Cloud 9

So while I know I have discussed my love for my Silhouette (at length) have I told you about my other love?  I am head over heels for the vinyl that I purchase!!  I used to purchase a more expensive brand that was okay quality, but I now purchase through an online dealer and get more for less and the products are amazing!  I wrote them an email this morning to tell them how much I appreciate their quality of product and their quick shipping.  When I get a new order it feels like Christmas morning!  I bring it into the house as giddy as a school girl ready to see the newest colors I get to offer potential buyers on my products.  When Harley (who struggles with why I need a light blue color and a turquoise - because they look like the same color to him) sees the empty cardboard box that the vinyl arrived in I tell him it was just a wedding gift!  Ha, but I have yet to show him any gift we have gotten...  I know he is on to me... but he says nothing, so it seems to be a good partnership so far!  :)

Also!  Don't forget to check out the left side bar.  My amazingly talented sister helped me set up quick links to my different pages.  So if you're reading my blog and think to yourself, "I wonder what Jessica has up on her Etsy page..." BAM!  There's the link!  :)   Thanks, Lou for your awesomeness.

Today I will leave you with a picture of the birthday girls' full outfit for her first birthday party.  I am working on 12 tumblers this morning and I have lots that I still haven't posted... so more pictures of those soon to come.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

1 candle for her 1st birthday

Crafting, Creating, and Designing... Oh My!!

What a wonderful week it has been.  If you have noticed that I have not been posting as often, I am happy to announce that it is because I have been inundated with orders and they have been keeping me busy.  Woot woot!  I also took a three day training last week called Promoting First Relationships.  (You can read more information about it here: http://www.ncast.org/PFR_Research.html).  It was super encouraging, motivating, and positive.  It really made me feel re-energized to do therapy with families... how great is that?  Extra bonus, on the last day I got to plug some of my crafts.  Positive feedback is still so awesome to hear...

So craft wise I have some very exciting announcements.  I have of course still been making tumblers, in fact *drumroll please* I got my first tumbler order from The Tickled Tutu!!!  Someone who doesn't know me or know someone who knows me is going to buy my products!!  It was a good day, people... a very good day.  I have also been working on several "poster prints" which have been really fun!  Do you remember the onesie and tutu for Lil's first birthday?  Hmm... did I ever post the onesie?  Holy crap, I think I only posted the tutu!!  More pictures of the full outfit to come then!  My first poster print was for Lilli's birthday gift.  I have been holding off in case her mom was checking my blog and I didn't want to ruin the surprise.  However, now that the birthday party is today, I think it is safe to post the picture. 

These poster prints are ADORABLE and what a totally personal and unique gift to give someone with a new baby or a toddler.  So far I have made two and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite items.  Also shown is a poster print for a friend who is a 2nd grade teacher... I just love it!

Hellllllllooooo New York City!!

Okay... so maybe Kansas City, isn't New York City... but lately I've been feeling like a superstar!!  Sorry about the delay in posting.  I have been making tumblers left and right, which is so awesome!  So, for those of you who may not know yet, it is official... I am officially selling tumblers at thetickledtutu.com under the "Tickled Tumblers" tab on the left hand side of the page.  I am so jazzed!  It seems crazy to think about the whirlwind of events that have taken place over the past few weeks.  But I am pumped to be where I am.  And I so appreciate the support and encouragement of everyone who has told me that I can do this.  Even if I am not the next Martha Stewart, I have my things out there for the public, so we will just have to see. 

I am a big believer that things happen for a reason, and when I found out yesterday that it doesn't look like my job position will be funded in 2012, one of my first thougths was, "I'm going to need to get a lot of tumbler orders!"  With that in mind I have also made a few more listings at institcheswithjes.etsy.com and will try to continue to work through my issues with having to pay money just to show a picture of something... :) and post more.

For now, I will leave you with a few more of the tumblers I have worked on recently.  They are so much fun!  And now can be purchased in two locations thetickledtutu.com and institcheswithjes.etsy.com.

Crazy with Kristen

The last month of my life has been pretty remarkable.  Even despite the record breaking excessive heat!  And that is really saying something.  As I sit and reflect, I am feeling pretty dang lucky for all the things in my life.  My wedding is *gasp* three months from today... work seems pretty manageable... the diet thing is going okay for me... and I have reconnected with an old friend from junior high, named Kristen.  I am a believer that all things happen for a reason, and I connected with Kristen last month to talk to her about her success with her business, thetickledtutu.com.  Kristen makes the most wonderful tutus (among other things) and really helped me get a clearer picture of how to go about things for my crafting.  Through her help (and her literally doing things for me, like making me a Twitter - which I have yet to figure out) I feel SO much more grounded and ready than I was two months ago to move forward. 

So in addition to her knowledge and advice, which would have been more than enough, she has asked me to partner with her on her website!  So I will be selling tumbler cups at thetickledtutu.com.  How awesome is that?!  If that were the most exciting part that would be more than enough... but it's not!  However, that part is still on the DL until further paperwork is received.  But trust in this... I will be blogging about it as soon as possible!

