blue-pelican.com

new skirts!

2012-01-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

new skirts for the art shows! size 6 months through girl's 10!

happy new year!

2012-01-05T11:55:00.000-08:00

what a fabulous christmas. we had the best time opening presents and celebrating jesus' birthday on december 25th. watching the kid's faces was the highlight--by far. although, i received quite a few treasures as well (thanks, mom!).

we've been sticking close to home for the holiday vacation, but yesterday made it out to feed the seagulls some old tortillas. ezra and ellie just loved it, and the birds were pretty happy too. i love that we can jump in the car and be at the beach in minutes. in january. in the middle of our worst cold front yet. i just love living in florida.

since our art show season is starting up next month, i've been busy! at the moment my dining room table is filled with chevron skirts, elephant key chains, and handmade price tags. i've got cut wood on its way for painting, and a BIG project that i can't wait to begin.

happy new year, and i hope to see you at the shows! we'll be at artigras, juno art fest by the sea, and the delray affair. we're not doing sunfest this year, so if you usually find us there, you won't this year! come to another show instead. or head to harvey's on first in delray beach. we're always open there.

-katie

christmas?

2011-12-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

gee whiz... i can't believe christmas is practically here. i feel excited and almost ready, but i also feel shocked at the suddenness of it all. i guess that is from working, being a mom to two young ones, trying to keep the house semi-clean, AND then getting ready for the holiday. i'm not complaining, but i'd sure appreciate a few more hours in the day!

recently our whole family did a photo shoot on the beach with a very talented and sweet local photographer, georgia handy. it was so nice to have a complete family photo. now that my brother is married we feel like all of the pieces are in place, and it's so nice to have a physical picture in our hands. we had a great, if not brisk (55 degree) shoot. we highly recommend georgia--she's wonderful.

now, a few more presents to wrap, midterm exams to give, and welcome, christmas.

thanksgiving banner

2011-11-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

i don't have too many thanksgiving decorations, so i made two this weekend--two cute banners.
i started by cutting out letters from felt and triangles from burlap. i wanted to do two banners--on that says give thanks and one that says we love fall. so i just made some templates and hand cut everything. i'm sure it would have been faster with a sizzix or like product, but i don't have one.
then i pinned all of the letters on my triangles.
sewed those letters on.
made a few flower embellishments for the we love fall banner (i had the yoyos made from another project. these were extras.)
then i lined everything up,and ironed the bias tape.

and done!
it's a simple 2-3 hour project.
and these look so cute! much better than those ceramic turkeys that wind up in the clearance section. make a banner! you probably have enough stuff around the house!

halloween

2011-11-01T10:30:00.001-07:00

so halloween has come and gone. it was fun. ezra had bouquets of lollipops. ellie had a "really, really full" bucket of candy, and i got some great pictures, so we were all happy!
ellie loved showing off her costume, and even knocked on a few doors.
ez was super into it, knocking on doors, picking out handfuls of candy, and chomping down as much of it as he could.
so fun. what a nice night!

super family!

2011-10-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

i'm done with our costumes! above is ezra's star man costume.
ellie's super kitty costume.
my spot girl costume (i couldn't really think of a good shape for myself. circles are cool, right?)
and michael's lightning man costume.

overall they are pretty cool. i can't wait to take pictures of all of us in them. i am worried because ezra only wants to wear the sparkly ones, but i think i'll be able to take advantage of the available candy and bribe him to stay in his orange cape. these were fun to make, but a lot of little pieces. i HAD to make them, though!

chevron rug

2011-10-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

so with 2 toddlers and 2 big dogs, our rugs get stained quickly. i usually buy inexpensive sisal rugs from homegoods or on clearance from the company store or pier 1. i've been getting bored with the look, though, so when this rug was done, i decided to paint it. i've seen a lot of them on pintrest, and they looked easy enough, so i gave it a try. i started with a white base coat (primer and paint in one) and taped it off. i didn't want a perfect chevron... well, i wouldn't have minded a perfect chevron, but i wasn't really into the measurements, time, etc. plus, my rug had a pretty chunky weave, so i knew that any taping i did, no matter how perfect, would leak a lot of tape. so i went with a fairly even chevron tape job.
then i kept painting. and painting. and painting.
i took the tape off...
painted the edge. and then. was done. finally.
it looks cute. i had it inside, but because it was so bold decided it was too distracting.
so now it is outside, and it fits in perfectly with our black and white striped cushions! i keep eyeing that OTHER sisal rug out there. maybe one day i'll paint that one, too. not yet, though. it was a lot of work.

photo shoot!

