tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51423305911193508402024-03-05T20:29:27.621-05:00WoodstreamDreamBe inspired - take a peek into an artisan's life - my Christian faith, my family, my friends, my home, my creations, my inspiration.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-85523461095194516782014-07-21T14:47:00.000-04:002014-07-21T14:47:47.208-04:00Site Launch!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My new <a href="http://www.woodstreamdream.wix.com/woodstreamdream">website</a> has launched! My blog has relocated there and you can continue to follow me there. Hope to see you soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for your continued support over the years!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prayers for a blessed week!</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Nicole</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-27649673526491145912014-07-06T21:02:00.000-04:002014-07-06T21:02:02.477-04:00A change in my path<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been busy with business training courses, designing my own website (coming soon!), and reopening WoodstreamPapery - see to the right!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm also researching curriculum and getting ready for the fall as I embark on the homeschooling path with my two wonderful sons! I have wanted to homeschool my children for as long as I can rembember. It's a decision I'm glad that we've made and it is coming at a good time for all of us. My art will continue to be a part of my life, a very important part, but I will participate in fewer events. This is not the path for everyone, but it is our path for this year, and God-willing maybe much longer than that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will share the link with my website by the end of this month. My blog will continue there from that point forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I truly hope that you're all doing well and enjoying the beautiful weather after this brutal winter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a blessed summer and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God Bless,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nicole</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-13413083790160183772014-05-20T16:03:00.002-04:002014-05-20T16:03:50.776-04:00Refocus<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am kind of astonished that I've been away from the blog-o-sphere for so long!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been working on many different projects this winter and into the spring. I'm refocusing product line, adding certain items and selling off others. I'm also creating a lot of stock for the fall/winter holiday season!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm always working on my fiber arts - crochet and upcycled cashmere and wool. I am working on photographing new creations to get those listed in my Etsy shop. There are items in the works that I will be sharing in the fall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can see the big blank spot for WoodstreamPapery off to the right. You'll find that shop is empty right now as I work on listings for my original unretouched nature photography prints and notecards. Below are examples of the prints that will soon be available for purchase from WoodstreamPapery beginning in July. They will be available in 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 as well as notecards. I've been an avid photographer of my natural surrounds, in recent years as study for my floral creations out of upcycled cashmere and wool. Now I'm taking the best of these photographs and having them professionally printed so that you can enjoy them, too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope that you have a blessed week! I look forward to hearing feedback about my photography!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God Bless,</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Nicole</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-11668414838167086652013-12-03T20:53:00.000-05:002013-12-03T20:53:00.277-05:00Thankful<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so incredibly thankful. I have been so busy with work, home, friends, and family that I haven't had the opportunity to sit down to write. That may sound bizarre, but I am thrilled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am thankful for the many new customers who came to shop at <a href="http://www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com/">WoodstreamDream</a> when I was at the Collingswood Farmers' Market in September and November. I love meeting new people and creating one-of-a-kind items for each of you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm also incredibly grateful that I'm well this year and I can get lost in the day to day with my family! All of my wonderful adventures have seemingly multiplied this autumn and it's absolutely divine! I am blessed to have had such a wonderful year both professionally and personally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Currently I'm working on reorganizing my stock for Saturday's show at Eastern High School. My last show at the Collingswood Farmers' Market was on a particularly windy day and just about everything got reshuffled into different containers so they wouldn't blow away! Fortunately Saturday I'll be inside and nothing will be blowing away!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm also figuring out my 2014 teaching schedule for my crochet classes - yes, I'm adding classes. They will begin in January 2014. So if you're local and interested, you'll have the opportunity to join me for classes. More information will be available here and on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WoodstreamDream">Facebook</a> by December 20th. I will email a PDF gift certificate to anyone who would like to give the gift of Crochet Classes to their loved one for Christmas, with a paid in full set of classes paid in cash or via PayPal invoice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you haven't signed up for my email blasts - please do so. I only send them out a handful of times per year, but I do offer specials only to my email subscribers. Look on the right hand side of my blog and sign up for the email newsletter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for stopping by to check in. I appreciate the time you take to check in on me and my business.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a blessed week!</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-84495257820730422762013-10-28T15:44:00.000-04:002013-10-28T15:44:06.225-04:00Fall Events Schedule<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can barely believe that it's been six weeks since I last posted. I've been busy creating and experiencing art during that lapse. I will post more about what I'm creating and what I explored this month in coming posts. Here's some important information:</span><div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fall Events Schedule</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collingswood Farmers' Market - Handmade Holidays</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturdays, November 2 | 16 | 23 rain or shine 8am-noon</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eastern High School Band Parents' Holiday Craft Show</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, December 7 9am-3pm</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees, NJ</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Markeim Art Center - Give the Gift of Art - 100s Under $100</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday, December 12 through Friday, December 20</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Meet the Artists Reception</i> Friday, December 13 7-9pm</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">visit <a href="http://www.markeimartcenter.org/">Markeim</a> online for more information on hours</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">104 Walnut Street, Haddonfield, NJ</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A snippet of what I've been working on. These will be for sale starting Saturday...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">crochet snowflake ornaments $4 - $6 each</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you see something for sale at an event, but don't see it in one of my Etsy shops, please <a href="mailto:woodstreamdream@gmail.com">email</a> me to inquire. I don't list all of my inventory online.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut off for custom orders for the 2013 Holiday Season is Friday, November 1st. Anything custom ordered after that date is not guaranteed for delivery until early 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you so much for stopping by to check in on me and my creations!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a blessed week!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-50001761002279945382013-09-17T13:29:00.000-04:002013-09-17T13:36:31.341-04:00Busy season<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, it's been nearly two months since I've blogged, terrible of me, but I was making up for lost time with my children after last year's surgery-recovery cycle.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Kitty Hawk - July 2013 - taken during a visit with my brother and his family</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had an absolutely wonderful summer! Lots of visiting and trips and fun. We're also about 3/4 through our bathroom renovation. Last week was back to school for the kiddos and my husband went away on business. As hard as I tried, I didn't get much done work-wise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week I've been better - getting things ready for the kick off to the fall season! I have a new tent that you'll see at the Collingswood Farmers' Market this fall. I am also working on new products - fine art nature photography, organic cotton shams adorned with upcycled cashmere and wool, and some new items for baby! I am working on a new look to my newsletter this week, but more on that later!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday, September 28 - 8 am to noon - at the Collingswood Farmers' Market - I'm the featured artist of the week - please stop by and shop if you're in the area!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Handmade Holiday Bazaar @ the Collingswood Farmers' Market - 8 am to noon under the PATCO line. I'll be there the following dates:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday, November 2</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday, November 16</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday, November 23</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday, December 7 - 9 am to 3 pm - Eastern High School Holiday Craft Show - I believe I'll be in the gymnasium.