholeheartedly recommend it. I would give it a solid 8.5

The soundtrack cd I love! And I would give that a 10.

If you have the opportunity to rent it through Net Flix or elsewhere - do it! You will certainly enjoy it!

If you have already seen this movie - what do you give it?

Saturday Giveaway - Mixology Makeup!

2008-07-25T23:05:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Hil'lesha!

She is the winner of the fabulous clutch from this past weeks drawing. Thanks again to Heather from Brezomayo for participating. You can still check out her shop - her Etsy mini is located on the right sidebar!

Now - up for grabs this week is a 3 piece makeup kit from

Mixology Pure Mineral Makeup.

Rae has chosen a very exciting and fresh eye shadow color called Crush. It is a light shimmery purple, flirty and fresh! It comes in a 10 gram jar with sifter. (3 grams nt. wt.)

Also included is a coordinating plum colored liner. It is a deep colored purple liner that works well for everyone and really makes your eyes pop! It comes in a 5 gram jar with sifter. (1 gram nt. wt.)

And Rae is also being so kind and giving away one of her Vegan Synthetic wet/dry mineral brushes. This Flawless Focus brush is non shedding and super soft!

How can all of this be yours you ask?

* Click HERE to visit Rae's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, July 26th - Friday, August 1st. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Rae is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Time's running out!

2008-07-25T07:20:00.007-04:00

Tonight at 10pm EST the drawing for a beautiful hand embroidered clutch from Etsy shop Brezomayo will end.

Have you entered??

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I will also be leaving the poll up for another week. Vote for what you want to see next in - Around the House!

A bright spot...

2008-07-24T21:05:00.006-04:00

On an otherwise dreary day - weatherwise and everything else - the FedEx man drops off a box for me. And inside was all the beautiful colors of my new packaging! Yay!

I will still package everything in the clear cello sleeves but will tie them off with the colors for boy or girl, cocoa/azalea/lime for a girl and cocoa/turquoise/tangerine for a boy. I am loving that chocolate brown though!

And in other business news - I finished the matching trick or treat tote bag for my little witch. And it is available personalized too! She is now ready for purchase through my Etsy shop - Alayna's Closet. What do you think? I will have more styles coming so keep your eyes peeled!

Buy something new today - Hats!

2008-07-23T21:19:00.003-04:00

If you have seen Alayna during one of the past two cold weather seasons you would know that her mom is a sucker for hats. She has had dozens of them! But one of my favorites is one that I bought before she was born in a little boutique shop in Peterborough. She wore it only once, during her 1 month old photo shoot. I have that hat and outfit saved so that one day I can do something special with it.

Throughout my travels on Etsy I have seen some hats that are just as adorable and I wanted to share them with you. Maybe you know a special little someone who would like a warm head and look cute too.

HATS!

First, from a very successful Etsy seller is this adorable army green flower beanie hat with visor. If you check out Portland Beanie Company's shop you will find hats to fit everyone from infant to adult - all handmade and all beautiful!

Next, for the little monkey in your life, is this too cute crocheted brown hat with pink trim and monkey ears built in. But if your little monkey is a boy - don't fret - Cite' Fuzz has it available with blue trim as well.

And if all this cuteness was too much to handle, I have one more picked out for you!

From the Etsy shop Beanie Designs - is the most gorgeous brown and pink bear hat. Bear not your style? Then check this shop out and you will also find a cute kitty hat.

Hmm... which hat to get Alayna? Of course - all 3!

Don't forget to enter to win a beautiful handmade clutch from Brezomayo! The drawing will be closing in a couple days.

It's coming...

2008-07-21T21:24:00.009-04:00

That wonderful time of year called Autumn. I even love the word - Autumn. It is my favorite time of year - the time when my baby girl's birthday comes around, the hot, humid weather turns crisp, decorating outside with pumpkins, mums, and scarecrows, local fairs, hot apple cider, hayrides. Love it all!

In autumn when the trees are brown

The little leaves come tumbling down

They do not make the slightest sound

But lie so quietly on the ground

Until the wind comes puffing by

And blows them off towards the sky.