2011-09-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

wow! today we did a fab photo shoot at our store, harvey's on first! the photographer was amazing. my mom's clothing looked great, so did mine, and our friends were so sweet to lend their kids! check out georgia handy photography's facebook page for the play by play! http://www.facebook.com/georgiahandyphotography

vintage kitchen redo

2011-09-24T18:16:00.000-07:00

look at it--so sad. what a bad color scheme. but, it was solid wood and a great deal. thank you jcc thrift store! i just let the kids play with it for a few days. mostly they liked dropping things through the sink hole, then opening up the bottom cupboard. of course, i knew i eventually need to get started painting. and i gave a good beachy do up!
aw. so cute. i just love the bright colors, the scallops, the sea creatures. so much better and brighter! i debated doing mermaids, but the shape would have been awkward. i also thought about doing some frames on the beadboard backing with kid-ish drawings in them, but decided against it. there is sort of a lot going on.
the shelf on top--little aqua fish.
i was trying to take more pictures, but ellie and ezra kept playing with it--that darn sink hole. they love it!
there might have been a little shoving.
also fighting over the hot and cold knobs (they move).
the little knobs line up with their burner color.
little button hot and cold knobs--so cute! and the sink hole. i am looking for a metal prep bowl for it, but it's a strange size. i'll keep checking around!
and the inside. i want to do a whole room like this inside. can you imagine? orange and white striped floors, pink beadboard, and pink sand dollar accents. i'd totally live there.
another project (mostly) done.

quilting? my new project.

2011-09-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

so i can't help be inspired by my stash of vintage lilly pulitzer scraps. i've collected them throughout the years and probably have 2 big baskets and one giant bag full of them. (i even have a ziplock bag full of polyester lilly scraps--don't know if i will ever use those, but i have them!). so, for whatever reason, i decided to make ellie a quilt. her favorite color is "all the colors" so i think the lilly fabric is perfect.
here is a pile of larger pieces--ones i can use for the quilt.
i've been hand cutting the squares. i know a rotary cutter is easier and cleaner, but i just cut the little squares with scissors... it's easy for me to do. now, the squares aren't perfect, but i just prefer the method. above is a pic of my sets of 9 tiny squares that will make up my blocks. i've been doing similar colors or groups of colors.
over this past weekend i more than doubled the number of squares i've made! i'm so proud. i don't know how many i need total yet... i'm sure i'm not close yet and don't want to get discouraged.
above are my strips of 3 in stacks of three... getting ready to be joined into squares.
and voila... they practically sew themselves :) i wish.
i never get enough of this vintage panda. or those butterflies.
and even though ellie loves all the colors, she always says she especially loves pink and purple, so i know she will like that square!
of course, i just can't get enough of that seahorse!!! so we can end my quilt preview with her. also, it's been awhile since i posted because i am back at school... but i've been busy. right now my mom and i are planning a photo shoot with lots of cute little kiddos! below is a sneak peek of what i stayed up late working on.
i just love a cute chevron, don't you?

fun preschool calendar project

2011-08-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

so i've had this magnet board for years now (i think it is from ikea). i've used it at art shows to display things, as a magnet board for the kids, and, most recently, as a sticker board--during dinner time i'd give the kids a bunch of stickers and they could just put them wherever they wanted.
well, the had gotten bored of that, so i decided we should paint it as a fun project. then, once i thought about it a little more, i realized that i wasn't doing calendar time with ellie. she's been loving "doing school" which entails her core knowledge workbook, songs, stories, basic match, and the letter of the day, but we hadn't done the calendar deal yet. so i decided to tape off 5 sections with electrical tape, let the kids have at it with the colors i picked. ezra thought it was fun, but it was another messy project in the house.
then i got out an old calendar (lilly pulitzer) and cut it up for the numbers, days of the week signs, etc. i also took out my old scrapbooking supplies and stickers and stuck away. a few coats of varnish later and now we have a really awesome calendar perfect for a preschooler!
it just took a few days during nap time to finish everything up, and ellie just loves it! plus it's a pretty cute thing to have hanging on the fridge!
it's simple, but it has the necessary components! the little arrow can be moved for the seasons, and the frame can be moved around to select the weather.
i also had this little locker basket on the fridge holding some pens, etc., but now it houses the numbers, days, and months.

there it is. a new calendar center and not a penny spent!

new handprints at harvey's

2011-08-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

new mermaid design with rainbow starfish!
hooks, tank for girls, tee for boys!
boy sailboat tanks.
wrap around triggerfish... front and
back
and trigger dress. so cute with the rainbow fish! all over at harvey's on first in delray beach! or email me at ingratie@hotmail.com to order!

73 winners in this giveaway!

2011-07-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

including an awesome necklace by me!

http://momof40toes.blogspot.com/

new paintings!

2011-07-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

over at harvey's!

custom name frames!

2011-07-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

these are so great for presents! $30 plus shipping!

we loaded up harvey's with artwork!

2011-07-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

everything looks great over there! go check it out!

winners!

