Poor Baby

Just Enough Room Mini Changing Pad

My poor little Bluebird Gifts! Fall is just around the corner and I have ignored my little shop woefully this last month. I know the cause - I've just opened my third shop on Etsy: The Paper Bluebird, a home for all my paper goods. I've become a little obsessed with creating new cards and hang tags for the shop and I haven't visited my sewing room in a while (except to whip up an adorable pair of curtains for my daughter's room). I have big plans though... BIG plans. I've got tons of fabric just waiting for me upstairs, and lots of thoughts on how I want to use it. And I'm still working on my onesie line for fall where I'm tying in some of the illustrations from The Paper Bluebird!

Pumpkin Tags from The Paper Bluebird

I got my brand new business cards the other day- all three shops are listed so now I can be more streamlined. It took awhile to figure out the design because I didn't want them to look cluttered, but I finally came up with an arrangement I'm happy with. Curious to see them? I tuck one in with every purchase!

I'm trying to manage my time more efficiantly. As a stay-at-home mom, the kids take up the bulk of my time right now. Michael just had his first birthday, and Grace is turning 4 in a couple of weeks. It seems so weird to me. I remember when they first handed her to me, and she was so little and squishy and pink. Now she is loud mouthed, opinionated, and obsessed with spinning in circles till she falls down. No wonder I found a few grey hairs the other day! Plus now I have three Etsy shops, so I have to set aside time for creating, managing, promoting, and shipping. I think I'm going to have to get a large calendar so I can actually visualize what needs to be done!

All in all, I can't wait for fall. I made a huge batch of homemade applesauce with lots of cinnamon and ginger the other day and the house smelled AWESOME!! It's getting to be the time of year perfect for cloves, nutmeg, vanilla and other warm, spicy smells. YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Alright, gotta get back to work now... talk to you soon!

Hello Old Friend!

Mint Chocolate Chip Kimono Style Baby Shoes - Available at Bluebird Gifts

Okay, so it's been a very long while since I've posted anything! I know I've been ignoring this blog in favor of another one I started (gasp!- but seriously, check it out here!) but I've had a full plate and while attempting multiple ventures, I've let some things slide.

Bluebird Gifts has been doing great! I just sold a custom wholesale order of booties to a brick and mortar shop in New York. Hopefully the owner will be a return customer! It was fun picking out fabric and doing 8 different pair (although by the end I was a teensy bit itchy to try something else).

You know me, I'm always adding new things, so I'm expanding Bluebird Gifts. I finally bought a domain name and now you can go to www.mybluebirdgifts.com! Currently it will bring you right to my Etsy shop, but I hope to continue development of my products and get things running there by this time next year. While Bluebird for Baby has been very successful, I've been dying to try some new things, so I've added The Paper Bluebird- a section for my hand illustrated notecards, hand tinted thank you tags and something called booty boxes (folded paper boxes that just happen to be a perfect size to fit a pair of Bluebird Booties!). My vision is to continue expanding, adding a Bluebird Kids section, and possibly a Momma Bluebird section as well.

Be on the lookout for handpainted onesies and more paper type products... and I'm still looking for a really great soy lotion base for my new line of bath and beauty products.

Finally, I'd like to announce that I've opened a second shop on Etsy. Exquisite Image is a shop featuring my original photography and note cards. I'd love to have you come visit! July is buy one get one free month for all 8x10 prints and note card sets!

Thank you for visiting... don't forget to let me know you were here! I love checking out other blogs!

The sweet rushing waves of success

Okay, I know this is two posts in one day, but I am soooooo excited! I had my first sale on Etsy! Thank you to akdaniel for purchasing one of my photo albums. It's amazing... that feeling that someone picked something YOU made out of everything, and they liked it so much, they paid you for it! Yeah!!!

My first post

Last year my husband bought me my first sewing machine. I went crazy! I ran out the door to buy patterns and thread and pins and fabric. Ah! Fabric... each color more delicious than the last. It was like walking through a candy store. I'd been to craft shops before... I mean, I've been crafting since the first time I designed little skirts for my troll dolls to wear, then added bejeweled necklaces and hairpins (these first forays into crafting taught me to ALWAYS be careful with a hot glue gun). Later I designed cards, stationary, then jewelry. But sewing was something I'd never attempted beyond hemming a curtain. My first project was a little summer dress for my three year old daughter. It was two pieces of fabric, sewn together at the sides with ribbons that acted as straps. It was simple, but cute. Then I took on more ambitious projects. I was 6 months pregnant with my son, and hated the idea of buying a diaper bag when I could make one. I spent days pouring over fabric until I found it! Brown and cream striped canvas- all boy without being covered in pictures of dinos or trucks. I spent weeks sewing it. I was so proud of how it turned out. All the stitches weren't perfect, but it sure was strong enough to tote all the gear I would need, and then some. I couldn't stop! I was hooked on sewing. I made a mermaid skirt for my daughter, a fleece jacket for my husband, and a snuggly baby blanket for my son. It was magical watching all the pieces come together.
And then came Etsy...
We finally got internet at the house, and while looking around for new ideas, I stumbled upon this amazing community of artists and crafters. I was smitten! Now I have my own little shop http://www.mybluebirdgifts.etsy.com/, a place where I can share the things I love. It's a little eclectic but that's the kind of person I am. I'd love for you to come by and see it sometime! Also, don't forget to check out some of my favorite links to other Etsy shops. Craft Power!

Well, I look forward to blogging a little more every week, letting you know what I'm up to. I also can't wait to feature other Etsians who's stuff inspires me! For now, I've got to get back to work... my sewing machine is calling my name!