(author unknown)

And I finally succumbed and made my first "holiday" themed shirt. I woke up this morning thinking about a witch. Nobody in particular, just a green little Halloween witch. : ) Here is how she turned out.

I will soon be adding to my Halloween family. I would like to do a Frankenstein, ghost, mummy, pumpkin, and maybe a dracula if he's not too scary. And I have lots of tote bags in stock that I will make to match and they will be perfect for trick or treating!

Make sure you keep checking Alayna's Closet for the newest additions!!

Try something new today - Stromboli

2008-07-20T04:48:00.008-04:00

Call me naive. But up until 3 months ago I had never heard of a Stromboli let alone tried one. We used to live in NJ and our wonderful friends who still live there came up to the country for a visit. This recipe I am about to share with you is one of the best things I have had in my life! The stromboli that was made was actually ham/mozzarella/chedder and the other half was Italian sausage with mushrooms and mozarella.

1 package refrigerated pizza dough
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 pound thinly sliced deli ham
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Marinara sauce

black pepper

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Top with a single layer of ham. Roll up tightly from a short side; pinch seam to seal. Place seam side down on an ungreased baking sheet. Along the top make slices in dough on the diagonal. Brush top of loaf with butter; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Cut with a serrated knife. Serve with your favorite marinara for dipping.

Now isn't that the most delicious looking thing ever?! And Alex isn't too shabby himself. ; )

Did I forget to tell you that Alex made this for us? My husband isn't the most skilled in the kitchen - but you gotta love a man who cooks! Thanks Alex! Please come back soon! : )

Saturday Giveaway - Brezomayo

2008-07-19T00:00:00.002-04:00

ABarrett is the lucky winner of the yummy chocolate bath and body set from Sweet Body!

Thank you so much Amber for offering up such a delectable gift! Make sure you check out her shop - you can find her Esty mini on my right sidebar along with previous giveaway participants.

** Heather from Brezomayo is being so generous in offering Alayna's Closet blog readers FREE SHIPPING! When placing your order type in the code - alaynascloset - in the notes to seller. Take advantage of this offer as it expires on July 31, 2008! **

This week we have a truly one of a kind handmade clutch from Heather. In her Etsy shop, Brezomayo - you can see many more pieces from this talented designer.

The clutch being offered is the perfect size to keep make-up, personal items, or anything else you don't want to have to dig at the bottom of your purse or travel bag for!

A little more info about this gorgeous clutch from Heather!

It is sewn from 100% linen & is embellished with linen & cotton patchwork stripes. It is fully lined with off white quilted cotton & it has a linen loop closure which attaches to a button. I know you will love the sweet zigzag stitching details, and the free-hand embroidery design! It measures 6.5" x 9".

* Click HERE to visit Heather's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, July 19th - Friday, July 25th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Heather is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Around the house... Living Room

2008-07-18T00:37:00.001-04:00

Thank you so much everyone for voting in my poll! The winning choice this week is my living room. Like many rooms of the house it too is only partially completed. I was very gung ho into the project in my 9th month of pregnancy with Alayna. I guess you could say I was nesting. I did it all in about 2 days time when my husband was away on a trip. The parts that aren't done, even after 2 years, is the trim around the opening into the sunporch and the painting of the wainscotting on the lower half of the wall.

Wow! Ha ha - I found this photo taken of me and my handy work shortly after I finished my living room. Don't laugh! I was nearly 40 weeks here. : P

I loved my sofa - which I had for a couple of years before Alayna came along. Needless to say - it isn't exactly creamy white anymore. It might be time for a new one soon. I don't know that I will be going to Ethan Allen again though. The curtains are different also - I have double width ones that are fuller and span across the bay window. They are still chocolate brown. And yes I still have the pack and play in my living room. We still change diapers there. Although looking at it here makes me realize I should retire the thing. Hmmm. Anyone need a pack n play?

This fireplace juts out into the living room which is otherwise shaped like an alley, long and narrow. Anyone have any ideas for my tired looking display on the mantle? I am sick of looking at those square wreaths but I can't bring myself to throw them out.