2011-06-12T17:38:00.001-07:00

ashley cline and mavis davis! congratulations, you two! i'll mail them out this week!

second gIvEaWaY!!! two WiNnErS!!!

2011-06-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

all right--i am starting to get things together so it's time for a giveaway!
i am giving away two beautiful sets of matted handprints
one for a girl's room and one for a boy's room!
these would be great for any kids room or a baby shower gift!
there will be TWO winners--one for each set!
each are original art--i've carved the stamp, mixed the paint, and applied to high quality thick paper--they are not replicas or prints via computer.
all you have to do is leave a comment here as to which set you'd like to win and then leave another comment on my facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-pelican/162781283778813) letting me know you've entered here.
you can have as many additional chances to win as you want if someone refers to you in their post (i.e. katie sent me)
i'll pick a winner next sunday--you've got a whole week!
good luck!

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

2011-06-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ingratie?ref=si_shop

FINALLY! ALL DONE UPLOADING TO MY ETSY STORE! YAY!

new handprints on etsy!

2011-05-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

i've put a bunch of new handprints on my etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ingratie?ref=si_shop ! i will be uploading more sizes and prints there soon... hooray for summer!

giveaway!!!

2011-04-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

yay! i'm doing my first ever giveaway!
you could win a beautiful personalized silver necklace charm made by me!
all you have to do is...
1. "like" me on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-pelican/162781283778813)
2. leave a comment telling me what you would want your necklace to say
3. check back to see if you won on sunday evening!
4. and don't forget to check out my mom and i at the delray affair next weekend!

chalkboard bowling sets... super fun!

2011-04-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

ellie loves the new bowling sets! not only is bowling a lot of fun, but drawing on the bowling sets is awesome, too!here they are all packaged up! i just have to add my price tags and then put them in my delray affair tubs!
ellie's awesome pink and blue pin.
so many great options for these. i would suggest adult supervision with the wooden ball, though... maybe a tennis ball if you have a thrower!
so these are super fun! i liked drawing on them just as much as ellie did. i made only a few--available at the delray affair!

coasters!

2011-04-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

so i know coasters aren't super exciting, but it sure is nice to have cute ones! i made these cute wood coasters super cute by adding several coast of white paint, a hand carved stamp, and a thick layer of indoor outdoor varnish! they turned out cute. i am keeping a set for myself!

check out my mom's giveaway!

2011-03-31T13:31:00.001-07:00

http://http://hickity-pickity.blogspot.com/2011/03/lilly-fabric-tea-towel-giveaway.html

back on facebook...

2011-03-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

well, i'm back on facebook after a 6 month hiatus! i've started posting pictures and things over there, too, so don't forget to follow me!

you know you need a polk-a-dotted octopus hanging on your wall!

2011-03-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

fortunately, i'm selling them! i did a bunch of different shades of pink (i don't know if anyone obsesses about pink as much as i do. probably my mom. )
and my favorite shade of green--good for a boy or a girl!
and one black one, and two turquoise octopus. i just love them all! i think my favorite is actually the black and white one. it is pretty sharp. of course they are all super shiny. i didn't measure them, but they are around 2' wide and almost 2' tall. they're great and i'll be selling them at the delray affair!! only a few weeks away!
i also tried something new with these cute chalk boards. i painted the 1' square scallop shape and the 1.5' quote board. they would be great for shopping lists, kids rooms, wherever....
they will also be at the delray affair, with maybe a brief visit to harvey's this week and next. i'm still working, too, so there will be more. i should have taken a pic of my hands--covered in paint!

our spring break trip to disney world!

2011-03-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

ellie riding cricket at fort wilderness stables. she loved it!
ezra's happiest moments were spent crawling around in the water at the kiddie pool. he was not detered by big kids, splashing, buckets of water, or going in under his head.
ellie had fun at the kiddie pool, too.
and this is ezra on the carousel AFTER it stopped. he loved it while it was moving.
this was day 2 at the park. we were headed for it's a small world! the kids probably could have ridden it all day, but once was enough for the adults.
my favorite section of disney. i just love those yellow umbrellas.
on our boat headed to disney... ellie was so excited.
it was a little chilly for the guys.
ezra after our first morning at disney. he is such a good sport.
we had so much fun! we stayed at fort wilderness, which was a first for us, and it was amazing. we had lots of space, and it is so calm there, especially after dealing with all of those people at the park. we also got to catch up with some old friends! now it's back to reality, and i'm working on some cute wood cutouts--octopus pics soon!

little bathing beauty

2011-03-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

here's my girl... in her brand new bathing suit and cap. she is such a riot...

look who's 10 months!

2011-03-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

artigras... just a few days!

2011-02-16T11:06:00.001-08:00

check out this cutie! her name is lailani mari, and is my good friends brand new baby! she is the most precious little model!! here are pics of my beautiful new bowling sets and frames! they will all be at artigras this weekend! come check us out!