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday, December 12th through 20th - times vary daily - Markeim Arts Center - Give the Gift of Art - 100s Under $100 - visit <a href="http://www.markeimartscenter.org/">the website</a> for more information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please sign up for the email <a href="http://eepurl.com/FqA_T">newsletter</a> - you won't receive too many from me - maybe 4-6 per year with information on events, special sales, etc. I will never share or sell your email addresses! My first one is set to go out soon so make sure you sign up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for checking in! Have a blessed day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-24785108422413050032013-07-19T20:01:00.002-04:002013-07-19T20:01:26.136-04:00Creative Road Block<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laughter really is the best medicine, especially when things seem to be going backward instead of forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A week ago we started our bathroom renovation (I will post the photo chronicle when the job is done). A renovation in itself is stressful, but made much less by the generousness of my parents for taking our children for nine and a half days. They return tomorrow afternoon and we'll be glad to see them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To add to the stress and need of a good crying laugh, the weekend before our renovation started, our dryer died. After three visits from the repair guy with an array of parts our dryer was deemed unable to be repaired. At that point I'd been without a dryer for nine days and had missed out on the Independence Day sales from the previous week. So we coughed up the money for a new dryer and it was delivered the next day. I've been happily doing laundry for several days now and am so glad to have fluffy towels instead of the cardboard that the clothesline was creating!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our attic fan also has died, sometime between Sunday and Monday this week and it's been a heatwave here in New Jersey, so it makes it quite uncomfortable at night on the second floor and more strenuous on the air conditioner to keep the house cool. My husband plans to look at it as soon as the sheetrock is out of the hallway and he can pull down the attic steps, but I think he's waiting for the heat to break so that he doesn't have to go into the super hot attic. I don't blame him one bit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gratefully the heat is supposed to break tomorrow night when a stormy front pushes through the area. I pray it's less violent than the storm from last night, hail damaged several of my plants in the patch - the squash leaves are scarred terribly. As sad as I was about the dammage, I am grateful that I finally had the first picking from the patch this week, a cucumber. I have a tomato just starting to pink up and two more cukes that should be ready over the weekend. This doesn't seem to be the year for summer squash and zucchini - all male blooms, not a squash to be found in six plants. My purple potatoes are growing like gangbusters, I hope that there will be good digging there soon! I transplanted carrots a few days ago, some are in a pot on the patio and others are around the tomatoes. I'm experimenting with those this year. If you're curious as to what to companion plant, you should borrow these two books from your library and take good notes: <i>Carrots Love Tomatoes</i> and <i>Roses Love Garlic</i> - they've been invaluable to me over my dozen or so years of gardening. I learn more each year and I cannot imagine being successful without.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I mailed my items that will be gifted at the indiExhibit Celebrity Gifting Lounge for the 2013 Prime Time Emmys. They're a new item that I'm adding to my product line on Etsy, part of my new sewn organic cotton items. I was supposed to get many more items created, but without a dryer, I couldn't properly preshrink the items before sewing. Those items will be made after vacation! The dryer was my creative road block, unavoidable, but at least I've been able to accomplish other things!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">organic cotton eye pillow filled with organic flax seeds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">packaged and ready to ship: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTCu_yLKtDOk0Hy1rchzKnfeysXujTXJWqlW9sNudtTalKYvZoMe80rFUrp2sWenAtnBVyMd11pAhnxCT3FN3SX0gpwBAV4a-AijCThjqoXm443oMzpxAA5CAYeN1GW3ypgI0iBYPCi8/s1600/eye+pillow+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTCu_yLKtDOk0Hy1rchzKnfeysXujTXJWqlW9sNudtTalKYvZoMe80rFUrp2sWenAtnBVyMd11pAhnxCT3FN3SX0gpwBAV4a-AijCThjqoXm443oMzpxAA5CAYeN1GW3ypgI0iBYPCi8/s320/eye+pillow+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be adding the organic eye pillows and eye pillow covers to my shop in the coming weeks. There is the option to have organic lavender flower buds added to the pillow, but the ones I shipped were all unscented.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add to your calendar that I'll be the Featured Artist at the Collingswood Farmer's Market on Saturday, September 28th from 8am-noon. I'll post more information about it when the date gets closer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past week or so has been stressful, but I'm grateful that I had my faith and humor to rely on, as well as celebrating my 11th wedding anniversary with my husband - teamwork really does pay off, helps us grow stronger both as a couple and as individuals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for checking in! Have a blessed weekend!</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-31953673613818289742013-07-01T20:33:00.002-04:002013-07-01T20:33:36.771-04:00Rolling along...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July! Can you believe it? We just finished the rainiest June that I can remember!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm praying for a dry Saturday so I can finish my painting jobs for the bathroom renovation - and do some abstract art with my boys - both things I refuse to do inside because I am a very messy painter and I hope to instill my messiness into my boys via tubes of acrylic paint and canvas! I also long to go out into the garden, but it's rained so much that it's rather swamp-like and my husband hasn't been able to mow or weed-whack because of the outpouring of love from the clouds above! My plants seem to be happy, they're growing like gangbusters, but I do need to mound the potatoes before they start peeking through the surface.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am getting ready for the fall and Christmas selling season. Last week, in the midst of vacation Bible school, I crochet and felted ten more <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/124926978/cat-nip-mouse-toy-felted-black-wool?ref=shop_home_active">black wool mice</a> and they're packaged with catnip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Cat Nip Mouse Toy - Felted Black Wool" height="300" src="https://img2.etsystatic.com/010/1/6043648/il_570xN.432407458_8j5s.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2013 Teen Choice Awards are coming up and these are the items I shipped to gift at the indiExhibit Celebrity Gifting Lounge. Crochet lidded baskets are in the gifting bags and the handled basket will be on display for someone to choose.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ii0EFCYhe8kIovb8EiXUOdkWcYsQFhVPljwLc44yxFLsgqccssWz2_wYNm2ddlk0mFiO6zWWiM001-rPHDW3mA-WBCg320PRn2Kd8LLdErFkOCEAVy_gRD7gpb1IY1Tt9Qb2n3CLKHs/s1600/Swag+Bag+Teen+Choice+Awards+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ii0EFCYhe8kIovb8EiXUOdkWcYsQFhVPljwLc44yxFLsgqccssWz2_wYNm2ddlk0mFiO6zWWiM001-rPHDW3mA-WBCg320PRn2Kd8LLdErFkOCEAVy_gRD7gpb1IY1Tt9Qb2n3CLKHs/s320/Swag+Bag+Teen+Choice+Awards+2013.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have one of each of these baskets available for sale and I can make them in custom sizes upon request.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look for matted prints of my floral and scenic photography to be added to WoodstreamPapery this summer along with a variety of scenic and floral cards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will continue to work on adding stock to my Etsy shops over the coming weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for checking in! Have a blessed week!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-65879288316027188582013-06-11T17:52:00.003-04:002013-06-11T19:07:32.020-04:00Savoring<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm savoring life right now. I sneak away and work on a crochet sunhat for myself every now and again. I'm also dreaming up what I'm making for my son's second grade teacher... last day of second grade is quickly approaching, maybe I should just do instead of pondering, but dreams really do make the best creations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am working on several ideas that I'll be working on over the summer in preparation for the autumn markets and exhibits. I look forward to sharing them with you as I create them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am dreaming of the art I want to hang in my bathroom once it's finished. I've settled on a canvas wrapped photograph that I took on an early morning in Virginia Beach last year or Panama City Beach, both taken in November 2012 after our exodus from Sandy. These are the photos I'm considering...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzPZ5VFnZ70hOMaFiz9ZvqpBvt2gyrd4BLfhHNJoGo4ADXDqd3LdccURYFHw7JY1mXA-h3gv7XTEAnVshuxu8xpB_g0RpbScum4fLXplZwdQizilXF_6oHP-7Rswu0sP2oyQR0pPwSFs/s1600/pcb+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzPZ5VFnZ70hOMaFiz9ZvqpBvt2gyrd4BLfhHNJoGo4ADXDqd3LdccURYFHw7JY1mXA-h3gv7XTEAnVshuxu8xpB_g0RpbScum4fLXplZwdQizilXF_6oHP-7Rswu0sP2oyQR0pPwSFs/s320/pcb+1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Panama City Beach I</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uDavZDRJ88lWYLJymtR2mK3-6eeIlx7yTGezeqkWrdFrcJE5TTVzghYJ3G4np3IQg4kkxsjTxVs1f0kEJNjUFJakGraqMz8Ij5kDnV0iHS4zyV1WM8GXrpVxeAxRlPEUIMgqk34x_9M/s1600/pcb+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uDavZDRJ88lWYLJymtR2mK3-6eeIlx7yTGezeqkWrdFrcJE5TTVzghYJ3G4np3IQg4kkxsjTxVs1f0kEJNjUFJakGraqMz8Ij5kDnV0iHS4zyV1WM8GXrpVxeAxRlPEUIMgqk34x_9M/s320/pcb+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Panama City Beach II</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwz2ZdOxuV06oD5oep6LUo3YyKWzAxuB1MioVnyd60GOw5ee_McKsDBT2aFgYpu9ts-zqqto1QTeefzGzWoOwI2eAZ_suQPkbPta-TucDY89tTiACAKraH4dRNh9yW1NFsAfMCy4cymM/s1600/pcb+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwz2ZdOxuV06oD5oep6LUo3YyKWzAxuB1MioVnyd60GOw5ee_McKsDBT2aFgYpu9ts-zqqto1QTeefzGzWoOwI2eAZ_suQPkbPta-TucDY89tTiACAKraH4dRNh9yW1NFsAfMCy4cymM/s320/pcb+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Panama City Beach III</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqK2h9qu9RIhT-RpLPttTkH41OfQbluMilrIDDf8vDjC6_VinIRW5fyzZkx9mxwIsvABEnTwjsFVKSWsRuIuno8EM_edrea38uXQdVM9KiD0iYH8ISRwLyBIJDm8oBmJ0LCJByk3dAs0/s1600/va+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqK2h9qu9RIhT-RpLPttTkH41OfQbluMilrIDDf8vDjC6_VinIRW5fyzZkx9mxwIsvABEnTwjsFVKSWsRuIuno8EM_edrea38uXQdVM9KiD0iYH8ISRwLyBIJDm8oBmJ0LCJByk3dAs0/s320/va+beach.