~Pamela Susan~

Cool Fabric, A DIY Posy Headband Tutorial, Baby Shoes, and a Ghost, Err, I Mean a Sheep

Guess who recently won the coolest fabric giveaway??  That's right! ME!!!

I'm especially excited about this because I rarely enter giveaways.  Thank you Charlie and Lindsay of Hawthorne Threads!!

These beautiful autumnal colored prints arrived just in time.

I couldn't wait to get my antsy little fingers on them to FINALLY make a pair of fabric shoes for Miss J.  I printed this free pattern out months and it felt great to put it to use.  I wish I could give the blog owner, Joanna, a big kiss on her cheek for creating and sharing this pattern with all of us.  How generous!  At first I was totally intimidated to make it because I'm not good with following patterns but it was simple!  And I am proud of myself for using interfacing for the first time.  What a fun, fast, and easy project.  Thank you, Joanna!

(the shoes have been embellished with coordinating posies)

But of course I couldn't stop there.  I had to make a coordinating headband.

And guess what.  For those of you who have inquired about these posy headbands, I FINALLY (yes, I'm using that word again because I meant to do this a loooooonnng time ago) create a tutorial how to make them!  

Go here for step-by-step instructions.

(Now, I need to add that I did not come up with this style of flower hair accessory, where twisted fabric is turned into a flower--just visit Etsy and you'll see it everywhere.  This is just another way to do it, where I've added my own "twist" to it by hand-stitching the leaves.)

I think the shoe and headband set would make the cutest gift for a new baby girl.

Miss J likes hers.

She likes to crawl in style.

She likes to babble in style, too.

I can see the fabric I won is going to provide many fun projects.  Miss A requested a Halloween costume for her favorite stuffed animal, Sheepy.  Every good sheep likes to be a ghost every once in a while, right?

And if they're going trick-or-treating they'll need a special bag, too, right??

Miss A sure thought so.  She's still really into spiders so it's no surprise that's what she requested for the applique.  It really does have 8 legs--I accidentally stitched two of them too close together and I don't feel like redoing them.

I hope you all have a safe and fun-filled Halloween weekend!

Until next week...

xo,

Pamela

An Owl and Cupcakes: Part 3

Okay, I swear the owl and cupcake themed posts were not planned.  It just sorta happened, and I kinda like it.  However, this will probably be the last one, so enjoy.  :)

Can you believe my sis-in-law Elissa found this guy sitting outside her bedroom window?  HER BEDROOM WINDOW!

Meet Mr. Barred Owl.  Amazing.  Gorgeous.  So very cool.

I love this shot of him (or her).  By the way, does anyone know how to tell a difference between a male and female owl?  I have no idea.  I guess I can google it.

I love this shot.  He looks so cozy and content.

I want an owl outside my bedroom window.  A month ago I did happen to hear an owl hooting in the trees beyond our property.  Have I mentioned I love owls?  They remind me of my mom... she had always been fascinated by them.

Okay, onto the cupcake part.  So last weekend on our way home from Portland, Aaron had to run into Nordstroms to pick up a pair of tailored trousers.  The girls grew more and more impatient while we waited for him in the car so I decided to tell them a story about two little cupcake friends named Sprinkles and Frosting.  I forget how the story went, but that's okay--it probably wasn't that good because I'm the worst storyteller on the planet.  But they loved Sprinkles and Frosting so much they wanted me to help them draw their new cupcake buddies.  After being inspired by the chidlrens watercolor class that "Cakespy Jessie" put on at the Cupcake Camp, we busted out some of our own watercolors.  The girls loved it.

I think I need to pick up some better quality paper, though.

After we brought Sprinkles and Frosting to life, Miss C came up with her very own painting.

After asking her to tell me about it she said, "It is me turning into a cupcake!".  I love her imagination.  And those eyelashes!

And get this--15 minutes after we finished up our painting project Daddy came home with Miss A's first booster seat.  Can you guess what kind of fabric it's made with?  CUPCAKES.  What a sweet Daddy!!

I hope everyone is doing well!  Do you have any owl or cupcake stories for me??

Well, I best be off to clean my neglected house.  The girls and I have been playing all day and just about every room in the house is in the need of attention.  Anyone want to come over and help?  Pretty, pretty please?!  I'll give you a cupcake.

 

xo,

Pamela

An Owl and Cupcakes: Part 2

Speaking of owls, look what I came across at Whole Foods over the weekend... an owl truffle!  Isn't he a cutie?  He made the perfect little "thank you" gift for my MIL.

And since cupcakes have been on my mind, I have to show you a custom order I mailed out yesterday... cupcake earrings!  They were ordered by one of my favorite clients to go along with her cupcake necklace.  