YOU SHOULD BUY THIS!

2011-02-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

AVAILABLE AT http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuesdaymourning IN LOTS OF CUTE COLORS! AND PROCEEDS GO TO HELP DAVY SCHULTZ. READ ABOUT HER HERE: http://ruthschultz.blogspot.com/

bean bags!

2011-02-06T18:11:00.001-08:00

look at these cuties--rainbow big beanies.
mini donut bean bags... ellie's fave.
mini birdie beanies.
cute preppy whales with numbers.
and of course i have to offer lilly bean bags!

come and get your can at artigras!

artwork hanging kits

2011-02-04T16:34:00.000-08:00

new artwork hanging kits! available in whale or shell in my personal favorite colors! simply decide where you are going to hang your strand, mark, hit your nails in, tie the ribbon from nail to nail, and cover nails with wood object! ta da! easy as pie.

i tried to do a nice variety for boys and girls... you can purchase these sets at artigras in jupiter on president's day weekend!

getting started is the hardest part...

2011-01-29T07:18:00.000-08:00

mostly it is difficult because i don't have a dedicated work space, but a good friend of mine is having a shower next weekend, so i got out my sewing machine, and i'm ready to do a round of... well, what exactly? i'm still deciding. i could go for a handprint run, including my new simply stamped tops and onesies, or i could go ahead and do some beanbags, which i will be offering for sale at the spring art shows (along with old school bowling sets for kids--skittles!), or i could do some reversible criss cross tops... i just don't know which to pick!

it's been awhile

2011-01-23T17:26:00.001-08:00

since i've made anything.
my fingers are getting itchy.
actually, i made my valentine's day cards today.
it just wasn't enough, i guess!

queen street and ezra is 8 months!

2011-01-05T10:24:00.001-08:00

my sweet, sweet little boy. well, he isn't so little. he was 25 lbs. at his last appointment, and my arms are telling me he is on his way to 30 in no time flat! happy 8 month birthday, ezra!
here is little ellie modeling for my mom's entry in the sis boom queen street contest! (more info here: http://www.sisboom.com/blog/) we had a purple party with balloons and cake. naturally ellie liked eating the cake much more than just looking at it!

happy new year!

ellie's fantastic christmas

2010-12-31T06:41:00.000-08:00

ellie had the most amazing christmas! here she is in her new jump house--obviously she loves it.here she is on christmas morning with a mini lalaloopsy--so cute!
and her christmas eve present was a 1983 strawberry shortcake baby--my favorite toy in 1983 :)
the little rock star on christmas eve at mizner park.
ezra had fun, too, but ellie was the one having the time of her life. although i know i had trouble sleeping on christmas eve--i know each year will only get more and more exciting!!!

we're all ready for christmas

2010-12-23T10:06:00.001-08:00

look at those cuties... both kids looking, semi smiling, in focus. yay!
ellie's fab christmas outfit was made by my mom (hickity-pickity.com). ellie loves modeling it!
and here is her favorite way to wear the outfit--up in the air!

merry christmas!

that's it. i'm done!

2010-12-07T10:53:00.000-08:00

well, i'm finally done with all of my christmas projects! i made my nativity, my advent calendar, decorated the house, sent out the christmas cards, and i am so done. i am not making another thing for quite awhile! it will be so nice to relax and enjoy the holiday! here is my mom with ellie. they were breaking in the christmas headbands!! below are a few other things i made in the eleventh hour!
pretty little name charm, made for a dad as a christmas present for his wife!
a cute frame for a customer--like one on the website, but with a different wood frame.
i couldn't stop my little peg monkey project after ellie's were done--we made some more for ellie's little pal, rylee. ellie's favorite girls are fancy girls so we did them all fancy style!

shhh! don't tell ellie!

2010-11-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

this is one of ellie's christmas presents--a bucket full of monkeys with the alphabet on their tummies. they are all different colors and have funny little faces. i had the most fun making them and i am sure that this would be a fun project for anyone with little ones. i got the blanks from the seller clickityclack on etsy. they have great unfinished wood shapes--fantastic nativities, etc. i used the size 4 man which are $1 each, but they have smaller shapes for .33 and under.
here is the finished group of them and the storage bucket i purchased (at michaels for $4.99). i put a-z stickers on the bucket (i just happened to have these).
the fancy girls--so fancy.
the mustache men--one of my favorite groups.
here is the whole set in a huddle. i love how bright they look!

here is the whole set! cute little monkeys... this was such a fun project. i think that anyone would really enjoy it, and you could do numbers or just your child's name if you weren't up for the entire alphabet! anyway, ellie saw one of these when she was in time out the other day and said, Look! There is a monkey peekin' at me!" Then she started to say her abc's. such a cutie. they are securely hidden now, but i just know she is going to love them!

shutterfly's christmas cards!