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In my searches for just the right thing, I have decided that sometimes the right thing is to find someone to make it for me. I think that we forget about the artisans in the world. We got to Etsy and browse and then to Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Bed Bath & Beyond, the Dollar Store, and all of those places that have things that are cookie cutter, mass produced. I'm guilty of it. I have done it, too often. I'm making an effort to go to those I know, or seek out artisans who have the know-how, and hire them. It's made a hop-skip-and jump away, not having a trip through Customs. I can work with the artisan to achieve exactly what I want and I have the thrill of having something that no one else has. Sure it costs a bit more than I would pay for mass produced or even vintage, but sometimes that's okay. Sometimes one needs to indulge. I look forward to sharing what I am having made when it's complete, sometime next month, but I wanted to encourage you to seek out the local artisans in your area to help you if there's something you're in need of that you cannot make on your own. It will be so satisfying for all parties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I'm off to make sweet cherry jam because I am craving it and I know that it will taste this winter on the dark, cold days to come! I'm also nostalgic about sweet cherry jam because it was my favorite breakfast condiment many years ago when I visited Europe - sweet cherry jam, croissants, and coffee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be well! Thank you for stopping in to read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a blessed week!</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-81352140828045629872013-06-04T21:13:00.000-04:002013-06-04T21:13:03.255-04:00June, already???<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, my! How can it be June already?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last month I was in the Birds and Blooms Exhibit at Markeim Arts Center in Haddonfield, New Jersey. That was fantastic. At the closing party a kid, really a kid - he's 14, did abstract painting and it was spectacular to watch. I never "got" abstract art before, but he had such energy and such a method - it really was something. His name is <a href="http://www.nickkepronart.com/">Nick Kepron</a>, his work is vibrant! I sold a few pieces at the show, so that's always a pleasure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now everything's home. I've gone through my inventory and have several items to photograph and list on <a href="http://www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com/">WoodstreamDream</a> and <a href="http://www.woodstreampapery.etsy.com/">WoodstreamPapery</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My summer looks good for creating and listing. I am available for custom work - think about what your winter weather accessories looked like before you packed them up. Needing a new scarf or cap? Drop me a <a href="mailto:woodstreamdream@gmail.com">line</a> and I'll work with you to create something just for you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm continuing work on my studio. That was put on hold while my husband had a flurry of travel and my older son had two bouts with the stomach bug last month. It's back on track. Furniture has been moved. More "stuff" to sort through and rearrange. The destash table at my friend's yard sale last month helped to clear some stuff out. After rearranging and sorting, my largest task is finding a table top surface to go over the filing cabinets (so I have smooth flat work surface) - the dimensions are 27ish by 54ish. I think too deep for formica (my first thought). <i>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This month ends with my husband's birthday and my younger son's birthday back to back. I'm working on getting everything settled for birthday parties and plans for the summer - trying to get travel plans nailed down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm also working on ordering all that will be needed for our bathroom renovation coming up in July. I will be posting renovation photos here. Some of the projects are DIY - I bought an antique dresser and mirror that will be transformed into our vanity and medicine cabinet. This is a gut job, right now it's a drafty 1964 bathroom with blue tile and tub. I have showered for nearly four years straight and I'm ready for a good long soak in my new tub! Most fixtures are chosen, some have been delivered and now reside in our garage. We went through a kitchen renovation three years ago and this one should prove to be great for before & after photos, too! I'm looking forward to the finished product, or at least when I can take a bath!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will be back to photography and listing some time this week or next. I have a couple new baskets and several new gift tags to get photographed and listed. My delay is because yesterday morning I scratched my cornea when cleanser flicked up into my eye while cleaning the kitchen sink. I find myself fatigued with wearing glasses, always needing to refocus it seems. I go to the eye doctor tomorrow and hopefully sometime next week I can switch back to contacts. For now it's eye drops every 4 waking hours and glasses. It's not as painful as it was yesterday, so I'm hoping that I feel back to normal in a day or two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a blessed week! Thanks so much for checking in!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-21603780348983222952013-05-13T19:32:00.000-04:002013-05-13T19:32:25.004-04:00Summer is approaching...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can barely believe it's been two weeks (or so) since I last wrote... Time has flown by. I had four PTO events in those two weeks. My husband was supposed to have a six-day plus two-day business trip (back-to-back), but fortunately that's been scaled down to the two-day (this Thursday and Friday). There was Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day if you didn't read my FB posts over the weekend!). I had an opening on May 3rd at </span><a href="http://www.markeimartcenter.org/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Markeim Arts Center</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> for Birds and Blossoms the 2013 Power of the Flower Exhibit. Then there was the other day-to-day activities, you know - parenting, housekeeping, chauffeuring, cooking, laundry, shopping for our bathroom renovation, and basic holding down the fort stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meanwhile, I am counting the days until summer arrives... I get summer fever really bad. I was a special education teacher for five years before we started our family and I can totally relate to the daydreaming and "senioritis" and all of that springtime behavior that's annoying in the classroom, but a reality that we cannot deny - we all want OUT!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My little one has five days of preschool, plus a school picnic and then he's done, oh the glories of preschool - finished before Memorial Day!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My older son has school until June 20th. It's always hard when school goes past Father's Day. It was always a marker for me on the calendar that summer had started. Not this year. Oh, well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In planning our summer, I love to have impromptu things that I can pull out of my hat at a moment's notice. Now last year I didn't really do this. I was tied to the recovery schedule after my four spring surgeries. It was not the spring, summer, or autumn that I envisioned with my children. I think that's why I'm looking forward to this summer even more than usual.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've started pinning ideas to my <a href="http://pinterest.com/woodstreamdream/kid-stuff/">Kid Stuff</a> board on Pinterest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've also started a list of things that I'd like to do with the kids, things we missed out on last year for one reason or another, and things the kids have mentioned wanting to do...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beach Day <span style="font-size: x-small;">(well, many more than just one)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sprinkler</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a cook out with friends</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grow a garden<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (that's more for me)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go on a Hayride</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pick fruit</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake something yummy with the fruit</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make jam to enjoy over the winter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go whale watching</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find praying mantis <span style="font-size: x-small;">(my older son)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit Steamtown <span style="font-size: x-small;">(my younger son)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit <st1:place><st1:city>Washington</st1:city> <st1:state>D.C.</st1:state></st1:place></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River Sharks game <span style="font-size: x-small;">(local baseball)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sleep over Nana and Papa’s house <span style="font-size: x-small;">(during our bathroom renovation)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Camp out back with Daddy<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (missed this last year)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make Popsicles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make homemade ice cream</span></div>