And then we have my little bookshelves that are no more. Like most men my husband wanted a LARGE tv. I didn't want that big contraption hanging on the wall above the fireplace so the next logical place was on the built in console. Paul and my dad ripped out the shelves to make room for the big black box. I was promised some more shelves around it. I am still waiting...

So that is where we spend a majority of time as a family. Thanks for joining me! Make sure you vote in the new poll and let me know what you want to see next in - Around the house!

We have a winner!

2008-07-18T00:27:00.002-04:00

Congratulations Elizabeth!

You won a free pair of extra cute hair clips from Apple Blossom Bows!

Check back often for your next opportunity to win!

Just wondering...

2008-07-17T21:56:00.004-04:00

Does anyone listen to the songs in my Playlist? I added a couple more that I love and I was just thinking to myself - is anyone listening?

If you are - tell me your favorite out of my favorites!

Surprise!

2008-07-16T21:41:00.008-04:00

I am so sorry to have kept you all in suspense for so long! My "real" life got in the way for a bit.

Jennifer of Apple Blossom Bows and I have a treat for you! On my blog for the next couple of weeks I will be holding mini giveaways of a matching set of hair bows for your little girly girls! These drawings will only be open for 24 hours at a time and will vary on the day held. Our first set to giveaway will be tomorrow, July 16th. Between the hours of 12 am to midnight you may comment on this thread. Simply go to Jennifer's shop, browse around through her many accessories, then come back here and tell us which is your favorite item! Easy, right?! We have 9 sets of bows to giveaway so that means 9 lucky winners! The first winner will get their pick of colors and so on and so forth... All of the bows available are pictured below.

Here are the details of the bows themselves.

* Made of 3/8" grosgrain ribbon

* Approximately 1.75" wide

* Attached to partially-lined single-prong alligator clip

* Ribbon ends are heat sealed to prevent fraying

Alayna has several pairs and we love them. They are definitely quality crafted with love. And they are cute too!

Remember! This giveaway is open for 1 day only, July 17th. Check back often to see when the other drawings will be held.

I've got a surprise!!!

2008-07-16T15:19:00.004-04:00

Check back later this evening for all the juicy details!

Buy something new today...

2008-07-16T12:48:00.004-04:00

As I have been browsing through Etsy the last several days I have noticed many shops gearing up for the holidays already. I haven't even thought much about next week yet - but this will hopefully trigger some of that holiday spirit!

Christmas In July!

One of the things I look forward to is picking out my family Christmas card for that year. I saw these really beautiful handmade cards by Sydnei of Simply Sentimental. I love the design and the colors are just gorgeous. I would buy these for sure.

Another thing I look forward to is the tradition of the birdhouse I receive from my husband. I love, love this one and I don't think it would make it outdoors - too exquisite for any birdies to live in. As a matter of fact - I would have no problem receiving any of these lovelies from Bird House Accents.

Now for something I can trim my tree with. Actually my mom would LOVE these, amethyst is her birthstone. These come from a new shop on Etsy called RattiesBeads and they also come in various gemstone colors. Very pretty and sparkly! They would look luxurious tied on a package too!

I hope that this post gets you in the mood to start storing gifts in any nook and cranny you can find. I will be launching my holiday line of shirts and tote bags next week. ---- just kidding.

mmm... Beer

2008-07-15T22:37:00.000-04:00

Beer bread that is.

Some time ago I was dragged to one of my sister's co-workers house who was hosting a Tastefully Simple party. Alayna had just learned to walk and I was busy chasing her while she was running after her cousin, Eden. So I didn't get to sit down and sample all of the little treats they were passing around. My sister and I threw together an order of things we thought sounded good.

A couple of weeks later and our package arrives. Can I tell you that my husband and I LOVE that beer bread! We have gone through several boxes of it and I actually need to find someone to buy some more. I only have one left in our pantry after tonights loaf.

So I just wanted to pass along this tidbit of information. If you haven't tried it and you get invited to a show - buy it. It is fast, easy, and a delicious addition to any meal. I think I will go have some now.

P.S. Tonight is the last day for Free Shipping in Alayna's Closet!

Promos, goodies, packaging, etc...