2010-11-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

i've always loved christmas cards. i remember sending them out with my mom when i was little, and then when i was in college (i didn't get many back then!), and then when i got married--the pictures of michael and i, and of course the cards with the kids! i like to put the ones i receive all over my fridge, and then when that fills up i make a clothesline, and then when that is full i have a little christmas tree shaped card holder. i love seeing all of the happy faces, the gold sparkly cards, and the glitter. i like hearing what everyone is up to. i wish that there was not only a christmas card tradition, but more of a monthly card tradition. then we could all be in touch more frequently. who has the time, though? i guess that is why christmas cards are so special!

anyway, shutterfly is doing this great promotion for anyone with a blog: Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010! i think it is an incredible deal, and their cards are so cute! here are my favorites...

1. i never go for red and green, but this combo is so cute (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/peppermint-bliss-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93476). i wish i had that handwriting!

2. this bright one--all the colors of the rainbow! (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/count-your-blessings-christmas-5x7-folded-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93476)

3. this one is all about the photo--i love that. (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/merry-thought-bubble-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93476)

the story cards are also fantastic. i think i am going to use one of those this christmas. we've had so much going on this year, so the highlights would translate the best there! check out the photo books, too! they are so cool and easy to make!

merry christmas!

rainbow campers and surreys and coffee!

2010-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

christmas surreys with mini tinsel trim!
rainbow surreys with mini ric rac trim!
christmas shasta campers with mini tinsel trim!
vintage shastas in rainbow!
christmas coffee booksmarks! (not compatible with a kindle.)
and rainbow coffee bookmarks!

i am so crazy about these tags! i can't get over them!

like i said...

2010-10-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

i've been busy. and on top of that, we're all super sick. but... with the down time i've been working along. here are two of my projects!

i've finally finished ellie's art table! it looks so great and she LOVES it! we've been doing lots of halloween spiders and watercolors lately.

here are some of the new stamped tags--so cute! pink ink on pink cardstock with a pink ribbon. super sweet.
i'm working also on a less expensive line of simply stamped onesies and tee shirts for little girls and boys.
here are some cute gift enclosure cards with envelopes. they are coordinating and not matchy matchy.
here are some tags that i managed to package together. they are random assortments of good sweet stuff!
here are the tags right after i stamp them... they're drying. cute shasta vintage trailers, surrey bike cars, cupcakes, and take out coffee!

getting busy...

2010-10-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

we've been super busy having fun with the kids with every spare moment, but i squeezed a few more moments together and have been working on 3 great projects! i'll have a sneak peek asap! i'm so excited about them that it is sometimes hard to sleep at night!

handprinted tees and dresses!

2010-09-19T11:13:00.001-07:00

wow! i tried to use extra bright colors this time! i think they are really showing through, too. when i was stamping i thought the colors were too intense, but after the heat treatment, washing, and drying processes, they look perfect! i'm so glad i went with my gut instinct! i think these are so refreshing after i have discovered there are only fall colors at the mall. boo for brown, orange, and burgandy. yay for summer colors!turtle dresses all lined up!
this was a new try with my favorite, the color spectrum across the bottom. instead of background stamping it, though, i sewed the appliques across. i really like the look--it's different but familiar. i kept one of these for ellie!
here is this batch of shirts, all ready to head to virginia beach!
cute sharks and hooks. i kept one for ezra!
the turtles came out great again. i just love making this design. the mommies of little boys also seem happy about this one!

anyway, my mom will be at the virginia beach art show this weekend! it's our first time there and she has lots of cool things. check out her blog at hickity-pickity.blogspot.com.

reversible smock tops--so cute!

2010-08-04T07:41:00.001-07:00

my sweet little model. i just love that pointed toe in her converse!!
the front of the top
the back with the lining peeking through... pink with white dots on this one!

i am so crazy about these tops! i made a couple of them a few years ago, but they were tie at the strap instead of this style with a continuous strap. they are fully reversible and all have the cutest linings. ellie is crazy about her donut top. she tries to wear it all the time, even before bed! cutie!

so... i painted!

2010-07-14T12:07:00.001-07:00

don't the colors just make you happy? i was so glad to squeeze this batch in between feedings with ezra and playtime with ellie! harvey's is about to get a makeover!

she's 2!!!

2010-06-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

no, i can't make anything. ugh!

2010-06-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

it's too hard with a newborn and a two year old
i can manage to give my sweet ellie presents though!
here she is with her new zhu zhu hampster, moo...
so sweet.
we've been battling a cold recently
poor ezra still has it
i know i'll get to making things eventually.
there is a time for that.
now it's mom time:)

he's here!