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<st1:place><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:placename>Vacation</st1:placename> <st1:placename>Bible</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>School</st1:placetype></span></st1:place></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit Uncle Jon, Aunt Stacy, and Vanessa<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (yay, they're in the states this year!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go fishing with Uncle Joe <span style="font-size: x-small;">(missed this last year)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catch frogs at Grandmom and Grandpa’s <span style="font-size: x-small;">(my older son)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catch fireflies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play croquet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play badminton</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn some bird calls <span style="font-size: x-small;">(my older son has the mourning dove down pat, perhaps a few more)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PJ day with movies on a rainy day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blow bubbles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch the clouds <span style="font-size: x-small;">(missed this last year)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Track moon phases</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wash mom’s car</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a science project day<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (or two)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make homemade pasta</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make homemade pizza dough<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (I usually buy frozen whole wheat dough, they make it with my mom, but really we can do this at home ... when the pace slows during the summer)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play with water balloons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Build a sandcastle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go on a hike</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go to the library <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I've been really bad about this with the boys since we moved to this house)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use the metal detector at the beach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fly kites</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make trail mix</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make a fruit pizza</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read books <span style="font-size: x-small;">(have to dig out some classics; definitely continuing the Chronicles of Narnia)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make slime</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Build a tepee <span style="font-size: x-small;">(on my husband's list)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Draw on the driveway with chalk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play checkers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make a sand cast at the beach </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go swimming</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go on rides at Gillian’s<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (shore amusements on the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play mini golf</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do a scavenger hunt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look through the telescope at the summer night sky</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ride bikes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope that we'll get to do all of these things and more. I'm sure that some of these things will be repeated, some deleted, and we'll add a few more as the summer approaches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to take lots of pictures - of the flowers, of my family, of our adventures. I want to bring a bag of crochet with me to the shore and sit in the sand crocheting under the umbrella as the kids bury each other and then go jump in the waves with my husband. I want to tend my garden, eat from it, can for the winter, and share when there's abundance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to savor each moment because really the memories are what matter most. My children's memories of their childhood will shape how they spend time with their children. I want them to have magnificent and magical memories that make them want to create memories of their own with their children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What are you planning to do this summer? I would love to hear from you in the comments section - maybe I'll add to my list when I hear of the fantastic things you're planning!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm currently working on a dark olive large handled basket. I will be posting progress photos on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WoodstreamDream">my Facebook page</a> this week. Stop by to see how it's going and when it's ready for purchase!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have a blessed week and thank you for stopping in!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-68811779532919916152013-04-29T21:30:00.000-04:002013-04-29T21:30:38.711-04:00Happenings... including a Feature Interview on Markets of Sunshine and Destash Sale<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello! I hope that your day was lovely and that you didn't have to endure the soggy day that I had here in New Jersey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This week</b> I'm the featured artist on the Markets of Sunshine Blog and you can read my <a href="http://www.marketsofsunshine.blogspot.com/2013/04/markets-of-sunshines-feature-shop-is.html">here</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Saturday, May 4th, 8am-noon</b> - I will be having a <b><i>Destash Sale</i></b> at a friend's yard sale in the <i>200 block of Dayton Avenue in Collingswood, New Jersey</i>. I will have a table full of items at bargain prices, ready for you to make something beautiful! Please stop by, we'll be right down the street from the <a href="http://www.collingswoodmarket.com/">Collingswood Farmer's Market</a> - it's opening week - so exciting!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDuRpPLPr9k5LDksLFGWsWMFvPyOdGqzMZOO9JQwAMpCveqcK44lVD7l7gSAn8S_1zHtPGoDpIlzS58mJp5p_2TUvYJ17BY-UaBQUpEn3b4l1auP2Kjsrl6LoPK1y-mW3ZB3tvGhtM7c/s1600/mingling+with+mint+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDuRpPLPr9k5LDksLFGWsWMFvPyOdGqzMZOO9JQwAMpCveqcK44lVD7l7gSAn8S_1zHtPGoDpIlzS58mJp5p_2TUvYJ17BY-UaBQUpEn3b4l1auP2Kjsrl6LoPK1y-mW3ZB3tvGhtM7c/s320/mingling+with+mint+3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now for some news that I don't think you're expecting...</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm taking the time to step back a bit from my professional world to spend time with my children. I am feeling the nudge from God that my work has been taking me farther from my family than just the next room and I need to address that in my own way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I plan to continue creating and fulfilling the creative outlet that I do need and enjoy, but to a lesser scale than I had been striving for in the past several months. I have several items created, awaiting photographing and listing. I will continue to create new items - the second generation Tech Sleeve idea is burning a hole in my creative pocket! There are other items that I have in mind and they will be made as well, but in due time. I also will be accepting custom orders - my absolute favorite part of my job - creating something unique for a particular person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. I appreciate all of your support and I hope that you continue to stop by to read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many blessings to you and yours!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best,</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-74467487318692600542013-04-22T19:48:00.001-04:002013-04-22T19:48:05.900-04:00Event update - the BuzzFest in Houston with The indiExhibit - Earth Day Flash Sale - Custom Orders<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My OOAK upcycled phone/tech case was featured at the BuzzFest this past weekend in Houston, Texas. Check out photos <a href="http://theindiexhibit.blogspot.com/2013/04/buzzfest-30-gift-lounge-was-great.html">here</a> of the featured art that was gifted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are about two hours left to my Earth Day Flash Sale - 40% off when you purchase $50 or more of product from <a href="http://www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com/">WoodstreamDream</a> using code: EARTHDAY at check out - valid through 10pm ET today, April 22, 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm busy working on a custom order of pairs of baskets. You can see the finished baskets that I posted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WoodstreamDream">here</a> on Friday evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for stopping by!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a blessed week! Praying that it's peaceful all around.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-10059079553316050132013-04-15T21:38:00.001-04:002013-04-15T21:39:12.488-04:00Wrenching<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again this afternoon I felt transported back 11.5 years ago to a horrible morning. Then I was a teacher. Today I'm a mom. Then I sheltered my students - third and fourth grade boys and girls - from the terror. Today I read online while my boys played and did homework. I waited until they were playing outside with my husband tonight in the safety of our backyard before I dared to turn on the news. I stopped watching the news many years ago - but tonight I wanted to know who and why, so much more elusive - WHY??????? I cannot scream it loud enough, I do not scream it at all, except inside - from every bit of my soul.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know there are so many who are feeling this reeling, wrenching pain. So many there who feel the physical pain that can't be taken away regardless of the amount of pain medication and that it will take so long <strike>to get past this day</strike> - to come to terms with this day, because one really never forgets this kind of thing. This terror. Wounds are torn open, actual and those that our friends cannot see, ones we hide with a smile and, "Fine."