2008-07-14T21:07:00.012-04:00

Before I became a seller on Etsy and I would make purchases - I would notice the differences in how some packages arrived. I am a visual, tactile person and appreciated the effort that was put into the care and presentation of their goods. When you open something that is wrapped nicely, whether it was tissue paper tied with ribbon, or tucked into an organza pouch - it was like opening a gift. So I kept in mind all of those things that made an impact on me.

When it is time to order more packaging supplies I will be going with a little bit different color scheme. But for now, I package all of my shirts in clear cello bags and then tie a raffia bow on them. In the padded envelope I also include a couple of different goodies. I just started doing these markers but I love the simple (and inexpensive!) effect they have.

And in today's mail I just received these fantastic clothes pins from a seller on Etsy. They turned out so good and I can't wait to start sending them out. But first I want to add a magnet to the back of each one so they can be used and seen on the refrigerator.

Some may wonder what is the purpose of all of these promos. I know some fellow Etsians give out pin back buttons or bookmarks. But I wanted something more useful.

So far I have recieved great feedback from my customers about my packaging and the little extras they get.

Do you know a Guitar Hero?

2008-07-14T17:30:00.004-04:00

Well if he is less than a year old I have got the cutest outfit for you!

Click Here to read more about it.

New item added...

2008-07-13T16:37:00.008-04:00

I have completed my first infant boys outfit! I am so excited! I love everything about my new line that I will be doing and this set exemplifies a modern posh tot! Click HERE to read more about it.

As you may have noticed there are dots everywhere! I am changing up my graphics and ads. I want it to encompass both boys and girls and the new colors really do that. The new look is more clean, stylish, and has a more boutique feel to it.

Can you believe I did it all myself?! But it is not done yet. My wonderful friend Anita is a savvy graphic designer and she is going to jazz it up a little bit. So be on the lookout. Please check out her shop on Etsy - she does fantastic work! It is called iGraphicus. *new banner has been added! 7/14 *

How about this...

2008-07-13T01:07:00.001-04:00

I am due to go to the grocery store. We don't have a great selection of food in the house but I keep putting off making the trip. Therefore - I am not able to post our regularly scheduled programming of "Try something new today". I will resume next week.

So I thought I would do something extra special to make up for it. How about this...

Any orders placed through Alaynas Closet for the next 3 days will receive Free Shipping! If you order 1 shirt, it ships free. If you order 1 shirt and a matching tote bag, it ships free. If you order 3 shirts and 3 matching tote bags, it still ships free. : ) So commence ordering!

* Free shipping offer good on orders placed 7/13 - 7/15. To indicate that you heard about this offer on my blog and receive free shipping, you must enter the following code in the notes to seller - A C 1 B R. *

Saturday Giveaway - Sweet Body

2008-07-11T23:35:00.007-04:00

Lorissha is the lucky winner of one of my personalized applique shirts and a matching headband from Goldilocks Boutique. I would like to thank Lisa for participating with me! Do your little girl a favor and check out her shop!

Today starts a fantastic giveaway that I know you will all love! Amber of Sweet Body is offering up something that most women love and can't get enough of - chocolate! But ladies - you can have all of this chocolate you want and not worry about a thing!

One lucky winner will receive an assortment of chocolate scented bath and beauty goodies. Included in this giveaway is 1 tube of Sweet Lips Creamy Chocolate Lip Balm, 1 jar of Chocolate Marshmallow Body Scrub, and 1 delicious bar of Chocolate Soap.

Submitting your entry for this giveaway is as easy as chocolate pie!

* Click HERE to visit Amber's shop, then return to this post to let us know your favorite item.

* Make sure you leave your email address so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

* Only one entry per person

The fine print... This giveaway will be held from Saturday, July 12th - Friday, July18th. The drawing will close at 10pm EST. The winner will be randomly picked and announced in next Saturday's Giveaway thread. This drawing is open to anyone, Amber is willing to ship worldwide.

Good Luck!

And please check out the rest of my blog - there is much to see!

Around the house...