I hope you love them, Jennifer!

 

Here's to owls and cupcakes!

xo,

Pamela

 

p.s.  All jewelry orders are done!  The last two packages will be shipped tomorrow.  I'm so proud of myself for finishing them before the 2 week turn around time.  Yeehaw!  :)

An Owl and a Cupcake Hat Too Cute for Words

Ahhh, the weekend... I love Fridays.  It has been an eventful, productive, happy week and now I'm going to sit back, kick my feet up and type for a few minutes.

While I do, I want to share with you a necklace design that Beatrice from Etsy Stalker ordered last week. She requested an "I heart Owls" necklace instead of the "I heart Cupcakes".  I loved her idea!  She ordered it for her daughter who is an owl lover who also loves the color green, so I attached a green garnet gem to it.  Here's how it turned out.

Great idea, Beatrice!  I just might have to add that one to the shop.  :)

The orders are going well--I hope to have them all shipped out a couple days before the 2 week turn around time.

And GUESS WHAT?  I received the most adorable gift today from the neatest mom, Andrea, who I've gotten to know through Miss C's ballet class. First I have to highlight the adorable packaging--she decorated a green chinese takeout box by modge-podging it with cutout scrapbook paper.  How creative is that?  Very.  

And it gets even better.  Look at what was inside the box... a handknit cupcake hat for Miss J that Andrea made herself!  I can't get over how cute it is!

And look at the sprinkles!  Cute, cute, cute.

Andrea and I thought it would be fun to put a cherry on top so I needle-felted one.  By the time I sewed it on the hat, Miss J was napping so Miss C became the new model.

(To my friend Jennifer--you need to get a hat like this!!  It would be perfect for you!)

 

Thank you, Andrea!!

 

Well, that's it for tonight!  Have an enjoyable weekend!!

 

xo,

Pamela

Wild and Precious Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to all of those who entered the Wild and Precious giveaway!!  There were a total of 195 entries, and the lucky number that was drawn was 65!  Congratulations Shelley!! Please email me at [email protected] to let me know which jewelry piece speaks to you.  :)

To all of my readers who missed out on the autumnal decor ideas I'll repost them for you now.  But don't dismay... I feel another giveaway is on its way very soon!

*       *       *

With Halloween just around the corner I thought it would be appropriate to share with you a couple craft ideas that I think you'll enjoy.  And might I add my favorite halloween decorations are those that can stick around until Thanksgiving?  It's true.  

Have any of you ever glittered pumpkins before?  I've wanted to try it for years and I finally got around to doing it.  It's amazing what a bottle of Elmer's glue and Martha Stewart glitter (or should I say gourmet glitter--it is so fine it creates the most magical sparkle!) will create...

 

Group a bunch together for the perfect table display.

Don't forget to sprinkle acorns and leaves around them for added interest!

I love me a good acorn.

To make these beauties paint the stem brown using craft paint, paint glue on the pumpkin, and glitter away!  It's that easy.  And quick, too.

The second craft idea are the Lovely Leaf Lanterns.  I adore these.

They get me in the mood for fall!  Here is a picture of them at night.  They emit the most gorgeous glow!

 

I first made a set of these while living in Minneapolis over six years ago but gave them away... they make a great gift!  To make them you'll need to gather the following supplies:  three glass lanterns (I found these at Michael's for a dollar each), modge podge, white tissue paper (this is a great craft for recycling old crumbled up tissue!), a sponge brush, and 15-20 small/medium-sized pressed and dried leaves.  The more vibrant the leaves are the better!

1.  Paint a nice size section of modge podge on the lantern.

2.  Apply the leaf and add modge podge to it.

3.  Tear a piece of tissue paper that is big enough to cover the leaf.

4.  Cover the leaf.  :)

 

5. Gently dab modge podge on top of tissue.

6.  Repeat above steps until your cute little orb is all covered; allow time to dry.

I hope you try your hand at these!  I'm glad I did.  :)

xo,

Pamela, a gal who enjoys a good ole craft

 

 

 

Baby Savannah

Today I had the privilege of taking pictures of my friend's 6 DAY OLD baby, Savannah.  What an angel!

Can you say scrumptious?  I can.  

Congratulations Julie and Aaron!!

 

xo,

Pamela

Tomatoes Up to My Elbows

Last week I was the fortunate recipient of 150 pounds of tomatoes.  At least 150 pounds, maybe more.  My Idahoan cousin Stephanie and I decided to trade tomatoes for handmade soap.  I'm feeling especially lucky because tomatoes in this part of the country are sparse--summer wasn't quite warm enough to yield much. So I've been canning quarts and quarts of whole tomatoes and tonight we're going to make salsa. Yummmmmmy.  