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we are strong and resilient and we will be stronger and we will heal and remember and honor and revere those who stepped forward today and those who will never be the same and will never be forgotten because they were among the innocents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the prayer I posted on my Facebook feed after I read first about what had happened...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Prayers for those in Boston and those reliving tragedies as they see this develop. Prayers for those helping, rescuing, and caring for victims. Prayers for those families that will never be the same.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will continue my prayers tonight and for so many more nights to come. And when this has faded from the headlines, something will remind me of this day and I will pray again. I have faith. Faith in our country and faith in the people. Most importantly, faith in the Lord. My faith gives me hope that He will teach me something that will make tomorrow a little bit easier to bear here on this earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading. Please pray - or send positive thoughts, should you choose not to pray - for those who are suffering tonight. It will not end when the newspaper, Facebook, Twitter, and television headlines fade - remember and honor, regardless of the headline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-74855043589003514272013-04-13T06:00:00.000-04:002013-04-13T06:00:05.998-04:00The Market Happenings<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So by now you know that I am a member of <a href="http://www.marketsofsunshine.com/index.html">Markets of Sunshine</a>. We're a group of artists who create and sell, but our goal is to promote one another through cooperative advertising.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our April Gift Boxes are now for sale. This is the link to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zME7w7UJirU">YouTube</a> video of the contents in this month's box. The boxes are available for <a href="http://www.marketsofsunshine.com/Sampler-Bag.html">sale</a> each month until they run out. They contain 5 full-size products in the small box and 10 full-size products in the large box. The profits of the sale of these boxes goes towards funding our advertising.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Markets of Sunshine has joined <a href="http://www.40billion.com/company/1048693472">40billion.com</a> to continue to connect with people around the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Markets have teamed up with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theindiExhibit">the indiExhibit</a> and have been featured in the Celebrity Gifting Lounge at the 2013 Academy Awards and will be at the BuzzFest in Houston this month. We have two other celebrity events coming up later this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/2013/04/09/earth-day-ten-ecoconscious-businesses/">NerdWallet</a> has listed Markets of Sunshine in their Earth Day Ten Eco-conscious Businesses - this is because many of our shops (including both of mine) reuse, upcycle, and use eco-friendly materials in the production of our goods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a blog <a href="http://marketsofsunshine.blogspot.com/">contest</a> weekly for anyone who wants to enter to win - this week the prize is Watkins Vanilla Extract and a Horse Key Chain by Delecto Art (one of our member shops).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you purchase a Gift Box, you'll see an additional piece of my art... I've designed the note card included in each box.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSnez02eupCucHR97yoko_bwleiLaJULd2JS0JOFh2o0JvHf0ZbOJygUuY916iFesUUKjb27Qf0lYHPSdgwzDpikedEFG5tuqEx1cQMhzOIfgBslXVjX2ilkat9_c1aG7BogpPlq3-WE/s1600/Markets+of+Sunshine+Note+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSnez02eupCucHR97yoko_bwleiLaJULd2JS0JOFh2o0JvHf0ZbOJygUuY916iFesUUKjb27Qf0lYHPSdgwzDpikedEFG5tuqEx1cQMhzOIfgBslXVjX2ilkat9_c1aG7BogpPlq3-WE/s320/Markets+of+Sunshine+Note+Card.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for checking in and have a blessed weekend!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-71492360979711613952013-04-12T21:02:00.000-04:002013-04-12T21:02:01.167-04:00DIY - Dollar Store to Designer <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My older son's birthday was last month. Eight years-old, wow, I can barely believe how the time has flown by!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is a nature lover - animals, plants, you name it and he probably knows more about it than any of us will in a life time. March weather is tricky in New Jersey. We can either have pleasant and sunny 70s or cold, windy, and sometimes snowy 20s.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I decided not to risk the home party and we hosted a handful of his friends at <a href="http://www.cedarrun.org/">Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge</a>. It's not too far from our home and it was all about nature, just what my son would want. Last summer we went there on a hike with friends and had a lovely time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I planned the party, I was trying to keep it simple. The theme provided was Animal Tracks. Light snacks that the kids and parents enjoy before a hike, check. Of course we had to sing <i>Happy Birthday</i>! Here's the idea I came up with for decorating the cupcakes sans food dye:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cupcakes (don't you just love the paw prints?)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuwx1UBss1j_-33DCmSd6BIcIt-nkIGtSjXeO3OZ3bi-cnbnIx6-51i-MFUWs7idiMJ_UBQ6PH9D23KmUHqBHtkxj5LW1xsvieTszcfBanRKcGJXCdPnZ2mTMjsS52BjFl-xVJzwdfv4/s1600/IMG_1371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuwx1UBss1j_-33DCmSd6BIcIt-nkIGtSjXeO3OZ3bi-cnbnIx6-51i-MFUWs7idiMJ_UBQ6PH9D23KmUHqBHtkxj5LW1xsvieTszcfBanRKcGJXCdPnZ2mTMjsS52BjFl-xVJzwdfv4/s320/IMG_1371.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was trying to figure out what to send home with the children as favors and it struck me... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Nature Sketchbooks</i>!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrOyhxy8kpShCHIyElLkf3EsiLnZOP66kuBcxdv58rC7-UWfBEAwLVuJuc2hrTOrc7DahPTxjEsKSO2qSv9JU5m15UfP-UfvsnvYCksq8LJh8EOLBEeVeutLtAzHEvAPCorYlChZanjo/s1600/IMG_0709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrOyhxy8kpShCHIyElLkf3EsiLnZOP66kuBcxdv58rC7-UWfBEAwLVuJuc2hrTOrc7DahPTxjEsKSO2qSv9JU5m15UfP-UfvsnvYCksq8LJh8EOLBEeVeutLtAzHEvAPCorYlChZanjo/s320/IMG_0709.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I purchased inexpensive notepads at the dollar store (look - made in the USA!) for each child.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBh74W5yVjnjURwuc3MRlnb3lzdxqEzzV7b_F3MVQz-dDYJnKBm9h_AZhJhDKAvoUqxuTUo6oWJeQg3BsYY3juaM2_YQfKwPBOHdSbHP2FXmbUI6G9PBJ64mVSxat0ICiE1wkrSsKcBg/s1600/IMG_0708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBh74W5yVjnjURwuc3MRlnb3lzdxqEzzV7b_F3MVQz-dDYJnKBm9h_AZhJhDKAvoUqxuTUo6oWJeQg3BsYY3juaM2_YQfKwPBOHdSbHP2FXmbUI6G9PBJ64mVSxat0ICiE1wkrSsKcBg/s320/IMG_0708.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then with a few easy to find tools, I turned it into something much, much better.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkwJzqpOEPToGmDJQb2UxMbi7Lpv-2bsLm9K3ARNhvNwrZVIc3bPdRH6_J8hyphenhyphen4wnV4vFUcxJFCKrMHmAoSKOu7PPBgGg61EOWU4I1KAjBaTdzNP2VotBoYWlhHgx2FzZFmH9KV1S-7WQ/s1600/IMG_0710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkwJzqpOEPToGmDJQb2UxMbi7Lpv-2bsLm9K3ARNhvNwrZVIc3bPdRH6_J8hyphenhyphen4wnV4vFUcxJFCKrMHmAoSKOu7PPBgGg61EOWU4I1KAjBaTdzNP2VotBoYWlhHgx2FzZFmH9KV1S-7WQ/s320/IMG_0710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found free clipart and designed a cover to hide the dollar store blah-ness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I printed out four per sheet of cardstock and cut each one to fit the top of the notepad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used permanent adhesive to adhere the new covers to the notepad covers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKihX2gsD1G5MtLyKvFMaP7Ckpiku2xdTMbUDbp7e3B6imFAT5MJtTrbZkmdf_MQLlT16uIg7EytYEMo1nXh86dzac_T8XR9PP1yigmCowpkMcGkEDvnBZeIQ9OaPJNKkUUvlVBrWKtY/s1600/IMG_0711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKihX2gsD1G5MtLyKvFMaP7Ckpiku2xdTMbUDbp7e3B6imFAT5MJtTrbZkmdf_MQLlT16uIg7EytYEMo1nXh86dzac_T8XR9PP1yigmCowpkMcGkEDvnBZeIQ9OaPJNKkUUvlVBrWKtY/s320/IMG_0711.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a gap between the top of the cardstock and the black adhesive trim of the notepad. So I used a length of striped self-adhesive ribbon to hide the gap.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbqzIiH5ISMLlztohx3GDDvMvVYbYtkdt5iHwwioz9SxCR7qtHiuycqz8UcI8YyBodRZCiZpyTLbvua-7DEp841rZy4snD_TgfH5K2MZgQ2tyeiDtvHsVk-v8kuNS_pziaV0P5p5fbFA/s1600/IMG_0712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbqzIiH5ISMLlztohx3GDDvMvVYbYtkdt5iHwwioz9SxCR7qtHiuycqz8UcI8YyBodRZCiZpyTLbvua-7DEp841rZy4snD_TgfH5K2MZgQ2tyeiDtvHsVk-v8kuNS_pziaV0P5p5fbFA/s320/IMG_0712.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU2H318hbTU3phstAs1ALzGSMp3F4HDexTlNRuhUNlkDVUe4dhlPv_TAYQY5hPNfCiYMF4O3hjEGulnrURR_QoBIUGddq9cS-6MMSvMJNJ5-MC2AFQ-4BztLb27SgiUtW-eKxyWJ7rXg/s1600/IMG_0713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU2H318hbTU3phstAs1ALzGSMp3F4HDexTlNRuhUNlkDVUe4dhlPv_TAYQY5hPNfCiYMF4O3hjEGulnrURR_QoBIUGddq9cS-6MMSvMJNJ5-MC2AFQ-4BztLb27SgiUtW-eKxyWJ7rXg/s320/IMG_0713.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLoax3yFr-Hm7m5ewDvMmL99bQwwe_gcvvJ7chiewV-2A72krUjg5L9-PV2Bn2lFAIi2XT258A_E7fMv49BuQucUCQjB_ac23htDxOaHXOFEJS6xGDZHd9vy4DR5zqIGVId9EKpt-2Cg/s1600/IMG_0714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLoax3yFr-Hm7m5ewDvMmL99bQwwe_gcvvJ7chiewV-2A72krUjg5L9-PV2Bn2lFAIi2XT258A_E7fMv49BuQucUCQjB_ac23htDxOaHXOFEJS6xGDZHd9vy4DR5zqIGVId9EKpt-2Cg/s320/IMG_0714.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyFDPQ-xNPRiu73-pdl1PHBqVUDaKt6h7i4p5_Iu15I90Qw5aSB_gCoe_Yxtyopz7TvZqjFrwNQB9ddPOytA5_rmK3SD0wWjC523Ye_1Fp2JdVCeBPV0kaDAwibhxBdVmykUejz9SL-8/s1600/IMG_0715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyFDPQ-xNPRiu73-pdl1PHBqVUDaKt6h7i4p5_Iu15I90Qw5aSB_gCoe_Yxtyopz7TvZqjFrwNQB9ddPOytA5_rmK3SD0wWjC523Ye_1Fp2JdVCeBPV0kaDAwibhxBdVmykUejz9SL-8/s320/IMG_0715.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Voila! Instant beautification!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, not quite instant, but it was quick and less expensive than ordering something custom.