2008-07-11T04:54:00.013-04:00

The poll is over and it is a tie! You wanted to see Alayna's room and the attic. I will break the tie and pick Alayna's room since it is much less messy! :P

We finished my daughter's room about 3 months before she was born. I love decorating and couldn't wait to get going on it. Even though we weren't 100% sure she was going to be a girl, I fell in love with this pink and green wallpaper and had to have it. Lucky for her (and my husband who put up the wallpaper) Alayna came out a baby girl.

I have pulled different characters out of the wallpaper to emphasize. At first I bought every bunny thing I saw. But about 5 months ago I found the Penelope bedding from Pottery Barn and had to have that. So now everything is about the birdies. In a closet I have the coordinating pieces for when we turn her crib into a toddler bed.

I also love the furniture we picked out for her room. I really didn't want something that looked like baby furniture. In a local furniture store we found this set from Broyhill called Attic Heirlooms. I love the heavy distressting on everything and the fact it can really grow with her and last a long time. When we move her into a regular sized bed I would love to get a painted canopy bed like this. But if I had higher ceilings (darn old house) and a bigger room for her, you can bet I would be buying this!

The one thing I just can't settle on is the wall behind her crib. We painted it a solid shade of pink. I didn't want wallpaper there as I thought it would close in the room too much. I just can't seem to find the perfect artwork that I want or anything else that would go. Always something to keep an eye out for I guess. A couple of weeks ago we were in Pottery Barn Kids spending a gift card we had and Alayna saw these birds hanging around the canopy bed I like. She loves them - she lies in bed looking up smiling and talking to them.

And of course I need to show you the inside of Alayna's Closet! It is quite small but it holds everything for now.

Thank you for taking a tour of Alayna's room! It is my most favorite room in the house. : ) What will we see next week? Vote in the poll and we'll find out!

* Also - my current giveaway for one of my personalized applique tees is ending tonight at 10pm EST. Make sure you leave a comment for your chance to win! *

Buy something new today... Aprons!

2008-07-09T19:25:00.013-04:00

I love a clean house and cooking fresh, inventive meals, and learning from Martha Stewart's tips. But I think I like thinking about it more so than actually doing it. That is why I refer to myself as a semi domestic goddess. You can see glimpses of it, but then I get bored and move on. Oh well. So while I am thinking of being a good housewife I envision myself in a couple of these lovely aprons.

Aprons...

Now did you ever think that an apron could be as beautiful as this?! If this wasn't backless it would be a darn good looking dress! Joan of Momo's Retro Fashions creates this and other gorgeous aprons that remind you of the mom's on the black and white tv shows, just with better looking aprons.

This bacon and eggs apron is so adorable and should be standard attire in all NJ diners. Or aleast all waitresses named Flo should wear them. Betty from Snappy Shop creates such fun aprons. Some of these would look very cute framed in my diner style kitchen.

And I thought I would round out this segment with something for your little chef in the making. This camo apron actually comes with crayons in the pockets - but could easily be used with wisks and wooden spoons! You can find this little boys apron and more girls aprons in Kennedy Grace Boutique.

Do you prefer...

2008-07-08T21:28:00.005-04:00

My shirts on a real live kid - or on the dress form?

I am working on my photography skills and I don't always catch a great picture when I have to contend with an active 21 mth old running around. So I do enjoy being able to take my time and try to get the best picture on the dress form. But what showcases my product better?

Post a comment - I want to know what you think!

A new addition...

2008-07-07T21:42:00.011-04:00

I decided to try out an infant line to my Etsy shop, Alayna's Closet. The only infant that I know right now is my husband's cousin's daughter (you with me?), Kaylee. We haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet but she is nearing 3 months old.

Tonight I finished the appliques on a onesie/pant set (Carter's). I love this bright paisley fabric and it definitely is not your normal cutesy baby print.

I really like how it turned out but unfortunately my dress form is too big so the outfit looks kinda wonky stretched out on it. Maybe if I strapped a diaper on it would fill out the pants better?!

What do you think?

I do have plans for more colors of girls bottoms and boys sets as well. I also found some gorgeous colors in little boy onesies that I can't wait to do up. Sadly, I was only able to buy what they had and that was a couple of each size.

P.S. Don't forget to vote in my poll and to enter in my giveaway. They are both ending soon!