Kristen just started a blog and said some really humbling things about me, which I could not compete with about her, except to say that I truly have a new found feeling that this is a possibility for me to craft and create and be successful at it.  You can check out Kristen's blog at http://thetickledtutullc.blogspot.com/. 

For now I will leave you with photos of my new tumblers.  I am pretty much in love... and how could you not be?

Of course I had to make one for me... These tumblers are so great!!

This one features a local high school

This is her son's name and football number for his senior year of football

There are so many more to come... I just don't have pictures of them yet.  Note the location... I'm working to make all the background uniformed... also please note the watermark as it was nearly the death of me!  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate your interest and enthusiasm in me and my projects!  More exciting news soon to come!!

No longer an Etsy fail!

It is a momentous day that I can report that I have finally listed items for sale on Etsy!  Yay!  And, on top of that, people have already admired my stockings.  Yay again!  We will have to see where this goes people.  I have always said that I have two huge fears with Etsy, and they are equal in weight for me... Fear #1: that no one will like what I make.  Fear #2: that everyone will like what I make and I will feel totally overwhelmed trying to do my day job and this.  I am hoping for a nice in the middle... although staying home and crafting doesn't sound so bad either.  :)  All in due time...  Anyone who wants to check it out can by going to institcheswithjes.etsy.com.  Currently, there are only three listing, but more will be added soon!

Today, I leave you with a picture of a another family crossword.  This crossword was for a co-worker to give to her mother.  They have 52 names in their family, so it was a lot of fun to do!  Also, there is a fun bird drawing that has been passed down through the generations in their family that is thought of as the family "crest."  How awesome is it that the Silhouette that it could trace it and cut it out of vinyl, and then it could be added to this great gift for the family.

I'm an Etsy fail!!

So I have (oh my gosh, too many to count) a few Etsy accounts that I have created over the years I've been crafting.  I know this will be hard to believe... but I kept changing my mind about what I wanted my shop name to be.  :)  But now that I am so in love with my logo, you'd think it would be easier... but no.  I have now gone in two different times and tried to post a new item, and I end up getting scared and signing out before I post anything.  What am I scared of?  I don't really know exactly... I think maybe I would be so sad to post these items that I love so much and then have no interest from anyone else.  Also, (and if you have bought anything from me you already know this) I have a very difficult time putting a price to my items.  Not as in, "I'm so awesome, this should cost a Benjamin" rather "Oh, well, geez... I don't know... what about.... like... $5?"  HAHA!  I need to see if there is a therapist who helps with item pricing confidence!!

On a side note, I have been making so many fun things!  And I can't wait to explore some new sewing things this weekend.  (Spoiler alert!)  I'm going to make Bentley a new collar made from fabric!!  Mwah Haa Haa!  Harley only thinks he is going to buy him a "hunting orange" one... What was he thinking?!  :)

For now, I will leave you with two pictures of two table clothes I made last night using the Silhouette Flocked Heat Transfer Vinyl.  This was a new one for me (because the store was out of the smooth vinyl) but I thought it turned out very well.  The Libra in me really loves the mini copyright and trade mark symbols on the logos.  She sells jewelry at shows and wanted her tables clothes to really pop and let people know what she was selling from a distance.  Mission accomplished my friends.

Milking In Progress...

I thought this was a super fun project.  I have a friend and she and two of her co-workers are pregnant.  She wanted a sign for their office doors to use after they return to work and need to pump during the day.  Originally, she wanted the sign to say, "Milking In Progress" (which I thought was hil-arious!) but opted out of it because it didn't seem very professional.  So we went with "Do Not Disturb" but I still put a really freaking cute cow on there.  Glue on a ribbon tie, and this fabulous sign is ready for any doorknob or sign hook on any door.  I think I'm going to need to make some for nursery doors that say, "Shhh, (Insert baby's name here) is sleeping."  Everyone all together now... Awwww...  :)  Happy Hump Day everyone!!

Burning the 11:51 Oil

So two Friday's ago, a friend and I purchased 21 boxes (252 glasses) for an appreciation gift project for the employees at my agency.  I ordered the dishwasher safe vinyl and patiently (but really not so patiently) awaited its arrival.  It was delivered on Thursday.  I had Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and today to get 10 boxes completed so they could be taken to the first meeting.  I feel like the phrase "Pie Palooza" might be imprinted into my brain.  The good news is that I have 8 boxes completed.  I am going to go finish box number 9 and we'll see if box number 10 happens tonight or tomorrow morning.  More good news, it's great fun (a little time consuming, but great fun) and I'm getting paid to do it.  Even more good news, I have over a week to do another 6 boxes and the rest of the month for the final 5.  So I am going to get to do some other projects really soon!  Yay.  For now, since we are on the subject of glasses, I will leave you with a picture of 6 personalized glasses that I made for a friend to give a friend (did ya follow that?) :)  for her birthday.  Needless to say... they were a HUGE hit!