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHJhaC84hJER-KmqBoWpwtAot1rCadyVZOFf-G15HV5QHZDDXJML5yv-T9-vvbYqMAf0GcyGjADVGuOBnOXNQwt52rIG53t8pPO7tWYFharfZ_K3HG_CMMc-w2VSQEr6UYyvWtrgqHnM/s1600/IMG_0716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHJhaC84hJER-KmqBoWpwtAot1rCadyVZOFf-G15HV5QHZDDXJML5yv-T9-vvbYqMAf0GcyGjADVGuOBnOXNQwt52rIG53t8pPO7tWYFharfZ_K3HG_CMMc-w2VSQEr6UYyvWtrgqHnM/s320/IMG_0716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You could also use this idea for a fashionista's birthday party - change the title to <i>Fashion Sketchbook</i> and the color of the cardstock, then deck it out with self-adhesive rhinestone bling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another aside perk to not having the party at our home was that we requested in lieu of gifts for guests to bring a bag of supplies for the animal hospital that's on the site of the wildlife refuge. Everyone obliged, we helped the hospital and the animals, and have warm fuzzies from doing good instead of more toys to stumble over!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, thanks so much for stopping in! I hope I've inspired you today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a blessed weekend!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-4606204666784614932013-04-09T17:11:00.001-04:002013-04-09T17:11:57.752-04:00Quick!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have to run back out into the beautiful weather before it is snatched away, but I wanted to share this contest with you... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Original Artwork Horse Keychain" height="300" src="https://img3.etsystatic.com/014/0/5599808/il_570xN.422788395_1ndz.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Delecto Art's Horse Key Chain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://marketsofsunshine.blogspot.com/2013/04/win-watkins-vanilla-extract-and-delecto.html">Win Watkins Vanilla Extract and Delecto Art's Horse Key Chain</a> - this is sponsored by <a href="http://www.marketsofsunshine.com/">Markets of Sunshine</a> - a group of artists and artisans who teams up to promote each other's art. It's a cooperative effort to build better businesses all around!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you're an artist and would like more information, please contact us through the link above and let them know that member #124, Nicole Meyers, sent you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ok, back to my kiddos - enjoying this sunshine - hope you're enjoying your day! Have a blessed week!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-26058585416560273192013-03-18T22:28:00.000-04:002013-03-20T10:29:23.944-04:00Eco-Friendly ~ Beautiful ~ Functional<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know that hurt that feels so good because you've been working on something that has been a goal. You know - after you've had a great workout and you're sore for the next two days (like I'll feel after tomorrow morning's yogalaties class)... that kind of hurt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, I'm feeling it in my hands after stitching for days on end and I am cringing as I type because the Advil hasn't really kicked in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tech sleeves, boutonnieres, flower pins, adorned headbands... my hands have been busy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have created so many new tech sleeves - they fit my title, my motto, perfectly - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">eco-friendly ~ beautiful ~ functional</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I start by felting my neutrals - sweaters and cardigans I had no idea what to do with because they were beautiful neutral colors, but wouldn't really make vibrant flowers. So I've found a purpose - a function for them. These neutrals are the bases for the tech sleeves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once felted (a.k.a. - shrunk very carefully so that I don't ruin my washer), I cut out about 8 sleeve bodies, depending on how much the garment has shrunk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then I get to cutting out petals.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHW43FzsiOR89sqeqoubyPl7CYMEstPDzv1r-Z9OGdxYM8vRh4Y1wjX_oqyEOsGZIWtAhIyAU_HwxfHNDunXWyE7eCGpbV54QhpFdjx3wZCajJy7Y1ddaCAWBRIKDaWmyuicr6_vnzcsI/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHW43FzsiOR89sqeqoubyPl7CYMEstPDzv1r-Z9OGdxYM8vRh4Y1wjX_oqyEOsGZIWtAhIyAU_HwxfHNDunXWyE7eCGpbV54QhpFdjx3wZCajJy7Y1ddaCAWBRIKDaWmyuicr6_vnzcsI/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The base color will determine what I put onto it - certain colors just don't go - orange and caramel - repel each other! This charcoal with purple is just so beautiful!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlPauylp6nwpCtgPAHEoPUKxXGEIe8pyuDjSP3lE6TSi7lo-eowG2FwiD-Pz4ZK7EnP3FwS7OytuW453goF_GQSQetAG_vm-BBjFNEb-evpumxsEHFsnXiKuHwZ4-lJgcqiPJClgan3Y/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlPauylp6nwpCtgPAHEoPUKxXGEIe8pyuDjSP3lE6TSi7lo-eowG2FwiD-Pz4ZK7EnP3FwS7OytuW453goF_GQSQetAG_vm-BBjFNEb-evpumxsEHFsnXiKuHwZ4-lJgcqiPJClgan3Y/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOAVUm33feujCqMh-rSfwcIIZxZ56MIFOh2y0ets_MOv_UAJGCYTgRYiURLIC4XHtb05vsn5jDLo3ewstQuSqTGqv1nzs1eO9r0PdqeX4P8Kbq_HCquphafiT5aL9AJBCu479V_aqI0A/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOAVUm33feujCqMh-rSfwcIIZxZ56MIFOh2y0ets_MOv_UAJGCYTgRYiURLIC4XHtb05vsn5jDLo3ewstQuSqTGqv1nzs1eO9r0PdqeX4P8Kbq_HCquphafiT5aL9AJBCu479V_aqI0A/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6xguYxQU47_hCdBFn1S-9D-6b1dU3ommsyrXagAjForFAO3IV6TlxNWkgPGG577Vpvym7Nqmx_z3hBAdTCNR55VtnjWmESEwfJGxPuLKkbVmGPdWZTHArAqa3V5t9sg6h8FJ4MNtPto/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6xguYxQU47_hCdBFn1S-9D-6b1dU3ommsyrXagAjForFAO3IV6TlxNWkgPGG577Vpvym7Nqmx_z3hBAdTCNR55VtnjWmESEwfJGxPuLKkbVmGPdWZTHArAqa3V5t9sg6h8FJ4MNtPto/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The petals, stems, and vintage buttons (or polka dots... oh, yes, the polka dot is FUN!) get handstitched onto the base.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcQdNrnfzy_8pWq4qfQE-z4q_0548iiEM-GwAWUSsn3u1xsrhwz4P3R7SF110vdvgcERFsRiX_D2sUeXW_EPJJIOgiDllb_m7Bt-kjCOeTOUmlDONfCH_39CGGPRr3wpJur6_wQv5Zj0/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcQdNrnfzy_8pWq4qfQE-z4q_0548iiEM-GwAWUSsn3u1xsrhwz4P3R7SF110vdvgcERFsRiX_D2sUeXW_EPJJIOgiDllb_m7Bt-kjCOeTOUmlDONfCH_39CGGPRr3wpJur6_wQv5Zj0/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98Pgn6mRCnfEUyT9B5L_8Z3tk-K6nNIvfYe3H3TbAfvEMVbrHUJDRT83wbDAf0Yk41OlIwBBXoZN1EX4K3Kfk0vx5GFm41JRR6AUVjrT9d2CS-P9NOqt3PNwGLyFdEGslV0omWQUPsaE/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98Pgn6mRCnfEUyT9B5L_8Z3tk-K6nNIvfYe3H3TbAfvEMVbrHUJDRT83wbDAf0Yk41OlIwBBXoZN1EX4K3Kfk0vx5GFm41JRR6AUVjrT9d2CS-P9NOqt3PNwGLyFdEGslV0omWQUPsaE/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then I pull out my sewing machine and stitch the whole thing around to create the sleeve and to prevent fraying on the flap edge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then the snaps get stitched on and last the leaf/petal (or last polka dot).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then ta-da! Tech sleeve is done and ready to protect the screen of your camera or smart phone before you go and toss it into your bag!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLheWYNnFdb46b1OxF_xj2hWmYWlaXOvnE84tnOEQFqAl4cWiPgC1sVTFWpgWQBxhzlo8N8yqmR0Abdj8xlzabjr8A6jsliMFkwURX84ZlqQi6jK7pvQZzjB5VBXxb4krbz_IOp4uOpOI/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLheWYNnFdb46b1OxF_xj2hWmYWlaXOvnE84tnOEQFqAl4cWiPgC1sVTFWpgWQBxhzlo8N8yqmR0Abdj8xlzabjr8A6jsliMFkwURX84ZlqQi6jK7pvQZzjB5VBXxb4krbz_IOp4uOpOI/s320/7.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Multiply that by 20 tech sleeves - plus two flowers, a handful of adorned headbands, and two boutonnieres in about a week and you can see why my hands ache. But it feels so good to create! So good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eco-Friendly ~ Beautiful ~ Functional - what more could a girl ask for from an accessory?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm photographing this week and they'll be listed <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/woodstreamdream?section_id=13189505">here</a> by the weekend!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you so much for your support and stopping by to read!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a blessed week!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-81225092827066730792013-02-27T19:51:00.000-05:002013-02-27T19:51:25.989-05:00Lots of happenings...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's news from me and news about the co-op I'm a member of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First the co-op...</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op</i> is changing over to the <b><i>Markets of Sunshine</i></b>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a beautifully renovated <a href="http://www.marketsofsunshine.com/" target="_blank">website</a>! You can find my shop in the Market Place section!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our current sampler bag is the <b>Pet Lover's Bag</b>. You have the option of a 5 item bag or a 10 item bag. In the message at check out, please let them know that Nicole C. Meyers, member #124, helped you to find the <a href="http://www.marketsofsunshine.com/Sampler-Bag.html">Sampler</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of the Pet Lover Sampler... this is my WoodstreamDream <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/124926978/cat-nip-mouse-toy-felted-black-wool">product</a> from the bag - now available in my Etsy shop:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7Iy8Uu5ZUmouyU8cKODaeb7yaaPl2WJpqna93pk_wT89JfakthLIASEYKJqFHmrvO88P5WqN5ruoZc6WWh7I5AwW-SBahvxJuLOCsZVUnhtIKdUy_4oLaUN9D5F5ybWfL1o4rnu5djU/s1600/catnip+toy+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7Iy8Uu5ZUmouyU8cKODaeb7yaaPl2WJpqna93pk_wT89JfakthLIASEYKJqFHmrvO88P5WqN5ruoZc6WWh7I5AwW-SBahvxJuLOCsZVUnhtIKdUy_4oLaUN9D5F5ybWfL1o4rnu5djU/s320/catnip+toy+4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2IyheX1D-GeuD3jVmqpmdn-h7-RH1z6aPsRKQCgOgeEzJ5Ni5GxVGeSapmDjN6tYk2H2gjuaQDcEJOGs48fM7kTRRPDPX73ifDVQ-jbP9oP-nE3b5_CVvtxC8QKQXOXf6Um_bfs1J88/s1600/catnip+toy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2IyheX1D-GeuD3jVmqpmdn-h7-RH1z6aPsRKQCgOgeEzJ5Ni5GxVGeSapmDjN6tYk2H2gjuaQDcEJOGs48fM7kTRRPDPX73ifDVQ-jbP9oP-nE3b5_CVvtxC8QKQXOXf6Um_bfs1J88/s320/catnip+toy+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">crochet and felted black wool mouse - packaged with catnip...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my 11-year-old, Bella, loves hers and posed so nicely for me!