 

 

xo,

Pamela, a lover of tah-maters

 

 

 

 

It's Open!!!

The shop that is.  :)

Update:  The shop is now closed!  Thank you to everyone who came by and ordered!  Each order put a smile on my face.  Thank you--what a compliment!!  It will take about 2 weeks to create and ship your lovelies-- thank you for your patience!  I will reopen again sometime next month for a couple days--stay tuned for a heads up of when it'll happen.  xoxo, Pamela

p.s.  I will refund the "blog reader discount" by Monday evening.  :)

And because I love you all so much I want to give you 15% off your order.  At checkout just mention you read my blog and I'll refund you the $$$.  Also, yesterday I forgot to introduce one extra design.  This is a special one.  I was contacted a little bit ago from a gal that needed an extra special gift.  She was awaiting the birth of her soon to be adopted son and wanted to gift the birth mother with a custom necklace and asked if I could create a necklace that was stamped with "Forever In My Heart" with an accompanying birthstone.  I said, "Absolutely!" and this is what I came up with...

 

"Forever In My Heart" Hand-Stamped Necklace

I felt honored to be contacted by this woman and to be a part of this future heart-felt gift.  I can only imagine the amount of emotion that was exchanged between these two women during the adoption process.  

Yes, I love designing and creating jewelry, but what I love even more is knowing that I'm making jewelry that expresses emotion.  This is what is unique and lovely about custom hand-stamped jewelry-- love and thoughtfulness is conveyed in each piece.  When my clients purchase these designs from me they are purchasing more than just a piece of silver.  They are buying expressions of love.  I think this is what Moms feel, including myself, when we wear our childrens' names around our neck, or their birthstones.  

Just the thought of this puts a smile on my face.  :)

xo,

Pamela

 

p.s.  The shop will stay open until tomorrow night (Saturday, October 16).

 Have a great weekend!

Wild And Precious GIVEAWAY!

Hello!  Today I'm lucky enough to be the guest blogger for Blair, owner of the Wild and Precious blog!  I hope you hop on over there to check out some fun craft ideas (glittered pumpkins and glowing leaf lanterns!) and to enter a giveaway given by me!  You have the chance to win one of the following jewelry pieces.  Actually, you have the opportunity to enter multiple times, so have at it!  Just make sure you enter the giveaway on the Wild and Precious blog, not mine.  :)

Have a great day!!

 

xo,

Pamela

p.s.  Tomorrow I am going to be opening up my shop for a couple days.  :)

Here's a sneak peek at a few new designs...

I Met BAKERELLA!!

I can't believe it--there is a picture of me and the girls on Bakerella's blog!!

How fun is that?!  We had our picture taken with her last week while while she was in Portland for her first book signing.  Here's Miss C while we waited in the LONG line to meet her.  It was totally worth the wait.

Miss A occupied herself by flipping through the pages of the book.

Here's a paper cupcake Miss A colored and cut out for Bakerella all by herself.  I think I have a budding artist on my hands.

I can't get over how incredibly gracious, sweet and down to earth Bakerella is.  And she has the CUTEST laugh ever.  It was a joy meeting her.

Cupcake Julie took this picture with my camera.

 Miss C liked Bakerella so much she didn't want to get off her lap when it was time to go.  :)

And I couldn't resist it--I had to gift her with some cupcake goodies packaged in a cupcake bag.

 Here is a My Lil' Chocolate Cupcake necklace I made for her using a beautiful Oregon Opal that my friend mined...

Here's a small hand-stamped necklace...

And here are a couple keychains...

What's that you ask?  How do I like her book?? I LOVE IT!  If you haven't yet purchased it I highly recommend it!  I promise you won't be disappointed.  Here is a list of her book-signing stops and here is the book on amazon.

This book inspired me so much I've already tried my hands at a few new designs.  May I introduce you to Beatrice the Bat?

And Sally the Spider and her sisters?

Sally got a little lonely for her web so I helped her out a little.

Here are a few pumpkins...

I tried making the jack-o-lantern cake pops that Bakerella made but the edible-ink pens that I used were really difficult to use on the candy coating.  Instead I used the tip that Bakerella gave in her book for the easter egg cake pops and I painted corn syrup stripes on the pumpkins and sprinkled orange sprinkles on them.

These were TOO much fun to make.  I'm tellin' ya--you've gotta buy the book!

Thank you, Bakerella, for sharing with us fans your endless creativity!!!

 

xo,

Pamela, a lover of cake pops