2010-05-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

well, ezra keane is here! he is a sweet, sweet little boy and we are just crazy about him! i know i'm behind on orders--i'm almost ready to start filling them! thanks for coming to see my mom at sunfest and the delray affair! i'm sorry i wasn't there to see very many of you! email me at ingratie@hotmail.com with any questions!

delray affair!!!

2010-04-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

come see us! friday, saturday, and sunday! we're slightly west of worthing park on the west side of the street! look for our pink and white striped banner! you'll want to check out our sell out items quick--giant cut out seahorses (i only had time for 8!), rumba skirts for girls and ladies, and the super popular reversible oilcloth/chalkcloth placemats for kiddos! see you there!

turtles finally done!

2010-03-14T11:01:00.001-07:00

i'm super excited that my turtles are finally done! yay! they look so cute! i've done lots that coordinate with the skirts my mom is making (hickity-pickity.com) and in both boy and girl colors. they turned out great. check out http://www.blue-pelican.com/turtle.html to see lots of examples. now if i could just get my reversible chalkcloth placemats and all of my stamped silver jewelry ready i could feel like i'm ready for the shows!

steps one and two

2010-03-05T19:17:00.001-08:00

the first step in making my hand stamped pieces is getting the appliques done! it's a good thing i've got a nice big table.

step two is mixing up the colors for the background stamps. when i was washing off my spoons i had to take a picture of all of the colors. so pretty.

almost done...

2010-02-26T11:26:00.001-08:00

my website is almost completely up again!
check it for cool new pics!
xo

ORDER NOW!

2010-02-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

you might know by now that i am pregnant!
i think i have about 8 more weeks before our sweet baby boy comes and i am about to really get into doing his room. in fact, the bead board is going up as we speak!
so, if you have been thinking about ordering something, now is the time!
i will probably stop taking orders in 3 weeks so get them in asap!
ingratie@hotmail.com
love,katie

artigras this weekend!

2010-02-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

my mom and i are super excited about artigras (up in jupiter) this weekend! it is one of our favorite shows to do because it is really fun and family oriented. i took a second to take a few pics while i was getting ready! above is a bunch of fun leg warmers! ellie has been wearing hers so much because of the recent chilly weather, and she loves them!

above here is another fun product that is new to our booth: reversible chalkcloth/oilcloth mats. each one comes with either a chalk marker or three sticks of fat chalk in assorted colors. they are perfect for eating out because you have some entertainment and a sterilized mat for your child's food.
some new scallop signs in pink! they turned out really nice.
and isn't it funny that i'm having a boy and just randomly did this aqua and very boyish grouping? maybe they won't sell and i can put them in baby boy's room!
and here is the last pic of the day: a bunch of cool 12 x 12 frames. they say all sorts of things: beach baby, sweet boy/girl, sugar and spice, etc.

well, stop by the hickity-pickity.com tent this weekend! we'll be there on saturday, sunday, and monday all day long!

fun january projects...

2010-01-27T16:48:00.000-08:00

we finally finished ellie's new room. we put up crown and floor molding along with beadboard and a new chair rail! it looks so pretty and different from her old green room! here is her little kitchen and pantry...
and here is her crib, changing table, and cabana!
i've also been busily cutting out splat mats for artigras which is president's day (and valentine's day) weekend. they look really cute and are 46" x 47" square. they are great for under the high chair, for art projects, or for just keeping messes away.
fully stain resistant they come in lots of fun colors! only $22!
i also got to finally try out my new christmas present--a mini letterpress!
here is my first project--ellie's valentine's. they look great so far. i will try to remember to post the finished product!

my mom is headed to harvey's with lots of new product tomorrow so stop by and check it out! otherwise come by artigras for our great tent deals!

family bracelet

2009-12-27T18:19:00.001-08:00

here is the cool bracelet i made for my mom for christmas!
it has a big center disc with her name and then the side discs are all of the family birthdays and her anniversary!
i accented the whole thing with a variety of crazy pink and white swarovski crystals and pretty pink and white pearls!
she loved it!

big necklaces for christmas!

2009-12-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

here are a few custom orders igot for christmas! there are more, maybe i will get around to taking pics later!
if not, merry christmas!!!

happy day

2009-11-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

well, thanksgiving was so much fun! we celebrated with the family and little nugget was just so happy! the turkey came out better than ever before! i was happy to make it through--any holiday while pregnant is just very tiring! at least there was a lot of food for me to eat! i hope you all had a happy holiday!

so pretty...