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the co-op...</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our weekly contest has two prizes now!!! You have to visit the <a href="http://www.sunshinefarmgirl-coop.blogspot.com/2013/02/win-mary-janes-farm-magazine.html">blog</a> to enter the contest for a 1-year subscription to <i>MARY JANE'S FARM</i> Magazine (I subscribe and eagerly await each issue!!!) and an embroidered hand towel by another member shop - Kallie's Cotton.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One last item related to the co-op...</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In an effort to support our community, we are raising funds to help those in need - especially local people struck with sudden illness, cancer, and homeless children. This is our fundraiser link - for every dollar you spend on a purchase - <a href="http://www.celebratinghome.com/fundraiser/90597/participant/15164">Celebrating Home</a> gives a portion to our fundraising campaign.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On to some other news from me...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm now an artist member at Markeim Arts Center. This affords me the opportunity to have my own page on their site. Click <a href="http://www.markeimartcenter.org/nicole-c-meyers/">here</a> to visit the page. I plan to apply for some of their upcoming exhibits including fiber arts and flowers - stay tuned for news about those!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Oscars have passed and I have added a design your own item to WoodstreamDream - if you would like to have a flower similar to those that were gifted at the Oscars Celebrity Gifting Lounge on Sunday night - just click <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/124736499/upcycled-ooak-flower-pin-made-to-order?">here</a> and follow the directions. I will create one just for you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photos will be up soon from the Oscars and I will share them with you as soon as I can!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in WoodstreamPapery, I've had the opportunity to add sets of five and ten note cards as well as individual note cards from the Peonies Series to my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodstreamPapery?section_id=13029952">shop</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUL5OrvB7CLrg7iHn6ITy5kvm8hf7QJDbK4U7dxCIokHmOBoT8O33wIyuDt9z2Me_s0CfED__7zAxTbU8MTjxGJjuOtvcmtoTQ45f1pq82ATE7XQbbipApCx0Ie9Ef9qlTuIPmBY7D_Q/s1600/Mingling+with+Mint+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUL5OrvB7CLrg7iHn6ITy5kvm8hf7QJDbK4U7dxCIokHmOBoT8O33wIyuDt9z2Me_s0CfED__7zAxTbU8MTjxGJjuOtvcmtoTQ45f1pq82ATE7XQbbipApCx0Ie9Ef9qlTuIPmBY7D_Q/s320/Mingling+with+Mint+4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZffSLGNQFd8DnaMKLA-1KDRnaDFuYapS7fDUsGK5h1iLvSAUjVMGGvQ7lT2xRPYtFkl34fFRZvKa-QUvgTSJ3zgEkSFC9PgatvuI-yI-Hoz1BUXCcI1be5yCO8p5qvv4bYz-tZnyZxU/s1600/Mingling+with+Mint+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZffSLGNQFd8DnaMKLA-1KDRnaDFuYapS7fDUsGK5h1iLvSAUjVMGGvQ7lT2xRPYtFkl34fFRZvKa-QUvgTSJ3zgEkSFC9PgatvuI-yI-Hoz1BUXCcI1be5yCO8p5qvv4bYz-tZnyZxU/s320/Mingling+with+Mint+5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, so now I'm going to get back to work creating ... hoping to add more new items next week!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for stopping by and reading!</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-76162919355485748792013-02-20T19:35:00.000-05:002013-02-20T19:35:33.143-05:00Another place to find me...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the link to <a href="http://www.markeimartcenter.org/nicole-c-meyers/" target="_blank">my page</a> on Markeim Arts Center's website. It's so exciting to be a part of a local art community!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you may have seen - I've added the sets of note cards featuring my Peonies Series to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/woodstreampapery" target="_blank">WoodstreamPapery</a>. Individual note cards will be available for sale in the near future.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHu9FhFwjd85LMXiderIdYkUPdGPyh14Fkeh2qhFUVrxC9j6YXo9AcxStw2pj26ZfhT1UKmHaWhvz4R7fTn1D_GlqadOFGTkvfTo1dxLWLTZdKrhFoJb2ohpXgH-rJsuLU1i9LZSY-c9Q/s1600/Mingling+with+Mint+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHu9FhFwjd85LMXiderIdYkUPdGPyh14Fkeh2qhFUVrxC9j6YXo9AcxStw2pj26ZfhT1UKmHaWhvz4R7fTn1D_GlqadOFGTkvfTo1dxLWLTZdKrhFoJb2ohpXgH-rJsuLU1i9LZSY-c9Q/s200/Mingling+with+Mint+3.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Peonies Series - Mingling with Mint 3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As featured in ALL NATURAL @ Markeim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a Group Photography Exhibition of unretouched natural photography</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February 8-March 1, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please stop by the Markeim Arts Center if you're in the area - the other photography displayed is stunning ... people traveled all over the world - Indonesia, Africa, Canary Islands, several National Parks... My eight-year-old was amazed when I took him on Saturday afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm busy with tax stuff this week - ugh, I know, but next week I'll be back to creating and I hope to unveil my new line of upcycled boutonnieres and stemmed flowers - perfect for bouquets! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by! Have a blessed week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-31838880537692674002013-02-13T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-13T06:00:06.165-05:00The Opening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, for those of you who haven't seen this photo on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WoodstreamDream" target="_blank">Facebook Fan Page</a>, here it is, my photography and me at the opening of ALL NATURAL @ Markeim - Group Photography Exhibition of unretouched natural photography.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3uHdWEgI4F0Svkq81xJSVIXxMKOxLC0JjF4D3kw60_ptjviGYPsKvcSpEepZzJajZCVG136i3VFIXZ5u8RuPosI8pt4sLnJFdkyAJycjHdow90AvufTbcqnODF4XgeCBZFssh2BB4Kw/s1600/me+at+Markeim+All+Natural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3uHdWEgI4F0Svkq81xJSVIXxMKOxLC0JjF4D3kw60_ptjviGYPsKvcSpEepZzJajZCVG136i3VFIXZ5u8RuPosI8pt4sLnJFdkyAJycjHdow90AvufTbcqnODF4XgeCBZFssh2BB4Kw/s320/me+at+Markeim+All+Natural.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am humbled to be among so many amazing photographers and the work they displayed... wow! I am looking forward to taking my older son to see all of the stunning photographs. I was kind of disappointed to not have brought him, but I never can tell how an almost eight-year-old will fare on a Friday evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you live or work close enough, I encourage you to stop by <a href="http://www.markeimartcenter.org/" target="_blank">Markeim Arts Center</a> by March 1st to catch a glimpse of this work. Photoshop has nothing on this exceptional unretouched photography!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next week I'll be introducing the new line of Original Photography Note Cards to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/woodstreampapery" target="_blank">WoodstreamPapery</a> - first up is the Peonies Series 1-5. They'll be available as sets of five or ten cards as well as individual note cards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please remember to use coupon code: VANZANT for 10% off your order and 15% will go to my son's elementary school PTO to help fund programs for the children. The code is valid in both of my shops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate your patronage and support of small businesses like mine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a blessed week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>~Nicole</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-32532132777099201702013-02-12T21:46:00.000-05:002013-02-12T21:46:22.740-05:00Fixing the long name curse - at least for Valentine's Day<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My boys are like night and day - their interests, their coloring, the length of their names... Ean was blessed with three easy letters, they fit easily just about anywhere. Nathanael on the other hand - and no, he's not a Nate or Nathan, don't even try - has nine letters. For a four-year-old trying to write that nine lettered name on valentines, that's a new kind of torture ... for us, too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I've fixed it so that mistakes can be made and I don't have to run to the drugstore to buy another pack of valentines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clear mailing labels, address size. Godsend. Clear really is best for this because whatever your child sticks the sticker on top of will still be able to be seen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a sheet of labels ... lightly with pencil write your child's name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He knows all capitals best right now, so we ran with those.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtM1ZXBzi7CUTSMCorLNzCzSPS9V8FyYPMP31VeiZBKA95hjSG2wImjdtanv4s6ut16BrXza0fPJZAd0gu4F5wXUpDAItJnLTLJfUT7pj22oyVRA9bbmjnSAkRGbNz3PHB636Hgvn5aw/s1600/IMG_0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtM1ZXBzi7CUTSMCorLNzCzSPS9V8FyYPMP31VeiZBKA95hjSG2wImjdtanv4s6ut16BrXza0fPJZAd0gu4F5wXUpDAItJnLTLJfUT7pj22oyVRA9bbmjnSAkRGbNz3PHB636Hgvn5aw/s320/IMG_0719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then let your child trace his/her name with whatever color crayon works for the color paper s/he'll be applying it to (don't use yellow crayon for a yellow paper - we learned that is a no-go).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8YHeGUopqFYnhgESjs4cHAX_pxOVSZW8Q9EIVccxVc4avh9oSjhrMhy293jtX-z5L0WWgp2B1k9y24SgLQPi4gxK8bLm3G2RySUqs3YiNpDQ0CZUsj9CEh7uAxB2Z4spi4jX_c1h2Ks/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8YHeGUopqFYnhgESjs4cHAX_pxOVSZW8Q9EIVccxVc4avh9oSjhrMhy293jtX-z5L0WWgp2B1k9y24SgLQPi4gxK8bLm3G2RySUqs3YiNpDQ0CZUsj9CEh7uAxB2Z4spi4jX_c1h2Ks/s320/IMG_0718.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then peel it off.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd9woCJNGDqONIti2uAoCCQBLUC8_7TZ2kuxoLt89pMQIuPiXTXZLjifdshVyBD0U4Uoe7MgQkjPA7gUtn7qi-O2OL5pxZqOGHa7AXmQInGQQHcLoEl5iVyJppe4j6CmOXMzGyRrnIPo/s1600/IMG_0722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd9woCJNGDqONIti2uAoCCQBLUC8_7TZ2kuxoLt89pMQIuPiXTXZLjifdshVyBD0U4Uoe7MgQkjPA7gUtn7qi-O2OL5pxZqOGHa7AXmQInGQQHcLoEl5iVyJppe4j6CmOXMzGyRrnIPo/s320/IMG_0722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And stick it onto the valentine! