It's just around the corner...Strawberry Swing, Baby!

Attention: Kansas City Area Folks!!! It's almost time to Swing!!!

You won't want to miss this! Sooooo many great vendors and tons of fun too! Please share the news! Grab a button for your site! Call your besties and make plans to attend! Click here for more information! You can also visit my post from the 2011 Swing. xox

Message of Hope Prints Available!

 Darcy's son and "D" exchanging their 'goodbye for now' hugs during his last visit.

My dear friend, Darcy Deaton and her family are in the midst of the seemingly herculean and emotional process of adopting a sweet 13 year old boy "D" from the Ukraine (where orphans like "D" are turned out to the streets at age 16!) I have worked with Darcy and her friend Kara over the years designing various things for their former shop and blog, McMaster & Storm.(now B.H. Storm & Co.) They are two of the finest, caring, and devout mothers and friends that I have ever known! And not to mention, extremely talented! I  truly cherish and admire them and so when I found out about Darcy's family and their mission to bring this sweet boy home, I wanted to help in any way I could. Here are two prints I've created under Darcy's direction that you can purchase directly below! All proceeds will aid their family through this process! Both are 11" x 17" for you to frame, pin, or mount in any way you choose! They are $20. each and ship priority mail for $5.25 and arrive packaged as sweetly as anything you might imagine from the creative Deaton family! Thank you, and please feel free to share with your friends with all our thanks and blessings! xox

Block Lettering Option

Script Lettering Option

Purchase one securely through PayPal below or message Darcyl.deaton@gmail.com

 {THANK YOU!! XOXOX, Katie, the Deaton Family and "D"}

Promise of Hope Print Option:

Script Lettering Block Lettering

(*Remember to choose Script or Block Lettering from dropdown above before proceeding*)

Furniture Makeovers by Barb Blair...time to celebrate!

                   

I couldn't be more thrilled to celebrate the book launch of Furniture Makeovers by Barb Blair of Knack Studio! Barb is such a hard-working and talented person, so its no surprise that she pulled off such a huge project with her usual incredible flair! I am very sad to miss her signing tomorrow night, but if you are near Greenville, SC, don't miss the party and a chance to meet the woman behind all the magic! Love you BIg, BB! Congratulations!! xox

Melissa Loves New Shop!

My sweet friend Melissa of Melissa Loves has opened a new online shop for her lovely handmade  fine jewelry. Be sure to visit! xo

 

  Love Ring

Positive Cuff Bracelet

Images via Melissa Loves

Anxiety Theater presents...a grateful heart.

Print by Departika and available on Etsy here.

I just noticed I pinned this print a year ago! I'm still struggling with getting back into the swing of creating, actually more like making TIME for creating. Not working definitely creates anxiety within me. My father-in-law is my hero and helps me realize any crazy idea I come up with, from a farm table three days before Thanksgiving to a screen door on my studio in the basement (how cozy! it leads to the garage!). Currently, he is helping me overhaul my basement studio to be more user friendly, e.g. better lighting, electrical outlets, heater, flooring. It takes time, and I pray for patience and constantly remind myself how blessed I am to have such a helpful, generous, and kind man in my life! And, not only that, my he and my mother-in-law take my child overnight two or three nights a week! Thank you, Oma and Opa!! I am one lucky and grateful girl. xoxo

Pinterest Etiquette

The lack of credits and proper links on Pinterest really irks me. I want so much to enjoy browsing the site because I actually find it most useful! I rely on it for our weekly dinner recipes and I've started a private board that's helped me organize some things I'd like to do around our home. It is disheartening though to see pin after pin without any credit to the artist/designer/stylist/photographer/illustrator/blogger/whatever! Someone, usually more than one person, put a lot of work into that image and I believe it simply isn't right for all of us to cruise through thoughtlessly banking these images without, at the very least providing a link to the original creator/s. I am afraid I was guilty of this while using Pinterest at first, and it IS more time consuming to stop and make sure you've sourced the image. But it means the WOrLD and usually time and income to that creative! I still have yet to go back through all my earlier pins to double-check- so don't scold me- I'm working on it! But I will make a point to at least credit SOMEONE connected to the image in the description and link the image to a page that includes the original source information. Encourage your friends to do the same, won't you!? Here's my little attempt to bring awareness to the issue... feel free to PIN! (And let me know it you like it or not, thanks!) xo 

Now, where was I...?

Since the birth of my son I've been mostly over on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Much easier format for a newbie mama. I would like to get back to blogging, if just for a bit here and there, as I finally have things to share other than sleepless nights, colic, and smelly pants (although, there's no shortage of those). This mama needs to WORK and Interact with the art and craft world again, as it is sooo very good and vital for my bones! We'll see how it goes! Happy Spring! xoxo

The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook

Hello, Blog! I'm so happy that spring is finally on the horizon and what better way to celebrate than with a copy of the brand new Back in The Day Bakery Cookbook-NOw AVaiLaBle!

(aren't they adorable?!)

Last summer, Cheryl and Griffith Day kindly commissioned me to craft some original cake  and cupcake toppers for the dessert section! I can't thank them enough for including me in their amazing cookbook project! Back in the Day Bakery is simply my favorite bakery/restaurant in all the land and for them to share their recipes with all of us (especially those of us who live so stinkin' far away!) is super generous and much appreciated. Although, I doubt my buttercream will ever be anywhere near as magical! xox

Visit their website here.

Buy a copy of the Cookbook!

Be a Fan on Facebook.