2009-10-19T15:43:00.001-07:00

i really really really like my latest batch of paintings. i think they are so pretty! this isn't quite all of them, but it is a nice sample. i just had too much fun with the batch. maybe it was because it was cold outside while i was painting... that hasn't happened for awhile! or maybe it was just because it has been a month or so since i painted anything. i just love it so much!
this batch is for a customer in connecticut who also has a pineapple with a green striped background. all of the paintings had to coordinate because she is doing a wall in her daughter's room. i think they all turned out nicely. i wasn't sure what to do with the mermaid as i usually do an aqua background, but i have done a few others. i think the green and yellow and pinks all go nicely together, though!

well, we've got a show for the junior leauge of the palm beaches tomorrow evening and another at city place for the think pink event on friday. i'm sure we will meet lots of nice new customers! we picked out a great selection of everything for the shows: baby clothes, stationary, jewelry, accessories, art, bags, etc. yay! i love shows!!

giant cut outs!

2009-09-26T17:38:00.001-07:00

these cut outs were so cute! charlotte, at decortifs in melbourne beach, snapped them up for her great store. she also has seahorses! i am working on a batch of three seahorses for harvey's at the moment: pink, green, and blue. they'll have giant white dots just like the shapes above. they are so great for covered porches or as wall art!

boys!

2009-09-24T06:36:00.001-07:00

so my mom and i made a cute line of boy's clothing! yay! she made the shorts and then i made a batch of handprinted tees and tanks to go with them! above is a great outfit--comfy bluish aqua shorts and a shark tee!
some of the new tops, including my first time ever shrimp shirt!
here are the colors and patters for the boy's shorts--very boyish of course!
and some more of the handprinted tees and tanks!
these are going straight over to harvey's on first tomorrow! pick an outfit up for your little guy!

triple layer

2009-08-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

i made these two necklaces for friends of mine!
the largest disc is 1" so they are a nice size
and affordable at only $30 for the charm
my charm display is now officially at harvey's if you want to go check it out!!

more stamped silver....

2009-08-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

awesome dog collars by my mom (hickity-pickity.com) and stamped pet tags. they can say anything you want, include your phone number, have a nickname, etc. you pick!
relationship status. it's good to keep people informed...
i love the besties charms.
and my favorite new idea. a charm for a mom or grandmom. i can do the large 2" disc and probably fit a lot more names if i had layers of text! also, i can spell out love if you prefer. super excited about this one for christmas presents!

and not much else is going on here. rain. a pretty sunset. my sweet ellie. birthday party tomorrow. grading papers. shipping out orders like crazy. oh yeah. there IS a lot going on here!

orange crazy

2009-08-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

so here is our completed order! both my mom and i got in on this one. it is 3 mini saying signs, one mini elephant sign, one nitey-nite blanket, one go-go blanket, one hold me blanket, two burp cloths, one monkey art, and one green dotted 3 peg board. wow! and all in blue/turquoise and orange! what a lucky little baby!!

2009-08-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

so here are the photos of my new stamped silver jewelry. i am so excited because the possibilities for these are endless! the charms come in several different sizes and you can layer them or wear several on a chain! above is a boy name with an initial and a personalized little charm. so cute!
here are my sweet dogs names. i am getting dog tag hardware so i can also make a tag for your dog's name or nickname with your phone number.
best friends charms--so cool.
who doesn't?
you can also do a name charm with a mini fun tag!
here is a stamped peacock... i wore this to school today. i think it is my fave. it is metal clay, not a stamped pendant, but i couldn't resist sharing a pic.
here is my daughter's pendant. it is a little bit big for her, but she likes the bling. it has her first and middle name and three shells on top.
and here is my personal charm necklace. my hubby, my daughter and a shell.

my art show prices are $16 for chains, $8 for the mini 3/8" charms (seahorses, flip flops, shells, starfish, heart, flower, hibiscus, wave, cupcake, owl, and more--all adorable), $10 for the 3/4" discs, $12 for the 1" discs, $14 for the 1.25" discs, $16 for the 1.5" discs, and $20 for the 2" discs. I can put anything on them. i've got three different sizes of the straight capital font. i'm going to be bringing them over to harvey's pretty soon--prices will be slightly higher. then the next stop is the junior leauge of the palm beaches soiree in october. if you want to special order one, go ahead and email me! ingratie@Hotmail.com.
so excited about this....

matching necklaces

2009-08-24T11:47:00.001-07:00

almost forgot--ellie and i wore our matching necklaces this weekend to stephen's big birthday party! hers says elliot anne and has 3 shells. i have a triple disc pendant--michael, ellie, and a shell. i will take close ups this week!

2009-08-24T11:44:00.001-07:00

these are two of my first completely finished silver pendants. i made them out of metal clay, which might just be the coolest invention ever. it starts off as a white clay, you shape it, stamp it, fire it in a kiln, polish it, oxidize it, and finish it again, and by then it is .999 silver. it's the craziest stuff.
i'm very proud of myself for making these with no silver training. i've got a few more in my tumbler right now--owls, pears, leaves, and giant initials. i like them so much i'd wear them all myself!

custom order stationary

2009-08-21T16:23:00.001-07:00

so much fun--i got a big order of personalized stationary--b's on the tags and j's on the cards. i think they turned out so great!
this group was my favorite. i wish doing that shell rainbow was easier--i'd use that for myself for everything!
and all of those sweet mermaids lined up in a row. enjoy your new home!

in the meantime i've been working on a fantastic new project--personalized silver jewelry. my tumbler is going right now! hopefully i'll be able to post pics soon!!!