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAvKguZI1hv8ushoehyphenhyphenwK6d0Irh29QazvSdoxdkDIPgeIa9J51MVewRN56-uN5C8HSxZm9BSlKZkYFIFm-q7ETTf12IYmZdTSddXIEsU1HTJco7m1SmVO9lg9_5zJ4pzajzYLdovOM18/s1600/IMG_0723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAvKguZI1hv8ushoehyphenhyphenwK6d0Irh29QazvSdoxdkDIPgeIa9J51MVewRN56-uN5C8HSxZm9BSlKZkYFIFm-q7ETTf12IYmZdTSddXIEsU1HTJco7m1SmVO9lg9_5zJ4pzajzYLdovOM18/s320/IMG_0723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did learn with certain paper (the glossy, probably not great for the environment store-bought valentines that are being delivered this year) that the labels will pull back up to be rearranged or to get bumps and bubbles out. This isn't guaranteed on all kinds of paper, but that glossy stuff sure allowed for multiple rearrangement of the labels, quite easily, too - since it was the four-year-old who did it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully I've posted this so that all of the other parents who have long-named kids can run to their office supply store and pick up some clear mailing labels tomorrow during lunch and get those valentines done tomorrow night before the big day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for stopping by!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a blessed week!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">~Nicole</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-84476154785435328262013-02-07T18:30:00.000-05:002013-02-07T18:30:02.362-05:00Two Big Events!!!<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First... Tomorrow's the opening of ALL NATURAL @ Markeim - Group Photography Exhibition of unretouched natural photographs. I'll be there from 6:30-8:30 and I'd love to see you... here's more info:</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">ALL NATURAL @ Markeim - Group Photography Exhibition</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Opening Reception: February 8, </span><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">6:30pm- 8:30pm</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Join us this Friday as we honor these great works of more than 30 local and regional Markeim artists. Wine, cheese & dessert reception.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Featured live music for the reception: Quartet 33 is a jazz/pop/fusion/blues band that plays original works as well as their own interpretations of music by a wide variety of artists such as Pat Metheny, Bill Withers, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Van Morrison, Coldplay, Sting, and others. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Alto and Tenor Sax: John Giannotti </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Guitar: Bjorn Kommedal </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Bass: Steve Bergmann </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Percussion: Bob Laramie </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">A suggested donation of $10 from guests.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">The exhibit will be available for viewing through March 1st during normal gallery hours</span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">visit </span><a href="http://www.markeimartcenter.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Markeim</span><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Arts</span><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;"> </span><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">Center</span></a> <span style="color: #339999; font-family: Verdana;">for details.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And a drum roll, please...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second big event I'm part of is on Sunday, February 24th - the <b>OSCARS</b>!!! My Upcycled Flowers are on their way to the <b><i>Oscars Celebrity Gifting Lounge</i></b>! I look forward to sharing picture(s) with you after the event! I will have items featured at three other awards shows later this year... looking forward to sharing those with you, too!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nnPo8yn6JgOEvApiGkfV9f6Jc8ZM1r6iQEWM7lj41N3md5L9lRJSLUCsQzrAzk6cKOArsfyzkWeHZfb09O6jkj1ONhmmM_YQdILw_KkG6NQy001Fdurq2oWLfMagio8O2EbbHIS3m_w/s1600/IMG_0350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nnPo8yn6JgOEvApiGkfV9f6Jc8ZM1r6iQEWM7lj41N3md5L9lRJSLUCsQzrAzk6cKOArsfyzkWeHZfb09O6jkj1ONhmmM_YQdILw_KkG6NQy001Fdurq2oWLfMagio8O2EbbHIS3m_w/s320/IMG_0350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My Upcycled Flowers will be there for celebrities to choose! How exciting is that?!?!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have this opportunity through the <a href="http://www.sunshinefarmgirlcoop.com/">Sunshine Farm Girl Coop</a>. We started out as a team on Etsy, but we work together to build our businesses through cooperative advertising and training.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for stopping by and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a blessed week & weekend!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Nicole</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-65024439932593940402013-01-31T22:33:00.001-05:002013-02-01T17:02:46.625-05:00All Natural - Group Photography Exhibition<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes going with your gut pays off. It's not always comfortable, but the risk and discomfort of stepping out of our comfort zone is worth it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this month I saw that there was a call for applications for an All Natural Photo Exhibit that would take place in February at a local gallery. I am a novice photographer. I am an avid nature photographer because I love plants and the outdoors, but I also have to so that I can study flower and foliage structure for my fiber arts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I decided to go for it and enter into this event. The worst that could happen was that I'd get a rejection email. I entered a series of five photographs. Imagine my surprise when I received an email that one of my photographs was chosen to be a part of this exhibit. Tomorrow morning I deliver my piece so that it can be arranged with the other 30+ photographs that were chosen. I feel quite honored, very humbled.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My photograph is titled: Peonies Series - Mingling with Mint 3</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're local, I would love to have you stop by. I'll be at the opening reception.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ALL NATURAL @ Markeim</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OPENING RECEPTION</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, February 8, 2013 - 6:30-8:30</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free and open to the public</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ALL Natural is this year's annual group photography show at the Markeim Arts Center curated by Norm Hinsey. With more than 30 photographers represented, the show presents amazing, unretouched images of the natural world from every corner of the globe - from Crow's Woods to the Canary Islands.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photographers: Annalouise Coretti, Anne R. Jorgensen, Bill Apter, Bill Toffel, Jr., Cathie Morgan, Chuck Finnie, Ed Snyder, Ellie Wright, Erik James Montgomery, Glenroy Chapman, Harry Stainrook, Jamie Grill-Goodman, Joel B. Sheffield, Larry A. Lyons, Linda Hollinger, Lori Jo Jamieson, Lucy P. Sheffield, Madisyn Zadjeika, Marianna Kind, Marianne Leone, Marieteresa Clair, Matthew B. Horton, Melissa Fleming, Melissa Hellwig, Mimi Sullivan, Nicole C. Meyers, Norm Hinsey, Patricia E. Fitzgerald, Patricia S. Worley, Patrick J. Rodio, Rebecca Hilgen Bryan, Richard Heacock, Richard Montemurro, Riddhi Gangolli, Steve Doyle, Terika Andrea, Tonia Hsieh, Vera Hinsey, Vera Resnik, Whit McGinley</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February 5 to March 1, 2-13</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gallery Hours: Tue-Fri 10-2:30, Sat 1-3</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Markeim Arts Center</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">104 Walnut Street, Haddonfield, NJ</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MarkeimArtsCenter.org</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">856-429-8585</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I plan to add the series of photographs <i>Peonies - Mingling with Mint 1-5</i> to <a href="http://www.woodstreampapery.etsy.com/">WoodstreamPapery</a> in the form of note cards - both sets and individuals. Prints up to 8x10s will also be available for purchase. Look for these items in March.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you so much for stopping by to catch up with my goings on. Have a blessed weekend!</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Nicole</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142330591119350840.post-40425499081636372242013-01-15T13:57:00.000-05:002013-01-15T13:58:20.239-05:00Available now, available soon...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good afternoon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting today, WoodstreamDream is available for review on Angie's List. I want to make sure that I keep valued customers like you, happy and satisfied with my work and customer service. If you've purchased from me on Etsy or in person, please submit a review for WoodstreamDream using the link below, it's also available in the sidebar to the right. Thank you!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/Review/7670047" style="color: #006699; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">angieslist.com/review/7670047</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now for the available soon!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been working on a new line of housewares - a limited edition of crochet baskets in a variety of sizes and colors. Some are small enough to sit on your windowsill and hold your rings and watch while you do the dishes. Others are big enough to hold your remotes or to sort the mail and drop your keys. I'm having a fantastic time creating these items! The weather's been rather gloomy for almost a week, so on Thursday when I have bright sunshine, I'll be taking photos and posting them on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WoodstreamDream">facebook page</a> ... so stop by and check them out! Listings will go up on Etsy soon after!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nicole</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317187287922829581noreply@blogger.com0