TAGS!

2009-08-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

how cute are my sweet new tags? i am so crazy about them! the oranges above are my favorites.

but i also am crazy about those little tiny cowrie shells! it was the first day of school today... i'm so sleepy!

dots and dots and dots and dots

2009-08-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

oh! we've been so busy! here are a bunch of baby custom signs i did for a friend of mine. they turned out really cute and i didn't even mind not using pink!
then i couldn't resist taking it a bit further and creating these little animal signs... they are so cute! they are like my first batch but a different size. i think i prefer this size.
and to finish up my friend's order i made this great orange monkey and a spotted and aged 23" peg board for her soon to come baby (sex unknown). i think that green, turquoise, and orange are fantastic colors together, especially for a new baby--bright and cheerful!

carving stamp morning

2009-08-06T10:40:00.001-07:00

i've been working on these little animal signs for quite awhile. i finally got my drill to work so i could attach some beachy twine. yay! they all have different animals on them with the name of the animal in a cool all caps font. i am going to do the next batch for boys. you can find these at harvey's in delray.

so fun to carve stamps this morning. ellie took a longer nap than usual so i knocked out my new starfish and sand dollar stamps. i have a few adjustments to make still, but i couldn't wait to post the pics of the first batch.

and i can't believe it is almost time for back to school. next wednesday i am no longer on summer vacation. shoot. hopefully i will still find time to continue creating... i have so much on my mind!

cute stuff for sale!

2009-08-01T17:59:00.001-07:00

i was sad to see that there were no garage sales this morning when i rode around my hood. there usually always are on saturdays. shoot. i don't usually buy anything, but i like to see all of the stuff outside. i've found an old wicker piece every once in awhile, but generally i don't buy anything. my mom took a bunch of stuff over to harvey's and before she came to pick it up i arranged it for a photo. i was thinking... what if i just put a sign in my front yard that said cute stuff for sale! i wonder if anyone would come by. and i wonder if anyone would buy anything. it's much better than a garage sale!!!

new stationary!

2009-07-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

oh! i almost forgot! new stationary!!!!! i made a big run this past week... check it out!

paintings for charlotte

2009-07-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

so the fam went up to melbourne beach this past weekend and charlotte had wanted some painted wooden frames. i made them and a few other things, including some fabulous growth charts! every time i make these i want to keep one for ellie, but i end up selling it. my goal is to have a permanent one hanging in her room before i have to go back to school! i was also really happy with how the shrimp frame turned out! i don't know why i suddenly like shrimp so much, but i just can't seem to help it! anyway, charlotte's store just looked fantastic and you should totally go if you are in the area. it is called decoratifs (decoratifsgifts.com) and is on strawbridge in the downtown area. she does the most amazing stationary and invitations. so pretty. anyway, we had a great time in melbourne and everyone except me saw a big manatee! i was very jealous, but i was sleeping in so i guess that was okay. moms only get that chance every once in awhile. well, right now i am creating some fantastic new jewelry! talk soon!

oilcloth

2009-07-20T05:31:00.001-07:00

so some of my friends have been asking if they can make their own oilcloth bags. and that is totally cool with me! look at how fabulous the colors of the oilcloth are. pink and green are always great. and then pink and black is fun. right now all i want, though, is pink and orange! email me if you want to place a special order: ingratie@hotmail.com. you need one color for the main body and inside pocket and another print for the sides, straps, and lining. how fun to have a custom bag!! check out blue-pelican.com for more info or go to harvey's on first in delray beach to see our room!

ellie's first birthday album

2009-06-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

so here is the little album i am working on for ellie's first year. i got the album on etsy and used the same stamps that i made for ellie's
invitations. it turned out so cute! i
will finish it off with a picture of my big girl on her birthday.... how is that already here??

2009-06-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

so this is the base for ellie's first birthday invites! i am adding a little overlay (hambly of course) with an e over the orange shell. oh! i think they are perfect!

stamped stationary

2009-05-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

i'm so totally into my stationary right now. i love using it and looking at it! i am especially excited because i am working on overlays and a scrapbook! hambly has so inspired me to get it together with my overlays. i think my next step will be to do large repeating patterns of my shells. i'm thinking nothing will work but pink and orange! i can't wait to post the pics! school ends in a week and a half--scrappin' summer here i come!

also totally into alicia's toms from harts n crafts. xoxoxox thanks alicia!